EHW Ch41

Pei Xin had gathered everyone to discuss a countermeasure.

Everyone present except Gu Fangzhi had actual battlefield experience, so once the topic turned to military tactics, the atmosphere immediately became one of no one yielding to anyone.

Zhou Yunkai’s proposal was “rituals first, troops later.”

He suggested letting Qin Xuan quietly test the Cangsheng Sect’s reaction, send a small unit to “pat their rear,” so to speak.

If the enemy made a move in response, then they would have justification to strike back directly.

Another official thought it was still too soon to assume anything.

They should simply ready their funds and troops, and wait to see how things develop.

Pei Xin hadn’t spoken.

He just sat there, head lowered, tapping a fingertip lightly against the table every so often.

Amid the clamor, Zhou Yunkai suddenly looked up at Gu Fangzhi.

“What does Lord Gu think?”

The moment he spoke, both Gu Fangzhi and Pei Xin froze.

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

He’d been dreading exactly this. Couldn’t they just let him sit quietly in the corner and listen?

Pei Xin: “……”

He’d been dreading it too. Wasn’t it enough for him to be here? Why drag the living disaster in as well?

Gu Fangzhi quickly reloaded, hoping to dodge the question, but unfortunately, his last save point was right before Zhou Yunkai spoke.

Zhou Yunkai: “What does Lord Gu think?”

Gu Fangzhi, despairing, tried twice more, and both times, the voice echoed like a curse through the timeline:

“What does Lord Gu think?”
“Lord Gu, Lord Gu, what does Lord Gu think?”

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

Utterly hopeless.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t speak, but everyone here, including Pei Xin, had over ten years of military experience.

If he said something wrong, he’d make a complete fool of himself.

He stayed silent, until Pei Xin finally said, “Teacher has his own strategy in mind, though it is not convenient to reveal it just yet.”

Gu Fangzhi: “?”

Who? Me?

Since when?!

The others, however, simply nodded at the emperor’s words and didn’t question it further.

Only Gu Fangzhi sat there smiling like a cunning old fox while internally panicking.

The discussion went on for a while longer.

Twice, Pei Xin nearly lost his patience at their bickering and wanted to order them dragged out,
but with Gu Fangzhi present, he restrained himself and amended the command: “Drag them out… and then drag them back.”

Like sending someone to take Snowball for a walk.

In the end, they still couldn’t determine the Cangsheng Sect’s true intentions.

They merely drafted contingency plans for several possible scenarios, and Zhou Yunkai was tasked with sending a coded letter to the front.

By then Pei Xin’s head was pounding. His pale fingers rubbed at his temples.

“Enough. Dismissed.”

Then he added, “Teacher, stay.”

When everyone else had gone, Gu Fangzhi asked, “Cough, Your Majesty, cough, what matter, cough, requires my counsel?”

He assumed Pei Xin wanted to question him about his nonexistent “plan” for the Cangsheng Sect, and mentally pinched his thigh to force his brain to think faster.

Pei Xin said evenly, “Snowball misses Teacher.”

He had Yang Luhai bring the dog over.

The little white creature shot across the floor like an arrow, biting Gu Fangzhi’s robe hem and clambering straight into his lap.

Pei Xin folded his arms, watching coolly.

Snowball went crazy around everyone, even ignored Pei Xin’s own commands,
yet doted on Gu Fangzhi.

Heartless. Both of them, utterly heartless.

Of course, Pei Xin hadn’t actually kept him just for Snowball’s sake.

The truth was, he was sleepy.

These past few nights without Gu Fangzhi, he hadn’t slept well.

Now that the man was here again, drowsiness settled over him almost instantly.
Ignoring the dog’s yipping, he lay down fully dressed and soon drifted off.

After playing with Snowball for a while, Gu Fangzhi looked up and saw that Pei Xin was already asleep.

Ah, youth, able to fall asleep the instant his head hit the pillow.

Smiling faintly, Gu Fangzhi scooped up Snowball and quietly slipped out of the study, handing the pup to Yang Luhai.

The eunuch peeked inside, saw the peacefully sleeping emperor, and smiled in relief.

Before he could speak, Gu Fangzhi said, “I know what you’re about to say, you were going to mention how His Majesty hasn’t slept this soundly in ages, weren’t you?”

Yang Luhai: “……”

Well… yes, that was exactly what he was going to say.

As expected of Lord Gu, truly prophetic.

When Gu Fangzhi returned home, none of his brothers were around.

After asking around, he learned that Manman had wanted osmanthus cake,
so Gu Huaiyu was in the kitchen steaming some, with Gu Yunchuan keeping him company.

By the time Gu Fangzhi entered, he saw Gu Huaiyu bustling busily at the table, Manman helping at his side, and Gu Yunchuan, missing one arm, simply sitting nearby watching.

Seeing him come in, Gu Huaiyu called out, “Come give me a hand.”

Gu Fangzhi rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.

While kneading the dough, Gu Huaiyu glanced sideways at him.

Gu Fangzhi felt prickles down his back. “What is it?”

Out of nowhere, Gu Huaiyu asked,

“Are you seeing someone?”

Gu Fangzhi nearly choked. “Cough, what?”

Not only he, but even Gu Yunchuan and Manman turned to stare at him in unison.

Completely bewildered, Gu Fangzhi pinched the dough in his hands. “Why would you ask that?”

Gu Huaiyu narrowed his eyes.

He could’ve asked more bluntly, ‘Are you seeing the emperor?’

He wasn’t usually the type to pry, but after attending the palace banquet with Gu Fangzhi and seeing the way Pei Xin and the other officials treated him, not to mention how Gu Fangzhi kept entering the palace late at night.

Well, what kind of two grown men spent that much time together?

He’d even heard that one of Gu Fangzhi’s robes had been left behind in the palace and never retrieved.

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

Unaware of Gu Huaiyu’s train of thought, Gu Fangzhi waved his hands.

“No, no. I’m too busy running around to even see anyone, let alone be with someone.”

To prove his sincerity, he even gave a bright, honest smile.

But in Gu Huaiyu’s eyes, that smile looked forced, as if Gu Fangzhi were pretending everything was fine.

Could it be that Pei Xin wasn’t treating him well?

It would make sense, if Pei Xin truly cherished him, he’d have made it known by now.

Even if he didn’t announce it publicly, there’d be whispers, like those recent rumors across the capital that Pei Xin planned to take Grand Tutor Sun as his consort.

…Wait a minute.

Gu Huaiyu frowned.

No way, surely Pei Xin didn’t actually like that old man, and that’s why he refused to give Gu Fangzhi an official title?!

How could his brother possibly lose to that old fossil?!

When Gu Fangzhi saw Gu Huaiyu’s face twist for a brief moment, whether in anger or some sudden realization, he wasn’t sure.

He was just about to say something to ease the mood when Gu Huaiyu lifted a hand and poked his own shoulder.

“You… don’t let yourself be wronged.” he said.

Gu Fangzhi didn’t really understand what his brother meant, but he could sense the concern behind his words.

He smiled. “Don’t worry, I’d never let myself be wronged.”

And far away in the imperial study of the capital, someone pressed a hand to his suddenly aching chest and snapped his eyes open.

Days passed quickly; there were less than ten days left until Pei Xin’s birthday.

Envoys from various nations sent gifts one after another in celebration.

The grander offerings were to be presented during the banquet itself, while the smaller ones were stored directly in the palace treasury. Gu Fangzhi and several colleagues were assigned to register and inspect them.

Though called “small gifts,” they were extravagant enough to make Gu Fangzhi dizzy with excitement, natural coral, pearls the size of a baby’s fist, jeweled daggers inlaid with gems of all colors.

Each time, Gu Fangzhi would fondle them to his heart’s content, then reload his save.

And thus, Pei Xin’s vision went black twice as often as before.

Curious, he changed into plain clothes and rode a modest carriage to see what Gu Fangzhi was up to.
When he saw the man’s bright eyes lighting up as he touched the pearls, Pei Xin couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of his lips.

Honestly…

He’d already given Gu Fangzhi so much gold, and yet the man still looked like a pauper dazzled by trinkets.

Yang Luhai, seeing Pei Xin’s expression, caught somewhere between anger and amusement, asked carefully, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you… are you feeling unwell?”

Pei Xin glared at Gu Fangzhi from afar and snorted coldly.
“I- I- I- am fine!”

A few days later, as Pei Xin’s birthday drew near, the streets grew livelier. Vendors began selling peach-shaped buns and charms symbolizing longevity, hoping to borrow a bit of the emperor’s fortune.

Merchants and performers from foreign lands crowded in as well, filling the capital with constant music and laughter, day and night alike were bustling with festivity.

Even Gu Fangzhi couldn’t help feeling a surge of excitement.

After all, the Ministry of Rites had been working nonstop for months to prepare for this banquet, it was finally time to see the fruits of their labor.

And the minister had even said: those who perform well will receive a bonus.

Delighted, Gu Fangzhi treated himself to a bag of candied chestnuts.

He had just cracked one open when someone suddenly patted him on the back from behind.
“…Lord Gu.”

Startled, Gu Fangzhi’s chestnut flew out of his hand.

He quickly reloaded and caught it midair before turning around, only to see the Right Chancellor.

To Gu Fangzhi, the Right Chancellor was like an NPC who always handed out main quests.
Every time he appeared, it meant trouble.

It was thanks to him that Gu Fangzhi had ended up as Pei Xin’s private tutor in the first place.

Still, in fairness, the old man was quite good at assigning work.

He had told Gu Fangzhi to supervise Pei Xin’s studies, and now the emperor had nearly memorized all his classics.

Gu Fangzhi smiled warmly and offered him a few chestnuts. “Were you looking for me, Chancellor?”

The Right Chancellor accepted them with a faint smile. “Yes. His Majesty wishes you to enter the palace at once. The carriage is waiting, come along.”

During the ride, Gu Fangzhi eyed the Chancellor’s calm, inscrutable demeanor and felt a pang of unease.

He asked twice what the matter was, but the old man only replied, “You’ll know when we arrive.”

When they reached the imperial study, Gu Fangzhi realized that others were already present,
the same group of high-ranking officials who had been summoned last time to advise on strategy.

Seeing him, Pei Xin said, “Everyone’s here. Sit.”

The atmosphere felt… off.

Gu Fangzhi instantly saved his progress, then cautiously found an empty chair and sat down.

The Right Chancellor sat beside him, peeling chestnuts with infuriating calm.

In this heavy air, he somehow still had the appetite to snack, cracking one open and popping it into his mouth.

At that moment, Pei Xin said, “I will go to Liangshan myself.”

Everyone froze in shock.

“Your Majesty!”

“It’s too dangerous!”

“Absolutely not, the risk is too great for Your Majesty to lead personally, please reconsider!”

Gu Fangzhi: “……?”

Pei Xin? Going to Liangshan?

Judging from the others’ reactions, that meant he was planning to… wage war?

Terrified that he might have misheard, Gu Fangzhi reloaded several times, listening carefully each round.

From Pei Xin’s perspective, meanwhile, he could see the Right Chancellor beside Gu Fangzhi, cheeks puffing as the man bit into a chestnut, which popped in and out of his mouth repeatedly as he gawked.

Pei Xin: “……”

Disgusting.

…But also a little funny.

He propped a hand against his forehead and lowered his gaze, a small smile tugging at his lips.
But to the officials watching him, that smile looked completely different.

Their emperor, smiling like that at the thought of leading troops into battle?

As expected. Even if he had been acting the part of a wise ruler lately, deep down, he still harbored that dark, bloodthirsty impulse.