Wei Yun raised his hand, signaling Gu Chusheng to enter.
After a brief moment, Gu Chusheng walked in with a document in hand and bowed. "Greetings, Marquis of National Stability."
As he straightened up, his gaze involuntarily landed on Chu Yu. His expression betrayed a hint of surprise at her presence. Sensing his confusion, Wei Yun placed his hand over Chu Yu's and said calmly, "She’s one of mine. No need for concern."
At these words, Gu Chusheng's expression shifted slightly. Chu Yu lowered her eyes, as if acknowledging the statement. Noticing how tightly Gu Chusheng gripped the document, Wei Yun spoke with mild displeasure, "If Grand Scholar Gu has no urgent matters, you may retire for now."
"Forgive my intrusion, Marquis," Gu Chusheng took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within him, and replied evenly, "But I come on a matter of great importance."
With that, he knelt and adjusted his robes before looking up at Wei Yun. "Marquis, are you aware that Zhao Yue has been secretly corresponding with the Northern Di, pledging to mobilize all forces to attack Bai Province from both north and south?"
Wei Yun frowned. This was likely done in secrecy by Zhao Yue, and he had yet to learn of it.
Still, he nodded to indicate his acknowledgment. Gu Chusheng continued, "And does the Marquis know that after four years of war, coupled with Zhao Yue’s covert military buildup and the construction of the Moon-Embracing Tower, the national treasury has long been depleted? For the past two years, taxes have been raised, yet the people suffer unbearably. Even so, our Great Chu’s granaries have never been filled to their required capacity."
As Gu Chusheng spoke, both Chu Yu and Wei Yun furrowed their brows. Wei Yun responded calmly, "I am aware of all this."
"Marquis, Great Chu now stands on the brink of collapse. Should any natural disaster or human calamity strike and be mishandled, corpses will litter the land, and the people will be left with no refuge. Marquis," Gu Chusheng implored earnestly, "Will you truly prioritize your personal grievances and place the entire realm on the edge of a blade?"
Hearing this, Chu Yu suddenly recalled—she was now twenty-one years old.
In the year she turned twenty-one, there had been an earthquake in Luo Province. Back then, Gu Chusheng had barely returned home for nearly a month, tirelessly occupied with relief efforts. Confined to the inner quarters, she had heard little of the disaster amidst the revelry in Hua Jing, assuming it had not been severe.
Chu Yu silently reviewed all the information she could recall about that earthquake. The primary devastation had been in Shecheng, Qing Province—Yao Yong’s territory. Calculating the timeline, the earthquake… was indeed due in a month.
She was taken aback that Gu Chusheng was already anticipating natural disasters, a testament to how dire the treasury’s state must be. Though it was possible he was exaggerating to persuade Wei Yun, she knew she had to prepare early regardless.
As she pondered these thoughts, Wei Yun chuckled lightly. "Grand Scholar Gu is truly devoted to the nation and its people. If so, why not advise the one seated upon the Golden Throne? Do you believe I wish to rebel? I am merely a cornered beast, fighting for survival."
"If the Marquis is a cornered beast, is His Majesty not the same? If the Marquis abandons the people’s survival for his own, how is he any different from Zhao Yue?"
Gu Chusheng stared intently at Wei Yun, who took a sip of tea before meeting his gaze. "That’s why I’ve left you a path, haven’t I?"Gu Chusheng remained silent. Wei Yun spoke calmly, "The Eldest Princess is pregnant?"
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng let out a light laugh—cold and mocking.
"Indeed, the Marquis sees all with divine clarity."
"I am not Zhao Yue," Wei Yun's voice was steady. "I wish to protect my family, but I also wish to protect the people of this land. Gu Chusheng, the choice has always been in your hands, not mine. I knew the truth back then, yet I still allowed Zhao Yue to ascend the throne—for the sake of the common people."
"I gave Zhao Yue a choice. Had he been a good emperor, we would not have come to this. But he was tyrannical and debauched, inciting the people's wrath. While my generals and I fought on the frontlines, he exhausted the nation's resources to build the Moonview Tower, squandering lives in extravagance. Were these actions forced upon him by me?"
"It was you who had the Eldest Princess seduce him!" Gu Chusheng declared sharply. "Had she not demanded it, would he have done such things?!"
At this, Chu Yu couldn't help but laugh.
Gu Chusheng turned his gaze to her. Chu Yu sighed. "It is always the women who ruin nations. Minister Gu, in your heart, is it not the Eldest Princess, rather than Zhao Yue, who has thrown the world into chaos?"
Gu Chusheng pressed his lips together, silent. Chu Yu continued coolly, "But the Moonview Tower was not the Eldest Princess's demand. The reckless expansion of the military was not her doing either. What kind of man Zhao Yue truly is—have you still not realized it? Even without the Eldest Princess, Zhao Yue would have found another excuse to walk this path sooner or later. Do you know why?"
"From the moment he ascended the throne, he never showed the people an ounce of respect. He sought power for power's sake. If becoming emperor did not allow him to indulge in pleasure, after years of restraint, how could he possibly be content?"
Chu Yu's words stunned Gu Chusheng. He had always believed that even if Zhao Yue had erred at first, what was done could not be undone. He had sought the best path forward for all, convinced Zhao Yue would not make the same mistake twice.
Yet it had never occurred to him—if a man's very motives were flawed, how could he ever walk the right path?
Zhao Yue had taken the throne for the power of standing above all but one. He had no family, no beloved, not a shred of affection or reverence for this land. Even if seventy thousand valiant men's bones paved his imperial road, he would feel no remorse. For such a man, once he gained power, if he did not abuse it, how could he justify all his scheming?
Gu Chusheng said nothing. Chu Yu spoke calmly, "But these are things you already understand, Minister Gu. Now that you've come, you must have long prepared, haven't you?"
After a long silence, Gu Chusheng finally spoke. "I had the Eldest Princess feign pregnancy and poisoned Zhao Yue. In five months, he will be completely paralyzed. I will stabilize the court until the Eldest Princess's supposed delivery, then present a child as hers and support its ascension to the throne."
His tone was devoid of emotion as he laid out the plan. Chu Yu was astonished—she knew Gu Chusheng's character all too well.
The Gu family had always upheld the sanctity of royal bloodlines and legitimacy. Yet now, he was personally orchestrating the tainting of that lineage?
While Chu Yu was shocked, Wei Yun remained composed, as if he had long anticipated Gu Chusheng's scheme. He said simply, "As long as you've come to terms with it.""I hope there won't be any large-scale conflicts between you and Zhao Yue during these five months," Gu Chusheng began. "Avoid fighting if possible. But if you must fight," his eyes darkened, "then take Qing Province!"
Qing Province was Yao Yong's territory. After Zhao Yue's eventual death, without Zhao Yue's protection, Yao Yong would inevitably rebel. Seizing Qing Province now would not only cut off Zhao Yue's Left Vanguard but also eliminate a potential threat in advance.
"I can refrain from fighting, but Zhao Yue won't let me off."
Wei Yun responded, "The Wang Family declared themselves kings, and he ordered me to attack them. Now that I've proclaimed myself king, all sides are watching. For the first battle, he'll do everything to crush my momentum—otherwise, others would follow my example. And with the whole world watching this first battle," Wei Yun raised his eyes, "I cannot lose."
"I understand," Gu Chusheng nodded, then added, "But I have a way for you to win the first battle without fighting."
"Oh?"
Wei Yun became intrigued. Gu Chusheng took a sip of tea. "The Left Vanguard for the first battle is an old acquaintance."
"Who?"
Gu Chusheng looked up and uttered a name that surprised both Wei Yun and Chu Yu.
"Shen You."
"At that time, I'll find a way to provoke Yao Yong into battle. You know his temperament—if the situation turns unfavorable, he won't press the attack. We'll first try to persuade Shen You to surrender on the battlefield. Once Shen You yields, the morale of the first battle will collapse. Given Yao Yong's nature, he won't immediately engage again. After that, don't delay—strike straight for Qing Province."
Gu Chusheng's finger tapped the map as he looked at Wei Yun with a stern expression. "By the time Qing Province is taken, it'll likely be five months later. After five months, once I've fully secured the capital's situation, I'll announce a ceasefire. Right now, The Eldest Princess claims the child is about two months along. Waiting another six months, she can 'give birth' to a child under the pretext of premature delivery."
"Where will you find this child?"
Wei Yun seemed amused. Gu Chusheng met his gaze. "That will be entirely at Your Highness's discretion."
"What if the child... is mine?"
Wei Yun tested the waters. Gu Chusheng looked at him, while Wei Yun remained expressionless, his eyes lowering to Chu Yu's hand as he played with her fingers.
Gu Chusheng seemed to grasp something. After a moment, he chuckled lightly.
"If this child is the First Madam's," he said solemnly, "I, Gu, will treat it as my own, devoting myself wholeheartedly to assist until a hundred years later, when the realm flourishes and the world knows peace."
Author's Note:
Wei Yun: "To hell with treating it as your own!! I'm not dead yet!!!"
Apologies, my cat was unwell last night, and I stayed up nearly all night with it. During the day, I was at the hospital for surgery, and when I got back in the evening, I was so exhausted I thought I'd nap before updating. Unexpectedly, I slept until 11:30 PM... Utterly despairing. Sorry, everyone.
OpenNovel