As the carriage headed towards the Gu residence, Wei Yun had already captured the last city in Qing Province.
After the Yu River was breached, Qing Province no longer had any natural defenses. Knowing that Zhao Yue had no real intention of attacking Bailing, Wei Yun didn’t withdraw his troops at all. Instead, before Zhao Yue’s letter could arrive, he launched a swift offensive, dividing his forces into three routes with Shen You and Qin Shiyue, and seized the entirety of Qing Province. At the same time, he sent a message to Chu Linyang in Luo Province, ordering him to bring reinforcements.
By the time Zhao Yue’s letter arrived, Qing Province had already fallen entirely into Wei Yun’s hands. As Wei Yun read Zhao Yue’s letter, Qin Shiyue anxiously asked, “Your Highness, what does Zhao Yue say?”
“He demands we retreat our troops back to the Yu River.”
Wei Yun clenched the letter, his voice icy. “Starting from the day this letter is received, for every day we delay, he will send back one of Madam’s fingers.”
Qin Shiyue gasped. “What do we do? Do we retreat?”
“How long until Brother Chu arrives?”
“His letter said he’ll be here by noon today.”
“Prepare to break camp. Once Brother Chu arrives, hand over all territory west of the Yu River in Qing Province to him, and we’ll retreat to the Yu River. Send men to monitor Zhao Yue’s messengers—don’t let them send any carrier pigeons. Shoot down any pigeons that take flight.”
Zhao Yue’s demand for retreat was expected. By summoning Chu Linyang to the Yu River, Wei Yun could still claim to have complied with the order. Without carrier pigeons, it would take another half-month for Zhao Yue’s second letter to arrive.
And in that half-month, Gu Chusheng should have enough time to secure control of the capital. According to their original plan, Zhao Yue should be nearing the onset of poisoning by now, and Gu Chusheng, in alliance with the Eldest Princess, should soon take control of Hua Jing.
Wei Yun reviewed the current situation once more before adding, “After retreating to the Yu River, we’ll join forces and march into Kun Province.”
“Your Highness, are you planning to storm Hua Jing as soon as Gu Chusheng secures military control?”
Wei Yun nodded. He lifted his gaze toward Hua Jing, warmth flickering in his eyes. “I can’t leave Madam and the young heir there for too long. I must go to her.”
Hearing this, Qin Shiyue was momentarily stunned before breaking into a smile. “Speaking of which, the young marquis is already a father now.”
Wei Yun pressed his lips together at the words, unable to suppress a slight curve of his mouth.
Clasping his sleeves, he gazed into the distance. After a long silence, he finally murmured, “Yes.”
He was a father now.
While Wei Yun made all his preparations, Gu Chusheng respectfully invited the Eldest Princess to the Gu residence. After ensuring all his private troops were ready, he sat in the hall, waiting for Zhao Yue.
By then, dawn had broken. Zhao Yue had just removed the medicinal poultice from his eyes, his blurred vision gradually clearing. Zhang Hui, seeing focus return to his gaze, exclaimed joyfully, “Your Majesty, can you see?”
Zhao Yue took a moment to adjust. Having been blind for so long, the sudden return of light lifted his spirits. “Reward Miss Yu generously!” he declared.
With that, he rose and hurried toward the Eldest Princess’s palace, asking eagerly, “Has Consort Mei risen yet?”
Before anyone could answer, a palace maid rushed in, panic-stricken. “Your Majesty!”
“How dare you!” Zhang Hui scolded. “Such haste is unbecoming!”
Ignoring him, the maid cried, “Your Majesty—Consort Mei is missing!”
Zhao Yue’s expression darkened. Zhang Hui hesitated before suggesting, “Shall we send men to search—”
“Seal the city gates. From today onward, no one leaves without my decree.”Zhao Yue spoke coldly, then headed toward the imperial study and ordered, "Summon Grand Scholar Gu Chusheng to the palace for an audience."
Gu Chusheng had been waiting for Zhao Yue's summons. He changed into his official robes and entered the palace with a composed demeanor, kneeling and saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
Zhao Yue dismissed everyone else and got straight to the point: "Where is the Eldest Princess?"
Gu Chusheng raised his head with a puzzled expression. "What does Your Majesty mean?"
"Stop pretending!" Zhao Yue roared. "Where have you taken her?!"
"Your Majesty speaks strangely. How would I know where Consort Mei is?"
Zhao Yue didn't respond. He stared at Gu Chusheng, breathing heavily. "I'll let you see Chu Yu. I promise she'll be unharmed. Just return the Eldest Princess to me."
"Your Majesty demands a person from me but only offers a mere meeting in exchange?" Gu Chusheng smiled, not bothering to mince words. Zhao Yue tapped the Golden Throne, his voice icy. "Do you know what price I paid to secure Chu Yu? Do you think kidnapping Consort Mei will make me release her?"
"Your Majesty took Miss Chu hostage to threaten Wei Yun. As long as she remains in Hua Jing, Wei Yun will feel threatened—why must she be in Your Majesty's hands?"
Gu Chusheng looked at Zhao Yue and sighed. "Your Majesty, I have no wish to oppose you. I'm merely concerned for Miss Chu. She's pregnant now, a delicate time. I only wish to personally ensure her safety."
"You may care deeply for her," Zhao Yue sneered, "but does she return your feelings? She belongs to Wei Yun now. Are you really willing to defy me for her sake?!"
"Back then, Consort Mei already had a betrothed," Gu Chusheng said calmly. "Did Your Majesty let go?"
The words stunned Zhao Yue. He stared at Gu Chusheng before suddenly realizing—Gu Chusheng couldn't possibly be working with Wei Yun.
Zhao Yue knew all too well—Gu Chusheng was just like him. Back then, he had wanted to tear Mei Hanxue apart. Now, Gu Chusheng must have long wished to kill Wei Yun. How could they possibly collaborate?
As Zhao Yue hesitated, Gu Chusheng chuckled. "I won't speak in riddles, Your Majesty. There are only three things in my heart—the people, the throne, and Chu Yu. I seized Yao Yong's provisions for the people's sake. Don't push me. Surely, Your Majesty doesn't want us to turn against each other in Hua Jing?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"It is Your Majesty who threatens me!" Gu Chusheng raised his voice sharply. "Has any demand I made truly undermined Your Majesty's plans?! She was raised in luxury, and now she's with child. If you keep her locked up and something happens to her—what am I to do?!"
"Put yourself in my place. Consort Mei is in my hands," Gu Chusheng said coldly. "For every day I don't see Chu Yu, you won't see Consort Mei. If a single hair is harmed on Chu Yu's head, I'll make the Eldest Princess pay tenfold!"
"You dare?!" Zhao Yue slammed the table and stood. "If you lay a finger on her, I'll cut the child from Chu Yu's womb and deliver it to you. Surely, Lord Gu would be delighted to see Wei Yun's offspring."
At this, Gu Chusheng laughed. "Your Majesty speaks true. I would indeed be pleased to see Wei Yun's child. But I wonder—would Your Majesty feel the same joy upon seeing your own?"
Zhao Yue's face turned deathly pale. Gu Chusheng burst into laughter, then turned and strode out.Zhao Yue, seeing his indifferent demeanor, finally couldn't hold back and spoke: "Do you even care about Chu Yu at all?"
Gu Chusheng halted his steps. After a long pause, he sighed softly.
"If I didn't care, why would I have argued with Your Majesty to this extent?"
Neither spoke for a while. Eventually, Zhao Yue said, "I'll have her sent to the Gu residence. From now on, you'll both be under house arrest together."
"Your Maj—"
"This is my final concession!" Zhao Yue raised his voice. Gu Chusheng fell silent, calculating for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Send her to the Gu residence. Once I see her, I'll return Consort Mei."
With that, Gu Chusheng strode out.
After he left, Zhao Yue kicked over a table in fury. Zhang Hui hurried in, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm yourself!"
"This is too much..." Zhao Yue's voice trembled with rage. "This is too much!"
"Your Majesty," Zhang Hui whispered, "perhaps I could take some men and follow him. Once Her Highness is safe, we could immediately—"
He made a throat-slitting gesture. Zhao Yue let out a cold laugh. "Kill Gu Chusheng in the capital? Do you know how many of his men are hidden in Hua Jing?"
"If he truly rebels," Zhao Yue said grimly, "it's hard to say who would kill whom."
"Then... is Your Majesty going to endure this?"
Zhang Hui hesitated. Zhao Yue didn't answer at first. After a long silence, he slowly began to laugh. "Endure it?"
His eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty ferocity. "How much have I endured in this lifetime? Now that I'm dying, must I still endure them? They care so much about this Great Chu, this empire, these people, don't they?"
Zhao Yue felt his blood boiling. He braced his hands on his knees, panting heavily. "If I suffer, none of them will escape suffering! They think I'm wicked now? Ha!" He laughed wildly. "I'll show them just how wicked a man can be! Zhang Hui, pass down my orders." He beckoned Zhang Hui closer and whispered, "Have Jiang Bai's soldiers dump all the plague-ridden corpses into the river."
"Your Majesty?!"
Zhang Hui gasped in horror. "This is... this is..."
"What, Zhang Hui?" Zhao Yue leaned back in his chair, smiling. "Do you also think I've gone mad?"
"Your Majesty..."
Zhang Hui didn't know how to dissuade him. Zhao Yue propped his head on one hand, still smiling. "There's one more thing I want to do. Send someone to Northern Di. Tell Sucha I'll collaborate with him to attack Bai Province from both sides, then clear a path from Qing Province straight to Hua Jing for him, and gift him Yan Province. Then send the same message to Chen—have them attack Luo Province. Any part of Great Chu's territory they can conquer, I'll sign treaties to cede to them! If they lack grain, I'll provide it. If they lack troops, I'll supply them. I have only one demand." Zhao Yue's smile widened. "I want Wei Yun, Song Shilan, Chu Linyang—all those traitorous rebels—torn limb from limb!"
"Your Majesty..."
Zhang Hui's lips trembled. "You've lost your mind..."
"Lost my mind?" Zhao Yue burst into laughter at this. "Yes, I have! So what?!"Zhao Yue stood up, his sleeves flung behind him, and angrily declared, "I may be mad, but I am still the emperor of Great Chu! They forced me into this! In my youth, the entire world humiliated me. I endured countless hardships to finally become emperor, and now they scheme to overthrow me. What have I done wrong? I sacrificed so much, exerted such immense effort to ascend the throne—what’s wrong with building the Star-Picking Tower for the Eldest Princess? The heavy taxes I imposed—weren’t they to guard against them? If they harbored no rebellious intentions, why would I need such precautions?! I am the Son of Heaven, the sovereign—they are subjects! Servants! Yet they push me to this..."
His voice gradually softened. "If they want to kill me, fine... but they even try to turn the only person who treats me well against me... The world has already taken everything from me. Now, they want to take the Eldest Princess—the only one left who matters to me. Tell me," Zhao Yue lifted his gaze to Zhang Hui, "have I done wrong in all this?"
"After how they’ve treated me, can’t I even retaliate?! From the day they forced my hand, they should have known the price they’d pay!"
Zhang Hui remained silent. Zhao Yue regarded him calmly. "Zhang Hui, if you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. Leave. You’ve served me for years—I won’t harm you."
With that, Zhao Yue turned away, not looking at Zhang Hui. Yet after a long pause, he heard Zhang Hui’s voice behind him: "This subordinate obeys."
Zhao Yue closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
He waved his hand. "Send Chu Yu away, fetch Her Highness, and then surround the Gu residence."
Zhang Hui departed, leading his men to the dungeon. When they arrived, Chu Yu was still drowsy with sleep. The dungeon had no distinction between day and night, and she could hardly tell whether she was awake or dreaming. Zhang Hui looked at her with a cold expression. "Out. Follow."
Chu Yu’s heart steadied slightly—she knew either Wei Yun or Gu Chusheng had secured her release.
Stretching lazily, she rose from the bed with a smile. "Eunuch Zhang himself comes to fetch me—how flattering."
Zhang Hui ignored her, leading her out. After binding her, he placed her in a carriage. Chu Yu counted silently inside the carriage for about half an hour before it finally stopped. Then Zhang Hui’s voice came: "Get down."
The curtain was lifted, and when she looked up, she saw Gu Chusheng standing outside the carriage. His expression was calm, showing no surprise at her appearance. Chu Yu, however, was momentarily stunned before delight lit her face. "Gu Chusheng?"
Gu Chusheng smiled faintly. Extending his scholarly hand, he said gently, "I’ve come for you. Step down—slowly."
Author’s Note: How dashing is Gu Chusheng right now?
Don’t worry—Wei Yun during the final battle will be even more impressive.
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