The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 68 [R19]
Inside the room, the fire in the brazier continued to burn and made the atmosphere all the more intimate.
It wasn’t until both of them were nearly out of breath that they finally ended their kiss.
But things weren’t over yet.
Gu Huaisheng said, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be gentle.”
Jiang Jingchun didn’t reply. She simply stared at him with her moist, reddened eyes.
Gu Huaisheng leaned in and kissed her again. His kisses slowly trailed downwards from her lips.
Jiang Jingchun was utterly dazed by Gu Huaisheng’s actions. When she looked down, all she could see was the top of his head.
Her body had long since turned soft and pliant, and one of her hands tangled into Gu Huaisheng’s hair.
She had no idea where Gu Huaisheng had learned these things.
But if it went on like this, she felt as if she might faint again.
Jiang Jingchun clutched at Gu Huaisheng’s hair with a bit more force in an attempt to stop his actions.
“Stop… Please stop…”
But Gu Huaisheng didn’t listen to her.
In the end, Jiang Jingchun couldn’t take it anymore…
When Gu Huaisheng finally lifted his head, there seemed to be a faint trace of moisture on his face.
He reached up to wipe it with his long, slender fingers. The glistening wetness on his pale fingertips seemed strangely alluring.
This man… he was truly…
Gu Huaisheng looked at her again and said, “The book said this will make it less painful at the beginning.”
Jiang Jingchun didn’t know what sort of absurd book Gu Huaisheng had been reading or where he had picked up these ridiculous ideas. Before she could say anything, though, Gu Huaisheng leaned in again.
That night, snow fell heavily outside. The realm outside the room was beyond frozen and icy. Inside that room, the flickering candlelight reflected against the walls, accompanied by the sound of the bed creaking.
By the time Jiang Jingchun woke up the next day, Gu Huaisheng had already gone to work.
Last night, Gu Huaisheng finally showed some restraint, and as a result, Jiang Jingchun didn’t feel as sore as she had after the first time. She supported herself with her hand and sat up. Meanwhile, memories of the previous night surged through her mind like a tidal wave.
Her face burned. She kicked the quilt off her and finally felt a bit cooler and calmer.
However, she couldn’t help sneezing.
The snowball fight from the previous day had left her chilled, after all. She rubbed her nose but didn’t think much of it as she got out of bed.
By the time she was up, it was already close to noon. Huayun entered the room to deliver a message from Madame Gu. “Madame said Miss should rest well tonight and doesn’t need to attend the palace ceremony.”
It was the thirty-first day of the twelfth lunar month, and the next day would be New Year’s Day.
At midnight tonight, they were supposed to head to the palace. Based on Madame Gu’s words, it seemed Gu Huaisheng had already spoken to her about it.
Jiang Jingchun didn’t think much of the matter after hearing this. She climbed back into bed and decided not to get up at all.
She felt like she’d caught a cold. Her head was foggy, and she had little appetite for lunch. In the end, she only managed to get down a bit of porridge before lying back down to sleep.
She remained in bed until Gu Huaisheng returned from court in the evening.
When Gu Huaisheng entered their bedchamber, he found the space still dark. He frowned slightly, and he remembered the servants mentioning that Jiang Jingchun hadn’t gotten out of bed all day. He began to worry.
He lit the lamp and walked over to the bed. Jiang Jingchun was wrapped up entirely in the quilt.
Gu Huaisheng reached over and lifted a small corner of the quilt, revealing her flushed face. Her whole face was bright red, and this was more apparent under the candlelight.
She was still asleep, but when she sensed movement, she opened her eyes.
After seeing softly, she said softly, “You’re back?”
So soon? She felt like she had only just fallen asleep.
Gu Huaisheng looked at her dazed expression and felt uneasy. He reached out with the back of his hand to touch her forehead. Sure enough, it was burning hot.
She had a fever.
She must have caught a cold when she played in the snow yesterday.
Gu Huaisheng sighed.
Now, she wouldn’t even have to pretend to be sick to avoid the palace ceremony—this time, she was genuinely unwell.
He got up and instructed someone to summon the household physician. Then, he retrieved a robe from the cabinet, draped it over her, and helped her sit up against the headboard.
He brushed her stray hair to one side and gently touched her burning face.
She really couldn’t handle the cold.
Just one snowball fight had left her like this.
Jiang Jingchun leaned against the headboard and asked, “What time is it now? Do you need to leave soon?”
After all, they had to head to the palace before midnight.
“It’s still early,” Gu Huaisheng replied. Then he asked, “You’ve been in bed all day? If you were feeling unwell, why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Jiang Jingchun had been sleeping so deeply that she barely realised anything was wrong.
Her head was still foggy, so she didn’t say much more.
When the physician arrived, he diagnosed her with a cold that had brought on a fever. He prescribed some medicine, and the maids immediately set about brewing it.
After the physician left, Gu Huaisheng set up a small table on the bed and had dinner brought in.
Jiang Jingchun looked at the food but had no appetite. She closed her eyes and wanted to lie back down and sleep again.
Gu Huaisheng, however, wouldn’t let her. He gently pulled her back up and coaxed, “Just eat a little. You only had a bowl of porridge at lunch. If you don’t eat something now, you’ll get a stomach ache after drinking medicine on an empty stomach.”
He spoke to her softly and coaxingly, and after much effort, he finally got her to eat half a bowl of rice.
Only after she finished eating did Gu Huaisheng finally start his own meal. He knew he had a busy night ahead of him.
After the dishes and utensils had been cleared, Huayun brought Jiang Jingchun’s medicine from outside. Once it had cooled to the right temperature, Gu Huaisheng carefully fed it to her.
Jiang Jingchun wasn’t one to make a fuss about such things. The medicine was bitter, but the discomfort of not drinking it was worse. She scrunched up her face but finished the entire bowl without leaving a drop.
After she finished the medicine, Gu Huaisheng popped a candied fruit into her mouth. Once she ate it, she immediately burrowed back under the covers.
The medicine made Jiang Jingchun feel even sleepier. While wrapped snugly in the warm quilt, she soon drifted off into a deep slumber.
A little over an hour later, Gu Huaisheng returned with a basin of hot water to wipe her down.
Jiang Jingchun was suffering from a fever. Her body had broken out in a sweat after the medicine and her nap. Gu Huaisheng carefully wiped her body and face. The touch stirred her, and she groggily opened her eyes. The fever had subsided slightly, and her body finally felt a bit more comfortable.
Seeing her gaze more clear and lucid this time, Gu Huaisheng gently rubbed his thumb against her eyelid to wake her further. He reminded her, “I’ll be heading to the palace shortly and likely won’t return until noon tomorrow. Remember to get up for breakfast, and don’t forget to take your medicine afterwards. The streets will be very lively at night. Once your fever is gone and I’ve returned, we can go out for a walk together.”
Gu Huaisheng was dressed in his court robes. From his faint scent, Jiang Jingchun could tell he’d already washed and cleansed himself.
Jiang Jingchun nodded slightly in response, though her expression remained listless.
Gu Huaisheng brushed her cheek affectionately and said, “Get some rest. I’ll see you next year.”
As the year came to an end, a new beginning awaited.
Once tonight passed, the new year would dawn.
Jiang Jingchun gave him a quiet ‘Mm’ and added, “Go. I’ll wait for you to come back.”
Hearing her response, a soft smile involuntarily flickered on Gu Huaisheng’s lips. He was concerned about wasting any more time, so he tucked the quilt around her snugly before leaving.
Before departing Cangzhuo Courtyard, Gu Huaisheng reiterated instructions about Jiang Jingchun’s medicine to Huayun. After ensuring everything was in order, he stepped into the courtyard and left.
Jiang Jingchun continued lying on her bed, but she found herself wide awake. She had already slept the better part of the day and had dozed off again after taking her medicine. Now, no matter how she tried, she couldn’t fall asleep.
Gu Huaisheng had left, but a faint trace of his scent still lingered on her senses. She closed her eyes and thought she could hear the snow falling outside. The warm brazier filled the room with heat and cocooned her in comfort. After lying awake for a while, Jiang Jingchun finally drifted off again.
Before she fell asleep, she was still replaying Gu Huaisheng’s words in her mind.
See you next year.
The court’s New Year’s ceremony was exceptionally intricate. Ministers, already clad in their court robes, gathered outside at the stroke of midnight. Meanwhile, Emperor Taihe burned incense in preparation. First, he paid his respects to the empress dowager. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites, he then performed a lengthy series of rituals. Foreign envoys and local officials from various provinces also entered the palace to extend their New Year’s greetings. After completing a set of ceremonies at the Meridian Gate, the emperor accepted their tributes.
The court celebration wasn’t yet over. Once inside the hall, the senior and secondary grand secretaries read out formal addresses.
By the time all the elaborate procedures were completed, dawn had already broken.
Finally, when the palace ceremonies concluded, the officials and ministers began exchanging pleasantries.
By the time everything wrapped up, it was nearly noon. With the new year underway, officials were granted a customary five-day holiday starting today.
Gu Huaisheng and Madame Gu returned home together. As they exited the Meridian Gate, heading toward the Gu family carriage, Shuliang hurried over from the side. He leaned close to Gu Huaisheng and whispered, “Young Master, we’ve caught him. The subordinate of the provincial governor has been captured.”
Gu Huaisheng’s eyes narrowed. “Where is he?”
Shuliang replied, “He’s already been brought back to the residence and is being held there.”
They had apprehended the man earlier that morning. However, since Gu Huaisheng was attending the court’s New Year’s ceremony, they hadn’t been able to notify him immediately.
It had been nearly a month since they started searching for this individual, ever since they obtained the portrait of the man disguised as a woman. A few days ago, they had identified a suspicious target, but to avoid alerting him prematurely, they had continued observing him. Only after seeing the man meet with Song Xuanjing did they confirm his identity as the suspect.
They had chosen the right moment to act and apprehend him. Now, the man was securely detained at the residence.
Upon returning home, Gu Huaisheng bypassed meeting Jiang Jingchun entirely and headed straight to the room where the man was being held.
The suspect was bound with ropes, still dressed in his disguise as a woman, with his false face yet to be removed.
Hearing the door creak open, the man—who was lying on the ground, looked up to see Gu Huaisheng standing in the doorway. The light from outside framed his silhouette, casting his face in shadow and making him appear chillingly grim.
Gu Huaisheng had not slept the entire night. Now, faced with the man responsible for his teacher’s death, his expression was nothing short of icy.
He stepped forward and closed the distance between them.
The door behind him was shut from the outside. It cut off the light that had come streaming in from behind the door. Only the dim sunlight from a nearby window illuminated the room now.
The man closed his eyes. He was unwilling to look at him any longer.
So, this was the end. Despite all his efforts—changing his face, shedding his identity—he had still been caught. He had thought that with his disguise, he could evade discovery. But in the end, he hadn’t escaped his fate.
These people… they were like ghosts that refused to rest.
He gave up resisting. He chose instead to close his eyes and play dead. However, Gu Huaisheng forcibly lifted his jaw with the end of his boot and forced him to open his eyes.
The movement was so forceful that he felt as though his jaw might dislocate, so he had no choice but to open his eyes.
Gu Huaisheng said, “Qian Zhi, you’ve really made me search far and wide for you.”
After all this time, the man he had been hunting down finally appeared before him.
Qian Zhi opened his mouth to speak. Though he appeared to be a woman, his voice was unmistakably that of a man.
He said, “Young Marquis, what’s the point of this? So much time has passed. Why are you still looking for me? What meaning does all of this have?”
Gu Huaisheng sneered coldly. “The meaning? I don’t act based on what the meaning of my actions is—I care only about results. You caused my teacher’s downfall, and yet you dare to ask me about the meaning of my actions?”
If it weren’t for Qian Zhi’s betrayal of Shen Changqing, would Shen Changqing have had to bear such infamy?
Would the reforms he’d proposed have collapsed so abruptly?
Thinking of this, Gu Huaisheng’s expression became harder to control. He said, “What did Wang Shun promise you? What was it that made you betray my teacher? The bloodshed at Hangu Pass—the slaughter of innocent lives by the Mongolian—all of it is your doing… You killed him and left him to bear such shame.
“Was it money? A promised position? And what did you gain in the end? You’ve become a street rat despised by everyone. What were you even after?”
Did he receive a title? Did he achieve greatness?
Every day, to avoid being discovered, he had to disguise himself as someone else. Gu Huaisheng couldn’t understand—what was Qian Zhi even after?
Qian Zhi suddenly laughed and said, “Young Marquis, surely you understand that I had no choice in the matter. Even if I didn’t gain a higher position, even if I ended up being punished with fifty lashes and stripped of my rank, what difference would it make? Did I have a choice? What could I have chosen—could I have chosen to die?”
Shen Changqing hadn’t just offended Wang Shun; he had antagonised the entire conservative faction.
Did he understand what that meant? The majority of the court were members of the conservative faction. If he hadn’t done this, then he too would have been on their list of targets.
He’d rather offend a gentleman than a petty villain.
They could make him suffer in other ways—ways that were far worse than lashes and demotions. Compared to that, he thought that his current predicament was already the best possible outcome for him.
He didn’t have Shen Changqing’s courage. Shen Changqing dared to offend those people, but he couldn’t. If he had ended up with a destroyed family and no way to live or die, he wouldn’t even have the chance to regret his decision.
Moreover, the deaths of civilians and soldiers—what did any of that have to do with him?
Heaven and earth treat all things like straw dogs. He should focus on protecting those he valued instead.
Qian Zhi said, “The dead can’t come back to life, Young Marquis. Why hold on to this grudge? The northern border is still held by the senior grand secretary’s people. What’s the point of all this? Are you planning to bring him down?”
And as long as the war on the northern border carried on, Wang Shun wouldn’t face any immediate problems.
Hearing this, Gu Huaisheng kicked Qian Zhi hard in the chest. Though the man winced in pain, he held back a cry and let out only a muffled grunt.
“You truly have no conscience. Do you remember how my teacher treated you back then? He gave you the opportunity to become his second-in-command, yet you conspired with Wang Shun to harm him like this?”
As Gu Huaisheng brought up the past, Qian Zhi’s expression turned grim. He had already said he had no way out. No way out! It wasn’t him who wanted Shen Changqing dead—it was the entire conservative faction!
He became agitated and raised his voice as he said, “If it were just Wang Shun, that would’ve been easier to deal with. But he used his entire faction to threaten me! He said that if I didn’t follow through, he would ensure I couldn’t live or die in peace. What was I supposed to do? Sacrifice myself for righteousness? Don’t make me laugh!”
He could no longer hold it in. Did Gu Huaisheng not understand human language? If he was so capable, why didn’t he go after Wang Shun instead?
He and his faction were the true culprits.
Qian Zhi wanted to argue further but was interrupted by Gu Huaisheng.
“You were the one who colluded with an enemy of the empire.”
Gu Huaisheng asserted, “It was you who conspired with the Mongols, who leaked my teacher’s plans to them. And in the end, you framed him for treason over the defeat at Hangu Pass, didn’t you?”
He was the only person who could have stolen the governor-general’s official seal.
Who else could it have been?
Although Gu Huaisheng’s tone carried a questioning tone, his words left no room for doubt.
Qian Zhi tried to justify himself by saying, “It was Wang Shun who made me do it.”
Gu Huaisheng said, “Fine. You can tell the emperor the same thing later.”
Qian Zhi was caught off guard. When did Gu Huaisheng mention going to the emperor?
“You have a wife and a son, and both of them are under Wang Shun’s protection,“ Gu Huaisheng continued.
He had thoroughly investigated Qian Zhi’s life.
He knew to strike where it hurt most. Everyone had something they cared about, and this strategy had never failed him.
Family? Wife and child? That was right—everyone had something they couldn’t bear to lose. After all, wasn’t the reason Qian Zhi had listened to Wang Shun in the first place because his weakness had been exploited?
Qian Zhi froze. He had expected Gu Huaisheng to know about his wife and child but hadn’t anticipated him knowing they were under Wang Shun’s protection.
In truth, this protection was just another form of control.
Wang Shun’s faction certainly knew that Qian Zhi had been captured. If Qian Zhi said anything, they would surely act against his family first.
Gu Huaisheng walked toward the door. Not long after, Shuliang entered with two people.
It was Qian Zhi’s wife and child.
The sight of them left Qian Zhi completely dumbfounded.
How had Gu Huaisheng managed to bring them here?
After letting Qian Zhi see them, Gu Huaisheng signalled for Shuliang to take them away.
Qian Zhi shouted at him, “How did you get them!?”
Gu Huaisheng looked at him and said, “Long before I set my sights on you, I already had my eyes on them. The moment you were captured, their fate was sealed as well.”
He and his wife and child had to be taken together.
If his wife and child were captured first, it would inevitably alert the enemy. But once Qian Zhi was caught, they had to seize the moment while Wang Shun’s men hadn’t realised what had happened and were still lax in their vigilance to take his family. Otherwise, once they discovered Qian Zhi’s capture, they would tighten their guard over his wife and child.
Gu Huaisheng walked up to Qian Zhi and looked down at him as he spoke with an indifferent tone, “I won’t kill them, but just as Wang Shun once said to you—I’ll let them neither live nor die.‘”
His voice was calm, as if discussing the simplest of matters.
Hearing this, Qian Zhi ground his teeth in fury. “They’re innocent! Gu Huaisheng, you’re shameless!”
Gu Huaisheng sneered coldly. “When you caused the deaths of so many innocent people, did you ever think of their innocence?”
With that, he made it clear he didn’t want to waste more words on Qian Zhi. He turned to leave.
“Wait! Don’t go!“ Qian Zhi finally called out to him.
Gu Huaisheng turned back. His gaze was cold and emotionless as he looked down at him.
Qian Zhi’s once delicate, almost effeminate features twisted into something grotesque, likely from pain. It made his expression unsettling.
Qian Zhi’s hatred was evident from the way he looked at Gu Huaisheng. However, he was helpless. Gu Huaisheng had his weakness in his grasp. If he didn’t comply, there was no guarantee Gu Huaisheng wouldn’t harm his family. After all, he had caused the death of Gu Huaisheng’s truth and driven Shen Changqing into his current infamous state. Gu Huaisheng must hate him so much, and indeed, his hatred towards him was palpable—how could he possibly let him go?
He couldn’t gamble on someone else’s hatred, and he certainly couldn’t gamble on Gu Huaisheng sparing innocents.
In the end, Qian Zhi had no choice but to compromise. He conceded to Gu Huaisheng.
He asked, “If I speak, if I reveal the truth about what happened back then, will you let them go?“
“Of course,“ Gu Huaisheng replied.
Then, he added, “Come with me to the palace right now.“
“This quickly?“ Qian Zhi hadn’t expected to go so soon.
Gu Huaisheng responded with a brief ‘Mm‘ and left the room.
When Wang Shun realised that Qian Zhi and his family were missing, he would undoubtedly try to rescue them. Every extra day brought more danger. Every moment was precious and couldn’t be wasted.
After Gu Huaisheng left, Shuliang came in. He stripped off Qian Zhi’s disguise and revealed his true appearance.
Outside, Gu Huaisheng leaned against a column under the corridor, waiting for those inside.
He’d stayed up all night and had been busy until now, so his fatigue showed faintly on his face. His thoughts were heavy, and his mind sluggish.
He was tired, but this wasn’t the time to stop. There was still work to do, and he had no time to rest.
As he listened to the movements inside the room, his eyelids grew heavy. Without even realising it, he closed his eyes…
“Gu Huaisheng?”
Before long, a soft, sweet voice called to him.
Upon hearing the sound, Gu Huaisheng opened his eyes and looked toward the source. It was Jiang Jingchun, who now stood in front of him with a puzzled expression. He heard her ask, “Why are you sleeping here? Are you tired? Why don’t you rest inside?“
He’d stayed up all night, so he was certainly tired now.
Gu Huaisheng looked at Jiang Jingchun. She was wearing a hooded cloak trimmed with white fur, which made her small face look even more delicate. Her complexion looked much better than the previous night—after taking medicine and sleeping through the night, her fever must have subsided.
Gu Huaisheng lowered his head and pressed his forehead gently against her. Her forehead indeed wasn’t burning with fever anymore.
Jiang Jingchun opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Gu Huaisheng leaned against her shoulder.
“W-what’s wrong with you?“ Jiang Jingchun was caught off guard by his action but didn’t push him away.
“I’m tired… Let me lean on you for a while,“ he murmured softly by her ear. At this moment, his voice carried a rare, tender vulnerability.
His breath was slow and warm against her ear.
Jiang Jingchun let him lean on her. In front of her, snowflakes swirled in the air and blanketed the ground until it obscured its original colours. The afternoon light was dazzling, but it couldn’t melt the ice and snow. Everything in the courtyard was weighed down by the heavy snow—everything except the plum tree, which stood tall and resolute.
The cold air mingled with Gu Huaisheng’s warmth and scent.
Jiang Jingchun stayed still. Eventually, she reached out to gently pat his back. Her touch was so light it was almost imperceptible, but even so, she felt his body tense slightly.
Before long, Shuliang emerged from the room.
Shuliang saw the two of them and knew that Gu Huaisheng must be exhausted, but there was no time. They had to deliver the man to the palace before Wang Shun could act.
Just as Shuliang considered how to interrupt them, Gu Huaisheng straightened up on his own.
“Let’s go to the street tonight after I get back,“ Gu Huaisheng said.
After saying this, he didn’t linger. He turned around and left with his men.
He couldn’t stay any longer. It was hard to not cling to the warmth that he’d encountered—to not draw comfort from it. Even though he didn’t want to leave, though, there were still things he had to take care of.
He hoped to return before nightfall. Hopefully, by then, everything would be resolved.
Jiang Jingchun watched Gu Huaisheng’s figure disappear from sight. He left so quickly that she didn’t even have time to respond to him.
She didn’t know what was so urgent that he had to rush off like that.
She lingered a moment longer, staring in the direction he’d gone, then left as well.
After leaving, Gu Huaisheng headed straight for the palace. He had someone send a message to the crown prince as well.
It’d be better for Zhao Jinhe to also know what’d happened. At this moment, the emperor was probably inside the Hall for Worship of Ancestors inside the Imperial Ancestral Temple, kneeling in worship and praying. Gu Huaisheng himself couldn’t enter, but Zhao Jinhe could bring Qian Zhi in.
The snowfall hadn’t stopped since it started a couple of days ago.
This year, the first snow arrived later than in previous years. Not long ago, before the snow fell, Wang Shun used its delay as an excuse to rally court officials into submitting a petition, which pressured the emperor to order the reconstruction of Tianlu Terrace. Tianlu Terrace was no mere terrace—it symbolised the emperor’s sincere devotion to the Heavens. How could the emperor simply decide not to rebuild it?
Wang Shun argued that the delay in the snowfall was a sign of divine displeasure caused by the emperor’s errors. He used this reasoning to intimidate the court and attempted to force the emperor into approving the Grand Secretariat’s proposal to rebuild the terrace.
Emperor Taihe had grown weary of Wang Shun, and his mood had soured. He stubbornly held his ground and, fortunately, finally welcomed the first snow.
When the snow fell, it came as a relief to him.
For Wang Shun, however, it was not good news.
Wang Shun left the palace that day. He wore heavy court robes and a thick red cap, which wrapped tightly around his head. Perhaps due to his advanced age, though, no amount of clothing could fully ward off the cold for him. Even the handwarmer he clutched was no longer sufficient to provide him warmth.
He walked slowly along the palace path. Snowflakes landed on his crimson cloak and lingered where they fell without melting.
He had walked this palace path for nearly forty years now. He had risen to power in his youth and had spent years navigating the inner workings of the court. Wang Shun had spent almost four decades manoeuvring and scheming here.
He had experienced much in his lifetime, including the loss of his wife in his youth and the death of his son in his middle age. However, he’d gotten through everything and came to wield immense power over the court.
But Wang Shun knew his time was running out now.
The first snow of the year had finally fallen in late of the twelfth month, as if the heavens had granted him one last favour. Yet, even with this opportunity, he had failed to compel the emperor to heed his demands.
The young emperor had long since grown up. Behind Wang Shun’s back, he had nurtured his own claws and fangs.
And his first act, as an emperor who’d sharpened his claws, was to strike at the one who had bound them.
When Wang Shun finally exited the Meridian Gate, he was helped into a carriage. Upon returning home, he found Song Xuanjing waiting for him.
Song Xuanjing appeared anxious, as if something urgent had occurred. Wang Shun looked at him and asked, “What happened?”
Song Xuanjing replied, “Qian Zhi has been captured.”
Qian Zhi had been captured.
Wang Shun immediately knew who was behind it. He asked, “What about his wife and child? Are they secured?”
Song Xuanjing’s complexion was poor, and his lips were pale. He shook his head and said, “They’ve already been taken.”
Wang Shun had just returned outside, where the wind and the snow raged, and his mind was still sluggish. It took him a moment to process what Song Xuanjing had said.
Taken as well…
That person’s next step must be to bring Qian Zhi to the palace.
Time was running out. It was easy to imagine what Gu Huaisheng would do—he would naturally hurry to present Qian Zhi to Emperor Taihe as soon as possible.
In the past, Wang Shun wouldn’t have been overly concerned.
However, the emperor now was not the same as he used to be.
Ever since that autumn hunt, when the eighteen-year-old emperor secretly ventured out with Wang Yu and spent a night in the deep forest, Wang Shun should have realised that, at his core, the emperor was untamed.
This was his opportunity to topple Wang Shun. Would he let it slip by?
Wang Shun didn’t know. Even he couldn’t be sure.
But it couldn’t happen now. He couldn’t fall yet.
He looked at Song Xuanjing and said, “Gu Huaisheng is surely escorting Qian Zhi to the palace as we speak. Immediately arrange for death soldiers to intercept him on the road to the palace. Kill him. Qian Zhi must not reach the emperor alive.”
The winter snow fell heavily while the scent of plum blossoms swept through the long street. It was the first day of the new year, and the streets of the capital were still quiet. There were only a few passersby there. Still, the first day of the year was always an occasion of joy and celebration. The red lanterns that had been hung at the doors of every household waited for the evening to arrive; they were ready to brighten the evening festivities when the streets would become much more bustling.
Gu Huaisheng and Qian Zhi shared a carriage. The former kept the latter firmly within his sight.
Gu Huaisheng had brought along a number of secret guards on this journey, as he was wary of any ambush along the way.
Just as he was thinking this, the carriage passed through a long alley, and suddenly, an arrow shot in from outside.
The arrow pierced straight into the carriage wall. Its tail still quivered as it did. The power that its archer had put behind it was evident.
Gu Huaisheng’s expression changed instantly. He pulled Qian Zhi down to the floor of the carriage and then stood to lift the curtain to peer out. As expected, a group of men in black appeared outside.
It wasn’t hard to guess who they were. From their appearance, he could tell that they must be Wang Shun’s death soldiers.
The only thing he hadn’t expected was for them to come so quickly.
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