"Alright, just keep spoiling him!"
Wu Fan took a few deep breaths, his gaze deepening. He raised his teacup to bid farewell, "We've talked a lot today. I'll visit the Pri Minister's residence another day." Enjoy new stories from empire
"Alright."
Sima Qin nodded and didn't linger. He stood up with the Grand Tutor to take their leave.
"General Wu, regarding the matters in Langzhou, His Majesty has made a decree, prohibiting our intervention... I hope you won't act on your own." Sima Qin advised.
"I understand!"
Wu Fan showed so impatience, waved his hand, and returned to his room. A decree from His Majesty? Haha, it must be you, Sima Qin, handling it...
Dismissing the attendants, Wu Fan scanned the room and asked the maid beside him, "Yuan'er hasn't been ho for days. Where has he been fooling around?!"
The maid hurriedly replied, "Master, Young Master didn't return ho last night. He stayed at the lody Pavilion..."
"Damn it, ask him to co back and see imdiately!"
Wu Fan scolded angrily, venting his frustration and dismissing the maid.
At this mont, the room was finally empty, leaving only him.
After a while, Wu Fan's eyes flickered. He took out a command token from the bookshelf and muttered to himself, "Ancestors above, what I'm about to do, I hope you won't bla . It's an unavoidable act as a subject."
"Since she can't be a good emperor, let cleanse the court and the ministers... even if I have to use external forces!"
...
Outside the General's Residence, Sima Qin and Minister Su didn't take a carriage. The two elderly n, both well past their pri, walked side by side, slowly returning to the Residence.
The two remained silent along the way. It wasn't until they reached a sparsely populated area that Sima Qin couldn't help but speak up, "Grand Tutor, what Wu Fan said is not without reason."
"Are you not afraid that your own student might go astray?"
Unexpectedly, when these words were spoken, the Grand Tutor narrowed his eyes, smiled aningfully, and looked at him.
"Pri Minister, are you testing ?"
"...Where did you get that idea!"
Sima Qin awkwardly smiled, wiping away his sweat.
"Humph! As you said, this old man's student. How could I not know her character?" The Grand Tutor stroked his long beard, saying leisurely.
"You also guessed?"
After a mont of silence, Sima Qin asked.
"She's not here. I've known that for a long ti."
The old Grand Tutor nodded, slowly walking forward.
"But I won't ask where she went or what she's doing. I just hope that in my remaining years, I can see her fulfill her wishes, see her achieve what she desires."
"My student, ever since ascending to the throne, rarely smiled in the palace."
Autumn wind rustled a few yellow leaves, falling onto the Grand Tutor's pure white robe.
Sima Qin watched his departing figure, feeling a deep sense of respect.
Never would he have expected that the Grand Tutor, who held an idle position and stayed away from politics, could have such unwavering faith in the Queen. Compared to him, and so other powerful officials who were skeptical and critical of the female Emperor, the difference was stark!
...
Late October.
Mu Yuyan had already selected a deed for a courtyard near Dongzhi Gate in Beijing. In the past few days, Liu Yexi, Lin Tan'er, and Old Yang were busy packing up their belongings in the Residence, waiting for the hired guards to escort them to Beijing.
The wind outside Langzhou City was getting colder.
On this clear morning, Gu Lan and the three others walked their horses to the city gate to bid farewell to their family.
"My lady, I'll go and check the situation first. You wait for half a month before setting out. I'll pick you up near Dongzhi Gate at that ti."
Gu Lan held Mu Yuyan's soft hand, speaking gently.
"Master Gu, we can wait for the guards from the escort."
For such a long journey, even on horseback, it would take three days. Mu Yuyan was a bit worried.
"No, my lady, just listen to ."
Gu Lan looked at that delicate and charming face, his fingertips brushing through the smooth green silk. He whispered, "If negotiations don't go well, you might suffer when traveling with ... I'll go first, it's safer this way."
"Master Gu..."
Mu Yuyan bit her lip, looking at him with reluctance.
Gu Lan smiled and pointed to his cheek, "Give a kiss. We have to leave, or we won't find an inn by night."
Mwah!
Mu Yuyan didn't hesitate and offered a sweet kiss. Her beautiful eyes shimred like water, and she whispered, "Alright, in just half a month, we'll be in the capital. Master Gu can't be busy alone for so long, especially when you have to prepare for the next year's spring exams."
Spring exams referred to the imperial examinations.
Hearing this term, Gu Lan awkwardly rubbed his nose to hide his guilty conscience. In reality, he hadn't brought heavy study materials like the Four Books and Five Classics for this trip.
In Old Yang's luggage, there were only a few miscellaneous books, and he had a half-finished collection of poems in possession. All were for increasing his cultivation.
As for the spring exams?
Gu Lan planned to see how it went. If there were any absurd secret manipulations like the numbering incident, he was ready to abandon the exam altogether. If there were no shady dealings, he would submit a blank paper again. He didn't believe he couldn't fail.
With these thoughts in mind, Gu Lan nodded, mounted his horse, beckoned to Old Yang and Lin Tan'er, and leisurely headed in the direction of the capital.
After their figures disappeared, Mu Yuyan's reluctance gradually eased. She sighed in relief, turned around, and instructed the maid standing by:
"Yexi, we'll also fly to the capital imdiately. You should be familiar with the process of entering the capital for scholars. After settling down, go ahead and pave the way for Master Gu at those points where mistakes are likely to occur."
"Yes!"
Liu Yexi agreed, feeling a inexplicable excitent. After more than a year, Her Majesty was finally returning to the palace! Compared to the lancholy when she left, she seed much happier after marrying the young master...
Now that they had entered the Queen's imperial city, the young master probably wouldn't be able to escape!
...
In the evening, Gu Lan and his party checked into an inn.
Similar to their teahouse back ho, the first floor served as a dining area. After putting away their luggage in their respective rooms, the three of them ordered dinner.
Before the dishes arrived, several n at the adjacent table, seemingly drunk with flushed faces, casually glanced at Lin Tan'er from Gu Lan's table. They kept staring.
"This girl looks so lively!"
"Her big buttocks are perfect for childbirth. We've never seen such a perfect girl around here!"
"The boy next to her is really lucky, damn it!"
...
A few lascivious laughs reached their ears. Lin Tan'er blushed, looked at Gu Lan, and didn't want to cause him any trouble. She said, "Master, I'm not hungry. I'll go rest first."
"Eat first."
Gu Lan held Lin Tan'er's soft hand and said lightly, as if he hadn't noticed those n at all.
Lin Tan'er felt strangely relieved. She opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.
At this mont, the drunkards, seeing their indifference, beca even more presumptuous. They began pointing and making comnts about the three:
"That tender little girl, Master, I've got money here. Would you consider coming to play with tonight?"
"We guarantee you'll enjoy it!"
"Hahaha!"
...
Lin Tan'er blushed even more and looked at Gu Lan with a pleading expression.
"Damn, trying to take advantage..." Gu Lan just shook his head, not letting Lin Tan'er leave. He gently placed the chopsticks down and cast a faint glance in their direction.
The drunkards, upon feeling his gaze, initially intended to mock, but in the next mont, their bodies trembled strangely.
Several pairs of eyes gradually filled with horror, and two faint trails of blood tears slowly flowed down.
The expressions of everyone at their table beca extrely dull!
The restaurant staff bringing dishes out were left in shock!
After respectfully placing the dishes on Gu Lan's table, they didn't dare to look around and hurriedly returned.
At this mont, Lin Tan'er and Old Yang had yet to notice the strange behavior of the people at the nearby table. Their attention was on the newly served dishes.
Gu Lan silently took a sip of tea. The drunkards silently collapsed onto the table, seemingly passing out as if dead...
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