Chapter 68
In morning court, all the ministers were discussing the war between the Dayu and Xixia. Xixia had launched a comeback and they’ve even changed their chief commander. The way their army marched was completely different from before. Zhao Mingwei could not find any clue how to counter. After three consecutive small defeats, he adopted a conservative strategy, falling back to defend the city, avoided leaving. He was now asking the capital for help. In his letter, Zhao Mingwei repeatedly emphasized that he was not qualified to be the head general and he asked His Majesty to send General Gu take over command as soon as possible.
The emperor, atop his throne, looked down at his ministers. Xiao Cheng stood at the head of this group of ministers. Nowadays, the Imperial Family’s father and son looked quite similar — both had sickly complexions, they were thin and haggard. The emperor put his hand on his forehead, his brows furrowed. The ministers’ petitions were incessant, assaulting in his ears; mixed with Xiao Cheng’s muffled coughs from time to time, it gave him a splitting headache.
Xiao Cheng too was expending all his willpower to attend court. Shen Huaishi’s sword had injured his left lung. Not unless some miracle-working doctor were to suddenly appear, he would not be able to live out his life like a normal person.
Another person expending all his willpower to attend court was Gu Fuzhou. He stood ramrod straight, his eyes lowered. People who saw him thought he was deep in contemplation.
“General Gu and Young Master Lin had only just gotten married. Are we to drive him back to the battlefield? Their marriage bed had yet to even warm.” The one who spoke was General Wu, Wu Zhan, who was good friends with Gu Fuzhou.
The prime minister stroked his beard and said, “General Wu’s words are wrong. Only when one has a country, can one have a family. Faced with this national crisis, does General Gu intend to abandon the 300,000-strong army in the Northwest because of his reluctance to leave a land of warmth and tenderness?”
Wu Zhan, grumbled and swore, “What national crisis? Minister Cui exaggerates the situation! Aren’t these just but a few Xixia bandits?” Wu Zhan stepped forward and knelt down, “Your Majesty, you give me ten thousand elite soldiers and I will go to the Northwest to support General Zhao immediately. Within three months, I shall bring to the Dayu a great victory!”
The prime minister shook his head and said, “You speak conceited nonsense, overestimating your own abilities.”
Wu Zhan said, brimming with anger, “I overestimate my abilities? Then you go do it!”
The emperor listened to the two arguing, saying nothing, moving not an inch and without even any change in his expression. Suddenly, he said, “Crown Prince, what do you think of this matter?”
Xiao Cheng seemed not to have heard. His expression remained unchanged, his thoughts obviously straying from the present.
The emperor called out sharply, “Crown Prince!”
Xiao Cheng finally came back to his senses and said, “Your humble son agrees.”
“You agree? And whose proposal are you agreeing to?”
“Of course to Minister Cui’s.” Xiao Cheng coughed again. “Your humble son is unwell and has been discourteous before the court. I hope my Imperial Father may forgive me.”
In consideration for Xiao Cheng’s condition, the emperor held back his anger. He then asked Gu Fuzhou, “Gu Aiqing, what do you think?”
Gu Fuzhou: “…”
After being ignored twice in a row, the emperor couldn’t bear it any longer. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, “Gu Fuzhou!”
Gu Fuzhou opened his eyes; there was a lightning-quick flash of confusion in his eyes. When he saw Wu Zhan kneeling in front of the emperor, his posture that of requesting the emperor to allow him to be dispatched, Gu Fuzhou could already make a guess what the emperor was asking. “Though General Wu is a talented and outstanding leader of troops, his talents lay not in formulating overall tactics. I think he is more suitable to leading the vanguard.”
Wu Zhan kept throwing pointed looks at Gu Fuzhou, but Gu Fuzhou just pretended not to see them. “Moreover, the terrain in the Northwest is mostly plains and deserts. General Wu’s expertise lay in naval battles. Sending him to the Northwest would not be suitable.”
Gu Fuzhou’s words were reasonable and well-founded and the emperor could not find any fault. He had no choice but to adjust his tone and say, “Gu Aiqing’s words are reasonable. Wu Zhan is indeed not suitable for command of the Northwest.”
The prime minister took the opportunity to say, “General Gu has been stationed in the Northwest for many years. No one knows how to march in those plains and deserts better than the general. There is no one more suitable than General Gu to command in the Northwest.”
The Minister of War agreed. “The General’s secret return to the capital was to dispel the Sky Spider Poison. Now, the poison has been resolved and the general has also been married with great fanfare, the matter of the general’s return to the capital has long ceased to be a secret. Xixia, too, has learned about the head general’s absence in Yongliang and they dare to act so recklessly. If the general does not return to stabilize the army’s morale, I’m afraid it will only further embolden Xixia.”
Gu Fuzhou’s brows furrowed. Hand to his chest, he said, “Allow me to lead the troops to battle.”
Wu Zhan hurriedly said, “No! Although the Sky Spider Poison has been resolved, the successive poisonings has long damaged the general’s body. The doctor said that if the general wishes to live past a few years, he must stay in the capital to recuperate.”
The doctor Wu Zhan spoke of was none other than Gu Fuzhou’s new wife. A few days ago, Wu Zhan went to the General’s Mansion as a guest and General Gu, without bothering with trifles, asked his new wife to drink at the same table. It was then that the general’s wife revealed about the general’s condition to him.
Gu Fuzhou said solemnly, “Before the needs of the nation, I wish to place the matter of my life and death aside.”
“How could this possibly be! The general’s very life and death is a matter that concerns the nation. If he were forced to return to the Northwest at this time, causing a relapse, would this not be even more to the liking of those Xixia thieves!”
The emperor’s headache was getting unbearable. He had been expecting Xiao Cheng to step up and preside over the overall situation. But apart from reply to him, Xiao Cheng had not said a work. Who know what he was thinking?
He had high such hopes for the crown prince. How did things turn out like this?
The matter of the head general will be set aside from later discussion. For now, come up with a temporary plan to provide Zhao Mingwei a plan for action. — This session of the morning court is done.” The emperor, physically and mentally exhausted, got to his feet and was immediately staggered, feeling dizzy. All the ministers got to their knees. “We ask the Emperor to look after his health.”
After the ministers were dismissed, Gu Fuzhou and Wu Zhan walked out together. Wu Zhan asked him, “General, why won’t you let me go to the Northwest?”
Gu Fuzhou said, “You are fundamentally ill-suited for battle in the Northwest.” Having him go would only be giving the enemy another head. It was unnecessary.
“But if I don’t go, the general will have to go.” Wu Zhan joked, “Could it be that the general is willing to leave his new wife to spend several years in the desolate Northwest?”
“Naturally, I am most unwilling.” Gu Fuzhou said, eloquent and rousing, “A man of character aspires to travel far and make one’s mark. How could one be confined to but one place in the universe for love?”
Wu Zhan was immediately filled with deep veneration. “The general is truly a role model for my generation!”
After separating from Wu Zhan, Gu Fuzhou saw a eunuch carrying a vase heading in his direction. The vase was half as high a person. Carrying it, it was impossible to see the path ahead.
The eunuch who was guiding Gu Fuzhou out was afraid that this person would block General Gu’s way and so he said, “Xiao Songzi, you have to slow down.”
“Xiao Songzi?” Gu Fuzhou asked, “Could this be Xiao Songzi of Qinzheng Hall?”
With much difficulty, Xiao Songzi managed to stick his head out from behind the vase. Seeing Gu Fuzhou, he hurriedly said, “Replying to the general, this is indeed on duty at Qinzheng Hall.”
The corners of Gu Fuzhou’s lips ticked up slightly. “I have long looked forward to meeting you.”
Xiao Songzi was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. What virtue could a eunuch like himself have that the general would anticipate making his acquaintance. “The general jests. It is this servant who has long wished for the honor of meeting the mighty general.”
“You are being humble.” Gu Fuzhou turned to the eunuch who was leading the way for him, “Please allow Xiao Songzi to be the one to see me out.”
The eunuch who led the way took the vase from Xiao Songzi and stepped back. Gu Fuzhou said, “I’ve heard the Madam mention you.”
Xiao Songzi said, “Doctor Lin… I mean, the general’s wife, used to treat us servants.”
Gu Fuzhou nodded lightly and asked, “Did the Emperor’s headaches no already get better? Why is his complexion so terribly today?”
Xiao Songzi, worthy of his name Xiao Songzi, said without any hesitation, “Replying to the general, the Emperor was indeed much better before. But when the winter came, the headaches suddenly intensified once again. Medicine and acupuncture proved no use. Even Lin Pan Yuan is at a loss.”
Gu Fuzhou returned to the General’s Mansion. Before he could even ask, Yuan Yin said, “The Madam should be in the study now.”
Gu Fuzhou handed his official’s hat to Yuan Yin and headed straight for the study. The door of the study was open. Pushing aside the wind-blocking curtain, he saw Lin Qingyu dressed in white, sitting by the window, studying a game of chess. He held a chess manual in one hand, while the fingertip of the other carelessly rolled a black piece. Though bright and vibrant of face, his temperament was as cold as the moon, as though he were placed far about the mundanity of the world. Huan Tong was positioned to one side, quietly adding charcoal to the stove.
Damn, please let him be confined evermore to one place for love.
What did a man of character aspiring to travel far and make his mark have anything to do with him? He just wanted to be able to sleep until he wakes up naturally and then stay at home and indulge in the sight of this beauty.
Lin Qingyu was so engrossed in studying the chess match that he didn’t notice him entering, until he heard a familiar voice, “Lin Qingyu—”
Lin Qingyu looked up and said, “What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean ‘what’s wrong’?”
“You’ve never called me Lin Qingyu.”
Gu Fuzhou asked deliberately, “Then how do I usually call you?”
“Qingyu or Doctor Lin.” Lin Qingyu frowned, “Did something happen?”
“It’s nothing,” Gu Fuzhou smiled a little wickedly, “Oh, if it isn’t Huan Tong. I guess we should keep the lovey-dovey to a minimum. He’s not even married yet; seeing us all close and affection might make him sad.”
Huan Tong said, indignantly, “I won’t!”
Lin Qingyu said, displeased, “Next time, don’t call me by my full name. I’m not used to it.”
Gu Fuzhou coughed twice, not wanting to appear too proud of himself. “I’ll try my best.”
Gu Fuzhou slumped across from Lin Qingyu, picked up a white piece and tossed back and forth. He said, souding offhand, “Qingyu, your marriage leave is probably coming to an end.”
Lin Qingyu had mentioned to Gu Fuzhou before that the prescription for the emperor’s headache included the wings of a Golden Silkworm Gu. The Golden Silkworm Gu took different forms for each seasons and the preparation of the medicine would also change accordingly. Even his father didn’t understand the subtleties of it. As the weather grows colder, the previous prescription would gradually lose effect. If the emperor didn’t not want to be tormented by the headaches once again, he was left with no choice but invite Lin Qingyu back.
Lin Qingyu was not at all surprised by this matter. “Is that so?”
Not long after, Hua Lu came to call them to dinner. After dinner, Gu Fuzhou went bitterly to the training grounds to lift weights and Lin Qingyu continued the unfinished chess game. When the night grew dark, the two returned to their bedroom and went to bed
In the middle of the night, Lin Qingyu was awakened by thirst. He opened his eyes and saw that a light was burning in the room. It was Gu Fuzhou who had lit a lamp, under whose light he wrote and pondered. Lin Qingyu had no idea what he could be writing.
Lin Qingyu had been witness to a lot of times when Gu Fuzhou did not act like his usual self. It was when he saw him occasionally being serious that he would remember that this person was every bit as scheming as he was. Only that most of the time, Lin Qingyu didn’t bother to think about it.
Lin Qingyu sat up. Gu Fuzhou heard the movement and turned to look at him. “You’re awake?”
“I’m thinking about how Xixia’s newly-appointed chief commander uses his troops.” Gu Fuzhou looked down at the enemy’s marching route that he had recreated based on his memory and what Zhao Mingwei had written in his report. “It’s kind of interesting.”
Lin Qingyu asked, “Why don’t you do this during the day?”
Gu Fuzhou said without hesitation, “Because I want to play during the day.”
Lin Qingyu got out of bed. He put on an outer robe and poured himself a cup of tea. “So, are you worried about the war situation in the Northwest?”
“No, I was just thinking about it casually.” Gu Fuzhou started to write, “If he chooses to strive, let him strive. I choose to lie at home.”
Lin Qingyu, taking precaution, took two steps back. He vigilantly watched the brush in Gu Fuzhou’s hand. Whenever Gu Fuzhou held a brush while lost in thought, he was in danger of being splattered with ink.
Gu Fuzhou paused. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Qingyu said, “Are you trying to dirty me again?”
Gu Fuzhou was momentarily dazed. After confirming his own intentions, he said with a smile, “It’s over. It seems I was thinking about it a bit.”
The author has something to say: The male high school student actually wants to dirty the big beauty. You are no longer innocent!
