The topic changed too quickly, and the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was stunned for a moment before saying, “Guaren has heard of it and has tried to send someone to search for it. Unfortunately, very few have spread this medicine of bliss, and Guaren has not found it. The Young Master asked about this…”
“I just heard people say it when passing, I was curious and just casually asked.”
“Oh.”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu naturally understood that this was just a perfunctory remark.
But he is the most sensible, and now Jiang Yun is automatically associated with the “ferocious,” so he shouldn’t say anything he shouldn’t. He was just a little surprised that this seemingly weak little gentleman would inquire about such a tiger-wolf medicine.
“If the Young Master is really interested in this item, there is a place where you can definitely find it.”
Jiang Yun looked at him.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu pointed northeast and said, “The Qi capital, Qingque Terrace, you should have heard of it.”
The Qingque Terrace of the Qi capital, built by King Lie of Qi, is not only known to Jiang Yun but also to many people in the world.
However, the Qi Kingdom is strong, the fierce king is cruel, and the Qingque Terrace was tightly guarded by heavy troops. Even the few famous knights who ranked among the top in martial arts among the various countries dared not approach that place easily, let alone ordinary people.
Jiang Yun shook his head and said, “But I heard that this medicine has recently appeared in the capital city of Chen.”
“The capital city of Chen?”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu revealed a disbelieving expression.
“This is impossible. If it really exists, how could Guaren not know…”
After saying that, his old face heated again.
Jiang Yun understood.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu is dissolute. In order to satisfy his vulgar taste, he often sends people to the folk to search for all kinds of “strange drugs” to help him. If such strange drugs as Qin Gu Xiang really appear in the territory of the capital of Chen, it is indeed impossible to hide them from his eyes.
The only possibility is that the drug hadn’t even been circulated, it’s just that someone specifically prescribed it for him.
That’s odd.
Qin Gu Xiang is hard to come by, even an old pervert like the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu cannot get it easily. How did that person get it?
Why would this person want to drug him with this?
If it were an enemy, wouldn’t it be more straightforward to directly administer poison such as arsenic?
What would have awaited him if he hadn’t accidentally stumbled down the cliff and met that person?
Jiang Yun thought of one person, Chen Qi.
In consideration of this person’s position and level of respect within the Sui army, the interception in the mountains and the rebellion of the Feiying Pavilion stronghold in the Chen capital may be closely related to this person.
But Jiang Yun couldn’t figure out Chen Qi’s motive, no matter what. After all, they had never met before, and apart from the curtains separating conversation at the Liushang Banquet, there was almost no intersection.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu once again called on the palace attendant to serve wine.
Jiang Yun withdrew his thoughts and said, “Guozhu invited me here today. It shouldn’t be as simple as visiting the garden and drinking. I see that Guozhu has dark circles under his eyes and seems to have had a poor sleep.”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was worried about how to speak without sounding abrupt. Upon hearing this, he rejoiced at his uptake and thought, Dealing with smart people is just easier! He casually sighed. “The Young Master has also witnessed Guaren’s current situation. Guaren doesn’t even know how long his head can stay around the neck. How can Guaren sleep well?”
As he spoke, he personally stood up and poured wine for Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun took it and said, “I think the Guozhu is quite versatile and can get along well with everyone.”
“Ah this…Young Master, don’t laugh at me. I had no choice but to serve carefully. In reality, I am just an ant that can be crushed at any time in the eyes of others.”
He complained for a while, but suddenly the conversation changed: “According to your accent, you should be from the South as well, right? Young Master should be able to understand Guaren’s situation.”
Jiang Yun nodded.
“It’s not nice to be in a situation where you’re living under someone else’s roof, looking up at someone else’s nose, and not being able to keep a roof over your head. Hasn’t Guozhu considered resisting?”
“Ah.”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was dumbfounded, obviously not expecting Jiang Yun to suddenly utter such a sentence.
He couldn’t figure out whether the other party was casually speaking or deliberately probing. He hastily wiped his forehead and looked around. “Young Master, please don’t insult me.”
“The Sui army is fierce and brutal, they kill without blinking an eye. What will Guaren do to resist? Guaren carefully serves them so that Guaren can save his life and beg for food. If Guaren really resists, Guaren is afraid that he won’t even know where Guaren’s head is at this moment.”
Jiang Yun asked calmly, “What does Guozhu want me to do?”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu leaned closer and carefully flattered him. “Young Master is now His Highness’s most favorite person. As long as the Young Master is willing to speak up for Guaren, it would be best… to persuade His Highness and let Guaren continue to hold the position of Guozhu of the Chen Kingdom… Guaren shall serve the Young Master with all his heart and soul. Of course, the Young Master will be rewarded with a great deal of money. Guaren will let the Young Master choose whatever from the nation’s treasury.”
Jiang Yun picked up the wine vessel elegantly and said, “I have an idea, maybe I can help Guozhu.”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu’s eyes lit up, “Young Master, please speak up quickly.”
Jiang Yun said, “Since Guozhu wants to please His Highness, you naturally needs to prescribe the right medicine. The thing that bothers His Highness the most nowadays is that advisor of the Jiang Empire. If Guozhu can persuade that advisor to confess, it will be a great achievement, and then, does Guozhu still have to fear not being able to ask for the Guozhu seat?”
“That Gongsun Yang?”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was delighted at first and then frowned.
“But this person is a notoriously tough guy. Guaren has heard that after a night of heavy interrogation last night, the Sui army was unable to pry his mouth open. How could Guaren persuade him?”
Jiang Yun took a sip of his wine and said, “Perhaps I can try it on behalf of Guozhu.”
**
Gongsun Yang was detained alone in a palace room.
Due to the fact that both the upper and lower parts of the Chen Palace were under the Sui army’s control, there were only four guards taking turns guarding the outside, mainly to prevent the person from committing suicide.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was busy every day trying to please all kinds of people from the Sui army, including these ordinary Sui soldiers. He had become very familiar with these Sui soldiers. He said a few good words and gave them two jars of good wine and so he had a chance to visit.
He was eager to make contributions and was afraid that Jiang Yun would turn back halfway. He also thoughtfully provided a broad cloak to help Jiang Yun cover up his identity.
After waking up, Gongsun Yang continued to curse incessantly, refusing to eat or drink. Anyone who approaches him will get their ancestors of eighteen generations mentioned and cursed badly.
Upon hearing the footsteps, Gongsun Yang instinctively wanted to curse again. As he looked up, he saw the green figure standing behind the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu and was suddenly startled, almost rolling off the bed.
“Is this the ignorant advisor of the Jiang Empire?”
Jiang Yun spoke up first.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu nodded, covered his nose, and said with a compassionate gaze, “Look, in the old days, he was the honored minister of the Crown Prince of Jiang, so powerful and bright. Now he made himself messy like a stray dog, truly pathetic.”
Gongsun Yang, a man who has been severely tortured. Those guards were cursed and couldn’t fight back in order to avoid killing him. In order to retaliate, they deliberately didn’t handle Gongsun Yang’s used toilet, causing the entire palace to be filled with an indescribable foul odor.
At this moment, Gongsun Yang suddenly jumped up like a madman and threw the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu to the ground.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was shocked, and before he could even exhale, he was choked by Gongsun Yang’s and knocked out with a palm strike.
Gongsun Yang’s gaze trembled, and with red eyes, he kneeled down in front of Jiang Yun: “This subordinate pays his respects to Your Highness, how can… Your Highness get here?”
Because of that jade pendant, Gongsun Yang had always thought that Jiang Yun had fallen into the hands of the Sui army. These past few days, he was extremely anxious and suffering, with his mind filled with images of his weak Highness being tortured and forced to confess by the vicious Sui army. He simply gave up his suicidal thoughts and waited for an opportunity to gather information.
Jiang Yun helped him up.
“It’s a long story. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Gu has something to command you.”
But Gongsun Yang has so much to say. “Does Your Highness know about the situation over at the Muyun Pass? This subordinate heard that the Guojun1Monarch, he…”
“Gu know, Emperor Father sent King Chu to the front line to take over the military affairs in Muyun Pass.”
Gongsun Yang froze.
The move by the Guojun is almost equivalent to announcing that he has given up searching for His Highness and elevated King Chu to higher positions. But His Highness reacted so calmly.
Jiang Yun said, “Emperor Father did not do anything wrong. The most important thing right now is to stabilize the army in the northern region. If Gu were Emperor Father, Gu would choose to do the same.”
“But…”
“Gu didn’t came here today to discuss about King Chu with you.”
The sunlight slanted into the palace, and the young man’s figure was like jade, his eyes were sparse and cold. His warm and clear black eyes, when he fixed his gaze on someone, it seems to have an invisible power that penetrated the heart, making people unconsciously feel a sense of submission.
The close advisors are all terrified of this kind of gaze from His Highness.
Gongsun Yang knew he had violated the law, so he could only suppress his grievances and say, “Your Highness, please command. This subordinate will go through fire and water without hesitation.”
“Gu doesn’t need you to go through fire and water, but Gu wants you to escape at all costs.”
Jiang Yun took out the newly drawn topographic map of the Chen Kingdom Palace from his sleeve and unfolded it on the ground: “Gu has marked all the weak defensive areas. Please take note of the route first. Tonight, go and seek an audience with Sui Heng and surrender to him.”
“Surrender?
Gongsun Yang was shocked.
Jiang Yun nodded and said, “You can offer anything you want. When the guards escort you back, take advantage of their relaxation and vigilance and wait for an opportunity to escape. With your current situation, how confident are you?”
Gongsun Yang confidently said, “With the map provided by Your Highness, this subordinate has at least eight percent confidence. However, this servant is currently injured and is afraid it may cause some inconvenience.”
“In this matter, Gu will find a way to help you.”
“After escaping, you immediately rushed to Muyun Pass and conveyed the instructions to Fan Zhou and Yun Huai, asking them to help King Chu stabilize the front line and set up defenses.”
“What…”
Gongsun Yang was shocked and immediately realized something. He was stunned and asked, “Your Highness, what does this mean? Isn’t Your Highness leaving with this subordinate?”
Jiang Yun shook his head and said, “Gu has something else to do here. Gu won’t go with you for now. Once Gu finished, Gu has a way to leave.”
Jiang Yun spoke calmly, and Gongsun Yang does not doubt him because he knows that, although His Highness has a “weak” reputation, he in fact hides a very powerful sword skill.
His Highness is able to escape death and come and go freely in the palace of the Chen Kingdom. It seems that he has other plans!
He immediately and solemnly responded.
Jiang Yun solemnly ordered, “When you return to the pass, you must immediately spread the news to the outside world. Say that Gu has safely returned to Muyun Pass and is recuperating inside the pass. For the rest, Fan Zhou knows what to do. If Emperor Father asks, you can say that Gu is seriously injured and is recuperating at the hunter’s house on the border of the Chen Kingdom. After Gu’s injury is healed, he will find an opportunity to return home. At present, the Chen Kingdom has been occupied by the Sui army, and Emperor Father should not take the risk just to check the news… If he does, you can say that Gu may have changed the residence for safety reasons.”
“Yes.”
Gongsun Yang took orders and suddenly felt a little uncomfortable in his heart. He didn’t feel at ease and said, “Your Highness really doesn’t need my help?”
Jiang Yun said he doesn’t need it.
“If you follow, it will only drag Gu down.”
Gongsun Yang: “……”
Gongsun Yang blushed and said, “Yes.”
Since joining His Highness, this Highness has always been this blandly impulsive and quiet yet powerful, and Gongsun Yang is habitually submissive.
“Your Highness, you still need to be careful of one person, Chen Qi. This person is a venomous snake with a malicious heart and was also the Crown Prince of Sui’s favorite figure. This subordinate is afraid that he will use more tactics to deal with the Jiang Empire in the future.”
Jiang Yun nodded, indicating that he knew.
Seeing that it was almost time, Jiang Yun asked Gongsun Yang to wake the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu up.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu woke up and groaned, his eyes reflecting Gongsun Yang’s fierce and malevolent face. His face paled in fear, and he wanted to shout but was held down by Jiang Yun.
“This person has agreed to accept Guozhu’s conditions and surrender to the Sui Empire. Congratulations to Guozhu for making great contributions.”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was confused, “What conditions?”
Jiang Yun answered gently, “Give him Qian Jin Wan to treat his injuries, and let him choose the good things in Guozhu’s treasury.”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu: “……”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu was in a trance.
Quan Jin Wan, how did this motherf*cker know that he had Qian Jin Wan in his hand?
That is a rare and precious medicine for external injuries, and he only has one, which is reserved for his own use.
And also his beloved treasury.
If this continues, he is afraid that his national treasure will be emptied soon!
But what can it be done? It’s worth it to make a way out!
The Chen Kingdom Guozhu responded kindly.
“Okay, Guaren promised. Guaren promised everything. So… when do the brave man plan to surrender?”
Gongsun Yang grabbed his collar and said, “It depends on when you bring the medicine and gold!”
“Right away, right away! The brave man must not get angry! Guaren will have someone go and retrieve it now!”
“Go away!”
“Eh…”
After leaving the palace, the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu felt a sense of survival and gave Jiang Yun 30,000 taels of gold as a token of appreciation. The thick stack of gold bills once again made the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu’s liver ache.
After delivering this one, there’s still another one inside!
