Chapter 813 - 816: Visit

Chapter 813: Chapter 816: Visit

Gu Wenheng sighed inwardly. Perhaps his future days would be spent just like this, or maybe even more difficult than Zhou Shixiong’s.

"By the way, Brother Zhou, how did you find the time to visit me today?" Gu Wenheng asked. Based on the date, the court was not on a break. As the Minister of War, Zhou Shixiong shouldn’t be allowed to leave the Capital so casually, right?

Zhou Shixiong chuckled. "I am already in a semi-retired state. I haven’t been feeling well lately, so I submitted a sick leave petition and came out to seek a skilled doctor."

"My rural place doesn’t have any brilliant doctors," Gu Wenheng said.

Zhou Shixiong waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve already seen brilliant doctors. Right now, I’m just missing one specific medicinal ingredient. It’s truly rare, so I have no choice but to search everywhere for it."

Gu Wenheng was at a loss for words.

"Your place isn’t bad at all," Zhou Shixiong said, looking around the small farmhouse courtyard. "Is there any available land nearby? I’ll build a courtyard like this too, and we can be neighbors in the future."

Gu Wenheng smiled. "You must be joking, Brother Zhou. How are things over in Shangjing?"

"I knew you would ask. But you’re being a bit dishonest; I assumed you already knew everything."

Even though Gu Wenheng was well-informed, he wouldn’t be so blunt at a time like this. "I haven’t been to Shangjing in a long time, so I’m not very familiar with the affairs of the Capital. I hope Brother Zhou can enlighten me."

Zhou Shixiong had originally come for this very reason. He had truly been suffocating these past few days, so he began recounting the recent events in the court.

Just two days ago, another official had submitted a memorial, petitioning the Emperor to crown the Crown Prince.

As the biological elder brother of the Empress, Zhou Shixiong had closed his eyes and listened quietly, just as he always did.

These court officials always struck him as exceptionally amusing. Even though they had absolutely no ties to the Zhou Family, they would actually speak up on behalf of Empress Zhou and the two Princes.

The principles of appointing the legitimate son and the eldest son sounded full of sincerity coming from their mouths. In reality, they just thought the Eldest Prince’s life had been too smooth and wanted to add fuel to the fire.

Even with his eyes closed and feigning complete ignorance of all affairs, he could feel the gaze from the throne sweeping over his direction several times.

The voices of debate rose and fell. It was all the same old arguments no matter how he listened. To Zhou Shixiong, it was like listening to a lullaby, and he began to feel a bit drowsy.

Just then, Le San’s sharp voice rang out, "All ministers, hear the decree!"

By the time he opened his eyes again, everyone around him had already knelt in a vast swath. Realizing he was left standing entirely alone in front of the hall, he was startled and hastily dropped to his knees.

"You have no idea. I was completely bewildered at the time." Thinking back to that scene, Zhou Shixiong still felt like he was in a dream. "I can’t believe the Holy Emperor actually relented this time and made the Eldest Prince the Crown Prince. But because of this, I’m even more worried.

"Ever since that day, I’ve tried my best to keep my doors closed and decline all visitors. Yet, even when I’m just walking down the street, people try to curry favor with me.

"I really don’t know what these people are thinking. The Crown Prince’s position isn’t even secure yet, and they’re already this anxious. Aren’t they putting my Zhou Family in an unrighteous position?"

Gu Wenheng had actually received this information two days ago. Besides, he had already made some guesses when he left the Capital, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

He just hadn’t expected that Zhou Shixiong would actually choose to come to his place to seek some peace and quiet.

Since there was someone here who could explain the details to him more thoroughly, Gu Wenheng naturally had to take advantage of it.

"Did the other ministers have no objections? The Crown Prince’s position was settled just like that?"

Zhou Shixiong sneered. "How could there be no objections? It’s just that our Holy Emperor didn’t give them a chance. The moment someone submitted a memorial requesting to establish a Crown Prince, he directly had the Holy Decree to crown the Crown Prince read out loud.

"Now that the Holy Decree has been issued, no matter how many schemes those people have, they have to swallow them down.

"It’s just that some people won’t let this go so easily. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have used an illness as an excuse to take refuge here with you."

Knowing that his thoughts and actions couldn’t be hidden from Gu Wenheng anyway, Zhou Shixiong simply laid his cards on the table. "I originally didn’t want to drag you into this, but given our relationship over all these years, you don’t have a choice anymore."

Gu Wenheng was completely silenced.

"Don’t look at me like that. This matter truly isn’t something I can decide.

"Look at me. I’ve only been in Shangjing for a few years, yet I’ve stressed myself into sprouting so much white hair.

"I assume you’ve already guessed the Holy Emperor’s true intention in transferring you to Shangjing this time."

"Because of this, I’m even more curious," Gu Wenheng said. "The Eldest Prince has already been established as the Crown Prince, and I have a personal friendship with you. Wouldn’t it be better if you directly assisted the Crown Prince?"

Zhou Shixiong leaned back in the Taishi Chair. "I’ve been submitting petitions for a medical retirement since the year before last. I imagine that if I submit one this time, the Holy Emperor will approve it."

Gu Wenheng noted that for a military general to be able to accurately predict the Emperor’s thoughts meant he was even sharper than many old foxes.

"Sometimes, it’s not a good thing for maternal relatives to hold great power. Now that the Crown Prince is established, it’s about time I enjoy a few years of a carefree life."

Zhou Shixiong looked at Gu Wenheng with sincere earnestness. "From now on, I will have to trouble Brother Gu to help look after the Crown Prince."

"So you’re going off to live a carefree life, letting..." Gu Wenheng trailed off, realizing his friend was leaving him to jump straight into a fire pit.

Zhou Shixiong stood up and gave him a deep bow. "I know this puts you in a difficult position, but I truly have no one else to entrust this to."

It was also for this reason that over the years, he had subtly and silently planted the knowledge of Gu Wenheng’s good character and talents into the Holy Emperor’s mind.

Gu Wenheng really hadn’t expected that in the end, it would be his trusted brother who threw him under the bus.

He let out a sigh and reached out to help Zhou Shixiong up. "Since you’re so worried, why not do it yourself...?"

Zhou Shixiong smiled. "Things are already fine this way. In two years, I plan to take my wife and children to travel all over the country. When the time comes, I’ll definitely send you lots of local souvenirs."

"So, in the very end, you just had to make me mad one more time," Gu Wenheng retorted. Who wouldn’t want a life like that? He, too, wanted to cast off his current heavy responsibilities and take his wife out to travel.

"You’re still young," Zhou Shixiong said, showing off the white hair on his head again. "Your older brother’s body can’t take it anymore. If I don’t leave now, I won’t be able to walk at all."

Gu Wenheng remained silent.

Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected Zhou Shixiong to drop such a bombshell and leave on the very same day.

"So they say the one who ruins you the worst is often your best brother. There’s truly nothing wrong with that saying," Jin Qianqian remarked, feeling somewhat speechless.

She had been fully prepared to accompany Gu Wenheng to the next impoverished region and settle down there. But looking at it now, those impoverished regions were actually sanctuaries.

"His visit this time was also to give me a heads-up," Gu Wenheng said. "I reckon it won’t be long before the Holy Decree is issued.

"I don’t know what our Emperor and Empress are planning, but since things have already reached this point, we can only resign ourselves to fate and let nature take its course."

Despite his words, Gu Wenheng’s expression was extremely solemn. The transition of imperial power was always the most perilous time.

He hadn’t interacted with any of the Princes; the only information he had was what he had accumulated over the years.

Thinking of the Eldest Prince, the available information seemed even more pitifully scarce compared to the other Princes.

He just didn’t know if the man was truly mediocre or if he was simply adept at hiding his capabilities and biding his time. This really presented him with a colossal dilemma.