Chapter 854 - 857: Suddenly

Chapter 854: Chapter 857: Suddenly

Jin Qianqian nodded without hesitation. "Let’s give it a try. From now on, let Cancan take the lead and work on that plot of land with the other brothers. I’ve always had him in charge of it before anyway."

Luo Luo was usually too busy, so Jin Qianqian preferred to assign tasks to Gu Ben Can. Coincidentally, Gu Ben Can had been involved in everything from raising seedlings to selecting and clearing the land this time, so it was only fitting to credit him with the achievement. As for the other Gu Family Brothers, Jin Qianqian naturally wouldn’t treat them unfairly either.

"We still need to tell Luo Luo about this," Gu Wenheng said. Seeing that she had already made up her mind, he naturally had no objections, but some things still needed to be made clear beforehand.

"Do you even need to remind me?" Jin Qianqian said. "I’ve already discussed it with him, and Luo Luo naturally has no objections."

In the child’s own words, if his brothers lived well, it would only be a help to him. Gu Wenheng also understood his eldest son’s thoughts. This was for the best; it would save their brotherhood from being affected over such a trivial matter in the future.

When Gu Wenheng personally sent someone to the county government to register three acres of wasteland, it even alarmed the County Magistrate. He curiously asked the steward beside him, "Mr. Gu certainly has good taste. He’s even clearing wasteland while observing his mourning period. I just wonder what’s being planted in that field? I don’t know if it’s fit for a first-class official like him."

The steward had personally led people over to measure the land. "That place is remote and deep in the mountains. I was even afraid it would be ruined by wild animals. However, the boys from Mr. Gu’s family were very careful and fenced the area with wooden stakes.

"It’s just that I’ve never seen the crops planted in that field before. I was curious and asked Housekeeper Xu, and he said it was something the second young master tinkered with himself."

"Oh? And the land is registered under the second young master’s name too?"

The steward nodded. "Exactly. That’s also what puzzles me. Could it be that Mr. Gu wants his second son to be a farmer in the future?"

If many large families despised a child, they would give them some estates and farmland to make a living. But Mr. Gu was different. He only had two legitimate sons to his name, and Mrs. Gu had a massive family business. To eagerly register a few acres of land under his second son’s name this time inherently seemed abnormal. County Magistrate Gao also felt this didn’t make sense. The fact that he could sit in this position was due to the careful arrangements of others, so it was better to leave the things he couldn’t figure out for someone else to ponder.

When night fell, someone quietly left from the side door of the county government, completely unaware that they were being watched from behind.

***

Just as the Crown Prince obtained the evidence, Hua Shunming immediately sentenced the three Chiefs of Staff. Out of lingering affection, he only ordered their homes to be raided and their properties confiscated, sparing their lives.

While the courtiers were all busy protecting themselves, Hua Shunming directly issued an edict to abdicate, personally granting himself the title of Supreme Emperor and handing the throne directly to the Crown Prince. The courtiers were rendered speechless. They hadn’t expected him to pull such a move at the very end, making all their previous schemes look like an utter joke.

Hua Shunming sat in the Imperial Study Room, sneering. "Everyone wants the merit of supporting the new emperor, but they don’t think about how the wealth and glory they desire are built upon the blood of our Royal Family. How could I tolerate them?"

With that, he spoke coldly to the empty Imperial Study Room, "Go and hand over the background information on all these people to the Crown Prince—no, to the new emperor. I want to see if the new emperor, now sitting in that position, has the ruthlessness to clean house properly."

"As you command." Following that, the Imperial Study Room fell into a deep silence once more.

Hua Shunming stood up and stroked the desk. "Old friend, you’ve accompanied me for decades, and it’s time for me to say goodbye to you. Serve the new emperor well in the future!

"I hope he will be as diligent as I have been and keep you company every day."

Hua Shunming considered himself the most free-spirited Emperor, able to hand over the throne while still alive. But when this moment truly arrived, he still felt a complex mix of emotions. He reluctantly stroked the desk and flipped through a few more memorial scrolls before giving a bitter smile, shaking his head, and silently uttering, "I am still not resigned to this."

If his body hadn’t been failing him, how could he have ever let go?

As he hobbled toward the doors, Le San carefully supported him. "Holy Emperor, this old servant will see you off."

"Don’t call me the Holy Emperor anymore. I am now the Supreme Emperor, and it’s time for me to enjoy a few days of leisure."

Le San smiled and said, "In this old servant’s heart, whether you are the Holy Emperor or the Supreme Emperor, you will always be my master."

"You old fellow, you sure know how to show your loyalty," Hua Shunming said. "In a couple of days, when I’m free, we’ll go out and take a look at the courtyard I’ve arranged for you. Who knows, perhaps we can even stroll through the streets and have a look around together.

"Ironically, they say this is my empire, yet I’ve been confined to this Imperial Palace from the moment I was born until now. How much of it have I actually seen with my own eyes?

"Speaking of which, I am somewhat envious of Gu Wenheng. Although I gave him a series of difficult problems, I also helped him succeed. He travels all over the country, north and south, and understands my empire even better than its Emperor."

"Why would the Holy Emperor mention this person?" Now that the Emperor had abdicated, Le San felt he could ask within the bounds of propriety.

"If I could have reigned for a few more years, I might have become a renowned emperor for all eternity." Hua Shunming looked up at the sky, a hint of regret lingering in his eyes.

"The Holy Emperor has already done very well for the people of this world," Le San said. He couldn’t string together flowery words, but he knew better than anyone else that this Emperor had truly done everything in his power, otherwise the world wouldn’t be so peaceful.

"It still wasn’t enough!" Hua Shunming sighed. "But that has nothing to do with me anymore. Take me to see my new residence. Let’s move early, lest we become an eyesore."

"Holy Emperor..." Even though Le San felt awkward, he was forced to correct himself at this moment. "Supreme Emperor, the new emperor wouldn’t dare..."

Hua Shunming sat on his palanquin. "First, go to the Empress’s palace..."

"Go to the Empress Dowager’s palace," Hua Shunming corrected himself, then chuckled. "It turns out you aren’t the only old fellow who isn’t used to this. Even I’m not used to it yet."

Le San lowered his head and ordered the Imperial Army guards at the side to set off.

***

In stark contrast to the shock of the courtiers in the imperial court, Gu Wenheng was completely calm when he received the news. Although he hadn’t interacted with the Supreme Emperor for long, from the information he had gathered and his own experiences over the years, Gu Wenheng somewhat understood the other man’s choice. He had to admit that, as an Emperor, being able to make such compromises already proved him to be a rare and open-minded ruler. Even if it was done to stabilize the imperial court, it was still exceptionally rare.

Jin Qianqian was somewhat worried, but she still teased him, "Before you knew it, you actually got a new boss. Who knows if this new boss will be easy to get along with."

"Don’t be too optimistic," Gu Wenheng replied. "To be honest, I really liked the Supreme Emperor’s temperament, but the same might not be true for this new emperor."

With no one else around, the two spoke without any reservations.

"Is there something wrong with him?" Jin Qianqian asked.

"Compared to the Supreme Emperor, he is still a bit indecisive," Gu Wenheng explained. "I heard that when they had already found out all three Chiefs of Staff were guilty of corruption, the investigation softened after his aides pleaded for leniency. It was only when the Supreme Emperor stepped in later that the matter was finally settled."

"Then the Supreme Emperor..."

"Are you wondering why he still passed the throne to him?" Gu Wenheng asked.

Jin Qianqian nodded. If it were up to her, she would certainly have to deliberate over the matter instead of making such a sudden decision.