The winters in the northern frontier required strong liquor to stay warm, and because of this, Gu Fu developed quite a good tolerance for alcohol. Occasionally, when on rotation breaks, they would have drinking contests, and when someone got drunk, there would inevitably be some sort of embarrassing punishment. This had become a tradition. Since these rough soldiers didn’t have anything valuable to give to the last one standing, they resorted to punishing the first one to get drunk instead.
Although Gu Fu had a good tolerance for alcohol, she still feared losing. So every time, she would come up with a punishment she absolutely couldn’t accept. It was like hanging a sword over her head, making it hard for her to get drunk.
There weren’t many punishments Gu Fu couldn’t accept, but one of them was running outside with her pants down. As long as this punishment was in play, Gu Fu never lost.
Li Yu was different from Gu Fu. He was proud and rarely participated in such group activities. So, he ended up losing to Gu Fu when they drank alone, not just once, but twice.
Naturally, Li Yu couldn’t bring himself to take off his pants and run outside, and Gu Fu, putting herself in his shoes, didn’t make things difficult for him. So this matter was known only to the two of them.
Bringing up this matter, Li Yu had no choice but to believe that Gu Fu was still alive.
However…
Li Yu, having been through many trials, thought that his worthless pride and self-respect had long been abandoned in the desolate frontier. He never imagined he would find himself blushing with embarrassment, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.
That bastard Gu Fu! To make a girl say such indecent things!
It was… exactly like something he would do!
Although embarrassed, Li Yu also felt reassurance, knowing that only someone like Gu Fu would come up with such a ridiculous idea.
Now convinced that Gu Fu was alive, Li Yu was overwhelmed with thoughts. He wanted to ask the girl in front of him where Gu Fu was, why he hadn’t come himself, if he was too badly injured, and what his plans were for the future… There were so many questions that he didn’t know where to start.
Seeing that Li Yu had more to say, Gu Fu stepped aside and said, “If you have something to say, let’s talk inside.”
Li Yu’s military uniform and the military-patterned long sword at his waist, exclusive to the Imperial Guards, were just too conspicuous.
Of course, she was also quite conspicuous. A girl wearing a veiled hat, without any guards or maids by her side, proactively talking to a man—no matter how you looked at it, it seemed out of place.
Li Yu hesitated a bit. After all, this was the capital city, and he worried that entering a tavern with this girl might ruin her reputation.
Gu Fu knew what Li Yu was concerned about, so she simply went into the tavern first. With her veiled hat on, she figured she could leave later by taking a detour through the cosmetics shop next to Jinchanxuan restaurant, and no one would recognize her.
On the second floor of the tavern, there were small rooms separated by screens. Gu Fu rented three adjacent small rooms in a row and finally entered the middle one. She also ordered two pots of wine and a few plates of snacks to go with the drinks.
The tavern boy, quick with his hands, was about to ask if they wanted a singing girl to liven things up, but seeing that Gu Fu was a woman, he wisely kept his mouth shut.
After the boy left, Li Yu, having gathered his thoughts, asked Gu Fu, “Where is he now?”
Gu Fu poured herself a cup of wine. Drinking it was like drinking water—it had no taste. So, she put down the cup and answered Li Yu, “He told me not to say.”
Li Yu was anxious, “Why?”
Gu Fu repeated, “He told me not to say.”
Li Yu, helpless with Gu Fu, a young woman, had no choice but to change the question, “Then how is his injury?”
Gu Fu said, “He’s recovered; he’s just left with a few more scars. It’s a bit ugly to look at.”
—’What’s your relationship with him?’
Li Yu swallowed back this question and continued, “What are his plans for the future?”
Gu Fu pondered for a moment before saying, “He plans to stay in the capital for a while. Once His Majesty has some time to summon him, he’ll leave the capital.”
Of course, this was a lie. Gu Fu couldn’t keep in touch with Li Yu forever. So, after some time, she would disguise herself as a man, have Li Yu see her out of the city, then sneak back into the city and arrange for a few letters to be sent to slowly break off contact, thus ensuring no future worries.
Li Yu was puzzled, “Why doesn’t he stay in the capital? After all, not one person in the capital has seen what he looks like; they wouldn’t know who he is.”
Gu Fu blurted out, “Aren’t you a person?”
Li Yu: “…”
Such a familiar feeling.
Gu Fu quickly changed the subject, “Anyway, he’s decided to leave. Since you two are brothers, come see him off when the time comes.”
Hearing there was still a chance to see Gu Fu, Li Yu’s mood improved significantly. “Of course.”
He then took out a jade pendant from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Fu. “This is the Li family’s jade pendant. If you encounter any difficulties, just use this.”
Wow!
Gu Fu thought, what a generous offer.
The Li family was no longer just notable for producing an Empress. The Empress had two older brothers and one younger brother. The eldest brother might be relatively unknown, but he had an outstanding son in Li Yu. The second brother held a fearsome position in the Secret Cabinet, often referred to as the Emperor’s blade. The youngest brother, though reputed to be the least promising, was involved in commerce and had significantly benefited the Ministry of Revenue, contributing to the national treasury’s current prosperity.
What was most impressive was that the Li family patriarch managed the household well. Despite their peak influence, there were no instances of Li family members acting arrogantly or abusively. They maintained a reputation that was above reproach, leaving others no opportunity to curry favor. This made Li Yu’s jade pendant even more precious.
However, Gu Fu was hesitant to accept it, fearing it might expose her identity someday.
However, she had no choice but to accept it, as Li Yu wouldn’t let her leave otherwise.
Gu Fu reluctantly put the jade pendant away, left the private room, and exited the tavern.
Li Yu, unwilling to wait until Gu Fu left the capital to see her again, secretly followed her, hoping to uncover her whereabouts. But as soon as he turned the corner, the woman with the veiled hat had vanished.
So, she knew martial arts.
Li Yu clicked his tongue in frustration and stood in place for a long time before leaving.
Gu Fu detoured through the back door into a cosmetics shop and then returned to Jinchanxuan restaurant with Nanny Lin.
To her surprise, besides Mu Qingyao and her maid, there was another elderly woman standing there.
“Second Miss, Second Madam has urgent business and sent me to bring you back to the residence.”
Gu Fu was puzzled and asked what it was about, but the elderly woman refused to say. Gu Fu had no choice but to take the carriage back to the residence with Mu Qingyao.
After returning, the elderly woman did not take Gu Fu to see Second Madam Li but instructed her to first return to her courtyard and dress up nicely.
Gu Fu had some suspicions and asked Mingzhu, who had been at home all along, “Is there a guest at our house?”
Mingzhu replied, “Yes, there is a guest. I heard it’s Second Master’s student, but for some reason, they went to see the First Master. The guest’s parents are also here, speaking with the Old Madam.”
Gu Fu, being made up, glanced at Mu Qingyao through the mirror. Mu Qingyao noticed her look, patted her shoulder in reassurance.
…
“Master Li.”
At the base of the Qitian Tower, a guard stepped forward to hold the reins of Li Yuming’s horse.
Li Yuming dismounted and said, “His Majesty has summoned me to invite the Imperial Preceptor to the palace. Please convey my message.”
“Master Li, you’re too polite.”
The guards were respectful, but the response after conveying the message was less than satisfactory.
“Master Li, the Imperial Preceptor is unwell. What should we do?”
Li Yuming didn’t seem displeased, as this was not the first time it had happened. Their Emperor had always been indulgent towards the Imperial Preceptor and never got angry if the Imperial Preceptor didn’t respond to a summons. Naturally, as officials, they wouldn’t worry unnecessarily.
However, Li Yuming believed in making every effort, even if it meant being persistent. This principle was one of the reasons he had risen to his current position.
He had the guards relay the message again, this time expressing his desire to personally meet the Imperial Preceptor to explain his purpose.
This time, the Imperial Preceptor agreed.
So, Li Yuming climbed the seven flights of stairs to the top of the tower, not showing the slightest displeasure on his face.
Although the Imperial Preceptor had no official rank, as the head of the Secret Cabinet, Li Yuming knew that the Imperial Preceptor was the true master of the Secret Cabinet.
The world believed that as the emperor’s brother-in-law, Li Yuming was the emperor’s blade. What they didn’t know was that behind this open blade was a hidden one. This hidden blade did the real killing and dirty work, far more than the open one.
Understanding this, the Li family maintained their reason, not blinded by the wealth and power before them.
Li Yuming respectfully saluted the Imperial Preceptor, who was sitting by the railing and evidently not “unwell,” and said, “His Majesty has summoned you to the palace to discuss matters regarding Marquis Zhongshun.”
Marquis Zhongshun?
Holding the “Thousand Mile Eye” and scanning the city, Fu Yan took a moment to recall that it was the title posthumously awarded to General Gu Fu after his “death.”
The emperor had spoken to him about Gu Fu’s situation. He knew that this Marquis Zhongshun was a woman and that she had returned to the capital. The emperor was troubled about what to do next. After all, she was a great general who had shed blood for the country. Even though she was a woman, it wouldn’t be appropriate to simply issue an edict that would cut off her promising future and leave her without any support.
The emperor had likely summoned him to the palace to seek his advice on this matter.
The Imperial Preceptor thought for a moment, found himself uninterested, and, frankly, too lazy to enter the palace. So, he once again declined to go to the palace.
Translator’s notes:
Thousand Mile eye – a telescope
Do you know who the ML is yet? ~
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