Chapter 323: Gritting His Teeth and Moving Forward

The palace banquet finally ended, and Emperor Longqing even bestowed a mansion upon Gu Kang.

The emperor personally bestowed a residence, which is probably the honor of every subject.

This year Emperor Longqing also bestowed residences on only two people: one was Zhao Lang, who had earned remarkable military achievements, and the other was Gu Kang, who was promoted to the Government Affairs Hall as swiftly as a bird in flight.

Zhao Lang's military achievements were genuinely earned, but Gu Kang…… everyone who thought of Gu Kang felt that this kid's luck was simply too good.

At this moment Gu Kang walked out of the palace, and a constant stream of people came to flatter and curry favor with him; some even noticed that Gu Kang didn't even have a decent carriage for personal travel.

They offered to send their splendid carriages to Gu Kang, but Gu Kang politely declined.

Gu Kang looked toward a plain green-canopied carriage parked outside the East Si Ma Gate.

The driver of the carriage was an uncle from Nan Shan Shu Yuan; Gu Kang glanced at the ordinary carriage, felt a slight stir in his heart, and walked over to it.

"Please, sir!" the carriage driver hurriedly dismounted, lifted the curtain, and invited Gu Kang to get in.

His way of addressing Gu Kang had also changed; it was no longer "Second Master Gu" or "Young Master Gu," but "Lord Gu."

This change in address also meant that Gu Kang had henceforth embarked on a different path bristling with thorns.

He knew the carriage driver would not lightly address him as "Lord Gu" three times; it must be the person inside.

Gu Kang lifted the carriage curtain and slipped in, coming face to face with Mr. Wen seated inside.

Mr. Wen's health was already poor, and after that recent upheaval he was almost bedridden.

Even when he occasionally got up, he could only write a little; it was hard for him to sit there for long.

At that moment he leaned against the carriage wall, a wool blanket draped over his legs, his complexion showing a hint of fatigue from the long wait.

Yet his eyes were bright and clear; gazing intently at his student Gu Kang before him, his expression conveyed a calm composure that was hard to describe.

In the cramped carriage cabin, Gu Kang slowly knelt before Mr. Wen.

"Teacher!" Gu Kang bowed his head to Mr. Wen.

At this moment the carriage had already left the East Si Ma Gate and was heading toward Nan Shan Shu Yuan.

The farther they went, the more secluded the route became; outside, they had long left the bustle of Shang Jing behind.

Mr. Wen, who had kept his eyes closed all along, now slowly opened them to look at Gu Kang before him; a hint of affection flickered in the depths of his gaze: "From now on, you will be different."

Gu Kang wore a façade in front of everyone, but only before Mr. Wen and his elder sister did he tear away that pretense completely.

He looked at Mr. Wen and said in a low voice, "Teacher, the emperor has ordered me to be his blade to deal with the Eight Great Clans."

Mr. Wen nodded slowly, took out a jade tablet from his bosom and handed it to Gu Kang: "The Eight Great Clans of Southern Qi dominate the court; the people suffer, and societal ills are deeply entrenched and hard to reverse. If you truly wish to excise this malignant tumor, it is certainly not something you can accomplish alone."

"Take this jade pendant; although I am no longer in the court, my students whom I have taught are spread throughout the world."

"Most of the people connected to this jade pendant despise the Eight Great Clans and will lend you their aid."

"This force, effective today, is now placed in your hands."

"All you need to do is first survive from the grasp of the Eight Great Clans."

"In fact, you are a very clever child; you must have already guessed why I asked that question on the street back then."

"I simply wanted to find among this year's students someone capable of shouldering a great responsibility, someone who could devote himself wholly—unfortunately, none of them met my standards, except you……"

"It was I who drew you into this scheme; from now on, it will be a path of endless thorns and constant bloodshed."

"Those ruthless acts even surpass anything you can imagine in cruelty."

"You also know that Xiao Yin, back then, was merely a land clearer, and the Eight Great Clans almost burned him to death in Qi Sha Gu."

"That was the renowned Xiao Yin, while you have nothing at all, yet you must contend with those people."

"During this period, all schemes, decisions, and even methods for eradicating the Eight Great Clans must be carried out by you personally; as your teacher I can offer no help."

During this period, all schemes, decisions, even the method to eradicate the eight great clans, require you to personally handle them; as your master, I cannot help at all.

"All I wish is to see a bit of political clarity in my lifetime; even if I were to close my eyes and die right now, I would be at peace."

"Teacher!" Gu Kang seized Mr. Wen's arm, and Mr. Wen's hand trembled slightly.

Mr. Wen looked at him and asked, "Do you hate your teacher?"

Gu Kang sighed, "I don't hate my teacher. In fact, from the moment the teacher took me in off the street into Nan Shan Shu Yuan, I knew my path would never be smooth again."

"I am someone who has already died once; even dying again would mean nothing to me."

Mr. Wen stared fixedly at the stern-faced youth before him; a flicker of relief passed through his eyes—indeed, he had not misjudged the person.

"Very well, since you have chosen this path, go ahead. Throw yourself into forging a new era of peace and prosperity for the world."

Gu Kang lifted his head and looked earnestly at Mr. Wen: "Teacher, I have something I don't understand."

Mr. Wen nodded, indicating for him to continue.

Gu Kang drew a breath and said slowly, "Teacher, I don't understand; since we are to deal with the Eight Great Clans, why didn't you choose Prince Rui Xiao Yin? I think Xiao Yin hates the Eight Great Clans even more."

Mr. Wen sighed, "Xiao Yin, do you know what kind of person he is?"

"He is decisive in killing, ruthless in mind, and besides, he comes from a military background; if he were to control this realm,"

"we would fear yet another warlord regime."

"To govern the world, it must be entrusted to a wise and enlightened ruler."

"Gu Kang, these matters are entrusted to you; no matter how far you go or where you end up, the final say is yours."

"If one day you no longer wish to go on, I, your teacher, will not blame you, after all this path is exceedingly difficult."

"As for Xiao Yin, you can treat him as a tool and a stepping stone; the world needs to be placed in the hands of a gentle and enlightened monarch, and only then can I, your teacher, rest easy."

"I have served as imperial tutor to two emperors, but Emperor Longqing's performance has disappointed me greatly."

"Even the crown prince Xiao Ting merely does superficial work; if he were to occupy that position, he would probably still be unable to suppress the rise of the great clans."

Even the Crown Prince Xiao Ting merely does superficial work; if he were in that position, he would likely still be unable to suppress the rise of the clans.

Gu Kang's heart jolted—could it be that they also intend to take part in the succession struggle of Southern Qi?

But who are they intending to support?

But who are they going to support?

The Crown Prince can't, is it the Sixth Prince?

But the Sixth Prince is already aligned with Xiao Yin now, so clearly Mr. Wen doesn't mean that.

Then who will be that enlightened ruler?

Could there be someone else?

At this point he still wants to ask Mr. Wen, but Mr. Wen, already weary, closed his eyes and slowly waved his hand at him, clearly not wanting to say anything more.

Gu Kang clenched the jade pendant in his hand tightly, and his heart tightened repeatedly.

A simple piece of jade pendant made Gu Kang's palm ache from the grip.

He feels as if walking on thin ice, the burden he bears is too heavy, and even before starting he already has some regretful thoughts.

Unfortunately, once an arrow is loosed in this world there is no way back, and Gu Kang can only grit his teeth and keep moving forward.