Chapter 356: with translation of chapter title

In the Shang Jing Zhuangyuan residence, Gu Kang was still, because of the previous incident of the Chongwen Tower flooding, ordered by the emperor to be confined within the manor, not allowed to go out.

Having once chosen to be the emperor's blade, he need not fear the emperor killing him.

After all, discovering and forging a good blade is not that easy; his blade has not yet shown its power, so how could the emperor bear to kill him?

Moreover, the one who was 'burned to death' was the Princess Consort of Rui; as long as it could cause trouble for Xiao Yin, Emperor Longqing would likely be pleased to see it happen.

Otherwise, after so many days, Emperor Longqing saying he would investigate thoroughly and scrutinize closely, now that the Princess Consort of Rui is dead, her death would have been in vain.

Now it is different: the collapsed Chongwen Tower yielded no remains of the Princess Consort, but instead ripped away the imperial fig leaf.

The emperor secretly summoned Gu Kang to say he was dissatisfied with the eight great clans, yet he was not ruthless; since that was the case, he would help Emperor Longqing set his heart right.

Starting from the Chongwen Tower poetry selection, to discovering that his maternal grandfather and Xiao Yin shared a deep blood feud, Gu Kang began to lay his plans.

And the ultimate goal was only one: Gu Cheng.

Gu Kang has never been a good person; people only saw his former spoiled young master appearance, saw him bullied to the core, and he felt responsible to let them see his true self.

"Sir, Minister Gu has arrived! He is waiting in the front hall!" Steward Zhang cautiously walked into the study in the rear hall.

Gu Kang wore an indigo-blue cotton robe, his raven-black long hair tied with a silver band at the back of his head, sitting upright at the desk practicing calligraphy.

At this moment, the characters under his brush already showed a sharp edge, faintly bearing a hint of domineering aura.

His face was half bathed in sunlight streaming from the window lattice, one half of his features exquisite and handsome, the other half covered in scars, resembling a wicked ghost from hell.

His thin lips curled, and he said lightly, "Finally you have come."

Steward Zhang froze for a moment, not knowing how to respond, after all the visitor was the head of the Gu family, Gu Shijie.

His own father had arrived, yet the second master reacted this way, leaving people baffled.

Gu Kang did not rush to meet Gu Shijie, but instead finished writing the plain sheet in his hand, then slowly set down his brush.

He took Steward Zhang to the front courtyard.

As Gu Kang had just stepped into the main hall, he saw his father Gu Shijie anxiously pacing back and forth inside.

This time, the case involving the eldest son Gu Cheng was far more serious than the previous case of the third son Gu Huai.

After all, defiling the imperial harem is a crime punishable by extermination of nine clans.

Yet the repair of the Chongwen Tower foundations last year was personally overseen by his son Gu Cheng, and even earned praise from Emperor Longqing for being done well.

It was said to be more beautiful and sturdy than what the Ministry of Works had done, and last year Gu Shijie, drinking with his colleagues, had boasted about it endlessly.

How vigorously he had boasted last year determines how satisfying his death will be this year.

At this moment, Gu Shijie only wished that the Ministry of Works had done the repairs, so at least someone could share the blame with his son.

However, the Ministry of Works had, last year, repaired the Emperor Longqing's Yangxin Hall, and the finest craftsmen had all entered the palace.

At that time, Emperor Longqing still worried that public opinion would turn against him, after all repairing the Yangxin Hall was a private royal matter, whereas the Chongwen Tower meant something else.

When he was in a dilemma, Gu Cheng stepped forward and said the Hanlin Academy could take over the matter, leading to what followed.

It both relieved the emperor's worries, earned the crown prince's favor, and he entered the entourage of the Eastern Palace's crown prince.

How glorious Gu Cheng was last year determines how deadly his situation is this year.

At this point, Gu Shijie was utterly dumbfounded; for the disaster brought by his third son, he had even sold off everything left by his deceased father-in-law.

Now the Gu family has nothing left to plead for mercy before Emperor Longqing, yet the eldest son is the family's entire hope.

Hearing Gu Kang's footsteps, Gu Shijie finally stopped his steps, turned, and looked toward Gu Kang.

Thus father and son met under these circumstances.

Gu Kang's expression was calm as he bowed to Gu Shijie and said, "Your subordinate pays his respects, Minister Gu."

Gu Shijie's brows knotted tightly, his face dark enough to wring water from.

As if he would explode in the next instant, yet he restrained himself, gradually gathering the inner storm and boundless hatred.

He let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeves, and slowly sat down in his seat.

Gu Kang straightened up and sat beside Gu Shijie, having Steward Zhang attend to the tea again.

"Have them all withdraw; I have something to say to you."

Gu Shijie gestured to Steward Zhang and the others; Gu Kang waved at Zhang, who understood, leading the attendants out of the main hall and gently closing the door from outside.

The moment Steward Zhang closed the door, the room instantly dimmed, the last trace of light shut out.

Gu Shijie slammed his palm hard on the table, staring fixedly at his son: "Well, I thought you were a fool, but I never expected you to be so ruthless and cruel."

"You have even reached out against your elder brother, Gu Kang; today I ask you, what exactly do you mean?"

Gu Shijie flew into a rage; even with his toes he could figure it out—the Chongwen Tower affair was simply too suspicious.

It felt entirely like an internal strife within the Gu family.

The one burned to death was his own daughter; now, the Ministry of Justice personally came to the Minister Gu's residence and placed a chain on his eldest son, with his second son Gu Kang participating throughout.

If there were nothing suspicious about this, then Gu Shijie would have lived these decades in vain.

Gu Kang slowly lifted the teacup before him, skimmed off the foam, brought it to his lips, took a light sip, and laughed softly: "How is the elder brother doing these days?"

Gu Shijie instantly stiffened, involuntarily gritting his teeth, and lowly rebuked: "Hmph, you can't write two Gu characters with one stroke; we are all Gu family, yet you are so ruthless—must you insist on your elder brother's death?"

Gu Kang slightly raised his eyebrows, looked at his father before him, and inwardly sneered.

Initially, the elder brother seized the property left to him by his maternal great-grandfather.

His third brother framed him for murder.

The Gu people erased him, the legitimate eldest son of the Gu family, from the clan register and drove him out of the household.

He was like a drowned dog, with no home to return to.

The Gu family occupied his mother's residence, spent the money left by his maternal grandfather, and expelled him and his elder sister from the manor.

Back then, his good father never spoke of familial affection; now he brings up kinship, and he sometimes wants to laugh but cannot.

"The elder brother brought it upon himself."

Gu Shijie stared, then cursed: "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think the Gu family's downfall would benefit you? Remember, you too bear the surname Gu."

Speak! What exactly is going on with the underground secret chamber of the Venerate Literature Hall? You couldn't have known about it earlier.

Now your older brother has been dragged into this secret chamber, and there's also collusion with the Imperial Concubine.

Do you understand how serious this is? If anything happens to your older brother, the whole Gu family will have to be buried together.

Gu Kang smiled and said: "Minister Gu may have forgotten everything; although I bear the surname Gu, I... am no longer a member of the Gu family."

"You..." Gu Shijie was cut off by Gu Kang's words, his face instantly freezing in place.