Chapter 477: Let Him Stay There

The imperial edict arrived at Rui Wang Fu three days later; Xiao Yin received the decree, made a simple preparation, brought Ling Feng to the bank of the Imperial River, and prepared to take an official ship south to Yangzhou.

Unexpectedly, at this critical juncture, Gu Kang, who was originally supposed to travel with Xiao Yin, was summoned again by Emperor Longqing into the palace, there being some matters that needed to be personally conveyed to Gu Kang alone.

Xiao Yin had no choice but to wait at the Imperial River bank; he lifted his robe and boarded the official ship at the Imperial River bank, gazing out at the boundless river surface.

Not a single soldier accompanied him, not even one from the Imperial Guard under his command; Xiao Yin curled his lip in a sneer, his eyes turning cold.

As expected, that person could not sit still, actually wanting him to use his flesh and blood to stubbornly resist the mad salt merchants of Jiangnan.

Xiao Yin gave a cold laugh; Ling Feng beside him also sensed something amiss, hurriedly leaning in to whisper: "Prince, why not send other troops? Only the two of us and Gu Gongzi are going to Jiangnan—this is no joking matter."

Xiao Yin slowly sat on the ship's chair, lifted his teacup and took a light sip, then coldly smiled: "What's there to fear? When troops come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it—there will always be a solution."

"Right, have you notified those people?"

Ling Feng hurriedly replied: "Your Highness, those people set out at dawn today, arriving in Yangzhou two hours before you."

Xiao Yin nodded: "Good, let them wait in Yangzhou first; I'll notify them when needed."

Here, the atmosphere in the palace city's Hall of Mental Cultivation was somewhat heavy; Eunuch Wang guarded the hall's doors, leaving only Emperor Longqing and Gu Kang, ruler and minister, inside the main hall.

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Gu Kang lifted his robe and walked before Emperor Longqing, then knelt with a thud.

"Long live the emperor, long live, long long live!"

Emperor Longqing waved his hand, smiling faintly: "Rise, no need for such ceremony."

"Eunuch Wang, fetch my Imperial Sword."

Eunuch Wang, who had been guarding outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, turned and entered the hall, then lifted a nanmu wood box from the eight-treasure compartment.

Opening the box, a gold-carved sword lay upon the velvet silk.

Eunuch Wang carried the sword to Gu Kang's front; Gu Kang looked at the sword, his pupils flickering slightly.

Even just the hilt was crafted using openwork carving, made of gold.

Patterns of mountains and rivers covered the entire hilt, making the sword appear splendid and luxurious.

That aside, the sword conceals majestic imperial authority; whether an ordinary criminal or a royal relative, anyone can be slain beneath it.

Gu Kang had never seen this sword before, and couldn't help but be drawn to it.

He slowly raised his hand, received the Imperial Sword, and felt it extraordinarily heavy.

The eight great clans that have brought disaster to the Southern Qi populace— the Duan Clan has already been wiped out, and this sword is about to topple the Cao Clan from power.

Emperor Longqing looked at Gu Kang before him, smiled, then shifted tone: "I've heard you have some disagreements with Prince Rui Xiao Yin—is that true?"

Emperor Longqing's question made Gu Kang's forehead break out in a cold sweat; he didn't understand why, at this critical moment, the emperor didn't mention the Jiangnan salt merchants but instead steered the topic toward Xiao Yin, causing a hint of wariness to rise in his heart.

He still spoke the truth, bowed his head, then raised his left hand; the tip of his left little finger had been severed.

Gu Kang whispered: "In reply to Your Majesty, back then I, as a young adult, was reckless and ignorant, offending my elder sister."

"Prince Rui stepped up for my elder sister, cutting off half of my finger bone; I believe Prince Rui acted rightly, after all, she is my kin—I was the one at fault."

Emperor Longqing listened to Gu Kang recount his past absurdities, his expression subtly shifting, then he let out a soft, derisive snort.

That slightly mocking laugh left Gu Kang unable to continue; he inhaled and closed his mouth.

Emperor Longqing coldly snorted: "A perfectly fine child having half a finger cut off—ultimately, hair and body are received from parents; how to deal with this finger of yours is not up to Prince Rui; this time, he was in the wrong."

Gu Kang furrowed his brows, dared not speak, lowered his head to listen respectfully.

Emperor Longqing seemed already exhausted; these days he suffered insomnia, grew gaunt, yet his eyes became increasingly frenzied.

Emperor Longqing suddenly fixed a fierce stare on the kneeling Gu Kang and said coldly: "This time I still have a task to entrust to you."

"You and Xiao Yin will go down to Jiangnan; I hope you return safely, as for that Xiao Yin……"

Emperor Longqing paused, then continued slowly: "I hope he remains forever in Jiangnan—do you understand my meaning?"

As soon as Emperor Longqing's words fell, Gu Kang's face turned pale; he dared not lift his gaze to see the emperor's expression, only feeling a chill run down his spine.

What does it mean to let Xiao Yin remain forever in Jiangnan?

In this world, if a person wishes to stay forever in a place, there is only one way: to die there.

Gu Kang lay prone on the cold ground, both hands clenched into fists, his palms exuding a fine layer of sweat.

Emperor Longqing beckoned to Eunuch Wang aside, then looked at Gu Kang and smiled: "Today I will personally carry out this for you! I hope my loyal subject attains his wish and returns safely!"

"I also promise you, if you can quell the Jiangnan salt merchants' rebellion and return, you will surely be the next Gu Shangshu."

Gu Kang bowed even lower, prostrating himself; Eunuch Wang brought a cup of tea to Gu Kang's front and chuckled softly: "Sir Gu, please."

This is the emperor's bestowed tea; Gu Kang cannot refuse to drink it.

He forced himself to take the tea Eunuch Wang offered, lowering his head and nearly being frightened enough to drop the cup.

This is no ordinary tea; the cup actually holds a pea-sized parasitic worm.

Gu Kang has also been reading some miscellaneous books these days; he knows that once this worm enters the body, it will be subject to human control.

His body trembled slightly; he originally did not want to take it, but he could faintly hear the clashing of weapons against the doorframe.

Gu Kang understood that Emperor Longqing was making him choose finally between the emperor and his own brother-in-law.

If Gu Kang cannot bear to raise a hand against Xiao Yin and refuses this cup of tea, then shortly he will be beheaded and die in this Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Gu Kang's heart pounded wildly; the hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, while Emperor Longqing, seated on the Dragon Throne, smiled faintly: "My loyal subject, how is it? Is the tea not to your taste?"

Gu Kang closed his eyes, slowly lifted the teacup, and gulped it down in one go.

The tea was still somewhat tasty, with a hint of fragrance, but the worm nudged in his throat and slipped into his stomach.

Feeling nauseous to the point of almost vomiting, Gu Kang clenched his teeth, kowtowed before Emperor Longqing, and shouted: "Subject! Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Emperor Longqing's expression instantly softened immensely; he ordered Eunuch Wang to deliver a death‑waiver medal into Gu Kang's hands.

He also gave Gu Kang a token that could freely mobilize the Imperial Secret Guard; the two tokens, together with the Imperial Sword, placed in Gu Kang's hands, made him likely the most powerful minister in all of Southern Qi.

He slowly walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, exited through the East Si Ma Gate, and entered the carriage.

The carriage had barely gone a short distance when he violently retched, gagging his throat, but unfortunately the worm could not be vomited up.

Gu Kang gasped hard, weakly leaned against the carriage wall, and Mr. Wen's words rang in his ears.

"Kang'er, on this path of eradicating evil and punishing wickedness, you will encounter all kinds of things; will you regret it?"

Gu Kang slowly closed their eyes, whispering softly: "Teacher, I have never regretted."