Chapter 1133: Just Asking You — Is There or Isn't There?

"Brother Gu, I treated you as a brother, yet you tried to cost us our lives. What a vicious heart you have!"

Before Pure Yang True Man could erupt, Chen Chen Guanlou leapt out first and grabbed Gu Yiyang by the collar.

"What grudge, what enmity, that you'd plot against us so deliberately?"

"No, I didn't."

"No what, didn't what? I can see plainly that you're full of dirty tricks. You knew perfectly well that the True Man is a man of the world beyond, never meddles in court affairs, and would never have the slightest entanglement with the inner palace. Yet you had him go report to Your Majesty — and the report was about the Noble Consort's own brother.

If that isn't a belly full of dirty water, what is? You're the Consort Shun's brother, and an official of the court — don't you know that once the True Man takes this step, his head on his shoulders won't be safe! Tell me, what is your real purpose, and who sent you to harm us."

Chen Chen Guanlou questioned furiously, in anguish, heartbroken! He wished he could tear the man apart.

Gu Yiyang was first utterly bewildered. After hearing Chen Chen Guanlou's accusations, he argued loudly, "It's not like that. I was too hot-tempered in the moment, I didn't think that far. I had absolutely no intention to harm anyone, and no one sent me to harm you. I simply took a dislike to Xiao Xiao Changsheng, and once I got hold of his handle I wanted to expose it. I never imagined it would have such serious consequences. Brother Chen, believe me!"

He gazed at the other with a face full of sincerity, blaming only his own quick temper — no time to think, words spilling out unfiltered. No wonder the other was so angry.

"Brother Chen, I have absolutely no intention to harm anyone. Believe me!"

He emphasized again, his face full of regret — he shouldn't have spoken so fast.

"Why should I believe you! You're a prisoner in the Heaven Prison, yet in the middle of the night you saw Xiao Xiao Changsheng on the lake. Once this gets out and the higher-ups come investigating, will I come out of it well? I kindly brought you out for a bit of fun, yet you wanted to offer my head up in sacrifice. Gu Yiyang, oh Gu Yiniang — you noble-born sons really are too vicious. All my good intentions wasted."

Chen Chen Guanlou shoved the man aside, looking furious.

Gu Yiyang knew he was in the wrong, hurried forward to apologize, swearing oaths and making vows.

Chen Chen Guanlou gave a cold snort. "A few words of apology from your mouth — are they useful? If you truly mean to apologize, show some sincerity. Don't let people look down on you."

"What sincerity does Brother Chen want?"

"Don't ask me." Chen Chen Guanlou kept a straight face. "Jade Spring Palace is recently holding a scripture-recitation ceremony and needs a great deal of manpower and material. If you're truly sincere in your apology, you might as well cover all the expenses. We'll barely let you pass."

"Then it's settled! The expenses for Jade Spring Palace's scripture-recitation ceremony — I'll shoulder them all. True Man, don't you stand on ceremony with me."

Pure Yang True Man: …

A bit bewildered.

He secretly glanced at Chen Chen Guanlou, his eyes asking: since when did Jade Spring Palace hold a scripture-recitation ceremony? He was the Abbey Head — how did he not know? And now an outsider had to inform him.

Chen Chen Guanlou returned a look: decided on the spot, if I say there is, then there is. Just answer — is there or isn't there?

Pure Yang True Man stroked his beard and gave a light cough. "Lord Gu's sincerity is overflowing. If this poor Daoist were to refuse, it would make me seem ungracious. Very well then, the scripture-recitation expenses — I'll trouble Lord Gu to see to them. In a few days, I'll have my people send over the accounts."

"No need, True Man — just tell me straight how much money you need, and I'll pay it all in one go. This whole thing is my fault. I'm worse than a beast, I didn't think it through, and I gave the True Man a fright. I only hope the True Man won't disdain mere gold and silver."

"Not disdainful, not disdainful at all! As for the scripture-recitation expenses, roughly two…"

"Twenty thousand taels!" Chen Chen Guanlou cut in.

Pure Yang True Man was stunned.

His heart was like a roiling sea. He had clearly meant to say two thousand taels. The result had inflated tenfold.

Th-this… can this really work?

This doesn't seem quite proper.

It's practically extortion.

He secretly glanced at Chen Chen Guanlou, who signaled him to relax, don't be nervous, don't give it away.

"Twenty thousand taels?" Gu Yiyang repeated.

Chen Chen Guanlou's face instantly darkened. "Could it be Brother Gu thinks it's too much? You can give not a single tael. After all, the True Man and I together aren't even fit to shine your shoes. You're a noble-born son sitting up high; we're nothing but a couple of jianghu vagrants scraping together a living."

"Brother Chen's words utterly destroy me. If I had such a thought, may heaven strike me with thunder and let me die a wretched death. Twenty thousand taels it is — I just need a little time. My private funds are limited, and I still need to find a way to coax some out of my elders before I can gather the full sum. I beg the True Man to grant me a few days."

"No matter!" Pure Yang True Man did his best to put on the air of Cui Cui Shiwai, a transcendent master, while his heart was shouting with excitement. Open your mouth and twenty thousand taels appear — what a bargain of a deal. If only there could be a few more rounds like this!

Still, it was Little Friend Chen who knew how to make money!

Unlike him, who only dared ask for two thousand taels.

Short-sighted!

Truly, twenty thousand taels could buy so very much — enough even to sweep clean the entire stockpile of elixirs.

He could hardly hide his excitement. If not for a face covered in beard, he would have already given himself away.

A big heart indeed belonged to Chen Chen Guanlou — handling a transaction of twenty thousand taels without a flicker, even putting on an expression that suggested it was too little.

That's going too far!

To actually act as if it's too little!

Just how big are the sums of business in the Heaven Prison!

"Since the True Man has forgiven you, if I were to keep pressing, it would make me seem heartless. Enough, enough! Brother Gu, this matter ends here. I hope you'll fulfill your promise as soon as possible. In the future, don't make the same mistake again. Other people's lives are lives too!"

Chen Chen Guanlou spoke with deep feeling, earnest and persuasive, every inch the concerned adviser.

Gu Yiyang was deeply moved. "Brother Chen treated me with sincerity, yet I only thought of my own grudges and grievances. Fortunately you reminded me in time. As for Xiao Xiao Changsheng's open defiance of Your Majesty's decree, I'll find another channel to report it. I refuse to believe Your Majesty will tolerate him again and again and again."

"You're going to be disappointed! Ask the True Man — he's been moving about the palace lately and knows quite a bit."

Gu Yiyang gazed at Pure Yang True Man with eager, pleading eyes.

Pure Yang True Man was a bit bewildered — improvise on the spot! What a torment for him. At his great age, his mind didn't turn as fast as a young man's; at least give him a heads-up first!

He gave a light cough and said, choosing his words carefully: "Whenever Your Majesty has a spare moment, he always summons the Noble Consort to attend him."

"Did you hear? Your Majesty only summons the Noble Consort to attend him. If you want to report Xiao Xiao Changsheng, that's tantamount to reporting the Noble Consort. When the time comes, you'll drag Consort Shun down too. Then you'll truly have become a calamity!"

"Am I just supposed to sit and watch?" Gu Yiyang said, unconvinced.

"You're too young. On matters of the court, you need to consult the elders in your family more and let them decide. If all else fails, find a chance to enter the palace and ask Consort Shun. In short, never think yourself clever, never be so full of yourself."

Chen Chen Guanlou offered his counsel in complete sincerity.

The struggle for the succession was a long and arduous road; it could never be decided by the victory or defeat of a single day. Who would laugh last — it was far too early to draw any conclusion now.

As the saying goes, stillness is better than a single move!

The time has not yet come to stake everything. One only needs to advance steadily, gather information, and sooner or later it will prove useful.