Chapter 193

193. Chapter 193: Mid-Autumn Festival Arrives!

Late at night.

The Virtuous Prince's Mansion had two guests, and adding Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing, the usually cold mansion felt a bit lively.

Although it was not yet the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chu Yang still set up a table of wine and food in the courtyard. For these years, he had been drinking outside, but this was the first time he had drunk in the Virtuous Prince's Mansion.

"You shouldn't have come back."

Guo Bujing, dressed in casual clothes, sat directly opposite Chu Yang, looking at him with a worried face.

"For implicating Lord Guo in losing the position of Imperial Guard instructor, I will punish myself with a cup."

Chu Yang raised his wine cup and drank it in one gulp.

"It doesn't matter who is the Imperial Guard instructor. I never cared about these things. Without these trivial matters to worry about, the Six Doors at least won't be as poorly managed as before."

Guo Bujing's expression was calm, and not a trace of regret could be seen on his face. He truly did not like the position of Imperial Guard instructor.

Not being good at fighting for power and profit didn't mean Guo Bujing couldn't see the Emperor's intentions. The Six Doors alone could hardly balance the two Divine Marquises, which was why the Emperor gave him the title of Imperial Guard instructor.

"Indeed, without being entangled in trivial matters, Lord Guo even had time to catch the River-Crossing Bandit."

Chu Yang looked smilingly at Chai Hu, who was drinking his sorrows away.

"Hahaha, Chai, you have today too."

Sikong Zhaixing was an old acquaintance of Chai Hu, and upon learning that the other party had been recruited by the legendary Hero Guo, he burst into laughter.

Chai Hu felt he had lost face, so he turned his head to the side, just in time to meet Lu Xiaofeng's cheeky smiling face.

He was an old acquaintance of Sikong Zhaixing, so he naturally recognized Lu Xiaofeng.

"Big guy, I told you long ago that you would be caught sooner or later. To be honest, your method of robbing the rich to help the poor was really crude; a little investigation would reveal your background."

Lu Xiaofeng shook his head helplessly.

"Is this the Lu Xiaofeng who is popular in the Jianghu? I heard from my disciples that Hero Lu is very good at investigating cases."

Guo Bujing appreciated Lu Xiaofeng and rarely showed a smiling face.

Chu Yang knew he wanted to get Lu Xiaofeng into the Six Doors.

"In front of Hero Guo, there is no such thing as a hero. Please don't tease me, sir."

Lu Xiaofeng waved his hands repeatedly, showing rare humility. Like most martial arts people, he respected Guo Bujing very much.

"You two should stop flattering each other; it makes my drinking tasteless."

Chu Yang looked at Guo Bujing and asked, "Lord Guo, why did you visit late at night with Chai Hu?"

Guo Bujing sighed, "Chai Hu told me everything about what happened during the day. Fortunately, this guy's brain isn't too stupid and he didn't act recklessly, but besides that, he also brought me a piece of news."

"Chai Hu, you say it yourself." Chai Hu, who had been drinking his sorrows away, shuddered immediately upon hearing Guo Bujing's voice, put down his wine cup, slowly turned his head, and said: "After the Prince left the Imperial Palace during the day, the new instructor Li suddenly gathered most of the Imperial Guards into the palace and secretly practiced battle formations inside."

"It was that kind of special formation specifically for dealing with martial arts masters. I am a lay disciple of Buddhism and have seen similar formations."

Guo Bujing continued: "My old subordinates in the Imperial Guards were either dismissed and investigated or transferred to other places."

"Because Chai Hu just joined the Imperial Guards, he had no connection with me and his background was relatively clean, so he was barely left there and heard some wind."

Sikong Zhaixing chuckled secretly; that the River-Crossing Bandit could be described as having a clean background was an eye-opener for him.

Guo Bujing glanced at him.

Lu Xiaofeng hurriedly hit Sikong Zhaixing hard with his elbow and whispered, "Are you crazy? You have committed no fewer crimes than Chai Hu. Don't you know how to restrain yourself in front of the Chief Constable of the Six Doors? Do you really want to see the inside of the Heavenly Prison?"

Sikong Zhaixing hurriedly stopped talking, and a layer of fine cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

His nature was similar to Bai Zhantang's. Although he liked to steal things, he never targeted poor commoners. Most of the time, he stole for fun, and to show his ability, he would return it to the owner after he was done.

Of course, the money of some corrupt officials was another matter.

There were more than one or two people robbing the rich to help the poor these days. As long as it wasn't too excessive, Guo Bujing turned a blind eye to it.

"Several years ago, a thief broke into Cabinet Minister Yan's house and lost some silver."

Guo Bujing's understated sentence made Sikong Zhaixing's back wet.

Jianghu rumors had it that 300,000 taels of silver were stolen from Yan Song's mansion. He secretly asked Guo Bujing to let the Six Doors help recover the silver, but Guo Bujing had not yet approved the warrant for anyone to handle the matter.

Cabinet Minister Yan was so angry that he smashed things at home, but he didn't dare to make it public. After all, 300,000 taels was not a small amount. Where did a Cabinet Minister get 300,000 taels? If it really became a big deal, how could he face the Emperor and the officials? The whereabouts of the 300,000 taels of silver eventually ended up with nothing, but Guo Bujing knew it had been taken to help the disaster victims.

The leader was the group of bandits led by Sikong Zhaixing, and the "Saint of Thieves," who hadn't retired yet, also participated.

As for Chai Hu, his technique was too rough, and he was kicked out of the team by others, not even getting a job as a lookout, which was why he had a conflict with Sikong Zhaixing.

"Lord Guo, Cabinet Minister Yan is wealthy; if this money is gone, it's gone. I suppose he won't mind."

"The Prince is right."

Chu Yang and Guo Bujing toasted each other, meaning that this matter was over.

Sikong Zhaixing, who had almost taken a trip to the Heavenly Prison, had weak legs. He didn't expect Guo Bujing to know from the beginning that they had done it.

Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, he heard Lu Xiaofeng's voice claiming credit in his ear.

"Having many friends makes the road easier; that's true, right?"

Sikong Zhaixing could only obediently bow to Chu Yang.

"Lu Xiaofeng, since you claim to be the Prince's friend, why didn't you stop him from coming back? With your intelligence, you couldn't have failed to think of the consequences."

Thinking of this, Guo Bujing became angry and looked at Lu Xiaofeng with dissatisfaction.

"Hero Guo is making things difficult for me. The Prince has his own legs; how could I stop him?"

Lu Xiaofeng looked confused.

Seeing that the atmosphere was wrong, Chu Yang smiled and raised his wine cup, interrupting their conversation, "Returning to the capital this time was my own decision, unrelated to anyone else. Lord Guo need not worry. Why not have a drink together?"

"How can I not worry?" Guo Bujing's tone suddenly became impatient, "Martial arts also have limits. No matter how strong personal martial arts are, they cannot withstand the charge of tens of thousands of iron cavalry. Even Zhuge Divine Marquis would not dare to say he could walk out alive from the siege of 800,000 Imperial Guards."

"Your Highness, do not be arrogant!"

Chu Yang put down his wine cup and shook his head, "Some things, Zhuge Divine Marquis dare not say, but I can."

"Your Highness!" Guo Bujing was burning with anxiety, but there were some things he couldn't say clearly because he was a subject, and his words and actions had to be loyal to the Emperor.

Even if he was dissatisfied with the Emperor's obsession with power and felt sad for the suffering of the people, he could not betray the Emperor; otherwise, he would be an unloyal and unrighteous person, and he couldn't pass the test in his heart.

But deep in his heart, Guo Bujing hoped that someone would come out to change the current situation and save the people from fire and water.

This person was Chu Yang.

Human hearts often fall into contradictory emotions.

Guo Bujing's contradiction was that if he was loyal to the Emperor, he would be putting the people of the world in injustice, and if he was loyal to righteousness, he would have to make the Emperor step down from the dragon chair.

Knowing that Chu Yang was very likely to rebel, he still turned a blind eye, neither helping nor reporting, and he was very tormented in his heart.

Loyalty and righteousness are hard to have both.

He advised Chu Yang to leave, also hoping that the other party could keep his useful body and make other plans.

Instead of letting the whole world lose hope for a moment of anger.

"Lord Guo, I appreciate your good intentions, but as I just said, there are some things only I can do. If I take a step back today and another step back tomorrow, where is the end?"

"Even if I retreat to the edge of a cliff, the Emperor won't necessarily let me go, right?"

"The thing he regrets most now is probably letting me live for so many years."

After Chu Yang finished speaking, Guo Bujing fell silent, but then he changed the subject.

"The capital is peaceful, but the entire south is in danger. The Demon Race has swallowed the East, and the number of demons has doubled. When they completely withdraw from the chaos of demons, how will the south resist?"

"I can retreat again and again, but can the people of the world?"

"Those generals guarding the gates have already declared themselves kings. Even if the commoners are lucky enough to survive the Demon Race, they may still die at their hands."

"Lord Guo, when will the chaos end?"

Guo Bujing listened until his face turned red, and a sense of guilt arose in his heart. He clenched his fists and trembled all over. After a long time, it turned into a sigh, "Fine. Since the Prince is determined to do so, I should not stop you. But next time the Prince enters the palace, I will naturally accompany you."

Guo Bujing believed that the probability of Chu Yang not returning was very high, and making such a promise proved that he intended to die with Chu Yang.

Chu Yang naturally understood his thoughts and shook his head, "Lord Guo need not do this."

Guo Bujing said with a firm attitude, "Since the Prince will not listen to advice, I will naturally not listen to the Prince's advice. The Prince need not say more."

Subsequently, he showed a relieved smile and said, "I, Guo Bujing, have been the Chief Constable of the Six Doors for so many years. I haven't been able to make the world better, nor have I been able to make the common people live a good life. I should give them an account."

Even a stupid person like Chai Hu could hear the death wish in Guo Bujing's words, let alone the clever Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing.

The three of them immediately stood in awe.

After expressing his determination, Guo Bujing drank the wine in his cup and bid farewell to Chu Yang, leaving without giving others a chance to persuade him.

"Big guy, aren't you going with Hero Guo?"

"I have a holiday for the next two days. Lord Guo told me not to go back and wait for it to end."

"What does that mean?"

"How would I know what it means? Lord Guo said so, so I'll just follow."

"Tsk tsk, I haven't seen you be so obedient before."

"Who the hell wants to listen to a thief?"

"Show some respect; I am the King of Thieves!"

Before they could say a few words, Sikong Zhaixing and Chai Hu started arguing. Lu Xiaofeng couldn't be bothered to deal with them and walked silently to Chu Yang's side.

The two watched the moon in the sky become rounder and brighter, like white porcelain.

It wasn't the Mid-Autumn Festival yet, and the moon was already so beautiful. I really don't know how beautiful it will be on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"I walked around the city during the day, and some things happened that made me feel that this duel is not right. I plan to investigate."

"Can you tell me?"

"Someone opened a gambling pool for the Mid-Autumn duel, and then died inexplicably. I also met Ye Gucheng, and he gave me a strange feeling..."

"Since you are curious, go and investigate."

"What did you mean when you told me that Ye Gucheng's sword heart is no longer pure?"

"The mystery will be revealed at the end of the investigation."

"Can't the Prince tell me now?"

"No."

"Then I'll go first. See you on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Lu Xiaofeng sighed helplessly, then called Sikong Zhaixing to leave the Virtuous Prince's Mansion together. Chu Yang did not interfere in any way in order not to change the plot; he also wanted to see why Ye Gucheng dared to move against the Emperor.

Li Xunhuan once revealed to Chu Yang that since the great change in heaven and earth, the royal family's reliance was not the 800,000 Imperial Guards, but other things that could make the assassination of martial arts masters futile.

Chu Yang believed in Li Xunhuan's character. Since he said so, it certainly wasn't groundless.

Whether this conspiracy can succeed depends on whether the trump cards in the hands of Ye Gucheng and the Prince of Pingnan are strong enough. Anyway, even if Lu Xiaofeng finds out the truth at the end of his investigation, he will definitely stand by and watch.

If Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue don't make a move, no one else can save the Emperor except himself.

Because those who can save him are busy participating in the siege of Chu Yang.

For example, Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian, as well as other masters in the palace...

After seeing Lu Xiaofeng off, Chu Yang found that Chai Hu was still sitting in his original seat, eating and drinking, with no intention of leaving. Saying he was dull was fine, and saying he was thick-skinned was also correct.

"I have a friend who will probably return to the capital in two days. I will introduce you to him then."

Chu Yang was looking forward to the scene of Li Ge Xiao and Chai Hu meeting. I don't know if they still have a chance to form that team that punishes evil and promotes good.

"The Prince's friend must be a first-class hero! I am willing to be friends with him!"

Chai Hu smiled, then smacked his lips and said: "Even that monkey dared to call people to steal the house of the treacherous minister Yan Song back then. Although I don't get along with him, I admit he is a hero."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while. Seeing that he wanted to continue eating, Chu Yang left the table first and instructed the old butler to find him a room to spend the night after Chai Hu finished eating.

Guo Bujing bringing him here clearly meant to keep him in the Prince's Mansion to avoid being implicated.

Time flew by to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Before it was dark, the capital was hung with red lanterns, as festive as the New Year, and even the slum street next to the Virtuous Prince's Mansion was the same.

The bright moon in the sky—the rich have it, and the poor have it, which is rarely fair.

The old butler got up very early, busy with the servants. The mansion was too big, and it was very troublesome to decorate. With few hands, it was even more strenuous.

Fortunately, there was Chai Hu, this coolie, who not only liked to bury his head in hard work but was also as strong as an ox.

Chu Yang also wanted to help the servants decorate, but as soon as he started, he frightened the old butler, who, despite his age, had to kowtow to Chu Yang, shouting "Your Highness, you mustn't," and wouldn't let Chu Yang touch anything.

In his view, the Prince of the past, although unreliable, still understood the distinction between high and low and would not make things difficult for them, the servants.

Now it's fine.

After going out once, he came back even more absurd, and I don't know how many jokes he will make in the future.

Thinking of this, the old butler looked at Chu Yang with a lifeless expression until he put down what he was holding and left the servants' "work site."

"I can't stay in this mansion for even a day!"

Chu Yang stepped out of the mansion gate, cursing, and just as he looked up, he saw Cao Zhengchun walking toward him with an imperial edict.

"Your Highness, what a coincidence. I was just looking for you; His Majesty has an edict."

"Bring it here."

Chu Yang reached out and took the imperial edict that Cao Zhengchun was holding. The latter was stunned; according to the normal procedure, Chu Yang should have knelt to receive the edict.

"My health has been poor lately, especially my knees."

"Your Highness, please take care of your health."

Hearing Chu Yang's excuse, Cao Zhengchun couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. (End of chapter)