Chapter 134: Sister, I'm being serious—go find two male favorites

In Chonghua Hall, Gu Lie began to sway and chatter as he launched into the anecdote of Jiang Taigong fishing.

Of course, basically, whatever Lu Yuan had told Gu Lie back then, Gu Lie is now saying exactly the same.

I don't know since when, but Gu Qingwan, who originally was so angry she wanted to go down and give Gu Lie two blows, is now calmly sitting on the dragon throne.

Her expression, which had been furious beyond forgiveness, now shows a faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of her mouth.

As for her younger brother, Gu Qingwan has basically seen every sort of behavior from him, but she has never seen him showing off his learning.

Gu Qingwan really has no demands for her younger brother.

As long as he is willing to stay on the proper path, Gu Qingwan would be grateful to heaven and earth.

But before this, no matter how I beat or trained him, my younger brother just remained exactly as he was.

He simply refuses to stay on the proper path!

It's enough to make a person furious!

But today, he suddenly ran up to me and started showing off his learning?

This is truly extremely rare.

For a moment, Gu Qingwan's heart was overjoyed beyond measure.

Moreover, although Gu Lie's words were things she had never heard before, they somehow seemed somewhat interesting.

In any case, Gu Qingwan now feels no anger at all in her heart.

Leaning askew on the dragon throne, Gu Qingwan waited for her younger brother to finish speaking, then said somewhat amusedly:

"You've said all this, and although it's somewhat interesting, what does sneaking out to play and then swaggering back into the palace have to do with it?

Even if I, your sister, have taken your bait, what do you want to say to me?

How do you intend to make me, your sister, willingly fall for it?"

Gu Lie, on the other hand, said with a solemn face:

"Jiang Taigong fished for sixteen years to catch King Wen of Zhou; confidence is the foundation of victory. I, too, have confidence—I want to study military texts and join the army!"

As soon as Gu Lie finished speaking, the smile on Gu Qingwan's face vanished instantly.

Just as Gu Qingwan was about to speak, Gu Lie directly continued:

"I know you, sister, worry about me and fear I'll get hurt on the front lines, but don't forget that a general isn't a vanguard officer.

He stays in the rear to direct battles, not to charge into the fray; if necessary, I can hold down the rear as well."

That may be true, but how could Gu Qingwan not know her younger brother's temperament?

Who knows—if he gets excited, he might actually lead troops charging to the very front.

If something really happens, how could I face my father the emperor and mother the empress?

If my younger brother suffers even a mishap on the front lines, I would truly have no relatives left.

Don't look at how Gu Lie daily provokes my anger; fortunately, there is still someone who makes me feel this concerned.

If my younger brother meets with trouble, Gu Qingwan wouldn't even dare to think about what she would do afterward.

But Gu Qingwan truly feels pity for her younger brother.

She knows her younger brother cannot be restrained.

He wants to be a general; constantly restraining him like this is indeed not a long-term solution.

Just like me—I truly do not want to sit on this throne.

But given how the Great Zhou Dynasty was back then, if I hadn't taken the throne and someone else had, the Great Zhou Dynasty would probably already have collapsed.

I have already been like this my whole life.

Gu Qingwan also does not want her younger brother to live unhappily as she has.

But… but her younger brother really is just not staying on the proper path.

He neglects his proper duties every day.

If her younger brother had even a shred of virtue, she could grit her teeth and agree.

But with his current conduct, how could he possibly go?!

Even if you want to go to the battlefield and become a general, which general has the same lack of virtue as your younger brother?

He understands nothing.

Just knowing a bit of military strategy—would that be enough?!

It certainly would not!

He's already stubborn enough; if he entered the army and mixed with those big, rough fellows, it would be utterly hopeless.

Just as Gu Qingwan was about to say something, Gu Lie again spoke solemnly:

"I know you want me to read some books, sister, but I just memorize them by rote—nothing more than parroting the text—what good is that?"

Hearing Gu Lie's words, a faint amused expression once again appeared on Gu Qingwan's face.

Yo~

Still parroting the text~

Where did you learn that from, and now you can even speak in refined phrases~

I just feel that what you're saying is so weird~

However, after coming to her senses, Gu Qingwan still let out a light hum and said:

"With your conduct, how could you lead tens of thousands of troops? Have you ever seen any illiterate fool from past dynasties who could be a general?

If you die out there, I, your sister, won't feel the slightest pity—but don't you dare lead our Great Zhou Dynasty's soldiers to their deaths!"

Gu Lie hadn't even imagined that his sister would agree to anything like this, but at the very least…

Immediately, Gu Lie raised his eyebrows and said:

"Then don't keep restraining me, okay? I'm not a prisoner; what's the point of me staying in the palace all day? Why don't you find two male favorites to keep in the palace instead."

I can play with your male concubine too; now in the palace there isn't even a man, and if there is, they're a yin-yang person, no fun!

Gu Qingwan: "???"?

Grand Eunuch: "???"

First of all, I haven't provoked anyone!!

In the next second, Gu Qingwan, who had just come to her senses, instantly rose and grabbed the sword at her side, about to rush down to find Gu Lie.

And Gu Lie, seeing the situation was wrong, turned and ran!

His running was truly fast!

With a swoosh, the person disappeared!

Gu Qingwan had just run two steps when she saw the empty hall, and her towering chest heaved rapidly with anger.

Just after saying a couple of good things about her brother in her heart, she immediately started farting!!

Gu Qingwan gritted her teeth in anger, unable to catch Gu Lie, so she could only grit her teeth and turn back to the throne.

At that moment, Gu Lie was shamelessly lying prone outside the hall's door, poked his head out, and earnestly said to Gu Qingwan, who had just sat down:

"Sister, I'm serious, find two male concubines; your temper's been getting bigger lately, are you just pent up?"

After a brief silence in the hall lasting a few seconds.

"Get lost!!!"

Finally, the hall returned to calm.

Gu Qingwan was quite angry.

Meanwhile, the scholars nearby lowered their heads and wiped sweat.

Probably only this Prince Lie would dare say such nonsense in front of His Majesty and get away with it.

But the problem is…

What kind of tiger-wolf words are these…

Really, no ears to hear this…

After a moment of silence, the eldest scholar stepped forward slightly and said:

"Your Majesty, in my opinion…… it's really best not to restrain the prince……"

"The more you restrain the prince, the more…… whatever, it'd be better to just go along with the prince's wishes; maybe it'll make things stronger."

And this scholar also knew what Gu Qingwan was worried about, and immediately said:

"The prince's nature isn't bad; he's just a bit spoiled, knows some martial arts, and when he gets angry, he's prone to lash out."

"As for other things, the prince would never do them; in my view, we should just set some rules for him."

"If he dares to cause trouble outside, stirring up trouble, we won't let him leave the palace anymore."

The scholars nearby also nodded repeatedly, all saying yes.

Let's hurry and get Prince Lie out of here.

Otherwise…

That would really be terrible for everyone!!

Prince Lieqing comes to class, and nobody dares to manage him.

A moment's carelessness, and that's a barrage of old punches coming your way.

No matter what, grab and hit!!

There are Imperial Guards nearby, but Prince Lieqing pays no heed, and those Imperial Guards also ignore everyone's cries for help, pretending not to see.

Nobody dares to teach anymore.

Gu Qingwan sat on the throne, frowned, and thought for a moment.

Finally, she pursed her lips and then said:

"You all go back."

Gu Qingwan pondered, otherwise… let's try?

After all, even though he'd been locked up before, his brother was still the same.

Maybe changing the method would fix it?

Hmm…

After those scholars left, Gu Qingwan suddenly tilted her head and looked at the standing grand eunuch and said:

"Go, find that little beast for me."

Although she planned not to confine Gu Lie anymore, Gu Qingwan was still a bit angry.

Have her look for male concubines?

Is this what her own younger brother said?!

Just now I really wanted to stab him to death with a sword!

The grand eunuch didn't dare delay and immediately went out to call.

But soon after, the grand eunuch came running back, out of breath.

Gu Qingwan had already regained her earlier coldness, slightly lifted her head, and spoke sternly with a displeased face.

"What's wrong again!"

"What kind of conduct is this!!"

The grand eunuch also couldn't attend to anything else, pointing in a direction outside the hall and said, out of breath:

"Your…… Your Majesty, Your Majesty…… the prince…… the prince went to the academy, is reading in the academy!!"

Ah??!

Gu Qingwan wondered if she had misheard…… this…… Gu Lie actually went to read??

If Gu Lie had ever uttered a word before, even if he was eating...... he would absolutely not go to the academy.

This...... this is going to the academy?!?!

After coming to her senses, Gu Qingwan suddenly jumped up from the dragon throne, and this grand eunuch, being very sharp-eyed, hurriedly looked outside and shouted:

"Set off, set off~~"

At this moment, Gu Lie was sitting cross-legged on the floor in a room inside the imperial palace academy.

Beside him were stacked piles of books.

Gu Lie suddenly wanted to read books in order to look up the allusion that Lu Yuan mentioned today.

That is, Jiang Taigong.

Gu Lie had never heard of this person before.

This is practically the Fishing Immortal!

Gu Lie wanted to look up the deeds and such of this Fishing Immortal, feeling it would be quite interesting.

At this moment, outside the room.

Gu Qingwan stared in astonishment at Gu Lie's back as he sat cross-legged in front of the bookshelf.

He really is reading!

My younger brother is actually reading!!

He's so engrossed in it!!

After blinking, Lu Gu Qingwan gently placed her jade finger on her own alluring, rosy lips.

The grand eunuch beside him, understanding instantly, quickly gestured to the people behind, signaling silence!

Afterward, Gu Qingwan led this group of people tip-toeing back, daring not to make a sound.

On the way back, Gu Qingwan clasped her hands together, gazing at the imperial palace's square sky, her face full of emotion.

She murmured in her heart, 'Gods bless us, gods bless us.'

My ignorant, foolish younger brother has finally opened his mind!!

Gods bless us......

But...... after just muttering a few lines, Gu Qingwan suddenly stopped, and the people around also hurriedly stopped and waited.

Gu Qingwan's expression shifted from just being full of emotion to extremely fierce.

"Not right!!"

"This is completely wrong!!"

"He definitely doesn't know what's going on outside today; how could he possibly become like this!!"

"Go, notify the Heaven-Upholding Guard, have me investigate, have me investigate thoroughly; Gu Lie must have met someone these days!"

Also, after telling Gu Lie tomorrow that he is allowed to leave the palace freely, he will definitely run outside every day, so send people to follow him.

First, don't let him bully people outside; if he dares to show his fangs, apprehend him on the spot and bring him back; second, keep an eye on him to see what he does every day and who he's with.

The grand eunuch immediately replied:

"Yes, Imperial Lord."

The next day.

Early morning.

Lu Yuan held his wife's soft, smooth body that felt like jelly in the blankets, closed his eyes, and said:

"You're going to the threshing machine factory today, right?"

Su Liyan, blushing, leaned against the man's embrace in the blankets and nodded, saying:

"Hmm~"

Although the threshing machine factory doesn't start work until tomorrow, the artisans transferred from other factories need to go a day early.

To familiarize themselves with their workstations, and then there are group assignments, etc.

There will also be speeches by the leaders, and then they will get acquainted with the facilities of the threshing machine factory, etc.

Starting today, Su Liyan will no longer go to the arms factory; instead, she will go directly to the threshing machine factory.

Lu Yuan embraced his wife, his hands restless as they rubbed back and forth, causing Su Liyan to let out shy little sounds, and Lu Yuan said:

"At noon, go eat at Second Uncle's cafeteria; from now on, don't eat at the cafeteria—just go eat at Second Uncle's place."

"Take Liu Sister along, and don't let her spend money."

That's a restaurant run by our family—you can eat whatever you want.

Su Liyan nodded, her face flushed with shyness, and said:

"Hmm~ I'll listen to big brother~ ah~~"

At 9:30 a. m., as usual, Lu Yuan got up and ate something.

He went out to help Wang Yulan order a bowl of noodles at the noodle shop, then headed straight for the Agriculture Bureau.

Today there's a lot to record; by the time he finishes, it'll be noon, so Lu Yuan won't go anywhere else—anyway, the Agriculture Bureau's meals are also quite good.

Lu Yuan went directly to the Agriculture Bureau's cafeteria to eat.

As usual, he didn't see Lin Fusheng.

Although Lu Yuan is quite impressive at the Agriculture Bureau now, he actually doesn't know two people there.

Most of the people here also don't know Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan also has nowhere to ask where Lin Fusheng went.

After getting his meal and finding an empty seat in the corner to eat, Lu Yuan took a plate of food and rode his horse to the moat to fish.

After he went there, Gu Lie had already arrived.

But today, Gu Lie wasn't just here to fish; he was also holding a scroll and reading it.

"Have you eaten?"

Lu Yuan, sitting on his horse, gazed at Gu Lie and asked.

Gu Lie startled, turned his head to see Lu Yuan, and then immediately replied with a smile:

"Brother, you came pretty early today."

"I haven't eaten."

Gu Lie arrived at ten and has been fishing here while reading.

Lu Yuan simply tossed over a food box and said:

"Eat."

After receiving the warm food box, Gu Lie grinned and said:

"Brother, how did you know I haven't eaten?"

Lu Yuan curled his lip disdainfully and said:

"You don't even have a penny on you, yet you came early; it'd be strange if you had money to eat."

"It must be that your family won't let you out, and you sneaked out."

Having said that, Lu Yuan dismounted and began setting up his fishing gear.

Gu Lie, meanwhile, admired Lu Yuan immensely in his heart—no wonder he's so skilled at catching crickets; this is what they call discerning talent and seeing the subtle signs!

All this comes from practicing cricket catching.

But when it came to the money, Gu Lie hurriedly said:

"Brother, I'm returning the money I borrowed from you yesterday; it's true that my family previously wouldn't let me go out, but from now on I can, and I have money on me."

After looking at the five coins Gu Lie handed over, Lu Yuan took only two and said:

"Take it back; I said I needed more yesterday just to scare you."

Borrowing two and taking back five—isn't that usury?

If caught, that would be a serious crime!

Gu Lie startled, then gave a hehe laugh and pocketed the money.

Afterward, the two began fishing.

However……

About half an hour later, Lu Yuan went over and slapped Gu Lie on the back of the head, gritting his teeth as he said:

"I ask, are you a pig!!

Just these two sentences, and you keep mumbling back and forth, you damn well can't remember them!!

For this little bit of nonsense, you can't even remember it!!"

Gu Lie muttering on the side is just like chanting sutras—really damn annoying!!

After being slapped on the back of the head by Lu Yuan, Gu Lie looked at him with a wronged expression and said:

"Brother, what are you doing!!

"How can I not feel wronged? I put in so much effort, and then Lu Yuan just comes over and slaps me."

"If my sister saw me studying so hard, she'd surely send me all sorts of good food!"

"The key is that Lu Yuan hit me—I can't argue back, and I can't beat him in a fight."

Gu Lie felt wronged.

Lu Yuan curled his lip and looked at Gu Lie, saying:

"Why are you lugging this stuff around? It's all that archaic 'zhī hū zhě yě' nonsense, outdated junk!"

Gu Lie, with a wronged face, said:

"I don't want to carry it either, but I can't memorize this passage in three days, or else I won't be allowed to go out!!"

Hearing Gu Lie's words, Lu Yuan replied speechlessly:

"Then do you know what this passage means?"

Gu Lie raised his eyebrows and said:

"I don't know; it's probably just about eating and farming."

Lu Yuan curled his lip, utterly speechless, and said:

"You say you don't even know what it means, yet you're rote‑memorizing it—what good is that!!

"I'm damn impressed—hand it over!! I'll teach you!!"

Thanks for the faster update, DH0D's two senior brothers for the 100 book coin reward, thanks a lot~

Sorry about today, I slept too much, hehehe.

See you during the day~

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(End of chapter)