Chapter 1747: A Rash Act

After leaving the Prime Minister's mansion, Gu Yi did not return directly to his residence but instead strolled through the streets of Changancheng. The night was deep, yet the city remained brightly lit, its prosperity undiminished. He walked among the bustling crowds, but his thoughts drifted far away.

"Marriage is indeed not something to be decided rashly," he muttered to himself, as if trying to convince himself.

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded in his ear: "General Gu, what a coincidence, you are here too?"

Gu Yi turned his head to see Dong Bai standing not far away, dressed in casual clothes with a smile on her face. Behind her followed several maids, but it was clear they were keeping their distance, not daring to disturb them.

"Miss Dong, why are you here?" Gu Yi was somewhat surprised, not expecting to meet her at this time and place.

Dong Bai walked lightly to Gu Yi's side and laughed: "I heard the night market in the city was lively, so I wanted to come out for a walk. I didn't expect to run into General Gu; it truly is fate."

Gu Yi smiled slightly, though his heart was somewhat uneasy. He remembered that he had just rejected Dong Zhuo's proposal and wondered if Dong Bai would be dissatisfied with him because of it.

"Miss Dong, coming out so late, aren't you afraid it's unsafe?" Gu Yi asked with concern.

Dong Bai shook her head and laughed: "With General Gu here, what do I have to be afraid of?"

This sentence warmed Gu Yi's heart and made him even more firm in his choice. He knew Dong Bai was a kind and intelligent girl who deserved to be treated better.

"Miss Dong, I have something I want to tell you." Gu Yi decided to confess his true feelings.

Dong Bai glanced at Gu Yi, seemingly having guessed his thoughts. "General Gu, is it about the marriage?"

Gu Yi nodded, took a deep breath, and said: "Miss Dong, I know well that you are of noble birth, while I am but a mere martial man. Marriage is a major life event concerning a lifetime of happiness; I cannot decide rashly. Therefore, I rejected the Prime Minister's proposal. I hope you will not blame me for this."

Upon hearing this, Dong Bai was silent for a moment before slowly saying: "General Gu, I actually guessed your decision long ago. Marriage truly requires mutual affection. Although I have a good impression of you, I also know it cannot be forced. Therefore, I will not blame you."

Hearing this, Gu Yi felt a sense of relief. He looked at Dong Bai, a flash of gratitude in his eyes. "Miss Dong, thank you for your understanding. I hope to become a true close confidant with you, to assist the Prime Minister together and achieve great things."

Dong Bai smiled slightly and nodded. "General Gu, I think so too. Although we cannot be husband and wife, we can be like-minded friends. I believe that in the days to come, we will experience much together and become each other's most solid support."

Hearing this, Gu Yi was deeply moved. He knew that although the possibility of marriage between him and Dong Bai was gone, they had gained a sincere friendship. This friendship would be the source of strength for them to face difficulties and challenges together in the future.

The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had reached the end of the night market. Dong Bai looked at the sky and said: "General Gu, it is getting late. I should return. I hope we will have the chance to chat like this again in the future."

Gu Yi nodded, his heart filled with reluctance. "Miss Dong, take care. I will always remember tonight's conversation."

Dong Bai smiled and said goodbye, then turned and left with her maids. Gu Yi stood in place, watching them go until they disappeared into the night.

After returning to his residence, Gu Yi lay on the bed, tossing and turning. He thought of his conversation with Dong Bai, his heart filled with emotion. He knew he had made the right choice and had found the best way to get along with her.

"Marriage is not everything, but friendship can last forever," he muttered to himself, as if convincing himself and pointing out the direction for his future path.

In the days that followed, Gu Yi and Dong Bai indeed became close confidants. They often discussed military and political affairs together, and often drank tea and admired flowers together. Their friendship grew deeper day by day, becoming a celebrated story within the Xiliang Army.

In the process, Gu Yi gradually grew into a pillar of the Xiliang Army. Relying on his talent and courage, he achieved repeated successes on the battlefield, winning the respect and love of the soldiers. At the same time, he always kept Dong Zhuo's teachings and Dong Bai's expectations in mind, wholeheartedly assisting Dong Zhuo and striving together for the future of the Xiliang Army.

As time passed, the power of the Xiliang Army grew daily, and Gu Yi's position in the army became increasingly prominent. He not only won countless battles with his outstanding martial arts and strategy but also won the unanimous respect of the entire army with his impartial, selfless, and kind treatment of the soldiers. Dong Bai, under her father's careful cultivation, gradually displayed extraordinary political talent and leadership ability, becoming an indispensable assistant by Dong Zhuo's side.

Although both their statuses and responsibilities had significantly improved, the friendship between them never changed because of it. Whenever the war eased slightly, the two would always find opportunities to meet, whether discussing the situation in the study or strolling and talking in the garden; that tacit understanding and mutual comprehension seemed to have become an indispensable part of their lives.

However, good times do not last; as the Xiliang Army continued to expand, internal conflicts began to gradually emerge. Some generals became arrogant due to their achievements, starting to fight for power and profit, and some even secretly plotted rebellion. Although Dong Zhuo was incomparably fierce, he felt somewhat powerless when facing these internal disputes.

This day, Gu Yi was handling military affairs in the camp when he suddenly received an urgent summons from Dong Zhuo. His heart tightened, sensing something, and he hurriedly put down his work and rushed to the Prime Minister's mansion.

Inside Dong Zhuo's study, the atmosphere was solemn. Dong Zhuo sat at the desk, his brows locked, a secret letter spread out before him. As soon as Gu Yi entered, Dong Zhuo signaled him to sit and handed him the secret letter.

Gu Yi took the secret letter and began to read it carefully. The content of the letter shocked him; it turned out that some generals dissatisfied with Dong Zhuo's rule were secretly colluding, preparing to start a rebellion at an opportune moment.

"Prime Minister, this..." Gu Yi looked at Dong Zhuo in surprise after finishing the letter.

Dong Zhuo sighed and said: "Gu Yi, I know you are loyal and reliable, which is why I told you about this. These people were all my former trusted aides, but now they have turned against me; it is truly heartbreaking."

Hearing this, Gu Yi's heart was also a mix of emotions. He knew well that once a rebellion broke out, it would not only cause huge losses to the Xiliang Army but might also shake Dong Zhuo's ruling position.

"Prime Minister, this matter must be handled as soon as possible," Gu Yi said in a deep voice. "I am willing to lead troops personally to quell the rebellion."

Dong Zhuo glanced at Gu Yi, a flash of relief in his eyes. "Gu Yi, with you here, I am much more at ease. But this matter should not be done with great fanfare; we need to win through strategy."

Next, the two began to plot countermeasures. They decided to investigate secretly first, to figure out the background and plans of the rebellious generals, and then take them all down in one fell swoop.

In this process, Dong Bai also played an important role. She used her network in the imperial court to collect a large amount of intelligence, providing strong support for Gu Yi's actions. ===== CHAPTER 1748 =====