Chapter 1793: A touch of shyness

Gu Yi's life remained busy yet colorful. From time to time, he would head to the Prime Minister's residence to meet Dong Bai in that quiet yet elegant courtyard. Dong Bai always carried a touch of shyness, yet she could not hide her admiration for Gu Yi. The two would either taste tea and discuss poetry or play the zither and admire the flowers, time slipping away unnoticed.

One day, just after Gu Yi returned from the Prime Minister's residence, he received an invitation from Cai Zhaoji. In her letter, the lines revealed her admiration for Gu Yi's talent and her desire to discuss the art of the zither together. Gu Yi naturally accepted with pleasure; he knew that Cai Zhaoji was not only beautiful and intelligent but also a rare, talented woman.

At the Cai residence, Gu Yi gathered with the sisters Cai Zhaoji and Cai Zhenji. Cai Zhaoji gently plucked the ancient zither, the melody melodious like the tinkling of a spring, refreshing the mind and spirit. Gu Yi listened quietly from the side, occasionally interjecting to discuss the artistic conception and emotions within the zither music with the two sisters. Cai Zhenji had a livelier personality and would occasionally crack jokes, making the atmosphere even more relaxed and pleasant.

"Young Master Gu, do you know which part of this zither piece I like the most?" Cai Zhaoji suddenly asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Gu Yi smiled slightly and said, "Miss Zhaoji's zither skills are superb, and every section has its own merits, but if I had to name the most special one, I fear it would be that section that sounds like weeping and pleading, as if it were telling of the sorrow of parting."

Upon hearing this, Cai Zhaoji's face revealed a look of pleasant surprise. She said, "Young Master Gu truly understands me. That section is exactly what I feel in my heart; whenever I play it, it always reminds me of my relatives far away."

Cai Zhenji laughed from the side, "Sister, don't always be so sentimental. With Young Master Gu here, we should talk more about happy things."

Gu Yi also laughed, "Miss Zhenji is absolutely right. Life is short; one should enjoy it while one can. However, to have such a kindred spirit as Miss Zhaoji is also my, Gu Yi's, good fortune."

The three chatted and laughed, and time passed until it was nearly dusk. Gu Yi bid farewell to the Cai sisters, secretly sighing in his heart; to be able to meet such beautiful women in these chaotic times was truly a great blessing in life.

At home, his beautiful concubine Diao Chan also often made Gu Yi feel the warmth of a home. Diao Chan was gentle and virtuous; not only did she manage the household in an orderly fashion, but she could always provide him with gentle comfort when Gu Yi was exhausted. Whenever night fell, the two would lean against each other by the window, gazing at the moonlight and talking about their inner thoughts. That tranquility and harmony were the harbor Gu Yi craved most after rushing about outside.

The news of moving the capital to Chang'an caused an uproar in the court and among the public, but in Gu Yi's view, this was merely a move by Dong Zhuo to consolidate his power. He knew deeply that this action by Dong Zhuo was undoubtedly a relief for the Guandong warlords, but for the Han court officials, it was the beginning of another nightmare.

One day, Gu Yi and Dong Zhuo were discussing matters in the residence, touching upon the relocation of the capital.

"Prime Minister, moving the capital to Chang'an may temporarily avoid the sharp edge of the Guandong warlords, but Chang'an is an ancient capital that needs to be rebuilt from scratch. Furthermore, it is far from the Central Plains, making the transport of grain and supplies inconvenient. I fear this is not a long-term plan," Gu Yi said with deep concern.

Dong Zhuo, however, gave a disdainful laugh and said, "Gu Yi, you are too worried. Chang'an is the foundation of my Xiliang. With the natural barrier of Hangu Pass, one can advance to attack and retreat to defend. As for grain, with my Xiliang iron cavalry, why worry about a lack of food?"

Hearing this, Gu Yi sighed inwardly. He knew Dong Zhuo's mind was made up, and further words would be useless. Thus, he turned to ask, "Then what plans does the Prime Minister have for the Guandong warlords?"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Dong Zhuo's eyes as he said, "The Guandong warlords are nothing but a mob. Once I gain a firm foothold in Chang'an, I will deal with them one by one. Isn't that scoundrel Sun Jian currently causing a ruckus in Yuzhou and Nanyang? Let him act as my vanguard first and consume the strength of those aristocratic families."

Gu Yi's heart tightened. He understood Dong Zhuo's intention. As a killer of aristocratic families, Sun Jian's strikes against them were something Dong Zhuo was undoubtedly happy to see. And the internal strife among the Guandong warlords was a situation Dong Zhuo was even more pleased to witness.

Indeed, just as Gu Yi had expected, the war in Yuzhou and Nanyang became increasingly intense. While Sun Jian slaughtered the aristocratic families, his reputation in the scholar circles also hit rock bottom. But Sun Jian did not care at all; he only knew that what he had to do was eradicate these corrupt aristocratic families and seek welfare for the people of the world. Whenever the night was quiet, Gu Yi would receive battle reports from the front lines. He would read them carefully, and a feeling of admiration for Sun Jian would well up in his heart.

One day, Gu Yi discussed the situation with Dong Zhuo again, mentioning Sun Jian's bravery.

"Prime Minister, although this man Sun Jian is a martialist, his way of using troops has quite a method to it. If he could be brought under our command, why worry about the world not being settled?" Gu Yi asked tentatively.

Dong Zhuo snorted and said, "That scoundrel Sun Jian is unruly and rebellious; how could he easily submit? However, if he could truly be used by me, it would not be a bad thing. But for now, let him fight with those aristocratic families and see who can laugh last."

Hearing this, Gu Yi understood that Dong Zhuo's attitude toward Sun Jian was one of both wariness and utilization. He pondered secretly how he could find a path in these chaotic times that would both preserve himself and allow him to realize his ambitions. ===== CHAPTER 1794 =====