“Gu Lang?”
“Forget it, you should see to Mother first.” Gu Yuan looked troubled and whispered, “I don’t want you to worry about matters at court.”
“It’s fine.”
Lin Xianhong shook her head.
She truly didn't like these matters before.
Sometimes Ning Que would also seek her to discuss things, but she always found it annoying and didn't want to listen at all. However, Gu Yuan was the person she liked, so even things she disliked would become likable.
“You should also know that he facilitated the peace talks, right?”
“Mm.”
“He agreed to Western Liang’s request and will provide them with five thousand catties of immortal tea and one hundred thousand piculs of grain. Let’s not mention the grain; the immortal tea is almost Great Feng’s entire annual production.”
“What?!”
Lin Xianhong was instantly shocked.
She had heard about the immortal tea.
She had tasted it more than half a year ago.
But she didn't find it particularly delicious.
And then there was one hundred thousand piculs of grain…
This was not a small number!
“He also wants to establish mutual trade with Western Liang.”
“I suspect he is secretly colluding with Western Liang.”
“Offering heavy benefits to facilitate peace talks.”
“Disregarding national honor and disgrace, just for a bet.”
Lin Xianhong gasped instantly.
She didn't understand national affairs, but she understood Ning Que.
He was a despicable villain!
“I thought he was shameless enough.”
“Unexpectedly, he always manages to hit a new low.”
“Disregarding family feuds and national hatred, secretly colluding with the enemy!”
“What’s the difference between this kind of behavior and acknowledging a thief as one’s father?”
“He truly is as disgusting as ever…”
“He will stop at nothing to achieve his goals!”
“Don’t be anxious.”
Gu Yuan revealed a slight smile.
See, he’s hooked.
“These are just our conjectures.”
“Think about it, how important Jiuquan is to Western Liang.”
“Yet the West Liang Princess readily agreed.”
“As I see it, future mutual trade will definitely involve profit concessions.”
“For example, deliberately giving more grain, silk…”
Gu Yuan was judging a gentleman by his own petty standards.
He did it, so he suspected Ning Que.
Don't worry about truth or falsehood, just throw the dirty water first.
As long as they could incite public outrage, they would win.
Lin Xianhong suddenly understood.
“Of course, there’s no evidence for these either.”
“Xianhong, I heard Chang Divine Doctor opened a medical clinic?”
“Mm.”
“It must be Ning Que’s doing too!”
Gu Yuan indignantly flung his hand, “He’s relying on his power and suppressing you and the Lin Family everywhere. I even wonder if he’s truly a man; how could he be so petty and insidious?”
“He’s just that kind of person.”
“Xianhong, the Gu Manor has also been quite busy these past few days.” Gu Yuan showed an apologetic expression, “Your money will probably be delayed.”
“It’s fine.”
Lin Xianhong gently shook her head.
It didn't matter even if it was delayed by a few days.
“Gu Lang is a man who does great things.”
“You have already helped our Lin Family a lot.”
“I still have some things to do today.”
“Oh?”
Lin Xianhong handed her medicine box to her personal maid.
“I’m going to confront Ning Que.”
“My three uncles all died at the hands of Western Liang people.”
“As the King Ning, he secretly colludes with foreign enemies.”
“I must seek justice!”
“Xianhong, don’t be impulsive!”
“I know.” Lin Xianhong’s attitude was also very firm, gritting her teeth and saying, “I won’t do anything out of line, I just want to expose his hypocritical face!”
“Then you must be careful.”
“Alright.”
Gu Yuan then nodded.
If ordinary people caused trouble, Ning Que wouldn't even look.
But if Lin Xianhong went to pester him, what would he do?
As long as the scene was chaotic enough, there would be an opportunity!
Assassinate Samuer in secret!
Fight to the death and then live!
Blame Ning Que and sabotage the peace talks!
Lin Xianhong respectfully withdrew.
After she left, Gu Yuan couldn't help but sneer.
“This woman is truly stupid beyond belief.”
“Indeed, very stupid.” Madam Gu put away her hypocritical smile and said coldly, “A mere Lin Family, yet they want to cling to our Gu Family. Yuan’er, you must remember your identity. King Qi mentioned last night that he intends to marry his daughter to you. If you can become a prince consort, you will have even greater prospects in the future.”
“Your son understands.”
Gu Yuan also smiled.
Tian Zhongxun's daughter was not beautiful.
But her temperament was excellent, graceful and noble.
The key was her identity as a Princess!
Gu Yuan looked outside the room.
There was no woman he wanted that he hadn't obtained yet.
After he was done playing with Lin Xianhong, he would kick her aside!
Even if she was no longer a virgin, he wouldn't mind.
After all, it was just for fun, what was there to fear?
...
...
“Have you all heard about yesterday’s peace talks?”
“Of course, King Ning succeeded.”
“Succeeded in what? Just by giving benefits!”
“I just don’t understand. Our Great Feng won the battle, Western Liang came to submit, and we still have to give them benefits? Isn’t this fighting for nothing?”
“Give benefits?”
Lin Chao stepped forward at this moment.
He had been stripped of his official position and title.
And was fined three thousand taels of silver by the Emperor.
After much thought, he decided to borrow money from a friend.
Unfortunately, most of the people he knew were fair-weather friends.
Every single one of them was penniless.
It was already good if they didn't borrow money from him.
Even those who had money refused to help.
After all, the Lin Family had completely lost power now.
The key was that they had also offended Ning Que!
Now Ning Que was at the height of his power...
So, Lin Chao was seething with anger.
Hearing people in the tavern discuss this matter, he also became interested.
“Are you saying King Ning has to pay reparations?”
“You can’t quite put it that way.” The middle-aged man stroked his beard and sighed, “On the surface, it’s not called reparations, but in reality, it is. Five thousand catties of immortal tea, one hundred thousand piculs of grain, all given to save those Western Liang dogs.”
“I heard immortal tea can prolong life and invigorate the spirit, and Chang’an City doesn’t even produce five thousand catties in a year. And there’s a full one hundred thousand piculs of grain, how many common people have to grow that? Our ordinary folks are starving to death, yet the grain is used to aid Western Liang dogs. My father and elder brother both died at the hands of Western Liang dogs, and now what?”
The middle-aged man grew more and more agitated as he spoke.
Soon, other common people also began to agree.
This was Chang’an after all, not Jingyang.
They also viewed things with a short-sighted perspective.
As long as someone incited them, they would lose their reason.
“Yes, my father also died fighting in Western Liang.”
“Our family had three brothers, and we were poor. Because we had no food, my eldest brother joined the army. As a result, his legs were cut off by those Western Liang bandits, and now he can only lie in bed. It’s bad enough that Great Feng doesn’t care about us, but they’re going to give grain to Western Liang?”
“Didn’t General Gu win the battle?”
“Exactly…”
“Winning and still having to pay reparations, it’s disgusting.”
“Has Xiao Ning forgotten the glory of the King’s Mansion?”
“He probably just wants to fulfill the bet…” The middle-aged man sighed faintly and said with a bitter smile, “Xiao Ning has lived in luxury since childhood and doesn’t understand the preciousness of grain. To sign the alliance, he doesn’t care even if he loses some grain. It’s just hard on us common people, who painstakingly save grain to pay land rent, only for it to benefit those Western Liang dogs in the end!”
“Impossible, Xiao Ning is not that kind of person!”
“It doesn’t count what we say, why don’t we go ask him?”
“Good!”
“Count me in!”
Lin Chao rose indignantly.
That damned Ning Que was a hypocrite!
On the surface, all righteous and grand.
But in reality, despicable and shameless!
Thinking about how Ning Que had caused him to be stripped of his official title, he was incredibly furious.
Now that he had an opportunity, how could he not cause trouble for Ning Que?