Chapter 204: That Youth

Chapter 204: That Youth

The lady of the valley is Xinxin!

Then her son—

Emperor Xingyuan heard his heart pounding like a drum.

From the chaotic times until now, he had experienced so much that his heart had long grown cold. But thinking of Xinxin in danger and the possibility that he and Xinxin might have a son made it impossible for him to remain calm.

"How can we confirm that the youth survived?" Emperor Xingyuan's heart lifted with anxiety.

At that moment, he felt the fear of potential loss.

"No remains matching the youth were found in the valley."

Sorrow flashed across Emperor Xingyuan's eyes as he stared intently at He Qingxiao. "Are you saying that there were locals who saw the youth?"

"Yes," He Qingxiao replied calmly, "I brought a few villagers who saw the youth with me to the capital—"

Emperor Xingyuan's tone grew excited. "Bring them to me!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Emperor Xingyuan changed his mind. "No, I will go see them. Ensure they do not discover my identity."

After some arrangements, Emperor Xingyuan met the four villagers.

The four came from different places, did not know each other, and included three men and one woman, ranging in age.

"Greetings, Sir."

At their words, Emperor Xingyuan frowned slightly.

It was the accent from the Wanyang region. He found it somewhat difficult to understand, but he could still comprehend them.

This reminded Emperor Xingyuan of Empress Xin.

At the founding of Great Xia, Empress Xin proposed that all children learn the official language upon starting school. However, the proposal was never implemented.

The official language had always existed, which was the dialect of the capital. Children from wealthy families outside the capital would hire tutors to teach the official language from the start. Scholars from poorer families who passed the imperial examination and wished to advance further would also begin learning the official language. Officials appearing before the emperor would certainly not cause him trouble with their accents.

Promoting the official language starting from ordinary children would require a significant investment of manpower and resources.

Nevertheless, many of Xinxin's proposals, if implemented despite the obstacles, would have brought numerous benefits.

Emperor Xingyuan's mind wandered for a moment before he looked back at the four villagers who were nervously paying their respects to him.

"No need for formalities. My nephew told me that you have seen my long-lost relative. Could you tell me more about him?" Emperor Xingyuan also used the local dialect.

The first to speak was the only woman among them.

"I have seen that young master three times. The first time, I had lost a hairpin and was in a panic. The young master saw me and helped me find it," the woman said, her hands pressed together. "He was truly a benefactor. That hairpin was bought for my elderly grandmother. If I hadn't found it, I would have been in serious trouble."

Noticing the woman veering off-topic and likely to talk for another half-hour, He Qingxiao lightly coughed.

The woman abruptly stopped and returned to the main point. "The second time, I met the young master on the road and greeted him. The last time was last March. I saw the young master riding a horse from afar. He looked truly handsome."

The second to speak was an old man. "The young master also helped me."

All four had been helped, whether significantly or slightly, and they all remembered it in their hearts, deeply etching the image of that young lad.

Emperor Xingyuan listened quietly, feeling he could never get enough. A mental image of the young man began to take shape in his mind.

A warm-hearted, carefree, and joyful young man.

Emperor Xingyuan saw Chang Liang through a hole in the wall.

Chang Liang, with his hands and feet bound, looked terrified when he saw Yan Chao enter with an iron whip. "Didn't you say that if I confessed, I wouldn't be tortured? Please, spare me. I didn't know who we were supposed to murder. My uncle took me there! Find my uncle! Find Count Gu Chang!"

Under severe torture, the young man, who had never known hardship, was on the brink of breaking.

Emperor Xingyuan could not bear to listen anymore.

After returning to the palace, the first thing Emperor Xingyuan did was to secretly send for the most skilled portrait painter in the palace to create an image of the young man based on the descriptions of the four villagers.

Before the palace gates closed for the night, Emperor Xingyuan saw the portrait of the young man.

The young man was delicate and slim, with a faint scar on his forehead.

Emperor Xingyuan looked again and again, trying to find a resemblance to himself in the young man’s features.

There seemed to be none—except perhaps the eyes, which bore a slight resemblance.

The following night was long for Emperor Xingyuan. He tossed and turned, pondering the Empress’s death, thinking about the young man’s identity and whereabouts, and how to handle the matter with Count Gu Chang’s residence.

The next day, the hardworking emperor missed the morning court session.

The court officials had many speculations, but by the next day, when Emperor Xingyuan appeared, seemingly back to normal, the speculations dissipated.

That day, Count Gu Chang suddenly received an imperial summons to the palace.

Before leaving, Count Gu Chang grabbed Dai Ze by the ear and demanded, "Did you cause trouble for me again?"

Every time he was summoned to the palace, it was due to this troublesome son.

"No, I didn't!" Dai Ze shouted in distress.

"If you didn’t, then stop shouting!" Count Gu Chang slapped his son and dared not delay his entry into the palace.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Count Gu Chang met Emperor Xingyuan in the West Garden.

March had arrived, and spring was gradually enveloping the West Garden, with trees in full bloom.

In front of Emperor Xingyuan was a case of delicious food and fine wine. The sound of string and wind instruments, wafting from somewhere unknown, surrounded the pavilion with gauze curtains hanging on all sides.

"Sishi, sit here."

Count Gu Chang was startled.

Sishi was his name.

He had three older brothers, and he was named Sishi. At that time, people around him all had such crude names. Later, as he rose to great wealth and prosperity, he couldn't be bothered to adopt an elegant literary name, and the name Sishi became rarely used.

People called him Lord Count, and the Emperor called him Count Gu Chang.

Hearing the Emperor call him by his name, Count Gu Chang felt a sense of confusion.

Back then, the Emperor had not yet ascended to the throne. They drank together, fought together, and sometimes quarreled due to differing opinions. That's what he used to call him.

"Sishi, Brother Sishi."

Count Gu Chang sat down across from Emperor Xingyuan.

"I remember, in a few days from now, it will be your birthday."

"Yes."

"How time flies."

It had been a long time since the emperor and his subject had shared a drink like this.

Initially, Count Gu Chang was quite reserved, especially since the last few times he was summoned alone were because his son was reprimanded.

However, the wine was potent, and the man before him was an old friend, so after a few cups, he gradually relaxed.

The emperor and his subject reminisced about the past, discussing the hardships, dangers, and joys of their victories.

With a slight buzz and a relaxed smile, Count Gu Chang suddenly heard a noise.

He steadied himself and realized that the sound was from the Emperor's cup slipping from his grasp and shattering on the white jade floor.

Just as he began to speak, a sharp noise came from outside the pavilion, and Count Gu Chang's expression changed abruptly.

It was the sound of swords being drawn, a sound he knew well.

People outside the pavilion flooded in like a tidal wave, and the pavilion's light grew dark all at once.

Count Gu Chang thought he must be very drunk, hallucinating.

Before he could continue, the person opposite him suddenly grabbed his collar with one hand and pressed a dagger against his neck.