Chapter 76 Kill Gu Yan

Chapter 76 Killing Gu Yan

"Minister Gu."

The emperor narrowed his eyes, his cloudy gaze inscrutable as he slammed a memorial heavily onto the imperial desk.

"See for yourself."

Gu Yan stepped forward at the summons. He took the memorial from the eunuch's hands. It fiercely accused the Gu brothers of various crimes: Gu Yan selling official positions and titles, colluding with factions, and persecuting loyal officials; Gu Yuan commanding heavy troops, collaborating with enemies and treason, harboring treacherous ambitions!

Even disregarding the previous accusations, the final charge alone—collaborating with enemies and treason—was enough to warrant the execution of the entire clan and confiscation of their property.

Gu Yan sighed inwardly. Though it was a case of framing someone with false charges, the emperor’s desire to find a pretext to completely eradicate the House of Marquis Jingyuan had, unintentionally, not entirely missed the mark this time.

He had already made contact with A-Yuan. On that day, when the sandstorm blotted out the sky, A-Yuan had been severely injured covering for Ming Lan. Fortunately, they used the sandstorm to pull off a decoy maneuver. Now, they had split into two routes: A-Yuan returned to the northwest, while Ming Lan took the military token and A Yina to Western Rong.

They planted corpses in the desert, and the men sent by the emperor tracked them. Comparing clothing and accessories, they believed Gu Yuan was dead. The emperor immediately ordered a deputy general to take over the northwest Black Armor Army to stabilize the border, while he rushed to eliminate the Gu family.

He could wait no longer.

Gu Yan glanced over the memorial and said calmly, "These are baseless accusations. Now that my younger brother’s fate is unknown, I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

His voice was steady, carrying an unshakable authority, as if he were still the powerful Senior Tutor Gu of the past. The emperor, provoked by his tone, suddenly raised his voice.

"Baseless accusations? Gu Yan, the evidence is irrefutable! Are you trying to treat me like a fool?"

"Do you even care for the nation or your emperor?"

As the emperor exploded in anger, all the officials below knelt and bowed their heads, their hearts filled with anxiety. After all, Senior Tutor Gu had dominated the court for decades, weathering countless storms. Even the nation-shaking civil service exams earlier had failed to bring him down.

Although he was later sent away to edit texts, Gu Yan, though not in power, orchestrated his close officials behind the scenes to eliminate the Virtuous Prince Faction one by one. His methods were ruthless, and no one dared to underestimate Senior Tutor Gu.

How had the sky changed overnight?

"Your Majesty, Senior Tutor Gu has toiled diligently day and night for the court affairs, loyal and devoted. Could there be some misunderstanding?"

The Minister of Justice raised his ceremonial tablet, trembling as he spoke. Once someone broke the silence, the others exchanged glances and hesitantly appealed for Gu Yan. After the lesson of the previous imperial examinations, no one knew if this was another of Gu Yan’s schemes.

Senior Tutor Gu’s composure made him impossible to read.

The Crown Prince, after being reprimanded by the emperor, had spent some time in reflection. He was also taken aback by the emperor’s sudden move. After his initial surprise, he was about to follow the crowd and plead for the tutor when he looked up and saw the emperor’s dark expression.

His father was enraged.

Swallowing his words, the Crown Prince had a strange premonition: this time, the emperor was serious.

He wanted Gu Yan dead.

The Crown Prince’s chest seethed with conflict. It was true that the tutor had been kind to him, but at the same time, Gu Yan was domineering and extremely controlling. He, the Crown Prince, was like a puppet in Gu Yan’s hands, robbed of all dignity.

He had killed his beloved Yuan'er!

The Crown Prince clenched his fists. "Too much love brings great loss"—this was what Gu Yan had taught him. He had thought about seeking vengeance, but Changle was his royal sister. The Crown Prince could not bring himself to kill his own sibling.

Marrying off Princess Changle to someone else was something he had instructed the Crown Princess to do. Lord Lu’s body had disappeared without a trace, his blood splattered everywhere, dyeing the river crimson. The Crown Prince had nightmares for half a month.

It must have been the tutor’s doing. The tutor was devilishly cunning. Would he come for him next?

He would never have to fear again.

With a roar from the emperor, two teams of armored imperial guards stormed into the hall. The emperor ordered on the spot: the Gu family had conspired with the enemy and committed treason, a crime punishable by death. They were to be taken to the Zhao Prison for interrogation.

The emperor’s move was unexpected. After the court session, the officials were left dazed, as if the day had been a dream. By the time Yan Xuerui received the news, the emperor had already sent troops to surround the Gu residence and search Gu Yan’s study.

Yan Xuerui’s hand trembled, spilling warm tea onto her skirt. She didn’t bother changing clothes, bolting upright.

"Is everyone at the marquis’s residence alright? The old matriarch is advanced in years—was she disturbed?"

A tall female guard replied, "Your Highness, initially the matriarch was reciting scriptures in the Buddhist hall. Later, when she heard the commotion, though her face turned pale, she forced herself to take charge, ordering the search of the residence while repeating, 'Heaven’s law is manifest, and the emperor is wise.'"

Thanks to the matriarch keeping her composure, the residence did not descend into chaos.

Yan Xuerui felt a pang of sorrow. Her mother-in-law had been strong-willed all her life, and now, at such an old age, she had to endure this disaster. What heaven’s justice? It was merely the emperor’s excuse to eliminate the Gu family.

At this moment, even though she understood that Gu Yan was no saint—that it was even Gu Yan who had provoked the imperial authority first, leading to this outcome—Yan Xuerui’s heart inevitably sided with him.

Steady, don’t panic.

Yan Xuerui took a deep breath. This time was different from the imperial examinations. During this period, while openly maintaining distance but privately liaising with Gu Yan, she had clung to him not just to satisfy her desires.

But Gu Yan was secretive. Even in moments of close embraces and passionate moments, he would only reveal bits and pieces, infuriating Yan Xuerui to the point of biting him. Gu Yan would then pull her closer, and after several rounds of wrestling and experimenting with new positions, Gu Yan said to wait until the end of the year. Yan Xuerui had believed him.

That liar!

"Someone."

After a moment, Yan Xuerui calmed down and ordered, "Do not let the eldest daughter know about this. Send someone to Lord Su’s residence. Ming Wei is to be temporarily entrusted to his care."

"Change my clothes. I am going to the palace."

***

At the height of the emperor’s rage, Yan Xuerui naturally would not openly plead for Gu Yan. She knelt on the cold stone floor and said slowly, "If Marquis Gu truly harbors treacherous intentions, death by a thousand cuts (lingchi) would not be excessive. But what fault do the women have? The Gu family has been loyal for generations. If we mistreat the family members before the truth is uncovered, it would undoubtedly dishearten the loyal veterans."

"How will history books record Your Majesty a hundred years from now?"

"Father, please consider carefully."

Behind the bright yellow curtain, the emperor coughed softly, the hall filled with the scent of medicine.

After a long while, the emperor said, "Changle, come here."

Yan Xuerui lifted the curtain and stepped inside, bowing. The emperor reclined weakly on the couch, his imperial eyes strikingly bright.

He raised his hand and caressed Yan Xuerui’s delicate cheek, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

He said, "I once asked you if you no longer had any marital affection for that Gu Yan. How did you answer me then?"

Yan Xuerui looked at the emperor, her voice firm. "Your daughter did not deceive you."

"Although I have no affection for Gu Yan... human hearts are made of flesh. I spent over a decade at the Marquis of Jingyuan’s residence. My mother-in-law was kind, and my sisters-in-law were friendly. If I did not speak fairly for them, my conscience would be uneasy."

"Father, please forgive me."

Yan Xuerui used to be afraid of seeing people, always keeping her head down and speaking with lowered eyelids. Now, her eyes were bright and determined, her expression stubborn. The emperor vaguely saw the shadow of Consort Chen in her.

Her daughter was as gentle yet unyielding as her.

The emperor sighed softly and did not blame Yan Xuerui, only saying, "Gu Yan must die."

The Gu family’s roots were too deep. Besides Gu Yan and Gu Yuan, the other branches and collateral lines of the Gu family had thrived under Gu Yan’s patronage. They did not hold high positions, some even inconspicuous, but once united, exchanging favors and backing each other up... though ants are small, they can topple a giant.

It was only when the emperor resolved to eradicate the Gu family that he suddenly realized this fact. Breaking out in a cold sweat, he became even more determined to kill Gu Yan.

A capable minister like Gu Yan would surely be beyond the Crown Prince’s control. How laughable it had been to think of leaving him for the new emperor to establish authority.

The emperor needed a crime warranting the execution of the nine clans, so the women of the Gu family were doomed to suffer.

Yan Xuerui understood the emperor’s implied meaning. She said, “Before the truth is uncovered, humiliating the elderly, weak, women, and children of the Marquis' household may invite gossip.”

This was all she could do. As for how things would unfold later, she trusted him.

Yan Xuerui had always been filial and gentle in front of the emperor, who saw her as gentle and kind. Moreover, her words made some sense. He knew his days might be numbered.

No emperor was indifferent to his legacy.

Once the “truth was uncovered,” everything would be justified.

The emperor granted her request.

...

Gu Yuan was already dead. The emperor thought that by fabricating charges against Gu Yan, he could quickly send him to the execution block. Unexpectedly, things did not go as smoothly as he had planned—Gu Yan had many supporters.

The last Imperial Examination had been merely a pretext, and few had spoken up for Gu Yan, so the emperor hadn’t noticed much. But now that he was taking real action, pleas for Senior Tutor Gu came one after another, both openly and covertly—from Gu Yan’s students, close aides... even scholars who had benefited from the recent Imperial Examination remembered Senior Tutor Gu’s kindness.

This infuriated the emperor, yet he insisted on maintaining the facade of a “wise ruler.” Gu Yan’s work was meticulous; nothing had been found in his study. The investigation dragged on for two months. People quietly changed into thick winter clothes, and fine snow whispered down, veiling the imperial city in a layer of white gauze that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Great Zhou welcomed the first snow of the year. Auspicious snow foretold a bountiful harvest, bringing joy to the common people, but the noble families shut their doors tightly, their expressions grave.

The emperor’s illness grew increasingly severe.

After being reprimanded by the emperor, the Crown Prince cared for his father dutifully every day, behaving more and more discreetly. The Crown Princess gave birth to a son, whom the emperor personally named “Yu.”

Just as the emperor grew impatient and prepared to convict the Gu family of treason based on a few forged “letters,” Western Rong suddenly sent a diplomatic missive, shocking the court.

The power struggle between the two princes of Western Rong had concluded, with Prince Kunmo ascending the throne. This in itself was not unusual—a matter of another nation’s politics, requiring only a congratulatory missive. The key was that Prince Kunmo had a beloved daughter, Princess A Yina.

It was said that Princess A Yina had found a man in the desert whom she deeply loved and made her imperial consort. Only later did she learn that the consort was actually the eldest legitimate son of Great Zhou’s Senior Tutor Gu.

The missive specially proposed forming a friendly alliance between the two dynasties.

This was hardly colluding with the enemy and committing treason—it was clearly a marriage to cease hostilities!

Western Rong’s missive put the emperor in an impossible position. While Western Rong sought an alliance, Great Zhou was preparing to convict Gu Yan of colluding with the enemy, which was unreasonable by any measure.

At this time, Gu Yuan, who had been missing for a long time, reemerged at the Northwest Army camp. Gu Yuan had commanded troops in the northwest for over a decade, sharing meals and quarters with the soldiers and earning deep respect. Even though the emperor had already transferred military authority to the deputy general, a general in the field could disregard orders from the sovereign.

The Gu family could no longer be touched.

When the emperor received this news, his face twitched, and he remained silent for a long time before suddenly clutching his chest and vomiting blood. The palace servants bustled about anxiously. When the emperor awoke, his first words were:

“Summon Chang Le.”

...

Yan Xuerui had been on edge these past days. Even late at night, she immediately boarded the palace carriage without a word. The emperor dismissed everyone, leaving the palace empty and silent, with only the faint flicker of candlelight casting an eerie and terrifying atmosphere.

Yan Xuerui steadied herself and performed a proper kowtow. “Long live the Father Emperor, long live, long, long live the Father Emperor.”

The emperor struggled to sit up, a simple action that left him gasping for breath.

“Chang Le, come here.”

Yan Xuerui obeyed and approached. The emperor grabbed her wrist, his withered fingers digging into her flesh as if to pierce through to the bone. It hurt.

“Chang Le, how have I treated you?”

Yan Xuerui winced in pain, her delicate eyebrows furrowing. “Your Majesty has shown me unparalleled favor and honor. I could never repay it.”

“Good.”

The emperor repeated “good” three times and said, “In that case, I want you to do something for me. Will you obey?”

Without hesitation, Yan Xuerui replied, “I am at Your Majesty’s command.”

The emperor smiled. He lifted his chin, gesturing for Yan Xuerui to look at the fine wine and delicacies on the table. Six dishes and one soup, with both meat and vegetables, accompanied by a pot of fine wine emitting an enticing aroma.

“Go, take this meal to Gu Yan.”

Yan Xuerui blinked. “Your Majesty still intends to kill him.”

Her tone was not questioning but matter-of-fact. She had guessed it.

The emperor sneered, suddenly raising his voice. “Should I not kill him?!”

Now he only regretted not acting sooner! Since the news of Gu Yuan’s return to the northwest arrived, the emperor had been pondering day and night whether every step of this had been foreseen by Gu Yan.

This man had played the entire court like a fiddle. Now, for the sake of the “greater situation,” he had to release him, allowing him to continue wreaking havoc on their Great Zhou’s empire.

In his dreams!