Chapter 128: Chapter 128: His Majesty Says, Please Don’t Birth a Girl

Acting shamelessly was a way to solve problems too, but State Preceptor Cheng Guan found it hard to stomach the fact that the sovereign of a nation was acting on par to hooligans in the streets. Shouldn’t an imperial family maintain its prestige?

Xianzong stopped cupping his cheek and said, “How’s this? You go back first, State Preceptor. Zhen will bring Linglong to Eternal Life Temple now to call on Junior Master.”

State Preceptor Cheng Guan looked at him in disbelief. “Your Majesty is going to bring the princess to see Junior Master?”

Xianzong gave him an odd look. “Zhen knows that Junior Master is ill and will naturally pay him a visit. Linglong has been taught by the empress since childhood to believe in Eternal Life Temple, so she’d naturally visit its Junior Master, too.”

“I’m afraid the junior master…”

“It’s fine,” Xianzong interrupted. “Linglong has Zhen with her, so she won’t suddenly lose her wits. Don’t worry, State Preceptor.”

State Preceptor Cheng Guan truly had no worries that Princess Linglong would lose her wits. He was more concerned that Junior Master Fenglin would die in Fengtian and what would happen to the royal pair after that. Would they pay for their crime with death? Or sacrifice their lives for their country?

Xianzong said, “Go back to the temple, State Preceptor, Zhen will arrive with Linglong soon.”

“You’ve thought this through, Your Majesty?” State Preceptor Cheng Guan asked. Bringing Princess Linglong to call on Junior Master Fenglin was akin to a slap in the face. This emperor had just fainted from fear a while ago, but why was he so bravely courageous now?

Xianzong replied, “Zhen has thought it through. Junior Master is a man of sense, isn’t he?”

State Preceptor Cheng Guan stared at Xianzong.

“He has no proof,” Xianzong emphasized.

The state preceptor replied, “Isn’t Your Majesty afraid of Junior Master speaking inappropriately in front of Master Mo Wen?”

“That can wait until the time comes,” Xianzong didn’t care as he wiggled his fingers. The road from Fengtian back to Eternal Life Temple took months. Who knew what would happen during that time? He wasn’t a man who worried about tomorrow, much less something months away.

State Preceptor Cheng Guan could only bow and say, “Then this monk shall return to the temple first. May Your Majesty think thrice over this matter.”

Xianzong replied perfunctorily, “Sure, Zhen will definitely think thrice. State Preceptor can go home at ease.”

By the time State Preceptor Cheng Guan withdrew from Xianzong’s quarters, it was already light out. However, a large patch of clouds in the south were steadily heading east, threatening to cover the capital city in a spell of autumn rain.

“Master?” the young monk Wang Yue had been waiting outside and now ran to his side.

State Preceptor Cheng Guan patted his head and said lightly, “We’re going back to the temple.”

Wang Yue followed behind him and asked, “Master, is everything okay now?”

Cheng Guan smiled wryly. He was already a different species in Mo Wen’s eyes, so if he stuck up for the princess here, it’d only be adding oil to the fire. With a soft sigh, the state preceptor decided to leave it all to fate.

After he left, Xianzong sat blankly on his bed for awhile before muttering to himself, “Forgot to ask why the junior master wanted to kill the state preceptor. Has Zhen already turned senile?”

Jing Zhong bowed as he entered the rooms. “Your Majesty, will you prepare for morning court?”

Xianzong shook his head. His nation was about to collapse, so what was the point of holding court? “Zhen is heading to the Gu Estate. Go make preparations.”

Jing Zhong’s head whipped up in alarm. “Your Majesty is heading for the Gu Estate?”

Xianzong stood up from his bed. “Do you have objections to Zhen seeing Linglong?”

Of course Jing Zhong wouldn’t dare. But was there any emperor who ran to his in-laws’ subject’s house to visit his daughter? Head Eunuch Jing Zhong smiled and said, “Your Majesty just saw Her Royal Highness last night, but now misses her again. Your Majesty truly treats Her Royal Highness as–”

“Stop wasting words,” Xianzong was hurt after hearing Jing Zhong praise him as a loving father. If he knew his daughter would run off to Eternal Life Temple and cause trouble with Junior Master Fenglin last night, he would’ve kept her and his son-in-law in the palace to sleep instead.

Jing Zhong quickly shut up at the sight of his irritation.

Xianzong added, “And don’t prepare any royal insignias, Zhen will just go on horseback.”

“This servant obeys the decree,” Jing Zhong said before retreating out of the room.

Once he was gone, Xianzong said, “Come out.”

Instantly, his four shadow guards emerged from the shadows to kneel in front of him. Xianzong instructed the four, “You must not leak a word of the State Preceptor’s speech.”

“We servants obey the decree,” the four guards hastened to say. If they had a choice, they’d rather not be on duty at all last night!

Xianzong looked at the four young shadow guards before sighing again. “Zhen is telling you now, please don’t birth a girl.”

“W-we servants obey the decree,” the four guards chorused after a moment of hesitation. Can we decide whether our babies are girls or not? Anyways, a daughter like Princess Linglong couldn’t have come from just any family.

“Definitely don’t have a girl!” Xianzong emphasized.

“We servants obey the decree,” the four guards said respectfully. Still, they really wanted to tell the emperor that it was impossible when they didn’t even have wives.

—

Back at the Gu Estate, Gu Xinglang had opened his eyes after a night of good dreams. He felt light and refreshed as well, not heavy and difficult to move. There was something soft in his lap, so he looked down to see his little wife lying on him in a deep sleep. Her cheeks were red from being pressed against him and Third Young Master Gu couldn’t resist giving her a peck with his lips.

Yu Xiaoxiao was always guarded when she slept, but knowing that Gu Xinglang had kissed her, she could relax and keep on snoozing. After busying herself all night, Her Royal Highness was in dire need of a good nap before seeking out Wen Fenglin for a fight.

Gu Xinglang didn’t dare to move in case he woke up his wife, so he stared at her while a smile crept onto his lips. He felt that he’d never tire of the sight of her. While he was enjoying this warm and pleasant moment, Eldest Young Master Gu hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep.

Lady Sun woke up from her dreams to see her bed empty and quickly got up, brushed, and washed. She found Gu Xingnuo sitting behind the table in the study and asked with a smile, “General, are you here waiting for His Majesty’s decree because you know you’ll be restored to your rank soon?”

Gu Xingnuo smiled sardonically, but it was uglier than him crying. Restored to my rank? Who knows what kind of decree His Majesty would issue next time?

“What’s wrong?” Lady Sun saw that something was off and hastened forward. “Husband, did something change?”

Gu Xingnuo waved a hand at his wife and said, “My lady, I’m here to wait for fate’s decree.”