coobybook Chapter 71 If a gentle breeze lends its strength, it will soar straight to the highest heavens.
Chapter 71 If a gentle breeze lends its strength, it will soar straight to the highest heavens.
Just before the start of summer, the air in the capital seemed to be sweltering under the sun. Standing on the blue bricks, a slight heat crept into one's clothes. Towering city walls surrounded the palace, its golden glazed tiles gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
"His Majesty has decreed that the Crown Prince of Rui be summoned to the palace."
Gu Mingfeng withdrew his gaze from the distance, straightened his sleeves, and brushed away the heat that was clinging to his clothes.
The hall was spacious and bright, and the solemn atmosphere made the palace maids serving inside breathe a little lighter, afraid of disturbing the two people chatting at the innermost part of the hall.
Gu Mingfeng followed Eunuch Hai to the bottom of the innermost steps of the main hall.
On the steps of the main hall, Emperor Hua Lu Wenhe, with his full head of white hair, was still vigorous. His deeply lined face had sharp, eagle-like eyes that exuded an imposing aura.
He sat cross-legged beside a huanghuali wood table with dragon patterns. On the table was an unfinished chess game. Opposite him sat an old man with white hair, a youthful face, and a full forehead.
"I still remember the prophecy that Master Wei, the Taoist priest's master, predicted for me: 'If a gentle breeze comes to my aid, I will soar straight to the heavens.' Who could have imagined that 25 years ago I was just a minor river patrol officer on the banks of the Chu River, but today I am the ruler of the world."
A loud, bell-like voice rang out in the hall. The old man sitting opposite Hua Di, staring at the chessboard, calmly replied:
"Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune. When your luck turns, you will naturally have all the advantages of timing, location, and popular support."
"But Heaven has not always been kind to me. That gentle breeze from back then is now making my empire teeter on the brink of collapse, giving me a headache and an even greater heartache." Emperor Hua's face was filled with anger, as if blood would flow like a river at any moment.
The old Taoist priest, seemingly oblivious to Emperor Hua's angry expression, calmly replied:
"The wind flies and the dragon soars, but the wind is not a bad wind. Perhaps the wind has not moved, but it is always people's hearts that have been moved."
"Hahaha, what a flustered person!"
Emperor Hua suddenly stood up, his gait imposing and majestic, his smile unfathomable on his powerful and dignified face. As he turned, he saw Gu Mingfeng standing respectfully at the bottom of the steps.
"Xiao Feng, when did you arrive? Come to Grandpa's."
"Your Majesty, Xiao Feng has just arrived as well." Gu Mingfeng looked up, his handsome face beaming with a smile, his words polite but his expression showing no sign of unfamiliarity.
He followed Hua Di's instructions and went up the steps to the two elderly people.
He exchanged a glance with the old man opposite Vatti, their eyes meeting briefly before looking away.
"With your parents away, have you had any troubles while living in the capital? If you have anything to say, just tell your grandfather. Your grandfather will never let anyone wrong you."
"Your Majesty, I do have a troublesome matter to attend to recently, and I would like to ask Your Majesty to make a decision."
"Oh?" Hua Di's hawk-like eyes flashed, his piercing gaze fixed on his shyly smiling grandson.
"Your Majesty, could you please ask Mother to stop arranging girls from other families for Xiaofeng? Xiaofeng already has a girl he likes."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Hua withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and burst into laughter.
"Haha, young man, you've reached the age for marriage. No wonder Mingyue is anxious. Which family's daughter is she? Should I bestow a marriage upon you?"
Gu Mingfeng turned his head slightly, his fair face flushed with rouge, and he bowed slightly, politely declining:
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I met that girl by chance while traveling in the martial world some time ago. I am in love with her and do not want to marry anyone else."
"...A woman from the martial arts world, her status is rather low. But whose disciple is she from among those eleven sects?" Emperor Hua pondered for a moment, going through the list in his mind.
"No, she's just an ordinary woman from a small sect. But she didn't treat Xiao Feng any differently because of his status. Xiao Feng wants her to marry him willingly. After Xiao Feng marries her, he will personally bring her to meet his maternal grandfather."
"Haha, I know that some people in the martial arts world are not easily swayed by fame and fortune. A good man should marry the woman he loves based on his own abilities, and your grandfather supports you. That's good. As long as the woman's identity is not too embarrassing, your grandfather will refuse her on your mother's behalf."
"Xiao Feng thanks Your Majesty."
After chatting with the grandfather and grandson for a while, Gu Mingfeng, having achieved his goal, bid farewell to Emperor Hua and left the Liangyi Hall.
At dusk, on the palace road leading to Xihua Gate, Gu Mingfeng had just come out of the Kunning Palace, the residence of the Empress, who was also his maternal grandmother, when he unexpectedly encountered a white-haired Taoist priest who was walking towards Xihua Gate.
The two walked side by side, one on the left and one on the right, as if by unspoken agreement.
"Master Wei, how have you been? I heard that Miss Fei is still in Jiangyou. I wonder if her health has improved?"
“Young Master Gu, my disciple is unruly and rebellious by nature, and is really not suitable for the complicated Prince Rui’s mansion.”
"I think Master Wei may have misunderstood. Miss Fei has a bold and unrestrained personality. I only regard her as an ordinary friend and show her some concern. My heart belongs to only one person. I hope Master Wei will grant my request."
"...Our Qingcheng Sect disciples are not worthy of the Prince Rui's mansion, and I'm afraid that Young Master Gu will not be able to get what he wants."
"Whether or not you are worthy of my attention is a matter for me to decide. Master Wei should focus on dealing with the censor's impeachment."
Gu Mingfeng's good mood vanished instantly upon Wei Jiucheng's refusal. His face darkened, he uttered a "Farewell," boarded the carriage that was already waiting outside the palace gate, and rode away.
*
On the official road leading to the capital, two knights on horseback followed closely beside a lavishly decorated carriage.
Not far from them, three men dressed in flying fish robes rode alongside them at a leisurely pace. The two groups of people seemed to be in harmony, yet there was an indescribable eeriness about them.
Fei Xi sat inside the carriage, flipping through the "Extensive Record of the Origins of the Three Schools" that she had bought in a county town she passed through.
While she was busy with Ji's affairs, she asked Mo to pass on a message to Yun Su, asking her to help her finish the rest.
It now seems that Junior Sister Yun Su has done an even better job than she expected.
On her journey from Jiangyou to the capital, she heard many people in the martial arts world discussing the grand event and the book.
"Senior Sister, if we travel another thirty miles, we'll reach Tongcheng. Shall we rest at an inn tonight?" A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted, and Mu Qingfeng, who was sitting in front of the carriage acting as the coachman, appeared with a smile.
"Yes, Xiaofeng, thank you for your hard work."
"Senior Sister, you should rest well and not push yourself too hard."
Fei Xi felt a little awkward being nagged by her junior sister, whom she had always taken care of.
Since nearly dying from the plague at the Crimson Tent, Fei Xi stopped taking the strong medicine she had been taking.
The consequence of stopping the medication was that she would fall ill every few days during the two weeks she was in the capital.
While things were fine in Jiangyou, Fei Xi had been traveling through the wilderness to the capital, and before she knew it, she had developed a fever again a couple of days ago, which only subsided today.
However, her illness frightened the three people who had been traveling with her.
Originally, Fei Xi and her junior sister took turns driving the carriage. But after Fei Xi fell ill several times, even now that she's recovered, her junior sister refuses to let Fei Xi continue being the driver.
Fei Xi's eyes got tired after reading for a while, so she put down the book and lifted the curtain to look outside.
Tang Huaiyi, dressed in white, rode his horse at full gallop, his hair dancing in the wind. He seemed lost in thought, a serious expression occasionally crossing his face. Sensing her gaze, his previously composed face instantly broke into a warm and pleasant smile, like a spring flower in bloom.
Fei Xi smiled at him, then turned her gaze and met a pair of thoughtful fox-like eyes.