Volume 1 | North Bird Does Not Return
Gu Yun did not even feel the slightest offense, he burst out laughing, his whole body giving out an arrogant and wild aura that said ‘strong winds and rainstorms cannot affect me’.
If one wants to discuss this complicated relationship, it must first start with the previous emperor.
The former emperor spent his lifetime on horseback, having gained great achievements both in politics and in the military, a legend rarely seen in history. The man had brought the power of Great Liang to its peak 一 like the sun at noon 一 no neighboring country dared to offend. In addition, he is also the founder of the Ling Shu Institute and the Black Iron Camp.
It is unfortunate that this brilliant and wise emperor is destined to live a lonely life. During his reign, he had four Empresses but no one could live long. She gave birth to three sons and two daughters in total, but they had witnessed their four children die before them.
When the previous Emperor died, the only child left was the First Princess who married earlier.
Legend has it that when the Princess was around sixteen or seventeen, she was infected with a severe illness that almost claimed her life. Fortunately, because he already had a marriage arrangement with Gu Yun’s father, the monk from Hu Guo Temple lit a long life candle for the Princess and suggested that he should get married early. In accordance with these words, after marrying the Marquis, the Princess’s illness gradually improved.
From this point of view, it seems that the previous princes and princesses who died one by one at a young age were due to the fate of the previous emperor who negated their fate.
The emperor who had lost all his wives and children, at the last moment had decided to leave the Black Iron Camp and the most important military force for his most beloved daughter and husband, but the Great Liang state could not change their family name, the next emperor had to be adopted from a different branch.
The reason that the current Emperor 一 Your Majesty Yuan He was successfully crowned that year 一 was largely thanks to the assistance of the First Princess.
Emperor Yuan He harbored great affection for him. Until he died, he always respectfully referred to him as “Auntie” and brought his only son, Gu Yun, to the palace to be treated. He personally gave him the name “Zi Xi”, he repeatedly told officers and judges that “Zi Xi was like my own sister”, and ordered the Princes to refer to him as “Uncle Royal” when meeting privately.
‘Uncle’ or ‘Auntie’ is just a fake designation, not entirely important, what matters is the Great Liang military forces, under the direct control of the Marquis of Order, stand behind the little boy named Gu Yun that year.
The old faction of the previous Marquis was still there. If something happened to Gu Yun in the hands of Emperor Yuan He, whether His Majesty could still sit quietly on the throne or not, it could still be discussed.
Taking advantage that Gu Yun was young, Emperor Yuan He had spent these ten years weakening the old faction of the Marquis of Order 一 The Black Iron Camp almost no longer existed under this underhanded tactic.
It is unfortunate that human calculations cannot be compared with God’s calculations. Western Frontier defense positions fall into a tight position, and foreign enemies attack. They have sent three marshal in total, but if they are not old 一 then they are just useless people. Great Liang 一 who is used to singing and dancing calmly 一 seems to prefer a pen to a sword.
And hence, the Imperial Palace could not find even one person who could take weapons.
The Ling Shu Institute, which had been silent for years, suddenly applied to rebuild the Black Iron Camp.
The scrap metal that had been reduced by the emperor for ten years and which was on the verge of death, in the end, was still not dead 一 at Gu Yun’s hands, it was brought back to life.
Gu Yun’s feelings for His Majesty the Emperor are very complicated.
On the one hand, after the death of the Old Marquis and the First Princess, it was His Majesty who raised him. Emperor Yuan He gave him a warmth he never received from his own parents.
The Princess is not the type of woman who hides in the house 一 but she is the type of woman who can take up arms. Only by being able to survive until he could get married 一 and not lose his life just for the solitary star of his father was enough to be seen as a true hero.
Gu Yun was born with two fathers; she did not know what kind of concept mother was gentle and kind. This unreliable couple had taken him to the battlefield in the Northern Border before he could really learn to walk, spending his childhood eating wind and sand to grow up. A little bit of indulgence and tenderness, elegance and subtlety, it could be said to all come from Emperor Yuan He.
On the other hand, Emperor Yuan He was a weak-minded person. When he was young, his weaknesses and doubts could be reluctantly described as “compassionate and benevolent.” After he grew up, this really turned into “dim and incompetent.”
Every day, the old man would not consider how to strengthen the country and expand their territory but would only worry about his own right to the throne. If he did not use his authority to balance his subjects, then he would strangle Gu Yun, using new and different tricks to discourage all military personnel.
On the one hand he is completely protected, on the other hand, he is completely obstructed and detained. Gu Yun is stuck in the middle of two types of “completeness”, he would rather go eat sand at the border instead.
Shen Yi said with a deeper meaning, “Too much of one good thing can be a bad thing, Grand Marshal, people from ancient times said 一 Even great achievements should not threaten the above. You have defeated the enemy in the four sides 一 then isn’t the next step rebellious? Of course, we know that you don’t like such thoughts, but no one knows what the emperor might think. “
Gu Yun said nonchalantly, “I was given the title ‘Order’, that is, struggling to maintain order for the Great Liang; other things were not under my control.”
Shen Yi opens her mouth.
Gu Yun interrupted, “I know what you want to suggest, you don’t need to say it.”
Both of them have been partners for years, just one look is enough to connect their minds. This dialogue might sound confusing. Shen Yi 一 of course, did not try to discuss the current Emperor’s matter with Gu Yun. The emperor was sick and also old, this time he immediately called Gu Yun to return to the capital; it was enough to see that he would soon go to heaven.
What he means is, of course, the new Emperor in the future.
Excluding the missing Chang Geng, the Emperor had two Sons. Crown Prince Li Feng is a calm and reliable person, he has familiarized himself with books and scriptures since childhood. However, his philosophy was similar to his father’s literature and also favored for the military, he did not approve of expanding troops and strengthening the armed forces. He believes that this will affect Heaven’s good intentions and people’s livelihoods.
In contrast, Second Prince Wei Wang was very ambitious, he had been in the military, and was eager to expand their territory.
And for military officers like them, it was clear who was better between the two.
Gu Yun’s expression went dark.
Shen Yi knew that the right thing for him to do now was to close his mouth, but at the same time he couldn’t help but say, “Marshal, as long as you show the slightest hint, even if it’s just an agreement …”
Gu Yun looked at him 一 his gaze as if it contained two Wind Slashers which were full of killing intent. Shen Yi’s heart suddenly tightened, his voice dying in his throat.
Gu Yun resolutely spoke every word with strength, “After arriving in the capital, the three factions of the Black Iron Camp will be outside the gates of the Nine. Anyone who dares to take advantage of His Majesty’s weak conditions to gain their personal benefits 一 will be executed in a place no matter whoever it is. Shen Ji Ping, did I say that clearly? “
Shen Yi’s face turned pale instantly, after all this time, she whispered, “…. Yes.”
They both paused for a moment. Gu Yun’s expression gradually subsided, he suddenly said, “This is not aimed at you”
Shen Yi reluctantly smiled.
“The thirteenth year Yuan He … it was the most painful year I have ever lived, the First Princess and the Old Marquis both of them gone, you too have been brought back to the Shen family. At that time I was almost blind, and my ears could no longer hear with well.”
Gu Yun whispered, “There was heavy snow outside that day, very cold, I held the Old Marquis’ sword and hid behind the door, not wanting to let anyone approach.
“The Emperor brought the Crown Prince to the Third and secretly came to my house. He became the supreme ruler of a nation, but he wanted to stand in the snow for half an hour before he could persuade me to come out of my room. He wrote in my palm to communicate … and even told the guards to hoard two snowmen for us.
“Third Prince … A Yan, she is one year younger than me, and shy like a little girl, always smiling, she is never angry no matter how bastard I am …”
Gu Yun’s voice stopped.
The Third Prince died at the age of nine.
Shen Yi, “His Majesty is a loving man who is hard to find.”
Unfortunately, love and affection cannot make a good emperor.
Gu Yun did not continue, he looked up and watched Chang Geng riding his horse from a distance, Chang Geng tilted his head to say something to Ge Pangxiao who was sitting on the wagon. The boy’s innocent and round head peeked out from inside, laughing and smiling as he answered.
Chang Geng could feel something behind his back, he looked back and caught Gu Yun’s gaze at him. The boy’s expression suddenly became uncomfortable and he turned around in annoyance.
Gu Yun said, “This child looks exactly like his barbarian mother. But his personality is more like His Majesty the Emperor. If A Yan could grow up safely, this might be like this later.”
Shen Yi closed his mouth, realizing that whatever he said would be in vain.
Chang Geng could not hear what Gu Yun and Shen Yi were saying, but he always felt that his smiles looked as if they looked down on him, like thorns stabbing into someone’s back. After a while, he could not help glancing at Gu Yun and found that he had really come closer.
Still not finished?
Chang Geng didn’t want to talk to her at all. He immediately heaved his horse and ran forward. Unexpectedly, he ran too far and accidentally approached the prisoner guard escorting the Barbarian Prince.
The Heavenly Wolf Prince’s gaze was like rust piercing from within, hatred carved deep into the bone and marrow. Chang Geng felt an uncomfortable sensation as soon as he caught his gaze, he was in control, intending to stay away from him.
No one would have thought that at that moment, the gobbling’s human gaze passed through Chang Geng, and focused on someone behind him, he suddenly grinned, “Gu Yun, hundreds and millions of dead people are staring at you.”
His voice resembled a piece of rusty iron which was scratched on a porcelain plate, soaked with a demonic aura, causing his hair to stand up straight, Chang Geng’s horse let out a disrupted whinny then took a few steps forward in panic.
“The souls that float from our tribe are staring at you, the wreckage of the iron armor under the burial ground is staring at you, ha ha ha ha …. The infinite power of Chang Sheng Tian will give you endless signs, you will split into several sections below our tribal bar, your soul will be torn to shreds by thousands of demons after your death, you will never be able to free yourself …. “
The distorted face of the Barbarian Prince and lips covered in Xiu Niang’s blood suddenly overlapped. Chang Geng felt like his whole body, from head to toe submerged into the ice cave. He groaned and immediately grabbed the sword hanging at his side; try to cut the barbarian’s head.
But before the sword actually pulled out, a hand had casually pushed it back.
Gu Yun has heaved his horse beside him, impatiently glancing at the Barbarian Prince who spoke as if he was being possessed, “Why did His Majesty not keep some of your ‘unlimited power’ to bless your tribe with the power to become a dominating nation? , with ten thousand years of long life? “
Gu Yun then pulled the reins of Chang Geng’s horse after he finished speaking, tilted his head to look at the pale-faced boy by his side and smiled. “You really believe that? Hey now, these people are experts in scaring children, in this case, they have at least led the Great Liang for more than ten years 一 What is so interesting about prisoners? Go, go play there.”
Chang Geng, “But he dares to say things like that to you …”
Gu Yun did not even feel the slightest offense, he burst out laughing, his whole body giving out an arrogant and wild aura that said ‘strong winds and rainstorms cannot affect me’.
Chang Geng’s displeasure had not subsided. He was somewhat annoyed at first, but gradually, when the cold air around him seemed to melt and disappear in Gu Yun’s carefree laughter 一 those words suddenly became quite ridiculous now.
A small idea suddenly appeared in Chang Geng’s heart for the first time. He seriously thinks to himself,
‘Why should I be afraid? Will I turn crazy just because Bone of Impurity forces me to go crazy? ‘
During this long journey, the fear and sadness in Chang Geng’s heart gradually calmed down in the midst of the surrounding Iron Armor. He is like a small seed, only a little sun, and he can rise again.
In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the Imperial Capital.
When the Palace gates were opened on both sides, even the Black Eagles flying high from above had to kneel on the ground to show respect.
Gu Yun clutched Chang Geng’s back, “Don’t think too much, let’s go see your father.”
Chang Geng was encouraged by her, and when he actually saw an old man in bed, he could barely connect this withered and sick figure to the term “Emperor”.
He was very old, his gray hair resembled a pile of dry silver threads, his skin was wrinkled, he looked very weak and pale, his thin lips trembled slightly, and he looked at Gu Yun with difficulty.
Gu Yun’s footsteps stopped for a moment 一 even though they were not detected. Chang Geng was sharp and could feel him taking a deep breath, but when he looked back, Gu Yun’s face once again had no emotions.
“Your Majesty, your subject does not embarrass your mission,” Gu Yun said, “I have brought the fourth Crown Prince back for you.”
Emperor Yuan He’s eyes slowly turned towards Chang Geng, Chang Geng’s entire body froze, and for a moment wanted to retreat, he could feel that the old man’s gaze on the bed contained a long hook that pierced the flow of time 一 as if he did not look at him at all , but look at others through him.
However, because Gu Yun pushed him from behind, he could not help but move forward two steps.
Gu Yun whispered in his ear, “Get on your knees.”
Chang Geng knelt down when he was told, and saw two rows of tears flowing from Emperor Yuan He’s cloudy and wrinkled eyes, followed by a frown in the corner of his eye and trickling down.
Chang Geng heard Gu Yun whisper, “Call him ‘Royal Father’.”
↩↪
Fragrant Incense 8 