Chapter 24: A Waterfall Plunges Straight Down Three Thousand Feet
The Emperor’s reward arrived more swiftly than usual this time.
As Gu Yu woke up that morning, he heard the commotion outside. It wasn’t until Gu Qingheng burst into the room and pulled him out of bed that Gu Yu learned the Emperor’s rewards had arrived at the Gu Residence.
As for Gu Mengyao and Gu Qing, they had already gone to the imperial court to meet the Emperor, and now returned to the residence with the imperial rewards, an occasion that was nothing short of majestic.
“Brother-in-law, hurry up! Everyone in the Gu Residence except you has woken up.”
Gu Yu was slowly putting on his shoes, his eyes half-closed in a lazy, waking-up manner. Gu Qingheng, standing beside him, couldn’t help but stomp his foot on the ground, wondering why his brother-in-law was always late to wake up???
He had already transmigrated here for such a long time and should have adapted by now, yet he still overslept every day. He had a feeling it would always be like this!
What was he going to do!
If anyone were to mention Gu Yu’s oversleeping in the future, Gu Qingheng wouldn’t know how to face them or what to say.
What else could he say!
“What’s the rush! Take your time, the rewards have already arrived anyway, it doesn’t matter if you go early or late.”
“Brother-in-law, aren’t you curious whether Sister’s position as deputy general was kept?”
Upon hearing Gu Qingheng, Gu Yu didn’t rush. He slowly put on his shoes, then quickly washed up, put on his outer garment, and followed Gu Qingheng towards the Gu Residence’s main gate.
Although Gu Qingheng complained to him about waking up late, Gu Yu felt that oversleeping was just a small matter!
He neither had to attend court to meet the Emperor nor go to work in the fields, so why shouldn’t he lie in bed a little longer!
One had to learn to enjoy life!
“If my position is kept, I would be worried. After all, I don’t want to be separated from Mengyao again… Qingheng, since you’re here now, I have to tell you some very unfortunate news.”
“Are you planning to send me to Qingshan Academy to go to the battlefield with my sister?”
“Shrewd!”
“…”
On the way, when his expression turned serious, before Gu Yu could finish speaking, Gu Qingheng rolled his eyes directly. The words he spoke indicated that he had already guessed what Gu Yu was going to say.
As Gu Qingheng had already prepared himself for this outcome, he was not surprised. In fact, he thought it was a very good method.
At least, he wouldn’t have to eat the food that Gu Yu cooked!!!
After mung bean congee, Gu Yu’s cooking had become the second thing Gu Qingheng didn’t want to recall…
“But it’s not impossible. According to my speculation, the Emperor won’t keep the deputy general position for your sister this time. Even if he wanted to, the civil and military officials wouldn’t agree.”
“Why? Isn’t the Emperor the most powerful person? The ministers can’t force the Emperor to compromise, right!”
“You’re still too young. Although the title ‘Emperor’ sounds very powerful, not only is there great power, but there are also many responsibilities. This leads to the need for careful consideration to prevent any bad outcomes… In fact, this is like why I don’t want to be an official; because I don’t want to be responsible.”
“If that’s the case! Then why does brother-in-law want me to become an official?”
Listening to Gu Yu’s words, Gu Qingheng became more and more speechless. Finally, his face darkened as he asked.
It sounds like being an official is not easy!
But brother-in-law always wants him to become an official. Could it be… he just wants to rely on him to live a life of luxury???
“Qingheng, you’re different from me. Even if I don’t become an official, I can live a lifetime with ease. But you only have a good memory. Without power and influence, you’ll easily be targeted.”
Hearing his younger brother-in-law’s suspicious words, Gu Yu smiled at Gu Qingheng.
Although Gu Yu actually thought this way, he wouldn’t say it directly at this time. Instead, he spoke righteously, indicating that he was doing it for his younger brother-in-law’s own good.
With such a good brother-in-law like him, Gu Qingheng must have saved the country in his past life!
“Although it sounds very reasonable, it doesn’t feel entirely real!”
“How could it not… ah, we’ve arrived. Hurry up and come with me to see what the Emperor has rewarded us with.”
However, Gu Qingheng was not easily fooled.
As Gu Qingheng looked at him with suspicion, Gu Yu was thinking about how to respond. Coincidentally, they had already reached the Gu Residence’s main gate. So, after Gu Yu finished speaking, he quickly accelerated his pace and “escaped.”
Upon seeing Gu Yu making an excuse to leave, Gu Qingheng twitched his lips speechlessly, thinking how obvious his brother-in-law’s attempt to cover up was!
However, what his brother-in-law said was indeed true.
He didn’t have space like his brother-in-law, nor was he as smart, nor did his sister have strong martial arts skills. Even Sister Xia Tian had formidable thieving skills…
After thinking about it, all he had to show for himself was his memory.
This advantage was like a cheat code for the imperial examination. It would be a pity not to let Gu Qingheng become an official, as he already had a built-in golden finger.
Therefore, after sighing, Gu Qingheng knew that even if becoming an official was tiring, he had to bear it.
If one reaps benefits, one must also pay the price.
Thinking about the brighter side, once he became an official, he could invite his sister and brother-in-law to live together. Then his brother-in-law could use his name to show off in the outside world… The more he thought about it, the more conflicted he became!
Thinking of this, Gu Qingheng’s forehead was covered with black lines. He then shook his head, deciding not to think about it for now.
He was still a ten-year-old child and couldn’t be exposed to these things too early.
He should rather think about how to win Sister Xia Tian’s heart…
As soon as he thought of Xia Tian, Gu Qingheng looked around curiously, wondering why Xia Tian hadn’t appeared since his sister had returned with the rewards.
Xia Tian, as Gu Mengyao’s little fan girl, should have been very enthusiastic at this time!
“A’yu, your guess from yesterday came true.”
“No way! Let me see how much…”
As Gu Yu stepped out of the Gu Residence’s main gate, he saw Gu Mengyao smiling at him. Upon hearing Gu Mengyao’s voice, Gu Yu couldn’t help but twitch his lips, thinking how accurate his premonition was!
It was gold again…
Then, as Gu Mengyao gestured behind her, Gu Yu looked at several carts full of gold nuggets, which shone with a golden luster under the sunlight. At first glance, it almost blinded his eyes.
Not only Gu Mengyao and Gu Qing had returned, but also a crowd of onlookers. As they looked at the several carts of gold nuggets, their saliva almost streamed down three thousand feet, and their eyes were glued to the carts.
Even though the golden light was so dazzling, people’s eyes remained stubbornly fixed.
After all, seeing so much gold at once was very rare!
Moreover, it was Imperial bestowment gold!
The Gu Residence was truly capable!!!
First Gu Qing, and now Gu Mengyao. The Gu family was likely to flourish.
“Mengyao, why didn’t you find something to cover up such dazzling stuff?”
“I’m not too sure. When I received the reward, I specifically asked the chief eunuch before leaving the Imperial Palace. He said that Imperial bestowment items cannot be covered, and that these carts of gold should be paraded around the capital so that the civilians can experience the Emperor’s immense grace.”
“…”
Gu Yu couldn’t stand it after taking just one glance and immediately withdrew his gaze.
Then, as he inquired Gu Mengyao with some confusion, Gu Mengyao also gave a helpless wry smile, indicating that it wasn’t that she didn’t want to cover the gold, but that the Emperor wouldn’t allow it.
The reason for not allowing it to be covered was simply to allow the Gu family to flaunt the generosity of the reward…
Although in Gu Yu’s eyes, this gold was useless, to ordinary people, it was wealth that they couldn’t spend in a lifetime.
Moreover, several carts of gold piled together further fueled envy.
From this aspect, the Emperor had already seized the opportunity to display himself.
However, Gu Yu thought to himself, fortunately, it was his family that received so much gold. Otherwise, he would definitely sneak over at night and steal the gold without anyone noticing.
Even if this gold couldn’t be spent, he could melt it down…
“Now that we’re home, quickly have people bring the items in. Look at those people following behind, they’re almost drooling…”
“Not yet. We just wanted to come back home on the way. The mission to circle around the capital isn’t finished yet, it still needs to continue.”
“It still needs to continue!!!”
“Yes, you wait at home first, I’ll be back soon.”
When Gu Yu wanted Gu Mengyao to send the items into the Gu Residence, Gu Mengyao shook her head, stating that it wasn’t possible yet.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yu’s face immediately darkened.
He wondered if this was a reward or a punishment. In such hot weather, circling around the capital, what if his little wife got tanned!!!
“Mengyao, you don’t need to go anymore, just go home and rest!”
“But…”
“It’s okay, I’m still here!”
Upon hearing the conversation between Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao, Gu Qing quickly spoke up, telling Gu Mengyao that she didn’t need to continue circling the capital and should go home to rest.
Gu Yu, seeing his father-in-law’s strong support, immediately cast a grateful glance at him. Upon seeing this, Gu Qing couldn’t help but smile, thinking that being thanked by his rather proud son-in-law was not a common occurrence.
He had to admit, it felt truly comfortable.
“Alright, then Dad, be careful yourself. Don’t encounter any robbers.”
“This is the capital, and there are so many imperial guards protecting us nearby! Forget about robbers, not even a fly can fly in, so don’t worry!”
“Mmm.”
Gu Mengyao didn’t insist on continuing to circle the capital with Gu Qing. Instead, she nodded at him and watched Gu Qing continue to depart with the gold and a group of drooling people. Only then did she follow Gu Yu into the Gu Residence.
“Mengyao, your position?”
“Just as I guessed, the Emperor did not let me continue to serve as deputy general.”
“Although I had already guessed it, hearing such a result is still quite unpleasant!”
“To compensate, the Emperor doubled the rewards. Besides these gold nuggets and antique calligraphy and paintings, there is also this…”
As Gu Mengyao spoke, she took out a stack of silver notes from her embrace. When Gu Yu saw the amount on them, his originally angry face instantly broke into a smile like a flower.
The Emperor was quite good, knowing how to bribe people!
