CHAPTER 684: CHAPTER 566: EMPEROR LIANG WHO DOESN’T PLAY BY THE RULES

Prince Fu let out a long sigh.

This was exactly what uncle needed most.

Father is indeed understanding.

"Father." Lu Zhaoyan seized the opportunity to recommend someone to Emperor Liang, "Since the establishment of the Astronomical Bureau, it has been managed by the former State Preceptor. Now that he has been dismissed, does Father plan to appoint a Director?"

Emperor Liang had lost his memory, yet the habits between father and son remained.

When his son made a move, he could guess what he was planning.

"Do you have a suitable candidate?"

He asked.

Lu Zhaoyan said, "Mr. Zi Wu, he is someone Father painstakingly brought out from the mountains. It was he who calculated the calamity of the Qilin through divination, and he strongly advised Father to correct the chaos and restore order to avoid severe punishment from heaven and rampant disasters. Furthermore, he is the senior martial brother of the Wushan Goddess, and not comparable to the likes of Gongsun Yanming who deceive the world. He really has the abilities."

Emperor Liang paused and said, "Even though you recommend him, I still need to see if he possesses the capability. Summon him to the palace."

-

Meanwhile, Gongsun Yanming’s carriage entered the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion and stopped outside Mingxin Hall.

Gongsun Yu quickly stepped forward and lifted the curtain before his elder brother got off.

He glanced at the man from Miaojiang beside his brother, and frowned: "It’s you?"

The man smiled, "Second Master doesn’t seem to welcome me?"

Gongsun Yu ignored him and only spoke to Gongsun Yanming, "Brother, I have something to discuss with you."

Gongsun Yanming got off the carriage.

The man looked at Gongsun Yu through the window with a knowing smile.

Gongsun Yu glared at him displeasedly, pulled his brother aside, and lowered his voice: "Brother, I went to the Hu Family and met with Great General Hu. He told me that His Majesty seems to have changed, actually setting him up. He’s His Majesty’s first cousin, how could His Majesty be suspecting him?"

Gongsun Yanming asked him to explain in detail.

"When His Majesty saw Prince Jin, Prince Rui, and King Qi, the first thing he said was, ’You all are indeed my good sons’?"

"’Father, they are traitors!’"

"’I don’t think you’re any better!’"

Gongsun Yu mimicked the conversation between Emperor Liang and Prince Ming vividly.

Gongsun Yanming showed a thoughtful expression.

Gongsun Yu continued, "Great General Hu found His Majesty’s behavior strange and tentatively asked if he should invite the rumored Divine Doctor Zhong from among the people to the palace. His Majesty said no, but His Majesty and Great General Hu have never met a Divine Doctor Zhong among the people!"

Gongsun Yanming pondered for a moment, "Continue."

Gongsun Yu talked so fast his throat felt dry.

He swallowed and said, "Great General Hu suspects someone is impersonating His Majesty and wanted to expose it on the spot, so he acted against His Majesty for a moment. Guess what? That person was indeed His Majesty! It’s because of this that Great General Hu had his military power revoked by His Majesty."

"To lose military power just for acting against His Majesty, that doesn’t sound very likely."

A leisurely male voice came from within the carriage.

Gongsun Yu frowned and said, "Did I say you could eavesdrop on my talk with my brother?"

The man sneered, "Whether or not you let me eavesdrop, I heard it. Instead of opposing me, you should think about how to save the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion. In ten days, you and your brother might both be sent to face the executioner’s blade."

Gongsun Yu retorted with annoyance, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Gongsun Yanming calmly asked, "What did you mean by what you said earlier?"

The man said, "In the past, the late emperor left a will on his deathbed, stating not to move against the Hu family, and not to withdraw the military power from Hu Lie’s hands."

Gongsun Yu forgot his displeasure with the man and curiously asked, "Why would the late emperor leave such a will? Wasn’t he afraid the Hu family would rebel?"

The man explained, "The late emperor treated Concubine Hu as if she were his own daughter, and felt sorry for not being able to grant her the status of main wife, so he found another way to compensate the Hu family. With the military power in Hu Lie’s hands, Concubine Hu could rest easy in the Prince Qin Mansion. As for who would inherit the military power after Concubine Hu passed, that would depend on their own capabilities."

Gongsun Yu said in confusion, "That’s simply absurd."

The man smirked coldly, "The heart of an emperor is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. They have too much, so their thoughts differ from ordinary people. They can achieve what is unattainable for others with a mere flick of the finger. That’s the supreme power. Don’t attempt to gauge emperors’ minds with your own perspectives—they’re all madmen!"

Gongsun Yu felt an inexplicable chill from within: "I think you’re the one who’s crazy."

"Hahaha..."

The man laughed wildly.

Gongsun Yu’s hair stood on end, and he whispered to Gongsun Yanming, "Brother, this guy is too sinister; it’s best to avoid associating with him."

Gongsun Yanming turned to the man, "You know what’s going on."

The man said, "Haven’t you guessed it too?"

Gongsun Yanming asked, "Why did His Majesty lose his memory?"

Gongsun Yu exclaimed, "His Majesty lost his memory?"

The man chuckled and said, "It’s likely due to the urgency of resolving the Gu poisoning."

Gongsun Yu asked, "Won’t everything be fine once His Majesty remembers again?"

The man smiled lightly, "Once His Majesty regains his memory, the Crown Prince Mansion guilty of deception will suffer, Great General Hu will be reinstated, but your Thousand Mechanism Pavilion may not survive the crisis."

Gongsun Yu thought for a moment and arrived at the same conclusion.

The charge against them was conspiring to harm His Majesty. As long as the suspicion remains, His Majesty, whether amnesiac or not, wouldn’t spare them.

He solemnly said, "Round and round, it still comes down to resolving the suspicion of Gu poisoning."

Gongsun Yanming asked, "How long until His Majesty regains his memory?"

The man replied, "Quickly, in two or three days, or as slow as ten days. The flowers on Qingcheng Mountain have bloomed. Pavilion Master Gongsun, take care. I hope after ten days, I won’t have to collect your corpse."

Gongsun Yu angrily said, "If you dare come again in ten days, I’ll chop you into pieces!"

The man let out three loud laughs and used Qinggong to leave the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

"Brother!"

Gongsun Yu wanted to kill.

Gongsun Yanming stood in the warm spring breeze, but his heart was suddenly enveloped in a chill.

The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion was at a critical life-and-death juncture.

If this hurdle couldn’t be overcome, everything he had painstakingly managed would be destroyed in an instant.

Unlike the Shang Family, which was wiped out in a single night.

Instead, it was like being cut piece by piece with a blunt knife, torturously sliced, watching helplessly, slowly experiencing the fear and pain of losing it all.

"Prepare the horse."

He turned and headed out.

Gongsun Yu asked puzzled, "Brother, it’s getting late, where are you heading with the horse?"

Gongsun Yanming replied with deep eyes, "To find evidence."

"Evidence? Where are you going to find it? That girl clearly intended to frame you! She now doesn’t even return to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion; we can’t just storm into the Crown Prince Mansion and kidnap her, forcing her to admit her actions, can we?"

"Brother, brother, brother!"

Gongsun Yanming mounted the horse prepared by the Hidden Guard and disappeared quickly from Gongsun Yu’s sight.

Gongsun Yu turned back and looked at the quiet Mingxin Hall, suddenly feeling a sense of unease.

The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion had, under brother’s management, established itself as a major school, accepting disciples widely, becoming the largest sect in the world.

Why did it now show signs of decline?

Could it be that the Pavilion’s destiny is at an end?

No way.

With his brother, the Pavilion will definitely turn crisis into safety.

None of them need to die!

-

Mr. Zi Wu was enjoying a nice nap at the Crown Prince Mansion when suddenly Yu Zichuan dragged him out of bed and took him to Emperor Liang.

He was utterly confused.

He signaled to Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan with his eyes.

Meng Qianqian, closest to him, whispered, "His Majesty wants to test you to see if you’re qualified to be the Director of the Astronomical Bureau."

Mr. Zi Wu’s expression relaxed, "I wondered what it was, turns out it’s a test for the Director. Astronomical observation, calendar calculations, Yin Yang Mage—whatever the test entails, Your Majesty, please proceed!"

If he couldn’t answer, he’d admit defeat.

Emperor Liang pondered seriously: "Do you know how to play leaf cards?"

Mr. Zi Wu: "..."