Chapter 145: An Argument
Seeing Gu Changxiao’s strange gaze, Jin Sui quickly explained:
“It’s not that I don’t want to switch back! I’ve been looking forward to this day. Look, I don’t even dare to call Grandpa in front of others. Jin An still calls me Prince Brother. I’d be at peace if I switched back sooner.”
Gu Changxiao murmured, “I know.”
His voice was too soft, and the wind was strong, so Jin Sui didn’t hear clearly. She leaned forward and looked at him, “What did you say?”
Gu Changxiao’s expression turned solemn again, giving him a preoccupied air.
“I mean, this matter is of great importance. If it’s not clarified in front of everyone, there will be a lot of trouble. Let’s just hold the polo match for a few more days. When the Imperial edict from the Imperial Court arrives, on the day of the finals, I will announce this matter in front of everyone.”
Jin Sui was startled. Was it going to be that big? She quickly reacted. Gu Changxiao had not taken the identity swap seriously before, acting as if being Li King was just a title, and either of them would do, as they were both building the border city.
This made Jin Sui think he had psychological issues and was willing to go to such lengths to keep her, a talent, around.
After meeting Huo Zi’an once, his attitude immediately changed. The identity swap became urgent, and he wanted to make such a grand display. It was as if he was worried she might do something behind his back.
Are you afraid I’ll become indistinguishable from the real me and usurp your identity?
Did Cheng Yu’s hint that day make Gu Changxiao misunderstand, worrying that she would abduct the Black Feather Army and claim kingship in the borderlands?
It wasn’t that Jin Sui was overthinking; it was that Gu Changxiao’s attitude towards this matter had changed too much. They had always been open with each other before, but this time, she clearly felt he had many things he didn’t want to tell her.
Of course, Jin Sui also felt guilty; she hadn’t told Gu Changxiao about Yan Jiu either.
She decided that after their identities were swapped back, she would observe Yan Jiu’s attitude towards Gu Changxiao and try to mediate, seeing if the two of them could truly cooperate and develop together.
They walked in silence for a long time. Looking towards the urban area of the border city, they could still faintly see the grandeur of the competition grounds. There were three matches scheduled for this afternoon.
Jin Sui tightened her collar. The wind was starting to get cold. “Well, if there’s nothing else, let’s go back!”
Gu Changxiao stopped and stood still, as if hesitating for a long time. He looked at Jin Sui and said softly, “Daoist Ji, I am grateful for what you have done for this King.”
“This King believes that after our identities are swapped back, your continued presence in the border city will not have a good influence. After all, those soldiers of the Black Feather Army have followed you through life and death. If you remain in the organization, this King worries they will eventually develop divided loyalties.”
Hearing this, Jin Sui felt as if struck by lightning. Her ears buzzed. She even thought she had misheard and asked in surprise:
“Wait, can you say that again? I didn’t hear clearly.”
Gu Changxiao took a deep breath and looked into her eyes solemnly. “This King is saying that after our identities are swapped back, you must leave the border city!”
“Don’t worry, you can take all the gold and silver this King promised you. I will send people to escort you, Daoist Ji, and Jin An back to your hometown, ensuring you a life of comfort and security.”
Jin Sui tilted her head and stared at him blankly, suspecting he had been possessed.
After a long pause, she said, “What exactly did Huo Zi’an tell you?”
Gu Changxiao’s gaze held no guilt or unease. He said very seriously, “That is not something you should inquire about.”
Jin Sui also got angry. “Heh, do you think I care about being your lousy Li King! When the birds are gone, the bow is put away. You haven’t even caught the bird yet, and you’re already breaking the bow!”
“Fine, I’ll leave, won’t I? But by what right do you control where I go? The world is vast, I can go wherever I please, what business is it of yours?”
Gu Changxiao suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, looking directly into her eyes, his gaze filled with an oppression and madness she couldn’t understand.
“You are not allowed to go to Yan Jiu’s! Leave Yandi, go anywhere else.”
Jin Sui was about to say, “What right do you have to control me?”
In that instant, the madness in Gu Changxiao’s eyes turned to sorrow and pleading. He abruptly pulled Jin Sui’s wrist and embraced her.
He held her tightly, as if wanting to melt her into his body.
He whispered into her ear, pleading, “Don’t go to Yan Jiu’s, leave Yanzhou, and never come back!”
“I’m begging you.”
Jin Sui’s heart trembled, both at his words and his current actions. She pushed him with all her might, but it was useless.
She could only try to provoke him by speaking, “What are you doing? What kind of grown man hugs and kisses like this? Let me go.”
Gu Changxiao held her even tighter until she stopped struggling and let him hold her still, his hot breath falling on her neck.
Then, as if electrocuted, he suddenly released Jin Sui, almost pushing her over.
She became even more annoyed. This lunatic! Damn it, does madness spread? Do normal people go crazy when they come to the border city?
“Gu Changxiao! Jun Yanqing! Let’s part on good terms, but you need to explain yourself clearly!”
Gu Changxiao mounted his horse and looked down at her, as if the embrace just now was his last act of mercy. Now he had returned to being the unreasonable Li King.
“This King has said all that needs to be said. Once the Imperial edict arrives, it will be announced publicly. You must never return to the border city again in this lifetime!”
With that, he slapped his horse’s hindquarters and galloped away, leaving Jin Sui standing in the cold wind, unable to understand Gu Changxiao’s madness.
It was definitely related to Huo Zi’an! She also slapped her horse and left, heading directly for the Tuntian Camp to find Sister Niu.
“Where is Huo Zi’an?”
“Ah?”
“Lord Niu, the injured, almost dead Lord Niu?”
Sister Niu finally reacted. “Someone came and took him away just now. He should be at the infirmary.”
Jin Sui hurried to the infirmary, only to see more than a dozen polo players groaning. They were all injured in the afternoon matches. One had a broken arm, and the others had minor injuries.
Jin Sui quickly asked the Military Doctor, only to learn that Huo Zi’an hadn’t come at all.
Then she encountered the elusive Liu Yun. The boy still had that arrogant, chuunibyou demeanor. Without Jin Sui asking, he spoke directly:
“The Prince said that the matter of Huo Imperial Guards is confidential. He hopes Daoist Ji will not tell anyone else.”
Jin Sui glared at him. “Where is he? This Prince is still Li King, and I have the right to question him!”
Liu Yun shook his head. “I don’t know. No one knows except the Prince.”
Jin Sui was furious, wishing she could jump off her horse and beat the boy. But Liu Yun ran too fast; he delivered the message and disappeared.
Jin Sui stood there, suddenly feeling a sense of bewilderment, followed by a self-deprecating laugh. What was she doing?
Misplaced affection? Presumption?
Heh, “Brother Ji,” becoming sworn brothers of different surnames; “let’s build the border city together”; “if you stay, I’ll give you half the border city”…
Damn it, royalty is heartless! They treat you well when they need you, and when they don’t, they can’t wait to kick you far away.
Jin Sui led her horse, feeling unsure of where to go. She genuinely considered the border city her home, but everything she had done now seemed like a joke.
With one sentence from Gu Changxiao, she was just a clown.
It was so funny! But why did she feel like crying? Her chest felt like it was stuffed with cotton soaked in sour water, and with every breath, her nose and throat tasted sour.
She looked up at the clouds, forcing herself not to let tears fall.
The reins in her hand had loosened at some point. Little Black obediently followed behind, occasionally snorting to remind her to lead him.
“Your Highness!”
Yan Shiyi’s annoying face appeared before her. He was the most tactless person, completely unable to sense that Jin Sui was not in the right mood.
He pulled Jin Sui to a secluded spot and chuckled, “Your Highness, I have something to discuss with you.”
Jin Sui glanced at him. He quickly pointed to a player from the Yan Cloud Team not far away. “Your Highness, look at that person.”
Jin Sui followed his gaze and saw a very tall, well-proportioned young man with fair skin.
Jin Sui still didn’t speak, because if she opened her mouth now, her voice would surely be hoarse. She had already swallowed her tears.
Yan Shiyi was encouraged by her reaction because the Prince hadn’t told him to get lost, meaning half the battle was won.
“I know you like this type. As long as you don’t let our Yan Cloud Team draw the Black Feather Team in the next round, I’ll give this kid to you to warm your bed.”
“I guarantee no one will know! Don’t worry, this kid is very clean. I picked him specifically. Doesn’t he look like your Gu bodyguard?”
Jin Sui: …
She lowered her head and looked around. It was too clean; there wasn’t even a brick, stone, or dog poop.
Little Black, can you do it? Can you kick this kid to death?
“Your Highness, why aren’t you speaking? Give me an answer! If you don’t like this one, you can pick any member of my Yan Cloud Team!”
Jin Sui took a deep breath. The complex emotions caused by Gu Changxiao’s actions now boiled down to one: Even if I’m not Li King anymore, I can still beat this kid to death!
“Can you have some integrity!”
“What is integrity? Can it help me win the championship?”
Jin Sui really wasn’t in the mood to fool around with him. She turned her head and left. “I’ll report you to your brother. I’ll send a coffin if he beats you to death.”
Yan Shiyi was not afraid at all. “Heh heh, my brother is back in the city.”
Jin Sui suddenly thought of using magic to defeat magic. To communicate with this mentally unstable idiot, she had to use magic.
She turned around and smiled. “Alright! But I don’t fancy your Yan Cloud Team’s rejects. I’m interested in you. If you wash yourself clean and spend a night with me, I won’t let you draw the Black Feather Team.”
Yan Shiyi was instantly stunned and stammered, “I can’t, I like women.”
Suddenly, as if he had seen a ghost, he bolted and ran.
Jin Sui shouted from behind him, “What are you running for? If you dare to suggest it, you better be prepared to accept it! This King will wait for you tonight!”
“Wait for him for what? To warm the bed?”
Gu Changxiao’s slightly angry voice sounded from behind her. Jin Sui froze instantly and walked forward without turning her head.
Gu Changxiao caught up in two steps. “Are you that eager to go to the Yan Clan?”
Jin Sui rolled her eyes. “Go get treated for your illness, don’t act crazy with me! You were the one who was eager for me to leave, so why are you acting like this now?”
“Do you expect me to kneel and thank Li King for sparing my life?
I already said I would leave. You can send someone to receive the Imperial edict. Once it arrives today, we’ll announce it, and I’ll be gone tomorrow! I’ll be sure to leave your border city territory!”
Gu Changxiao gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. “I have already instructed Li Heng, Cheng Yu, and a group of officials to wait. We will go and explain things to them now.”
Jin Sui sneered. “Is Li King in such a hurry, afraid I’ll run off with the money?
I thought Your Highness kept your word like gold. Turns out… tsk tsk. Compared to that, Yan Shiyi is more reliable.”
Their past conversations and Gu Changxiao’s promises still echoed in her ears, but now they were all a joke.
Jin Sui felt a slight itch on her cheek and rubbed it hard with her sleeve. “Your Highness, please rest assured, this humble priest is not someone who covets power. Let’s go!”
They walked side by side towards the camp. They had walked this path countless times together, but this time, they were drifting apart.
Jin Sui never expected this outcome. She couldn’t help but recall Yan Jiu’s words: Would Pingyang Tiger still remember old friends?
Yan Jiulang, you really hit the nail on the head! Fierce Tiger, when do you ever need friends?
Li Heng was watching the match. He had originally planned to leave after watching in the morning, but he hadn’t expected the polo match to be so exciting.
Yanzhou lacked entertainment. Such a grand event had even captivated him. After a short rest at noon, he immediately returned to watch the afternoon matches.
Then he received an order from Li King summoning him for an important matter. Also summoned were Cheng Yu, Han Xing, Captain Huang, and other important officials of the border city. Several officials from Yanzhou City also came with Li Heng.
Li Heng asked Cheng Yu blankly, “Why has the Prince summoned us?”
Cheng Yu guessed, “It should be about the tournament.”
Li Heng then smiled with relief, stroking his beard. “Who would have thought the tournament would be so unprecedentedly grand! After this, the trade zone of the border city is essentially established.”
“I have observed slightly that merchants from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yandi have come to the border city.”
“The Prince truly has great vision and strategy! Who would have thought that in just a few months, the desolate and dilapidated border city would become what it is today!”
“I believe that in a few years, the border city will definitely become the number one city in Yandi, even surpassing Yanzhou!”
Li Heng praised without reservation because he had also received news that the Imperial edict was arriving soon. Once the Imperial edict arrived, his achievements as the Prefect of Yanzhou would be secured, and he could be transferred back to Chang’an upon the end of his term!
Therefore, he praised Li King as much as he could and handled everything Li King assigned meticulously, just waiting to escape this quagmire in a year.
Let Li King fight with the gentry of Yandi! That would be a problem for another Prefect to worry about.
In the camp, the Black Feather Army guarded a large tent, with no unauthorized personnel within a radius. The soldiers guarding the tent were all Old Guards from Chang’an, brought by the Prince.
Even Cheng Yu sensed something was wrong and was startled. Could something major be about to happen?
It couldn’t be Tartars, nor bandits or mountain bandits. Was it the gentry of Yandi?
He and Han Xing exchanged glances, both seeing confusion in each other’s eyes. The Prince had not informed them in advance.
The group nervously entered the tent and saw Gu Imperial Guards in military attire, with the seal of Li King placed before him, and the Imperial edict read by Imperial Commissioner Liu.
And our Li King stood behind Gu Imperial Guards in a riding outfit, both of their expressions solemn.
What was going on?
The dozen or so officials were all bewildered. While Li King had indeed done many arrogant and eccentric things since arriving at the border city, they truly couldn’t understand the scene before them.
Han Xing, a loyal subordinate of Li King, frowned and stepped forward to call out to Jin Sui, “Your Highness.”
He wanted to see if Jin Sui was being held hostage or had been drugged.
Jin Sui forced a smile and said softly, “I’m fine, please sit down.”
