Chapter 146: Eager for the Fake Li King to Leave
Jin Sui felt Gu Changxiao’s gaze on her, but she didn’t look up, secretly despising him in her heart. So petty!
What is it? Still afraid I’ll abduct Han Xing and Cheng Yu?
She was glad she had stopped Grandpa from telling Gu Changxiao about Father Ling, otherwise, he would definitely use this matter as leverage to make her leave.
Grandpa also said Gu Changxiao was loyal and righteous, completely deceived by him! When he needs you, he’s naturally loyal and righteous.
When he doesn’t need you, get lost as far as possible!
Jin Sui cursed inwardly, lowering her gaze to suppress her emotions, not letting others see her feelings.
What she was even more glad about was that Ji Sui’s persona hadn’t collapsed yet. Once they left the border city, Ling Jin Sui would be revived, and from then on, there would be no more Ji Sui in the world.
She hoped Gu Changxiao had some conscience and would let her take the gold and silver that rightfully belonged to her, otherwise, the three of them, grandmother and grandchildren, would have to start all over again after leaving the border city.
Heh, what am I afraid of? So what if I have to start all over again! With my medical skills and Grandpa’s abilities, the three of us can live well anywhere.
At this moment, the guests had all taken their seats, looking at Gu Changxiao, who was seated, and the Li King, who was standing, with expressions of surprise.
Only Cheng Yu had some guesses in his heart, he just hadn’t expected it to be at this time.
Li Heng was the first to ask, “Your Highness, you summoned this subordinate and the others, for what purpose?”
Jin Sui didn’t answer. Gu Changxiao swept his gaze across everyone and said, “I’ve called all of you esteemed officials here today to inform you of an important matter in advance.”
“I am the real Li King, and this is Daoist Ji Sui, my sworn brother and my body double.
When I was assassinated and severely injured, fearing instability in the border city, Brother Ji impersonated me and came to the border city to take charge in advance.
I am extremely grateful to Daoist Ji for everything he has done for the border city, especially in the battle against the Tartars, where Daoist Ji achieved great merit.
The Imperial edict of reward from the Imperial Court will arrive soon. If the matter of the real and fake Li King is reported back to Chang’an by the eunuch delivering the edict, it will surely cause heated discussion.
The merit from the battle against the Tartars will also be questioned. Therefore, this King and Daoist Ji have discussed switching identities back before the eunuch arrives, to prevent gossip.”
Then Jin Sui saw that, except for Cheng Yu, everyone else was dumbfounded, as if listening to heavenly scriptures, or as if hearing a play.
Thinking of our Li King’s usual behavior, Li Heng’s first reaction was to force an ugly smile and say to Jin Sui:
“Your Highness, stop joking with this subordinate.”
“Are you rehearsing a new play? It’s truly shocking.”
Everyone knew that the Li King had partnered with the Yan Clan to open a new Pear Garden, which was packed with customers every day, and reservations had to be made in advance to get in.
But the play you’ve written is too unbelievable and shocking to the world!
Jin Sui rolled her eyes at him powerlessly, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. Except for Cheng Yu, the expressions on everyone else’s faces were similar to Li Heng’s. Only Han Xing looked at Jin Sui with determination.
It was as if he would go through fire and water for her with just one word.
So, was that why Gu Changxiao became wary of her?
The anger in Jin Sui’s heart suddenly dissipated, replaced by pride and nonchalance. I’m a transmigrator, after all, why should I argue with ancient people?
You may be heartless, but I cannot be unrighteous. After all, I still have a group of brothers who will have to beg for food under you in the future.
Let’s part on good terms! We’ll never see each other again in this life, so why make things so awkward.
Thinking this way, Jin Sui felt a sense of sudden enlightenment. After finishing the handover of the last shift, I’ll wrap up and get out!
She looked at Li Heng seriously and said, “Everything Your Highness said is true. I am merely His Highness’s body double. You esteemed officials can call me Little Daoist Ji.”
Li Heng instantly stood up, his fingers trembling as he pointed at them, “Absurd! Utterly absurd! This is a crime of deceiving the emperor…”
Jin Sui suddenly roared at him, “What right do you have to accuse Lord Li!”
Li Heng choked, “This official accuses you.”
Jin Sui returned to her usual playful demeanor:
“Oh, in that case, you’re right! Lord Li has good judgment. You used to call me a rogue, lacking any princely demeanor.”
“You indeed have unique insight, because I was never an Imperial Prince. Just a young Taoist, what do I know about demeanor.”
Li Heng’s breathing grew heavy, and he was about to storm off. The other officials also felt that the Li King was too absurd. They had suffered greatly under the fake Li King, and now that they had caught him, they naturally wanted to be arrogant.
Jin Sui sneered, “Does Lord Li really intend to leave?”
Li Heng angrily retorted, “Are you still going to act like a tiger borrowing its power and punish this official?”
Jin Sui said sarcastically, “How dare I! However, I would like to remind you that the eunuch delivering the Imperial edict has already entered the Yandi territory. If he finds out about the real and fake Li King matter.”
“He’ll turn back to Chang’an and inform His Majesty. The achievements of the battle against the Tartars will surely be invalidated. Esteemed officials, don’t forget that you are also on the merit roll.”
“Furthermore, the fake Li King has done so many things in the border city. Don’t you, Lord Li, bear any responsibility? The crime of negligence is unavoidable, isn’t it?”
“Now that His Highness is discussing this with you in advance, it means the matter will be resolved internally among family. If you insist on making a scene and letting everyone know, I will face death, and you will all be buried with me!”
“Besides, I was merely following His Highness’s orders as his body double. Have I committed any unlawful act during my tenure? Or is Lord Li pleading for Zheng Yun?”
With each sentence she spoke, Li Heng’s attitude softened a little. Finally, he slumped back into his chair, realizing what kind of treacherous ship he had boarded.
He asked weakly, “What does Your Highness plan to do?”
He added, “Zheng Yun deserved his death. This subordinate has never had any objections.” He had to clarify this in advance, as he had been very close to Zheng Yun before.
But looking at Jin Sui’s eyes, they were still filled with anger. I can’t believe we were toyed with by a young Taoist for so long!
Zheng Yun, oh Zheng Yun, if you knew you didn’t die at the hands of the Li King, but at the hands of a young Taoist, would you be unable to rest in peace in the Yellow Springs?
And Jiang Nansheng, who was stabbed by a little Taoist acting like a tiger borrowing its power. Heh, ridiculous, truly ridiculous!
People fear comparison. Li Heng felt he had been deceived miserably and humiliatingly, but when he thought of two people who were even more miserable than him – one who was stabbed and endured it, and another who lost his life – he instantly felt he wasn’t so miserable anymore.
Gu Changxiao’s expression had been solemn all along:
“This matter was done by this King. Little Daoist Ji was merely following my orders and is not guilty.
However, to avoid giving the eunuch delivering the edict any grounds for criticism, Little Daoist Ji will be leaving the border city soon.”
Han Xing and Cheng Yu immediately looked at Jin Sui. They naturally understood that the Li King kept saying it was to protect Little Daoist Ji, but in reality, it was to drive her away.
In his haste, Han Xing blurted out, “Unacceptable!”
Everyone looked at him. He didn’t flinch, looking directly at Gu Changxiao and saying, “The border city is being rebuilt, and many matters are being handled by Your Highness… Little Daoist Ji, and the brothers of the Black Feather Camp and the Tuntian Camp are accustomed to Little Daoist Ji’s guidance…”
Jin Sui suddenly stood up and interrupted him, “City construction is a minor matter. You should just listen to His Highness. What does a little Taoist like me know? It’s all His Highness’s secret guidance.
Captain Han, as a general of the Black Feather Camp, should know the importance of the bigger picture.”
Cheng Yu spoke up for Han Xing, “Little Daoist Ji is right. Captain Han was just momentarily flustered. Please, Your Highness, do not be offended.”
Han Xing’s face turned snow white. He looked at Jin Sui blankly, unable to comprehend how things had turned out this way.
The person who saved the Black Feather Camp from Jiang Nansheng, who led the border city step by step to where it is today, the person they swore to be loyal to, was not the Li King.
But, my loyalty is only to you!
Han Xing stared at Jin Sui. Fortunately, Cheng Yu reacted quickly. After he had tentatively spoken with Jin Sui at that time, he knew that Jin Sui’s ambitions lay elsewhere and that she would not turn against the Li King.
He stepped aside to block Han Xing’s line of sight, fearing he might say something treasonous, like wherever Little Daoist Ji goes, he goes too, or that the Black Feather Camp only obeys Little Daoist Ji’s orders.
He quickly changed the subject, “Your Highness, Little Daoist Ji, this subordinate believes there are still hidden dangers in this matter. Currently, the entire border city and the people of Yanzhou, as well as the gentry families from various prefectures of Yandi, all know that Little Daoist Ji is the Li King.”
“This matter cannot be hidden. The eunuch delivering the edict will definitely hear rumors, and a little investigation will reveal the truth.”
Gu Changxiao frowned in thought. Jin Sui thought of a plan, “Then there’s no need to hide it. Let the matter be half true and half false. Tomorrow, change the play about the real and fake Li King and perform it at the Pear Garden.”
“Just say that I, a Jianghu Taoist, formed a sworn sisterhood with the Li King due to fate and acted as his body double, protecting him from assassination.
But the matters after the Li King came to the border city have nothing to do with me. This way, even if the eunuch hears something, it won’t matter.”
Many members of the Royal family have body doubles; it would be strange if there weren’t any. Everyone knows that only Prince Yu would assassinate the Li King, and the body double took the blow for him.
If the matter were to escalate in Chang’an and be investigated further, it would lead to Prince Yu. Regardless of which faction the eunuch belonged to, they would not allow this matter to spread in Chang’an.
“As long as I, the body double, am removed from the battle against the Tartars, it won’t affect the military merits of you esteemed officials.”
Hearing her say this, Li Heng and the others’ eyes flashed with shame again. They never expected that this fake Li King, who usually acted erratically and arrogantly, would be so cooperative when it came to the bigger picture.
He truly was like a chivalrous hero from the Jianghu, who leaves after his task is done, hiding his merits and name.
In this way, the things he did in the border city would become secrets along with his departure.
Perhaps in a few years, he would only exist in plays, and some might even think the matter was fake. How could someone dare to impersonate the Li King and do so many earth-shattering deeds!
Once Jin Sui figured it out, she felt completely relaxed and just wanted to resolve this matter quickly and get away from this place of trouble.
She looked at Gu Changxiao, “Lord Cheng’s considerations are reasonable. Besides creating a play to make the matter half true and half false, before the eunuch delivering the edict arrives, let’s use the polo match to announce this matter to thousands of people.”
“Your Highness, what do you think?”
Gu Changxiao didn’t look at her and responded in a low voice, “Good!”
Jin Sui felt a pang in her heart for no reason, suddenly understanding what it felt like to be discarded like worn-out shoes.
She shook her head, telling herself, let’s part on good terms. At least you still have gold! It’s not like a breakup between boyfriend and girlfriend; it’s normal for companions to go their separate ways.
Besides, she and Gu Changxiao weren’t even companions! She impersonated the Li King back then for self-preservation and to find an opportunity to overturn Father Ling’s case.
It was all mutual utilization, nothing to be sad about!
Gu Changxiao looked up and surveyed the crowd, “Do any of you esteemed officials have any objections?”
At this moment, a seemingly unintelligent minor official timidly asked, “Um, this subordinate wants to ask, are you really the Li King? Will someone else come out later and say you are also a body double?”
Jin Sui rolled her eyes dramatically, and the classic line ‘a Gege on the left, a Gege on the right’ echoed in her ears…
The officials of Yandi don’t have high IQs! That’s understandable; if they had high IQs, they wouldn’t be in Yandi.
She specifically didn’t call Hei Hu, but there are still such idiots!
“Are you stupid? Did you forget that Imperial Commissioner Liu came? In a few days, the eunuch delivering the edict will arrive. If he’s also fake, won’t the secret be revealed?”
“Who do you think dares to impersonate the Li King?”
The minor official’s face turned red and then white, realizing he had asked a foolish question. To be fair, the real Li King before them did resemble an Imperial Prince more than the fake Li King. He fit their image of the late Crown Prince.
He quickly said, “Your Highness, please forgive me, this subordinate was just flustered.”
They couldn’t help but recall when Imperial Commissioner Liu arrived, Zheng Yun insisted that the Li King was an imposter, but Imperial Commissioner Liu said he wasn’t.
So that’s how it was! The Li King at that time was indeed fake, but the real one was right beside him! How would Imperial Commissioner Liu dare to point it out!
Li Heng regretted it the most. He should have met with Imperial Commissioner Liu privately. This little Taoist was right; they were too foolish!
They were played by this audacious young man, step by step onto the treacherous ship he had built, and now they couldn’t get off.
“Alright, are there any more objections?”
Han Xing asked Gu Changxiao once more, “Please, Your Highness, allow Little Daoist Ji to remain in the border city and help us build the new city.”
Gu Changxiao looked at him directly, “This King and Little Daoist Ji had already agreed. He has private matters to attend to and cannot stay in the border city.”
Jin Sui met Han Xing’s gaze and smiled sincerely at him, “Green mountains remain unchanged, and clear waters flow on. Brothers of the Black Feather Camp recognize me as a brother, and there will be a day when we meet again.”
She was clearly telling Han Xing that we are still brothers in private, but don’t ask me to stay anymore! Otherwise, the real Li King will make things difficult for you.
She felt Han Xing’s eyes moisten, and he softly replied with an “Mm,” his face pale as he sat down, saying nothing further.
Jin Sui knew that this matter had been a great blow to them, or rather, it was too absurd to believe.
The Li King they had always respected and admired was fake? The King who led them to fight the Tartars, build the border city, and besiege the city to demand funds was fake? The King who treated them as brothers was fake?
Han Xing felt dizzy and disoriented, as if he had lost the Li King and didn’t know how to explain it to the brothers of the Black Feather Camp.
How would I tell them? How would I tell Hei Hu? Hei Hu had happily said that the Li King would attend his wedding.
Everyone had already agreed to win the polo match championship and present the trophy to the Li King.
But now, the Li King was leaving…
Cheng Yu pinched Han Xing’s arm hard under the table, signaling him not to get emotional in front of so many officials, especially the real Li King.
The more he urged the Li King to let Little Daoist Ji stay, the more he would deepen the rift between the real and fake Li Kings.
Cheng Yu took the initiative, “Your Highness, rest assured, this subordinate will explain the matter to the soldiers of the Black Feather Camp and the Tuntian Camp. The border city will not descend into chaos because of this.”
Jin Sui was about to say “thank you for your hard work” when she suddenly noticed Cheng Yu giving her a subtle wink.
Then Gu Changxiao said, “Mm, thank you for your hard work, Lord Cheng.”
Jin Sui couldn’t help but smile self-deprecatingly. No wonder Gu Changxiao wanted her gone; she was truly addicted to acting and couldn’t distinguish between real and fake!
At this moment, Gu Changxiao asked again, “Have the three matches this afternoon concluded?”
Han Xing lowered his gaze and replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, they have concluded.”
Gu Changxiao nodded, “Since that is the case, inform all the soldiers of this matter tonight. After the three matches conclude tomorrow morning, this King and Little Daoist Ji will announce this matter publicly.”
Everyone glanced at Jin Sui. They all understood that the real Li King was eager to get rid of the fake Li King.
It’s the end of the month, darlings. If you have monthly tickets, quickly feed them to Jin Sui!
