Chapter 587: Auspicious Hour (1)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gradually, the rain grew heavier, transitioning from a light drizzle to a steady drip, and then to a gentle downpour.
It rained continuously for the entire night. It continued to rain until the next morning.
For the next few days, it rained and stopped. The weather was gloomy.
For the first time, Chu You understood what it meant to have no way to ask for help.
The Empress Dowager was under house arrest. Those aristocratic families didn’t help him, and even his cousin, Yuan Zhe, was unwilling to appear. It was almost impossible for Chu You to move forward.
In the past, Chu You knew that the aristocratic families were a double-edged sword and could be his help. If he couldn’t suppress them, he would be like the previous dynasty, letting the aristocratic families be above the king and have exclusive power over politics.
It was also because of this that Emperor Taizu weakened the suppression of the aristocratic families.
Chu You had always been confident that he could control the aristocratic families and make them work for him.
But now, he deeply realized how terrifying this double-edged sword was.
To the aristocratic families, he was just a clay statue with the blood of the aristocratic families flowing through him. They would only worship him high up in the air, not treat him as a true monarch.
Now, Chu You was like an eagle with its wings broken. He was helpless and could only try to get someone to find out about Gu Yunrong.
However, when Gu Yunrong was in the edict prison of the North Town Bureau, Chu You tried all kinds of methods, but he still found nothing. He didn’t receive any news about Gu Yunrong at all.
With no way out, Chu You thought of Fang Mingfeng’s words for the umpteenth time. “If you can’t do it well, send someone to tell me. I have a way.”
This time, he hesitated.
THUMP!
Chu You suddenly slammed his fist heavily on the window sill. His usually dark eyes were a little turbid at this moment. His once firm belief seemed to have been torn into pieces in just a few days.
The rain outside drifted in through the window. Water droplets dripped onto the table, vaguely reflecting the young girl’s beautiful face.
Qiao’er!
Chu You reached out to grab it, but he caught a ball of air.
“Phew… Phew…”
The moist air he inhaled seemed to be stuck there, making him feel suffocated.
In the next moment, his personal attendant walked in carefully. He swallowed his saliva and asked for instructions, “Your Highness, I wonder if you’ll go to Tianhe Garden tomorrow?”
Tomorrow was National Day. The entire country would celebrate. Tomorrow morning, all the civil and military officials will go to the imperial palace in the suburbs of the capital to attend a banquet and celebrate the festival with the Emperor.
Chu You, who had been sitting in a daze for a long time, suddenly opened his eyes and shot a sinister gaze at the eunuch. He blurted out, “Someone, drag him out and beat him up!”
The personal attendant was shocked and knelt down with a plop.
As soon as he finished speaking, two guards came over when they heard the commotion. They cupped their fists and accepted the order, roughly dragging the eunuch out.
The personal attendant trembled and hurriedly begged for mercy. “Your Highness, please spare me!”
“Your Highness, please spare me.”
The servant’s scream quickly faded away. The entire Prince Kang’s Mansion was immersed in a depressing and heavy atmosphere. There was no festive atmosphere.
However, it was different in other places in the capital.
As National Day approached, the capital was filled with joy. Lanterns and ribbons were hung everywhere, and it was as lively as the New Year.
Ever since the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty, Emperor Taizu has set up a National Day. Everyone in the country, from the influential to the commoners, could take a day off. If they didn’t take a break that day, they would be paid double their salary. Everyone was eagerly looking forward to the festival.
There were also two red lanterns hanging at the entrance of the Gu Mansion. Early in the morning, the patriarch and a few elders were welcomed.
Because Gu Jian’s family was in prison, the entire family had been trembling in fear for the past few days.
The patriarch and a few elders had already come to the Gu Mansion a few times, but Gu Yuan wasn’t around every time. It wasn’t easy for Gu Yuan to finally return to the manor last night. He rushed here early in the morning to block Gu Yuan, wanting Gu Yuan to help find out what was going on with Gu Jian’s suspected rebellion case.
They were worried that if Gu Jian’s family was really suspected of rebellion, it would implicate the nine families. Then, even the Gu family would be implicated.
Gu Yuan agreed without another word and sent his clansmen away nicely.
As for whether to ask or not, no one else knew.
After Gu Yuan sent his clansmen away, he quickly went to work. Now that he had been transferred to the Commandant of the Capital, his work wasn’t easy. He could only return to the residence once every two or three days.
The day before National Day, the residence was very lively. The clothes and jewelry that Gu Yunzhen had ordered were sent into the residence continuously.
Gu Yunzhen and Gu Yanfei made the decision and even gave the servants in the residence an additional half a month’s salary and an additional spring outfit..