Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 279 The relationship is complicated
After confirming Wei Li's intention to cooperate, Gu Jingnian finally had the leisure to look out the window.

The courtyard was beautiful, but it was not in the style of Yong Kingdom gardens. Instead, it featured lush forests and bamboo groves, small bridges and flowing water, artificial hills and pavilions, and winding paths leading to secluded spots, which were characteristic of Yue Kingdom.

Across the winding corridor, Wei Yushi sat on a red bench, propping her head up with her hand and looking this way. When Gu Jingnian finally turned his gaze to her, she waved and called out.

The distance wasn't too far, but Gu Jingnian didn't hear her shouts at all.

It is clear that this flower hall holds a hidden secret.

“Shen Jichi is trying to intimidate you by making you think that Ruiguo is invincible because it has allied with the Realm Lord,” Gu Jingnian said. “But let me tell you, their alliance is very fragile. Just yesterday, I received an assignment from the Kaiping Division. They want to take over the Womin.”

“Wei Huang has always been like this; his desires are insatiable,” Wei Li said bitterly.

Gu Jingnian knew that she had a deep-seated hatred for Rui State and would never submit even if it meant being torn to pieces. Therefore, she would rather join forces with him, the fake "Wing King," to become the fake "King of Yue." Strangely, why would Shen Jichi want to persuade her?
Wei Li added, "But I didn't relay Shen Jichi's words to Emperor Yong. I only told him what you said to Zhao Boheng."

"Why?" Gu Jingnian was already suspicious, and asked tentatively, "Do you have a relationship with Shen Jichi? You don't want Emperor Yong to know?"

There is no friendship, only hatred.

"Then why did he come to advise you?"

Wei Li replied, "Because whenever there is any disturbance in the border region, all countries must act in unison."

This is exactly what Gu Jingnian wants to know.

"Why?"

"Emperor Yong has already told you that if the Central Plains are unified and the breach is closed, the supernatural beings will no longer be able to use their abilities in the Central Plains."

"Indeed, but I don't understand what the gap in Zhongzhou has to do with the division of the various states?"

“This is a secret passed down through generations of rulers of various states. I also heard my father mention it when I was young,” Wei Li said. “At the beginning of the founding of the Great Kingdom, there was no intention to enfeoff vassals. The reason why the four vassal states of Yue, Yong, Yan, and Yu were enfeoffed was to guard the four pillars.”

Gu Jingnian had also heard of the "Four Pillars Stones," which were said to be the four meritorious officials who helped Emperor Taizu of the Chenghua Dynasty establish the country and secure peace more than two thousand years ago.

"The Four Pillars are not four meritorious officials, but true pillars of society?"

"That's right, it actually refers to four mountains that rise straight into the clouds and stand like pillars supporting the sky. Mount Fujie of Yong Kingdom, Mount Dongji of Yue Kingdom, Mount Cangshou of Yan Kingdom, and Mount Dong of Yu Kingdom. When foreigners from the barbarian seas come to the Central Plains, they must pass through these four high mountains."

Gu Jingnian asked, "As long as the four mountains are stable, what does that have to do with whether or not the Central Plains is divided?"

Wei Li shook her head and said, "It's not that simple."

She didn't know how to describe it either, so she paused and pointed to the stool where Gu Jingnian was sitting.

"The four pillars are like the four legs of a stool. If they are not the same length, the stool will wobble when someone sits on it. To protect the four pillars, it is necessary to ensure that the four pillars are in balance."

"What balance?" Gu Jingnian asked. "Is it the height of the mountain? Or the defensive troop strength?"

“I don’t know,” Wei Li said. “I only know that at the beginning, the four pillar stones were not balanced, and there were always strange people who could enter the Central Plains through the gaps, until the ancient sage created the Balancing Instrument and placed it in Chengjing. From then on, the Central Plains was stable and there were no more strange people. It is said that during that period, ‘the demonic energy was swept away and the sea and rivers were calm.’”

Gu Jingnian understood slightly.

The balance instrument and the four pillars—this is the reason why Yin Yuhe said the gap in the unification of the Central Plains was only closed.

The secret within Ruijing, which Zi Cang fears, is probably also related to this Equilibrium Instrument.

Of course, this was just speculation. Wei Li knew nothing more about the specifics. She had only heard some things from the King of Yue when she was young, and afterwards, she focused more on national and personal vendettas, so she had no interest in those distant past events.

Wei Li continued, “At the end of the Dacheng era, the Wei clan murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, causing the Central Plains to split. In the following hundreds of years, the Rui Kingdom controlled the Balance Instrument, and the four kingdoms each guarded the four pillars. Gradually, the supernatural beings began to become active in the Central Plains. Especially since Wei Huang ascended the throne, the supernatural abilities that the supernatural beings could use have become stronger and stronger, which shows that the gap in the Central Plains is getting bigger and bigger.”

At this point, she shook her head, her brows furrowing slightly, revealing an air of authority.

“In my opinion, Wei Huang no longer considers himself a person of the Central Plains. He sees himself as an extraordinary person and is deliberately widening the gap in the Central Plains to enhance his extraordinary abilities. If he is not eliminated, the Central Plains will surely suffer great devastation.”

This statement reveals that Wei Li is different from Yin Yuhe.

Yin Yuhe said that if necessary, they could abandon their ancestral heritage and submit to the Rui Kingdom; Wei Li, on the other hand, was determined to fight the Rui Kingdom to the bitter end.

Of course, one should only believe about 10% of what emperors say, and it's best not to believe any of it at all.

In conclusion, Gu Jingnian has gained a clearer understanding of the situation.

"So, although the countries are hostile to each other, there is also cooperation?"

"Yes, this is one of the reasons why the various countries have been unable to unify for hundreds of years. They are all afraid of pushing each other too far and inviting foreign invaders from the seas. And once the Four Pillars show any unusual movement, the hostile countries may quickly put aside their past grievances."

Gu Jingnian asked, "In other words, Shen Jichi went to Yongjing to 'negotiate' with the Yong Emperor?"

“That’s right,” Wei Li said. “Emperor Yong has only been on the throne for a short time and his position is not yet secure. He does not want to continue the war with Rui. As for Wei Huang, his mind does not seem to be on expanding the territory. Do you know what the conditions for peace talks he proposed are?”

"What is it?"

"Besides grain and gold, there were all sorts of strange people, strange beasts, strange treasures, and alchemists, including Zhao Boheng."

Gu Jingnian asked, "Are you planning to hand over Zhao Boheng?"

“Yes,” Wei Li said, “Zhao Boheng is also willing to go to Wei Huang’s side.”

Gu Jingnian had indeed not anticipated this situation; the two countries of Yong and Rui had so quickly shifted from hostility to mutual trade. He thought for a moment and said, "I plan to eliminate Shen Jichi."

Wei Li said, "He is very strong."

Gu Jingnian said, "If we get rid of him, no one will be able to question our 'Divine Lord,' which will be beneficial to our expansion of power. It's better to act now than to wait for him to return to Rui Kingdom."

"How to do?"

Gu Jingnian pondered for a while and said, "Let's set a trap and lure you in."

Wei Li said, "We only saw his image; we don't know where he is in person."

"Then lead him to a place where he can't use his powers."

"The palace of Yong Kingdom?"

Gu Jingnian said, "Besides the Yong Kingdom Palace, there is another place, but it requires your cooperation with Zhao Boheng."

"..."

Wei Yushi was almost asleep when Gu Jingnian finally came out of the flower hall.

She quickly went to meet her.

"Brother, have you reached an agreement with my mother? I'll take you there."

As she spoke, she saw Wei Li also coming out of the flower hall to see her off, so she quickly slowed her pace and resumed her dignified and graceful demeanor.

Because Gu Jingnian was present, Wei Li did not reprimand her.

Wei Yushi didn't hide the strange sight she saw by the pond and immediately said, "I just saw a figure in the pond in the backyard. It was blurry and it spoke to me."

After hearing her description, Gu Jingnian quickly guessed that it was Shen Jichi.

However, the walls of the Yue Kingdom Princess's residence were made of obsidian, yet he was still able to enter. This must be because the rear courtyard was open, and the obsidian's suppressive effect was not strong, allowing Shen Jichi to vaguely project his image.

"What did he say?"

"He was trying to lie to me, saying he could help me fulfill a wish."

Wei Yushi spoke frankly and directly, but that was all she said; she didn't reveal what her specific wish was that had been exposed by the other party.

Gu Jingnian frowned in thought, not quite understanding why Shen Jichi would do such a thing.

Finally, he asked Wei Li, "Is there anything you're hiding from me about Shen Jichi?"

Wei Li shook her head.

Therefore, Gu Jingnian stopped Wei Yushi from seeing him off and instructed her to stay in the mansion and not to move around easily in the coming days.

--------

After leaving the Yue Kingdom Princess's residence, Gu Jingnian returned to the Chengye Marquis's residence and stayed in his room for two days without showing his face.

Two days later, he went to the palace again to request an audience.

Ordinary officials could not be granted an audience at any time, but Yin Yuhe quickly summoned Gu Jingnian.

"What is it, Minister Gu?"

"Your Majesty, I have completed the task Your Majesty entrusted to me."

Yin Yuhe remained calm and asked, "Really? You've met the Jie people again so soon?"

“The Divine Lord can appear in my mind at any time,” Gu Jingnian said. “He told me that Shen Jichi has escaped from the realm and is slandering the Divine Lord in Zhongzhou, and ordered me to get rid of Shen Jichi. As for what His Majesty said, he will consider it, but not because of His Majesty’s threat, but because he remembers the agreement with Zhongzhou back then, on the premise that no one will enter the realm to disturb him again.”

These words immediately raised suspicion in Yin Yuhe's eyes.

He didn't know that Gu Jingnian's information came from Wei Li, so he was somewhat unsure about the God's abilities.

Gu Jingnian keenly sensed this and realized that Yin Yuhe was indeed unaware that Wei Li and Shen Jichi had already met.

The relationships between these individuals were surprisingly complex.

He couldn't figure it out for a while, so he simply ignored it and relied on his own ideas.

"Your Majesty, I have a request. I wish to return to Jusai City."

Yin Yuhe hadn't reacted yet when he heard this, he frowned slightly, guessing that Gu Jingnian's trip was to consolidate power.

This boy already harbors treacherous intentions; I fear we cannot let him go.

He was about to refuse, but Gu Jingnian immediately came up with a plausible reason.

"I should return to Jusai City to marry Pei Nian. Pei Nian risked everything to save me, and it would be unjust of me not to give her an explanation. My father has been ill for a long time and has been recuperating in Jusai City. His only wish is to see me get married. It would be unfilial of me not to return... I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant my request."

(End of this chapter)