Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 311 Messenger

On the city walls of Jusai, the black banners of the Valiant Army fluttered fiercely.

Gu Jize stood beneath the flag, his figure upright, yet he also exuded a sense of loneliness.

Are you really going?

"Ah."

Gu Jingnian watched the delegation slowly entering the city in the distance. Although he seemed casual, his eyes were resolute.

Gu Jize said, "You know that if you go back to Switzerland, you will likely die. What's worse than death is being imprisoned in a cage and repeatedly refined by them."

"Maybe."

Gu Jingnian does not deny this.

He is already very strong now, but once he returns to the treacherous capital of Zhuojing, he may not be able to escape unscathed.

At least, that Swiss emperor is unfathomable.

Gu Jize continued, "Given the current situation, both Yong and Rui want to win us over. The Gu family, holding Jusai City, is perfectly positioned to play both sides and seize the opportunity to rise to power..."

"There's something I've always found strange."

Gu Jingnian spoke directly before Gu Jize could finish.

"They keep talking about 'Gu Family,' but the Gu Family isn't complete. Most of the Gu Family members are now trapped in Zhuojing. My father and brothers consider themselves heroes, and their army is called 'Brave and Resolute.' They turn a blind eye to this and hide in Jusai City. How are they any different from cowards?"

These words left Gu Jize speechless for a long while.

Of course, Gu Jingnian was still too harsh. It was simply impossible for Jusai City, a single city, to fight against the entire nation of Rui.

Gu Jize said, "Rui Ting negotiated terms with me, and they can release him..."

“We’ve already talked enough, and they’ve always played us,” Gu Jingnian said. “I’m using any means necessary to increase my strength, not to negotiate terms.”

At this point, seeing that he couldn't persuade Gu Jingnian, Gu Jize finally voiced his real concerns.

“Right now, the soldiers are watching. My prestige has plummeted, and it is not advisable to control my father too much. He may change his mind at any time. Shen Jichi is imprisoned in the city, and I am afraid that Rui Kingdom will not let it go easily. Without you in charge, I have no confidence in controlling Jusai City.”

"Don't worry," Gu Jingnian said, "Father won't let others take the city easily."

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Beiming could at most wrest power back from his son.

Gu Jingnian didn't care about this, but it was what Gu Jize was most worried about.

Gu Jize then said, "Although Father won't let others take the city, what will happen to your refining plant if he staged another coup?"

“I will talk to Father again and persuade him to behave himself. Fourth Brother, don’t worry.”

"Alright."

Gu Jize sighed slightly. No matter what, he would have to be more vigilant once Gu Jingnian left.

However, after talking with Gu Jize, Gu Jingnian did not go to find Gu Beiming again, but simply ordered people to keep a close watch on Gu Beiming.

There's not much left to say between father and son, and they can't change each other anyway, so saying more is pointless.

The choice of the envoy sent by the Yong ruler to Rui Kingdom surprised Gu Jingnian; it was Qu Jizhi.

Qu Jizhi stepped into Jusai City again, looking much older than when he last visited.

What's remarkable is that when he saw Gu Jingnian again, he could still smile, as if the conflict between the two had never happened.

"Lord Chengye, we meet again."

"Greetings, Lord Qu," Gu Jingnian said. "Is there perhaps too few capable people in the court, forcing you to make such a fuss again?"

He spoke rudely, and Qu Jizhi was even more rude, saying with a smile, "It's all thanks to Marquis Chengye for causing another disaster that His Majesty had no choice but to send this old man to deal with it."

Gu Jingnian said, "Does the court not consider my capture of Shen Jichi a great achievement?"

Qu Jizhi shook his head and said, "Once the Rui Kingdom sends troops, I'm afraid even Jusai City won't be able to withstand it. The first thing I did before going to Rui Kingdom was to persuade Marquis Chengye to release Shen Jichi."

“It’s not impossible,” Gu Jingnian said, “as long as Ruiguo is willing to release all the Gu family members who have been detained.”

He had just told Gu Jize that he wouldn't negotiate with Ruiguo, but then he turned around and started negotiating with Qu Jizhi. However, it was unclear how sincere he was.

Conversely, perhaps Qu Jizhi's true purpose in making this mission was to hand Gu Jingnian over to Ruiting.

In short, their conversation was mostly evasive, mainly consisting of agreeing to travel to Zhuojing together.

--------

"Are we setting off in three days?"

Inside the cage, Shen Jichi heard the news and asked with a smile, "Take me with you?"

"No." Gu Jingnian shook his head and said, "With your abilities, once you leave Jusai City, how could I possibly control you?"

"What a pity. Since you don't trust me, how can I help you rescue Gu Caiwei?" After saying that, Shen Jichi pondered for a moment, then said, "If I'm not mistaken, you probably came to Zhuojing this time to inquire about some things for Zi Cang, right?"

Gu Jingnian asked, "How do you know?"

“Even if you rescue Gu Caiwei, you may not necessarily live a peaceful life in this Jusai City. You probably plan to enter the realm to find Yingyao,” Shen Jichi said. “Then I guess you will work for him.”

"Do you know what I want to find out?"

Shen Jichi shook his head and said, "His Majesty's secrets are not something that just anyone is qualified to know."

Then, he changed the subject and said, "But I can help you, as long as you take me into the realm after you've succeeded and introduce me to Zi Cang."

It would be impossible for Shen Jichi to ask Gu Jingnian to release him, but the request he made at this moment was acceptable to both parties, creating conditions for cooperation between them.

Gu Jingnian asked, "Do you believe me?"

"Your life is in your own hands. What can you do if you don't believe me?"

"Okay, how can you help me?"

“I have many trusted confidants in Zhuojing,” Shen Jichi said. “Go to my residence and find my concubine Xue Wanwan. Tell her that I have agreed to let my people do things for you. You can also ask her to inquire about Gu Caiwei’s whereabouts. As for the token, take the jade pendant from my waist as a token and tell her a poem.”

Gu Jingnian did as instructed and took off the jade pendant.

He felt that Shen Jichi might have been cunning, but he could take a gamble.

--------

Since setting a wedding date with Pei Nian, Gu Jingnian has not spent much time alone with Feng Niang.

When he entered the small attic that day, a smile involuntarily appeared on Fengniang's lips.

"It's rare for the Wing King to come see me in person."

"I'm planning to go back to Switzerland."

“I know,” Fengniang said. “If you hadn’t come and told me, I would have suspected that you didn’t intend to take me with you.”

Gu Jingnian said, "You should stay in Jusai City."

"what?"

Feng Niang raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of surprise in her eyes, and asked, "You really don't plan to take me with you?"

"Now that I've brought you out, why take you back?" Gu Jingnian said. "Coincidentally, I'm also worried about things going wrong in Jusai City while I'm away. How about you keep an eye on things for me?"

The surprise in Fengniang's eyes faded, replaced by a slight smile. She asked, "Worried about me?"

"Not entirely, I'm also afraid of being too conspicuous and being noticed by Ruiting."

“But I want to go,” Fengniang said. “Otherwise, who knows which vixen will be bewitched by you this time.”

She was always like this, liking to tease Gu Jingnian with her words, but if Gu Jingnian really got close to her, she would avoid him, as if she only ever wanted to maintain that ambiguous relationship.

Gu Jingnian shook his head and said, "You've been to Beijing before, how many fox spirits could be more beautiful than you?"

Although his words sounded like sweet talk, his expression remained calm. He wasn't joking with Feng Niang; he was simply stating the truth.

“For example, Pei Nian,” Feng Niang said. “Although she is not beautiful, I think the person who controls her must be very charming. If I don’t go with you, what if you fall for her trap?”

"No, I'll come back as soon as I save my sister." Gu Jingnian said, "Listen to me, don't go."

Feng Niang was not a woman who could be ordered around by him. She snorted and said, "Why should I?"

“I said I would take you to the fertile plains, but I don’t know if I can keep that promise. But taking you to Jusai City and escaping the caged man is one of the few things I have accomplished in my life.”

As Gu Jingnian spoke, he became somewhat incoherent, only looking at Feng Niang and saying, "In short, I don't want you to go back."

Fengniang was about to retort, but she saw seriousness in his eyes.

"Okay, I'll wait for you to come back." She replied obediently, which was rare for her.

Finally, he added another sentence.

"But you must promise me you won't be seduced by that woman."

"it is good."

Gu Jingnian got up and walked out, but his clothes were tugged. He turned around and saw that it was Feng Niang holding the hem of his clothes.

"Ok?"

"I'm worried that you don't have enough self-control."

"so what?"

Feng Niang's beautiful eyes seemed to ripple with emotion, and a slight smile played on her lips as she asked, "Would you like me to help you strengthen your willpower?"

(End of this chapter)