I Rely on Beauty to Stabilize the Country Chapter 52.1

Published at 13th of July 2023 08:13:33 AM

Chapter 52 Part 1 

The several talented students were selected from the Imperial Academy and National Academy. Naturally, they were not following Gu Yuanbai closely but trailing behind, led by eunuchs to observe the rice fields.

The term "five grains" in the context of the five cereal crops generally refers to rice, millet, barley, wheat, and beans. In ancient China, barley held a high status and was considered the leader among the grains. The term "sheji" in the phrase "jiangshan sheji" (the prosperity and stability of the nation) refers to barley.

However, as time went on, rice gradually became the highest-yielding staple food. Millet and barley required less water, so they were gradually cultivated in dry highland fields.

Naturally, the current rice yield could not compare to the future. Gu Yuanbai also lacked the ability to research hybrid rice. He didn't have the power or the necessary conditions.

Walking along the narrow paths in the fields, Gu Yuanbai's steps were leisurely. His gaze occasionally swept the surroundings, nodding slightly as he observed the newly planted fields.

Although it seemed carefree, a sense of alertness had already risen in secret.

The people protecting Gu Yuanbai were fully tense, both openly and covertly, fully prepared. The captain of the guards had a serious expression, which was his usual calm demeanor, so he didn't draw attention to himself.

However, Xue Yuan's sharp instincts had already cast suspicious glances at the captain of the guards several times.

Fully tense and ready to attack at any time, Xue Yuan narrowed his eyes and scanned the group of guards, noticing that quite a few of them were in the same state.

Lost in thought, he smiled wryly, somewhat unexpectedly.

Suddenly, someone approached Gu Yuanbai from behind, and when he turned his head, Xue Yuan grinned sinisterly and said, "Your Majesty, is your humble servant inferior to Captain Zhang, the head of the guards?"

This statement was inexplicable, but Gu Yuanbai casually replied, "Why would Captain Xue say such words?"

Xue Yuan said, "Your Majesty, my loyalty to you is evident to heaven and earth."

So, what exactly was he being kept in the dark about?

Gu Yuanbai chuckled. For some reason, although Xue Yuan had been increasingly loyal in recent days, every time he heard him express loyalty, Gu Yuanbai felt like laughing.

And with this laughter, Xue Yuan became completely baffled.

The group of people walked out of the fields. The students at the back saw that the Emperor had already moved far ahead and hurriedly wanted to catch up. "Your Excellency, let's go quickly."

However, the eunuch smilingly stopped them, saying leisurely, "Gentlemen, don't rush. Why not take a closer look at these rice plants?"

The students could only suppress their anxious hearts and once again pondered what was different about these rice plants.

Meanwhile, Gu Yuanbai had already led his entourage into the shade of the forest beside the fields.

The guards found a spot for Gu Yuanbai to sit, while the trailing guards tied the horses to trees and went to fetch some clean water to freshen up the Emperor.

Tian Fusheng wiped away the sweat on Gu Yuanbai's forehead and whispered, "Your Majesty, can you bear it?"

Gu Yuanbai looked up at the sun through the swaying leaves and nodded, "Although it's hot in the countryside, it's bearable."

Tian Fusheng responded and remained silent.

The guards discreetly surrounded the Emperor, ready and waiting for enemy assassins to make a move, prepared to counter their every move.

Underneath the calm surface, an undercurrent of turbulence seemed to lurk.

Suddenly, Xue Yuan's eyelids twitched, and he swiftly drew his sword.

Several fierce-looking assassins wielding large blades emerged from the forest, pouncing recklessly towards Gu Yuanbai. With a calm expression, Gu Yuanbai tightened his grip on the hidden crossbow within his sleeve and even had the leisure to take a sip of the cool tea from his water pouch.

Tian Fusheng shouted, "Protect the Emperor!"

The guards who had already received the message swiftly shielded Gu Yuanbai, engaging the attackers without mercy. Swords clashed, chaos ensued. Xue Yuan's heart raced as he cleared a bloody path towards Gu Yuanbai, but as he looked up at him, he saw an assassin raising his hand to strike.

Xue Yuan's heart skipped a beat, bloodshot eyes filled with determination. He mustered all his strength and hurled his sword, a flash of cold light, directly knocking the blade out of the assassin's hand.

The assassin was dumbfounded.

Gu Yuanbai, who had planned this assassination attempt to feign injury and counterattack, was also dumbfounded.

In the moment they locked eyes, Xue Yuan had already rushed over with a murderous aura. Without a weapon, many assassins took advantage of the situation and attacked him, but he fended them off barehanded. In an instant, his body was stained with blood. Xue Yuan's expression turned grim as he casually picked up a large sword from the ground, swung it behind him, and then extended his iron arm to hold Gu Yuanbai in his embrace.

After embracing Gu Yuanbai, they rushed towards the sweat-soaked warhorse.

Only when Xue Yuan helped Gu Yuanbai mount the horse did he whisper in a suppressed voice, "Xue Yuan—"

That motherfucker was one of his people!

Covered in blood, Xue Yuan held onto Gu Yuanbai's waist, his arm tightened, and with a fierce tone, he said, "Don't speak."

With a flick of the reins, the sweat-soaked warhorse leaped forward, galloping at lightning speed, swiftly leaving the chaotic battlefield behind as if riding the wind.

While still dealing with the assassins, one of the leaders exclaimed with a hoarse voice, "Fire the arrows!"

As a hundred arrows chased after them, the guards hurriedly rushed forward to slay the assassins. Xue Yuan, on horseback, heard the sound of arrows cutting through the air and exerted force to pull the warhorse to a stop. He dismounted and used his sword to cut down the incoming arrows.

With the horses running far away, the leader of the assassins gnashed his teeth. Due to the rushed situation, no one knew if they had injured the Emperor. Now they could only wait for news from the court. He shouted in a stern voice, "Retreat!"

Tian Fusheng was completely bewildered by Xue Yuan's actions. With no time to think, upon hearing the assassins preparing to retreat, he sneered and loudly proclaimed, "Master Zhang, it's up to you now!"

The Emperor had said that it would be enough to leave around ten of the assassins alive as messengers. The rest, who dared to show disrespect to the Emperor, should pay with their lives!

Zhang Xu, the captain of the guards, replied with a deep voice, but he was still in a panic. The forest by the field was vast, with countless dangers lurking. What if something went wrong?

He sighed one after another, regretting that he hadn't secretly reminded Xue Yuan.

Not only Zhang Xu, but others who were already familiar with the plan also panicked. The assassins who had pretended to be involved in the assassination attempt, nearly killed by Xue Yuan, were also in a state of panic.

Tian Fusheng felt even more anxious. But after dealing with the group of assassins, he had to follow the Emperor's orders and hurriedly return to the palace with his men. The horse carriage sped up, and everyone's expressions were filled with sorrow. Once they arrived at the palace, a large number of imperial physicians were immediately summoned to the imperial chamber for treatment. The palace attendants in the chamber had solemn expressions, as if blood was being carried out of the hall in basins.

In less than half a day, news of the Emperor being attacked and injured during the visit to the countryside spread within a certain range.

No one was allowed to enter the palace to visit, but this calculated move was not meant to incite panic among the officials of the court. Therefore, Tian Fusheng dispatched people to visit every household and reassure them that the Emperor was fine, having only experienced some fright and minor injuries.

At the same time, officials from the Ministry of State Affairs and the Supervisory Council emerged. The Vice Minister and the Supervisory Councilor graciously received the national affairs that the Emperor held in his hands. The composure and calmness of these two ministries were like two large stones that pacified the officials of the court.

As the trusted confidants of the Emperor and the heads of government and military affairs, along with the Surveillance Department and the Dongling Guards, they naturally knew what the Emperor was planning. Following the Emperor's instructions, they suppressed the unrest before it could rise, proceeding with everything in an orderly and calm manner.

But to those who participated in the Jiashen Society, this calmness appeared to be nothing more than a facade of peace.

With a hundred assailants attacking, only a dozen survived in the end. The outcome of this assassination attempt was unbelievably catastrophic, a result that no one had anticipated. The leader of the assassins had already despaired, but upon hearing the news from the court, that despair turned into ecstatic joy.

The Emperor was injured!

They spent a large sum of money to gather information from inside the palace. After learning that the faces of the people in the imperial chamber were solemn and the imperial physicians were uneasy, and seeing blood being carried out from the palace, they could hardly hold back their laughter.

This was not a minor injury!

It was clearly a severe injury that would shake the court!

The leader of the assassins burst into laughter. "The dog Emperor must have been hit by our arrows while being protected and fleeing!"

Others were equally excited. "The archers who were killed by the Emperor's lap dogs have been killed! Sir, we must avenge them!"

"We must seek revenge," the leader of the assassins laughed harshly. "Since the dog Emperor is injured, he won't have the energy to manage South Jinghu and Jiangnan. He might even lose his life. We must hurry back and report to our general. We should seize this opportunity to make these two regions completely ours, the Jiashen Society's territory!"

Gu Yuanbai's face turned wooden, his black hair wrapped in the wind. Xue Yuan emanated a bloody smell, mixed with the aura of killing and determination forged between the flashes of blades and sword shadows.

After a while, Gu Yuanbai resigned himself to the situation and could only silently pray for the plan to proceed as he desired. He took the initiative to say, "Are you injured?"

Xue Yuan, who was always attentive to any movement around them, replied with a bloody tone, "I'm fine."

Once he was sure that no one was following behind him, Xue Yuan slowly pulled on the reins and stopped the horse, which was galloping in delight. The horse let out a neigh, and Xue Yuan dismounted, leading the horse towards a tree.

His body was covered in bloodstains, but it was unclear whether it belonged to others or himself. His voice was hoarse, perhaps due to having killed so many people. A chilling aura surrounded him, making him resemble an evil spirit crawling out from hell, gloomy and oppressive.

Gu Yuanbai looked at the several gashes on Xue Yuan's body caused by swords and blades, as well as the minor wounds on his sleeves from the arrows. His expression was complex.

Gu Yuanbai never expected Xue Yuan to come to his rescue in such a reckless manner.

When Xue Yuan ran towards him, his expression was terrifying, bordering on ferocious. He didn't even have a weapon in his hand, yet he took determined steps without hesitation.

That blood-filled gaze was something Gu Yuanbai couldn't forget with just one glance. It clearly conveyed the message: Whoever dares to touch Gu Yuanbai will die.

The overwhelming killing intent, honed on countless battlefields, startled the "assassins" who had attempted to kill Gu Yuanbai. Gu Yuanbai also noticed Xue Yuan's expression, a furious and ferocious anger that seemed capable of incinerating everything, which momentarily stunned him.

In that moment of distraction, Xue Yuan swept him up onto the horse.

Why did he risk his life to save him like this?

Gu Yuanbai pondered, finding it hard not to doubt whether Xue Yuan's professed loyalty to the Emperor was genuine.

...It was difficult not to question it, but the reality was right in front of him.

Chapter end