Wei Song and Gu Lun had once been close friends. Though one was a civil official and the other a military man, they shared the same ideals and were both loyal, upright men admired by the late emperor.
"Back then, there were probably seven or eight colleagues who often spent time with General Gu and me. We gathered either at my home or at the Gu residence. The Dragon King may not remember, but I was a frequent guest at the Gu estate."
As he spoke of the past, Wei Song remained composed, as though his hurried flight had been nothing but a coincidence. He seemed unafraid of the Dragon King, yet he could not help letting a hint of ingratiation creep into his voice, hoping to soften the cold young man before him with the bonds of the previous generation.
Gu Shenwei truly had no recollection. Until his family was destroyed, his father and older brothers had treated him like a child and never let him take part in the adults' dealings. He hadn't cared, paying attention only to whether the guests had brought children his age.
"The late emperor's trust in General Gu was beyond anyone else's. He was allowed to carry a saber into the palace and take part in confidential affairs. He was the only minister to enjoy such an honor. General Gu was upright and frank, and often argued with the late emperor. To be honest, he usually won. We all envied him a little."
In Gu Shenwei's memories, his father had been a man of few words. He had never imagined that his father could be so different in court. A scene appeared before his eyes: his father arguing with the emperor, while Wei Song and the others egged them on, at once envious