Shen Tang deliberately kept Wu Yuan waiting for two days.
That forced Wu Yuan to come find her.
Of course, he first went through Gu Chi.
The gifts he brought this time were so lavish they made one's jaw drop.
Gu Chi had already received Shen Tang's instructions, so he accepted Wu Yuan's gifts with unruffled calm. Wu Yuan had brought not only Gong Cheng, but also two maids. True to his promise, he had them bring a fortune in gold and come to apologize. Gu Chi accepted the gifts, but his attitude remained cold.
The two women stepped forward to bow and apologize, but he sent them away.
Seeing this, Wu Yuan could only signal them to leave, lest they make Gu Chi dislike him. "Sir, please show mercy to the Northern Desert."
He was a man who knew when to bend and when to stand firm.
Even though Gu Chi had shouted "Get lost!" at him on New Year's Eve, Wu Yuan could now act as though it had never happened. Using "the maids were rude and offended you" as an excuse, he had come to apologize to Gu Chi. But his real purpose was to win Gu Chi over and have him help hurry things along.
Gu Chi said, "Why would the Northern Desert need a sickly man's mercy?"
Wu Yuan gave a bitter laugh. "How could you not know the Northern Desert's current plight? The Sovereign of Kang has scaled back trade between our two lands, affecting many tribes in the Northern Desert. The larger tribes are faring better; they have deep reserves and can hold on. The smaller tribes are not so fortunate. At this time of year, even ordinary people are going hungry and freezing. If the situation can't be brought under control, then