The assembled officials looked at one another, unable to understand why the emperor had suddenly made such a request. If he wished to see Guo Jing, that would have been one thing, but Guo Fu was merely a commoner, and an inexperienced young girl at that. Why had she drawn the imperial gaze?
"Could it be that His Majesty had heard of her beauty and wanted to see her for himself?"
"Miss Guo may be somewhat spoiled, but her looks are truly beyond reproach. She perfectly inherited her mother's stunning beauty."
"Miss Guo is beautiful, but for some reason, she just doesn't seem as captivating as Madam Guo."
"Isn't that obvious?"
The group indulged in wild speculation, while only a few informed individuals knew that Zhao Gou was certainly not coveting her beauty. After all, he was no longer capable of such things. Even Noble Consort Wu, a beauty capable of toppling a kingdom, was left alone in an empty bed within the palace. How could he possibly harbor such thoughts toward Guo Fu?
"Forget it. Let us go directly to Guo Manor," Zhao Gou said after some thought. "While we are at it, summon the righteous martial artists who have helped defend Xiangyang over the years. I will reward them properly. We cannot chill the hearts of the people across the realm."
The others had originally intended to remonstrate, but after hearing that, they found it difficult to submit a memorial. Otherwise, would they not be cursed to death by everyone under heaven?
Wang Ziteng, commander of the Dianqian Division, had stationed the bulk of the imperial guards outside Xiangyang, since it was truly inconvenient for a large army to enter the city. Zhao Gou's security was handled by the Imperial Guard with Weapons and the Imperial Guards