An Imperial Bodyguard Bearing Arms Before the Throne-Was He Going to Rebel Right Under the Empress's Nose?

"By the will of heaven, the empress decrees:"

"Gu Yuan, heir to the Marquis of Pingxiang, is quick-witted and has rendered meritorious service in slaying enemies. He is hereby appointed an imperial bodyguard bearing arms before the throne, of the sixth rank, and bestowed white jade brocade, a gold belt with flowing patterns..."

The long list of rewards left Gu Yuan dizzy.

With so many gifts, anyone who didn't know better might have thought they were the empress's dowry.

Wasn't a post like imperial bodyguard supposed to go to someone she trusted most?

She had recruited a man like him, who had dared to break into the imperial mausoleum and curse the late emperor...

Wasn't the empress afraid of another assassination attempt?

Well, judging by her strength alone, she really didn't seem to have anything to fear...

Gu Yuan's face was full of worry. He didn't know what Qi Yueli was trying to do, only that his plans to go to Qingzhou would have to be put on hold.

Where some worried, others rejoiced.

At that moment, Gu Ming, the Marquis of Pingxiang, was grinning so widely his teeth were almost falling out!

"Heir Gu, why don't you hurry and receive the decree?"

"I, your subject Gu Yuan, thank Your Majesty."

The Mystic Shadow Guard who had delivered the decree stepped forward and said warmly, "Heir Gu, we'll be colleagues from now on. Let's keep in touch."

Gu Yuan smiled faintly. "May I ask your name, brother?"

"Zhao Sheng. Like you, Heir Gu, I serve under Commander Shangguan."

"So it's Brother Zhao. I've long admired you." Gu Yuan took out a banknote. "Brother Zhao, thank you and the other brothers for your efforts. Please don't refuse this small token."

Zhao Sheng's eyes brightened slightly. "Many thanks, Heir Gu."

"There's no need to be so polite, Brother Zhao. I'm new to the palace and don't know the rules, so I'll need all of you brothers to guide me whenever I don't understand something."

As he spoke, Gu Yuan took out another banknote and discreetly slipped it into Zhao Sheng's hand.

"Hahaha, Brother Gu, you're far too polite. I'll put together a set of the palace rules for you when I get back. Hopefully, it'll help you settle in sooner."

"Thank you, thank you."

"Don't mention it."

The Gu family watched from the side, dumbstruck.

He handled social niceties with ease, and his every word and gesture was smooth and seasoned... Was this really their foolish son and younger brother?

"Brother Gu, your armor and weapons have all been prepared. Don't be late tomorrow at the hour of the rabbit."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Zhao."

After Zhao Sheng and the others left, Gu Yuan's parents could no longer contain themselves.

"My boy!"

"Heaven has finally opened its eyes!"

"Not only have you come to your senses, you've even landed yourself a high office! Hahaha!"

Gu Shu couldn't help laughing. "Father, it's only the sixth rank. How is that a high office?"

"What would a girl know? He's an imperial bodyguard! How could an ordinary post compare?"

Mother Gu didn't say a word. With reddened eyes, she kept stroking Gu Yuan's cheeks, her eyes full of joy.

Warmth spread through Gu Yuan's heart.

"Father, Mother, Sister, I'll go get ready."

"It's your first time meeting Her Majesty the empress, so you should make proper preparations." Gu Ming couldn't stop smiling. "Your father needs to offer some incense to the ancestors too. Our ancestral graves really are sending up green smoke!"

Yesterday, the Gu residence had been lifeless. Today, it was full of vigor, as though reborn.

In his room.

Gu Yuan sighed heavily, pulled out his diary, and began writing furiously.

The imperial palace of Great Qi.

Qi Yueli silently glanced at her legs and gave a soft snort.

"Little rebel, you really are outrageously lustful!"

"But just what kind of treasure are these black stockings, to make him willing to die for them?"

"If I can obtain this treasure, Gu Yuan will surely serve me forever!"

"If I get the chance, I should sound him out..."

"The heir to the King of Qingzhou... Is he the protagonist Gu Yuan mentioned, or rather, the favored son of fortune?"

"Hmph!"

"All the fortune under heaven belongs in my hands alone. How could some nameless upstart be worthy of laying a finger on it!"

True qi surged, sweeping away every speck of dust.

Qi Yueli held the diary, her beautiful eyes filled with unprecedented confidence.

[I'm done for. It's barbecue time. Has this empress taken the wrong medicine? Why insist on making me guard a gate for no good reason...]

"..."

Being an imperial bodyguard was an honor countless people longed for but could never obtain, yet in his eyes it was just gatekeeping?

[No, there has to be a reason. Where exactly did things go wrong?]

[Could I have exposed my strength when I broke someone out of prison yesterday, and someone realized I have the Martial God Physique?]

!!!

Qi Yueli sprang to her feet, her eyes fixed firmly on those four characters, unable to look away.

"He wasn't hiding his strength. He has the Martial God Physique!?"

This news shocked her even more than the rebellion!

The Martial God Physique meant that Gu Yuan's path in martial arts would be smooth and unobstructed, without any barriers.

One day, he might even surpass her...

[No, even the empress has never seen the Martial God Physique, so she shouldn't be able to recognize it. Most likely, she learned of my potential and plans to recruit me to serve her... Yeah, that's a reasonable explanation.]

[If that's the case, I definitely can't leave. Given how decisively the empress kills, the moment she discovers a genius like me intends to rebel, she'll execute me on the spot!]

[When that happens, being sliced to death would be getting off lightly. She might grind my bones to dust and scatter my ashes until there's nothing left of me...]

"..."

"Nonsense."

"I'm not that cruel."

[How about becoming an undercover agent?]

[Forget it. Being undercover is too risky. I'd be better off breaking a few palace rules and behaving improperly before the throne. With the empress's temperament, I'd definitely lose the post!]

[Once I'm dismissed, I'll go to Qingzhou and develop steadily. For a high-level map like Qi Capital, I should definitely wait until I've reached max level before coming back...]

The corner of Qi Yueli's eye twitched.

Qingzhou! Qingzhou! Qingzhou! All this fellow knew was going to Qingzhou!

It was outrageous!

[Everything for immortality.]

[Everything for immortality.]

[Everything for immortality.]

[Important things must be said three times.]

[Come to think of it, didn't I just hear that Zhang Qiandao escaped from prison? That's impossible. How could those four idiots escape the Mystic Shadow Guard?]

[I reckon the empress deliberately spread that news to draw out the people the King of Qingzhou has in Qi Capital to meet them.]

"Hmph, he isn't stupid after all."

[This empress is a little smart, but not much.]

?

[A ruse like this can only fool people for so long. Who knows how many secret agents the King of Qingzhou has planted in Qi Capital? From affairs of state to trivial matters in the streets, there are only things he doesn't care to know, never things he can't find out. He won't be kept in the dark about Zhang Qiandao's failed rescue.]

"Secret agents..." A frosty look appeared in Qi Yueli's eyes. "It seems Qingzhou has been harboring rebellious intentions for a long time!"

Yet she, the empress, had been completely unaware.

How many Qingzhou spies must there be at court!

[If it were me, I definitely wouldn't do it this way.]

Qi Yueli's eyes brightened slightly.

[It would be better to release Zhang Qiandao openly.]

[Zhang Qiandao holds a lofty position in literary circles and taught several high-ranking officials at court. The King of Qingzhou wants to save him to win people's support, so if the empress pardons him, she can naturally win their support too.]

[As for Zhang Qiandao, he can go wherever he likes. In the end, Great Qi respects martial strength above all else. What trouble could a Confucian scholar stir up?]

"Release him?"

Qi Yueli frowned deeply.

Years ago, Zhang Qiandao had been imprisoned for a grave crime. She had always wanted to offer him a pardon in exchange for coming out of retirement to help her stabilize the court, but she had yet to succeed.

[What an old Confucian scholar like him cares about most is leaving his name in history. Just give him credit for a few timeless poems, and dealing with him would be a piece of cake...]

Qi Yueli murmured, "He can write poetry too?"

[Forget it. It has nothing to do with me. I'd better go out and practice martial arts. I can't let the Martial God Physique go to waste.]

[That's enough writing for today.]

?

Why had he stopped writing?

Keep writing!

Qi Yueli put down the diary with a hint of regret and pondered for a long time.

"Perhaps I should find a chance to take him to meet Zhang Qiandao..."