Uninvited but best strategist

  Gu Yunxi's carriage came to a gentle stop in front of the Duke of Germany's mansion just as a black lacquered, crimson-topped carriage was slowly leaving; she took a closer look and then instructed Zilan to go knock on the door.

  The little servant who opened the door seemed to have not expected her to come, and after a slight hesitation, he still let the two in. The little servant's face changed slightly when he saw that she was holding a wolf in her arms, but since she was from the De Wang Fu, he quickly recovered his composure and led her to Gong Sun Mo's courtyard without needing her to say anything. As they walked, the lush green bamboo trees came into view, and it wasn't until then that Gu Yun Xi casually asked.

  "Just now when I entered the mansion, I saw a horse carriage leaving, but I don't know which noble it was——"

  The young servant was very respectful, "It is Zhang Heng, the Minister of Rites, who has come to ask about the auspicious wedding day of Master Wang and Miss Gu."

  "Has the date been set?"

  The little boy wanted to speak but stopped, looking very embarrassed.

  "Yún Xī!"

  A loud shout came, Gong Sun Chenglin's eyes lit up slightly, and he walked to Gu Yunxi with big strides, waving his hand. The little servant retreated, Gu Yunxi put down her Chu clothes and bowed slightly, "Greetings to King Cheng, I didn't ask for permission to come, did I disturb Your Highness?"

  Gu Yunxi indeed came uninvited, and since the night banquet, she had not seen Gong Sunmo. The imperial edict was issued, and Gong Sunmo did not even ask a single question. As a strategist, if he could not grasp the mind of his lord, he would be doomed to fail, so today she took this step.

  Gongsun Chenglin scratched his head uncomfortably and asked Gu Yunxi tentatively, "Yunxi, do you have any regrets now? Anyway, Father's intention is that you will take office after the New Year. If you regret it, my second brother and I can naturally help you!"

  Gu Yunxi smiled helplessly, shaking his head. "Your Highness has been in the military for many years and naturally knows the importance of following orders, let alone an imperial edict from the Emperor himself. It's said that a king's words are never to be taken lightly. Do you think there's any good way to get the Emperor to retract his edict?"

  Gongsun Chenglin was about to speak again, but Gu Yunxi's eyes suddenly snapped into focus. "Furthermore, Yunxi doesn't think the current situation is bad at all. With such rewards, it's as if the entire imperial court is under Your Highness' control. Not only will it be easy to plant spies in the future, but even if the Crown Prince were to harbor rebellious intentions one day, Your Highness won't be caught off guard."

  Gongsun Chenglin paced back and forth on the spot, looking at Gu Yunxi's solemn eyes and let out a deep sigh. "Yunxi, I think Second Brother shouldn't have agreed to make you his advisor in the first place. If Second Brother really wanted a minister, there are countless talented people under heaven, but..."

  The words had not been spoken yet, but Chu Yi, who had always followed Gu Yun Xue's footsteps, suddenly let out two low whines. She followed Chu Yi's gaze and saw Gong Sun Mo, dressed in a silver brocade robe, standing at the entrance of the courtyard.

  "Long live the king."

  Gongsun Chenglin turned around with a gloomy face, "Second Brother."

  Time seemed to stand still at this moment, Gong Sunmo's gaze fell on Gu Yunxi's body, the cold wind blew her scattered hair into a circle on her shoulders, and her eyes were slightly closed, unable to see half of her expression. Her thin shoulders slumped slightly, and her whole body was frozen in place. He didn't speak, and she really didn't move. After a long time, Gong Sunmo's eyes seemed to have mercy, his sleeve fluttered as he turned around and walked towards the courtyard, "Get up."

  Gongsun Chenglin lightly exhaled a breath of air and looked at Gu Yunxi with a low voice, "Follow up!"

  Gu Yunxi led Zi Lan and Chu Yi into the courtyard, saw Gong Sun Mo enter the main hall directly, and let Zi Lan wait outside. He followed in, the room was burning with warm silver charcoal, the crackling sound was particularly clear in this small room. Gu Yunxi hesitated slightly, "When I arrived, I saw the Minister of Rites leaving from Wang Ye's place, it must be about Wang Ye and sister's grand wedding day, has Wang Ye made a decision?"

  Gongsun Chenglin's eyes were filled with disapproval as he glanced at Yunxi, while Gongsun Mo's mouth twitched, "Yunxi is indeed the king's best strategist, but why does she even need to interfere in the king's own wedding?"

  Gu Yunxi slightly lowered her head, "It's not that I, Yunxi, intentionally overstepped, but the prince's grand wedding is indeed a matter of great importance."

  "Oh?" Gong Sun Mo put down the teacup in his hand, "Then when do you think I should get married?"

  "Of course, the sooner the better."

  Gongsun Mo's eyes narrowed, "Why?"

  Gu Yunxi raised her head, her eyes shining brightly, "Because only after the king's wedding can he use the power of the Chancellor in the Thousand Riders Army. The king is now in a strong position in the court, and his father-in-law and others are trying to find his weakness. If they can get the full support of the Chancellor at this time, it will naturally be a great help to the king."

  Gongsun Cheng's eyes widened in surprise as he glanced at Yun Xi, while Gongsun Mo's astonishment seemed to be slightly less, but still couldn't be completely concealed. He looked at Yun Xi and asked, "How did you know that the Marquis has a connection with the Thousand Riders Army?"

  Gu Yunxi continued to lower her eyes, but changed the subject, "In the past two days, envoys from various countries have entered the capital, and the tributes that followed are not few. According to Gu Yunxi's knowledge, every year there are a large number of rare treasures circulating in the black market of Dayan, among which many tributes from other countries are not uncommon. The Duke has been powerful in the capital for many years, if he wants to move these things, it is naturally an easy task. Your Highness, it's time for us to counterattack——"

  Gongsun Chenglin apparently forgot that Gu Yunxue hadn't answered Gongsun Mo's question yet. His eyes flickered, "Privately embezzling tribute goods is no small matter. If it can really bring down the Duke of State, Second Brother will be one step closer to success!"

  Gongsun Mo's eyes stared intently at Gu Yunxi, "Can the crime of privately embezzling tribute goods be resolved just by punishing the Imperial Father-in-law?"

  Gu Yunxi raised his head, "Of course, embezzling tribute goods is not allowed, but if you add embezzlement of military pay, forming cliques and deceiving others, as well as framing loyal officials, the Duke will have no other choice!"

  Gongsun Mo and Gongsun Chenglin were both stunned, with Gongsun Chenglin looking at Gu Yunxi with a puzzled expression, "Embezzling military funds? Framing loyal officials? Yunxi, such serious crimes can't be easily pinned on him..."

  Gu Yunxi nodded, her eyes suddenly becoming serious. "Please rest assured, Your Highness, that this is not a case of me framing him. The crimes committed by the Duke are connected to the case of General Yi Xing's corruption twenty years ago, which led to his entire family being executed..."

  After Gu Yunxi finished speaking, Gong Sunmo and Gong Sun Chenglin's faces both turned solemn. Gong Sun Chenglin let out a soft sigh, "At that time, my brother and I were still very young, we had no idea that this matter was so complicated. That Yi Xingben was also a great general of his generation, later generations all lamented how he brought about his own tragic fate, but they didn't know that he was actually innocent!"

  Gongsun Chenglin sighed, but Gongsun Mo looked at Gu Yunxi again, "Yunxi, these old things that happened when we were young, neither I nor Chenglin knew about them. Where did you come from?"

  Gu Yunxue's expression remained unchanged, "Yunxue happened to find the old servant of the Yi family back then, and only then did he learn some clues. However, since this matter is from a long time ago, it will still take some time to investigate and gather evidence to accuse Guojun."

  At that time, the entire Yi family was implicated, and no one on the family tree, whether master or servant, survived. Why is this old servant still alive? Gu Yunxi told this story in such detail, if he was just an unremarkable servant who luckily escaped, how would he know these trivial matters?

  A faint glimmer of doubt flashed in Gong Sunmo's eyes, "It would be difficult for us to investigate on our own, fortunately, those who were involved with the national uncle back then are now in high positions, and all those who have gained wealth and glory through wicked means have many ways to deal with them."

  As soon as these words came out, Gu Yunxi felt a sense of relief in her heart. She wasn't quite sure how much power the Duke had, but she hoped that the old stories her mother told her would come in handy.

  Mom

  Gū Yún Xī's eyebrows flashed with a hint of worry, and at this moment, a hurried footsteps came from outside the house. Sūn Zhé, dressed in white, rushed in, "Your Highness, the tributes from Chǔ Guó and Nán Yuè have already arrived in the capital. The Princess of Nán Yuè is entering the capital today with mourning attire to request an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor of Nán Yuè is critically ill, they want to bring Luò Xiāo back to Nán Yuè."

  Gu Yunxi thought of that charming woman, her eyes slightly condensed. Gong Sunmo sighed and said, "It's been ten years, they can indeed return to their respective countries."

  "The two words fell heavily on Gu Yunxi's heart, Gong Sun Mo raised his head and glanced at Sun Zhe, "Chu Dianxia will be back soon too, it's about time Father Emperor rewards some golden silks. He has always been afraid of the cold, don't forget to have the Imperial Household Department people deliver them personally."

  Gu Yun Xi's eyes narrowed slightly, with a hint of golden light.

  Digression

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