The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1716 - 839 Large Pferd-Drop ( - 3)

Chapter 1716: 839 Large Pferd-Drop (Chapter 3)

"I went the wrong way."

Tang Yueshan turned around and walked out.

This reaction was exactly the same as when Xuanping Marquis got caught before, showing how much he’s been led astray by Xuanping Marquis recently.

Previously, these two were political rivals, one loyal to the Empress Dowager, the other to the Emperor.

Somehow, they suddenly made amends one day, perhaps due to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor resolving their differences.

But making amends is one thing, how did it turn into collusion between you two?

Is the leap really that big?

It’s not surprising for Xuanping Marquis to do such things; he has always been an unreliable person, the most shameless under heaven, and of course, also the most handsome.

The question is that Tang Yueshan isn’t like that.

He is the righteous and red-spirited Grand Marshal of the national armed forces. If he had once been as unruly as the Xuanping Marquis, the Empress Dowager would have sent him packing long ago.

Tang Yueshan and Xuanping Marquis dressed identically, even cosplaying the essence of a one-eyed dragon. The difference is, Xuanping Marquis covers the right eye, he covers the left.

Besides, Xuanping Marquis’s attire is like a dashing and unruly pirate, while Tang Yueshan is left with just unruliness.

Seeing Tang Yueshan, Xuanping Marquis remembered he hadn’t removed his eyepatch.

He quickly took it off.

Upon removing it, his true visage was fully revealed.

Duke Anguo finally understood whom Shangguan Qing resembled.

It seemed not just in appearance, but even personality... was a complete match...

Xuanping Marquis turned his head, revealing a calm smile: "Old Tang, come over here."

Come over your grandpa!

If the Empress Dowager is inside, why didn’t you say so earlier?

It’s all your fault, all your fault, all your fault!

I told you plundering a merchant ship would be fine, but no, you insisted on plundering the official government’s warship!

A fierce and icy gaze from Empress Dowager Zhuang swept over, causing Tang Yueshan’s heart to skip a beat!

Empress Dowager Zhuang said coldly: "Tang Yueshan, you’ve got some nerve; tell me who the big fish is."

"Ah..." Tang Yueshan wasn’t as eloquent as Xuanping Marquis, his voice got stuck in his throat immediately.

He was perplexed, wondering how he and Xuanping Marquis plundering a Dayan’s warship led them to Empress Dowager Zhuang. The old libationer was also there, along with two familiar yet uncertain faces, and a strange man sitting in a wheelchair.

Wow!

Could it be the Empress Dowager was captured by the Dayan people, and then he ended up being a hero?

"You’re overthinking; that’s not the case." Empress Dowager Zhuang struck the nail on the head.

Tang Yueshan drooped his head, dejectedly bowing his hands, "Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager."

"Hmph!" Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted coldly.

Tang Yueshan glanced feebly at Duke Anguo: "Who is he?"

This man seemed to be the weakest in the room, yet his aura was only surpassed by Empress Dowager Zhuang and Xuanping Marquis.

Empress Dowager Zhuang wasn’t in the mood to introduce everyone one by one, and Xuanping Marquis was more than happy to relieve her worries.

Xuanping Marquis cheerfully introduced: "This is Duke Anguo of Dayan, my in-law."

Tang Yueshan was dumbfounded: "How did you get yourself an in-law through piracy in just a moment?"

Xuanping Marquis: "..."

Once everyone got acquainted, Tang Yueshan asked about the two little ones. After learning they were the little girl’s brothers, he generously took out two looted jade and gold balls for them to play with.

Gu Yan didn’t want them.

Tang Yueshan was slow to realize, only when Gu Yan had led Gu Xiaoshun out, did he recall what wicked things Tang Ming had done to Gu Yan.

Some bricks, unless they hit your foot, you never know how much they hurt.

Now that it hit, he was filled with mixed emotions.

Of course, the current focus was still on how to support Gu Jiao, as her situation was too difficult. Never mind that they were traveling east, the western battle reports were constantly coming in with eight-hundred-mile express or pigeon messages. They had already learned that Gu Jiao led the Heifeng Battalion cavalry in an independent assault on Quyang City.

Quyang City is a fortress at the gate of Yanmen, guarded by eighty thousand rebellious soldiers of the Nangong family.

Thinking of the enormous disparity in troop strength, and then of Gu Jiao charging across a thousand miles to face the battle, Empress Dowager Zhuang’s heart was in turmoil.

This was far more challenging than the time they attacked Chen Country and the remnants of the previous dynasty in Zhan Country.

At least back then, Gu Jiao operated in secret, with plenty of main combat personnel, including Tang Yueshan, Old Duke Ding’an Gu Chao, Gu Changqing, and the major generals at the border pass, and the townspeople welcomed them on both sides of the road.

It was a campaign where the army and the people stood united.

Now her Jiaojiao faced a hostile world alone.

The old libationer outlined to the two all the significant events that occurred in Yan Country, including the children’s journey there to treat Gu Yan, as well as Xiao Hen’s identity and the fact that Xiao Qing was still alive. He then recounted all of Gu Jiao’s various encounters in Shengdu.

... To be precise, her adventures.

With his own power, he shook the entire circle of polo, killing Nangong Li, and muddied the waters of the Shengdu pool.

Marquis Xuanping and Tang Yueshan listened and nodded with satisfaction.

——Such ability to stir things up; no wonder he’s my son (brother)-in-law (brother).

The old priest was speechless.

The amount of confidence was too great for the two of them to digest at once.

But that’s okay.

A woman’s heart is like a cabinet where everything piles together, while a man’s heart is like separate drawers that can hold different things and emotions without affecting each other.

They could wait to digest it one by one on the road.

Tang Yueshan cleared his throat and decisively opted for self-preservation: "Cough, Empress Dowager, actually, it’s not just the two of us who came this time."

The Empress Dowager Zhuang frowned: "Who else?"

Marquis Xuanping and Tang Yueshan were already surprising enough. She couldn’t imagine what other major figure from Zhan Country could have the ability or strong enough personality to mix with these two?

A large pirate ship was anchored a mile out at sea.

Beneath the furled sails stood a magnificent, stern figure. He had his hands behind his back and gazed with authority at the turbulent sea, his graying hair whipped by the sea breeze.

Suddenly, a small boat entered his view.

The small boat moved quickly and before long, it arrived beneath the warship.

He had no intention of lowering the soft ladder, and the person on the small boat was not impatient, easily leaping aboard the warship that loomed like a tall pavilion with their light footwork.

"Old Gu." Tang Yueshan strode over, raised his hand, and patted him on the shoulder, "You missed a great show by not coming along."

Old Lord Hou glanced at Tang Yueshan indifferently: "Remove your hand."

In terms of office, Tang Yueshan ranked above him, but for this trip south, the emperor had appointed him as the chief commander.

If they really went to war, Tang Yueshan would have to follow his orders.

He had no interest in Tang Yueshan and Marquis Xuanping’s plundering, but he wouldn’t expressly forbid it.

Firstly, given Marquis Xuanping’s conduct, he wouldn’t be able to completely stop them.

Secondly, water that is too clear has no fish; he had floated in officialdom for many years, the only thing he could maintain was his own nature, but if his eyes couldn’t tolerate even a granule of sand, dealing with each case as it came, either he would end up finishing everyone off, or they would kill him.

He wouldn’t be so upright and unyielding to that extent.

He followed them to ensure they didn’t go overboard.

Judging from the current situation, it seemed to be working out well; both showed restraint and hadn’t made too big of a mess.

Marquis Xuanping smiled: "Old monkey~"

Old Lord Hou felt a pang in his heart for no reason: "What trouble have you gotten into again!"

"What trouble could I have gotten into?" Marquis Xuanping spread his hands, "Just plundered up to the Empress Dowager’s doorstep!"

Old Lord Hou staggered and nearly fell into the sea!

He looked at Marquis Xuanping in disbelief: "What did you say? The Empress Dowager she..."

Tang Yueshan chimed in with the killing blow: "Not only is the Empress Dowager here, but your precious grandson is also here. Though you might not be able to see him, we have a new mission to immediately head off to reinforce Dayan’s cavalry. Forgot to mention, it’s also your granddaughter."

Old Lord Hou frowned.

Tang Yueshan was completely led astray by Marquis Xuanping, enjoying the spectacle without caring about its seriousness: "What, what? Still want to pretend you don’t know?"

Since Gu Jiao left, quite a few things happened in Zhan Country, including various legendary tales about her.

Of course, Old Lord Hou didn’t pay them any heed.

Even when Gu Jiao was granted the title of Protecting Princess, the emperor tried hard to keep her identity a secret from Old Lord Hou.

But Gu Hou held Gu Xiaobao in his arms and lectured him endlessly, saying things like "When you grow up, don’t be like your sister," "Standing out just because you know martial arts, think you’re so great for being able to fight," "Picking on her father every day," and so on.

These words were overheard by Old Lord Hou during a visit to see Gu Xiaobao.

Upon further inquiry, Gu Jiao’s cover was blown.

——There’s no escaping that she knows martial arts, even just that one point.

Coupled with various masks in her room that Old Lord Hou found familiar, which the Yao Family couldn’t hide in time, it was confirmed.

Old Lord Hou said coldly, "I don’t have such a rebellious granddaughter."

Girls should behave like girls, wielding knives and spears every day is completely unbecoming! Fooling her own grandfather, then going to Dayan to become cavalry, utterly unreasonable!

Tang Yueshan looked at Marquis Xuanping: "Old Xiao, he’s not going."

Marquis Xuanping casually rolled up his sleeves: "Fine, then we’ll go."

Tang Yueshan nodded.

In the next moment, the two of them simultaneously raised their hands, one on each side, and swiftly grabbed Old Lord Hou’s arms!

Old Lord Hou was suddenly dragged backward; he glared angrily: "What are you doing?"

Marquis Xuanping smiled, hooking his lips: "Going to the border pass."