Chapter 56: I Must Climb Higher, Faster, and Grow Stronger… Part 3

He didn’t just want to show Gu Huaiyu his capability. He had to climb higher and faster, until the day he was strong enough to stand as an equal by Gu Huaiyu’s side. Only then would he have the right…

“This is the chance Chancellor Gu is giving you, and the chance he is giving those soldiers.”

He let go and patted Old Yan’s stiff face. “You know the men you raised best. If we rush to Ningzhou now, there is still time to save their lives.”

Old Yan shuddered, suddenly realizing the stakes. He grabbed the reins. “I’ll go tell them exactly who it is that’s saving their lives!”

The two men vaulted onto their horses simultaneously, their hooves kicking up a cloud of dust.

Meanwhile, at the Chancellor’s Estate.

Gu Huaiyu was having dinner in the heated pavilion.

There were no heavy meats or fish on the table; instead, it was filled with the common home-style dishes of Jiangnan in winter: stir-fried winter bamboo shoots and sugar-glazed lotus root slices. They were steaming and appetizing.

Yun Niang sat beside him, using a silver spoon to peel a candied osmanthus chestnut.

She offered the peeled nut to Gu Huaiyu’s lips. “Try this, Chancellor. They were just sent from Suzhou today.”

Gu Huaiyu turned his head and took a small bite. The cloyingly sweet scent of osmanthus hit his nose.

His brow furrowed slightly. The maid standing nearby immediately brought forward an exquisite small dish.

Yun Niang cast a subtle glance at the kitchen manager standing outside the curtain.

The manager immediately pulled a notebook from his sleeve and crossed out “Candied Osmanthus Chestnuts.”

From this day forward, this seasonal snack would never appear on the Chancellor’s menu again.

The maid carried the dish out of the pavilion. As she reached the ornamental gate, she ran straight into Shen Jun.

“Master Shen,” she said, bowing quickly.

Shen Jun hadn’t intended to say anything, but his gaze fell upon the half-eaten chestnut on the plate, and he stopped.

The golden chestnut was stained with a bit of glistening moisture. Upon closer inspection, one could see a small, delicate bite mark.

“Wait.”

He suddenly reached out to stop the maid, his other hand picking up the silver chopsticks from the tray to gently lift the chestnut.

The maid hurriedly reminded him, “The Chancellor used that one.”

Shen Jun wanted it precisely because Gu Huaiyu had used it.

His elegant, handsome face remained stoic, but he slowly brought the chestnut close. His tongue lightly flicked over the lingering traces of moisture on the nut.

The maid had never seen such a scene. Her hands trembled as she held the tray.

Shen Jun took the chestnut into his mouth and chewed slowly, closing his eyes with a soft sigh, as if he were feasting on the liver of a dragon or the marrow of a phoenix.

By the time he set the chopsticks back down with a sharp clack against the porcelain, the maid’s hands were shaking so hard she could barely hold the tray.

“Tell Butler Liu,” Shen Jun said, leisurely cleaning up his trail, “that I have taken a liking to you. You are to report for duty at the Shen Estate tomorrow.”

Having spoken, he stepped into the heated pavilion. He knelt and bowed, his robes fluttering with respectful grace. “This subordinate pays his respects to the Chancellor.”

As he bowed, his gaze fell directly upon Gu Huaiyu’s brocade boots. He couldn’t help but remember those slender, pale feet—the sensation of skin like polished jade…

Gu Huaiyu held a porcelain spoon, lightly stirring the hot soup in his bowl. “Rise. How did the matter go?”

Shen Jun stood up. His gaze lingered on Gu Huaiyu’s cheek for a moment before he looked away. “Wei Qingya refuses to see any court officials. His attitude is extremely arrogant.”

He paused for a beat, his voice dropping an octave. “This man harbors deep resentment toward the imperial court. He views all officials as enemies.”

“If the Chancellor wishes to use him, I can only bring him here by force. It’s just…”

“Just that ‘forced melons aren’t sweet’?”

Gu Huaiyu let out a scoffing laugh, the tip of his spoon clinking sharply against the rim of the bowl.

Shen Jun lowered his eyes, a half-smile playing on his lips. “He prides himself on being clear-headed and hates officials who abuse their power most of all. If we kidnap him, I fear he will extend that hatred to the Chancellor as well.”

Gu Huaiyu felt Shen Jun was overthinking it. If Wei Qingya truly hated power-tripping officials, why start now? “Abusing power” was practically at the top of Gu Huaiyu’s list of notorious deeds.

Wei Qingya had probably hated him for eight hundred years already.

One way or another, he intended to use this man. Since the man already hated him so much, there was no need to play the part of a humble leader seeking talent, like he had with Xie Shaoling.

“This Chancellor likes ‘hard bones’ the most. Go and kidnap him for me. I want to see just how hard he can kick.”