Chapter 58: Completely Undone Part 1

Wei Qingya’s devotion was absolute.

When he had first entered officialdom in his youth, he had been filled with a burning passion to serve the country and its people. However, after several years adrift in the sea of politics, he had long since seen through the hypocritical games of the court. Those around him spoke of benevolence and morality, yet their hearts were filled with nothing but schemes.

Young, brilliant, and naturally arrogant, he found that not a single member of the civil or military assembly was worthy of his respect.

Men like Grand Preceptor Dong wasted the nation with empty talk, while the so-called “Pure Stream” faction was nothing more than a collection of fools. When he was eventually dismissed from office, Wei Qingya felt a sense of liberation. He chose to abandon politics for commerce, living a life of leisure and comfort, away from the filth he could no longer stand.

If the sky fell, some taller man would surely hold it up. The fate of the empire and its commoners—what did it have to do with him?

But now, kneeling before Gu Huaiyu, the heart that had been stagnant for years throbbed with a heat that was almost painful. He had finally met the “tall man” who propped up the heavens.

Gu Huaiyu stood dazed, silent for a long moment.

“My Lord.”

Wei Qingya gripped the Chancellor’s sleeves with both hands, his knees shuffling forward an inch. “If my Lord does not despise me, Wei seeks to follow you for the rest of his life.”

Gu Huaiyu’s brow arched. How did we suddenly get to “following for the rest of his life”?

He instinctively pulled his sleeve back from Wei Qingya’s grasp, deciding to address the most practical matter first. “You said you have ‘considerable assets’… exactly how much do you have?”

Without hesitation, Wei Qingya answered honestly, “One million and six hundred thousand taels in silver. Additionally, I have thirty-seven crates of antiques and paintings, three estates in the capital, and two villas in Jiangnan. Altogether, it totals approximately two million and eight hundred thousand taels.”

He was wealthier than Gu Huaiyu, the man currently ruling the empire. If one were to turn the Chancellor’s Estate upside down, they wouldn’t find even fifty thousand taels of liquid silver.

Gu Huaiyu’s eyes shimmered. His lashes fluttered as he asked with feigned nonchalance, “And you are willing to give all of this silver to me?”

Wei Qingya looked up at him, his gaze unwavering. “I am.”

Gu Huaiyu suddenly leaned down, his finger hooking under the man’s chin. A hint of a smile played on his lips. “No regrets?”

The sudden proximity sent Wei Qingya’s heart into a frantic gallop.

The face inches away from his was as white as shimmering, fresh snow, contrasted sharply by hair as dark as a raven’s wing. With his crimson lips and white teeth, he possessed a face that should have been as cool and elegant as an ink wash painting, yet it radiated a seductive brilliance that was impossible to look at directly.

Wei Qingya’s heart hammered like a war drum. He lowered his gaze, not daring to look further, but his voice remained firm. “I will never regret it.”

Gu Huaiyu was inwardly ecstatic. He had been agonizing over money for ages. The national treasury was so empty it practically echoed. Forget a war with Eastern Liao—even another natural disaster would be enough to make this crumbling empire collapse.

If he had an influx of 2.8 million taels, then by the end of the year, he could finally deal with Eastern Liao…

He was so focused on calculating military expenses that he didn’t realize his finger was still resting lightly against Wei Qingya’s chin.

Wei Qingya didn’t dare look at the Chancellor’s face, so he could only stare at the hand that held the fate of the world in its palm. It was slender and fair, looking nothing like a man’s hand. The joints were delicate, the palm tinged with a warm pink, and a faint, elegant fragrance wafted from it.

Wei Qingya took an unconscious breath. The scent traveled up his nostrils and straight into his soul, leaving his mouth dry and his ears burning hot.

Gu Huaiyu snapped back to reality. Seeing the “Living God of Wealth” before him, he instantly donned a warm, gracious expression befitting a leader welcoming a talented subordinate.

He firmly grasped Wei Qingya’s arms to help him up. “Qingya, why the need for such formality? We are on the same side now.”

The heat in Wei Qingya’s ears flared even hotter. He rose slowly under the Chancellor’s guidance. Usually silver-tongued, he found himself rendered speechless by the intimate address of “Qingya.” He could only stare blankly at the man before him.

Gu Huaiyu reached out and naturally straightened the man’s disheveled collar. In ancient times, wise kings would adjust the caps of their ministers; today, he saw no reason not to tidy the robes of this “man of talent.”

Wei Qingya’s body suddenly stiffened. He stood as rigid as a post.

Then, that hand slid down from the collar to his waist. He felt a sudden slackening—the Chancellor had actually untied his belt!

Wei Qingya’s pupils contracted in shock. He almost thought—

But Gu Huaiyu simply pulled the belt tight again, his movements fluid and graceful. However, as his fingertips brushed against the man’s side, Wei Qingya’s muscles spasmed at the touch. It was an inexplicably exquisite sensation.

Gu Huaiyu patted his shoulder and chuckled. “Come to the Chancellery tomorrow to discuss affairs. From now on, when you see me, there is no need to kneel.”

Wei Qingya’s pale cheeks were flushed a deep crimson. The skin of his throat twitched uncontrollably, and he reflexively licked his lips.