Chapter 86: Establishing Authority Part 2

This question actually stumped Pei Jingyi. His brows twitched. He couldn’t exactly say that the entire imperial court saw it clearly, while only the esteemed Chancellor remained in the dark, could he?

Gu Huaiyu might be oblivious to romance, but he wasn’t ignorant of the world. Seeing this reaction, his brow suddenly furrowed, and he sat bolt upright. “What? Everyone knew?”

Pei Jingyi placed Gu’s foot securely on the footstool, his thumb naturally massaging the toes as he nodded with a smile.

Gu Huaiyu froze on the divan, looking as if he had been struck by lightning.

Seeing this, Pei Jingyi’s heart felt an itch. He couldn’t resist leaning down to plant a light peck on a soft, rosy toe. “The Chancellor is peerless in grace and talent. Naturally, your admirers are as numerous as the carp crossing the river.”

Gu Huaiyu truly could not understand. Why did everyone else see it so clearly? Had the entire imperial court become cut-sleeves, while he, standing in their midst, felt nothing?

He rubbed his temples and asked, “Tell me, who else has designs on me?”

Pei Jingyi wasn’t generous enough to confess on behalf of others. He grinned, showing his canines. “This official’s eyes are dim; I couldn’t possibly tell.”

Gu Huaiyu didn’t believe him, but he was too lazy to press further.

Either way, it wasn’t the first time he’d been targeted by someone. Life went on.

Let them think what they want. I’m done. I’m just going to let it be.

***

Pei Jingyi’s claim that “the folk in Longde are fierce” was no exaggeration.

This region was neither north nor south, and had always been a disputed territory plagued by bandits. If the people weren’t a bit fierce, they wouldn’t have survived to this day.

The news of Gu Huaiyu’s inspection had been delivered to Longde Prefecture several days in advance.

The Prefect led a crowd of officials to kneel at the dock in greeting. These local officials rarely saw a first-rank official in their lives, let alone the Lord Chancellor who struck terror into the court.

As soon as the official vessel docked, several officials were already so terrified that their backs were drenched in sweat and their legs were shaking.

Gu Huaiyu merely said, “Rise,” and went straight into his official sedan, heading toward the Provincial Army barracks.

The sedans of the local officials followed respectfully in front, the group slowly moving toward the camp.

It was noon, and the streets were bustling with people. The shops were doing brisk business.

The commoners weren’t blind. Seeing a grander sedan following the Prefect’s procession, everyone knew a figure even more powerful than the Prefect had arrived. They craned their necks to catch a glimpse.

Suddenly, a shrill, mournful wail erupted: “Help! The convict-soldiers are eating for free!”

A commoner old man was being blocked by bailiffs at the perimeter. Unable to squeeze through, he simply shrieked in the street, “Those cursed soldiers ate for free and beat me!”

Gu Huaiyu lifted the sedan curtain with one hand. Pei Jingyi, mounted on his horse, raised an eyebrow with an expression like he was watching a play.

The Prefect was truly terrified enough to wet himself. It was common for the Provincial Army to extort and demand goods in Longde, mostly because he had been embezzling their military pay.

When those burly soldiers couldn’t fill their bellies, they naturally preyed on the civilians.

This was a daily occurrence that officials above and below turned a blind eye to. Who would have thought it would break out right in front of the Chancellor?

The Prefect hurriedly scrambled out of his sedan and ordered the bailiffs to drag the old man away. He then hurried to the Chancellor’s sedan with a fawning smile. “The Chancellor is wise. This rural commoner is merely…”

Halfway through, he was so dazed by the appearance of the person inside the sedan that he began to stutter, unable to continue.

Gu Huaiyu had come specifically to deal with the Provincial Army. He tapped the sedan window with his finger. “A citizen cries for justice in the street, yet the Prefect is as steady as Mount Tai?”

Sweat poured down the Prefect’s forehead. He could only bite the bullet and step forward. “This official shall investigate immediately.”

With a wave of Gu Huaiyu’s hand, the bearers opened the sedan curtain. He stepped out. He wasn’t wearing his official robes today; his purple robe was exceptionally striking in the sunlight. One look was enough to tell he was a person of immense status.

The onlookers had never seen such a handsome high official. Whispers and discussions broke out instantly.

The Prefect held a makeshift “trial” right there on the street. The case was clear: the old man sold boiled duck eggs at the corner. Several Provincial Army soldiers had not only eaten his eggs for free but had even snatched away the mother duck that laid them.

When the old man tried to stop them, he was beaten black and blue. By chance, he had run into the Prefect’s procession and blocked the way to cry for justice.

After hearing the case, the Prefect wiped his sweat and leaned toward Gu Huaiyu. “Chancellor, this official will immediately send men to the barracks to arrest them. Please, rest in your sedan first…”

Gu Huaiyu had risen through the ranks of local government step by step. How could he not see through this attempt to smooth things over?

“No need.” He flicked his purple sleeve. “You personally take this elder to identify them. I shall wait right here.”

As they spoke, the surrounding commoners listened intently. News spread like wildfire—this man who looked like a celestial was actually the current Lord Chancellor!

Left with no choice, the Prefect immediately ordered a temporary shade to be set up and hot tea served. He then personally took the old man straight to the barracks to identify the culprits.

Pei Jingyi leaned against his saddle, watching Gu Huaiyu with great interest. What is going on in that beautiful head of his?

If he wanted to subdue the Provincial Army, wouldn’t it be better to take the Prefect to task? Why bother seeking justice for an old man selling eggs and risk offending a pack of tight-knit soldier-thugs?