The Cannon Fodder and Villain’s Happy Ending

Chapter 286

Sipping his tea, the emperor’s expression calmed once again, and remembered the matter of the Qin family, he asked, “Zezhi, how is the matter of separation of the Qin family?”

Gu Zezhi went back to the palace for this reason and told the story of the separation in detail.

The emperor drank his tea while listening, a tea stalk was floating upside down on the tea where his eyes were reflected as his pupils constrict constantly.

The emperor stroked the tea cup twice with his hand and asked, “Zezhi, how do you know there was a problem with the property?”

Gu Zezhi said in a faint voice, “I just lied to him casually, and Qin Zhun shows how guilty he is thinking I knew everything.”

When he said 70% at the beginning, he deliberately said this to set a high price and give Qin Zhun a little room to bargain. Unexpectedly, Qin Zhun showed timidity in his words which made Gu Zezhi realize that there was something wrong. He then mentioned and used the sea trade, which was most likely to engage in false accounts, and just as he suspected Qin Zhun was guilty.

Gu Zezhi hooked the corner of his lips and continued, “For the six hundred Turkic horses, Gu Jing privately gave five thousand gold to Prince Yelu. Gu Jing has yet to set his kaifu*, and the prince’s share is only enough to reward the servants. While he only has limited people under him, so where did so much money come from.”

(*refers to the act of setting up the shogunate and staff subordinates in one’s own name)

“Cheng’en’s residence has been extravagant in recent years, so it is obvious that these years he had a hard time making ends meet. With that, it is impossible for him to give Gu Jing five thousand gold.”

“So, I guess it’s Qin Zhun.”

“Qin Zhun didn’t dare to speak out about this matter openly, so he can only pinch himself in this matter…” He would never admit that he mismanaged the family finances resulting in to damage of property, so to “make up for it” he naturally would give the eldest family more share.

Emperor: “…”

After being stunned, the emperor couldn’t help but laugh out loud heartily and sighed as he clapped, “Qin Zhun has suffered a big loss this time.”

The 70% proposed by Gu Zezhi sounds like opening a lion’s mouth at first glance but with careful examination, they would find that this condition was just on Qin Zhun’s bottom line which Qin Zhun has to admit.

What’s even better was that Gu Zezhi not only let the eldest house have a few more share of the estate but also, swindled Qin Zhun of the five thousand gold that he had provided Gu Jing.

*《Baihu Tongyi》said: A wise man knows, he only sees the past and hears, he was not confused by things, he sees the little and knows the book.

(*this is abook)

This sentence was probably for a person like Gu Zezhi, he simply take one step to think ten steps, and this meticulous thought make the emperor amazed!

However…

The emperor inwardly sighed, and suddenly asked, “Zezhi, do you really not want the title of Duan Wang?”

Gu Zezhi: “Yes.”

Gu Zezhi stood up and bowed solemnly to the emperor, “Your Majesty, please gracefully allow Mother Consort to divorce Father.”

Emperor: “…”

Speaking of this matter, even the emperor was speechless and could only feel his forehead throbbing in pain.

Because of Duan Wang Fei’s divorce, the clan head has been going on against him recently. The current clan head was Prince Li, the emperor’s uncle. He was in his sixtieth this year and has the highest seniority who usually speaks and handles things based on his perception.

Two days ago, Prince Li came to him once again and repeated the same thing.

“Emperor, since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty for a hundred years, there has never been such a scandal in the imperial family!”

“Divorce has never happened in the clan before, let alone force divorce!”

“On top of being Duan Wang Fei she has also been bestowed the jade ultimatum*, she is still a member of the Gu family unless she dies suddenly.”

(*genealogy of royal families)

According to what Prince Li said, if Duan Wang Fei really wanted a divorce her only way out was when she suddenly dies.

Of course, the emperor could not agree to such a thing. He dismissed Prince Li after two reprimands. But he knew that Prince Li’s words must also represent the other princes and princes of the royal family.

As Prince Li said, since the founding of the Qi Dynasty, there has been no royal consort in the imperial family who had a divorce.

The imperial family has the rules of the imperial family just like how the clan has its own rules, and the emperor was also a member of the Gu clan so even he, couldn’t just ignore the clan’s opinion and act arbitrarily.

The emperor sighed and said: “After the matter of Northern Yan is finished, I had planned to give you a title….”

If Gu Zezhi could really get his hands on the three cities of Northern Yan, then this credit was tantamount to giving him a territory, and should be granted a title.

“Your Majesty, please allow Mother Consort to divorce Father.” Gu Zezhi repeated again.

Gu Zezhi looked at the emperor with a firm expression, meaning that this credit would be exchanged for a holy decree allowing his parents to divorce.

Gu Zezhi did not hesitate to say that he would give up his title, but the emperor could not help but feel sorry for him and asked, “Are you sure?”

Gu Zezhi smiled, without dodging he looked at the emperor in the eye, frankly expressing his ambition, “Your Majesty, the title can be obtained at any time.”

The emperor understood the meaning of his words, Gu Zezhi was saying that if he could make a credit in the matter of Northern Yan this time, he could make another credit in other matters in the future.

He wants him to have a title, but for him, this was not the only opportunity.

Looking at Gu Zezhi’s gentle and refined face, the corners of the emperor’s lips curled up.

His cousin’s temperament was really different from his face, who does he resemble?

Duan Wangye and Duan Wang Fei were not people of this temperament at all.

The smile under the emperor’s eyes deepened, seeing Gu Zezhi’s rare confidence. He made a gesture to him and said, “Sit down.”

Although the emperor didn’t say anything, his answer was clear from his smiling eyes.

Gu Zezhi also did not pursue the question but slightly smile.

He was about to sit down, when an eunuch in green entered with a light gait, looking nervous as he reported to the emperor, “Your Majesty, Her Highness the Third Princess is ill, and just now she suddenly fainted…”

Hearing this, the smile on the emperor’s face was replaced with a frown as he subconsciously showed anxiety and was about to ask if there was any physician who attended her but when the words came to his lips he saw Gu Zezhi smiled from the corner of his eyes as if he had heard something interesting.

The emperor was stunned and immediately understood as his thin lips pursed slightly.

***