Chapter 607: Internal Strife
Chapter 607: Internal Strife
The sky had yet to brighten.
Gongsun Yu, having traveled for several days, returned to the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion in a disheveled state.
"Second Master! Second Master!"
The disciple who opened the door almost didn't recognize him.
Was this disheveled, bearded, and ragged man really their master?
Gongsun Yu was utterly exhausted and collapsed onto the disciple.
The disciple quickly carried him to the Mingxin Hall.
"Head of the Pavilion! Head of the Pavilion! Second Master is back!"
Gongsun Yanming was about to head to court when he stepped out of his room and met the two of them.
His eyes were deep and thoughtful as he looked at Gongsun Yu and said, "Put him on the bed."
"Yes, sir."
The disciple placed Gongsun Yu on the clean and tidy bed.
Gongsun Yanming said, "Go fetch Elder You."
"Yes, sir!"
The disciple hurried off.
Elder You didn't need to attend the early court session, so he was still resting when the disciple came to call him.
By the time he was dressed and rushed to the Mingxin Hall, dawn had just begun to break.
"Head of the Pavilion!"
He bowed with a hand salute, still catching his breath.
Gongsun Yanming said, "Elder You, please examine Second Brother."
By seniority, Elder You was Gongsun Yanming's elder, and Gongsun Yanming treated him with great respect.
Elder You took Gongsun Yu's pulse, examined his injuries, and told Gongsun Yanming, "Yu is unconscious due to exhaustion. He has only minor abrasions and some blisters on his feet, but there's no danger to his life."
For a martial artist, these injuries were almost negligible.
Upon hearing Gongsun Yu's condition, Gongsun Yanming did not show relief but instead fell into deep thought.
Elder You, puzzled, asked, "Is there something else troubling you, Head of the Pavilion?"
"Oh, no, it's nothing."
Gongsun Yanming came back to his senses and had the disciple escort Elder You out.
He called for the servants to wash Gongsun Yu, change him into clean clothes, apply wound healing ointment, and give him a slice of thousand-year ginseng to suck on.
After all this, Gongsun Yu finally regained consciousness.
"Big Brother..."
His voice was hoarse and raspy.
Gongsun Yanming asked, "What happened to you these past few days?"
With a raspy voice, Gongsun Yu said, "That day... I followed your orders and went to the feudal land... I was determined to find the Black Armor Army... I tracked one of the Eldest Princess's retainers..."
Gongsun Yanming: "What kind of retainer?"
Gongsun Yu, weakly, said, "A... man in a wheelchair..."
The person Gongsun Yu was tracking was Duan Mingyue.
Naturally, Duan Mingyue was accompanied by Duan Wenliang and a few strong servants.
At first, Gongsun Yu's tracking went smoothly.
He hid in the shadows and overheard their conversation, confirming that they were also looking for the Black Armor Army.
But for some reason, that night, Gongsun Yu fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke up, the group was nowhere to be found.
He tried to find them again.
After failing, he remembered that the man in the wheelchair had mentioned that the Black Armor Army was heading east.
He continued eastward but soon lost his way.
Gongsun Yanming furrowed his brow suspiciously. "Did you encounter any dangers in the mountains?"
Gongsun Yu thought for a moment and shook his head. "I guess I was lucky; I didn't even see a single wild wolf."
Gongsun Yanming said, "It wasn't luck. Someone dealt with the dangers for you."
Gongsun Yu was surprised. "Who?"
Gongsun Yanming thought for a moment and then explained, "The man in the wheelchair had already noticed your presence. You were drugged, which is why you fell into a deep sleep."
Gongsun Yu was bewildered. "How could that be? Could it be that the man in the wheelchair was protecting me in secret? Why would he do that?"
"It might not be the same person, but their goals align—neither wants you to come to harm."
There was a crucial point he still couldn't figure out.
"Big Brother, what should I do now?"
"Head of the Pavilion!"
Their conversation was interrupted.
Gongsun Yanming said to his brother, "Rest for now. Don't see anyone for the next few days."
Stepping out of the room, he asked, "What is it?"
The disciple replied, "Prince Jin has urgently summoned the Pavilion Master to the mansion."
When Gongsun Yanming arrived at Prince Jin's study, General Hu Lie was already there.
"Your Highness, General."
Hu Lie's gaze held a hint of scrutiny as he looked at him.
Prince Jin did not offer him a seat as usual but said, "I have summoned you here to clarify something."
He sensed the unusual atmosphere but maintained his composure, replying, "Please speak, Your Highness."
Prince Jin stared at him intently. "I have heard that your younger brother has returned to the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion."
"Yes."
He admitted it openly.
"What did he go there for?"
Prince Jin pressed, his eyes sharp.
Gongsun Yanming answered truthfully, "I sent him to investigate the whereabouts of the Black Armor Army on the Eldest Princess's feudal land. He failed and returned to the city today in a sorry state."
Prince Jin said, "I just dispatched a royal physician to the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion to examine your brother's injuries. I was concerned and did not inform you beforehand. I hope you will not hold it against me for taking the initiative."
Gongsun Yanming replied, "Your Highness's concern is greatly appreciated."
The physician returned quickly and reported the true condition of Gongsun Yu.
Prince Jin said coldly, "It's just from overexertion. Among those who went to the feudal land to search for the Black Armor Army, it seems only your brother returned unscathed. The Medicinal King Valley's daughter has disappeared, and Qi'er was taken into the underground palace. What do you make of this, Imperial Tutor?"
Gongsun Yanming replied, "Is Your Highness suspecting my loyalty?"
Prince Jin replied coldly, "I asked for an answer, not a question!"
Gongsun Yanming looked at Hu Lie, whose eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
It was clear Hu Lie had coached Prince Jin to ask this.
Gongsun Yanming said frankly, "I have no involvement in the disappearance of the Prince of the Commandery."
Prince Jin sneered, "Is that so? What a coincidence, Qi'er was just trapped in the underground palace, and your brother returned home unharmed."
Gongsun Yanming sighed, "If Your Highness suspects me, you may have fallen for the Crown Prince's Mansion's scheme to sow discord."
Prince Jin said sternly, "I will find out who is behind this. I ask you again, the mechanism in the Cold Palace was intact and could be opened from the outside. Why did you question its modification? Now, it can only be entered but not exited. The only way to save Qi'er is to open the entrance to the imperial mausoleum. Do you understand what this means?"
Gongsun Yanming replied calmly, "It means... Your Highness knows the secret of the underground palace and has killed the guardian of the mausoleum."
Prince Jin shouted, "Did you deliberately do this to trap my only son inside and let him die?"
Gongsun Yanming said earnestly, "Your Highness, the modification of the mechanism was to prevent anyone from rescuing His Majesty and the Miao King from the Cold Palace. This also allowed the Crown Prince to lose more of his allies."
Prince Jin angrily smashed his teacup. "Did it work? Not a single person went to the Cold Palace to meet their death!" (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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