Moon frost snow

Gu Mingbai slapped the table and said, "Enough! I've told you countless times that everything should be done with the well-being of the people in mind. Why don't you listen?"

Just as Gu Wenzhi was about to say something, Gu Wenbo interrupted him, "Father, calm down. It's already happened. We should plan for the future. I suggest that you let your fourth brother lead the delegation to Yu Kingdom to deliver tribute!"

Gu Mingbai thought for a moment and softened his tone, "Yes, Xu Mao."

Xu Mao, the most capable and loyal eunuch leader around Gu Mingbai, has been serving Gu Mingbai since he was a child.

They were about the same age, both in their forties now. Xu Mao stepped forward and said, "The old servant is here."

"Let's prepare as the prince said and choose a good day to set off." Gu Mingbai said as he sat down.

Xu Mao bowed and left. Gu Mingbai looked at Gu Wenjie lying on the ground and shouted, "Come here, the Second Prince is too ambitious and won't listen to advice. He will be punished with one year of service and three months of house arrest."

The guard who came in bowed and helped Gu Wenjie back out. Gu Wenjie kowtowed unhappily and said, "Thank you, father, for your grace."

Gu Wenbo and Gu Wenzhi also bowed and said goodbye. Gu Mingbai said, "Bo'er stay."

Everyone left, and only the father and son were left in the room. Gu Mingbai walked down from the imperial desk and came to a couch. "Come, play a game of chess with father."

"Yes, I obey my orders."

Gu Wenbo sat across from Gu Mingbai. While playing chess, Gu Mingbai asked Gu Wenbo, "What do you think about this?"

Gu Wenbo deliberately asked, "What did the emperor say?"

Gu Mingbai raised his head and rolled his eyes at his son. "Are you still pretending when talking to your father?"

Gu Wenbo smiled and said, "Father has the answer in his heart, why do you need me to tell you?"

"You are becoming more and more cunning. Your father has to deal with people with ulterior motives all day long. He finally has some time for you and me to have a heart-to-heart talk, but you are trying to ignore me?" Gu Mingbai said somewhat unhappily.

Gu Wenbo put down the chess piece in his hand and said, "Father, please calm down. I was wrong. I just felt that things haven't gotten out of hand yet, so please relax for now."

Gu Mingbai nodded. "Yes, that makes sense. Hey, the second son has been led astray by his mother. Apart from not being able to become the emperor, he has everything his father wants. He also believes that you will always let him enjoy wealth and glory. But he is too ambitious and cannot tolerate anyone."

Gu Wenbo comforted him, "Father, please don't worry. No matter how big a mistake Second Brother makes, I will spare his life. It's not easy for Second Brother either."

Gu Mingbai snorted coldly, "What's so difficult about him? He's just too spoiled, and his heart has become crooked."

Gu Wenbo didn't know what to say. Gu Mingbai put down a chess piece and laughed, "Haha, I won. I finally won against you."

Gu Wenbo smiled and said, "Father is amazing! Your chess skills are getting better and better. I have to admit that you are better than me."

Gu Mingbai laughed out loud, "You're the only one who can coax me."

Qifeng Palace is the palace of Queen Zhao of Beihan Kingdom. Queen Zhao is the mother of the second prince Gu Wenjie.

Yao Ma, the queen's personal nanny, hurried to tell the queen after learning that the second prince had been punished.

The queen immediately went to find the emperor, but when she arrived outside the emperor's bedroom, she was stopped by Eunuch Xu.

Queen Zhao angrily said, "How dare you, you old servant, stop me?"

Eunuch Xu stood there neither servile nor overbearing, but still replied politely, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It's not that this old servant won't let you in, but it's His Majesty who has ordered that no one should be seen. Please go back, Your Majesty!"

The Queen was angry, but it was Nanny Yao who pulled her back and said, "Your Majesty, since His Majesty isn't seeing anyone, let's go back first! It would be a good idea to go see the Second Prince first. If we anger His Majesty, wouldn't the Second Prince be the one who suffers?"

A gloomy haze covered the empress's beautiful face, and she slowly left with Madam Yao, filled with displeasure. Her graceful figure gradually receded along the palace path, as if carrying an endless sense of resentment and grievance.

Upon returning to her chambers, the empress eagerly dismissed her attendants and carefully retrieved paper and pen from a secret compartment. After a brief pause, she began writing furiously, channeling her discontent and worries into lines of elegant, small characters. Once the letter was finished, the empress carefully reviewed it several times, confirming it was correct, and then placed it in a delicate envelope, sealing it with wax.

Afterwards, the queen called her most trusted palace maid and whispered to her, "Be sure to hand this letter to my father, Duke Zhao, in person. There must not be any mistake!" The palace maid nodded solemnly, took the secret letter, and hurried out of the palace under the cover of night.

A few days later, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. Gu Wenzhi, clad in battle armor, stood at the front of the team with a dashing demeanor.

He was followed closely by a team of well-trained and well-equipped soldiers, all of whom were in high spirits and morale.

Among them were carriages loaded with precious tributes, decorated with gorgeous brocade and dazzling jewels, which made them particularly eye-catching.

By this time, a large crowd had already gathered at the city gate to see them off. The emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, sat atop a high city wall, gazing majestically at the procession below as they set off.

Beside the emperor stood a group of solemn-looking ministers, who were talking in low voices, their faces revealing their concern and anticipation for the trip.

As an exciting trumpet sounded, Gu Wenzhi saluted the emperor and ministers on the city wall and said loudly: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will live up to my mission!" After that, he waved the whip in his hand violently and led a large group of people out of the city gate slowly.

The sound of horse hooves resounded through the sky, raising a cloud of dust. The emperor stood up and nodded slightly, his eyes full of trust and entrustment.

The ministers also bowed and said goodbye, wishing the team a safe journey and a speedy return.

As people watched, the team led by Gu Wenzhi walked further and further away, and finally disappeared on the distant horizon...

Yudu, Li Guihua, Dazhuang, Xiaozhuang, Xiaoquan and Doctor Mo finally arrived in Yudu.

These five people had never set foot in the city of Yudu. When they finally witnessed the dazzling and bustling scene of Yudu with their own eyes, they couldn't help but feel an indescribable feeling of uneasiness in their hearts.

Everything in front of them was so strange and new to them. The towering buildings, the bustling crowds and the dazzling shops were too much to take in.

At this moment, the five people looked at each other, and for a moment they were all at a loss, not knowing where to start looking for He Yue.

They stood on the street, watching the people coming and going, feeling as if they were lost in this huge and bustling city.

Doctor Mo said, "Let's find a cheap inn to store our things first, and then go out and ask around to find out where Yue'er is."

Li Guihua nodded, "Doctor Mo is right."

Then he turned to Da Zhuang and said, "Da Zhuang, you have to keep an eye on the brothers. You have to follow us closely and don't run around or touch other people's things."