kvmb Chapter 376 Offering an Olive Branch
Chapter 376 Offering an Olive Branch
Gu Mochen instructed Song Ming to send people to investigate, and they indeed uncovered some clues. Gu Mochen had played the fool many times before, so he could naturally tell that Ouyang Lie was deliberately emulating a spoiled brat. Although Ouyang Lie appeared playful and lecherous, he possessed impressive martial arts skills. Although his clothes were flamboyant and vulgar, they suited him perfectly. Therefore, Gu Mochen and Song Ming shared the same conclusion: this Ouyang Lie had some skill.
Gu Mochen looked at Song Ming and slowly said, "Ever since the Ouyang family lost a group of people in our Great Xia that year, they have been in a state of turmoil. The old emperor's health has also been poor, which has led to all his sons eyeing the throne and wanting to fight for this country."
He paused, then continued, "However, while these sons are all ambitious, they are all incompetent, nothing more than a bunch of good-for-nothings. Just like our crown prince back then, he only knows how to enjoy himself and crave power, but doesn't know how to win the hearts of the people. So I'm thinking, should we extend an olive branch to Ouyang Lie and lend him a hand? He may seem like a playboy, but he has never done anything to harm the people. I'm certain he has great talent. After all, if he can successfully ascend the throne, perhaps he can bring a peaceful and prosperous life to the people and make this land forever peaceful."
After listening, Song Ming pondered for a moment before replying, "I do not recommend that you approach him, Your Majesty. Although Ouyang Lie is still young, not even twenty years old, he is very shrewd. No one can guarantee that he will not have any ill intentions towards our Prince Chao'er in the future. Moreover, even if he can defeat the other princes and ascend the throne, it is hard to guarantee that he will not become a tyrant and bring disaster to the people."
Gu Mochen smiled and said, "If it's just a one-on-one fight with Chao'er, I'm really not sure who would win. After all, Chao'er is a very conventional person, but he has a younger brother who's rich enough to buy the whole world. Youyou, on the other hand, is a real cunning fellow. So we shouldn't worry about the younger generation. Ouyang Lie should send someone over to extend an olive branch to him. I think it's better to get to know talented people." At this moment, a gust of wind blew outside, mixed with the sound of sand and gravel. Gu Mochen leaned against the carved rosewood couch, his black brocade robe casually draped over his shoulders. His slender fingers tapped the rosewood table lightly, the tapping startling the sparrows perched on the beams. The fluttering of their wings was particularly clear in the quiet room. The candlelight on the table flickered, casting a halo of light on his angular profile, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if they held a thousand armies within them.
Time ticked by, and finally, in the stillness, a bodyguard dressed in black slipped in like a ghost. His movements were light and agile, as if he had become one with the night, making his presence almost imperceptible.
Upon seeing this, Song Ming immediately stepped forward and conducted a brief but efficient exchange with the guard. The guard's figure appeared and disappeared in the night, his black attire like a ghost emerging from the shadows, exuding a mysterious and dangerous aura.
After kneeling on one knee, the guard respectfully presented a scroll of secret reports on the table, and then said in a low and slightly solemn voice, "Master, we have found out Ouyang Lie's background."
Upon hearing this, Gu Mochen, who had been focused on his work, suddenly stopped. His slender fingers hovered in mid-air as if frozen in place, while his gaze swept sharply towards the scroll of secret reports, as sharp as a hawk's.
In the candlelight, the handwriting on the secret report appeared exceptionally clear, like living snakes, winding and twisting to reveal Ouyang Lie's unknown and hidden past.
Unfolding the secret report, lines of small print leaped into view. Ouyang Lie, on the surface, was a dissolute playboy, indulging in wine and women, spending his days in brothels and mingling with a group of dissolute young men from the Western Regions capital. But upon closer reading, something strange was revealed in every detail. Once, in a jealous dispute, a seemingly casual punch he threw shattered the bluestone floor tiles, leaving spiderweb-like cracks; another time, while being chased by enemies, he dodged left and right in a drunken stupor, yet his movements were as agile as a cat, and the swords of his pursuers never even touched the hem of his clothes.
Gu Mochen's lips curled into a knowing smile, his fingertips tracing the edge of the secret report, as if savoring the hidden messages between the lines. "I've seen this 'playing dumb to fool the enemy' tactic a thousand times in the arena of power struggles." His voice was deep, carrying the composure of someone who has weathered many storms. "Beneath Ouyang Lie's seemingly decadent exterior, indulging in wine and women, lies the sharp claws of a tiger. Look, though he appears playful and lecherous, he possesses exceptional martial arts skills. Those flamboyant and vulgar clothes, worn by him, seem tailor-made for him, only accentuating his unrestrained and flamboyant nature. Such bearing is not something an ordinary playboy could possess."
Song Ming nodded slightly, agreeing, but why didn't the old emperor know this? Gu Mochen smiled and said, "He has many sons. Ouyang Lie's mother is probably not a highly regarded concubine, let alone an empress, so he has no advantage."
Gu Mochen stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the carved window frame. "So just do as I say, in my name, to help him."
Song Ming frowned, pondered for a moment, and then solemnly said, "I will do as you say, Master. I will go and do it right away."
Gu Mochen nodded slightly in agreement, then slowly said, "Since that's the case, then you may go. I'm also feeling a bit tired. After you've finished your business, you should rest early as well. This desert trip is indeed far less comfortable and carefree than our Great Xia. However, we have successfully stirred up trouble in the Western Regions this time, so it can be considered a worthwhile trip. Back then, that old emperor made things quite difficult for me. Now, it's finally time to see him make a fool of himself."
After speaking, Gu Mochen turned around and slowly sat back down on the couch. He reached out and picked up the secret report on the table, but his gaze involuntarily fell on Ouyang Lie's name again, as if those three words had some kind of special magic, attracting his attention.
Outside the window, the wind howled fiercely, whipping the candlelight left and right, casting shifting shadows on his face as if foreshadowing an impending storm. This game concerning Ouyang Lie had only just begun, as unpredictable as the flickering candlelight, full of unknowns and uncertainties.
In this turbulent court, various forces are like ferocious beasts lurking in the shadows, watching intently, waiting for their chance to strike. They are all waiting for the perfect opportunity, and once it is ripe, they will not hesitate to open their bloodthirsty maws and devour their prey.
"