The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 191

Chapter 191 You Can Only Choose One
Sure enough, as soon as Gu An returned to his mansion, he immediately sent someone to invite Xiang Mingxuan over.

“Ming Xuan, what do you think I should do now?” Gu An, who had told the whole story, looked at Xiang Mingxuan expectantly.

Xiang Mingxuan frowned and looked at Gu An without answering.

“What, Ming Xuan, is there anything you and I can’t say?” Seeing that Xiang Mingxuan was speechless, Gu An hurriedly said.

Back then, King Yan and the Crown Prince, who was still the Prince of Shenwang at that time, had both sent people to contact the then high-profile champion of the Spring Festival Rankings. However, he had not been lured to remain neutral by any faction. If it was said that he was unfamiliar with people, then from the fact that King Yan and the Crown Prince did not make things difficult for him because of his refusal, one could tell that he was definitely not a simple person. Later on, Lu Haiyang was demoted, and his leap from a small idle position in the Academy to the deputy commander of the Imperial Army proved his conjecture. It was precisely because of this that Gu An took a new look at him. He cared for him in everything and often invited him to drink and chat in the manor.

Hearing Gu An’s words, Xiang Mingxuan stood up and bowed towards Gu An. “This subordinate doesn’t know what His Excellency is planning, so how can I tell His Excellency what to do?”

Hearing that, Gu An frowned. He hurriedly stood up and pulled Xiang Mingxuan to invite him to sit down. He said, “Mingxuan, what do you mean by that?”

Xiang Mingxuan looked at Gu An with a serious expression. “Does Sir really not understand what this subordinate means?”

“Ming Xuan, between us, if you have something to say, just say it.” Gu An said.

Xiang Mingxuan curled his lips. “This subordinate has always thought that Sir, like this subordinate, wants to uphold his own position and is unwilling to get involved in the conflict between the prince’s factions. However, it seems that Sir does not think that way now.”

“Mingxuan, since we are officials in the court, how can we be alone in this circle? The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince, and one day he will inherit the throne. Therefore, it is impossible for me not to listen to his orders!” Gu An’s face couldn’t help but be a little annoyed by Xiang Mingxuan’s provocation.

“Since your Excellency has already made a decision, why should I ask this subordinate what to do?” Xiang Mingxuan raised his eyebrows.

As soon as Xiang Mingxuan’s words fell, Gu An’s expression became somewhat ugly.

Since Xiang Mingxuan took over as the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, he had treated him with care everywhere, but he didn’t expect that he would have such an attitude when he needed him today.

“Looks like I’ve found the wrong person today.” Seeing that Xiang Mingxuan did not buy his debt, Gu An’s attitude turned cold.

Xiang Mingxuan glanced at Gu An, then raised his hand and bowed towards Gu An, “If Sir has nothing else, this subordinate will leave first.”

Gu An obviously did not expect Xiang Mingxuan to be so disrespectful. He threw down a sentence, raised his leg and left. He was so angry that he almost fell to the ground.

He didn’t want to, but when Xiang Mingxuan walked to the door, he stopped. “Sir, between the Emperor and the Crown Prince, you can only choose one. You should think about it carefully.” With that, he walked out without looking back.

As soon as Xiang Mingxuan left, Gu Cheng lifted the curtain and walked in. “Father, what did you mean by Xiang Mingxuan’s words just now?”

Gu An frowned and slowly sat down on the chair.

Between the Emperor and the Crown Prince, you can only choose one. You should think about it carefully. The words Xiang Mingxuan said when he left rang in his ears again.

Gu An’s eyebrows tightened. What exactly did Xiang Mingxuan mean by this?

Why did he say that he had to choose between the Emperor and the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince was clearly the Crown Prince that the Emperor had intended to be in the early morning. The reason why the Crown Prince was able to ascend to the Crown Prince was all because of the Emperor’s schemes? In his heart, the Crown Prince represented the Emperor, but from what Xiang Mingxuan said …

Could there be a grudge between the Emperor and the Crown Prince?

Thinking of this possibility, Gu An suddenly remembered the Crown Prince’s recent actions in the court.

Perhaps, it was not just a rift, the Emperor was even afraid of the Crown Prince who had helped him up with one hand.

“Father, why aren’t you talking?” Seeing that Gu An had been frowning and hadn’t spoken for a long time, Gu Cheng couldn’t sit still any longer.

“Can you stop dancing around in front of my eyes? It makes my eyes go dizzy.” Gu An rolled his eyes at Gu Cheng, his face filled with irritation.

“Father, what’s wrong with you? If there’s anything you can’t figure out, tell me, I can also help you as a counselor!” Gu Cheng said.

Gu An snorted coldly, “With your brain, if you don’t cause trouble for me, I’ll thank God …” Suddenly, a light flashed across Gu An’s mind. His eyes narrowed and he glanced up and down at Gu An. “Didn’t you always get close to the Crown Prince? Do you think the Crown Prince’s boat can accommodate our Gu Family?”

Gu Cheng frowned, “Father, what are you talking about! If we don’t board the Crown Prince’s ship, can we still board the Qin King’s ship? Or, do you think that the Qin King’s ship can be secured by the Crown Prince’s ship?” At the end of his sentence, Gu Cheng’s eyes had a hint of teasing.

Gu An impatiently glared at Gu Cheng, “What an elm head.”

“Father, where did I say wrong? Could it be that other than the Crown Prince and King Qin, we have other boats to choose from? Father, I’m telling you, you can’t be foolish at the critical moment. The emperor is now old. Although his body is still strong, it is hard to guarantee that he will suddenly fall. At that time, it will definitely be the Crown Prince who will succeed him. Although there are a few people in the court who support the Qin King without knowledge of the times, he does not even have the qualifications to help the Crown Prince, let alone fight with the Crown Prince! Gu Cheng looked at Gu An solemnly and said a rare few words, “Father, you must definitely wipe your eyes and not stand in the wrong line!”

Originally, Gu An had scoffed at Gu Cheng, believing that he could not offer any useful suggestions, but when he heard him mention the Emperor, his heart unconsciously moved.

Gu An was right. No matter what the emperor did, he was still old. Sooner or later, the Crown Prince would succeed him.

He had always been neutral and did not participate in the prince’s battle, only following the royal order. However, today was different from the past, the prince’s battle had already ended, and he needed the letter of the next emperor to rely on him.

After weighing it for a long time, Gu An finally made up his mind.

Even if the Emperor’s suspicions were aroused, as long as the Crown Prince trusted him, the hundred thousand Imperial Army soldiers in the capital would still be in his hands in the future when the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

This was the most important thing.

Thinking of this, Gu An suddenly became enlightened. He stood up and patted Gu Cheng’s shoulder, saying, “You brat, it’s rare for you to enlighten yourself.”

This was the first time in his life that he was praised by his father. Gu Cheng did not feel happy and hurriedly said to Gu An, “Father, look, since you have agreed to do as the Crown Prince instructed? Then, can you release Sixth Sister?”

Gu An’s face suddenly sank. The smile on his face disappeared completely.

If Gu Cheng hadn’t mentioned this, he would have almost forgotten how ungrateful his daughter, who had been carefully raised by him for seventeen years, was to lift a rock and smash his own father’s head into pieces.

Thinking of this, Gu An lifted his foot and walked out of the door.

When Gu Cheng saw Gu An’s expression, he panicked. As he chased after her, he said to Gu An, “Father, you see that things have already turned out like this. Don’t blame Sixth Sister. Sixth Sister is also being righteous. She just helped the Crown Prince. This merit and demerit are equal, so don’t make things difficult for her, right?” Just as he finished speaking, the person in front of him suddenly stopped. He was caught off guard, and Gu Cheng bumped into him. “Aiyo, Dad, why did you stop?” Gu Cheng touched the tip of his painful nose, and his mind went blank.

Gu An glared at him, “Go back to your room.”

“Father, then Sixth Sister …”

“Didn’t you just say that the Crown Prince had already spoken? Since that’s the case, what else do you think I can do to him?” Gu Anhu said with a face.

Gu Cheng thought for a moment, and also saw that his father’s expression was really not good, so he obediently nodded his head and stroked the tip of his nose as he walked away.

Looking at Gu Cheng’s headache, Gu An heavily sighed. Then, he raised his leg and walked towards Gu Qingyou’s boudoir.

In front of the small building where Gu Qingyou lived, six attendants guarded the door. Seeing that it was Gu An, they let go.

Gu Ancai approached Gu Qingyou’s room. The two servants outside hurriedly came over to salute him and called out in unison, “Master.”

Gu An nodded, “Miss.”

“Miss is in the room.”

Gu An nodded again. “She’s not messing around, is she?”

The two girls glanced at each other. A moment later, a girl dressed in green gathered her courage and shook her head while whispering, “No, Miss, no trouble.”

Gu An nodded in satisfaction, then walked to the door and pushed the door open.

In the room, Gu Qingyou was still wearing the clothes she wore in Zi Chen Hall during the day. The pink, wide-sleeved, flowing dress shone brightly. He had ordered people to sew it carefully for half a month so that she could make a splendid appearance at the banquet in Zi Chen Palace so that she could marry into the royal family. However, he did not expect that she would indeed marry into the royal family. However, that person had changed from the Crown Prince to King Qin.

Thinking of this, Gu An couldn’t help but feel as if his chest was covered in cotton wool, blocked, stuffy, and uncomfortable.

“Father.” Seeing Gu An, Gu Qingyou got up and walked to Gu An and knelt straight down.

“Father? In your eyes, am I still your father? Tell me, what exactly happened in Zi Chen Hall today!” Gu An glared fiercely at Gu Qingyou, then walked to the chair in front of the table and sat down.

Gu Qingyou knelt and turned around, saluting Gu Anfu, “Father, please forgive my daughter’s willfulness. My daughter is unwilling to marry the Crown Prince, because the person she likes is King Qin.”

These words were like a stone thrown into a lake, causing thousands of waves in Gu An’s heart. He stood up without thinking and raised his hand to slap Gu Qingyou, “Down! Do you still have any shame?”

A bright red palm print instantly appeared on her fair face. However, Gu Qingyou still knelt upright, neither dodging nor dodging, not even shouting in pain.

Gu An looked at the obedient daughter in front of him. Although he had received a slap in the face, her eyes were reckless and stubborn. He did not see the slightest bit of regret in her eyes. He forcefully suppressed the anger in his chest, took two steps back, and slowly sat down on the edge of the table. “Tell me, what exactly is going on? You like King Qin, and you don’t walk out of the door. How can you like him?”