The Rebirth Of The General Who Always Sees Himself As A Replacement

Chapter 52: He Simply Wanted To See Him.

After hearing the young boy’s words, Mu Zhiming frowned lightly: “His Royal Highness, King Su?”

“That’s right!” The young boy bowed and then walked next to Mu Zhiming. “Master and Madam went to burn incense at the Temple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas, so the Residence is without a Master today. Fortunately, Young Master has returned. Otherwise, we servants wouldn’t know what to do.”

Although Mu Zhiming’s expression was calm, he walked in long strides towards the Main Hall.

Over the years, Mu Zhiming and Fu Yi have kept each to their own business without crossing paths. The only time they would meet would be at the Noble Consort Niagniang’s birthdays, or at some Imperial banquets.

‘Why would Fu Yi come to visit me so suddenly today?’

As soon as he reached the Main Hall, Mu Zhiming saw Fu Yi’s Bodyguards, dressed in their black uniforms, standing by the door. Mu Zhiming walked past them and entered the Main Hall with long strides. Once inside, he saw Fu Yi dressed in black clothes and brocade robes, sitting on the Taishi chair right in front of a wood carved screen, quietly drinking tea.

Mu Zhiming stepped forward, bowed in a salute, and said in a distant tone: “I’m not sure why His Highness King Su has come to visit me today. I’m sorry I have made His Highness wait. I hope His Highness will forgive me.”

“Lizhu.” Fu Yi smiled. “There’s no need to be so formal with me. If the person who made me wait is you, then I don’t mind the long wait.”

Mu Zhiming forced himself to raise the corners of his mouth in a cold smile, only to say: “I never thought that I would carry so much weight in His Highness King Su’s heart.”

Fu Yi shook his head helplessly: “That has always been the case. It’s just that you have never believed it.”

Ignoring his words, Mu Zhiming asked: “May I ask what His Highness King Su is doing here? His Highness’s time is so precious, can he really waste half of his day just to speak with me?”

Fu Yi smiled and asked in return: “What if I nod my head and reply ‘yes’? What if I said that I came to the Mu Residence just to see you?”

Mu Zhiming: “……”

Fu Yi suddenly stood up, stared at Mu Zhiming’s eyes, and walked towards him with slow steps. Once he stood right in front of Mu Zhiming, Fu Yi gently reached out a hand to stroke a strand of hair on Mu Zhiming’s temple. He whispered: “When we were young, you used to smile at me all the time. You always smiled at me as if…..”

“Your Highness King Su!” Mu Zhiming couldn’t bear to stand any of this. As Mu Zhiming firmly grasped Fu Yi’s wrist, stopping Fu Yi from touching his hair, Mu Zhiming said: “Please behave yourself.”

Fu Yi suddenly came back to his senses, and with a sarcastic smile, he withdrew his hand. After retreating, with a light voice, he said: “Pardon me for my lack of manners.”

Mu Zhiming: “If His Highness King Su just came today to chat, forgive me for I am busy right now, and am unable to accompany His Highness at the moment.”

“Lizhu.” Fu Yi went back to sit on the Taishi chair with a calm expression. “You went to General Gu’s Residence today, didn’t you?”

Mu Zhiming replied jokingly: “His Highness King Su is indeed well-informed, but I have no shortage of people in my Mu Residence. I don’t need His Highness to place his people here.”

“You are always misunderstanding me like this.” Fu Yi laughed. “But you really should investigate the people here. After all, the Residence of the Duke of Yan is too big, so it’s no wonder that some rats may be hiding around. Besides, Lizhu, you have been gaining quite a lot of power and influence lately. Even the Crown Prince can see it.”

Mu Zhiming furrowed his brows.

“On the other hand, how is General Gu’s injury?” Fu Yi asked with a smile. As if he didn’t seem to really expect Mu Zhiming to reply, Fu Yi continued: “Gu Heyan, the General of the Yulin Army, Commander-in-Chief of the 100,000 elite soldiers of the Rong Yan Army. A talented young man, who has fought for the country on the bloody battlefield for so many years. With such a high position and so much power, General Gu has always known how to assess the situation. I heard that upon returning to the Capital, General Gu hasn’t accepted congratulatory gifts from anyone, nor has he allowed any visitors, with the excuse that he needs time to recover behind closed doors. This has given the Emperor in the Imperial Palace a peace of mind, so I’m afraid it won’t make you look good if you try to form a friendship with the General for the sake of Ji’an.”

Mu Zhiming laughed at him: “I don’t care how it makes me look.”

The entire world, including Gu Heyan, thought that Mu Zhiming went to see the grand General Gu to gain power.

Only Mu Zhiming knew his true intentions. He simply….wanted to see Gu Heyan.

After hearing Mu Zhiming’s words, Fu Yi slowly raised his eyes to look at him. With a smile, Fu Yi said: “Lizhu, I have something that may be of use to General Gu. Do you want it?”

When Mu Zhiming heard these words, he stared at Fu Yi with extreme wariness. After pondering for a brief moment, Mu Zhiming rhetorically asked: “If such a thing truly exists, then why does His Highness King Su not send it to General Gu himself? Why do you want me to give it to him?”

“My younger Imperial Brother Ji’an is now fiercely competing with the Crown Prince. The Noble Consort Niangniang has been very kind to me since I was a child, so I’m in debt to her. Because of that, I want to help Ji’an.” Fu Yi looked calm as he spoke. “All of the Officials in the Imperial Court know that you are one of King Xian’s men. In other words, if you befriend General Gu, it will only mean that he is on King Xian’s side. Although General Gu has decided to not choose the tree he will nest in1, as long as you can become closer to him, the easily swayed Officials in the Imperial Court will surely change sides to the party of Ji’an.”

“King Su’s advice is farsighted.” Mu Zhiming smiled and cupped his fist.

Thinking that Mu Zhiming had accepted the gift, Fu Yi was about to call his men to bring it over. However, Mu Zhiming beat him to it and said with a cold voice: “This game of ‘the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it2’, you’re playing is indeed quite clever. As soon as King Xian and the Crown Prince are done destroying each other, will you take advantage of the situation and reap the benefits?”

Surprised, Fu Yi looked at Mu Zhiming and sighed. Then, he helplessly said: “Lizhu, why do you think so badly of me? I have never participated in the party struggle that has taken place in the last few years.”

Mu Zhiming looked Fu Yi straight in the eye, and without being humble or arrogant, said: “Oh? His Highness King Su is being too modest. Didn’t you volunteer a year ago to visit the Northwest and Northeast Border Cities for His Majesty the Emperor? After that, weren’t you the one who spent a lot of money to buy a famous sword from the world of Martial Arts for the Commander of the Imperial Army? I can see that His Highness has worked very hard, hasn’t he?”

Fu Yi smiled, took the celadon cup and took a sip of the already cold tea: “Lizhu, it makes me happy to know that you care so much about me, given that you know so much about what I have been doing all this time. But, do you really not want to know what present I have prepared for General Gu?”

With that said, Fu Yi coughed lightly, and one of the Bodyguards that had been waiting at the door of the Main Hall immediately walked in. The Bodyguard then respectfully handed a sandalwood box to Fu Yi.

Mu Zhiming sneered to himself: ‘It doesn’t matter what it is, there’s no way I would accept it.’

Fu Yi opened the sandalwood box and handed it to Mu Zhiming. Upon receiving it, Mu Zhiming saw that inside the box were twenty-four small celadon jars the width of a copper coin, and about a finger high. Fu Yi explained: “This is a type of medicine I obtained by chance from a Gouji Kingdom tribe when I visited a Northeastern border town a year ago. It can cure the poison on General Gu’s arm and heal the wound. By applying it externally for twenty-four days, it can ensure complete healing and prevent him from feeling pain.”

Mu Zhiming suddenly widened his eyes, while his ears buzzed, tormented by Fu Yi’s words.

‘It will ensure healing, and save him from feeling pain….’

—

The next day, at the Imperial Physician Department, Mu Zhiming met with Physician Kuang to inquire: “Are you sure this medicine is alright? Is it not tampered with?”

Physician Kuang was annoyed: “Lizhu, I have already told you three times. There’s nothing wrong with this medicine, and it can truly cure the poison on General Gu’s wound.”

“I can’t believe there’s nothing wrong with it….” Mu Zhiming thanked Physician Kuang and brought the ointments back to the Mu Residence.

As Mu Zhiming held the sandalwood box, he thought: ‘If I really send this to the Gu Residence, I will end up doing what Fu Yi wants. Do I really want to do such a thing?’

Although he thought so, Mu Zhiming was already holding the sandalwood box with the intention of going to the Gu Residence.

‘Are you kidding me? A medicine that can cure Gu Heyan’s injury?!! What else is there to worry about?!!!’

After Mu Zhiming walked out of the Mu Residence, he got into the carriage. However, a few moments later, he jumped off the carriage and trotted back to his wing room. Once there, Mu Zhiming opened the sandalwood box, took out a single small jar of medicine, hid the rest, and left the Mu Residence again.

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Footnotes

The original proverb is: 良禽择木而栖 liáng qín zé mù ér qī; A fine bird chooses the perfect tree for its nest. Used as a metaphor, about how wise subjects/outstanding talents must choose a suitable party that can make the most of their talents, as well as a wise Monarch who will put them to good use.螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后 táng láng bǔ chán, huáng què zài hòu; Chinese idiom. Used as a metaphor for ‘wait for the right opportunity to attack from behind’. However, it also refers to people who are only concerned with the pursuit of immediate benefits, without regarding the hidden consequences behind them / Someone has the intention of plotting against others, but doesn’t realize that someone may also be plotting against him. From《说苑·正谏》by (刘向 liú xiàng) Liu Xiang [77-6 BC], from the Western Han Dynasty [206 BC-8 AD].