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

Chapter 57: If You Want To Scold Someone, Scold Pei Hantang.

“Young Master! It’s the Qixi Festival!”

Gu Heyan: “…..”

As the two were talking, Miss Juan’s voice suddenly came from afar: “Young Master, A’Cheng, what are you two doing standing at the door?”

As Miss Juan walked through the courtyard, she saw the two of them standing in the doorway, talking, so she approached them in small steps: “But look how windy it is out here! Isn’t the Young Master wounded? Hurry up and go inside.”

Wen Zhongcheng suddenly felt a little nervous, so he hurried to hide the flower hairpin in his sleeve. As for the lantern, he shoved it into Gu Heyan’s hand.

Gu Heyan: “…..”

Once Miss Juan stood in front of them, she fixed her gaze on them. Immediately after, she covered her lips and laughed: “Ohh, what’s that in the Young Master’s hand, hmm? Is it a lantern? Oh~ I know~”

Wen Zhongcheng sighed in his heart: ‘Alas, there goes the surprise.’

Miss Juan smiled and said with certainty: “The Young Master wants to invite Mu-gongzi to see the lanterns at the river tomorrow, don’t you?”

Gu Heyan: “…..”

Seeing the opportunity, Wen Zhongcheng took it and said: “Yes, yes!!! That’s it, that’s right!”

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Miss Juan was filled with so much joy, she began to clap her hands: “I heard that the colorful lanterns will stretch for 5km in the East Street market tomorrow. It would be both a beautiful and lively scene. Young Master must definitely go and have a look with Mu-gongzi.”

Gu Heyan: “……”

Wen Zhongcheng’s back began to sweat coldly, and with an air of guilt, he said: “Juan’er, my mother seemed to be looking for you just now! You should go look for her.”

Miss Juan hastened to say: “Ah, I’ll go right now! You and the Young Master shouldn’t stay here either, come in quickly.”

“Understood, go ahead.” Wen Zhongcheng rubbed his hands together.

Once Miss Juan walked away, Wen Zhongcheng took a deep breath and took the rabbit-shaped lantern from Gu Heyan: “Young Master, you have to keep up this secret for me. That way, I can still make Juan’er happy tomorrow.”

Gu Heyan: “…..Hmm.”

“Now, I’ll hurry to hide these things. Young Master, you should also quickly go into the house, the wind is very strong here.” Wen Zhongcheng advised him, bowed, turned around and started to leave.

However, before Wen Zhongcheng could walk two steps, Gu Heyan suddenly said: “Wait.”

“Hmm?” Wen Zhongcheng turned around and asked: “What can I do for you, Young Master?”

After hesitating for a moment, Gu Heyan finally managed to ask: “….The lanterns….where can I buy them?”

—

The next day, the sky was clear of clouds, and the breeze was faint. Aunt Liang brought breakfast to Gu Heyan’s wing room early in the morning, finding him standing at the side of the bed, looking at a lantern hanging from the wooden bed frame.

The lantern had the shape of a vermilion phoenix. With its wings outstretched, it appeared as if it were alive. If red candles were to be lit inside it at night, it would look even more dazzling and real.

Aunt Liang placed the bowl of transparent porridge on the table, when she heard Gu Heyan mutter: “Do you want to go to the East Street market with me to see the lanterns….? No, I can’t say that….Um….. I heard about the lanterns in the East Street market today…..”

Aunt Liang gently covered her lips, smiled, and silently left the wing room.

For the rest of the day, Gu Heyan seemed to be possessed. Whether it was because he stared at the phoenix lantern for long periods of time, or because he had paced back and forth non-stop, either way, he didn’t seem to be able to calm down, so he decided to go study the Art of War in his study. However, he still seemed to be unable to stop muttering as he read: “The all mighty, control the power for the—lanterns…..”

Eventually, when evening came, which was the usual time when Mu Zhiming came to visit, Gu Heyan dressed himself in a white silk brocade decorated in golden thread and a cloud pattern. As Gu Heyan waited for Mu Zhiming in the Main Hall, he soon heard footsteps coming from outside. But when Gu Heyan turned around, he froze.

The person who came in wasn’t Mu Zhiming. It was a servant of the Mu Residence.

“Greetings, General.” The servant bowed respectfully and presented a small celadon jar to Gu Heyan with both hands: “My Young Master cannot come today, so he has ordered me to deliver this medicine to the General.”

Gu Heyan’s eyes were somewhat foggy, and when he reached out to take the small celadon jar, he asked: “Does…. does he have something to do?”

“That’s right,” The servant of the Mu Family nodded. “My Young Master also said that the wound on the General’s arm has healed since it has formed a scab, so there’s no need for his presence to apply the medicine on the last day. My Young Master told me to tell the General that he can ask Physician Xia to apply it for him.”

Gu Heyan: “I see.”

When the servant of the Mu Family left, Gu Heyan remained silent for a long time, holding the medicine jar in his hand. Then, when he returned to his room, he removed the phoenix-shaped lantern hanging on the wooden frame of the bed, and hid it along with the medicine jar in a wooden box in the cabinet.

As the wooden box was slowly closed, it produced a loud creaking sound that echoed throughout the corners of the wing room.

As the sound of the wind gently whispered in his ears, Gu Heyan lowered his eyes.

‘That’s right, on a day like this, Mu Zhiming must have someone he wants to spend the day with.’

‘What does it have to do with me if the bustling and prosperous East Street market is covered with lanterns that spread for 5km?’

‘Isn’t this a truth I should have already understood in my previous life ….?’

—

Meanwhile, at the Duke of Yan’s Residence, Mu Zhiming hurried out the gate, asking the young man beside him: “Have you sent the medicine to General Gu’s Residence?”

“Don’t worry, Young Master, the medicine has been delivered.” The young man hurriedly replied. “I have followed Young Master’s instructions carefully, and arranged for the medicine to be personally delivered to General Gu without delay.”

Mu Zhiming nodded and went into the carriage parked at the entrance of the Mu Residence. Wen Heyin, who accompanied him, lifted the curtain with one hand and helped Mu Zhiming up with the other. Once Mu Zhiming was seated inside the carriage, Wen Heyin indicated to the coachman: “To the Capital Prefecture.”