203: Chapter 203: Forming an Alliance with Lady Mingzhu

"Duanhun Valley, is Madam perhaps also interested in those Ghost Soldiers who robbed the military funds?"

Gu Shengge asked Madam Mingzhu, who smiled and nodded slightly. Ji Wuye had caused such a big stir behind their backs, clearly intending to embezzle the military funds.

Adding to this, Nightfall had become increasingly disharmonious these past few days, and Ji Wuye was gradually starting to violate the agreement made when Nightfall was established. She needed to prepare for both eventualities.

Madam Mingzhu: "I hope Mr. Gu can help me; we can form an alliance."

"Then it depends on what Madam can offer."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shengge instead asked Madam Mingzhu, to see if the reward she offered would satisfy him. Madam Mingzhu then reached out and drew circles on Gu Shengge's chest, saying seductively:

"What reward does Sir want? Does Sir want this concubine? Or something else~"

"I want Madam to do me a favor."

Gu Shengge pondered for a moment, deciding not to take Madam Mingzhu now. After all, they were still in the Han Royal Palace. If the King of Han were to arrive when things got heated, wouldn't that be catching them in the act?

Hearing that Gu Shengge's condition wasn't for her, Madam Mingzhu was slightly taken aback. She had seduced him so much, yet he didn't want her. Was her charm not enough?

However, as long as she could get that box, Madam Mingzhu didn't care about these things. She looked up at Gu Shengge and then asked:

"Then what does Sir want?"

Gu Shengge heard this, leaned down, and whispered his condition into Madam Mingzhu's ear. This caused a look of surprise to appear on Madam Mingzhu's alluring face, and her gaze towards Gu Shengge held a hint of peculiarity. So, he had a taste for that.

Madam Mingzhu pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. However, she couldn't guarantee success, as it wasn't something she could decide. It still required a decree from the King of Han, for in Han, the King of Han's decree was still very effective.

"Then thank you, Madam."

Gu Shengge smiled. The deal was done. He then released her hand and rose from the bed. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would truly be unable to resist taking Madam Mingzhu.

Madam Mingzhu saw Gu Shengge about to leave and did not try to stop him; her objective had been achieved. She then called for a maid to escort Gu Shengge out.

After Gu Shengge left, Madam Mingzhu alone caressed her nearly perfect delicate body with her jade hands. A hint of confusion appeared on her alluring face. Had her charm diminished? She couldn't even seduce Gu Shengge, and he didn't choose her... The next day, Gu Shengge got up early and went to the Residence of the Left Sima.

Residence of the Left Sima.

The Residence of the Left Sima was currently surrounded by a group of Han soldiers, who were putting up seals.

This made Gu Shengge curious. He had come specifically to comfort Madam Hu after learning of Liu Yi's death, but he never expected the King of Han to seal off the Residence of the Left Sima. What had happened?

As for the reason, it was still Ji Wuye's fault. During the morning court today, he used Liu Yi's unauthorized actions, which led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Han soldiers, as a reason to petition the King of Han to seal off the Residence of the Left Sima and confiscate its property, servants, wives, and concubines, thereby appeasing the souls of those innocent soldiers in heaven.

The King of Han naturally agreed. He was also very angry; not only were the military funds not found, but thousands of elite soldiers were also lost. It was a good opportunity to confiscate the Residence of the Left Sima, turn its property over to the state, and make up for some of the losses.

Gu Shengge stepped down from the carriage and saw the servants of the Residence of the Left Sima surrounded by soldiers. Madam Hu was among them.

One of the soldiers looked at the elegantly dressed Madam Hu, his gaze falling on the fire rain agate at her waist, and spoke coldly:

"The King has ordered the confiscation of the Residence of the Left Sima. Madam Hu, hand over the jade stone at your waist."

As soon as Madam Hu heard the soldier demand her fire rain agate, her dignified and gentle face suddenly changed. Her jade hand desperately clutched the fire rain agate. She could hand over anything else, but not this; this was her hope of finding her daughter.

Seeing Madam Hu uncooperative, the soldier directly moved to snatch it. He was acting on the King of Han's orders; anyone who dared to resist would be killed without mercy.

"Excuse me, can someone tell me what's happening here?"

Just as the soldier was about to snatch Madam Hu's fire rain agate, a questioning voice suddenly came from behind him. He stopped, turned to look at Gu Shengge, and sternly rebuked:

"The King has ordered the confiscation of the Residence of the Left Sima. All unauthorized personnel, leave quickly!"

Gu Shengge heard this and roughly understood. He then took out two boxes, one large and one small, walked up to the soldier, and said:

"Brother, I am very interested in the fire rain agate on that lady's waist. I wonder if you would sell it to me."

Gu Shengge looked at the frail Madam Hu, who was desperately guarding the fire rain agate, and then said to the soldier:

"Here are a thousand taels of gold. How about buying that fire rain agate? That way, you'll have an easy time reporting back."

He opened the large box, which was filled with a thousand taels of gleaming, dazzling gold. The soldier looked at the sparkling gold, greatly surprised.

It was just an agate, yet it was worth so much money. However, he dared not buy it privately, as it was to be confiscated. If anything went wrong or he was reported, he would lose his head.

Seeing the soldier hesitate, Gu Shengge looked around. There were ten soldiers present in total. Gu Shengge pulled out a hundred taels of gold from the box, walked up to the soldiers, giving ten taels of gold to each, bribing them.

"How about I buy that fire rain agate with these nine hundred taels of gold?"

Gu Shengge asked the soldiers with a smile again. They nodded repeatedly, beaming with joy. With gold paving the way, and with the entire group agreeing, there was no fear of anyone leaking the information, as everyone had a share.

Then, a soldier forcibly pried open Madam Hu's hand, snatched the fire rain agate, and walked up to Gu Shengge with a fawning expression.

"My lord, this is the fire rain agate you wanted."

Madam Hu's dignified and gentle face showed a look of sorrow, her beautiful eyes filled with desolation. She could only watch helplessly as the fire rain agate was presented to Gu Shengge by the soldier, then raised her sleeve to cover her face and wept silently.

Gu Shengge took the fire rain agate in his hand. His purpose was not the fire rain agate itself. He then said to the soldier:

"I wish to speak a few words with that lady. May I?"

"Certainly, my lord, please." The soldier quickly made way. Gu Shengge held the fire rain agate in his hand and walked towards Madam Hu.

He watched Madam Hu crying with her face covered, tears streaming down like pear blossoms in the rain, a sight that evoked pity. Gu Shengge said softly, "Madam, after several days apart, have you perhaps forgotten me?"

Madam Hu heard this, felt the voice was somewhat familiar, raised her tear-filled, desolate beautiful eyes to look at Gu Shengge, and showed a hint of surprise. Her voice was soft and beautiful, with a touch of anguish.

"It's you!"

"Indeed. My action of having the soldier snatch Madam's fire rain agate just now was truly out of necessity. I can see that this fire rain agate holds extraordinary significance for Madam. If I hadn't intervened, this fire rain agate would have been confiscated, and it would then be impossible to retrieve it."

Gu Shengge explained to Madam Hu that he bought the fire rain agate simply to prevent its confiscation, then continued:

"Madam, rest assured, once you are out of trouble, you may come find me. I will then return the fire rain agate to you, untouched."

Madam Hu heard that Gu Shengge would return the fire rain agate to her, and a look of joy appeared on her gentle face. She understood what Gu Shengge meant, and her beautiful eyes showed gratitude.

"Thank you, Sir. This concubine is deeply grateful."