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墨書 Inktalez
Once the seed of doubt is sown, it inevitably blossoms into misunderstandings. There will always be one that flowers in that dark soil.
The rumors spread thoroughly, and soon the entire capital had heard them. People whispered behind closed doors, showing no interest in the truth; they were only captivated by the surface commotion.
Murong Cheng had long established surveillance throughout the capital to facilitate his rule, secretly monitoring officials and citizens alike. Naturally, this rumor quickly reached his ears.
Since Murong Cheng ascended to the throne, he had never known peace. There were those outside who coveted his position, and within the court, many ministers harbored discontent. Internal troubles and external threats emerged one after another.
Thus, he trusted no one; everyone in this world, except for himself, could potentially betray him!
As Murong Cheng thought of Liu Yuan, a man who had followed him for several years without making any significant mistakes and appeared utterly loyal, he couldn't shake off his doubts. After all, how could one truly gauge a person's loyalty just by appearances? He could not be certain that Liu Yuan was genuinely faithful.
At the same time that Murong Cheng began to suspect Liu Yuan, Liu Yuan had also heard the rumors.
Immediately, he suspected it was a scheme by the Rebel Army.
"You really have some nerve to use such tactics!" Liu Yuan gritted his teeth in anger. He had to admit that this idea was both insidious and effective.
It seemed that their opponents had thoroughly understood Murong Cheng's character and were able to exploit his psychology to sow discord between them.
However, Liu Yuan found himself grappling with this dilemma without a solution.
He could not directly approach Murong Cheng to explain that it was all a conspiracy and that he was being wronged. Given Murong Cheng's suspicious nature, such an action might only be interpreted as a sign of guilt.
Thus, Liu Yuan could only subtly express his innocence. Yet it was clear that Murong Cheng was not convinced; for him, it was better to mistakenly execute a thousand than to let one guilty person go free.
There could still be many subordinates; if one is lost, there are others. As long as he holds enough leverage and remains the Emperor, there will always be a steady stream of resources at his disposal.
Between Liu Yuan and the throne, there was no need for choice; Murong Cheng could only see the throne.
Liu Yuan could only watch helplessly as Murong Cheng gradually distanced himself from him, reclaiming the power he had previously granted.
"Minister Liu, you have worked hard to repel the enemy last time and must be exhausted. This time, stay in the capital to recuperate and let others deal with the Rebel Army."
In the end, Murong Cheng took back military authority, no longer allowing Liu Yuan to command troops, instead selecting another trusted confidant.
At this moment, Liu Yuan understood that the tide had turned; he would never regain Murong Cheng's favor as before. Furthermore, Murong Cheng's suspicions towards him were growing stronger, and it was only a matter of time before he would take action against him.
Yeh Hsiao-Han celebrated at home after learning that the plan had succeeded.
"This Murong Cheng, with such limited intelligence and vision, actually thinks he can comfortably reign as Emperor for a lifetime. It’s simply a disdain for the position!"
Yeh Hsiao-Han felt a sense of pride; Liu Yuan's loss of favor and inability to lead troops against the Rebel Army was excellent news for Gu Bei and the others.
Aside from Liu Yuan, Murong Cheng had hardly any capable commanders left. Otherwise, he wouldn't have relied so heavily on Liu Yuan in the first place.
Luo Jingxian also smiled slightly. "Now Murong Cheng won't be able to pull any tricks; we are bound to win."
She held a strong disdain for Murong Cheng and was more than happy to see him falter.
Without the support of Liu Yuan, the newly appointed general, who was merely a figurehead with no real military talent, was quickly driven back by the increasingly cohesive Rebel Army.
All the cities that had been taken were reclaimed, and the territory continued to expand.
While Murong Cheng was in the palace, furious enough to smash his beloved Longevity and Prosperity Jade Sculpture, the atmosphere in the Rebel Army's camp was one of celebration.
"General Gu, this cup is for you." Murong Jing personally poured a glass of wine and presented it to Gu Bei. "Your heroic demeanor can make even ghosts and gods retreat; it's truly unforgettable."
Gu Bei accepted the wine and raised his own cup in return. "It is His Highness who personally led the charge and commanded the troops that displays such valor. In all my years of leading soldiers, I have never seen anyone new to the army make such remarkable progress; it is indeed impressive."
Both had invested tremendous effort in preparing for the previous battles. For the sake of the throne, Murong Jing suppressed his displeasure, set aside his pride, and humbly sought guidance from Gu Bei.
Gu Bei had always been one to return kindness with kindness. Although they would ultimately have to become rivals, he would not hold back during their current cooperative relationship but instead patiently teach.
In this nearly harmonious environment, both gained a different understanding of each other.
Murong Jing was astonished by Gu Bei's military prowess; the thrill he felt when personally leading troops into battle excited him immensely.
Especially under Gu Bei's guidance, his deepening understanding of troop deployment gave Murong Jing, who had long resided in comfort, a new perspective on life.
Conversely, Gu Bei was surprised by Murong Jing's resilience. He had initially thought that the pampered prince would be unable to endure hardship, yet here he was, sharing meals with ordinary soldiers and always at the forefront in battle—truly astonishing.
The two exchanged compliments back and forth, amusing the soldiers around them.
"General, Prince, you are both remarkable individuals. Please don't mind this rough soldier offering you a drink!" A soldier dressed like a Centurion stood up, extending his hand to toast.
One by one, the soldiers rose, holding their cups to toast the two men.
"General, down it in one! Don't let us soldiers outdrink you!"
"Prince, here, let me fill your cup to the brim!"
Murong Jing raised his cup and laughed loudly, "Good! Thank you, brothers. I will not refuse!" He downed the drink in one go, holding the cup high and turning it upside down, with only a single drop of liquor falling from the rim.
"Great! Well done, Prince! General, drink up! We rough soldiers can't let you outdrink us!"
The soldiers below began to cheer, and Gu Bei did not hold back either; he drank every cup that was handed to him, prompting another round of cheers.
Celebrating a victory was necessary, and the soldiers needed to relax. However, with the battle not yet over, they wouldn't go too far. After pouring a few drinks for Gu Bei and Murong Jing, they sensibly dispersed and returned to their posts.
"General Gu, are you alright?" Murong Jing asked, perhaps due to the effects of alcohol; he kept laughing. He noticed Gu Bei walking somewhat unsteadily but failed to realize that he himself was swaying even more dramatically.
Gu Bei had a much better tolerance for alcohol than Murong Jing. The soldiers were cautious around Murong Jing but felt more at ease with Gu Bei, whom they had known for a long time. Thus, Gu Bei ended up drinking significantly more than Murong Jing.
However, with so many people around, even Gu Bei's strong tolerance couldn't withstand such heavy drinking, and his head felt somewhat foggy.
"I'm fine. But General, this must be the first time you've been poured so much liquor. You should drink a bowl of detox soup later."
From Gu Bei's perspective, Murong Jing seemed on the verge of collapsing to the ground, unable to rise. It was hard to believe he could move forward with such an odd gait.
The two Drunkards chatted all the way back to the camp, but a letter jolted them awake from their drunken stupor.
"Is this from Liu Chancellor?" Gu Bei asked as he took the letter, tearing it open.
His subordinate confirmed with a nod.
Reading through it quickly, Gu Bei handed the letter to Murong Jing, who was equally curious. After glancing at it, a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Gu Bei.
"It seems fortune is on our side," Murong Jing said, returning the letter with an uncontrollable joy in his tone.
Gu Bei nodded. "With Liu Chancellor willing to assist us, our chances of success have increased significantly."
That was still a conservative estimate; in reality, with Liu Chancellor's help within the court, their plan to topple Murong Cheng was nearly guaranteed.
"The situation has reversed; it seems my royal brother won't be pleased for much longer," Murong Jing said, his eyes sparkling like fireflies. "This time, we will surely reach the pinnacle."
Things that do not belong to you will ultimately have to be returned, no matter how much you manage to seize them.
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