Chapter 60: The Determined Candidate of the Imperial Palace

  Wan Zhen'er indeed doted on Gong Sun Qian, and the courtyard that Gong Sun Qian brought me to this time was not the same one where he had put me in a sack and given me a surprise last time.

  This courtyard is located in the suburbs of Beijing and covers a vast area. The building structure is magnificent, if not explicitly stated, I would have thought that this was the mansion of some prince.

  The plaque above the gate is made of gilded bronze, over two feet high and more than one zhang wide.

  Above the plaque, it was written in bold characters: "The Mansion of the Duke of Yu Ding".

  Are you Lord Yu Ding? Are you Marquis Yu Ding?

  My face changed color, and I asked: "Are you Lord Rude?"

  Gongsun Dogzi smiled slightly and replied: "It was just last year that His Majesty conferred it."

  "Why didn't I know about it? Such a big thing was sealed last year?" I asked.

  In the past, Wan Zhen'er repeatedly asked Emperor Lao Er to grant Gong Sun's father, Gong Sun Xing, the title of Marquis. However, this matter was eventually dropped due to strong opposition from civil and military officials.

  The enfeoffment of this lord is a very strict procedure. Only those who have made great contributions on the battlefield are eligible to become candidates for the title of lord.

  At that time, the Wei State Duke Xu Da, who helped Emperor Taizu conquer the country, his son, followed Xu Da to the battlefield and made merits, but had not yet enjoyed the title of Marquis.

  Gongsun Dog Thief, was it that he killed countless enemies or helped the old emperor find back the elixir of immortality?

  "When the Emperor's edict was issued, it was proclaimed to the whole world. How could you have never heard of it?" Gong Sun's face showed a hint of surprise.

  "I spend all day within the compound, without stepping out of the gate; how would I know where to go?"

  Kongwugou may be a secluded paradise, but it's not isolated from the world. On the contrary, major events in the outside world wouldn't escape Master's ears.

  The master is a successor of Guiguzi, and the disciples of Guiguzi are all famous.

  For over a thousand years, the Quigu Zi school has produced twenty-three prime ministers, one hundred and seventy-five generals, eleven famous doctors, forty-eight politicians, seven astrologers, and thirty-six martial arts masters.

  The disciples of these people, added together, are beyond count.

  The Kui Valley has its own intelligence organization and institution, which was established by the descendants of the disciples of the Kui Valley.

  The power of Guiguzi's school was so strong that it made the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang uneasy at the time.

  When I was staying in the Empty Mist Valley, Master didn't mention that Gong Sun had been conferred as a Marquis. Was it because my memory is bad and I forgot? Or did Master intentionally keep it from me?

  The moment I stepped into the Ruzhonghou Mansion, I almost thought that the starlight was acting up again.

  The phrase "dazzling dog eyes" is not enough to describe my mood at that moment, and being stunned along with my little partner is also not enough to describe my mood at that moment.

  At that moment, I was completely confused.

  Only see the beautiful trees and lush flowers, a stream of clear water flows from the depths of the flowers and trees to the stone crevices below. A few more steps forward, gradually turning northward, flat and wide open, with flying eaves and carved windows on both sides, all hidden among the mountains and trees.

  Looking down, I see the green stream flowing with jade, stone steps piercing the clouds, white stones forming a railing, embracing the pool, three stone bridges, and beasts' mouths spouting water.

  This is not a marquis's mansion, it is even more luxurious than a prince's mansion, and even more resplendent.

  The emperor's sons were all killed by Wan Qian'er, they didn't have the good fortune to enjoy this treatment, but instead let Gong Sunqian, an outsider, reap the benefits.

  Wan Zhen'er is so generous to Gong Sun Qian, could it be that she wants Gong Sun Qian to inherit the throne of the Great Ming Dynasty?