Chapter 732
Hu Yang's crushing defeat actually frightened Gongsun Kang to the point of amnesia?
Hearing the congratulations from his ministers, Gongsun Kang felt even more delighted and laughed heartily a few times:
"My dear ministers, there's no need for formalities. We won't discuss politics today. Come, drink this cup of wine with me!"
Before he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.
Upon seeing this, the officials in the hall also tilted their heads back and drank the wine in their cups in one gulp.
They then bowed and said in unison:
"Thank you for the wine, Your Majesty!"
Gongsun Kang sat upright in the hall, slightly tipsy, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below:
"Guards, summon those two to the palace to perform."
As soon as he finished speaking, the attendant outside the hall responded and left. Before long, he led the two women slowly into the hall.
The two women were slender and graceful, their movements light and elegant, their clothes fluttering gently, exuding a natural charm.
The person on the left is holding an ebony pipa, while the person on the right is dressed in a plain long-sleeved dance dress. When she walks, the hem of her skirt lightly sweeps the ground, like flowing clouds.
Gongsun Kang raised his hand to signal, "Let's begin."
The two women responded in unison, "Yes."
The pipa player slowly took three steps back, found a soft cushion in the hall, sat down, placed the pipa horizontally on her lap, lightly touched the strings with her fingertips, and paused to breathe.
The dancers on the other side spun around, raised their hands to gather their sleeves, and assumed their dancing postures, waiting for the music to begin.
Suddenly, a clear and melodious string sound broke the silence in the hall.
The pipa player lightly plucked the strings, causing them to vibrate, and a melodious and graceful tune flowed out.
As the music rose and fell, the dancers slowly unfurled their long sleeves, their figures swaying gracefully. With each flutter of their sleeves, they moved like a fleeting shadow, their steps as light as if they were walking on clouds.
In an instant, the entire hall was enveloped in the beautiful music and graceful dance.
Everyone in the hall held their breath, their eyes fixed on the two people in the hall, completely absorbed in this audio-visual feast.
The song and dance lasted for half an hour. When the last note of the string slowly faded away, the dancers stopped, stood still, and curtsied. The pipa player also stopped playing and bowed her head in greeting.
The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause.
Seeing this, Gongsun Kang smiled with satisfaction, picked up the wine cup on the table, and tilted his head back to drink another cup.
A hurried, panicked shout suddenly came from outside the hall, shattering the tranquility inside:
"It's terrible! Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
The smile on Gongsun Kang's face vanished instantly, replaced by anger.
Such a pleasant moment can be completely ruined if someone abruptly disturbs it!
He slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, shouting:
"What's the matter with your panic, disturbing my enjoyment?"
Everyone fell silent, too afraid to utter a sound.
Before he finished speaking, a servant rushed in, stumbled into the hall, and nearly fell to the ground.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
The servant knelt on the ground, unable to utter a complete sentence.
Seeing this, Li Xu quickly stepped forward, gestured for the attendant to stop, and said:
"What's the panic? The sky isn't falling. Tell me slowly, what exactly happened?"
The attendant, having calmed his breathing somewhat, reported:
"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from the front lines; it's a message from a scout!"
"What news?"
Fearing that Gongsun Kang would be angered, Li Xusheng preemptively asked further questions.
The servant gritted his teeth and said with all his might:
"The scouts report that General Xu Kuo's 40,000-strong army... has been completely annihilated!"
The four words "the entire army was wiped out" resounded like a thunderclap in the hall.
For a moment, the hall was deathly silent.
The joy and comfort of the moment vanished, replaced by endless shock and panic.
Everyone stared in disbelief, their faces filled with astonishment.
After the servant finished speaking, he was already trembling with fear, kneeling on the ground, not daring to even breathe.
The annihilation of 40,000 troops was a catastrophic disaster, and Gongsun Kang, in his fury, would surely take his anger out on him.
Those who come to deliver this message will likely face certain death.
Gongsun Kang's body stiffened abruptly, and the color drained from his face instantly.
He stared intently at the servant, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word. Suddenly, everything went black before his eyes, and his body involuntarily fell backward.
"Your Majesty!"
A gasp of surprise rang out from the throats of everyone in the hall.
Li Xu reacted the fastest, swaying slightly as he stepped forward to catch Gongsun Kang before he was about to fall.
The crowd gathered around, but no one dared to speak easily; they simply looked at Gongsun Kang with tense expressions.
After a long while, Gongsun Kang finally came to his senses, grabbed Li Xu's sleeve, and asked:
"Where is the Crown Prince? How is he?"
Upon hearing this, the kneeling servant quickly raised his head and reported:
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is well! He is on his way back to the capital and will arrive soon!"
"Really?"
A glint of light flashed in Gongsun Kang's eyes, as if he had grasped at a lifeline.
"This servant would not dare to deceive Your Majesty; every word I have said is true!"
The servant immediately kowtowed.
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Kang's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and a trace of color returned to his face.
Although the 40,000-strong army is gone, the crown prince is still alive, so there is still hope.
Seeing this, Li Xu quickly gave an order to his attendants:
"Explain in detail, how was the Crown Prince able to escape?"
"Reporting to the Prime Minister,"
The attendant said slowly:
"During yesterday's battle, the Crown Prince was accidentally wounded by the Han army, and his injuries were quite serious."
"General Xu Kuo was worried about the safety of the Crown Prince and feared that he might encounter another mishap, so he immediately ordered his trusted soldiers to escort the Crown Prince back to the capital to recuperate. Therefore, the Crown Prince did not stay in the army and was able to escape. He is now on his way back to the capital."
After hearing this, Gongsun Kang breathed a long sigh of relief, his heart finally at ease.
Li Xu glanced at Gongsun Kang, then said in a deep voice to the attendant:
"You have already reported this matter. You may leave now, but you must not spread it around. Otherwise, you will be executed without mercy!"
"Here!"
The servants, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude and scrambled out of the hall, fearing that staying even a moment longer would bring trouble.
Silence returned to the hall. Li Xu looked down at Gongsun Kang beside him.
His eyes were glazed over, his expression dazed, still immersed in the devastation of the army's annihilation.
He swallowed hard and asked softly:
"Is Your Majesty alright? Would you like to return to the inner palace to rest for a while?"
Gongsun Kang slowly raised his head, looking blankly at Li Xu, and asked in a hoarse voice:
"Prime Minister, tell me... what should I do now? Forty thousand troops have been wiped out, General Xu Kuo has died in battle, and the future is uncertain. I... I really don't know what to do."
Li Xu's heart sank as well.
He never expected Gongsun Kang to lose his composure like this, and was caught off guard, immediately stunned for a moment.
But he was, after all, a veteran minister who had served Gongsun Kang for many years, and he quickly recovered and said with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, at this point, panicking will be of no use."
"The most urgent task is to send someone to escort the Crown Prince back to the capital as soon as possible and ensure his safety. As long as the Crown Prince returns safely, we will still have the confidence to discuss countermeasures at a later time."
A glint of light flashed in Gongsun Kang's eyes, and his blank gaze hardened.
"Yes, the Prime Minister is absolutely right. The Crown Prince is of utmost importance; he must not be allowed to suffer any further mishaps!"
Li Xu turned around, his gaze slowly sweeping over the group of military officers below the steps, and said in a loud voice:
"Which general would be willing to go and escort the Crown Prince back to the capital?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the military officers below were all stunned, looking at each other blankly, and no one responded.
With 40,000 troops wiped out and the road ahead fraught with peril, no one dared to rashly accept orders.
After all, they were there to escort the crown prince, and they might encounter the remnants of the Han army on the way. If they were not careful, they would be doomed. So the palace fell silent for a moment.
Just then, a general in a corner of the hall shouted:
"This humble general, Hu Yue, is willing to escort the Crown Prince back to the capital and ensure his safe return!"
Everyone turned to look and saw a somewhat delicate-looking military officer slowly walking out.
Li Xu's gaze fell on Hu Yue, and he immediately asked:
"Are you really willing to go? The road ahead is treacherous, and there may be unforeseen circumstances. You need to think it through carefully."
Hu Yue raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on Li Xu and Gongsun Kang:
"This humble general is willing to go. I am worthy of your bounty and will serve you faithfully. The safety of the Crown Prince is of utmost importance. Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will protect the Crown Prince!"
"it is good!"
Gongsun Kang immediately said:
"Hu Yue, listen to my command! You are hereby ordered to lead two thousand elite cavalrymen and set off immediately, traveling day and night, to meet the Crown Prince. There must be no delay whatsoever!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Hu Yue responded loudly, kowtowed again, and then stood up.
The cavalry surged out of the city, and Hu Yue led two thousand cavalrymen at breakneck speed away…
Inside the hall, everyone's original enjoyment of the banquet had been completely disrupted, and there was no longer any joy left.
Li Xu glanced at Gongsun Kang, who was still in a daze beside him, then looked at the restless officials below the steps, and cautiously stepped forward, lowering his voice to ask:
"Your Majesty, with so many things in turmoil, should the banquet continue?"
He asked twice in succession, but Gongsun Kang remained dazed, staring blankly ahead, and did not reply for a long time.
Li Xu sighed inwardly, knowing that Gongsun Kang was in a state of great mental turmoil and that it was not appropriate to disturb him further. He then turned to the assembled officials below and said loudly:
"Your Majesty has been working hard for days and has been frightened today. He is exhausted. Gentlemen, please return to your residences and rest as soon as possible. We can discuss this matter again tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, all the officials felt as if they had been granted a general amnesty. They immediately stepped forward, bowed, and took their leave in unison.
"We take our leave. May Your Majesty rest in peace."
Afterwards, everyone turned and left, leaving only Li Xu and a few servants, as well as the still absent-minded Gongsun Kang.
After all the officials had left, Li Xu walked to Gongsun Kang's side and gently called out:
"Your Majesty, everyone has left. Is Your Majesty alright?"
Gongsun Kang remained standing in the same spot, his gaze vacant and his eyes empty, as if his soul had left his body, and he did not respond to Li Xu's calls.
Li Xu grew increasingly worried, sighed softly, then raised his voice and called out again:
"Your Majesty!"
This call finally pulled Gongsun Kang back from his reverie.
He shuddered slightly, slowly turned his head, and looked at Li Xu with a dazed expression, as if he had just woken up from a nightmare.
Li Xu stared at him and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty is in very poor condition and is restless. It is not advisable for you to remain in the main hall any longer. I will escort Your Majesty back to your bedchamber to rest."
Gongsun Kang did not refute, but simply nodded slightly, his eyes still dull and lifeless.
Li Xu hurriedly stepped forward, carefully supporting his arm, and slowly walked towards the outside of the hall.
Li Xu helped Gongsun Kang back to his bedchamber. After settling him down, he dared not slacken his efforts and immediately ordered his attendants to summon the imperial physician to examine and treat Gongsun Kang.
The imperial physician rushed over and carefully took Gongsun Kang's pulse.
Li Xu stood to the side, his eyes fixed on the imperial physician's expression, his heart filled with anxiety.
Seeing the imperial physician's furrowed brow, her heart leaped into her throat, and she couldn't help but hurriedly ask:
"Imperial Physician, how is the King's pulse? Is there anything seriously wrong?"
The imperial physician slowly withdrew his hand, his brow gradually easing, and bowed to report:
"Prime Minister, rest assured, His Majesty is not seriously ill. It's just that he has been working hard these past few days, which has made him restless. He was also hit hard by the sudden defeat of the army, which caused him to be overwhelmed with anger and mental distress."
"Your Majesty only needs to rest well for one night. Tomorrow, I will brew another medicine to regulate your qi and blood, and calm your mind. After Your Majesty takes it, you will surely feel better."
The huge weight on Li Xu's heart finally lifted, and he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Thank you for your help, Imperial Physician. Please go and get the medicine and prepare it as soon as possible. Please take good care of His Majesty."
"Follow the order."
The imperial physician bowed and agreed.
Li Xu then carefully instructed the attendants to take meticulous care of the king and not to be negligent in the slightest, before leaving...
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, there was a gradual movement inside the sleeping quarters.
Gongsun Kang awoke from his deep sleep, his eyes still somewhat dazed. The fear and grief of the previous night still lingered in his mind, refusing to dissipate.
Hearing the commotion, the imperial physician who was guarding outside the hall rushed in. Seeing that Gongsun Kang had already woken up, he was overjoyed and immediately bowed in greeting.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. How are you feeling today?"
At the same time, he carefully handed a bowl of warm medicine to Gongsun Kang:
"Your Majesty, please take your medicine."
Gongsun Kang glanced down at the bowl of medicine, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, his brows furrowing slightly:
"What's going on with this medicine? I'm not sick, why should I take medicine?"
At this moment, he had no recollection of the many changes that had occurred the day before, nor did he remember that he had fainted.
The imperial physician hurriedly bowed and reported:
"Your Majesty, last night in the palace, Your Majesty was so overwhelmed with anger and fainted upon hearing the news of General Xu Kuo's army being wiped out."
"It was the Prime Minister who was concerned about Your Majesty's safety and summoned me overnight to take Your Majesty's pulse and treat you. This bowl of medicine was prepared by me for Your Majesty, specifically to regulate your qi and blood, calm your mind and stabilize your spirit, and help Your Majesty recover your spirit."
As he spoke, he briefly recounted the events of the previous night to Gongsun Kang.
Gongsun Kang looked somewhat bewildered, as if recalling the events of last night, but he couldn't remember anything.
So he didn't ask any more questions, took the medicine, frowned, and then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
After a short while, the medicine gradually took effect, and Gongsun Kang felt his fatigue dissipate considerably, and his previously muddled mind became much clearer.
Just then, a servant entered the hall, bowed, and reported:
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li Xu requests an audience."
Gongsun Kang nodded slowly and said:
"Let him in."
"Here."
The attendant responded and withdrew.
A short while later, Li Xu walked in, bowed respectfully, and said:
"Your subject Li Xu greets Your Majesty."
Gongsun Kang looked at Li Xu and asked:
"My dear minister, why have you arrived so early today? Is there something important that you need to discuss?"
Li Xu raised his head and said worriedly:
"Your Majesty, I have no urgent business. It's just that Your Majesty suddenly fainted last night, and I was extremely worried, unable to sleep all night. Therefore, I came early this morning to visit Your Majesty and see if Your Majesty's condition has improved today." (End of Chapter)