newbobooks Chapter 470 This person's cunning far surpasses that of Duan Yunzhou.
Chapter 470 This person's cunning far surpasses that of Duan Yunzhou.
Just as tensions were running high, the sound of thunderous hooves came from afar.
"Stop!" Duan Qingye's voice boomed through the night sky.
Duan Yunzhou turned around and saw Duan Qingye riding towards him. He panicked immediately: "Father! Why are you here? Why didn't Mother keep you here?"
After dismounting, Duan Qingye stepped forward and kicked Duan Yunzhou to the ground, yelling, "You bastard!"
"Father, please let me explain!" Duan Yunzhou knelt on the ground, his voice trembling.
Just then, the sound of orderly footsteps suddenly came from all around.
A large number of imperial guards poured in from all directions, led by none other than Chief Eunuch Li, who was Zheng Lin's personal eunuch.
Steward Li read out the imperial edict in a shrill voice: "By order of the Emperor, Duan Yunzhou has obstructed diplomatic relations between the two countries and shall be severely punished!"
Gu Junze had already secretly sent Yun Ge'er away, sending him to the palace to ask Zheng Lin for help, and incidentally giving Zheng Lin a way to control Duan Qingye.
Duan Qingye wants to protect Duan Yunzhou, but he will have to bleed...
Duan Yunzhou's face turned deathly pale: "Who dares to touch me? I am the son of the Great General!"
Duan Qingye stepped forward and slapped Duan Yunzhou across the face, knocking him to the ground: "Stupid and wicked! Guards, seize this traitor!"
"Father! Father, save me!" Duan Yunzhou knelt down and begged for mercy, "Your son knows he was wrong!"
At this moment, Chief Steward Li announced loudly, "By imperial decree of the King of Zheng! The envoy from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Lord Gu, has been frightened. We have been specially ordered to escort Lord Gu and his entourage to leave Zheng safely. No one is allowed to obstruct us!"
Duan Qingye stood still, showing no intention of making way, and looked at Gu Junze with a complicated expression.
Gu Junze looked at him coldly: "What, is General Duan going to try and stop us?"
Duan Qingye remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly: "You had anticipated all of this, hadn't you?"
"Anyone who dares to harm my wife and children will have to bear the consequences." Gu Junze's eyes flashed with cold light.
Duan Qingye looked at Duan Yunzhou, who was being held captive by the Imperial Guards, and then at Gu Junze, whose face was filled with determination. He felt a mix of emotions.
He really couldn't bear to part with his son; Gu Junze was just too outstanding...
Just at this critical moment, another rapid sound of horses' hooves came from afar, breaking the solemnity of the night.
"Stop! Stop it all!"
The newcomer's voice was clear and resonant, yet carried an undeniable urgency.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Duan Yunfan, dressed in brocade robes, galloping towards them on horseback. He dismounted and quickly scanned the scene before him.
Duan Yunzhou, escorted by the Imperial Guards, looked utterly disheveled.
The father, Duan Qingye, stood there, his face ashen, without uttering a word.
Chief Steward Li, holding an imperial edict and with an arrogant expression.
And Gu Junze, whose face was ashen and whose murderous aura had not yet subsided.
A tremendous sense of powerlessness instantly gripped Duan Yunfan; the Duan family had been forced into such a predicament.
However, he only lost his composure for a moment before quickly regaining his composure, even managing a smile as he strode forward.
"Brother Junze, what's going on?" Duan Yunfan first cupped his hands to Gu Junze, his tone deliberately relaxed, as if the tense scene before him was just a common misunderstanding.
"My elder brother must be up to his old tricks again, trying to play a joke on you as a farewell gift!"
Upon hearing this, even Steward Li glanced at him slightly, thinking to himself that this second young master was quite shameless.
Upon hearing this, Duan Yunzhou grasped at a straw and hurriedly shouted, "Yes, yes... I was just joking with him!"
Duan Qingye stared coldly at Duan Yunfan without saying a word.
He understood perfectly well that with the imperial decree issued, Duan Yunzhou was doomed today, and Gu Junze was determined to leave, and he would do so in a way that would disgrace the Duan family.
Duan Yunfan turned to Steward Li and bowed again: "Steward Li, my elder brother didn't study much and got used to being wild in the military camp. He acted rashly and offended Lord Gu, causing trouble for Lord Gu and the court."
"I apologize to Lord Gu on his behalf, and I ask Steward Li to put in a good word for my Duan family before the Emperor."
He then turned to Duan Qingye: "Father, my elder brother's actions were indeed absurd, but I suppose he was misled and confused for a moment."
"The most important thing right now is to escort Lord Gu out of the country safely, so as not to damage the diplomatic relations between the two countries."
After speaking, Duan Yunfan looked at Gu Junze again, his expression extremely sincere: "Lord Gu, today's events are all due to the lack of discipline in my Duan family. To express our apology and to ensure the safety of Lord Gu and his party on their journey, my Duan family army is willing to personally escort Lord Gu all the way to the border of Zheng Kingdom."
"If Lord Gu ever needs the Duan family army in any way, the entire Duan family will do our utmost, even at the cost of our lives!"
These words carried weight and authority, representing both a humble stance and a veiled gesture of goodwill and promise.
Gu Junze watched Duan Yunfan's performance with a cold eye, his mind perfectly clear.
These words, seemingly an apology and a show of weakness, were actually Duan Yunfan's decisive move to sacrifice a pawn to save the king after realizing the situation was beyond repair, and an attempt to buy the Duan family a last glimmer of hope.
They were escorted to ensure their departure, and the phrase "willing to die for them" was used to hint at a possible future.
"Young Master Duan is indeed a man of great principle." Gu Junze's tone was unreadable.
Duan Qingye looked at Duan Yunfan with a complicated expression.
He was utterly disappointed in Duan Yunzhou, this son who was foolish, reckless, ruthless, and incompetent.
Duan Yunfan, under such circumstances, was able to quickly calm down, flatter and fawn, yet his words were full of hidden wit.
This ruthlessness and sense of responsibility filled him with mixed emotions.
The future of the Duan family may truly rest on the shoulders of their unassuming second son.
Seeing this, Steward Li cleared his throat: "Since General Duan and Young Master Duan have both said so, it is time for me to report back."
"By imperial decree, Lord Gu must be escorted to safety, and no one is to be allowed to fail in his duty."
Duan Qingye took a deep breath and finally slowly stepped aside to make way for him.
He didn't look at Gu Junze or Duan Yunzhou again, but simply waved his hand, signaling the Imperial Guards to take Duan Yunzhou away.
"Father! Father! Your son knows he was wrong! Father!" Duan Yunzhou's cries grew fainter and fainter.
Gu Junze gave Duan Qingye a deep look, then glanced at Duan Yunfan, who stood respectfully with his head bowed to the side. Without saying anything more, he turned and helped Chu Ruohan walk toward the carriage that had been prepared.
The torches outside the post station still burned brightly, illuminating the people who were all preoccupied with their own thoughts.
The carriage slowly started moving and, escorted by Duan's army, drove away from the capital of Zheng.
Chu Ruohan nestled close to Gu Junze and whispered, "That Duan Yunfan is not simple."
Gu Junze gazed at the fleeting night view outside the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful: "Hmm, this person's cunning surpasses Duan Yunzhou's by a hundred times."
"Today's actions may seem like a complete loss of face, but in reality, they are protecting the Duan family. He is a ruthless character who can bend and stretch."
His opinion of Duan Yunfan became more complex at this moment.
The troubles in Zheng State have been temporarily averted, but the future of the Duan family, a behemoth, especially figures like Duan Yunfan, remains uncertain.