Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 275: Chapter 166: Rather Offend the World Than Betray You Chapter 275: Chapter 166: Rather Offend the World Than Betray You Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Gu Changsheng looked toward the strong and tall figure beside her with uncertainty and surprise.

Zhou Mu remained unmoved, his stature as resplendent as the bright moon. Seeing her looking over, he gave an almost imperceptible smile to signal her to continue observing.

Gu Changsheng blinked her large eyes once, and then again, hesitated for a moment before focusing her gaze on the Small Quadrilateral Stele.

The entire Gold Token was no larger than the size of a palm, and the nine nine-clawed golden dragons occupied a considerable space, making the Small Quadrilateral Stele only slightly larger than a one-Yuan coin.

The text on the stele was even smaller. Even with Gu Changsheng’s extraordinary eyesight, she had to squint and concentrate hard to make out the words.

“All descendants of the Zhou Family…” She had barely read the first line when her eyes widened. All descendants of the Zhou Family?

Heavens! Descendants…?

Gu Changsheng suppressed her surprise, focused, and continued to read in a low voice, “All descendants of the Zhou Family who can inherit my will, expand territory, and surpass my military achievements, may uphold this command, regard the command as my presence, to manifest your exceptional distinction.”

As she looked further down to the signature, Gu Changsheng’s voice dropped so low that only she and Zhou Mu could hear it.

“Zhou… Yuan…?”

Zhou Mu nodded, “Indeed, my ancestor!”

Gu Changsheng’s lips twitched once, then again, and she stared at him as she said word by word, “Ancestor?”

Seeing her so astonished, Zhou Mu shook his head helplessly, took the Imperial Gold Token from her hand, and placed it into the pocket over her chest, his voice calm and as gentle as the breeze, “The Founding Ancestor of the Zhou Dynasty, my ancestor’s name, is indeed what is written on that Gold Token.”

As a descendant of the Founding Ancestor, even Zhou Mu had to observe the taboo of not repeating the Founding Ancestor’s name, so he did not repeat it.

Gu Changsheng swallowed hard, her mind a little dizzy, and pointed to her chest, “So… this… is the Imperial Decree of the Founding Ancestors?”

Zhou Mu patted her head and nodded, “Indeed, genuine.”

Gu Changsheng suddenly felt a heavy weight over her chest and recalled the Imperial Stele Inscription she had just seen, muttering to herself, “Whoever can inherit my will, expand territory, and surpass my military achievements, may uphold this command…”

In a moment, Gu Changsheng indecorously tiptoed and, to the horror of everyone present, yanked at his collar, “Damn it, Zhou Mu! This couldn’t be something you’ve stolen, could it?”

Shouldn’t items left by ancestors be enshrined in the Ancestral Temple, attended with constant incense and fresh fruits?

If you say Zhou Mu meets the requirements of upholding the command, Gu Changsheng does not believe it!

In her heart, Zhou Mu was but twenty years old. Even as a Great General and a War King, he still could not meet the extremely stringent condition of “surpassing the Founding Ancestor’s military achievements”!

That’s the Founding Ancestor!

Good heavens!

A wry smile curved Zhou Mu’s lips, his hands covering the pair of delicate ones grabbing his collar as he soothed her softly, “Don’t worry, I didn’t steal this. The Imperial Clan’s temple where this Imperial Gold Token was enshrined is a Nine-Layer high sanctuary, and even with my invincible martial arts, theft is not such an easy feat.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze burning as she stared at the man before her, beautiful as an Exiled Immortal, outshining the sun and the moon, and began to speak, “So then?”

“So, this is something I’ve rightfully demanded,” Zhou Mu said, his gaze serene as he slowly took Gu Changsheng’s hand from his collar and held it in his large, powerful palm.

“Hm?” A hint of skepticism flickered in Gu Changsheng’s eyes.

“I started learning at the age of nine, led troops on expeditions, and within one year, recaptured Liaodong, expanded the Mongolian border, spending more than ten consecutive years in saddle without dismounting. Every border of the Zhou Dynasty bears the marks of my iron hooves, annexing the Southern Border, pacifying chaos in Southern Yunnan, the Four Kingdoms paying tribute. The current expanse of the Zhou Dynasty’s territory, half of it is due to my efforts–it’s only natural to live up to the words ‘expand territory and surpass ancestral achievements.’

As she listened to Zhou Mu’s voice, Gu Changsheng’s mouth opened wider and wider.

She felt as though she was meeting the man before her for the first time!

In her understanding, Zhou Mu was a War King with tremendous martial exploits, the Undefeated War God of the Zhou Dynasty, an almost divine presence in the hearts of the common people.

That he could abandon Southern Fujian a second time without blame from the people of the Liuzhou Region, who continued to bow and worship as always, and she thought it was because of his high reputation from a decade of managing Liuzhou.

But she never expected…

That his merits could be so outrageously high.

Expand territory? Surpass the Founding Ancestor’s achievements?

It was not until this moment that Gu Changsheng realized that the man who had indulged and doted on her endlessly was actually so powerful!

In front of her, he could get injured, fall into a deep sleep, be picky with food, act spoiled, be clingy…

She thought, like her, he was merely a person!

At this moment, she finally understood that even if both were human, there was a difference…

And the difference was so vast, it was as if one soared high above the clouds, unreachable, worthy only of admiration, and one as insignificant as dust, like her…

Suddenly, a pain in her hand snapped Gu Changsheng back to reality.

“My love, with a lifetime of achievements bestowed upon you, you need not bow down anymore, is that not good?” Zhou Mu’s eyes smiled, his brows lifted, his lips curved as if he was a child seeking praise.

The haze in her heart instantly dispersed, and Gu Changsheng looked at the proud man before her, helplessly sighing deeply.

Seeing her not answering, Zhou Mu shook her hand, insisting on repeating the question, “Is it not good?”

To be granted a lifetime of achievements so that she need not bow down?

Gu Changsheng looked down, suddenly feeling a sour sensation in her eyes.

He sniffled and blinked his eyes before Gu Changsheng lifted his head again, the light dancing in his eyes as he smiled like summer blooms. His crimson lips slightly parted as he solemnly uttered one word.

“Yes!”

She accepted! She accepted the honor he traded for her pride, not needing to bend or bow; she accepted his unconditional gift, feeling rightfully entitled and guilt-free!

Because she accepted him!

No longer always thinking that they owed each other nothing! No longer meticulously counting every little thing!

The next moment, Zhou Mu’s lips slowly curled into a smile.

Amidst the astonishment of the kneeling crowd, that charming and captivating grin widened more and more…

“Ha ha…”

The deep and rich laughter, laced with inner strength, clearly reached everyone’s ears…

It made people’s hearts tremble ever so slightly.

That indescribable joy flowed from their ears straight into their hearts, making everyone relax…

“With the Heaven and Earth as witnesses, and all the commonfolk as observers, I, Zhou Mu, would rather betray the world than fail you!” Zhou Mu was so wise; when Gu Changsheng heard him speak of his lifelong distractions, he could feel her confusion, but of course, he could also feel her acceptance and relief.

The sound was clear and reached the skies.

“Long live His Highness Prince Mu, long live forever! Long live the County Princess Consort, long live forever!”

“Long live His Highness Prince Mu, long live forever! Long live the County Princess Consort, long live forever!”

When Gu Changsheng came back to her senses, she heard the thunderous calls of longevity washing over like a tidal wave.

“What County Princess Consort? I haven’t agreed to marry you yet!” She shrugged off Zhou Mu’s hand, her face flushed with a rosy hue.

I’d rather betray the world than fail you, good! Very good!

Dominance exuding, truly formidable! She liked it!

In two lives, never having been moved or touched, Gu Changsheng felt at that moment a sense of fulfillment brimming in her chest, as if it might explode any second.

Perhaps, she traversed a thousand years, spanning time and space, just to meet him…

“This Prince will always wait for the day when you willingly put on your bridal gown. The title of County Princess Consort is something they wanted to shout; it has nothing to do with this Prince.” Zhou Mu imitated her shrug, as if it were none of his concern.

Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Would they have shouted like this if you hadn’t roared about betraying the world rather than failing me?”

Zhou Mu nodded gravely, “This only proves that they are smart enough to know the heart of this Prince. Shouting this way indeed wins the favor of this Prince.”

Taking one of her hands, Zhou Mu continued, “County Princess Consort… County Princess… It does sound quite pleasant to the ears…”

A smile slowly spread across Gu Changsheng’s face as she gave him a glare full of feigned annoyance.

Yuan Bao shyly stepped forward, tugging at her skirt with a voice soft as a mosquito, “Um… County Princess Consort, about the imperial edict, will you accept it or not?”

Amid the public gaze, could these two be so oblivious?

They were still kneeling and watching!

Yuan Bao unconsciously rubbed his knees; they were starting to hurt…

Gu Changsheng shook Zhou Mu’s hand off, and with an understanding, he shook his broad purple sleeve and proclaimed loudly, “You may all rise!”

“Thank you, His Highness Prince Mu, long live! Long live the County Princess Consort!”

Under the lead of a group of loyal followers, the voices of the onlookers were surprisingly unified, as if they had rehearsed it countless times, rolling off their tongues smoothly…

Gu Changsheng’s mouth twitched at the repeated call of County Princess Consort, itching to give the leading loyalists a good thrashing each!

The deal wasn’t even set, at most the ink had just been ground, and they were blindly making a fuss!

It was truly a case of the Emperor not being in a hurry while the eunuch died of anxiety!

But now was clearly not the time to educate them. Gu Changsheng turned to Yuan Bao and asked, “Yuan Bao, where has the imperial edict been sent?”

She hadn’t seen any eunuch reading the imperial edict…

Yuan Bao pointed towards Liuzhou City, “The eunuch pronouncing the edict is at the Gu Family Old Residence in the city waiting.”

Gu Changsheng was stunned, “Isn’t the Old Residence being renovated? No one’s living there, it’s nothing but bricks and rubble. Why would they deliver the edict there?”

Yuan Bao wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head, “I don’t know either. When I went to see, the eunuch was standing in front of the old site of your Medical hall, and Uncle Song was busy arranging the incense and offerings. With back and forth, it has been two Shichen Chinese Time.”

“Then what are we waiting for, hurry up and get back. If they become impatient for waiting too long and tear down the half-built house I finally managed to get started on, what then?” With the Imperial Gold Token from the Founding Ancestors as her amulet, Gu Changsheng felt a weight off her shoulders, finally free from kneeling; the feeling was simply too wonderful!

“I’d need three times the guts!” He vividly remembered ordering Yuan Bao to commission a pair of lifelike and awe-inspiring Suan Ni Beast Stone Carvings to guard her home.

Gu Changsheng recalled the Suan Ni Beast Stone Weights too. She had seen them as soon as they were carved, imposing indeed. With them as guardians, she believed even if the eunuch grew impatient, he wouldn’t dare demolish her nest!

“Prepare the horses, I’m going to accept the edict,” Gu Changsheng instructed Yuan Bao.