Chapter Seven, Beggar Hong Qi

Gu Cheng walked slowly towards the backyard; although there were still several hundred meters to go, he could already hear the sounds of fierce clashes and the whistling of arrows coming from afar

Gu Cheng felt extremely distressed. He wandered around the kitchen and suddenly his nose twitched, catching a faint odor.

Hong Qigong, oh Hong Qigong, you have grown old yet still sneakily indulge in the Mandarin Duck Five Delicacies in the palace, and now, in your youth, you are brazenly stealing the Eight Treasure Soup from my royal residence. While others learn throughout their lives, you seem to have mastered the art of thievery for a lifetime!

Indeed, this person cannot be described as dignified; he has thick black eyebrows and large hands and feet, currently leaping and soaring among the guards.

Hong Qixiong's chest heaved violently as he deeply gazed at Gu Cheng for a moment: "Your Excellency has a keen eye, may I ask which disciple you are, that has become a hound of the court?"

This beggar is injured so severely; if he were in his prime, it would be unimaginable

Despite Hong Qiji's several attempts to break through, he was unable to succeed. Coupled with the burdens he carried, he unexpectedly found himself in a precarious situation

You

Some ability!

Finally, in a few days, Gu Cheng arrived at the kitchen under layers of protection. Looking at the trembling group of female cooks, he waved his hand and said, "You may leave now"

Gu Cheng, however, paid no attention to these servants. His previous stern demeanor was to prevent anyone from embezzling, yet he was unaware that during this time, it had already spread throughout the Wang residence that this master had suddenly become exceptionally wise, with a fair approach to rewards and punishments, as if he had undergone a complete transformation, leaving no room for deception.

The elite troops are ordered to disperse immediately, draw their bows and nock their arrows, surrounding Hong Qi with a fierce and watchful gaze

Even more exaggerated events followed. The governor reported the situation, and the experienced constables were quickly dispatched to investigate. Various inquiries were made, but to everyone's surprise, the Eight Treasure Porridge was stolen and consumed again seven days later

Unfortunately, it has been proven that outsiders cannot create miracles. The kitchen shows no signs whatsoever; everything is completely clean, and there are no clues left behind.

Having made a calculation in his heart, Gu Cheng stepped out of the kitchen and pointed at the last eunuch, saying: "Hang him up and expose him to the sun for three days"

Haha

If it were not for Gu Cheng consuming Eight Treasure Soup this month, refining his vital energy, and further enhancing his auditory and olfactory senses through magical cultivation, he would have absolutely failed to notice it

"Could it really be a master of lightness skill? Coming in to have a taste and then running away, which martial arts expert is so bored?"

The Eight Treasure Soup is crucial to his martial arts cultivation, and it must not be allowed to cease under any circumstances. However, the matter of the theft is escalating, and if any officials were to take advantage of it for the sake of indulging in gourmet food and pleasure, it would be quite unfortunate

The rogue of the rivers and lakes has fallen into the net

Strangely, Gu Cheng whispered a few words to the guard, and right outside the kitchen, he erected a pole, hanging the eunuch high up, his form emaciated and his bones protruding, looking extremely miserable

Gu Cheng looked at the thief, whose clothes were patched here and there, resembling a standard beggar's outfit, and couldn't help but sneer coldly

... ...

Gu Cheng raised his eyebrows, but looked towards the eunuch: "Who told you that you could bear his faults and prevent him from being punished?"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hong Qi'ao stood his ground, unafraid, until Gu Cheng淡淡ly asked: "Have you suffered internal injuries?"

National laws govern the country, while family rules govern the household

Alright, I will treat it as if nothing has happened. Does this thief think that the Jia Wangfu is easy to bully?

At this moment, Gu Chengfang spoke up: "I am the master of this Jia Wangfu, and the Eight Treasure Porridge you have secretly tasted was also prepared by me, intended for honoring my father and mother in the future and for nourishing their health"

The Song people were very particular about their diet. In wealthy families, every delicacy, seasonal dish, and exquisite vegetable was meticulously prepared, and nothing was lacking. The royal households were no exception.

The item is what I stole

However, ten days later, they knelt in the same place again

Everyone tiptoed out, and Gu Cheng looked at the kitchen, beginning to examine it carefully

Gu Cheng burst into loud laughter, the guards could not discern it, but Hong Qi's expression changed, feeling an invisible wave approaching him, and in a daze, he found himself becoming drowsy

However, his willpower was remarkably strong, quickly resisting the effects of the Soul Transference Technique, though that imposing aura inevitably weakened somewhat

Swish

"Yes!" The old eunuch received the order and withdrew. Gu Cheng's gaze was like lightning as he coldly swept over the kneeling servants: "Past offenses are forgiven, but if there are any further transgressions, be wary of your heads!"

Old beggar, oh no, it should be called little beggar

He followed the scent to the wall, looked up at the skylight, and a smile gradually formed at the corners of his mouth

"Thief, you are indeed clever. I do not blame you, but since you hold a position in the royal palace, you must take responsibility. Go and accept the family law!"

Previously, a leaf had obscured my vision, but upon receiving this reminder, a person suddenly sprang to mind

As the situation fluctuated, Hong Qi's once formidable momentum had diminished, his expression changing several times, and he ultimately clasped his fists and said: "Please, noble one, speak plainly!"

Gu Cheng then said: "Three days later, I originally planned to plow the courtyard and sweep the holes, to thoroughly eradicate and investigate all the bandit dens, big and small, within the city. However, since you came here tonight to save someone, it shows that you still have some conscience, so I will give you a chance to live!"

Gu Cheng paused for a moment and said aloud: "Stop!"

In such an encirclement, the person continued to charge left and right, with an arm still holding the eunuch rescued from the pillar, a square face filled with determination

At this moment, one truly looks ashen, completely devoid of hope

He glanced around and turned to leave

One must understand that this is the imperial capital, a place of great importance, where the guards are extremely vigilant. What kind of audacious thief has the courage to come here to steal, and possesses the skill to do so without anyone noticing?

The crowd, as if granted a great pardon, raised their voices in unison: "Your Highness, benevolence! Your Highness, benevolence!"

As they drew closer, they saw the torches standing upright like fire dragons soaring into the sky, surrounding a single individual in the center, encircled by nearly one hundred guards and constables.

... ...

As he witnessed the beggar's pair of fleshy palms unfold, each move was executed with great force and momentum, exuding a majestic and grand aura. It appeared simple and unadorned, yet it resembled the Milky Way hanging upside down, overwhelming and impossible to resist. Gu Chengxin silently praised in his heart, yet on the surface, he showed no sign of it, his expression as cold as water.

Although they are the elite of Lin'an Prefecture, in terms of individual strength, they are even inferior to the five-bag disciples of the Beggar's Sect. However, once they form a formation and occupy a wide terrain, with the external pressure of arrows, the wheel advantage they create is indeed quite formidable

Flipping through Zhao Kuo's memories, Gu Cheng realized that this fellow was someone who did not know how to enjoy himself. Precious ingredients had been accumulated, and he was just about to indulge in a feast when unexpectedly, he was robbed

This world has always been like this. Gu Chengxian had not imposed any punishment before, which instead caused those servants and maids to feel a deep sense of fear, worried that their master would settle accounts after the autumn, implicating their families. Now, they have finally found relief

Gu Cheng nodded, standing with his hands behind his back. Looking at Hong Qi again, a sense of control naturally arose: "I am now giving you, and the Beggar's Sect, an opportunity. Are you willing or not?"

Gu Cheng looked down at the trembling eunuch, his tone icy and filled with thunderous rage

That night, Gu Cheng was reading in his room when someone outside reported: "Your Highness, the thief has truly fallen into the trap!"

"Is this the smell that came in from here? Could it be..."

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion arose in the venue

The prevailing notion among those in the jianghu has always been to rob the rich and help the poor. Regardless of whether I am stealing or not, as long as the wealth ultimately reaches the impoverished families, it is considered a good deed. It seems that the riches of the wealthy families are merely seen as falling from the sky without any rightful claim.

However, it has been mentioned earlier that the royal family, as a model, cannot indulge in delicacies every day. Therefore, precious medicinal materials such as ginseng and snow lotus are allocated in fixed quotas each month

Indeed, although the tactics are old, they are quite effective against these chivalrous individuals of the martial world

However, now encountering the victim without speaking, the identity is none other than the current sovereign's only son, Prince Jia, the future emperor of the Song Dynasty, which could lead to great calamity

The guards, upon seeing their master appear, immediately felt invigorated.

One person may not be able to withstand the might of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, but it is of no consequence; even if one were to spit blood and retreat, they would soon be able to replenish their strength. Outside, there are continuously arriving elite troops, and arrows rain down like a storm, posing a significant threat

Since there are the Yellow Robe and the Nine Yin Manual, how could there not be him?

Due to the high quality of the ingredients within the palace, and the hygiene being beyond question, the foul odor is overshadowed by the fragrance, making it quite inconspicuous

Gu Cheng was furious, not only had the ingredients been lost again, but even a bowl of the prepared eight-treasure porridge had been stolen and drunk. It was simply lawless!

Since the constables are of no help, Gu Cheng has no choice but to take matters into his own hands

Gu Chengyu spoke in a calm manner, clearly stating that it was a punishment, yet none of the servants and guards around him were satisfied.

Good

The eunuch has been in a state of anxiety these days, having lost a considerable amount of weight. At this moment, upon hearing Gu Cheng's words, he instead breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to accept his bindings with composure: "This old servant has failed in his duties and deserves to be punished!"

At this moment, the eunuch had just awakened, immediately knelt on the ground, and said hoarsely: "Your Highness, out of your grace, please command someone to untie this old servant, to be fed and allowed to relieve himself every night. This old servant is deeply grateful and willing to accept the family rules!"

Are you saying that all the precious medicinal materials stored in my Jia Wang Mansion for a year have been stolen

Upon hearing these words, Hong Qi could not help but change his expression

Gu Cheng originally intended to seek the governor of Lin'an to arrest according to the law, but upon reconsideration, he thought it better to avoid unnecessary trouble. He summoned the old eunuch and said, "You take my imperial edict to the Eastern Palace and request this month's food supplies from the Empress Mother."

Hong Qi still wanted to speak, but Gu Cheng added: "Moreover, you might as well ask him if he is willing for you to save him"

Facing the furious gaze of Hong Qi, Gu Cheng spoke slowly and deliberately. He lived a life of privilege and had thoroughly studied the Daoist scriptures, which had begun to cultivate his imposing presence. At this moment, his tone carried an undeniable authority: "If I do not enforce the family rules, how will the hundreds of people in the Wang residence be governed in the future?"

This is simply a slap in the face to the court, and the governor of Lin'an is furious, increasing the number of guards to protect the royal residence, yet the thefts continue unabated

Hong Qiqiang placed the eunuch on the ground, his demeanor still imposing and dignified, refusing to yield or beg for mercy: "A beggar who offends a noble must face the consequences, but the beggar fears neither life nor death, come on!"