Orthodoxy

Gu Chengyin gave a sound of acknowledgment, slid the dagger back into its hidden compartment, pushed open the carriage door, and stepped out.

The palace gates were brightly lit and heavily guarded.

The towering main gates were tightly shut; only a side door meant for emergency passage was open.

The Golden Royal Guards stood before the door holding halberds, their gazes as sharp as eagles.

Beside the side door, a pale, beardless eunuch was already waiting.

He had been craning his neck in anticipation, but when Gu Chengyin's figure emerged from the carriage's shadow and was fully exposed to the light, the eunuch's eyes instantly widened. His mouth fell slightly open, and the calm expression on his face shattered, replaced by absolute horror.

Gu Chengyin was covered in blood and grime, his clothes in tatters, with multiple tears revealing bloody, mangled wounds beneath.

His face was as pale as paper, his lips cracked and bloodless. His footsteps were unsteady as he walked, his body swaying slightly as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

Looking like this, how did he resemble a triumphant new noble of the imperial court?

He clearly looked like a refugee who had just crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!

Oh, my heavens!

The eunuch subconsciously cried out and hurriedly trotted forward to meet him. However, he stopped a few steps away from Gu Chengyin, terrified of accidentally hurting this critically injured man.

He steadied his nerves, suppressing the shock in his heart, and forced out a respectful but extremely cautious smile as he bowed.

Your servant Huang Jing, under the orders of Eunuch Lu, is here to welcome the Marquis of Bingjian and guide you into the palace for your audience.

Marquis Gu, you... what happened to you?

Huang Jing's gaze swept over Gu Chengyin, his voice trembling.

Gu Chengyin twitched the corners of his mouth, wanting to form a dismissive smile, but he drew in a sharp breath of cold air as if pulling on his wounds. Then, he spoke in a tone laced with weakness and helplessness:

Can't Eunuch Huang tell? I was assassinated.

Sigh, I didn't want this either. Looking like this is truly an eyesore and a breach of decorum.

But the oral decree was to enter the palace immediately to see His Majesty, without delay.

His Majesty's will is heaven itself. Delaying even for a moment would be defying the decree.

I could only force myself to come as I am.

These words explained his current appearance, pointing out that he was ordered to enter the palace immediately.

He shifted the blame away from himself and took the opportunity to play the victim.

Huang Jing had indeed harbored some thoughts of reminding Gu Chengyin to clean up and change his clothes first.

At the very least, he shouldn't go see His Majesty covered in blood; that would be too disrespectful.

But upon hearing Gu Chengyin bring up words like enter immediately and defying the decree, he instantly swallowed the words that had just reached his lips. A layer of fine sweat even broke out on his forehead.

That was right! Grand Secretary Yuan had personally delivered the oral decree, and it explicitly said immediately! Who would dare ask Marquis Gu to delay?

If His Majesty was kept waiting because he went to change clothes and clean up, that crime would be far more severe than lacking decorum before the emperor!

Marquis Gu is right! You are right! It was your servant who was inconsiderate!

Huang Jing hastily bowed to apologize, his attitude even more respectful and cautious. Marquis Gu, please follow your servant.

He stepped aside to clear the path, made an inviting gesture, and then walked half a step ahead, quickly lowering his voice:

Her Highness has already arrived, but His Majesty has not summoned her yet. The imperial physicians are waiting in the side hall.

This single sentence contained a massive amount of information.

Not only did it reveal Luo Zhao's location and status, but it also disclosed that imperial physicians had been summoned.

This meant that the Luo Emperor intended to see Gu Chengyin first before summoning Luo Zhao for an audience.

Gu Chengyin understood clearly in his heart and replied in an equally low voice, Thank you for the heads-up, Eunuch Huang. I will remember this favor.

Huang Jing quickly waved his hands, acting with a bit of caution and flattery, Marquis Gu is too serious. Your servant is acting under Eunuch Lu's orders. If Marquis Gu wants to remember a favor, remember Eunuch Lu's.

Gu Chengyin revealed a sincere smile on his face and said earnestly:

Whether it is Eunuch Lu or Eunuch Huang, I will remember both.

Hearing this, a trace of irrepressible joy appeared on Huang Jing's face. He bent his waist even lower and repeatedly said:

I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare.

The intention having been conveyed, Gu Chengyin said no more. This was where the importance of having connections inside the palace became apparent.

Sometimes, knowing or not knowing a single sentence could lead to vastly different outcomes.

After walking in silence for a while, Gu Chengyin suddenly asked:

Eunuch Huang, when did Grand Secretary Yuan enter the palace?

Huang Jing did not stop his steps, but he was clearly rapidly weighing the significance of this information.

A moment later, he replied in the same hushed tone:

To answer the Marquis, Grand Secretary Yuan entered the palace when you were heading to the Shangguan Estate.

Gu Chengyin's eyes narrowed slightly. This meant...

He had just set out, and the Luo Emperor already knew what he was going to do.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have so accurately chosen Yuan Zhengqing to deliver the message.

Gu Chengyin asked again, And what about Grand Secretary Xiao?

As if knowing what Gu Chengyin was worried about, a knowing smile flashed in Huang Jing's eyes.

This time he didn't hesitate and immediately replied:

Rest assured, Marquis Gu, Grand Secretary Xiao has not entered the palace.

Gu Chengyin nodded and asked no more, silently following Huang Jing through the palace corridors.

At this moment, his mind began to calculate rapidly.

The current situation was: the Crown Princess's Palace wanted to flip the table on Xiao Song and the entire Xiao clan.

But Xiao Song neither wanted the Xiao clan's table to be flipped, nor did he want to be taken down himself.

Meanwhile, the Luo Emperor and Cui Shifan only allowed the Crown Princess's Palace to take down Xiao Song the individual, but forbade them from flipping the Xiao clan's table.

The three parties each had their own schemes and interests, weaving together to form this complex and dangerous situation.

Causing this scene with Shangguan Yuan was meant to guide the death of Xiao Bichang toward taking the fall for Xiao Song, and then drag the entire Xiao clan down with them.

Ultimately, Luo Zhao would present the chain of evidence compiled by the Crown Princess's Palace, and coupled with catching them red-handed, deliver the final killing blow.

Only, it was suddenly interrupted by the Luo Emperor stepping in. However, this also indicated...

The Luo Emperor had already sensed the intentions of the Crown Princess's Palace, and even guessed that it was his scheme.

Summoning him to the palace immediately seemed like a show of concern on the surface, but was it actually a warning? Was it a redrawing of boundaries?

A cold light flickered in Gu Chengyin's eyes. From the looks of it now, the Luo Emperor was an unfathomable man.

To temper Luo Zhao, he hadn't hesitated to personally lay out a plan and throw her into the desperate situation in Luoshui Commandery, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of rebels.

However, one could tell he had held back and hadn't forced her into absolute death.

But after returning to the Divine Capital, layer upon layer of oppression and trials continued endlessly.

And although Luo Zhao was beautiful, had an outstanding temperament, held an exalted status, had large breasts and long legs, and possessed fair skin and gorgeous looks...

Her only true praiseworthy virtue was her forbearance.

He could see this, and the Luo Emperor could see it just as well.

Yet even so, he still went to such great lengths to cultivate her.

There was only one reason.

Luo Zhao was the legitimate heir.

The only Crown Princess destined to inherit the empire of Great Luo.

Under Great Luo's system of imperial power, the word legitimacy was greater than everything else.

After all, that so-called Second Prince was nothing but...

Wait.

A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Gu Chengyin's mind.

He abruptly grasped a certain key point that had always been overlooked.

He seemed to know why the Luo Emperor had summoned him.