Of Course I'll Help You

The wind on the palace path froze at this moment.

Luo Zhao's fingers tightly gripped her sleeves. In her cold, aloof phoenix eyes, stormy waves were currently surging.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say "I can," wanting to say "Imperial Father is in his prime," wanting to say "there are still loyal ministers and capable generals"...

But all the words caught in her throat, dissolving into a silent tremble.

Gu Chengyin did not rush her, merely watching her quietly.

Watching the layer of solid ice in her eyes shatter inch by inch, revealing the true panic and confusion beneath.

He knew what this kind of shock meant to this Crown Princess who had been protected under someone's wing since childhood.

But if this shell wasn't broken, she would never truly mature.

After a long while, Luo Zhao finally seemed to find her voice, asking hoarsely, "Why is it..."

"Why is it the Second Prince?"

Gu Chengyin finished the second half of her sentence for her, taking a half-step back to create some distance.

"Your Highness, the current imperial court is being suppressed by His Majesty."

"Those veterans, they won't, nor do they dare to disrespect you."

"Like old turtles in a deep pool, they know when to pull their heads in, when to stretch their claws, and when to swim with the current."

"As for the Second Prince, although he isn't a good person either, for now, his methods are still a bit immature and too eager for quick success."

Luo Zhao's brows furrowed slightly, clearly puzzled by this assessment.

Gu Chengyin saw through her confusion and explained, "When I say immature, I mean compared to those veterans."

"For example, if the gentlemen of the Grand Secretariat were to push a similar policy, they would never use such straightforward and crude language."

"They would carefully package it, giving it a high-sounding title that even makes them seem worried about the country and the people, such as..."

At this point, Gu Chengyin suddenly paused, the corners of his mouth curling up as if he had thought of an amusing example.

But then he shook his head and changed the subject, "This is not important, let's not talk about this for now."

"The logic is actually very simple. If Your Highness can't even handle the Second Prince, how will you deal with those veterans?"

Gu Chengyin looked at Luo Zhao, his eyes turning deep. "So, this is an arena His Majesty has specially set up for you, just like in Luoshui Commandery."

"And the memorial is the preview."

Gu Chengyin's tone slowed, comforting her:

"However, Your Highness does not need to be overly anxious about this. Shuishan City will not amount to much anytime soon."

"Since His Majesty dared to set up this arena, he naturally has the confidence to control the situation."

"We just need to focus on the matters at hand."

Luo Zhao listened quietly, the halo of the palace lanterns casting a small shadow under her long eyelashes.

Gu Chengyin's words were like a comb, slowly untangling the chaotic threads in her mind.

The intense emotions gradually settled, replaced by a gradually reviving clarity.

Yes, Imperial Father was still here.

As long as he was around, the sky of the Great Luo would not fall.

Her panic and loss of composure just now were perhaps exactly what Imperial Father wanted to shatter.

To shatter the shell of a Crown Princess who had been protected too well, so much so that she lacked an understanding of true storms.

Luo Zhao took a deep breath. The cool air rushed into her lungs, causing her to shiver slightly, but also making her more clear-headed.

Her tightly clenched fists slowly loosened, the stinging pain in her palms reminding her of the weight of reality.

She no longer insisted on returning to the warm pavilion, nor did she press for other details.

Luo Zhao slowly turned around, facing the direction of the palace exit once again.

She lifted her foot and took a firm step forward.

Gu Chengyin followed silently.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, walked on the silent palace path once more.

The sound of their footsteps echoed in the emptiness, intertwining with the faint sound of palace bells and drums in the distance.

The thrilling analysis just now seemed like nothing more than a brief interlude on this long palace path.

But Luo Zhao knew that some things were already different.

The way she viewed Luo Yanchen, the way she viewed the political situation in the court, and even the way she viewed her own responsibilities and circumstances had all quietly changed.

The outline of the palace gates appeared ahead, the lanterns hanging on the gate tower exceptionally striking in the night.

The armored guards stood solemnly in the light and shadow like statues.

Just as she was about to reach the palace gates, Luo Zhao suddenly stopped.

She did not look back. Her back was drawn perfectly straight under the palace lanterns, carrying her unique aloofness.

The night wind blew past, lifting a few strands of hair at her temples.

With her back to Gu Chengyin, Luo Zhao suddenly spoke, her voice very soft:

"You will help me, won't you?"

Gu Chengyin's footsteps also stopped.

He looked at Luo Zhao's straight back, his face devoid of any surprise.

He did not answer immediately, but instead looked up at the massive plaque above the palace gates.

The plaque with the two characters Xuanwu written on it.

Only then did he speak in a calm, rippleless tone:

"Your Highness, my current identity is the Junior Preceptor to the Crown Princess."

Luo Zhao's back stiffened for a moment, but quickly relaxed again.

She did not press further, nor did she look back; she merely gave a soft response of acknowledgement.

Then she lifted her foot and, without further hesitation, walked steadily toward the Xuanwu Gate.

Outside the palace gates, the luxurious carriage belonging to the Crown Princess waited quietly, the driver and the attending female officials standing respectfully with their hands down.

Luo Zhao walked straight toward the carriage with a composed pace, restoring her usual cold, arrogant demeanor that kept others thousands of miles away.

Gu Chengyin stood in the shadows inside the palace gates, watching her figure board the carriage.

The curtain fell, cutting off the line of sight between the inside and outside.

Only then did he mutter to himself:

"Of course I will help you."

Gu Chengyin silently added the second half of the sentence in his heart:

"But the prerequisite is that you are hypnotized."

Thinking of this, Gu Chengyin shook his head somewhat helplessly.

This damn broken system. If he had known the mind control from hypnosis was so soft, he would have baited out Luo Zhao's dispel ability before making his move.

Before hypnotizing her next time, he had to make absolutely thorough preparations.

Gu Chengyin stopped looking at Luo Zhao's carriage. Instead, he turned around and glanced back at the layered palace halls behind him.

Under the veil of night, the imperial palace was dotted with lights, solemn and tranquil, like a slumbering giant beast.

During this visit to the palace, Emperor Luo basically did not ask about anything else.

All his energy was focused on that memorial concerning Shuishan City, as well as the appointments and guidance for Gu Chengyin and Luo Zhao.

This meant that everything currently happening in the Divine Capital was within this emperor's control.

At the same time, he had tacitly approved of Gu Chengyin's actions.

In contrast, it was Luo Zhao's immaturity that gave Emperor Luo more of a headache and urgency.

So much so that as soon as the memorial was presented, he couldn't wait to summon the two of them into the palace, forcibly tearing open a corner of this cruel reality for Luo Zhao.

So just how wonderful was Luo Zhao's mother who passed away early, to make Emperor Luo love the child so deeply for the mother's sake?

He pulled back his thoughts.

Gu Chengyin scanned the waiting carriage area outside the palace gates but did not see the Cui Manor's carriage.

It seemed that after Cui Zilu went to the Left Vice Minister's manor to deliver the message as he instructed.

He was indeed caught and taken back by the people sent by Cui Shifan.

Gu Chengyin's gaze shifted, landing on the Crown Princess's carriage that was slowly turning around.

He immediately strode toward the carriage.

Both the driver and the female officials recognized Gu Chengyin. Although somewhat surprised, no one dared to stop him.

Gu Chengyin jumped onto the carriage, reached out quite naturally, and pulled open the heavy curtain.

Inside the carriage, Luo Zhao leaned against the soft cushions, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the intricate gold embroidery on her sleeves.

A heavy solemnity clouded her brow as she continued to digest the overwhelming amount of information she had received that night, pondering her future strategies.

Suddenly, the curtain was swept aside. The chill of the night wind and a sudden figure intruded into the private space at the exact same time.

Caught off guard, Luo Zhao's train of thought was abruptly broken.

The innate authority of the crown heir made her instinctively want to lash out in anger.

Who dared to be so audacious as to barge into her carriage unannounced?

Yet, just as the fury surged in her chest, a familiar command echoed in her mind.

Take me to the Cui Manor.

Her movements, her words, and even the sheer rage on her face instantly froze at this directive.

It felt as though a long time had passed, yet it was also merely a fleeting second.

Luo Zhao averted her gaze, looking toward the empty space in the carriage, and instructed the air,

"Change course. Head to the Cui Manor."