Iron Fist

Inside the open pavilion, Gu Chengyin was left alone once again.

Sipping his wine, he cast his gaze outside the pavilion.

Under the night sky, the gardens of the Cui Estate, illuminated by the intertwining glow of lanterns and moonlight, possessed a uniquely tranquil and profound charm.

However, Gu Chengyin knew that beneath this tranquility, Cui Shifan was likely in some study or secret room, urgently summoning his trusted aides, issuing orders, and deploying manpower.

Just as Cui Shifan had said, some people were overreaching.

The newly risen aristocratic families in Luodu, who had built their power through commerce, possessed staggering wealth, and their ambitions had swelled accordingly.

They were beginning to extend their tentacles toward land and resources, even attempting to influence the imperial court's affairs.

The Second Prince had coincidentally provided them with a seemingly legitimate entry point.

Emperor Luo's approval of the memorial for this pilot site selection was not only to set up an arena to temper Luo Zhao, but also to lay a trap.

Once those wealthy merchants and magnates poured their real silver and gold into it, building Shuishan City into a model and thinking they could promote it on a large scale...

The iron fist of the feudal emperor would instantly crash down upon them.

In the face of imperial power, wealth was nothing more than crops waiting to be harvested at any moment.

And if someone was going to suffer the iron fist, naturally, someone else stood to profit from it.

The earlier one knew, the faster one could act.

And the faster one acted, the more they could gorge themselves at this grand feast.

Gu Chengyin had not told Luo Zhao about this.

Emperor Luo had appointed him as the Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince for the sake of instruction.

But he had never claimed that he would be an unreservedly loyal minister and virtuous teacher.

Not to mention, this sole student of his clearly harbored ulterior motives and might one day turn into a rebellious disciple who would turn against his master.

It would be best if he could hypnotize and control him again, but he couldn't put all his eggs in one basket.

The Cui family was a very good target to befriend.

...

The morning sunlight filtered through the exquisite window lattices of Qingshan Courtyard, casting a dappled glow on the floor.

A faint, fresh scent of vegetation permeated the air, occasionally accompanied by the crisp and melodious chirping of birds.

Gu Chengyin woke up on the soft bed and rubbed his forehead.

Last night, Cui Shifan had used the excuse of going to pacify someone to leave the waterside open pavilion, and he never returned.

Gu Chengyin was well aware of his true intentions and did not mind at all.

After finishing his wine, he had enjoyed the night view alone in the pavilion for a while before returning to Qingshan Courtyard to rest.

It was a dreamless night with no interruptions, a rare moment of peace and quiet.

Gu Chengyin got up and methodically washed and changed his clothes.

Once he was ready, he pushed open the gate of Qingshan Courtyard and walked out along the slightly damp bluestone path in the early morning.

A pretty figure was already waiting at the corner of the corridor ahead.

The faint morning light outlined her silhouette with exceptional clarity.

Cui Zilu was not wearing a cumbersome dress today. Instead, she had changed into a fitted, waist-cinching martial outfit designed for ease of movement. It shimmered with a soft luster in the sunlight, retaining a young girl's delicate beauty while adding a touch of valiant spirit.

Her long black hair was not styled in a complicated bun; rather, after being carefully combed, it was woven into two exquisite braids on either side.

These eventually gathered into two lively ponytails draping over her shoulders, the ends tied with small bows made of matching silk ribbons.

She stood there, her head slightly tilted, seemingly admiring the dew-kissed flowers in the flowerbed outside the corridor.

The morning sun shone down on her unreservedly, coating her in a pale golden halo.

Her small face was fair and translucent, her eyes bright and spirited, and the corners of her mouth were slightly turned up, bearing a natural innocence and vitality.

She looked like a plump, vibrant fruit bathed in the morning light, radiating energy and brightness from head to toe.

When Gu Chengyin's figure appeared at the courtyard gate and walked toward her, Cui Zilu's eyes instantly lit up.

She immediately stood up straight, her hands dutifully folded in front of her.

Gu Chengyin approached and naturally raised his hand, treating her like a close junior.

He rubbed Cui Zilu's neatly combed head, causing her twin ponytails to sway slightly.

When did you get here? Why didn't you call for me?

Gu Chengyin's tone was familiar and casual, carrying the languor of having just woken up.

Cui Zilu's cheeks flushed slightly from his head-rubbing, but she felt inexplicably delighted in her heart.

She raised her smiling face, revealing neat white teeth, and replied in a crisp voice:

I just arrived! I haven't been waiting long at all!

The senior maid Xiaodie, standing half a step behind Cui Zilu, couldn't help but sneak a peek upon hearing this answer.

She muttered inwardly: Eldest Miss, your just arrived is certainly early enough. Knowing your grounding was lifted, you woke up at the hour of Yin, tossing and turning to get washed and dressed.

Just picking out clothes and doing your hair took nearly two hours. You ran over here to wait before the sky was even fully bright, and you've been waiting for almost an hour...

However, Xiaodie only dared to think this in her heart; she didn't dare to say a single word of it aloud.

Gu Chengyin smiled and played along with Cui Zilu's words, saying, That's good. I was worried you'd get bored waiting too long. Let's head out, then.

Mhm! Cui Zilu nodded vigorously, the smile on her face growing even more radiant as she followed closely by Gu Chengyin's side.

The two of them walked together toward the main gate of the Cui Estate.

Unlike yesterday's shabby arrangement, today's procession was noticeably much more luxurious.

A spacious and sturdy carriage was already waiting at the door.

The driver was an old coachman with a calm and steady expression.

Beside the carriage impressively stood four guards dressed in matching martial outfits, long sabers at their waists. Their eyes were sharp, and their temples bulged slightly.

Their auras were deep and condensed, and they stood ramrod straight. At a glance, it was clear they were well-trained experts, absolutely incomparable to ordinary household servants.

This was evidently Cui Shifan's arrangement.

Since he had decided to let Cui Zilu openly accompany Gu Chengyin out, the appropriate pomp and security measures naturally had to follow.

The two boarded the carriage. The interior was spacious and comfortable, lined with thick, soft cushions, and supplied with tea and pastries.

To the Left Minister's Estate, Gu Chengyin instructed the coachman.

Yes, sir.

The coachman complied, cracking his whip with a light shout, and the carriage started smoothly.

The four guards vaulted onto their horses, two in front and two behind, escorting the carriage as it headed toward the Left Minister's Estate.

The Left Minister's Estate.

After a full day of searching, the estate appeared somewhat messier, but also more solemn and quiet.

In the main hall.

Zhu Qi and Wang Gangfeng were sitting on chairs, waiting for Gu Chengyin's arrival.

Compared to Wang Gangfeng, who was resting with his eyes closed, Zhu Qi seemed a bit restless. Finally, unable to hold back, he asked:

Lord Wang, I heard that Marquis Gu was attacked by assassins on his way here yesterday?

Wang Gangfeng didn't even lift his eyelids, merely letting out a faint hmm from his nose.

It served as an acknowledgment of the fact, but he clearly had no interest in discussing it further.

Zhu Qi met with a soft rebuff but wasn't discouraged, continuing to press:

Then afterwards, did Marquis Gu go to the Shangguan Estate? Lord Wang, you were there at the time, right? What exactly happened?

Wang Gangfeng finally lifted his eyelids and cast a mild glance at Zhu Qi, his tone flat and unrippled:

Head Catcher Zhu, you can ask Marquis Gu about these matters when he arrives. It is inconvenient for this official to say too much.

His attitude was clear: he didn't want to get involved in this gossip, nor did he want to explain or broadcast anything on behalf of Gu Chengyin.