Cultivation Family

"This humble official is here." Shangguan Yunying immediately bowed.

"Organize Junior Preceptor Gu's analysis from just now, as well as our agreed-upon response strategy, into concise key points."

"Then, go find Grand Secretaries Cui and Yuan to brief them."

"Listen to their thoughts, especially Cui Shifan. His understanding of Xiao Song far exceeds ours; he might have deeper insights."

"Remember, you are only to brief them and listen. The final decision rests on what Junior Preceptor Gu and I have agreed upon."

Luo Zhao specifically emphasized briefing and listening, showing respect and a willingness to cooperate while firmly holding onto the ultimate decision-making power.

At the same time, sending Shangguan Yunying to communicate with the Grand Secretaries instead of letting Gu Chengyin go directly showed a sense of proportion. This stemmed both from professional considerations and a subconscious desire to keep the talented young man and the beautiful young woman apart.

Shangguan Yunying blinked. Though somewhat surprised by the task, she did not question it and responded crisply,

"Understood, Your Highness. This humble official will go at once."

She bowed respectfully to Luo Zhao and Gu Chengyin, turned around, and withdrew with brisk steps.

Watching Shangguan Yunying's figure disappear, Gu Chengyin withdrew his gaze, turned to Luo Zhao in the main seat, and asked in confusion,

"Your Highness, this matter concerns the foundation of our response in tomorrow's court session and involves a deep prediction of Xiao Song's intentions."

"Wouldn't it be better if I went to communicate with them?"

He wasn't doubting Shangguan Yunying's abilities, but rather speaking from common sense.

For such a crucial strategic briefing, his personal involvement would undoubtedly better ensure the accuracy of the information and the completeness of their intentions.

Luo Zhao picked up the slightly cool teacup beside her, feeling the smooth porcelain with her fingertips, and did not look up at his words.

She merely shook her head faintly.

"Junior Preceptor Gu worries too much. Yunying is meticulous and articulate; she will certainly have no trouble relaying the main points. Besides..."

She raised her eyes, looking calmly at Gu Chengyin. "Your current status is a prisoner awaiting trial by the Department of Purified Officials."

"If you were to make a big show of personally visiting the Grand Secretaries' residences to discuss countermeasures right now, it would inevitably give people cause for gossip once word gets out."

"Xiao Song's faction is already struggling to find an excuse to attack us. Wouldn't this be handing them a weapon? Accusing you of colluding on testimonies or secretly connecting with court officials would be getting off lightly."

"Therefore, to brief them on the strategy, Yunying is enough."

This reasoning was high-sounding and logically rigorous, entirely based on the overall safety and risk avoidance, leaving no room for fault-finding.

Hearing this, Gu Chengyin did not insist further.

Suddenly, Luo Zhao changed the subject, steering the conversation to a more sensitive area.

Though her tone remained plain, her phoenix eyes sharply locked onto Gu Chengyin:

"Speaking of which, regarding your identity, have you thought about how to handle it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to stagnate a bit.

Gu Chengyin's identity.

This was a sharp sword that constantly hung over Gu Chengyin's head, as well as Luo Zhao's heart.

Anyone who had come into contact with Gu Chengyin and witnessed his earth-shaking methods would have the same massive question lingering in their minds: Where exactly did this person come from?

Gu Chengyin's appearance was too abrupt, like a shooting star falling out of nowhere onto the chessboard of the Divine Capital, dazzlingly bright and unpredictably erratic.

He seemed like a rustic commoner, yet he possessed terrifying wisdom that saw through human hearts, foolproof military strategies, and an almost instinctive, profound understanding of court politics.

He was so formidable that it completely contradicted his age and blank past.

Facing Grand Secretaries who were veterans of the political sea, he could hold his own in strategic vision and adaptable responses.

In Luo Zhao's eyes, if not for Gu Chengyin's shallow foundation, his intellect and control alone were on par with her unfathomable father, Emperor Luo.

Such an enigmatic figure, without a sufficiently reasonable background to explain him, would inevitably become the most fatal point of attack in the Great Luo court, which heavily emphasized lineage and networks, especially during the perilous morning assemblies. Xiao Song would absolutely not let such an obvious loophole slip by.

Gu Chengyin did not answer immediately.

How could he not have pondered this question repeatedly?

Previously, backed by Luo Zhao's great tree, even if others were suspicious, most kept it to themselves or attributed it to a strange talent secretly recruited by Her Highness.

But this layer of cover was too thin; it could not withstand the scrutiny and deduction of someone with ulterior motives, especially someone of Emperor Luo's caliber.

The key to the identity issue lay not in what it was, but in the rationality of its appearance.

A person with no background, untraceable origins, yet possessing extraordinary abilities, was an anomaly in any rigorous political system, a target that must be either explained or eliminated.

Emperor Luo using Xiao Jie's hand to invite him into the Department of Purified Officials was likely an opportunity to investigate him, while also serving as a warning and a beatdown.

This massive pit had to be filled, and filled solidly, so that even if people suspected it, they would find it difficult to overthrow it openly.

He absolutely could not give that old schemer Emperor Luo, or any potential enemies, the chance to manipulate him using the same excuse again.

Gu Chengyin looked at Luo Zhao, a mysterious smile suddenly appearing on his face. He spoke slowly, carrying a strange sense of narrative:

"Your Highness, have you ever heard of... Immortals?"

Luo Zhao was taken aback by this abrupt question. She blinked her beautiful phoenix eyes, revealing genuine confusion and bewilderment in them:

"Immortals?"

She was certainly not unfamiliar with the term. It was mentioned in the Great Luo royal texts and folklore; cultivators pursued longevity and freedom, and the ultimate end was ascending to become an immortal.

Gu Chengyin sighed slightly, a trace of reminiscence and sincerity appearing on his face, and continued, "To be honest with Your Highness, I am indeed not a rustic villager from the outskirts of Beihe City. That was merely a temporary identity to deceive others."

"I actually come from a hidden immortal cultivation family unknown to the secular world. My family cultivates in seclusion, different from ordinary mortals, and has not appeared in the world for thousands of years."

Having laid the groundwork up to this point, he shifted the topic again, looking at Luo Zhao with burning eyes, and said with utmost sincerity:

"This time, I entered the mortal world to travel, broaden my horizons, and comprehend the secular realm."

"I happened to travel to Beihe City and, by a stroke of fate, had the privilege of seeing Your Highness's celestial countenance."

At this point, Gu Chengyin's tone took on a hint of adoration. "Your Highness's demeanor is peerless and independent, radiantly brilliant, like the bright moon of the nine heavens descending to the mortal realm."

"Your speech and bearing, your wisdom and decisiveness, your heart for the common people of the world, upon seeing you, I was deeply shaken and felt infinite reverence and yearning."

Luo Zhao's heartbeat involuntarily skipped a beat when she heard the latter words.

Even though logically she was one hundred percent certain that Gu Chengyin was spouting nonsense, when he spoke such direct words of praise, and even confessed his feelings in such a solemn tone, the impact still exceeded her expectations.

Especially Gu Chengyin's focused gaze, which seemed to truly contain some deep emotion.

"I felt like old friends with Your Highness at first sight, and an uncontrollable admiration rose in my heart."

Gu Chengyin's tone became even more earnest. "Therefore, upon learning that Your Highness was in danger, I did not hesitate and decided to abandon my travels."

"I resolutely came to join Your Highness, willing to use all the knowledge in my heart to assist you, achieve great deeds, and cleanse the world."

Luo Zhao: "......"