"For the sake of caution, the Department of Officials dispatched a special commissioner with official documents to verify his origins at the hometown recorded in his files."
"However, after repeated investigations by the local authorities and visits to the village elders, they found no such household and no such person!"
"The records in his file are completely false, fabricated out of thin air!"
Xiao Maoqing's voice suddenly rose, carrying a trace of righteous indignation:
"This Gu Chengyin is of unknown origin, and his identity is a mystery!"
"He suddenly appeared by Her Highness's side, then experienced a meteoric rise, directly entering the central government, holding multiple posts and wielding great power!"
"Such actions cannot help but arouse suspicion! It is the duty of the Department of Officials, just in case, to prevent foreign spies and individuals with ulterior motives from infiltrating our dynasty and endangering the state."
"Therefore, in accordance with legal procedures, we requested the assistance of the Golden Imperial Guards to intercept him on Vermilion Bird Street and bring him back to the Department of Officials for a formal investigation!"
These words packaged the Department of Officials' actions in a high-sounding manner, making them completely compliant with legal procedures, and even pointed the finger at him being a spy, suddenly escalating the severity of the issue.
"After several consecutive days of careful, meticulous, and repeated investigation and evidence gathering by the Department of Officials, we still cannot find any true and valid identity information for Gu Chengyin!"
With the groundwork laid, Xiao Maoqing revealed his true intentions, his voice becoming even more impassioned:
"Because this person has a special status, shouldering heavy responsibilities such as instructing the Crown Princess and advising on confidential matters!"
"The authenticity of his identity is no longer a trivial personal matter; it actually concerns the foundation of the state and affects the hearts of the court and the public!"
"Therefore, I boldly beseech Your Majesty to conclude this identity verification case first! To set the record straight."
Finally, Xiao Maoqing suddenly raised his head, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes, and said resoundingly:
"Your Majesty! If Gu Chengyin truly has issues and is a person with ulterior motives!"
"Then for such a treacherous sycophant who deliberately forged his identity to approach the Crown Princess and intended to damage the foundation of our Great Luo."
"According to the laws of Great Luo, he should be punished for treason!"
He practically roared the last four words:
"I believe."
"He should be executed immediately!"
"Only in this way can we make an example of him and deter scoundrels."
"To manifest the strictness of our dynasty's laws, maintain the majesty of the royal family, and secure the stability of the state!"
"Hiss!"
Inside the grand hall, a collective sound of gasping echoed instantly!
Ruthless! Too ruthless!
All that prior buildup about legal procedures and high-sounding words of concern for the country, so this was the ultimate goal.
Xiao Maoqing, or rather the Xiao clan behind him, did not want to wait a single second longer.
What they wanted was to take advantage of the seemingly fatal loophole of Gu Chengyin's unknown identity.
To directly characterize him as a treasonous spy in the royal court, through the mouth of Emperor Luo.
And then execute him on the spot!
As long as Gu Chengyin, this game-breaker who charged into enemy lines, died, Luo Zhao's offensive would inevitably be thwarted.
After all, among the people around Her Highness, he was the only one who could truly be called a foundational pillar of support.
What a move to pull the firewood from under the cauldron, what a ruthless and fatal trap.
Countless gazes instantly turned toward Emperor Luo on the imperial throne, then stealthily glanced at Luo Zhao beside him.
Luo Zhao's expression did not change in the slightest, but her hand, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, tightened slightly.
A moment later, from the dragon throne, came Emperor Luo's flat voice, revealing neither joy nor anger:
"What Director Xiao says is not without reason."
As soon as these words came out, many officials who supported Xiao Song or remained neutral felt a glimmer of hope rise in their hearts.
Could it be that His Majesty really intends to...
But Emperor Luo's next words left their newly risen hopes hanging in the balance again:
"The identity of an official concerns the foundation of the royal court and indeed must be clear."
"Since Gu Chengyin is the Junior Preceptor to the Crown Princess, he should set an example and clarify his origins."
Emperor Luo tilted his head slightly and called out, "Lyu Fang."
Lyu Fang, who had been waiting on the side, immediately bowed. "Your servant is here."
"Go, bring Gu Chengyin up."
"I want to personally hear what he has to say."
"Your servant obeys."
Lyu Fang received the order and immediately turned to walk toward the side door of the grand hall, his figure quickly disappearing.
The wait was not long, but in this tense atmosphere, every second seemed stretched.
Finally, the side door opened again.
Lyu Fang walked out first, followed by the tall and straight-postured Gu Chengyin.
Hundreds of gazes instantly focused on him like searchlights.
Gu Chengyin's face was calm. His gaze quickly swept across the grand hall, paused slightly on the stepping-forward Xiao Maoqing, and then he understood.
So this guy was leading the vanguard; no wonder Emperor Luo summoned him so quickly.
Xiao Jie was sinister enough, making a deal with him on the surface and telling him to stay silent.
Yet now, the very first strike was aimed at him.
Since that was the case, holding back anymore would mean he wasn't showing them proper respect.
Gu Chengyin sneered in his heart, calmly walked to the bottom of the imperial steps, and solemnly bowed to Emperor Luo on the dragon throne:
"Your subject Gu Chengyin pays respects to Your Majesty."
Emperor Luo's profound gaze fell on Gu Chengyin, examining him for a moment before slowly speaking:
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Chengyin straightened up and stood with his hands by his sides.
Emperor Luo looked at him and cut straight to the chase:
"Gu Chengyin, regarding the Department of Officials' accusations against you."
"Do you have any defense?"
Everyone pricked up their ears, their hearts in their throats.
Under the watch of countless gazes, Gu Chengyin raised his head, faced Emperor Luo, cupped his hands, and said loudly:
"To reply to Your Majesty."
"I have no defense."
As soon as these words were spoken, let alone the people in the court being stunned.
Even Luo Zhao was stunned. This was not what they agreed upon yesterday.
Didn't he say he was going to the Wanxiang Pavilion to find an immortal cultivation family to fake an identity? Why was he not defending himself now?
She completely didn't understand what kind of play Gu Chengyin was putting on.
Wouldn't having no defense be equivalent to admitting the Department of Officials' accusations?
If things developed like this, he would be dragged out of the hall and executed on the spot.
After all, this was during the morning assembly, not a private place where roundabout mediation was possible.
Gu Chengyin's next words plunged the thoughts of all the civil and military officials in the court into complete stagnation.
"I am indeed not a native of Beihe City in Luoshui Commandery, and I am absolutely not from a humble or rural background."
Buzz...
Low murmurs spread from the corners of the hall like a tide.
The eyes of the officials in Xiao Song's faction were filled with wild joy after their initial astonishment.
Has this Gu Chengyin gone mad? To actually admit to the crime of deception at such a critical juncture?
Several old censors from the Censorate were already stroking their beards, preparing to step forward and bitterly denounce him for deceiving the sovereign.
Standing beside the jade steps, under Luo Zhao's wide black sleeves embroidered with golden phoenix patterns, her fingers tightened slightly.
Deep within her phoenix eyes, which always harbored frost and snow, a look of inquiry flashed past.
What was certain was that Gu Chengyin was definitely not someone willing to surrender.
By saying this, he must be planning to turn the tables using an unexpected method or angle.
So what exactly was this audacious man plotting?
Gu Chengyin didn't seem to notice the strange atmosphere filling the hall at all; he just looked candidly at Emperor Luo and continued:
"However."
Changing the subject, his voice was suddenly tinged with a layer of heavy bitterness:
"I had my bitter reasons for doing this."
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
