Suspended Again

Gu Chengyin didn't ask any further.

Instead, he let out a deep sigh.

[Shangguan Yunying]'s attitude was very clear: as long as he didn't touch Luo Zhao, he would still be her favorite person.

This also meant that he couldn't undo [Shangguan Yunying]'s hypnosis.

After all, the next person he was going to hypnotize was Luo Zhao.

"Let's go," Gu Chengyin said softly.

He turned and walked toward the outside of the side hall.

[Shangguan Yunying] followed closely behind him.

Moonlight spilled in from outside the corridor, spreading a layer of silver frost on the ground.

The shadows cast by the pillars were like the bars of a cage, cutting the space into alternating fragments of light and dark.

The female official on duty in the sleeping quarters heard the footsteps and emerged from behind a pillar. Seeing it was Head Steward Gu and Chief Shangguan, she hastily bowed in greeting. "Head Steward Gu, Chief Shangguan."

But before she could ask anything, Gu Chengyin had already spoken.

"The Chief and I have urgent matters to discuss with Her Highness. All of you may withdraw."

The female official looked troubled. "Head Steward Gu, Her Highness has already retired for the night. Do you think..."

Before she could finish, [Shangguan Yunying] took a step forward.

"Her Highness instructed that if there were urgent matters, she could be awakened directly. All of you may step down."

The female official lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

She turned and made a hand gesture toward the outside of the corridor, and the rustling sound of footsteps came from the shadows.

Gu Chengyin spread out his perception, confirming that all the female officials in the sleeping quarters had evacuated.

It could be said that right now, even if Luo Zhao screamed herself hoarse, no one would come to save her.

"Let's go."

The sleeping quarters were very large, divided into an outer room, an inner room, and a bedchamber.

The outer room was a small study for handling urgent government affairs, the inner room was a living area, and the deepest part was the bedchamber where Luo Zhao rested.

Gu Chengyin and [Shangguan Yunying] passed through the outer and inner rooms, their footsteps silent.

The Foundation Establishment cultivation of the two was brought to its limits at this moment.

Like ghosts in the night, they silently approached the large carved bed with hanging curtains.

Gu Chengyin stopped by the bed.

The curtains were half-open, and the moonlight shone through the gap, illuminating the hazy outline of the woman on the bed.

Luo Zhao was lying on her side, her black hair scattered like a waterfall on the pillow, the crimson brocade quilt covering her shoulders, her breathing even and long, clearly sleeping soundly.

She was truly exhausted today.

Taking over factions, balancing the court, preparing to enter the Ministry of Personnel... every task was a hard-fought battle that drained both mind and body.

Coupled with Gu Chengyin's performance in the court, which pressed a giant boulder of humiliation upon her heart, she was physically and mentally exhausted, causing her to sleep even more deeply than usual.

Gu Chengyin quietly looked at her.

Under the moonlight, Luo Zhao had shed the majesty and sharpness of the Crown Princess from the daytime, leaving only the tranquility of sleep.

Her long eyelashes cast fine shadows on her eyelids, her nose was straight, her lips the color of cherry blossoms, and her sleeping face was breathtakingly beautiful.

But Gu Chengyin didn't have a shred of romantic thought in his heart.

Only calculation to the utmost extreme.

He pondered for a moment, then spoke softly.

"Yunying, remove all of her defensive magical treasures, then change her into ordinary casual clothes. Call me when she is tied up."

After speaking, Gu Chengyin turned and walked out, without pausing for a moment.

Upon receiving the command, [Shangguan Yunying] immediately took action.

She walked to the bed and reached out to gently lift the curtains.

She reached out and began to remove Luo Zhao's defensive magical treasures one by one.

The Nine Phoenix Pearl Chain on her neck, the white jade bracelet on her left wrist, the gilded gem-inlaid bracelet on her right wrist...

One piece after another, these magical treasures that usually provided all-around protection for Luo Zhao were stripped away one by one at this moment.

[Shangguan Yunying]'s movements were extremely fast, without making any sound.

Until she started to remove the soft silk nightgown Luo Zhao was wearing.

This nightgown was woven from Fire Silkworm Silk, embedded with a triple array for clearing the mind, calming the spirit, and warding off evil, and was invulnerable to swords, water, and fire.

[Shangguan Yunying]'s fingers rested on Luo Zhao's lapel, and just as she was about to untie the sash...

Luo Zhao woke up.

Perhaps it was the instinctual reaction of her body being touched, or perhaps it was the faint fluctuation of spiritual energy generated when the magical treasures were removed.

In short, she opened her eyes.

Those phoenix eyes were a bit misty at first, but upon seeing the person in front of her clearly, she instantly became wide awake.

"Yunying?"

Luo Zhao's voice carried the hoarseness of just waking up. "What are you doing?"

She looked at [Shangguan Yunying] in confusion. Why would her most trusted Chief Female Official sneak into her sleeping quarters and... be untying her lapel?

But [Shangguan Yunying] didn't answer.

She didn't even look at Luo Zhao's eyes, just continued the movements of her hands, her face expressionless, her eyes blank.

Luo Zhao's expression changed.

She abruptly looked to the side; the bedchamber was empty, and that damn man wasn't there.

But she immediately realized that [Shangguan Yunying]'s abnormality must be related to Gu Chengyin.

And right at this moment, [Shangguan Yunying] had untied the sash of the nightgown, and the silk nightgown slipped off her shoulders, revealing Luo Zhao's fair skin and exquisite collarbones.

"Insolent!"

Luo Zhao was finally enraged.

She raised her hand to push [Shangguan Yunying] away, simultaneously mobilizing the true qi within her body.

However, the moment her true qi circulated...

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted from [Shangguan Yunying]!

This was the full-force pressure of the Foundation Establishment realm, pressing down on Luo Zhao without reservation.

Luo Zhao only felt her body stiffen, the true qi she had just gathered instantly dissipating, her limbs and bones as if cast in molten iron, unable to move even a single finger.

She lay stiff on the bed, only able to watch helplessly as [Shangguan Yunying] continued her actions.

"You..." Luo Zhao's voice trembled, her eyes full of disbelief. "You actually attacked me?!"

No answer.

[Shangguan Yunying] remained expressionless, continuing to remove the remaining clothes on Luo Zhao's body.

Piece by piece.

Until Luo Zhao was completely exposed to the moonlight.

Skin like snow, exquisite curves, a slender waist, long legs...

Every inch seemed like the Creator's most perfect masterpiece.

Luo Zhao stared fixedly at [Shangguan Yunying], trying to find a trace of guilt, a trace of struggle, a trace... of the real Shangguan Yunying in her eyes.

But she only saw a blank void.

[Shangguan Yunying] was being controlled.

This realization made Luo Zhao's blood run cold.

Without a doubt, it must be that damn man!

Gu Chengyin!

Besides him, who else could silently sneak into the Crown Princess's palace and control her Chief Female Official?

To subject her to such thorough humiliation?

After figuring out the situation, Luo Zhao didn't resist anymore.

Since Gu Chengyin dared to come, he must have made foolproof preparations.

Resisting now would only bring humiliation upon herself.

Luo Zhao looked coldly at [Shangguan Yunying].

Looking at this Chief Female Official who had fought alongside her, blocked swords for her, and accompanied her when she was most lonely.

At this moment, like a marionette, meticulously executing the 'enemy's' commands.

Watching [Shangguan Yunying] take out a set of ordinary moon-white casual clothes from the wardrobe and put them on her one by one.

Watching her use the specially made Dragon Binding Silk to firmly tie her hands.

Then, watching [Shangguan Yunying] walk toward the roof beam.

She hung a rope, then dropped it down, tying it to her bound wrists.

[Shangguan Yunying] pulled the rope, and Luo Zhao was hoisted up again, just as she had been in North River City.

The moon-white robes draped downward, tracing the curves of her body.

Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, gleaming with a dark luster beneath the moonlight.

Throughout the entire process, Luo Zhao remained completely silent.

Only her faintly trembling eyelashes and lips pursed so tightly they turned pale betrayed the monstrous fury and humiliation in her heart.

Having done all this, [Shangguan Yunying] walked to the door, reached out, and pulled it open.

Moonlight flooded in from outside, illuminating the figure standing at the threshold.

Gu Chengyin.

He stood outside, quietly gazing at Luo Zhao, who was suspended in the room, as if admiring a painting.

As for Luo Zhao, the instant she saw him appear...

Those phoenix eyes, which had remained tranquil until now, suddenly erupted with a terrifying glare!

She fixed her deadly gaze on Gu Chengyin, every word squeezed through clenched teeth, dripping with a venomous chill:

"Gu! Cheng! Yin!"