Think of a Solution

Jiang Jianli continued:

"However, your current status is too weighty. Even immortal cultivation sects wouldn't dare to casually make a move against you in the Divine Capital. That would be tantamount to declaring war on the entire Great Luo."

She paused and tapped her fingertips lightly on the table. "But as the Right Vice Minister of Rites, you will have to go out on inspection tours sooner or later."

"That will be their best opportunity, and it is also why I had to come find you to go to the Azure Sword Sect first."

Gu Chengyin's gaze narrowed slightly.

It was indeed so.

The Divine Capital was protected by the national destiny, with layers of defenses laid out by the Golden Feather Guards. For cultivators to strike within the Divine Capital was no different from provoking Great Luo.

But once he left the capital for an inspection tour, danger would lurk in every corner.

"Madam's great kindness, this junior will engrave in his heart."

Gu Chengyin immediately stood up, his official robes draping down with his movements as he cupped his hands in a deep bow.

Jiang Jianli smiled warmly and raised a hand to motion for him to sit. "There is no need to be so polite. We are all one family, so of course I am on your side."

The words one family were spoken with utmost naturalness.

Shangguan Yunying immediately lowered her head, the blush rising on her ears hidden by her cascading black hair.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Yuan's face instantly darkened.

The veins on the back of the hand gripping his wine cup bulged slightly, but upon meeting his wife's covertly warning gaze, he managed to force a smile. "Please sit, Junior Preceptor Gu. Madam is right, we are all our own people."

One family and our own people—a difference of a single word, yet worlds apart.

Gu Chengyin calmly took his seat, the smile on his face unchanged, though multiple thoughts were already spinning in his mind.

Knowing this information now indeed allowed him to take precautions early.

Jiang Jianli's advance warning seemed like protection, but it was actually a binding tie.

If the Azure Sword Sect wanted to use him, the heir of the Qingyun Immortal Clan, to complete their legacy, they had to ensure he remained alive.

However, the current him was vastly different from before.

Gu Chengyin looked inward at his dantian. His azure-gold true essence rotated slowly, and with every revolution, wisps of true qi were converted into pure spiritual energy.

As long as he stalled for a little more time, waiting until his influence and power were fully established to step directly into the grand completion stage.

Then beneath the Golden Core realm, he would be invincible, and above the Golden Core, he could take his opponent down with him.

Therefore, Gu Chengyin did not show the slightest hint of fear. Instead, he raised his wine cup with great composure.

The white jade cup gleamed with a warm luster under the candlelight, the fine wine rippling within and reflecting his calm eyes.

"This cup, I toast to you two elders."

Gu Chengyin's voice was clear and resonant, his posture elegant and at ease. With that said, he drained the cup in one gulp.

Such a performance made both Shangguan Yuan and Jiang Jianli secretly praise him.

Shangguan Yuan thought: Gu Chengyin is indeed an outstanding talent. He remains unflustered in the face of danger and possesses a composed bearing. If he really could become a son-in-law...

No!

He immediately snuffed out that thought, glancing again at Shangguan Yunying who kept her head down in silence. He decided that he definitely had to interrogate her properly after Gu Chengyin left.

Meanwhile, the appreciation in Jiang Jianli's eyes was almost undisguised.

She originally came from the Azure Sword Sect, and her style of doing things leaned closer to the straightforwardness of the cultivation world. Looking at Gu Chengyin right now, it could be said she was entirely looking at him with the eyes of a mother-in-law evaluating her son-in-law.

A steady temperament, extraordinary political acumen, and most importantly, bearing the legacy of the Qingyun Immortal Clan—he was simply a heaven-sent future pillar for the Azure Sword Sect.

However, this look made Shangguan Yunying a little dissatisfied.

She secretly twisted the corner of her clothes under the table, muttering inwardly: If I told Jiang Jianli what Gu Chengyin did to me.

I'm afraid this self-proclaimed future mother-in-law would draw her sword and stab him to death on the spot, rather than acting all harmonious like now.

But unfortunately, she couldn't say it.

She couldn't let Gu Chengyin discover that she and Luo Zhao had already broken free from the hypnosis.

The banquet was nearing its end.

Jiang Jianli glanced at the night sky and gently suggested, "It is getting late. How about Junior Preceptor Gu rests in the manor for the night?"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere at the table subtly shifted.

Gu Chengyin quickly waved his hand. "I appreciate Madam's good intentions, but the current situation is urgent. It is best that this junior returns to make preparations early."

Hearing this, Jiang Jianli did not force the issue, merely nodding gently. "Then we shall do as you wish."

Shangguan Yuan's complexion visibly improved.

Last time, it was because they had to deliver that purple sandalwood box that he had no choice but to let Gu Chengyin stay the night.

If he really stayed this time, he would have to suspect whether this brat was planning to sneak in at midnight to steal his precious cabbage.

With the banquet reaching this point, everything that needed to be discussed had been discussed.

Gu Chengyin stood up, the dark gold embroidered patterns on his official robe flowing with a low-key luxury in the candlelight.

He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your hospitality. This junior will take his leave now."

After saying that, Gu Chengyin glanced at Shangguan Yunying.

Today was a family banquet, so she would probably stay overnight in the manor and return to the Crown Prince's Palace tomorrow.

Thus, Gu Chengyin did not say much. After nodding to Shangguan Yunying, he turned and walked outside.

Shangguan Yuan and Jiang Jianli stood up to see him off.

As the group reached the front of the manor, the butler was already waiting with a lantern in hand.

In the night, the plaque of the Shangguan Manor hung high, and the stone lions in front of the door cast long shadows under the moonlight.

"This junior bids you farewell."

Gu Chengyin cupped his hands once more, then walked outward under the butler's guidance.

Only when the carriage drove out of sight did Jiang Jianli withdraw her gaze.

She gently patted Shangguan Yunying beside her, asking in a strange tone:

"Why were you acting so distant with Gu Chengyin today? Did you two break up?"

"Cough!"

Shangguan Yunying almost choked on her own breath.

She hurriedly covered her lips, the blush on her ears unable to be hidden this time, spreading all the way to her cheeks.

She said coquettishly, "Mother, what are you talking about? We were never together, so how could we break up!"

Jiang Jianli revealed a gossipy smile on her face and blinked. "Oh, really? But that night, Mother saw that you didn't seem like this."

She deliberately dragged out her words, saying meaningfully, "You even took the initiative to..."

Seeing that Jiang Jianli was about to say it out loud, Shangguan Yunying hurriedly reached out to cover her mouth, panicking, "Mother, don't talk nonsense! That wasn't... wasn't..."

Shangguan Yunying's mind raced, and ultimately she could only pull out Luo Zhao as a shield. "Isn't it because Gu Chengyin said a whole bunch of nonsense to Her Highness at the morning court assembly?"

"To make that matter look real, we... we just acted a bit more distant."

This excuse actually made Jiang Jianli believe her.

She pulled Shangguan Yunying's hand away, a look of realization flashing in her eyes. "Putting it that way, I understand."

"That matter is indeed complicated. Putting on an act is unavoidable."

Pausing for a moment, Jiang Jianli patted the back of Shangguan Yunying's hand again, saying gently, "As long as you two haven't broken up, it's fine."

"This child Gu Chengyin, Mother thinks he is truly not bad. If in the future you really can tie the knot..."

"Mother!" Shangguan Yunying stomped her foot, turning around and walking back into the manor.

Jiang Jianli smiled and followed, the figures of the mother and daughter disappearing into the manor gates.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Yuan, who was watching this scene from the side, stood silently in place for a long time before finally letting out a sigh.

"Girls really can't be kept at home when they grow up..." he muttered to himself in a low voice, shaking his head as he also slowly walked back into the manor.

The moonlight remained the same.

Shangguan Yunying returned to her boudoir. After closing the door, the shy look on her face instantly faded away.

She walked to the window, pushed open the carved wooden frames, and looked up at the night sky, her eyes complex and hard to read.

Resting her chin on her hand, she muttered to herself:

"If only Gu Chengyin and Her Highness Luo Zhao could like each other."

"Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned into the current situation."

"It seems I have to think of a way."