Auntie

After leaving for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lu Fang returned and signaled, "Junior Preceptor Gu, His Majesty requests your presence."

Gu Chengyin immediately stood up, adjusted his cuffs, and followed Lu Fang toward the warm pavilion.

Past a carved wooden screen was the place where Emperor Luo routinely reviewed memorials.

Emperor Luo was sitting behind his desk, holding a vermilion brush and making circles and notes on a memorial with a focused expression.

Hearing the footsteps, he did not even raise his head. It was not until Gu Chengyin stopped three paces away from the imperial desk and bowed respectfully, "Your subject Gu Chengyin pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The vermilion brush did not stop.

Gu Chengyin maintained his bowing posture, his face calm, but his mind calculating rapidly.

Was Emperor Luo trying to show him who was boss, or was he truly reviewing an important memorial?

After about ten breaths, Emperor Luo finally set down the vermilion brush, slowly raised his head, cast a sidelong glance at Gu Chengyin, and said indifferently, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Gu Chengyin straightened up, his gaze meeting Emperor Luo's.

In an instant, he felt an invisible pressure enveloping him. This was not a suppression of cultivation, but the imperial aura formed by holding the power of life and death.

If it were an ordinary person, they would probably be covered in cold sweat by now. However, the Azure Cloud Art circulated automatically within Gu Chengyin's dantian, and the azure-gold true essence protected his mind, keeping his expression completely unchanged.

A flash of approval crossed Emperor Luo's eyes, but his tone remained flat: "I heard from Lu Fang that you plan to make a trip to the Green Sword Sect?"

Gu Chengyin immediately cupped his hands and corrected, "To reply to Your Majesty, your subject is not making a trip to the Green Sword Sect. Rather, as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, your subject is conducting the first round of inspection and patrol of the various immortal cultivation sects within our Great Luo borders."

His speaking speed was steady, his pronunciation clear and round, and his bureaucratic rhetoric was watertight: "This is to express the goodwill of our Great Luo, while also strengthening communication and cooperation with the various immortal cultivation sects."

"The Green Sword Sect happens to be your subject's first stop."

These words sounded high-sounding and dignified; no one could find any fault with them.

Inspecting the sects was inherently the duty of the Ministry of Rites. Choosing the Green Sword Sect as the first stop was both reasonable and secretly aligned with the imperial court's general direction for the layout of the immortal cultivation world.

Hearing this, Emperor Luo said testily, "If that's the case, then go. Why did you come looking for We?"

This question was straightforward, almost an interrogation.

Gu Chengyin raised his head and declared righteously in a loud voice, "To reply to Your Majesty, your subject's inspection this time represents not only the face of the imperial court but also Your Majesty's heavenly might!"

His voice echoed in the warm pavilion, carrying a somewhat impassioned tone.

"But your subject is shallow in learning and unrefined in martial skills. If I encounter Foundation Establishment or even Golden Core bandits and robbers blocking the way to rob me on the road..."

"Losing your subject's life is a small matter, but losing Your Majesty's face is a grave matter!"

As Gu Chengyin spoke, his face revealed a bit of worry and trepidation: "Therefore, your subject has come here this time to respectfully request Your Majesty to permit five..."

At this point, he caught a glimpse of Emperor Luo frowning slightly and immediately changed his tune: "...three Golden Core experts to accompany your subject!"

"This will not only deter petty thieves but also allow the various immortal cultivation sects to witness Your Majesty's awe-inspiring heavenly might!"

Gu Chengyin said these words with a clear conscience, even with self-righteousness.

But Emperor Luo's mouth twitched slightly upon hearing this.

Three Golden Cores?

Emperor Luo cast a dissatisfied glance at Lu Fang standing nearby, the meaning in his eyes obvious: "Wasn't it three Foundation Establishments? How did it turn into three Golden Cores?"

Under this gaze, Lu Fang almost broke out in a cold sweat. He immediately wanted to kneel and beg for forgiveness, but before he could make a move, he heard Gu Chengyin continue:

"Of course, your subject knows that Your Majesty attends to myriad affairs every day and holds the common people of the world in your heart. Let alone three Golden Cores, even thirty would be more than enough."

This praise elevated Emperor Luo to the highest pedestal, placing him in the position of the ruler of the world.

You are the Emperor of Great Luo, possessing thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, with experts as common as clouds under your command. What are three Golden Cores to you?

"But your subject does not dare to expect extravagantly," Gu Chengyin shifted his tone, becoming humble: "And I know even better that currently, the entire imperial court needs personnel, and experts are needed to hold the fort everywhere."

"Therefore..."

Gu Chengyin straightened his back, his expression solemn: "Your subject is willing to take the initiative to bear the risk! As long as Your Majesty permits three Golden Cores to accompany me, your subject will definitely do my utmost to make this inspection perfect! Until the inspection is completed, I will absolutely not return to the capital!"

These words were spoken with resounding force, and the warm pavilion fell silent for a moment.

Emperor Luo narrowed his eyes slightly.

Of course, he understood Gu Chengyin's subtext:

As long as he was given the people, let alone the Green Sword Sect, Gu Chengyin would dare to make a trip to other immortal cultivation sects as well. This was a promise, and also an ability.

But conversely, if he wasn't given the people, then let alone the Green Sword Sect, he wouldn't even step out the gates of the Crown Princess's Palace. This was a threat, and also a bottom line.

"Junior Preceptor Gu." Emperor Luo slowly spoke, his voice deep: "Are you coercing We?"

This question carried heavy weight.

The air in the warm pavilion instantly froze. Lu Fang had already lowered his head, even lightening his breathing.

Gu Chengyin, however, remained composed and immediately said loudly, "Your subject would not dare! Sharing the sovereign's burdens is your subject's duty! Your subject absolutely has no such intention!"

His tone was sincere, his gaze firm; anyone who saw him would think this was a fiercely loyal subject.

But the next sentence revealed the fox's tail:

"It's just..." Gu Chengyin looked at Emperor Luo, saying cautiously, "If the sovereign wants the subject to die, the subject must die."

"But your subject still wants to get things done before dying."

These words were cleverly spoken.

It showed that the sovereign's command could not be disobeyed. If you really want me to go to my death, then I have to go.

But since it's going to my death, then this matter will most likely not be accomplished.

Emperor Luo looked at him in silence.

Gu Chengyin met his gaze calmly, his eyes clear and his posture respectful, but that stubbornness was completely unconcealed.

After a long while, Emperor Luo smiled.

It wasn't a cold smile, nor an angry smile, but a somewhat helpless yet appreciative smile.

He shook his head gently and sighed, "I really don't know how Zhao'er managed to tame you."

These words carried profound meaning.

However, before Gu Chengyin had time to think deeply about it, he heard Emperor Luo continue:

"Never mind."

Two words, spoken lightly, signifying the end of this confrontation.

Emperor Luo looked toward the shadows on one side of the warm pavilion and said indifferently, "Come out."

As his words fell, golden lightning suddenly flashed through that shadow.

Then, a figure slowly walked out.

First was the hem of a robe secretly embroidered with the star map of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the star tracks faintly visible with every movement.

Next was a nine-ringed thunderbolt belt tied around the waist, each ring engraved with legal inscriptions.

Finally, it was a coldly stunning face.

Her face was as if cut from frost and snow, her eyes harboring an amber-gold halo. When she raised her eyes, it was like lightning leaking through cloud gaps, and when she lowered her eyes, it was like an ancient mirror reflecting fading stars.

Her dark hair was entirely tied up in a crown, with only a few stray strands escaping behind her ears, meandering like fine lightning bursting forth on a rainy night.

Her appearance was sixty to seventy percent similar to Luo Zhao, but her temperament was completely different.

Luo Zhao was noble with an edge, like an unsheathed imperial sword.

But this woman was aloof and detached, like a solitary lotus on the peak of a snowy mountain.

Within three feet of her, her dark hair fluttered, as if she were in a silent domain of thunder.

She walked to the imperial desk and nodded slightly to Emperor Luo as a greeting.

Then she stood there quietly, looking calmly at Gu Chengyin.

Alarm bells rang wildly in Gu Chengyin's heart.

When this woman appeared, he hadn't sensed her at all!

It wasn't until she completely walked out that he sensed her presence.

What did this mean? It meant her cultivation was far higher than his!

More importantly, it was the feeling this woman gave him.

Dangerous.

Extremely dangerous.

Emperor Luo's voice pulled Gu Chengyin back from his thoughts: "You can forget about getting three Golden Core experts, but I can still give you one."

"This is Jingzhe of the Celestial Master Mansion."

After a brief pause, Emperor Luo added:

"She is also Zhao'er's aunt."

"Lin Qingyan."