Son of a Bitch

Emerging from the Wenli Hall, Gu Chengyin was still calculating his next arrangements.

So far, he had fleeced Emperor Luo in the imperial palace and Luo Zhao in the Crown Prince's palace.

The Internal Affairs Bureau could just be directly dispatched later; even if he was just a mascot of a chief steward, he still had that much face.

That left only the Cabinet.

Who should he seek out in the Cabinet?

Cui Shifan definitely had to be seen. The foundation of the noble clan faction was unfathomably deep; if he could fleece them, of course he would.

The humble origin faction couldn't be let off either; now was the perfect time to pluck their feathers.

As for Shangguan Yuan, since Jiang Jianli was personally accompanying him, there was nothing more to say.

Moreover, apart from gathering experts to expand his team, the Cabinet's official approval document was also crucial.

The Ministry of Rites and the Celestial Master's Mansion jointly inspecting the cultivation sects fell under diplomatic affairs.

Its nature was highly special, requiring official approval and a public announcement issued by the Cabinet.

While Gu Chengyin was deep in thought, Lin Qingyan, who was beside him, suddenly spoke.

Her voice was very light, almost like talking to herself, yet it clearly entered Gu Chengyin's ears:

"Sister, Zhao'er is becoming more and more like you now."

These words made Gu Chengyin pause his steps, his pupils slightly shrinking.

Lin Qingyan was Luo Zhao's aunt, so wouldn't the sister she mentioned be... that late empress mother?

He cast a sideways glance and saw Lin Qingyan looking straight ahead, her facial expression completely placid, as if her previous words weren't spoken to anyone, but rather murmured into the void.

However, deep within her eyes, there was a trace of gentleness and nostalgia, and she continued speaking to herself:

"Rest assured, Sister, I will watch over Zhao'er well for you."

Saying this, the corners of Lin Qingyan's lips curled into a dangerous arc:

"That dog Luo Houcong has kept his promise, though that was to be expected anyway."

"If it weren't for you back then, Sister, he wouldn't be where he is today."

Gu Chengyin was utterly dumbfounded.

Luo Houcong, that was Emperor Luo's real name.

The Great Luo imperial family had a rule: after ascending the throne, the emperor was addressed as His Majesty. His real name was rarely mentioned, let alone in front of outsiders.

Yet now, not only did Lin Qingyan call him by his name, but she also added a title like "dog."

What was even more terrifying was the following sentence: if it weren't for you back then, Sister, he wouldn't be where he is today.

What did this mean?

Could it be that there was some unknown secret behind Emperor Luo's ascension to the throne?

Gu Chengyin blinked, feeling a bit dazed for a moment.

Had he heard some royal secret he wasn't supposed to hear?

Or was this Emperor Luo's dark history?

Or perhaps an unknown past between Emperor Luo and that empress mother?

The problem was, were these words something he was allowed to hear?!

The more you know, the worse you die.

Gu Chengyin immediately stopped in his tracks, standing in place and falling into deep thought.

He even began to seriously consider if there was any way to erase his memory of the past few seconds.

Or was there some medicinal pill that could cause temporary amnesia?

Lin Qingyan walked a few steps, realized Gu Chengyin hadn't followed, and couldn't help but stop and look back.

True confusion showed in her eyes, as if she was completely unaware of the shocking words she had just spoken.

Looking at Lin Qingyan's clear eyes, a thought suddenly popped into Gu Chengyin's mind.

Could this aunt be an airhead?

The kind of natural airhead who looked aloof and had profound cultivation, but was actually ignorant of the ways of the world?

No, with her Golden Core realm cultivation, how could she truly not understand worldly affairs?

Then it was on purpose?

Gu Chengyin's heart chilled.

Could that dog Emperor Luo have deliberately sent Lin Qingyan to mess with him?

Various thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind, but on the surface, Gu Chengyin took less than a breath's time to make a decision.

He sighed, quickly stepped forward, and lowered his voice:

"Um... Auntie, some things are fine to just think about in your heart; you don't necessarily have to say them out loud."

These words were tactful; they pointed out that he had heard, yet implied he wouldn't speak out of turn.

It also offered an out: you could say you didn't mean it, and I was just reminding you.

However, Lin Qingyan's reaction completely exceeded his expectations.

Hearing Gu Chengyin's words, Lin Qingyan was first taken aback, and then abruptly realized what had happened.

On her originally placid face, a look of panic appeared for the first time. Although it was fleeting, Gu Chengyin still caught it.

"You heard?!" Lin Qingyan's voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling and panic.

Gu Chengyin's heart tightened.

He was now completely unable to tell if Lin Qingyan was truly an airhead.

Or if she was just acting to set him up.

In a split second, Gu Chengyin formulated a response.

He immediately put on an innocent and confused look, blinked, and asked strangely:

"What are you talking about, Auntie? What did I hear? I didn't hear anything."

Saying that, Gu Chengyin deliberately tilted his head, pretending to listen. "Did someone speak just now? Was it the sound of the wind blowing past the palace walls?"

Then he changed the subject, a sincere expression appearing on his face:

"Auntie, what I mean is, we are on the same side now. We will be inspecting together and braving dangers together."

"Don't keep some things bottled up inside; saying them directly is good for both of us!"

"For example, your understanding of the Green Sword Sect, or your judgment of the situation in the cultivation world. We can communicate about these things in advance so we can prepare early."

These words were watertight.

First, he denied hearing anything he shouldn't have; second, he used the wind as a cover; and finally, he steered the topic toward business.

A three-pronged approach, practically perfect.

Lin Qingyan stared at Gu Chengyin, seemingly trying to discern the truth from his expression.

Gu Chengyin met her gaze calmly, his eyes clear and his expression sincere, looking exactly like someone who hadn't heard a thing.

After a long time, the faintly restless ionizing aura surrounding Lin Qingyan finally calmed down.

The golden sparks of electricity flashed in the air and eventually faded into nothingness.

She turned her face away, pursing her lips tightly, and said nothing.

Seeing this, Gu Chengyin became even more certain in his heart that she had probably truly let it slip by accident.

She was already at the Golden Core realm, so how could she still unconsciously speak her inner thoughts out loud?

"Auntie?" Gu Chengyin called out tentatively.

"Let's go," Lin Qingyan's voice regained its aloofness, though it was slightly lower than usual. "Aren't we going to the Cabinet?"

After speaking, she took the lead and walked toward the palace gates.

Only this time, her footsteps were a bit faster than before, and her back seemed somewhat stiff.

Gu Chengyin followed behind her. The two remained silent along the way and soon arrived at the entrance of the Crown Prince's palace.

With his previous experience in mind, Gu Chengyin had someone prepare a very spacious horse carriage.

The body of the carriage was crafted from premium red sandalwood, and the cabin was roomy enough to comfortably seat four or five people.

Most importantly, it allowed for plenty of personal space.

Seeing this large carriage, Lin Qingyan did not show any signs of refusal this time.

She calmly boarded the carriage and sat on one side of the cabin, her dress draping down, her posture as elegant as a painting.

Gu Chengyin followed her in and sat on the other side of the cabin, leaving a distance of at least three feet between them.

"To the Cabinet."