Crown Princess's Palace, Wenli Hall.
Luo Zhao sat behind the desk, holding a brush and reviewing various official documents.
Shangguan Yunying sat in the side seat next to her, organizing the paperwork and selecting the parts that required Luo Zhao's attention.
With her head bowed, the sleeves of her scarlet palace dress were rolled up halfway, revealing her fair wrists.
Everything was as peaceful as usual.
Until...
Shangguan Yunying suddenly shuddered violently.
The tremor came so suddenly and intensely, as if an invisible electric current had pierced through her entire body.
The documents in her hands slipped and fell, hitting the floor with a smack that sounded exceptionally loud in the silent hall.
The hand Luo Zhao used to hold the brush paused in mid-air, and she turned to look at Shangguan Yunying.
At this moment, Shangguan Yunying's face was written with bewilderment and shock.
It was as if someone who had been sleeping for years suddenly woke up, not knowing what year or day it was.
What is wrong, Yunying?
Luo Zhao put down her brush and asked with concern.
Your Highness...
Shangguan Yunying's voice trembled slightly.
She rushed to Luo Zhao's side in a few quick steps, not even caring about etiquette, and leaned in directly to Luo Zhao's ear, saying urgently:
My consciousness puppet has disappeared! Gu Chengyin has lifted his hypnosis on me!
Luo Zhao's pupils contracted instantly.
What?
You mean Gu Chengyin voluntarily lifted his hypnosis on you?
I am sure!
Shangguan Yunying nodded vigorously, her breathing rapid, her warm breath hitting Luo Zhao's ear:
It is not just the consciousness puppet! I can clearly feel that the connection between him and me is broken!
It happened just a moment ago! And it was definitely Gu Chengyin who actively lifted it!
Genuine panic appeared on Shangguan Yunying's face:
Your Highness, did something happen to him?
Luo Zhao gave Shangguan Yunying a deep look.
The worry in those eyes was too real, so real that it made Luo Zhao realize that even if Shangguan Yunying's obedience was a disguise,
that kind of bond mixed with complex emotions was absolutely real.
Do not panic.
Luo Zhao raised her hand and gently held Shangguan Yunying's hand.
It felt cold to the touch and was still trembling slightly.
Let me confirm it first.
Luo Zhao closed her eyes and calmed her mind.
Her consciousness sank into the depths of her sea of consciousness, where there was a faint but stable connection.
Like an invisible silk thread, extending from the consciousness puppet towards a certain direction.
This was the mark left after being hypnotized, the proof of Gu Chengyin's control over her.
At this moment, this silk thread was still there.
Not only was it there, but its state was normal.
There were no signs of breaking, no abnormal fluctuations.
Luo Zhao opened her eyes, the candlelight dancing in her phoenix eyes, reflecting the light of rationality.
My consciousness puppet is still here.
The connection is also still there, which means he should not be in trouble.
Shangguan Yunying was stunned: Then why...
Because Gu Chengyin can only hypnotize two people.
Luo Zhao interrupted her and began to analyze rapidly.
At this moment, she was no longer the Highness who feigned obedience, but the true Crown Princess of Great Luo.
He must have encountered something he could not handle and had to hypnotize a third person.
But the quota is limited, so he had to lift the hypnosis on you to free up a spot.
Otherwise... his life would be forfeit.
Shangguan Yunying's breath hitched, instantly thinking of something.
And seeing the same judgment in Luo Zhao's eyes, the two blurted out simultaneously:
Lin Qingyan!
Shangguan Yunying then frowned tightly and said:
Could Gu Chengyin be trying to control Lady Jingzhe? But she is a Golden Core cultivator!
No.
Luo Zhao shook her head, her tone resolute:
Gu Chengyin is not that brainless. What good would controlling my aunt do him? The risks far outweigh the benefits.
Moreover, he would not lift the hypnosis on you just to control my aunt.
He would not make such a losing deal even if you beat him to death.
Shangguan Yunying understood: So... did something abnormal happen to Lady Jingzhe? And it threatened his life?
Forcing him to lift the hypnosis on me to free up a spot to protect himself?
That is the only explanation.
The light of rationality in Luo Zhao's eyes grew brighter.
My aunt is at the Golden Core realm, and anyone at the Golden Core realm must face one existence.
Inner demons.
Hearing the last two words, Shangguan Yunying's face suddenly turned pale:
Lady Jingzhe's inner demon erupted? Can Gu Chengyin hold on?
Luo Zhao chuckled softly, her laughter carrying complex emotions:
Only the good die young. A bastard like him could easily live for tens of thousands of years.
The words were harsh, but Shangguan Yunying heard a different underlying meaning.
Your Highness, are you not worried about Lady Jingzhe?
Is worrying useful?
Luo Zhao shook her head, saying helplessly:
If it really is an inner demon eruption, it is useless no matter who goes. She can only rely on herself to overcome it.
As for Gu Chengyin...
Luo Zhao paused, her tone complex:
Since my consciousness puppet is still there, it means he must have already passed the ordeal.
That bastard can always find a way out of desperate situations.
Speaking of this, Luo Zhao looked at Shangguan Yunying with a strange expression:
Yunying, if Gu Chengyin has lifted his hypnosis on you, then you need to think carefully about what comes next.
Think about how the newly awakened you should face him.
Shangguan Yunying froze.
That was right.
If Gu Chengyin had lifted his hypnosis on her, then naturally she could not keep acting.
Over the past few days, she had played the role of a hypnotized puppet, outwardly displaying absolute obedience to Gu Chengyin while inwardly remaining crystal clear.
But now, the role was gone.
She was no longer the hypnotized Shangguan Yunying, but the Shangguan Yunying who had just been freed from hypnosis.
What kind of reaction should a newly awakened person have when discovering that both she and Her Highness had been controlled by Gu Chengyin?
Anger? Hatred? Revenge?
Or fear? Evasion? Forbearance?
Shangguan Yunying lowered her head, looking at her open hands.
Memories flooded in like a tide, bringing real emotions.
Yunying.
Luo Zhao's voice drifted over from the side:
Remember, this time it is not a disguise, but going back to being yourself.
You are completely awake now. You know you were hypnotized, and you know I am still being controlled.
So, what should you do now?
Shangguan Yunying raised her head.
Complex emotions were reflected in her eyes, confusion, struggle, anger, unwillingness...
Finally, they settled bit by bit, solidifying into something cold.
She did not speak, but stood up and walked to the wall of the hall.
A sword hung there.
The scabbard was made of ebony, inlaid with cyan cloud patterns, gleaming with a faint green light.
This was her personal sword.
Shangguan Yunying raised her hand and grasped the hilt.
Clang.
The sound of the longsword leaving its sheath echoed in the hall, clear and sharp.
The blade reflected a cold light, mirroring her face at this moment. All the worry, nervousness, and confusion were slowly fading away.
Replaced by an anger suppressed to the extreme.
And a profound disappointment.
Shangguan Yunying did not even turn back to bow to Luo Zhao.
Instead, gripping the unsheathed longsword, she turned and walked towards the outside of the hall.
Luo Zhao watched Shangguan Yunying's retreating back.
A slow, expectant curve formed at the corners of her mouth.
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
lanned to earn money steadily and take life at a slower pace. But he never expected... his father's remarriage, and the stepmother bringing along a dependent, would completely disrupt his life's plans...
