I treat, you pay

A moment later, the obsequious voice of the head manager of Fanlou echoed from outside the Cloud Gazing Pavilion:

"Lord Jingzhe, Elder Cui is waiting outside for an audience. I wonder if you might spare a moment to see him?"

Lin Qingyan slowly opened her eyes, her gaze flowing like moonlight.

She did not respond immediately, but first cast a sidelong glance at Gu Chengyin.

Gu Chengyin smiled faintly and gave her a slight nod.

Only then did Lin Qingyan speak, her voice as placid as water:

"Come in."

Receiving permission, the head manager of Fanlou cautiously pushed open the door, then stepped aside and bowed low, making a gesture of invitation.

Cui Shifan stepped inside.

Behind him, Cui Ziting stood respectfully with his head bowed. He did not follow him in, but waited quietly in the corridor outside the door.

As the door closed, silence returned to the Cloud Gazing Pavilion.

Cui Shifan walked to a spot three paces behind Lin Qingyan, stopped, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply, performing a highly solemn greeting:

"Lord Jingzhe, I have failed in my teachings and neglected my discipline. As a result, my unworthy son acted with wild arrogance on the training grounds today, offending your dignity."

"Upon learning of this, I was overwhelmed with shame. I have severely reprimanded him and sent that unfilial son back to our ancestral hall in Qinghe. He will be confined behind closed doors for three years, ordered to copy the family precepts, and reflect on his mistakes in peace."

"I beg Lord Jingzhe to consider his youth and ignorance, to be magnanimous, and forgive my son's reckless offense this one time."

These words certainly gave her a great deal of face.

Although Cui Shifan was the Chief Grand Secretary, with power that rivaled the throne, he kept his posture extremely low before Lin Qingyan.

This was not only because Lin Qingyan was Jingzhe of the Celestial Master's Mansion, but even more so because she was Luo Zhao's biological aunt, the blood sister of the late Empress Lin.

This bond of blood and status elevated Lin Qingyan's position far beyond that of a mere enshrinee of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

However, Lin Qingyan did not respond to Cui Shifan's sincere apology.

She did not even turn her head, continuing to sit there quietly like a meditating old monk, turning a deaf ear to everything in the outside world.

This silence was more embarrassing than a direct reprimand.

Just as the atmosphere was gradually freezing over.

Gu Chengyin stepped forward with a smile, naturally reaching out to drape an arm over Cui Shifan's shoulders:

"Oh my, Old Cui, it's been a long time!"

His tone was as familiar as if he were greeting an old friend of many years:

"My aunt is resting and cultivating in peace. How about the two of us have a chat first?"

Cui Shifan was taken aback by this sudden, buddy-like greeting.

He turned to look at Gu Chengyin, his eyes full of astonishment.

What do you mean 'long time no see'? Didn't we just meet yesterday?

Moreover, he had wanted to ask yesterday: Lin Qingyan is Luo Zhao's aunt. What the hell does that have to do with you, Gu Chengyin?! How did she become your aunt?

But when Cui Shifan saw Lin Qingyan still sitting silently, showing no reaction to Gu Chengyin's words, his heart sank.

Trouble.

Cui Shifan knew that Gu Chengyin would definitely understand the deeper meaning behind letting Cui Zilong cause trouble.

The Cui clan and the Crown Prince's Palace had to sever ties, and it brooked no delay.

But he still had to apologize to Lin Qingyan; after all, he did not want to truly offend this Lord Jingzhe of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

However, Cui Shifan hadn't expected Gu Chengyin and Lin Qingyan's relationship to be this good.

He originally just wanted to come over, apologize, and leave. Now, it looked like he was about to be extorted.

Before Cui Shifan could think further, Gu Chengyin was already half-pushing, half-leading him out the door:

"Let's go, let's go. We'll talk outside. Don't disturb Auntie's peaceful cultivation."

The action was so natural, it was as if the two were truly lifelong friends.

Cui Shifan stiffened all over at this sudden physical contact, but it wasn't appropriate to lash out on the spot.

He could only force a smile and let Gu Chengyin hijack him outside.

The door opened once more.

Cui Ziting, waiting outside, saw Cui Shifan being led out by Gu Chengyin with an arm slung over his shoulder.

Seeing the two of them looking as intimate as brothers, he couldn't help but freeze.

What... what kind of play was this?

Seeing the dumbfounded Cui Ziting outside the door, Gu Chengyin smiled at Cui Shifan:

"Old Cui, previously I thought this kid Ziting was lacking a bit."

"But after meeting your eldest young master today, I now feel that Ziting is simply a dragon among men!"

"Steady and measured, knows when to advance and retreat, and understands propriety!"

Gu Chengyin winked at Cui Shifan. "No wonder you keep him by your side to teach him personally. If he were my heir, I'd do the same!"

Cui Shifan forced a smile, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Although Cui Zilong had been raised to be useless, even trash had its uses.

As long as he was used well and in the right place, he could still yield miraculous results.

For example, in today's offense, Cui Zilong was as textbook-standard and natural as could be.

Gu Chengyin didn't care what Cui Shifan was plotting in his heart. Keeping his arm around the man's shoulders, he walked down the vermilion-lacquered wooden stairs toward the lobby on the ground floor.

At this moment, the atmosphere in Fanlou's main hall was at its most lively.

Dozens of round tables were packed with people, glasses clinking and cups being exchanged.

The melodious sounds of string and bamboo instruments filled the air, and several dancers twirled gracefully on the red-carpeted stage in the center, their long sleeves fluttering and their figures elegant.

Gu Chengyin brought Cui Shifan to the staircase landing on the side of the hall, looking down upon the entire venue from above.

He raised his hand in a gesture.

The head manager of Fanlou immediately trotted forward, holding a wooden tray in his hands.

On the tray sat two crystal-clear glazed wine cups, already filled to the brim with amber-colored fine wine.

Gu Chengyin picked up both cups and handed one to Cui Shifan.

Then, he raised his wine cup and called out loudly to the hall:

"Everyone!"

This clear, resounding voice instantly overpowered the clamor in the hall.

Everyone's gaze uniformly shot toward the staircase landing.

When they saw the old man standing beside Gu Chengyin, many people's pupils shrank.

Cui Shifan?

Gu Chengyin laughed heartily. "Hearing that all you heroes and stalwarts were gathered here, Elder Cui specifically took time out of his busy schedule to come and share a drink with everyone!"

He raised his glass. "Let us toast Elder Cui!"

The hall was quiet for a second, then erupted into a deafening response:

"A toast to Elder Cui!!"

The sound wave roared like a tide, almost lifting the roof off.

Everyone raised their glasses in unison, tilted their heads back, and drained them in one gulp.

With the atmosphere hyped up to this point, Cui Shifan had no choice but to raise the cup of wine in his hand. Forcing a smile, he acknowledged the crowd, then tilted his head back and drank it all.

Cui Shifan knew that Gu Chengyin was pulling him in to make a public endorsement.

No matter what, the Ministry of Rites inspecting the sects was official business out in the open.

And with the endorsement of the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the weight of this matter would only grow heavier, while simultaneously suppressing the negative impact of Cui Zilong's actions.

But even knowing this was an open scheme, Cui Shifan could not refuse.

Because Lin Qingyan's attitude was already very obvious: she didn't care, leaving everything up to Gu Chengyin's wishes.

Once the cup of wine was finished, the head manager of Fanlou immediately stepped forward and respectfully refilled their cups.

Gu Chengyin raised his wine cup once more.

But this time, the words he spoke caused Cui Shifan's face to instantly darken.

"Elder Cui loves the people like his own children and empathizes with his subordinates!"

Gu Chengyin's voice was loud and clear, carrying undisguised emotion:

"His Eminence knows that I, Gu, normally manage my household with diligence and thrift, keeping my hands entirely clean of corruption."

"With my meager salary, I truly cannot afford tonight's banquet."

"Therefore..."

"Tonight's entire tab is on Elder Cui!"

"Let us raise another glass to Elder Cui!"

The entire venue fell dead silent for a moment.

Immediately after, an even more enthusiastic cheer erupted than before:

"Such generosity, Elder Cui!!"

"To Elder Cui!!"

The roar of the crowd almost blew the roof off the Fan Restaurant.

Everyone's face was beaming with excitement and gratitude. Not only were they thankful for Cui Shifan's generosity, but they were even more in awe of Gu Chengyin's brilliant maneuver.

Only Cui Shifan's face had turned as black as coal.