Arrangements

This kind of ability is not something a mere actor could achieve.

Because in acting, you can do another take, but in officialdom, there are no do-overs.

This kid is a natural-born high official.

And his current goal was to accept Li Shiyuan's invitation and stay a night in Dawn City.

That was enough.

No matter how much nonsense Gu Chengyin had spouted earlier, his final decision to depart tomorrow morning was the key.

Li Shiyuan's heart finally settled.

Since Gu Chengyin was willing to stay the night, it meant he was giving him face and was willing to form a connection.

As for what Gu Chengyin was actually thinking, why he gave so much face, and what his true motives were...

He would find out tonight.

For now, he needed to put on a good show.

Li Shiyuan immediately let out a hearty laugh.

It was a genuine laugh, born from Gu Chengyin's tactfulness, the smooth progression of things, and the fact that this young man was truly interesting.

Rest assured, Junior Preceptor Gu!

Everything inside the city has already been prepared!

Li Shiyuan turned, raising his hand in an inviting gesture toward the city gates:

We will definitely ensure that everyone in the inspection team rests well and replenishes their energy!

These words were spoken with soaring heroism, as if promising that stepping into Dawn City was like stepping into their own homes, and everything would be taken care of.

Then, Li Shiyuan made a subtle movement.

He turned his body slightly, blocking the line of sight of the officials behind him.

In truth, he could not block much, but the posture itself conveyed a clear message: the following words are for your ears only.

Li Shiyuan lowered his voice, keeping the volume at a level where only the two of them could hear:

Junior Preceptor Gu, I have also prepared a welcoming banquet for you...

He paused, his eyes locked on Gu Chengyin to observe his reaction:

What do you think...

A welcoming banquet.

This was the standard protocol for local officials hosting capital officials.

Or rather, an upgraded standard protocol. For an ordinary reception, arranging food and lodging was enough.

For an important reception, a banquet was mandatory.

For the highest-tier reception, it had to be a private banquet personally hosted by the Commandery Governor.

And what Li Shiyuan was offering was clearly the third kind.

A knowing smile immediately appeared on Gu Chengyin's face, and he was just about to speak.

Suddenly, he paused.

Gu Chengyin turned his head slightly backward, his eyes looking toward the carriage of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

The carriage curtains remained tightly shut, but everyone knew who sat inside.

A hint of difficulty surfaced on Gu Chengyin's face.

He turned back to look at Li Shiyuan, his tone laced with apology:

Lord Li is too kind. As a junior, I would naturally love to attend, but...

But I am afraid Lord Jingzhe...

He left the sentence unfinished, but the meaning was clear enough.

Li Shiyuan immediately understood.

His expression instantly turned serious.

Anything involving the Celestial Master's Mansion was no ordinary bureaucratic socializing.

I understand what Junior Preceptor Gu means.

Lord Jingzhe is the guardian deity of our Great Luo.

How could she be disturbed by such worldly affairs?

A Golden Core cultivator had already transcended mortality, no longer partaking in worldly sustenance nor bothering with secular disputes.

Unless under extremely special circumstances, they generally would not easily show their faces.

This was the consensus of the cultivation world and also Great Luo's respect for high-level cultivators.

Li Shiyuan sped up his speech, as if making a guarantee:

Rest assured, Junior Preceptor Gu. The best restaurant in Dawn City has already been booked.

All the utensils and furnishings are completely new.

I guarantee that absolutely no one will disturb Lord Jingzhe's quiet cultivation!

Hearing this, the difficulty and hesitation on Gu Chengyin's face instantly dissipated.

A smile returned, and this time, it carried a bit more sincerity.

He immediately cupped his hands and spoke politely:

Since Lord Li is so thoughtful, then it is better to respectfully obey than to decline.

On behalf of all my colleagues in the inspection team, this junior thanks Lord Li.

Li Shiyuan returned the greeting with cupped hands, his tone carrying a relieved lightness:

Then I shall respectfully await Junior Preceptor Gu.

The two smiled at each other, then parted with apparent reluctance.

Gu Chengyin walked backward for two steps, cupping his hands as he moved, a bright smile still hanging on his face as he said, Please, Lord Li, no need to see me off.

Li Shiyuan escorted him forward for two steps, also cupping his hands, his face full of smiles as he replied, Take care, Junior Preceptor Gu, take care.

The distance between the two stretched from two feet, to three feet, to five feet, and finally to ten feet.

They turned around simultaneously.

And walked toward their respective ranks.

Gu Chengyin's steps were brisk, his robes fluttering slightly in the wind.

The smile on his face vanished the instant he turned, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

Li Shiyuan's steps were steady, the hem of his purple robe completely motionless.

The enthusiasm on his face also cooled the moment he turned, turning into a solemn look.

With their backs to each other, they walked further and further apart.

The officials standing before the city gates watched this scene and breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

It was done.

The reception task had been accomplished.

The Lord Governor and Junior Preceptor Gu had a very pleasant conversation. The Ministry of Rites inspection team would stay a night in Dawn City, and the evening banquet was arranged.

Everything was proceeding according to the most perfect script.

No one knew how many undercurrents were surging, how many schemes were clashing, and how many probes were being made during that brief conversation.

They only saw the superficial harmony and heard the polite rhetoric.

They only felt that the sun was really glaring today and that their legs were numb from standing.

Li Shiyuan returned to the ranks of officials, the enthusiasm on his face completely gone.

He looked at Li Tianming and said only two words:

Arrange it.

Li Tianming immediately bowed:

Yes, sir!

Then he turned and began shouting orders.

Directing the officials, bailiffs, drum bands, and flag bearers to prepare for the inspection team's entry into the city.

The city gates were thrown wide open.

The official road was cleared.

The commoners were held back at a further distance.

Everything was done solely to welcome this absurdly high-ranking inspection team into Dawn City.

Meanwhile, Gu Chengyin returned to the side of the carriage.

He did not immediately board but stood before the carriage door, tilting his head slightly to look at the tightly drawn curtains.

The curtains were thick, embroidered with cloud and thunder patterns, obscuring everything inside.

But Gu Chengyin could feel it.

He could feel that inside the carriage, a pair of cold, clear eyes was watching him through the curtain.

He let out a soft breath.

Then he pulled open the door and boarded the carriage.

The door closed.

Isolating the noisy heatwaves and the curious gazes of the officials outside.

Inside the carriage, it was dim and quiet, with only fragmented spots of light leaking through the gaps in the bamboo blinds.

Lin Qingyan still sat upright, resting with her eyes closed.

It was as if everything happening outside had nothing to do with her.

Gu Chengyin sat down beside her and said:

Aunt, we will be staying one night in Dawn City today.

Lin Qingyan did not open her eyes, only giving a faint sound of agreement.

A smile appeared on Gu Chengyin's face. Lin Qingyan's attitude was very clear.

On this journey, aside from ensuring his safety.

She would not interfere with anything else, leaving it all up to Gu Chengyin.

As for why Gu Chengyin decided to stay the night, apart from the fact that the sect inspection itself was not in a hurry.

He found this place, Luoshui Commandery, to be quite interesting.

Back then, the place where the Luo Emperor tested Luo Zhao was precisely in Luoshui Commandery.

It was precisely because of this that he had encountered Luo Zhao, which led to everything that happened afterward.

But the most interesting part was the current Governor of Luoshui Commandery, Li Shiyuan.

If Gu Chengyin remembered correctly.

The biological father of the Second Prince, Luo Yanchen.

The Luo Emperor's best sworn brother of a different surname.

The former Prince of Luoshui Commandery.

Also had the surname Li.