Real Obstacles

Moreover, Gu Chengyin had already won the first round.

Because he did not attend the welcome banquet at the City Lord's Manor. Instead, he stayed with her, and in the very same room.

Since he made no deliberate effort to hide this, Li Shiyuan would inevitably find out. And once he knew, he would start guessing.

Guessing why Gu Chengyin did not attend the welcome banquet.

Guessing why Gu Chengyin chose to stay in Fanlou.

Guessing the relationship between Gu Chengyin and Lin Qingyan.

Guessing whether this was the intention of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

The more he guessed, the more mistakes he would make.

Eventually, Li Shiyuan would walk right into the trap Gu Chengyin had set.

There was no need for a meeting, no need for conversation, and not even a need for any actual action.

He only needed to put on a posture.

A posture suggesting he was acting under someone else's orders.

So.

Lin Qingyan finally spoke up. Are you using my name as a shield?

Since Gu Chengyin did not go to the City Lord's Manor for the banquet, nor did he go to his own room, but rather insisted on staying here with her.

There was only one explanation.

He was borrowing her influence.

Borrowing her prestige as Jingzhe of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Lin Qingyan's eyes changed.

From their previous indifference, they turned ice-cold, the coldness of being used.

Her pupils contracted slightly, and a very faint purple hue surfaced at the edges of her irises.

This was a sign that the Nine Heavens Thunder Art was circulating. Although she suppressed the fluctuations of her spiritual energy, her physical reaction could not be hidden.

Gu Chengyin's expression froze. Lin Qingyan's intelligence exceeded his expectations.

Could he only attribute this to the natural talent of a Golden Core cultivator?

Aunt, I...

Answer my question.

Lin Qingyan interrupted him. Are you borrowing my prestige as a shield?

Gu Chengyin admitted it straightforwardly. Yes.

Lin Qingyan took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, the purple in the depths of her eyes had deepened.

Gu Chengyin, do you still remember our deal?

I remember. Gu Chengyin nodded. I help you weaken your inner demon, and you protect me.

Right. I protect you because you can weaken my inner demon.

Lin Qingyan stood up, looking down at Gu Chengyin from a superior height.

But I never told you to go and show goodwill to Luo Yanchen's people.

Li Shiyuan is Luo Yanchen's man. I am protecting you.

Gu Chengyin instinctively tried to stand up, but he was forced back down by Lin Qingyan's coercive pressure.

But you cannot borrow my influence.

Lin Qingyan bent down until her line of sight was level with Gu Chengyin's.

To make Li Shiyuan think that this is my intention.

The Heavenly Master Mansion never interferes in court affairs, and absolutely never gets involved in partisan struggles.

Gu Chengyin.

You are using me.

Outside the window, one of the lanterns went out.

It was Fanlou's rule: half the lanterns were extinguished at the hour of Zi, and all were put out at the hour of Chou.

The moment that lantern went out, the light in the room dimmed a fraction.

The moonlight became clearer, like a layer of thin frost covering the surface of all objects.

Lin Qingyan's eyes were very calm, but beneath that calmness churned complex emotions.

Gu Chengyin's lips moved as if to defend himself, but in the end, he said nothing.

He only lowered his head, his shoulders slumping.

This posture was very fragile.

It was as if he had stripped away all his disguises, revealing his truest inner self.

Lin Qingyan's heart suddenly softened for a moment.

It was very slight, like a feather brushing across the tip of her heart, a fleeting tickle.

But she caught that moment and immediately became alert.

This had to be Gu Chengyin's trick. He was showing weakness, trying to win her sympathy.

Lin Qingyan took a step back, widening the distance between them once more.

Answer me. Lin Qingyan's voice turned ice-cold again. Is it true?

Gu Chengyin raised his head.

With the moonlight shining on his face, one could clearly see that the rims of his eyes were slightly red.

Aunt, if I said no, would you believe me?

Lin Qingyan said without the slightest hesitation.

No.

Then what if I say yes. Gu Chengyin smiled bitterly. Will you throw me out right now?

Lin Qingyan did not speak.

She merely looked at him, her gaze like she was evaluating the worth of an object.

Gu Chengyin took a deep breath and also stood up, but his movements were very slow, as if afraid of provoking Lin Qingyan.

After standing up straight, although he was half a head taller than Lin Qingyan, Gu Chengyin was completely suppressed in terms of aura.

Then let me put it another way.

Gu Chengyin chose his words carefully. I did want to borrow your influence, Aunt, but not for myself.

Oh? Lin Qingyan raised an eyebrow. For whom?

For Her Highness. Gu Chengyin looked straight into Lin Qingyan's eyes. For your niece.

He said these words very earnestly.

So earnestly that for a moment, Lin Qingyan actually could not tell if it was true or false.

Keep talking. She sat back down on the soft couch, her posture relaxing a little, but her eyes remaining vigilant.

Gu Chengyin also sat down, placing his hands on his knees like an obedient student.

I moved into Fanlou, stayed by your side, and acted with unbridled ostentation, putting on a show for everyone to see.

Li Shiyuan will guess, and those people in the imperial court will also guess: What gives me the right to be so arrogant? Why can't even the Censorate control me?

There is only one answer. I have someone backing me, someone the Censorate dares not cross.

And the most logical guess is the Heavenly Master Mansion. Lin Qingyan picked up his train of thought. Because you are staying with me.

Correct. Gu Chengyin admitted. But His Majesty knows that I am not a member of the Heavenly Master Mansion. Not only that, but he also knows you intend to kill me.

Lin Qingyan narrowed her eyes. And even if Luo Houcong knows, he won't say anything, because he cannot let anyone know that you died by my hands.

Within this rhetoric, the point Gu Chengyin wanted to convey was very clear.

He did this to make Li Shiyuan believe that he had a deep relationship with Lin Qingyan and that the Heavenly Master Mansion stood behind him.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, who knew the truth, would not expose him because it involved future strategic layouts.

This tacit consent would instead deepen the credibility of the illusion.

The room fell quiet.

Only the sound of the night watchman's clapper drifted in from afar, long and lonely.

Lin Qingyan stared at Gu Chengyin. But what does this have to do with you showing goodwill to Luo Yanchen?

Gu Chengyin enunciated every word, his tone serious.

Aunt, during this sect inspection tour, according to the original plan, you were supposed to kill me.

It's just that His Majesty does not know that we have struck a deal.

Then, if things went according to the original plan and I truly died by your hands.

What would happen next?

At this point, Gu Chengyin looked out at the night sky and sighed.

His Majesty would dispatch the Heavenly Master Mansion and mobilize a grand army to crush the major sects.

Until he found a way to complete the Immortal Path, or rather, a way to complete his Golden Core.

Lin Qingyan's pupils contracted slightly, and Gu Chengyin continued to speak.

Although I don't know if this method of completing the Immortal Path is actually useful or if it can complete the Golden Core.

But what if, Aunt, I'm just saying what if.

What if His Majesty truly completes his Golden Core?

The emotions in Lin Qingyan's eyes began to subside. She somewhat understood what Gu Chengyin was trying to do.

Then Luo Yanchen will forever remain the Second Prince.

And Her Highness will forever remain the Crown Princess.

So from the very beginning, Her Highness's obstacle was never the Second Prince.

And the Second Prince's rival was never Her Highness.

The true obstacle.

Is His Majesty.