Little Uncle-in-Law

Lin Qingyan rested against Gu Chengyin's shoulder. When she asked this question, her tone held a hidden anxiety she had not even noticed herself.

It concerned her worry for Luo Zhao, as well as the tangled, messy entanglement between the two of them.

After all, outwardly, Gu Chengyin was Luo Zhao's Junior Preceptor, while she was Luo Zhao's little aunt.

Both of them were considered elders and should have interacted as peers; she was even slightly senior to him.

But in reality?

The reality was that Gu Chengyin had once stood in the imperial court, right in front of all the civil and military officials.

Using his identity as the successor of the Immortal Race, he had confessed his love to Luo Zhao, and Luo Zhao had even tacitly accepted it.

At that time, Lin Qingyan had been standing in the shadows at the side of the hall.

She had seen with her own eyes a faint, subtle ripple form in Luo Zhao's gaze.

Although she later learned that this might have just been the two of them coordinating in court, putting on an act for everyone to see.

But knowing was one thing; the indescribable worry lingering in her heart was another.

It was like a tiny splinter embedded in the flesh—unnoticeable normally, but painful at the slightest touch.

Not to mention... last night.

Lin Qingyan's cheeks began to burn again.

She buried her face deeper into the crook of Gu Chengyin's neck, breathing in his scent, trying to calm herself down.

But the more she did so, the clearer the images from last night became.

The warm embrace of Gu Chengyin's arms as he held her, the scalding heat of his lips and tongue when they kissed, and those clear, open eyes of his when he spoke.

All of this was real.

It was not an act, nor a coordinated show.

It was a very real palpitation that happened to her, one strong enough to overturn her Dao Heart.

Therefore, Lin Qingyan's question had been extremely cunning.

She was not only probing Gu Chengyin's true attitude toward Luo Zhao, but also forcing him to face this unorthodox relationship between the two of them.

Gu Chengyin's answer, however, was unexpectedly candid.

Her Highness is still very excellent as the Crown Princess.

There are no true opponents in the imperial court, and Her Highness is very clear about this.

His words were watertight.

They affirmed Luo Zhao's political wisdom while hinting at the cooperative nature of their relationship in court.

But Lin Qingyan heard the underlying implication.

Gu Chengyin was telling her that between him and Luo Zhao, they were first and foremost sovereign and subject, allies, and a community bound by shared interests.

As for those ambiguous, boundary-crossing, and indescribable feelings...

In the face of power, they could all give way.

This should have made Lin Qingyan feel relieved.

But for some reason, the worry in her heart only deepened.

She raised her eyes and looked at Gu Chengyin's profile.

In the morning light, his jawline was clean and sharp, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly as he spoke.

His eyes were currently looking out the window, his deep pupils reflecting the rapidly retreating shadows of trees, making him look profound and... distant.

What was he thinking about?

Was he thinking about Luo Zhao? The court? Or those deeper, more complex political schemes?

Lin Qingyan suddenly felt a bit irritable.

She did not like this feeling; she did not like acting like an insecure, complaining woman confined to her boudoir.

Guessing the hidden meaning behind every word Gu Chengyin said, keeping score of who was more important in his heart.

This was too unlike her.

So she bit her lip, just about to say something to change the subject.

When she saw Gu Chengyin suddenly turn his head, a wicked smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

As for the rest... should we have Her Highness call me Little Uncle?

Lin Qingyan's pupils suddenly dilated.

She could even clearly hear her own heartbeat skip half a beat before wildly accelerating with a thudding sound.

Her cheeks burned red at a visible rate, spreading all the way from the roots of her ears to her neck, leaving even her collarbones flushed with a faint pink.

You... what nonsense are you sprouting!

Lin Qingyan blurted out subconsciously, but her voice was soft and completely lacked any intimidation; instead, it carried a bit of coquettishness due to her panic.

Gu Chengyin smiled even more wickedly.

How is it nonsense?

Little Aunt, you said it yourself. You are Her Highness's little aunt, so shouldn't Her Highness call me Little Uncle?

I... I never agreed to you!

Lin Qingyan hurriedly retorted, subconsciously wanting to step back, but her back was already pressed against the carriage wall, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.

She could only turn her face away, avoiding Gu Chengyin's scorching gaze, her voice growing quieter and quieter:

I haven't agreed to anything with you. You are not allowed to spout nonsense outside...

These words lacked any confidence.

Rather than a warning, it sounded more like acting coy.

But Gu Chengyin did not push his luck; instead, he began to restrain himself.

He naturally knew his limits.

For Lin Qingyan to allow them to be this intimate when alone, even taking the initiative to press close to him, was already the absolute limit of what she could handle.

If Gu Chengyin did not know what was good for him and actually spouted nonsense outside, piercing this paper window.

Then what would greet him would absolutely not be warm fragrance and soft jade, but rather a torrential downpour of golden lightning.

Therefore, Gu Chengyin knew to quit while he was ahead.

He voluntarily stepped back half a foot, opening up a safe distance, and the wicked smile on his face also faded a bit, replaced by a serious expression:

Rest assured, Little Aunt. If you do not give the word, I definitely won't speak recklessly outside.

These words were spoken sincerely, and his eyes were clear, which actually made Lin Qingyan freeze for a moment.

She looked at the gentleness and respect on Gu Chengyin's face, looking at that trace of a smile that had already turned into doting affection.

The little bit of shame and anger in her heart actually dissipated by more than half without her realizing it.

Taking its place was a tingling, numbing warmth.

Like the warm winter sun shining on a frozen lake, melting the solid ice bit by bit to reveal the soft lake water beneath.

Lin Qingyan turned her face away and harrumphed, taking it as accepting this out.

But the flush at the roots of her ears did not fade for a long time.

Gu Chengyin did not tease her anymore either.

He merely reached out and pulled Lin Qingyan back into his embrace, letting her rest against his shoulder once more.

Lin Qingyan did not resist. Instead, she took the opportunity to adjust her posture, burying her face in the crook of his neck like a cat seeking comfort after throwing a tantrum.

The carriage grew quiet once again.

Lin Qingyan closed her eyes, feeling the warmth radiating from Gu Chengyin's body, feeling the gentle strength of him lightly patting her back.

The stormy waves stirred up in her heart by the words Little Uncle gradually calmed down.

She began to reflect.

Reflecting on her loss of composure just now, reflecting on the earth-shattering changes that had occurred overnight.

Reflecting... just what kind of feelings did she hold toward Gu Chengyin?

Was it a fluttering heart?

Perhaps it was.

That kiss last night, that palpitation that nearly burned away all her reason, could not deceive anyone.

Was it reliance?

Perhaps it was that too.

The loneliness she had felt since her older sister, the Empress, passed away had now been intruded upon by Gu Chengyin. This feeling of being cared for eroded her mental defenses like poison.

But more than that, perhaps it was a compromise akin to accepting her fate.

Forcibly suppressing her emotions would instead only strengthen her inner demons.

This was a truth Lin Qingyan had only come to understand last night.

Rather than escaping, it was better to face it.

Rather than resisting, it was better to enjoy it.

That was why she allowed herself to press close to him, allowed herself to seek solace in his embrace, and allowed those boundary-crossing intimacies to occur.

But Lin Qingyan was also clear that this permission had a bottom line.

Taking the initiative to kiss and such was something she would only do while under the influence of her inner demons.

Normally, she was still that aloof and self-possessed Jingzhe of the Heavenly Master Manor, still Luo Zhao's little aunt, and still... Gu Chengyin's nominal elder.

As for going a step further?

Let nature take its course.