It Was Luo Zhao Who Came First

However, there was one aspect where Shangguan Yunying was indeed on par with her.

And that was her broad, ocean-like bosom.

Lin Qingyan looked down at herself, then thought of Shangguan Yunying.

She suddenly felt a bit stifled, but quickly suppressed the thought.

It was not important.

None of these women were important.

The truly important one, the one who posed a real threat...

Was not them at all.

In Lin Qingyan's mind, only one figure ultimately remained.

Luo Zhao.

The Crown Princess of Great Luo, the future Empress.

Back in Luoshui Commandery, when she first met Gu Chengyin.

Lin Qingyan remembered it very clearly. At that time, she had received an imperial decree from the Luo Emperor.

It ordered her to go to Luoshui Commandery to protect Luo Zhao, and it was only then that Lin Qingyan found out.

That dog Luo Houcong had actually arranged for hundreds of thousands of rebels to encircle and intercept Luo Zhao, just to test her.

Furious, Lin Qingyan smashed her warm pavilion on the spot and then rushed to Luoshui Commandery without stopping.

And it was precisely because of this that she was able to meet Gu Chengyin.

However, when she actually arrived in Luoshui Commandery, the first person she laid eyes on was not Gu Chengyin.

It was Luo Zhao, because the Luo Zhao of that day was too different from the one in her memory.

No matter where she was or who she faced, Luo Zhao was always proud.

Cold, arrogant, and isolated, keeping everyone at a distance.

When those phoenix eyes looked at people, they always carried a condescending scrutiny.

As if she was weighing your worth, seeing if you deserved a second glance from her.

But when she was by Gu Chengyin's side, Luo Zhao was...

Lin Qingyan frowned.

She recalled the scene she had witnessed that day. Luo Zhao stood beside Gu Chengyin, her head tilted slightly.

There was no expression on her face, but her gaze was not as cold and arrogant as when she looked at others.

Instead, it was very gentle, very docile, like...

A well-behaved kitten.

A kitten that had retracted all its claws and fangs, willingly nestling by its master's side.

Lin Qingyan felt something was wrong right then.

She had known Luo Zhao for so many years; she knew best what kind of person and what kind of personality Her Highness had.

She was the Crown Princess, one who had grown up deep within the palace and survived the struggles of power and scheming.

How could such a person reveal that kind of expression?

Unless Gu Chengyin had done something to Luo Zhao.

That was what Lin Qingyan thought at the time.

She felt that Gu Chengyin must have cast some sort of sorcery on Luo Zhao, otherwise it could not be explained.

She had even secretly observed them carefully, wanting to find evidence.

But because the situation during the four crossings of the Luo River was changing rapidly, Lin Qingyan never found a chance to confirm it.

Coupled with the fact that Gu Chengyin did not show any obvious ulterior motives, she temporarily set the matter aside.

After all, her main mission was to ensure Luo Zhao's safety.

It wasn't until they returned to Shendu, when Lin Qingyan interacted with Luo Zhao up close, that she discovered...

Luo Zhao had reverted to the Luo Zhao she was familiar with.

Cold, arrogant, and isolated, keeping everyone at a distance.

Her phoenix eyes no longer held the docility she had seen that day.

Replaced by scrutiny, wariness, and an indescribable complexity.

She did not look controlled in the slightest.

Lin Qingyan was bewildered at the time.

If Gu Chengyin hadn't controlled Luo Zhao, then what had she seen that day?

Why would Luo Zhao reveal such a gaze?

Carrying this doubt, as well as curiosity.

Lin Qingyan began to pay more attention to Gu Chengyin.

Paying attention to his every move, every word, every micro-expression, and every shift in his gaze.

And then...

She fell for him.

Lin Qingyan buried her face in Gu Chengyin's embrace, the corners of her mouth curving into a tiny smile.

Back then, she didn't understand, didn't comprehend, and didn't know.

But now, she understood.

She understood why Luo Zhao would act so well-behaved and submissive by Gu Chengyin's side.

Because by Gu Chengyin's side, there was no need to put on airs, no need to hold on forcefully, no need to wear that cold and hard shell.

One could relax, be oneself, let down all their guard, and peacefully nestle in his embrace.

Because of affection.

Because Lin Qingyan liked Gu Chengyin, that was why she acted this way.

What about Luo Zhao then?

Luo Zhao was equally as docile as a kitten by Gu Chengyin's side.

What did this signify?

It signified that she also liked Gu Chengyin.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain why Luo Zhao was so docile.

So docile that it was as if Gu Chengyin was her master.

Lin Qingyan's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Once this thought emerged, it could no longer be suppressed.

Luo Zhao liked Gu Chengyin.

That cold, arrogant, and isolated Crown Princess, that Highness who never showed a pleasant countenance, also liked Gu Chengyin.

Lin Qingyan suddenly recalled some scenes, but this time not from Luoshui Commandery.

Instead, they were in Shendu, in the royal court, when by Gu Chengyin's side.

Luo Zhao would always tilt her head slightly, her usually cold phoenix eyes brimming with an unprecedented gentleness.

Lin Qingyan had thought those were traces of being controlled, but thinking about it now...

That wasn't control.

It was affection.

It was an affection that could not be hidden, could not be suppressed, and was not even realized by herself.

Lin Qingyan's heart sank. She had originally thought that her rivals were not many and not difficult to deal with.

Cui Zilu was not worth mentioning, Gu Xiaoli was not human, and although Shangguan Yunying had impressive strength, her status and position were ultimately lacking by a large margin.

But Luo Zhao...

Luo Zhao was different.

Luo Zhao was the Crown Princess.

The future Empress of Great Luo.

She was Gu Chengyin's nominal liege, the object of his assistance in the royal court, the person he had to face every day.

If Luo Zhao truly liked Gu Chengyin, then she was the greatest rival.

A rival that needed to be treated seriously.

Fortunately...

The corners of Lin Qingyan's mouth curved up slightly.

Fortunately, her advantages were great. Whether in terms of status or position, she was not inferior to Luo Zhao.

Her strength went without saying, which was also the main reason why Gu Chengyin liked her.

Gu Chengyin indeed liked her, but he was only moved, not deeply in love.

Lin Qingyan was very clear on this point. Gu Chengyin's feelings for her were affection, trust, and a transaction.

It was not yet an unforgettable love, nor an absolute desire to possess her.

But so what?

Affection was affection.

Even if it was just a little bit, even if this affection was not pure, it was still affection.

What about Luo Zhao?

This future Empress of Great Luo didn't even have this little bit of affection, not even an impure one.

Lin Qingyan was extremely certain of this; her intuition was very sharp.

She knew that Gu Chengyin's feelings for Luo Zhao were heartfelt respect.

In this respect, there was the distinction between sovereign and subject, the sense of duty, and the camaraderie of spending days and nights together.

But the only thing missing was affection, not even a single trace.

Although Lin Qingyan still could not understand why Gu Chengyin did not like Luo Zhao.

He even actively maintained a distance, harboring a hint of wariness.

As if he was not facing his liege, but an enemy.

But Lin Qingyan did not dwell on this too much.

Because this was her advantage.

Thinking of this, Lin Qingyan couldn't help but feel elated again.

She buried her face deeper into Gu Chengyin's embrace, the curve of her smile deepening.

But after this elation, a hint of guilt surfaced in her heart.

After all...

Luo Zhao was there first.