Wait Until the End

After making her promise, Luo Zhao did not continue speaking.

Instead, she let go of her hand, gesturing that they should return to the Crown Princess's carriage first.

Shangguan Yunying followed behind Luo Zhao, her pace unhurried.

Her gaze fell upon the figure ahead, her expression seemingly calm.

Deep within her eyes, however, hid an imperceptible, strange gleam.

She had taken Luo Zhao's words to heart just now.

Not only had she listened, but she had also heard the underlying implications.

Luo Zhao wanted to suppress Gu Chengyin, not to kill him.

Rather, she wanted to erase his cultivation, strip him of his status, and then lock him up.

Lock him up.

These three words echoed in Shangguan Yunying's heart, stirring up endless ripples.

She had once had similar dreams.

In her dreams, Gu Chengyin was no longer the high, unreachable bright moon, but an ordinary man.

A man who could be held in her arms, a man who...

Belonged only to her.

But that was ultimately just a dream.

Upon waking, Gu Chengyin was still Gu Chengyin, the one she looked up to, chased after, and could never reach.

And once he stepped into the Golden Core Realm, it was foreseeable that she would never have any chance to monopolize him.

So on this point, her interests perfectly aligned with Luo Zhao's.

After all, it was just suppression, not actually harming Gu Chengyin's life.

How many men in Great Luo wanted to obtain this honor, wanted to become a male pet for her, Shangguan Yunying, or even Luo Zhao.

Yet in reality, besides Gu Chengyin, they wouldn't even spare a glance at any other man.

And now, Luo Zhao had turned this dream into a possibility.

Shangguan Yunying lowered her eyelids, concealing the flash of light in her eyes.

She naturally knew what Her Highness was thinking, because she understood Luo Zhao far too well.

Luo Zhao thought she had persuaded her, thought she was moved by those words, thought she would obediently cooperate and be a loyal executor.

But Luo Zhao was wrong.

She would indeed cooperate, but not for Luo Zhao. Rather, for herself.

Because in this scheme, Luo Zhao was the planner, and she was the executor.

What is the greatest advantage of an executor?

It is the ability to make a mistake.

To make a tiny, insignificant error at some crucial juncture.

So small that no one would notice, yet enough to derail the entire plan from its original track.

For example, instead of locking Gu Chengyin up in a certain place, she could make him disappear to a place where no one could ever find him.

For example, what was supposed to be temporary suppression could become permanent possession.

By then, even Luo Zhao wouldn't be able to find any flaws.

Because she, Shangguan Yunying, was the executor, the only one who knew all the details.

As long as it was done cleanly, secretly, and perfectly enough.

And this wouldn't even count as betraying Luo Zhao; after all, Luo Zhao originally wanted to lock Gu Chengyin up anyway.

She would indeed lock Gu Chengyin up, just in a place even Luo Zhao couldn't find.

The corners of Shangguan Yunying's mouth curled up slightly, then quickly pressed down.

She couldn't rush.

The time wasn't right yet.

She had to play the role of the loyal chief lady-in-waiting perfectly, making Luo Zhao believe she had completely submitted.

She had to follow Her Highness's instructions step by step.

Until the very end...

Shangguan Yunying raised her head, looking at Luo Zhao's back ahead, a sly gleam flashing in her eyes.

Gu Chengyin would definitely be hers.

The two walked in silence and soon exited the Xuanwu Gate.

The Crown Princess's carriage was already waiting outside the gate. Two palace lanterns hung on the shafts, swaying with dim yellow halos.

Seeing them emerge, the driver hurriedly set down the footstool and lifted the carriage curtain.

Luo Zhao boarded the carriage first, sitting down calmly with Shangguan Yunying's support.

Incense burned inside the carriage, a faint sandalwood scent permeating the air, intertwining with the scenery outside the window into a peaceful tranquility.

But beneath this tranquility, dark currents surged.

Luo Zhao raised her eyes and looked at Shangguan Yunying beside her.

Yunying.

Shangguan Yunying looked up, the expression on her face just right.

Earnest, focused, with the respect due to the Crown Princess.

Your Highness.

Luo Zhao nodded in satisfaction.

She didn't pay too much attention to Shangguan Yunying's performance.

In her heart, as long as it didn't involve Gu Chengyin, Shangguan Yunying was still her most loyal chief lady-in-waiting.

And now, although it did involve Gu Chengyin, she had clearly persuaded Shangguan Yunying.

Everything was under her control.

Luo Zhao pondered for a moment and said:

After we return to the Eastern Palace, find an opportunity to leak the fact that I have withheld the imperial edict to the spies Cui Shifan planted in the Internal Affairs Department.

Shangguan Yunying nodded; this was not a difficult task.

The various factions in the imperial court more or less had secret informants among each other.

Cui Manor planting spies in the Internal Affairs Department wasn't a matter of just a day or two.

The Eastern Palace had always known of their existence, just leaving them be and pretending not to know.

At times like this, these spies could be put to great use.

And after leaking it? Shangguan Yunying asked.

Luo Zhao pondered, Barring any accidents, after Cui Shifan receives the news, he will definitely go to Lyu Fang for confirmation.

So after you leak it, go inform Lyu Fang. He knows what to do.

And if Cui Shifan comes looking for me? Shangguan Yunying asked again.

Then you tell him, Luo Zhao's lips curled up slightly, that I have already arranged for you to issue the imperial edict.

Shangguan Yunying memorized this earnestly.

As long as Cui Shifan confirms that I have suppressed the imperial edict, Luo Zhao continued:

He will definitely go to Emperor Luo and bypass the Internal Affairs Department, forwarding it directly to the Celestial Master Manor.

This way, Emperor Luo will inevitably punish me for it.

When Luo Zhao said this, her tone was as calm as if she were talking about someone else's affairs.

She showed absolutely no worry about how severe Emperor Luo's punishment might be.

Shangguan Yunying's heart stirred.

Her Highness had truly changed.

Now she could calmly calculate her own predicament, coolly accept the impending punishment, and treat all of this as a step on the chessboard.

This Luo Zhao made her feel a bit unfamiliar.

But it also made her more at ease.

Because only this kind of Luo Zhao could truly defeat Gu Chengyin.

Luo Zhao didn't notice Shangguan Yunying's distraction and continued:

Once Emperor Luo's punishment comes down...

She paused, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes:

Yunying, you will immediately set out for Luodu to find Gu Chengyin.

Tell him exactly about my withholding the edict and Cui Shifan's forceful push.

Shangguan Yunying's expression shifted.

Go to Luodu?

Find Gu Chengyin?

She blinked and asked, Then... after telling him?

Luo Zhao smiled faintly, her smile looking somewhat enigmatic in the dim carriage:

After that, of course, you listen to Gu Chengyin. Whatever he tells you to do, you do.

Shangguan Yunying was stunned.

Listen to Gu Chengyin?

Then what was the point of her trip to Luodu?

Luo Zhao saw her confusion and patiently explained:

Yunying, you only need to ensure one thing: make Gu Chengyin believe that I am still under hypnosis.

And that everything is Cui Shifan's doing.