The deep and drawn-out sound of the bells and drums signaling the end of the morning assembly echoed through the towering palaces, dispelling the heavy and solemn atmosphere within the hall.
The officials filed out in an orderly manner according to their ranks.
Although everyone tried their best to maintain an outward appearance of calm, the thrilling series of verbal sparring and the earth-shattering accusations and counter-accusations from just moments ago had already stirred up unpacifiable waves in everyone's hearts.
Gu Chengyin followed the crowd, slowly walking down the wide stairs paved with white marble.
The early morning sunlight had become somewhat dazzling, spilling over the golden glazed tiles of the imperial city and reflecting a blinding radiance.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached; it was Shangguan Yunying.
Seeing Gu Chengyin, she quickly lowered her head and spoke in a rapid, low voice that only the two of them could hear:
"Director Gu, please wait a moment."
Gu Chengyin paused his steps and looked at her.
Shangguan Yunying quickly glanced around, confirming that no one was paying special attention to them before continuing to whisper, "Her Highness... invites you into her carriage for a talk." She turned slightly, gesturing in the direction.
Following her gaze, Gu Chengyin saw that not far away, the black and gold-gilded carriage of the Crown Princess had not yet departed.
It was parked quietly in its designated spot, surrounded by the Golden Feather Guards for protection. The carriage curtains were drawn low, obscuring the view inside.
Luo Zhao was asking him to get into her carriage?
Gu Chengyin was somewhat surprised. According to custom, after the morning assembly ended, the Crown Princess's carriage was permitted to leave first. Luo Zhao should have already boarded and been on her way back to her palace.
To specifically send Shangguan Yunying to call for him, and to invite him into the carriage for a talk, was highly unusual in itself.
It meant that Luo Zhao had something important and urgent to discuss with him, something that couldn't even wait until she returned.
Moreover... she wasn't avoiding letting outsiders see them riding in the same carriage?
While his mind raced, Gu Chengyin's expression remained unchanged. He simply gave Shangguan Yunying a slight nod. "Thank you for the trouble, Master Yunying."
Shangguan Yunying said no more and turned to lead the way.
Gu Chengyin followed behind her, walking calmly toward the carriage representing the Crown Princess under the countless overt and covert gazes of the crowd.
Many officials who had not yet gone far couldn't help but slow their steps. Whether pretending to adjust their robes or whispering with their colleagues, their eyes were firmly locked onto Gu Chengyin and the black carriage.
Her Highness the Eldest Princess was actually openly summoning an outer court official to share her Crown Princess carriage right in front of the main hall after the morning assembly?!
This was simply an extraordinary signal!
Recalling Director Gu's earth-shattering performance during the morning assembly, as well as his tactful rejection of His Majesty's hints...
The scales in countless people's hearts began to sway once again. Their evaluation and positioning of Gu Chengyin were instantly elevated to a new height.
His relationship with the Eldest Princess was clearly much closer than they had imagined.
The Second Prince, Luo Yanchen, was just preparing to board his own carriage at this moment and happened to witness this scene.
The excitement on his face was instantly replaced by a sinister gloom. He stared venomously at Gu Chengyin's back, grinding his teeth until they audibly cracked.
It was this Gu Chengyin again! Ruining his plans and being so highly regarded by Luo Zhao! If this man was not eliminated, he would definitely become a major threat!
Gu Chengyin seemed completely oblivious to the glares behind him.
He stopped in front of the carriage. The attendant female official, who had already received her instructions, respectfully lifted the carriage curtain for him.
The interior of the carriage was spacious, covered with a thick plush carpet embroidered with intricate cloud patterns. It was equipped with a comfortable soft couch and a small tea table. The light became gentle as it filtered through the specially made gauze curtains.
Luo Zhao sat upright in the seat of honor. She had already taken off the heavy Nine-Pheasant Four-Phoenix Crown, her hair now simply held up by a black jade hairpin.
Her head was slightly turned, and she appeared to be resting with her eyes closed, exuding an aloof aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.
It wasn't until Gu Chengyin bowed and entered the carriage, and the curtain fell back down to isolate all outside gazes and noise, that Luo Zhao slowly opened her eyes.
The moment those phoenix eyes looked at Gu Chengyin, their usual majesty and coldness rapidly faded away like melting ice and snow, turning into a trace of almost hollow obedience and focus.
This transformation was extremely natural, yet extremely abrupt.
It was like a precise machine instantly switching its operating mode.
Gu Chengyin's heart stirred slightly.
How similar this feeling was to the hypnotized Luo Zhao from before!
Could it be that this state would only be triggered and manifest when they were alone in their own space?
He maintained his composure, simply meeting Luo Zhao's gaze calmly.
Looking at the man before her whom she hated to the bone but had no choice but to rely on, Luo Zhao's heart was filled with extreme complexity.
If it weren't for his instructions, she would likely have fallen into a pointless argument and exposed flaws due to hasty answers.
Calling him up here was indeed to ask about the specific plans for the next step.
How should they utilize this ten-day buffer period? From what angle should they tackle the empty national treasury? All these needed to be discussed immediately.
However, before she could organize her words, Gu Chengyin suddenly spoke.
"Your Highness."
Luo Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and she looked over.
Gu Chengyin's gaze was very calm, yet it carried an indescribable meaning.
"It's just the two of us here, so..."
He paused, seemingly observing Luo Zhao's reaction.
"Who am I to you?"
This question unexpectedly pierced into Luo Zhao's heart!
It instantly turned all her preparations completely upside down!
Luo Zhao knew what Gu Chengyin was asking.
The last time this question arose, she was right there, witnessing the entire process with her own eyes.
What he wanted was for Luo Zhao, in her capacity as the hypnotized subject, to personally confirm his identity and status!
This was the most naked humiliation! The most thorough trampling! It was grinding her dignity underfoot over and over again!
Luo Zhao almost wanted to snap immediately, using all her cultivation base to tear this damn man into pieces! Even if it meant perishing together!
However...
Reason, once again, played its role at the critical moment.
She needed him!
Right now, immediately, she needed him at once!
Emperor Luo had only given her ten days!
Within ten days, Luo Zhao had to come up with a practical plan to solve the depletion of the national treasury—one that would satisfy her imperial father and subdue the entire court!
But she currently had no clue. The details of the deficit were unclear, and the implications were intricately complex. How could such a thing be completed in ten days?
Only Gu Chengyin!
Luo Zhao knew that this damn man definitely had a way to solve it.
So she couldn't fall out with him!
At least not now!
All her struggles and anger were forcibly crushed by Luo Zhao in a flash and pressed into the darkest corner of her soul.
Not a single ripple appeared on her face; she still maintained that almost hollow expression of obedience.
But only she herself knew that the heart within her chest was currently being steeped in endless humiliation.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely, yet it also felt as if only an instant had passed.
Under Gu Chengyin's oppressive gaze, Luo Zhao's beautiful phoenix eyes blinked slightly.
Then, her red lips parted slightly.
There was no emotion, nor was there any intonation.
Like the most exquisite puppet repeating a set program, the words gently slipped from between her teeth and drifted into the quiet air:
"You are my..."
"Master."
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
