I’m Optimistic About Gu Chengyin

The tone, the expression, the slightly rising inflection at the end of the sentence—it was unmistakably sarcastic.

The implication was clear: mocking Shangguan Yuan for clinging to his seniority, playing dirty tricks like kicking someone when they’re down, while his actual abilities were, after all, nothing to boast about.

The officials listening in had eyes that grew increasingly bright.

This was precisely what they wanted!

With Gu Chengyin’s words, it was all but confirmed that the crown prince’s faction was truly in internal strife.

If the two were of one mind, Gu Chengyin would never have uttered such veiled mockery in public.

But since he had, it meant either their relationship was so close that such remarks didn’t matter, or it had soured to the point of open hostility.

With this thought, the crowd’s gaze toward Jiang Jianli grew more complicated.

If Shangguan Yuan had indeed instructed her to testify, then today’s move was Shangguan Yuan’s attempt to add insult to Gu Chengyin’s injury.

And Gu Chengyin, clearly prepared, showed no panic. Instead, he ridiculed him openly.

Between these two, who held the upper hand?

Or rather, whom did Luo Zhao favor?

Jiang Jianli, however, seemed not to catch the mockery in Gu Chengyin’s words.

Her expression unchanged, she remained calm and composed.

“I thank the Grand Preceptor Gu on behalf of my husband,” she said, nodding slightly. Her tone was as peaceful as if she were chatting idly.

“My husband also said that he holds a young man of such promise like you in high regard.”

I think highly of Gu Chengyin.

The officials listening were nearly moved to applaud.

Hear that—this was hardly praise.

It was clearly saying: However capable Gu Chengyin might be, before Shangguan Yuan, he’s still just a junior.

And that wasn’t the end; the previous sentence was even more brilliant.

With those words, Jiang Jianli made it unmistakably clear: Her presence here was known to Shangguan Yuan, and the words she spoke were his instructions.

The two traded barbs, outwardly one expressing respect for a senior, the other showing regard for a junior.

They spoke with utmost politeness, yet every line was a reversal, swordplay hidden between the words.

Was this a dialogue?

No—it was a duel.

The minds of the crowd raced, and when their gazes returned to Gu Chengyin, there was a hint of curiosity.

How would this Grand Preceptor Gu react, now that he had been stabbed in the back by a senior member of his own camp?

But Gu Chengyin merely smiled slightly.

He nodded, said nothing more, and turned his eyes to Cui Zhenji.

“Minister Cui.”

Cui Zhenji, still savoring the exchange just now, started at the address and responded instinctively, “What is it?”

The words had no sooner left his mouth than he realized he had lost his composure.

As the lead judge, to be distracted in court was indeed inexcusable.

Cui Zhenji coughed lightly, straightened his expression, and tried to muster an air of authority.

Gu Chengyin paid no mind to his distraction, speaking unhurriedly:

“Though I don’t know why Lady Jiang is accusing me,

in the Great Luo legal code, there is no such charge as ‘usurping the leader of a sect,’ is there?”

As soon as he said this, the entire hall fell silent, both above and below.

Cui Zhenji groaned inwardly.

What was the greatest problem with this joint trial?

Was it the lack of evidence?

No.

The biggest problem was that the Great Luo legal code had no charge for “usurping a sect leader.”

Cui Zhenji couldn’t help but curse to himself: This task today was nothing but a hot potato.

It should have been a case handled by the Censorate or the Ministry of Justice, but because of Cui Shifan’s involvement, it had landed on him, the Minister of Rites.

A man in charge of sacrificial rites and ceremonies—what did he know about trying a case?

But he couldn’t say that out loud.

Cui Zhenji could only force the situation and murmured, “Well…”

Before he could finish, the Minister of Justice took over:

“Grand Preceptor Gu, you’re mistaken. While the Great Luo code has no charge for usurpation,

it does have a statute on banditry by force. If Lady Jiang’s accusation proves true, then your actions, Grand Preceptor Gu, would be no different from banditry.”

Gu Chengyin turned to him, a smile still on his lips:

“Judging by your tone, you mean to say that one accusation from Lady Jiang is enough to convict me of banditry?”

“Of course not,” the Minister of Justice replied, expressionless. “But since Lady Jiang has come forward to testify, we must hear her statement.

Whether there is real evidence—we’ll know after listening.”

Seeing no objection from Gu Chengyin, the Minister of Justice nodded to Cui Zhenji.

Cui Zhenji cleared his throat: “Very well, then let Lady Jiang speak.

What exactly happened with the Green Sword Sect?”

Jiang Jianli dipped her head slightly, her posture still as stone.

She did not speak immediately, but remained silent for a moment with eyes cast downward.

This brief pause made everyone in the hall hold their breath.

The officials leaned forward involuntarily, afraid to miss a single word.

Then Jiang Jianli spoke, and her first sentence stunned everyone.

“My father, Jiang Qingshan, was originally a menial laborer at the Green Sword Sect.”

Cui Zhenji blinked.

A laborer?

But Jiang Jianli seemed not to notice the surprise on the faces around her. She continued, her voice steady and unhurried.

“In those days, my father worked as a sweeper and porter at the Green Sword Sect, carrying water, chopping wood, and cleaning the courtyards. Compared to the sect’s cultivators, he was like mud beneath their feet.”

The officials exchanged glances.

Wasn’t she supposed to accuse Gu Chengyin? Why was she talking about old stories of the Green Sword Sect?

Some wanted to interrupt but were tugged back by others.

They looked toward the judge’s table. Cui Zhenji frowned but said nothing.

Yuan Zhengqing sat quietly, his eyes betraying no emotion.

Jiang Jianli was the wife of Shangguan Yuan, and Shangguan Yuan was a member of the Grand Secretariat.

So even if she strayed far from the topic, as long as Yuan Zhengqing didn’t intervene, everyone else had to listen patiently.

And Yuan Zhengqing showed no intention of stopping her.

Jiang Jianli went on: “Although my father was a laborer, he was born with a sword bone, and his talent in the way of the sword was extraordinary.

He swept during the day and secretly learned at night. In three years, without a teacher, he mastered a splendid sword technique.”

“By chance, the then-leader of the Green Sword Sect witnessed it, was amazed, and immediately took him on as a nominal disciple.”

At this point, Jiang Jianli paused, her voice still calm.

“Later, my father rose from nominal disciple to inner disciple, and from inner disciple to personal disciple.

Finally, after breaking through to the Golden Core stage, he was appointed the new leader of the Green Sword Sect.”

At these words, more than a few stirred.

A laborer becoming the leader of a sect—Jiang Qingshan’s fortunes could well be called legendary.

But what did this have to do with Gu Chengyin?

As if sensing the crowd’s confusion, Jiang Jianli was in no hurry to explain, simply continuing:

“After my father assumed the leadership, the five managing elders of the Green Sword Sect were far from convinced.

These five elders had been entrenched in the sect for decades.

Although my father was the leader, he could not command a single person or object, nor spend a single coin. His orders never left the hall.

All sect affairs were controlled by the five elders. My father was the leader only in name, nothing more than a puppet.”

Cui Zhenji’s brow twitched.

This predicament sounded strangely familiar.

Jiang Jianli’s voice remained flat: “Outwardly, the five elders said they were assisting the new leader, but in truth, they bound him at every turn and meddled in everything.

When my father wanted to reorganize the sect, they said he was young and reckless.

When my father wanted to promote new talent, they said the leader was playing favorites.

When my father wanted to reform old rules, they said he disrespected the founding masters.

Across the Green Sword Sect, everyone knew only of the Five Elders, not of the leader.”

The atmosphere in the hall gradually grew subtle; some began to vaguely sense something, though they could not quite articulate what it was.

Jiang Jianli lifted her eyes, slowly sweeping her gaze across the faces of the officials seated behind the desk, finally settling on Gu Chengyin.

“It was at this moment that Junior Preceptor Gu arrived.”