High Enough

Shangguan Yuan picked up the slightly cooled teacup and took a light sip. His movements were slow and steady, as if he were using this action to calm his mind.

Gu Chengyin listened quietly without refuting, though he sighed silently in his heart.

As expected, the hardest to deal with were these old foxes who had survived decades in the treacherous sea of officialdom, those who had the weighing of pros and cons carved deep into their bones.

They had weathered too many storms and made too many deals. They were not hot-blooded youths who could be easily swayed by a few words analyzing advantages and disadvantages.

Only tangible benefits were real; everything else was just an illusion.

If only he could directly hypnotize Shangguan Yuan. Although Gu Chengyin really wanted to do so, it was merely a passing thought.

The system's rules were very clear. At present, the number of targets he could hypnotize simultaneously was still limited to one.

This precious slot could only be used on Luo Zhao.

From the looks of it, if he wanted to unlock a second hypnosis slot, he would probably have to break through the Qi Condensation realm and step into the Foundation Establishment realm.

Gu Chengyin lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the smooth rim of his purple clay teacup.

Since persuasion was out of the question, he could only offer an exchange with a benefit that Shangguan Yuan could not refuse.

A few breaths later, he raised his eyes again. His tone shifted to a casual, chatty manner, and the topic abruptly changed:

"Lord Minister, as far as I know, although you hold great power and high status, it seems you have not yet entered the Inner Cabinet?"

Shangguan Yuan was just picking up the teapot, preparing to pour himself another cup. Hearing this, his hand paused slightly. The stream of water flowing from the spout deviated by a fraction, splashing a few tiny droplets against the rim of the cup.

He looked up, his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze revealing obvious confusion.

Setting down the teapot, he picked up a cotton towel from the side and wiped his hands. His movements were unhurried as he slowly replied,

"Director Gu must be joking. Those who can enter the Inner Cabinet are all highly respected, possess outstanding meritorious service, and are the trusted pillar officials of His Majesty."

"This old man is nothing more than an accountant looking after the storehouses for His Majesty. I still need more experience and cannot shoulder such an important responsibility."

He paused, his tone carrying self-deprecation and a deeper sense of regret.

"Compared to those in the Inner Cabinet, I still fall quite short."

Gu Chengyin nodded. His fingers, which had been rubbing the rim of the cup, stopped. He looked at Shangguan Yuan and asked his second question:

"Then, Lord Minister, do you wish to enter the Cabinet?"

"Pfft..."

Despite Shangguan Yuan's profound ability to maintain his composure, in this moment, he nearly choked on his own breath.

He shot his gaze upward, a sharp glint flashing deep within his pupils as the fingers gripping the cotton towel tightened unconsciously.

Entering the Cabinet? This was practically the ultimate dream of every civil official!

No, it could even be said that from the moment they stepped onto the path of officialdom, it was the ambition buried deepest in their hearts!

Entering the Cabinet to become a Prime Minister, taking a position in the central hub, wielding the power of the state—a single word could determine the rise and fall of the empire, and a single action concerned the life and death of the common people.

This was truly standing at the pinnacle of power, realizing a lifelong ambition, and achieving the supreme glory of leaving one's name in the annals of history!

Saying he didn't want it? That would be absolute self-deception, unable to fool even a three-year-old child!

A scorching wave of heat instantly flared up from the bottom of his heart, nearly shattering the calm facade he had cultivated for years.

But he had weathered many storms after all. The agitation lasted for only a brief moment before it was forcibly suppressed by a stronger sense of reason.

"Director Gu, your words have truly struck the core of this old man's heart."

Shangguan Yuan's voice lowered, carrying a bit of genuine emotion. "Want it? How could I not want it? Which scholar does not harbor such an ambition?"

His tone shifted, the heat in his voice cooling rapidly as it became realistic and heavy. "However, every seat in the Inner Cabinet is already occupied. The positions are limited, yet the struggle for them is endless."

"Although there is currently a vacancy in the Inner Cabinet, the court and the public are in a state of equilibrium. If a new Cabinet Minister were to be added, it would instead break this balance. Therefore, what seems like a single step away is actually as vast as an uncrossable chasm."

"Director Gu, for you to suddenly bring this up..." Shangguan Yuan paused, seeming to weigh his words carefully. "Is it His Highness...?"

Gu Chengyin did not answer immediately. He leaned back slightly, allowing himself to sink more comfortably into the wide armchair, but his gaze never left Shangguan Yuan's face.

He extended two slender fingers and gently picked up the list on the table that had been ignored for a long time.

"I merely wish to tell you, Lord Minister, that the resolve and the scale of His Highness's current and future actions will far exceed the imagination of the entire court."

Gu Chengyin put down the list and interlaced his fingers in front of him. His posture was relaxed, yet his tone was as sharp as a blade:

"His Highness is wise and perceptive, his heart tied to the state and the common people. This thunderous move is absolutely not just to catch a few petty officials lining their own pockets, nor to chop off a few insignificant heads just to put on a show and go through the motions."

Shangguan Yuan involuntarily held his breath.

He could hear the weight in Gu Chengyin's words; this was definitely not a conclusion a mere executor could easily state.

"Then, in Director Gu's view, who exactly does His Highness intend to move against?"

Meeting his gaze, Gu Chengyin said in a flat tone, "It is very simple. Whoever has embezzled the most money is the one who will be targeted."

Shangguan Yuan's brows locked tightly together.

These words sounded like a clear target, but the scope could still be either large or small.

He felt as though he understood, yet at the same time, he felt even more confused.

Gu Chengyin saw him like this and knew the time was ripe. It was time to lift the final veil.

No longer speaking in riddles, he leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice even further:

"Since His Highness is determined to replenish the empty state treasury, this first strike to clean up the finances cannot be a mere feint, nor can it only scratch the surface."

"Of course, it is unrealistic to expect that a single strike will purify the four seas and eradicate corruption forever, but the cut must be deep enough!"

"It must make certain factions, who believe themselves as steady as Mount Tai, tremble with fear at the mere thought of this blade. It must also make them understand that His Highness's blade is not only sharp, but it also dares to strike!"

He paused slightly, giving Shangguan Yuan time to digest this resolute attitude, before spitting out the most crucial part word by word, as if reading a verdict:

"Therefore, Lord Minister, to achieve such an effect, the strike must be ruthless enough, deep enough, and above all, high enough!"

"High... enough?"

Shangguan Yuan subconsciously repeated the keyword. High? How high was considered high?

A Vice Minister? A Minister? They were already important officials of the imperial court; a single stomp of their feet would make the Great Luo Empire tremble three times.

Any higher, and there would only be...

In a flash of lightning!

It was as if a clap of thunder had split the fog in his mind!

He suddenly connected all of Gu Chengyin's questions from tonight—questions that seemed disjointed but were actually intricately linked!

An incredibly insane speculation, like a ferocious beast breaking free from its cage, lunged out and instantly occupied his entire mind!

"You... His Highness... You all..."

Shangguan Yuan's voice was incomparably dry. He abruptly stood up from his chair, his body trembling from extreme shock and disbelief.

His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at Gu Chengyin, who was still sitting peacefully.

Exhausting all his strength, he finally squeezed out a term from between his teeth that made even himself feel dizzy:

"You want to execute a Cabinet Minister!?"