Silence.
A deathly silence pervaded the narrow space reached by the dim glow of the bedside lamp.
Only the slightly ragged breathing of two people intertwined, adding a heart-pounding vitality to the suggestive scene.
Shangguan Yunying froze as if struck by a paralysis spell. The blush on her cheeks bloomed like peach blossoms under the hazy light, spreading to her delicate earlobes and even staining her slender neck a soft pink.
Gu Chengyin leaned against the headboard, looking quite speechless.
After a few moments, Shangguan Yunying seemed to finally regain a shred of composure and began to attempt an explanation.
I… I just… wanted to ask… She spoke rapidly but stumbled often, clearly in a state of extreme mental turmoil.
My father… he is cautious by nature. Sometimes… well, overly cautious. I was worried… worried that your talk didn't go well, or… that he held something back and failed to grasp the deeper meaning, thus ruining the Prince's grand plans…
She looked up, stealing a quick glance at Gu Chengyin before immediately lowering her gaze. Her voice dropped even lower, almost a murmur to herself: Truly… I didn't mean anything else… I just… just wanted to ask about the outcome… Yes, that's it.
This explanation was less for Gu Chengyin and more an attempt to convince herself, trying to find a plausible excuse for this impulsive and reckless late-night visit.
Gu Chengyin rubbed his temples, trying to keep his tone level.
Master Yunying.
In the middle of the night, a man and a woman alone… you breaking into a male guest’s quarters… even if we are innocent, if word got out...
He paused, his gaze sweeping over her crimson cheeks. Even if you didn't mean anything else, I'm afraid others would think you did.
Hearing this, Shangguan Yunying’s head hung even lower, almost burying itself in her chest.
She bit her lower lip, her voice muffled, tinged with grievance and stubbornness: I know it’s against the rules, but…
She suddenly looked up, a spark of desperate resolve flashing in her eyes: This is my home! Very few people ever come to the East Wing. I even specifically ordered that no one approach. And… and I really, truly wanted to know!
She took a step forward, seemingly wanting to get closer to Gu Chengyin to make her words more persuasive.
With eyes shimmering like water and filled with a thirst for knowledge, she looked at Gu Chengyin earnestly: I know my father's mind best. He’s been able to sit in the position of Minister of Revenue for so many years because of his tact and thoroughness.
Although the Prince relies on him, he always prioritizes stability when handling the Prince's tasks. I was really worried he might just offer some trivialities to brush you off.
Gu Chengyin was momentarily speechless. He could see her sincerity and understand her worry.
Shangguan Yuan’s previous attitude had indeed confirmed her assessment.
It was just her way of doing things that gave him a headache.
He sighed. Seeing the situation, he realized she wouldn't leave easily without an answer.
Forget it. Gu Chengyin waved his hand. Sit down first.
He pointed to the candlestick on the table. Should I turn up the light?
Don't!
Shangguan Yunying immediately stopped him, her voice thick with panic: You can't light the lamp! If the night watchmen or… or my mother sees, I… I won't be able to explain myself!
As if imagining the terrifying consequences of being caught, the blush on her face deepened. Her tone was almost pleading: Just… just talk like this! I promise, as soon as you finish, I'll leave immediately! Really!
Looking at her nervous state, Gu Chengyin felt both annoyed and amused.
The usually dignified and steady Chief Female Official actually had such a side to her.
He eventually relented, leaning back to find a more comfortable position against the headboard. He gestured, Fine, then sit on the edge of the bed. I'll… speak softly.
Shangguan Yunying felt as if she had received a royal pardon and immediately sat on the edge of the bed.
She leaned forward slightly, her beautiful eyes exceptionally bright in the darkness, locked onto Gu Chengyin’s face with infinite curiosity.
That focused gaze seemed to say: Go on! I'm ready! Don't miss a single detail!
Gu Chengyin thought for a moment and decided to keep it brief.
Actually, the talk with your father went quite well.
He kept his voice very low, ensuring only the two of them could hear: Your father has agreed to provide key evidence and fully cooperate with the Prince to bring down a Grand Secretary.
Gu Chengyin spoke slowly and clearly.
At the first half of the sentence, Shangguan Yunying nodded repeatedly, her face showing a "just as I thought" look, believing her father was being dismissive.
She also felt a bit of relief that Gu Chengyin had indeed found a way to make him talk.
But when those last few words clearly reached her ears…
Time seemed to hit the pause button.
Every expression on Shangguan Yunying’s face froze instantly.
Her bright eyes widened at a visible speed, her pupils contracting, filled with unbelievable shock.
She even forgot to breathe.
The next second, an exclamation that almost burst from her throat exploded in her chest, about to escape.
Mmph!
At the critical moment, Shangguan Yunying’s remaining logic kicked in.
She suddenly raised both hands, covering her mouth tightly to force the scream back down!
The movement was so sudden it created a slight breeze, fluttering the bed curtains.
A suffocating silence lasted for a full ten breaths.
Only then did Shangguan Yunying move her hand slightly away from her mouth, cautiously confirming with Gu Chengyin.
Deacon Gu… what did you just say? I… I didn't hear clearly… You said… my father agreed to cooperate with the Prince to… to bring down… a Grand Secretary?! Is it… that Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet?!
Her voice was full of absurdity, as if she were confirming a fairy tale.
Gu Chengyin nodded, giving a firm answer: That's right. A Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet.
He took the opportunity to explain why he was staying the night: Your father needs some time to organize things. Tomorrow morning, I will take the materials he prepared and return to the palace to report to the Prince.
Shangguan Yunying could no longer sit still.
She stood up abruptly, paced back and forth in front of the bed, then suddenly stopped and turned back to Gu Chengyin.
Without warning, she leaned in close again, almost pressing against the bed, and grabbed Gu Chengyin’s hand!
Tell me!
Shangguan Yunying was completely unaware of how inappropriate her actions were. Her eyes were startlingly bright, burning with a fierce flame of curiosity.
How on earth did you do it?! Tell me in detail! I know my father too well! He’s as slippery as a loach in a river; he slips away faster than anyone when he senses trouble!
When it comes to his own safety and fundamental interests, he is cautious to a fault!
Bringing down a Grand Secretary? That's practically tearing a hole in the sky! How could he have agreed?! What did you say to him? What method did you use?!
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.”
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."
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!
