The palace paths of the Crown Princess's residence were quiet. Only the early-rising palace servants, carrying wooden buckets and holding brooms, silently and efficiently carried out their duties, raising the curtain on a new day for this massive palace.
Gu Chengyin, Shangguan Yunying, and their entourage returned from the Shangguan Manor, their carriage stopping outside the palace gates.
The eight family retainers had no right to enter the palace. They could only bow respectfully outside the gates before returning with the carriage to report back.
Gu Chengyin and Shangguan Yunying, however, proceeded unimpeded, walking briskly straight toward Luo Zhao's daily living quarters.
Arriving outside the bedchamber, they found the doors tightly shut. Several female officials in light crimson palace dresses stood waiting on both sides. Seeing Shangguan Yunying and Gu Chengyin arriving together, they immediately stepped forward to bow.
"Has Her Highness risen?" Shangguan Yunying asked in a low voice.
The leading female official replied respectfully, "Answering Lord Shangguan, Her Highness has just risen and is currently washing up in the inner chamber."
Shangguan Yunying and Gu Chengyin exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes: perfect timing.
They needed to see Luo Zhao immediately; not a single moment could be delayed.
"Please inform her that Shangguan Yunying and Gu Chengyin, Director of the Internal Affairs Bureau, request an audience with Her Highness regarding an urgent matter," Shangguan Yunying said solemnly.
The female official complied and went inside to report. She returned a moment later, stepping aside to clear the way and bowing, "Her Highness invites the two lords inside to speak."
The two stepped into the bedchamber, passing through the slightly dim outer hall and turning into the warmer, fragrant inner chamber.
The inner chamber was more spacious and brightly lit than the outer hall, its decorations far more magnificent and exquisite.
A faint, calming fragrance drifted from a gilded incense burner, intertwining with the fresh morning light filtering in through the windows.
The curtains of the massive, carved canopy bed were already drawn back, the bedding neatly arranged.
Luo Zhao was sitting in front of the dressing table.
She had clearly just gotten out of bed. She wore only a plain white nightgown made of soft, smooth fabric, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, yet to be combed.
It draped smoothly over her shoulders and back, making her skin look even more fair and jade-like. She lacked some of her usual awe-inspiring majesty, displaying instead a touch of domestic languor and gentle beauty.
A personal female attendant was holding a warm silk towel, carefully wiping her cheeks and neck.
Hearing the footsteps, Luo Zhao slightly turned her head. Through the bronze mirror, her gaze caught Gu Chengyin and Shangguan Yunying walking in.
Seeing Luo Zhao dressed like this, Gu Chengyin's footsteps involuntarily paused, a fleeting trace of imperceptible surprise flashing through his eyes.
In his impression, Luo Zhao was always the Crown Princess clad in black robes embroidered with gold, her phoenix eyes radiating authority as she looked down upon the masses. When had he ever seen such a relaxed, domestic side of her?
Shangguan Yunying, however, was already accustomed to this. She walked briskly to Luo Zhao's side and naturally took the jade comb from the attendant's hand.
With practiced movements, she began combing Luo Zhao's ink-black hair, reporting in a low voice, "Your Highness, we have returned."
Luo Zhao gave a soft hum of acknowledgment. Her gaze briefly met Gu Chengyin's in the bronze mirror before shifting away. She asked in a flat tone, "What is Shangguan Yuan's attitude?"
Her question was straightforward, even carrying a hint of casualness that showed she did not hold out much hope.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Gu Chengyin's abilities, but rather that she understood that old fox, Shangguan Yuan, too well.
At best, the other party would give an ambiguous stance and hand over some insignificant, peripheral evidence to show his sincerity.
As for anything more? She didn't dare to expect it.
Gu Chengyin did not immediately answer Luo Zhao's question. Instead, he scanned the bedchamber. Aside from them, there were quite a few female officials standing in attendance.
At the same time, a command was transmitted directly into Luo Zhao's mind:
[Have everyone leave the hall, except for Yunying.]
Luo Zhao, who had her eyes closed waiting for an answer, suddenly stiffened!
This familiar command had appeared again! It was just as direct and arrogant as before!
She snapped her eyes open, her phoenix eyes as sharp as lightning.
This guy! To actually use this bizarre method again, at this time, in this place?! What was he trying to do?!
However, Gu Chengyin's expression remained calm, even carrying a sense of solemnity.
Luo Zhao's rising anger and killing intent quickly cooled.
She immediately realized that Gu Chengyin doing this must mean the information he was about to report was extremely important.
Forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, she pondered for a moment before speaking faintly, instructing Shangguan Yunying beside her:
"Yunying."
"Your servant is here."
"Have everyone exit the hall. Arrange it personally. Without a summons, no one is allowed to come within ten zhang."
Shangguan Yunying immediately complied, "Yes, Your Highness."
She put down the jade comb, turned around, and began issuing orders as she walked.
Soon, all the female officials silently withdrew according to the order, and the heavy, carved doors of the bedchamber were gently pulled shut.
Standing outside the doors, Shangguan Yunying quietly gave a few instructions to several senior female officials who possessed deep, steady auras.
These officials immediately dispersed, planting themselves like nails at key positions around the bedchamber.
Their gazes swept in every direction like hawks, ensuring that not even a flying bird could approach undetected.
Having done all this, Shangguan Yunying finally returned to the inner chamber and closed the door securely behind her.
She returned to Luo Zhao's side, lowering her head and speaking softly, "Your Highness, everything has been arranged."
Luo Zhao gave a slight nod, then turned her gaze back to Gu Chengyin.
"Speak," her voice was calm and unrippled. "What exactly is Shangguan Yuan's attitude?"
Gu Chengyin took a step forward. First, he carefully took out the purple sandalwood box from his robes and held it in his hand.
Then, clearing his throat, he began to recount the clash in the study of the Shangguan Manor from the previous night.
Gu Chengyin detailed the entire process clearly and logically, including the key points of his conversation with Shangguan Yuan, the changes in the other party's reactions, and the consensus they ultimately reached.
Shangguan Yunying stood to the side, listening with an incredibly focused expression.
Meanwhile, Luo Zhao, sitting at the dressing table, remained outwardly calm, but as Gu Chengyin spoke, a stormy sea of shock was already surging in her heart!
She had originally thought that Gu Chengyin bringing back a mere stance would already prove his extraordinary capabilities.
Never in her wildest dreams did she expect that what he brought back was not only Shangguan Yuan's promise, but a heaven-shaking plan capable of rocking the imperial court and altering the political landscape!
Toppling a Grand Secretary!
When these words clearly left Gu Chengyin's mouth, Luo Zhao's fingers, gripping the jade comb, suddenly tightened.
A sharp light exploded in her phoenix eyes, like stars ignited in the dark night, staring fixedly at Gu Chengyin!
Scheming for years, enduring for so long—wasn't it all so that one day she could purge the imperial court, eradicate these parasites and obstacles, and truly grasp the reins of power?
The Grand Secretaries were undoubtedly among the most insurmountable mountains blocking her path!
It wasn't that she hadn't thought of making a move against them, but pulling one hair would move the entire body. Evidence, timing, strength, her royal father's attitude... none could be lacking, making her continually unable to truly make up her mind.
Yet now, Gu Chengyin had actually paved the way for her. He had even pulled in a crucial ally like Shangguan Yuan, handing her a sharp blade capable of cleaving through mountains!
This level of ability, these methods, this terrifyingly precise grasp of human nature and the political situation...
If it weren't for his crooked mind and poor character (Luo Zhao coldly snorted in her heart), and his use of that bizarre mind-control technique on her...
...what a perfect right-hand man he would be! A supreme talent capable of assisting her in achieving an eternal imperial legacy!
For a moment, the emotions surging within Luo Zhao's heart were complicated to the absolute extreme.
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
