Can You Blame Her

Celestial Master Mansion.

Shangguan Yunying stood before the mirror, staring at the unfamiliar yet familiar figure reflected within it. Her heart was beating so fast it felt as though it might burst from her chest.

The mirror had been polished from a single slab of glazed crystal, its edges inlaid with dark silver runes. Under the dim spiritual light inside the tower, its surface shimmered faintly, like ripples spreading across water.

It reflected her figure in perfect detail: the moon-white robes of the Celestial Master Mansion, made from fine fabric and tailored to fit her perfectly. Subtle thundercloud patterns were embroidered along the collar, and golden threads glimmered faintly whenever the light shifted.

A matching wide sash was tied around her waist, accentuating her slender, straight figure.

The hem of the robe fell to her ankles and swayed gently with each breath, like moonlight stirred by a breeze.

Yes, Shangguan Yunying had changed clothes.

She was no longer wearing the pale crimson court robes that symbolized her position as Chief Female Official.

Instead, she wore the moon-white robes of the Celestial Master Mansion—or, to be precise, Lin Qingyan’s clothes.

The fabric still carried the cool, pristine scent of Lin Qingyan’s body.

It was like the first snow of deep winter settling on pine branches, crisp and chilly, yet carrying a faint, distant fragrance.

“Q-Qingyan… Sister Qingyan, are you sure Gu Chengyin won’t notice?”

Shangguan Yunying’s question came out in stammers. Her voice was much quieter than usual, as though she were afraid some nonexistent person might overhear her.

She stared at the woman in the mirror who was clearly herself, yet somehow no longer seemed like herself, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the sleeve of the robe.

The reason she had put on these Celestial Master Mansion robes was not because she intended to join the Celestial Master Mansion.

Although Shangguan Yunying had no particular ill will toward it, she had never once considered joining.

She had put on these clothes to impersonate Lin Qingyan.

From the style of her hair to the way the robes were worn, from the tightness of the sash to the opening of the collar—every detail had been personally arranged by Lin Qingyan.

Lin Qingyan stood behind her, smoothing out the slightest wrinkles in the fabric as she said nonchalantly, “It definitely wouldn’t work outside. Chengcheng’s Dao Heart has already reached the Golden Core realm, so it would be very difficult to fool him.”

Shangguan Yunying’s expression stiffened.

Gu Chengyin’s Dao Heart had already reached the Golden Core realm?

Wasn’t his cultivation still at the Foundation Establishment realm? Could one’s Dao Heart break through ahead of one’s cultivation?

She instinctively wanted to ask, but Lin Qingyan continued:

“But it’ll work inside the Heart-Calming Pagoda. This pagoda is my magical treasure. Not only can it isolate everything inside from the outside world, it also blocks perception while you’re within it.”

“On top of that, there’s the formation, as well as the disguise spell I cast personally.”

“Even if Chengcheng’s Dao Heart is at the Golden Core realm, he absolutely won’t recognize you.”

Lin Qingyan’s voice was filled with unconcealed pride.

Whether it was cultivation or spellcraft, she was highly experienced.

When she had the advantage of planning against someone who was completely unaware, naturally, everything would go smoothly.

Only after receiving Lin Qingyan’s confident assurance did Shangguan Yunying finally relax.

Her gaze returned to the mirror, focusing on the version of herself dressed in moon-white robes.

The taut string in her heart loosened somewhat, but it continued to tremble faintly.

If she had to call this perverse, then yes, the method was certainly a little perverse.

Shangguan Yunying silently tried to steel herself.

Impersonating another woman to approach a man—if word of this got out, her reputation would be utterly ruined.

But could anyone really blame her? If there was anyone to blame, it was Gu Chengyin!

He refused even the stunning beauty who had practically delivered herself to him, leaving her with no choice but to resort to this method.

Besides, she wasn’t going to keep impersonating Lin Qingyan forever.

These clothes were only temporary, and so was the disguise.

Once everything that needed to happen had happened, once the raw rice had been cooked into a meal, Gu Chengyin would naturally discover who he had truly been facing.

And by then, the deed would be done. Even if he wanted to regret it, it would be too late.

So the process wasn’t important. The result was.

By now, Lin Qingyan had finished arranging everything.

She stepped back two paces and folded her arms, examining Shangguan Yunying from the top of her head all the way to her feet, then looking back up again.

Her eyes were filled with the exacting scrutiny and satisfaction of an artist admiring her own work.

She couldn’t help praising her. “Yunying, you look pretty good in these. Why don’t you join the Celestial Master Mansion too?”

As she spoke, Lin Qingyan gave Shangguan Yunying another once-over. The admiration in her eyes not only failed to fade, but grew even stronger.

Moon-white truly suited Shangguan Yunying.

Her naturally gentle and dignified features, complemented by the plain, moon-white robes, made her skin look even fairer than snow and her brows and eyes more picturesque than ever.

A rosy flush spread across Shangguan Yunying’s face, beginning at her cheekbones like someone had dabbed a touch of pale pink onto her skin.

She held her hands together in front of her, her fingers unconsciously twisting the end of the sash until several fine creases appeared in the moon-white fabric.

After all, this was her first time wearing someone else’s clothes.

The sensation was strange. It was as if she had enclosed herself in a shell that did not belong to her, or draped someone else’s presence over her own body.

Shangguan Yunying said softly, “I don’t really mind. As long as Gu Chengyin agrees.”

Hearing that answer, Lin Qingyan couldn’t help clicking her tongue.

Shangguan Yunying possessed the same excellent quality she did.

Whenever they encountered a problem, neither of them made the decision herself. Instead, they went to ask Gu Chengyin.

One was Jingzhe of the Celestial Master Mansion, while the other was its former Chief Female Official.

In terms of identity, status, and ability, both were outstanding women.

Yet in front of Gu Chengyin, they had coincidentally thrown all their own opinions into the heavens.

They became nothing more than obedient yes-women.

Just then, Lin Qingyan suddenly paused.

Her eyelids lowered slightly, as though she were concentrating on sensing some distant, faint signal.

Then she said, “Chengcheng is here. He’s already reached the entrance of the Celestial Master Mansion.”

Upon hearing that Gu Chengyin had arrived, Shangguan Yunying couldn’t help panicking.

Although she had put on Lin Qingyan’s clothes, although she had silently repeated I am Lin Qingyan countless times, and although she had rehearsed every possible step that might follow over and over in her mind…

Now that Gu Chengyin had truly arrived, now that she was about to face him, Shangguan Yunying still panicked.

Her heartbeat pounded like a war drum. A thin layer of sweat dampened her palms, and even her breathing became shallow and hurried.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyan reached out and put an arm around Shangguan Yunying.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already taken care of everything. As long as you don’t leave the pagoda, Chengcheng won’t know it’s you.”

As she spoke, Lin Qingyan drew even closer.

She leaned forward slightly, compressing the space between them until there was almost none left.

Their faces were so close that Shangguan Yunying could see the curve of Lin Qingyan’s eyelashes and feel the warmth of her breath.

That crisp, frosty scent clinging to Lin Qingyan washed over her, enveloping Shangguan Yunying completely.

“So no matter what Sister Yunying does…”

“Chengcheng will only blame it all on Sister Qingyan~”