I See

After the massive shock, Lyu Fang slowly calmed down, replaced by cautious scrutiny.

His slender eyes fell on the overly young face opposite him, trying to catch the slightest flaw.

Nothing.

Gu Chengyin had just finished telling the trivial matter of being scolded by Luo Zhao, looking as if a heavy burden had been lifted from him, even appearing a bit too relaxed.

He reached out to take the exquisite purple clay teapot on the table.

The teapot was slightly cool. He skillfully poured the leftover tea into a small porcelain saucer nearby, the water flowing thinly and steadily without a single drop splashing.

Then, he took fresh tea leaves from the tea caddy, put them into the pot, and poured boiling water over them. White steam rose, and the faint sound of tea leaves unfurling was clearly audible in the silent hall.

He even conveniently removed Lyu Fang's equally cold cup of tea and replaced it with a freshly brewed cup.

Lyu Fang did not stop him or speak; he just quietly watched Gu Chengyin's series of actions.

It wasn't until the newly poured teacup was gently pushed in front of him, the rising steam momentarily blurring their faces, that Lyu Fang slowly spoke.

"Marquis Gu."

Lyu Fang's gaze fell on the clear tea, and he sighed, "I have served by His Majesty's side for over forty years. The people I've met and the things I've experienced, while not as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, are enough to give me some discernment."

"Figuring out the Emperor's intentions is a daily task I dare not slack on. Even so, I am often trembling with fear, treading on thin ice. To luckily guess a fraction of His Majesty's mind is already a great fortune."

He raised his eyes, looked at Gu Chengyin, and sighed with emotion:

"And you, who only entered the palace to meet His Majesty yesterday, already possess discernment no less than mine."

He paused, shook his head, and his tone was full of genuine admiration, "Indeed, the new waves of the Luo River push the old ones forward; the younger generation is formidable."

Hearing this evaluation, Gu Chengyin reached for the teacup in front of him and smiled:

"Eunuch Lyu flatters me. I am but a rustic villager. By a stroke of luck, I met Her Highness, and she did not disdain me, entrusting me with important tasks."

"What I say, think, and do today are all on Her Highness's orders and follow her intentions."

He paused slightly, his gaze meeting Lyu Fang's, his tone becoming more earnest, yet also more subtle:

"When all is said and done, aren't you and I, ultimately, sharing the royal family's burdens and serving His Majesty and Her Highness?"

Lyu Fang carefully chewed on these words, and the subtle wrinkles that were always present between his brows seemed to be quietly smoothed out at this moment.

"Marquis Gu's words resonate deeply with me."

He picked up the fresh tea in front of him, the temperature just right, and slightly raised his cup toward Gu Chengyin.

Gu Chengyin understood and also raised his cup.

The two exquisite official kiln porcelain cups lightly clinked in the air, making a crisp and restrained sound.

After exchanging a glance, the two drank the tea in their cups in one gulp.

Setting down the teacup, Lyu Fang gently dabbed the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. As if suddenly remembering something, he frowned slightly and showed a trace of apology.

"Hmm... look at my memory."

He patted his forehead and apologized, "I was so caught up in talking with Marquis Gu that I almost forgot there are still a few urgent official documents that need to be presented to His Majesty for review."

"Marquis Gu, could you wait here for a moment? I will be right back."

"Official duties are important; of course, state affairs come first."

Gu Chengyin calmly stood up and cupped his hands in a salute. "I have nothing else to do, so I will quietly wait for you here."

Lyu Fang was clearly very satisfied with this answer. He nodded and turned to leave.

After taking two steps, still feeling uneasy, he turned back, lowered his voice, and instructed:

"Marquis Gu, I must remind you that the rules in the palace are strict, not as casual as outside."

"To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, you should just rest and wait in this hall. Please do not wander around."

His gaze swept over the fully furnished tables and chairs in the hall, and he continued, "I will give instructions, and people will bring tea and snacks. If you have any other needs, you can also tell the servants outside the door, as long as you do not leave the confines of this hall."

These words were both a protection, preventing Gu Chengyin from wandering around the deep palace and causing trouble,

and a control, ensuring he stayed within sight while waiting for the final result.

Gu Chengyin knew this perfectly well. He showed a grateful expression and cupped his hands again, "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Lyu. I understand and will certainly keep to my place and wait quietly here."

Lyu Fang finally felt relieved. He took a deep look at Gu Chengyin, said no more, and turned to walk away quickly.

The side hall returned to silence.

Gu Chengyin slowly sat back in his chair, not really taking the time to enjoy the tea and relax.

His gaze swept over the luxurious yet cold furnishings in the hall, finally landing on the door through which Lyu Fang had disappeared, his eyes as deep as an ancient well.

He seemingly relaxed his body against the back of the chair and closed his eyes, as if dozing off.

In reality, the mid-stage Qi Condensation true qi in his body was circulating at an unprecedented speed. His five senses were elevated to their limits, catching the slightest rustle of the wind and grass outside the hall.

......

Lyu Fang emerged from the hall, passed through several palace gates and corridors, and arrived at a somewhat simply furnished warm pavilion.

Emperor Luo, draped in a dark casual robe, was leaning against a large, soft-cushioned couch, holding a memorial and reviewing it carefully.

Lyu Fang walked in silently, waved away all the eunuchs, and personally closed the heavy doors.

"Finished chatting?"

Emperor Luo did not even lift his head; his gaze remained on the memorial.

Lyu Fang approached, knelt respectfully, and performed a full bow. "To answer Master... we are not finished."

Hearing this, Emperor Luo looked up, his gaze falling on the top of Lyu Fang's lowered head, casting a glance.

Lyu Fang seemed to know Emperor Luo was looking at him and, not daring to be negligent, quickly explained, "Please quell your anger, Master. This old slave has finished chatting, but Marquis Gu has not."

"The matter he spoke of is of great consequence. This old slave dared not make a decision and came specifically to seek Master's instructions."

"Oh?"

Emperor Luo put down the memorial in his hand, seemingly gaining some interest. "What did Gu Chengyin talk about?"

Lyu Fang remained kneeling and concisely summarized Gu Chengyin's words, concluding, "Marquis Gu complained to this old slave, saying Shangguan Yuan gave him a purple sandalwood box to give back to Her Highness as a return gift."

"But he was scolded by Her Highness, and she even quoted Grand Secretary Xiao to scold him. This is what Marquis Gu talked about."

The warm pavilion fell silent.

After a long while, a breathy laugh escaped from Emperor Luo's throat.

"This Gu Chengyin..." Emperor Luo muttered softly, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest of the couch.

"He is quite an interesting and clever fellow."

Then, he picked up the memorial again, his gaze returning to the lines of text, as if the previous conversation was just an inconsequential interlude.

"I know."

Lyu Fang's heart skipped a beat, instantly understanding the meaning behind these short words.

"Yes, this old slave takes his leave."

Lyu Fang kowtowed again, stood up nimbly and quickly, and backed out of the warm pavilion. It wasn't until he was outside the door that he straightened up and let out a soft sigh of relief.