On the outskirts of Kyoto, in a dilapidated inn, the air was filled with the stale smell of wood and a slightly damp odor.
The afternoon sun streamed in through the half-open wooden lattice window, casting dappled shadows that swayed in the room, adding a touch of desolation to the quiet space.
"Has the matter been investigated thoroughly?"
Gu Zhixing's voice was deep and calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
After knocking Shen Wanwan unconscious and taking her away from Kyoto, he ordered Chongyang to find out exactly how many people were still spreading rumors in Kyoto.
Arrest them all, one by one, without any leniency!
He didn't want these baseless rumors to tarnish Shen Jintang's reputation, and he didn't want her to be upset by these gossips.
This matter must be nipped in the bud; it would be beneficial for everyone.
Chongyang raised his head, his brows furrowed, his eyes full of difficulty: "Master, the capital city is too crowded and the area is too large. We are far from having enough manpower. Even if I work day and night, I can't control the mouths of so many people."
There was a hint of helplessness in his voice.
Gu Zhixing sat to one side, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, producing a crisp and rhythmic sound.
He lowered his eyes, as if deep in thought. After a moment, he slowly raised his head, a cold glint in his eyes.
He unfastened the belt at his waist, took out a dark gold token, and casually tossed it to Chongyang, his voice as cold as ice: "Mobilize all the Shadow forces. This young master will ensure that there is no further disturbance in the capital."
Chongyang took the token, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he froze on the spot.
The Shadow was a force that the eldest princess had carefully cultivated for the crown prince since his birth. It was secretive and powerful, yet the crown prince had never used it.
Now that the Crown Prince is summoning the Shadows, it seems he's serious this time.
"yes!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Chongyang gripped the token tightly, turned around, and hurriedly left.
Footsteps echoed in the empty room, and Gu Zhixing frowned slightly.
He sat on the chair for a while longer. The afternoon sun shone through the half-open window, warm and gentle, casting layers of light and shadow that enveloped him, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
Sunlight flowed gently through his hair, as if gilding him with a layer of gold.
His eyes suddenly focused, he stood up, and walked outside.
He walked through the inn's long corridor with steady and powerful steps.
The wind outside the inn carried a slight chill, causing his robes to rustle softly.
He walked straight to the room where the Shen family members were being held and pushed the door open to enter.
A suffocating atmosphere filled the room. Shen Wanwan had woken up, but her condition was still poor.
She sat blankly on the ground, head bowed, staring vacantly at the ground, as if she had lost her soul.
Her hair hung messily beside her face, with a few strands obscuring her pale cheeks.
The remaining maids and servants panicked as soon as they saw Gu Zhixing enter, immediately falling to their knees and crying out for mercy: "Your Highness, spare our lives! We'll never dare to do it again!"
The room instantly became noisy, filled with shrill and jarring sounds.
Gu Zhixing frowned slightly and closed his eyes slightly, as if trying to block out the noise.
He ignored the people kneeling on the ground crying and shouting. Instead, he pulled up a chair in a corner of the room, sat down with an air of nonchalance, placed his hands on his knees, and looked coldly at the chaos in front of him.
Sunlight streamed in obliquely through the half-open window, casting his shadow long and slender, yet aloof.
His eyes were calm as still water, yet they carried an undeniable air of authority.
The old women were still muttering under their breath, but seeing that Gu Zhixing had no intention of ignoring them, their voices gradually faded.
The room gradually quieted down, with only the occasional sound of breathing and the faint sound of the wind outside the window remaining.
Gu Zhixing slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over everyone like cold frost, finally landing on Shen Wanwan.
Shen Wanwan seemed to sense his gaze, her body trembled slightly as if pricked by a needle, and she slowly raised her head.
Her eyes held a hint of provocation, yet couldn't hide a touch of panic.
"Ha! You're a pitiful person too, you got scammed and you're still counting the money for others."
Shen Wanwan's tone was full of sarcasm, as if every word was a sharp thorn, trying to hurt Gu Zhixing.
However, Gu Zhixing simply looked at her quietly without saying a word, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as a still pool.
Shen Wanwan waited for a long time, but never received a response from Gu Zhixing.
A sense of unease arose in her heart, and she couldn't help but look up at him.
Gu Zhixing's gaze was icy cold, as if it could pierce through her disguise and reach the depths of her heart.
Shen Wanwan instantly felt a chill run down her spine, as if she were being watched by the King of Hell, and even her breathing became rapid.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I said that?"
Shen Wanwan's voice trembled slightly, no longer displaying her previous arrogance.
Logically speaking, shouldn't everyone have curiosity?
She said all that, even directly calling him a pitiful person, so why doesn't he ask himself why he says he's pitiful?
However, Gu Zhixing merely glanced at her indifferently, his tone as calm as if he were talking about something trivial: "This trick of sowing discord, Shen Huaixu taught you, didn't he?"
Shen Wanwan was taken aback, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes, as if her guilty conscience had been exposed.
She shook her head instinctively, very quickly, as if desperately denying something: "No...no!"
“I saw this trick before.” Gu Zhixing lowered his head slightly, fiddling with his nails. His movements were casual, but his tone was undeniably confident. “Do you really think I’m so stupid that I can’t see through anything? Do you want me to keep falling for your tricks? It’s the same old routine. You should at least come up with something new.”
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