Choose a tree to perch on
Gu Jinghong's heart skipped a beat.
That day, she had no intention of helping Xiao Chengming; she was clearly on Xiao Chengyan's side. Given his judgment, he wouldn't really doubt her motives.
She pursed her lips, seemingly playing along, and said, "Your Highness's jealousy is completely unreasonable."
What was originally meant as a rebuttal, due to the tacit understanding between the two, made Gu Jinghong sound somewhat arrogant and spoiled.
Xiao Chengyan looked at her intently... She was actually acting coquettishly towards him at a time like this. Didn't she know what she was doing?
His heart pounded, and his voice was hoarse: "Reason? Try to reason with me?...At a time like this?"
Gu Jinghong chuckled inappropriately: "Then I've been following the prince's instructions to check the notes every day these past few days, so naturally my mind is full of reasoning."
Xiao Chengyan's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared intently at Gu Jinghong.
—Does this woman even know what it means to ruin the atmosphere?
Gu Jinghong didn't think about it too much and said, "I also have something to report to Your Highness."
As soon as he finished speaking, she seemed to sense Xiao Chengyan's sudden change in demeanor, and even the originally warm and fragrant clean room seemed to cool down a bit.
After thinking for a moment, she changed the subject and said, "I have something to tell you, Ayan."
"Hmm..."
The clean room warmed up noticeably.
Her fingertips brushed unintentionally across the back of his neck. "I received news that someone in Zhuoyue Tower used 96,000 taels of silver under the guise of purchasing 'Southern Frontier Blood Dragon's Blood,' but actually bought the poisonous herb, Ghost Face Mushroom."
"Ghost-faced mushroom? What is that?" Xiao Chengyan frowned slightly, pondering for a moment, "Could it be..."
Gu Jinghong said, "That's right, it's an important ingredient used to make the 'Intestinal Piercing Evil'."
Xiao Chengyan suddenly opened his eyes: "Continue."
Gu Jinghong scooped up another ladle of water and slowly poured it onto Xiao Chengyan's shoulder: "The accounts went through layers of profit sharing, and finally pointed to a person named 'Afu,' who took away 50% of the profits."
Xiao Chengyan's eyes flashed: "Afu."
Gu Jinghong craned her neck from behind to look at Xiao Chengyan: "Does Your Highness recognize Afu?"
The misty vapor rose and fell in front of the two of them, making the woman appear even more charming in the hazy atmosphere.
Xiao Chengyan suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward with a little force. The edge of the bathtub hit her waist. She cried out softly as he pulled her into the tub and wrapped her arms around her.
His eyes churned with dark emotions, and he pulled the person closer to his chest, the warm water rippling and overflowing from the tub.
Water droplets slid down his firm chest muscles, his eyes blazing: "In these three days, Ah Hong not only figured out the key to that note, but also connected it to the accounts, and figured out the reasons behind it all?"
Gu Jinghong felt a flush rise to her face from his burning gaze. "I'm just doing it your way..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt his arm tighten, pressing her forward a few more times. Then his breath was on her ear. "You've been looking at all this stuff and haven't thought of me at all, have you?"
Gu Jinghong steadied herself by holding onto his smooth shoulders, her nose almost brushing against his chin: "I want to too."
The atmosphere gradually rose as the warm pool water soaked her clothes, the thin silk clinging to her skin and outlining her curves.
He moved closer and closer to her... and indeed, he grew hotter and hotter.
Gu Jinghong bit her lip and pushed him away: "Let's get down to business! That 'Afu' can control such a huge sum of money, he must be in a very powerful position..."
Xiao Chengyan interrupted with a kiss, saying haltingly, "You hold a high position and great power... um... it's my responsibility to investigate... you don't need to... do everything yourself."
—You don't have to do everything yourself. When the time is right, you should rely on me, okay?
Gu Jinghong didn't know what Xiao Chengyan was capable of, that he could still say those words intermittently during a passionate kiss. In comparison, she even felt that she could hardly breathe.
Their bodies were almost touching, seemingly perfectly aligned, yet their heartbeats resonated across the water's surface.
...Gu Jinghong was trapped in the cramped space by him. As she struggled, her long hair fell out and became entangled with his wet hair.
"Xiao Chengyan!" she warned breathlessly, "The water's cold!"
“Perfect.” He suddenly lifted her out of the bathtub by her hips, and wrapped her in a large cotton towel. “Let’s talk in bed.”
She felt as if the pool of water had carried her onto the bed, like a wave of heat rolling in. Gu Jinghong pressed against his sweaty chest and added, "Afu... is a crucial link... I... I can handle it..."
Xiao Chengyan nibbled on her earlobe: "Whatever makes you happy."
Do as you please, I'll hold the sky up even if it falls.
I wonder if this person even knows what fatigue means. He's been working tirelessly for three days straight, yet his attacks are becoming increasingly urgent and relentless, as if he wants to make up for all the time we've been apart...
Gu Jinghong could no longer utter complete sentences, only intermittent babbling.
The candlelight flickered into the latter half of the night.
Xiao Chengyan must have finally fallen asleep, exhausted.
His profile was very handsome, especially under the candlelight, his face was sharply defined, and the shadows flickered, giving him a unique charm.
Gu Jinghong watched him for a while, then kissed his forehead again, calling out "husband" in a very soft voice, before putting on her cloak and leaving the palace.
...
Guo Da hadn't expected Gu Jinghong to arrive so quickly.
He leaned against the couch, emaciated, but his eyes shone brightly as he watched Gu Jinghong being "forced" in by Xie Yan with his hands tied behind his back, and let out a hoarse laugh.
"Jinghong, oh Jinghong... cough cough... everyone says you're smart, but in the end you still can't escape the obsession in your heart. For that vague mystery of your origins, you so easily walked into the trap?"
Gu Jinghong raised her head, her face showing panic and resentment, and struggled for a moment: "You...you deliberately spread the news of the Zhiji Pavilion's opening to deceive me?!"
As she spoke, she took advantage of the moment she was walking up the steps to bump Xie Yan's nose hard with the back of her head, and Xie Yan's nose started bleeding instantly.
His eyes burned with even greater rage: "Gu Jinghong, you..."
Looking at the two of them, Guo Da felt as if he had returned to a few months ago, and his heart was at ease a little. He then waved to Xie Yan to show his demeanor as the master of Qianyuan Pavilion.
"It's just fish on the chopping board, Yan'er, stop for a moment. I have something to say to Jinghong."
A cold rage flashed in Gu Jinghong's eyes: "You're too much! You're despicable! What else can you do besides ganging up with your men to bully weak women? If you have the guts, let me go!"
"Let you go?" Guo Da sneered. "Do you want me to ruin my plans like I did in the Southwest? Let me tell you, if you didn't have some looks that could keep King Jin in check, you would have disappeared without a trace long ago."
Gu Jinghong's pupils contracted slightly. "The Southwest... it really was you! The source of the 'Intestinal-Piercing Fiend' poison, the Ghost-Faced Mushroom, was provided by you! Isn't that right? Why did you do this?! Wasn't the rule that the Hidden Abyss Pavilion shouldn't get involved in court factional struggles set by yourself?!"
Guo Da's face grew even more smug. Over the years, his favorite thing was still watching his prey struggle and question before they died.
The feeling of being completely fooled by him, only to learn the truth at the last moment of his life, and then suddenly realizing the truth only to feel like the sky had fallen, gave him an unparalleled sense of exhilaration.
And today, he was about to witness such a scene again, and it was being performed by a woman with extremely high aspirations and an exceptionally beautiful appearance, which was truly making his heart itch with desire.
"Rules? Since you know that I set the rules, you should also know that I can change them. Gu Jinghong, don't you understand yet? In the face of real power, Qianyuan Pavilion is nothing but a pawn. Someone wants to get rid of some 'redundant' people, and I am just... going with the flow and providing a little 'help'."
Gu Jinghong looked up at him: "Is someone there? Is it 'Afu,' the one who takes half the profits?!"
Guo Da's smile suddenly turned eerie and wary: "Wen Linchuan!"
Wen Linchuan stepped forward and bowed: "Sect Master, please understand, this subordinate truly did not know."
Gu Jinghong: "You don't need to make things difficult for Minister Wen. As the Minister of the Bureau, I naturally have some ability to gather information. Since this matter involves two parties, the Qianyuan Pavilion has no flaws, while the other party has the flaws."
Wen Linchuan gave Gu Jinghong a grateful look.
Guo's eyes suddenly darkened.
Gu Jinghong's words did make some sense. After all, she spent all her time with King Jin, and might unexpectedly gain greater power, in addition to her innate abilities...
However, he remained strong and calm in his response.
"'Afu'? Heh... As expected of the Zhuangmu Gefu I personally raised back then, you've managed to find out some basics. But who he is, you're not worthy to know. You only need to know that compared to the power behind him, those lowly people in the southwest, including you, are as insignificant as dust."
He liked to see Gu Jinghong's beautiful face turn pale with fear, but at this moment, her face was calm and composed.
Guo Da couldn't help but reach out and stroke it: "What a beautiful face. Xie Yan, clean it up..."
Just as his hand was about to touch Gu Jinghong's cheek, a cold jade flute suddenly appeared and struck the back of his hand hard, instantly swatting his withered hand away.
While Guo Ji was still in shock, Gu Jinghong on the other side suddenly raised her head, and the ropes binding her hands were easily broken by her and fell to the ground.
Guo Da suddenly widened his eyes, and even the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out slightly: "You...! Quick, someone! Take them down! Wen Linchuan, Lin Xiuyuan!"
Three of the four Grand Secretaries remained still, and Lin Xiuyuan, after glancing at them, also obediently chose not to move.
At the same time, the clerk and scouts outside the door, armed with sharp blades, were facing off against the bodyguards who had come over. The two sides were locked in a stalemate, and neither dared to make a move.
"Very well, a collective betrayal! Then let's all go to hell together!" A sudden, unnatural flush appeared on Guo Da's face. He roared and slammed his withered hand against the edge of the bed beneath him!
With a "click" of the mechanism, several poisoned crossbow bolts shot out simultaneously from the four corners of the hall, heading straight for Gu Jinghong, Xie Yan, and Wen Linchuan!
At the same time, hurried footsteps and the sharp sound of weapons being drawn came from outside the hall.
The hall was immediately engulfed in chaos.
The sounds of clashing weapons, shouts, and screams filled the air.
Guo Da stared intently at the battle, especially at Lin Xiuyuan, who was still observing. He hissed, "Lin Xiuyuan! Have you forgotten who promoted you to this position of Grand Secretary?! Kill them, and from now on, you and I will jointly govern the Qianyuan Pavilion!"
Lin Xiuyuan's breathing quickened, and his eyes flickered intensely.
On one hand, there's the promise of promotion and empty words; on the other, there's the current situation and the threat to one's life and fortune. One is torn between two conflicting emotions.
A scene flashed through his mind—just a few days ago, someone had secretly visited and said something that still echoed in his ears: "Minister Lin is a smart man. He knows that a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. If Gu Jinghong needs help in the future, it will be your pledge to the new master and to establish yourself in the new cabinet."
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