Gu Wangchen could actually understand Xiao Wan’s awkward way of masking her intentions.
During their casual chat just now, he could clearly sense that her tone was sincere and couldn’t be faked. Because of that, he responded to her in the capacity of a junior relative.
To be honest, he was quite surprised. He hadn’t expected Xiao Wan to have such a hidden side.
In his past life, when he dealt with her, his impression of her could be summed up in two words: “strong” and “cold.” At most, he would add “calculating.” He had never seen such a kind and gentle side to Xiao Wan.
However, after thinking about it, he felt at ease. After all, Xiao Wan only possessed a unique constitution and cultivation technique; she wasn’t some woman with a heart of stone. It was only natural for her to have her own emotions.
Still, business was business. Since she wanted to discuss matters under the guise of being “relatives,” he would certainly play along to the end.
After all, acting was the skill he had mastered best over the years.
“Auntie Wan, the relationship between my father and me… is fairly decent, I suppose,” Gu Wangchen replied with a dazed, confused expression.
Xiao Wan straightened her posture, resting her slender hand on the desk as she smiled. “Chen, during the last morning court session, someone came to me with a complaint. That was how I learned you were injured by a Centurion of the Jingting Guard.”
“I questioned your father about it, but he said…”
Xiao Wan’s eyes softened with pity. “He said it was all due to his failure to discipline his son properly and that he would punish you severely upon returning. I was quite worried. After all, you were the one mistakenly injured, yet Chancellor Gu wanted to punish you instead.”
Hearing Xiao Wan’s words, Gu Wangchen hesitated for a moment, analyzing her true meaning.
She was likely probing indirectly to see if the incident was truly a misunderstanding or if his father was pulling the strings from behind.
Having made his decision, he immediately put on a look of indignation. “Auntie Wan, you’re absolutely right! I was clearly the one who got hurt, yet my father still wanted to punish me. Don’t you think that’s unreasonable?”
“Yes, it is indeed quite unreasonable.”
Hearing Gu Wangchen’s response, Xiao Wan’s elegant brows knitted slightly, her heart filled with uncertainty.
According to her deductions, that old fox Gu Huaizhang was the one driving this matter from behind the scenes, using his own son to send a signal to both sides.
What she didn’t know was whether he was truly prepared to join the fray or if he was merely using the gap created by her struggle with Li Zhaoning to demand benefits from both parties.
Gu Wangchen’s response was also somewhat ambiguous. Judging by his tone, it seemed Gu Huaizhang really had punished him, which was somewhat outside her expectations.
Could it be as she suspected? Had that old fox gone so far as to make the performance complete, treating even his son—the “Number One Playboy of Sheng’an”—as a mere chess piece without revealing a single detail?
That would explain why he would “severely punish his young son.” It was to give her side a clear message, hinting that he was the one behind everything and that she needed to name her price.
Thinking of this, her jade-like hand tightened inside her sleeve. She looked at Gu Wangchen with a hint of pity and sighed softly. “Chen, I will speak clearly with your father about this during the next morning court. He is far too incompetent as a strict father!”
Gu Wangchen’s face lit up with joy. “Then I must thank you, Auntie Wan. My father is just that unreasonable sometimes. Who knows what he’s thinking?”
“Mm,” Xiao Wan recalled the failed attempt by the Shadow Guards to intercept the messenger and asked, “Chen, I also heard that you were observing the waves and fishing on Ba Bridge at noon the day before yesterday. Is that true?”
“Naturally. I was in a good mood that day and felt like doing some fishing,” Gu Wangchen scratched his head and said in a low voice. “I didn’t want the passing pedestrians to startle the fish, which is why I…”
“It doesn’t matter. Sheng’an has so many city gates; closing the East Gate for a bit isn’t an issue.” Xiao Wan didn’t care about his act of sealing the bridge. She changed the subject. “I wanted to ask, while you were fishing on Ba Bridge, did you notice anything unusual?”
“Anything unusual?”
Gu Wangchen paused, thinking for a moment. Confirming it was time to reveal his cards, he replied, “There was one thing, actually.”
“On the northern side of Ba Bridge—the side closer to the city gate—it looked like a vendetta killing was taking place. However, a third-party force appeared very quickly and rescued the person who was being pursued.”
Xiao Wan’s beautiful eyes brightened. She asked, “That third-party force… did you recognize them?”
“I didn’t. They were all dressed in black with masks on their faces. At a glance, I could tell they weren’t good people!” Gu Wangchen analyzed the situation with great gravity.
“I see.”
“By the way, Auntie Wan, I also noticed a detail.”
“What is it?” Xiao Wan’s heart, which had just begun to settle, was immediately suspended again as she asked hurriedly.
“My guard, A-Liu, told me that the weapons and even the armor those people used were very new and uniform. They looked like standard-issue equipment provided by the government.”
He wasn’t lying. When he sent the experts from the Hidden Shadow Pavilion to intercept the messenger, they had used standard-issue equipment. At the time, it was a precaution; if they failed, he could pin the matter on his old man.
After all, the Chancellor’s faction controlled the Six Ministries and held immense practical power. They were the most likely to obtain large quantities of standard-issue weapons and armor.
Unsurprisingly, upon hearing Gu Wangchen say this, Xiao Wan immediately fell into deep thought.
After a moment, she spoke slowly. “Chen, I understand the situation now. Standard-issue equipment… I will investigate this thoroughly.”
“Yes, I also understand the severity of this matter. I mentioned it to my father before, and he also indicated he would investigate,” Gu Wangchen added.
“Good. Let the matter end here then.”
Xiao Wan stopped there. She had already confirmed the answer from Gu Wangchen’s mouth.
Standard-issue weapons and armor—wasn’t this exactly the hint Gu Huaizhang was giving her and Li Zhaoning? Was he not implying that his people were the ones who intercepted the messenger?
In other words, the messenger was now in his hands. If she didn’t want the messenger to fall into Li Zhaoning’s hands, she would have to provide enough benefits in exchange.
She pondered for a moment, glanced at the peerlessly handsome Gu Wangchen, and came to a decision.
“Chen, I just remembered. It seems you have already undergone your capping ceremony?”
Upon hearing this, Gu Wangchen immediately realized that Xiao Wan was looking for an excuse to give a gift to his father—or rather, to him!
So there were even benefits to be had. He wouldn’t refuse them.
He replied, “Yes, just as you said, Auntie Wan. I held my capping ceremony this past December.”
“Chen, a massive spiritual ore vein was discovered near Ling City in the Jiangnan region a few years ago. It just so happens that I have some commercial shares in that mine.”
She pulled a commercial deed from her bosom and pushed it toward Gu Wangchen. “I don’t have many good things on hand. These shares will serve as my coming-of-age gift to you.”
“This…” Gu Wangchen picked up the deed. When he saw the annual dividend valuation of a million taels, his heart skipped a beat.
One could never have too much money, not to mention he needed it to operate the Hidden Shadow Pavilion.
Still, he had to decline politely first.
“Auntie Wan, this is far too valuable. I cannot—”
“Chen, if you still recognize me as your Auntie Wan, then take it,” Xiao Wan interrupted him, her voice serious.
“Then I shall respectfully obey.” Gu Wangchen carefully put it away, stood up, and bowed deeply to Xiao Wan three times.
A million a year—bowing three times was a bargain!
“Mm~” Xiao Wan seemed to enjoy Gu Wangchen’s reaction. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her long, jade-like legs involuntarily crossed, her snow-white feet swaying slightly.
She subconsciously raised her hand to bring her index finger to her lips. Just as she was about to bite it, she remembered she was in front of Gu Wangchen and quickly withdrew it.
“Ahem,” her cheeks flushed slightly as she coughed to clear her throat. After confirming that Gu Wangchen hadn’t noticed her loss of composure, she resumed her persona as an elder. “Chen, since you’ve come of age, do you have a suitable sword?”
Gu Wangchen shook his head. “I am just an ordinary person who cannot cultivate. What would I need a sword for?”
Xiao Wan took Gu Wangchen’s right hand and examined it for a moment. After confirming there were no calluses from handling weapons, she spoke.
“That won’t do. A gentleman conceals his edge and keeps his tools in the depths.”
“With your status, you must be equipped with a fine sword!”