Gu Wangchen returned to himself from his cross-legged cultivation.
He opened his eyes. The afterglow of the setting sun spilled through the window lattice, cloaking him in a warm golden veil.
He stretched slightly, feeling out his current state.
Yesterday’s cultivation had not allowed him to break through to the Bone Transformation Realm in one go, as his body couldn’t bear it. But now, his body had long since recovered to its original state.
He sensed that if he wished, he could break through to the Bone Transformation Realm without the slightest hindrance—even without the aid of supplementary pills.
“But as I recall, after breaking through to the Bone Transformation Realm, one’s body enters a weakened stage of reconstruction and regeneration for a day… hmm…” He pondered briefly, feeling that now was not the time for a breakthrough.
Who knows, maybe the Empress Dowager’s edict would arrive soon?
If he was summoned to the palace tomorrow, he certainly couldn’t go dragging a frail, sickly body, leaning on a cane, could he?
After all, he remembered that when he was young, because of his mother, he’d seen Empress Dowager Xiao a few times, and had a rough impression of her.
Xiao Wan didn’t seem to be fond of sickly-looking people.
“Mm, since I’ve decided to converse with her as an equal in my own capacity and to build cooperation, the first impression is still important.”
“Especially since I intend to hide the fact that I can already cultivate when facing her. If I break through now, I won’t be able to use ‘aftereffects of breaking through to the Bone Transformation Realm’ as an excuse.”
With this thought, he made his decision: “After I’ve met Xiao Wan, I’ll find time to break through to the Bone Transformation Realm.”
“Master~”
Just then, An Li’s gentle voice came from outside the room.
“I’m here, come in.”
The door opened. An Li hurried over to him, brushed aside a strand of hair at her temple, and said, “Master, Master, Old Master is coming home tonight.”
“Oh? My father’s coming back today?”
Gu Wangchen raised his brows, quite surprised.
If he remembered correctly, this morning should have been the routine weekly imperial court assembly. Generally, his father would stay at the official residence in the imperial city after court to discuss matters face-to-face with his colleagues and handle accumulated government affairs. He wouldn’t come home.
For him to come back tonight, so out of character—it could only mean…
Perhaps that matter had a result?
His eyes flickered, and Gu Wangchen immediately began to speculate.
He got up and changed into his plainest brocade robe, not a single golden thread embroidered, and tidied his attire. Once he was sure everything was proper, he said, “Let’s go, Xiao Li, to the side hall.”
In the side hall, the decor was simple. The green bamboo swayed gently. A refined middle-aged gentleman in black was using scissors, leisurely pruning and cleaning the soil around succulents imported from the Western Regions and even Western countries, set on the windowsill.
Swish—
The main doors opened. Gu Wangchen entered the side hall upright and with head held high. He glanced at Gu Huaizhang’s back, stopped, and bowed in greeting: “Your son greets Father.”
“Mm, sit. Dinner will be ready soon, just wait a moment.”
Putting down his scissors, Gu Huaizhang sat at the main seat and casually picked up the gazette on the table. He scanned it for a moment, then smiled, “Wangchen, how’s your injury?”
Gu Wangchen glanced at the newspaper in his father’s hands and caught sight of news about Zhao Lihong, Commander Zhao of the Demon Suppression Division, being docked half a month’s salary, as well as a reformation plan for the Demon Suppression Division. He made a mental note.
So, his father was asking about that matter.
“Replying to Father, your son’s injury has already healed. I am fully recovered and have even received a letter of self-reflection from the person involved—Yu Wancheng, the Hundred-household Officer of the Jingting Guard’s Demon Suppression Division. I have reconciled with the Jingting Guard.”
“Hundred-household Officer of the Jingting Guard?”
“Yes, the Hundred-household Officer of the Jingting Guard.” Gu Wangchen nodded, deliberately omitting the name, but emphasizing the position.
“I see,” Gu Huaizhang smiled calmly, put down the gazette, and looked his son up and down. “Wangchen, this matter… it was a misunderstanding between you and the Jingting Guard. Since it’s been resolved, then that’s all there is to it.”
“As for how you handled it, I’m fairly satisfied. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Thank you for your praise, Father.” Gu Wangchen bowed his head in thanks.
His old man liked to talk in riddles at home. Though on the surface, they were discussing his “accidental injury,” both knew what was really going on. His father was asking why he had sent a signal to the Empress Dowager on his own initiative.
And his response was: “I have my own plans; you need not meddle.”
Finally, his father’s response of “Since you have your own ideas, go ahead, but don’t go too far,” brought this father-son political exchange to a close.
“By the way, Wangchen, the Empress Dowager’s edict will arrive soon. Most likely tomorrow… or the day after, the Empress Dowager will summon you to the palace.”
Gu Wangchen’s heart stirred, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
The signal he’d sent had indeed worked—Xiao Wan couldn’t sit still and wanted to meet him in person.
It wasn’t for nothing that he’d swallowed his pride and “spread rumors” yesterday.
Sigh, if you don’t have a scheming mind, you can’t play politics—especially not on the same stage as these three political experts.
However… now that Xiao Wan had decided to see him, he had to make the most of it, and incidentally give Li Zhaoning, who was still observing, a sense of urgency.
Yes, once he received the edict, he’d need to make a trip to Pingkang Lane and spread news of being summoned by the Empress Dowager as widely as possible—ideally, until all of Sheng’an City knew.
That way, he could further solidify his image as a dissolute playboy. After all, with his public persona, if he was summoned by the Empress Dowager, wouldn’t he gather seven or eight disreputable friends to rent out the Mirror Fragrance Pavilion, throw open the silver screens, and celebrate?
At the same time, it would pressure Li Zhaoning, making her think this was his father’s maneuver, and a sign that the Xiang Faction was preparing to ally with the Empress Dowager’s faction.
This could force her to try to win him over.
Besides, it had been a while since he’d been to Pingkang Lane. Honestly, he was feeling a bit itchy to go.
Thinking of this, he suppressed his expression and replied in a steady voice, “Understood, Father.”
“As long as you’re aware,” Gu Huaizhang took a sip of tea and said gently, “There’s one more thing I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Your cousin Qinghan will be returning to Sheng’an soon from the Tianxuan Sect for a family visit. Mm… she says it’s to visit family, but I think she’s really coming to see you.”
“To see me?”
Gu Wangchen was startled, but soon dug out information about this cousin Qinghan from his memory.
Luo Qinghan, the daughter of his father’s close friend. Ten years ago, Luo Qinghan’s family suffered a disaster, her parents died, and his father, out of compassion, adopted her as a foster daughter.
Thus, they’d once shared a sibling relationship.
However, seven years ago, Luo Qinghan entered the Tianxuan Sect, and with her unique cultivation talent, became the Tianxuan Sect’s Saintess.
After that, their contact lessened considerably.
In recent years, he’d nearly forgotten about her—maybe only remembering to send her a letter every half a year or so.
“No, if Luo Qinghan really is coming back to see me, I’ll have to treat her well, otherwise…”
Recalling memories of Luo Qinghan from his previous life, Gu Wangchen couldn’t help a chill down his spine.
Luo Qinghan, the Saintess of the Tianxuan Sect, was in the original plot the mastermind and final BOSS behind the Tianxuan Sect’s nearly all-encompassing side plot.
If players chose to pursue that storyline, they would see this pure and righteous Saintess reveal her true colors in the end—catching everyone off guard, instantly blackening, and becoming the final BOSS.
To be honest, he’d scoured the entire game, but never found the reason for Luo Qinghan’s descent into darkness.
So he could only guess it was due to the Gu Family’s fall.
Remembering how Luo Qinghan had cared for him in his memories, Gu Wangchen sighed inwardly, vowing that he must change the original plot—he absolutely could not let the Gu Family collapse, or endless trouble would follow.
He put his thoughts away and replied to Gu Huaizhang, “Understood, Father. When Sister Qinghan returns, I’ll receive her properly.”
“As long as you know. Qinghan even sent me a letter before, asking if something had happened to you, since you haven’t written to her in so long.” When talking about family, Gu Huaizhang’s tone softened a lot.
“Uh… I’ve been a bit busy lately. When Sister Qinghan returns, I’ll explain everything to her.”
“Mm, with you two, I won’t say more. Just keep it in mind.”
“I will obey Father’s teachings.”
“The Empress Dowager’s edict has arrived!”
Just as the two finished speaking, a loud, vigorous voice carried straight into the Prime Minister’s residence.