The man in white leaned back in his chair, his lips curving slightly as a gentle, soothing smile graced his face.
But the words that left his mouth were as cold as ice.
"Although you hold something over me, I couldn't care less. I'm a lone wolf, unafraid of your threats, Lord Gu. But I know that if the evidence in my hands were to come to light, not only you, Lord Gu, but your entire family would be dragged down with you!"
These words clearly struck a nerve with Lord Gu, who slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet.
"How dare you threaten me!"
The man in white simply fanned himself leisurely. "I'm sure you don't want to end up like the former left prime minister, do you?"
Lord Gu slumped back into his chair, turning his head away. "Fine. Name your terms."
The man's smile widened as he slowly closed his fan.
"From now on, I won't do another thing for you, Lord Gu. Our association ends here. When we meet in the future, I hope you'll act as if we're strangers."
He rose to leave, but Lord Gu called out to him from behind. "Wait! If you insist on leaving, at least let me see your face."
The man let out a soft laugh. "I didn't show you my face when we were in league together. Now that we're going our separate ways, do you really think that's possible?"
Just then, Gu Qing's voice rang out from outside. He drew his sword and pointed it at the man in white. "It's not up to you!"
Gu Qing had trained hard since childhood. While he knew he wasn't well - known in the vast world, he was confident he could stop this man.
The man in white sneered at Gu Qing and reached out to grasp his sword.
Gu Qing stepped forward, his sword aimed at the man's throat.
But the man in white caught the blade between his fingers and gave it a quick twist. With a soft snap, Gu Qing was sent flying into a pillar. He clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
He stared at the man in disbelief, unable to believe he couldn't even withstand one move.
Lord Gu was equally shocked. He had no idea the man in white was so skilled in martial arts.
He quickly stepped forward with a fawning smile. "Yes, yes, you're right, sir. I was being presumptuous. If you wish to leave, then go."
The man in white let out a cold snort. As he passed by Gu Qing, he glanced at him with disdain, as if he were nothing but an ant.
After the man left, Lord Gu walked up to Gu Qing. "Are you okay?"
Gu Qing shook his head in shame. "I've disappointed you, father."
"Judging from that move, how much of his inner strength do you think he used?"
Gu Qing wished he could sink into the ground, but he had to answer his father's question.
Taking a deep breath, he replied, "No more than thirty percent, father."
Lord Gu raised his hand and slapped him across the face. "Thirty percent! You useless fool! What have you been doing all these years?"
Gu Qing blinked in disbelief. He had been by Lord Gu's side for over a decade, and Lord Gu had never treated him like this before.
He had always thought Lord Gu truly regarded him as a son.
But...
The pain in his heart was overwhelming. He felt a lump in his throat and spat out another mouthful of blood.
Lord Gu waved his sleeves in frustration and turned to leave.
Only then did Gu Qing remember he hadn't given Lord Gu the letter of annulment. He quickly chased after him.
Lord Gu turned around impatiently. "What do you want? Do you want to stab me in the back?"
Gu Qing frowned and held out the letter of annulment with both hands.
"This was sent by the Yang family. Have a look, father."
Lord Gu glared at him, took the letter, and opened it. His eyes turned red with anger, and his face flushed.
"Outrageous! Just when Lan'er has gone through such a thing, they dare to send this letter of annulment!"
Gu Qing lowered his head and said nothing. Lord Gu angrily tore the letter into pieces.
"Humph! Such petty people. It's no loss not to be related to them. By the way, how is Lan'er?"
At the mention of Gu Qinglan, Gu Qing felt a pang in his heart. He regretted ever agreeing to her plan.
It was his incompetence that had made her the target of public criticism.
"She's in a bad mood. She's locked herself in her room and won't let anyone near. If anyone gets close, she'll break down."
Lord Gu clenched his fists. "Find out who that brute is who violated my daughter. I'll tear him to pieces!"
Gu Qing nodded, his voice barely a whisper.
He walked towards Gu Qinglan's courtyard, his heart heavy with guilt.
He felt he didn't deserve to face Gu Qinglan. He was a brute!
After leaving Lord Gu's mansion, the man in white passed by the Regent's mansion. He lifted the curtain of his carriage and stared at it for a moment, his brows furrowed.
"Let's go."
Mo Qinghuan stretched her neck wearily, and Dan'er put away the embroidery.
"Take a break if you're tired. It's not something that can be finished in a day."
Mo Qinghuan nodded. Just as she was about to ask about what happened on the street the other day, Mu Yanming walked in.
He came up to her and sat down opposite her.
"I've got some good news for you."
Mo Qinghuan poured him a cup of tea. "What good news?"
"The emperor has named a crown prince."
Mo Qinghuan frowned. "How is that good news?" Then she realized. "The emperor named Mu Yefeng as the crown prince?"
Mu Yanming nodded. "At today's morning court, the queen and some ministers pressured the emperor, saying that the matter of the crown prince couldn't be delayed any longer and urged him to make a decision. In a fit of anger, the emperor named the crown prince."
"But the rule for the throne has always been to choose the eldest or the legitimate son. It doesn't make sense for the emperor to choose the third prince."
Mu Yanming chuckled and ruffled Mo Qinghuan's hair.
"I didn't expect the emperor to have been preparing for this for a long time to make the Prince of Cheng the crown prince."
She looked up at Mu Yanming. "What preparations?"
"I hadn't even had a chance to report Mu Shengze's attempt to assassinate the emperor when the emperor announced it himself and had already demoted him to a commoner."
Mo Qinghuan took a sip of tea. "Something's not right. Even if Mu Shengze was convicted and demoted, there's still Mu Yichen!"
"That's the most interesting part of today's morning court! The emperor pinned the assassination that happened when they returned to the capital on Mu Yichen and presented several pieces of evidence, saying that he had tried to harm his brother and was heartless. But since he had saved the emperor's life, he was allowed to keep his position as a guard in the imperial city and was told to assist the crown prince in the future."
Mo Qinghuan laughed. This was quite a confusing move. She didn't expect Mu Yefeng to become the crown prince just a few days after returning to the capital.
It seemed that Mu Yefeng was not an easy person to deal with!
But for Mo Qinghuan, she didn't really care if he was deep - minded or not, as long as he wasn't an enemy.