66. The Only Solution
The night was long.
A cool spring breeze brushed against their cheeks, still carrying a hint of chill.
Gong Yiling took the hot tea Yan Chuyue offered, warming her hands around the cup. “Are they all asleep?”
“Chunhuai is still reading a book called The Great Compendium of Talismans. Qiu Ming and Xinyao are already asleep,” Yan Chuyue replied, also cradling a cup of tea. “Why are you still awake?”
“If Shangguan Long never shows up, how long do you think your father’s former subordinates will wait?” Gong Yiling took a sip of tea and countered.
On the way here, Gong Yiling had told Yan Chuyue everything about Shangguan Long’s situation, and had even asked the “mercenary queen” what she thought about her revenge.
What could the “mercenary queen” say? Only that this world had gone completely OOC (Out of Character). In a few more chapters, a rat would probably be a bridesmaid for a cat.
The original author didn’t care at all, not one bit!
Ahem… anyway, hearing Gong Yiling’s question, Yan Chuyue shrugged. “The uncles are hot-blooded men. They’ll wait one night at most.”
“And someone else will be thinking the same thing.”
Gong Yiling smiled. “So, that person will definitely come tonight.”
“Is that so…”
Just as Yan Chuyue was about to say something, a knock came at the door, followed by a voice, “Are you asleep, Your Excellency?”
“This…”
Yan Chuyue gave Gong Yiling a surprised look. “He’s really here. Should I leave for a moment?”
“No need.” Gong Yiling stood up and walked towards the door. “Do you think he’s only here to see me?”
“Well, true.”
Yan Chuyue had that much sense.
Gong Yiling opened the gate and led the Grand Elder into the courtyard. The old man was stunned to see them both.
“Your Excellency… you were waiting for me?”
“What else?”
Gong Yiling retorted, “With Shangguan Long in his current state, he can’t deal with the Yan Army. Besides Shangguan Lingyue, the other influential figure in the military, Prince Changning, is dead.”
“To appease them, only Yan Chuyue has the ability.”
The Grand Elder sighed. “What do you want, Your Excellency?”
“What can you offer?” Miss Gong shot back, “Old man, this wasn’t my doing. Shangguan Long brought this upon himself. If he hadn’t killed General Yan, if he hadn’t targeted me, none of this would have happened.”
“As a Grand Elder, you received my help, yet you sided with him. I’ve already written a formal complaint. It will reach the Hundred Paths Mountain by tomorrow. And you dare ask what I want?”
Her voice rose with emotion, and Gong Yiling stood up, her aura alone intimidating the Grand Elder.
“If I want the throne, would you dare to give it to me?”
Yan Chuyue: (Holy crap, lady, aren’t you afraid he’ll get angry and kill you? Do you really think you’re an immortal?)
The Grand Elder: (I told Shangguan Long not to provoke this Immortal Master. Now she’s demanding something equivalent to the throne. How should I respond?)
As for Miss Gong—(Damn it, I overdid it. Can someone give me a way out?)
The scene became awkward.
None of the three knew what to say next.
Fortunately, from the Grand Elder’s perspective, he couldn’t see the silent exchange between the two women. Under the cover of the dim night, they began a conversation with their eyes.
Gong Yiling: Help! Give me a way out!
Yan Chuyue: How am I supposed to do that? I’m not a civil engineer. Ahem, I mean, think of something, Immortal Master.
Gong Yiling: Just say anything. Be a peacemaker.
Yan Chuyue: A few meals. Otherwise, no deal.
Gong Yiling: A meal is nothing. I’ll cover your meals for the rest of your life.
Although Yan Chuyue felt this was a strange thing to say… well.
Having a long-term meal ticket wasn’t a bad idea.
Satisfied, she blinked and cleared her throat, addressing the Grand Elder. “Um, Elder Grandfather, may this young lady say a few words?”
“What do you want to say?”
“Although my master is genuinely angry, she doesn’t really want to do anything to the Heartflame Empire. After all, we are all righteous people. Even if she took the throne, it would be useless to her.”
The Grand Elder immediately seized the opportunity. “I understand this. Whatever Your Excellency asks, I will do my best to fulfill.”
“Then it’s simple.”
Yan Chuyue, guessing Gong Yiling’s intentions, replied directly, “Let the Fifth Princess be the Empress. This way, you can act as the Regent for the young Empress and publicly judge the former Emperor Shangguan Long. Appeasing the Yan Army will only be a matter of words.”
Regent for the young Empress?
What was that?
Not just Gong Yiling, but the Grand Elder was also puzzled—this system was written in the national law, but it was a dusty old law that emperors rarely bothered to read. It had never been used. How did this girl know about it?
However, the original author who wrote this system wouldn’t have considered the Grand Elder’s reaction. She just looked at the bewildered Gong Yiling and asked, “Do you need me to explain?”
Gong Yiling hated politics and history. She quickly waved her hand. “No, no, it gives me a headache.”
As they spoke, the Grand Elder interjected, “Do you know about Ziyuan’s parentage, Your Excellency?”
“Of course.” Gong Yiling shrugged. “Old man, whether she’s a Shangguan or not is a matter of your own conscience.”
“I don’t know if you were the one who placed the death curse on her, but your actions… do they do justice to her calling you ‘Master’? To her almost dying while searching for a cure for you?”
This struck a nerve.
Unlike the ruthless Shangguan Long, the Grand Elder had indeed tried to make amends for the girl’s suffering.
But in the end, he had failed their master-disciple relationship.
Especially since Ziyuan wouldn’t have disappeared if she hadn’t been searching for a cure for him.
Without this Immortal Master, what had he truly accomplished?
Thinking of this, the Grand Elder sighed deeply. “I want to see how she’s doing now.”
“You’ve already seen her. A month ago, and just today.”
“What… you mean!?”
