Ning Caiyong had just heard that the Purple Extremity Hall had summoned Gu Fangchen again, and worry gnawed at her heart. She had been waiting outside the Prince's Residence gate for some time.
These past few days, she had been deep in thought, and the more she considered things, the more certain she became that whether it was the baby swap or everything her son Chen'er had suffered through these years, it was all Gu Yuanye's scheme.
Gu Yuanye prided himself on knowing her inside and out. But how could she, his wife for decades, not know him as well?
In the past, because she believed Fangchen to be her own flesh and blood, she subconsciously ignored many things that should have struck her as wrong.
After all, people often said, even a venomous tiger will not eat its cubs.
No matter what, Ning Caiyong could never have imagined that Gu Yuanye would deliberately harm their son.
But now that she knew Fangchen was not her biological child, everything that had once made no sense suddenly fit perfectly into place.
She remembered that each time Chen'er had met with "accidents," Gu Yuanye had always been conveniently absent, and the residence's protectors had always failed at critical moments.
She did not know whether the assassins were directly sent by Gu Yuanye, but she was certain that he had at least allowed those incidents to happen, perhaps even used them to further his own plans, to turn Chen'er into a useless cripple!
To Ning Caiyong, this realization was harder to bear than Gu Yuanye's deception itself.
The child she had raised with her own hands, cherished and adored beyond measure, had been reduced, bit by bit, into an object of ridicule.
How could her heart not break?
At times, she even wondered whether Chen'er resented her, for not realizing sooner, for failing to protect him when he needed her most.
Seeing how diligently Fangchen had been practicing martial arts these days under Ding Xingfeng's guidance brought her comfort, yet it also filled her with fear. She dared not disturb him, only asking Xuexiang to report back to her daily.
But now, with Gu Fangchen summoned once again to the Purple Extremity Hall, she knew Gu Yuanye would never let him be. He would not tolerate someone with no blood ties sitting in the heir's seat.
As the consort of the Northern Garrison Prince, Ning Caiyong knew all too well how ruthless Gu Yuanye could be.
She had watched him step by step climb to his current power, had seen firsthand how he eliminated his political enemies.
"Chen'er, what's wrong?"
Ning Caiyong had seen how cold and venomous Gu Yuanye's expression had been just moments ago. She still instinctively treated Fangchen like a child, pursed her lips, and gently reached out to embrace him, then raised her hand to softly caress his cheek.
The beautiful woman frowned lightly and said in a tender voice,
"If something's troubling you, just tell Mother directly. You've never been the type to make requests before..."
Gu Fangchen held her hand and led her back to her courtyard, yet even when they arrived, he did not let go. Instead, he held tighter, met her gaze, and said solemnly,
"I want to ask Mother to divorce him."
Ning Caiyong's heart skipped a beat, her fingers instinctively tightening.
She had indeed thought of this over the past few days, tossing and turning through many sleepless nights. But to actually do it, to divorce Gu Yuanye, was no simple matter.
She could return to the Sword Pavilion at any time. But what about You Ren and Lian Qian?
Moreover, though she knew now that Gu Yuanye was the true culprit behind everything, he had cut all ties and hidden all traces so cleanly that there was no evidence at all.
As long as he commanded the Northern Army, even if she asked Emperor Yong'an for permission, Gu Yuanye could easily have an imperial edict issued to bind her to him again.
Thus, Ning Caiyong had only dared to think of it, never to act.
Gu Fangchen squeezed her hand gently and said in a low voice,
"Does Mother trust me? As long as you trust me, everything will have a solution."
Ning Caiyong nodded, her brows knit with worry.
"Of course Mother trusts you. But, Chen'er... don't rush things. Your safety comes before anything else."
Gu Fangchen shook his head, and his eyes turned sharp, colder than Ning Caiyong had ever seen.
"When the time comes to cut, one must cut cleanly. Hesitation brings ruin."
Gu Yuanye's plans had been thoroughly disrupted, his pride crushed under Fangchen's repeated humiliations. Now, his rage was boiling, his murderous intent near its peak.
This was precisely the most dangerous moment.
But it was also the best moment to kill him.
Before, Fangchen had refrained because Gu Yuanye still controlled half of the Northern Frontier defenses. If the Prince of Northern Garrison died, the Qiong tribes would invade immediately.
Until he stabilized the situation, Gu Fangchen had no choice but to keep him alive.
But now, with Xiao Yinghao's ability, and the "strategy guide" Fangchen had given her, she could root out the traitors and hold the line, even foresee future events.
Even if Gu Yuanye fell, Xiao Yinghao could hold the border for a time.
And that time would be enough for Gu Fangchen to head into Qiong territory and settle that subplot as well.
For the best endings in Mirror in the Dust, one always had to "pacify the outside before securing the inside."
The Qiong threat was not as dangerous as the two hidden ancients within Great Wei itself.
And conveniently, Gu Fangchen's current "class" was a good one, an offensive and defensive hybrid, with an extremely practical skill set.
This trip to Gushu was not just to ruin Gu Yuanye's reputation.
It was to take his life.
The only problem was the "Grandmaster Ancestor" still hunting him.
At the moment, Gu Fangchen was keeping her at bay with his "kite-running" strategy, using teleportation to stay out of reach. After all, finding an interdimensional fissure was no easy feat, even for her.
But because of that, he couldn't move too freely. Every target he struck had to be one he could kill quickly.
Gu Yuanye's "War Puppet" still had two replacement lives left, so Fangchen had to ensure the kill came when Gu Yuanye could not escape.
Otherwise, the man would simply switch into "endurance mode" again.
That was precisely why Gu Fangchen had no objection to this trip to Gushu.
Because the Luchai Dao was right next to Gushu Dao.
And the Yaoshan Academy sat in Luchai Dao.
He had already stolen a leyline that was vital to Heaven's Equal Through Eternity, and the Academy would not let such an opportunity pass.
With their strength, they could easily detain the "Grandmaster Ancestor" and divert her attention.
When that happened, Gu Fangchen would use Yama's Notice to mark Gu Yuanye for death.
Ning Caiyong saw the cold light in his eyes and knew, the moment Gu Yuanye had returned from the Purple Extremity Hall, this ending had already been written.
Her husband and her son... only one would live.
Lowering her eyes, she felt a tangle of emotions surge within her, sorrow, relief, clarity, and dread.
"Chen'er... let me think."
Afraid that Fangchen would misunderstand, she quickly added, embracing him again with trembling tenderness.
"Tonight. Tonight Mother will give you her answer. No matter what, I will never let my Chen'er suffer again."
Gu Fangchen understood how difficult it was for Ning Caiyong to sever everything after so many years. He nodded.
"Alright."
...
Thunder rumbled.
Early May had brought summer's chaos.
Moments ago, the skies had been bright and clear; now dark clouds loomed, lightning crackled, and violent winds howled across the world.
Even Huangtian City could not escape. Dust and rain were equalizers, no matter how noble, everyone was soaked alike.
Gu Fangchen shook open his folding fan as Xuexiang held the umbrella for him.
Before him stood a brightly lit tower. Inside, people ate and drank merrily, completely undisturbed by the storm. Through open windows, he could glimpse graceful women in thin silks laughing and flirting with the wealthy patrons.
Soft music drifted through the air, mixed with teasing laughter.
It was, of course, the Bureau of Courtesans.
Gu Fangchen had often spent time here in the past, and the moment he appeared, he was recognized.
"Oh, Your Highness the Heir!"
Madam Feng, still charming in her middle years, hurried out to greet him.
"It's been a while since you've visited, my lord... are you here for Xiuxiu? You redeemed her just a few days ago, she was just packing up to leave Huangtian City for Gushu today. I couldn't persuade her to stay."
Madam Feng sighed regretfully, then spotted a slender figure descending the stairs. She waved her over.
"Xiuxiu! Come quickly, look who's here."
Zhu Xiuxiu lifted her head at the sound. When her eyes met Gu Fangchen's, her face went pale. Then, realizing something, she hurried over, clutching her small bundle, and bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness."
Gu Fangchen raised a brow. Her voice was trembling. He clicked his tongue inwardly.
The previous "him" truly had been monstrous. And the one who had suffered most because of him was this very courtesan, Miss Zhu, the Bureau's famed flower.
To have used such base means on a gentle, melancholy girl like her, refined and wistful, like a lilac blooming in a rain-soaked alley, was truly perverse.
He had redeemed her two days ago merely as an afterthought, not expecting to meet her again today.
But Zhao Wenyuan had informed him that the Sky-Eye Division's Yang Division Master was finally free to meet him, and the meeting place was none other than here.
Which meant, of course, that the Yang Division's surveillance point was located in this very brothel.
Gu Fangchen had long known this, so he was unsurprised.
After all, the Bureau of Courtesans was one of Huangtian City's most important social hubs for nobles and officials, an ideal place for gathering information.
Still, encountering Zhu Xiuxiu now must have looked as though he had come deliberately to torment her.
And judging by her expression, she clearly thought so too.
The poor girl had only just regained her freedom after three years of humiliation, once a fallen noble's daughter now finally free.
To step out happily and immediately run into her nightmare, the Prince's Heir himself, it must have felt like lightning striking twice.
She probably thought he had come to play another cruel trick, to give her hope and then crush it again.
Clutching her bundle, she bit her lip, tears welling but not falling, and stood obediently before him.
Gu Fangchen, who had been silently condemning his predecessor, suddenly felt a touch of pity.
She truly was the picture of innocence, sixteen or seventeen, barefaced yet still lovely and pure, like a top student from a strict family.
And that bastard had...
He cut the thought short with a shake of his head.
If it were someone like Gu Lianqian, he wouldn't have minded using dirty tricks.
But a girl like Zhu Xiuxiu, so clearly unwilling, he couldn't fool himself into continuing the charade.
"Go home," Gu Fangchen said with a sigh, snapping his fan shut. "Be careful on the road. If you're traveling alone, I can assign a guard to escort you."
Zhu Xiuxiu froze, disbelief flashing in her eyes. Could it be that he was truly letting her go, just like that?
She quickly lowered her head. "Thank you, Your Highness. No need to trouble yourself, I've already hired guards. Ordinary martial men, but enough to see me safely to Gushu."
She bowed again and hurried away, lifting her skirts as she nearly ran, terrified that he might change his mind.
Gu Fangchen's lips twitched.
He had tried, truly, but reputations were not so easily repaired.
He turned back to Madam Feng and gave the name of the designated room. She immediately led him upstairs.
Inside, Gu Fangchen had Xuexiang close the door, then tapped the wall with the hilt of his sword.
An eye, blood-red and vertical, opened in the wall, eerie and grotesque.
But Gu Fangchen merely smiled.
"The Sky-Eye Division's Division Master is truly busy. It's not easy to get an audience."
That bloodshot eye belonged to none other than the Yang Division Master of the Sky-Eye Division.
"The Northern Garrison Prince's Heir is the impressive one. To hide your identity for nineteen years without my Division learning a thing, that's no small feat."
"Not only that, your cultivation... wait, five-pin?"
The eye widened, staring fixedly at Gu Fangchen as though he were some unholy thing.
Which was ironic, since the eye itself looked far more like a demon.
Yet now it regarded Gu Fangchen as if he were the aberration.
Gu Fangchen arched an eyebrow.
"Recently, I had some insights. The bottleneck broke, that's all."
The Yang Division Master was silent for a long moment. Clearly, he didn't buy that for a second.
The Sky-Eye Division's internal records had long estimated Gu Fangchen's strength, officially listed as early sixth rank, his combat power inflated to "sixth-rank peak" for prestige's sake.
And yet, in a matter of days, the man had advanced to fifth rank, a Grandmaster.
Absurd.
If it were that easy, the Crown Prince wouldn't have been stuck at that same threshold for over a century, teetering on the edge of madness.
Truly, comparisons could kill.
But the Yang Division Master had come for a reason, and quickly refocused.
"Your Highness, what information do you wish to know?"
Gu Fangchen smiled faintly.
"Simple. I want to know where I come from."
...
Later that night.
Gu Fangchen sat cross-legged on his bed, thoughts in order. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked toward the door.
Ning Caiyong entered, sat by his bedside, and said softly,
"Mother will go to Gushu with you."