In Chuxiu Palace, Prince Jin received the news, his face dark. Wei Shu was clearly overstepping, thinking he would soon inherit the throne. They had been enemies for years; if Wei Shu became Emperor, death awaited them. They might as well take a desperate gamble.
When Consort De returned, Prince Jin was about to leave. He whispered, “Collaborate with Gu Lianchang.”
For chief eunuchs, “A new emperor means new officials” was especially true, and those replaced often met tragic ends. Gu Lianchang and Wei Shu had always been superficially friendly but were inwardly at odds. If negotiations went well, Gu Lianchang would likely side with them.
The system did not respond immediately, and Ruan Ning waited for the result. She noticed the system’s attitude towards her was improving.
Especially after the second-level relationship, it felt like a nagging mother-in-law, closely monitoring every step of her task completion. She suspected that the system, aside from tracking her rewards, also benefited from her task completion. Initially, the system was indifferent, but after she became the first to survive a tough test, it grew enthusiastic about her progress.
To successfully complete the task, she needed the system’s assistance.
“Jiaojiao, helping me is helping yourself,” Ruan Ning urged.
The standard female voice finally responded: “I won’t spoil the plot, but the host can recall what Gu Lianchang values most during these meetings. The answer is there.”
Ruan Ning sighed, wondering how she was supposed to guess.
At least the system would no longer deduct her rewards for wanting to spoil the plot, she thought.
Before Ruan Ning could consider a way to contact Gu Lianchang, he entered her chamber alone, dismissing the palace maids and eunuchs with a simple command. The door closed silently behind them, and Ruan Ning focused on Gu Lianchang, trying to discern his primary concern.
But he quickly walked to her, pinching her chin again.
“Someone told me today that they want you dead,” he said, his fingers smooth against her skin. “What do you say?”
What beautiful skin, Gu Lianchang thought, regretting its fate.
Ruan Ning did not want to die. She contemplated teasing him; it could save her life. Though he was cold and intimidating, it was still better than being with Wei Shu, who always loomed as a threat.
Ruan Ning steeled herself. The worst that could happen was being kicked away.
