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Before this, Gu Ping had seen the Liu Xia Imperial Palace. Although it was resplendent and luxurious, it always gave off a sense of superficiality, an air of extravagance.
In contrast, the Great Jin Imperial Palace was entirely different from the Liu Xia Imperial Palace. There were no golden bricks on the ground, no gilded jade bridges, and no phoenix rebirth murals. Instead, there was a vast marble plaza with a central axis leading to the grand hall. The Great Jin's architecture was adorned in a beautiful vermilion red, giving the entire structure a dark red hue complemented by glazed tiles. At first glance, it evoked a sense of solemnity and reverence.
Hong Ling led Gu Ping through the palace, eventually arriving at a palace deep within the inner sanctum, where the plaque read "Tenghai Pavilion."
I waited outside, knowing that he would call me in shortly. Hong Ling exchanged a few words with Gu Ping, who nodded before turning to enter the grand hall.
I have arrived?
As soon as Hong Ling stepped inside, she heard her father's voice and immediately bowed to greet Jin Huang.
"My daughter pays her respects to Father. May I ask why you summoned me?"
Should I know what I am doing right now?
Jin Huang's gaze was fixed on a large map that covered an entire wall—the Great Jin Territory Map—making it the only thing visible in the grand hall.
I believe I am not mistaken; at least I can help my father resolve the current situation.
Yang Yan felt a wave of suffocation wash over her upon hearing Jin Huang's words. She had never experienced such a feeling before. Keke had treated Yang Yan as his own daughter in the past, while now he regarded her as a subject.
Since childhood, I have been perceptive; he favored me for that reason. He entrusted me with command over the Abyssal Guards. Could it be that I am unable to see how he is using me?
Jin Huang's words echoed in the grand hall and resonated in Yang Yan's mind, deeply piercing her heart. She was unwilling to believe that Gu Ping was using her, yet she had to admit that possibility. She wanted to consider Gu Ping as a friend and was willing to put everything aside to assist him, but—
I do not believe he is using me.
Yang Yan spoke those words, but deep down, he couldn't help but think that it was all just self-deception. Jin Huang did not close his mouth again. Yang Yan looked at his father, shook his head, and then turned to face him. The dragon-like gaze from Jin Huang seemed to pierce through him, and in those authoritative eyes, Yang Yan felt as if he were seeing the truth of his own heart—one he was unwilling to acknowledge.
He must have come with me; we shouldn't leave him standing outside. Let's go in and be quiet.
Upon hearing Jin Huang's words, Yang Yan gave him a deep look. The two exchanged glances for a long moment before Yang Yan finally turned and called for Gu Ping.
Outside, Gu Ping Ci had been waiting by the marble steps. When he saw Yang Yan emerge from the room, he quickly stood up to greet him and asked, "My father..."
"Nothing much. He knows I’m here and wants us to go in."
"Alright," Gu Ping nodded and followed Yang Yan into Tenghai Pavilion.
The moment Gu Ping laid eyes on Jin Huang, he understood. The figure before him, with his back turned against the Great Jin Territory Map and the Middleman, could only be Jin Huang. The imposing presence radiating from him was something Gu Ping had never encountered before—not even during Liu Xia Emperor Liu Qi's reign. The aura emanating from Jin Huang felt as if it represented not just a man but an entire nation, an empire. It bore down on Gu Ping like a mountain, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Commoner pays respects to Emperor Dong; may Emperor Dong enjoy eternal blessings."
Gu Ping placed his legs together in front of his chest, interlaced his fingers, then raised his legs above his head in a bow—this was the highest form of respect in the Dust Realm aside from kneeling, demonstrating Gu Ping's utmost reverence for Jin Huang.
"There's no need for that."
Gu Ping looked up to see Jin Huang smiling slightly, mirroring the expression on Gu Ping's face. They exchanged glances, neither wanting to speak first as they both pondered what the other might be thinking at that moment.
After what felt like half a cup of tea had passed in silence, Jin Huang finally broke it: "I’ve worked hard to come to this palace and have been investigating that matter from ten years ago. Surely you don’t think I would mistake that old man for someone else?"
"Since Emperor Dong is aware of me, you naturally know what I seek," Gu Ping replied with a slight lift in his tone before pausing briefly. "Could you perhaps show some compassion and grant me a way out?"
"I believe the Great Jin Yang Family has the qualifications to protect me, or should I say, Liu Dong, what do I have in my legs?"
Gu Ping shook his head.
"Then does the Yang Family run a charitable hall?"
Gu Ping shook his head again.
"Then why should the Yang Family help me?"
Jin Huang's series of questions made those around them feel that Gu Ping was seeking help from Jin Huang, which seemed like a delusion. The Yang Family would not help Gu Ping, not even offer him some charity.
Gu Ping maintained a smile on his face and said calmly, "Isn't it true that the Yang Family needs an opportunity now? I don't deny it. Ten years ago, that Great Master could help the Yang Family avert a disaster, but what will the Yang Family use to fend off calamity ten days from now?"
Although he spoke casually, Gu Ping was already sweating profusely. He was gambling with his life, betting that the Great Jin Yang Family needed an opportunity—one that would allow the Jade Void Sect to overlook them, an opportunity that could enable the Great Jin Yang Family to accomplish much.
Jin Huang stiffly shifted his gaze to Yang Yan, then glanced at Yi Dong and Liu Lao Jiu. After that, he looked at Zhuang Zhixian before finally settling his eyes back on Gu Ping. He observed the young man dressed quite elegantly and felt as though he was facing a cunning individual. That sensation made Jin Huang uneasy; after all, he had not possessed such cunning at Gu Ping's age.
He knew very little. Bu Luo thought to himself, what could a mere mortal like me do in their struggles between the Yang Family and the Sect?
Hearing those words, Gu Ping secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He loosened his tightly clenched fists; he knew he had won the gamble. The Great Jin Yang Family must have something he was unaware of that made them urgently need an opportunity to transfer Yuxu Zong Daxiu away. And right now, Gu Ping was offering just such an opportunity on a silver platter.
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