He sat openly on the stone bench in the pavilion, his handsome face still bearing a trace of lingering passion and desire.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Gu Tang with a lazy expression.
The other person was calmly putting on their outer robe.
He acted as if he were the only person there, showing no sign of panic.
He didn't even glance at Qin Junche again.
After putting on the robe, he calmly picked up his belt and tied it.
Then Gu Tang turned to Qin Junche and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Qin Junche shook his head.
"Then I shall take my leave." Gu Tang bowed to him, just as he had done when he came during the day.
Polite, yet with a hint of distance.
You'd never guess what they'd just been doing...
"Gu Tang." Gu Tang flicked his finger to withdraw the water curtain, letting the night breeze blow in and dispel the lingering scent in the pavilion.
Qin Junche's expression finally changed: "You really don't care at all?"
"Hmm?" Gu Tang raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Qin Junche.
He asked, somewhat amused, "What should I care about?"
His expression was too indifferent.
The moonlight gently caressed his slightly disheveled hair, and his originally handsome face was also tinged with a unique charm by the moonlight.
For a fleeting moment, Qin Junche suddenly wanted to tear apart Gu Tang's indifference when facing him.
Moreover, he knew how to make him show that look of both liking and jealousy.
"Gu Tang." Qin Junche stood up and walked towards Gu Tang step by step.
He stopped calling him Ninth Prince and reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from Gu Tang's cheek, tucking it behind his ear.
He leaned down slightly and moved closer to Gu Tang again.
Then she gently blew a breath into his ear.
Satisfied, she looked at Gu Tang's delicate earlobe, which was now flushed with a rosy hue from her own actions.
Qin Junche smiled and said in a low voice, "I'll make you regret this."
Gu Tang seemed to chuckle softly.
Yet, it seemed as if he wasn't laughing.
Qin Junche stood in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, watching Gu Tang's slender figure disappear beyond the high walls of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion.
The night was cool and still.
Gu Tang leaped down from the courtyard wall, his pretense finally crumbling.
well.
He glanced back at the high wall.
I really brought this upon myself.
But there's nothing I can do about it.
Let him face that national advisor who had the world at heart and was as compassionate as that man.
He probably won't be able to complete the mission in his lifetime.
but……
Gu Tang was a little uncertain.
He looked down and touched his still flat stomach.
Although I checked some of the ancient texts of this world, is it really possible that there are children inside?
Then……
He narrowed his eyes.
How long will it take to give birth?
It takes several years to raise the baby after it's born.
Only then can you start doing the task.
well.
Gu Tang wanted to sigh again.
Compared to the previous tasks, the previous ones were easier. At least both Gu Nuo and Qin Xiao were several years old and already quite obedient.
After that night, Gu Tang went into seclusion again.
The Ninth Prince has successfully advanced to the first rank after three months of seclusion.
The news finally spread throughout the capital the following day.
Of course, what also spread throughout the capital was the news that the Imperial Preceptor personally protected him.
He personally declared that day: Anyone who trespasses into the Ninth Prince's residence shall die!
That was the Grand Preceptor, whom the royal family and nobles of Chu had never seen before.
But it seems that it happened on that very day.
After that, the Grand Preceptor returned to his usual gentle demeanor.
Even the Third Prince personally brought gifts to apologize, hoping not to create a rift between him and the Imperial Advisor because of his Ninth Brother's matter.
They were both comforted by the other party's gentle words, seemingly not minding it at all.
However, according to the servants who later accompanied the Third Prince to his residence...
When the Imperial Advisor heard the rumors of the Third Prince's arrival that day, he seemed momentarily bewildered.
But he quickly regained his composure, reassured the third prince, and politely asked him to leave.
Of course, all of that is in the past.
What terrifies the people of the Chu capital now is—
The Ninth Prince has gone into seclusion again!
The last time I went into seclusion was to advance to Rank A.
He went into seclusion again after only one day; surely he can't possibly advance again?!
Gu Tang certainly wasn't aiming for another promotion.
He meticulously followed the records in the classics and instructed the servants of the Ninth Prince's residence to prepare all sorts of food for him.
Simply put, it's about nurturing the fetus.
Of course, he hasn't confirmed whether he actually has a child.
If not this time, Gu Tangzhen would have a toothache.
He wasn't afraid of Qin Junche, who only appeared in the darkness.
But that doesn't mean he wants to deal with him that many times.
Thinking of the ruthlessness and bloodlust in the young man's eyes, Gu Tang was still a little worried.
A month later, the gates of the Ninth Prince's residence, which had caused widespread panic in the capital, were opened.
There were no major changes in the heavens and earth this time, nor were there any signs that anyone would advance.
Then someone saw the Ninth Prince walk out of his residence and head straight for the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
When Gu Tang left the Ninth Prince's residence this time, it was already completely dark.
In most homes in Beijing, the lights were already out, and many people were already asleep.
With a wry smile, Gu Tang jumped into the Imperial Preceptor's mansion when the moon was at its highest point.
It's still the same lotus pond, still the same pavilion.
Qin Junche looked at him with a cold smile, the curve of his lips looking anything but malicious.
"Hehe." Gu Tang laughed awkwardly.
He walked towards Qin Junche, looking up at the sky as he said, "The moonlight is lovely tonight."
"I refuse," Qin Junche said coldly.
"Don't do that."
Gu Tang flicked his finger, and the water curtain rose again, sealing the two of them inside.
"You said last time that you would help me. My goal is to have a child, but I don't have one yet." Although he knew his words were shameless, Gu Tang had no other choice.
Qin Junche: "..."
“Uh…” Gu Tang scratched his head.
He looked at Qin Junche, who had his arms crossed over his chest. Although he didn't speak, every strand of his hair seemed to say "I refuse" in big letters.
Gu Tang was in a bit of a dilemma.
"Or..." he probed cautiously, "you could offer other terms, which I could use in exchange?"
Whether Qin Junche wants elixirs or magical artifacts and exotic beasts.
If it exists in this world, he will find a way to get it for him.
Qin Junche: "..."
"I wonder if the Imperial Preceptor's residence has any decent exotic beasts left." Seeing that the other party still didn't speak, Gu Tang had no choice but to take the initiative and say, "How about I hunt one down and give it to you?"
Qin Junche: "..."
"Or do you need any kind of elixir?" Gu Tang thought for a moment, then said, "A magical artifact?"
Qin Junche: "..."