They remained silent, waiting.
In the darkness of night, the entire capital city became eerily quiet.
As the wind and snow surrounding Gu Tang intensified, even the spiritual energy of the capital seemed to be stirred up by him.
Then, a clear whistle came from his mouth.
Gu Tang slowly exhaled, then waved his hand, scattering the snowflakes.
The dust has finally settled.
Some people breathed a sigh of relief.
Some people, however, felt their hearts tighten.
However, none of this concerns Gu Tang.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the snow in the yard.
His three months of hard work finally paid off; he broke through the barriers and was promoted to Grade A.
Although Gu Tang himself knew that Grade A was not the most top-tier in this world.
But it's always good to have more means to protect yourself.
"Your Highness!" Guan Yan's joyful voice came from the side hall of the prince's residence.
He pushed open the door and came out, looking at Gu Tang with a bright smile: "Congratulations, Your Highness, on your successful advancement."
Gu Tang smiled slightly at him.
He secluded himself for three months, focusing all his attention on spiritual practice.
The household affairs, both large and small, were handled thanks to this loyal young eunuch.
"Has anything happened during this time?" Gu Tang brushed the snowflakes off his clothes and stood up.
"No," Guan Yan said. "As you instructed, the manor has been closed to visitors during this period."
"Mm." Gu Tang nodded.
He moved his limbs.
After being promoted to Grade A, spiritual energy circulated around him, making him feel indescribably comfortable.
It definitely feels better to have control over your own power.
"What about the Imperial Preceptor's residence? Have there been any strange rumors lately?" Gu Tang asked again.
He recalled Qin Junche's sudden change of expression that night, and a sense of unease lingered in his heart.
“I’ve never been here before,” Guan Yan said stammeringly.
"Hmm?" Gu Tang turned to look at Guan Yan.
Guan Yan glanced up at Gu Tang discreetly, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "But ever since your last seclusion three days ago, the Imperial Preceptor has... he's..."
He gritted his teeth.
Countless people in the capital heard what the Imperial Advisor said last night.
It's impossible to hide it forever.
Guan Yan simply told Gu Tang directly, "I don't know when the Imperial Preceptor arrived, but by the time I noticed, he was already standing on the courtyard wall."
As Guan Yan spoke, he raised his hand and respectfully pointed to the spot where Qin Junche had been standing.
Gu Tang was taken aback.
Then he heard Guan Yan continue, "Last night, at your most critical moment, the Third Prince came with his men, but they were scared away by the Imperial Preceptor."
Guan Yan felt quite happy at the thought of the arrogant Third Prince being dragged along by his subordinates in a flustered and disheveled manner.
"The Imperial Preceptor also said..." Guan Yan looked up at Gu Tang again and said cautiously, "Anyone who enters the Ninth Prince's residence without permission will be put to death!"
This statement is clearly somewhat bloody and cold-blooded.
However, Guan Yan recalled the image of the handsome National Preceptor with black hair and a green robe standing tall in the night wind, speaking those words to protect his Highness.
He thought he was just too handsome.
Gu Tang: "..."
He turned to look at the corner that Guan Yan was pointing to.
Qin Junche was nowhere to be seen.
Gu Tang pondered for a moment, then instructed Guan Yan, "Prepare a thank-you gift for me... never mind."
Before he could finish speaking, he waved his hand and said, "I'd better go and thank him in person."
Qin Junche certainly didn't care about his thank-you gift.
Qin Junche wouldn't care which one it was.
Gu Tang took a deep breath. Besides, didn't he still have a mission to complete?
He practiced diligently for three months, aiming to advance his level.
She was just thinking that by becoming stronger, she wouldn't be in a too passive position in her future interactions with Qin Junche.
"You should prepare a thank-you gift for me." Gu Tang had only taken a few steps when he turned back.
He rarely hesitates like this.
Guan Yan couldn't help but laugh: "Yes."
He bowed to Gu Tang and hurriedly prepared a gift that wasn't particularly expensive, but wouldn't be beneath the dignity of the Ninth Prince.
"Would you like me to accompany you?" Guan Yan asked after handing the gift to Gu Tang.
"No need," Gu Tang waved his hand.
He carried the gift box, flicked his sleeves, and the gates of the Ninth Prince's residence swung open with a bang.
Gu Tang didn't ask Guan Yan to prepare a carriage, and simply walked slowly towards the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
As he walked, he could feel curious gazes coming from different directions, scrutinizing him.
He also knew that his advancement would inevitably disrupt the existing balance in the capital of Chu.
There must be many people secretly spying on me.
But who could have imagined that the Ninth Prince's desperate cultivation would ultimately amount to nothing more than...
Hmm, he wants the imperial advisor to have a child for him.
Gu Tang didn't walk for long before he arrived at the gate of the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
The gates of the Imperial Preceptor's residence seemed to be forever open.
There is never any need for guards at the entrance.
Gu Tang did not go in directly.
He stood outside the gate, took a deep breath, and prepared to identify himself.
Qin Junche's gentle and refined voice rang out first: "I should be the one to personally go to the Ninth Prince's residence to congratulate Your Highness. Your Highness, please come in."
Gu Tang: "..."
Just what I feared most came to pass.
He carried the gift box and slowly walked into the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
Not long after he entered, a servant from the Imperial Preceptor's residence led him toward the garden.
Even though it was winter, Qin Junche was still wearing a thin, coarse blue robe.
His long, ink-black hair was tied up with a small ebony crown. He stood in the lotus pond pavilion where he had previously talked with Gu Tang, and looked at Gu Tang with a slight smile.
That smile was as warm as a spring breeze.
Even the withered lotus leaves around him seemed to regain their vitality in his smile.
"Your Highness," Qin Junche said with a smile to Gu Tang, "Please sit down."
Two cups of tea still sit on the stone table in the pavilion.
Qin Junche was still sitting opposite Gu Tang, and the scene seemed to have returned to that night three months ago.
Gu Tang and the other person sat facing each other, and there was nothing amiss about their relationship.
"Your Highness has always had a clear and enlightened mind," Qin Junche said with a smile. "Once you overcome your inner demons, your cultivation will progress by leaps and bounds, which is truly commendable."
Gu Tang: "I came here to thank the Imperial Preceptor for his guidance that day."
"Your Highness is too kind." Qin Junche smiled and said, "The path of cultivation is always arduous. I am very gratified that I can be of some help to Your Highness."
Gu Tang was mentally prepared to chat with Qin Junche, who seemed perfectly normal, about this and that, from noon until evening.
The other party didn't mention anything about protecting him, and Gu Tang didn't bring it up either.
He also didn't mention Qin Junche, who suddenly became wicked and sharp on that night three months ago.
The two talked like old friends, from the moon rising above the willow branches to the moon high in the sky.
Time passed slowly, and moonlight bathed the entire Imperial Preceptor's residence.
Gu Tang closed his eyes and suddenly stopped talking.
The man sitting opposite him, who had just been as gentle as the warm sun, gradually had his bright eyes swallowed by darkness.
The smile on Qin Junche's lips remained.
But it seemed as if the night had tainted it with darkness, making it appear somewhat sinister.
He put down his teacup, looked directly at Gu Tang, and chuckled, "You were waiting for me."
"Yes," Gu Tang said.
He made no attempt to conceal his purpose: "Thank you for protecting me."
Qin Junche chuckled and said, "You've been here, chatting with him about cultivation, in all sorts of places, just to wait for me to show up?"
He stood up, turned around to look at the withered lotus under the moonlight, and stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from Gu Tang.
When Qin Junche spoke again, his voice even carried a hint of mockery: "Now you've finally caught up with me."