The small figure that came rushing out was a bright, beautiful girl in a crimson dress, her face radiant as spring peaches.
From the way the surrounding servants quickly lowered their heads to salute, it was easy to tell:
This girl was the little princess of the princely residence, Gu Lianqian.
She was also the one person in the entire Northern Garrison Prince's Residence who despised Gu Fangchen the most,or rather, who made no effort at all to hide that hatred.
Gu Lianqian's temperament was simple and straightforward, like a blank sheet of paper. When she liked something, she liked it. When she hated something, she hated it.
She had always been unable to tolerate Gu Fangchen's vile deeds, so she opposed him at every turn.
When Gu Fangchen bullied an orphaned girl, she poured a pot of boiling water toward his lower body, nearly making him lose his ability to have descendants.
When Gu Fangchen broke someone's bones in a fight, she secretly hired men to ambush him at night and beat him with sacks.
When Gu Fangchen went to Ning Caiyong to complain, Gu Lianqian immediately went to Gu Yuye to complain in turn...
In the eyes of the original Gu Fangchen, this younger sister was his most disgusting nemesis,the true bane of his life.
After all, when others opposed him, he could retaliate behind the scenes, then act pitiful and coax forgiveness afterward.
But not Gu Lianqian.
If she complained to Gu Yuye, Gu Fangchen would be confined for real.
What was absurd was that, in his warped mind, he didn't even think Gu Lianqian was acting out of kindness.
He thought this headstrong girl just wanted to step on him to attract attention!
"Qianqian, slow down."
When he saw his lively, bright little daughter, Gu Yuye's expression softened. The cold, hard lines of his face seemed to melt a little.
Other than his two direct disciples, Gu Lianqian was the one who had inherited most of his teachings,she could practically be called his last disciple.
His elder daughter had apprenticed under the National Preceptor, the "Saint of Fate" Xu Fu, entirely by her own choice, and Gu Yuye had not objected.
But that also meant her path had diverged completely from his own.
Gu Lianqian, however, was a born prodigy of martial cultivation!
At just sixteen years old, she had already reached the Sixth Rank Martial Courage Realm. Such talent was second only to that of the legendary Martial Saint himself.
If not for the Martial Saint's disappearance all those years ago,and the fact that the emperor had grown displeased with him after those events,
Gu Lianqian becoming his disciple would have been ideal.
After all, Gu Yuye's own martial cultivation was only at the Third Rank. His title of "War Saint" came not from personal strength, but from mastery of military formations and the art of warfare.
Gu Lianqian, as a young maiden with a straightforward and lively nature, lacked the temperament of a commander fit to lead armies.
But Gu Yuye believed that if the old Martial Saint were still around and saw his daughter's talent in martial arts, he would have gladly taken her as a student.
Then his eldest daughter would be disciple to the National Preceptor, his youngest daughter to the Martial Saint, and his only son to a true Saint.
That was the image of the Gu family that Gu Yuye had always envisioned,a family that embodied greatness in every path.
As for certain stains and errors he had intentionally created in the past...
He had returned today precisely to set them right.
To restore everything that had gone astray back to its rightful place.
After today, the world would witness a new Northern Garrison Prince's Residence.
Gu Lianqian stuck out her tongue playfully and began recounting, in a rush, everything that had happened after Gu Fangchen locked himself away,spilling details like beans from a basket.
Finally, she puffed up her cheeks in anger.
"Mother clearly already knows that she's been raising a stranger! And that Gu Fangchen is nothing but a beast! Why does she still defend him?"
Gu Lianqian had long felt that the hedonistic, good-for-nothing Gu Fangchen didn't belong in their family at all.
Now that it was confirmed, she was delighted.
Without the protection of the princely residence, all the crimes Gu Fangchen had committed over the years could finally be settled,at the very least, he'd face severe punishment.
It would be justice for the world!
Gu Yuye smiled faintly and patted his daughter's head.
"Over ten years of affection cannot simply be discarded overnight. Your mother is a woman of deep feelings,if she could let go so easily, she wouldn't be your mother. She just hasn't come to terms with it yet."
He turned to glance at Gu Yuandao and said in a low voice,
"When she meets her real son and feels that blood connection, she will naturally awaken."
Gu Lianqian finally noticed the handsome young man standing nearby.
She had been so anxious about Gu Fangchen's escape that she hadn't paid attention earlier.
Realizing how she had just been acting, her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly composed herself, adopting a demure posture.
"Se-second Brother."
Heaven take pity,
The last time she had uttered those words, she had been two or three years old, coaxed by her mother to call Gu Fangchen that.
Once she grew older, she and Gu Fangchen fought endlessly, like enemies from a previous life.
Gu Yuandao smiled gently and said warmly,
"I have long heard of the little princess's grace and charm. I never imagined I'd have the fortune of calling you sister."
He took out a short sword.
"This sword was obtained from the Forest of Miraculous Blades. It is a Profound-grade weapon named 'Bixie.' It isn't particularly rare, but its name is auspicious."
"I came in haste, so please accept this as a meeting gift, little sister. I hope you won't dislike it."
Gu Lianqian's face reddened further as she received it, exclaiming loudly,
"Of course not, of course not!"
She examined the short sword inch by inch, holding it carefully, affection clear in her eyes.
From afar, the scene looked harmonious and warm.
This was what a family was supposed to be.
"Father."
Gu Youren stepped out, her pale sash fluttering in the breeze, appearing under the moonlight like an ethereal immortal.
She had met Gu Yuandao once before. Now, she only lifted her eyes and gave him a small, polite nod.
"Gu Fangchen is at Baima Temple."
Gu Yuye frowned. Why would they be at Baima Temple?
That wasn't part of his plan,but it was still within his control.
He had waited so many years precisely to ensure that no matter where Gu Fangchen fled, he would never escape his grasp.
Gu Youren said coolly,
"It seems Gu Fangchen was making trouble again. He thought Princess Prajna would be visiting Baima Temple today, so he begged Mother to take him there."
Disgust and disdain flickered in her eyes.
Gu Fangchen had always been lustful. There was only one reason he'd want to see Princess Prajna.
Even with death approaching, he was still that shallow, ridiculous fool.
Truly beyond saving.
"Heh."
Gu Yuandao couldn't help but laugh lightly.
"I didn't expect my replacement to be such a... remarkable person."
The mockery in his voice was unmistakable.
Remarkable? What he really meant was foolish!
He shook his head. "And what kind of man thinks Princess Prajna would meet with a drunken wastrel?"
Even for Gu Yuandao himself,now a triple laureate in the imperial examinations and a true disciple of a Saint, a man renowned among his peers,
If he tried to seek audience with Princess Prajna, he would still be turned away.
Even His Majesty, when desiring to meet her, had to fast and purify himself for three days before receiving a single word of instruction.
Let alone the likes of them.
Gu Fangchen was truly delusional,he didn't even have the sense Heaven gave a mule.
"In that case, Yuandao and I will go at once and settle this tonight."
Gu Yuye patted Gu Yuandao's shoulder and said solemnly,
"Go see your mother. She will listen to you."
"Gu Fangchen is nothing but the son of a lowly groom. Years ago, the Demon Sect used the Art of Causality and Fate to sever the bond of blood, forcing our Gu family to suffer the torment of separation."
"But now,it is time to restore the truth!"
...
"Granny Cui! Chen'er!"
Ning Caiyong lifted her skirt and stumbled forward, catching Granny Cui by the arm. Her sleeve was torn, but she didn't even notice, raising her head anxiously to search for Gu Fangchen.
Gu Fangchen jumped ashore, waving with a grin.
"Mother, I'm fine! I just ran into an old acquaintance and chatted for a bit!"
Ning Caiyong let out a sigh of relief, reaching out to him with a gentle smile that shone like moonlight in the quiet night.
"Come here, really now,running about in the middle of the night, aren't you afraid of meeting bad people?"
Gu Fangchen was just about to go to her side-
When two streaks of light descended from the sky, landing before Ning Caiyong.
Gu Yuye stood with his hands behind his back, staring coldly at Gu Fangchen. The latter froze instinctively.
The graceful top scholar knelt before Ning Caiyong, bowing low and declaring in a clear voice,
"Mother, I am your real son!"
Gu Yuandao lifted his head and met Ning Caiyong's stunned gaze, shaking his head slightly.
"Do not let this beast deceive you. He already knew about the switch three years ago!"