Ten thousand taels of gold?!
From whom?
To whom?
That single short sentence from the Pillar of Silence acolyte left everyone in the hall dumbstruck three times over.
Grandmaster. Gold. Heir Apparent.
No matter how one combined them, those three words should never have appeared together in a single sentence.
And yet, there they were.
Gu Yuye's face froze, turning darker than ink.
The man famed throughout Great Wei as the Soldier Sage, known for his unfathomable schemes and flawless stratagems, suddenly found himself questioning the very sense of reality.
From the moment he returned to the Northern Garrison Prince's residence from the Purple Extremity Hall with Gu Yuandao, everything had begun to spiral completely out of his plan.
In just one day and night, Gu Fangchen's life had been flooded with one absurd surprise after another.
The Martial Sage, Princess Prajna, the Grandmaster, figures who should have had nothing to do with that worthless son, had all inexplicably come forth, one after another, as if old acquaintances.
Gu Yuye began to doubt whether the wastrel who had grown up under his very nose for nineteen years had ever been real at all.
But that was impossible.
The problem could only have arisen last night, during that brief period when Gu Fangchen had insisted on going to the White Horse Temple.
Gu Yuye felt he had finally caught the thread of the truth. Pressing down his turbulent thoughts, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
The more things slipped out of his control, the more determined he became to crush Gu Fangchen completely, leaving him no chance to rise again.
Whatever the Grandmaster's meaning was, it didn't matter. Unless Gu Fangchen could turn falsehood into truth, no one could save him.
Gu Yuandao stared blankly at the dazzling heaps of gold gleaming in the sunlight. Beneath his sleeves, his hands clenched tightly, his neatly trimmed nails digging pale marks into his palms.
Why?
This was supposed to be his day, the day he triumphed as the top scholar, the day he was recognized by his true parents. The day when everyone's admiration should have been fixed on him.
He had pictured the congratulations, the envy, the praise, many times over.
But now, the center of attention was still that imposter, Gu Fangchen.
Even the Grandmaster, who sat high above the mortal world and regarded all beings as ants, had personally gifted ten thousand taels of gold to that useless fool!
"Master... why would she send gold to Gu Fangchen?"
Gu Youren, on the other hand, stood there dumbfounded, her composure shattered beyond recognition.
In this entire world, no one was closer to Mingsheng, the Holy of Destiny, than she.
She had become the Grandmaster's disciple at thirteen. Though not a formal heir, she was a registered student and thus more legitimate, and far more familiar to Mingsheng, than Emperor Yong'an himself, who so proudly claimed closeness.
To describe the Grandmaster, there was only one phrase: immortal among men.
Not a cold and heartless god, but an immortal with compassion for the people.
Yet even so, an immortal was still an immortal.
Mingsheng had no trace of worldly desire. She had spent decades in meditation atop the Pillar of Silence, gazing upon heaven and earth, governing the empire's fortune in her palm, turning her hand to bring rain and overturn clouds.
Hence the name Canliao, lofty, distant, and detached.
Unless something threatened Peace under Heaven itself, Mingsheng would not interfere in worldly affairs.
And to threaten Peace under Heaven, the turmoil would have to be enough to topple a great sect or empire.
Gu Youren stared, wide-eyed, at Gu Fangchen, who was gleefully rubbing his hands and practically drooling over the ten chests of gold, unable or unwilling to conceal his excitement and greed.
That man, such filth, could possibly affect Peace under Heaven?!
And more than that, how could her master, who was utterly detached from fame and wealth, give him ten thousand taels of gold?
Her master had gifted her many things before, jade flutes, chessboards, silk fans, ancient scrolls, all elegant, cultured things befitting a woman of refinement.
Gold, though? Gold was beneath notice for anyone of their level. Only someone like Gu Fangchen would care for such a thing.
Wait, did that mean...
A terrifying thought struck Gu Youren like a thunderbolt, making her complexion turn deathly pale.
Unless... her master had given the gold precisely because Gu Fangchen liked it!
Once the idea arose, she couldn't stop it.
Because the logic fit too perfectly.
No other explanation held water. Only this one made sense, so much sense it was absurd.
Then why had her master chosen this moment to send Gu Fangchen what he liked most?
Wasn't that just... backing him up?
The realization made Gu Youren dizzy, and in that moment, she even sensed an odd fondness hidden within that extravagant gift of ten thousand taels.
Meanwhile, Gu Lianqian, mouth agape in shock, tugged at her elder sister's sleeve to ask something, but the sleeve didn't move.
"?"
Looking up, she found that her usually calm, sharp, and unflappable elder sister was standing like a statue, utterly frozen, as though her mind had fractured.
Gu Lianqian blinked, even more confused.
Why was her sister's reaction even bigger than hers?
"No wonder she's the Grandmaster. She's really rich."
Gu Fangchen sighed in mock admiration, picking up a gleaming gold ingot and weighing it in his hand.
Ten thousand taels of gold was an astronomical sum in this era.
Even for players, it was the same.
Gold held little value for high-ranking cultivators, but that was only for those with powerful backing.
The karmic line of the "Gu Fangchen" identity, at a valuation of ten thousand taels of gold, was actually much lower than he had expected.
He thought it over. It must be because the news hadn't fully spread yet.
Beyond Huangtian City, only a few top factions likely knew of the "false heir" revelation. The wider world remained unaware.
Thus, the recognition value of "Gu Fangchen" as the heir hadn't dropped yet.
When calculated, the system had kindly given him a discount.
Gu Fangchen smiled at the young acolyte beside him.
"My thanks to the Grandmaster."
The boy bowed solemnly.
"My task is complete. These ten thousand taels are now for the heir to handle as he pleases."
Ning Caiyong finally came back to her senses and quickly said, "Have them moved to Xiefang Courtyard first, "
Gu Yuye stepped forward, his tone cool. "Since they come from the Grandmaster, we must not slight the gift. Once counted, put them in the treasury, "
A crisp metallic clang interrupted him as Gu Fangchen tossed the ingot in his hand onto the floor.
"No need."
"The Grandmaster was worried someone might steal from me, so she taught me a little trick against thieves."
He smiled faintly, eyes glinting with mockery, and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
[False Heir Karmic Line: Ten Thousand Taels of Gold (Converted)]
In an instant, every single piece of gold in the courtyard vanished before everyone's eyes.
Gu Yuye's expression remained still, though not from surprise, his rage had already ignited.
A thief?
Gu Fangchen had just called him a thief!
There was only one thief in this household, the one who had stolen the heir's identity!
And yet the imposter dared to accuse him instead. Remarkable. Truly remarkable!
Gu Yuye nearly laughed from sheer fury. Taking a deep breath, he said coldly to his eldest daughter, "Youren, proceed with the examination."
Swallowing her tumultuous emotions, Gu Youren approached Gu Fangchen again.
Gu Fangchen looked toward Ning Caiyong and sighed softly.
"Mother, you must be mentally prepared."
Ning Caiyong mistook his tone for grief over their bond of blood. Moved, her eyes shimmered with tears as she whispered, "Chen'er, don't worry. No matter what happens, you'll always be my child."
Well, let's hope you can handle this...
Gu Fangchen nodded solemnly, putting on an air of tragic dignity as he waited for Gu Youren to begin.
He looked at her sincerely and said in a low voice, "Since Mother will always treat me as her own, don't break her heart. Just find out who my biological father is, that's all right?"
Gu Youren sensed something odd in his words but thought nothing of it. She extended her hand and placed a finger on the center of his brow, closing her eyes.
Her spiritual sight opened, revealing the red thread of karma entwined around Gu Fangchen's being.
The princess's slender fingers grasped that line, peeling illusion from truth, tracing its path.
Thinking of the captured coachman, her first question arose instinctively.
Gu Fangchen's father is...
Her finger twitched, and the red thread stretched outward.
She hesitated, then suddenly her eyes flew open, face draining of all color as she turned in horror toward the man standing beside her,
The Northern Garrison Prince himself!