Gu Fangchen was not surprised that Ning Caiyong came to see him.
The revelations he had made today were not easy to digest for someone who had been part of the situation all along.
For decades, Gu Yuye's disguise had been flawless, leaving not a single flaw to be found.
His cleverest move was making Gu Fangchen's bad temperament appear like a natural development.
As the years went by, such subtle changes became accepted as normal.
Meanwhile, Gu Yuye himself appeared merely as a strict father who didn't know how to express his affection, free of any blame.
So much so that, even if Gu Fangchen were to explain Gu Yuye's plan openly, others would only think he was trying to excuse himself.
The fact that Ning Caiyong was willing to believe Gu Fangchen at all was because of everything that had happened these past few days.
Still, she had not suffered the same direct and violent shock as Gu Lianqian.
Gu Fangchen understood this clearly, but he had no proof at hand.
Those who had poisoned him back then had long been executed, and all the blame had been pushed onto Gu Yuye's political enemies. Over the years, Gu Yuye had made full use of Gu Fangchen's poisoning incident to eliminate his rivals.
After all, this matter concerned Gu Yuye's greatest ambition, to deceive the highest ruler of Great Wei. Even the smallest loose end would have been catastrophic.
With the help of the Sixth Division Star Lord, even karmic traces could be erased, not to mention physical evidence.
However, Gu Yuye's failure to leave traces didn't mean Gu Fangchen couldn't fabricate them.
Before that, though, he needed to deal with the Confucian Sect and the Demon Cult backing Gu Yuye, and ensure that Xiao Yinghao could hold the military strength of Great Wei together once Gu Yuye fell.
For hundreds of years, the court struggles of Great Wei had always been nothing more than the east wind overpowering the west wind, it had never been about the truth.
As long as the outcome leaned toward stability and balance, Emperor Yong'an would allow things to proceed as they would.
On the Demon Cult's side, through his connection with Gua Gua Gong, Gu Fangchen had managed to turn them into a neutral force and plant an internal contact. That was a start.
The Confucian Sect, however, was another story.
Because behind all the karmic threads of the Confucian line, the true puppet master was the Confucian Saint, Xie Qian.
Yes, including the very plot of Gu Yuye swapping his son and making Gu Yuandao study under Xie Qian as a direct disciple.
Xie Qian knew about Gu Yuye's cooperation with the Demon Cult as well, but he didn't care.
In Mirror in the Dust, among the six endings, "Eternal Imprisonment," "A Thought of Compassion," "Heaven's Equal Through Eternity," "The Weight of the Human Heart," "The Descent of All Demons," and "Six Dusts Return to Purity", in four of them, the player had to fight Xie Qian.
It was hard to say whether he was a villain or not, but his ideals clearly defied normal reasoning.
In Gu Fangchen's eyes, perhaps once a cultivator reached the first rank, they ceased to be human beings entirely, becoming something that existed on another dimension of thought.
Their perspective was too vast; ordinary life and death no longer factored into their consideration.
Maybe Xie Qian's motives had been for the benefit of humankind, but the actual results were as catastrophic as "The Descent of All Demons."
Countless players' experiences had proven that taking the Confucian route from the top down was futile.
Even if you copied classics to boost your reputation, you would ultimately face Xie Qian.
And who could ever rival a Confucian Saint in reputation?
No one. That path had been blocked from the start.
Therefore, Gu Fangchen never intended to rely on "copying texts."
Even if you copied every timeless masterpiece, it would be useless!
Back then, Xie Qian's single statement, "At man's beginning, his nature is good", had instantly crushed Ding Xingfeng, who was at the height of his power, wounding his Dao heart and forcing him into semi-retirement.
Could literary fame surpass a Martial Saint?
Impossible.
Gu Fangchen had known from the beginning that to destroy Gu Yuye, he needed to strike from both fronts, and the Confucian Sect had to be taken down.
And to bring down the Confucian Sect,
It would have to start with this Sword Pavilion incident, the "Rebellion of the Seven Sects."
His thoughts drifted for a while. When he came back to himself, Ning Caiyong was already sitting beside him.
Bathed in moonlight, the beautiful woman reached out and gently smoothed his hair, murmuring softly,
"Chen'er, I feel like your thoughts have grown much heavier..."
If she had said this when he had first transmigrated, Gu Fangchen's heart would have surely skipped a beat.
But now, he had layered his persona with safeguards, and his memories had merged completely with those of the original. Even if his personality had shifted slightly, it would not show easily.
From what he understood of Ning Caiyong now, rather than suspicion, her words came more from worry.
More precisely, she feared that Gu Fangchen, who now knew his true identity and had shed his foolish, useless facade, would drift away from her.
Gu Fangchen turned his head, pressing his cheek into Ning Caiyong's soft palm. He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Mother, I'm so tired after all these years."
"But if I didn't think this way... I'd have to watch helplessly as Gu Yuandao came back, took my position, my wealth, and even called you mother in front of me."
Among all the characters, Ning Caiyong was the most emotional, the most governed by feeling, almost to an extreme.
Profit? Calculation?
She didn't care for them.
She could give boundless love, and she craved it in return.
But Gu Yuye was a cold-blooded creature driven purely by ambition. Exploiting Ning Caiyong's youthful naivety, he had taken her yearning for love for himself but never reciprocated.
Gu Youren and Gu Lianqian had been molded by Gu Yuye into excellence, too independent for Ning Caiyong's maternal love to find purchase.
Gu Yuandao, needless to say, was worse.
Only Gu Fangchen, weak, foolish, and dependent, had needed her tender care, allowing her to pour out her feelings without restraint.
That was why the original Gu Fangchen had received such unreasonable favoritism.
But now, because his persona had changed, he was destined to grow stronger and more independent. Continuing to merely receive her love was no longer viable.
Especially now that he had ascended to the sixth rank today, objectively, he could no longer stay under Ning Caiyong's protection. He might even become another source of anxiety for her.
To maintain her affection, to settle her shaken heart, he had to change his approach, turn passive into active, and shift from receiving love to giving it.
"I know, I've always known that Gu Yuandao is your real son, the one you carried for ten months and gave birth to. His return, and his reunion with his real parents, is the most natural thing in the world."
Gu Fangchen opened his eyes and looked straight into Ning Caiyong's, his voice low.
"But, Mother... I don't want that!"
He lifted his hand and clasped hers tightly.
"I don't want to see him call you mother. I don't want you to respond. I don't want you to treat him as a son or smile at him the way you do at me."
"The first day he returned, Gu Yuye deliberately gave him my clothes to wear. He wanted me to go mad."
"Heh."
He sneered.
"The 'Saint of War', that's what they call him! To him, everyone's emotions are just tools to use!"
"You sewed that robe for me with your own hands, stitch by stitch... and just thinking that one day, you might sew for Gu Yuandao, cook for him, care for him, scold him, I feel jealousy burning me alive."
Pouring his emotions through the original's memories, Gu Fangchen gripped her hand tightly, staring into the beautiful woman's eyes with blazing intensity. His words came through clenched teeth, his face twisted with passion.
In that dimly lit room, half his face was shrouded by the curtain's shadow, but his eyes glowed with fire.
"My thoughts, are nothing more than that."
He asked softly, "Mother, am I selfish?"
Ning Caiyong's hand stiffened, stunned by his words.
Gu Fangchen's meaning was simple.
You think I'm overthinking, but really, I only can't stand seeing you treat Gu Yuandao as your son and divide your love for me.
It was a subtle shift in reasoning, but it struck directly at Ning Caiyong's heart.
Her original intention had been to favor Gu Fangchen, yes, but Gu Yuandao was still her biological son. She couldn't just ignore him.
Besides, Gu Yuandao had suffered for years away from home. Her guilt compelled her to give him the treatment he deserved.
But that was before she knew the truth.
If Gu Yuye had orchestrated the swap himself, then Gu Yuandao's so-called struggle from poverty was also a lie.
And really, would Gu Yuye ever let his own son truly suffer?
Even so, Ning Caiyong was still his mother. She couldn't completely disown him. Yet in her heart, his place could never compare to Gu Fangchen's.
But now, Gu Fangchen was pushing her toward rejecting Gu Yuandao entirely.
Ning Caiyong knew this was wrong.
In everyone's eyes, Gu Yuandao was the model of perseverance, a poor scholar who finally found his real parents. A story worthy of legend.
As his mother, she might not love him, but refusing to even acknowledge him was too cruel.
It violated every standard of womanly virtue she had been taught. How could she still call herself a proper wife and mother?
And yet, hearing her son say this, Ning Caiyong's first feeling was joy.
Her greatest fear was that one day, Chen'er would no longer need her.
Like everyone else, briefly dependent, then gone.
But now, her Chen'er, though different, still needed her.
Even more than before.
He had never been so direct with her before, never shown such raw emotion. In the past, he had grown impatient with her care, even pushing her away at times.
Like a fledgling bird, once its wings grew strong enough, it always sought the open sky, never to return.
But tonight, Gu Fangchen offered another possibility,
"My wings are strong, not to fly away, but to hold you beneath them."
A flood of emotions surged through Ning Caiyong, her body trembling softly with her breath.
Her delicate face flushed faintly from the wave of feeling.
Since marrying Gu Yuye, she had never broken from her role as the perfect wife and mother.
She had done everything impeccably.
But it was Gu Yuye, he had switched their sons, making her raise another's child for nineteen years, pouring all her love into a lie.
And now he expected her to discard those years of love and rebuild affection with a stranger.
What kind of absurd demand was that?
Must everything follow Gu Yuye's will?
Even the emotions of the woman named Ning Caiyong?
No.
For the first time, Ning Caiyong felt utterly awake. A spark of anger flared in her chest, giving her courage.
The feelings that had long weighed on her heart suddenly cleared.
She realized, she didn't need to endure this just to be called a "good wife and mother."
She didn't have to give away what belonged to Chen'er.
Chen'er had never wavered in his love, why should she?
The beautiful woman pressed her lips together, lifted her other hand to cup Gu Fangchen's face, pressed her forehead to his, and whispered with exquisite tenderness,
"Chen'er, my dear Chen'er... how can you be so selfish?"
Then she embraced him, her voice low and dreamy.
"But your mother is just as selfish."
"If I had to hear you call someone else mother, my heart would burn too, I would never want that."
Her eyes were brimming with gentle affection, yet her voice turned cold as frost.
"Gu Yuandao may be Gu Yuye's son, but he will never be mine."
...
Huangtian City, the Prince's Manor.
"I must trouble Master Juehui to accompany my son on this journey," Gu Yuye said with a sigh.
Master Juehui pressed his palms together.
"Your Highness's worry is natural. Fearing that your son has been possessed is a father's instinct. This old monk cannot bear to see the young lord fall into wicked hands. I will do all in my power to determine the truth."
His thick brows and stern face gave him the countenance of an angry Vajra, terrifying to behold.
Then his voice hardened.
"If the young lord is indeed not himself, this monk will reclaim Flower-Grasping and kill the impostor on the spot."
Gu Yuye also pressed his hands together and sighed.
"Then I leave this in your hands, Master."
He turned to Gu Yuandao, handing him an imperial decree. His tone grew solemn.
"The Emperor's word is absolute. I await the day of your triumphant return, when I shall hold a feast in your honor."
Gu Yuandao accepted it, saying,
"Your son will not disappoint you!"
Gu Yuye hesitated, then added,
"Your mother is softhearted. Remind her often of your hardships. She will come to understand."
Gu Yuandao lowered his head, resentment and hatred flashing across his face.
This time, Master Juehui would accompany him, along with several academy seniors who served in the southwestern provinces.
Gu Fangchen...
After humiliating him several times, this time Gu Yuandao would make him pay in full!
He would make his mother see what kind of man Gu Fangchen truly was!
...
Gu Fangchen stood at the doorway, watching Ning Caiyong leave.
When he lifted his head again, his class had changed once more.
[Thief (15 Days)]
[Skill One: Among a Hundred Blossoms (Active)]
[Description: You thrive on the danger of dancing on the knife's edge and enjoy every moment of it. When you maintain physical contact with someone for more than five minutes, you can randomly steal one item they possess (no limit).]
[Skill Two: Untouched by a Single Leaf (Passive)]
[Description: You always move with ease and grace. When an 'investigation' is triggered, if you are the prime suspect, your suspicion automatically drops one rank; if not, your chance of being suspected is greatly reduced.]
Gu Fangchen rubbed his chin, his expression subtle.
So it was this class...