Consort Hu listened behind the window for a long while before finally losing patience. "At a time like this, you're still talking about these things?"
Gu Qing had naturally known all along that she was eavesdropping. "The prince will govern this country in the future. Naturally, he needs to know these things."
Knowing that his master had already escaped the Demon-Suppressing Prison, he had grown much calmer, more like the prince's teacher.
Consort Hu loved hearing such things. She smiled happily and said nothing more.
"The Seven Great Sects that originally established the Plum Gathering also included Fruitful Accomplishment Temple and Water-Moon Convent. Those two walk the roads of the world, but cultivate a Dao beyond it, so they count as neutral."
Gu Qing turned back and continued explaining to Prince Jing Yao. "The Wind Saber Sect and the Western Sea Sword Sect are rising powers, but thanks to the Blade Sage and the Western Sea Sword God, they enjoy considerable prestige. Of course, the latter suffered grievous losses in the Cloud Terrace Campaign and will struggle to recover for decades. The Hanging Bell Sect, Great Marsh, and the Mirror Sect each have supreme Daoist arts of their own, but none has produced an ascended immortal since its founding, and even Heavenly Access figures are exceedingly rare among them, so they can only be considered second-tier sects."
Prince Jing Yao looked up at the sky and said earnestly, "I'm a Green Mountain disciple, so I'll certainly have good relations with Green Mountain in the future, but that still isn't enough. You said One-Thatch Studio could be trusted, but I heard from Matron that those scholars all dislike me. Who else should I turn to, then?"
The morning light shone on his little face, young and innocent.
Gu Qing paused slightly.