"Since that's the case."
Gu Moran glanced up and swept her gaze over the six people.
"Come on, tell me from the beginning what your rebellious meeting discussed."
Su Yao put down her teacup and pointed to the file beside him.
" Ye Qingyun's dying words have been recorded in the case file, and the Crown Prince will surely be punished."
She paused, her fingertip resting on the second page.
"The second prince will most likely take this opportunity to offer the elixir."
Gu Moran tapped the table with his knuckles.
"I know all of that."
The Crown Prince has now been confined to his quarters for three months.
Su Yao looked at him.
"Did Father punish me so severely this time?"
"Looks like my sister and I stayed up all night for nothing."
"We've already made arrangements. If you really perish inside, how will we divide the work to protect the Prince's Mansion, and how will we protect you?"
Gu Moran's fingers, which were tapping the table, stopped in mid-air, somewhat surprised.
"You? You're going to protect me?"
Shen Ling'er felt like exploding when she heard that dismissive tone.
" Gu Moran, don't look down on me!"
"If you can fight against those monsters and thugs outside, why can't we protect you at home?"
Gu Moran looked at Shen Ling'er.
"So."
"The first step in providing a safety net is to break them out of prison?"
Murong Xue quickly spoke up to correct her.
Su Yao said the prison break was the last step!
Lin Qingdai didn't forget to deliver the final blow.
"That's right. Murong Da Congming even calculated clearly that the Ministry of Punishments had high walls and thick gates, so he needed to prepare more ropes and bring more people."
Gu Moran turned to stare at Murong Xue.
"No way, you dare to go to the Ministry of Punishments?"
"Are you really that bold?"
Murong Xue looked completely at ease.
"What do you know? This is tactical."
Gu Moran the bridge of his nose.
"Thank you so much for not storming into the Hall of Supreme Ultimate that very night."
Shen Ling'er couldn't help but burst out laughing.
" Sister Murong's backup plan for tonight also includes having someone disguise themselves as the emperor and issue an imperial decree directly."
Murong Xue remained calm.
"This is the easiest."
Gu Moran stared at her for a few moments, then his hand, which was pressed against his brow, froze again.
The emperor in disguise, absolutely brilliant.
save trouble.
Really economical.
So he doesn't even need to think of a last will; the entire household can be beheaded together.
Seeing that the conversation had been veered off course, Lin Qingdai immediately spoke up to steer it back on track.
"Alright, stop listening to their nonsense, and stop being so glib. We don't use their methods."
Just listen to me.
She rattled off the entire plan in one breath, like reciting a menu.
" The Xie Clan is responsible for writing articles and shaping public opinion within the literary circles."
" The Shen Family went to investigate the true cause of Ye Qingyun's death."
" The Flower-Between Pavilion spreads a network of information."
"Backed by Murong Xue's Northern Territory caravan."
"I'm going back to the Grand Commandant's Residence to keep a close eye on troop movements."
" Su Yao is stationed at the Chancellor's Residence, keeping a close watch on the Hall of Supreme Ultimate and the Eastern Palace."
"It's all agreed that no one is allowed to move."
The teasing look on Gu Moran's face gradually disappeared.
Only the whistling sound from the drafty window cracks remained in the hall.
He looked at them one by one.
Su Yao sat the most steadily, like a pillar of Sea-Calming.
Shen Ling'er gripped the edge of the medicine box tightly, her eyes fixed on him.
Murong Xue never let go of her knife; her wild nature was untamed, yet she pointed the blade towards the door.
Lin Qingdai stood ramrod straight, her face clearly saying "Don't expect me to say anything nice," yet her body shielded him.
Xie Wanqing lowered her head and looked meek, but the words she wrote revealed a resolute and unyielding spirit.
Liu Ruyan sat quietly by the window; the letter she had used to fight for her life had been sealed with wax.
Gu Moran's throat suddenly felt like it was stuffed with a wad of tattered cotton.
He knew this was the world within the book.
Knowing that he was cannon fodder, a villain, and a stepping stone destined to be torn apart by five horses and die in this capital city.
From beginning to end, he was calculating their "favorability," how to cut off the destiny of the Son of Destiny, and how to save his own head.
He treated them as tools, as knives.
But now.
These six "knives" are ready to be drawn at any moment, in this stormy night.
Gu Moran tightened little by little, his palms aching from the edges of the case file.
The chill emanating from the Hall of Supreme Ultimate was completely burned away by the scorching fire in his chest.
His Adam's apple bobbed twice as he forcefully suppressed the stinging sensation in his eyes.
He tapped the paper on the table.
Do you know how difficult the road ahead will be?
"Do you know that if you take one wrong step, your entire family will be executed?"
Su Yao remained silent for a moment.
"I know, so I try my best not to make mistakes."
Shen Ling'er patted the medicine box as she spoke.
"I know a little. If it's not enough, I can learn more later."
Xie Wanqing added softly.
"Don't worry, my husband, we won't act rashly."
Lin Qingdai's face was cold.
If the current road is difficult, then forge another one.
Liu Ruyan chuckled lightly, "I'm the only one left in the Liu Clan, so let them be executed."
Murong Xue delivered her concluding remarks.
"Cut the easy ones directly; for the difficult ones, I'll disguise myself and go cut them down."
Gu Moran looked at them, speechless for a moment.
None of these people had a liking level of 80 for him, yet they were all incredibly outspoken.
Xie Wanqing lowered her head and finished writing the last stroke.
"My husband, this is what we discussed and decided tonight."
She held the plain paper in both hands and pushed it to the center of the table.
Black and white on white paper.
Four words were pressed under the lamp.
[ Husband-Protecting Alliance ]
Gu Moran stared intently at those four words.
"This is?"
There's not much we can do, but we all want to protect you as much as possible.
Upon hearing this, Gu Moran could no longer suppress the stinging sensation in her eyes.
These foolish women.
When she first married into the household a month ago, she wished she could take a knife, poison him, or lock herself in the door and never see him again.
Now they sit here, planning his escape route, shielding him from harm, and risking his family and his life for him.
The candlelight on the table flickered.
A system notification sounded in my mind.
[System notification: The favorability ratings of all six beauties have collectively increased.]
[Group tag generation: Husband-Protecting Alliance.]
[ Su Yao: Increased willingness to protect her husband and lead. Favorability: 58.]
[ Shen Ling'er: Increased willingness to cooperate in protecting her husband. Favorability: 81.]
[ Murong Xue: Willing to propose extreme solutions to protect her husband. Favorability: 43.]
[ Liu Ruyan: The Flower-Between Pavilion information channel is now open. Favorability: 26.]
[ Lin Qingdai: Increased willingness to provide martial arts support. Favorability: 33.]
[ Xie Wanqing: Increased willingness to support cultural heritage. Favorability: 75.]
[Congratulations, host! Your total favorability with your concubines has exceeded 300.]
[Milestone rewards are being distributed.]