The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 169 Confess your heart
During the time Ning Caiyong was thinking in the Prince's mansion, he also learned that Gu Fangchen was going to Gushu to personally investigate the case of the switcheroo from back then.

His offer to go to Gushu Road at this moment was undoubtedly a tacit response to Gu Fangchen's request for a divorce.

Gu Fangchen relaxed from her meditation, changed her posture, and sat down on the edge of the bed, sitting side by side with Ning Caiyong.

"Of course I'm happy that Mother can come with me... but I'm afraid there will be many dangers on this trip to Gushu."

He didn't want to disappoint Ning Caiyong's determination, but he also had to explain the situation in advance.

The danger level along this route is much higher than going to Jiange.

The last time I went to Jian Ge, I was only intercepted by the Demonic Sect on the way back. Otherwise, there was no major danger.

Even if it were the chaos of the Seven Sects, with Ning Songjun in his undamaged state suppressing it, it wouldn't be a big problem.

But if we go to Gushu now, the Demonic Sect and the Academy will all be on high alert, and we'll probably face several waves of pursuit on the way.

Ning Caiyong raised his hand, gently touching his chest, feeling for the small wooden sword through his clothes, and shook his head:
“It’s alright… Rather than having Mother stay in this palace, facing this place that doesn’t feel like home all alone, it’s better for her to live and die with my Chen’er.”

Her beautiful eyes swept over Gu Fangchen, and she smiled with utmost tenderness:
"To be honest, if it weren't for the last time you made your mother act out 'running away from home,' your mother would have almost forgotten what the place outside the Prince's Mansion looks like."

For most of her life, she was an ordinary, traditional woman who "supported her husband and raised her children" in the Prince's mansion. The only other places she ever went were Jiange and Gushu.

Those fleeting landscapes have long since faded from my memory.

Looking back, all that remains are the little things about taking care of Gu Fangchen, filling every corner of my mind.

Even this sudden upheaval was due to Gu Fangchen's changed identity...

Gu Fangchen was stunned for a few seconds. He felt that her smile made the whole room light up, and he subconsciously looked away.

The most beautiful woman in the world... she truly lives up to her reputation.

Gu Yuye had so many forces he could have allied with back then, but he chose Jian Ge by feigning a desire to marry Ning Caiyong, which likely stemmed from lust at first sight.

As for affection, such a selfish person can exploit even one's own children, let alone Ning Caiyong.

"cough."

Gu Fangchen coughed lightly, feeling like she was doing something wrong, and turned her gaze away again, saying softly:

"In that case, let's enjoy the scenery and have some fun in Gushu this time. I'll take care of the rest."

He reached out and placed his hand on Ning Caiyong's slender fingers.

Ning Caiyong stared at their intertwined hands, momentarily dazed, a bitter smile creeping onto her face as she murmured:
“When Gu Yuye came to my door to propose marriage, he said that he had met me by chance in Gushu and had fallen in love with me ever since… Although I did not believe him completely, I thought that at least he had some sincerity.”

"Every woman may have a slight illusion in her heart that she is different."

These words, spoken with a heavy heart, were a confession to Gu Fangchen.

Gu Fangchen pondered for a moment, then stroked her chin and said:
"What exactly did Gu Yuye say back then? Where in Gushu did he see his mother?"

Ning Caiyong was taken aback and said:
"On the banks of the Jiangling River... I once visited your maternal grandmother's home, which is the Dugu family in Gushu, because it was your great-grandmother's 100th birthday. I stayed there for a while. At that time, the current Empress, Dugu Linluan, was also in Gushu. We often played together and had a very good relationship."

He knew that Ning Caiyong and the Empress had a good relationship, but their personal relationship had become somewhat distant because he was busy with the affairs of the Prince's Mansion later on.

Gu Fangchen then asked:
Which neighborhood or street along the river?

He asked in too much detail, and Ning Caiyong said with a hint of annoyance:

"Why are you asking this, child? It's all old news anyway. I'm about to divorce Gu Yuye, why bring it up again?"

Gu Fangchen blinked and said, "It's nothing... I was just asking, can't Mother tell me?"

Ning Caiyong couldn't stand Gu Fangchen's coquettishness or aggrieved expression. Hearing this, she helplessly reached out and cupped his face, rubbing it gently, and said:

“Back then, a group of us unmarried girls would sit on a painted boat and float lanterns on the river to pray for blessings. Along the way, there was the Wenwu Pagoda set up by Yaoshan Mountain. Young practitioners were keen to challenge the Wenwu Pagoda and make a name for themselves.”

"Gu Yuye had just reached the fourth rank of cultivation at that time. He had just broken out of the top of the tower and was full of pride. He glanced at the Jiangling River."

Then you say you fell in love at first sight?
Although he hadn't tried it in the game, his intuition told him that Gu Yuye was almost certainly talking nonsense... He would only know if he actually tried it.

Gu Fangchen raised an eyebrow, but said nothing more.

He glanced outside and said:
"It's getting late, Mother, you should rest early. We'll set off tomorrow."

……

After seeing Ning Caiyong off, Gu Fangchen stood at the door, looking at the dark, cloud-covered sky with a somber expression.

Recalling the conversation with "Yang Si" in the Jiaofangsi room earlier.

Although he, the person involved, had asked and even hinted that he knew the matter was related to the emperor, Yang Si remained silent for a long time and still refused to speak.

However, Gu Fangchen could sense that Yang Si wasn't unaware, but rather dared not speak up.

What in this world would a leader of a top power not dare to say outright?

In other words, he should at least know the true identity of Emperor Yong'an.

With the Eye of Heaven's supernatural powers, if they were to set up eye points within the Imperial Heaven City, they might actually see something they shouldn't have...

Although Yang Si didn't say anything, it was as if he had said everything.

Gu Fangchen thought to herself:
"In other words, I am indeed the descendant of Hengchang Daozhu who was born from the discussion of the Dao. So the question now is... who was he discussing the Dao with?"

"Ying Baishou is half-dead and in a dead state, and Xie Qian is his complete adversary."

"In this world, is there anyone else who can discuss the Dao with Dao Master Hengchang? Unless, it is something outside the Heavenly Gate..."

Suppose that the Lord of Hengchang Dao had some people or things outside the Heavenly Gate, and thus had descendants. Then these descendants must carry a part of his "Dao".

It was created for a specific purpose.

Judging from the existence of the game "Mirror in Dust", it is very likely that it was designed to deduce a possibility.

As for why he was made "Gu Fangchen".

Player Gu Fangchen, who has experienced all the storylines, has some understanding of this.

Because of Gu Fangchen's identity, she actually has a feeling of being the "center of the universe".

It was precisely because the real and fake princes were switched that Gu Yuye was able to weaken Xiao Yinghao, the Confucian school was able to collect the five earth veins, and the demonic sect was able to seize the fate of the nation. Before the players arrived, these stories had already taken a different turn.

And it seems that what the players did... did not achieve the ending that Lord Hengchang wanted.

"call……"

Gu Fangchen let out a long breath.

With his current strength, thinking about these things is useless. He can't even go to Tianmen Mountain for a look. He should just do what he needs to do first.

(End of this chapter)