Chapter 27
Chapter 27: Gu Yan Qing, a Great House on the Brink?
Prosperous and strong. Calm seas, clear rivers.
Brother’s words rode the wind and sank into Jiang Jiang’s chest.
For a heartbeat, she felt dazed. A scene flashed through her mind—one of the ending fragments she remembered from this novel world:
“I, Gu Yan Qing, have only ever wished for Qing Yun Kingdom to be at peace. I only wanted to win fairness for those poor scholars. What did I do wrong?”
In the end, the male and female leads always fought their way through hardship and toppled the great villain.
This world was no different.
But Gu Yan Qing wasn’t the classic monster who reveled in cruelty. He simply stood on the opposite side of the protagonists.
That didn’t make him a saint, either.
For his political ambition, Gu Yan Qing could be ruthless. He could crush rivals without blinking—framing them, setting traps, even killing to silence. He did it cleanly and without hesitation.
And in his own eyes, he was right.
He had his stance. His conviction.
In politics, there was no absolute good or evil—only positions.
“Brother.” Jiang Jiang looked up at him. “I don’t read much, so I don’t understand all your big principles. But in the capital these past few days, I heard a lot of scholars talk about Chancellor Gu. He’s a rising favorite at court, but… he’s facing countless great clans. Right now the Emperor backs him, so he can act boldly. But what if one day the Emperor can’t withstand the pressure? Or the Emperor changes his mind?”
She swallowed, then pushed on, voice low. “I’ve read the histories in Father’s study. Reformers rarely get a good ending. Brother… do you really have to follow him? Have you thought about the future—”
Jiang Chao Sheng gave a quiet laugh.
“Little girl,” he said, amused, “I didn’t expect you to know that much.”
He turned fully to her, lowering his head to meet her eyes. They were clear and bright.
“How long is a person’s life?” he asked softly. “I’d rather die in a blaze than live in mediocrity. If it truly comes to a life-or-death moment, I’ll make arrangements in advance. I won’t let you and our parents get dragged into it.”
Jiang Jiang froze.
Brother always looked open and straightforward, as if he had no schemes at all. But in this moment she saw it—beneath that surface, he was careful. Thoughtful. He’d imagined the road ahead many times.
And the light in his eyes…
It was almost too bright.
Maybe that was what a dream looked like.
People with dreams were… impressive.
Jiang Jiang suddenly felt ashamed. As a modern person, she’d only wanted a full belly and a quiet life. As long as she lived, it was enough.
While Brother wanted to carry the whole realm on his shoulders.
She forced a smile, rose on tiptoe, and patted his broad shoulder. “I get it. Then go for it.”
Then she turned and hurried away.
“It’s late,” she threw over her shoulder. “Go back and sleep.”
The night the results came out was destined to be sleepless for many.
Jiang Jiang returned to her room and lit the oil lamp. Her thoughts churned, making sleep impossible.
She glanced down at the new padded jacket she’d worn today, and her mind flashed with her father’s tears, her mother’s gentle smile, and Brother’s dazzling gaze.
Everyone dies eventually. If it came to it, she would fight the plot itself.
For one breath, a surge of heroic fire rose in her chest.
Then it died.
No. Better to keep her head down first.
She admitted it—she was afraid of death.
Maybe… she could work with the plot. Slowly. Carefully.
She called up the Diary System in her mind. She still hadn’t written today’s entry, and this was the perfect time to sort out her thoughts.
March 4. Clear weather. Light breeze.
Today the spring exam results were posted, and Brother actually placed high. That truly shocked me.
I once thought that if Brother failed, he could teach like Father at a private school. Later he could marry a gentle, pretty sister-in-law like Mother, and our family could live quietly for a lifetime.
Or maybe he would feel unwilling and try again in three years. Maybe three years later, as he grew older and the court changed, his heart would change too.
I imagined all those futures.
The only one I never imagined was Brother succeeding… and still being this firm about following Gu Yan Qing.
Gu Yan Qing isn’t bad. Sometimes I even admire him, but… there are only five years.
In five years, Gu Yan Qing will fall. Everything will turn to ashes.
There are still five years. Maybe… there’s still a chance?
Jiang Jiang paused, sighing, propping her cheek in her hand as she stared at the lamp flame.
What if Gu Yan Qing doesn’t even take a liking to Brother?
For a moment, her eyes lit up.
Then her hope deflated.
With Brother’s personality, if he can’t attach himself to Gu Yan Qing and has to fight alone in court… he’ll probably die even faster.
No, that’s worse. Under Gu Yan Qing’s tree, at least there’s shade. Five good years, if nothing else.
Her thoughts turned again.
What if I don’t let Brother become an official?
Right now he’s only a metropolitan graduate. The palace exam is on March 8. Only those who succeed there become official candidates.
If he fails…
Even if he fails, with a metropolitan graduate’s status, Dad will definitely move heaven and earth to get him a post anyway.
Father’s obsession with rank and the court… I’ve seen it too clearly.
So after all this, joining Gu Yan Qing somehow became the best option?
“My brother is the big villain boss’s lackey.”
“I transmigrated into a book, and for glory and riches, I can only work for the villain?”
What a sin.
Fine. If that’s the only path left, then I’ll gamble with the heavens.
If five years isn’t enough, then seven. Eight. Ten.
As long as Brother can become Gu Yan Qing’s trusted aide, I can use him to change everything—push back the day Gu Yan Qing falls.
So the most important thing now is to make Brother shine in the palace exam, to be seen by Emperor Jianping and Gu Yan Qing.
Unfortunately… I have no idea what the palace exam will cover, but I do know who this year’s top scholar will be.
His name is Shen Gui Yuan.
He’s rotten. On the surface, he supports the new policies and claims loyalty to Gu Yan Qing. In reality… he’s a spy planted by the powerful nobles. A traitor.
I need to find a chance to expose him early.
The road ahead is long…
I’m truly worried sick over Brother’s future.
After finishing, she submitted the diary entry.
A familiar warmth rushed through her body.
Another boost to her overall physical fitness.
Jiang Jiang’s senses sharpened instantly—clearer hearing, brighter sight, quicker reactions. It felt comprehensive, like the system had upgraded everything at once.
The rewards were getting better and better. Maybe one day, when the system leveled up again, she would become invincible overnight.
So this trouble wasn’t so terrifying, was it?
As a transmigrator with a cheat, she needed to look farther ahead.
The future.
It would be better.