After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

Although this song might not be appropriate for this era, Lin Xiaoxiao made one right bet.

That's how she became famous—not in a glamorous way, but in a scandalous way.

Gu Linglong squirmed restlessly in her wet nurse's arms. [This music is so catchy, why does it even play automatically?]

My ears... I'm so young, I probably shouldn't be able to hear this. I really want to report it to the authorities and make her pay compensation.

Gu Minghai's expression was also somewhat unpleasant. He had spent a long time persuading Chen Shi to agree to let Lin Xiaoxiao be his principal wife.

As a result, the other party said to put his career first and ask for a delay. Isn't this what she has been hoping for all along?

Today, he's still causing trouble here under the guise of being his cousin. Is Lin Xiaoxiao possessed by an evil spirit?

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't notice Gu Minghai's expression; instead, she was thinking about how to salvage the situation as quickly as possible.

She took small, lotus-like steps and knelt down in front of the Sixth Prince with a thud.

"Although I don't know why this opera troupe would use this song to fool us, I still bear the responsibility for failing to supervise them. I beg the Sixth Prince to punish me."

[Tsk, seemingly seeking punishment, but actually shirking responsibility...]

Chu Jingyan lowered his eyes and glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao indifferently.

Although Chu Jingyan was only thirteen, his aura was already very oppressive, even with just one glance.

Lin Xiaoxiao broke out in a cold sweat as the system's icy voice rang out.

"Detected target's favorability level: 20"

"?"

What's wrong with the sixth prince?

Who wouldn't feel pity for her when she looks like this?

Why is the favorability rating so low?

[Wow, no wonder Lin Xiaoxiao was being so proactive! Turns out she's trying to seduce Lao Liu!]

Chu Jingyan: Strategy?

[If Chu Jingyan's affection for her is 100%, he'll definitely absorb the Sixth Prince's luck, or perhaps she wants to become the Sixth Prince's consort?]

The system detected that the target's affection level was 0.

Lin Xiaoxiao: "?"

Did I do anything wrong? I was kneeling here perfectly fine, so why did my favorability rating drop again, suddenly to zero?

Chu Jingyan sipped his tea leisurely, showing no intention of urging Lin Xiaoxiao to get up.

Lin Xiaoxiao's knees ached from kneeling for a while, and then the boy's clear, cold voice rang out.

"Wouldn't it be inappropriate to sing this song at Miss Gu's full moon celebration?"

"Yes, I know I was wrong, and I beg the Sixth Prince to punish me."

"Detects the target's affection level -5"

Lin Xiaoxiao was almost in tears; sometimes she really wanted to report it to the authorities.

Didn't she realize that she said something wrong?

Chu Jingyan slowly raised his head, his tone even colder, "What does this have to do with me? You should apologize to Madam Gu."

Hey, this old man's got some skills. If only he could cough up some silver.

Lin Xiaoxiao turned to Su Xiuran and said, "Mrs. Gu, Xiaoxiao didn't mean it. Please forgive Xiaoxiao."

Su Xiuran put down her teacup. "Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't matter, but this is my daughter's full-day celebration. If you do this, it will damage the reputation of the Gu family..."

Su Xiuran paused, waiting for Lin Xiaoxiao to respond.

"Don't worry, Madam Gu, I will definitely tell everyone that it was all my fault and I will absolutely not smear the Gu family's reputation."

Chu Jingyan: "The damage has already been done, there should be some compensation..."

Lin Xiaoxiao immediately understood Chu Jingyan's meaning. She gritted her teeth and said, "Xiaoxiao has saved some money over the years, and I am willing to offer 50 taels as compensation."

[Heh heh~ The Sixth Prince is quite a nice guy, huh? Fifty taels and he thinks he's so tough?]

After Lin Xiaoxiao finished speaking, she stole a glance at Chu Jingyan's expression. She saw that he had his head slightly lowered and was not speaking, while he lazily fiddled with the teacup with one hand.

Su Xiuran waited quietly as she saw the Sixth Prince speaking in favor of the Gu family.

The Sixth Prince is a person I can get along with!

Lin Xiaoxiao twisted the handkerchief, took a deep breath, and said, "One hundred taels, this humble woman is willing to offer one hundred taels as compensation."

Chu Jingyan continued fiddling with the tea lid, showing no intention of looking at her.

"Two hundred taels, I am willing to offer two hundred taels as compensation."

Upon hearing this, Chu Jingyan raised an eyebrow slightly, put down his teacup, and looked at Su Xiuran. "Madam Gu, what do you think?"

Su Xiuran nodded gently: "Miss Lin is very kind."

"That's to be expected; it's all my fault for trying to do good but ending up doing bad things."

Lin Xiaoxiao said this, but in her heart she thought that the Gu family would be raided sooner or later, and she might have the money but not the life to spend it. She thought she might as well consider it as buying paper money for the Gu family to accumulate some good karma for herself. Thinking this way, she didn't feel so bad about the two hundred taels.

The banquet ended in this farce.

Gu Linglong was fast asleep in her wet nurse's arms. Chu Jingyan was about to return to the sect and wanted to try to find out from Gu Linglong whether his mother was in danger in the future, but seeing Gu Linglong like this, he could only sigh.

Well, there's still some time.

Seeing that Chu Jingyan showed no sign of leaving, Gu Yu'an invited him into his study, since he had already toured almost the entire Gu family compound.

Gu Yu'an's study was simple, with a bookshelf filled with books, a desk, a chair, and a small tea table for receiving guests.

Chu Jingyan looked around, walked to the bookshelf, and picked up a travelogue.

"Young Master Gu has quite a wide range of interests? He even reads travelogues like this."

"Every book has its merits. Even if one cannot travel ten thousand miles for the time being, one can still read ten thousand books."

Chu Jingyan nodded in deep agreement, as if he had met a kindred spirit.

"Young Master Gu is too formal. From now on, may I call you Yu'an?"

Gu Yu'an was slightly surprised. This form of address was not exactly intimate, but for a prince to address you like this was quite unusual, especially at a time like this in the Gu family.

Gu Yu'an pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "I have a question for Your Highness."

"You want to ask why I'm here when your father is already in prison, the Gu family may be facing a major crisis, and everyone else is rushing to distance themselves?"

Gu Yu'an pursed his lips and replied without hesitation, "Yes."

Chu Jingyan put down the travelogue. "Didn't you invite me here?"

Gu Yu'an choked, it seemed to make sense.

Chu Jingyan found it somewhat amusing to watch Gu Yu'an's ever-changing expression.

"Of course, it's also because I believe Lord Gu is innocent. Is that a good reason?"

Gu Yu'an was deeply moved. Today, the Gu family was holding a celebration banquet for the anniversary of the founding of the family. None of the good officials from the past had come, and only a handful of people were present.

These few cases are already extremely precious, yet no one tells them a single word of belief that they are innocent.

He really is the protagonist my little sister was talking about. If he can ascend the throne, then...

"Yu'an?..."

"Brother Gu? What's wrong...?"

Chu Jingyan waved to Gu Yu'an, who then snapped out of his daze and realized he had misunderstood.

Gu Yu'an coughed twice, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about how my father is still in prison... I was a little... rude."

Chu Jingyan nodded. "This matter involves a wide range of people, and I have no connections in the court, so I probably can't be of much help in investigating it."

Gu Yu'an smiled knowingly, "It's good that Your Highness has this intention. However, the people we sent to gather information this morning said they couldn't visit the prison. We don't know how Father is doing."

Chu Jingyan paced around the study a few times with his hands behind his back. "Leave this to me. I'll arrange for you and your son to meet discreetly in a couple of days."

Gu Yu'an bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

He suddenly understood what his little sister meant by "clinging to someone's coattails"—listening to her was definitely the right thing to do!

Little sister, you are my goddess!