Gu Jian Heng had been the first to welcome his nephew's return from the northern frontier, offering a bow that seemed too formal, too calculated. His eyes—those cold, calculating eyes—had never held warmth, only the quiet bitterness of years spent in the shadow of the first branch.
But it wasn't just Gu Jian Heng who troubled him. It was his son, Gu Zhi Wei, who had been notably absent from the welcome feast. A slight, an insult, perhaps. But there was more. Gu Zhi Wei had always been a man driven by ambition, one who believed that power was something to be seized, not inherited. And his absence wasn't the only clue.
It was the steward's disappearance. The steward had been a loyal figure in the household, one whose absence went unnoticed for days, until the missing ledgers were discovered. The documents had been removed from the estate, and with them, several critical records of the family's finances. Coin, it seemed, had flowed freely in the shadows, heavy enough to hire mercenaries, and even heavier to remove all traces of the transaction.
Gu Yan Chen leaned back in his chair, his gaze turning distant. He had no concrete evidence—nothing that could directly link his uncle or his cousin to the assassination attempt. But the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together in a way that felt all too deliberate.
"It's possible," Gu Yan Chen murmured, his voice tinged with a quiet fury. "That the assassins were hired by my uncle. But I can't prove it yet."
Captain Hou nodded slowly, clearly understanding the weight of the situation. "And the missing ledgers?"
"Someone in the household has been moving coin in the shadows," Gu Yan Chen said, his jaw tightening. "But it's more than just money. This is about power. My uncle wants it. He wants control."
Gu Yan Chen's mind raced as he considered his next steps. He had always been a man of action—swift, calculated, and unrelenting. This was no different. The game had changed, and he would have to adjust accordingly.
The Golden Vulture Guild's involvement was a clear sign that his uncle's ambitions were no longer confined to whispers in the dark. Someone wanted him gone. Someone was willing to go to any lengths to see him fall.
Gu Yan Chen's voice cut through the silence of the war chamber. "I need your help."
Captain Hou's eyes sharpened, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. His brow furrowed slightly. "With what?"
"I need to know who within the household still holds loyalty to the family—and who does not," Gu Yan Chen replied, his tone low and measured. "If I don't act quickly, there's a chance they might strike again before I find the one responsible."
Captain Hou's gaze held for a moment, his thoughts seemingly aligning with Gu Yan Chen's. Without a word, he nodded, his expression settling into one of grim resolve.
"I'll uncover who's behind this," Captain Hou said, his voice colder than usual, carrying the weight of a promise. "No one will slip through the cracks."
Gu Yan Chen's eyes locked onto his, the silent agreement between them hanging in the air. "We don't have the luxury of time. Every moment wasted could cost us everything."
With that, Captain Hou turned toward the door, his movements swift and purposeful, as he vanished into the shadows of the hallway. Gu Yan Chen remained seated, his thoughts swirling, the weight of the task before him pressing heavily on his chest.
The assassin's death had not been just a failed attempt—it was a warning. A signal that the game had begun, and someone had already made their move.
But the next step would be his—and it would come swiftly.