Linlin's Mother woke up in tears.
After waking up, instead of crying, she was unusually calm, telling Gu Sang and Chen Yun not to attend to her.
After sending Linlin's Mother back home, she said, "I want to live on. I want to seek justice for Linlin and see those people punished as they deserve."
"Don't worry about me, you two. I will live well, including Linlin's share."
Gu Sang nodded with mixed feelings and left Linlin's Mother her phone number.
They closed the door.
Gu Sang and Chen Yun looked at the door and hallway, covered in words written in paint. Chen Yun couldn't hold back her tears again.
"Vile whore, seducing a married man, an ungrateful child..."
Gu Sang took a deep breath and closed his eyes, clenching his fists tightly, his nails slightly digging into his skin, the pain in his palms not even one-thousandth of the heartbreak he felt.
*Ding!*
*Merit increased by 110,000!*
After parting ways with Chen Yun, as soon as Gu Sang got in the car, he received a message from the System.
A merit of 110,000.
That must mean that at least 110,000 people had changed their minds about Linlin's case.
Perhaps.
In the future, when women in ancient times are hurt by rumors, they might have a chance to escape.
There is no way to completely avoid rumors.
But Gu Sang hoped that after Linlin's case, those bystanders, those who didn't know the truth, would no longer speak recklessly.
They only need to stand by and watch, really!
-
After Gu Sang's case concluded,
the incident of Consort Zhao's suicide gradually subsided with time. When Pei Changying felt enough time had passed, he immediately ordered a large army to suppress the Elder Princess.
Ten miles outside the Plague City.
A mighty army of 50,000 soldiers was marching toward the Plague City.
These 50,000 soldiers, elite troops summoned by Pei Changying from the capital, were far superior to the mere 1,000 soldiers General Qin had led.
This time, Pei Changying was determined to annihilate the Elder Princess's rebel army in the Plague City!
Demoted to Vice General, Qin Vice General was full of self-mockery.
He had learned that the official from the Ministry of Works who had accompanied them to the Plague City and returned alone to the capital to report the truth had been caned by the Emperor in court and demoted!
Qin Vice General's heart went cold: "Demoted to Vice General... heh, what wrong did I commit?"
"Noble Consort Gu, you truly won the bet."
"I was too overconfident, too laughable!"
The official from the Ministry of Works had endured the Emperor's wrath, beaten half to death, and now lay bedridden, his lower body likely crippled.
And him?
Demoted to Vice General by the Emperor's order! While his former subordinate, Pang Pei, had been promoted to General!
Lording over him and giving orders!
Pang Pei studied the map of the Plague City brought by scout cavalry and immediately began issuing orders: "Vice General Qin, you will lead 50,000 soldiers and await my signal from the south. Once I lure them to the north gate, you will immediately attack from the south..."
"Be sure to act swiftly and decisively, and capture the rebels Pei Weizhe and Zhou Qichen alive!"
Vice General Qin, mounted on his horse, listened to Pang Pei's orders with disapproval in his eyes.
Vice General Qin advised, "General Pang, swords and spears are blind. The city is full of innocent civilians. To rashly charge in and kill would harm the innocent."
"In my opinion, we should first make a show of force by stationing the 50,000 troops outside the Plague City. Knowing she cannot win, the Elder Princess may negotiate with us."
"Moreover, the people's hearts have not yet fully settled. We cannot act too hastily in this matter."
Upon hearing this,
General Pang turned his head and sneered at Vice General Qin, "Vice General Qin, mind your position!"
"I am the General now. Pei Weizhe is a rebel, and my attitude towards rebels has always been the same - leave none alive, annihilate them directly!"
"The people of the Plague City now adore Pei Weizhe! How are they different from rebels?!"
Vice General Qin: "......"
A surge of fire welled up in Vice General Qin's heart. He took several deep breaths to suppress the frustration.
Had he truly chosen wrongly?
Had he truly... chosen the wrong person?
At this moment,
Vice General Qin suddenly wanted to ask himself - was his loyalty to Pei Changying, to the Emperor alone, or to the suffering masses of the realm?
Just as Pei Changying's army set out for the Plague City,
the Elder Princess and her group were still improving their cannons, following Gu Sang's advice to construct four more earthen cannons.
-
In modern times,
Gu Sang received a call from Lu Mufei: "Sang, President Tang asked me to let you know that filming starts in seven days."
"I'll pick you up for dinner tonight and give you the script."
"Great, I'll make the restaurant reservation then. Tonight's dinner is on Gu Sang!"
"Haha, sounds good!"
Gu Sang had just hung up when a hot viral video popped up on his phone - the clip of Lin Lin hysterically berating He Linpeng for jumping off the building.
The comments section exploded!
Countless netizens began slamming He Linpeng.
Some netizens dug up Linlin's identity, phone number, and entire history, even revealing details about the scumbag He Linpeng.
"Damn, what's there to feel sorry for a mistress? Whether she knew or not, a mistress is a mistress and deserves no pity. Is jumping to your death for this worth it to your parents?"
"The commenter above must be a scumbag himself. The woman was deceived so tragically, and you have no sympathy."
"Hahaha, the internet jokes about dumplings for 80 cents and a birthday gift of Lafite actually came true. I can only say these stingy, penny-pinching broke losers are the worst."
"The deceitful scumbag male, the shrew makes a scene inside but acts oblivious outside. Why not hit the man? The mistress may not have known she was a mistress, but didn't the scumbag know he had a wife? Disgusting! I'm gonna puke!"
"Stay single and childless for peace of mind. Stay away from men and cherish your life."
"That scumbag is named He Linpeng? Damn, that's my fellow villager's name too. Should we all cut ties with him, fellow netizens?"
"I can confirm! The girl gifted He Linpeng a watch worth over 100k, and he didn't even mention it. But he'd demand someone's life over a 2 yuan bottle of water!"
"......"
After reading through the comments criticizing He Linpeng, Gu Sang felt relieved, his heart a little more at ease.
The arrows once aimed at an innocent victim had now become knives stabbing at the perpetrators. It remained to be seen if He Linpeng and his wife could still act so nonchalant!
Gu Sang was delighted.
Chen Yun was elated.
She heard some passersby mocking Linlin after watching the video, so she was enraged and rushed over to explain Linlin's grievances.
Then, by accident, she fell from the mall elevator and broke her bones.
"At the hospital?"
"Not everyone will take the victim's side. Many also empathize with the scoundrel and his original partner, so explaining serves no purpose."
"Alright, it's okay Chen Yun. I'm coming over right away."
Gu Sang was taking the call while hurriedly running towards the bedroom to change clothes and go to the hospital to visit Chen Yun.
