After the guard shouted, the curtain of the carriage was opened from inside.
First, what greeted the eyes was the sinister and triumphant face of Pei Changying, followed by a resilient yet aged face, appearing in the same carriage with Pei Changying.
Upon seeing Grandma Gu, the hand of the Elder Princess trembled slightly.
She had an ominous premonition, an indescribable panic. She calmly said to Pei Changying, "Your tricks have been used once, and they won't work on me this time!"
Pei Changying laughed heartily.
This time.
He was full of confidence, calmly telling Grandma Gu, "Look, the friend your granddaughter trusts is right in front. See, she doesn't care about your death."
"Your granddaughter has helped her so much, yet she disregards even your life."
"Go tell her, you are Grandma Gu."
Grandma Gu pursed her lips and did not speak.
During this period, she had heard about ancient events. How many women were saved from dire situations due to live broadcasting! They lived like a person due to the Elder Princess!
Success was imminent.
How could she drag her granddaughter and this war down!
Seeing that Grandma Gu was unmoved, Pei Changying lost patience. He drew out a dagger he carried with him, and stabbed Grandma Gu's arm.
“Ah!!!”
Caught off guard, Grandma Gu cried out in pain.
But soon, she covered her scream with a hand soaked in blood, staring at Pei Changying with her wrinkled eyes.
She grimly stated, "When Gu Sang helped you, protected you, and supported you, you discarded her, betrayed her, and toyed with her. You are harsh and indifferent to women. What difference does it make if the world is in your hands or if it is destroyed!"
"Born as human beings, yet suppressed over and over again by people like you in power, we have become objectified and degraded!"
"It's truly sad!"
"I did not yield when facing the invading demons. Facing you, I fear even less. If you dare, kill me. My granddaughter will avenge me."
The spirit demonstrated by Grandma Gu made Pei Changying's chest almost explode.
Pei Changying glared at Grandma Gu fiercely, but in the end, swallowed his anger, not continuing to harm Grandma Gu any further. Instead, he looked towards the distant Elder Princess.
Through the great distance, the Elder Princess vaguely heard Grandma Gu's righteous words.
At this moment, she felt a mixed bag of emotions, after hesitating, she shouted towards the carriage;
"@#￥%......"
This was the dialect from Grandma Gu's place.
It was what Gu Sang specifically taught her before coming to the ancient times, to converse and connect with Grandma Gu.
And upon hearing this, Grandma Gu's eyes clearly lit up as if she understood something. Holding her arm, she rewarded the Elder Princess with a satisfied look: "@#￥%......"
At this point, the Elder Princess believed that the woman before her was indeed her grandma.
Her true grandmother had actually been found by Pei Changying!
She was always one step too late.
Could it really be destiny?
The Elder Princess looked up at the sky, a sense of helplessness welled up in her heart.
"Hahaha, Pei Weiqi, have you tested if she’s real or fake yet?! I told you long before, women belong solely in the courtyards!"
“You dare to dream of challenging my position?”
“Leave South City immediately, or else—”
With grandma Gu held firmly in one hand and a dagger pressed against her neck in the other, Pei Changying threatened.
Any slight movement and the sharp blade would slit Grandma Gu's skin.
Yet the old lady frowned, gesturing subtly to the Elder Princess, indicating that her own life was of no consequence.
The entire army fell silent.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, the Elder Princess said, “Pei Changying, I can withdraw from South City, but you must let her go. That’s the deal!”
She laid down her bow and arrow, ordering her army to cease fighting, offering a deal to Pei Changying.
Unafraid, Pei Changying put on the squeeze: "Oh, you want to renegotiate? Well then, surrender, return the Plagued City to me.”
“Return everything to me. The Sweet Potatoes, the Potatoes, and the Cannon.”
“All that Gu Sang had given you, return them to me! Then I’ll consider the exchange!”
"Pei Changying, you are utterly shameless! You bring shame to our ancestors with your reign." Aggravated, Zhou Qichen couldn’t stand it anymore, he rudely cursed Pei Changying.
General Qin was profoundly shocked as he stared at Pei Changying.
Who would have ever thought?
This was the kind of man they had followed!
Moments ago, he was proclaiming his deep love for Miss Gu.
The next moment, he was using Grandma Gu to threaten a cease-fire.
Pei Changying glared at Zhou Qichen resentfully in anger. Just wait, when he was done dealing with that wretched woman Pei Weiqi..
He would severely punish Zhou Qichen, General Qin and the rest, one by one.
The Elder Princess coldly responded: “I can retreat first! But let’s be clear, the Plagued City is what I worked hard to build, I won’t just give it to you.”
“The Sweet Potatoes, the Cannon, they were hard-won by our soldiers who worked day and night to develop them, they have nothing to do with you.”
“Other than that, we can discuss regarding the city.”
“However, that doesn’t mean you can demand recklessly, I’ll give you five days to think it over.”
“If we can’t reach an agreement after five days, there’s no point in talking any further!”
In the end, the Elder Princess made her decision., commanding her troops to retreat without arguging, giving up South City which they were about to seize.
She knew.
Grandma Gu was all the support and hope Gu Sang had!
She was Gu Sang’s primary duty when fulfilling tasks.
If she were to die here... The Elder Princess didn’t dare gamble, she didn’t dare gamble on Pei Changying possessing a soft heart!
Seeing the Elder Princess retreat, Pei Changying immediately ordered his servants to tidy up the mansion and ensure he and Grandma Gu could live there.
"Grandma Gu, no harm intended, I didn't really want to stab you."
"I have already been very careful to avoid the vital parts."
"You will understand me, won't you?" Pei Changying kindly explained to Grandma Gu, and immediately let his guards summon the local Physician, to treat Grandma Gu’s injuries.
After merely an hour of their company together, Grandma Gu had seen Pei Changying for who he truly was.
Selfishly indifferent, always playing the saint.
She doesn’t hesitate to use any means necessary just to achieve her goals.
The reason why Pei Changying is so amiable and approachable to her right now is only because she still has value to him - polite words are nothing but a ploy.
If there comes a day where she is no longer of use, she would be discarded like a worn-out shoe.
Grandma Gu isn’t particularly stubborn. She calmly accepts the good graces shown by Pei Changying, allowing the doctor he's summoned to dress her wound.
After all, an untreated wound is painful!
Anger, resentment – these are valid feelings, but at the end of the day, the body is her own, and so is the pain. Others cannot feel it for her.
The meals sent by Pei Changying are quietly eaten by Grandma Gu, not letting her disgust with this man affect her appetite.
Starvation only ends up hurting oneself. Why bother?
