"With the Elder Princess here, your history will absolutely not repeat the history of our timeline!"
"Those who sit on high should not be judged by gender. What does it matter if they're male or female? Shouldn't it be based on the ability of the strong?" Gu Sang stared silently at the Prime Minister.
This gave the Prime Minister's heart, which was nearly suffocating with sorrow, some room to breathe and feel ashamed.
Perhaps that's right.
These thousands of years of thinking should change.
How could their era compare to the strength, peace, equality, and coexistence of future generations? Perhaps it really should change...
A flash of determination suddenly appeared in the Prime Minister's eyes.
He looked up, no longer conflicted: "Very well! You're right, I'll trust you this time!"
"Great! I knew you would be fair and just."
"Prime Minister, I'd like to ask for your help in investigating where my grandmother is being held captive by Pei Changying!"
"Right now, Pei Changying doesn't know that I've arrived here, so I'd also like to ask you to keep it a secret, and provide me with lodging if possible."
Hearing Gu Sang's requests, the Prime Minister nodded. Indecisiveness wasn't his style.
Since he had already decided to save the country's fate and sided with the Elder Princess and Gu Sang, he would naturally provide full assistance.
"With the Elder Princess's escape, the city will be under strict surveillance recently."
"I'm afraid you'll have to stay in my study."
If at this time, an extra guest appeared in his house, it would arouse suspicion from his rival officials in the court.
As for Gu Sang's identity, naturally, it was best if only he knew about it, even keeping it from the servants.
Faced with this arrangement, Gu Sang had no objections. As long as there was a place to stay, it was fine.
"Alright, thank you very much!"
The Prime Minister waved his hand and sighed, "I just don't want my country to experience such humiliation. Even though such things might happen after I'm long gone, just thinking about the possibility makes my heart as heavy as a mountain."
"Moreover, I do indeed envy the strength and way of life of future generations."
After saying this, the Prime Minister left the study, instructing the servants not to enter, and immediately went to the palace to help gather information about where Gu Sang's grandmother was being held.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace.
Gu Sang's grandmother was imprisoned in the palace where Consort Li used to live. After finishing state affairs, Pei Changying would make time to chat with Gu Sang's grandmother.
Faced with Pei Changying's attempts to please her, Gu Sang's grandmother simply gave him the cold shoulder.
After court sessions, Pei Changying had eunuchs bring two night pearls to Gu Sang's grandmother. Even to get closer to her, the high and mighty emperor! Yes, the high and mighty emperor actually didn't refer to himself as "we."
This change in address was already what Pei Changying considered his most humble attempt to please her.
"Grandmother Gu, these night pearls are tributes from this year, of excellent quality."
"These night pearls are large and round, and can emit a soft light at night, even brighter than candles."
Gu Sang's grandmother looked back for a moment. Indeed, they were very large, about the size of a goose egg.
"Not interested. The electric lights in my home are much brighter than night pearls."
Pei Changying: "......"
"Ahem, Grandmother Gu, this can't be compared to electric lights. It's said that wearing these long-term has beauty and anti-aging effects."
"I'll have someone make these two pearls into—"
Gu Sang's grandmother interrupted again: "If you want beauty and anti-aging effects, it's even simpler. Get a hyaluronic acid injection, do a skin tightening procedure, and the effects will be even better than this."
Pei Changying's mouth twitched. Even though he wanted to rebut, he couldn't find a reason.
He wanted to say that these were tributes, with less than ten produced a year, and ones this big and round were even rarer.
But Pei Changying knew that Grandmother Gu would surely say, "Are these as rare as missiles?"
Fine, fine, fine!
Any good things he presented, Grandmother Gu looked down upon.
Pei Changying could only try to appeal to Grandmother Gu's emotions, starting to talk about his meetings and interactions with Gu Sang.
Grandmother Gu didn't interrupt Pei Changying; she wanted to know what Gu Sang had experienced in ancient times.
A person who had received modern education and valued freedom and equality must have been quite tortured in this ancient era.
After all, in just these few days, Grandmother Gu had already felt the torture and oppression of this era.
"Grandmother Gu, sigh, I was just being stubborn with Gu Sang at that time. I just wanted to see her apologize to me."
"I felt that she was out of place in this era, her innate pride and clarity were truly inappropriate, so I wanted to change her. It wasn't until later that I finally understood the reason."
"It turns out that Gu Sang's personality was so distinct here because she wasn't from this world."
"By the time I knew everything, it was too late. Gu Sang had already gone back."
"For so long, I've been begging her. I hope she can give me a chance to redeem myself."
"Even sages make mistakes, let alone me. I was just too afraid of losing her, so I wanted to change her."
Listening to Pei Changying's self-justification full of loopholes, Grandmother Gu saw through it but didn't expose him.
What nonsense?
Still pretending to be desperately chasing after his wife?
Bah!
Grandmother Gu said with a cold smile: "People are just despicable. They always regret what they've lost and can't stop thinking about what they can't have."
"Since it has already happened, what use is your deep affection now?"
Seeing Pei Changying's pleading gaze, Grandmother Gu's heart remained unmoved.
Then, as if remembering something, a hint of darkness flashed in her eyes, and she said expressionlessly: "In our future world, men and women are equal, and men can only marry one wife. Did you know that?"
"In the future, men must respect their wives. The best responsibility towards a wife is loyalty!"
Pei Changying had already seen so many live broadcasts from the future. After hearing Grandmother Gu's words, he agreed without any hesitation.
He promised immediately, his eyes full of deep affection and sincerity: "As long as Gu Sang can come back, I promise her, from now on, one life, one world, one person!"
"I will also learn from the future, and have only Gu Sang as my wife for this lifetime."
"I am willing to dismiss all the concubines in the harem for her."
Grandmother Gu looked at Pei Changying with a complex expression.
Then, Grandmother Gu's eyes revealed a joyful look, and she said "Good" three times in succession.
"Good, good, good!"
Grandmother thought... Consort Li, finally, no one will be trapped in the palace like you were.
You can finally escape from the palace.
Grandmother Gu knew that Consort Li had always dreamed of leaving this palace. She wanted freedom, and now with the Plague City serving as a shield for women, she would have the opportunity to pursue freedom.
As long as Consort Li dared to take the first step, dared to go to the Plague City, she could live a good life.
Grandmother Gu was happy in her heart that Consort Li could leave the palace, but she didn't know that Consort Li had already died from drinking poisoned wine.
Pei Changying misunderstood Grandmother Gu's thoughts, thinking that his words had moved her.
So, Pei Changying immediately issued an imperial edict, announcing that all concubines in the harem would be sent to become nuns.
Immediately, the entire harem was filled with cries.
"Your Majesty~ Your Majesty~ This concubine doesn't want to become a nun."
"Your Majesty, this concubine wants to continue serving you..."
