Pei Changying suddenly gripped Gu Qingrou's chin, viciously tightening his fingers and forcing her to look up at him.
His hand was gradually increasing in pressure, as if he wanted to crush Gu Qingrou's jaw.
Pei Changying furiously scrutinized the woman before him, his eyes devoid of any affection: "Gu Qingrou! Why is it you? Where has Gu Sang gone?"
"How are you here? Why are you wearing her clothes?"
"What is going on here?"
Tears suddenly streamed down Gu Qingrou's face.
Seeing her beloved treat her so coldly, all her efforts to escape reality came crashing down.
It turned out that reality was so cold and cruel.
"Emperor, I switched places with her. I love you, and I couldn't bear to watch her take you away from me."
"She never wanted to be Empress. Only I will always be by your side. At this moment, Gu Sang has probably already fled the Imperial Palace!"
Having said this, Gu Qingrou closed her eyes.
She prepared herself for Pei Changying's impending fury.
This was fine. Without Pei Changying's love, she might as well die by his hand.
At least, being killed by him could be considered a form of happiness.
The expected suffocation didn't come. Instead, Gu Qingrou's face was struck hard with a slap, and then Pei Changying violently pushed her away, shouting: "Whore!"
Gu Qingrou, already encumbered by her heavy wedding attire, was sent tumbling down the steps by Pei Changying's forceful shove.
In front of all the court officials, she, the dignified Empress, was as wretched as a dog.
Gu Qingrou was left dizzy from the fall. She struggled to get up.
Warm blood trickled down from her forehead.
She heard Pei Changying begin to issue orders.
"Go and bring Grandma Gu to me!"
Pei Changying had always been worried that Gu Sang might be playing tricks. Even he knew deep down that Gu Sang wouldn't simply resign herself to marrying him.
So even on his wedding day, Pei Changying had ordered his secret guards to watch over Grandma Gu.
Seeing the situation, the Prime Minister immediately volunteered to lead the guards to capture Grandma Gu.
The fake grandmother was being held in a nearby palace. The Prime Minister approached with the guards and said: "The Emperor commands that I bring this elderly lady forward."
"You need not guard her anymore. Hand her over to me now."
When the Prime Minister produced the dragon pendant symbolizing imperial authority, the secret guards carefully examined it before handing the person over to him.
The Prime Minister took the old lady away from the front court and entrusted her to his own trusted subordinates for protection.
"Madam, there may be trouble ahead. Please wait here for a moment."
"These are all my trusted men. After things settle down up front, I'll send someone to fetch you."
The old lady impersonating Grandma Gu had never seen such a high-ranking official before.
Oh, no, she had seen the Emperor.
Hearing that the Prime Minister was actually concerned for her personal safety and specially assigned people to protect her, the old lady was moved to tears: "My lord, the situation is urgent. There's no need to assign people to protect me."
"My life is worthless. Having people like you, my lord, the Elder Princess, and the Divine Lady who care for the world is a blessing for the common people. Being of use is a fortune I couldn't even pray for."
The Prime Minister nodded without saying anything more, but he also didn't call back his trusted men.
When the Prime Minister returned to the front hall, he was met with the Emperor's questioning face.
The Emperor sat high on his throne, his face dark, clearly suppressing the anger and unease in his heart.
The Prime Minister stepped forward, bowed, and pretended to explain: "Your Majesty, when I went to receive the old lady, I found that there was no one there anymore."
"I have already sent my subordinates to search throughout the palace."
Pei Changying was startled and abruptly stood up from his seat: "No one? How can there be no one! Could it be that rebels have infiltrated the palace and taken Grandma Gu away?"
"Who is it? Who is helping them in secret!"
Pei Changying slammed the table furiously.
His face was filled with anger. He suspected everyone, yet he completely trusted the Prime Minister, not doubting his loyalty in the slightest.
Upon hearing that Grandma Gu had been taken away, his first reaction was that she must have been rescued by rebels.
Pei Changying's expression changed dramatically. He thought to himself that people couldn't be taken away so easily; they must still be in the palace.
Pei Changying immediately summoned the Imperial Guards and ordered:
"Search the entire palace. Even if you have to turn the Imperial Palace upside down, you must find them for me."
The Imperial Guards began searching every corner of the palace.
As time passed, the Prime Minister began to feel increasingly anxious. He wondered why Gu Sang and the Elder Princess hadn't stormed the palace yet.
Wasn't today supposed to be the day of action?
The Imperial Guards had been mobilized. No matter how well he had hidden the old lady, as long as she remained within the Imperial Palace, she would likely be found within the hour.
The Prime Minister wracked his brains, trying to think of a reason to delay the Imperial Guards' search.
Just then, an unexpected event occurred.
"Bang—"
A deafening sound came from outside. A guard, covered in blood, came running in, shouting as he ran: "It's terrible, Your Majesty!"
"Rebels have broken into the Imperial City!"
"Whoosh!"
An arrow, swift as lightning, struck the guard right between the eyes.
Under the gaze of all the court officials, the guard was killed before their very eyes!
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
All the officials who had been standing dumbfounded, staring with wide eyes, suddenly came to their senses.
The rebels had come!
How dare the Elder Princess and her allies?
Before they could even cry out in panic to protect the Emperor, before the commanders could react, they heard the sound of cold, rhythmic footsteps approaching from afar.
"Thump, thump, thump—"
Tens of thousands of feet marched in unison on the floor, creating vibrations that could be felt from far away.
Looking up into the distance, they could see waves of enemy troops charging into the Imperial Palace. This sight left all the present ministers pale as sheets.
"It's the rebels! Protect the Emperor!"
"Quickly, protect the Emperor!"
"The Elder Princess has broken in!!"
The ministers panicked and crowded around Pei Changying. The guards responded immediately, forming a barrier at the front, protecting the civil and military officials and the Emperor behind them.
They had come.
Tens of thousands of soldiers stormed the Imperial Palace, leaving bodies strewn across the ground.
The air was thick with the smell of blood.
Pei Changying, protected by the ministers at the very back, stared wide-eyed at the Elder Princess leading the charge. His face turned extremely ugly.
His gaze shifted slightly, and he saw Gu Sang walking beside the Elder Princess.
Gu Sang, who should have been imprisoned in the palace and dependent on him, had somehow inexplicably joined forces with the Elder Princess to storm in. How could this not enrage Pei Changying!
"Gu Sang!!!"
Pei Changying, his eyes bloodshot, shouted at the woman opposite him: "How dare you! How can you be so heartless towards me, Gu Sang? What have I ever done wrong to you?!"
Across from him, Gu Sang raised her sword, pointing it directly at Pei Changying's forehead.
This scene.
It deeply wounded Pei Changying.
He found it utterly unbelievable!
The woman he loved deeply, the woman he had cherished in his heart, truly didn't love him at all, and actually wanted to kill him?
