She had no right!
Because Elder Princess was dressed in battle armor, sitting on a horse, with an iron demeanor, with soldiers standing behind her giving her courage!
She looked down with disdain at the generals and ministers across from her.
With a cold and calm demeanor, she said, "If you think you can take me back to the capital, not only will I refuse, even the soldiers behind me would not agree!"
As her words fell.
Thousands of soldiers cheered in unison, supporting Elder Princess!
The deafening sound made the generals and ministers turn blue with anger.
Elder Princess: "As for the sweet potato, I absolutely will not hand it over, and I won't return to the capital either. You might as well give up."
"Now that Pei Changying has made one mistake, he will continue making mistakes after me."
"I advise you two, based on Pei Changying's character, if you cannot find the sweet potato vine and return empty-handed, your entire clans will be implicated. You might as well surrender to me instead."
"I believe that over these past few days, you nobles have also seen how the local people live here in Lingnan. Is Pei Changying still worth your devotion?"
Well now.
This Elder Princess even dared to urge them to defect?
The general remained unmoved: "This subject is loyal to the Emperor!"
The Minister of Works gritted his teeth: "Elder Princess, you only have a few thousand troops. You cannot defy the imperial court! This humble minister advises you to quickly return with us. Perhaps the Emperor will still show you mercy."
"Otherwise, your life cannot be guaranteed."
"Moreover, the Emperor is not an ignorant ruler. If we cannot find the sweet potato vine in time, it is understandable. He will definitely not punish us!"
Is that so?
Will he really not punish them?
Even before Elder Princess could look at them with contempt, Gu Sang on the screen sneered directly at them: "You really believe Pei Changying?"
"Here's the deal."
"I'll make a bet with you. I'm convinced that when you return empty-handed, you will incur Pei Changying's wrath and punishment, either a severe beating or implicating your clans."
"If I win the bet, would you be willing to assist Elder Princess in the future?"
At these words.
The ministers' faces changed drastically.
"You, you're outrageous! Elder Princess is a woman, this realm would rather change rulers than allow a woman to take the throne!"
"Impossible, the Emperor would never punish us just for not finding the sweet potato!" The Minister of Works calmly roared in refutation.
Gu Sang: .......
The ministers were enraged.
They gestured for a thousand soldiers to immediately arrest Elder Princess.
Zhou Qichen stepped forward, shielding Elder Princess.
The soldiers behind him, trained in combat, glared ferociously like wolves at the imperial men, as if they would slaughter them all at Elder Princess's command.
The two sides were at an impasse, with tensions high.
Half an hour later, the Minister of Works had beads of sweat on his forehead, his expression highly tense as he glanced at Gu Sang and Elder Princess.
For a while, the entire street fell into an eerie silence.
In this strange quietude, Elder Princess suddenly smiled and spoke: "See the generals and ministers out of the city!"
The Minister of Works and generals immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
They dared not say another word, hurriedly leading their soldiers away from Lingnan.
Only after those chilling gazes had completely disappeared did the Minister of Works finally let his guard down.
The Minister of Works: "Elder Princess and Zhou Qichen are of one mind. We must hurry back to the capital and report to the Emperor to take precautions early."
"General Qin, assign some soldiers to protect me. I will return ahead by water route."
The lands of Lingnan were now under Elder Princess's control, yet the officials in the capital were unaware.
Meanwhile, Pei Changying still dreamed of a stable realm, awaiting the Minister of Works to bring back the sweet potato vine.
And in the rear palace watching the broadcast, Consort Li felt most sympathetic toward Consort Zhao's plight, thinking of going with Empress Gu Qingrou to the Cold Palace to persuade Consort Zhao.
As they opened the door to the room!
A putrid odor struck them, the stench of a room left unventilated for too long.
Gu Qingrou and Consort Li waited a moment at the entrance until the room's smell was no longer so foul before gracefully entering.
"Sister Zhao."
"The Empress and I have come to see you. You've suffered."
Hearing the voices, Consort Zhao struggled to sit up on the bed.
Consort Zhao was no longer the beauty she once was, her entire body except her face in a pitiful state that broke one's heart.
Consort Li and Gu Qingrou were so shocked they stepped back: "You!!"
"Sister Zhao, why put yourself through such misery?"
"The Cold Palace is no place for a person. Why don't you go apologize to the Emperor and say a few kind words? He used to dote on you so much, he would surely forgive you."
"Consort Zhao, court matters are not for the rear palace to meddle in. You were so foolish back then." Gu Qingrou gazed at Consort Zhao with a complex expression.
She had intended to mock her before coming, but seeing Consort Zhao's state......
Gu Qingrou could not bring herself to utter those spiteful words.
Consort Zhao let out a self-deprecating laugh, her voice hoarse: "Heh heh."
"Foolish? Perhaps......"
"Did the Emperor send you to persuade me? Is he still not giving up hope of getting Elder Sister back?"
Those words "get Elder Sister back" made Gu Qingrou's face turn pale.
In truth, Gu Qingrou knew very well!
The Emperor still had feelings for Gu Sang, making her the Empress was only to destroy Gu Sang's dignity......
Since she could never go to the future world anyway, she might as well face reality. Being the Empress wasn't so bad, as long as Gu Sang didn't come back to contend with her.
"The Emperor only did it for the people, Consort Zhao. You must not blame the Emperor." Gu Qingrou advised sincerely.
Consort Zhao weakly coughed a few times, lowering her eyelids: "I understand."
"Sister Empress, do you know what's happening outside now? How are Elder Sister and the others doing with Elder Princess?"
Consort Li interjected: "The Emperor was furious some time ago."
"It seems General Zhou defected to join Elder Princess, to... rebel. The Emperor has already sent troops to arrest Elder Princess. They should reach the capital in the next couple of days."
"I really don't know what Elder Princess was thinking, for a woman to foolishly aspire to rebellion. How is that possible!"
Then—
Those words!
Like sharp arrows, they pierced straight into Consort Zhao's heart!
She abruptly raised her head.
A myriad of emotions flashed in her eyes, like dazzling fireworks bursting on Doomsday, fleeting yet mesmerizing, until finally turning to ashes and grim resolve!
Perhaps Consort Zhao had dragged on her wretched existence in the Cold Palace just for this moment, just to do this one thing: "They'll arrive in the capital in a couple of days?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has not come to see me for some time now. I suspect he has completely lost hope in me."
"I, your humble consort, would like to request your help. When Elder Princess arrives in the capital, could you please convey a message to the Emperor on my behalf?"
"Tell him that I am willing to help him identify Elder Princess's crimes!"
"I will confess my guilt, in order to regain the people's hearts for him, and force Gu Sang to return to ancient times! As long as he allows me to leave this wretched place and treats my family kindly."
At the moment those words fell...
Consort Li's eyes lit up with delight.
But...but Gu Qingrou's expression froze, her heart filled with an indescribable sense of dread.
Force, force Gu Sang to return to ancient times?
Could Consort Zhao truly have a way to compel Gu Sang to come back?
