READ WEBNOVEL Chapter 233: Sobbing
Chapter 233
"Heavens, how are we supposed to live like this!"
They had always been accustomed to a life of luxury, with servants attending to their every need. Now they were all being sent to become nuns. From this day forward, they would live with oil lamps and Buddha statues, never seeing a drop of oil in their food again. They would even have to do things with their own hands. How could they possibly survive?
The concubines, in their grief and fear, hadn't yet realized something else - a place to call home!
They possessed knowledge and were accomplished in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Their household management skills were exceptional. They should venture out beyond the confines of their residences, but they had never dared to imagine such a thing.
But that was alright. They would realize it sooner or later.
"The Imperial Edict has arrived—"
When the Imperial Edict reached the Empress's palace, Gu Qingrou was embroidering mandarin ducks. Upon hearing the announcement, she was so shocked that she pricked her finger.
It had come! It had finally come! Her nightmare had become reality!
Ever since Gu Sang's livestream, she had been having the same nightmare - that Gu Sang would return and steal the Emperor from her.
Now, Gu Sang must have returned.
Would this position, which she had schemed so hard to obtain, be snatched away by Gu Sang?
Gu Qingrou hurriedly went to see Pei Changying.
At that moment, the man she adored was seated high upon the dragon throne. Though they were only a few yards apart, Gu Qingrou felt as if they were separated by the Milky Way.
The words that came from Pei Changying's mouth were as cold and biting as December snow, making one shiver.
She heard Pei Changying say, "I love Gu Sang. I want to spend my entire life with her alone!"
"In this lifetime, I have wronged you. In the next, I will make it up to you."
Tears streamed down Gu Qingrou's face as she looked at the heartless man before her, feeling utterly devastated. "The next life? How can you speak of the next life when this one isn't even over?"
"Your Majesty, you once said you loved me."
"I don't want your next life. I want this life with you."
Hearing these words, Pei Changying's face immediately turned cold, his tone becoming impatient.
Pei Changying shook off Gu Qingrou's hand and looked down at her from his lofty position. "It is precisely because of our past relationship that I have been especially lenient with you."
"Do not mistake this leniency as a license for your willful behavior."
"Gu Qingrou, did you think I was unaware of how you used your unborn child to frame Gu Sang?"
"How could such a vicious woman be fit to be the mother of the nation?"
"I used to think you were a gentle person. How could you be so cruel as to sacrifice your own unborn child to become Empress?"
Gu Qingrou was instantly panic-stricken. She stared blankly at Pei Changying.
So! So! So the Emperor had suspected all along?
She crawled over, trembling, "Your Majesty, it's not like that. I had early signs of miscarriage—"
However, no matter how Gu Qingrou tried to explain herself, Pei Changying had already waved his hand dismissively, ordering the eunuchs to drag her out of the hall.
"Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation. Only I truly love you—"
Gu Qingrou's voice grew fainter as she was forcibly dragged away. Before nightfall, the Imperial Guards, without further ado, loaded all the concubines, including Gu Qingrou, onto carriages and sent them to a nunnery in the outskirts of the capital.
When the Prime Minister informed Gu Sang of this, she was so shocked that she choked.
"Has Pei Changying gone mad?"
Logically, this wasn't something Pei Changying would do.
Unless he had indeed gone mad.
Then, Gu Sang thought that perhaps Grandmother had said something to Pei Changying, causing him to act this way.
This also indirectly indicated that Grandmother must be in the palace, and safe.
At least for now, Pei Changying was still under Grandmother's influence.
"Prime Minister, could you please find out where Pei Changying has been going after court sessions recently?"
"This behavior isn't something Pei Changying would come up with on his own. He must have been frequently talking with my grandmother lately."
The Prime Minister had clearly thought of this as well. He nodded and said, "We should have results soon. Don't worry, finding the person won't be difficult. The challenge lies in devising a thorough plan to rescue her."
"After the Elder Princess's rescue, the palace's security has doubled. Even the moat is now patrolled by soldiers."
Gu Sang pondered. The previous escape route was no longer viable, and now that all the concubines had been sent to the nunnery, entering and exiting the palace had become even more difficult.
Perhaps they could start with the palace maids who went out to make purchases.
The Prime Minister had evidently thought along the same lines as Gu Sang. Under his bribery, they quickly bought off a palace maid who went out for purchases.
A few days later, the Prime Minister learned of Grandmother's place of confinement and the route to reach her, which he marked out for Gu Sang.
"The only uncertainty is how many guards are inside," the Prime Minister said.
"I can handle the guards inside," Gu Sang said, secretly touching the electromagnetic pistol and electric baton hidden in her clothes.
Gu Sang met with the purchasing maid in secret at the agreed location. Upon seeing Gu Sang, the maid was so excited she danced with joy.
"Ah! It really is you, Miss Gu. I'm so happy to be able to help you."
Gu Sang smiled, "Thank you for being willing to take this risk for me. Let's change clothes first. Here's some money for you. Take it and go as far away as you can. If you have nowhere to go, you can seek refuge with the Elder Princess in Plague City."
"There, you can live the life you want."
Gu Sang stuffed a stack of banknotes into the maid's hand.
After quickly changing clothes, the maid took the banknotes and immediately left the capital.
Gu Sang, disguised as the purchasing maid, pushed the cart of already purchased vegetables into the palace.
After verifying her identity, Gu Sang successfully entered the palace. After pushing the vegetables to the imperial kitchen, Gu Sang began her mission.
At this moment, an unexpected turn of events occurred—
The maid who should have disappeared with the banknotes was bumped into by someone before she could leave the city gates.
The purchasing maid walked a few steps forward before suddenly realizing something was wrong. She felt her sleeve.
That large stack of banknotes was gone!
"Stop, thief!"
The maid shouted as she turned back to look for the thief who had stolen her money.
That was her entire life's fortune!
The money she had risked her life for couldn't be lost!
Just as she was panicking, a luxurious carriage stopped in the distance. A servant by the carriage glanced into the crowd and immediately went to chase after the thief.
Soon, the stack of banknotes was retrieved.
The maid was overjoyed and quickly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
However, unexpectedly, the official in the carriage looked at the stack of banknotes and spoke in a suddenly cold tone.
"How does a commoner like you have so many banknotes?"
"Could it be that you've stolen money from your master and are trying to escape?"
The heavy official pressure made the maid struggle to breathe. Although she lived in the palace, she had never seen any of the masters there.
Faced with the stern questioning from the person in the carriage, the maid instinctively knelt on the ground.