READ WEBNOVEL Chapter 239: You Are Not Gu Sang
Chapter 239
Upon seeing it was a carriage from the Li Mansion, the soldiers quickly allowed passage.
After Madam Li escorted Gu Sang outside the city, another carriage was waiting for her.
Once Gu Sang boarded this carriage, the driver urged the horses onward at full speed towards the camp where the Elder Princess's army was stationed.
Meanwhile, Madam Li, following Gu Sang's instructions, made her way to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Outsiders were unaware that Madam Li had already separated from Minister Li. When Madam Li arrived at the Prime Minister's Mansion, the servants immediately invited her inside.
After she informed the Prime Minister that Gu Sang had escaped from the Imperial Palace, Madam Li was shocked to see that the Elder Princess was actually hiding in the Prime Minister's Mansion!
Only then did Madam Li understand the additional meaning behind Gu Sang's request for her to deliver the message.
Gu Sang wanted to inform both the Prime Minister and the Elder Princess that tomorrow would be the day the army would attack the Imperial Palace.
She wanted the Prime Minister to keep Pei Changying occupied in the palace, preventing him from learning about the uprising in the capital.
Meanwhile, the Elder Princess would lead her elite troops to open the city gates, allowing the army to enter the capital and then storm the Imperial Palace.
Good, good, good! This day has finally come!
My daughter! Tomorrow you will see Pei Changying weeping and begging for forgiveness at your grave!
The next day.
It was the day of the Emperor and Empress's grand wedding, and the Imperial Palace was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Pei Changying even proclaimed to the world that his marriage to the divine maiden Gu Sang was a match made in heaven, and he granted a general amnesty to celebrate with the people.
The court officials watched this Empress's coronation ceremony, which was far grander than the previous Empress's coronation.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see the Emperor's intentions.
The Prime Minister stood with the newly promoted Minister Li, watching as the Empress was helped down from her phoenix carriage to join Pei Changying in paying respects to their ancestors.
The coronation ritual was complex and tedious, lasting over two hours.
The officials stood respectfully, but some couldn't help whispering among themselves.
"This coronation ceremony far exceeds the scale set by our ancestors."
"Even the previous Empress didn't have such a grand ceremony."
"It's clear that Noble Consort Gu is indeed favored now."
Another person quietly corrected him: "She's the Empress now."
The Prime Minister watched the ceremony with an expressionless face. Although he knew chaos had already erupted outside the Imperial City, his heart remained as steady as an old dog.
His duty was to keep the Emperor and these officials occupied, preventing them from leading the Imperial Guard to stop the Elder Princess.
Just as the Prime Minister had predicted, while Pei Changying was conducting the ancestral worship ceremony...
Outside the city.
The sound of battle suddenly erupted—
Gu Sang rode at the forefront of the army, leading the troops towards the capital.
Along the way, she no longer concealed her face, believing it was no longer necessary!
The Elder Princess and the Prime Minister would not let the news reach the Imperial Palace.
"Oh no, those are rebels!!! Quick, close the city gates!"
As the army approached the city gates, the guards finally spotted the troops.
"Weren't they still in South City? How come we didn't receive any news?"
"This is bad! South City must have fallen. Quick, report—"
However, before the guard could finish speaking, the Elder Princess's elite troops, who had been disguised as civilians waiting for the army to arrive, sprang into action.
They had been casually walking near the city gates, and upon hearing the guards' panicked voices, they instantly drew their weapons and swiftly killed all the guards with lightning speed.
The attack came so suddenly that the guards, who had no idea that infiltrators were already in the capital, were slaughtered in the streets without a chance to resist.
Civilians in the street scattered in fear, but the Elder Princess removed her veil and called out to the crowd:
"Everyone, please don't panic."
"We enter the capital with a vow not to harm a single civilian."
At this moment, Gu Sang rode into the city on horseback and assured the people: "I am Gu Sang."
"Please don't be alarmed. We absolutely will not harm any civilians."
"For today, everyone should stay in their homes and not come out. There may be fierce battles in the capital soon, so take shelter immediately to avoid being caught in the crossfire!"
"I promise you all here and now, this is a matter between us and the court. Whether we win or the court wins, we will not use you as hostages."
Upon hearing Gu Sang reveal her identity, the people stopped fleeing and looked up at her.
The civilians' eyes widened: "Ah, it really is Miss Gu?"
"It's the divine maiden, the divine maiden has returned!"
"Everyone, don't run! The divine maiden has come back!"
Feeling the enthusiasm of the crowd, Gu Sang smiled in response and repeated her words.
With her assurance, the civilians calmly returned to their homes, closing their doors and windows, waiting for the outcome of this war.
The cooperation of the civilians, who didn't run about in the streets, made it much easier for the Elder Princess and her people to capture the city guards.
The Elder Princess dispatched a portion of her subordinates to take control of all the city guards in the capital.
Once everything was in place, the Elder Princess and Gu Sang led the army towards the Imperial Palace.
At this time, the Empress's coronation ceremony in the Imperial Palace had just concluded.
Gu Qingrou, dressed in elaborate wedding attire, stood on the high phoenix platform.
Beside her, Pei Changying happily held Gu Qingrou's hand, smiling lovingly as he said:
"Sang Sang, look, I've fulfilled my promise to you!"
"I've given you unparalleled favor. I believe this coronation ceremony will be talked about for centuries to come."
"I will never let you down in the future."
Through the bridal veil, Pei Changying's smile couldn't be seen clearly, but his affectionate and tender voice was like a honey-coated knife, cutting into Gu Qingrou's heart with each word.
It made her feel sweetness in her pain, and unbearable pain in her sweetness.
Such moving words of love, but alas, they weren't meant for her.
Yet Gu Qingrou kept deceiving herself, believing that the Emperor was speaking to her. It didn't matter; she would eventually move the Emperor's heart.
"Sang Sang, I've given you a coronation ceremony far grander than what our ancestors prescribed. I've offered you all the treasures in the world that I could find."
"You should see with your own eyes how much I love you!"
He had put so much thought into this for Gu Sang, insisting on making this coronation ceremony as grand and luxurious as possible.
Such magnificence, of course, had to be witnessed by Gu Sang herself, so she would know how much he loved her.
Pei Changying could no longer contain his excitement.
He couldn't help but reach out to lift Gu Qingrou's bridal veil, wanting to give her a passionate kiss: "Sang Sang, I want to share the empire with you!"
Unexpectedly, Gu Qingrou's veil was lifted and tossed aside.
Gu Qingrou's tear-stained face suddenly appeared before Pei Changying and all the court officials.
The officials were shocked: ????
Pei Changying's tender, loving expression instantly turned gloomy and cold upon seeing Gu Qingrou, as if struck by lightning.
"How can it be you?!"
"Where is Gu Sang? Where have you hidden Gu Sang?"
Pei Changying gripped Gu Qingrou's shoulders tightly.
Gu Qingrou winced in pain and pleaded with Pei Changying: "Your Majesty, you're hurting your subject."