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Chapter 63
Gu Sang paused for a few seconds.
He continued in a gentle voice: "Besides, Zhou Qichen was not instigated by me to do those things."
"Don't be fooled by his brashness, he is actually quite sensitive and has his own ideas."
"If it wasn't for Pei Changying's actions that completely disheartened him, he would not have switched sides just because of a few words from me. In the end, you deserve it."
The Elder Princess smiled faintly, feeling that Gu Sang was more and more to her taste.
She agreed with this view.
Especially in this ancient world, men only viewed women as possessions, and after a long time, even women themselves forgot that they too had dignity.
In such an environment, if a man did not view you as an equal from the core, how many years could true love last?
Perhaps his love for you was genuine at the moment, but it would also be genuine when he became disenchanted and his heart wandered years later.
The Elder Princess smiled wistfully: "Yes, everyone has their own choice, but before making that choice, they should find themselves."
"I'm glad I didn't marry into another kingdom. I have always believed that no one would love me for life, so what's so good about the throne? Who needs love!"
"Gu Sang, tell me about university life, I think university life must be very interesting."
Gu Sang told the Elder Princess about half an hour's worth of interesting university stories.
There were ordinary students who worked part-time jobs to pay for tuition;
There were girls from mountain villages who studied hard under immense family pressure, just to make something of themselves;
There were also rich second-generation kids who spent lavishly to chase after the campus beauties;
There were those with good conditions and those with poor conditions, but everyone had the right to choose! Everyone had the opportunity to shine and excel in their passion...
So what if she was a girl from a mountain village? As long as she was strong, brave, and hardworking, she too had a chance to change her circumstances!
Through the screen, Gu Sang could clearly see the longing in the Elder Princess's eyes.
What a wonderful future world.
There were endless choices.
Unlike her.
If she had not met Gu Sang, no matter how noble and legitimate she was, her ultimate fate would have been to marry into an enemy kingdom, or to pick a husband and let her life drift away.
"Gu Sang, do you believe that one day, I too will establish the first university!"
"A university where both men and women can attend, where everyone has the right to choose their future, and can shine and excel in their areas of expertise."
"I believe it!" The firm and confident words rang out powerfully through the screen.
They thought that day should not be too far away.
In the capital city, at Inspector Zhang's residence.
Inspector Zhang's wife pushed open the study door and brazenly shared: "Husband, guess what I heard out there?"
"There have been rumors circulating in the capital recently that the Zhao Family was wronged. Haha, isn't that funny? If we go by what they're saying, wouldn't that mean the Emperor was cuckolding himself?"
This wife was the eldest daughter of a general's family before marrying, and had a frank personality.
Inspector Zhang was refined and scholarly, yet he favored her straightforward nature, and their relationship was excellent.
In order to marry her, he had dismissed several concubines.
Upon hearing this, Inspector Zhang's expression immediately changed. He took a few steps towards his wife and looked outside to ensure no one had overheard before closing the door and whispering to his wife: "Wife, the Emperor's moods have been erratic these days. You should not speak of such things again, lest we invite trouble."
However, the Inspector's wife maintained a righteous and proper demeanor.
Linking arms with her husband, she firmly said: "Why can't I say it?"
"These words have spread all over the city. The law does not punish the masses. Even if the Emperor finds out, what can he do?"
"And I don't think the Emperor would be so foolish. These are just rumors, surely the Emperor won't seek to punish anyone? Then what crime would we be accused of?"
Inspector Zhang could only smile bitterly at her words.
Crime? Perhaps a trumped-up charge would count as a crime!
Under the heavens, there is no land not belonging to the King. If the Emperor wished to accuse them, who would dare question whether they were wronged or not?
Just like the Zhao Family, like Consort Zhao, everyone knew the Zhao Family was wronged, knew of Consort Zhao's righteousness.
But they dared not speak up for the Zhao Family!
They, these officials, even refrained from mentioning this matter, afraid of implicating themselves.
"Wife," Inspector Zhang earnestly implored his wife about the gravity of this matter.
Only after she promised not to mention it again did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
At a tavern.
Two scholar-officials sat in a private room. They were from the same hometown and both appointed officials in the imperial court. When they had no other business, they would meet and chat.
The conversations and laughter from a nearby table of commoners drifted into their room.
"I reckon the Zhao Family must have offended someone in the court, which is why they were thrown in prison. Otherwise, why would the court's decree be so vague and not list the specific crimes of the Zhao Family?"
"Nonsense, I heard it was because Consort Zhao was unchaste, causing the Emperor's wrath."
"Do you believe that? If Consort Zhao was truly unchaste, would she still be alive now? I suspect there is an injustice here, but it's a pity for the Zhao Family that not a single civil or military official has spoken up for them."
"Those dog officials, always scheming and framing the loyal and upright..."
Hearing these angry curses, the wine in the two officials' hands suddenly lost its flavor.
The sips they took were filled with bitter unspoken words.
Although they were not extraordinarily upright, they understood right from wrong.
But they were afraid!
They only had one life, and they were afraid of death!
"Brother Xu, do you think if we had originally chosen a different Prince..." The official raised his head, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
If they had supported a different Prince initially, even if that Prince was mediocre, surely he would be better than the current Emperor?
"Sigh..."
"Don't say anymore, there are ears in the walls. Let's keep some things in our hearts."
"It's just that Consort Zhao, she was too... Sigh." The sentence was left unfinished, followed by another helpless sigh.
Imperial power reigned supreme, what could they do?
Even if this Emperor's actions made them disheartened and fearful, they had no choice, for there was no other path left.
As time passed, the day of the small missile test soon arrived.
Hearing the commotion at the training ground, Gu Sang quickly got out of bed and turned on the live stream before rushing down.
This earth-shattering scene had to be shown to Pei Changying.
Indeed.
When he saw him looking displeased, Gu Sang felt relieved! And it would further deepen the people's impression of the power of future weapons, making it easier for the Elder Princess to rebel later on.
"Beep."
"Livestream activated."
"Sister Li, you've come to watch the livestream too? The Emperor recently ordered the Xuyang Palace to be sealed off, fearing that us concubines might reveal our hearts to outsiders and cause chaos in the palace."
"But aren't you here too? After experiencing the good life, aren't you unwilling to be confined to this residence, fighting for favor? If you're to be punished, so be it, it doesn't matter anymore."
"Shh, keep your voice down, everyone in the palace except the Empress has come, no one will report us."
"What is that?!"
The palace concubines were whispering among themselves when suddenly they heard a startled cry.
They looked up at the screen and what they saw were rows of massive objects whizzing by, as large as the palace courtyard. Their strange arrow-like shapes were plump and bulging.
In that split second when they saw the small missiles...
Everyone in the palace, the city, and the plague cities fell silent!