Su Yuxi repeated this sentence over and over. Gu Qianying already knew how dangerous it was, but she still wanted to understand everything before figuring out a solution.
She took a deep breath and moved her hands over Su Yuxi's acupoints, intending to soothe her fear.
After some manipulation, Su Yuxi finally regained her composure.
"We're finished. Actually, I think I've figured out who that woman is."
Her voice grew softer as Gu Qianying pulled her onto the bed.
"Who?"
Gu Qianying looked intently into Su Yuxi's eyes, and Su Yuxi revealed her discovery.
"Although the place where I knelt was obscured by a screen, I was still quite close to that mysterious woman. When the maid lifted the curtain and the suspended silk, I smelled a familiar fragrance. I had the good fortune to smell it once when my father brought me into the palace years ago."
Not many people in the palace possessed such fragrances. Even Su Qingqing, who held a high official position, only used heavily scented spices in her residence.
For Su Yuxi to have smelled and identified it meant that the spice on the mysterious woman was not used sparingly.
Gu Qianying listened attentively, gesturing for her to continue.
Seeing that Gu Qianying understood her meaning, Su Yuxi went on.
"At that time, I saw the Empress herself. Because the scent was fragrant but not cloying, a slight trace on one's person could leave a lasting aroma, which is why I remember it so vividly."
As she spoke, she asked Gu Qianying to carefully smell her sleeve to see if there was a faint scent.
Upon inspection, there indeed was.
"So I suspect that the mysterious woman behind the screen is none other than the Empress."
However, Gu Qianying was not surprised by this revelation.
Observing the respect Su Taishi showed towards the person inside, she had already guessed as much. But what difference did it make?
Gu Qianying couldn't understand why Su Yuxi was reacting this way, even if the Empress was pregnant, which was normal.
"I truly don't understand. Even if the woman behind the screen is indeed the Empress, why would she conceal her pregnancy so secretively?"
Seeing Gu Qianying's confusion, Su Yuxi sighed and explained the reason.
"Actually, in our Nan Yi Kingdom, to become Empress, one must maintain a state of virgin purity. If the virginity mark is broken, or if one becomes pregnant, they are disqualified from holding that position."
This rule was quite peculiar, and this time it was Gu Qianying who was astonished.
"Therefore, we are certainly not going to survive this. You and I know such a huge secret about the Empress. I imagine that even if we successfully help her deliver the child, we will ultimately be silenced."
At this point, Su Yuxi couldn't help but shiver.
She was truly afraid that her life would be lost here.
Gu Qianying pondered. Although the Nan Yi Kingdom had many unbelievable rules, since the Empress had broken the ancestral teachings first, it meant that there was still room for change.
With this thought, Gu Qianying comforted Su Yuxi.
"You don't need to worry so much. I have a way to help you leave here safely."
As she spoke, Su Yuxi's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really? Do you truly have a way?" She excitedly grabbed Gu Qianying's hand.
"Yes, but if you want to leave here, you cannot participate in the competition. Moreover, you will lose more: the identity of Miss Su, the surname Su, you cannot show your face, nor can you return to your home. Are you willing?"
Their current predicament was no small matter. If she was going to help Su Yuxi, she had to devise a foolproof plan.
Considering what she would lose versus her own life, Su Yuxi hesitated before nodding.
"Although we have competed for so long, it seems I have never truly won. I am at peace with it now. This time, I believe you."
Seeing that Su Yuxi had made up her mind, Gu Qianying clasped her hand again.
"As long as you follow my instructions, you will be able to escape safely."
In fact, ever since Aunt Wang had appeared, Gu Qianying had a vague sense that something was amiss. Therefore, even in the palace, she had not completely sealed off her escape routes.
"As long as you can save me, I will do anything you ask. After we get out, I will certainly remember your life-saving grace."
Su Yuxi no longer cared about honor or glory.
She had always been someone who saw things clearly and thought things through. If her life were lost, what use would those ephemeral things be?
"I don't need you to remember any favors or repay me. If there's a chance, take good care of Su Cheng."
Although she didn't understand the deeper meaning of her words, she had already left the Su family. How would she have a chance to see him?
But she understood that this woman always acted in ways that were difficult to fathom. Now, facing a life-or-death situation, she didn't want to speculate any further.
Whatever Gu Qianying wanted, she would do.
However, thinking of Su Cheng, she looked at Gu Qianying more closely.
She must like Su Cheng, otherwise, why would she specifically ask her to take good care of him?
With this thought, a smile crept onto her lips.
If there was indeed mutual affection, once they were both safely out of the palace, she would definitely play matchmaker and help this pair get together.
With both of them focused on the same goal, planning their escape, Gu Qianying quietly shared her plan with Su Yuxi.
They discussed for a long time, and when dusk began to settle, it was time to act.
Dinner had not yet begun, and the guards outside were all attentive.
They had heard that Gu Qianying possessed some martial skills. Although they didn't know the specifics of why these two were imprisoned, they would certainly obey the Grand Tutor's orders.
"Do you think these two women can really cause trouble?" the guards would chat idly when bored.
"Just guard your post properly. The Grand Tutor strictly ordered us not to slack off. Whether she can cause trouble or not, as long as we do as ordered, we won't make mistakes."
Just as one finished speaking, a commotion erupted from inside.
"They're really restless. I heard before that these two are the finalists in the physician assessment, and they are rivals. It's inevitable that there will be conflict when they're locked up together."
These sounds did not attract the attention of those outside. The guards simply thought it was a quarrel between women who had a disagreement.
However, as the shouting inside subsided, it was followed by the sounds of clashing and breaking.
Both women possessed martial skills, and a sense of unease suddenly arose in the guards.
"Will something happen if they keep fighting like this?" one of them asked. The guards standing by the door immediately felt that something was wrong and abruptly pushed open the door.
And at the very moment the female guard opened the door, the two women inside were engaged in a fierce fight.
Miss Su was adept at using a whip, but their weapons had been confiscated upon arrival. So now, she used a bed curtain rolled into a strip as a weapon.
Miss Gu was even more resourceful, actually using tables and chairs as weapons.
The two were truly fighting with all their might.