"Miss Gu, they have set traps here, intending to lure us out. But if we go out, there will surely be an ambush waiting for us. It was my oversight that led to this predicament, causing you to be implicated."
Su Xuanlin felt immense guilt at this moment.
In their current situation, advancing meant facing obstruction, and retreating meant facing the Grand Tutor's men. Even if they waited until dawn, the enemy would still be able to see and deal with them.
This was a dead end, and he understood it all too well.
"What are you saying? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to rush out. Perhaps you might have escaped smoothly later on."
Gu Qianying also understood their predicament but showed no resentment.
With her words, Su Xuanlin was already satisfied.
"Miss Gu, betrayal was inevitable for us. Even without you, we would have merely suffered for a while longer before being sold out and killed."
He understood everything. This was no one's fault but the country's system, which could not tolerate men, nor could it tolerate the Su family.
The two stopped blaming each other. Although the others couldn't fully grasp the situation, they could understand the words.
In the silence, one of them spoke up.
"Since it's come to this, why don't we charge out and face them head-on? Instead of waiting to die, let's try one last time. If we die, at least we'll die gloriously."
Hearing this, Su Xuanlin found his answer.
"Alright, Miss Gu, rest assured. Even if all of us sacrifice our lives, we will ensure you are sent out safely."
With that, he directed the remaining men to light torches and lead the way.
Knowing they were ambushed, they no longer cared about the light attracting enemies.
The bamboo forest was long. Walking cautiously, they finally reached dawn.
"Haha, you finally came out. What, nowhere left to run?"
As the group stepped out of the bamboo forest, the people waiting outside no longer concealed themselves. The guard captain, arms crossed over his chest, showed no concern for them.
Seeing the black-clad figures and armor appearing one by one, Gu Qianying drew her soft sword from her waist.
There was no point in negotiation now. Su Xuanlin and the few who escaped grabbed usable bamboo stalks and branches nearby.
Regardless of their abilities, they would charge forward to create a sliver of hope for Miss Gu.
Looking at the men behind her, they were already battered and bruised, yet they had never given up hope. Even if they couldn't walk out standing, they wanted to leave the last glimmer of hope for her.
Gu Qianying took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the sword hilt.
At the guard captain's command, the hidden guards charged forward.
These were all trained masters. Not to mention the battered men like Su Xuanlin, even someone with Gu Qianying's skills would struggle to fend them off for long.
Watching the Su family men fall before her, Gu Qianying's sword strokes became more forceful.
But the disparity was like moths to a flame. Before long, her front was littered with corpses.
These men had used their own bodies to shield Gu Qianying from the attacking swords.
"Miss Gu, this is the only thing we can do. We only hope that if you manage to escape safely, you can change this country's system, so that the men of Nan Yi Kingdom do not have to live so lowly."
At this moment, Su Xuanlin suddenly spoke these words. When Gu Qianying turned to look at him, a sword was piercing his chest, yet he tightly held the hidden guard who was trying to assassinate Gu Qianying.
Only she remained from those who had escaped with them. Gu Qianying looked at Su Xuanlin's expectant face, and tears finally streamed down her cheeks.
She immediately unleashed a powerful internal force, shattering the surrounding bamboo. As the bamboo flew, the approaching hidden guards were either wounded or killed.
Taking advantage of the momentary retreat of the enemy, Gu Qianying stepped forward and caught the falling Su Xuanlin.
"I promise you, as long as I escape, I will overthrow this damned system and prevent Nan Yi Kingdom from suffering such hardship again."
With such an empress, even if it wasn't a matriarchal society, the other commoners would not fare any better.
Hearing her solemn promise, Su Xuanlin's face broke into a radiant smile.
He watched the rising sun and slowly closed his eyes.
Finally, he would suffer no more.
The person in her arms was lifeless. The bamboo forest, bathed in the warm sun, seemed glaringly bright with the spilled blood.
Gu Qianying laid him down, paid her respects to those who had sacrificed themselves to cover her, and then pointed her sword towards the people outside.
Since she could not hide, she would fight them to the death.
The sound of swords clashing echoed through the bamboo forest, and the scent of blood splattered into the air.
Gu Qianying resisted with all her might. Her eyes were fixed on the Su family members who had died for her.
Their lives had been filled with hardship, yet they still yearned for a better future.
Despite such torment, they remained determined to change the country's system rather than seek revenge.
These people should not have died; it was people like the Grand Tutor and the Empress who should have died.
These thoughts filled Gu Qianying's mind as she struggled against every incoming sword and blade.
However, having not eaten for days, her resolve began to waver, and she collapsed to the side.
"It seems I am to die here today, but do not think you will succeed. The Empress and the Grand Tutor's dealings will be exposed sooner or later."
Gu Qianying supported herself with one hand on the ground, preparing for the final blow.
"Who's there?"
Just as the advancing hidden guards were about to strike, the guard captain's startled cry came from beyond the bamboo forest.
Immediately, two figures, one in red and one in black, appeared in their midst.
The man in red rushed towards the guard captain, while the man in black leaped to Gu Qianying's side.
"I'm sorry, I'm late."
The same polite words, the same familiar faces. Gu Qianying looked at the approaching pair and couldn't help but smile.
"Not late. Fortunately, you are here."
With that, she could no longer hold on and collapsed into the man's arms.
"Brother Ouyang, I'll handle the outside. I'll take care of these people here."
Su Cheng looked at Gu Qianying, who had fainted from exhaustion, and his heart ached. He didn't want this woman to be hurt, not for anyone's sake, but he always wished for her safety.
The sounds of fighting resumed in the forest. Gu Qianying could no longer hear them, but upon seeing Ouyang Qinglin and Su Cheng, she felt at ease.
With the two of them here, she knew she could escape safely.
Darkness swept over her. When she woke again, the sky outside had already darkened.