Gu Qianying, clad in a red robe, kicked open the door with Lu Zhu. Two men in green stood outside, impassively waiting with a bloody sack.
"Get out if you don't want to die!"
Gu Qianying's cold eyes swept over the other consorts in the hall, besides Consort Shu, Gu Mingyue.
Her aura was as frigid as ice, her gaze like that of a wrathful Asura. The other consorts, terrified, dared not linger and were helped away by their maids, trembling.
With no one else present, Consort Shu, Gu Mingyue, felt a flicker of fear. But then she recalled how satisfied the Emperor Nan Rongqi had been with her attentions these past few days, and how his favor towards her had grown. With Nan Rongqi as her backing, what was there to fear?
As these thoughts crossed her mind, Gu Mingyue's fear vanished.
"May I ask why Imperial Noble Consort has come to my humble abode?"
Gu Mingyue feigned ignorance of Gu Qianying, as she was now the top courtesan of Xiuyi Pavilion, Yun Qiao'er, and did not recognize Gu Qianying.
"Hmph!"
With a single cold syllable, Gu Qianying didn't even spare Gu Mingyue an extra glance. She turned and ordered Lu Zhu, "Bring those brats up!"
"Yes!"
Lu Zhu gestured outside. The two men in green entered, threw the bloody sack onto the ground. One stepped forward, opened it, and dumped its contents onto the floor.
A pungent smell of blood filled the air. Six bloody heads rolled onto the ground, one after another. Some even had their eyeballs dislodged.
"Ugh!"
Gu Mingyue's face turned instantly pale. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, feeling so nauseated she almost vomited. Her maid, Huan Bi, beside her, weakened and fainted.
"Imperial Noble Consort, what are you doing? Take these things away, quickly, take them away."
Gu Mingyue turned her head, unable to look at the heads scattered on the floor.
"Afraid to look? Second Sister, it's been a while. Your courage is still as small as ever. These people were all found by you. Are you afraid of your own people?"
Gu Qianying's voice was icy.
Gu Mingyue was shocked. How could Gu Qianying recognize her? It was impossible!
But no matter how stunned she was inwardly, she maintained her outward composure. She was still Gu Mingyue.
Gu Qianying was not in a hurry. She walked forward slowly, bent down, picked up a head from the ground, and tossed it directly in front of Gu Mingyue. Her voice was chilling, "Stop pretending, Second Sister. Everyone here is my person now. You can't escape!"
"Hahaha, Gu Qianying, you're actually alive. I never expected it. I thought they had captured you, but it turned out to be that girl Nangong Xuan Ning. It's also that girl's misfortune. No, it should be said that you harmed her. If it weren't for you, how could that girl Xuan Ning have suffered abuse from those eunuchs? Oh, I forgot to tell you, those eunuchs were all strong and healthy, and some were even diseased and rotten. Nangong Xuan Ning was taken care of by them all night, was that very enjoyable?"
Exposed by Gu Qianying, Gu Mingyue could no longer pretend.
*Slap!*
Gu Qianying flashed forward, reaching Gu Mingyue and grabbing her collar. She slapped her.
"You deserve to die!" Gu Qianying looked at Gu Mingyue as if she were already dead.
Sensing the killing intent in Gu Qianying's eyes, Gu Mingyue shoved her away fiercely and turned to flee.
"Guards! Imperial Noble Consort is trying to kill someone! Guards! Imperial Noble Consort is trying to kill me, come quickly!"
She reached the door but retreated. Lu Zhu held a long sword at her, forcing her back until she was cornered. Lu Zhu then sheathed her sword and watched her every move.
She had been shouting for a long time, but no one came. At this moment, Gu Mingyue realized that Gu Qianying truly intended to kill her today.
"Gu Qianying! I am the Emperor's most favored consort. If you dare to harm me today, the Emperor will not spare you!"
Gu Qianying did not respond. Instead, she smiled, "Xiuyi Pavilion's top courtesan, Yun Qiao'er. This new identity is truly excellent, but..." Gu Qianying sat by the table, her slender fingers playing with an empty wine cup, her voice growing colder, "It's just that you probably won't be able to use this new identity anymore, because you... are about to... die!"
Her light tone was as if she were discussing yesterday's weather, but her words were terrifying.
"Gu Qianying, you dare! The Emperor..." Gu Mingyue clenched her handkerchief, glaring fiercely at Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying interrupted her with a light laugh, "Oh, you just said you are the Emperor's most favored consort. But so what? You are destined to die. Oh, as for that Emperor who dotes on you so much, will he blame me for your sake?"
Saying this, Gu Qianying deliberately touched her abdomen, which held no fetus. "Perhaps not, after all, compared to his offspring, you are insignificant!"
She knew exactly what would break Gu Mingyue.
"Ah... Gu Qianying, you wretched woman, you're actually carrying the Emperor's child! How... how can you be so shameless! You..."
Gu Mingyue's voice suddenly rose. She screamed, unable to bear the thought of Gu Qianying carrying royal offspring. At this moment, she completely broke down.
She was the most favored consort by Nan Gongqi's side, and only she was qualified to give birth to Nan Rongqi's eldest son. Her child was the most qualified to be the Crown Prince, the future ruler of Dong Sheng Kingdom.
In her plan, the Empress and the palace maids who slept with the Emperor were not to have any offspring.
Therefore, while studying at Xiuyi Pavilion, she had specifically learned the art of making incense for convenience in the future.
When she was with the Emperor, she used aphrodisiac incense. However, for the consorts she befriended in the palace, including the Empress, she offered them incense containing musk to calm the nerves and aid sleep.
Everything was proceeding according to her plan. But ever since this woman, Gu Qianying, returned, her plans had been thrown into disarray.
And now, this little wretch Gu Qianying was going to have a child before her? No! This was unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable!
Pulling a golden hairpin from her head, Gu Mingyue clutched it and lunged at Gu Qianying without hesitation.
Gu Qianying watched Gu Mingyue charge at her, her gaze cold. She didn't dodge. Just as the sharp golden hairpin was about to strike her—
*Clang!*
A long sword pierced her heart from behind. Gu Mingyue's golden hairpin fell to the ground. She suddenly knelt.
*Pfft!*
As Lu Zhu withdrew the sword from her chest, Gu Mingyue spat out a mouthful of blood.
She struggled to lift her head, looking at Gu Qianying seated in the chair. She actually laughed, "Hahaha, Gu Qianying, you think you'll be fine after killing me? Even if you're carrying the Emperor's child, so what? You're not your father's biological child at all. You were born to your mother and some wild man! A bastard, do you know? Gu Qianying, you're a bastard!"
She roared with all her might, blood flowing from the corners of her mouth as she spoke.
Gu Qianying watched her coldly, seemingly indifferent to the word "bastard."
This reaction greatly disappointed Gu Mingyue, who had hoped to see Gu Qianying's heartbroken expression before her death.
"Lu Zhu, silence her!"
Gu Qianying stood up coldly, walked past Gu Mingyue, and no longer looked at her.
With her last bit of strength, Gu Mingyue turned towards Gu Qianying's retreating back and screamed, "Gu Qianying, don't go! Come back! I'll tell you, you're not only a bastard, but also..."
A sharp sword sliced across her neck, blood gushing out and splashing onto Lu Zhu's face. Gu Mingyue's eyes widened, she mechanically turned her head to look at Lu Zhu, her head then slumped to the ground, and she breathed her last.
Gu Qianying stood outside the door, tilting her head to look at the starry sky. It was a full moon night, the moon was round, and the moonlight was bright.
The wind picked up, blowing her hair. She spread her arms, closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, several fireflies appeared on her fingertips.
Behind her, a raging fire burned.
Lu Zhu and the others walked over.
"Miss, our people just sent word that Princess Xuan Ning woke up and made a fuss for a while before falling asleep again. Should we go back and check on her?"
Gu Qianying flicked the fireflies from her fingertips. She walked down the steps, her voice still cold, "Yes, let's go back."
The two men in green followed behind. Gu Qianying glanced back at them, "You two return to the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall first. Stay out of sight for a while."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
The two men in green departed.
Gu Qianying, with Lu Zhu, returned to Jiuhua Palace.