The iron cage shook precariously. With a bang, it was violently broken open by three beasts, and the three creatures rushed out.
Roars, fury, and madness were all reflected in the green eyes of the three beasts.
"Ah!"
Screams followed. Everyone in the hall was terrified. The servants kneeling on the ground, disregarding propriety, scrambled up and fled desperately out of the hall.
The Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Meng, and Consort Shu Gu Mingyue, who were seated in the main position, were also greatly frightened. The three of them wanted to flee, but one of the beasts was already approaching them, blocking their path. They had nowhere to go.
"Guards, quickly kill these terrifying beasts! Quickly, someone!"
The Grand Empress Dowager was scared. The palace maids and nannies serving her had already fled.
The guards and eunuchs who had promised to protect her had long since vanished, none willing to court death by staying.
Seeing the crazed beast about to pounce, she unthinkingly pushed Empress Meng, who was right beside her, forward.
Empress Meng looked on in disbelief, accompanied by fear and screams. She stumbled and fell before the beast. The beast, with great interest, licked her face with its saliva-dripping tongue. Terrified, she tilted her head and fainted.
At this moment, of the three beasts, another was attacking Ouyang Qinglin. Seeing him in dark red robes, he was the most delectable "food" at present.
The other beast was greedily eyeing Nangong Xuanning, who stood frozen in fear, unsure how to escape. As its claws extended forward, about to tear Nangong Xuanning's dress, a figure suddenly rushed over.
Swish, swish!
Two silver needles shot directly at the beast's eyes, blinding it. The beast became frantic, roaring and spinning in place, losing its sense of direction and unable to see where its "food" stood.
The silver needles that pierced its eyes were coated with a potent poison. The beast, spinning in place, eventually stumbled and fell to the ground, its life extinguished.
"Come with me, let's get out first."
Gu Qianying supported Nangong Xuanning, who had been scared into a daze, and walked towards the exit.
In the chaos, Nangong Zhen'er, who had not been harmed by the beasts, quietly approached. A short dagger, sharp enough to slice iron, was revealed from beneath her sleeve. She gripped it and fiercely stabbed Gu Qianying's back.
Ouyang Qinglin, who had just punched a crazed beast to death, turned and suddenly noticed Nangong Zhen'er's subtle movement behind Gu Qianying.
"Little thing, be careful!"
He flashed forward. Without regard for stopping Nangong Zhen'er from attacking Gu Qianying, he unthinkingly used his own back to block the dagger aimed at Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying felt a weight on her back and saw a pair of hands holding her – they were Ouyang Qinglin's. She frowned. As she pried Ouyang Qinglin's hands away, she turned and saw Nangong Zhen'er standing behind Ouyang Qinglin, with a short dagger lodged in his back, blood seeping out.
Gu Qianying's gaze deepened. She kicked Nangong Zhen'er hard, sending her flying against the wall. Nangong Zhen'er spat blood and her head lolled as she fainted.
With her profound internal energy protecting her, she could sense anyone approaching. However, in the panic, she had only focused on Nangong Xuanning and had overlooked Nangong Zhen'er's approach. It was her carelessness.
However, with that kick, she had used her internal energy. Nangong Zhen'er would be severely injured, if not killed.
"Are you alright?"
Gu Qianying pulled out the dagger from Ouyang Qinglin's back and treated the bleeding wound before looking at him and asking.
A mere scratch was nothing to Ouyang Qinglin, but he smirked and said to Gu Qianying, "Little thing, I've been injured for you. How will you repay me?"
Gu Qianying ignored him, instead looking at the only remaining live beast. She replied curtly to Ouyang Qinglin, "How about I treat you to poison?"
Ouyang Qinglin: "..."
For Gu Qianying, she and Ouyang Qinglin were considered friends who had faced life and death together.
Ouyang Qinglin had saved her, and she was grateful. If she could, she would save Ouyang Qinglin without hesitation in times of crisis!
Nangong Xuanning, following behind Gu Qianying, awkwardly said during their silence, "I think your method of repaying kindness is excellent."
Gu Qianying smiled.
Ouyang Qinglin shot Nangong Xuanning a cold glance.
Nangong Xuanning hid behind Gu Qianying, peeking out half her head, "I understand Gu Qianying very well. Gu Qianying only has my Ninth Imperial Uncle in her heart, not you. So, repaying kindness by offering herself is impossible, hmph!"
At this moment, Nangong Xuanning was unaware of Nangong Mo's current situation and simply disliked Ouyang Qinglin clinging to Gu Qianying.
When the name "Nangong Mo" was mentioned, Gu Qianying's body stiffened, and her heart felt as if it were being pricked by needles.
Ouyang Qinglin's gaze deepened, and he remained silent.
Not far away,
The only remaining beast now had its eyes solely fixed on Meng Shi as "food."
Its green eyes gleamed with greed.
Bowing its head to gnaw, it started from the head. A large clump of Meng Shi's hair was ripped out by the beast. She was unconscious and felt no pain. As the beast began to gnaw at Meng Shi's skull, swish, a short dagger pierced the beast's skull swiftly and accurately. Gu Qianying, holding the dagger, pressed down hard. The beast had no time to resist, falling heavily to the ground. Blood from its skull splattered everywhere.
Gu Qianying glanced down at the slowly waking Meng Shi, said nothing, and stepped over her, intending to leave with Nangong Xuanning.
"Wait!"
With the threat of the beasts gone, the Grand Empress Dowager regained her usual arrogance. Consort Shu attended to her as she resumed her seat.
"Today, Imperial Consort Gui came to my palace and turned everything upside down, nearly having me injured by three crazed beasts. Imperial Consort Gui, how should I deal with you?"
The Grand Empress Dowager stopped Gu Qianying and spoke coldly.
The three dead beasts in the hall were carried out by several eunuchs. After the hall was cleaned by some palace maids and old nannies, Nangong Zhen'er, who had fainted, was carried back to her own chambers under the Grand Empress Dowager's orders. She returned and stood beside the Grand Empress Dowager, attending to her.
"Your Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager, please see clearly. Imperial Consort Gui also made a contribution by killing the beasts just now. However, ultimately, everything started because of her. If Your Majesty wishes to punish Imperial Consort Gui, in my humble opinion, I think it would be excellent to send Imperial Consort Gui to the Jiaofang Si to properly learn some manners."
Consort Shu suggested, employing a strategy of "advancing by retreating."
The Jiaofang Si was a place for training dancers and musicians. Going there to learn manners would naturally lower one's status and be a humiliating matter.
"Hmm, that is also good. Learning manners there will allow her to serve His Majesty with peace of mind in the future."
The Grand Empress Dowager agreed with Consort Shu's suggestion.
However, Gu Qianying was too lazy to pay attention to their synchronized "performance."
Her people had been rescued, and her objective had been achieved. There was no point in staying any longer.
As she was leaving, Gu Qianying noticed Consort Shu's wrist with the mole. Although it was faintly visible under her sleeve, she quickly caught sight of it and recognized Consort Shu at that moment.
She glanced back at Consort Shu, a meaningful smile appearing in her eyes.
Gu Mingyue had not died; this was something she had never expected!
However, since she was not dead, the hatred between her and Gu Mingyue would continue, to the death!
Watching Gu Qianying leave with her people and the injured Ouyang Qinglin as if nothing had happened, the Grand Empress Dowager was so angry that she smashed all the jade butterflies on the table!
"That little slut Gu Qianying, how dare she disrespect me like this? She deserves to die!"
"Your Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager, please do not be angry or anxious. I have a good idea if you wish to deal with Gu Qianying," Consort Shu suggested.