Outside, numerous Imperial Guards surrounded them.
Nangong Cong, clad in a luxurious brocade robe, accompanied by a eunuch and the commander of the Imperial Guards, General Wang, slowly approached.
"Gu Qianying, I know you are inside. Do you think you can leave here alive today? Hahaha..."
Nangong Cong's triumphant voice echoed.
Gu Qianying frowned.
Madam Meng's face turned pale. Upon hearing Nangong Cong's voice, the young emperor, terrified, quickly hid in Madam Meng's embrace.
"I'm sorry, Qianying. I've harmed you."
Madam Meng looked at Gu Qianying, tears streaming down her face.
Gu Qianying turned to look at Madam Meng and the young emperor. "You..."
She reached out and grabbed Madam Meng's wrist, lifting her sleeve.
Where smooth, fair skin should have been, there were now raw wounds, as if gnawed by insects.
Gu Qianying's gaze deepened. She released Madam Meng's wrist and then rolled up the young emperor's sleeve.
The wounds on the young emperor's arm were just as shocking as those on Madam Meng's, exposing bone.
Seeing this, Gu Qianying clenched her fist. "Damn scoundrel! Nangong Cong used the Corpse-Eating Gu on you! He deserves to die!"
"I'm sorry, Qianying. It's all my fault. I couldn't hold on... I betrayed you."
Madam Meng cried, apologizing to Gu Qianying.
The young emperor, hiding in her embrace, walked over and tugged at Gu Qianying's sleeve. "Godmother, it's not Mother Consort's fault. It was me. I revealed Godmother's name. Mother Consort didn't say anything. It was me, I couldn't bear the pain. Godmother, I'm sorry. It's all Si'er's fault."
"No... Qianying, it's not Si'er's fault, it's me..."
Madam Meng shook her head, crying.
Seeing the two of them trying to take the blame for each other, Gu Qianying sighed. She squatted down and stroked the young emperor's head. "Alright, Godmother doesn't blame you. Godmother knows that the Corpse-Eating Gu is incredibly painful, and not everyone can endure such pain.
"Godmother isn't afraid of her identity being exposed. It's just a matter of us fighting our way out. Godmother is only heartbroken that you and your mother have suffered the pain of being eaten by insects."
"Does Godmother really not blame Si'er?"
The young emperor looked up at Gu Qianying, his small head tilted. He seemed eager for Gu Qianying to tell him her thoughts.
"Godmother said she doesn't blame you. Is Si'er still in pain?"
Gu Qianying kissed the young emperor's forehead. She could understand that her identity was likely revealed because Si'er couldn't bear the pain of being eaten by insects. As for Madam Meng, it was impossible. She believed Madam Meng would not betray her.
"Qianying... Threaten me, and I'll take you out."
Madam Meng grabbed Gu Qianying's hand and lifted it, prompting Gu Qianying to put her hand around her neck.
"There are Imperial Guards everywhere. If you charge out like this, you'll get hurt. Qianying, I don't want you to save us anymore. I just want you to get out alive."
Madam Meng gave up the idea of escaping. Gu Qianying was being besieged by the Imperial Guards outside because she was trying to save them. They had harmed her. Madam Meng felt guilty.
"Don't be foolish. Do you think Nangong Cong will let me go even if I pretend to threaten you?"
Gu Qianying shook off Madam Meng's hand.
"Qianying, no matter what, I am the Empress Dowager. I will use my life to exchange for yours."
Madam Meng took a dagger from her sleeve. This dagger was left for her by Gu Qianying the last time she left, for self-defense.
"What are you doing?"
Gu Qianying snatched the dagger from Madam Meng's hand, her eyes filled with anger.
Seeing her like this, Madam Meng cried again. "This won't do, that won't do. What should we do? Qianying, I can't harm you."
Madam Meng grabbed Gu Qianying's arm. "Qianying, tell me what I need to do to keep you safe. I'll do anything to protect you. We, mother and son, can't owe you anymore."
Madam Meng's mind was in turmoil, and she had lost her composure.
Gu Qianying took a deep breath. She released Madam Meng and used her fingertip to wipe the tears from Madam Meng's cheeks. "Alright, alright. Be quiet and listen to me."
"Today, Nangong Cong's target is me. He wants my life. It has nothing to do with you. Even if I pretend to threaten you, Nangong Cong won't spare me."
"Saving you was my own wish. Even if I leave my life here today, I will never regret it. You are my old friend, and Si'er is my godson. How could I stand by and watch you be tormented and controlled by Nangong Cong?"
"Qianying..."
Madam Meng cried even harder. The young emperor also hugged Gu Qianying.
"Then what should we do next?"
Madam Meng sniffled.
"Since our identities have been exposed, there's no need to hide anymore."
Gu Qianying flicked her sleeve, and the white robe she was wearing flew up and fell to the ground, revealing the red robe underneath. She raised her slender fingers and removed the human-skin mask from her face.
Gu Qianying opened the palace doors and, with Madam Meng and the young emperor, walked out boldly.
The sunlight was strong today. Dressed in red, she stood in the sunlight, exuding a powerful aura.
"Prince Guo, your methods are truly ruthless. You don't even spare a child."
Gu Qianying faced the crowd, looking at the numerous Imperial Guards without a hint of fear.
"Ha..."
Hearing this, Nangong Cong laughed. "Miss Gu, if the young emperor hadn't informed me that you are his godmother, I wouldn't have known you were the 'Duan Xifeng' who entered the palace with Luo Muchen that day."
As he spoke, Nangong Cong glanced at Madam Meng and the young emperor. "It seems you've already cured the Gu poison on them. However... I gave them the Corpse-Eating Gu. With the insects consuming them, their flesh and skin are already gone. They don't have many days left to live. Gu Qianying, is it worth it for you to save these two people who are about to die?"
Gu Qianying looked coldly at Nangong Cong. "It seems that both inside and outside the palace are your people. Prince Guo is quite capable." Only by completely controlling everyone in the palace could he speak so brazenly about using the Corpse-Eating Gu on Madam Meng and the young emperor.
"Ha, everything here rightfully belongs to me. Now, for me to possess this place is the will of heaven, the path of destiny."
"However... I also know that to peacefully occupy the throne, one person must be killed under heaven, and that person is you, the demonic empress, the sect leader of Juesha Gate, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, the former Ninth Princess Consort, Gu Qianying!"
With a flick of his sleeve, she drew the Crimson Blood Saber. Gu Qianying closed her eyes, channeled her energy, and unsealed the demonic power she had sealed within herself. When she opened her eyes, her red pupils flared, and a black mist swirled around her.
The surrounding Imperial Guards were all greatly alarmed.
"Kill me? Heh! Prince Guo... the word 'overestimating oneself' suits you best."
Gu Qianying flung the Crimson Blood Saber, sending it flying far away. Wherever the blade touched, blood spread. Several Imperial Guards fell instantly, some clutching their bleeding necks, their eyes filled with fear as they died. The other Imperial Guards, seeing their comrades fall so quickly, took a step back in fear.
Nangong Cong looked at the fallen Imperial Guards with a smile. "Your name as the demonic empress truly suits you. Sect Leader Gu is indeed formidable!"
Gu Qianying looked at Nangong Cong without speaking. She suspected that Nangong Cong wouldn't be so unprepared.
"However, I have also heard that Sect Leader Gu is a person of great loyalty. I wonder, if Sect Leader Gu saw your old associates, would you still hold your sword?"
With that, Nangong Cong turned and ordered the people behind him, "Go, bring everyone to me."
A moment later, Prince Guo's men escorted several people forward. Seeing the bound individuals being pushed forward, Gu Qianying's gaze turned even colder...