ushernet Chapter 74: Hearts in Turmoil, Emperor in Fear and Panic
Chapter 74: Hearts in Turmoil, Emperor in Fear and Panic
Chapter 74
Angry cries gradually arose from the crowd, demanding the imperial court provide an explanation.
Pei Changying stood grimly on the high city wall.
He watched the increasingly unruly citizens, hearing their ignorant and selfish insults word by word, the veins on the back of his hand protruding as he trembled with rage.
Meanwhile, Gu Sang, who had witnessed Consort Zhao's leap from the city walls, felt her throat go dry, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
Consort Zhao.
You succeeded.
We succeeded too.
But why does my chest ache so much?
"Sang Sang, what happened? Tell me, don't scare me." Lu Mufei turned to see Gu Sang's face suddenly streaked with tears.
He could not hear Gu Sang's conversation with the ancients, as the system automatically blocked outsiders' sight and hearing.
So Lu Mufei had no idea what Gu Sang had experienced.
He crouched beside her in confusion and alarm, gazing at her carefully.
"I'm fine, I'm just too moved."
"The butterfly that was once caged for the emperor's amusement."
"Has now transformed...burned its life away, dazzling for a moment, filling me with pride." Gu Sang had the system turn off the live broadcast, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and forced a strained smile.
The people's hearts were in turmoil.
The citizens were crying out in grievance.
For now, Pei Changying would not send troops to attack the Elder Princess again.
As time passed, the imperial court would wait for the storm to settle, then find a reasonable excuse to pacify the people's hearts, but the shattered cup could never be made whole again.
Consort Zhao's death was like a stone dropped into a lake.
At first, it would cause a hundred-foot splash, earth-shattering.
But soon, it would sink to the bottom, unable to even create a ripple.
Though small, this stone would become an immovable, inextricable foundation, and in the future, countless sacrificial stones would fill the entire lake!
*Ding!*
"Consort Zhao sacrificed her life righteously, earning 810,000+ merit points, awakening over one million people."
"Special condition unlocked! According to the Host's wish, 100,000 merit points can be deducted to grant Consort Zhao a chance at reincarnation in a future life. Deduct merit points?"
Gu Sang gazed at Consort Zhao earnestly. "If you were given a chance to reincarnate in the future world, would you want that?"
"I would! I would!"
"Sister Sang, I want to, but can someone like me really go to the future world?"
Gu Sang gave her an affirmative answer: "Of course."
"Thank you, Sister Sang, I'm so happy! With gender equality, I'll never again have to depend on a man's favor to survive. I can rely on myself!"
"Can I stay a little longer before I go? I want to see my family one last time before I leave."
Consort Zhao gazed at Gu Sang eagerly, her eyes filled with hope and light.
She would finally, finally go to that wonderful world, even if she was born into an ordinary family. She would be content!
She would rely on her own hands to support herself!
After receiving the system's reply, Gu Sang nodded in agreement.
It wasn't until the connection closed that Consort Zhao looked down from the city walls at the citizens stirred into unrest by her death.
And at the emperor, whose face had darkened when the outcome slipped from his control.
"Consort Zhao, you wretched woman!"
"How dare you defy me again and again, daring to speak such seditious words before the entire city? I shall have you torn apart by five horses!"
Pei Changying glared viciously at the mangled corpse.
Not a shred of pity filled his heart, only malice.
He turned and ordered the cowering soldiers, "Take Consort Zhao's corpse back. I will not let her find peace even in death!"
"I shall place her body beneath a Buddha statue every day, never allowing her to be reborn!"
"And you, you vile woman, if not for your incorrect message that led to Consort Zhao's... I could kill you now to vent my rage!" *Slap!*
The sound of a heavy slap rang out.
Consort Li, struck with all of Pei Changying's force, fell to the ground, her expression blank as she cradled her reddened, swollen cheek, everything going dark before her eyes.
Indeed.
If it weren't for the wavering of the people's hearts and the commoners' cries of injustice, perhaps Consort Li would have already been ordered by Pei Changying to be beaten to death?
A woman who could only rely on her husband, would she ultimately not meet a good end?
Gu Sang, who had supported him in ascending to the throne, died a tragic death in the deep palace, while Consort Zhao, who obeyed her every word, threw herself down from the city walls!
Suddenly!
A thought that she could not suppress flashed through Consort Li's mind, and she suddenly felt unwilling to be confined in the deep palace, wasting her life away...