Gu Jiangli heard everything the emperor said clearly.

She wanted to comfort him and tell him not to be sad, that she would definitely wake up.

But she couldn't do it.

A screen representing the system was always in front of her.

The screen thus lay between her and the emperor.

"Enough, Zizai! I am the owner of this body! I can fall in love whenever I want, what does it have to do with your system?"

【Of course there is a connection.】Zai Zai's voice was no longer as enthusiastic as usual, but rather had a tone of earnest advice.

[You are not Zizai's first host. Zizai previously served a highly capable host. She confidently stated that even if she fell in love, it wouldn't affect the mission's progress.]

But the outcome was not what she had hoped for.

She was deeply in love with the male protagonist of a certain world, but he was destined to die young. After his death, she lost all desire to go to the next world to complete missions.

She was willing to stay in the house she shared with that man, with her children, and refused to leave, even at the cost of her life.

She lived to be eighty-nine years old, and on her deathbed, her last thought was to sever her connection with the system.

She was unwilling to go to other worlds to do missions, nor did she want to return to her original world and fall in love with the men from that world.

She would rather die, she would rather be truly dead.

On the screen in front of Gu Jiangli, rows of text were flashing rapidly, and Zizai's somewhat lonely yet anxious voice rushed into her ears.

Before she could speak, another line of text appeared on the screen:

The system went to great lengths to select you, with your exceptional abilities, from among thousands of people. Why would you follow in her footsteps?

In this world, you must give up something to gain something. You may have lost love, but you can gain a long life and countless riches. Isn't that good enough?

Zizai's words were somewhat tempting.

Isn't this good?

Her life was already the envy of many.

She already has a lot, both in terms of wealth and fame.

Even if she were to retire from the entertainment industry and become an ordinary person, her wealth would be enough to ensure her a comfortable life for three lifetimes, and the works she left behind would be enough to inspire admiration for others for decades to come.

If she completes the task well, she can wake up from her stroke and enjoy everything she has gained.

The only condition is that she has to treat it like a job, wearing different masks and acting out different roles to face different people.

Yes, honey, you're still able to understand.

The system also saw through her thoughts and offered words of encouragement.

[As long as you can confirm that you will withdraw your feelings for the emperor and focus on completing the mission, the system can let you go back.]

You can continue to accompany the emperor for the rest of your life, just as before.

As you yourself said, you can pretend to love him. As long as you use this fake love to deceive him for a lifetime, then to him, you will truly love him.

The text on the screen jumped up and down rapidly.

Zizai's voice also became joyful.

Gu Jiangli's gaze was fixed on the emperor through the glowing screen.

A warm tear fell onto the back of her hand.

These are the emperor's tears.

Thus, Gu Jiangli became even more determined.

“No, Zai Zai.” She firmly rejected Zai Zai’s suggestion. “I don’t want to pretend to love him. I have to really love him.”

【No...】

Zizai only said one word, and for the first time, an ellipsis appeared on the screen indicating that Huawei had finished speaking.

Gu Jiangli saw her body unconsciously spit out another mouthful of bright red blood.

The emperor was at a loss and tried to stop the bleeding, but there was nothing he could do.

"Li'er...Li'er...no..."

The emperor was truly panicked; it was the first time Gu Jiangli had ever seen such fear and dread on the emperor's face.

He kept calling out his own name and wiping the blood off her face with his hands.

Panic made him tremble uncontrollably.

The voice calling her was hoarse and choked with sobs.

Gu Jiangli also began to feel a little flustered.

Could it be that her decisive remark caused the system to completely cut off her chance of survival?

The Empress Dowager, perhaps having heard the commotion, returned to the room with the imperial physician.

The Empress Dowager first pulled the Emperor away from Gu Jiangli, and then had the imperial physicians examine Gu Jiangli again.

The emperor pulled his hand away from Gu Jiangli and began to struggle frantically.

"Release me! Mother! Release me!" The Empress Dowager couldn't subdue him alone, so she brought over several guards to restrain him.

The Empress Dowager wept bitterly and stubbornly pulled the Emperor away.

At this moment, the imperial physicians turned around one by one and shook their heads helplessly in the direction of the Empress Dowager.

From the imperial physician's expression, the Empress Dowager discerned the meaning behind it.

They had done their best, but Consort Gu was gone.

The emperor's anger intensified upon seeing the imperial physician's actions.

"What do you mean! Why are you shaking your heads!"

Despite her tears, the Empress Dowager bravely addressed the Emperor:

"Your Majesty, Consort Gu has already departed..."

"She didn't!" the emperor shouted sternly.

"Your Majesty! I understand your heartache! But Consort Gu would not want to see you in this irrational state!"

"I know better than anyone what kind of person Li'er wants to see me! If you don't let go, I'll chop off your heads!"

The guards, still cowering, released the emperor.

The emperor took two long strides and ran to Gu Jiangli's bedside.

He knelt on the ground, his expression filled with sorrow, "No...she won't leave, Li'er won't leave..."

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