Sima Rui felt something sharp pressed against his groin. Gan Qiongying, in order to hold Sima Rui in place so that he wouldn't be kicked, hugged his injured leg and pressed her fingers into the wound without any politeness.

Even though the bandages on his legs allow him to stand up and walk like a normal person, an injury is still an injury, and scratching it hard will cause bleeding.

Sima Rui hissed in pain.

He angrily looked down at Gan Qiongying, reached out and pressed his hand on her head, as if he wanted to crush her skull.

However, his fatal flaw was under someone else's control, so Sima Rui dared not make any rash moves.

Moreover, Sima Rui really couldn't do anything to Gan Qiongying, because Gan Qiongying was the only thing holding the puppet emperor in the palace back.

That young emperor would even drink poison as water for her sake. If anything happens to Gan Qiongying, even if that emperor can't cause any trouble, he will definitely fight to the death.

No matter how powerful the Empress Dowager Kou family was, or how much power the Regent held, their authority was ultimately illegitimate.

With no heir, the imperial clan members were difficult to control. They needed an obedient puppet to manipulate in order to slowly plot other things.

Gan Lin was undoubtedly the best choice. He was weak and incompetent, and the only piece of armor he wore that was connected to his own life was the armor that protected Gan Qiongying's life.

And isn't Gan Qiongying the same?

Her only Achilles' heel now is Gan Lin. It is for Gan Lin that she will not hesitate to step into the Regent's trap, and that is why she is now doing what Princess Duanrong once did, resorting to any means necessary.

Gan Qiongying was not only influenced by Princess Duanrong.

The last time she entered the palace, she was almost fooled by that old witch. At least the bowl of nourishing soup that she almost drank was poisoned by Gan Lin.

Gan Qiongying lived two lives, and no one had ever poisoned her.

Gan Lin suffered a stroke in front of her, trembling and drenched in cold sweat. She ordered her not to enter the palace without her summons. To protect her life, she refused to even see her. This protectiveness was the reason why Gan Qiongying promised Princess Duanrong that she would definitely protect Gan Lin.

Inside and outside the palace, the two people had clearly only met once, and were clearly just "siblings" who had come together halfway through their lives.

At this moment, it seems as if we are being pulled by an invisible thread, groping our way along a difficult path, but no matter which direction we go, we will eventually arrive at the same destination.

Seeing this, Sima Rui's guards drew their knives and were about to come to his aid, but Sima Rui immediately raised his hand to stop them.

Because Gan Qiongying used real force, Sima Rui could already feel the pain. He had no doubt that Gan Qiongying really dared to stab him in.

Just like that night when she was shrouded in blazing fire, fearless as she shot arrows at him.

However, Gan Qiongying's method avoided being too despicable. Everyone in the room was a man, and when they saw the Regent's manhood being pressed against them, they all felt a chill in their groin.

She's a princess, how could she do this!

Sima Rui stopped his men from moving. Although Chen Wa was also intimidated by Gan Qiongying, he quickly realized that his men had the upper hand and no longer needed to hesitate. He immediately led his men into the house.

However, while Sima Rui's men dared not touch Princess Duanrong, they couldn't possibly not touch Chen Wa either. Chen Wa was quickly surrounded, after all, he had only a limited number of men with him.

He even sent two people to fetch reinforcements, but it would be difficult to gather them in such a short time.

“Princess…” Chen Wa looked at Gan Qiongying. He couldn’t save her. To have a woman like her do such a thing, Chen Wa wished he could commit suicide to atone for his sins.

Gan Qiongying didn't care at all; whatever the method, as long as it worked, it was the best method.

At this moment, even though Sima Rui's vital point was being held hostage, he remained remarkably calm, and there was no trace of anxiety about being threatened in his tone.

He pointed at Chen Wa, then at the four shadow guards, and asked Gan Qiongying, "You can choose between these two sides. Which one do you want to save?"

"Only one can be saved." The Regent's tone was subtly enticing.

This is a language trap, a very common language trap.

Just like the common promotional tactics in the 21st century, when people are faced with a choice, they will not ask you whether you want this or not, but rather whether you want this one or that one.

If Gan Qiongying were truly a person born into this world, and if she were indeed Princess Duanrong, she might have been misled by the Regent's words and fallen into a misconception where she had no other choice.

Then you really have to make a choice.

But Gan Qiongying was different; after all, she was someone who had experienced the explosion of internet information.

With the Regent's meager tricks, he thinks he can fool her?

Beneath Sima Rui's brocade robe, Gan Qiongying used a hairpin to touch two of Sima Rui's items.

"Why don't you, Prince Rui, also make a choice? Which of these two 'offspring bags' do you want to keep? I'll take the other one out for you."

Just kidding. After Gan Qiongying fell ill, she lay in bed watching videos, mostly videos of mending horse hooves, washing carpets, and techniques for castrating pigs.

Humans and pigs are probably similar, since humans have it easier because human organs are all located outside the body.

Just cut the skin open and squeeze it, right?

Although Gan Qiongying did not voice her thoughts, Sima Rui could already sense her malice.

After hearing Gan Qiongying's question, the veins on his forehead and hands bulged involuntarily.

"Hurry up and choose. You make your choice first, and then I'll decide who lives."

Gan Qiongying had no girlish shyness, nor did she bear the shackles imposed on women by feudal society. She did not shy away from discussing the male reproductive system.

Especially considering that she didn't treat the Regent as a man at all.

Sima Rui clenched his fists tightly, staring fiercely at Gan Qiongying, who also looked up at him with malice.

Moreover, Gan Qiongying knew that if the standoff continued, she would be at a disadvantage if she let go. She was already planning how to expose some of Sima Rui's secrets and make him act rashly.

As the story unfolds, it becomes Gan Qiongying's biggest trump card and her only advantage after she transmigrates.

But the plot has changed, and this cheat ability is becoming less and less useful.

Gan Qiongying originally intended to save it for last, to deliver a fatal blow, but now it seems she has no choice but to use it.

No matter what, she couldn't let the person who risked his life to protect her die for her in such a meaningless way.

Just as Gan Qiongying was about to speak, a series of footsteps suddenly came from the stairs on the second floor.

The footsteps were very heavy and very frequent, and there were also some clattering sounds on the stairs, which sounded almost like an army.

Everyone stopped and looked towards the door. Soon, a group of masked men rushed in, each one incredibly strong and muscular.

This group of people, armed with all sorts of weapons—knives, spears, clubs, and more—rushed into the house and quickly surrounded everyone.

Moreover, the number of people kept increasing, and soon they filled the entire room like sardines in a can.

These people didn't make a move after they arrived; they simply used their size and numbers to squeeze everyone together.

Because Gan Qiongying was kneeling on the ground at a relatively low angle, she could clearly see the straw sandals the group of people were wearing, as well as the linen trousers they hadn't had time to change out of.

These people... look like dockworkers?

Because he didn't know where this group of people came from, Sima Rui frowned deeply, while Gan Qiongying felt relieved as soon as she saw him frown!

Regardless of who gathered so many porters, the enemy of my enemy is my friend!

It doesn't matter whose people these people are, as long as they aren't the regent's men!

Gan Qiongying was immediately overjoyed and quickly exchanged a glance with Chen Wa, the two exchanging information through their eyes.

Gan Qiongying discovered that even Chen Wa didn't know where these people came from.

However, the answer was soon revealed.

Because of the dense crowd, a narrow passage was quickly cleared.

A person's footsteps, sometimes light and sometimes heavy, were coming up from the second floor.

The person walked through the narrow passage, trying to keep a steady pace, but some hurried and uneven footsteps still fell to the ground.

When this person finally appeared, limping, standing among a group of muscular, strong men, he was like a white crane that had fallen into a herd of beasts.

His eyes searched anxiously, and he quickly made eye contact with Gan Qiongying as he passed through the crowd.

Gan Qiongying opened her mouth in surprise. She never expected that the person who came with such a fierce aura was actually Li Hua!