The emperor's face was splattered with blood, and even his long, dark hair was covered in it. He laughed wildly, as if he was enjoying the pleasure.
He turned his body towards the maid who had just screamed, his eyes filled with madness: "Why were you screaming so loudly? Ah... I remember now, you also made a mistake in the dance just now, you were wrong too."
With that, he grinned maliciously and raised his long sword again, thrusting it forward so that it pierced the maid's chest.
The maid lay in a pool of blood, her body twitched twice, her eyes rolled back, and she quickly lost her life.
The emperor's murderous intent hadn't subsided. He walked forward step by step, the tip of his knife scraping the ground with a piercing sound. He then walked to another kneeling, trembling maid, bent down, lifted her chin, and examined her face closely. He smiled and said:
"You're good-looking, but who are you trying to impress with your calm demeanor? I really can't stand you. You might as well go and keep them company."
"Your Majesty, spare me... Your Majesty, spare me..."
The emperor ignored it.
As the blood-stained knife was about to slit her throat, Gu Jiangli crawled over on her knees, grabbed the emperor's leg, and pleaded, "Your Majesty, they...they are innocent. If Your Majesty is still not satisfied, please punish me instead."
"Innocent?" The emperor was not swayed at all, and his knife was not removed from the maid's neck. "My biggest mistake is that I don't like her."
"Princess... save this servant."
Hearing the plea, Gu Jiangli turned around, only to watch helplessly as the emperor forcefully slit the maid's throat.
When she fell to the ground, there was a dull thud, a sound that sent a shiver down Gu Jiangli's spine.
She then realized that here, the emperor represented absolute power.
He could kill whomever he wanted, and no one dared to stop him.
The surrounding concubines all lowered their heads, having long been accustomed to such scenes, as long as this calamity did not befall them.
This is imperial power.
This is the throne.
Is it really worth having a child for such a tyrant?
Or is it because this is her last world that the difficulty has increased dramatically?
Gu Jiangli's eyes were filled with resentment, and she couldn't help but clench her fists.
Before she could say anything, the cold blade was already against her neck, and red blood from the blade was flowing down her neck.
She looked up and found that the emperor's gaze was becoming increasingly crazed.
His gaze seemed to be directed at her, yet it wasn't. His face twitched, and the hand holding the long knife trembled slightly, as if he were enduring something.
"Gu Jiangli, actually I'm planning to kill one more. Why don't you try to persuade me again? Maybe if you convince me, I won't kill him."
Gu Jiangli grew angrier the more she thought about it, and her competitive spirit resurfaced.
She had just pleaded with him so carefully and cautiously, but he hadn't softened at all. Now he wanted her to persuade him? Did he think human lives were a joke?
Gu Jiangli supported himself with his legs, completely ignoring the blade at his neck, and slowly stood up on one leg.
She met the emperor's eyes and said resentfully, "Your Majesty, I cannot persuade you. Why don't you consider killing me directly?"
As soon as Gu Jiangli finished speaking, a collective gasp could be heard from those around him.
The emperor was a bloodthirsty man, and no one had ever dared to speak to him like that.
Everyone thought that Gu Jiangli's fate was sealed and that she would be killed on the spot by the emperor.
Gu Jiangli wasn't afraid at all. If the emperor really beheaded her, so be it.
If you fail the mission in the last world, you'll just lose some points and have to start over.
She really didn't want to put up with this anymore.
Gu Jiangli stretched out his neck, looking as if he was determined to die.
But she waited for a long time, and instead of feeling pain, she heard the emperor's increasingly heavy breathing.
The emperor gritted his teeth, then forcefully flung the blade away from his hand, covering his face and letting out low growls: "Get out! All of you, get out of my sight! Get out!"
The hoarse, angry roar sent chills down the spines of everyone present.
The concubines looked nervous, each one holding up the hem of their skirts and hurrying out, not daring to even say "take your leave".
They ran away as fast as they could, as if their lives depended on it.
The remaining maids around Gu Jiangli lowered their heads, secretly glancing at each other, unsure of what to do.
One of them mustered up the courage to tug at Gu Jiangli's trouser leg. Gu Jiangli lowered her head, and the maid, sweating profusely, whispered, "Princess, let's go. His Majesty the Emperor has already spoken. What if he changes his mind later..."
Gu Jiangli frowned deeply and looked at the emperor again.
His state was strange; his pained and frenzied appearance was really abnormal. He was enduring and restraining himself, and the eyes peeking out from between his fingers revealed a sense of self-loathing, as if the act of killing just now was not his intention...
How could this happen?
Does this emperor have a split personality?
Before Gu Jiangli could think it through, the maid on the ground stood up and grabbed her arm, trying to lead her away from the chaotic and bloody scene.
The maid was probably in too much of a hurry and moved too roughly, almost dragging and pulling her away, completely unaware that Gu Jiangli's foot was injured and she couldn't walk normally.
Pulled by her, Gu Jiangli's right foot touched the ground again, causing her to let out a muffled groan: "Ugh..."
Gu Jiangli frowned and quickly lifted his right foot.
The maid looked puzzled, completely unaware of what had happened. She wanted to help Gu Jiangli leave, but the emperor stopped her: "Wait."
At a command, everyone stopped in their tracks.
The crimson blood in the emperor's eyes had not yet subsided, and the sight sent a chill down one's spine.
He raised his hand, pointed in Gu Jiangli's direction, and said heavily, "Everyone else get out, you stay."
As soon as the words were spoken, the concubines who had just stopped walked away lifted their skirts again and walked out without stopping for a moment.
For them, the emperor could keep whomever he wanted, as long as it wasn't them.
The remaining maids looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
Was the emperor planning to torture their princess by leaving her behind alone?
Seeing that they didn't move, the emperor's anger intensified. "What? You still don't want to leave? Do you want me to carry your heads out of the hall?"
These words terrified the maids, making their legs go weak. This time, they didn't hesitate at all, letting go of Gu Jiangli's arm and running away as fast as they could. In fact, they weren't really concerned about Gu Jiangli's life or death; they cared more about themselves.
The only person who was truly worried about Gu Jiangli was stopped by the guards outside the palace and wept bitterly.
Lotus knelt on the ground and cried out, "Your Majesty, please forgive the princess! She did not mean to offend you. If you must punish someone, punish me instead, Your Majesty!"
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