Chapter 157 [VIP]
Lady Gui was breathing heavily.
Gu Zhizhu patted her back to help her catch her breath, and pondered, "Why do you say that?"
Lady Gui paused for a moment.
She had only met Miss Gu a few times, and even a couple of days ago at Tianxi Tower, Miss Gu hadn't noticed her presence. But Madam Gui could tell that Miss Gu was extremely capable.
Miss Gu genuinely wanted to save her.
"Meow".
The cat licked her cheek; the soft, fluffy little ball felt warm and cozy.
Lady Gui stared at the yellowed page of paper spread out on the brocade quilt and said breathlessly, "You know about the Yin family, don't you?"
"I know."
Gui Niangzi's tense back slowly relaxed, and she said, "...Later, I returned to Blackwater Fortress."
She slowly told her everything she had seen and heard at the time.
Gu Zhizhuo's fingers were taut like strings, and his head was buzzing.
She stared at the bright red runes on the paper.
After finishing her sentence, Lady Gui added softly, "Back then, because I ran away, the formation became slightly damaged. So..."
Gu Zhizhuo sighed, and before she could finish speaking, he interjected, "Your gradual decline is nourishing this large-scale fortune-changing array with your own flesh and blood."
Afterwards, she will pay the price of her soul being scattered, bearing all the backlash and consequences. From then on, there will be no more Yin Xiyan in the Three Realms, Five Paths, and Six Bridges.
Lady Gui smiled and said, "Yes."
Gu Zhizhuo's tone gradually became heavy: "However, once the ritual begins, you, as the key figure in the formation, will be crucial until it ends."
"If you die violently during this time, the ritual will fail and the formation will collapse."
Gu Zhizhuo was a Taoist disciple in both her lives, so even though she didn't understand incantations, she could still grasp them by analogy.
Taoist talismans, spells, and formations are mostly based on the same principle.
Once started, it cannot be stopped halfway, otherwise it will not only fail but also backfire on the caster.
turn out to be……
That was Gui Niangzi's idea.
The cat rested its little head against her chest and rubbed against her chin, being incredibly affectionate.
Lady Gui smiled gently and finally couldn't resist touching its glossy fur.
"Is Miss Gu a member of the Taoist sect?"
Therefore, Miss Gu could understand her intentions.
She didn't want to die; she had no choice but to die.
After leaving Blackwater Fortress, Gui Niangzi spent eight years traveling throughout the Great Qi Kingdom, falling into prostitution. The unbearable hardships she endured haunted her day and night, yet she never sought death and persevered until now.
“Miss Gu,” Madam Gui took a purse from under her pillow and handed it to her.
Gu Zhizhuo knew there were two layers inside the purse as soon as she squeezed it. She used the paper cutter she always carried to cut the purse open, and there was a talisman in the middle.
Gui Niangzi said in a relaxed tone with a smile, "I deliberately let them find me."
The purse was a deposit placed by Steward Zheng of the Prince of Jin's residence. When she received the purse, she knew that the deal was done.
“This is my wish,” Gui Niangzi said earnestly, “I beg you to grant it.”
Her voice trailed off, and she could barely finish speaking.
"I want them to pay the price."
She used herself as bait to lure the other party to find her.
The other party will be eager to complete the ritual from that year. Once the ritual is over, the altered destiny will become the final outcome.
However, if she dies before that, the fortune-changing array will completely fail.
All the consequences will backfire on the caster.
All those who benefit from this ritual will suffer a fate worse than death.
After learning the answer, Gui Niangzi's life goal became to become the core of the formation.
Then, go die.
Even at any cost, she would drag those people down with her until they met a terrible end.
Gu Zhizhuo opened his mouth, then suddenly clenched the talisman in his hand, crumpling the bright yellow paper into a tangled mess.
"Blackwater Fortress ten years ago."
"Using the blood and flesh of the city's people as the catalyst, and the daughter of the Yin family as the core of the formation, we will defy the heavens and change the world."
"An unprecedented turnaround."
She murmured to herself.
At that moment, she seemed to have glimpsed the secrets of heaven.
Although it is unknown what Changfeng's purpose was, he chose the then second prince, Prince Rong, as his ruler.
Changfeng and the Prince of Jin sacrificed the entire city's flesh and blood, thus drastically altering the fate of the nation.
Thus, the Crown Prince, who had secured his position in the Eastern Palace, was suddenly deposed and committed suicide. The late emperor died suddenly on his southern tour, and Prince Rong, who had never accomplished anything, suddenly rose to become the new emperor.
Human rulers are ordained by Heaven to govern the world. (Note)
From then on, the Way of Heaven gave rise to a new Mandate.
Fortunately, the luck-changing array was missing its key element, creating a loophole in destiny, and the young master survived the calamity.
In terms of being a ruler and governing a country, in terms of strategy and tactics, neither the emperor nor his sons could compare to the young master. In fact, in his previous life, the young master clearly had many opportunities to turn the tide and rise above all others, but each time, he lost to luck and weakness.
Looking back now...
It was the way of Heaven that was automatically patching the "loopholes," and so Ji Nanke, this person from another world, came and gave her the greatest blessings and protection.
Ji Nanke blessed Xie Jing, and with her boundless good fortune, she eliminated the loophole that was the young master.
She made up for Xie Jing's shortcomings in talent and continued the Daqi dynasty.
Gu Zhizhu rubbed his throbbing forehead; this was all utterly absurd!
In my previous life...
She lowered the curtain slightly; without her interference, the Yin family elder sister from her previous life would surely die.
Given her determination to die, there was absolutely no way she could have survived.
The only unknown is whether Sister Yin succeeded or failed in her previous life.
It was a complete failure.
My wish has finally come true...
Gu Zhizhuo's heart pounded wildly. He looked up abruptly and met Gui Niangzi's gaze. Gui Niangzi's dark eyes were exceptionally clear, with a faint glimmer of water, and also exceptionally open and honest.
"Maybe……"
Gu Zhizhu muttered to himself.
She suddenly realized that perhaps her rebirth was an opportunity that her elder sister from the Yin family had obtained at the cost of her soul being scattered.
An opportunity to restore this absurd destiny to its rightful place and correct all the mistakes!
These thoughts only lingered in her mind for a moment before Gui Niangzi's cold hands pulled her back from her reverie.
She was terribly cold all over, like a living dead person, barely clinging to life.
"Miss Gu, please grant my request!"
Lady Gui looked at the dagger lying on the ground, her face showing a pleading expression.
From the age of twelve, revenge became her greatest wish. If she couldn't get revenge, what good would it do to be alive? She had long since given up on living. From that nightmare that night, she had been constantly sinking and swaying in the underworld, destined for a tragic end.
Lady Gui closed her eyes; she dared not ask if the person who asked Gu Zhizhuo to find her was her younger brother.
If her younger brother were still alive, she would rather bear all the sins in exchange for the peace and safety of her only relative for the rest of his life.
"It's too late." Gui Niangzi's voice grew weaker and weaker.
Once the ritual is completed, Lady Gui will die.
This destiny, forcibly altered, will become the rule of Heaven, and it will be difficult to reverse.
Only Gui Niangzi is now dead.
Only then will destiny return to its original, correct trajectory.
There are only two options; there is no other way.
Even killing Changfeng wouldn't work.
"Retreat means death, advance means destruction. So that's what it means."
Gu Zhizhuo checked her pulse again, and in such a short time, it had become so weak that it was almost undetectable.
She couldn't last even a cup of tea.
Success or failure, Gu Zhizhuo must make a choice.
Gu Zhizhuo bent down and picked up the dagger. Gui Niangzi smiled and tried to take it from her, but Gu Zhizhuo did not give it to her.
"Sister Yin."
Gu Zhizhuo felt the weight of the dagger, gripped it firmly in his palm, and asked her only one question: "Do you trust me?"
Their eyes met, and Gui Niangzi nodded stiffly, a smile playing on her lips: "I believe you."
"good."
Gu Zhizhuo has never been a person who hesitates.
Especially once she makes a decision, there will be no going back.
She took out the pill again and brought it to Gui Niangzi's lips: "Eat it."
Lady Gui: "..." She opened her mouth as instructed.
The pill melted instantly upon entering her mouth, like a warm current flowing through her limbs and internal organs. A warm feeling surged through her cold body, and even her breath became gentler.
Her stiff body seemed to have regained some strength, and she didn't look so much like a dead person anymore.
Gu Zhizhuo brought his two fingers together like a sword, and lightly touched her forehead with his fingertips.
He was muttering to himself.
"When Heaven and Earth were separated, the Five Thunders were first divided... So be it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Zhizhuo quickly drew a talisman on her forehead.
"Cat, move aside."
"Meow?"
The cat obediently jumped to the edge of the bed, frantically shaking its qilin tail, its whiskers twitching, too excited to know what to do.
"Believe me!"
Gu Zhizhuo closed her eyes, then pressed down on Gui Niangzi's slender shoulder with one hand, raised the dagger, and stabbed it hard into her chest.
The dagger, gleaming with a chilling silver light, magnified in the woman's pupils. She smiled with relief, an unbelievable beauty.
"Thanks."
"Meow!"
The dagger plunged into her chest, and blood splattered onto Gu Zhizhuo's face as the dagger was pulled out.
Rumble!
A thunderous roar suddenly resounded, accompanied by a bolt of lightning that struck the roof, causing the side rooms to shake violently.
Rumble!
A series of muffled claps of thunder continued to explode in the sky, as if something was brewing.
The sky gradually changed color, and a sense of impending storm swept through the surroundings.
With thunder and rain, pedestrians hurriedly sought shelter under eaves. As the sky grew darker, vendors quickly packed up their stalls. The old woman, while putting her sachets into her small basket, glanced at the sky and muttered, "This weather is strange; it started thundering just like that. It's definitely going to rain. I'd better go home..."
Two fast horses galloped past her, crashing into her stall which she hadn't yet tidied up, sending sachets tumbling to the ground.
"Oh my!"
The old lady was heartbroken.
She hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but the sachet was covered in dust and mud. She patted it off, but it wasn't clean enough. She became even more anxious, because if she couldn't clean it properly, it wouldn't fetch a good price.
Those who dared to ride horses in the capital were either rich or noble. The old woman could only accept her bad luck and dared not provoke them. In her heart, she cursed fiercely: "Running so fast, it's not like you're rushing to be reborn. Why don't you fall off?"
The lead horse suddenly neighed, and Prince Jin tumbled off its back without warning, crashing heavily to the ground.
The old woman was stunned.
Is it that effective?
"Your Highness! Whoa!"
The rider on the other horse frantically grabbed the reins, scrambled off his horse, and ran over shouting.
It was actually a prince? The old woman's heart pounded with fear. She hadn't cursed him herself. She quickly lowered her head and slowly moved back, pretending she didn't exist.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
Wang Changshi rushed to Prince Jin and helped him up.
Are you alright?
The Prince of Jin waved his hand, enduring the pain, and said, "It's nothing."
Just now, for some reason, I felt a sudden panic, and my hand slipped, causing me to fall. My head is still buzzing.
The Prince of Jin said, "Help me up, we must hurry back."
He had just received news that the Eastern Depot had sealed off his mansion. He didn't know what had happened, but he had a very ominous premonition.
The Eastern Depot acts arbitrarily; surely it couldn't be that he offended Shen Xu?
The Prince of Jin struggled to his feet and then noticed that when he fell, the back of his hand had scraped against a small pebble on the ground, leaving a tiny wound, no bigger than a fingernail, with a little bit of bleeding.
Those who had served in the military naturally wouldn't care about such a small wound. Prince Jin, with the help of Chief Secretary Wang, got up, mounted his horse, and the two fine steeds headed straight for Prince Jin's residence.
A rumble of thunder sounded overhead, and whether it was his imagination or not, Prince Jin felt as if the thunder was chasing him.
The Prince of Jin's residence was not far ahead, and the Imperial Guards in their flying fish robes had completely surrounded the street. The Prince of Jin rode over at full speed, and before he could even speak, a commander of the Imperial Guards, who was leading the group, waved his hand with a smile. The Imperial Guards tacitly made way for them, not blocking their path, and even opened a side gate for him.
The commander smiled and said, "Your Highness, please."
His attitude was like that of a smiling tiger, carrying a strong sense of ill intent. But no matter what, the Prince of Jin had to go in. He glanced at the commander with a low gaze, then spurred his horse and rushed into the palace.
Upon entering, the Prince of Jin's barely suppressed anger surged up once more, and his grip on the reins tightened abruptly.
The guards knelt behind the screen wall. All of the more than one hundred guards in his palace had been disarmed, their hands were tied behind their backs, and they knelt upright in several rows. When Prince Jin saw them for the first time, he was almost startled.
A dozen or so bodyguards lay scattered around them, as if to intimidate them.
In his palace.
The Eastern Depot actually dared to kill people?!
What audacity!
"Your Highness."
Upon seeing the Prince of Jin return, the guards seemed to have found their anchor and their faces lit up with joy. One of the guards immediately shouted, "Chief Supervisor Shen has led his men to break into Master Changfeng's courtyard!"
After he finished speaking, the guard standing nearby kicked the shouting guard again, making him roll on the ground.
"Okay, okay."
The Prince of Jin was so angry that he laughed: "The Eastern Depot has become so arrogant. I want to see how your chief supervisor will explain this to me."
The Prince of Jin flicked his sleeve and strode away.
The attendant following behind cried out, "Your Highness, your hand, your hand is bleeding!"
The Prince of Jin paused, raised his hand to look, and saw that the small cut from before was bleeding more and more.
Did you get pricked by something?
So deep?
The Prince of Jin didn't think much of it and simply took out a handkerchief to bandage the wound.
He walked very fast, and Chief Secretary Wang followed closely behind him, always unable to resist looking at Prince Jin's injured hand. A little bit of red blood seeped out from the handkerchief that was tied up, staining the clean handkerchief with fresh blood.
Wang Changshi felt a chill run down his spine and wanted to offer another warning when a heart-wrenching scream came from ahead.
"impossible!"
The King of Jin recognized the voice; it was Changfeng.
His expression suddenly tightened, and he quickened his pace, panting as he pushed open the gate to the courtyard.
"Shen Xu, how dare you come to my palace..."
The King of Jin's questioning voice suddenly stopped, his eyes wide open, and he raised his hand, pointing forward with trembling hands.
"A real person."
"Your hair..."
Changfeng's black hair was shiny and smooth, like fine silk even when it was spread out, without a single silver strand.
Now, a few strands of white hair are visible to the naked eye. Then, more and more white hairs appear, while black hairs become less and less. In just a few breaths, the hair is almost completely white, and it hangs loosely and frizzily over the shoulders.
Upon hearing the Prince of Jin's exclamation, he mechanically lifted a strand of hair.
A strand of white hair fell and landed in his palm.
Changfeng felt a chill run down his spine; his hands, which were supporting his body, lost their strength, and he fell to the ground.
"impossible!"
This is a backlash.
The wind's voice grew increasingly shrill, its former calm and collected demeanor gone; fear surfaced in its eyes and spread across its face.
"No, destiny was meant for me... No!"
"No way!"
A note from the author:
Note: "Tianwen"
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