First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

Just as Gu Junxi was about to push the sword out of Ning Hanshuang's hand, Gu Yuanbai rushed towards her like a moth to a flame.

With a single stab to his throat, Gu Yuanbai collapsed to his knees, a torrent of blood gushing from his mouth.

"You wretched girl, so what if you want to know? I'll make sure you don't get your way. You're too green to fight your father."

Gu Yuanbai smiled sinisterly, finished speaking with difficulty, then his head slumped to the ground, and he breathed his last.

“He’s dead. Gu Yuanbai is dead just like that. How could this man, who is full of sins, just die like this?” Ning Hanshuang murmured, unable to accept the outcome before her.

She loosened her grip on the sword, and Gu Yuanbai, who was kneeling, lost his support and collapsed completely to the ground. Blood flowed more and more, quickly soaking Gu Yuanbai's entire body.

Such a death is beyond the saving even of a great immortal.

However, no one felt sorry for Gu Yuanbai's death, since Gu Yuanbai had confessed to all his crimes.

They repaid kindness with enmity, allied with foreign enemies, and wiped out Yue Fei's entire family.

Suppressing and harming one's own children.

Each and every one of these crimes is unforgivable.

Aside from feeling that Gu Yuanbai deserved to die, everyone felt sympathy for Ning Hanshuang.

The thing a woman fears most in her life is marrying the wrong person.

Because Ning Hanshuang married the wrong person, she ruined her family line.

Ning Hanshuang hated being looked at with pity; it only made her look foolish.

But she's really stupid.

In this lifetime, I have failed to be a good mother or a good daughter.

For the first time, Ning Hanshuang, a woman who had always been stubborn and strong, shed tears in front of others. Tears streamed down her face as images of her father and brothers, and the family enjoying each other's company, appeared before her eyes.

She ruined everything.

Ning Hanshuang's lips kept opening and closing. Before her emotions collapsed, she bit her lip to hold back, turned around and ran away quickly, fleeing the scene.

Qin Yue quickly followed. Gu Junxi wanted to go with him, but Qin Yue stopped her, saying, "I can handle things with your mother. We need someone to take care of things here. You stay."

Gu Yuanbai admitted that he had wiped out the entire Ningyuan Marquis's family. His crime of being a traitor was established, and even though he was dead, the responsibility still needed to be investigated.

Feng Wu's current situation is still unknown, and Gu Junxi, as the Crown Princess, also needs to stay and take care of her.

Gu Junxi felt sorry for her mother, but she had already anticipated this situation ever since she began to suspect that Gu Yuanbai was the traitor.

I will still feel sad.

I just hope that after venting, my mother can cheer up again.

Gu Junxi let out a breath and calmed herself down.

Mu Lingye walked over, put his arm around Gu Junxi's shoulder, and ordered people to carry Gu Yuanbai's body away first.

This matter definitely needs to be reported to Emperor Sheng. Ultimately, it will be Emperor Sheng who will determine Gu Yuanbai's guilt.

It's good that Gu Yuanbai is dead; it's the end of the matter.

Those who are still alive are likely to suffer.

Of course, this includes the three Gu brothers.

Gu Junxi has already severed ties with Gu Yuanbai, so she definitely won't be implicated. The only troublesome one is Su Li.

Gu Yuanbai's body was quickly taken away, leaving only a pool of blood. The smell of blood was strong when the wind blew.

Gu Junxi couldn't hold it in any longer and turned around, squatting on the ground as she dry heaved again. Her symptoms were severe; she almost vomited up her own bile.

Mu Lingye was startled by Gu Junxi's commotion, so he turned around and gently patted Gu Junxi's back until she finished gagging.

"Are you alright? I feel like your stomach hasn't been feeling well lately."

Mu Lingye frowned, recalling Gu Junxi's recent physical condition.

Gu Junxi stroked her flat stomach and pursed her lips.

In this situation, it's not appropriate to tell Mu Lingye about the pregnancy.

Besides, it's unlucky that Gu Yuanbai just died.

She gently shook her head: "I do have some stomach problems lately, but it's nothing serious. I'll tell you more when we get home."

Upon hearing this, Mu Lingye did not press the matter further. He knew that this was not the time to discuss private matters.

"I'll go get you a cup of tea." Mu Lingye looked around but couldn't find Xuan Ying, so he had to find a place to get water for Gu Junxi himself.

After all, Mu Lingye didn't trust anyone else to do it.

Mu Lingye didn't touch the tea in Feng Wu's room, but instead went into the servants' quarters and poured himself a cup of water. He even personally tested for poison using the silver needles he carried with him.

Mu Lingye was even more meticulous and careful about what he put into Gu Junxi's mouth than he was about what he put into his own.

The silver needles did not change color, and the water was fine.

Mu Lingye put away the silver needles and was about to take the water out when his body suddenly stiffened, as if he had been bewitched and could not move. Then, without his own consciousness, he strangely took out a pill from his sleeve and put it into the tea.

The cup was gently shaken, and the pills were soaked in water and dissolved into one, becoming completely invisible.

Mu Lingye handed the water glass to Gu Junxi.

Gu Junxi didn't notice anything amiss and drank it all in one gulp.

After drinking water, my stomach finally felt a bit better.

Gu Junxi handed the water glass back to Mu Lingye, who then took out a handkerchief and considerately wiped the remaining water from Gu Junxi's lips.

Their natural intimacy is enviable.

The women present, in particular, couldn't help but whisper among themselves, even though the occasion wasn't appropriate.

"I never expected that His Highness the Crown Prince, who usually doesn't talk to anyone, could be so considerate to the Crown Princess."

"Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince has never had a woman by his side before. I thought His Highness really didn't like women."

"The Crown Princess is a blessed woman."

"Being blessed is one reason, but another reason is that the Crown Princess is beautiful. It would be different if it were any other woman. After all, the Crown Prince of Yan is a man. Given the choice between a beautiful Crown Princess and a man, anyone would know which to choose."

Of course, the last comment was made in a low voice, and the young lady who spoke only dared to steal a glance at Leng Xuanjue.

Although he only heard intermittent sounds, Leng Xuanjue still gleaned information from them. He understood that these people envied Gu Junxi and belittled him.

In the past, he might have taken these words to heart, but now he treats them as nothing at all.

Leng Xuanjue excitedly licked his lips with the tip of his tongue, staring intently at Gu Junxi's throat. After clearly seeing Gu Junxi swallow the tea, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Mu Lingxuan was no better off than Leng Xuanjue. He also kept a close eye on Gu Junxi's movements until he was sure that Gu Junxi had swallowed the problematic medicine. Only then did he feel truly relieved.

He couldn't help himself and walked step by step toward Gu Junxi.

"What are you doing?" Leng Xuanjue grabbed Mu Lingxuan from behind.

"I don't want to wait any longer." Mu Lingxuan pursed his lips. "I want to exercise my power right now."

Now that he had already drugged Gu Junxi, how could he possibly tolerate her staying by Mu Lingye's side any longer?