Chapter 51: Gu Dao Kills Both the Body and the Soul

The chief eunuch of the empress's palace stood guard at the gate, smiling as he had people register the titles of the noble matrons, along with the identities and backgrounds of their entourages.

This was a necessary procedure; entering the imperial palace required a thorough background check spanning three generations. In the event of any mishap, it made executing the nine familial exterminations much more convenient.

After Old Madame Gu finished her registration, Mei Sheng stepped forward. Her handwriting was elegant and delicate, yet she hesitated over what to write.

If she wrote "Gu Yunzhang’s concubine," it would look glaringly out of place and humiliating amidst a list of illustrious identities.

However, if she wrote "Gu Yunzhang’s wife," it would border on deceiving the sovereign.

Therefore, trying to be clever, she wrote the five characters for "inner chambers." But the eunuch supervisor at her side reached out and blocked her path.

"My lady, you must write clearly. The words 'inner chambers' leave much to the imagination."

The chief eunuch smiled at everyone, yet Mei Sheng felt an icy, menacing threat behind his expression.

Fearing she would draw a crowd of onlookers, Mei Sheng hurriedly added the word "concubine" beneath "inner chambers," which finally allowed her to slip through and enter the Yilan Hall.

Inside the Yilan Hall, the beams were carved and the pillars painted, soaring and magnificent. Whether it was the decorations on the pillars, the mirror-like polished floors, or the oppressive grandeur of the massive caisson ceiling, everything made Mei Sheng, who was stepping foot here for the first time, both thrilled and nervous.

She had yearned infinitely for this place, yet upon arrival, she was overwhelmed with anxiety, forced to follow closely in the footsteps of Old Madame Gu.

Gradually, the guests arrived one after another, taking their seats at the arranged tables and desks. Soon after, maidservants flowed in like water, serving wine and dishes.

Once the food and wine were properly laid out, the empress finally arrived fashionably late, accompanied by Imperial Noble Consort Yuan.

The crowd of noble ladies hurriedly stood up to pay their respects to the two exalted women. The empress waved her hand with aloof reserve, signaling everyone to be seated.

What followed were standard social pleasantries—superficial greetings meant to entertain the noble ladies, with special praise given to families that had cultivated outstanding sons.

Families that had produced chaste and loyal widows were commended, noting that a memorial archway for chastity should be erected in their honor. The empress personally raised her cup to toast these women.

This was regarded as a supreme honor and reward, as well as a glorious moment for these matrons.

Following the banquet, they would soon receive imperial edicts of commendation, and their official noble titles might even be elevated.

These women and their family members all wore expressions beaming with glory.

"Has the noble matrine from Gu Yunzhang's household arrived?" the empress suddenly asked, calling out by name.

Old Madame Gu was instantly overwhelmed with excitement, convinced that her son Gu Yunzhang must have achieved great merit in taming the Yellow River, and that the empress intended to honor her as his mother.

Suppressing her agitation, she slowly rose to her feet, preparing to receive the empress's commendation and respect.

"Your subject, the Gu clan's matriarch, pays her respects to Your Majesty," Old Madame Gu said solemnly.

"Madame Gu, who is this accompanying you today?" The empress appeared composed, grand, and radiantly luxurious.

At a loss for what to do, Mei Sheng hurried to stand up and bow to the empress at a subtle cue from Old Madame Gu.

"Your subject, Mei Sheng, pays her respects to Your Majesty," Mei Sheng said, her voice trembling so intensely it nearly cracked.

The empress smiled indifferently.

"Oh, and who might this be?" the empress asked, feigning casual curiosity.

"Replying to Your Majesty, she is my son Gu Yunzhang's wife," Old Madame Gu attempted to gloss over the truth.

"A wife? This palace recalls that Gu Yunzhang lost his wife more than a decade ago and has never remarried. Where, pray tell, did this wife come from?" the empress said, pretending to be puzzled.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned their gazes toward Mei Sheng. There had been plenty of gossip floating around outside, and the central figure of those rumors was precisely this concubine Mei.

It seemed the Gu family truly favored concubine-born descendants over legitimate ones and cast aside the proper hierarchy; otherwise, why else would they bring a mere concubine to attend an occasion like this?

Now that the empress had brought it up, a good show was about to unfold.

"She is the concubine of my son Yunzhang, and this old woman brought her today so she might witness Your Majesty's noble and heavenly countenance," Old Madame Gu hastily corrected herself.

The empress's smile gradually faded as the wine cup in her hand dropped to the floor with a sharp crash.

Frightened out of his wits, a nearby eunuch scrambled forward and dropped to his knees to clean up the mess.

Old Madame Gu shuddered violently, while Mei Sheng turned as pale as a ghost, feeling the dream-like wealth and glory slipping rapidly away from her.

A cold snort escaped the empress's lips, sounding like thunder from the ninth heaven to Mei Sheng. Yet the thunder was far from over.

"Madame Gu, have you grown senile and muddle-headed? It seems the rumors on the streets are true—you actually dare to flout the moral code and let a concubine manage the household?" the empress asked in an icy tone.

Old Madame Gu dropped heavily to her knees with a loud thud.

"Your Majesty, my family's situation is unique. Please listen to my explanation," Old Madame Gu stammered, utterly bewildered.

Never had she expected the empress to utter the grave charge of "flouting the moral code," a towering accusation one could never afford to wear.

"Old Madame Gu, the Gu family is a millennium-old aristocratic clan. Is this how you set an example for the world? It is truly an eye-opener."

Old Madame Gu's face drained of color, leaving her gaping and speechless for a moment, for she was entirely in the wrong.

Yet she had never imagined that simply closing her doors to spoil her grandson and letting a concubine manage the household would actually damage the Gu family's reputation.

"That your Gu family chooses to disregard moral principles and cast aside its dignity by letting a concubine run the household is something this palace couldn't care less about. But how dare you bring her to defile my Yilan Hall?"

Mei Sheng was completely stupefied, feeling as though her head had been struck by a heavy hammer. The empress's words seemed separated from her by an entire world—she could not hear them clearly, yet she could feel their crushing impact.

"Guards, throw them out," the empress commanded angrily.

Two eunuchs immediately stepped forward, hauling Old Madame Gu to her feet and dragging Mei Sheng away toward the exit.

All the noble matrons of the capital watched this scene unfold with mocking expressions. Especially upon seeing Mei Sheng, their faces were filled with utter disgust.

Even a mere concubine dared to brazenly sneak her way in; it was truly an eyesore. No wonder the empress was furious.

Old Madame Gu cried out that she had been wronged, but a eunuch swiftly clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Wait..." the empress suddenly said in a chilling voice.

Believing the empress was showing mercy, Old Madame Gu hurriedly dropped to her knees to beg for forgiveness, while Mei Sheng crumpled like soft clay, trembling violently on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation," Old Madame Gu pleaded frantically.

Instead, the empress let out a cold laugh.

"Madame Gu has grown old and muddle-headed, throwing the moral order into chaos. Revoke her title as a noble matrine and strike her name from the genealogical records, as a warning to others."

Hearing this, the Gu family matriarch collapsed limply onto the ground. Gaping and tongue-tied, she was utterly robbed of speech.

Then, supported by two eunuchs, she was tossed out through the palace gates, her noble title registration snatched away. Mei Sheng was dragged out right along with her.

The winter wind blew desolately, yet it was nothing compared to the chill within their hearts. Trembling uncontrollably, the old Madame Gu found herself unable to stand.

Suddenly, a strong, firm hand reached down and hoisted the old woman to her feet.

Panting heavily, Old Madame Gu raised her head, only for a surge of burning rage to ignite within her. It was none other than Gu Dao, the person she despised most in the world.

"You wretched beast, was this all your doing?" The old madame tried to push Gu Dao away.

Instead, she was held firmly in place by his steady grip as he said in an icy tone:

"Grandmother, the entire capital now knows that your venerable self acted vilely and despicably, bringing a concubine to desecrate the empress's banquet. A millennium-old clan has become a millennium-old laughingstock."

Old Madame Gu's chest heaved with fury as she gritted her teeth.

"It was you, you vile ghost who brought disaster upon the Gu family! You should never have been born; you should have died right along with that woman."

Hearing these venomous words, Gu Dao showed no sign of anger. Only after Old Madame Gu had fallen silent did he speak in a sinister voice:

"No matter how hard you bite back, it's useless. You are the one who let a concubine manage the household and ruined the dignity of a millennium-old clan; you are the one who brought a concubine to desecrate the empress's banquet; and you are the one whose noble title was stripped by the empress, making you the laughingstock of the capital.

"In everyone else's eyes, you are the true malevolent ghost of the Gu family. As for me, I am merely the legitimate eldest son of the Gu family who was abused by you, this old demon.

"You must live a long and healthy life, and wait to endure the world's curses and ridicule, wait for the hostility of the Gu family's branch lineages, and wait to watch my father's four years of flood-control achievements amount to nothing."

With every word Gu Dao spoke, the Gu family's matriarch trembled a fraction more, her throat emitting choked, croaking sounds like a trapped toad.

By the time they reached the carriage, Old Madame Gu was shaking like a withered leaf in the wind.

Catching sight of the pale-faced Mei Sheng nearby, Gu Dao continued:

"Little concubine-mother, you've always wanted Gu Ling to take my place. But have you ever stopped to think? With a mother like you, even if I abdicated my position, could he ever become the legitimate eldest heir?

"Your mother came from the pleasure quarters, didn't she? Did you truly think the noble and powerful clans of the capital have no memory? And that 'Bright Moon Scholar' title of his—heaven knows how many people in the capital are mocking him behind his back."

Mei Sheng turned deathly pale, her body shivering uncontrollably. Every single word from Gu Dao seemed to strip away another layer of her skin.

Clutching her chest, she stumbled her way up into the carriage.

She frantically urged the driver to leave this place immediately; it felt nothing short of an Asura's hall, forcing her to relive past humiliations.

More painful than any physical wound was the tearing open of scars that had never truly healed.

Watching the carriage depart, Gu Dao felt a rush of pure exhilaration. It was not merely a satisfaction of his mood; even his very soul felt liberated.

People always said that killing someone was merely taking their life, but crushing their heart was the ultimate victory. True to form, breaking their spirits felt far more satisfying than murder. From this day forward, the world's judgmental stares and gossip would cling to them like malevolent spirits.

"Xiuzhi, how does this feel?" The Third Prince appeared behind Gu Dao.

"The feeling of revenge is naturally exhilarating. I imagine these two, if they possess even an ounce of pride, will probably hang themselves the moment they get back," Gu Dao remarked casually.

The Third Prince's furrowed brow twitched as he asked doubtfully:

"Today's events were certainly humiliating enough for the Gu family. But have you ever considered that you, too, are a member of the Gu family? Damage to the Gu family is equally disadvantageous to you."

Today, Gu Dao found the Third Prince somewhat less irritating, buoyed further by the delightful satisfaction of having exacted revenge on Old Madame Gu.

Thus, he was willing to say a few more words, responding to the remark with a grand, heroic laugh.

"A true hero walking this world should possess the grand ambition to cleave heaven and earth with his bare hands. In their eyes, the Gu family is a treasured asset; in my eyes, it is nothing more than a piece of rotting flesh. Why would I ever deign to fight them for it?"

*"To mistake a rotting rat for a delicacy, while fretfully guessing at the phoenix's intentions without end."*

Hearing these words, the Third Prince froze in place, a chill running straight from his spine up to the crown of his head. He was utterly shaken by Gu Dao's sentiment.

To him, a millennium-old aristocratic clan was nothing more than a rotting rat, which was why he cared nothing for the Gu family at all.

Faced with the family's various forms of oppression, his retaliation was utterly uninhibited. Indeed, if the Gu family continued in their self-righteous delusions, he would not hesitate to destroy them entirely.

And then, with his bare hands, he would forge a brand-new grand enterprise of his own.

Such arrogance knew no bounds, yet the Third Prince sensed that Gu Dao was not merely putting on a pretentious facade.

This was genuinely how he thought, and he possessed the capability to actually pull it off.

In that single instant, the Third Prince looked at the Gu Dao before him with entirely new eyes, as if meeting him for the very first time today.

After all, the Third Prince had merely been dispatched by the empress to bring Gu Dao along to watch a play unfold.

He could easily guess the empress's intentions; his imperial sister had always bullied Gu Dao, and this time, she was simply venting grievances on his behalf.

It was a way for his sister to regain a bit of face.

Yet who could have predicted that such a remarkable Gu Dao would be revealed in the process? Overwhelmed with emotion, a myriad of thoughts churned within him.

The Third Prince even felt that his own sister was missing out on the finest matrimonial match imaginable. A Gu Dao such as this was more than enough to eclipse most men in this world.

"Brother Xiuzhi..." Thinking of his sister Li Xianyun, the Third Prince felt a flicker of uncertainty, yet he instinctively addressed him with formal respect.

Before the rest of his words could leave his lips, a palace maid sent by the empress arrived, summoning the two of them to an audience.

Naturally, the empress's banquet had not yet concluded; she was merely taking a brief intermission, during which she intended to summon Gu Dao.

After paying their respects, the empress spoke with direct candor.

"Gu Xiuzhi, this palace has given you more than enough face today. Have your internal grievances been appeased to some extent?"

Realizing the implication behind everything that had transpired today, Gu Dao decided to be equally direct in his response.

"Many thanks to Your Majesty for venting my frustrations. Since Your Majesty has myriad state affairs to attend to, I shall speak my mind without beating around the bush."

This reply surprised the empress greatly. How was it that this young man showed not a shred of fear toward her? In the past, he hadn't even dared to raise his head in her presence.

"Your Majesty, when will my engagement to the princess be annulled? Or give me a definitive word on what I must do to achieve that annulment."