Chapter 366

Princess Changping still felt some affection for the man before her; although Gu Cheng had fallen into such disgrace, after all, he was someone she had once cherished and liked.

Now Gu Cheng took the initiative to show goodwill, holding a wine cup and offering it to her; Princess Changping did not think of anything else.

She took Gu Cheng's wine cup, and a sense of pride welled up in her heart.

Gu Cheng, who had always been cold toward her, finally agreed to lower himself before her.

She looked at Gu Cheng before her, sighed, and said, "Lord Gu and I have at least made each other's acquaintance; after drinking this cup, we shall part ways."

"Leaving aside our different stations, you are a commoner—how could you be worthy of me? At least you have some self-awareness."

Princess Changping had always been cherished in the palm of Consort Duan; her brother Xiao Wei was the third prince of Southern Qi, decisive and wielding great power.

Her maternal grandfather, the Duan family, was the foremost of the eight great clans; from childhood she was lovable and endearing, winning her father's favor.

She was a little princess who basked in countless favors; usually she was arrogant and domineering, but she had only glimpsed the superficial side of true human wickedness.

Princess Changping raised her wine cup and drank it in one gulp; Gu Cheng then poured her another cup.

Princess Changping frowned slightly, feeling that something was not quite right.

Gu Cheng held the wine cup before Princess Changping, his smile growing ever more gentle and tender.

At this moment Princess Changping felt a little dizzy; though she was not someone who could not hold her liquor, after this cup she felt a bit dazed.

She then felt a slight weakness throughout her body, staggered backward a step, but Gu Cheng caught her in his arms.

Princess Changping instantly flared with anger; although she liked the man before her, that did not mean he could take liberties with her.

She was about to push Gu Cheng away, but he brought the wine cup he held to her lips and whispered with a smile, "Your Highness, have another cup; since we are about to part, we should cherish this moment."

Gu Cheng would not allow Princess Changping to refuse, and directly poured the wine down her throat.

As soon as the second cup went down, Princess Changping could barely stand.

At this moment her whole body felt uncomfortably hot; she suddenly realized something was wrong, wanted to push Gu Cheng away, but she could not even muster the strength to lift her arms.

"You… you… what did you give me to drink?"

Gu Cheng gripped her arm tightly and shoved her onto the low couch in the private room.

The floral crown on Princess Changping's hair fell to one side, her hair came loose, and her face flushed ever redder.

The unfamiliar sense of humiliation made his body tremble slightly, and he could hardly control himself.

This feeling made Princess Changping feel especially humiliated; she stared fixedly at Gu Cheng before her, never expecting him to dare drug her wine—this seemed destined to ruin her.

Princess Changping's heart was in utter panic; if she did not escape now, she would truly be a fool.

Princess Changping looked toward the door of the private room and could not help shouting loudly.

Who would have known that her shout came out only halfway before Gu Cheng clapped a hand over her mouth.

In their struggle, they knocked the wine jug on the table to the floor.

The drug's effect took hold quickly; Princess Changping went limp all over, utterly powerless, even lacking the strength to speak.

She wanted to shout for help, but her throat was hoarse and she could not make a sound; he looked in terror at Gu Cheng before him, whose expression was somewhat twisted.

Before, she had always thought Gu Cheng handsome and talented, and moreover the eldest son of the Gu Xiangfu.

She had long admired him, but now looking at Gu Cheng again he seemed like a devil straight from hell.

Princess Changping could not help but plead in a low voice: "Please, please let me go."

"I am about to go to Bei Di for a marriage alliance; if my person is ruined… the emperor's edict has already been sent to the princess's residence—how am I to conduct myself?"

"These days are different from before; my birth mother has been harmed by your father to this extent, and the emperor does not favor me either—if you destroy me further, I will have no way to live."

"Gu Cheng, I truly loved you; I beg you, please release me."

Princess Changping's throat was dry, her voice soft; her low pleading only made her appear ever more pitiful and delicate.

Gu Cheng's smile, however, became increasingly frenzied and distorted, even turning ferocious.

Gu Cheng gripped Princess Changping's arm tightly, stared at him, and said, "Princess, your best course now is to devote yourself to me."

"Your Duan family wields such great power; even if I ruin your person, I believe your family can smooth this over."

"When the time comes, I will become your Duan family's son-in-law who rides the dragon to swift prosperity, become your consort, and I will surely cherish and love you—so submit to me now."

A wave of panic flashed across Princess Changping's eyes as she looked in disbelief at Gu Cheng before her.

Gu Cheng now resembled a gambler who had lost his bet, yet no one expected he would also stake himself.

Her eyes must have been blind before; how could she have taken a liking to such a wicked man.

Princess Changping's voice grew hoarse, her body trembled more violently, and tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.

She had bitten her lips until they split, and blood seeped out.

She only wanted to stay sober, and must not do anything.

But at this moment the palace maids outside kept their distance, for Princess Changping usually either beat or scolded them.

No one else dared approach the private room; throughout the Zhao Ying Lou, upstairs and downstairs, hardly anyone came near these things.

They all had these; even if he shouted himself hoarse, no one came to rescue him.

Princess Changping seized Gu Cheng's arm and wept softly: "I beg you, I beg you, let me go."

Gu Cheng gave a cold smile, gripped Princess Changping's arm tightly, and said word by word, "Your Highness, I too beg you."

"Now that we have become inseparable, I will soon take you back to the capital."

"You also know that the emperor has issued an edict; at this juncture, your involvement with me also goes against his wishes."

"I have nothing left; at worst I will sacrifice this life to accompany the princess down to hell."

"If the princess does not wish to die, she must take me to the Duan family; after all, you are already mine, so why not simply marry me?"

"If we appeal to the Duan family, best of all if they intervene, for they command vast armies."

"It would also be fine to replace the princess in the palace, or else to adopt a girl from the clan as princess—your father would find that easy; if you want to live, just do as I say and sit tight, but in this lovely scenery, my dear, do not waste it."

Princess Changping's consciousness grew ever more hazy, her trembling intensifying.

Before losing consciousness, she slapped Gu Cheng hard across the face; afterward, her heart was filled with utter despair.

It turns out Gu Cheng is risking his life to fight him; it turns out Gu Cheng will actually destroy her alive!

If she doesn't want to die, she has to bring Gu Cheng along to climb.

This time, I'm afraid even his own life will be lost here; this man has such a ruthless heart.

He had been so devoted to her before, but he had already schemed everything for himself, even factoring in his own reputation.

She again tried to raise her hand to slap Gu Cheng, but the second slap was caught as Gu Cheng seized her wrist.

Gu Cheng looked at her and coldly laughed, saying: "Your Highness, don't make pointless struggles; it's come to this. Even if we go to hell, we must go together."