Chapter 459: Heaven‑Defying Courage

Outside the Eastern Sima Gate of the palace city, a sea of people had already gathered, yet it was quiet as if it were an empty alley.

Only Li Ruoxi's tear‑filled accusations rang out, and those accusations swept the entire Shang Jing public opinion like a hurricane.

Li Ruoxi's breath gradually grew shallow; she thought the road would be hard, but she hadn't expected it to be this hard.

She opened her mouth to breathe, but blood surged out, her consciousness began to fade, and the intense pain made her body tremble uncontrollably.

But there were still a few final words she simply couldn't utter.

She stared straight up at the sky, and the scene before her slowly took on a bloody hue; the heavens were crimson, the clouds crimson, and everything gradually receded…

Suddenly a woman's shout reached her ears, sounding like the Princess Consort of Rui, and Li Ruoxi instantly snapped awake.

She recalled the medicine the Princess Consort of Rui had given her; inside the strange pill box was a note telling her it was adrenaline, a name she had never heard before.

But she knew that woman wanted her to live.

She painstakingly slipped a thumb‑sized tube from her cuff, silently recited the note's words, and jabbed it hard into her leg.

She injected all the liquid from the tube into her body, and a strange sensation surged; clutching the last remnants of vitality, she mustered almost all her strength, hoarse‑voiced, she shouted loudly: "To the 2,321 households of Ping City, we respectfully submit; we beg Your Majesty's grace to thoroughly investigate the Ping City Clean Field case, Long live the Emperor! Long live! Ten thousand years!"

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A rapid clatter of footsteps emerged from inside the Eastern Sima Gate, led by the recently favored courtier of Emperor Longqing, the Grand Justice Temple's Minister Gu.

Gu Kang's steps were frantic, so frantic that even he didn't realize he was already a little out of line.

The subordinate officers hurried behind Gu Kang, noticing that Minister Gu was moving too fast, as if rushing to a performance; later they had to jog all the way just to keep up with him.

From a distance, Gu Kang saw a woman lying in front of the Peace Drum, her form already unrecognizable.

His deep eyes instantly darkened, the irises swirling.

"Attendants! Carry the Li lady into the palace!"

The officer behind him froze for a moment, looking at Gu Kang in disbelief, wondering what 'carry into the palace' meant.

According to past custom, the one who struck the Peace Drum entered on foot; there was no way to be carried in.

Even if one survived the iron spikes, walking in would be excruciating.

There were no strict rules about how to enter after striking the Peace Drum, but this time Minister Gu actually ordered a wooden board to carry the person, which was rather unexpected.

Since he was a favored courtier of Emperor Longqing, they dared not object; several guards quickly fetched a wooden board and placed the blood‑soaked Li Ruoxi on it, then carried her straight into the palace city.

The surrounding townsfolk lingered, as Li Ruoxi's accusations had inflamed everyone with anger.

Now they would wait for the emperor's verdict, for fairness and justice.

When the guards lifted Li Ruoxi, they tugged at her wounds.

In her fainted state, Li Ruoxi, in pain, slowly regained consciousness and instinctively raised her hand to clutch the hem of Gu Kang's robe.

Gu Kang's steps faltered slightly, and a dark red bloodstain instantly appeared on his pale‑purple official robe.

The officials on both sides quickly pushed down Li Ruoxi's hand that was gripping Gu Kang's robe; Gu Kang kept his gaze steady, furrowed his brows hard, and slightly stepped aside.

No one could see the Southern Qi, Shang Jing, cold‑hearted and ruthless Minister Gu; his hand hidden in his sleeve tightened into a fist, already trembling uncontrollably.

Li Ruoxi was dragged into the Hall of Nurturing the Heart; before that, the board carrying her had reached the Moon Gate outside the hall.

Gu Kang only then ordered them to set her down, and the guards who had carried her were all drenched in cold sweat.

Within the palace city, the only women lying inside were either dead or concubines of the Imperial Harem; Gu Kang's actions were clearly…

From the Moon Gate to the Hall of Nurturing the Heart, Li Ruoxi's luck did not hold.

As she moved, the blood on her body had already coagulated, a strong scent of gore spreading; each step felt like treading on a knife edge, the pain severe.

Yet she remained clear‑headed; she hadn't expected the Princess Consort of Rui's medicine to be so potent—after the drugs entered, she felt much better, at least able to walk into the Hall of Nurturing the Heart with clear awareness.

Other officials, seeing Li Ruoxi covered in blood entering, all turned pale.

Sure enough, Emperor Longqing, upon hearing Li Ruoxi mention the Duan family's privately mined resources, their private armed forces, and even some weapons, was extremely enraged.

He ordered other officials out; even Gu Kang, the chief examiner of the case, was expelled by the emperor.

Inside the Hall of Nurturing the Heart remained only the serving Prince Gong, Emperor Longqing, and the blood‑soaked Li Ruoxi lying on the floor.

Gu Kang was ordered to wait outside the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.

It was now midday, and the scorching sun beat down, baking the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.

Even the cold‑hearted Gu Kang felt beads of sweat on his forehead.

The discussion inside was not brief; Li Ruoxi did not emerge, and Gu Kang paced back and forth.

Soon, Prince Rui Xiao Yin walked toward here. Gu Kang stepped forward and bowed; as he straightened, the Prince whispered, "Alive?"

Gu Kang replied, "He was alive a moment ago; now I don't know."

Xiao Yin had been sent by Gu Jiu Ling to gather information; even he felt a surge of respect seeing Li Ruoxi strike the Peace Drum at the Sima Gate.

Aside from Gu Jiu Ling, he was uninterested in other women. He didn't expect this minor figure under Gu Jiu Ling's control to have such great courage; Xiao Yin had to admire him.

Without a summons from Prince Gong, Xiao Yin could only stand outside the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.

He looked at his brother‑in‑law Gu Kang and said coldly, "Clever scheme; this move ensures the Duan family will die without any chance of survival."

Gu Kang replied softly, "Prince, you overpraise."

Suddenly the Hall's door finally sounded, and Prince Gong lifted the blood‑covered Li Ruoxi and walked her out.

Gu Kang hurried forward, but Xiao Yin raised his arm and blocked him.

Xiao Yin gave him a cold glance: "You are the chief examiner of this Duan rebellion case; if you have been too close to the witness, all previous work is wasted."

Gu Kang then composed himself, whispered a thanks to Xiao Yin, and brushed past, as if nothing had happened, wiping Li Ruoxi's shoulder.

In that moment, the scent of blood from Li Ruoxi spread, and Gu Kang felt his heart…

Prince Gong helped Li Ruoxi out of the Hall of Nurturing the Heart and ordered the nearby eunuchs to escort her out of the palace.

At this point Li Ruoxi could no longer stand; two palace attendants dragged her toward the palace exit.

Where Li Ruoxi passed, a faint crimson stain lingered on the ground, and the attendants behind her brought water to wipe it clean.

It felt as if Li Ruoxi had never set foot in the Hall of Nurturing the Heart at all.