The Princess Consort was furious upon hearing this. "How dare Lord Gu, that audacious fool, engage in such malevolent practices under our Prince's rule? It's utter insolence! Old man Gu is a disgrace to his years, devoid of all familial affection. What kind of grandfather sells his granddaughter to be a virgin sacrifice? Knowing full well it's a death sentence for her, yet still proceeding—it's truly inhumane! I will punish them severely!"
Gu Chaobei, hearing the Princess Consort's words, realized she was on his side. His excitement surged like a torrential river, and he thanked her repeatedly. "I will send people to rescue your daughter immediately." The Princess Consort immediately summoned Steward Zheng to see her.
Gu Chaobei's heart eased, and he said gratefully, "I will never forget your life-saving grace, Your Highness!" This time, Gu Chaobei truly performed a deep bow to the Princess Consort. Only overwhelming power could quell such tyranny! The Princess Consort was not one to dither; lacking ruthlessness, she would merely be a lowly concubine.
When Steward Zheng entered, the Princess Consort immediately gave him the Prince's military tally, ordering him to take a thousand soldiers and rescue the divine doctor Gu's daughter from Pukou Village. Steward Zheng, ever since introducing Gu Chaobei, had spent a restless night outside, knowing this night would determine his fate. Now, hearing that the Prince had recovered and that the Princess Consort was entrusting him with such an important task, he felt he was considered a trusted confidant. How could Steward Zheng not be pleased? His gamble had paid off! Joyfully, he took the military tally and went to gather the troops.
Gu Chaobei also asked Steward Zheng to inform Boss Zhang to reassure his wife that there was a turn of events. Steward Zheng chuckled, patted Gu Chaobei's shoulder cordially, and immediately dispatched his men to deliver the message to Boss Zhang.
Gu Qingcheng had a rather uncomfortable night in Lord Gu's woodshed. Fortunately, Mi Guo kept her company. Although only seven years old, Mi Guo had lost both parents early and lived a life of hardship, enduring the bitterness of the world. Perhaps the sheer weight of his suffering had numbed him; his eyes lacked light, and in the face of their current predicament, he felt a sense of release, as if a burden had been lifted. As the saying goes, facing death can lead to rebirth. His mindset was surprisingly more relaxed than Gu Qingcheng's.
Gu Qingcheng felt sorry for him, and in their disadvantageous situation, she wanted to do something to bring a little joy. So, she took out a lot of snacks from the Mountain Cat Supermarket for him. There were Happy Cola, potato chips, chicken legs, burgers, and spicy strips—things Mi Guo had never heard of or seen before. Gu Qingcheng was surprised by how much Mi Guo could eat. Within half an hour, he had devoured all the snacks, which were meant to be filling. Patting his distended stomach, he said with contentment, "These are the most delicious things I've ever eaten in my life. Fairy Sister, thank you. You must be a fairy to bring me so many good things. I can die with my eyes closed."
Mi Guo's words were simple and sincere, making Gu Qingcheng both laugh and cry. She comforted him, saying, "We will definitely get out of here alive. My parents must be trying to find me right now." Mi Guo's eyes dimmed as he replied, "It's no use even if they find us. Lord Gu has too much influence. Even if your parents come, they can only watch helplessly as you are buried alive."
Gu Qingcheng was shocked. It was true; they were modern people with knowledge that people of this era lacked. She also had a cheat system, but at this moment, beyond obtaining stored food and preventing starvation, what else could it do? Gu Qingcheng stood by the window, wanting to observe the outside. She couldn't just wait passively. However, the window was too high, nearly 1.7 meters off the ground. She was only a little over 1.5 meters tall now. If she were her original height of 1.72 meters, she could have easily reached it by standing on a pile of firewood. But now, even with firewood, she couldn't see.
"Mi Guo, help me up." Gu Qingcheng called out. Mi Guo, having eaten and gained some strength, walked to the window. Following Gu Qingcheng's instructions, he let her stand on his shoulders and then slowly lifted her. Gu Qingcheng could finally see outside through the window. However, the more she looked, the more disheartened she became. The outer walls of the courtyard appeared even taller, blocking her view. She could only see the flickering shadows of lanterns. It was clear that people were guarding the perimeter. And with such high walls, she and Mi Guo could never escape. Even if they managed to climb to the top, jumping down would surely break their legs.
Sighing, Gu Qingcheng told Mi Guo to lower himself, and she jumped to the ground, shaking her head. "It seems we're trapped like birds in a cage, with no way out. This place is sealed up tight."
"See? I told you not to struggle. It's no use," Mi Guo said nonchalantly. He had already resigned himself to death. Gu Qingcheng's appearance was like a sweet treat in his life, and though it appeared in his final moments, it had at least warmed him. Having eaten so many wonderful, unseen foods, he was already quite content.
Gu Qingcheng, feeling helpless, had to find another plan. She took a White Rabbit creamy candy from the Mountain Cat Supermarket and said to Mi Guo, "Little brother, open your mouth."
"What for?" Mi Guo asked, confused, but obediently opened his mouth. Gu Qingcheng placed the unwrapped candy inside. "Wow, is this candy? It's so sweet, and it smells so good! What is it?" Mi Guo's body stiffened as he held the candy in his mouth. This supreme delicacy made him believe even more strongly that Gu Qingcheng was a fairy sent from heaven. Lord Gu probably didn't have such delicious food, and only Gu Qingcheng possessed it.
"This is milk candy, made from milk and sugar," Gu Qingcheng explained patiently. Seeing Mi Guo so hesitant to even move his mouth, she was amused by his cuteness. She unwrapped a candy for herself and put it in her mouth. The sugar quickly replenished her brain's energy, and her little head began to work at high speed...
Just then, the sound of "patter" footsteps echoed from the courtyard. Mi Guo became nervous and quickly said to Gu Qingcheng, "Sister, put your hands behind your back and pretend you're still tied up."
"Okay." Gu Qingcheng readily agreed. She quickly put away the night light, then placed her hands behind her back, making it look as if she were still securely bound. With a few creaks, the door was pushed open, and a burly servant carrying a lantern and a food box entered. The servant opened the food box, took out two bowls, one containing dark, steamed buns, and the other, water.
"Little brats, eat up!" The servant raised the lantern, looked at Mi Guo, then at Gu Qingcheng, and breathed a sigh of relief, confirming they were both there. When he saw Gu Qingcheng, the servant paused for a few seconds, then stepped forward and held the lantern in front of her face, scrutinizing her. He even reached out and touched her cheek, saying, "Well now, soft skin and tender flesh, and quite pretty too. No wonder they picked you for the virgin sacrifice."