Gu Yanxi was only nine years old when the sixth prince ascended the throne.
It was a quiet and peaceful day; the sun cast a warm golden glow, and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves of the trees. Around the courtyards of the Gu mansion, servants moved busily, their voices filled with lively gossip and excited chatter about the events they had witnessed and experience.
Although the life of a servant was filled with hard work, the masters in the Gu mansion treated their servants with kindness and fairness, unlike the harsh and cruel treatment common in other noble families.
For this reason alone, the servants in the Gu mansion felt a deep sense of happiness, grateful that their masters valued their life.
The mansion was filled with liveliness and laughter when suddenly the main gate was kicked open with a loud bang. One of the maids, carrying a flower pot and passing by, was startled by the noise and turned to see what had happened.
But what met her was a flash of silver and a sharp, searing pain piercing her chest. With a sudden cough, she spat out a mouthful of blood; her eyes glazed with confusion as she struggled to understand what was happening before she took her last breath.
"Under the emperor's order, the Gu family has committed an unforgivable crime of deceiving the emperor, and all nine generations are to be executed!"
An eunuch, who appeared slightly older than the others, calmly stepped over the bloodstains and coldly read aloud the decree clutched in his hands.
The servants and guards, who had arrived after hearing the commotion, stood stunned by the decree.
"Kill all the servants and members of the Gu family! Not a single soul must be allowed to escape!" the leading soldier shouted as he ruthlessly struck down the guards who tried to stop him.
"Ahhh!!"
The maids and eunuchs of the Gu mansion fled in panic and horror, their screams warning that the imperial soldiers had come to execute them.
It wasn't long before the joyous laughter that once filled the mansion was drowned out by desperate cries of despair.
Gu Yanxi was practicing her calligraphy in her courtyard when she suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps and chaotic noises outside.
Her brows furrowed, and her immature face twisted with displeasure. She was about to ask who was making such a rude commotion when her bedroom door was suddenly kicked open. Her personal maids gasped in surprise.
"Yanxi!" Her eldest brother, Gu Jinyang, burst into the room. His handsome face was tight with tension, and the sword in his hand was stained with fresh blood.
Gu Yanxi stood frozen, stunned by the sight of blood—her stomach twisted and churned as the sharp, metallic smell from outside overwhelmed her senses, forcing a violent retch.
Gu Jinyang was distressed to see his sister's condition, but he had no time to comfort her. He had to take his sister to safety before the imperial soldiers reach this place.
Cradling his little sister in his arms, Gu Jinyang rushed through the chaotic mansion, his sword flashing mercilessly, cutting down any enemy who dared block their path.
Gu Yanxi closed her eyes, her small hands clutching tightly to her brother's shirt for comfort and security.
Although her eyes were covered, her ears still caught the sounds around her - agonized screams and desperate pleas for mercy pierced through the chaos, turning her face pale with fear.
Gu Jinyang's face and clothes were soaked with hot, fresh blood, yet the small bundle cradled in his arms remained untouched, not a single spot marred her innocence. When they reached a safe place, he gently set her down and hurriedly checked to make sure she was alright.
Gu Yanxi's delicate face was ghostly pale, her mind was hazy, and her ears were filled with the distant echoes of screams and despair.
Gu Jinyang's heart clenched with pain, wanting to comfort her but time offered no mercy.
With trembling hands, he removed the jade pendant from his waist and pressed it into her little palm with deep solemnity. "Yanxi, listen to me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You must never lose this pendant. And when you leave this place, never, ever come back."
Gu Yanxi stared intently at her brother. Despite his bloodied face, his eyes still held a gentle brightness. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice caught in her throat, failing to even utter a whisper.
She wanted to scream at him, demanding to know what was happening, begging to hear that their parents were alright. She wished for him to take her hand, to tell her they would escape together.
But all that came from her was heavy silence.
Gu Yanxi watched in a daze as her brother handed her over to his trusted guard and dashed back toward the burning mansion, his injured back showing no sign of giving up.
As the guard carried her away from the chaos, the haunting image of her home stayed with her—once a beautiful mansion, now soaked in blood and swallowed by roaring, merciless flames.
The Gu family, once a noble household famed for their unwavering honesty and loyalty, was consumed by the unforgiving fire, leaving nothing but ash and silence.
Gu Yanxi was only nine years old when her family was executed by the decree of the new emperor.