As Gu Ying took in the disheveled and unkempt figure before her, resembling a wild man who had just returned from a desperate escape, she unconsciously took a step back, saying, "You—"
There was a sense of familiarity in his features, but she couldn't quite recognize him.
Despite his dirt-streaked appearance, she could still make out the contours of his handsome face. The patches of mud revealed a fair complexion, a well-defined jawline, and even a hint of thinness.
She glanced at her grandmother, who was sitting on the Buddhist bed, wearing a puzzled expression.
The man, seeing that she didn't recognize him, grew anxious and said, "It's me, I'm Su Huanfeng! How could you not recognize me?"
Gu Ying was taken aback. "Young Marquis? How did you end up like this?"
His current destitute appearance was a far cry from the resplendent and dignified Young Marquis she had seen before.
He now resembled a big dog that had rolled in the mud and been pulled out.
Amused by the sight, Gu Ying couldn't help but smile. "Young Marquis, didn't you go far away to the borderlands to make achievements? How did you end up here?"
Su Huanfeng's handsome face showed a hint of grievance. In front of Gu's grandmother, he took out a jade pendant from his pocket. "I came back from afar to personally accompany you for the coming-of-age ceremony. But..."
His expression was wounded, and the once radiant peach blossom eyes dimmed.
"Why? Why did you break off the engagement with me? And why did you get engaged to Adu?" He clenched the jade pendant engraved with his name, his knuckles turning white. "We had a childhood engagement. You were clearly my fiancée. Why did Adu snatch you away?"
Gu Ying stiffened, unsure of how to explain to the disheveled and teary-eyed man before her.
"Young Marquis..."
Ignoring everything, Su Huanfeng grabbed Gu Ying's hand and walked up to Gu's grandmother. His eyes blazed with anger as he questioned her, "Grandmother, Gu Ying and I were engaged by our mothers. Why did you decide to annul the marriage? I love her, and I want to marry her!"
Gu's grandmother remained silent, gazing heavily at Gu Ying.
She hadn't expected that her unremarkable granddaughter would become the subject of affection from two outstanding men.
Truly, she was Madam Ye's daughter, the fox spirit. As she grew older, her appearance became more enchanting and peerless, dazzling everyone who laid eyes on her.
Regardless of personal feelings, she had to protect her granddaughter when the time called for it.
"Young Marquis, I have already explained this to you. It was not our Gu family who broke off the marriage with the Marquis's family; it was your father who personally came to our house to call off Aying's marriage."
Su Huanfeng stood frozen in place, realizing that his father was the instigator behind it all.
An innocent young girl had her engagement publicly broken off, tarnishing her reputation. Her days in Bianjing were probably not easy.
He released Gu Ying's hand in a daze, turned his head to look at her, and seemed lost, as if he had made a mistake. "Gu Ying, I'm sorry. I came back too hastily... I wanted to give you the coming-of-age ceremony... I secretly ran away from the camp without telling anyone... On this journey, I..."
Gu Ying smiled gently and spoke softly, "Young Marquis, you don't need to worry, I'm fine."
Su Huanfeng's eyes were filled with self-blame, and he hesitated to speak.
In fact, Madam Gu didn't really like Su Huanfeng. After all, Marquis Yong'an had publicly humiliated the noble residence in front of everyone in Bianjing, causing the residence to be ridiculed. If it weren't for the marriage proposal from the Duke's residence to make amends, the residence's reputation would have been tarnished.
Su Huanfeng's mother used to be close with the Ye family, so this child, apart from his status as the young marquis, didn't hold much appeal to her. In her eyes, he was nothing compared to Zhao Changdu, who already had accomplishments.
She waved her hand, not in the mood to continue dealing with this young man. "Ah Ying, it's getting late, go and see the young marquis off."
Gu Ying respectfully thanked Madam Gu, "Yes, grandmother."
Gu Ying didn't bring any maidservants with her this time, so Madam Gu instructed Mama Li to accompany Gu Ying personally to see him off.
She was now engaged to the Duke's residence and couldn't afford to create any unsightly rumors with another man at this time.
The matter with Gu Jia was already giving people a headache, and the Gu family couldn't afford to have another shameless person like Gu Jia.
Since Madam Gu valued her so much, Gu Ying didn't refuse.
She accompanied Su Huanfeng and Mama Li as they walked out of Yongshou Hall.
He had snuck back, and Gu Ying didn't dare to let him leave through the main entrance, so she led him to the back door.
Along the way, Su Huanfeng clenched his fists tightly. When they reached the door, his peach blossom eyes turned crimson as he stared fixedly at Gu Ying but refused to leave.
Gu Ying said impatiently, "Young Marquis, fate is predetermined. In this lifetime, we cannot become husband and wife. There is no need for you to be so fixated on a mere Gu Ying. In the future, you will meet a better woman than me."
The man furrowed his brow and stubbornly said, "No, you are not just a mere Gu Ying, you are the woman I like."
Gu Ying didn't understand.
They didn't have much interaction, the most significant being their mischievous act during the winter hunting event.
But what did that amount to?
Why would Su Huanfeng, a noble young marquis, insist on marrying her and not anyone else?
She sighed, "Young Marquis, have you forgotten? I told you that we are not suitable for each other. Even if Marquis Gu doesn't come to cancel the marriage, I will find a way to refuse this marriage."
On a winter evening, when there was still a hint of golden sunlight, Su Huanfeng felt a chill run through his body.
He couldn't believe that he had returned from the border only to find that his beloved fiancée was gone!
And she had been taken away by his own dear brother, Zhao Changdu, his gentle, lovely, and beautiful wife!
This was just too outrageous!
Su Huanfeng tightened his lips, unwilling, and said with a cold face, "Did Zhao Changdu deliberately take you away? It wasn't your own choice, right? He must have forced you!"
How could this person be so naive and childish?
People like them, young masters and young ladies, how could there be any talk of force or no force?
Marriage in its essence revolves around the interdependence of two families, intertwining their honor and dignity. These prestigious and influential families rely on marriage alliances and bloodline succession to perpetuate their family lineage and glory.
For the Dongping Marquisate to finally establish a marital connection with a household as distinguished as the Duke of Zhengu, how could it be the turn of the Crown Prince to coerce her?
"No..." Gu Ying helplessly explained, "No, what I mean is, it wasn't the Crown Prince's deliberate intention to claim me forcefully. It was my own choice to marry him willingly."
Su Huanfeng stared at her in disbelief, as if the sky was falling, he murmured, "Gu Ying, I know Adou holds a high position of power, and you probably can't resist him, but you have to believe that I can protect you. Now that I have returned, I will seek my father's intervention tonight. He will go before the Emperor and plead your case, he will go before the Empress and plead your case. No matter what, as long as I can make you marry me, I am willing to do anything..."
As Gu Ying took in the disheveled and unkempt figure before her, resembling a wild man who had just returned from a desperate escape, she unconsciously took a step back, saying, "You—"
There was a sense of familiarity in his features, but she couldn't quite recognize him.
Despite his dirt-streaked appearance, she could still make out the contours of his handsome face. The patches of mud revealed a fair complexion, a well-defined jawline, and even a hint of thinness.
She glanced at her grandmother, who was sitting on the Buddhist bed, wearing a puzzled expression.
The man, seeing that she didn't recognize him, grew anxious and said, "It's me, I'm Su Huanfeng! How could you not recognize me?"
Gu Ying was taken aback. "Young Marquis? How did you end up like this?"
His current destitute appearance was a far cry from the resplendent and dignified Young Marquis she had seen before.
He now resembled a big dog that had rolled in the mud and been pulled out.
Amused by the sight, Gu Ying couldn't help but smile. "Young Marquis, didn't you go far away to the borderlands to make achievements? How did you end up here?"
Su Huanfeng's handsome face showed a hint of grievance. In front of Gu's grandmother, he took out a jade pendant from his pocket. "I came back from afar to personally accompany you for the coming-of-age ceremony. But..."
His expression was wounded, and the once radiant peach blossom eyes dimmed.
"Why? Why did you break off the engagement with me? And why did you get engaged to Adu?" He clenched the jade pendant engraved with his name, his knuckles turning white. "We had a childhood engagement. You were clearly my fiancée. Why did Adu snatch you away?"
Gu Ying stiffened, unsure of how to explain to the disheveled and teary-eyed man before her.
"Young Marquis..."
Ignoring everything, Su Huanfeng grabbed Gu Ying's hand and walked up to Gu's grandmother. His eyes blazed with anger as he questioned her, "Grandmother, Gu Ying and I were engaged by our mothers. Why did you decide to annul the marriage? I love her, and I want to marry her!"
Gu's grandmother remained silent, gazing heavily at Gu Ying.
She hadn't expected that her unremarkable granddaughter would become the subject of affection from two outstanding men.
Truly, she was Madam Ye's daughter, the fox spirit. As she grew older, her appearance became more enchanting and peerless, dazzling everyone who laid eyes on her.
Regardless of personal feelings, she had to protect her granddaughter when the time called for it.
"Young Marquis, I have already explained this to you. It was not our Gu family who broke off the marriage with the Marquis's family; it was your father who personally came to our house to call off Aying's marriage."
Su Huanfeng stood frozen in place, realizing that his father was the instigator behind it all.
An innocent young girl had her engagement publicly broken off, tarnishing her reputation. Her days in Bianjing were probably not easy.
He released Gu Ying's hand in a daze, turned his head to look at her, and seemed lost, as if he had made a mistake. "Gu Ying, I'm sorry. I came back too hastily... I wanted to give you the coming-of-age ceremony... I secretly ran away from the camp without telling anyone... On this journey, I..."
Gu Ying smiled gently and spoke softly, "Young Marquis, you don't need to worry, I'm fine."
Su Huanfeng's eyes were filled with self-blame, and he hesitated to speak.
In fact, Madam Gu didn't really like Su Huanfeng. After all, Marquis Yong'an had publicly humiliated the noble residence in front of everyone in Bianjing, causing the residence to be ridiculed. If it weren't for the marriage proposal from the Duke's residence to make amends, the residence's reputation would have been tarnished.
Su Huanfeng's mother used to be close with the Ye family, so this child, apart from his status as the young marquis, didn't hold much appeal to her. In her eyes, he was nothing compared to Zhao Changdu, who already had accomplishments.
She waved her hand, not in the mood to continue dealing with this young man. "Ah Ying, it's getting late, go and see the young marquis off."
Gu Ying respectfully thanked Madam Gu, "Yes, grandmother."
Gu Ying didn't bring any maidservants with her this time, so Madam Gu instructed Mama Li to accompany Gu Ying personally to see him off.
She was now engaged to the Duke's residence and couldn't afford to create any unsightly rumors with another man at this time.
The matter with Gu Jia was already giving people a headache, and the Gu family couldn't afford to have another shameless person like Gu Jia.
Since Madam Gu valued her so much, Gu Ying didn't refuse.
She accompanied Su Huanfeng and Mama Li as they walked out of Yongshou Hall.
He had snuck back, and Gu Ying didn't dare to let him leave through the main entrance, so she led him to the back door.
Along the way, Su Huanfeng clenched his fists tightly. When they reached the door, his peach blossom eyes turned crimson as he stared fixedly at Gu Ying but refused to leave.
Gu Ying said impatiently, "Young Marquis, fate is predetermined. In this lifetime, we cannot become husband and wife. There is no need for you to be so fixated on a mere Gu Ying. In the future, you will meet a better woman than me."
The man furrowed his brow and stubbornly said, "No, you are not just a mere Gu Ying, you are the woman I like."
Gu Ying didn't understand.
They didn't have much interaction, the most significant being their mischievous act during the winter hunting event.
But what did that amount to?
Why would Su Huanfeng, a noble young marquis, insist on marrying her and not anyone else?
She sighed, "Young Marquis, have you forgotten? I told you that we are not suitable for each other. Even if Marquis Gu doesn't come to cancel the marriage, I will find a way to refuse this marriage."
On a winter evening, when there was still a hint of golden sunlight, Su Huanfeng felt a chill run through his body.
He couldn't believe that he had returned from the border only to find that his beloved fiancée was gone!
And she had been taken away by his own dear brother, Zhao Changdu, his gentle, lovely, and beautiful wife!
This was just too outrageous!
Su Huanfeng tightened his lips, unwilling, and said with a cold face, "Did Zhao Changdu deliberately take you away? It wasn't your own choice, right? He must have forced you!"
How could this person be so naive and childish?
People like them, young masters and young ladies, how could there be any talk of force or no force?
Marriage in its essence revolves around the interdependence of two families, intertwining their honor and dignity. These prestigious and influential families rely on marriage alliances and bloodline succession to perpetuate their family lineage and glory.
For the Dongping Marquisate to finally establish a marital connection with a household as distinguished as the Duke of Zhengu, how could it be the turn of the Crown Prince to coerce her?
"No..." Gu Ying helplessly explained, "No, what I mean is, it wasn't the Crown Prince's deliberate intention to claim me forcefully. It was my own choice to marry him willingly."
Su Huanfeng stared at her in disbelief, as if the sky was falling, he murmured, "Gu Ying, I know Adou holds a high position of power, and you probably can't resist him, but you have to believe that I can protect you. Now that I have returned, I will seek my father's intervention tonight. He will go before the Emperor and plead your case, he will go before the Empress and plead your case. No matter what, as long as I can make you marry me, I am willing to do anything..."
