Yin Lan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry as she looked at the person lying on the soft cushion. The tender, fair skin was pressed into a peach-blossom-like flush. The kingfisher-feather-like eyebrows and the curled, dense eyelashes made the person look just like a beauty. Even she, the maid who waited on her day and night, felt her heartbeat quicken, let alone other men.
She didn't have any other wishes, she only hoped that the Prince would cherish and love the Princess even more.
Having thought this, she silently stood guard at one side.
By evening, the carriage had rushed all the way to the relief camp in Xianlin Town that took in disaster victims.
Night gradually fell, enveloping the world in ink-black darkness.
From time to time, cold winds blew in through the gaps in the carriage windows.
Gu Ying felt a little cold, and curled up. She only felt the sound of the carriage stopping by her ears.
There were chaotic noises outside.
She slowly opened her eyes, and heard the hurried footsteps of Ning Changan walking over.
"Princess, we've arrived at the camp. I've already sent someone to report to the Prince earlier. Would you like to alight first?"
"Alright, I'll alight."
Gu Ying was not delicate. Her spirits were lifted in an instant. She got up from the soft cushion, and lifted the carriage curtain to get off the carriage with Yin Lan.
Looking around, she saw that the camp was built in a place sheltered from the wind. It was spacious and flat. There was still some bright white snow on the grassland. More than a dozen camps of various sizes were scattered within the campsite. Palisades were erected around the outskirts to ward off beasts. Magnificent Qilin Army flags hung from the tall entrance gates on both sides.
Perhaps they had heard the noise of the baggage trains outside.
More than a dozen disaster victims ran out and stuck their heads out at the entrance gates to watch the lively scene, while discussing something.
"Everyone come and see quickly! A fairy has come to our camp!"
"Really? Where? Who has come?"
"Right at the entrance gates! She just got off Young Master Ning's carriage. I don't know who she is, but looking at that country-toppling, city-toppling beauty, could she be a woman Young Master Ning bought to present to our Prince?"
The camp was severely cold. With so many soldiers gathered, it wouldn't look good if the Prince at the vigorous age didn't have a woman to warm his bed.
Everyone was grateful towards the Prince for saving their lives, so naturally they hoped that the Prince could live an even better life.
So they gathered around to watch the lively scene.
"That can't be right. Doesn't our Prince already have Lady Shen?"
"That's right, what about Lady Shen?"
When Lady Shen was mentioned, everyone unanimously kept silent, not daring to speak.
Gu Ying was standing far away and didn't hear the chattering discussion.
A few officers in armor walked out from the main entrance of the camp and chatted with Ning Changan, before getting people to orderly transport the baggage train into the camp.
She didn't recognize these officers. Judging from their looks, they didn't seem to be from the Qilin Army.
Hui An also shook his head imperceptibly.
Gu Ying understood in her heart, and became a little more vigilant. After all, they had slipped away from Bianjing, which was improper according to etiquette. If others were to catch them and use it against the Prince, it wouldn't be good. So they would stick to the previous story that she was from Yueyang and had come to look for her own disaster-stricken relatives.
Such a great beauty had never come to the camp before.
That officer in charge caught sight of Gu Ying at first glance.
Among so many men, Gu Ying's face was the most eye-catching.
His gaze turned hot. His eyes lingered on Gu Ying as he asked with a smile, "Young Master Ning, who is this?"
Ning Changan smiled. "General Zhang, this is Lady Yin Ying. She married to Yueyang and heard that her father met with disaster in Xianlin Town, so she has come specially to look for her relatives."
He then introduced, "Lady Yin, this is General Zhang, defender of Yueyang City. He has currently been borrowed by the Prince to be in charge of setting up relief efforts here."
Gu Ying smiled charmingly and curtsied slightly. "It's nice to meet you, General Zhang."
General Zhang meaningfully said, "How pitiful. If there is anything I can help with, Lady Yin must be sure to tell Old Zhang."
Gu Ying awkwardly smiled. She didn't have a good impression towards this profound General Zhang. "Thank you for your kindness, General Zhang."
General Zhang was very pleased. He couldn't help letting his eyes linger on Gu Ying's face. "It's windy outside. Lady Yin, you look delicate. Why not come to my tent first to wait for the Prince to return?"
Gu Ying's shapely eyebrows knitted slightly. "The Prince isn't in his tent?"
On her way here, she had already found out.
There had been ugly incidents here in the past where high-ranking officials had abused their power to privately seize women.
Thus afterwards, the Prince had personally taken action. For those poor families who came to the camp looking for their relatives without money or valuables and didn't know who to ask, they could directly go to his tent to find him for the rosters.
So her plan was to directly head to his tent later under the pretext of looking for relatives.
General Zhang said, "The Prince isn't here now. He went out today with Lady Shen. I'm afraid it'll be a few more days before he returns."
Gu Ying's brows furrowed slightly. "Lady Shen?"
She asked this question anxiously, causing General Zhang's suspicions to arise.
Gu Ying noticed the change in his expression and smiled. "I'm just curious. I wonder who this Lady Shen is—"
Before General Zhang could reply, Ning Changan said awkwardly and guiltily, "Lady Shen is a divine doctor stationed here together with us, responsible for helping to treat those disaster victims dug out from the earth... Hus... Lady Yin, I didn't explain things clearly to you earlier... Lady Shen was the doctor who saved the Prince. She's staying in this camp now. Everyone says that..."
After hearing Ning Changan's words, Gu Ying just blanked out for a while. Her chest then felt slightly stuffy.
"Says what?"
Ning Changan paused. He looked at the woman with the calm expression worriedly. There were some words he couldn't bring himself to say.
He had been following the Prince for a period of time.
The Prince was heavily injured by assassins before being saved by Shen Ruxu. After that, the Prince was somewhat different towards Shen Ruxu, whether more or less.
The commoners in this camp were all saved by Shen Ruxu one by one.
They all regarded Shen Ruxu as a deity they provided offerings to.
Even though everyone knew the Prince was already married in Bianjing, in their hearts, how could a flower vase Princess far away compare to Shen Ruxu's kindness towards them?
Therefore, in this camp, the commoners had long regarded Shen Ruxu as the Prince's woman.
"Naturally, it is said that the Prince and Lady Shen are a match made in heaven," General Zhang said impatiently, seeing Ning Changan's hesitant and roundabout way of speaking. "Lady Shen has graceful looks. The Prince is wise and martial. The Prince was only able to escape death thanks to Lady Shen's medical skills. Isn't that a perfect match?"
Gu Ying looked at General Zhang doubtfully, her tone faintly mocking. "A perfect match? So is General Zhang aware that the Prince already has a wife in Bianjing?"
General Zhang coldly snorted. "So what if he has taken a Princess? The Prince can still bring Lady Shen in as a concubine."
Gu Ying's brows were tightly knitted. As long as the words didn't come from the Prince's mouth, although she felt uncomfortable in her heart, she was still relatively calm.
"What, you little wench also wish to become the Prince's woman?" General Zhang glanced at Gu Ying contemptuously. "You only have some looks. But let Old Zhang give you some advice—don't have unrealistic expectations. Compared to Lady Shen, you are still far lacking. If you are willing to stay by Old Zhang's side, I can consider... consider..."
Yin Lan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry as she looked at the person lying on the soft cushion. The tender, fair skin was pressed into a peach-blossom-like flush. The kingfisher-feather-like eyebrows and the curled, dense eyelashes made the person look just like a beauty. Even she, the maid who waited on her day and night, felt her heartbeat quicken, let alone other men.
She didn't have any other wishes, she only hoped that the Prince would cherish and love the Princess even more.
Having thought this, she silently stood guard at one side.
By evening, the carriage had rushed all the way to the relief camp in Xianlin Town that took in disaster victims.
Night gradually fell, enveloping the world in ink-black darkness.
From time to time, cold winds blew in through the gaps in the carriage windows.
Gu Ying felt a little cold, and curled up. She only felt the sound of the carriage stopping by her ears.
There were chaotic noises outside.
She slowly opened her eyes, and heard the hurried footsteps of Ning Changan walking over.
"Princess, we've arrived at the camp. I've already sent someone to report to the Prince earlier. Would you like to alight first?"
"Alright, I'll alight."
Gu Ying was not delicate. Her spirits were lifted in an instant. She got up from the soft cushion, and lifted the carriage curtain to get off the carriage with Yin Lan.
Looking around, she saw that the camp was built in a place sheltered from the wind. It was spacious and flat. There was still some bright white snow on the grassland. More than a dozen camps of various sizes were scattered within the campsite. Palisades were erected around the outskirts to ward off beasts. Magnificent Qilin Army flags hung from the tall entrance gates on both sides.
Perhaps they had heard the noise of the baggage trains outside.
More than a dozen disaster victims ran out and stuck their heads out at the entrance gates to watch the lively scene, while discussing something.
"Everyone come and see quickly! A fairy has come to our camp!"
"Really? Where? Who has come?"
"Right at the entrance gates! She just got off Young Master Ning's carriage. I don't know who she is, but looking at that country-toppling, city-toppling beauty, could she be a woman Young Master Ning bought to present to our Prince?"
The camp was severely cold. With so many soldiers gathered, it wouldn't look good if the Prince at the vigorous age didn't have a woman to warm his bed.
Everyone was grateful towards the Prince for saving their lives, so naturally they hoped that the Prince could live an even better life.
So they gathered around to watch the lively scene.
"That can't be right. Doesn't our Prince already have Lady Shen?"
"That's right, what about Lady Shen?"
When Lady Shen was mentioned, everyone unanimously kept silent, not daring to speak.
Gu Ying was standing far away and didn't hear the chattering discussion.
A few officers in armor walked out from the main entrance of the camp and chatted with Ning Changan, before getting people to orderly transport the baggage train into the camp.
She didn't recognize these officers. Judging from their looks, they didn't seem to be from the Qilin Army.
Hui An also shook his head imperceptibly.
Gu Ying understood in her heart, and became a little more vigilant. After all, they had slipped away from Bianjing, which was improper according to etiquette. If others were to catch them and use it against the Prince, it wouldn't be good. So they would stick to the previous story that she was from Yueyang and had come to look for her own disaster-stricken relatives.
Such a great beauty had never come to the camp before.
That officer in charge caught sight of Gu Ying at first glance.
Among so many men, Gu Ying's face was the most eye-catching.
His gaze turned hot. His eyes lingered on Gu Ying as he asked with a smile, "Young Master Ning, who is this?"
Ning Changan smiled. "General Zhang, this is Lady Yin Ying. She married to Yueyang and heard that her father met with disaster in Xianlin Town, so she has come specially to look for her relatives."
He then introduced, "Lady Yin, this is General Zhang, defender of Yueyang City. He has currently been borrowed by the Prince to be in charge of setting up relief efforts here."
Gu Ying smiled charmingly and curtsied slightly. "It's nice to meet you, General Zhang."
General Zhang meaningfully said, "How pitiful. If there is anything I can help with, Lady Yin must be sure to tell Old Zhang."
Gu Ying awkwardly smiled. She didn't have a good impression towards this profound General Zhang. "Thank you for your kindness, General Zhang."
General Zhang was very pleased. He couldn't help letting his eyes linger on Gu Ying's face. "It's windy outside. Lady Yin, you look delicate. Why not come to my tent first to wait for the Prince to return?"
Gu Ying's shapely eyebrows knitted slightly. "The Prince isn't in his tent?"
On her way here, she had already found out.
There had been ugly incidents here in the past where high-ranking officials had abused their power to privately seize women.
Thus afterwards, the Prince had personally taken action. For those poor families who came to the camp looking for their relatives without money or valuables and didn't know who to ask, they could directly go to his tent to find him for the rosters.
So her plan was to directly head to his tent later under the pretext of looking for relatives.
General Zhang said, "The Prince isn't here now. He went out today with Lady Shen. I'm afraid it'll be a few more days before he returns."
Gu Ying's brows furrowed slightly. "Lady Shen?"
She asked this question anxiously, causing General Zhang's suspicions to arise.
Gu Ying noticed the change in his expression and smiled. "I'm just curious. I wonder who this Lady Shen is—"
Before General Zhang could reply, Ning Changan said awkwardly and guiltily, "Lady Shen is a divine doctor stationed here together with us, responsible for helping to treat those disaster victims dug out from the earth... Hus... Lady Yin, I didn't explain things clearly to you earlier... Lady Shen was the doctor who saved the Prince. She's staying in this camp now. Everyone says that..."
After hearing Ning Changan's words, Gu Ying just blanked out for a while. Her chest then felt slightly stuffy.
"Says what?"
Ning Changan paused. He looked at the woman with the calm expression worriedly. There were some words he couldn't bring himself to say.
He had been following the Prince for a period of time.
The Prince was heavily injured by assassins before being saved by Shen Ruxu. After that, the Prince was somewhat different towards Shen Ruxu, whether more or less.
The commoners in this camp were all saved by Shen Ruxu one by one.
They all regarded Shen Ruxu as a deity they provided offerings to.
Even though everyone knew the Prince was already married in Bianjing, in their hearts, how could a flower vase Princess far away compare to Shen Ruxu's kindness towards them?
Therefore, in this camp, the commoners had long regarded Shen Ruxu as the Prince's woman.
"Naturally, it is said that the Prince and Lady Shen are a match made in heaven," General Zhang said impatiently, seeing Ning Changan's hesitant and roundabout way of speaking. "Lady Shen has graceful looks. The Prince is wise and martial. The Prince was only able to escape death thanks to Lady Shen's medical skills. Isn't that a perfect match?"
Gu Ying looked at General Zhang doubtfully, her tone faintly mocking. "A perfect match? So is General Zhang aware that the Prince already has a wife in Bianjing?"
General Zhang coldly snorted. "So what if he has taken a Princess? The Prince can still bring Lady Shen in as a concubine."
Gu Ying's brows were tightly knitted. As long as the words didn't come from the Prince's mouth, although she felt uncomfortable in her heart, she was still relatively calm.
"What, you little wench also wish to become the Prince's woman?" General Zhang glanced at Gu Ying contemptuously. "You only have some looks. But let Old Zhang give you some advice—don't have unrealistic expectations. Compared to Lady Shen, you are still far lacking. If you are willing to stay by Old Zhang's side, I can consider... consider..."
