But this man was different from a woman. A woman could act coquettishly without restraint, could be weak without inhibition, and could cry as she wished. But he could not. He was Dong Li's God of War. If word got out that he had nearly turned red-eyed over a woman, he would surely become the laughing stock of all Dong Li's commoners.
Gu Ying was kissed until she could barely breathe. His tall body pressed down as he smoothly untied her waistband. His warm breath fell on her fair neck.
Through the light spring clothes, she could clearly feel his fierce and heavy pressure against her waist.
Gu Ying bit her lip, her face even more flushed, her breathing rapidly rising and falling.
Zhao Changdu stared at her watery, glittering eyes. He only felt that there was wetness there, with bewildering moisture.
Her whole body radiated heat, her tender body carried a faint fragrance.
Thinking that this young girl had nearly died in the sacrificial altar, his heart could not bear it. He lowered his head eagerly to kiss and nibble her ear, his breathing a little heavier.
His kiss was unusually fierce, carrying the taste of punishment and coercion.
Gu Ying put her arms around his slender waist, her tender body trembling slightly, feeling the anger he released. Blushing, she explained, "Changdu, I've already explained to you that I was fully prepared beforehand. Even if I fell into the sacrificial altar, I would be fine. I had Zhou bring people to build the altar with mechanisms and hidden compartments... with thick fur rugs inside. And I know some martial arts myself, so even if I fell down, I could steadily land without hurting the baby..."
In the half month since coming out of the sacrificial altar... he had been angry at her the whole time, angry that she took matters into her own hands without regard for her own life.
She still remembered when she was under the mechanism in the sacrificial altar and saw him unhesitatingly jump down. It was the first time she saw boundless fury and endless anguish converge on his handsome face.
She had never seen such a despairing and helpless expression appear on his face before.
The force with which he hugged her tightly in his arms was so great it nearly crushed all the bones in her body.
She was stunned for a long time before putting her arms around his tense waist, tears falling down her cheeks.
She cried uncontrollably. He was not much better off, with red eyes.
Gu Ying came back to her senses and found the man had neatly tidied her clothes. His exquisite perfect phoenix eyes gazed at her silently.
"You're really something, using yourself as a sacrifice. Who taught you to do that?"
"I didn't really want to be a sacrifice. I just wanted an excuse to gather all the common people in one place, to publicly expose Jiang Yin's crimes... and to let them see the effect of the antidote themselves. Also, Changdu, if I didn't do this, how could you feel at ease searching for Master Zhuge and the others? If not for Master Zhuge finding snow lotus on the cliff to make the primer for the medicine, I'm afraid we would have had to stay in Yueyang for a few more days before returning to Bianjing so quickly."
The man was displeased. Two fingers pinched her chin. "Gu Ying, you still dare to argue?"
Gu Ying's cheeks bulged out. The thick curled lashes were like two feather fans. "Wuwu, I don't dare, I don't dare, I really don't dare!"
Since coming out of the sacrificial altar, he had rarely touched her anymore, mostly just hugging and kissing her without saying anything, holding her that way for half the night.
Although he was considerate of the baby and unwilling to be intimate with her, his other needs were no less.
"I was wrong, I really wrong. I absolutely won't make this kind of mistake again, really." Gu Ying's face was bright red. She obediently nestled in his arms and gently swore, "I swear, Changdu."
Zhao Changdu coldly snorted. His fingers squeezed her soft cheeks to vent his anger. "If there is a next time, I will break your legs."
Gu Ying whimpered begging for mercy. "Okay, okay. Can you just chain me by your side?"
Only then was Zhao Changdu somewhat satisfied. His lips touched her ear, lightly kissing it. But he still felt unhappy in his heart. "Remember to stay away from Li Yang in the future."
Gu Ying wondered, "What's wrong with him? He's been a bit strange lately too. I always felt his gaze made me uncomfortable before, but after returning from Yueyang, that kind of look was gone from his eyes. It seems getting kicked by me in the infirmary made him behave. He's a prince, but that's all he amounts to. If I don't beat him down, he won't know what I'm capable of."
Zhao Changdu helplessly tapped the young girl's brow, but there were black clouds churning in his eyes.
As a man, he naturally understood men. Li Yang had disguised himself as a gentleman in front of the Emperor and civil and military officials, but in private he was addicted to beauty and revelry. From the beginning, he had schemed to obtain Gu Ying. If not for him, I'm afraid Gu Ying would have become his plaything.
And now, somehow Li Yang had actually developed feelings of affection for his Gu Ying?
Humph. Zhao Changdu silently sneered. With just Li Yang, how dare he covet his Gu Ying?
"A man like him is up to no good. And he is of the royal family. Gu Ying must remember to have no further dealings with him in the future."
"Changdu, don't worry. As a subject's wife, I will naturally have no interactions with him after I return."
"Good, that's my good wife."
The man gently coaxed. Gu Ying's ear grew hot as she chatted and laughed with him, enjoying this rare leisurely moment. After all, with so many demons and monsters waiting for them back in Bianjing, it would be hard for her and the Prince to relax.
...
On the day they returned to Bianjing, it was sunny and mild, flowers blooming everywhere outside the city walls.
The carriage drove straight into Bianjing. After entering the city, Gu Ying bid farewell to Ye Qingchi, Ning Si and the others, going ahead with the Prince to the Duke's estate first.
Not having sent word of their return ahead of time, when Zhao Sheng saw Zhao Changdu and Gu Ying walking hand in hand into the estate, he was stunned for quite a while.
After a moment, the corner of Zhao Sheng's mouth moved slightly, revealing a trace of hardly noticeable joy. "Your Highness, why have you returned at this time? And Madam... weren't you at the Changfeng Pavilion..."
Zhao Changdu raised his hand to stop his words, telling him not make a fuss. He calmly asked, "Where is Father?"
Zhao Sheng reacted swiftly. "Your Highness, the Duke is at the Zhengde Pavilion."
"Mm." Zhao Changdu looked back reluctantly letting go of Gu Ying's hand. He tapped her nose and said, "I'll go to the Zhengde Pavilion first. Ying, you and Yin Lan go back to the Changfeng Pavilion. I'll be back very soon. Remember to be good and wait for me."
Gu Ying's face grew slightly red. She nodded. "Alright, don't worry Changdu, I know what to do."
Then she had Huai An secretly escort Gu Ying back to the Changfeng Pavilion first, while he himself went to the Zhengde Pavilion to see Zhao Hui, Cheng, and the others.
Returning to the familiar Changfeng Pavilion, Gu Ying was overjoyed.
Walking through the Moon Gate and into the yard, Yanzhi was wearing a pomegranate red skirt, her hair styled in a high bun. Her plump little face leaned against a column under the eaves, her little head bobbing down unsteadily like she was fishing.
But this man was different from a woman. A woman could act coquettishly without restraint, could be weak without inhibition, and could cry as she wished. But he could not. He was Dong Li's God of War. If word got out that he had nearly turned red-eyed over a woman, he would surely become the laughing stock of all Dong Li's commoners.
Gu Ying was kissed until she could barely breathe. His tall body pressed down as he smoothly untied her waistband. His warm breath fell on her fair neck.
Through the light spring clothes, she could clearly feel his fierce and heavy pressure against her waist.
Gu Ying bit her lip, her face even more flushed, her breathing rapidly rising and falling.
Zhao Changdu stared at her watery, glittering eyes. He only felt that there was wetness there, with bewildering moisture.
Her whole body radiated heat, her tender body carried a faint fragrance.
Thinking that this young girl had nearly died in the sacrificial altar, his heart could not bear it. He lowered his head eagerly to kiss and nibble her ear, his breathing a little heavier.
His kiss was unusually fierce, carrying the taste of punishment and coercion.
Gu Ying put her arms around his slender waist, her tender body trembling slightly, feeling the anger he released. Blushing, she explained, "Changdu, I've already explained to you that I was fully prepared beforehand. Even if I fell into the sacrificial altar, I would be fine. I had Zhou bring people to build the altar with mechanisms and hidden compartments... with thick fur rugs inside. And I know some martial arts myself, so even if I fell down, I could steadily land without hurting the baby..."
In the half month since coming out of the sacrificial altar... he had been angry at her the whole time, angry that she took matters into her own hands without regard for her own life.
She still remembered when she was under the mechanism in the sacrificial altar and saw him unhesitatingly jump down. It was the first time she saw boundless fury and endless anguish converge on his handsome face.
She had never seen such a despairing and helpless expression appear on his face before.
The force with which he hugged her tightly in his arms was so great it nearly crushed all the bones in her body.
She was stunned for a long time before putting her arms around his tense waist, tears falling down her cheeks.
She cried uncontrollably. He was not much better off, with red eyes.
Gu Ying came back to her senses and found the man had neatly tidied her clothes. His exquisite perfect phoenix eyes gazed at her silently.
"You're really something, using yourself as a sacrifice. Who taught you to do that?"
"I didn't really want to be a sacrifice. I just wanted an excuse to gather all the common people in one place, to publicly expose Jiang Yin's crimes... and to let them see the effect of the antidote themselves. Also, Changdu, if I didn't do this, how could you feel at ease searching for Master Zhuge and the others? If not for Master Zhuge finding snow lotus on the cliff to make the primer for the medicine, I'm afraid we would have had to stay in Yueyang for a few more days before returning to Bianjing so quickly."
The man was displeased. Two fingers pinched her chin. "Gu Ying, you still dare to argue?"
Gu Ying's cheeks bulged out. The thick curled lashes were like two feather fans. "Wuwu, I don't dare, I don't dare, I really don't dare!"
Since coming out of the sacrificial altar, he had rarely touched her anymore, mostly just hugging and kissing her without saying anything, holding her that way for half the night.
Although he was considerate of the baby and unwilling to be intimate with her, his other needs were no less.
"I was wrong, I really wrong. I absolutely won't make this kind of mistake again, really." Gu Ying's face was bright red. She obediently nestled in his arms and gently swore, "I swear, Changdu."
Zhao Changdu coldly snorted. His fingers squeezed her soft cheeks to vent his anger. "If there is a next time, I will break your legs."
Gu Ying whimpered begging for mercy. "Okay, okay. Can you just chain me by your side?"
Only then was Zhao Changdu somewhat satisfied. His lips touched her ear, lightly kissing it. But he still felt unhappy in his heart. "Remember to stay away from Li Yang in the future."
Gu Ying wondered, "What's wrong with him? He's been a bit strange lately too. I always felt his gaze made me uncomfortable before, but after returning from Yueyang, that kind of look was gone from his eyes. It seems getting kicked by me in the infirmary made him behave. He's a prince, but that's all he amounts to. If I don't beat him down, he won't know what I'm capable of."
Zhao Changdu helplessly tapped the young girl's brow, but there were black clouds churning in his eyes.
As a man, he naturally understood men. Li Yang had disguised himself as a gentleman in front of the Emperor and civil and military officials, but in private he was addicted to beauty and revelry. From the beginning, he had schemed to obtain Gu Ying. If not for him, I'm afraid Gu Ying would have become his plaything.
And now, somehow Li Yang had actually developed feelings of affection for his Gu Ying?
Humph. Zhao Changdu silently sneered. With just Li Yang, how dare he covet his Gu Ying?
"A man like him is up to no good. And he is of the royal family. Gu Ying must remember to have no further dealings with him in the future."
"Changdu, don't worry. As a subject's wife, I will naturally have no interactions with him after I return."
"Good, that's my good wife."
The man gently coaxed. Gu Ying's ear grew hot as she chatted and laughed with him, enjoying this rare leisurely moment. After all, with so many demons and monsters waiting for them back in Bianjing, it would be hard for her and the Prince to relax.
...
On the day they returned to Bianjing, it was sunny and mild, flowers blooming everywhere outside the city walls.
The carriage drove straight into Bianjing. After entering the city, Gu Ying bid farewell to Ye Qingchi, Ning Si and the others, going ahead with the Prince to the Duke's estate first.
Not having sent word of their return ahead of time, when Zhao Sheng saw Zhao Changdu and Gu Ying walking hand in hand into the estate, he was stunned for quite a while.
After a moment, the corner of Zhao Sheng's mouth moved slightly, revealing a trace of hardly noticeable joy. "Your Highness, why have you returned at this time? And Madam... weren't you at the Changfeng Pavilion..."
Zhao Changdu raised his hand to stop his words, telling him not make a fuss. He calmly asked, "Where is Father?"
Zhao Sheng reacted swiftly. "Your Highness, the Duke is at the Zhengde Pavilion."
"Mm." Zhao Changdu looked back reluctantly letting go of Gu Ying's hand. He tapped her nose and said, "I'll go to the Zhengde Pavilion first. Ying, you and Yin Lan go back to the Changfeng Pavilion. I'll be back very soon. Remember to be good and wait for me."
Gu Ying's face grew slightly red. She nodded. "Alright, don't worry Changdu, I know what to do."
Then she had Huai An secretly escort Gu Ying back to the Changfeng Pavilion first, while he himself went to the Zhengde Pavilion to see Zhao Hui, Cheng, and the others.
Returning to the familiar Changfeng Pavilion, Gu Ying was overjoyed.
Walking through the Moon Gate and into the yard, Yanzhi was wearing a pomegranate red skirt, her hair styled in a high bun. Her plump little face leaned against a column under the eaves, her little head bobbing down unsteadily like she was fishing.
