Gu Ying suddenly understood something, her eyes going slightly blank.
After being reborn, she had thought about too many things - taking revenge, saving her brother, avoiding all the dangers and schemes that had trapped her in her previous life.
She had seized every advantage, arrogantly believing everything was under her control.
But she had overlooked the fact that human hearts change, that Gu Shuang and Fu Xunzhi had searched for her together last night, and fell into the black pond together... and endured that most helpless night together.
An environment like that is most likely to give rise to feelings and dependence.
Gu Shuang was young, and Fu Xunzhi rarely got so close to a woman, so it was likely their feelings for each other were no longer those of strangers from yesterday.
Gu Ying's heart was complicated, the corners of her lips curving up slightly, a bitterly sad smile spilling out. "But, I and the Prince, we really can't be considered a good match."
Zhao Changdu slowly said, "Whether it is a good match or not is unimportant."
Gu Ying looked up, "What does the Prince mean by that?"
Zhao Changdu's eyebrows and eyes were tranquil, his jet black pupils reflecting the snowy sky, as unfathomable as an abyss. "I am already of age, it is time I took a wife, and there are already people in my household making preparations for my marriage. However, no matter if it is Princess Yueyan, or the Huo Family's second young lady, or any other woman they choose, I will not agree."
Gu Ying's expression gradually became solemn. "The Prince's meaning is..."
Zhao Changdu's appearance was cold and detached, "My wife will naturally be chosen by me, not by them."
Gu Ying was speechless for a moment. "But even without Young Master Fu, I and the Young Marquis already have a marriage agreement..."
Zhao Changdu's eyes were as dark as ink, as if they could see into the depths of one's heart.
He said, "Gu Ying, Huan Feng is not your good match."
Gu Ying's heart trembled slightly, and for a long time she had no words to say, "......"
Zhao Changdu's eyebrows raised coldly, his thin lips curving up slightly, "I will give you time to consider this, and I promise you, after marrying you I will give you everything you want."
His mocking tone was detached and indifferent, yet with a trace of arrogance and possessiveness. Though it seemed casual, every word was cold and authoritative.
Gu Ying listened until her heart was in chaos, raising her wet eyes to look at him.
Everything she wanted, did he know what she wanted?
"Prince, I'm unwilling—"
Zhao Changdu's brows and eyes were cold. He took out a jade pendant from his clothes and placed it in her hand. "You don't need to hurry to refuse. I will give you time to think about it, but you should know, the only answer I want is yes."
His icy tone held a hint of coercion.
Gu Ying's heart sank. What kind of person was he? The only heir to the Duke of Zhenguo Manor, his word was law, he held great power, and now he was also a rising star favored by the Emperor in Bianjing.
If he was determined to force her to marry him, with the power of her Gu family, she would not be able to resist.
More words were useless. She could only knit her brows tightly, lowering her eyes to look at the jade pendant engraved with Huan Feng's name, gripping it tightly. "Even if I'm willing to break off the engagement, Grandmother won't agree. This matter will require some time to plan..."
What Zhao Changdu wanted was just her attitude.
Knowing that she had plans and strategies, it eased his heart greatly.
"Mm. Don't worry about this matter, leave it to me. I previously promised you I would come in three months to break off the engagement, and I will keep that promise."
Gu Ying, who had originally wanted to hurry and run away with her brother during this time: "......"
That wasn't what she meant!
Zhao Changdu stretched out his big hand, seeing the girl's dazed look, his heart softened a little. He stroked the top of her head, "Don't worry, marrying me, I will treat you very well."
Gu Ying pulled the corners of her lips.
She didn't know if he would treat her well in the future, she only knew this Prince also didn't keep his word...
Just yesterday he had righteously spoken for her reputation, yet in barely a day's time he had changed so quickly.
It seemed men's hearts were fickle, every one unreliable.
Or perhaps, those in high positions all had these flaws, unwilling to let others trample their authority. She had rejected his proposal, instead arousing in him some possessive desire to conquer her?
Gu Ying now deeply regretted rejecting him so decisively before. Her mind was in chaos.
She didn't even know when Zhao Changdu had left.
By the time she came back to herself, there was only a little rouge girl blinking her bright eyes before her, and an exquisite carved ink-black jade kirin pendant lying in her hands.
"Miss, this is the kirin jade pendant the Prince's close attendant Huai An gave this servant to pass on to you. He said, if in the future Miss wants to find the Prince, just take this jade pendant and find a beggar dressed in black outside their manor."
Gu Ying came back to her senses, chagrined as she asked, "Did the Prince say anything else?"
The rouge girl shook her head, her eyes blinking. "Miss, what did the Prince just say to you? I saw your brows were furrowed so tight, did the Prince bully you?"
"No..." Gu Ying clenched a jade pendant in each hand, a headache coming on. "But speaking truly, it could be considered bullying..."
As she spoke, she walked back, pondering how to resolve this matter.
How could she escape from Jiang Yin's clutches, only to truly marry into the Zhenguo Duke Manor's household?
The rouge girl hop-skipped along behind her young mistress, an innocent happy look on her face. "Miss is getting more and more amazing. Now both the Young Marquis and the Prince favor you, Qingfeng and Mingyue have been sold away from our residence, in the future no one will dare bully you again. And Miss, your heroic bearing while riding and shooting is so handsome, let alone those young masters from prestigious families!"
Gu Ying impatiently said, "Don't speak nonsense. Who said the Prince favors me?"
"But this servant feels—"
"Hurry up and shut your mouth! Don't you know disaster comes from the mouth?"
The rouge girl quickly covered her mouth, her jet black eyes twirling around.
The more Gu Ying thought about it, the more upset she felt. To her, Zhao Changdu was no haven, but more like a wolf's den...
She still resented how he had bullied her in her past life. How could she marry him and become his pillowside companion in this life? This...this was taking her life!
Her heart was tangled with anger, thinking over his words as her footsteps unconsciously walked towards Gu Shuang's tent.
In the wind and snow, the rouge girl called after her in a hoarse voice, "Miss, you've gone the wrong way! That is Fourth Young Lady's tent!"
Gu Ying pulled up her hood to cover her hair buns, blinking the snowflakes from her long lashes. "I didn't go the wrong way. I'm going to see my Fourth Younger Sister."
Lifting the curtain, a gust of icy wind swirled in large snowflakes into the tent.
The brazier in the tent gave off a red-yellow firelight with popping sounds.
Gu Ying stepped inside, and saw Gu Shuang alone, busily hiding something by candlelight. Seeing her come in, the little face quickly showed an awkward but polite smile. "Second Elder Sister, you...why have you come?"
Gu Ying stared at her blushing little face and didn't speak.
Gu Ying suddenly understood something, her eyes going slightly blank.
After being reborn, she had thought about too many things - taking revenge, saving her brother, avoiding all the dangers and schemes that had trapped her in her previous life.
She had seized every advantage, arrogantly believing everything was under her control.
But she had overlooked the fact that human hearts change, that Gu Shuang and Fu Xunzhi had searched for her together last night, and fell into the black pond together... and endured that most helpless night together.
An environment like that is most likely to give rise to feelings and dependence.
Gu Shuang was young, and Fu Xunzhi rarely got so close to a woman, so it was likely their feelings for each other were no longer those of strangers from yesterday.
Gu Ying's heart was complicated, the corners of her lips curving up slightly, a bitterly sad smile spilling out. "But, I and the Prince, we really can't be considered a good match."
Zhao Changdu slowly said, "Whether it is a good match or not is unimportant."
Gu Ying looked up, "What does the Prince mean by that?"
Zhao Changdu's eyebrows and eyes were tranquil, his jet black pupils reflecting the snowy sky, as unfathomable as an abyss. "I am already of age, it is time I took a wife, and there are already people in my household making preparations for my marriage. However, no matter if it is Princess Yueyan, or the Huo Family's second young lady, or any other woman they choose, I will not agree."
Gu Ying's expression gradually became solemn. "The Prince's meaning is..."
Zhao Changdu's appearance was cold and detached, "My wife will naturally be chosen by me, not by them."
Gu Ying was speechless for a moment. "But even without Young Master Fu, I and the Young Marquis already have a marriage agreement..."
Zhao Changdu's eyes were as dark as ink, as if they could see into the depths of one's heart.
He said, "Gu Ying, Huan Feng is not your good match."
Gu Ying's heart trembled slightly, and for a long time she had no words to say, "......"
Zhao Changdu's eyebrows raised coldly, his thin lips curving up slightly, "I will give you time to consider this, and I promise you, after marrying you I will give you everything you want."
His mocking tone was detached and indifferent, yet with a trace of arrogance and possessiveness. Though it seemed casual, every word was cold and authoritative.
Gu Ying listened until her heart was in chaos, raising her wet eyes to look at him.
Everything she wanted, did he know what she wanted?
"Prince, I'm unwilling—"
Zhao Changdu's brows and eyes were cold. He took out a jade pendant from his clothes and placed it in her hand. "You don't need to hurry to refuse. I will give you time to think about it, but you should know, the only answer I want is yes."
His icy tone held a hint of coercion.
Gu Ying's heart sank. What kind of person was he? The only heir to the Duke of Zhenguo Manor, his word was law, he held great power, and now he was also a rising star favored by the Emperor in Bianjing.
If he was determined to force her to marry him, with the power of her Gu family, she would not be able to resist.
More words were useless. She could only knit her brows tightly, lowering her eyes to look at the jade pendant engraved with Huan Feng's name, gripping it tightly. "Even if I'm willing to break off the engagement, Grandmother won't agree. This matter will require some time to plan..."
What Zhao Changdu wanted was just her attitude.
Knowing that she had plans and strategies, it eased his heart greatly.
"Mm. Don't worry about this matter, leave it to me. I previously promised you I would come in three months to break off the engagement, and I will keep that promise."
Gu Ying, who had originally wanted to hurry and run away with her brother during this time: "......"
That wasn't what she meant!
Zhao Changdu stretched out his big hand, seeing the girl's dazed look, his heart softened a little. He stroked the top of her head, "Don't worry, marrying me, I will treat you very well."
Gu Ying pulled the corners of her lips.
She didn't know if he would treat her well in the future, she only knew this Prince also didn't keep his word...
Just yesterday he had righteously spoken for her reputation, yet in barely a day's time he had changed so quickly.
It seemed men's hearts were fickle, every one unreliable.
Or perhaps, those in high positions all had these flaws, unwilling to let others trample their authority. She had rejected his proposal, instead arousing in him some possessive desire to conquer her?
Gu Ying now deeply regretted rejecting him so decisively before. Her mind was in chaos.
She didn't even know when Zhao Changdu had left.
By the time she came back to herself, there was only a little rouge girl blinking her bright eyes before her, and an exquisite carved ink-black jade kirin pendant lying in her hands.
"Miss, this is the kirin jade pendant the Prince's close attendant Huai An gave this servant to pass on to you. He said, if in the future Miss wants to find the Prince, just take this jade pendant and find a beggar dressed in black outside their manor."
Gu Ying came back to her senses, chagrined as she asked, "Did the Prince say anything else?"
The rouge girl shook her head, her eyes blinking. "Miss, what did the Prince just say to you? I saw your brows were furrowed so tight, did the Prince bully you?"
"No..." Gu Ying clenched a jade pendant in each hand, a headache coming on. "But speaking truly, it could be considered bullying..."
As she spoke, she walked back, pondering how to resolve this matter.
How could she escape from Jiang Yin's clutches, only to truly marry into the Zhenguo Duke Manor's household?
The rouge girl hop-skipped along behind her young mistress, an innocent happy look on her face. "Miss is getting more and more amazing. Now both the Young Marquis and the Prince favor you, Qingfeng and Mingyue have been sold away from our residence, in the future no one will dare bully you again. And Miss, your heroic bearing while riding and shooting is so handsome, let alone those young masters from prestigious families!"
Gu Ying impatiently said, "Don't speak nonsense. Who said the Prince favors me?"
"But this servant feels—"
"Hurry up and shut your mouth! Don't you know disaster comes from the mouth?"
The rouge girl quickly covered her mouth, her jet black eyes twirling around.
The more Gu Ying thought about it, the more upset she felt. To her, Zhao Changdu was no haven, but more like a wolf's den...
She still resented how he had bullied her in her past life. How could she marry him and become his pillowside companion in this life? This...this was taking her life!
Her heart was tangled with anger, thinking over his words as her footsteps unconsciously walked towards Gu Shuang's tent.
In the wind and snow, the rouge girl called after her in a hoarse voice, "Miss, you've gone the wrong way! That is Fourth Young Lady's tent!"
Gu Ying pulled up her hood to cover her hair buns, blinking the snowflakes from her long lashes. "I didn't go the wrong way. I'm going to see my Fourth Younger Sister."
Lifting the curtain, a gust of icy wind swirled in large snowflakes into the tent.
The brazier in the tent gave off a red-yellow firelight with popping sounds.
Gu Ying stepped inside, and saw Gu Shuang alone, busily hiding something by candlelight. Seeing her come in, the little face quickly showed an awkward but polite smile. "Second Elder Sister, you...why have you come?"
Gu Ying stared at her blushing little face and didn't speak.
