Gu Shuang was very uncomfortable under her gaze. She rubbed her little hands and stood up, walking to her side and holding her arm. "Second sister?"
Gu Ying turned her head, her eyes falling on her flushed face, "Fourth younger sister, what were you doing just now?"
Gu Shuang pursed her lips and smiled stiffly. "Nothing...just bored and wanted to read a book..."
Gu Ying walked over tentatively, and Gu Shuang nervously stopped her from continuing. "Second sister, did you come to see me because you have something to discuss?"
Gu Ying smiled faintly. "Does Fourth Younger Sister have something to hide from me?"
"Second sister, I—"
Gu Ying's lips curled slightly. She had already seen that piece of biyu medicine bottle at first glance, with the words "flowing light" on it.
It was obvious who had sent the medicine.
Gu Ying took her small hand and looked at the scars on her palms left by the tree branches. She sighed distressfully, then walked to the table and turned out the medicine bottle in front of her.
"Fourth younger sister, this was sent by Young Master Fu?"
Gu Shuang nodded shyly. "Yes..."
Worried that Gu Ying would misunderstand, she quickly explained, "Second sister, don't get the wrong idea. We didn't do anything inappropriate, and abided by propriety without crossing the line. He was just worried about my hand, so he sent the medicinal ointment, saying it is very effective for treating scars. I don't want scars on my hands, so I accepted it..."
Seeing the shy girl with red ears, Gu Ying, as someone who had gone through this before, understood everything.
There was no reason to like someone.
You just liked them. If you had to give a reason, it was because that person gave off a glow at some point that just happened to shine into someone else's heart.
She looked at the girl's expression as she tried hard to explain, without blinking. "Fourth younger sister, have you ever thought that your mother has high aspirations, how would she allow you to marry someone like Young Master Fu?"
"What's wrong with Young Master Fu? He is very good—"
The words blurted out made Gu Shuang's face flush red in an instant. "Second sister, you tricked me!"
Gu Ying laughed out loud humorlessly. She poured out some crystal clear ointment from the medicine bottle, looking at her deeply, "Fu Xunzhi is a good man, and will surely be a good partner. If Fourth Younger Sister really likes him, she should think of ways to grab hold of him properly."
"Second sister?" Gu Shuang looked up happily, thinking that second sister was here to interrogate her about getting too close with Young Master Fu. But she didn't expect Second Sister to not blame her.
Gu Ying soothingly took her soft hand and gently applied the ointment to her scarred wounds. "Don't worry, with such a good younger sister like you, such a good girl, I will help you too."
"But Second Sister also likes Young Master Fu, right? I..."
"My liking for him is admiration, not that I must marry him."
"Really?"
"If I'm lying, I'm a dog."
The sisters looked at each other and smiled.
Gu Ying's smile was faint. She hoped she could marry a man like Fu Xunzhi in this lifetime, who would love, protect, and grow old with her, even if life was plain and simple, as long as they respected each other and lived in harmony for a lifetime, she would be content.
But she didn't like Fu Xunzhi to the point of infatuation.
And Gu Shuang died a terrible death in her previous life, also because of a bad marriage. How could she bear to watch her marry into fire pit again in this life when the girl was protecting her so much?
She wanted to protect her and make it possible for her and Fu Xunzhi to be together.
"Second sister, you are better to me than my mother."
"It's still too early to say that." Gu Ying bent her fingers and scraped her nose sadly and helplessly. "Which mother in this world does not love her own children? My kindness to you is the mutual help that should exist between sisters. Her kindness to you is a parent's love for their child, with deep and far-reaching plans."
If her mother was still alive, how could she and her brother end up in this situation?
So children who have mothers are the most enviable.
Gu Shuang smiled shallowly, nodding her head, "Yes, I know. I'm just worried that when Mother finds out I want to marry Young Master Fu, she will be so angry that all hell will break loose..."
"Wait for now. Leave this to Second Sister. Second Sister will definitely make it possible for you to marry an ideal husband and live a peaceful life."
"Okay!"
Gu Shuang felt that the Second Sister now was more and more reliable. She was only one or two years older than herself, yet seemed like a mature and steady adult, giving her a sense of security.
...
After leaving Gu Shuang's camp, Gu Ying knew she probably couldn't marry Fu Xunzhi anymore.
But the Zhao family was too powerful, and she still couldn't resist Zhao Changdu.
If he threatened her with the Li King's bow again, she was even more powerless.
Thinking of this, a sense of helplessness was born instantly.
Marry or not marry, this was a very serious problem.
...
The next two days, Gu Ying focused on hunting.
There were many excellent hunters in the hunting grounds, but among the young ladies, only she alone hunted three celestial deer, exclusively obtaining the brightest one, quickly attracting the attention of the Tianqi Emperor.
On the last day of the winter hunt, when tallying the hunt, only she and Zhao Changdu had each hunted three, tying for first place in the winter hunt this time and receiving great praise and reward from the Tianqi Emperor.
Zhao Changdu did not want the reward. He asked the Sage for a promise, "Your subject has a lady in mind and wants to ask Your Majesty for a marriage decree."
At his words, the various people present had different expressions. This prince of the Zhao manor had always been the apple of everyone's eye. Until now when he was still unmarried, many families had racked their brains to send their daughters to the Zhao manor.
Now, what was the prince saying?
He already had a lady in mind?
Who was that lady?
Other than that Miss Huo from back then, who else could be so fortunate as to have the prince personally ask for a decree to marry her?
Miss Huo, sitting beside Zhao Changxing, took a long time to recover from his words "already has a lady in mind." She looked as calm as ever, but her heart was already sorely heartbroken.
Huo Qiyan, on the other hand, didn't think too much. She just smiled smugly.
She knew that her name would definitely be written on that decree.
"Oh?" The Tianqi Emperor's eyes were full of cunning. He smiled unexpectedly and said, "Who is the lady Adu has taken a liking to? As long as you name her, Zhen can grant you marriage right now."
Gu Ying's cherry lips tightened slightly, and her small hands gripped tightly in her sleeves, afraid he would say her name.
Fortunately, Zhao Changdu did not look at her. His handsome face lifted slightly, thin lips hooking into a faint smile, he said lightly to the Sage, "It is not yet the right time. When the timing is ripe, I will personally enter the palace to seek Your Majesty's decree to marry her."
There were whispers below, Zhao Guogong looked at Cheng, then exchanged glances with Zhao Rou, and their expressions were not very good.
Gu Ying lowered her head, feeling extremely tormented.
Zhao Changdu was clearly deliberately pressuring her.
If she hadn't considered it well and didn't agree to marry him, then he would use the decree to force her. By then, even if she didn't want to marry him, she would have to.
How could this man be so overbearing?
If she really married him, could she still have good days?
Gu Shuang was very uncomfortable under her gaze. She rubbed her little hands and stood up, walking to her side and holding her arm. "Second sister?"
Gu Ying turned her head, her eyes falling on her flushed face, "Fourth younger sister, what were you doing just now?"
Gu Shuang pursed her lips and smiled stiffly. "Nothing...just bored and wanted to read a book..."
Gu Ying walked over tentatively, and Gu Shuang nervously stopped her from continuing. "Second sister, did you come to see me because you have something to discuss?"
Gu Ying smiled faintly. "Does Fourth Younger Sister have something to hide from me?"
"Second sister, I—"
Gu Ying's lips curled slightly. She had already seen that piece of biyu medicine bottle at first glance, with the words "flowing light" on it.
It was obvious who had sent the medicine.
Gu Ying took her small hand and looked at the scars on her palms left by the tree branches. She sighed distressfully, then walked to the table and turned out the medicine bottle in front of her.
"Fourth younger sister, this was sent by Young Master Fu?"
Gu Shuang nodded shyly. "Yes..."
Worried that Gu Ying would misunderstand, she quickly explained, "Second sister, don't get the wrong idea. We didn't do anything inappropriate, and abided by propriety without crossing the line. He was just worried about my hand, so he sent the medicinal ointment, saying it is very effective for treating scars. I don't want scars on my hands, so I accepted it..."
Seeing the shy girl with red ears, Gu Ying, as someone who had gone through this before, understood everything.
There was no reason to like someone.
You just liked them. If you had to give a reason, it was because that person gave off a glow at some point that just happened to shine into someone else's heart.
She looked at the girl's expression as she tried hard to explain, without blinking. "Fourth younger sister, have you ever thought that your mother has high aspirations, how would she allow you to marry someone like Young Master Fu?"
"What's wrong with Young Master Fu? He is very good—"
The words blurted out made Gu Shuang's face flush red in an instant. "Second sister, you tricked me!"
Gu Ying laughed out loud humorlessly. She poured out some crystal clear ointment from the medicine bottle, looking at her deeply, "Fu Xunzhi is a good man, and will surely be a good partner. If Fourth Younger Sister really likes him, she should think of ways to grab hold of him properly."
"Second sister?" Gu Shuang looked up happily, thinking that second sister was here to interrogate her about getting too close with Young Master Fu. But she didn't expect Second Sister to not blame her.
Gu Ying soothingly took her soft hand and gently applied the ointment to her scarred wounds. "Don't worry, with such a good younger sister like you, such a good girl, I will help you too."
"But Second Sister also likes Young Master Fu, right? I..."
"My liking for him is admiration, not that I must marry him."
"Really?"
"If I'm lying, I'm a dog."
The sisters looked at each other and smiled.
Gu Ying's smile was faint. She hoped she could marry a man like Fu Xunzhi in this lifetime, who would love, protect, and grow old with her, even if life was plain and simple, as long as they respected each other and lived in harmony for a lifetime, she would be content.
But she didn't like Fu Xunzhi to the point of infatuation.
And Gu Shuang died a terrible death in her previous life, also because of a bad marriage. How could she bear to watch her marry into fire pit again in this life when the girl was protecting her so much?
She wanted to protect her and make it possible for her and Fu Xunzhi to be together.
"Second sister, you are better to me than my mother."
"It's still too early to say that." Gu Ying bent her fingers and scraped her nose sadly and helplessly. "Which mother in this world does not love her own children? My kindness to you is the mutual help that should exist between sisters. Her kindness to you is a parent's love for their child, with deep and far-reaching plans."
If her mother was still alive, how could she and her brother end up in this situation?
So children who have mothers are the most enviable.
Gu Shuang smiled shallowly, nodding her head, "Yes, I know. I'm just worried that when Mother finds out I want to marry Young Master Fu, she will be so angry that all hell will break loose..."
"Wait for now. Leave this to Second Sister. Second Sister will definitely make it possible for you to marry an ideal husband and live a peaceful life."
"Okay!"
Gu Shuang felt that the Second Sister now was more and more reliable. She was only one or two years older than herself, yet seemed like a mature and steady adult, giving her a sense of security.
...
After leaving Gu Shuang's camp, Gu Ying knew she probably couldn't marry Fu Xunzhi anymore.
But the Zhao family was too powerful, and she still couldn't resist Zhao Changdu.
If he threatened her with the Li King's bow again, she was even more powerless.
Thinking of this, a sense of helplessness was born instantly.
Marry or not marry, this was a very serious problem.
...
The next two days, Gu Ying focused on hunting.
There were many excellent hunters in the hunting grounds, but among the young ladies, only she alone hunted three celestial deer, exclusively obtaining the brightest one, quickly attracting the attention of the Tianqi Emperor.
On the last day of the winter hunt, when tallying the hunt, only she and Zhao Changdu had each hunted three, tying for first place in the winter hunt this time and receiving great praise and reward from the Tianqi Emperor.
Zhao Changdu did not want the reward. He asked the Sage for a promise, "Your subject has a lady in mind and wants to ask Your Majesty for a marriage decree."
At his words, the various people present had different expressions. This prince of the Zhao manor had always been the apple of everyone's eye. Until now when he was still unmarried, many families had racked their brains to send their daughters to the Zhao manor.
Now, what was the prince saying?
He already had a lady in mind?
Who was that lady?
Other than that Miss Huo from back then, who else could be so fortunate as to have the prince personally ask for a decree to marry her?
Miss Huo, sitting beside Zhao Changxing, took a long time to recover from his words "already has a lady in mind." She looked as calm as ever, but her heart was already sorely heartbroken.
Huo Qiyan, on the other hand, didn't think too much. She just smiled smugly.
She knew that her name would definitely be written on that decree.
"Oh?" The Tianqi Emperor's eyes were full of cunning. He smiled unexpectedly and said, "Who is the lady Adu has taken a liking to? As long as you name her, Zhen can grant you marriage right now."
Gu Ying's cherry lips tightened slightly, and her small hands gripped tightly in her sleeves, afraid he would say her name.
Fortunately, Zhao Changdu did not look at her. His handsome face lifted slightly, thin lips hooking into a faint smile, he said lightly to the Sage, "It is not yet the right time. When the timing is ripe, I will personally enter the palace to seek Your Majesty's decree to marry her."
There were whispers below, Zhao Guogong looked at Cheng, then exchanged glances with Zhao Rou, and their expressions were not very good.
Gu Ying lowered her head, feeling extremely tormented.
Zhao Changdu was clearly deliberately pressuring her.
If she hadn't considered it well and didn't agree to marry him, then he would use the decree to force her. By then, even if she didn't want to marry him, she would have to.
How could this man be so overbearing?
If she really married him, could she still have good days?
