There were always people who liked to stab him with things from the past.
Unfortunately for them, he was no longer that helpless fifteen-year-old who could do nothing.
He would never make the same mistake twice when it came to the same thing.
Zhao Changdu's handsome face darkened like the clouds before a storm. "Don't even mention it's the old madam. Even if it was the current Emperor, no one can stop me from marrying Gu Ying."
That mocking voice was distant and indifferent, yet laced with a trace of cold arrogance. It sounded nonchalant, but every word was full of cold and imposing might.
Gu Old Madam collapsed into her chair as if her strings had been cut. "Prince..."
The warmth in Zhao Changdu's eyes disappeared as he looked down at her condescendingly. "The betrothal gifts have already been delivered to your residence. Gu Ying will be mine no matter what. I will personally go through the processes of proposing the union, asking her name, presenting betrothal gifts, presenting wedding gifts, and picking the wedding date with the Gu family."
"If the old madam tries to obstruct me again, I won't mind letting her experience some of my methods from the military."
Gu Old Madam's lips trembled slightly, her face alternating between green and white. "Prince, don't think you can rely on the Duke's manor's power—"
"If the old madam doesn't believe me, feel free to give it a try," Zhao Changdu said coldly, glancing at her sideways.
Gu Old Madam's entire body collapsed as she sagged into the chair. She stared blankly at the expressionless, handsome face of the man before her, feeling chilled and afraid to the bone.
Just as Zhao Changdu was about to leave, he paused and tilted his head slightly. "If I find out the old madam has been bullying Gu Ying, I won't let the Gu family off either. It would be best for you to restrain yourself," he said lightly.
After saying that, he strode away.
Gu Old Madam was drenched in cold sweat, frightened to the core. It was at this moment that the piercing cold wind from outside blew in, bringing a penetrating chill into her heart.
She was afraid... she wouldn't be able to stop Gu Ying and the Prince's wedding.
Realizing this, she was filled with tremendous fear and fainted on the spot.
Li Mama pushed open the door to see the figure collapsed on the floor and cried out in alarm, "Old Madam! Old Madam! Quick, find a doctor!"
...
Zhao Changdu walked out of the East Pingbo Residence's front gate and stood tall at the entrance.
Outside, snow fluttered down steadily. The man stood under the eaves as the dim candlelight shone on his distinct, handsome features, making his inscrutable expression seem even more unfathomable.
He knew the Gu family couldn't tolerate Gu Ying, but he didn't expect the old madam's hatred of her to reach this extent.
Perhaps it was sympathy at work, but he lingered for a while, unwilling to leave.
Huai An dismissed the few brothers from the Qilin Army and sidled up ingratiatingly. "Master, I hope nothing...happened between you and Second Miss Gu today?"
A whole two hours had passed... Even an ox would be tired by now, yet the Prince remained composed as ever, giving no indication whatsoever.
Huai An began to doubt his assumptions. Could it be that the Prince's chastity, guarded for over twenty years, was still intact? Don't tell him the Prince was still holding onto his feelings for Miss Huo?
This would not bode well!
Thinking of this, Huai An changed his approach and asked euphemistically, "Master, has the poison in Second Miss been resolved?"
Zhao Changdu's expression was inscrutable. "Mm."
Huai An cracked a wicked grin to himself and remarked, "What a relief it's resolved. Second Miss is truly pitiful—Master, don't you think the old madam has lost her mind? As a grandmother, she clearly favors one granddaughter to an outrageous extent, it's truly chilling!"
"What—!"
"Master! Master!"
"The Duke's manor is that way, where are you going?"
Huai An came to his senses and saw that his master had turned and headed in the direction of the Gu family's back residence.
Even someone as slow-witted as him understood now. He hurried to catch up and said with an obsequious smile, "Master, are you going to see Second Miss again?"
Zhao Changdu said nothing, his exquisitely handsome face devoid of any emotion.
It was often said that serving one's lord was like serving a tiger. His master's thoughts ran even deeper than the Emperor's.
Huai An had never been able to fully grasp the Prince's thoughts. He rubbed his nose knowingly and kept quiet. A man visiting a woman at this hour could only be for one reason!
It must be affection!
The master and servant had just left by the front door, yet now they could only sneak in furtively over the back wall.
Huai An felt life in Bianjing was quite interesting—at the very least, it was giving his master who usually shunned women and had sworn off love for Miss Huo's sake a bit of down-to-earth warmth.
Now he saw Gu Ying as a female bodhisattva who saved the suffering.
But when they leapt over the wall into Yu Xue Studio, they found its door shut tight.
Huai An was about to step forward and knock when Zhao Changdu stopped him.
Barging into a young lady's boudoir late at night would inevitably damage her reputation if it got out.
Huai An quickly stepped back. Following his master's lead, they arrived below Gu Second Miss's bedchamber window. He didn't dare peek inside, instead turning around to stand watch.
Zhao Changdu concealed himself in the darkness and peered inside through a gap in the window lattice.
The little miss who had been complaining of discomfort earlier now had her brows locked in distress, a layer of sweat beading her forehead.
He had to admit he'd gone too far today.
She seemed to be having a terrible nightmare, her hands clutching the bedding tightly while the veins in the back of them bulged. Her pale lips moved soundlessly. "No... Don't... Zhao Changdu... I... hate you... I hate you..."
"I hate you."
Zhao Changdu froze, his eyes darkening dangerously.
The woman inside continued to repeat those words of hatred towards him.
A cold wind gusted by, stinging his face like a blade, painful right down to the skin and flesh.
He couldn't describe what he was feeling—only that it was like being stabbed in the heart by a sharp knife, making him feel strangely irritated.
He didn't expect Gu Ying to be so repulsed by him. If he had known, he would have found another way to cure her poison, not stooped to such underhanded means that led her to... hate him so deeply.
The woman inside seemed to be in severe pain, tossing and turning as she was tormented by nightmares.
Hearing the cries from within, Yin Lan and Yanzhi hurriedly pushed open the door in concern.
Yin Lan's anxious voice soon rang out from inside, "Miss, wake up!"
"No—!"
The woman let out a miserable shriek as she abruptly bolted upright in bed.
Gu Ying was awake.
She breathed rapidly, her entire body sore and aching as if she'd been run over by a carriage. Her body felt like it had been battered all over.
The recurring nightmare brought her back to that night in the abandoned villa from her previous life, when Zhao Changdu had... That night, no matter how she cried and begged for help, no one came to her rescue.
She was tormented over and over, sinking into despair and terror.
"Miss, are you alright? Is your body still uncomfortable? Should I prepare some hot water?"
"There there, Yanzhi. Don't bother the miss," said thoughtful Yin Lan, calming Yanzhi down and sending her to fetch hot water. She moved to Gu Ying's bedside and said gently, "Miss, did you have a nightmare?"
Gu Ying nodded numbly, her long lashes trembling...
She ached all over, especially—
She suddenly recalled the shameful scenes from before...
