Gu Ying's cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her eyes without speaking.
Although Zhao Changdu was quite old, he was actually still a mere boy...
"Yin Lan, don't say anymore. I know what to do..."
Yin Lan thought Gu Ying was shy because of her young age, so she didn't continue probing further. "Miss knows best. Yanzhi has heated up the water, so miss should go bathe now?"
"Mm..."
Gu Ying nodded. When she got up, her whole body still felt weak, especially her legs which had wounds she had ruthlessly stabbed herself the night before.
Yin Lan called for Yanzhi to come over, and the two helped bring Gu Ying to the bathing chamber.
...
The next morning.
The news that Gu Ying was proposed to spread all over Bianjing city.
Everyone found it unbelievable that even though Gu Ying's reputation was in tatters now, there was still someone willing to come propose marriage to bring such misfortune upon themselves?
But when they found out the proposer was none other than the heir apparent of the prestigious Zhao manor, Zhao Changdu, everyone wisely kept their mouths shut.
It was heard that early in the morning, the heir apparent had gone into the palace to ask for an imperial decree of marriage from Emperor Tianqi, giving Gu Ying tremendous face.
Princess Yueyan smashed a floor full of teacups in anger in the rear palace, and immediately went to the Empress's palace.
The Empress quickly sent people to find out at the Emperor's palace.
Only then did she find out that originally, His Majesty did not approve of the marriage alliance between the Zhao and Gu families. But no one knew what the heir apparent had said to persuade the Emperor, and in the end, His Majesty relented and issued an imperial decree.
With the imperial decree, Princess Yueyan was heartbroken.
And Huo Qiyan, who had been harbouring hopes of marrying Zhao Changdu, flew into a rage when she heard of the engagement, and threw a tantrum in front of her mother.
Seeing her beloved daughter cry like this, Zhao Rou coldly laughed and had no choice but to pay a visit to the Zhao manor.
A sudden marriage alliance caused huge ripples through the intricate web of prominent families in Bianjing.
Meanwhile, Gu Ying, who had just woken up in Twilight Snow Studio, still had absolutely no idea what she would be facing from today onwards.
As usual, she simply woke up and glanced outside at the light snow.
It seemed even colder today.
Located in the northernmost part of Dong Li, Bianjing experienced ice and snow every winter.
Gu Ying was used to such cold. Cupping her cheeks with both hands, she exhaled a puff of warm air, and adeptly placed the medicinal pills Yin Lan had fetched from the Gu pharmacy into a small sandalwood box.
"Yanzhi, bring this to Yin Zhu."
"Okay, miss!"
Yanzhi hopped away cheerfully.
Watching Yanzhi's innocent, carefree back, Gu Ying smiled faintly. She suddenly felt a heat in her lower abdomen, and a stream of warmth flowed out from between her legs.
She knitted her brows, and looked at Yin Lan embarrassedly. "Yin Lan, it seems my monthly bleeding has come again."
Yin Lan smiled slightly. "This servant will fetch miss her monthly rags."
With the onset of her monthly bleeding, Gu Ying felt relieved. At least there wouldn't suddenly be an extra child to worry about.
Ever since she stopped taking those youth retaining pills arranged by Mrs. Liu, she felt her body undergo some changes.
Her skin was fair and lustrous, comparable to the finest powders and snow.
What made her even more delighted was that her chest had developed much more normally too. As for her monthly bleeding... she didn't know if it was due to the medicine, or due to Zhao Changdu last night... but it came much more smoothly this time.
In her previous life, because of her difficult pregnancies and irregular periods, her stomach would often cramp painfully, and she suffered terribly.
Now, after being reborn, she was very attentive in nourishing her health, and her stomach didn't hurt anymore when she got her period.
She was very careful to keep herself warm. After washing up, she hugged her hot water bottle and wrapped herself in a thick fox fur coat before going to Yongshou Hall to pay her respects.
Yongshou Hall was still quite lively today, with everyone arriving neatly on time.
The moment she stepped through the entrance of Yongshou Hall, she bumped right into Liu Jianren.
Behind Liu Jianren were Jiang Yin and Gu Jia.
Gu Ying halted in her tracks. Through the cold wind, she looked into Jiang Yin's deep, unfathomable eyes, and a nameless joy welled up in her heart.
Naturally, Jiang Yin also raised his head, his icy gaze fixed on the faint marks peeking out from Gu Ying's neck.
He was a man. He knew full well what those were!
She and Zhao Changdu... could it be... they were already husband and wife in substance?
His eyes narrowed dangerously in an instant, emanating a malicious, murderous aura, as though wanting to hack her into pieces.
Their gazes met in midair, speaking a thousand words that couldn't be verbalized.
In the past, Gu Ying had craved so much for Jiang Yin to cherish her more. But now, seeing Jiang Yin's angry and frustrated appearance at being unable to obtain her, she felt strangely exhilarated.
She was suddenly somewhat grateful to Zhao Changdu.
The corners of Gu Ying's lips hooked up into a faint smile. "Morning."
Gu Jia gave a cold laugh. "Second sister, good morning."
Jiang Yin's lips were pursed tightly, not speaking a word.
Liu Jianren looked at her with a mocking smile. "Gu Ying, you're so fortunate to be able to marry into such a prestigious household like the Zhao manor. It really makes me, your brother, look at you in a whole new light."
Gu Ying grinned, and mercilessly retorted, "There is only one younger brother in Gu Ying's family, the young master of Dongping Earl manor. Where did this so-called brother come from? Master Liu is merely a distant cousin on my eldest aunt's side of the family. How can he call himself my brother? I hope that master will learn to know his place."
She was the one marrying up. Was he any better?
Merely a commoner engaged in business, already an enormous charity to be allowed into an Earl's manor. Yet he actually still dared to dream of a frog eating swan meat.
Who gave him the gall?
Liu Jianren's mouth twitched as he stared at Gu Ying's breathtakingly beautiful face. He was so furious he gnashed his teeth.
If only he hadn't taken a wrong turn last night and missed the chance to thoroughly ravish such a peerless beauty! If he got the opportunity in future, he would definitely get a taste of this woman, and make her cry and beg beneath him!
Gu Ying couldn't be bothered to cross words with an idiot like him. She turned and walked into Yongshou Hall with Yin Lan.
Inside Yongshou Hall, all the madams and young ladies looked towards her as one.
Gu Shuang had a face full of delight and joy, while Gu Wan was sarcastic and disdainful.
Mrs. Liu was expressionless. Aunt Zhao looked puzzled. Wang was aloof and tranquil.
Sitting on the luohan couch brewing tea, Gu Old Madam didn't even raise her head. Hearing Gu Ying's greeting, she also didn't permit her to rise.
But the Gu Ying today was no longer the Gu Ying of yesterday.
She directly stood up and sat in the chair beside Gu Shuang, smiling at Gu Old Madam. "Grandmother, your granddaughter's health has recovered tremendously. If not for grandmother's care yesterday, I'm afraid your granddaughter would still be sick abed today."
Gu Old Madam could clearly hear the sarcasm in this young lady's words.
She raised her head to look at Gu Ying, standing tall and graceful below the hall. Her exquisite beautiful face was becoming more and more similar to Ye's all those years ago.
She detested Ye, and thus hated even more the daughter Ye had birthed.
But recalling the parting words the heir apparent had left her yesterday, she calmly replied, "Since you and the heir apparent have an affinity, we shall follow convention and settle this marriage alliance. You have been unlucky since young, losing your mother so early. From today onwards, your trousseau and wedding arrangements will be handled by your eldest aunt."
