Huo Qiyun felt a buzzing in her head. She didn't hear a word of Cheng's scolding. All she could hear echoing in her mind were the words "consummated the marriage". She wanted to laugh at her own naivety, but her heart felt like it had been slashed open by a sharp blade, with cold winds ruthlessly stabbing into the wound, making even breathing painful.
Sun Mammy added, "People keeping watch outside last night said the Crown Prince and that cheap woman surnamed Gu went at it for a long time. They asked for hot water twice before finally stopping. There was a lot of noise coming from Changfeng Pavilion."
Hearing this made Cheng even angrier, eager to find an outlet for her anger.
She kicked Huo Qiyun viciously twice in the heart. Blood seeped from the corner of Huo Qiyun's mouth.
Huo Qiyun's eyes were red, but she didn't cry. She just bit her lip, her face full of hopeless despair.
Torturing her proved uninteresting to Cheng. She glanced at Zhao Changxing reproachfully and complained, "Xing'er, can't you pay more attention to your wife? Don't let that woman surnamed Gu get pregnant as soon as she enters the door. If she gives birth to a son, what claim will you and this estate still have?"
Zhao Changxing yawned indifferently and glanced coldly at Huo Qiyun. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up.
"Fine, let's go make a baby."
Cheng glared scornfully at Huo Qiyun. Ever since Huo Qiyun married into the family, she had disliked her. Eventually she would make Xing divorce her!
Huo Qiyun's eyes flashed. She began struggling desperately.
Zhao Changxing held her arm firmly and dragged her back to the bedroom. He pushed her onto the bed and was about to kiss her when he glanced up and saw the torrent of tears streaming down her swollen face. Instantly he lost interest and irritably slapped her across her reddened cheek.
"If you still have him in your heart, then fight for him. Don't pretend to be some chaste martyr in front of me."
Huo Qiyun trembled and cried fearfully, "I don't..."
"You don't? Then why the hell are you crying? Trying to piss me off?"
Huo Qiyun didn't answer. She closed her eyes as the tears flowed out.
Zhao Changxing knew what she was upset about - Zhao Changdu had slept with another woman and she was lonely and jealous.
Anger surged within him. He kicked her onto the bed and cursed, "Shameless bitch!"
Huo Qiyun wept bitterly, wrinkling her brow as she looked at the man standing by the bed, her face full of humiliation.
After he left...
She finally uncurled from her rigid posture and curled into a ball.
Her body ached badly but she was oblivious to the pain. Her eyes were vacant and lifeless, the tears on her face already dry.
When Lv Zhi came in, Huo Qiyun's legs were exposed to the icy winds, frozen white.
"My lady..." She started crying as soon as she spoke. "Why don't we go beg the Crown Prince?"
Some awareness returned to Huo Qiyun's eyes. She shook her head. She was unworthy.
But Lv Zhi threw her arms around her and pleaded, "My lady, the Crown Prince must still care for you in his heart. Marrying Miss Gu was just to test if you still have feelings for him. Now that the Crown Prince has enough power to protect you, why don't you think of a way to win his heart back?"
Huo Qiyun stared blankly. She recalled he had once said he could help her leave Zhao Changxing. Could it be...he still cared for her in his heart?
...
After leaving Chunshan Court,
Gu Ying and Zhao Changdu walked side by side on the stone path. The estate was large with beautiful scenery, but none could compare to the man beside her.
Zhao Changdu was intent on having her learn the layout of the estate, so he enthusiastically brought her on a tour of the rear courtyards.
"Doesn't the Crown Prince want to be more discreet?"
"What's there to be discreet about? Just treat them like cold, lifeless stones in this estate."
Gu Ying didn't understand. After all, the Duke was his father. How could father and son be on such bad terms?
Her thoughts turned to her memories of the estate in her previous life. She was now sharing weal and woe with the Crown Prince, so she should think more about his affairs.
Zhao Changdu rubbed her cheek. "Call me Adu."
Gu Ying smiled helplessly. "Adu..."
Pleasure lit up the handsome man's face. His long, slender fingers interlaced with hers as he held her hand. "Since it's our wedding, His Majesty has granted me leave. I'll be resting at home for a few days to accompany you well."
At the mention of "accompany", Gu Ying's face reddened slightly and her palm grew hot.
She actually hoped he would hurry up and get busy so she could be alone again. She had lived by herself for so many years, and been tormented in that dilapidated temple for so long. She still wasn't used to living with a man, especially one so virile and passionate...
Gu Ying's face flushed slightly.
Outside, the snow was heavy and the road slippery. Her embroidered shoes sank into the thick snow.
Zhao Changdu only glanced once before sweeping her up into his arms. "Be careful not to wet your shoes. The chill will harm your health."
Gu Ying looped her arms around his neck, raising her eyes to see Yin Lan and Zhu Li smiling behind them. She flushed crimson from embarrassment.
"I can walk myself..."
"Now that you have a husband, why walk yourself?" Zhao Changdu saw her red ears and murmured softly, "Ying, does it still hurt?"
Gu Ying was so angry she gnashed her teeth. "There are people around!"
Zhao Changdu chuckled lightly. "Does it hurt or not?"
Unable to endure his pestering, she whispered with a red face, "It hurts..."
Her voice held real grievance.
He had said to be gentle, but failed to control himself in the end.
The corner of Zhao Changdu's mouth quirked up slightly. He kissed her cheek comfortingly. "I'll take good care of you next time."
...There was going to be a next time? Was he crazy?
Gu Ying was utterly mortified. She clutched his lapel in her little hand and glared at him, wanting to say some nasty words. But facing that perfect, handsome visage, she found herself unable to speak.
No one had ever treated her this well, not even her father. No one had shown her such limitless tolerance and spoiling.
Yet this man was the first in both her lifetimes.
Moreover, he was completely different from Jiang Yin.
His love and care for her, his talent in governance - Jiang Yin couldn't compare one bit.
It turned out that with the right person, marriage wasn't so frightening after all.
Gu Ying didn't realize she was slowly lowering her defenses around him. Exhausted, she fell asleep in his arms when she no longer needed to walk.
With the heavy winds, it really was very warm in his embrace.
...
On the second day of their marriage, Gu Ying awoke early in the morning.
The man's large hand rested on her waist, his breath warm on her neck. Still not used to it, she opened her eyes and stared blankly, unsure what to do.
Yesterday after Jin Cha returned, the Crown Prince accompanied her for dinner and introduced her to the major and minor affairs of Changfeng Pavilion. He also brought out the savings he had accumulated over the years for her perusal.
She had assumed most of the Crown Prince's assets were tied to the estate.
She didn't expect everything he gave her was from his private enterprises - a thick stack of deeds to properties, land, and shops. Her eyes nearly crossed looking at it all. As busy as he was on the borders all these years, how did he amass so many assets?
Gu Ying had wanted to decline the Crown Prince's generosity, but he looked at her solemnly and said, "Now that you're my wife, these all belong to you."
