On their wedding night, he had already tried so hard to please her. Could it be that she still did not have any feelings for him? What was this woman's heart made of?
Zhao Changdu snorted coldly, "Humph, aren't you generous."
Gu Ying said innocently, "But I'm doing this for the good of the prince."
Zhao Changdu kept his face stern, "Call me Adu."
Gu Ying looked helpless, "Alright, Adu."
Zhao Changdu's face was increasingly displeased. His thin lips moved closer and nibbled at the corner of her lips. His breathing became heavy, "Don't you think you're being perfunctory with me?"
"That's not true..." Gu Ying frowned in pain. Her small hand hooked around his sturdy shoulders. Her heartbeat skipped a beat as she listened to the mellow voice of the man. She only felt that the big palm at her waist was confining her, like a branding iron.
"Forget it, let's do as you say on this matter."
He moved closer with his lips touching hers. The two soft pieces made one's heart tremble lightly.
Gu Ying's body stiffened and her whole body grew hot. "Prince, I will be a good wife."
Zhao Changdu's eyes were fixed on her deeply. He didn't move. The two of them just stayed like this, lips pressed together, breaths mingling.
Gu Ying let out a gentle "hmm" and closed her eyes.
The man leaned on her shoulder and kissed her neck lazily. His voice was muffled and unclear, "I have already repaid her kindness with my life when I was fifteen. Just do your best."
Gu Ying's thoughts drifted away lightly. Her waist felt soft and numb. But her mind was thinking, did the prince really only feel grateful to Huo Qiyun?
"Adu, about my brother..."
"We'll go get him when we return."
Gu Ying's eyes turned moist, "Okay."
In the end, thinking about how delicate her body was and she had just lost her virginity, the man only nibbled on her for a while before letting her go.
Listening to the trickling water sound from the pure room.
The heat on Gu Ying's face still hadn't faded. Ever since she found out he was that little boy from her childhood, she had felt a little different towards him.
But this difference was still not enough to dispel her distrust towards the man.
Good things seldom last, colorful clouds scatter easily, glazed tiles break.
In her previous life, she had learned one thing through blood and tears - a man's love was the most fragile thing in this world. Before loving others, she had to love herself more.
While the prince was away, Yin Lan tiptoed in sneakily, hiding a small exquisite purple sandalwood box in her arms. "Mistress, do you still need the foetus stopping pills? This was bought by the servant from a medicine shop outside, no one in the manor knows."
Gu Ying's expression was calm as she received the box, saying lightly, "Mm, I cannot conceive the prince's child..."
She had never imagined herself with a child, afraid, lost and confused.
Even more afraid that like countless women, after having a child, she would have to arrange for the prince's favored concubines with her own hands.
If she truly loved a man, how could she possibly push her own to others.
Therefore, she did not dare to love, nor dare to have children.
Yin Lan did not say much, only said, "Mistress do not worry, this pill does not greatly harm the body. After taking the black pill, take a red one to nourish the body."
Gu Ying smiled, "Mm, thank you Yin Lan."
She was older and thought more thoroughly, letting Yin Lan handle many matters, very assured.
Yin Lan also smiled, helping Gu Ying remove her makeup and hair accessories, also changing her clothes. Seeing the ambiguous marks on her neck, the corners of her lips rose in a smile. "Mistress, why be so polite? These are all the servants duties."
Gu Ying knew that Yin Lan, Yin Zhu and Yan Zhi were loyal to her, so she was no longer modest.
But just then, the bathed prince came out of the pure room with a black face, staring at her flat belly, his gaze dark and gloomy.
"What did Yin Lan come in for just now?"
Gu Ying's heart lurched. She was confused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Nothing much, she just came to help me change. She's about to withdraw now."
As she spoke, Yin Lan bowed and took her leave.
There was only one lantern burning in the room.
The man looked at her deeply, then turned and got into bed. His back looked somewhat desolate.
He didn't come and hug her. Gu Ying felt it was very strange.
They had just married for two days, yet she already seemed to be used to his affection.
Seeing him get into bed, she let out a breath, extinguishing the lantern carefully and crawled over from him.
Her waist had just crawled halfway when it was pulled in by a big hand.
Gu Ying yelped softly. Her body turned and she was pressed under...
"Adu!"
"How should you compensate me for hurting me?"
"Where did I..."
Heavens, where exactly did she hurt him!
...
After a night of stormy winds and rain,
Gu Ying opened her eyes, her face still flushed. She felt soft all over her body.
On the other hand, a certain someone was still full of energy.
Fortunately his mood had inexplicably improved a lot. At least the coldness was gone from his body. He even cupped her face and praised her for looking extremely beautiful today.
Gu Ying didn't know where she had offended him. Supporting her waist, she got up and continued to vex Cheng.
At breakfast, Cheng insisted that she serve the dishes to her, and could not put them on the table. She had to stand beside her and serve her.
But Gu Ying refused.
"I am the daughter-in-law of the Zhao family, I only need to serve the people of the Zhao family. But Mother's surname is Cheng, so why should I serve you too?"
"What are you saying? When I married into the Zhao family, I became one of them. Why shouldn't you serve me?"
"But Mother's surname is Cheng."
"So what if my surname is Cheng?"
"Mother's surname is Cheng, and you didn't give birth to the prince. Naturally you're an outsider."
"Gu Ying, are you insisting on being unreasonable like this?"
"Everything A Ying says and does is according to the rules the prince gave. If Mother feels it improper, you might as well ask the prince to come and listen, see if A Ying did wrong. If it's A Ying's mistake, A Ying will immediately apologize to Mother."
These words nearly made Cheng blow her top.
Today Huo Qiyun was at the side watching the fun, a rare occasion where she was ignored by Cheng.
The two women walked out of Baomo Hall hand in hand.
Huo Qiyun concealed the envy in her eyes. "A Ying, who taught you all this?"
Gu Ying smiled. "Learned it myself. I used to be subservient, what I got was being trampled by others. When I hardened my attitude, I realized - this world oppresses the meek, the poor, those without a temper. But everyone fears the tough, the reckless, the unyielding."
Huo Qiyun listened with envy. She had been buried in prestigious families all her life. In the past there was a period where she was doted on by her family. But after her mother passed away, besides Lv Zhi, no one else in the household cared about her anymore.
She was the legitimate daughter, yet she could not be as free and unfettered as Gu Ying.
"Aren't you worried about your reputation?"
Gu Ying smiled, "How much better could my reputation be? Since it's like this, might as well ruin it completely. Those who believe in me will not misunderstand me because of other people's gossip."
Huo Qiyun said, "I heard people in the household say that Cheng made them spread rumors about you being disrespectful. Now in Bianjing, everyone is scolding you...arrogant and overbearing, arrogant and conceited...lacking morals, completely unworthy to be the Zhao family's wife. Some even said...they wanted to see you discarded by Adu...no...the prince."
