In the face of Yin Lan's provocation, Shen Ruxu responded with a contemptuous smirk. She remained silent, merely staring at Yin Lan with cold, indifferent eyes.
Yin Lan could sense the murderous intent in her gaze and furrowed her brows. Mockingly, she said, "Don't think that playing the victim will win you the people's favor, and winning their favor will earn you the position of the Crown Prince's consort. If the Crown Prince learns of your methods, perhaps you won't be able to stay in this camp anymore. That's all I have to say, Shen Miss, take care of yourself."
After Yin Lan left,
Shen Ruxu let out a cold laugh and silently flipped through the medical book in her hands.
But the more she read, the more she hated it, unable to calm her mind.
She walked to the side of the tent and lifted the curtain, seeing Yin Lan carrying a wooden tub heading towards the stream, most likely to wash clothes.
She narrowed her eyes, their gaze flickering slightly.
This time, she was punished with twenty lashes by the Crown Prince because of the incident at the dilapidated temple. When it came down to it, she could blame Gu Ying and her servant for reporting her to the Crown Prince, especially this maid named Yin Lan, who often badmouthed her in front of Gu Ying.
She couldn't act against Gu Ying right now.
But Yin Lan was different.
She was Gu Ying's trusted maid and it would be better to deal with her early on, so as not to obstruct her path to marrying into the Duke's mansion in the future.
There were mostly men in this camp, and the Crown Prince ruled with strict discipline. Since Zhang Mo's death, those soldiers no longer dared to act recklessly.
But some of the refugees in the camp still couldn't endure their loneliness.
Shen Ruxu cynically curled her lips and muttered, "Yin Lan, you can't blame me for this. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too talkative."
...
After Gu Ying woke up, she felt a dryness in her throat. Just as she was about to get out of bed to pour herself a glass of hot water, a large hand reached out and pulled her slender waist towards him.
"You're not allowed to get out of bed. How can you move around on your own?"
While the man's words sounded serious, his eyes were filled with doting affection.
Gu Ying's body lightly leaned, falling into the embrace of the broad and solid chest. When she raised her eyes, she was met with the man's lightly pursed lips and his firm and sharp jawline.
She playfully hooked her fingers around his long neck, pressing her small face against his sturdy and broad chest. "Adu, I can move now, really."
Zhao Changdu kissed the top of her head. "Don't go, lie down a little longer. If there's anything you need, just call for me."
Gu Ying joked, "I'm just pregnant, not disabled. You don't have to constantly attend to me."
The man's eyelids twitched. "Why not?"
Gu Ying raised her charming eyes, gazing at him. "As the esteemed East Li War God, how can you focus all your attention on one woman? If news of this gets out, won't people laugh at you?"
"Self-improvement, harmonious family, prosperous nation, and peace under heaven." The man chuckled, lowering his clear and sharp eyes. The watery gaze concentrated on the delicate and tender face of the young girl in his arms, unable to resist, he placed a kiss on her lips. "As a mighty man standing at eight feet, how can I not take good care of my own wife? How can I govern the world well?"
"What nonsense," Gu Ying chided with a smile, lifting her long lashes and staring at the man's perfectly chiseled jawline. "Adu, today Shen Ruxu came to check my pulse for safety."
Zhao Changdu carried the person to the bedside and gently placed them down. He walked to the table and poured a cup of hot water, which he handed to Gu Ying. They engaged in casual conversation as he asked, "How are you feeling?"
Gu Ying smiled and replied, "The child is fine."
Zhao Changdu sat by the bed, still wearing his dark ink-colored cloak, which accentuated his refined and otherworldly appearance.
"And how about you?"
When his deep and affectionate eyes focused on her, Gu Ying felt her heart skip a beat. She looked up and met his gaze.
"I don't matter as long as the child in my womb is well."
"I want this child, but I want you to be well even more."
"If I could only have one, whom would you choose, Adū?"
"Naturally, I would choose you."
The man's answer was decisive, as if she would always be his first choice.
As Gu Ying gazed into the depths of his eyes, her thoughts became complicated and indiscernible. The Crown Prince was unaware of the significance this child held for her.
In this lifetime, even if she had to give her all, she vowed to see this child face to face.
She pledged to protect this child. Therefore, she didn't take his words as a joke and merely smiled, saying, "My stomach no longer aches, and the bleeding has stopped. I admit that Miss Shen's medical skills are indeed praiseworthy."
Zhao Changdu didn't care about Shen Ruxu.
He reached out his right hand, cupping the back of the young girl's head, and pressed his forehead against hers. His strong and prominent brow rubbed against the tip of her nose. "Are you still jealous, Ah Ying?"
With a barely audible breath and the faint prickling sensation of his stubble against her lips, the man's movements were gentle and he didn't do anything else. But this simple action made Gu Ying's heart melt and turn soft.
Blushing, she honestly replied, "I'm not jealous, I just don't really like her."
"What do you mean by 'don't like'? Did she make you angry?"
"Adū," Gu Ying raised her delicate face, feeling somewhat strange inside, "Don't you realize that Miss Shen has feelings for you?"
Zhao Changdu furrowed his brow, apparently unaware that another woman had been harboring desires for him. "She likes me?"
Gu Ying couldn't help but smile at the seriousness on his cold and handsome face. "You... you really haven't noticed Miss Shen's intentions towards you?"
Zhao Changdu snorted coldly, "I have never paid attention to her."
Gu Ying raised the corner of her lips in a faint smile and arched her eyebrows. "Then you probably don't know that she wants to become your concubine."
The man's expression instantly turned unpleasant, and he tightly held the young girl's hand in his palm, his face slightly displeased. "Did you agree to it again?"
Seeing the flickering anger and coldness in his eyes, Gu Ying didn't dare to make decisions for him regarding the matter of taking a concubine.
When he became fierce, he was truly terrifying.
Everyone said that the War God of Dongli was an icy-faced Yama who could silence a crying child. She used to fear him too, but after they became intimately involved, her courage grew, and she dared to argue with him on occasion.
Now, seeing his growing displeasure, she could only use her finger to hook onto his slender and distinct hand and softly say, "How could I ever give Adū to another woman?"
She shifted her body and took the initiative to lean forward, planting a gentle butterfly kiss on his cold, thin lips, declaring her sovereignty, "Ardu, you can only belong to me, Gu Ying."
The young girl, rarely assertive in matters of the heart.
Zhao Changdu's eyes were as deep as a secluded pool, and the anger in his eyes dissipated, still fixed on the delicate lips of the young girl.
He made no move, but when he lowered his gaze, his eyes were filled with desire, constantly enticing someone's gaze.
"Should I send her away?"
As Gu Ying was captivated by his scorching gaze, her eyes followed its path, landing on his sexy and sharp Adam's apple. She swallowed her saliva and said, "If the prince were to send her away, it might incite public discontent."
