In her previous life, Gu Ying didn't get the familial love she yearned for. In this life, she doesn't want to leave any regrets between her and her younger brother.
Father is not at fault. He was only deceived by Grandmother.
After this campaign, when the Crown Prince returns victorious, she will have a good talk with Father. Their family will definitely be together happily from now on.
Leaning on his sister's embrace, Gu Ming said nothing, his dark eyes flickering. After a while, he asked lightly, "Sister?"
Gu Ying loosened her hold on him slightly. "What is it?"
Gu Ming asked tonelessly, "Why does Grandmother dislike us?"
This had also plagued Gu Ying for two lifetimes. After her rebirth, she racked her brains but couldn't figure out why Grandmother disliked her. "I don't know. Sister really doesn't know why. Grandmother is unfathomable."
Seeing the perplexity on his sister's face, Gu Ming slowly hooked up a faint smile. "Since she doesn't like us, why do we still treat her as Grandmother?"
Gu Ying raised her brow. "What does Ming mean?"
Gu Ming said, "She doesn't let Sister be happy. I don't want to let her be happy either."
Gu Ying chuckled. "What do you want to do?"
There was a cold gleam in Gu Ming's eyes, though his tone was still light. "She wants Gu Ming to go to the Ye family to learn martial arts, doesn't she? Let's just do as she wishes."
After leaving Qinghe Garden, Gu Ying was still thinking about the expression on her brother's face when he talked about tormenting Grandmother.
Sardonic, cold, with a touch of indescribable morbidity.
Just what did this brat learn at the Ye family?
How pleasant!
It seems she can rest assured with Uncle and Aunt looking after Ming.
...
As she left the Ye family, Lady Qin kept persuading Gu Ying to stay, while talking to her.
"Ying'er, it's really strange. Bianjing seemed a bit uneasy yesterday. First there was that incident between you and Gu Shuang, then this morning Prince Shu was dragged back by Commander Xia Zixi of the Imperial Guards from the brothel. Your uncle said Prince Shu is still kneeling outside the Emperor's bedchamber now."
Gu Ying was full of doubts, somehow feeling this was no coincidence. "Aunt, you mean Prince Shu?"
"That's right," Lady Qin said. "I watched that boy grow up. He's been pretentious since young, crafty and hypocritical. Everyone praises him for his gentlemanly elegance, virtue and scholarly grace, but it's not true. He's best at playing the good son in front of the Emperor."
"Yesterday getting caught spending the night at a brothel, the Emperor was furious on the spot and said he would demote him to a commoner."
Gu Ying still found it strange. "He kept up the pretense for so long without exposing himself. Why did he slip up yesterday?"
"I don't know about that. Anyway he deserved it," Lady Qin said mockingly. "Concubine Wan must not have expected her son would be caught red-handed by the Imperial Guards. Made a huge embarrassment of himself. I heard she threw quite a tantrum in Yilan Hall."
This hearsay was interesting.
The families placed spies in the palace, and the palace also had people planted in the families.
The honorable centuries-old Ye family indeed had its reasons for enduring.
Thinking of Concubine Wan's furious tantrum, Gu Ying felt somewhat delighted. "Serves her right."
"Exactly, serves her right," Lady Qin chimed in.
She saw Gu Ying to the door, still reluctant to part. Even such a cheerful woman revealed a hint of grievance. "Ying'er, when will you come stay with Aunt for a few days? Aunt really wants to take care of you. Look at how big your belly has grown. The Crown Prince is a man, how can he take good care of you? What's more, you really shouldn't be living together in your condition now."
"Why doesn't Aunt wait a little longer?" Gu Ying smiled. "I'll move over as soon as the Crown Prince leaves."
Lady Qin clapped her hands, eyes lighting up. "Good--"
The last "Ah" stuck in her throat at the sight of a certain tall figure standing before the carriage.
Following her aunt's gaze, Gu Ying looked up to see a tall and straight silhouette standing under the rain curtain.
The man wore black brocade robes with a leather belt cinching his waist. He cut a striking figure like a gardinia tree in the night.
He held a green bamboo umbrella in his hand, thick brows and deep-set eyes, his rugged features extraordinarily sharp in the dim light.
After sharing the same bed every day and night for so long, Gu Ying was still defenseless against his unique beauty.
When his dark eyes looked over from afar, her breath hitched.
Before she could react, the man had already walked over with a smile.
"Aunt doesn't need to keep Ying'er. I'm here to bring her home."
Lady Qin said awkwardly with a smile, waving her hands, "Now that Changdu is here, I'll leave Ying'er to you. You two husband and wife go home quickly. The rain is getting heavier, I wonder if Xingqing Festival will keep raining."
Gu Ying looked absentminded, seemingly lost in thought.
Not wanting to disturb the couple, Lady Qin saw them off and returned home after bidding farewell.
Zhao Changdu handed over the umbrella and leaned down, breathing warm air by the girl's ear. "What is Ying'er thinking about?"
Gu Ying tilted her head, tone somewhat coy. "What else could I think about except you?"
The corner of the man's mouth hooked up as he kissed her earlobe. "Such a good girl."
He really liked her earlobes in bed. And she was extremely sensitive there, unable to withstand teasing.
Gu Ying's cheeks flushed. His unique fragrance overwhelmed her, quickening her heartbeat.
"Changdu, why did you come?"
They had visited the Ye family too often today. People might gossip if they saw.
"To fetch you home."
"I could have gone home myself."
"I don't feel assured otherwise."
Just yesterday she had been abducted. As long as he was in Bianjing, he would never let her go out alone.
By being so protective, those with eyes and ears would naturally know who could be touched and who could not.
Gu Ying stopped and gripped the bamboo umbrella tightly, the smile on her lips blossoming.
The man's gaze was predatory as he looked at her profoundly. His line of vision slid down from her face to her collarbones.
As the weather grew hotter, the girl wore less and less. The glimpses of fair smooth skin had a glistening rosy sheen, like a sea pink bud about to bloom.
Seeing her like this made his mouth dry with thirst. He carried her onto the carriage. But just sitting on the soft couch, he already felt like taking her here.
