Zhao Changdu turned his head and looked at her earnestly, "After we go up, I will propose marriage to your family and give you a title."
When Gu Ying heard this, her face instantly turned pale. "No... that won't work!"
Zhao Changdu's brows furrowed, his gaze turned cold. "What, you're unwilling to marry me?"
The title of the wife of the heir apparent of the Duke's mansion was not something anyone could obtain easily.
"I..." Gu Ying bit her lip, her mind in turmoil. "It's not that I look down on the heir apparent, it's just that I already have someone I love..."
Zhao Changdu's brows slightly relaxed, his gaze faintly sank. "You already have someone you love?"
When she came to Secluded Mountain to find him that day, she hadn't mentioned having someone she loved. It had only been a few days, who had captured her heart? Or was it true about her affair with Jiang Yin?
Gu Ying gave an awkward laugh. She said sincerely, "From the beginning I had feelings for him and wanted to marry him. It's just that my engagement to the young master has not been dissolved yet. I was thinking of waiting until the dissolution of the engagement before discussing marriage with the Fu family... It wouldn't be too late."
"I know my status is unsuitable for the honorable Duke's mansion. Afterwards, I will still try to find a way to dissolve this marriage with the Duke's household. Young master is free-spirited and charming, he deserves a better woman to be matched with him."
However, Zhao Changdu did not pay attention to what she was saying. He just stared fixedly at her petite face, "When did you start having feelings for him? Why do you like him?"
Gu Ying looked at him puzzlingly, not knowing where she had offended him. She thought nervously, "I had feelings for him from the beginning and wanted to marry him. It's just that my engagement to young master has not been dissolved yet. I was thinking to wait until the dissolution of the engagement before discussing marriage with the Fu family... It wouldn't be too late."
Zhao Changdu's handsome face darkened, he gave a cold humph. No wonder, at the winter hunt she specifically chose Fu Xunzhi to pair up with, so she had already had feelings for him early on.
"Your Highness, what's wrong? Is there something inappropriate?"
She and Su Huanfeng were unmarried men and women. It was tacitly understood by everyone in the capital that the two families would annul the engagement. She was a girl from a rear courtyard. At least before her father returned to the capital, she should find a good way out for herself.
Fu Xunzhi was a good man. She believed that even if she wanted to bring her younger brother and father to the border later, Fu Xunzhi would respect her choice.
This was what she saw in Fu Xunzhi.
Zhao Changdu did not speak. He sat in front of the fire. The bright yellow firelight cast his handsome face in a three-dimensional, exquisite glow. His nose was tall and straight.
However, his head was slightly lowered, and the aura he exuded was like an iceberg, permeated with lifelessness.
This man had brows and eyes like jade. Even in such downtrodden and injured circumstances he was still as beautiful as a painting.
No one disliked beautiful people and objects. Gu Ying also liked him. However, her feelings towards Zhao Changdu were complicated. If not for this accident, she would not have wanted to have any ties or connections with him.
After being rescued and brought up today, she would no longer have any involvement with him.
"Nothing." After a long pause, Zhao Changdu's sharp jaw slightly tensed. His eyes as dark as ink contained faint indifference. He stood up and tidied up his belongings in the cave. Looking down at her, he said, "For your reputation, you should stay hidden in the cave."
Gu Ying's heart sank. She hurriedly walked over to him, "Your Highness, where are you going?"
The man was tall and sturdy. Dressed in a large cloak, he re-sheathed his soft sword at his waist.
He looked at her coldly, his expression frosty. With little emotional fluctuation, he sized her up expressionlessly, then resumed the aloofness from when they first met. "I can't stay with you, in case the guards come and there are rumors."
Moreover, he was already not innocent towards her.
If he stayed longer, the only one who would feel bad would be himself. Since she already had someone she loved, what more could he say? Even if it was mutual utilization, it required her willingness.
Since she was unwilling to marry him, he would not force her either. Then let it go.
Gu Ying thought carefully. She was courageous for a young lady, but after all she had lived one lifetime already, so she was bolder than an average girl.
The sky was gradually brightening and the heavy snow had stopped.
"I'm leaving." Zhao Changdu did not look at her again. Head lowered, he pulled a dagger from his waist and threw it at her feet. "Take this dagger to defend yourself. I'll go out first to check the guards' whereabouts, then lead them over here."
Gu Ying smiled. Facing his aloof back, she said, "Your Highness, thank you."
Zhao Changdu waved his hand back. "I'm going."
...
Gu Ying took a deep breath as she was left alone.
The cave was not big nor small. Inside, a stream of fresh water trickled out from a narrow slit.
She was bored alone, so she walked around to explore.
Overgrown weeds flourished here for many years. She squatted down, originally wanting to pluck a leaf to scoop some water to drink. Unexpectedly, as she brushed aside the weeds, she discovered a jade pendant buried in the mud.
"This is..."
The jade pendant had been buried underground for quite some time. The carved pattern on it was also completely covered in mud.
She pulled the jade pendant out from the soil and washed it clean with water, only then discovering that the pendant was carved with a strangely shaped flower that could not be named. Yet the material of the jade pendant was top quality mutton fat jade. After enduring endless wind, rain and erosion, the pendant's silk tassel had rotted away. But from the remaining strands, this was material only wealthy households could afford.
In a place like this, at the bottom of a cliff, an unnamed cave, how could such a valuable jade pendant exist?
"Someone's here!"
"There's a cave here!"
"There seems to be smoke coming out, someone must be inside! Perhaps the heir apparent is inside! Everyone come over quickly!"
Hearing the sounds of movement outside, Gu Ying hurriedly stuffed the jade pendant into her bosom and rushed to the cave entrance to push aside the withered vines and take a look.
Sure enough, a large group of imperial guards had come searching through the frost and snow. Judging by everyone's fatigue, it seemed they had been searching all night before coming down the cliff.
"Sir! Sir! I'm over here!"
Gu Ying hurriedly crawled out and greeted the lead imperial guard.
"It's Miss Gu! Come! It's Miss Gu!"
