Gu Ying succeeded in her mission and quietly slipped away, breathing a long sigh of relief.
Since being reborn, she had never felt as relaxed as she did in this moment. "Has the tea in Gu Jia's tent been taken care of?" she asked with a smile.
Yin Lan replied, "Mistress, Yin Zhu has already taken care of it."
The smile on Gu Ying's lips did not diminish, and she seemed strangely relaxed. It was clear she was very happy tonight.
However, her happiness did not last long.
She had just reached the entrance of her own tent when she saw a tall, grim figure standing with his hands behind his back in front of her tent.
Hearing her footsteps, the man turned unhurriedly. His ink black hair was all pulled up neatly into a jade crown. He wore a stylish dark purple robe with an auspicious cloud pattern, with high brows and deep eyes, his aura majestic and not like an ordinary mortal.
Gu Ying's steps faltered as her heart tightened. "Prince, what are you doing here?"
Zhao Changdu waved his hand. "Have them all leave."
Gu Ying's mouth pursed slightly, somewhat unwilling.
Zhao Changdu took a few steps to stand in front of her, lifting her chin with slender, long fingers. "Why so disobedient?"
His tone was light, but as a military man, his aura was naturally strong.
Even a casual sentence sounded a bit cold and displeased coming from him, making one's heart tremble.
Gu Ying's heart quivered slightly, not daring to defy his will anymore. She signaled Yin Lan and the others, "You all go first. I need to talk to the Prince for a moment."
After the maids had left,
Zhao Changdu released her chin and directly swept open the curtain to her tent, raising a brow as he strode in.
Gu Ying wanted to speak but hesitated. "Prince, if someone sees us like this—"
The man glanced back at her, grasping her wrist in his large hand and pulling her in as well.
Caught off guard, Gu Ying lost her balance and accidentally fell into his embrace.
The tent was dimly lit, she could barely make out the snowy scene outside. Gu Ying blinked blankly, her body leaning against his broad chest, numb all over.
But not only did Zhao Changdu not let her go, his eyes darkened as he exerted some strength, grabbing her slender waist in his palm.
The scorching heat of his palm made her face change color.
She had not expected him to be so bold, actually sneaking into a woman's tent at night, even daring to take liberties with her. "Prince! What are you doing?!"
Gu Ying's eyes turned red as she struggled, but she did not dare make too much noise, afraid of attracting people over. She could only let him keep her locked in his embrace, raising a pair of wet eyes pitifully and pleadingly looking at him.
"Prince, don't do this. Even if you want to marry me, we shouldn't be doing such things alone when unmarried..."
Zhao Changdu lowered his head, his long eyes narrowing slightly. "You're only fifteen. Where did you learn those tricks?"
Sensing the man's low air pressure and heavy breathing, the too intense masculine aura coming at her.
Gu Ying anxiously curled her fingers, her face instantly drained of color.
"I..."
"Gu Ying, why do you hate Jiang Yin so much?"
"..."
"Does your heart truly belong to him?"
"I—" Gu Ying shook her head vigorously, her eyes brimming with sorrow. Under his relentless interrogation, tears filled her eyes.
A burst of inexplicable anger ignited in Zhao Changdu's heart. Gripping her chin, he tilted it up. His thin lips drew close to the corner of her mouth.
The hot breath at her lips, then two soft petals descended upon them.
Gu Ying's mind went blank, her whole body stiff and staring at him in shock, her heart almost jumping to her throat...
Zhao Changdu also paused for a moment, instantly pulling back a step away from her, his brows deeply furrowed.
He had not originally intended to kiss her...
It was just that, sensing her special feelings towards Jiang Yin, it made him inexplicably angry, and he lost control.
But this fleeting peck made his whole body feel uneasy.
He had not expected Gu Ying's lips to be so sweet and soft, and somehow so familiar, making him unable to stop.
Thinking of this, he took advantage of her dazed state and did not react, stretching out his long arm and hugged her back into his arms. Pressing her head in his big hand, he lowered his head, his thin lips containing hers, arrogantly and forcefully caressing her lips.
She stared incredulously. They were an unmarried man and woman... How could he kiss her!
Her lips and teeth were pried open by him, his breath completely invading her senses.
Gu Ying was furious and terrified!
How could he!
How could he do this to her!
"Mmm--" She struggled violently, her little face flushed red. But the more she struggled, the more difficult it was to breathe. The man holding her was too strong, her petite body was like a kitten in his arms, simply unable to resist, only able to resign herself to being fiercely pressed against the cabinet by him.
Gu Ying's little face flashed between green and red. "P...Prince."
The man leaned to her ear, his strong arms encircling her waist, his voice low and husky. "Gu Ying, marry me."
The man's strength was such that he seemed able to snap her waist with a pinch.
She felt the breath in her mouth nearly completely sucked away, her lips hurt where he was biting.
Gu Ying's eyes brimmed with tears as she desperately pushed against his chest, softly pleading, "Don't--"
That nightmare still kept her up at night even now.
Mustering all her strength, she pushed him away, her whole body heavily falling to the icy floor, eyes red, grievously crying, tears sliding down her cheeks one by one.
She glared at him, flushed face, tightly covering her swollen lips with both hands.
Hearing the girl's sobbing cries, the crimson in Zhao Changdu's eyes faded somewhat. She had an intoxicating flavor that made him crazed, just shallowly tasting her tonight already made him somewhat insatiable. Now seeing the alluring redness in her eyes, he also knew it was not yet time to touch her. He could only force himself to regain some sanity.
His expression turned cold again as he bent down and extended a hand to her.
Gu Ying shrank back in fear, hiding her hands in her sleeves, refusing to give it to him.
"You're that afraid of me?"
"No."
Zhao Changdu fell silent, his gaze sinking deeper. He always felt this little girl before him had an inexplicable fear of him.
She was not afraid of anyone, not even the Emperor, yet whenever she faced him, the fleeting panic and unease in her eyes still gave her away.
Perhaps because he was a military man? Or had he unknowingly offended her somewhere in the past?
