Qin arrived at the Gu Residence very quickly that evening.
Both Yongshou Hall and Zhe Yu Residence, upon receiving the news, sent people to invite Qin.
Unfortunately, Qin had always been arrogant and didn't give anyone face. Naturally, she didn't even give Old Madam Gu face and went straight to Twilight Snow Studio in a huff.
The people from Yongshou Hall who wanted to come over to find out news were all blocked outside by the people Qin brought along.
As soon as Qin entered the room, she looked around Gu Ying's living environment and was very dissatisfied. She asked Yinlan to take the several maids she had brought along to the Mansion’s kitchen to get coal.
"Ying, you have suffered so much grievance in the Mansion like this? If this is the case, why don't you just come back and live in the Censorate with auntie! Take a look at this place, is it suitable for people to live in? If your grandfather knew about this, who knows how angry he would be!"
Qin was so furious that she almost wanted to flip over the doors of Yongshou Hall immediately.
Gu Ying quickly pulled her to sit down on the beauty couch, smiling, "Auntie, don't get angry first. I asked you to come today because I want to ask you about something."
Qin still spoke unpleasantly, "I know you've been thinking of ways for me ever since the dissolution of the engagement. But--"
This marriage issue was not something she could arbitrarily obtain by relying on Ye's power.
"Auntie, I understand," Gu Ying patted her hand and smiled self-deprecatingly, "Auntie has been busy for me. I also know that no family will look upon me now. It will be difficult for the Gu family's daughters to marry out after what happened with Gu Jia. I have already thought of these."
"Then you..." Qin said puzzledly, "Are you still thinking about that Fu Xunzhi? In my opinion, that Fu Xunzhi is not a good man either... I also secretly investigated the Fu family. Their attitude is also very clear... They are a family of scholars and cannot marry the Gu family's daughter."
Upon hearing this, Gu Ying was not surprised either.
In her previous life, when Fu Xunzhi wanted to marry the merchant's daughter, his family was also against it.
However, Fu Xunzhi was indeed a reliable good man. He overcame all difficulties to marry the merchant's daughter back home.
His family disliked the merchant's daughter. In less than a year, he moved out with his wife and lived separately. The married couple were intimate and affectionate, living their own little life regardless of how others talked.
"Auntie, I have decided that I want to marry the Heir Apparent of Zhenguo Duke Manor."
"What?" Qin was stunned for a moment. "Which heir are you talking about?"
Gu Ying said, "The heir of Zhenguo Duke Manor."
It took Qin a long time to recover. When she reacted, she couldn't help but knock Gu Ying on the head, "How can you think like this? What kind of status is Zhenguo Duke Manor? How can you--"
She realized her words were improper and quickly stopped talking.
"Auntie doesn't mean to look down on you. It's just that Zhenguo Duke Manor is different."
Gu Ying smiled. She didn't intend to hide it from Qin either, and told her about how she and Zhao Changdu fell off a cliff together at the Nanhai Hunting Ground, and later he privately asked her if she was willing to marry him.
Qin's brows were knotted as she listened anxiously. She hurriedly grabbed Gu Ying's little hand, "So you're saying that you spent a night alone with him in the cave back then?"
"Yes," Gu Ying answered frankly, not even blushing. "But nothing happened between us. The only physical contact was when he bandaged the wound on my arm."
At this point, Qin became even more anxious. No matter whether anything happened between them or not, just that one night itself, people outside wouldn't know how much they could imagine.
For a woman, this kind of thing had always been detrimental since ancient times.
The Zhao family's status was naturally good. Being able to marry up given Gu Ying’s current reputation would also give her face.
But that Zhao Heir... He can’t be considered a good match!
"Auntie, is there something inappropriate about the Zhao Heir?" Gu Ying sensed Qin's concern.
She was straightforward and simply couldn't hide her expressions.
Qin wanted to speak but hesitated. She didn't know whether she should say certain things.
After all, those were old stories from the past, and shouldn't be brought up to begin with.
Gu Ying said earnestly, "Auntie, I asked you to come today to inquire about the Zhao Heir. I think that currently there is no one more suitable than him. The Zhao family also has great power. There may be other opportunities in the future. The Zhao Heir is also willing to marry me, which is good for me. Also, he said he would take the initiative to propose, meaning he doesn't care about my reputation and status. In the future after marrying him, he would also treat me well."
"This..." Qin's face was still filled with struggles. She grasped Gu Ying's little hand tightly, "What you said makes sense... If the Zhao family is willing to marry you, your grandmother and eldest aunt wouldn't dare mistreat you."
Gu Ying said, "Yes."
At this point, Qin's expression became even more solemn. She thought for a long time before deciding to tell Gu Ying all the debauchery about Zhao Changdu, and then let her make her own decision.
Gu Ying raised her eyebrows slightly. "Auntie means the Heir once had a woman he loved?"
Qin said heavily, "Yes. That woman is also no stranger to you. She is the other granddaughter of Lord Huo, Huo Qiyun, who is now the wife of the Zhenguo Duke Manor’s Third Young Master, Zhao Changxing."
For some reason, Gu Ying felt a strange feeling in her heart, "It turned out to be her?"
That time, at the Empress' tent, she had wanted to help the young madam who was mistreated, but Zhao Changdu misunderstood that she wanted to push her away and even pushed Gu Ying instead.
At that time, she felt Zhao Changdu's feelings for that madam were unusual, but didn't think too deeply about it at the time.
Hearing Auntie's words now, she felt somewhat indescribable.
"Ai," Qin sighed as she spoke, "That Huo Qiyun was also a pitiful child. She lost her mother at birth. The Ho family got Zhao Rou for Lord Huo, who was the Heir's aunt. A few years later she gave birth to the doted on Huo Qiyan. With Huo Qiyan's arrival, Huo Qiyun's status in the Ho family plummeted. As an unloved legitimate daughter, apart from Lord Huo who still doted on her a little, everyone else's attention was on Huo Qiyan."
"The child suffered a lot of bullying in the Ho family and lived a very difficult life. The Heir often took care of her." Qin said sadly, "Back then, Huo Qiyun and Zhao Changdu were deeply in love at a young age. They grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Naturally, their feelings were deeper than others'. When both of them were fifteen or sixteen, feelings of affection arose during their youthful times, and they naturally developed feelings for each other."
Gu Ying asked, "Then what happened afterwards?"
Qin also knitted her brows, puzzled, "Auntie also only heard these things from others. I don't know what happened afterwards, but Huo Qiyun actually took a liking to Zhao Changxing."
Gu Ying sank into silence.
Qin was also angry. "On the day she married Zhao Changxing, the Heir went mad. I heard he charged into the Ho Residence with a sword, wanting to take Huo Qiyun away. But Huo Qiyun insisted on marrying Zhao Changxing. The Heir that day was described as frenzied, with eyes wide open. He was like an enraged beast. It frightened everyone when they recalled it later. No one dares to mention it much."
