She had no choice but to turn around and look towards that handsome and unparalleled man for help.
"Your Highness, I beg you for one thing."
Zhao Changdu still had that unmoved and steady expression, beautiful yet lacking much feeling, "You need not beg me, I came to find you tonight, precisely because I have something to make clear with you."
Gu Ying was full of questions, "Huh?"
Zhao Changdu spoke steadily, "Three days from now, I will come in person to propose marriage. You need not have your aunt run around for you anymore."
After hearing this, Gu Ying's little face flushed red, "I'm not that--"
Zhao Changdu cut her words off, speaking solemnly, "Don't worry, I won't skimp on any of the three letters and six etiquettes, the ten li of red makeup. Whatever other women have, you will have too."
Listening to the overbearing and focused words of the man.
Gu Ying's chaotic heart suddenly calmed down. Letting the heavy snow fall on her head, her clothes were wet with snow water, cold and chilled, but her heart was scorching hot.
She had to admit, for a moment there, when she met his earnest gaze, her heart quivered, and a rush of inexplicable warmth spread through her whole body.
It seemed Zhao Changdu could give her everything Jiang Yin had not.
But thinking of Jiang Yin's betrayal, she swiftly calmed down again, raising an aloof and indifferent smile to Zhao Changdu, "Your Highness, I can marry you, but can you agree to a few things for me?"
Zhao Changdu arched his sword-like brows, his expression still typically cold.
He spoke solemnly, his gaze deep and concealed a hint of fierceness, "Speak."
The hidden moonlight fell on his sharp and handsome face, casting an obscure and unclear shadow.
This man was not one to be trifled with, offend him and it would mean broken bones.
Gu Ying was not unaware of his reputation in the capital, she had also heard of how strict he was when commanding troops at the border. Everyone above and below, men and women alike, feared him.
She was but a young lady from a sheltered upbringing. It would be false to say she did not feel some fear.
She could only pretend to be bold, licking her lip and saying, "Your Highness, I know there are no feelings between us. It's only because we spent a night together at Jixue Cliff that you feel responsible and want to take me as your wife, correct?"
Zhao Changdu's gaze fell on her moist, red lips, recalling the soft feel of them that night in her tent, and remembering the sensation of holding her soft body against him in the cave. A hard to describe restlessness rose in his heart.
He gave an indifferent nod, "Mmhmm."
Gu Ying continued, "As Your Highness said before, our marriage is a transaction, each taking what they need. Your Highness needs a wife, and I need a backer. In that case, our wedding is just a deal. After the deal ends, I hope Your Highness will grant me a divorce letter one year from now. What does Your Highness think?"
Zhao Changdu's gaze froze, no joy or anger could be seen.
Gu Ying quickly added, "If Your Highness does not agree, I will leave immediately."
Zhao Changdu stared fixedly at her charming blushed cheeks, pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, I agree to you."
Gu Ying let out a breath, "After we are married, I also want to bring my younger brother to live with me."
Zhao Changdu's voice was low, "As you wish."
With everything said, Gu Ying felt she had nothing more to ask. She then inquired of him, "Does Your Highness have any conditions you would like to set? I will write up a contract and put everything in it, to be stamped and signed by both of us."
Zhao Changdu's gaze was cold. Seeing her so eager to draw clear boundaries between them, he felt an inexplicable displeasure.
"You've made thorough preparations."
Gu Ying smiled and politely said, "I can trust Your Highness's character, it's just as a woman, I face difficulties, so I feel more assured with things in black and white."
In other words, this girl had absolutely no feelings for him at all. After all that discussion of terms, she still did not see him as her future husband.
To put it nicely, she just saw him as a sturdy thigh to cling to?
Zhao Changdu could not describe what he felt.
In all these years, it was rare for a girl to not be interested in him. He found it increasingly amusing, and wanted to let the little girl know that he was not only sturdy of thigh, but quite impressive in certain other areas as well.
"Your Highness?"
Gu Ying was puzzled by the man's silence, thinking he was unhappy with the conditions she proposed, and felt uneasy in her heart.
Zhao Changdu was pulled back to his senses by the girl's gentle voice. What was the matter with him recently?
How was it that thoughts of her would pop up every now and then?
Especially some less than proper lascivious ideas, leaving him very annoyed.
Could it be because he had abstained for too long?
A twenty-five year old man, with no warm company in his bed to serve him all these years, could it be that it was time he desired a woman?
He furrowed his brow in irritation. "I have no other conditions. After we marry, you will join the Duke's Residence. Just focus on tormenting Cheng as your duty."
"Huh?"
Seeing the girl's confused expression, Zhao Changdu's heart softened, and his tone grew gentler, "If you anger Cheng to death, consider it your greatest achievement for me."
Gu Ying chuckled.
In the drifting snow, this was the first time she felt the cold-faced Prince was quite adorable.
So he had gone through all this effort to marry her back just to vex his stepmother? If he had said so earlier, she would not have agonized over it for so long.
"Don't worry Your Highness, I definitely won't fail my mission. I will think of ways to rile up that stepmother of yours."
Vexing people, that was no difficult feat.
With twelve hours in a day, if she had free time, she could hover around Cheng for all twelve just to annoy her to death.
That would be far easier than scheming against Mrs. Liu.
Zhao Changdu kindly reminded her, "Cheng is not one to be underestimated."
Gu Ying tilted her head, looking rather proud, "Am I so easy to deal with? Isn't Your Highness marrying me precisely because you saw my talent for this?"
The corner of Zhao Changdu's lips tilted in a faint, barely discernible smile.
The young girl before him, pure and stunning without any make-up, enduring hardship without self-pity, reminded him somewhat of Huo Qiyun when they first met. Especially with her preference for light colored plain robes, green hair ribbons, and the sly cleverness revealed in the corners of her eyes and brows when she smiled.
Why did thoughts of her arise again?
He gave a self-deprecating laugh, banishing Huo Qiyun's name from his mind. Raising his palm, he placed it on the little girl's head, unconsciously softening his voice, "Alright, it's late, improper for a young lady to linger here too long. I will take you in first."
Gu Ying felt the warmth of his palm on her head, looking up at him through her lashes. The discomfort in her heart seemed to lessen somewhat.
"Come here." The man's voice was low and raspy.
Gu Ying did not shy away. She obediently reached out her little hand and grabbed his belt, awkwardly saying, "I'm a bit heavy, be careful Your Highness."
How heavy could a young girl be?
Her slender, tender hand on his belt, Zhao Changdu's brow furrowed, his throat involuntarily tightening.
A burst of heat uncontrollably rushed down.
His handsome face visibly tensed, not saying another word as he swept the girl's soft body into his arms horizontally, spun around, and leapt atop the high wall.
