"From your expression, it seems you're not satisfied? I'm a man, how am I supposed to know what you women like? I noticed you enjoy putting on makeup, so I thought you'd like all these products. You can use them for a long time."
"Before I bought it, you said it's the thought that counts. Now that I've bought something, you're still not happy. I really don't understand why you women are so hard to please."
Hearing her boyfriend's explanation, Chen Yun said to herself:
Don't get angry, don't get angry.
This is just how clueless guys are.
He doesn't know much about women's cosmetics. Even a $10 eyeshadow might seem expensive to him. If he actually knew how to buy gifts that girls like, she'd be worried!
-
In ancient times, at Xuyang Palace.
Emperor Pei Changying spent his nights drinking and sleeping in Xuyang Palace.
He gazed at the steps Gu Sang had walked on, the chaise she had reclined on, the bed she had slept in...
Only within Xuyang Palace could he sense the traces Gu Sang had left in this era.
"Sang Sang, I've made a mistake. When will you come back?"
"Sang Sang, come back and assist me, please? I can't go on without you!"
"Sang Sang, I still remember that early winter when I fell ill after falling into the water. You stayed by my side day and night. You said you would never leave me. Why did you break your promise?"
"Sang Sang..."
Gu Qingrou entered Xuyang Palace with a complex expression.
The first thing she saw was the man she had loved for years, looking so heartbroken over another woman.
The guilt, remorse, melancholy, and deep affection in Pei Changying's eyes were all for that radiant half-sister who didn't belong in this era—Gu Sang.
Gu Qingrou walked over and sat down beside Pei Changying, gently holding his hand.
Her heart ached terribly with each "Sang Sang" he uttered.
But she still forced a gracious smile and said kindly, "Your Majesty, Sister Sang doesn't belong in this world. It doesn't matter that she's gone. You still have me."
"I will always be by your side, and I will never leave you."
Pei Changying hugged Gu Qingrou with emotion, his eyes filled with desire and longing: "If only Sang Sang had said those words to me, I would be overjoyed."
"But alas, alas..."
Alas, she wasn't Gu Sang after all?
Gu Qingrou's heart felt as if Pei Changying had pierced it with an arrow. Blood gushed out, and her heart ached, but she couldn't cry out in pain.
As Pei Changying kissed her passionately, imagining her as Gu Sang, calling out "Sang Sang" and "My Sang Sang," Gu Qingrou felt a moment of resistance.
But then she closed her eyes in self-mockery.
So be it.
Gu Sang would never return.
If His Majesty could love her as Gu Sang's substitute for a lifetime, that would be happiness enough...
That night, they made love until midnight.
The next day.
Pei Changying, nursing a hangover, rubbed his temples as he listened to his ministers' reports, feeling exhausted.
With a pounding headache and his mind full of intimate scenes with 'Gu Sang,' he finally caught the word 'flood' at the end of the report.
It made Pei Changying's heart skip a beat.
The last flood had already cost him the support of the people in the plague-stricken city.
It had also made Gu Sang completely lose faith in him.
This time, he couldn't make the same mistake!
Sang Sang.
This time, I'll show you my sincerity and how important you are to me!
Pei Changying cleared his throat and immediately issued orders: "Send nearby troops to rescue immediately. We must not let that rebel Pei Weiqi take advantage of the situation."
"As the troops pass through each county, they must make it clear that the imperial court is sending aid..."
"Dispatch grain from all local granaries to Liujiang City immediately..."
Although some of Pei Changying's measures were more for show, the ministers were still pleased to see that he was finally putting the people first instead of arguing with Noble Consort Gu.
They all knelt down, praising the Emperor's wisdom.
As for the fact that making a grand display in each area might delay the rescue efforts?
Well, that little bit of time didn't matter.
However!
These ministers didn't know that a few days later, there would be an even more violent mountain flood.
At the imperial court's pace, they would be far too late.
They thought the flood had already occurred, and that traveling thousands of miles would just be to deliver food and help rebuild homes, while also gaining some goodwill from the people.
-
Gu Sang was also unaware of Pei Changying's grand rescue operation.
At eleven o'clock at night, she was already in bed. She had to go to the film set to prepare for shooting the next day, so she needed to take good care of her skin for makeup.
Just as she was dozing off, her phone rang.
Chen Yun was crying, barely able to catch her breath: "Sang Sang, sob... can you come pick me up? I had a fight with my boyfriend today."
"After I ran out, I realized I didn't bring my ID. My boyfriend is afraid I'll spend money recklessly, so he doesn't let me keep money in my WeChat wallet, and I didn't bring my bank card either."
"I'm still wearing my pajamas, and there's no one outside. I'm so scared, wah wah wah..."
A fight?
Gu Sang quickly sat up in bed and calmly comforted her: "Don't be afraid. I'll transfer some money to you right away. Take a taxi to my place first."
Gu Sang transferred 200 yuan to Chen Yun and sent her address.
After learning that Chen Yun had gotten a taxi, she sent Gu Sang the license plate and other information. Only then did Gu Sang change her clothes and wait for Chen Yun by the roadside downstairs.
The dim streetlight cast Gu Sang's shadow long across the ground.
This wasn't a commercial area, so by eleven o'clock, everyone had gone home to sleep.
Although there was no one on the street, streetlights were spaced at regular intervals, illuminating the entire road and dispelling any sense of unease.
After about twenty minutes, Chen Yun's taxi arrived in front of Gu Sang.
"Sang Sang, wah wah wah..."
As soon as she got out of the car, Chen Yun's tears started falling.
She was still wearing her thin summer pajamas. It was already autumn, and the night air was chilly, giving her goosebumps.
"Let's go upstairs first and talk."
Gu Sang brought Chen Yun home and poured her a cup of hot water to warm up.
After Chen Yun calmed down a bit, her tears started falling again.
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt!
The more she thought about it, the more upset she became!
Chen Yun choked out: "Sang Sang, thank goodness for you tonight. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known where to go so late at night."
"As you know, my boyfriend and I are planning to get married at the end of the year. Since he's quite frugal and I'm worried I might spend money recklessly, I've been giving him all the money I earn to manage."
"We have a joint bank card that we use to save money for our wedding and to buy a house."
"I've been with him for so long, and I've been fine with being thrifty most of the time. But this time, I wanted to treat myself to a nice skincare product for my birthday. When he found out, he kept arguing with me about it."
"Today, he brought up the skincare product issue again, accusing me of becoming materialistic. Our argument escalated from gifts to the house, and then to the wedding bride price. I told him that in my hometown, the bride price isn't much – just 88,000 yuan as a gesture would be fine. But he said my parents were selling their daughter! Sang Sang, am I really being too materialistic? *sobs*"
