Chapter 68

Mrs. Liu always felt restless in her heart, especially after Gu Ying fell into the water in the palace. This restlessness had not gone away for a day.

"Granny Zhou, I feel very uneasy in my heart, afraid it's not a good omen. If the Prince really takes a liking to that cheap girl Gu Ying, then my Jia'er will really have no way out..."

Granny Zhou felt that Mrs. Liu's worries were unnecessary, and laughed, "Madam has forgotten that when the Prince was fifteen years old, he was already engaged to the eldest young lady of the Huo family. But then the Huo young lady went back on her word and married the second son of the Duke's Residence. Since then, the Prince was heartbroken, and there were no more women around him. Let's take a step back - even if the Prince wants to get married, he would not choose a girl like the Second Miss. There are so many daughters of prominent and noble families in Bianjing city eyeing the Prince's marriage!"

After hearing these words, Mrs. Liu felt a little more at ease and laughed, "That makes sense. My Jia'er couldn't even marry into a prominent family, how could that Gu Ying hope to marry up? No way! She's only worthy of marrying that useless bookworm from the Fu family!"

"That's right!"

...

Coming out of the military tent, the wind and snow swirled, pure white snowflakes fell on people's bodies and heads, bringing an uncontrollable chill that slapped their faces.

Gu Ying followed the two men in small steps, pulling her thick cloak tightly around her, walking slowly.

Zhao Changdu stopped and turned around. His cold and noble features were slightly blurred in the swirling heavy snow. "I have something to say to Second Miss Gu. Go ahead first."

Su Huanfeng's eyes widened. He looked at Gu Ying with her head bowed following far behind, then looked at Zhao Changdu with his cold expression. Worried that he was looking for trouble with Gu Ying, Su Huanfeng said, "Brother Du, I will find a way to reattach the bowstring of the King's Bow. Don't blame her, she's just a young girl, and it wasn't her who damaged it. You're so fierce, as soon as she sees you, she'll definitely cry."

Zhao Changdu glanced at him, a hint of impatience in his brows and eyes. "Get lost."

Su Huanfeng touched his nose. "She's my woman, I have to protect her."

Zhao Changdu was expressionless. "You two haven't gotten married yet."

"Soon, she's about to come of age. When the time comes, I will marry her." Su Huanfeng's brows were upturned joyfully. When he looked back at the little girl following far behind, his eyes were full of cherishment and affection. Seeing him protect Gu Ying like this, Zhao Changdu was even more displeased for some reason, a hint of impatience in his cold brows. He kicked out, "I'm not so shameless as to lay hands on a weak woman. Do you think I have no principles?"

Su Huanfeng nimbly jumped aside to avoid his kick. Knowing that Zhao Changdu was prestigious yet principled, he grinned, "Alright, I'll go ahead and wait for you. Finish your talk with her quickly."

Su Huanfeng had already completely taken Gu Ying to be his possession and protected her. Watching his smiling face leaving, Zhao Changdu's heart inexplicably gave rise to anger and concern.

Su Huanfeng had always been fickle in love. Was he truly sincere towards Gu Ying this time?

Gu Ying lowered her head and walked forward silently. After a while, she bumped straight into a broad chest.

"Not looking while walking?"

A low, hoarse voice sounded from above her head.

Gu Ying rubbed her sore forehead and looked up. Under the moonlight she saw the man's cold, noble jawline.

She panicked and took two steps back, saying respectfully, "Prince, I didn't mean it. I was lost in thought for a moment and didn't notice...you were in front of me."

Zhao Changdu wasn't really blaming her. Just looking at her bowing her head, revealing a perfectly curved neckline, his heart stirred slightly. The wind and snow on her face made her cheeks flush alluringly, somehow irritatingly arousing.

He had never paid attention to Su Huanfeng's unknown fiancée before.

He had occasionally heard about her a couple times, always with Su Huanfeng complaining about how silly she was and that he would definitely call off the engagement in the future.

It wasn't until later when he returned to Bianjing and met her by accident.

Only then did he realize that this girl was hidden deeply.

Their eyes met in mid-air, both startled. The air was filled with restless heat. Although it was the height of winter with heavy snow swirling, between them the atmosphere was still somewhat scorching.

Not to mention the man's gaze, which was so profound and burning.

Being looked at like this by such deep, slender eyes, Gu Ying's heart skipped a beat. She was the first to avoid his gaze, "Prince, please speak..."

Zhao Changdu lowered his eyes, gaze fixed tightly on her left hand. "Have you treated the wound on your body?"

Gu Ying didn't understand his meaning. Did he dismiss Su Huanfeng just to ask about her wound?

Just now when he was dealing with the servants, he had been so ruthless... And now he was showing such concern for her. Just what kind of person was he, cold, ruthless, or what?

"Yes, Prince, it's been treated." She smiled. "And you, Prince, how is the wound on your hand?"

"Hmm, it's been treated pretty much."

Gu Ying looked at his hand wrapped in a thick overcoat and couldn't make out anything. With the imperial doctors, his wound must have received the best treatment, she had nothing to worry about.

After the awkward silence for a while longer.

Gu Ying was thinking about the King's Bow matter and was about to say that she would take responsibility to the end, when she saw Zhao Changdu look at her solemnly.

"Gu Ying."

His tone was so formal that Gu Ying's heart shook inexplicably. "Prince, please speak... Ying will listen carefully."

"This afternoon, my people saw your fourth sister secretly going to see Fu Xunzhi."

Gu Ying's brows knitted slightly. "What is the Prince trying to say?"

Zhao Changdu chuckled lightly.

He had originally planned to persuade Gu Ying to marry him, knowing it would take some effort. Until his people saw Gu Shuang blushing as she went to deliver medicine to Fu Xunzhi.

It was truly heaven helping him.

The cold man's smile was particularly charming. Gu Ying pursed her lips, lowered her long lashes, flustered with reddening cheeks.

"Nothing. I just want to tell you that my proposal to you at the bottom of the cliff remains valid."

Gu Ying was very embarrassed. She didn't feel that Zhao Changdu liked her and wanted to propose to the Gu family. Nor did she feel that she could catch his eye.

She thought for a moment and had no choice but to reply, "The Prince still wants to marry me?"

Zhao Changdu: "Yes."

Gu Ying: "But I already have someone in my heart..."

Zhao Changdu: "Does the Second Miss really like him? Gu Shuang was with him all night last night. Although nothing happened between them, the friendship forged through adversity is no ordinary one."