Chapter 26

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Chapter 26: Title

The day before Gu Cheng’s wedding, the Prime Minister’s residence was filled with celebration, but Gu Hengbo’s courtyard felt a bit lonely. Even the gentle breeze was absent, and today the little girl seemed very busy, leaving Gu Hengbo without anyone to talk to.

"Meisheng!"

A voice from behind startled her. Gu Hengbo turned around to see Gu Cheng in a dark blue long robe standing not far behind her. Instinctively, she stepped back a few paces and looked at him warily. "What do you want?"

Gu Cheng forced a bitter smile. "I’m getting married tomorrow, and I just wanted to come and see you." She must be angry with him for not inviting her to his wedding.

Gu Hengbo glanced at the wine jar in his hand. "Are you going to come here and get drunk again?"

Gu Cheng sighed, "I know you’re upset with me. I was too impulsive that day. You can hit or scold me if you want, but tomorrow is my wedding. If you don’t want to come, at least pity me and drink with me for a bit today." After tomorrow, they would need to truly distance themselves from each other.

Gu Hengbo was about to refuse but couldn’t find a good excuse. "Fine, one cup, and then you leave."

Gu Cheng nodded and walked into Gu Hengbo’s room. She anxiously looked outside the courtyard. Didn’t the gentle breeze say he would be back soon? Why was he gone for so long?

Once seated, Gu Hengbo silently watched Gu Cheng pour her a drink. She suddenly felt a bit uneasy. After all, she couldn’t blame him; it was she who took over her sister’s body. No matter what, he was still her sister’s husband, not her Gu Hengbo.

Gu Cheng picked up his cup, his expression dazed. "I already bought a house in the south of the city. After my wedding, I will move out with her, which will save you the trouble of seeing me and getting upset."

Gu Hengbo was taken aback and fell silent, raising her cup and frowning as she drank it all. "That’s perfect; I really don’t want to see you."

With a bitter smile, Gu Cheng emptied his cup as well.

Gu Hengbo glanced at him. "Alright, you can leave now."

Gu Cheng picked up the wine jar and stood up to walk outside. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, and the wine jar fell with a thud. Gu Hengbo was startled and was about to speak when she suddenly felt warmth in her lower abdomen, and her body grew hot. Her heart raced unexpectedly—what was happening? Staring at the jar that had fallen, she realized just before losing consciousness: the wine had been drugged.

Watching Gu Cheng sway as he stumbled back into the room, the person outside helplessly turned and walked away. "Miss, I’m sorry."

It is said that on that day, General Zhao’s daughter Zhao Le ran out of the Prime Minister’s residence crying. Even Prince Rong, who usually kept to himself, personally visited with gifts. However, when they left the residence, her face clearly showed anger. People speculated that something significant must have happened at the Prime Minister’s residence, causing Prince Rong to be upset—some rejoiced while others were worried.

After that day, Gu Cheng was locked up, and Madam Dou fell seriously ill.

"Miss, you haven’t eaten in several days. Please eat a little," Qingfeng urged, holding a bowl of steaming porridge in a comforting manner, as if talking to a child.

Gu Hengbo impatiently pushed her away. "Mother hasn’t eaten, so why should I?"

Qingfeng was taken aback and then wore a pained expression. "Madam Dou has been sick and can’t eat anything, but you really should eat."

Gu Hengbo looked at Madam Dou lying on the bed, feeling sad. Since that day she fainted, Madam Dou had been in a half-conscious state, waking up but not speaking, leaving her feeling distressed.

"Fine, just leave me alone. Go see if the medicine is ready," Gu Hengbo said expressionlessly.

Qingfeng set the bowl down and stepped outside.

Gu Hengbo propped her head up with one hand, staring blankly at the tired face of Madam Dou. She remembered nothing of that day, only that when she woke up, her clothes were torn and covered in bite marks. Qingfeng said many people had seen her in that pitiful state, including Lian Chen and surprisingly even Prince Rong, which caused Madam Dou to faint on the spot. The old turtle was so angry he almost lost his temper. Although there were all sorts of rumors outside, Gu Yuanqing managed to suppress the matter, and the wedding between Gu Cheng and Zhao Le was canceled. Faced with such an event, General Zhao’s house, with less power than the Prime Minister’s residence, could only swallow their grievances and kept quiet about it.

Many people indeed thought that Gu Meisheng had been wronged, but she was the only one who truly understood. Aside from the bite marks and the torn clothes, her body was as good as new. If it had been another girl, she might feel too ashamed to live on. But she had already lived over twenty years and was raised in a time where people were open-minded and technology was advanced. She didn’t even know if she was a virgin. How others viewed her was their problem, not hers. This way, she might not even need to marry in this lifetime. One gain comes with a loss, and she did not care how others looked at her.

However, she ultimately underestimated the old turtle. Right after this incident, he went to see the emperor, and she didn’t know what he said, only that he intended to send her to the palace, to the second prince who was not favored.

The emperor must feel quite helpless to be threatened by a minister to make his son marry a daughter who has lost her reputation. Of course, the emperor hasn’t replied to this matter yet; the minister hasn’t agreed either. His plan has turned out to be mistaken.

Gu Hengbo looked at Madam Dou on the bed and sighed. "If you wake up and I tell you everything, will it all be alright?” The longer she thought about it, the more guilty she felt. Was she really going to enter the palace?

"Miss, the medicine is ready," Qingfeng said as she walked in holding the bowl.

Gu Hengbo glanced at her. "Put it here. I’ll feed her in a bit. You can go and busy yourself."

Qingfeng set down the medicine but looked at Gu Hengbo with hesitation. "Miss, Qingfeng has something to say."

"Go ahead."

"Do you not like Qingfeng anymore?"

Gu Hengbo blew on the medicine in the bowl and smiled. "Why do you suddenly say this? Have I been treating you poorly lately?"

Qingfeng shook her head. "Miss, you’ve seemed very strange these days."

Gu Hengbo looked at her. "If you were wronged by someone, would you still be happy chatting with others?"

Qingfeng froze. "Miss?"

"Go on and do what you need to. I will call for you if I need you."

"Okay."

Gu Hengbo carefully fed the cooled medicine to Madam Dou. It was strange. Haha, it was quite odd that a girl who had gone through something like this could still calmly feed someone medicine. Why not seek death?

Lianyang stared at the swirling tea leaves in his cup and sighed. "Mother Empress has gotten her wish this time. Gu Yuanqing has already asked Father Emperor for the wedding with Gu Meisheng."

The Empress’s face turned pale. "Mother Empress will not let you marry a girl who has lost her honor. She cannot agree to this even if it costs her life."

Lianyang smiled slightly. "Why does Mother Empress insist so much? Didn’t you tell me to let things go? Honor or not, it doesn’t matter. The key is, she is Gu Yuanqing’s daughter."

The Empress shook her head. "If it were Gu Ran, perhaps I wouldn’t mind, but she is after all Gu Yuanqing’s illegitimate daughter, once known to be mad, and now she faces this situation."

"Mother Empress, shouldn’t we pity her? Perhaps someone like her would be easier to control," Lianyang said lightly.