Chapter 4
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Chapter 4: Title
Gu Hengbo’s face was pale, her lips trembling as she forced a smile at Qingyue. “Mother, I’m fine.”
Qingyue froze, staring at her in shock. “Meisheng, you know I’m your mother?”
Gu Hengbo shifted slightly, tugging at her wound, causing her to hiss in pain. “Mother, Meisheng isn’t foolish anymore.” Yes, Gu Meisheng was no longer foolish; she’d been thoroughly awakened by that old turtle.
Tears streamed down Qingyue’s face as she hugged Gu Hengbo tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
Gu Hengbo winced at the tight embrace, her back burning. She patted Qingyue’s back. “Mother, my back hurts terribly. Can you help me with some medicine first?” If she didn’t get treated soon, she feared she might snap and grab a knife to settle things with Gu Ran and her maid.
Seven days later, Gu Hengbo could finally get out of bed and move around. Out of sheer boredom, she spent her days lying in bed, counting sheep and more sheep.
During those days, aside from sleeping and counting sheep, she tried to learn about her current location. Of course, she wouldn’t admit she wasn’t the Second Miss or that she had amnesia. The Second Miss had been a fool—what a pity for that child! Consider yourself lucky; I’ve taken over your life and can keep you around for a couple more years.
She was now on the Nine Provinces Continent, where the world was divided into seven regions: the Northern Yin Dynasty, Southern Yin Dynasty, Western Yin Dynasty, and the Eastern Yin Dynasty, where she currently resided. To the south lay three other countries: Tianyuan, Xiliang, and Jiangying, along with the vast northwest grasslands and the eastern sea regions. The strength among the nations was comparable, with the first four slightly stronger than the latter three. Among them, the Eastern Yin Dynasty was the most powerful, having avoided major wars for years, though smaller internal conflicts were common.
Gu Hengbo sighed. The owner of this body was already seventeen, well past the age of marriage. The threshold of the Prime Minister’s residence had been worn down by suitors, but none of them were there for Gu Meisheng.
Speaking of Gu Meisheng, she felt a strange sense of familiarity. In her previous life, she was Gu Hengbo, and Gu Hengbo was indeed the same person as Gu Meisheng, with Meisheng being her courtesy name. What a coincidence!
Gu Meisheng had been a simpleton since birth, likely suffering much bullying. Her biological mother was soft-hearted, and she also had a cruel stepmother and sister. Even the servants looked down on her as the Second Miss, which was truly pitiful.
She seemed just like Cinderella, Gu Hengbo thought dreamily.
“Meisheng, your big brother is back!”
Gu Hengbo jolted. Big brother? The one who was said to care for her, Gu Cheng.
“Meisheng!” Just as Gu Hengbo got out of bed, she found herself in a warm embrace. Her head spun; Gu Meisheng’s big brother truly did ‘care’ for her.
“Um, big brother, you’re back,” Gu Hengbo said awkwardly.
Gu Cheng was taken aback, then released Gu Hengbo, his eyes wide with surprise. “You recognize your big brother?”
Gu Hengbo nodded and lay back down; her back still ached a bit.
“A month without seeing you, and you give me such a surprise! Meisheng, how should I reward you?” Gu Cheng’s voice was filled with delight.
Gu Hengbo pouted. “Forget the reward. This sudden improvement isn’t my doing; it was because your father disciplined me.”
Gu Cheng froze. “What? Father hit you?”
Gu Hengbo tilted her head, her eyes glimmering with tears. She thought, this big brother is quite handsome, comparable to Yan Chufeng. With his bright brows and handsome looks, it was no wonder matchmakers flocked to the Prime Minister’s residence. “That day, Meisheng and Sister Ran went to Daguan Temple for fun. She said she was going to pay her respects and asked Meisheng to wait there, but she took Yunluo and left. Meisheng got scared, so she went into the temple, and then… then…” Gu Hengbo started to cry.
Gu Cheng’s face grew cold. In just one month, something like this had happened. He heard people gossiping on the streets as he entered the city. His nature was gentle; without knowing the facts, he would not jump to conclusions. After returning, he listened to the servants’ accounts, and now faced Meisheng, she was no longer foolish. She would never lie or deceive him.
Gu Cheng hugged Gu Hengbo tightly, gently patting her back. However, her wounds weren’t fully healed yet, and his gentle touch made her frown in pain. He noticed something was wrong and reached out to lift Gu Hengbo’s clothing. But Gu Hengbo would not allow that. She wriggled out of Gu Cheng’s embrace, her face filled with grievance. “Meisheng told Father, but Father wouldn’t believe her. That stepmother always glares at Meisheng. Big brother, Meisheng is scared.”
Gu Cheng’s heart ached. “Meisheng, don’t worry. As long as I’m around, no one can bully you. I’ll talk to Father about this. Can I take a look at your back injury first?” This girl had grown up under his watch. Though just three years younger than him, she still acted like a child.
Gu Hengbo wiped her tears, thinking Gu Cheng treated her like a simpleton. They were both old enough now; how could he casually examine the body of a young woman? If anyone saw, they might even accuse him of some scandalous crime.
“Big brother, we shouldn’t pass objects between men and women,” Gu Hengbo stated.
Gu Cheng was taken aback, then helplessly replied, “Meisheng has grown up; she understands everything now.”
Seeing the bitterness in his eyes, Gu Hengbo was startled: Wow, such an outstanding man, could he really be infatuated with a fool? But thinking of Gu Meisheng’s appearance comforted her somewhat; if it was purely about looks, Gu Meisheng was no less beautiful than Gu Ran. In fact, she might even surpass her. If she hadn’t been simple-minded, she would have long been snatched away by someone.
“Meisheng, does your back still hurt?” Gu Cheng asked, still feeling uneasy.
Gu Hengbo shook her head. “It’s fine now. Mother applied some medicine; she said it will heal in a couple of days.”
Gu Cheng nodded. “Then rest well. I’ll go see Father.”
“Okay.”
With a gentle smile, Gu Cheng leaned down and kissed her forehead before getting up to leave.
Gu Hengbo stiffened. As she expected, Gu Cheng was quite the infatuated brother. What should she do? She was no longer his foolish little sister. Now that she was not a fool anymore, Gu Yuanqing would surely try to find a way to marry her off.
“Meisheng!” Madam Dou entered with a tray in her hands.
Gu Hengbo forced a smile. “Mother, what good food have you brought for Meisheng?”
Madam Dou lovingly patted her head. “You, regardless of being foolish or not, can never change your gluttonous habits.”
Gu Hengbo narrowed her eyes and laughed. In the past, Yan Chufeng would often say to her, “Your gluttony will probably never change.”
Feeling a pang of sadness, she thought, no matter how Yan Chufeng and Gu Ran treated her in her past life, they were still her only family. From now on, they might never see each other again.
Madam Dou was gentle and kind, a good mother at heart. Sometimes, Gu Hengbo couldn’t help but envy Gu Meisheng for having such a loving mother, while she herself had barely known her own mother’s touch. Though she didn’t know where Gu Meisheng had gone, she was now living in her stead, with a mother who doted on her. Naturally, she had to cherish this and live well for her sake. Thinking this, Gu Hengbo felt her old fiery spirit reignite. Since she had decided to live well, she needed to pull herself together. After twenty-five years of life, she had somehow ended up in this strange time-travel scenario. She just hoped she might meet her prince charming—someone a hundred times more handsome than that scoundrel Yan Chufeng.
Later, when Gu Hengbo recalled her thoughts from that day, she almost slapped herself for being such a fool. That "prince charming" she had wished for turned out to be "handsome" in the most infuriating way, a man who angered both gods and mortals alike, and brought her nothing but misery.
