Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
She didn't know when it started, but she had grown content with her current life and felt truly happy.
The sun in the west slowly descended, casting a golden hue over the courtyard as the sunset bathed everything in warm light, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
Gu Changqing strolled into the courtyard and gazed at his daughter lying beneath the setting sun. The beauty of the scene was so overwhelming that he hesitated at the threshold, reluctant to disturb the tranquil moment.
Old Bai Zhi and Lu Yan were about to speak when Gu Changqing quickly waved his hand to silence them.
Gu Qingning, reclining on a lounge chair, had already noticed her father's arrival. Since returning home, she had taken to exercising every morning. After Yinsha joined her side, she would accompany her every day at the hour of Hai, and under her guidance, Gu Qingning's martial skills improved significantly, as did her hearing.
In the past, she had adhered to the traditional customs of marriage—first obeying her father and then her husband—never revealing her martial prowess in public as per her father's wishes.
Her father had not wanted her to marry Pei Zhirui, but when the emperor bestowed the marriage upon them, she found herself quite taken with Pei Zhirui's handsome demeanor, leading to an inevitable conclusion.
After the imperial decree, Pei Zhirui visited the loyal Duke's residence daily to see her. With his sweet words, she gradually fell for him. Even when her father and brothers firmly opposed the marriage against the emperor's wishes, she knelt in front of her father's study for an entire day and night without food or drink to plead for his consent.
After marrying Pei Zhirui, she willingly accepted her role as his imperial consort within the inner courtyard, but as a result, her medical skills deteriorated, leading to her sister's untimely death from an untreated eye ailment.
"Qing'er." Gu Changqing called softly after standing there for an unknown length of time before approaching Gu Qingning.
Hearing her father's voice, Gu Qingning sat up from her lounge chair and called out, "Father."
Gu Changqing glanced at Yinsha beside her before turning his gaze back to Gu Qingning. "This girl was sent by Prince Jiu, wasn't she?"
In recent days, Yinsha had been frequently climbing over walls to come and go; someone had already reported this to Gu Changqing. Without his permission, even as a shadow guard, Yinsha could not avoid being scrutinized by the guards of the residence.
"Yes." Gu Qingning replied without hesitation. "Anyway, I will be marrying him soon; there's no need for me to hide it."
Gu Changqing sat down thoughtfully and continued, "It seems he truly cares for you."
"Besides him, I have no better choice," Gu Qingning said with a distant gaze. "Father and Brother hold command over the entire Gu family army; everyone wants to marry a daughter of the Gu family to gain their support. I can't escape this fate; I can only choose the prince who seems least connected to the throne. Therefore, he is my best option."
"My daughter has grown up and is considering things for your father and brothers; I am very pleased," Gu Changqing said with satisfaction.
"If your mother were still here, she would be very pleased too." After a moment of contemplation, he continued, "Your mother was very close friends with Consort Chen; they were like sisters since childhood. When Consort Chen gave birth to Prince Jiu, she once said that your mother would definitely have a girl this time around and that she was destined to be her daughter-in-law. Who would have thought that this prophecy would come true? It's a pity they are both gone now."
Gu Qingning was surprised to learn how close Consort Chen was with her mother and that they had arranged a betrothal for them since childhood—wasn't that just a fortunate coincidence?
Seeing that Gu Qingning remained silent, Gu Changqing continued: "When you were conceived, your mother went with Consort Chen to Fo Guang Temple to pray for blessings. Unexpectedly, they were attacked by assassins while pregnant; Consort Chen's newborn son was killed by an assassin's blade. It was because of this incident that you fell ill with an eye disease."
As Gu Qingning listened intently, she suddenly froze—so this was how her sister's eye ailment came about.
But what about Prince Zhi Jing's affliction?
After pondering for a moment, Gu Qingning couldn't help but ask: "What exactly is the matter with Prince Zhi Jing's illness?"
Ever since she had given Pei Zhiqing acupuncture, her curiosity about him had only deepened.
Comment 0 Comment Count