Chapter 195

Gu Ying blushed. This was the first time she had taken the initiative, and she was ashamed beyond words. "Um..."

Zhao Changdu suddenly laughed, a smile blossoming on his cold, jade-like handsome face, as mesmerizing as the first thaw of ice and snow.

Gu Ying's face turned redder. She stretched out her little hand to cover his mouth. "Your Highness, what are you laughing at?"

Zhao Changdu easily grasped her cat-like paw in his palm, bringing it to his lips to nibble lightly. His dark eyes gazed at her intensely. "I'm just happy that you're willing to give yourself to me."

The man's voice was hoarse, full of deep emotion, and every word was like strong wine poured on her heart, irresistibly drawing her into his endless tenderness.

Gu Ying felt her fingertips tingling, and an itch in her heart.

When she first married into this place, her aunt had said that all the noble ladies of Bianjing, even the Empress in the palace, thought that His Highness was great in every way, except that he had grown up on the battlefields with crude soldiers, and was decisive and ruthless in killing, with a deep and gloomy heart. His mood swings were hard to discern, and he seemed wooden and unlikely to dote on a woman.

So everyone liked His Highness, but didn't dare marry their daughters to him.

Now that she had married him and spent time with His Highness day and night, she finally understood the saying, "seeing is believing".

Who said soldiers from the battlefields didn't know how to seduce women and please them?

His Highness was a big villain in bed, and an outstanding one at that.

She whimpered, her fingernails digging into his back. "When have I ever refused you?"

Zhao Changdu's lips curved up slightly. "This time is different."

Gu Ying looked away. "How is it different?"

The man's tone was domineering. "You're still young. You don't understand."

Gu Ying couldn't help retorting, "I'm not that young!"

Zhao Changdu said earnestly, "Well, I'm ten years older than you. If I try hard, my child could be as old as you. If you dare complain that your husband is old, I'll make you regret it."

Gu Ying laughed softly. If they really compared, who knows who might be older. To her, it was just a conjugal act. They had already been intimate, so there was no point being coy about it.

Besides, they had always been very harmonious in this aspect. Other than that one accident in her past life, she had always enjoyed it.

"Your Highness, I don't dislike you."

"Other than my age, is there anything about me you find distasteful?"

Sometimes this man was rather narcissistic.

Gu Ying pursed her lips. Seeing him take off his robe, his broad shoulders and narrow waist in the gauze canopy made her blush to her roots.

She had to admit...

He was wonderful in every aspect - a villain at night and virtuously loyal by day, almost the perfect model of a good man since ancient times.

Zhao Changdu didn't say anything more. After all, now was not the time for talking.

He could clearly feel the abnormal energy recklessly rushing through his body. It seemed like the drug was draining his whole body.

His Adam's apple rolled as he tightly clasped her hand, tenderly gazing into her bright eyes and softly calling out,

"Ah Ying."

...

In the Changfeng Pavilion, the exquisite landscape screen was lavish and magnificent.

Red candles had burned all night, and the north wind howled as it blew in through the window lattice.

The silk curtains were torn down, draping over the large bed. The person on the bed was still asleep, nestled in the thick brocade quilt. When Yin Lan came in early in the morning to clean up, this was the chaotic scene that greeted her.

She and Yanzhi were both greatly shocked, and instantly blushed.

It looked like the battle last night had been extremely intense. Their mistress was probably still fast asleep.

His Highness had never liked being waited on intimately by maids, so he ordered them to tidy up the room without disturbing the mistress, then went to bathe and change in the purifying chamber.

Last night he had mysteriously disappeared, and Princess Yueyan had created quite a disturbance, so today he still had to personally go to the palace to mitigate the aftermath, lest Princess Yueyan stab something irreparable on her own.

There was only one lady of the Changfeng Pavilion.

No other woman was allowed to come near the Changfeng Pavilion. After bathing, Zhao Changdu wore grand vermilion court attire. He sat by the bed and tenderly watched the sleeping girl, seeing that her flushed face had yet to fade. His heart ached a little.

But he was also very happy. After all, last night the girl had exerted herself to the utmost limit, and in the end could only insist on staying awake until he assured her he was completely fine before she was willing to fall asleep.

Whether or not he was in her heart, at least she cared a lot about him.

Her concern for him was enough.

Zhao Changdu had never realized he was such an easily satisfied person. In the past when he was alone, the only person he cared about was his grandfather. As long as his grandfather was fine, even if he alone was full while his whole family starved, it was good enough.

Now, there was new cause for concern in his heart. He only wanted to give the girl an even better life.

He would make her the happiest woman in all of Bianjing and Dong Li.

The man sat silently by the bed. Other than the tenderness in his eyes, his face revealed no hint of emotional fluctuations.

Yin Lan and Yanzhi nervously stood to one side, extremely nervous. Seeing the God of War of Dong Li so attentively watching their mistress, they were afraid he would devour her alive.

"Yin Lan, later prepare some food and medicine to nourish vital energy and blood for when the mistress wakes up."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Also, go find Huai An and have him invite an imperial doctor to take the mistress's pulse for peace of mind, and prescribe some medicine to nourish the body."

"Yes."

"Don't forget the charcoal. Don't let the mistress catch cold. Always have the braziers, hand warmers and hot water ready at all times. If anyone comes looking for the mistress, drive them away. Don't allow people to casually come in and disturb the mistress."

"Yes."

After a whole string of orders, it was almost daylight, yet the man still kept guard at the bedside without leaving.

Yanzhi was so nervous she only dared to swallow her saliva. It was a long time before she finally heard the sound of His Highness's departing footsteps.

She heaved a long sigh of relief. "His Highness's manner is so terrifying... I didn't even dare say a word."

Yin Lan laughed behind her hand. "You're clueless. His Highness's cold exterior hides a passionate heart. As long as we don't make mistakes, His Highness won't do anything to us. Also, I can see that His Highness loves our mistress dearly."

"Huh? What does His Highness like about our mistress?"

"You'll understand when you fall in love with someone." Yin Lan smiled gently like an elder sister, gently saying, "Often, liking someone has no reason. The moment you meet, your lives connect, no matter how many twists and turns in between, you'll still end up together in the end."

Yanzhi said foolishly, "I don't know why, but when the mistress wholeheartedly wanted to marry Young Master Jiang back then, I felt very uncomfortable in my heart, really disliking Young Master Jiang. But His Highness is different. I feel that with His Highness here, the mistress's days are very secure, and I also feel at ease."

Yin Lan knocked on her silly head, "This is what you call chemistry. Let's get to work."

"I understand, Sister Yin Lan." Yanzhi scratched her head. The two swiftly cleaned the room until it was spotless, then lit some soothing incense again.