Chapter 329

The unique and alluring fragrance of a man enveloped Gu Ying, causing her ears to instantly grow hot and her whole body to become weak and pliant. Her hands instinctively wrapped around his waist.

Despite the prince's slender figure, only Gu Ying knew the true strength and solidity concealed beneath his luxurious attire. He exuded a strong masculine aura, especially in his powerful waist, which she knew could be steady and fierce when necessary.

Her mind was muddled, her ears burning with heat, and all she could think about was how to detoxify him.

Zhao Changdu chuckled softly, lowering his head to find her face.

Their passionate kiss left her bewildered and breathless.

Just as they were about to reach a crucial moment, he suddenly pulled away and looked down at her flushed face from above. "I'm going to take a bath. I'll come back to accompany you, Ah Ying."

Gu Ying stared blankly with her moist eyes, gazing at the tall figure of the man as he rose from her.

With a brief glance, she noticed his long, slender legs and a certain prominent part that was poised and eager.

He had clearly endured torment already.

But even so, he dared to leave her, an antidote that could save him, and went to take a cold shower in the inner chamber!

Gu Ying's heart raced, still immersed in the afterglow of their intimate moments. She sank into the soft bedding, shyly hugging the quilt as she rolled into the large bed.

The prince was no longer in sight, but the sound of running water in the inner chamber disturbed the tranquility.

She wanted to calm herself down, but her mind was far from pure, filled with his confident and satisfied appearance before he left.

To be honest... Zhao Changdu had an unparalleled physique. How did she end up with Jiang Yin, that wretched scoundrel, in her previous life?

With these thoughts, Gu Ying's face remained flushed, not a trace of the warmth dissipating.

When the prince returned in his inner garment, she lay on her side, still awake. "Ah Du, do you think Auntie will come and trouble us again?"

"She wouldn't dare."

"But Huo Qiyan is her only daughter."

Zhao Changdu stood by the table, lighting a calming incense. The match ignited with a flick of his long fingers, and in the flickering firelight, the man was breathtakingly beautiful. "If this matter is exposed, her daughter will be the biggest victim."

Gu Ying fell silent. In this world, women were truly treated unfairly. Although she despised Huo Qiyan, she knew deep down that Zhao Rou wouldn't dare to escalate this matter. With that in mind, she put her worries to rest. After all, the prince would never marry Huo Qiyan.

She was just a little puzzled. The prince seemed to have never liked Huo Qiyan, so why did he marry her in their previous life? He was not the kind of person who could be forced into anything.

"Ah Du..." she hesitated, "that... I mean, hypothetically speaking..."

Zhao Changdu extinguished the flame, covered the incense burner, and leisurely walked to the edge of the canopy bed. He looked down at her with lowered eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The young girl's hair was as black as ink, smooth as silk. She sat obediently in the bed, her cheeks tinged with an alluring blush. Her fair skin was as white as snow, resembling a blossoming peach flower in early spring.

"Go on," he sat down, patiently urging her.

Gu Ying cast a scrutinizing gaze at the man before her, blinking her eyes. Judging by the appearance of the Crown Prince, it seemed that the "Hehuan San" (a fictional medicine in the novel) had no effect on him. His internal strength was profound, and his martial arts skills were formidable. Even if he were to consume the most potent Hehuan San, it probably wouldn't stay in his body for long. In that case, regardless of their past lives or the present one, why did he not utilize his internal strength to expel the poison when Princess Yueyan drugged him in the palace? Instead, he... came to find her?

Curiosity welled up within Gu Ying. "Adu, if I hadn't married you, which noblewoman in Bianjing would you have taken as your wife?"

Zhao Changdu's eyes subtly changed. "Why do you ask such a question?"

Gu Ying forced a smile. "I'm just saying 'what if.' It's purely hypothetical."

Zhao Changdu's gaze turned cold, and he spoke in a frigid tone, "There are no 'what ifs.'"

Gu Ying held onto his hand, soothing the aura of hostility emanating from him. "But even without me, Adu would still marry and have children."

Zhao Changdu's expression soured, and he reached out to pinch her soft cheek. "There are no 'what ifs,' and it's impossible for there to be no you. All these hypothetical scenarios do not exist. Alright, stop daydreaming and rest early. The midwife said that pregnant women should sleep early for the well-being of the baby in their womb. In the future, the child won't disturb their mother in the middle of the night."

Gu Ying felt a pang of melancholy at his words. The Crown Prince had not been reborn, so he naturally had no knowledge that she had lived for over twenty years in a world without him in her previous life.

Now, she couldn't imagine whom she would marry or what kind of life she would lead if she didn't have the Crown Prince.

The memories of her past life gradually faded away in her mind, resembling a dream. The past was already gone, and she should focus on the present and accompany the Crown Prince towards the future.

It was about time she forgot about all this unnecessary turmoil.

Gu Ying curved her lips and lay down, saying, "Alright, let's sleep." Zhao Changdu got into bed and pulled the covers over them, embracing her from behind.

Feeling the familiar scent emanating from him and leaning against his resolute chest, Gu Ying closed her eyes and finally drifted off to sleep.

...

That night, Zhao Changdu had an unusually bizarre and absurd dream.

In the dream, he woke up from the wedding bed, dressed in a vibrant red wedding gown, surrounded by jubilant red silk ribbons.

It was still his chamber in Longfeng Pavilion, and the room was quiet, with the dragon and phoenix candles crackling and burning.

Sitting by the bedside was a young lady in bridal attire, her head covered with a red veil.

He felt utterly powerless, unable to move, and struggled to open his eyes and look at her. With a hoarse voice, he called out, "Aying."

At that moment, the woman slowly lifted the veil, revealing a delicate and radiant face.

Her face was heavily made up, and she smiled, slightly leaning forward. "Cousin, I can finally marry you..."

Upon reaching this point in the dream, his heart jolted, and he abruptly woke up.

The room was dimly lit, with a simple lamp burning by the bedside. In the gentle glow of the lamp, the young girl in his embrace slept peacefully, nestled obediently against him.

His large hand reached down and gently caressed her slightly swollen belly, feeling the rhythm of her breathing. His restless heart finally calmed down.

A sliver of moonlight seeped through a crack in the window, casting a cold, starry glow inside the room.

He closed his eyes, feeling a cold sweat forming on his back. He couldn't understand why he would dream of marrying the woman in his dream, Huo Qiyan.

There was absolutely no way he would marry Huo Qiyan. Fortunately, it was just a dream.

Zhao Changdu took a cold shower and returned to watch the sleeping girl for a while before finally falling asleep himself.

...

Since Huo Qiyan had been taken away by Zhao Rou...

Gu Ying knew very well that Cheng's feigned calmness wouldn't last long. She skipped the morning gatherings twice, choosing to stay in Changfeng Pavilion, calmly waiting by Sun Mammy's side.

Cheng grew more and more irritable, smashing plates and bowls in anger. To make matters worse, a few young maidservants in the courtyard were huddled together, whispering to each other.