Shengguo
Shengjing is surrounded by water on all sides and is located in the northwest corner of Sheng Kingdom. The local customs and traditions are different from those of Dayong. Gu Youan entered the city by boat.
Emperor Huaming never summoned Gu Youan, but Empress Mingzhao specially hosted a banquet in the palace to entertain her. The people of Sheng were simple and bold, and the atmosphere was lively with wine and song. Gu Youan covered her face and drank, glancing at the Empress on the high platform. She was elegant and dignified. Gu Youan was a little stunned. Empress Mingzhao was Sheng Jingche's aunt. Empress Mingzhao had no children and doted on Sheng Jingche.
In the main hall, Gu Youan saw Xiao Junqi. After several days apart, unlike her disheveled appearance that day, Xiao Junqi was quite beautiful. Gu Youan and Xiao Junqi exchanged a glance, wondering what method Sheng Jingche had used on Xiao Junqi that made him not recognize her.
Gu Youan chuckled softly. Xiao Junqi silently turned his face away. Sheng Jingche looked into Gu Youan's eyes, placed a glass of wine in front of her, and a huge face suddenly appeared in front of her. Gu Youan was surprised and picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Empress Mingzhao smiled and said, "Princess Hezheng is so graceful and charming, she and Young Marquis Sheng are truly a match made in heaven."
Gu Youan smiled, and Sheng Jingche put his arm around her and said with a slight smile, "She's shy, Your Majesty, please don't tease her."
Xiao Junqi watched all this indifferently. Gu Youan gently pinched Sheng Jingche's hand, and Sheng Jingche gently patted Gu Youan's hand, pulled her into his arms, and said, "You're here to find your memories, stay away from Xiao Junqi."
Gu Youan pouted, and Sheng Jingche gripped her wrist tightly from the shadows. Gu Youan grimaced at him.
Since arriving in Shengguo, many memories of the past have surfaced in Gu Youan's mind, including her past with Sheng Jingche. His voice, his smile, and his image appear before her eyes, and she suddenly reaches out to stroke his eyes.
In the main hall, their behavior was very intimate, making others envious.
Xiao Junqi looked at the two of them. Everyone was saying that Sheng Jingche was willing to turn hostility into friendship and marry Princess Hezheng of Dayong in order to catch a glimpse of the beauty, thus establishing a marriage alliance between the two countries.
Noticing Xiao Junqi's gaze drifting over, Sheng Jingche patted Gu Youan's head, making an intimate gesture. Since the two would be going out together in the future, such intimate behavior could also be a preparation for future events.
Gu Youan looked up at Xiao Junqi. Xiao Junqi was composed and indifferent, making it hard to associate the person from that day with the Xiao Junqi of today.
Emperor Huaming only had one adult son, so why banish him? Sheng Jingche whispered in her ear, "Everyone is watching. You are my future fiancée."
Gu Youan lowered her eyes and held a glass of wine to Sheng Jingche's lips. Sheng Jingche was stunned for a moment, then tilted his head back and drank it down. She drank it very quickly, and Sheng Jingche endured the discomfort. A few drops of wine spilled, and he gently wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth.
At the banquet, the two of them played the roles of a deeply affectionate engaged couple. After the banquet, Gu Youan went to the Imperial Garden.
She stood in the shadows, while Xiao Junqi stood by the pond, gazing absently at the lotus flowers. Her past reading experience told her that a male supporting character who appeared out of nowhere must have something to do with her. Could such an outstandingly handsome man be the future emperor of Sheng Kingdom, a princess sent for a political marriage, and a cold-hearted king seizing his subject's wife?
Gu Youan pondered for a moment, when suddenly someone tugged at her sleeve from behind. Gu Youan turned around and saw a little girl with a pink jade bracelet looking at her.
"Sister, what are you doing here?"
Gu Youan looked at the chubby little girl in front of him, squatted down and asked her, "Why didn't I see you at the palace banquet?"
The little girl lowered her eyes, tears streaming down her face, and said, "My mother has just passed away, so I cannot attend the banquet."
Gu Youan understood perfectly. This little princess was observing mourning for her family. Gu Youan gently hugged her and said, "Sister will take you to find food."
During the mourning period, vegetarian food is the main diet. It's pitiful that this little princess, who is at the age where she is growing, has to observe mourning like an adult.
Her tears fell onto the little princess's gauze dress. She suddenly realized that the little princess was born into royalty, and even though her mother had passed away, her food, clothing, and daily necessities were of royal standard. Why should a princess in name only be pitied? Thinking of this, she held back her tears. But then she thought again, a five-year-old girl losing her own mother—the pain of that was something no one else could understand.
She took her hand and whispered, "Let me take you back."
The little princess just shook her head and remained silent. Gu Youan held her, then turned around to look at the person behind her, and gently carried her away from the Imperial Garden.
Walking with her head down, she bumped into the person in front of her. "Ouch!" the little princess cried out, holding her forehead. Gu Youan stumbled and bumped into a stone behind her. Sheng Jingche laughed and said, "Where did you find a child?"
Gu Youan glared at him and said, "You scared us."
She held the little princess tightly in her arms, gently touching her forehead, and asked softly, "This is the harem. You are a man, and this is the harem."
Sheng Jingche looked at her and said, "This is His Majesty's only daughter."
He looked back and saw Xiao Junqi standing not far behind him. When he looked at Xiao Junqi, Xiao Junqi was also looking at him. He was protecting Gu Youan and the little princess behind him.
The dragon has nine sons, each different from the other. Xiao Junqi is a quiet and aloof person who grew up safely in the treacherous harem. How could he be an ordinary person?
Gu Youan glanced at Sheng Jingche, then lowered her head and left. Sheng Jingche grabbed her arm and said, "This is Sheng Kingdom. I am the closest person to you here."
She covered the little princess's ears, glanced at him, and hurriedly left.
Sheng Jingche emerged from behind the rock. Xiao Junqi glanced down at him and said, "You brought her all the way from Dayong to here. Do you really want to marry her?"
“You are from the Emperor’s crew. She is Xie Daoqing’s former fiancée. The two lived together for two years. Xie Daoqing cares about her very much. What are you doing bringing her to Sheng Kingdom?”
"When did you develop a taste for this?"
Sheng Jingche, no longer as arrogant as before, stood upright and said, "Your Highness, you are mistaken. The entire army of the Dayong Emperor's fleet was wiped out, and she was the only survivor. I think they must have had an important reason for keeping her alive."
Xiao Junqi looked up at him and said, "The Xie family has killed countless people from my Emperor's Name. Don't forget your identity."
Sheng Jingche lowered his head, his expression natural. "Your Highness, she is a member of my Imperial Guard and will be my wife in the future."
"Wife, have you forgotten your identity? You are a member of the Emperor's Ship, Sheng Jingche. Do you really think you are Jiannan?" Xiao Junqi looked at him sarcastically.
Sheng Jingche lowered his eyes and said, "Who I am is not important. Your Highness is a prince, and there is no need for you to worry about the affairs of the Emperor's ship."
He and Sheng Jingche are the same age, and this is the first time they have argued over a woman.
Sheng Jingche looked at Xiao Junqi's face and said, "Your Highness, you don't need to test her. The Xie family's affairs have nothing to do with her. The Fifth Princess has just lost her mother. Your Highness should spend more time with the Fifth Princess."
Xiao Junqi's expression changed. He glared at Sheng Jingche and said, "As you wish, Gu Youan is a well-behaved person."
Sheng Jingche chuckled and said, "Isn't the prince's appearance in the desert a test for her?"
"Testing? Gu Youan, as an assassin of the Emperor's Ship of the Great Yong Dynasty, actually submitted to the enemy after the Xie family destroyed the Emperor's Ship. Young Marquis Sheng, Jiannan's partner, is actually this kind of person."
Sheng Jingche gritted his teeth, slapped Xiao Junqi on the shoulder, and said, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words."
Xiao Junqi hated this woman. Her appearance made the usually calm and composed Sheng Jingche become irritable and easily angered because of her.
“Sheng Jingche, you actually attacked me for a woman. Jiannan’s influence is too strong. You tried to bind her with a marriage contract. If she finds out about Jiannan’s whereabouts, she might kill you.”
Sheng Jingche glanced at Xiao Junqi and retorted, "I believe in the person Jiannan chose."
One body, two souls: Jiannan is passionate, while Sheng Jingche is calm and collected. Jiannan can be free outside the rules, while Sheng Jingche can only crawl in the shadows.
Xiao Junqi said coldly, "Sheng Jingche, you haven't fallen for her, have you?"
Sheng Jingche raised his eyes, "Your Highness is of noble birth and would naturally not understand the bond between Jiannan and Gu Youan." The two have been through thick and thin together for many years and have long since entrusted their backs to each other. The person Jiannan trusts most in his life is Gu Youan, and Gu Youan trusts him because of Jiannan. This is the tacit understanding between them. Jiannan will not hurt Gu Youan, and Gu Youan will not hurt him.
"Jiannan is asleep; it is my responsibility to protect her."
Xiao Junqi scoffed. It wasn't that he didn't understand the bond between Gu Youan and Sheng Jingche, but he couldn't comprehend how Jiannan's feelings could affect Sheng Jingche.
"I hope he won't become a burden to you. The Xie family won't give up. She also has an older brother. With the Gu and Sheng families joining forces, your Emperor Ship has already suffered heavy damage."
Sheng Jingche smiled and said, "Even if my imperial title is severely weakened, I can still support Your Highness to ascend the throne."
Emperor Huaming is in his prime and currently only has Xiao Junqi as his child, but he will have many children in the future. Xiao Junqi was injured in the Imperial Palace when he was young, and when he falls ill, he looks like a werewolf.
Xiao Junqi lost his biological mother at a young age, and Emperor Huaming ignored him. It was Sheng Jingche's appearance that allowed him to see a ray of light in that darkness. When Jiannan appeared, he only regarded it as a period of healing for him.
But he actually brought this woman back to Sheng Kingdom for Jiannan's sake. Isn't that directly telling him that he only wants to spend the rest of his life with Gu Youan?
Xiao Junqi was furious, but he couldn't do anything out of line to Gu Youan. As a princess sent for a political marriage and Sheng Jingche's fiancée, Gu Youan was favored by the Empress and close to the princess. This woman was a major threat to him.
"Then you must protect her well. Don't let my father take a liking to this woman."
Sheng Jingche's expression changed. He knew what Xiao Junqi was talking about, and his face darkened. "Don't act rashly."
Xiao Junqi smiled and said, "You care about her but not about the person across from me?"
Sheng Jingche looked in the direction Gu Youan had gone, his heart filled with horror, and his expression changed drastically.
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