Chapter Five
Speaking of Huo Pingyuan, Gu Leyao's feelings towards him were also complicated. It wasn't that he didn't have good moments.
In the original owner's memories, at the very beginning, when the Gu family learned that their daughter had been switched, it was Huo Pingyuan, her betrothed since childhood, who came to pick her up.
At that time, the original owner was forced into a bridal sedan chair by her adoptive parents. Huo Pingyuan arrived in time and rescued her with his men. The original owner had a very good first impression of him.
Later, the original owner returned to the Earl's Mansion and was bullied by Gu Baozhu and Gu Ronghua many times, but Huo Pingyuan never took the initiative to bully her.
The original owner became even more convinced that Huo Pingyuan was a very good person. The original owner was sixteen years old, which would still be a high school student in modern times. At her age, it was only natural for her to fall in love with someone who looked handsome and had saved her.
However, Huo Pingyuan always seemed to prefer Gu Baozhu. Gu Baozhu grew up in the Earl's Mansion, and the Earl and his wife spent a lot of money to hire etiquette teachers from the capital to teach Gu Baozhu. As a result, Gu Baozhu naturally grew up to be graceful and poised.
The original owner grew up in the countryside, and just surviving was a huge struggle for her. In terms of etiquette and manners, how could she compare to Gu Baozhu, who grew up in the capital?
For a long time, the original owner felt ashamed and inferior in front of Gu Baozhu.
Even though Gu Baozhu stole her identity and took her things, the original owner still felt inferior.
Because Gu Baozhu took her things, and once something is taken, it's taken. Even if the original owner hates Gu Baozhu, those things can't be returned.
During those days, the original owner dreamed countless times in the dead of night that her identity had never been maliciously switched, that she had grown up well in the Earl's mansion, and that she would naturally marry Huo Pingyuan. How wonderful, how smooth and happy her life would have been!
Even later, when Huo Pingyuan's elder brother Huo Tao made a mistake on the frontier, and the Huo family fell into ruin, Huo Pingyuan went from being a highly sought-after son-in-law in the capital to a stray dog that everyone avoided. The original owner of this body still liked Huo Pingyuan.
At that time, seeing that Huo Pingyuan's family had fallen on hard times and that he had found a better match, Gu Baozhu quickly married herself off.
To avoid gossip, the Earl of Zhongqin and his wife married the original owner to Huo Pingyuan.
Huo Pingyuan had already decided to go to the northern frontier to make a name for himself, and the original owner of this body, a girl who grew up in Jiangnan, followed him to the northern frontier without a second thought.
The weather in northern Xinjiang is so cold. If a drunk person lies outside overnight, he can freeze into an ice corpse the next day.
Yet, in such bone-chilling cold, the original owner accompanied Huo Pingyuan for fifteen years.
Over the course of fifteen years, the original owner dug Huo Pingyuan out of a pile of corpses, brewed medicine to nourish his body, and healed the wounds all over his body from swords and knives. In the end, she suffered from infertility due to his illness and could never have her own children again.
The original owner accompanied Huo Pingyuan from centurion to general. They weathered the most difficult times together, but some people are destined to share hardship but not happiness.
Less than two years after returning to the capital, Huo Pingyuan proposed to marry Gu Baozhu, a widow living at home, as his secondary wife.
At that time, the original owner already knew that his life was coming to an end, so there was no point in doing anything.
She left a divorce agreement at the wedding banquet, returned to Xiaohuangshan, and ended her life in Chuntao's company.
The original owner never hated Huo Pingyuan until her death; she simply no longer had the courage to live.
Therefore, after being reborn, the original owner resolutely gave up her life and left her body to Gu Leyao.
The original owner envied Gu Leyao. She felt that Gu Leyao had a strong vitality and loved life so much.
Gu Leyao's will to live moved even the original owner of this body, who had lost all hope.
Before the original owner disappeared, she left only two wishes: to take good care of Chun Tao and to let Gu Leyao stay away from the people who had hurt her and live a good life. She didn't mention Huo Pingyuan at all.
Gu Leyao felt that Huo Pingyuan should also be considered one of the people who had hurt the original owner, right?
Huo Pingyuan's final proposal to marry Gu Baozhu as a secondary wife was undoubtedly the last blow to the original owner's heart.
The original owner was always kind to others, and the person she hated most in this life was Gu Baozhu.
To the original owner, Gu Baozhu was a woman who stole everything from her; Gu Baozhu was a cuckoo that usurped her place.
In the original owner's heart, Huo Pingyuan could marry anyone, but not Gu Baozhu, and definitely not her.
Even the kindest person has a bottom line. Huo Pingyuan crossed the original owner's bottom line, causing the original owner to lose hope of living.
Since Huo Pingyuan wasn't in the original owner's last wishes, Gu Leyao decided to keep her distance from him.
She would not get entangled with Huo Pingyuan. Huo Pingyuan was no longer her concern. If Huo Pingyuan liked Gu Baozhu, then she would wish them a long and happy marriage. Gu Leyao would not interfere in their affairs.
"Gu Leyao, what are you thinking about? Why aren't you answering me?" Huo Pingyuan got even angrier when Gu Leyao didn't respond. He felt that Gu Leyao had grown bolder after just a few days and dared to ignore him.
When they first arrived in the capital, Gu Leyao was very clingy to him, and she wouldn't even let Huo Pingyuan go back to the Pingxi Marquis's residence.
Every time Huo Pingyuan mentioned leaving, Gu Leyao would look at him with watery eyes, like a little white puppy.
How come she's become so cold and indifferent after only a few days?
They say a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, and he's certainly seen it for himself today.
Gu Leyao was brought back to her senses by Huo Pingyuan's call. She said somewhat distantly, "Young Master Huo, what brings you here?"
Young Master Huo?
Huo Pingyuan had just casually sipped a mouthful of tea, but he was about to spit it out the next moment.
After Gu Leyao learned that the two of them were engaged, she kept calling him Brother Huo.
Why is he now being addressed as Young Master Huo the Second?
Huo Pingyuan got excited and reached out to grab Gu Leyao's hand, "What's wrong with you? Are you running a fever in broad daylight? Not only did you not attend the banquet specially prepared to welcome you, but you also called me that damned 'Second Young Master Huo'!"
Gu Leyao instinctively shrank back, dodging Huo Pingyuan's outstretched hand.
"Young Master Huo, men and women should not touch each other. Please be careful."
Huo Pingyuan's hand froze in mid-air. He was stunned for a moment, not understanding how Gu Leyao had become like this after only a few days apart.
Gu Leyao knew that Huo Pingyuan would marry Gu Baozhu. She felt that meeting them was the biggest misfortune in the original owner's life. If she wanted to live well in ancient times, she had to stay far away from this second young master Huo.
Huo Pingyuan can be close to Gu Baozhu if he wants, and he can like whoever he wants.
Since the original owner, who truly loved Huo Pingyuan to the bone, had even lost her soul, Gu Leyao herself naturally didn't care who this young master liked or who he wanted to marry.
Huo Pingyuan stood there stunned for a while, looking as bewildered as a child, but Gu Leyao turned her head away and ignored him.
After a while, Huo Pingyuan suddenly stood up and said harshly to Gu Leyao, "I don't know what's wrong with you! I kindly prepared a welcome banquet for you, and you didn't even come! Now you're ignoring me. You've really spoiled me! Let me tell you, I'm leaving now. Even if you beg me to come to the Marquis of Zhongqin's mansion in the future, I won't come!"
Gu Leyao didn't even blink when she heard these harsh words. "Since you, Young Master Huo, have decided to leave, then I'm sorry I won't see you out. Please do as you please."
Huo Pingyuan was furious. He was panting heavily, glaring at Gu Leyao without saying a word. Finally, he kicked over the chair and left without looking back.
After Gu Leyao saw him leave, she went to help the chair up, only to find that it was broken in two and beyond saving; it could only be used as firewood.
Gu Leyao knew that Huo Pingyuan was a very proud person and probably wouldn't come looking for her again. That was fine; Huo Pingyuan and Gu Baozhu could just stay together.
Anyway, the Earl of Zhongqin and his wife had long wanted to arrange the marriage with Gu Baozhu.
Gu Leyao finally felt relieved and got up to go to the house next door to find Chun Tao.
She didn't know how to use the earthen pot and stove, so she planned to ask Chun Tao to help boil some hot water so that they could both wash themselves.
I've been busy all day and I'm so tired that I'm covered in a thin layer of sweat. It feels sticky and uncomfortable, so I'd better wash it off with hot water.
Gu Leyao and Chun Tao were busy for a while before they finally heated the water. The two girls helped each other scrub their backs. Chun Tao was a little embarrassed, but Gu Leyao was used to bathing in public bathhouses in her previous life and didn't feel ashamed.
Chun Tao assumed that everyone in the Earl's mansion bathed like this, so she gradually relaxed and no longer felt embarrassed.
Although the two people had different ideas, they strangely reached a consensus on the outcome.
Gu Leyao dried her hair and went back to her bedroom to lie down.
She told Chun Tao to go back to her own room, since twelve or thirteen-year-olds are still children, and children should go to bed early.
Gu Leyao originally wanted to sleep, but for some reason, she remembered the Prince of Dingbei who had saved them today. His name was Li Heng.
He's so handsome! Maybe even the heavens are jealous of people who are too perfect. They open one door for him, but close another window.
Heaven thought Li Heng was too perfect, so it broke his legs.
Gu Leyao didn't even dare to imagine that if Li Heng could still stand up, he would be incredibly handsome, a rare gem, and showered with gifts!
It's such a pity, Li Heng can't stand up now.
Gu Leyao thought of Li Heng's expressionless face, which was so handsome even when he was expressionless. Even though she had only met him once, she couldn't help but feel sad for him.
Not to mention, Li Heng truly protected his country, steadfastly guarding the frigid northern frontier for five years.
Li Heng is a meritorious official who protects the Great Zhou. With such a person around, the people of the Great Zhou can even sleep peacefully.
Gu Leyao's mind wandered for a while, and it was late at night when she became so sleepy that she leaned her head on the pillow and fell asleep in no time.
*
Main courtyard.
Lady Zhongqin was sitting in front of a gilded sunflower bronze mirror inlaid with mica, while Lai Mama behind her was helping her remove the gold leaf from the agate stone.
Lady Bo stared at herself in the bronze mirror, her well-maintained fingers stroking her temples, noticing a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes. "I'm getting old. No wonder Lord Bo doesn't like coming to my room anymore."
Mrs. Lai smiled apologetically, "You're only thirty-five, how are you old? Uncle is almost forty, but he doesn't feel old at all!"
The aunt snorted, "Men are all the same, no matter how old they are, they all want to find an eighteen-year-old!"
She knew that the Earl was having illicit affairs with some women outside, but as long as he didn't bring them home, the Earl's wife pretended not to see or hear it.
She is now worried about something else: today the Empress sent invitations to all the noble families in the capital.
It is said that the peach blossoms in Luoshui Garden are in full bloom, and they want to hold a flower-viewing banquet to invite the daughters of noble families to enjoy the flowers.
According to Lady Bo, the Empress wanted to use the flower-viewing banquet to select a princess for the Prince of the North; otherwise, she wouldn't have specified that she wanted a legitimate daughter from a noble family.
The Prince of Dingbei is good in every way—he has the title of Prince and is good-looking—but his legs are damaged, and it's unknown how much longer he can live.
Nowadays, daughters from respectable families in the capital are unwilling to marry the Prince of Dingbei.
In the past, Madam Bo would not have worried about the flower viewing banquet, but this year her family has a new member named Gu Leyao.
Logically speaking, Gu Leyao was born from the womb of the matriarch, making her the rightful legitimate daughter. However, Baozhu had been raised by her side for many years, and their relationship was quite deep.
After some deliberation, Madam Bo decided to send Gu Leyao to the flower viewing banquet. If Gu Leyao was lucky enough to be chosen by the Empress, she would send her to the Dingbei Prince's Mansion and let Baozhu marry into the Pingxi Marquis's Mansion.
Baozhu was raised by her side like a precious jewel, never suffering any grievances. She married Huo's second son, her childhood sweetheart, and was able to continue living a good life.
As for Gu Leyao... she grew up in the mountains and fields. If she could marry a prince, she would have no worries about food and drink for the rest of her life, which would be a great blessing.
Moreover, Madam Bo had no idea that Gu Leyao could be betrothed to the Prince of Dingbei. No matter how down on his luck Li Heng was, he wouldn't want a country girl from the countryside!
With a plan in mind, Madam Bo relaxed her furrowed brows and had Lai Mama help her to bed.
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