Chapter Forty-Eight
Gu Leyao stayed at the medical office for five or six days, but refused to return to the Prince's Mansion.
Li Heng originally wanted her to go out and stay for a few days to relax and forget about that day's incident, so that the two of them could continue to get along as before.
But as the days went by, Le Yao showed no signs of going home. Instead, she settled down at the hospital’s residence, as if she intended to stay there forever.
These days, Li Heng hasn't been eating well, and he keeps waking up in the middle of the night. He doesn't like to talk to anyone about his worries.
Li Qi saw this and was anxious, knowing how much the prince valued the princess.
But when the two of them have a conflict, neither of them is willing to back down. If this continues for a long time, won't their feelings fade?
The Princess Consort is living a very successful life outside, and she won't be too bad off even if she leaves the Prince. But the Prince can't live without the Princess Consort!
That day at lunch, Li Heng only ate half a bowl of thin porridge and a few bites of vegetables.
Upon seeing this, Li Qi spoke up seemingly unintentionally, "Another Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, but the Princess Consort has been away from home for quite some time. Everyone says that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a day for family reunion, and it is best to celebrate the festival together as a family."
Li Heng remained silent, only pursing his lips slightly. After a long while, he finally said, "You're right. The Mid-Autumn Festival is for family reunion. Let's go to the medical office."
The roads in the capital were smooth and flat, and the carriages moved slowly without any bumps.
With Li Qi's help, Li Heng entered the medical department, but he still spends most of his time in a wheelchair.
He can walk a few steps now, but only for about fifteen minutes, so he spends most of his time in a wheelchair.
When Li Hong arrived, Gu Leyao was arranging affairs at the medical center.
When she heard that Li Heng had arrived, she calmly finished arranging the affairs, told the doctors to go about their business, and then left the room to see Li Heng.
Gu Leyao used to always smile when facing Li Heng, but this time her face was expressionless, making it impossible to tell whether she was happy or angry.
Li Heng sensed that Gu Leyao was angry, but he had never coaxed a girl before, and he seemed somewhat at a loss.
The two of them remained silent for a long time, and Li Heng was almost uneasy before he took the initiative to speak, "Le Yao, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, let's go home together to celebrate, it's good for the whole family to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together."
A surge of anger rose in Gu Leyao's heart. She thought to herself, "What do you mean by 'just let it go'? You just brushed that matter off like that?"
Gu Leyao couldn't figure out Li Heng's feelings. She knew that Li Heng was an introverted person who didn't say many things out loud.
Gu Leyao suddenly felt deflated. She had to back down for him to move forward. What was the point of their life together like this? Did Li Heng like her? Or was all the warm memories just wishful thinking on her part?
Unable to find an answer, Gu Leyao felt somewhat discouraged and silently reached out to push Li Heng's wheelchair.
The two walked to the gate and then to the carriage. Gu Leyao said, "I don't want to go back for the Mid-Autumn Festival, Aheng. I think I should seriously consider our relationship. Many times, I've been one-sided. Between us, it's always me advancing and you retreating. Is that right? All along, have you just been pitying me?"
I was in a difficult situation at the time, and I was having a hard time. They just wanted to lend me a hand and save me from my suffering.
Gu Leyao asked Li Qi to help her put Li Heng on the carriage. "Aheng, you should go back. Let me think about it. I feel that there's no point in us being in this ambiguous relationship right now."
After saying this, Gu Leyao didn't give Li Heng a chance to say anything else. She patted the horse's back, and the carriage wheels turned with a clatter as the horse pulled the carriage away.
Gu Leyao watched the carriage disappear around the corner before walking towards the medical center, somewhat bewildered. There, she saw a tall figure standing in front of the medical center.
That seems to be Huo Pingyuan...
Gu Leyao almost thought she was seeing things. Shouldn't Huo Pingyuan be in the northern frontier? How could he be in the capital?
Huo Pingyuan stared straight at Gu Leyao, as if he wanted to embed every inch of her flesh and blood into his own body.
Gu Leyao was in a bad mood at the moment. When she saw Huo Pingyuan, she only nodded slightly and then returned to the medical office.
Huo Pingyuan was in turmoil. She wasn't happy, was she?
Yes, how could we let Li Heng, a person with a physical disability, live in peace?
Before returning to Beijing, he had thought that if she was unhappy, he would bring her to live with him.
In this world, only he can make her happy, and this time, he will never betray her again.
*
Gu Leyao had been busy at the hospital for many days. Chun Tao saw that she was getting thinner and thinner from working day after day, and her smile had disappeared.
She was a little worried about her health, so she took the initiative to say, "Miss, the weather will be cool in a few days, perfect for enjoying the autumn leaves in the countryside. I'd like to go out and have some fun."
Gu Leyao always tried her best to meet Chun Tao's requests.
She also felt sorry for Chun Tao, who had been running around with her these past few days. In Gu Leyao's heart, Chun Tao was still a teenager, and it was only natural for a child to like going out and playing.
Gu Leyao relented, "Where do you want to go?"
Chuntao thought for a moment, "Let's go to that maple forest in the suburbs. I heard the maple leaves there have turned red and it looks beautiful."
Gu Leyao agreed, while Chun Tao went to prepare food for the spring outing.
Chun Tao is now capable of handling things independently, and she can do many things very well on her own.
Chun Tao cultivated many superior varieties in the warm cellar that the Prince's Mansion built before. Now, after two or three years, the grain seeds in the warm cellar can produce 10% or 20% more than before.
Gu Leyao spoke to the Empress about this on her behalf. Now, many farmers in the suburbs of the capital have started using the two varieties cultivated by Chuntao. The farmers all say that the new grain varieties have yielded very good harvests. The imperial court is now planning to gradually promote the new grain varieties in various parts of the north.
Gu Leyao had a plan in mind: if Chuntao could continue to cultivate grain seeds, she would definitely ask the Emperor to grant Chuntao an official position.
Finally, the day arrived for them to go to the countryside to admire the autumn leaves. Chun Tao brought many boxes of various sizes, filled with all kinds of pastries, as well as various things needed for the trip, such as cloaks, handkerchiefs, spare shawls, etc. Chun Tao put them all together.
The autumn breeze isn't too cold; it just makes people feel cool and comfortable.
Gu Leyao, with Chuntao in tow, walked across the slightly yellowed weeds, finding the grass beneath her feet soft and comfortable to step on.
The wind in the wilderness brushed against her cheeks, as if blowing away the gloom of the past few days, and she felt that the depression in her heart had lessened a lot.
Gu Leyao led Chun Tao on a aimless stroll. Chun Tao still had the mind of a child and liked to run and jump around. Gu Leyao didn't restrain her and let her run around and play. It's cute when children are having fun.
Gu Leyao also wanted to take a walk alone. She only had Shifei, who was accompanying her, follow her at a distance, while she walked ahead, stopping and looking at the blooming flowers and the red maple leaves, trying to clear her mind.
Huo Pingyuan suddenly appeared not far in front of her. Gu Leyao was surprised for a moment. The guards behind her wanted to step forward, but Gu Leyao waved her hand and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Huo Pingyuan walked to within ten feet of Gu Leyao and refused to take another step.
The two remained silent for a while.
Huo Pingyuan spoke first, "Le Yao, are you not doing well these days?"
Gu Leyao didn't expect him to say that. After a while, she shook her head and said, "Whether I'm doing well or not has nothing to do with you."
Huo Pingyuan's Adam's apple bobbed. "But I hope you're doing well. If... if you want to leave Li Heng, I can protect you. The Pingxi Marquis's mansion has been rebuilt. I've established my achievements in the North and restored the Pingxi Marquis's title... Don't worry, even if you leave Li Heng, I can definitely make sure you live a good life."
In Gu Leyao's memory, Huo Pingyuan was not a talkative person, his personality was awkward, and he never expressed his feelings directly.
He looks very strange right now.
A strange thought popped into her mind: Could it be that Huo Pingyuan had memories from his previous life?
Gu Leyao remained silent, while Huo Pingyuan gave a pale smile. "Leyao, did you remember this from the beginning, which is why you wanted to stay far away from me?"
Huo Pingyuan had many guesses before: why did Gu Leyao behave differently from the one in his dream?
Gu Leyao before and after arriving in the capital were completely different people. She treated Gu Baozhu coldly and Huo Pingyuan with indifference.
Huo Pingyuan had considered this before coming to the capital: Le Yao might have remembered everything long ago.
Upon hearing Huo Pingyuan's words, Gu Leyao couldn't help but take two steps back. "I do know everything, Huo Pingyuan. You've treated Gu Leyao badly. She's a wonderful girl, and she deserves all the happiness in the world."
Huo Pingyuan couldn't help but take a step forward. The Huo Pingyuan of the past was arrogant and conceited, and didn't understand many things, but the Huo Pingyuan of now understood. "Le Yao, are you willing to give me another chance?"
Huo Pingyuan thought it over carefully. If Le Yao was doing well in the Prince's mansion, then he would stay away from her.
If she's not doing well, he wants to take her away and he won't make her sad again.
Gu Leyao simply shook her head. "I'm doing very well now. Even if I leave Li Heng, I can still live a good life. I'm doing very well because I'm already doing very well. Even if I leave Li Heng, I don't need to marry you."
Gu Leyao lost interest in sightseeing and walked towards the guards not far away. She always remembered the original owner's wish to live her life well and stay far away from those who had hurt her.
Huo Pingyuan stood there, watching Gu Leyao's figure gradually shrink until it disappeared from sight.
He then turned around and headed towards his bicycle.
Neither of them noticed that a beautiful and slender figure appeared under the eaves on the distant high platform.
She looked at Huo Pingyuan and Gu Leyao, her lips still twitching as if she were smiling, but her bright red nails were already digging into the flesh of her palms.
“Gu, Le, Yao…”
Gu Baozhu practically gritted her teeth as she uttered the name.
It's all Gu Leyao's fault! From the moment Gu Leyao arrived in the capital, her life was ruined!
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