Chapter 124 You Have a Childhood Sweetheart, I Have a Childhood Friend
Princess Qiongxiao was extremely beautiful, but she suffered greatly during the years she was tortured in Shuanghua Kingdom. She lost her right eye and was disfigured on her chin, and there are still faint scars on her face.
She secretly sent people to search for experts in various countries, hoping to restore her beauty and cure her right eye. Her subordinates searched for many years in various countries and finally brought Master Fu back.
Old Fu can't cure eyesight or restore beauty, but she can change faces.
Princess Qiongxiao had personally witnessed Master Fu's amazing skill; she could completely swap two similar faces in a single day without leaving any trace.
Princess Qiongxiao was extremely tempted, but firstly, the pain and bloodshed of the face transplant terrified her, and secondly, she needed her own face to maintain her luxurious wealth.
So she kept Old Master Fu in her mansion, waiting for the day when she got tired of that life, then she would get a new, younger, and prettier face and start a new life.
Now that Old Master Fu has been in her residence for more than five years, she is not ready to change her face yet. Unexpectedly, Guan Yi'an, whom she rescued, has taken a liking to Old Master Fu's unique skill.
Guan Yi'an knelt down after Han Cui, "I am very grateful to the princess and Miss Han Cui for saving my life, and I have thought about staying in the princess's residence to serve the princess for the rest of my life. But I have always had regrets and unfulfilled wishes in my heart. If I stay, I will live in pain and sorrow for the rest of my life. Therefore, I dare to ask the princess to help me this time. I will agree to any conditions!"
He had been at the princess's residence for over three months and had learned all the tricks those male concubines used to curry favor, but he still couldn't learn to refer to himself as a lowly servant or a lackey.
This is what distinguishes him from his male concubines.
The male concubines are all delicate canaries, while he is destined to soar into the sky and become an eagle; this is merely a temporary resting place.
He was a man who, despite being exiled to the frontier by the emperor, still managed to have extraordinary encounters and escape danger.
He had no idea why Princess Qiongxiao had saved him, and he didn't even recognize Han Cui at first glance. It wasn't until Han Cui grabbed him and wept, expressing her gratitude for saving his life, that he began to recall her.
The parents next door had many children, and one of them, Sanya, was the thinnest and most stubborn. Being beaten and starved was a daily occurrence for her. That day, Guan Yi'an went to take out the leftovers and saw Sanya hiding outside their wall, looking at him pitifully.
The leftover rice had gone slightly sour. When Guan Yi'an saw Sanya, he didn't bother to go far. He simply gave the bowl of leftover rice to Sanya and watched her wolf it down before taking the bowl back and going home.
He remembered that he hadn't said anything at the time, and even secretly mocked Sanya for her messy eating. He never imagined that a bowl of spoiled rice would make a girl remember his kindness for so long, and even save his life because of it.
He was young then and couldn't see that the silly girl had secretly fallen for him from that bowl of rice. Now he's a shrewd man, a master at manipulating women.
When Meng Lingge broke off her engagement, her childhood sweetheart proposed to her. Guan Yi'an was no less fortunate, as he was rescued by his childhood sweetheart when he was in trouble.
Although he was grateful to Han Cui for saving him, how could he be willing to spend his whole life with a maid?
He was still a criminal. If he left the princess's residence with that face, he would be arrested immediately. He could only try his best to make a good impression and slowly look for an opportunity.
Fortunately, Han Cui was completely unsuspecting of him, which allowed him to learn that the female doctor kept in the princess's residence possessed such a shocking skill.
After learning the secret, he repeatedly suggested to Princess Qiongxiao that they exchange faces and leave. The princess refused, but he was not angry and continued to serve her well.
Until today, he received news that Meng Lingge had given up on Wen Zhiming and was about to leave the capital.
Guan Yi'an could no longer remain calm. In his view, all the misfortunes and bad luck in his life began with breaking off his engagement with Meng Lingge. Now that both he and Meng Lingge were single, he had another chance to start over.
He couldn't wait to find a suitable face, then follow Meng Lingge around, care for her, please her, and win her over.
His talent was still there; he could easily participate in the imperial examinations again under a new identity, and then, with Meng Xingyuan's help, return to officialdom.
This time, he's going to take everything he's lost back.
Princess Qiongxiao looked at the resolute man and woman before her and advised again, "The pain of skinning and face-changing is several times more agonizing than childbirth or having tendons severed; it is beyond the endurance of ordinary people. Once it begins, there is no turning back. In fact, Anlang has always stayed in my residence. With a beautiful woman by your side and me protecting you, you may not live a life of great wealth and honor, but you can live a peaceful and worry-free life. Why endure such cruel torture for a little regret and vanity?"
Han Cui's expression softened, her eyes flickered slightly, and she turned her head to bite her lip as she looked at Guan Yi'an.
Guan Yi'an's gaze remained firm. "I have thought it through. I beg the princess for her permission."
What's a little pain?
He's a man destined for great things. He's endured so much humiliation and pain before, so what's a little pain from a face transplant?
Tears welled in Han Cui's eyes. She lowered her head slightly and said in a hoarse voice, "Han Cui will never leave the Princess's residence and is willing to serve the Princess wholeheartedly for the rest of her life. I only ask that the Princess grant Guan Gongzi's wish."
She served Princess Qiongxiao for many years, only asking the princess twice: once to get Guan Yi'an out of prison, and once to have Guan Yi'an's face changed.
"Very well." Princess Qiongxiao sighed. "Since you have all made up your minds, I agree. Get up, and I hope you will not regret your choice today."
After Princess Qiongxiao finished speaking, she summoned all her male favorites in and had Guan Yi'an examine them one by one.
"Choose whichever one you like."
Apart from the two male concubines who had previously massaged Princess Qiongxiao, no one else knew what Princess Qiongxiao intended. The two male concubines who knew the truth trembled violently, trying their best to make themselves inconspicuous, fearing that Guan Yi'an would choose them.
Guan Yi'an observed dozens of male concubines and finally chose one whose appearance was above average, whose facial features and body shape were most similar to his own. The male concubine was unaware of his impending doom and stood obediently to one side after being chosen, waiting for orders.
Princess Qiongxiao turned her back and gave a cold command.
"Go and take a good bath. I will have someone summon you to serve me later. The rest of you may leave."
The chosen male concubine left overjoyed. The princess had many male concubines, and someone of his relatively less attractive appearance might only get a turn once every few months. Without the princess's favor, his monthly allowance and rewards were naturally meager; now that he had been chosen to serve the princess, he seemed to see silver and rewards pouring in.
Thinking that Guan Yi'an had chosen him, he looked at Guan Yi'an gratefully several times before leaving.
All the male concubines withdrew, leaving only Princess Qiongxiao, Guan Yi'an, and Han Cui in the room.
Princess Qiongxiao looked at Guan Yi'an and said.
“My dear, the face transplant will take all night and will be extremely painful. To prevent your body from giving out, you should rest well during the day and don’t need any care. I will have the kitchen send you some nourishing food.”
"Yes." Guan Yi'an nodded and stepped back, but stopped at the door and asked, "What will happen to that person after their face is changed?"
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