Chapter 1
In the sixth year of the Chengqing reign, on the Qianqiu Festival, people from all the prefectures in the capital came to the palace to celebrate the Empress's birthday.
The Imperial Garden was filled with the sounds of string music, and the girls were playing and laughing, creating a scene of vibrant spring.
In a side hall near Tingyue Water Pavilion, a beautiful young woman sat on a chaise lounge, looking dazed.
Her hair was as black as ink, her lips as white as pearls, and her fair and smooth skin was as delicate as solidified cream. Sunlight poured down from the window sill, enveloping her like a pearl shimmering with light, making her beauty beyond description.
"Miss Gu."
The speaker was a royal physician who looked to be around forty years old. He solemnly reminded him, "Your facial injury requires daily application of medicine. You must not neglect it, otherwise it will leave a scar in the future."
Gu Zhizhu tilted her head, revealing a large patch of black ointment on her cheek. The strong medicinal smell and faint stinging made her clearly aware of a reality—
She was reborn!
She found herself back on that day, the beginning of the nightmare.
On this day, she accompanied her grandmother to the palace to celebrate the birthday.
After the court audience, the Empress kept several ladies behind for a chat and had palace servants lead these noble ladies to play in the Imperial Garden.
They played pitch-pot in the Listening Moon Pavilion, but someone's aim was off, and an arrow hit her face. Fortunately, the arrow was made of wood, and the arrowhead was very smooth. It only left a slight scratch and redness on her cheek.
In order not to be disrespectful at the palace banquet later, Gu Zhizhuo went to the side hall to apply a cold compress.
Later, the imperial physician arrived.
At that time, who could have imagined that such an insignificant scratch would fester and become ulcerated in just a few days after she returned home?
Half of her face became red and swollen, and was oozing pus. Not to mention wiping it, even the slightest scratch when applying medicine would break the skin and expose the flesh.
It hurts a lot.
But when you sit in front of the bronze mirror and see yourself becoming more and more like a demon or monster, it's not just about pain.
It was a despair etched into one's very bones.
Gu Zhizhuo's fingers, hidden in his sleeve, were taut like a bowstring.
Her personal maid, Qiongfang, was startled by the imperial physician's words and quickly asked, "Imperial Physician Liu, is there anything else we should be careful about?"
Physician Liu stroked his beard and said, "Miss Gu needs to apply this ointment every day for seven days."
"During this period, you may experience some itching, pain, and fever. Remember not to scratch it with your hands. If there is some redness and swelling, there is no need to worry. Just continue to apply the medicine."
He solemnly reminded everyone: "If you don't want to be scarred, you must not give up halfway."
Qiongfang nodded repeatedly, almost taking notes.
Gu Zhizhuo's eyelids were lowered, but at this moment she suddenly opened them. She had a pair of extremely beautiful phoenix eyes, with the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, and a hint of fierceness overflowed in the flow of her gaze.
She watched as Physician Liu placed a delicate blue-green porcelain medicine pot, reminiscent of the sky after rain, on the table.
She watched as he packed up his medicine kit, then got up to take his leave.
She suddenly asked, "Doctor Liu, what kind of medicine is this?"
Physician Liu cupped his hands and replied vaguely, "It's called the All-Purpose Treasure Ointment, and the formula comes from an ancient book."
"The ladies and princesses in the palace use this for any scrapes or bruises. It not only heals wounds but also nourishes the skin."
Before she could ask any more questions, he said warmly, "Miss Gu, please don't worry. His Highness the Third Prince specifically instructed me that I will not neglect your duties. I will come to your residence for a follow-up examination in three days. By then, you should be almost fully recovered."
Gu Zhizhuo nodded and instructed, "Qiongfang, go and see them off."
Qiongfang responded and followed him out, asking as she did so, "Doctor Liu, could you please tell me what else we need to be careful about?"
"Besides not being able to eat spicy or greasy food, is there anything else...?"
"..."
As soon as Physician Liu left, Gu Zhizhuo took a handkerchief and wiped the ointment off her face.
Even so, she was still not at ease. She looked around the side hall and found a washbasin and a bronze mirror in the corner. There was still half a basin of water in the washbasin, which she had specially asked a palace maid to bring to her for applying a cold compress to her face.
Gu Zhizhuo cupped water in her hands and splashed it on her cheeks, then carefully wiped them with a handkerchief, over and over again.
“Miss. I just inquired and found out that this Physician Liu is a master of traumatology. His father was also a physician in the palace. He is very skilled.”
Qiongfang was still outside when her cheerful voice arrived first.
"His Highness the Third Prince truly cares for you..."
She stopped abruptly, rushed over nervously, and said in a slightly raised tone, "Miss! Physician Liu said that this medicine must be applied every day."
"It's alright." Gu Zhizhuo didn't even look up. "Go and close the palace gates."
Qiongfang said "Oh" and obediently went to close the door first.
Gu Zhizhuo wiped the water off her face and looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror. Her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and she was exquisitely flawless.
Her slender fingers gently touched her soft cheeks, her full red lips curved slightly, and two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks.
After her appearance was completely ruined, she never dared to look in the bronze mirror again, and it had been a long time since she had seen her own face.
This moment feels like a lifetime ago.
She had almost forgotten that she had once been so beautiful and radiant.
After closing the door, Qiongfang muttered worriedly, "Miss, Physician Liu said that the medicine should be applied continuously."
Qiongfang thought she was afraid of being disrespectful in front of the palace.
"How about I go and inform the Grand Madam and ask for your leave?"
“This is no good.” Gu Zhizhuo picked up the small medicine jar, shook it gently, and said in a slightly hoarse voice with lingering fear, “Using it will cause my skin to swell and ulcerate. In less than three days, my face will be completely ruined, and there will be no cure.”
She had already suffered enough of this in her previous life!
"ah!"
Qiongfang exclaimed in surprise, then quickly covered her lips with both hands.
Her eyes were wide open, and her voice seemed to be stuck in her throat.
Qiongfang had been by Gu Zhizhuo's side since she was a child, and she never doubted her words.
At this moment, her face flushed red with anxiety: "How could Physician Liu do such a thing! This servant will go and settle accounts with him!"
Gu Zhizhuo's words were laced with sarcasm: "How dare a mere imperial physician plot against a noble lady in the palace?"
"It's Xie Jing."
Gu Zhizhuo spoke those three words with unwavering resolve, a deep hatred swirling in his heart.
Qiongfang opened her mouth slightly, and after a long while, she stammered, "Why, why?"
"The Third Prince? He... he's your fiancé!"
"Yes." Gu Zhizhuo tugged at the corners of his mouth, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his lips.
"Because he has someone he likes and wants to break off the engagement, but he doesn't want people to gossip."
She couldn't understand it either.
I even wondered at one point if I was just overthinking things.
It wasn't until he experienced the confiscation of his property and exile, and witnessed the painful deaths of his relatives, that when he looked back on everything that had happened, it was as if the fog before his eyes had been cleared, and everything became clear.
The Gu family is a prestigious Zhenguo Duke's mansion. Their ancestors followed the founding emperor in the uprising, fighting in the south and north, and achieved great military exploits.
After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne, he rewarded those who had rendered meritorious service by bestowing upon him the title of Duke of Zhenguo, which was hereditary.
From then on, the Gu family guarded the northern border of Daqi and commanded troops for generations.
Among the many military generals of the Great Qi Dynasty, only the Gu family possessed the power of 200,000 troops, and only the men of the Gu family died on the battlefield generation after generation, with none of them meeting a good end.
More than four years ago, the Liang Kingdom invaded the border with overwhelming force. General Zhou Jian, who was guarding the northwest, was killed in battle, his 80,000-strong army was wiped out, several border cities were massacred, and countless civilians were killed or wounded.
The Liang Kingdom's iron cavalry burned, killed, and looted their way through the land, reaching Luoxia Pass in just three months.
Luoxia Pass is the most important western barrier for the Great Qi Kingdom. If it falls, the kingdom will be in grave danger.
The emperor had no choice but to send an urgent message, 800 li away, to recall his father, the Duke of Zhenguo, from the northern frontier and order him to go to Luoxia Pass to fight the enemy.
It is known throughout the world that Duke Zhenguo Gu Taotao is brave and skilled in battle, and has never been defeated.
This battle lasted a full year and a half. The Liang Kingdom was defeated and fled, ceding several cities and petitioning for surrender. The Duke of Zhenguo pressed his advantage, pushing the border of the Great Qi Kingdom thousands of miles westward.
The great victory in Qiqi was met with jubilation throughout the country.
But the Duke of Zhenguo left his life on the grasslands, leaving behind only posthumous honors.
The emperor was heartbroken and suspended court for three days. Later, in front of all the civil and military officials, he betrothed himself to the third prince, Xie Jing, before his father's coffin.
Xie Jing is the eldest son of the Empress, and his future is limitless. The whole court and the public praise the Emperor's boundless favor to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
However, Xie Jing already had someone he loved, and he was unwilling to wrong his beloved into becoming a concubine, so he was determined to annul the engagement. Unfortunately, this marriage was, in essence, a way for the emperor to appease the army, and if he acted rashly, he would offend all the military generals in the court, which would then affect his chances of becoming the crown prince.
Unless, of course, she herself is "unworthy" of being the Third Prince's consort.
She was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's family, and in terms of family background, she was worthy of being the mother of the nation.
To be "unworthy" of the dignified Third Prince, one could only either lose their virginity, become crippled, or...
Disfigurement!
Qiongfang was both anxious and angry: "How could anyone do such a despicable and vile thing!"
This is outrageous! Qiongfang was so angry she was about to cry.
Gu Zhizhuo was filled with mixed emotions.
Nightmares of past lives kept resurfacing, mixed with a heart full of hatred, disgust, and anger.
In her previous life, after returning to the manor, she developed a high fever and became delirious and confused.
At first, the mansion specially invited Physician Liu over, who repeatedly assured them that this was normal and there was no need to worry.
When she woke up from her coma, she found that her face was rotten.
At that moment, she nearly collapsed.
Then, even more devastating things happened one after another.
Gu Yican, the twin brother who was ordered to lead troops to suppress bandits, failed in his mission and allowed the bandits to spread to the capital region, resulting in the deaths of people in several villages under their swords.
The people of the capital region lived in constant fear and unease.
The emperor was furious and ordered Xie Jing to escort Gu Yican away.
Gu Zhizhuo was both shocked and worried, waiting anxiously day and night. Finally, Xie Jing returned to the capital, but her brother did not come back with him.
In front of the court officials and the onlookers at Meridian Gate Square, Xie Jing indignantly reported: Gu Yican was greedy for life and afraid of death. He killed the guards and then defected. His whereabouts are unknown.
Gu Zhizhuo didn't believe such words at all. She lost her composure and rushed forward, wanting to ask for clarification.
However, Xie Jing casually lifted her veil with the longsword in his hand.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, her festering, pus-filled face was revealed.
Xie Jing looked at her with a half-smile and said:
"As the saying goes, your appearance reflects your heart. Your appearance is exactly like your brother's heart."
"It's a pity that the Duke of Zhenguo was so wise throughout his life."
After that, everyone in the world knew that the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's family was born like a demon, vicious and ignorant, and relentlessly pursued the bright and handsome third prince, clinging to the marriage agreement and insisting that the third prince protect the runaway Gu Yican out of personal favoritism.
Gu Zhizhuo's mind was filled with Xie Jing's indifferent and cold gaze that day. A surge of anger welled up in her heart, causing a dull pain in her chest.
She had thought countless times what she would do if she had the chance to do it all over again.
Heaven actually gave her this opportunity!
A note from the author:
The story is now open! Update time: 12:00 noon.
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