Chapter 464

Gu Ying's eyes brightened slightly. Her body was pressed under the thick brocade quilt by him. As he moved, her breathing grew rapid.

He held the young lady in his arms for a while, worried that her body had not yet recovered, so he did many preparations for her until her eyes grew misty with desire and her body went limp like water before he finally lowered himself and patiently pressed against her, bending down to kiss her delicate skin.

Gu Ying's eyes were like water, shimmering and hazy as she gave him an alluring glance. "A Du, it hurts..."

Seeing the young lady guarding her clothes in terror, barely revealing anything, she looked most charmingly shy.

Since she didn't breastfeed after giving birth, her chest had felt rather uncomfortable during that month at Hidden Fragrance Courtyard. She hadn't realized then that it was because her chest was swollen and sore after giving birth.

Later, when she returned to Zhenguo Duke Manor and heard the wet nurse talk about breastfeeding, she finally understood that this soreness was common among women.

Even now, it would sometimes hurt badly, especially whenever the little one drew near her, her body would automatically react.

Gu Ying shyly blushed to the tips of her eyes, gazing at the man's scorching, fiery eyes. She softly said, "The wet nurse said Yan'er could help me..."

"No need for him."

He didn't let his little wife breastfeed the little dumpling. The two wet nurses at home were enough.

As for the little lady, she could only be his.

Gu Ying impatiently said, "Then if it always hurts, how is that good?"

"Isn't your husband still here?"

Zhao Changdu's phoenix eyes were deep and intoxicating as he stared at the touch of vermilion in the snow. His eyes grew increasingly obscure and unfathomable. As his gaze heated up, he lowered his head.

Gu Ying suddenly bit the corner of her mouth. They already had a child together, yet he still treated her this way...it made her feel ashamed beyond words.

She turned her head to one side, burying her petite face in the soft pillow, trying hard to control her fragmented cries and turbulent breathing.

After some unknown amount of time, long, drawn-out moans of a woman sounded from the bed.

The man's breathing was very heavy as he panted roughly.

Since leaving Bianjing, he had been abstinent, not having any wicked thoughts these past few months on the battlefield. He was always cold and ascetic, not usually that keen on matters between men and women. Yet whenever he was by her side, he found it somewhat hard to control himself. When he first brought her back, for a long time he didn't touch her, afraid she was still upset.

It was not easy to be intimate with his little wife tonight, so he became increasingly unrestrained in his passions.

After a "crazed" night of entanglement, Gu Ying's whole body ached terribly. She truly did not understand why the Crown Prince was so obsessed with her body; upright and proper by day, but a licentious beast by night.

By the time it was almost dawn, the man finally stopped completely, holding her satisfied as he brought his thin lips to hers for a kiss without any lust, saying, "Ah Ying, I have to go to the palace today."

"Mm."

"You don't need to get up, just sleep in."

"Okay."

Dazed and groggy, Gu Ying only wore a white robe as she lay curled up in bed, lightly pushing his sturdy, robust chest.

Zhao Changdu grasped her fingertips, bringing them to his lips for a kiss. His bewitching gaze made one's heart tremble.

Gu Ying lightly lifted her eyelids, remembering their madness last night. Her cheeks burned fiercely. "Come back early, Yan'er and I will be waiting for you."

Having said so, the little lady immediately fell back asleep, no longer looking at him again.

Zhao Changdu gazed at her flushed cheeks, also feeling that he had gone too far last night. He rubbed the young lady's tender skin with his big hand for a while, hoarsely saying, "Alright."

After having breakfast, the fully fed and watered man changed into court attire and went to the palace to "accept punishment."

Openly defying the imperial edict, refusing the marriage alliance with the princess, and arbitrarily mobilizing the imperial troops around the capital.

Any of these crimes alone would be enough to condemn him to death.

Yet before the man on the dragon throne could denounce him, the man directly requested "retirement," saying that he had limited abilities and was unfit for great responsibility, wishing to resign from his post as Grand General.

The Crown Prince raised his eyes meaningfully, giving Zhao Changdu a significant look but said nothing.

Tianqi Emperor lowered his gaze, fuming inside, but looking at the majestic, noble man standing upright in the study, he could not say a harsh word.

He wished he could make Zhao Changdu roll right out of the imperial palace, but if he truly spoke those words, the young man would likely immediately refuse to serve.

Looking around, in the whole of Dong Li, only Zhao Changdu in his youthful brilliance could succeed the old Duke in commanding the armies and stabilizing his rule.

Thinking of this, Tianqi Emperor really had no choice but to let it go.

So he said, "As long as you agree to marry Princess Lesu, I will forgive everything else that has happened."

Zhao Changdu raised his tranquil gaze to meet the Emperor's eyes expressionlessly. "Your Majesty, in this life I only have Gu Ying. I absolutely will not take a second wife."

Tianqi Emperor gave in a step, persuading, "I'm not asking you to take her as your primary wife, only to take her as a concubine."

Zhao Changdu didn't even glance sideways. "For a nation's princess to be a subordinate's concubine, if word of this got out, how could Your Majesty's peace talks with the Qiang Tribe continue?" Tianqi Emperor angrily said, "You still dare defy my decree?"

Zhao Changdu calmly replied, "If Your Majesty still insists on me marrying Lesu, then I don't want this position of Grand General."

Having said so, he flicked his wide crimson sleeves and removed the black gauze from his head, his attitude resolute.

Tianqi Emperor was so angry his old eyes went dark.

This confrontation continued until dusk, ultimately ending in Tianqi Emperor's defeat.

As Zhao Changdu left the study, the Crown Prince called for him to stop. "For one woman's sake, A Du is so defiant of Father Emperor. Aren't you worried about the future of Zhenguo Duke Manor?"

"Zhenguo Duke Manor's achievements were earned by the Zhao clan's ancestors, fighting and sacrificing their lives on the battlefield. If even Zhenguo Duke Manor cannot find a place in Dong Li, how many more years can this dynasty endure?"

The Crown Prince's pupils contracted. He was arrogant enough indeed.

Yet Zhao Changdu was not wrong. The imperial clan's abilities had declined; aside from this opulent throne, they were powerless against foreign foes and to pacify the common people. They truly had to rely on these powerful aristocratic clans.

The future leader of the prominent northern Zhao clan did indeed have the arrogance befitting his status.

The Crown Prince said, "I merely casually reminded you, why speak of such things."

The corner of Zhao Changdu's mouth hooked up into a faint smile. "Li Hao, I believe you will become a wise ruler in the future."

The Crown Prince laughed. "I hope that in the future, I can live up to your words and not fail your trust."

"I'll be going now, to accompany Gu Ying at home." Zhao Changdu lightly chuckled, folding his hands into his sleeves. Snowflakes swirled down onto the man's jet black sword-like brows. Handsome and spirited, his eyes shone bright as the stars.

Earlier, before Gu Ying returned to Bianjing, he had gone to see the Crown Prince.

At that time, his entire being emitted endless bleakness, sickly and coldly sinister. Now he was completely different, bold and vigorous.

The Crown Prince was lost in thought for a while before he regained his senses, and there was only the distant back of the departing man between the palace halls.

The snow was pure white, fluttering down. The sprawling imperial palace stretched on, the world vast and expansive.

He couldn't help sighing.

Fortunately, there was still a Gu Ying in this world who could restrain that demon.

Otherwise —

Who could control him?

He feared heaven and earth would be overturned.

...