Hearing the doctor's words, Gu Zhengwan froze on the spot. Tears silently slid down the corners of her eyes. She stared blankly in Xie Chengrui's direction and found that he, too, was in a daze. However, Gu Zhengwan quickly caught a fleeting look of pity and regret in his eyes.
Xie Chengrui still cared about her. Even though she could no longer dance, she still had a chance.
Gu Zhengwan immediately threw herself into Xie Chengrui's arms and began to sob.
Xie Chengrui's fondness for Gu Zhengwan was entirely based on her dancing. When they were both children, Xie Chengrui was punished by the emperor to stand in the back garden for disturbing the teacher in class.
At that time, Gu Zhengwan happened to enter the palace with her father. She saw Xie Chengrui standing alone in the sun. Gu Zhengwan could tell that Xie Chengrui's identity was extraordinary, but aside from that, she still wanted to be friends with him.
The two quickly became playmates. Gu Zhengwan was extremely talented since childhood and would dance for Xie Chengrui. As they became friends, Gu Zhengwan asked the question that had been buried in her heart with her somewhat childish voice.
"Will you marry me in the future?"
But all she got in response to her expectant eyes was Xie Chengrui's endless silence.
Xie Chengrui enjoyed the fun Gu Zhengwan brought him, but he also wanted to marry a woman who could truly help him. He was a man with emotions, but what he desired more was the power he had never touched.
Looking at the head buried in his clothes, Xie Chengrui wanted to push Gu Zhengwan away. After all, Gu Jiangyue was still watching. Xie Chengrui knew that Gu Yanwu had faked his death and would soon return with great military achievements. By then, how could Gu Zhengwan compare to Gu Jiangyue?
Xie Chengrui secretly exerted force with his hands, but Gu Zhengwan clung to him tightly and refused to let go.
Now that she could no longer dance, she couldn't lose Xie Chengrui. She must marry him. Then she would be the princess of the prince, and it would be easy to get rid of Gu Jiangyue.
Not many people knew about the engagement between Xie Chengrui and Gu Jiangyue. Seeing the situation between Xie Chengrui and Gu Zhengwan, people seemed to have noticed something and didn't step forward. The old matriarch took the lead and quickly let go of Xie Chengrui, for fear that Gu Zhengwan would come after her again.
Xie Chengrui was also afraid that if he pushed Gu Zhengwan away too forcefully, others would notice. He couldn't afford to lose his title of being a wise and amiable prince.
"Brother Chengrui, I'm in a bad mood now. I'd like to sit in the garden. Can you take me there?"
Gu Zhengwan blinked her big, misty eyes and looked up at Xie Chengrui. Her fair face and neck seemed extremely fragile and pitiful.
Xie Chengrui was still a bit hesitant. He turned his head and glanced in Gu Jiangyue's direction.
But Gu Jiangyue still stood there expressionlessly. She noticed Xie Chengrui's look and knew it was her turn to act. She immediately changed her expression into a gentle one and persuaded,
"Your Highness, Second Prince, I'm really sorry. It seems that Zhengwan only wants to be with you now. She usually loves dancing the most, but now... Please take her to rest. Thank you."
Gu Jiangyue frowned slightly and sighed deeply, pretending to be regretful.
Xie Chengrui thought that Gu Jiangyue had a good relationship with Gu Zhengwan and really wanted him to help her. He nodded and agreed.
To prevent Gu Jiangyue from seeing his too-intimate actions with Gu Zhengwan, he called a maid. He and the maid supported Gu Zhengwan to the garden.
Although Xie Chengrui was touched by his own kind act, he didn't know that Gu Jiangyue just sneered at his behavior.
Looking at Xie Chengrui's back, Gu Jiangyue suddenly found that the back of Xie Chengrui in her past life seemed to overlap with that in this life. He always had that gentle and elegant air about him, but he always gave up anyone for his own selfish desires when no one was watching, in order to satisfy his greed.
Seeing that Xie Chengrui and Gu Zhengwan had gone far away, Xie Jiuan laughed out loud without any disguise.
"Humph, my good second brother is really a gentleman on the outside but a brute on the inside."
Xie Jiuan turned around and looked into Gu Jiangyue's eyes, as if trying to find any clues from them.
"Why, Miss Gu doesn't seem to be sad at all."
Xie Jiuan was right. Gu Jiangyue wasn't sad at all. Instead, she was looking forward to seeing if she could take this opportunity to break off this hot potato of an engagement.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, Ninth Prince. I still have something to do."
Gu Jiangyue didn't say much to Xie Jiuan. If she really answered his questions seriously, she might reveal a lot of secrets.
Gu Jiangyue didn't avoid Xie Jiuan. She walked straight towards the garden of the Gu Mansion because she knew that as long as Xie Jiuan wanted to follow, no one in the Gu Mansion would dare to stop him now.
Because of Gu Zhengwan's inconvenient feet, they didn't walk fast. Gu Jiangyue quietly followed behind them soon.
Xie Chengrui helped Gu Zhengwan sit in the pavilion. Gu Zhengwan asked the maid who had been following them to leave first. As soon as the maid left, she threw herself into Xie Chengrui's arms.
They thought there was no one else around, so they didn't care about being discreet. But they didn't know that Gu Jiangyue was hiding behind a tree, watching them and waiting for the right time to call the people in the front hall over, so that Xie Chengrui and Gu Zhengwan could experience the humiliation of being caught in the act.
"Brother Chengrui, my foot hurts so much. I won't be able to dance for you anymore. What should I do?"
Gu Zhengwan's voice was soft, and her body was as soft as boneless. She completely leaned against Xie Chengrui. With the beauty in his arms, Xie Chengrui couldn't pretend to be a gentleman anymore. One of his hands also climbed onto Gu Zhengwan's thin back.
"It's okay. You still have me. Take a good rest these days and observe Gu Jiangyue's movements."
The words that came out of Xie Chengrui's mouth were completely different from his behavior. Nevertheless, he still wanted Gu Zhengwan to pay more attention to Gu Jiangyue for him.
Gu Jiangyue's performance today had brought Xie Chengrui quite a few surprises. According to Gu Zhengwan, Gu Jiangyue had always been an idle and useless good-for-nothing. But the Gu Jiangyue he saw today was completely different. She was beautiful and smart, and indeed the best candidate for his princess.
Xie Chengrui didn't know what was wrong with him. Thinking of Gu Jiangyue, he suddenly felt a bit regretful for getting involved with Gu Zhengwan.
Hearing Xie Chengrui's words, Gu Zhengwan's eyes dimmed. Although Xie Chengrui did have feelings for her now, he wouldn't marry her. This wouldn't do. She must marry Xie Chengrui.
While thinking, Gu Zhengwan hugged Xie Chengrui even tighter.
"Is Miss Gu planning to watch an intimate scene?"
The sudden voice startled Gu Jiangyue. Then she fell into a hug and was tightly held and couldn't move.
"Don't move. Be careful of being discovered."