"Regrettably, my parents passed away when I was young, so I grew up in the Su family. Grandmother Su, Uncle Su, and Brother Su have all treated me like family. I heard that I was betrothed to Wan'er as a baby. However, I don't think we can simply count on the betrothal made by our parents before we were born. I still need to propose marriage properly. Although it's just a formality, I can't treat Wan'er carelessly."
"Just a formality?" The national teacher almost fell off his horse. Gu Jingtian quickly reached out to steady him. After helping him sit upright, he asked, "National teacher, what's wrong? Are you exhausted from the hard work these days?"
The national teacher collected himself. "I was startled by your plan to propose marriage. Do you really have to do it?"
Gu Jingtian didn't understand his meaning. "National teacher, don't worry. Among the three match - makers and six betrothal gifts, the first match - maker is the easiest. I just want to borrow your prestigious name. Even if you don't want to visit the Su family in person, you can just write a letter and let a junior deliver it to Uncle Su. I only thought that you, with your high moral standing and being the most respected elder statesman in our dynasty, were the most suitable person to take on this task, so I dared to ask you."
"No, no, no. I can't be involved, and your plan to propose marriage..." The national teacher was so flustered that he didn't know what to say. What should he do? He had made these two people lose their memories and painstakingly planned the draft. Was he going to let this young man ruin everything today?
But he couldn't stop this. It was so legitimate. They had grown up together, and now even the marriage proposal was just a formality. How could he stop it?
This was terrible! What should he do?
Gu Jingtian looked at the national teacher's expression and thought his request wasn't excessive. Although he wasn't a high - ranking official, he came from a family of heroic martyrs. Moreover, proposing marriage to the Su family was a matter of great honor. Wasn't this a win - win situation? Why did the national teacher look so reluctant?
"I... I have already planned many things for when we arrive in the capital. Please find someone else, General Gu. After all, I've just taken over the position of prime minister, and there are many matters to attend to."
Gu Jingtian didn't believe this excuse. It was obviously a pretext. But since the national teacher had said he was unwilling, as a junior, he couldn't say much. So he just said that state affairs were important and dropped the matter.
"May I ask, General Gu, could you postpone the marriage proposal for a few days? Or aren't you afraid that the marshal won't agree?" Was he really in such a hurry to propose marriage three days later? Having no other choice, the national teacher had to weigh his words and ask again.
"National teacher, you don't know. I've been waiting for this day for years. I finally talked to Wan'er about it just now, and she seemed a bit wavering." Looking a bit shy, Gu Jingtian gazed at Su Wan'er in the distance, his face full of longing. "A woman like Wan'er is truly extraordinary. She doesn't love money, nor does she covet power. It's hard for others to figure out what she really wants. If I don't seize this opportunity, who knows what might happen in the future? She might just slip away like the wind..."
The national teacher was really taken aback and coughed twice. What should he do? They had grown up together, and now it seemed that Gu Jingtian had been in love with her for a long time. This wasn't just a matter of whether he could stop it or not; it might even lead to big trouble.
"I'm really useless. I'm afraid I'll have to ride slower. General Gu, please follow the marshal closely. I'll lag behind for a while." The national teacher quietly slowed down his horse and moved to the back of the procession.
Then he took out a mechanical voice - transmitting bird he had made casually a few days ago from his sleeve. After observing for a few days, he guessed that the girl named Qingcao beside the marshal was probably his only ally, and she seemed to be quite capable. So he used the transmitting bird to send a message to Qingcao.
At first, Qingcao thought it was just a small insect flying around, but when she looked closely, she found that the insect seemed to be made of wood. The bird perched on her ear and said, "Miss, lag behind for a while. I have something important to tell you."
Qingcao was greatly shocked, but she recognized the voice as that of the national teacher. She looked back and saw the national teacher waving at her. This national teacher really knew some strange and ingenious things. It was really scary that a bird could talk!
"May I ask if it was you who called me just now, national teacher?"
"Yes, it was me. I hope I didn't scare you, miss?" The national teacher didn't bother with formalities. He was extremely anxious at the moment. "I assume you have a close relationship with the marshal. When did you start serving beside her?"
Although Qingcao didn't know why he was asking this, she told the truth. "I've grown up with Miss since childhood. To be precise, when I was five years old, my parents died. The master was kind - hearted and would recruit children like me from the common people every year. That year, I was recruited. Since I was the same age as Miss, I've been serving beside her ever since."
"That's good. Do you know what kind of relationship General Gu has with your miss?" Although it involved other people's private affairs, he couldn't care less now.
"Why do you ask this, national teacher? Did the general say something to you?" When this topic was brought up, Qingcao's eyes suddenly dimmed. She naturally knew that General Gu had been in love with Miss since childhood. Not only did Miss only regard him as an elder brother, but the entire Su family had long regarded him as Miss's future husband. The master even joked that these two sisters were a great bargain for General Gu, as if he intended to marry both Miss and her to General Gu.
"By now, I won't hide it from you. You're a sensible girl. Just now, General Gu told me that he would go to your house to propose marriage three days later. Now, just tell me if your miss is head - over - heels in love with him and if this marriage is a foregone conclusion?" In this urgent situation, he had to put aside his pride.
After being shocked, Qingcao's eyes became even dimmer. "Really? Is General Gu finally going to propose marriage?"
"You mean your miss already knew he was going to propose marriage?" What should he do? If both of them had forgotten, he could just go against his conscience and let the matter drop. But now, it was certain that they would remember. If he couldn't stop it in time, what would happen?
"Yes. General Gu didn't tell you that he and Miss had a baby - betrothal. The entire Su family, including the master, the great general, and the matriarch, are very satisfied with General Gu. Maybe this was inevitable." Qingcao seemed to smile self - deprecatingly. She had thought that the new love would always be better than the old one. Now that the wise and valiant emperor had fallen in love with Miss, Miss would have no time to think about General Gu. But now, was this fate? Why did Miss lose her memory and forget everything about the emperor? Wasn't it just going to fulfill General Gu's wish?