Chapter 416
Gu Ying was overjoyed, her eyes brimming red. She pulled the teenager out from her arms again to scrutinize him attentively.
It was him, only now he was just sixteen or seventeen.
Although his childish face was not clean, his sharp edges and overly tall nose ridge could still be made out clearly, as well as those pair of pure eyes that resembled two bright pearls.
Her eyes revealed delight and emotion as her slender fingers brushed away the thick grime from his messy black hair. "Xiao Gutou, do you recognize me?"
Xiao Gutou shook his head, staring at the woman's dark eyes and enunciating word for word, "I don't know you."
Gu Ying held his face in both hands, laughing and crying at the same time, "You don't recognize me, but we know each other now."
After her rebirth, she had tried looking for him but to no avail. She figured he was a beggar wandering somewhere unknown.
If her memory served her correctly, he would only emerge around the Tianqi 20s. Some details eluded her.
In any case, Xiao Gutou's appearance came a little earlier than expected, which was good news. She would definitely compensate him well this time.
The teenager shrank back, embarrassment written all over his face, perplexed by this charming and gentle beauty's solicitousness towards him.
"You-"
Both were rendered speechless, at a loss for words upon this long awaited reunion.
Tears rolled down Gu Ying's cheeks. Her heart ached badly as she gripped the bony fingers of the boy tightly. "Get up."
Although clueless, Su He dutifully pressed a mechanism to lead Mu Nanfeng away.
It wouldn't do for rumors about the wife of the heir apparent fancying a young beggar to spread recklessly outside.
Du would surely rush back posthaste to settle scores if he caught wind of this.
"Sister-in-law, this is rather inappropriate."
If Du found out about this, wouldn't he kill this beggar?
Gu Ying ignored Su He, pulling Xiao Gutou up from the ground. "Xiao Gutou, can you tell me who sent you here with a message?"
Xiao Gutou's eyes flickered as he felt an inexplicable intimacy towards this breathtaking woman.
He bit his lips and slowly replied, "A woman."
Su He scoffed softly. "Sister-in-law, aren't you afraid Du will be jealous over your favoritism towards this beggar?"
Gu Ying smiled helplessly, tenderly caressing the head of the teenager beside her, not a shred of disgust towards the years of accumulated filth on him. She reached out to ruffle his thick hair. "That won't happen. Xiao Gutou is like my own brother. From now on, I'll be his sister."
Su He clicked his tongue, keeping his thoughts to himself ultimately. After all the beggar was merely an insignificant figure. With his interrogation done, any form of treatment would suffice.
Nevertheless, after Gu Ying's departure, he contemplated over and over before sending a separate letter to Du, documenting some questionable details.
Like how sister-in-law was so familiar with a beggar boy, interacting like old friends who had known each other for years.
Also her manner and tone towards the beggar was unlike how a sixteen or seventeen year old maiden would behave.
The letter reached Du several days later in Huang City.
Zhao Changdu had just finished sparring with father-in-law Gu Boqing in the military camp.
As an elder, Gu did not use full force but still managed to graze him lightly with his spear.
Du took it in his stride, leisurely tossing his spear onto the ground to admit defeat.
His surrender was free and easy but Gu Boqing threw him a cold glare, forcefully stabbing the spear inches from Du's leg, eyes filled with warning. "You better treat my daughter well, otherwise I won't spare you for the sake of my grandson!"
He could tell the general still disapproved of his marriage with Gu Ying.
Fortunately, upon knowing Ying's pregnancy, the strained look on the old general's stern face eased somewhat as he harrumphed and stalked off the parade square.
"Sir, a letter from my lady!"
Huai An gleefully flipped aside the tent entrance, only to halt at the sight of the man's deep yet icy gaze.
The gloomy stillness radiating from him frightened Huai An.
Unsure of what transpired, Huai An's back turned cold. He gingerly placed the letter on the table. "It's from my lady. I shall take my leave first!"
With that, he fled swiftly.
Zhao Changdu unrolled his wife's letter containing just a few simple words about her well-being. Not a single mention of Xiao Gutou's incident.
He laughed mockingly to himself, a nameless emotion and heartache simmering within.
Let it go then. If she still kept secrets from him, he would simply indulge her whims.
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