Walking in the deep palace with carved buildings and jade, Gu Qingyuan could not forget the deep look in Pei Jinting's eyes when she followed her father out of Chongming Hall.
Her mood was already a bit bitter, but now she felt even more depressed, but she didn't show it at all on her face and walked quietly.
"Ayuan."
There are steps ahead. If you are not careful, you may fall. Gu Shao sighed and stopped to wake up Gu Qingyuan who was wandering in his mind.
Gu Qingyuan raised her eyes guiltily, "Father."
Gu Shao spoke to the chamberlain who escorted them out of the palace.
Let them wait nearby, he said a few words to his daughter.
When the people around him retreated, Gu Shao paced slowly for a while in Gong Daoshang with his hands behind his back and asked,
"Ayuan, I want to ask you something. What do you think of that boy from the Pei family?"
Gu Qingyuan was originally worried, but she was suddenly asked by Gu Shao, and she managed to say as if nothing had happened,
"Father, why do you think of asking this?"
Gu Shao walked around with his head down,
"Father, let me tell you the truth. When father left Beijing, he wanted to take you with him."
"Your mother has nothing to do in her life. She treats you as her own daughter. Her only hope is that you can be safe and happy for the rest of your life."
"The Third Young Master Pei is deeply involved with the Crown Prince. No need for my father to say anything more. No matter what happens in the future, Third Young Master Pei will not end well."
"Father really doesn't want you to get involved in these disputes anymore. Now that you can get away, let's go with him."
The blush on Gu Qingyuan's cheeks faded, and in the end, she even looked pale.
After a long time, she raised her head, smiled, and said in a clear voice,
"My father has worked very hard, how can A-Yuan not know about it? Don't worry, father, A-Yuan will obey his father's arrangements in everything."
Gu Shao looked at her and sighed slowly.
How could he not see that his daughter was already attracted to the Third Young Master Pei?
Can't blame her.
If someone lends a helping hand to him when he is desperate, he will repay him even if he is in despair.
Not to mention that handsome young man is unforgettable at first sight.
But the more this happened, the more uneasy it made him feel.
"Ayuan, you made a mistake. You made a big mistake. Do you know what your father was thinking when he found out that you and the boy from the Pei family conspired to steal the bride?"
"It was my fault. I failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a father. I have always known your character and was taught by Ruan to swallow your anger."
"I don't know when you developed your temper. You never tell me when something happens. This is also my fault."
Gu Shao's face was filled with regret and guilt.
Along the way, he examined Gu Qingyuan and reflected on himself, and finally he told himself.
The matter of bride snatching is not just Gu Qingyuan's fault, and it is not something she can cause alone.
Here, from Erfang and his family to Lu Wenze, everyone is at fault.
Only A-Yuan was not wrong.
They forced her together.
Let her take a path that only she can decide.
He proposed to terminate the engagement with the Pei family. He was originally worried that Ayuan would not listen to him.
I didn't expect her to agree so quickly.
Although he was relieved, he was not without a trace of guilt in his heart.
He had a feeling that his daughter nodded so quickly to prevent him from worrying too much.
She has always been a filial child.
After Mrs. Qin passed away that year, the child became seriously ill.
If the Pei family boy had a different identity and had nothing to do with the royal family, no matter how poor he was, as long as A Yuan was willing.
As a father, he will support her no matter what.
But now, he can't let A Yuan's feelings go.
In front of the imperial power, everything else is as insignificant as a piece of grass.
Gu Shao thought he could see through this better than anyone else.
He can only do this.
In the palace, inside Chongming Hall.
At this time, everyone in the room had faded away, and only Pei Jinting was left kneeling.
"I do not agree to terminate the engagement. Mrs. Gu is my wife. This is my only wife."
The emperor brushed off the tea foam and said nothing, while the queen looked unhappy.
Just now when Duke Zhenguo said that he wanted to cancel the engagement, the queen agreed decisively before the emperor even opened his mouth.
Originally, she had long wanted to change Jing Heng to a wife worthy of him, but it happened that Duke Zhen Guo proposed it.
Can't blame her.
"Pei Jingheng. What's the use of your loyalty? It's because the Gu family and his daughter don't look down on you. Forget it. If you only recognize her as your wife, will they only recognize you as their husband?"
The queen became more and more angry as she talked,
"I haven't disliked her yet, but she has disliked you. What the hell? I'll start seeing you tomorrow."
Pei Jinting said calmly,
"It's normal for the Duke of Zhen to look down on me. It just so happens that I also said during the day that I would go to the border. Why don't I take this opportunity and let me go to the border."
The queen did not expect that Pei Jinting was not joking just now, nor did she expect that he was so stubborn. Her voice suddenly became stern,
"For a woman, you have to risk yourself and go to the battlefield. You are really obsessed."
"With such a petty loss, where has the responsibility that I and Your Majesty taught you in the past been forgotten?"
"Is it possible that there is only love left in your eyes?"
The queen was angry, and the emperor also put down his tea cup, sharing the same hatred and hatred.
But Pei Jinting still stood upright,
"I remember the teachings of my empress and your majesty. That's why I decided to be a good minister."
"The battlefield is changing rapidly and is indeed dangerous. But if a person wants to win the respect of others, he still needs his own strength."
After Pei Jinting finished speaking, he kowtowed heavily to the ground.
"I hope your majesty and empress will grant me permission."
The queen was originally annoyed with him for being obsessed with love and lust, but suddenly she heard these words, and she couldn't help but turn her head to look at the emperor.
Just as she was about to speak, Pei Jinting suddenly stopped her from speaking.
"Empress, I'm tired of this life."
Whether it was as a child or now, he has never really become stronger.
He deliberately made his reputation extremely bad. No one had any expectations for him, so he arrived with ease.
However, this doesn't seem to be what he really wants.
Therefore, he took over the post of admiral of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division.
He hopes that others will trust him, but he cannot believe that his true self can gain the trust of others.
Just like his birth.
It was originally a mistake.
Pei Jinting heard her heavy breathing, and her chest was beating violently.
He felt like he was back when he was fifteen years old, the night he learned the truth.
Unspeakable fear and pain surged into his body like a tide.
There was nothing he could do.
If there is anything else he wants in this world.
Probably only Gu Qingyuan.
She left too deep a mark in his world.
So, don't ask him why he can't let go.
The emperor, who had been silent until now, finally spoke,
"Jingheng. Do you really want to go to the frontier? Don't you regret it?"
"No regrets." Pei Jinting lowered his eyes and kowtowed.
"Okay. If you insist on doing this, you should know that you can't bear a punishment."
Fifty sticks.
This was the original agreement between Pei Jinting and the emperor.
At that time, the emperor had other plans for him. He insisted on going to the Five Cities Military and Horse Division. The emperor was furious and made an agreement with him. If he did not serve for less than five years, he would be punished by fifty rods.