His Majesty's goal was achieved, and the sound of drums and music once again filled the palace.
Gu Zheng looked at the faces of the people in the hall, feeling annoyed. He downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and then stepped outside to get some air.
He really couldn't stand the habits of these people in the capital, their superficiality and insincerity.
It wasn't like the straightforward and unrestrained nature he was used to in the army.
It was just that it was hard on his sister, who had to stay in the capital and deal with these people!
"Why isn't the young General Gu returning to the hall?" a gentle voice called out.
"This subject just came out to sober up," Gu Zheng said, seeing it was the Grand Princess, and quickly saluted.
"Why, in just a few months, the young General Gu has become so polite?" the Grand Princess laughed.
"There is order between superiors and inferiors, this subject does not dare to forget the rules."
The Grand Princess approached him, and Gu Zheng hastily retreated, but the Grand Princess grabbed his collar.
"Has little General Gu forgotten that in the Southern Frontier, everyone called me Wan'er?"
"Princess, please forgive me, at that time I did not know your identity, I was greatly offended!" Gu Zheng felt the breath so close, and his heart was agitated.
The Grand Princess had a hurt expression, "Zheng-gege is truly heartless, didn't you say you wanted to marry Wan'er back then?"
Seeing her expression, Gu Zheng felt resentment in his heart, it was clearly her who abandoned him first, "At that time, the Princess refused!"
Wan'er knew that her father, the Emperor, was wary of the Gu family and would not marry her to Gu Zheng.
But she had died once, and it was Gu Zheng who saved her heart.
After returning to the capital, she had given up all hope, content to be a wealthy Grand Princess.
But seeing Gu Zheng today, her restless heart couldn't be calmed. She missed the days in the Southern Frontier.
Back then, when she returned to Great Xiao, it was Gu Zheng who brought her back. At that time, she wore a veil, and Gu Zheng hadn't seen her true face.
Later, she fell ill due to a knot in her heart. It was Gu Yan who had been taking care of her, comforting her.
She wanted to go for a walk, so she went to the grassland alone. Seeing the flowers everywhere, the knot in her heart loosened, and she picked a bouquet.
It was also then that she met Gu Zheng.
Gu Zheng saw her alone and asked who she was.
She only answered that she was a woman whose husband had died and was recuperating from illness.
Gu Zheng saw her listless appearance and didn't suspect anything.
Later, the two of them occasionally met.
And later still, they fell for each other. Gu Zheng taught her to ride, and he put flowers in her hair.
When Gu Zheng asked to marry her, she retreated. She was a princess who had been married before, and her father wouldn't agree.
Her father would only think the Gu family wanted power by marrying her.
She didn't want to implicate the Gu family, so she said many heartless things to Gu Zheng to make him give up.
Wan'er stared at the person in front of her. "What if I said, I regret it?"
Gu Zheng's eyes widened in shock at her words, then he gave a bitter smile. "Your Highness, please don't toy with this subject's feelings. This subject truly cannot afford it..."
Xiao Yunwan pulled on his collar and looked up to kiss him.
A wave of sweetness invaded his lips and tongue.
The longing of the past few months caused Gu Zheng's brain to short-circuit. He couldn't think of anything else and deepened the kiss.
After the kiss, Xiao Yunwan was already gasping for breath.
Gu Zheng stared at her, "Why does the Princess toy with this subject?"
"Zheng-gege," Xiao Yunwan opened her eyes, which were misty with tears, and called out softly.
"After being apart for several months, I finally saw my own heart. I have always liked you!"
"It's just that at the time, I had just returned from the Nanling Kingdom and was disheartened. And you were so full of spirit, I felt that I wasn't worthy of you. And I knew that His Majesty was wary of the Gu family. The Gu family are all so good, and they are so good to me. I really couldn't bear to drag the Gu family down, so I said those heartless words!"
Wan'er finally managed to voice her thoughts, and she felt much relieved.
"Zheng-gege, if I say I'm willing, is it still possible?"
Gu Zheng's eyes widened instantly. He had asked, "Are you willing to marry me?"
Wan'er hesitated, but ultimately didn't say anything.
"Now that I know your identity, I can't just ask for your hand in marriage, and His Majesty won't agree!"
Gu Zheng couldn't think of a good solution in the short term.
With the knot between them untied, Wan'er was much happier.
"I'll do whatever Zheng-gege says!"
"Princess, someone's here! It's Miss Gu from the Gu family!" Bai He, the Grand Princess's maid, reported.
"Yan'er is not an outsider." The Grand Princess waved her hand, signaling Bai He that it was alright.
Gu Yan saw the Grand Princess and respectfully prepared to bow, but the Grand Princess grabbed her hand.
Gu Yan looked up and blurted out, "Brother, what are you doing here?"
"I…" Gu Zheng didn't know what to say after Gu Yan's question.
Xiao Yun'er whispered in Gu Yan's ear, "Of course, he's here for a date…"
Gu Yan's face showed surprise, "You… you two…"
She suddenly understood, "Could it be that the 'Yun'er' that brother kept mentioning was you?"
"Really? Does he often mention me?" Wan'er looked at Gu Zheng with a smile.
Gu Zheng lowered his eyes, feeling embarrassed.
Then, Gu Yan furrowed her brow again, "His Majesty won't agree!"
They all knew that this matter wouldn't be easy to accomplish.
"Yan'er, you have the most clever ideas, why don't you think of a way!"
Wan'er was quite familiar with Gu Yan. This girl was usually the most quick-witted, maybe she had some good ideas!
"This is a major matter, I need to think about it carefully..."
Gu Yan was stumped.
"However, before this is accomplished, the relationship between the two of you must not be exposed."
Both of them nodded solemnly.
The Grand Princess knew her father's temper best. In his heart, the power of the state was the most important thing, and everything could be used as a bargaining chip.
"It's been long enough. I should go back now."
Although Wan'er longed for Gu Zheng's tenderness, staying away from the banquet for too long would inevitably lead to unwarranted suspicion. Everyone in the palace was a shrewd person.
She glanced back at Gu Zheng and then left gracefully.
"Brother, you're keeping it a secret, huh!" Gu Yan winked at Gu Zheng.
"I didn't know her identity at the time!"
"However, your situation is indeed tricky! We all know His Majesty's concerns. How to make the Grand Princess willingly marry you, that's the problem!"
Gu Yan pondered.
"It's not urgent, we can figure it out slowly! The most pressing matter is you. Aren't you worried at all staying in the capital?" Gu Zheng knocked on her head.
"With my future sister-in-law protecting me, what's there to worry about?"
"Besides, your sister here is always smarter than you. I can thrive anywhere!" Gu Yan said with a feigned casualness.
"How can this not be urgent? The Grand Princess is of high status. If someone else takes a fancy to her one day, and they ask His Majesty for a marriage decree, where would that leave you?"
Gu Yan looked like she was exasperated.
"I'll think of a way! You, don't act rashly!"
She knew what her own brother was like.
He was good at leading troops and fighting battles, but he definitely couldn't handle the complexities of the imperial court.
Gu Yan was incredibly relieved that it was her, not her brother, who was currently in the capital.
"You should go back quickly! I need to get some air and clear my head!"
Gu Yan had just come out and needed to take it easy. The stuffiness inside the hall had made her head unclear.
But her brother had been out for a long time. It was best for him to go back quickly!