Gu Zhuo was so angry he was panting. "I saved your life, and I was wrong to do so? Not only are you ungrateful, but you also blame me?"
"The dead end you're facing now isn't because I saved your life, but because the Wuding Marquis's household and your Xue family are utterly foolish. How could I have possibly ruined your chastity?"
"Besides, even if chastity were ruined, it shouldn't mean only death awaits. Staying alive is more important than anything."
Xue Wanyao whispered, "I know you didn't ruin my chastity, but in the eyes of the world, my chastity is ruined. I know life is precious, but in a world like this, how can you expect me to live on in disgrace?"
"Aside from becoming your concubine, I have only two paths left before me. The first is to take my own life. I haven't even reached eighteen years of age—I don't want to die."
"As for the second path, it would be to enter a Daoist temple and become a nun. But in the temple, one has to do all sorts of chores—washing chamber pots for the senior nuns, living in extreme poverty with barely enough to eat or wear. Moreover, a temple for women might not even be able to ward off those with wicked intentions…"
Gu Zhuo frowned. "If you have nowhere to go, wouldn't it be good for me to take you in as a maid?"
Xue Wanyao looked at the face before her—clearly her own appearance, yet the expression unmistakably belonged to Gu Zhuo.
Xue Wanyao gave a bitter laugh. "Though I'm not from some grand noble family, I am still the daughter of an official. My father may not hold a high-ranking position, but he is, after all, an official in the Hanlin Academy. You want his daughter to become a slave or a maid? You want me to enter the slave registry?"
Gu Zhuo rubbed his nose. "That does indeed seem inappropriate. Then I'll give you silver. You can use it to start a business, and later find a good husband to marry. Why must you become my concubine?"
Tears welled up in Xue Wanyao's eyes. "The matter of me falling into the water and losing my chastity is probably known throughout the entire Shengjing City. What gentleman would not mind that I was rescued by an unrelated man after falling into the water? Now, aside from becoming Your Highness's concubine, I have no other choice."
Gu Zhuo looked at Xue Wanyao wearing his own face, on the verge of tears, eyes brimming with droplets, and he frowned tightly, growling, "I told you, don't use my face to make such an effeminate expression."
Xue Wanyao was startled by his shout, and tears slid down her cheeks.
For the first time, Gu Zhuo realized his own face could look so pitiful and heart-wrenching. Suppressing the pain in his legs, he walked over to Xue Wanyao, reached out, and wiped her tears. "It's just the position of a concubine—I'll give it to you. You won't be left with nowhere to turn. Even in death, you can be buried in our Gu family ancestral graves. Stop crying."
Xue Wanyao lowered her gaze to meet Gu Zhuo's eyes. "Your Highness, you must not go back on your word."
"I won't go back on it," Gu Zhuo said. "But you have to carry me down the mountain. I really can't take another step. How did your body become so weak?"
Xue Wanyao whispered, "The Xue family's rules for daughters are strict. We've always been confined to the inner quarters, never stepping beyond the gates. I've never walked such a long distance before."
Gu Zhuo said, "Enough talking, hurry up and carry me!"
Xue Wanyao whispered, "But… but Your Highness, didn't you say you would never touch me? How can I use your body to touch my own?"
Gu Zhuo: "…"
Seeing the young woman's flustered expression, Xue Wanyao chuckled softly, but she still bent down and lifted Gu Zhuo onto her back.
After all, Gu Zhuo was currently in her own body. They might switch back tonight, and she might be in excruciating pain by then.
Xue Wanyao was quite satisfied with Gu Zhuo's body. After climbing the mountain, it still felt as if walking on flat ground, and it could even carry a woman?
Xue Wanyao knew she wasn't a frail girl. Though her figure was well-proportioned, she was tall among women, weighing roughly a hundred pounds.
Using the young man's body to carry the young woman onto the carriage, Xue Wanyao didn't feel the slightest strain.
Once in the carriage, Gu Zhuo sprawled out and fell asleep.
Looking at her own peaceful sleeping face, Xue Wanyao couldn't help but smile. She had finally gained Gu Zhuo's permission to stay in the Prince of Chu's mansion as a concubine and be buried in the ancestral tomb of the Prince of Chu's estate.
It would be even better if she could have a child to rely on.
Xue Wanyao's face flushed slightly as she thought to herself: if she were to become pregnant now…
Wouldn't that mean Gu Zhuo would bear the hardships of pregnancy for her?
Though Xue Wanyao had never been pregnant herself, she had seen enough to understand.
When her aunts and sisters-in-law were pregnant, they suffered from constant vomiting, and their cries during childbirth were especially terrifying.
It was said that giving birth was the most painful experience in the world. If Gu Zhuo could endure the pain and bear the child for her, allowing her to happily become a mother, wouldn't that be an excellent arrangement?
Xue Wanyao's mind wandered with these thoughts throughout the journey until the carriage finally arrived at the Prince of Chu's mansion.
Xue Wanyao gently woke Gu Zhuo, who grumbled with a hint of sleepiness, "Why are you disturbing me?"
"Concubine Xue, we've arrived at the mansion."
Gu Zhuo took a deep breath and jumped off the carriage, intending to return to the Linfeng Courtyard for a proper rest.
But as soon as she entered the courtyard, Gu Zhuo was met with four maids adorned with rouge and powder. Gu Zhuo sneezed, frowned deeply, and said, "All of you, leave."
The head maid, A-Zhen, bowed and said, "Concubine Xue, we were sent by Her Highness Princess Changping to serve you…"
Gu Zhuo frowned and said, "I don't need maids to serve me. All of you, leave."
Xue Wanyao, who had followed Gu Zhuo inside, said, "Concubine Xue, you do need maids to serve you. What are your names?"
A-Zhen was surprised to hear the young prince, who had always disliked women, speak up. She quickly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, this servant is named A-Zhen, sixteen years old. These are A-Zhu, A-Cui, and A-Lang. They are all fourteen years old."
Xue Wanyao nodded and said, "I understand. You may stay and serve Concubine Xue well."
Gu Zhuo rose from the bed, waved the four young maids away, and looked up at Xue Wanyao, saying, "I don’t want any maids around me."
Xue Wanyao whispered, "But I need maids. After all, you can’t have male attendants help you bathe or attend to personal needs now, can you?"
Gu Zhuo looked down at the skirt she was wearing and realized it was indeed unsuitable. She could only frown and silently agree to let the maids stay.
Gu Zhuo lay back on the bed and said, "I’m going to sleep. Don’t wander around."
Xue Wanyao asked, "I won’t wander around. May I go to your study and find some books to read?"
"Fine."
Seeing that Gu Zhuo was resting, Xue Wanyao went to the study. Just as she picked up a book to read, Princess Changping entered the study.
"Mother." Xue Wanyao stood up and bowed.
Princess Changping looked at the gentle and courteous young man before her and smiled faintly. "After consummating your marriage, you’ve truly grown up. This is the composure befitting a prince, not the little tyrant you used to be."
Xue Wanyao felt a secret delight in her heart—even the princess praised her for being a better prince than Gu Zhuo.
Princess Changping said with a smile, "Now that you have taken a concubine, it is time to select a Chu Princess Consort."
The choice of princess consort… Xue Wanyao dared not make the decision for Gu Zhuo.
"Mother, I am still young. There is no need to rush in choosing a princess consort."
"How can we not rush? The Gu family has been a single line for three generations, and now you are the only heir. You should marry early to continue the family line and bear descendants for the Gu family."