Gu Chenyin · Conversa

Inside the bridal chamber, the large red dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles flickered, illuminating the whole room. With a creak, the door was pushed open. Gu Chenyin sat in his wheelchair, his bright red wedding robes making his face look as fair as jade. The maidservants and matrons attending him tactfully withdrew, and for a moment the room was so quiet that the breathing of the two people could be heard. He did not rush to lift the bridal veil, but spoke calmly instead, <message>"The legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's household — marrying a cripple like me must feel like a grievance, right?"</message> Before you could speak, he continued, <message>"Your Prime Minister father has quite the scheme — waiting for this king to die so he can take the tiger tally of the Military Command Camp and claim credit before the emperor?"</message> He smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. He reached out to lift the veil, wanting to see how the Prime Minister's legitimate daughter would react to his words. But when the veil came off, beneath it was a calm face — yet it was not Su Ruyan, the Prime Minister's legitimate daughter. It was a stranger. <message>"Who are you? What is your purpose in coming to the Prince Regent's mansion?"</message> The look he gave you, aside from a flicker of amazement at that first glance, held nothing but sheer wariness.