Chapter 2: Encountering the Regent Again

"Since it has nothing to do with you, there's no need to call off the engagement," Zhou Huaiyu didn't dare to meddle in the Zheng family's affairs and just wanted to quickly get this matter over with. "I will send you back, and today's events need not be mentioned again. The wedding will proceed as planned."

If there were any trouble, Gu Jinyan would be willing to take her as a concubine, but he was unwilling to call off the engagement.

Although she was not a phoenix woman, she was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue. As the Minister of Revenue favored her, if the engagement were called off, what would happen to the Marquis of Anqing's residence in the future?

He was certain that Gu Jinyan, who was usually timid and weak, would not dare to cause trouble again.

Moreover, she adored him deeply. Would she be willing to do so?

However, Gu Jinyan had no intention of returning. He looked at Zhou Huaiyu and said firmly, "Bring me paper and pen. If you don't call off the engagement, I will do it myself!"

What!

She wanted to call off the engagement?

Zhou Huaiyu was greatly shocked. She had always been infatuated with him. How could this be possible?

"Out of line! As an unmarried woman, how can you have the right to call off the engagement? This matter should wait for my aunt's decision!" Gu Jinyu said bluntly as she stepped forward.

With a bold stroke, Gu Jinyan directly wrote a letter of disengagement on the paper and threw it to Zhou Huaiyu.

His gaze swept past everyone and landed on the faces of Zhou Huaiyu and Gu Jinyu. "I am the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue. How can a young master of a declining marquisate casually call off the engagement or lift a concubine? If my father were here, a mere letter of disengagement would not suffice. Your entire Marquis of Anqing's residence would have to pay the price for this!"

"As for you, as my cousin, tarnishing my innocence and attempting to catch us in the act with Zhou Huaiyu, I wonder, have you set your sights on this young master Zhou or do you not like me, your cousin?"

"Miss Gu, be careful with your words!"

It was acceptable to say anything about Zhou Huaiyu, but Gu Jinyu was the phoenix woman of destiny, and only the phoenix woman of destiny could resolve the great calamity that would destroy the Ming Dynasty.

It was a matter concerning the people of the world, and there was no room for anyone to slander the phoenix woman.

Gu Jinyan turned and left. In her previous life, her innocence was ruined, and she did not listen to her father's advice, ending up marrying into the Marquis of Anqing's residence as a lower-class woman.

Fortunately, she had already called off the engagement, and her innocence was intact. The most urgent matter was to reclaim her identity as the phoenix woman.

As she walked along the redwood fence, Gu Jinyan felt heavy-hearted. Memories from her previous life flooded her mind. Her father's boundless love and protection, Zheng's various schemes against her, and her true identity—could her father accept it?

A sudden headache struck, and Gu Jinyan bumped into someone. Instinctively, she pushed the person away.

"Outrageous!" a deep voice full of anger rang out.

The person did not expect the delicate Gu Jinyan to be so forceful, steadying himself and fixing his gaze on her.

Gu Jinyan instinctively looked up and met a stern and handsome face—it was the Regent Prince Xiao Yuheng.

Seeing the Regent Prince again, Gu Jinyan felt like she was going to cough up blood.

It was said that the Regent Prince was a modest gentleman, but Gu Jinyan had dealt with him for decades in her previous life and knew well that he was deeply cunning and ruthless, and even after the emperor took back his tiger tally, he remained unshakable in his position as the Regent Prince.

Not to mention the struggle for the throne by the fourth prince and the turmoil in other countries, the Regent Prince remained as steady as a rock, unmovable.

In her previous life, he would come over every few days under the pretext of his debt to her master, asking her to come up with ideas. If she didn't comply, she would suffer from various illnesses. It was unbearable!

In this life, she had not been falsely accused and trapped in the villa.

The first thing to do was to stay away from the Regent Prince as much as possible, preferably never to have any contact with him!

Gu Jinyan lifted her skirt and planned to run away as fast as she could, but every time she turned left, he turned in the same direction, blocking her path.

Was he like this in the capital too?

"It seems that Miss Gu is dissatisfied with this prince?" Xiao Yuheng covered his chest as if he were injured, a stark contrast to his tall and handsome appearance.

If he were to be judged solely on looks, the Regent Prince was indeed the most handsome man she had ever seen.

However.

She had to clarify.

She, Gu Jinyan, was not a lecherous person!

In her previous life, she only interacted with this detestable man because she was bored being alone in the villa.

"Today, I apologize to the Regent Prince. Let me read your fortune, and we'll call it even," Gu Jinyan said as if she couldn't wait to clear the air. "I see that the prince's forehead is dark, indicating a clash with water, especially staying away from floods. Otherwise, it could lead to death or even annihilation."

In other words, it was a dead end.

As soon as she said this, the eunuch next to him raised his delicate finger and almost pointed it at Gu Jinyan's nose, angrily scolding her, "How dare you spout nonsense to the Regent Prince?"

Xiao Yuheng remained calm, looking at the delicate and fragile Gu Jinyan with a seemingly smiling yet not smiling expression. He pondered in his heart—was the food at the Minister of Revenue's residence not good? And since when did she have this talent for acting so mysteriously?

He thought about it but didn't say anything. He just looked at her with a seemingly smiling yet not smiling expression and said, "In the bustling capital, where would a flood come from? Miss Gu should go out more and see the world. It's not good to make such wild claims."

His voice was deep and magnetic, coupled with his handsome face.

Gu Jinyan wanted to make it clear that she was definitely not a fan of handsome men. Her reminder was out of the kindness of her heart.

That was the case, indeed.

In the previous life, not long after, a sudden flood occurred in Huainan Prefecture. The Regent Prince Xiao Yuheng was ordered to go and help the victims. When a bridge collapsed, he was swept away by the flood. Not only did he become disabled, but he also went missing for a long time.

She could remember it so clearly because at that time, Zhou Huaiyu asked her for 500,000 taels of silver to help the victims of the flood. With this merit, the title of the Anqing Marquis was passed down to his generation, and the emperor granted the title to be hereditary for five generations.

Zhou Huaiyu was in high spirits, and the Regent Prince suffered.

Out of the memory of the previous life, she kindly reminded him, but he actually said that he had never seen the world.

Approaching him, she originally wanted to be as sharp-tongued as in the previous life, but when she saw his handsome face, she felt the urge to tease him: "Who needs to see the world when I have seen you."

The spring breeze brushed their faces, and the red walls and green tiles created a beautiful scene.

Even the attendant next to them couldn't bear to interrupt.

The Regent Prince's noble status, unparalleled beauty, and imposing stature attracted the attention of three noble ladies who tried to seduce him and more than twenty unknown women.

This one had the boldest courage!

This was truly audacious!

Even the attendant couldn't help but admire!

But...

Was there a deviation in his memory?

Miss Gu, the second daughter of the Minister of Personnel, wasn't she a timid and obedient girl? It doesn't seem right... She had seen her before, meek and timid.

Was this the true meaning of "don't judge a book by its cover"?