In his previous life, he had swept away all obstacles and reached the highest positions of power with authority reaching to the heavens, yet he was always alone.
Later, soone asked if he still rembered his wife who had passed away.
He was stunned for a long ti, before giving a self-deprecating laugh.
How could he not rember?
It was only when he was old and on his deathbed that he finally realized... it was he who had first developed feelings for her at the British diplomatic reception in spring.
Recalling this, Jiang Yin raised his head with slightly reddened eyes that were turning moist.
He closed his eyes for a mont, then opened them again, and said to the woman still kneeling below, "Raise your head."
The woman obediently raised her head, revealing a face identical to Gu Ying's.
Jiang Yin looked at her with complex emotions.
In his previous life, he had by chance t a girl nad Chu Jiuniang who resembled her.
Chu Jiuniang was from Haizhou. She ca from a poor farming family, with generations of farrs. Later her father married a wandering madwoman who gave birth to a bunch of children before her. Originally there were eight older brothers before her, but because the family was too poor to raise them all, five of them died prematurely, leaving only three brothers. She was the only daughter born as the ninth child, which was how she got her na. Her eldest brother was conscripted into the army. Her second brother was sentenced to prison for murder. Only she and her third brother were left in the family.
Despite her humble origins, she possessed a face that was eighty percent similar to Gu Ying's. Because her looks attracted too much unwanted attention, she was kept hidden at ho and carefully raised by her father and brothers, nurtured into tender flesh and delicate skin as white as a painting.
Later, after her brothers successively died prematurely and her parents beca ill and passed away, her only remaining third brother beca addicted to gambling and debauchery. Left without a choice, she had to show her face outside to find a living. This was how, when she was nearly sold to a brothel, she t him when he happened to be visiting Haizhou.
When he first saw her, he was extrely shocked. He imdiately had his people buy her and bring her back to his residence.
At the ti, Gu Ying had complications after a miscarriage and her health had been declining. She had been relying on dication to recuperate.
He secretly brought Chu Jiuniang back to a separate courtyard residence in Bianjing and gave her covert training until her comportnt and manners beca almost indistinguishable from Gu Ying’s.
Later, this woman did help him a lot. Using her beauty and bedroom skills, she assisted his swift rise through the ranks at court.
He didn’t expect that after his rebirth, when he sent people in advance to bring her back, she was actually willing to travel thousands of miles from Haizhou to Yueyang to co to him.
It was just a pity that although this woman was an ignorant village woman, she was not very easy to control. If he wanted to use her again, he would have to think carefully about how to do it.
He looked at her for a long ti, seeing Gu Ying's shadow on her face. Unable to restrain himself, he leaned over and reached out to stroke her face, a loving and doting look erging in his eyes.
“From now on, forget everything about your past. Your na is Gu Ying. Do you understand?”
Chu Jiuniang gave a faint smile and obediently said, “This servant understands. I am Gu Ying, Second Young Lady of the East Pingbo Residence's second branch. I'm currently the wife of the Heir Apparent of Prince Zhongguo’s residence.”
Jiang Yin was very satisfied. Under Han Lin's training lately, not only had her looks beco more and more similar to Gu Ying’s, but her behavior and manners had also beco identical to Gu Ying's in every way - her speech, movents, temperant and tone of voice. Even so subtle gestures had been learned uncannily lifelike.
Whenever he ca to see her, there were tis he couldn't distinguish true from false.
He softened his tone and said, "Stand up and co over."
Chu Jiuniang stood up and walked over to sit on the short couch by his side. She turned her face and looked at him with a pair of limpid, beautiful eyes full of deep passion and affection.
She just kept gazing at him wholeheartedly this way, giving Jiang Yin the fleeting illusion that she was the Gu Ying from his previous life who had loved him with all her heart and soul.
"Gu Ying... is it you?"
"It's , young master."
"Gu Ying... will you always listen to ?"
"This servant will naturally follow the young master with all my heart and soul. Whatever the young master says, this servant will obey."
Jiang Yin's eyes darkened. He pulled the woman's soft body into his embrace and couldn't help leaning over to kiss her on the lips.
Chu Jiuniang swallowed and hooked her arms around his neck. Her eyes lit up with bewitching charm. "Young master..."
Hearing this coquettish form of address, Jiang Yin suddenly ca to his senses. Gu Ying would never make such a bewitching sound towards him.
As a proper young lady from a prominent household, although she lacked parental guidance growing up, she behaved with propriety and gentleness. When shy, she would only bite her lips with moist eyes pleading for him not to overstep his bounds.
But she was never so libertine.
He pushed her away forcefully, his whole body turning cold.
Chu Jiuniang didn't know what she had done to displease him. Flustered, she blinked nervously a few tis before kneeling back down in anxious apprehension.
She ca from an extrely poor family. The n in her village lusted after her beauty and none harbored good intentions whenever they loitered outside her door. She was terrified and had run away under the cover of night to the city of Haizhou to find a living. She didn't expect a man would buy her there.
She had abandoned her gambling addict brother to travel a thousand miles from Haizhou over here because she thought she might be sold to so wealthy but lecherous old man. But unexpectedly, the one she ended up eting was this handso, refined and cultured young master.
Not only did he dress her in beautiful clothes and give her money, but he also specially arranged for people to teach her poetry, etiquette and decorum.
What delighted her even more was that he was very fond of her, taking her virginity on the very first night. He treated her with exceptional gentleness and affection. The sensations that night were especially wonderful. She was imrsed in rapture for most of the night. When she woke up ensconced blissfully in his embrace the next morning, body limp and sore all over, she knew he was the one for her this lifeti.
Only this graceful young man before her had given her a chance to live. She would follow him for the rest of her life, listening to him, bearing his children, and accompanying him until their hair turned white.
"Young master, what wrong has this servant done?"
Jiang Yin's face darkened in irritation. "Stay here obediently and wait for my arrangents. Don't co out casually."
Chu Jiuniang bit her lip. She felt sowhat aggrieved being cooped up here for so long without the young master touching her again, yet she didn't overstep her bounds too much and obediently responded, "Yes..."
Jiang Yin's heart was filled with turmoil and anger as he got up and strode out of the secret chamber, hating how he couldn't control his feelings towards Gu Ying which kept disturbing his state of mind.
That woman had betrayed him in both lifetis and beca Zhao Changdu's woman. Why should he care so much about her? He must kill her to eliminate this influence over him!
Yet as soon as he thought this, a twinge of pain spread through his heart.
Oh well, he might as well keep her. He didn't mind her past. Once he had dealt with Zhao Changdu and the Li royal family, he would take her back by his side. By then, he would love and pamper her wholeheartedly, and make her understand that he was the person in this world who loved her the most.
Jiang Yin had just exited the secret chamber when he saw Han Lin rushing over anxiously to et him.
"Master, bad news!"
Jiang Yin's brow furrowed. "What's happened?"
Han Lin said, "Second Young Lady Gu ca over to the residence just now and abducted His Highness Prince Shu away."
Jiang Yin's expression drastically changed. "What?!"
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