30 Chapter 112

When Gu Xiaodeng turned twelve, he was suddenly told he wasn’t the son of a traveling peddler, but the swapped child of Zhenbei Prince Mansion.

He went to the prince mansion in a daze to claim his kin, thinking he would receive the warmth of blood ties. Who would have known his parents thought him dull and stupid, his elder brother thought he disgraced the family name, and his younger brother thought him crude and vulgar. No one was willing to acknowledge this bond.

Everyone scorned Gu Xiaodeng, and all favored Gu Jinyu, who had usurped his identity for twelve years. Gu Jinyu was beautiful, erudite, astute, nimble-minded, and accomplished in both martial and literary arts. Gu Xiaodeng thought that if he could be like Gu Jinyu, perhaps he might gain their approval.

So he studied hard, trying to emulate Gu Jinyu even a little. Unfortunately, his talent was limited, and he was instead pointed at and cursed as a pathetic copycat.

...

The following year, the prince mansion established a private school. Many noble young masters came to study at the prince mansion, lodging there temporarily, and they always delighted in bullying him. Among them, only one refined and exceptionally handsome young master did not scorn him. Gu Xiaodeng fell in love at first sight. He carefully nursed a secret crush for several years, and could not help visiting him often.

The young master did not mind his clinginess, tacitly allowing him to push the boundaries again and again. He said he did not despise Gu Xiaodeng's dullness and vulgarity. He even said he liked him.

For the sake of this "like," Gu Xiaodeng threw himself at the young master like a moth to a flame.

Until one day, he accidentally overheard the noble young masters laughing and chatting behind his back.

"Mingya, you've been so close to Gu Xiaodeng—have you tasted him yet? Is he any better than the male courtesans at the Spring Breeze Pavilion?"

"Not even close. He can't compare in any way. Lacks charm, doesn't know how to please, his voice isn't pleasant enough, and his waist isn't soft enough."

"Really? How about this: when Mingya gets tired of him, push him to me for a bit of fun?"

Gu Xiaodeng heard Su Mingya's reply: "Whatever."

He turned and fled in panic, falling dazedly into the small winter pond. After someone fished him out...

He discovered he had traveled seven years into the future.

... That night, Gu Jinyu, the present Prince Zhenbei whose power overshadowed the court, burned the memorial tablet inscribed "Deceased Wife, Shanqing." Then, with one arm clutching Gu Xiaodeng tightly, he tried to feed him medicinal soup with his other hand.

Gu Xiaodeng was delirious with fever, his face flushed pink. The moment his eyes opened, a tear slipped down and dripped into the bowl of medicine.

"I want to go home... I want to be a peddler, not a prince mansion noble..."

Gu Jinyu's eyes were bloodshot. To his incoherent babbling, he replied, "Then let me be the merchandise. Sell me first."

#After falling into the water, all those who once despised me became big shots and scrambled to my side# #I said it's really not necessary# #Then they cried even louder# #??? #