Chapter 23: Saved Her the Trouble of Pretending to Be Affectionate

He thought he would be blamed by Qin Yuan, but to his surprise, Qin Yuan spoke softly, "My sister... she drank a bit too much today. Please don’t take to heart what she said, my husband. I’ve already reprimanded her, and I believe mother will also speak to her."

It seemed she was very worried that he would hold a grudge and be discontented with the Qin Family.

How could a grown man be so petty?

Gu Jinghui relaxed, picked up the teacup from the small table, took a sip, and said magnanimously, "It’s nothing."

He completely missed Qin Yuan’s hesitance to speak.

Qin Yuan awkwardly turned her face away.

The teacup was the one she had just used, with a faint lipstick mark on the rim.

This man, truly...

If it were a pretentious scholar like Lin Ziqi, facing such a scene, he would surely compose a romantic poem about the remnants of tea stained with lip rouge.

But Marquis Gu didn’t notice or care at all.

Truly... indifferent to minor details.

Gu Jinghui downed the tea in a few gulps, toyed with the teacup in his hand, and with his sharp eyes long and narrow, he stared at the tiny mole on Qin Yuan’s nose with a keen eye, saying, "Your sister listened to the nonsense outside. I won’t blame her, but she asked you in front of so many people without considering you at all, which displeases me a bit. For your sake, I won’t hold it against her."

Qin Yuan turned her face back, sighing softly, "There’s no smoke without fire. These words could reach my sister’s ears and force her to ask me directly, showing how exaggerated the rumors are outside. My husband’s righteous act of gratitude has now been twisted like this... I’m also angry for my husband, and it feels disgraceful to return to my family."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinghui’s body tensed up again, and he said angrily, "These people who slander with their vile tongues, defaming the reputation of my Marquis Mansion, I... I must find someone to deal with them properly."

Qin Yuan seemingly calmed down and said, "That’s good. Otherwise, Lady Zhao is still in mourning, being slandered like this. Must Lady Zhao prove her innocence with her death? When those two children grow up, will they suspect their mother and the marquis of having an affair? The marquis had good intentions, neglecting his home for those two children. If it ends up like this, I truly feel it’s unjust for the marquis."

Listening to Qin Yuan’s considerate words, Gu Jinghui’s face grew darker and darker.

Yet in the end, his anger turned to joy, and he pulled Qin Yuan’s hand, saying proudly, "Why do I sense a hint of jealousy in your words, madam? How about we have dumplings tonight?"

Hong Ye couldn’t help but roll her eyes discreetly.

Qin Yuan tried to retract her hand, teasing, "I’m just concerned for you, yet you somehow relate it to dumplings."

Gu Jinghui seemed to grasp onto some leverage over Qin Yuan, laughing heartily, "I knew you’ve been dwelling in your heart these days about me always going to Fengxuan Pavilion. Those two kids, I’ve watched them grow since they were young. They’re only five years old, having just arrived in the Capital City from the Northern Border, and they’re still very unaccustomed and distant with me, inevitably a bit clingy. Once you interact with them in the future, you’ll see how adorable they are. They’ll also grow fond of you."

Qin Yuan huffed once.

Gu Jinghui became even softer at heart.

This hum inexplicably reminded him of the Persian cat his mother loved, delightfully spoiled, usually indifferent to people, yet occasionally willing to draw close and rub against them, making it hard for people to let go.

His wife was fragrant and soft, equally proud and endearing.

He had certainly wronged her these days; no wonder his mother hit him.

Just as he wanted to say some nice words to console Qin Yuan, he heard her say, "Did the marquis not think about why, upon returning triumphantly and at the peak of your fame, someone still dares to spread these rumors? Are these people harboring some ill will towards the Marquis Mansion in secret? Lady Zhao and those two children shouldn’t be known by others in the first place."

These words made Gu Jinghui take it seriously.

If there were people deliberately smearing the Marquis Mansion, smearing him, what were they planning?

The matter of Lady Zhao and those two children wasn’t a secret in the Northern Border, but only those close to him knew. So why, upon arriving in the Capital City, was it spread everywhere, even reaching his sister-in-law’s ears?

Perhaps back then, it was planned to switch the marriage for this sister-in-law.

With this thought, Gu Jinghui solemnly said, "Madam, you must trust me. Although I treat those two children as my own, they are not my children, and I have absolutely no improper relationship with Lady Zhao."

Qin Yuan nodded perfunctorily, "I naturally believe you, but it’s necessary for others to believe you too."

On the way back, Gu Jinghui was deep in thought, and upon returning to the mansion, he said, "I have something to discuss with mother. You can go back to Wutong Garden and rest first."

Qin Yuan said, "I also want to go see mother and have a chat."

Having returned from visiting home, it was the right time to chat about trivial matters and express gratitude to the Old Madam, enhancing the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She also wanted to take charge of the household soon.

Gu Jinghui seemed to sigh helplessly, gently pulling Qin Yuan’s small hand, "I know I’ve accompanied you a bit less these past two days, but you don’t have to cling to me so much."

Qin Yuan: "..."

Her pretty face turned bright red.

She hadn’t thought that Gu Jinghui would think of her in this way.

Alright then.

This saved her the trouble of pretending to be deeply affectionate.

Then Gu Jinghui’s voice softened incomparably, coaxing, "Be good and listen, go back and rest first. I won’t go anywhere today, just stay and accompany you."

Standing by, Gu Shiliu wished he could disappear into the ground.

With no better explanation, Qin Yuan could only take Hong Ye back to Wutong Garden.

The whole way, Hong Ye snickered incessantly.

"Why hasn’t the marquis returned yet?" Hong Ye, at dinner time, kept watching Qin Yuan’s face, muttering every now and then, "Don’t tell me he’s going back on his word."

Qin Yuan couldn’t be bothered to respond.

In the evening, Gu Jinghui was carried back by Gu Shiliu.

His inner garments were torn, stained with blood, his forehead burning hot, eyes tightly closed.

Qin Yuan was shocked.

In their brief separation, he had been spirited, and now he was like this.

Seeing Cui Ming and Hong Ye in a fluster tidying up the bed, Qin Yuan hurriedly instructed, "Prepare the Xiangfei Bamboo Couch."

He should lie on his stomach to avoid pressure on the wounds on his back and legs. Now that the weather was hot, lying on the bamboo couch would be more comfortable.

Gu Shiliu, swollen-eyed, muttered, "Madam, we must quickly call for a doctor, the marquis suffered a lot today."

Qin Yuan asked, "What exactly happened?"

Gu Shiliu hesitated, "The marquis was beaten by the Old Madam."

"What?" Cui Ming exclaimed, "Wasn’t the marquis already beaten?"

In the morning, the marquis had been beaten with a board, yet acted like nothing happened, cheerfully dealing with Steward Wang and the coachman, then riding to the Qin Mansion. Cui Ming thought, this small injury was nothing for the marquis, honed on the battlefield.

Gu Shiliu, resigned, confessed, "The marquis was beaten twice."

Hong Ye asked, "What did the marquis do again to make the Old Madam so angry?"

Gu Shiliu gave Qin Yuan a difficult glance, stamped his foot, "The marquis, ay, let’s not mention it, it’s all because of matters from Fengxuan Pavilion."