Chapter 52: Refusal to Meet

It’s different from us.

This sentence made Gu Jinghui’s head ache a bit.

Outside the house, Mrs. Cai’s voice came through, tinged with envy, saying: "I heard the madam is the daughter of the National Academy Sacrificial Officer. The Sacrificial Officer’s students are always top-ranking scholars, if not Advanced Scholars or mere scholars. Surely, the madam must have read a house full of books under the Sacrificial Officer’s tutelage, being so learned as to possess the knowledge of nine pecks."

Hong Ye laughed heartily and jollily said: "Why nine pecks? Isn’t it often said to be studious enough to warrant the proverbial ’strong enough to carry five wagons, knowledge tall as eight pecks’?"

"Beyond eight pecks by one more, that’s truly remarkable."

Mrs. Cai smiled with an explanation, and flattered: "Miss Hong Ye, following madam’s lead, you should’ve learned quite a lot too."

Hong Ye replied: "I learned some characters from madam in my childhood."

The two continued chatting outside for some time, and Hong Ye placated Mrs. Cai and saw her off.

Inside the room, Gu Jinghui lay on the couch, burdened with his thoughts.

He heard Qin Yuan call for someone to attend to her, yet lacked the spirit to seek her out.

No saying how long he lay there, maybe he napped a little or didn’t, but the door was knocked upon, and Gu Jinghui flicked his eye lids, peevishly asking: "Who?"

The knocking stopped.

"Husband, would you join me for lunch?"

Over the door, Qin Yuan’s hesitancy and unease were discernible.

Gu Jinghui could almost picture his young wife’s timid demeanor.

Just now, the foggy gorge was pitch black but suddenly the clouds parted and the sun emerged, illuminating everything brightly.

Gu Jinghui controlled his smile, took a moment, and replied: "Alright, I’ll come later."

Outside the door.

Hong Ye gave Qin Yuan a meaningful look.

Qin Yuan glared at her, and said: "Shouldn’t you quickly instruct the maidservants to arrange for dining? Is the small kitchen ready to use?"

Hong Ye responded: "I’m afraid we still need to wait for two days."

Qin Yuan said: "Then let’s refrain from adding extra dishes for the Marquis."

The two of them walked away.

"Extra dishes, small kitchen," Gu Jinghui murmured with a radiant smile.

His little wife still had him in her heart.

No wonder the Assistant Generals often said behind his back that he hadn’t experienced his wife’s care, cluelessly.

Being cared for by one’s own woman was truly different from appointed servants.

The maidservants eventually set the lunch table, and Gu Jinghui arrived.

Qin Yuan had already changed into casual attire, her light red dress making her appear gentle as water, her long hair cascading loosely fashioned into a bun with a jade hairpin, giving off an air of ease and leisure.

The teardrop-shaped earrings swayed with her movements, irresistibly drawing his gaze.

This time, Qin Yuan did not keep Hong Ye and Cui Ming nearby, stating they should rest from overseeing the housekeeper mama; they’d dine alone, needing no attendance.

Gu Jinghui seemed even more pleased.

Seeing him this way, Qin Yuan knew she had guessed right.

During the meal, Qin Yuan ladled a bowl of soup for him, said: "Try this, husband. Chicken soup is nourishing; the oil has already been skimmed off the top. Drinking it will help your wounds heal faster."

Gu Jinghui took it, drank, and nodded: "Delicious."

"Husband, have some of this."

Qin Yuan added a chopstick of vegetables for him.

She had dined with Gu Jinghui several times, now familiar with his tastes.

Noticing that she picked his favorites, Gu Jinghui felt even more delighted.

He reciprocated, helping Qin Yuan with dishes and serving her rice.

The ambiance between them was warm.

After some time eating, a maidservant arrived outside, announcing: "Sister Hong Ye, someone from Fengxuan Pavilion has come, saying they have urgent matters to report to the Marquis."

Gu Jinghui’s expression suddenly turned grave.

Just as Gu Shiliu predicted, they’ve come to invite him again.

He couldn’t help but glance at Qin Yuan’s face.

Qin Yuan continued to leisurely chew the sweet and savory sweet and sour pork, seemingly undisturbed by anything.

"I won’t be going," Gu Jinghui felt even guiltier, hastily explaining.

Qin Yuan slowly swallowed the meat before speaking: "Why not ask what the matter is?"

Gu Jinghui replied: "There’s no need. I discussed this with my mother this morning; Fengxuan Pavilion matters are for her to handle now. They shouldn’t come to me anymore."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan looked over.

Gu Jinghui suddenly seemed to recall something, hurriedly added: "When they first arrived, my mother took care of them to ensure no neglect. Though they’ve just come to the Capital City, everything feels new to them, so they often sought me. This wasn’t the case back at the Northern Border."

This was to show his stance, to draw lines clear.

Qin Yuan pursed her lips, remaining silent.

Hong Ye had already lifted the curtain and entered with a sullen face, curtly asked: "Marquis, people from Fengxuan Pavilion have arrived, shall I invite them here?"

Having been quiet for only a few days, it was as if it had been plotted.

Hong Ye was exceedingly annoyed, evidently displeased with Gu Jinghui too.

Unexpectedly, Gu Jinghui leisurely said: "No meeting."

"...What?"

Hong Ye looked at Marquis Gu in shock.

"I said not to meet. Tell them to report to the Old Madam any matters concerning Fengxuan Pavilion, anything needed or missing. Let the Old Madam know. I have to go for duty rotation at the Great Camp in a few days and won’t have time for these things. Don’t let it delay their important affairs."

Hong Ye was taken aback, hesitated, didn’t move, and instead looked towards Qin Yuan.

Gu Jinghui, wearing a stern expression, coughed, said: "Why still standing here? You used to say so much, all for nothing now."

Hong Ye’s face flushed red in an instant, she chuckled awkwardly: "Then this maid will convey the message like this."

"How else should you convey it?"

Gu Jinghui, with a dark face, said: "Also, remember to address her as madam in the future. No more calling her miss, the Marquis finds it displeasing."

Hong Ye responded in a whisper, turned around with a pleased smile, and left lightly.

Qin Yuan laughed: "Why frighten her for no reason, husband? Hong Ye is timid."

Gu Jinghui with a sulking face: "Hmph, don’t think I don’t know."

"Know what?" Qin Yuan curiously asked.

Her clear black and white eyes fixed on him, Gu Jinghui felt a tremor in his heart, couldn’t resist leaning closer, whispered into Qin Yuan’s ear: "She is quite courageous, often speaks ill of the Marquis behind the back. Were it not for the Marquis’s good temperament, fondness for her master, she wouldn’t be bouncing around till now."

Warm breath brushed Qin Yuan’s earlobes.

Qin Yuan’s ear root slowly turned red.

Gu Jinghui felt smugly pleased, as if he understood something, yet perhaps comprehended nothing.

In any case, it felt different.

Outside Wutong Garden, Bai Que stared dazedly at Hong Ye’s moving lips.

She comprehended every word spoken by the other, but why couldn’t she understand when assembled together?

The Marquis actually refused even to meet, directed her to address the Old Madam.

How could this be?

This morning at the main house, the Marquis showed great concern for Mrs. Zhao and her son, yet she and Lady Zhao waited for some time without seeing anyone come.

Thinking they might’ve been delayed by the Marchioness, she came to Wutong Garden to invite the Marquis.

"Did the Marquis truly say this himself?"

Hong Ye angrily responded: "Would I dare fabricate the Marquis’s words?"

Bai Que snorted, said: "It’s hard to believe though, everyone knows how much the Marquis cares about Fengxuan Pavilion. Who would believe he’d no longer meet us?"