Chapter 96: Try Twisting a Different Melon

General Jin furrowed his brows and suddenly spoke: "General, should I notify our colleagues..."

Marquis Gu raised his brows and said: "No need, Prince Qi and the Seventh Princess are just stopping by briefly, they’ll leave shortly. Just proceed as usual."

General Jin immediately laughed and said: "Then I’ll go notify them, the General has agreed."

Gu Jinghui nodded.

General Jin then withdrew and called in a young soldier to serve tea to the two esteemed guests in the General’s tent.

The young soldier asked: "What esteemed guests?"

General Jin replied: "Prince Qi and the Seventh Princess are here. When the Princess was young, she was saved by our General, and ever since she grew up, she hasn’t forgotten and insisted on thanking the General in person, coaxing Prince Qi to bring her along."

The young soldier said: "So the Princess is that scholarly young man, then? From afar, he didn’t seem like a man at all. Turns out she was disguised as a man. No wonder, being royal, she looks dignified and beautiful."

General Jin scoffed: "Beautiful, but can she be more beautiful than our General?"

He originally wanted to say even less beautiful than the General’s wife, but he swallowed the words back.

His wife had returned saying, the Marquis shaved his beard and looked devilishly handsome; she thought if she’d known he was this good-looking, she wouldn’t have married him, but found a way to become his concubine. Moreover, she said the Marchioness is young and beautiful, perfectly matched with the Marquis. Lady Zhao isn’t even fit to carry her shoes.

General Jin thought to himself, they must be incredibly good-looking. Women do love to exaggerate.

But after seeing Gu Jinghui with his beard shaved off, General Jin was convinced.

That face, without a beard to cover it, could easily overshadow rough men like them.

Even his wife felt the woman worthy of the Marquis must be as beautiful as a fairy.

After General Jin spoke like this, soon everyone in the military camp knew.

He said this to prevent any misunderstandings, avoiding trouble for the General.

Now it’s not like being at the Northern Border; the camp isn’t solely their people, and many eyes are watching.

The young soldier carried the tea inside. After a sip of tea, Gu Jinghui escorted Prince Qi and the Seventh Princess out of the camp.

General Jin approached and asked: "Why did the lady need Prince Qi to speak for her?"

Gu Jinghui replied irritably: "He’s just meddling too much, I’ve already spoken to him. He wouldn’t dare anymore."

General Jin detected the closeness between them, hesitated for a moment, and asked: "Does the General mean he’s not a concern?"

Gu Jinghui said: "Not a concern. Before I went to the Northern Border, I was a companion in the palace, and grew up with several of the princes. Everyone knows that. He just heard some idle chatter from others, misunderstood my wife, and intervened on my behalf without reason. I’ve already spoken to him; he won’t come to the camp again."

General Jin breathed a sigh of relief and said: "That’s good. The General is dedicated to building a career; no time for matters of the heart."

Marquis Gu: "..."

Lately, he’s been lost in matters of the heart every day.

Outside the camp, after being escorted out of the tent by Gu Jinghui, the two looked displeased.

Princess Fuyun pouted and complained: "Why is Marquis Gu so unfriendly?"

Right at meal time, without even keeping them for lunch.

Prince Qi chuckled softly and said: "He’s already being quite good."

Princess Fuyun opened her eyes wide and asked: "Why?"

Prince Qi, hands behind his back, sighed deeply: "Third Brother is an honest man; but I am not honest. He avoids me, and I should be sensible, but I can’t accept it."

The words were cryptic yet said everything.

Princess Fuyun sighed and didn’t speak.

Once aboard the carriage, Princess Fuyun asked again: "Are you really going to help his adopted son enter the Imperial College?"

Prince Qi waved his hand and said: "I can only try."

Princess Fuyun said unhappily: "A mere adopted son, yet he’s so valued. His subordinates saving him was their duty. No wonder there’s gossip outside saying it’s his child. His Yue Family is the National Academy’s Sacrificial Officer; why not ask his wife for help?"

Prince Qi replied: "How could it possibly be his child? If he could have realized this, why back then..."

Princess Fuyun curiously asked: "Why back then what?"

Prince Qi coldly replied: "Things that shouldn’t be inquired shouldn’t be asked; you should desist, don’t cause more trouble. Third Brother cherishes that new wife of his, he needs many competent people around him. You see his temperament, cold and unfriendly, like a piece of wood, only a good appearance, not something anyone can easily bear."

Princess Fuyun said: "I..."

Prince Qi said: "Don’t make up lies, I’ve watched you grow up, I know your little thoughts. Let it go. In this dynasty, a prince consort can’t wield military power, with just this he has no chance with you at all."

Princess Fuyun, face gloomy, unwillingly said: "If I marry him, won’t you gain assistance? Aren’t you truly willing to have that sickly person overshadow us? Didn’t brother frequently say that human effort decides things?"

Prince Qi remained silent.

After a while he said: "You think others are fools? He’s been back in the Capital City for half a year, has he ever taken the initiative to contact me? If I hadn’t kept sending people to watch, I’d never run into him. Whenever he speaks to me, it’s all because of the new wife he’s married. Between him and me... forget it, you wouldn’t understand. Their Gu Family sacrificed several lives to guard the Northern Border. When he went to the Northern Border, he severed ties with everyone in the Capital City, and upon returning, never stayed in touch. I thought back then that he wouldn’t return."

Someone with a resolve to die wouldn’t easily involve themselves in such affairs.

Gu Jinghui’s attitude, he’s already seen it clearly.

Princess Fuyun showed sourness on her face and said: "Is that woman really so good? Didn’t it used to be said that the widowed Lady Zhao would be taken in as a concubine? Clearly he’s someone who falls for anyone."

"Well, did you hear? He’s now preparing a dowry for that widow. As soon as she wants to marry, he will prepare a thick dowry. It’s been only a few days; it shows that the Qin Family’s daughter holds his affection greatly. A thousand years old iron tree even blooms, there’s no chance for others now. Given our current situation, if he marries you, I’d immediately become a thorn in the eye; what’s the point?"

Princess Fuyun’s long sharp nails tightly dug into the citron placed on the table, then she finally lowered her gaze and said: "I understand."

Seeing her like this, Prince Qi comforted her: "If one day brother fulfills his desires, I will certainly ensure my Fuyun lives comfortably and freely. But for now, set your thoughts aside. Forced relationships won’t yield sweetness. Why don’t you go and explore other relationships?"

Princess Fuyun responded with an "hmm" and said: "Don’t worry, brother, I won’t delay matters because of personal feelings."

...

Gu Jinghui gathered with the Assistant Generals for a luncheon, and when things got lively, he inevitably drank a few more cups.

Everyone spoke about their own women, each boisterous and spirited, saying: "At home, you must set rules. As soon as you’re married, establish rules first, or else she’ll end up on top of you in the future."

Especially General Jin, he said: "My wife is the most virtuous, she wants nothing more..."

Normally silent during such times, Marquis Gu interjected: "My wife is really... clingy."