Chapter 257: Division

Marquis Gu is still staying at home to placate his young wife.

Completely unaware that due to the Emperor’s praise, he is now at the center of attention.

"Yuan’er, I indeed drank a bit too much yesterday, otherwise I wouldn’t have forgotten to rest in the outer study, truly."

His attitude was serious, his words sincere, yet his intentions were truly sinister.

Qin Yuan said blandly, "Has husband remembered now? What did you intend to say last night?"

Marquis Gu glanced at her expression and laughed, "Perhaps after breakfast together, I will remember."

Qin Yuan asked, "Yesterday I forgot to ask husband, did you have lunch?"

Marquis Gu immediately beamed with joy, "You sent someone to deliver it to the outer study, how could I not have it? Sixteen and I dined together."

Qin Yuan awkwardly said, "You’ve slept here, might as well have breakfast together."

The arrangement for the twins indeed needs a discussion.

It’s not because of his demeanor that my heart softened.

Hong Ye and Cui Ming quickly set the table, the breakfast was very quiet, Qin Yuan ate sweetly, yet Marquis Gu seemed to have something on his mind, picking food randomly, occasionally stealing glances at her, yet spoke nothing.

"Try this chicken soup lotus leaf dumpling, it’s a new invention from the small kitchen, sent to the main room the other day; mother also said it was delicious, perfect for summer. The juice squeezed from the lotus leaf is mixed into the dough, then pressed into small dumplings with molds, looking exquisite and relieving summer heat."

Qin Yuan served him a bowl, light-colored soup bowl floating with green dumplings, nail-sized, shaped like lotus leaves, making one’s taste buds tingle.

Marquis Gu leisurely finished drinking, suddenly said, "Yesterday Sixteen went to trick that nanny, who would have known you guessed correctly, that nanny confessed the secret herself and bit the poison sac in her rear molar, who would have expected she was a death warrior."

"Did she die?"

Qin Yuan’s expression was composed as usual as she ate, completely unlike the common reaction of a woman hearing such news.

Marquis Gu silently praised in his heart.

"Sixteen detected it, knocked out the molar, half of her teeth fell out, she speaks with a lisp now."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Sixteen was quite swift in response, did he get anything else out of her?"

Gu Jinghui shook his head.

"Yuan’er, how do you think they should be arranged?"

They naturally referred to the twins.

Marquis Gu sincerely asked for advice.

Qin Yuan pondered a bit, said, "I originally had some...now considering...we’ll probably need to plan in the long term... anyhow, with the mansion closed these days, why not think it over carefully."

The words spoke extremely courteously and implicitly.

Marquis Gu, having experienced the treacherous and unpredictable battles, stayed in the harsh massacres of the Northern Border for many years, capable of defeating the cunning and cruel Yelv Family, such matters need not be thought over, he instinctively knows what should be done.

It’s only that there are still some things he can’t let go of.

She cannot make decisions for him.

Marquis Gu hesitated before speaking.

Qin Yuan thus changed the topic, saying, "I wonder what intentions the Fake Yang Pozi has in staying in the main room, husband should think of ways to guard the main room."

Marquis Gu said, "I understand."

Qin Yuan laughed, "I was merely advising for free; only fearing the Fake Yang Pozi hid a poison sac like the others and is a death warrior. Prior to this, Doctor Liu also insisted several times on checking mother’s peaceful pulse."

Thinking back, Doctor Liu’s intention was indeed towards Old Madam Gu.

Marquis Gu was startled, "Could there be some disturbance at the Northern Border?"

Qin Yuan also reflected, if anything were to happen to Old Madam Gu, Marquis Gu would have to mourn at home, naturally handing over the military power.

Qin Yuan considered for a while, but wasn’t very certain, in the past life at this time, it seemed there was no disturbance at the Northern Border.

Both finished breakfast with complex feelings.

Gu Jinghui recalled something to ask, "These many years, Sixth Younger Sister-in-law scraped off such profits?"

Qin Yuan said, "Not entirely, such steward who doesn’t siphon some money, it can’t all fall to her alone; if Sixth Younger Sister-in-law dares to hog it all, there would’ve been unrest already."

The implication being everyone got a share, one layer after another, accumulating over the years, the amount indeed became quite substantial.

Gu Jinghui pondered, "Just like dividing spoils? If the foreign loot is not well distributed among soldiers, it could lead to inner conflict."

Qin Yuan was silent, finally laughed, "It’s roughly such a meaning. The saying goes, live off the mountain when by the mountain, live off the water when by the water, there’s a knack to everything inside, even in the government office, wealth is layered, who gets how much benefits, who takes the fall, how subordinates divide and how much respect the boss gives, all are subjects to learn."

Gu Jinghui: "..."

How does this maid Hong Ye find out about everything, my young wife knows even these.

Qin Yuan pondered, said, "During the Han Dynasty, there was an anecdote about Chen Ping distributing sacrificial meats fairly during the village festival, gaining unanimous praise; Chen Ping declared that if he ruled the world, he would make such fair distributions, leading to the tale of Chen Ping’s meat division, proving there’s a deep knowledge in distribution."

Gu Jinghui was first confused, then seemed to understand something, looked at Qin Yuan, said, "You read a lot, tell me about this learning of distribution."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Husband commands the grand army, stationed at the Northern Border for many years, how could he not know the keys within? I’m just casually speaking, showing off my weak skills."

Gu Jinghui held Qin Yuan’s hand, said, "Yuan’er, you speak more, the books I usually read are military texts, following Beihou Mansion’s generations of troops management techniques; what you say feels enlightening, no wonder Father-in-law said to read more and be a Confucian General."

Qin Yuan chuckled lightly, "Speaking of this, it reminds me of a story when Han Gaozu first established the land, his old ministers were unacquainted with etiquette, Liu Bang felt as an emperor he lacked prestige, later a scholar formulated court rituals, prompting ministers to rehearse, marking the separation between lord and vassal, thus the royal dignity was achieved."

Gu Jinghui said, "In wartime, it’s definitely impossible to observe such, living and dying together, all are good brothers, such would certainly lead to uncoordinated military spirit."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Exactly, it’s the matter of time and context. Marquis has war-time brotherly bonds and post-war hierarchical order; they must remain distinct, else chaos would ensue. Thus it’s said conquering is easier than governing."

Gu Jinghui knew Qin Yuan was hinting him, his sharp eyes fixed upon her face.

Qin Yuan continued, "After Han Gaozu established his reign, he felt unsettled, frequently spotting ministers congregating outside the hall after court, unsure of their discussions, Zhang Liang informed him it was due to lack of rewards to meritorious ministers and punishment to guilty ones, leaving them uneasy. Once Liu Bang took Zhang Liang’s advice to grant rewards and impose penalties, peace and public harmony prevailed, evidencing the importance of reward and penalty separation."

Gu Jinghui sighed, "Madam indeed speaks correctly, it’s my negligence; I mishandled the Qi Family matters, can’t afford to hurt these veterans, they are fundamentals of Dingbei Marquis Mansion."