Chapter 298: Meeting

This was something Qin Yuan had never thought about.

When Liu Taiyi and Doctor Li were arranged initially, it was during a smallpox outbreak. It was arranged for the convenience of consultation, as the servants’ quarters were next to the inner courtyard, and the isolated area for patients was also in the inner courtyard.

Now that it’s mentioned, it does seem like it should have been more discreet.

Brother Qi’s age is neither too young nor too old, and staying in the inner courtyard after the unsealing is somewhat inappropriate, but moving him as soon as his wound is slightly healed seems like chasing him away.

Qin Yuan: "..."

Hong Ye said, "Why not wait until Brother Qi is well, then let him take his mother home to recuperate slowly. When Doctor Li needs to provide acupuncture and consult, he can simply go to their home."

Brother Qi’s mother is just blind, not unable to move.

Qin Yuan said, "Then let him recuperate for a few more days before discussing it. We can’t just chase people away while they’re still weak."

Hong Ye said, "Miss, rest assured when I handle matters. People will only say the Marquis Mansion is kind and orderly, and there will be no complaints."

"Then you handle the arrangements," Qin Yuan agreed casually, not wanting to spend more energy, and added, "See if Brother Qi can take good care of his mother. If not, directly send them to the Renhe Hall medical clinic, where it’s convenient for brewing medicine and acupuncture."

Hong Ye exclaimed.

"Oh my, didn’t I say I would handle it? You don’t have to worry."

"Fine, fine, I won’t mention it anymore. Find someone to ask the Marquis if he wants to dine. If he doesn’t, I’ll go to the main room to eat."

Hong Ye said, "Miss, I think you’re still sleepy. The Marquis is meeting the ninth branch of the Gu Family today and must go to the main room to introduce the twins to them."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Then I’ll dine in Wutong Garden."

She didn’t want to get involved in this at all.

Whatever Marquis Gu arranges is fine with her, as long as she doesn’t have to get involved.

Qin Yuan didn’t send anyone to ask if Gu Jinghui wanted to dine in Wutong Garden, just waited until Cui Ming returned from the sewing room, and then began the meal.

At this moment, Marquis Gu, as Hong Ye said, was talking with Gu Jingcheng and the Old Madam in the main room.

Old Madam Gu first inquired about the health of Gu Jingcheng and his wife, then talked about family gossip before discussing the twins.

"The children’s father took the fatal blow meant for Hui’er, and you know his disposition. He promised to treat them as his own and take care of their mother and children, but unfortunately..."

Gu Jinghui quickly said, "Mother, I have already explained the ins and outs to our cousin, who also thinks it’s a good arrangement. However, he wants to meet the children first. I promised them they could decide after meeting."

So, Old Madam Gu ordered someone to bring the twins out to meet.

Zihe and Xiao Hong accompanied Brother Cheng and Sister Yu into the hall to find a middle-aged man, about forty, tall and with a broad face, sporting a short beard at his lips, wearing the boots favored by military generals, seated on a Taishi Chair.

The two knew at once this was the prospective adoptive father brought by their godfather.

Brother Cheng led Sister Yu forward, solemnly bowing, saying, "Greetings, godfather."

Gu Jinghui then had them greet Gu Jingcheng.

Seeing the children tall, robust, and distinctively featured, Gu Jingcheng took a liking to them, saying, "Your godfather has mentioned you. This is our first meeting, and I have nothing much to offer due to short notice, just a dagger and a jade pendant I carry daily, as a meeting gift."

Gu Jinghui was quite pleased, indicating Gu Jingcheng liked the children.

Brother Cheng and Sister Yu stepped forward, receiving the dagger and jade pendant, thanking Gu Jingcheng. After a few words exchanged about daily routines, there was nothing more to say.

Old Madam Gu invited Gu Jingcheng to dine with them, but he quickly declined, "At home, there’s only my old wife. I must return to accompany her, so I won’t bother you, Aunt."

Old Madam Gu laughed, "You are considerate of your wife."

Gu Jingcheng reluctantly said, "When I was younger, I often stayed at the Northern Border and didn’t see her for a whole year. After getting injured and returning to town, staying together gradually improved our relationship. Now, without children under our knees, if I don’t return, she feels life is too dull. When you’re free, Aunt, I’ll let her visit and pay respects."

Old Madam Gu nodded with a smile, "This is the right way to live daily life. We will have a gathering at the mansion to dispel bad luck in a few days. You and your wife must come."

Gu Jingcheng promptly agreed.

Lacking children and being the concubine-born son of the ninth branch was rather inconspicuous; socializing more with the Marquis Mansion could give him more influence in the family.

Gu Jingcheng bid farewell to the children with a smile, pleased by their well-taught manners and appropriate greetings.

He thought even more that it was their mother’s fault the children couldn’t find a footing in the Marquis Mansion.

Gu Jinghui accompanied Gu Jingcheng to the mansion gates, saying, "Cousin, what do you think of the children now you’ve seen them?"

"My wife and I have long been childless; having children for company is desirable, not to mention living close by to the Marquis Mansion would facilitate visiting. It’s just whether the children are willing and what your sister-in-law thinks."

Gu Jinghui laughed, "I’ll ask Brother Cheng and Sister Yu when I return regarding the lady, but you need not worry, Cousin. She listens to me."

Gu Jingcheng enviously said, "The Marquis is older, mighty, and handsome, naturally making the young madam obedient. Unlike your cousin-in-law, I speak one sentence, and she has ten waiting for me."

"Hah," Marquis Gu couldn’t help but talk, "Cousin, I am the head of the household, so naturally, I make the decisions. My wife is gentle and obedient, always mentioning ’husband and wife as one,’ taking care of my daily life attentively. All my attire, meals, everything is managed by her. To say, compared to Gu Shiliu, it’s more than a hundredfold better, just one shortcoming, too clingy."

Gu Jingcheng had long heard Marquis Gu cherished his young wife, nodded in agreement, and sighed along.

Instantly he became Marquis Gu’s confidant cousin.

When bidding farewell, Marquis Gu said gravely, "Heaven willing, Cousin must bring Cousin-in-law. The lady is young, newly wed, and doesn’t know many people; with Cousin-in-law’s care and guidance, it would put my mind at ease."

After Gu Jingcheng returned home, he told his wife, "I really didn’t expect that after marrying, the Marquis has become a different person."

His wife, Mrs. Dai, asked, "What happened?"

Gu Jingcheng couldn’t help but laugh, "I went to the Marquis Mansion to meet those twins, chatted idly with the Marquis in the study, and visited Aunt in the main room. That twin encounter didn’t even last a quarter-hour, together just over half and up to three quarters of an hour. Yet I and the Marquis chatted about the Marchioness, the way of husbands and wives for nearly an hour."

Mrs. Dai couldn’t help but cover her lips with a handkerchief and laughed lightly, "You... The Marquis is newly married, after all, in the honeymoon period."