The next day.

After washing up, Qin Yuan wanted to go to the main room to pay her respects and have breakfast with the old lady.

But then Gu Jinghui lifted the curtain himself, strode in, and asked, "When will Madam go to pay her respects?"

Qin Yuan wondered if Lord Gu's injuries were healing soon.

This soldier's body is really tough.

She glanced at Gu Jinghui, unable to discern anything, then smiled and straightened her sleeves, saying, "I was just about to go, would you like to come with me, my husband?"

Gu Jinghui asked, "Do you also have breakfast at your mother's?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

Gu Jinghui said, "Then let's go."

While Cuiming and Hongye were still stunned, Gu Jinghui had already strode out of the house, and Qin Yuan followed in quick steps. The two of them hurriedly caught up with him.

Gu Jinghui took a few steps, then turned his head and saw that Qin Yuan was far behind. He stopped, stretched out his hand, and said, "Hand."

Qin Yuan: "..."

She hesitated before reaching out her small hand, and her delicate, jade-like hand was grasped firmly in his large one.

Gu Jinghui's fingers have distinct knuckles, thin calluses between them, and his palms are warm and dry.

The heat emanated continuously.

Qin Yuan felt feverish all over.

She wanted Gu Jinghui to let go, but she was afraid he would be unhappy, so she had no choice but to let him hold on.

Fortunately, Gu Jinghui slowed down considerably.

The two walked in silence for a while.

Qin Yuan was too lazy to start a conversation and didn't feel uncomfortable. However, Gu Jinghui suddenly said in a low voice, "You don't need to worry about Pepper. I've already asked Seventeen to help you look for her outside."

"Isn't Your Excellency afraid I'll lose money?" Qin Yuan suddenly wanted to tease him. "Or is Your Excellency really planning to use your private treasury to make up for it for me?"

Gu Jinghui remained silent for a while before saying, "Call me husband."

Qin Yuan: "Husband."

Gu Jinghui said, "My private treasury... What do you need so much money for?"

Qin Yuan pursed her lips.

Gu Jinghui waited a while, then asked, "Do you really want to control my private treasury?"

His voice was full of struggle and hesitation, but not a trace of displeasure.

This surprised Qin Yuan.

She looked up and glanced at Gu Jinghui.

Gu Jinghui's ears turned bright red, and he lowered his head, saying, "If you behave well, I might just hand over the management of the private treasury to you."

Qin Yuan: "..."

"I... I was just joking."

Qin Yuan didn't want to manage Gu Jinghui's private treasury; they weren't that loving.

Gu Jinghui's voice was filled with a mix of emotions, making it difficult to discern at first glance, "But I took it seriously."

Qin Yuan said, "Doesn't my husband have trusted confidants to manage his private treasury? My father's private treasury was managed by his steward."

Not only her father, but most men in the Daxing Dynasty with private property would not hand over their private treasury to their wives to manage.

Qin Yuan couldn't quite understand Gu Jinghui's thoughts.

The two walked in silence for a while longer. They passed through two flower gates and went around the bamboo grove, where the emerald green bamboo leaves rustled in the breeze.

Qin Yuan said, "I like this bamboo. A thousand good bamboos are green, and a spoonful of fresh spring water is enough. The bamboo garden in the manor is very nice."

When Gu Jinghui heard her recite two lines of poetry, his expression darkened.

Qin Yuan added, "Every year, the manor should have plenty of bamboo shoots; they'd be perfect for braising with meat."

Gu Jinghui's expression brightened again, and he joked, "I see you like to eat everything."

Qin Yuan asked, puzzled, "Isn't it good if you like to eat it?"

Gu Jinghui said earnestly, "Of course it's good. You're too thin. You should eat more. Reciting poetry won't make you gain weight, but braised pork with bamboo shoots will."

Qin Yuan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Gu Jinghui didn't know what she was laughing at, so he laughed along with her.

He had tidied himself up a bit today; his beard was clean-shaven, his eyebrows and eyes were clear and bright, and the sharp corners of his eyes were slightly curved. Facing the gentle breeze that was blowing through the bamboo forest, he looked indescribably handsome and unrestrained.

Qin Yuan thought that, judging by his appearance alone, he was worthy of the title "Holding Jade and Embracing Beauty".

As they approached the main room, Gu Jinghui suddenly said softly, "Yuan'er, those rumors circulating in the manor are all false. I... I don't know why my sixth sister-in-law and seventh sister-in-law say such things, but I have no intention of taking Zhao Niangzi as a concubine."

Qin Yuan squinted, tilted her head back to meet the morning light, and looked into his eyes. Seeing his expectation, she nodded and said, "I believe you."

"good."

Qin Yuan then felt her hand being gripped even tighter.

Gu Jinghui added, "If anyone talks nonsense in front of you, don't believe them. I intend to live a good life with you. My title must be inherited by my eldest son, and I have no intention of..."

Qin Yuan frowned.

She didn't understand who Gu Jinghui was referring to when he said "someone".

Gu Baozhu has already been confined for three months. Would anyone still dare to talk to her?

Could it be Lady Zhao?

Qin Yuan stopped, scrutinized Gu Jinghui for a long time, and said, "Husband, before I married into the Marquis's mansion, I was worried that you would take Zhao Niangzi as a concubine. It's not that I, a woman of the Qin family, am jealous and cannot tolerate you taking a concubine, but that Zhao Niangzi cannot be a concubine."

Seeing her so composed, Gu Jinghui felt a little timid; his lips moved, but no sound came out.

Qin Yuan said seriously, "Since I was a child, I learned a few characters by following my father and have read a few history books. I heard that my husband also studied literature, so I suppose he has heard the story of Qing Feng exterminating Cui Zhu's entire family."

Gu Jinghui nodded blankly.

Qin Yuan said, "Since my husband treats me with sincerity, we are husband and wife as one, and our two families are united by marriage. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate. So I must explain the implications clearly to live up to my husband's sincerity."

Gu Jinghui sighed, "Madam, you may speak."

It seems Qin Yuan had wanted to say these words for a long time, but simply hadn't had the opportunity.

His other hand, which was free, was already clenched tightly. His heart was pounding as if it would burst out of his chest, and he didn't know what kind of heartfelt words he was about to hear.

Whether I can handle it or not.

Qin Yuan said, "Once Lady Zhao enters the Marquis's mansion, chaos will ensue in the inner quarters. If the Marquis understands this, he will know what to do. If he does not understand this, and the inner quarters become chaotic in the future, I fear that this kindness will turn into enmity."

She didn't say anything more, leaving it at that.

Since Lord Gu has repeatedly stated that he is unwilling and will not take Lady Zhao as a concubine, and she has said what she needed to say, if Lady Zhao causes any more trouble, she will have a legitimate reason to cut off her future.

Gu Jinghui said in a low voice, "I understand."

The two walked silently into the courtyard and stood outside the porch. This time, Xiao Hong greeted them again. After taking only a few steps, they heard a sobbing sound coming from inside the house.

When they went in, Madam Gu Liu had already stopped crying after being persuaded by Old Madam Gu.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and she hadn't applied any makeup, making her look rather pitiful.

Qin Yuan hurriedly said, "But we've come at an inopportune time?"

Madam Gu wiped away her tears and forced a smile, saying, "I'm sorry to have made Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law laugh at me. Third Brother is away from home for many years, and Third Sister-in-law only recently married into the family, so she was trying to cover for me. You'll find out once you've been here long enough; you can't hide it from me forever."

She wiped her nose with a handkerchief and said, "Sixth Master went crazy again yesterday, insisting on buying another concubine who can play the pipa and sing. The new concubine, Aunt Zheng, was only redeemed from the brothel a few days ago, and he's already come up with this new idea. I couldn't persuade him, and I cried all night in anger."