"Brother Xuan's child?"
"Well, let me think and count."
Jiang Yushu pondered for a moment, then counted slowly on her fingers and told her husband, "First, my fourth brother's wife, Hui Niang, gave birth to two sons. Two in three years. Just thinking about it makes me feel tired."
"Then, that courtesan gave birth to a daughter and a son. Also, my fourth brother has a maid named Lian'er who gave birth to a daughter last year."
"As for the full moon banquet a while ago, it was for Fourth Brother's concubine, Lin, who gave birth to a son. Hongxuan told me the news when he came to Tuning to buy medicinal herbs. After all... he was a bastard's son, so it was just a small private celebration. The old lady didn't allow any extravagance."
She concluded awkwardly, "So, what we can confirm at this point is that my fourth brother has six children."
"Six?"
"Ahem." Jiang Yushu cleared her throat and couldn't help revealing, "Also, the maid heard from the servants' idle chatter that Brother Xuan seems to have more than one mistress and seems to have an illegitimate child outside."
"What?"
"Nonsense, absolutely nonsense!"
"Remember to keep it a secret, a secret." She came back to her senses, regretted it, and hurriedly warned, "Don't tell the old lady! She values the family reputation and has always opposed my brother Xuan having a mistress. If she hears such rumors, she will definitely be furious. If the elders are upset, it will be disastrous."
"Don't worry, I understand."
Guo Honglei's face was gloomy, his brows knitted together, and he angrily said, "Eldest brother only left behind one Yu'er, we have three children, and Azhe has a daughter, so for now, there are five children in total. The fourth brother actually has more children than his three brothers combined? It's obvious that ever since he started doing business, away from his elders and without anyone to supervise him, he has become unscrupulous and obsessed with women. It's really outrageous!"
"Alright, alright, calm down."
"If he keeps doing that, sooner or later he'll be drained of his body by alcohol and sex!"
Jiang Yushu understood her brother-in-law's character and sighed, "Don't be angry. Think about it: Brother Xuan is still young. Maybe in a few years, he will have more children."
“…most likely.”
Guo Honglei took a deep breath and no longer had the heart to revise the manuscript. He calmed himself down, quickly pulled out a piece of letter paper, picked up the jade paperweight and pressed it down, then picked up the pen and dipped it in ink.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Jiang Yushu was startled.
"Write a letter to the fourth brother." Guo Honglei couldn't ignore his younger brother. "He's been really unreasonable. I'll write a letter to remind him first. I'll talk to him in detail next time we meet."
Jiang Yushu nodded, then shook her head and said casually, "Brothers can persuade and discuss things, but I'm afraid he can't change. First, it's hard to change one's nature. Second, business often involves many social engagements, and when you're drunk and excited, with a beautiful woman in your arms, how can a man resist? How many men in the world don't appreciate beauty?"
"Oh?" Guo Honglei looked up, dipped the ink slowly, raised his eyebrows and looked at his wife without saying a word.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Yushu understood instantly, quickly adding, "Of course, you are different from Fourth Brother! I believe you will definitely not be seduced by a vixen."
"snort."
"Really? I believe you." Jiang Yushu, feeling a pain in her waist from sitting for so long, stood up to stretch her muscles. She poured him half a cup of tea and continued, "The general is a typical man who prioritizes his career and family. He must dislike wasting time on wine and women, right?"
"No." Guo Honglei put down his pen and took a sip of tea with a stern face. "Not entirely correct."
"ah?"
Jiang Yushu was stunned. "Not entirely correct, what does that mean?"
Guo Honglei replied seriously, "Gaozi said, 'Food and sex are human nature.' I'm not a celibate monk. Although I don't like a life of luxury, I do like beautiful women."
"you--"
Guo Honglei interrupted his wife and said frankly: "In fact, I am more obsessed with beauty than my fourth brother."
"What are you talking about?"
She was stunned, the smile on her face gradually disappearing. Her heart sank instantly, and she completely forgot about "my brother-in-law's woman and children." Uncontrollably, she began to wonder: Could it be... that he's also secretly keeping a mistress without telling me? Bad company breeds bad influence, has he been led astray by his brother? This is outrageous! How dare Brother Xuan destroy my family? This is outrageous! The next time we see each other, I'm going to give this bastard brother-in-law a beating!
Guo Honglei put down his pen, pulled her into his arms, and pinched her chin with his right hand, staring at her intently. "Don't you think you're not beautiful, Madam?"
"Um?"
"If this isn't 'beauty,' what is it?" He whispered with a deep gaze, "When I was young, I thought I wasn't someone obsessed with beauty. But when I met you, I was inexplicably obsessed. I've been lost in thought ever since. I still can't quite wake up. I always think other women are just mediocre, not as pretty as you, not as smart as you, and completely boring."
"I think I'm probably bewitched by beauty and can't help myself." He had a fierce face, but his eyes showed a smile, with a hint of playfulness. "Madam just mentioned 'vixen', you can't be--"
"I'm not! Stop talking nonsense."
Jiang Yushu held her breath, and as she listened, she heaved a sigh of relief. A flower of joy quietly blossomed in her heart. Unable to conceal her smile, she pinched him lightly and said in feigned anger, "Nonsense! I thought you were led astray by your brother Xuan and were following his example to secretly keep a mistress."
"How dare I?"
"Now, everyone among my relatives and friends knows that I married a decisive and murderous tigress. Madam, your reputation is far-reaching. Don't worry, other vixens are afraid of you and dare not approach me."
"Are you still talking nonsense?" She suppressed her laughter and pinched him several times.
"Are you still twisting?" When they were newly married, Guo Honglei often gave in to his wife and let her twist him, but now it was different. Nine times out of ten he would fight back, tooth for tooth, eye for eye, pinch for pinch, twist for twist.
Due to the huge difference in physique, the winner was decided in a moment.
"Hey, you—stop it!" Jiang Yushu was defeated. She struggled for a long time but to no avail. She was teased to the point of being breathless. She had no choice but to admit defeat and beg for mercy. "Stop! I admit defeat. I lost. I was wrong. Stop it now. You haven't finished writing your letter yet. Hurry and write it."
Guo Honglei smiled and then let her go.
Then he crumpled up the half-written letter, threw it away, and laid out the paper again.
Jiang Yushu was in a good mood. She poured him another cup of tea and asked curiously, "Why don't you continue writing?"
"I was angry and not very calm just now. I have to rewrite it and use softer words to prevent the fourth brother from complaining that I was 'too harsh' again." The elder brother sighed helplessly. "Actually, I don't want to blame my younger brother harshly at all. But you know that sometimes the fourth brother's willful behavior can make people furious."
Jiang Yushu patted his shoulder sympathetically and said, "Maybe in a few years, he will mature."
"I hope so."
"I have to write two letters, too." She returned to her desk, quickly spreading out paper and grinding ink. "We don't have time to go back for the full moon banquet. I'll visit Hui Niang and my nephew in July, when we celebrate Mother's birthday."
"Well, just tell your family."
At the same time, Heqingguo Mansion
Wang is old and her health is getting weaker and weaker every year. She has little energy and is used to going to bed early at night.
But recently, even though she lay down, she often couldn't sleep and was worried and nagging.
"Oh, I have such a miserable life!"
"The Marquis died early, and Hongyao followed his father, leaving the rest of the children to me. Each one of them is a real worry! It's okay to not mention the concubines, but the biological daughters... a daughter who's married off is like spilled water. Let's not talk about Lan'er anymore. Whenever I think of her, I feel sad and disappointed."
Two trusted maids slept on a low couch beside the big bed. They were used to it and comforted her, saying, "Our daughter is filial by nature. It's all the fault of her son-in-law's family."
"The girl has her own difficulties—"
"That's enough, stop talking about her!"
The maid quickly replied, "Yes."
Wang sighed deeply and said gloomily, "My daughter has completely become someone else's, and my son is disobedient. For example, Honglei is stubborn and henpecked. I've urged him several times to take a concubine and have two more sons, but he's been reluctant, fearing that his wife would be unhappy. As for Azhe, he's frail and sickly, so I can't force him. He already has a daughter, so having a son to carry on the bloodline will be enough."
"The one who worries me the most right now is Xuan'er."
"That evil creature, he became a businessman and took the opportunity to live a life of luxury. He has no plan in mind and only loves to hang out with vixen. Suddenly, a child suddenly appeared. I don't know if it is the Guo family's child or not."
"This..." In the dim light, the two maids tried hard to suppress their laughter. "This is a matter of great importance. I don't think the Fourth Master would accidentally check it, right?"
"I think it is clear and unmistakable, please rest assured, old lady."
Wang tossed and turned in bed, terribly worried. "That bastard, fooling around, had a bastard child, making everyone laugh. Oh, when Honglei comes home in July, I'll have him discipline his brother!"
The two maids responded, "Good idea, the Second Master should be able to control his younger brother."
"It's late, old lady, you should go to bed quickly to avoid a headache due to lack of sleep."
The old man sighed and muttered for half an hour before he fell into a drowsy sleep. In his dream, he was still worried about his youngest son, fearing that he would be deceived by a vixen and help raise a bastard.
In a blink of an eye, it’s July.
The sun is scorching and the heat is unbearable.
Wang's birthday is approaching, and everyone in the Guo family is busy preparing for the wedding banquet.
On summer nights, the family gathered together to chat, with iced grapes, bitter melons fresh from the well, and various pastries on the table.
"My son asked a friend to buy these grapes for me. They're quite sweet." Guo Hongxuan, always cheerful, held a small plate and fed the elder himself. "Would you like some, mother?"
Wang ate one and praised, "Hmm, not bad, not much different from the ones given to the Marquis' Mansion by the palace before."
"As long as mother likes it, I'm glad. There are still dozens of kilograms in the ice cellar. I'll make you a jug of grape juice tomorrow. It'll be even sweeter!"
Wang often scolded her youngest son as a "bastard" but once he came home and showed his affection, her anger faded and she said kindly, "It's too sweet, it chokes my throat."
"Hehehe, that's true." Guo Hongxuan couldn't sit still. He picked up the fruit plate and walked towards his wife. "Hui Niang, would you like to try it too?"
Liu Huiniang's youngest son, just one hundred days old, was plump and gentle. He took one with a smile. Although her husband was a playboy, he never neglected or mistreat his wife when he was at home. He was always respectful and considerate, which made it impossible for her to complain.
"Second brother, second sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, would you like to try it too?"
"Thank you." Jiang Yushu picked a few, peeled them carefully, and fed them to the children. Guo Honglei raised his teacup, indicating that he wanted to drink some tea.
The sisters-in-law were all accompanied by their husbands, but Ji Yingru was not, as Guo Hongzhe was studying at the Hanlin Academy in the capital. She shook her head and said apologetically, "Thank you very much. The fruit is very good, but unfortunately I can't eat it cold."
"Oh, that's fine. Take two skewers out tomorrow and let them air-dry. You can eat them after the ice melts."
Ji Yingru couldn't help but appreciate it, so she nodded.
Finally, Guo Hongxuan placed the fruit plate in front of his nephews and nieces and clapped his hands, "Children, be careful with the fruit cores!"
Wang leaned back on the low couch, watching her youngest son busying around. She smiled and said, "Okay, sit down and rest for a while. You've been working so hard, aren't you hot?"
"Hehe, my son is not afraid of the heat." Guo Hongxuan wiped the sweat off his face, sat down next to his mother's low couch, and began to talk about the interesting stories during his business days. He described them vividly and talked incessantly, making the old woman laugh from time to time.
Jiang Yushu looked at her cheerful and talkative brother-in-law, then glanced at her husband who was quietly sipping tea, and couldn't help thinking: I heard that when Honglei was young, he started talking very late and was taciturn. He was sandwiched between his sweet-talking older brother and his lively younger brother. He didn't know how to please his elders and was even disliked by his mother as a "dull wooden man"... I really don't know what he was like as a child?
Just as she was lost in curiosity, her sleeve was suddenly pulled. She lowered her head and unexpectedly saw a grape with pits on it.
Guo Jing stood on tiptoe and raised his head, his big eyes clear in black and white, holding up the grapes he had peeled and handing them to his mother.
Jiang Yushu's heart warmed instantly, and she asked softly, "Did you peel it?"
The child nodded.
"For mother to eat?"
The child nodded again.
"Good boy, so good!" Jiang Yushu happily ate the grapes, hugged the child and kissed him. The mother and child's clothes were stained red by the grape juice, but they didn't care.
Guo Honglei discovered it and just opened his mouth to speak, but he heard the mother above him ask:
"Yushu, the court asked you to serve for another term. Do you have to serve for the full three years?"
Jiang Yushu looked up and met her mother-in-law's eyes. She felt something was wrong and replied calmly, "Yes, that's the rule."
"You've been busy for three years, and you're still the magistrate. Do you have to be the magistrate for six more?" Whenever her second daughter-in-law came home, Wang couldn't help but bring it up. "Honglei always says you're 'working hard.' Oh, look how thin you are. I think you should just resign and go home to recuperate. What do you think?"
how?
no.
Besides, let alone me, even if you are a royal relative, you can’t get promoted just by wanting to.
Jiang Yushu quickly considered her words, secretly bracing herself, and replied anxiously, "Thank you, Madam, for your concern. I would like to rest, but if I resign just because I haven't been promoted, wouldn't it seem too utilitarian? Doing so might affect the court's view of the Guo family."
"This..." Since it involved the Guo family, Wang had to consider it carefully.
The mother-in-law did not approve of her second daughter-in-law becoming an official. All the adults present knew it and some were worried or watching. Only a few children were still playing.
Wang was unhappy and sighed, "It seems that you still don't want to resign."
Jiang Yushu's eyes did not flinch, and she said sincerely: "I really can't resign my official position casually. Please understand, old lady."
"But..." Wang was about to continue persuading him, but she heard her second son say loudly:
"Oh, there's something important that I almost forgot to tell my mother."
Wang subconsciously asked, "What's the matter?"
Guo Honglei answered calmly, "Yu'er is sixteen now. It's time to find him a marriage. Last month, a friend mentioned a girl from a certain family. She sounded good, so I wanted to discuss it with my mother."
Guo Yu, who was eating melon, was stunned and turned his head suddenly——
The author has something to say: Guo Yu: ??? ??? ??? 【Look confused】
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