Chapter 236: Changes
"Young Master has been meeting with Prince Jiang at the Jiaofang Division these past two days."
Gu Huan listened to Chiyu's reply: "They finally couldn't stand it anymore. Did you hear what they said?"
"No one can get close to them for now. Every time, Crown Prince Jiang calls on a few geishas from the Jiaofangsi that he is familiar with. These geishas never serve others, only Crown Prince Jiang and his party."
"Then find a way to capture one or two people and make sure to find out what they are planning."
"Yes, Chiyan is already doing it."
Gu Huan has received many invitations from officials' wives recently, and she feels it's time to go out.
Just in time, the new clothes and jewelry from Xiubofang and Linlanglou arrived.
"Donghua, ask Mr. Min to come over."
She needed to discuss with Min Dongsheng which people among the officials' wives were the most important to make friends with and which ones she could find a breakthrough from.
After a while, Min Dongsheng came with a list.
Gu Huan was pleasantly surprised: "Mr. Min, have you thought it through?"
"Knowing that Madam is going out, we naturally have to prepare in advance. This list has been updated based on the news from Chiyu and Chiyan."
Gu Huan unfolded the list and took a closer look. It was not just a list, it also contained some information about the officials' families and even some secrets.
Gu Huan's eyes widened as she watched, and she looked up in astonishment: "Is this true?"
Min Dongsheng smiled and said, "Did you scare Madam?"
Gu Huan shook her head: "I wasn't scared, but I couldn't believe it."
After all, she had experienced Mu An's shameless bullying without any bottom line, and she had also seen some of these things in short storybooks, but she didn't expect them to happen to this group of noble women.
Gu Huan closed the list and understood Min Dongsheng's intention, but she still asked, "Sir, do you want to alienate the Yuan and Jiang families?"
Min Dongsheng nodded: "The Duke used the court ceremony to weaken the power of the Jiang and Yuan families in the six ministries. And you can use these things in the inner house to stir up resentment between them. Sometimes, some secrets that cannot be told are the sharpest swords."
Gu Huan nodded, "I understand. It just so happens that the first day of March is the busiest day in the capital. The emperor will bring his concubines to celebrate with the people, and will also set up a banquet to entertain court officials and their wives. It's time for me to show up."
After Gu Huan took a shower and changed her clothes, she asked Dong Qing to prepare some snacks that she would not feel sick of in the evening. She stewed a bowl of Tremella, peach gum and milk soup, found a book to read, and lay on the chaise longue to read, hoping that Mu Junyan would come back tonight.
On the days when she couldn't see him, Gu Huan would wait for him as usual, until she was too sleepy to fall asleep.
It’s the exact hour of Xu.
Mu Junyan is back as expected.
In February, the spring is still chilly.
There was a fine and dense drizzle in the sky.
Mu Junyan was wearing a black cloak with icy water droplets on it, and the chill penetrated through his clothes and seeped into his skin.
Gu Huan felt so distressed that she wrung out a hot towel for him to wipe his face, and asked softly, "Have you eaten?"
Mu Junyan stretched out his long arms, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her on her pink cheek.
In order to make it easier to walk, Mu Junyan grew a beard. Now most of his face was covered with beard and his hair was messy. At first glance, no one would have thought that this was the mighty and handsome Duke Yong. They thought he was a rough man running a spree.
The beard pricked Gu Huan's face and made her laugh quietly, but she was reluctant to avoid it.
Mu Junyan knew that his beard pricked people, and was afraid of hurting her delicate skin, so he quickly let her go: "Seeing you, I am not hungry anymore, nor tired anymore."
Gu Huan blushed and said coquettishly, "Do I have this ability?"
"My wife is a feast for the eyes."
Mu Junyan couldn't help but peck her lips again, then he held her in his arms and rubbed her twice before reluctantly letting her go.
"It's raining outside, don't let the cold air pass to you."
Gu Huan is afraid of the cold because she is pregnant, so there is a small charcoal stove lit in the house. It is not very hot, but it is warm enough.
Gu Huan changed him into a comfortable set of underwear and touched the back of his hand, feeling a chill: "Do you want to take a bath to get rid of the cold?"
"No need. I'm leaving soon. I have something important to tell you."
Gu Huan's expression immediately turned serious. She handed him the Tremella, Peach Gum and Milk Soup that was simmering on the small charcoal stove: "Warm it up first."
Mu Junyan ate while looking at her.
Gu Huan hurriedly touched her face: "What's wrong? Is there anything dirty?"
"No, I just missed you too much."
Gu Huan's serious expression suddenly became tense. She smiled tenderly and gently pushed his stiff arm away: "Nonsense, we haven't seen each other for just a few days."
Mu Junyan reached out and touched her face: "You have been waiting for me every day for a while, you have lost weight and your eye circles are darker. This is not okay."
Gu Huan held his hand and rubbed her face against his big palm: "It's okay, I can't sleep anyway. It would be nice if you could come back to see me. It's okay if you're too busy to come back."
Gu Huan missed him every night when she couldn't see him, but she didn't want to hold him back.
She didn't want him to risk his life by secretly mediating, while also thinking about her and worrying about her.
Mu Junyan put down the bowl in his hand, held her face with both hands, and stared at her deeply with his deep eyes.
"Don't worry, it's almost over."
Gu Huan was overjoyed: "Really?"
"Yes. I can come back once His Majesty chooses a crown prince."
Gu Huan was surprised: "Has the emperor decided on who to appoint? Has the memorial requesting the second prince to take charge of the army been submitted?"
Counting the days, it would take Zhao Luoxuan half a month to reach Juzhou. Perhaps the generals' memorials have not yet been delivered to the capital.
"I came back tonight to tell you this. You must prepare in advance. March 1st is a very important day. After this, we will be able to determine the winner and loser."
Gu Huan looked at her handsome husband and missed his warm chest. Her heart felt warm. She simply stood up, sat sideways on his lap, and put her arms around his neck.
With a serious face: "Tell me in detail, I'm listening."
Mu Junyan: "..."
Didn't she know that this posture would make him distracted?
"What's wrong?"
Gu Huan blinked.
Mu Junyan hugged her tighter and smiled helplessly: "Okay."
"Do you know that the first day of March is the happiest day for the people of the capital?"
Gu Huan nodded: "I know, every March 1st, the Jinming Pond and Qionglin Garden outside Shuntian Gate in the west of the city will be open to the people to visit and enjoy, regardless of status. The emperor will also set up a banquet in the Linshui Palace, and there will be a dragon boat race for the navy, as well as poetry meetings and various competitive games. The officials' wives will also have competitions. I went there once, it was quite fun..."
Mu Junyan stared at her and suddenly interrupted her: "Did Brother Ji take you there?"
Gu Huan: “…”
Aren’t we talking about serious business?
Where did you go?
Gu Huan was afraid that he would be unhappy, so she quickly moved closer and said in a soft and tender voice, "No one was willing to take me out to play at that time. That day, school had just finished and Gu Wanru also wanted to go out to play, so Brother Ji took her out to play and took me along as well."
Mu Junyan felt that he was too sensitive and was actually jealous of a dead person.
He apologized, "I still can't go out with you this year. I promise to take you out to have fun next year. No, I'll go with you wherever you want to go."
"With you here, it's fun to play anytime and anywhere."
The little girl's eyes were like stars, and she gazed at him with admiration and affection.
Mu Junyan couldn't help but lean over and kiss her delicate lips, and he didn't let go until the person in his arms gasped softly.
Gu Huan blushed and pushed him away: "Let's talk about it. It will be dawn soon."
She also felt that sticking to him was not a good idea as it would make her hot.
I quickly stood up, ran to the bed and sat down, tidying up my messy hair.
Mu Junyan followed with a smile: "Then let's go to bed and talk slowly, so as not to freeze you and the child."
Gu Huan glared at him, then got on the bed and moved inside.
Mu Junyan climbed onto the bed and held her in his arms: "Let's continue."
Gu Huan sighed softly, leaned against his chest, listened to his heartbeat and every word he said, and felt very at ease.
Mu Junyan now lays out everything for himself, and carefully analyzes the reasons why he does this, as well as other coordinated arrangements.
He really treats me as his wife.
Time flies.
On February 28th, Gu Huan received a pigeon letter from Zhao Luoxuan.
She arrived in Juzhou safely, and in the presence of the people of Juzhou and tens of thousands of Mu family soldiers stationed in the city, she held a ghost marriage, and then held a grand funeral for Qi Jun.
She also said that she personally carved Qi Jun's name on the tall pillar of merit in front of the Juzhou city gate.
She also said that she went back to the orphanage every day to teach the children how to read and write, and that the forest given to her was very large, and she planned to let the homeless and difficult people in Juzhou farm in the forest so that they could live and work in peace and contentment.
She also said that Qi Jun's parents and brothers and sisters-in-law all loved her very much and treated her as a real family member.
As Gu Huan watched, her eyes turned red.
Spring is like a fickle child, full of vitality, yet warm and cold.
It started to drizzle outside again.
It's time to change the weather.
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