Chapter 362 Fulfilling the Promise
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
When Meng Jinyao saw him suddenly laugh, she thought he was too heartbroken, so she comforted him: "Husband, it's really alright. With your talent, as long as you make some achievements, it's only a matter of time before you are transferred back to the capital. Just think of it as serving the court in a different place."
"Can't you wish your husband well? You're already thinking about his demotion." Gu Jingxi reached out and pinched her cheek, shaking his head and laughing. "Your husband has always been careful with his words and actions, and he hasn't done anything wrong, so how could he be demoted?"
Meng Jinyao was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "If it's not a demotion, then why are you suddenly being sent to Huzhou Prefecture, which is so far away from the capital? Even if you do nothing, it will take more than a month to go there and back. As a Beijing official, how can you leave the capital for so long?"
Gu Jingxi replied, "Next month is the anniversary of our ancestor's death. I dreamed about him a couple of days ago. We're going back to our hometown to pay our respects."
"Go back to your hometown to pay respects to your ancestors?"
Meng Jinyao was stunned. Last year, on the anniversary of their ancestor's death, the Gu family did not go back to their hometown to pay respects at their ancestor's grave. Every year, they would open the ancestral hall to worship the ancestral tablets during the Qingming Festival. What was going on this year?
Gu Jingxi nodded: "Yes, we'll set off the day after tomorrow, and we can get back to our hometown before the anniversary of our ancestor's death."
Huzhou Prefecture is the ancestral home of the Gu family. Although their ancestor was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Changxing, and Changxing County is a county under the jurisdiction of Huzhou Prefecture, their ancestral home is not Changxing County.
The reason why our ancestor was granted the title of Marquis of Changxing was because when he followed Emperor Gaozu in conquering the country, he seized Changxing from the generals of the previous dynasty. Later, when Changxing was taken away by the enemy, he was able to reclaim it.
Changxing County is nestled between mountains and lakes, boasting a majestic terrain and convenient transportation. It is strategically located at the crossroads of three provinces and has been a battleground since ancient times, with the sounds of battle echoing through the land.
The ancestor fought two important battles in Changxing and made two great contributions related to Changxing. Therefore, after Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Changxing.
Meng Jinyao looked at him, sensing that something was amiss, and hesitantly asked, "Husband, is it really because you dreamed of our ancestors that you want to go back to your hometown to pay respects at their graves?"
Gu Jingxi was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting her to have such a sharp intuition. He didn't hide anything from her and said in a low voice, "Actually, it's not entirely for ancestor worship. I have another official business to attend to when I return to Huzhou Prefecture, but I'll announce to the outside world that I'm returning to my hometown to worship my ancestors."
Upon hearing that it was official business, Meng Jinyao instinctively thought that she was not good at anything and that going with him would probably only hold him back. So she said, "Husband, you have official business to attend to. If I go with you, I'm afraid it will interfere with your work. I think I won't go."
Gu Jingxi disagreed, saying, "It won't be a problem. Besides, I finally got a wife, so if I'm going back to my hometown to pay respects to my ancestors, I'll definitely bring her with me."
Meng Jinyao still had reservations: "But..."
"No buts." Gu Jingxi interrupted her, speaking gently, "This matter won't hinder me. Bringing you along will help cover our tracks. When we get to Huzhou, we'll prepare for the ancestral worship ceremony and take you to meet our relatives back home so you can see the local customs and traditions. Everything will be done secretly, without making a fuss."
When Meng Jinyao heard that she could also serve as a cover, she did not refuse anymore. A smile quickly appeared on her face. Just a few days ago, she was talking about what the places outside the capital were like. She didn't expect to be able to see them so soon. This was a rare opportunity.
Seeing her happy, Gu Jingxi's lips also curled up, and he said, "Just bring two maids. Chan'er knows martial arts, so I'll feel more at ease having a maid who knows martial arts to accompany you when you're out and about. After all, I can't always be by your side. As for the other maid, you can think about who you should bring."
Meng Jinyao thought for a moment and replied, "Ningdong is too impulsive, so I'll take Qingqiu instead. Qingqiu is calm and collected. Of course, Chunliu is also good, but she has been with Qingqiu for many years and has a better understanding with her."
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The next day.
Gu Jingxi and Meng Jinyao went to Shou'an Hall to pay their respects to Old Madam Gu and informed her that they would be leaving the capital the next day to return to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors.
When Madam Gu learned of this, based on her understanding of her son, she didn't really believe that he had returned to his hometown just to pay respects to his ancestors. She guessed that he had some kind of mission on his way back.
She looked at her son and daughter-in-law, feeling a pang of reluctance, but she didn't show it. She said gently, "The journey from the capital to Huzhou is long. Be careful on your journey. When you arrive in Huzhou, write back to let me know you're safe. Your mother will be waiting for you at home."
Meng Jinyao nodded in agreement: "Mother, don't worry, we will be careful."
Madam Gu gave a soft "hmm," looked at her son, and instructed him, "Yaoling, it's much more convenient and faster to travel from the capital to Huzhou by water. I imagine you've also chosen the water route. But Ayao has never traveled far before, so please take good care of her and prepare some medication to relieve seasickness, just in case."
Gu Jingxi hadn't thought of this issue. Now, hearing his mother say this, he realized that he had overlooked something and hurriedly said, "Mother, I will go to the Imperial Hospital later to ask the imperial physician for some medicine to treat seasickness."
Afterwards, Madam Gu gave them a few more instructions before letting the couple go back to pack their bags.
After leaving Shou'an Hall, Gu Jingxi told his wife what he needed the maid to prepare. After giving instructions, he left the mansion for the Imperial Hospital. He estimated that he would not be able to return from the capital for two or three months. He also needed to get the medicine he needed from Imperial Physician Wen, as well as some medicine to treat seasickness and some medicine to treat acclimatization problems.
After leaving the Imperial Hospital, Gu Jingxi returned to the Court of Judicial Review. He had some matters to discuss with the two Vice Ministers of the Court of Judicial Review, Vice Minister Zheng and Vice Minister Qi, especially Vice Minister Qi Yunwen.
When Qi Yunwen learned that he was leaving the capital the next day, she was completely stunned and said incredulously, "Yaoling, I don't think you're just going back to your hometown to pay respects to your ancestors. You're here for that case, aren't you?"
Gu Jingxi nodded slightly: "Yes, didn't I tell you yesterday morning that there were suspicious points in the case?"
"There are suspicious points in the case, so that the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has to make a trip in person?" Qi Yunwen frowned, feeling that his abilities were being seriously questioned. He continued, "If someone has to be sent to handle this kind of case, then it should be me or Zheng Shaoqing. Do you doubt our abilities?"
Gu Jingxi said in a serious tone, "There is no doubt about your and Zheng Shaoqing's talents, but you both have wives and children. For the sake of your children's education, it is not good for you to travel far. It is just right for me to go. In addition, next month is the anniversary of our ancestor's death, so I can also pay my respects to our ancestor."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunwen found it unbelievable: "Gu Yaoling, when did you become so understanding?"
Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow: "I've always been good at understanding people."
Qi Yunwen looked at him for a long time, then slowly shook his head: "Something's not right. Something's not right with you. You're the one who takes the initiative to investigate such a laborious and time-consuming case, even though you have subordinates available. There must be something even more difficult for us to handle."
Gu Jingxi was speechless: "..."
He wondered why he had aroused such suspicion when he had never exploited his subordinates.
In the past, he probably wouldn't have made the trip, but now he wanted to find an opportunity to take Ayao on a long trip to fulfill the promise he made a few days ago, otherwise he didn't know when he would find the opportunity again.
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