Chapter 78
Half an hour later, the two returned to the carriage and saw Huantong and Hualu sitting shoulder to shoulder outside the carriage. Huantong pointed at the fireworks blooming in the night sky and shouted excitedly; Hualu held her face with both hands, quietly admiring the beautiful scenery. While being intoxicated, she couldn't help thinking, it would be great if Young Marquis Lu could also see the prosperity of the Lantern Festival in heaven.
These two people, one is quiet and the other is active. In comparison, the noisy Huan Tong seems less steady. Huan Tong is one year younger than Lin Qingyu, which means she is almost twenty years old. She still has the mentality of a teenager and is not very cunning. Gu Fuzhou is the same age as Huan Tong. Although he is not very serious most of the time, he is never vague when he needs to be calm.
Just like now, the two of them had just expressed their feelings to each other, but Gu Fuzhou didn't seem very excited and didn't say much along the way. If Lin Qingyu hadn't heard his answer clearly, he would have thought that he had misunderstood - perhaps Gu Fuzhou didn't like him that much.
Lin Qingyu quickly rejected this idea. He was not blind, he saw every detail of Gu Fuzhou's interactions with him. He is not stupid either. There are trees on the mountain and branches on the trees. I love you but you don't know it. Gu Fuzhou can poison himself to get back to him. She will send him to work no matter how sleepy she is and get out of bed early in the winter morning to pour him tea. If this is not love, there are no lovers in the world.
So, why is Gu Fuzhou so quiet?
The groom saw Lin Qingyu and Gu Fuzhou and said, "The general's wife is back. Are we going back home now?"
Lin Qingyu glanced at Gu Fuzhou, who was slow to react and opened his mouth: "Go back..."
Lin Qingyu vaguely understood something and couldn't help but smile silently. He got on the carriage first. As the faint scent of medicine faded away, Gu Fuzhou came to his senses, grabbed Huan Tong, and asked anxiously, "What do you think of me?"
Huan Tong asked in confusion: "What do you mean? The general looks about the same as usual."
Gu Fuzhou said sadly: "But I feel like I am just a fool, the kind that can't even walk."
Hua Tong looked at Gu Fuzhou carefully: "Now that the general has said that, I see that you are a lot stiffer than usual."
Gu Fuzhou straightened his back and his whole body became even stiffer. At this time, the groom gave him another fatal blow: "Just now I saw the general and his wife walking together, and the general seemed to be walking with his hands and feet."
Gu Fuzhou: “…”
Lin Qingyu's voice came from the carriage: "Are you not leaving yet?"
Gu Fuzhou took a deep breath: "Here it comes."
As soon as I got into the carriage, the noise around me instantly became blurred. When the door was closed again, it seemed as if only this piece of heaven and earth remained. Gu Fuzhou sat down next to Lin Qingyu, the coachman shouted, and the carriage started moving.
Lin Qingyu's aura once again lingered around Gu Fuzhou. Gu Fuzhou's Adam's apple rolled and he said, "Qingyu."
Lin Qingyu looked down at his hands on his knees: "Hmm?"
"I just said I want to date you, did you hear me?"
"Yes."
"You really heard it, didn't you?" Gu Fuzhou was a little worried and confirmed again and again, "I said..."
"You said, 'I want to, I am willing to. I have liked you for a long time. I liked you when I read your book. When you died, I cursed the author's ancestors. I am willing to get up early for you, fight for you, accompany you to any place you want to go, and spend all the money I earn on you. I will protect you, even if you wake me up in the middle of the night I will not get angry with you; I like to wait for you, like to watch you poison, like to listen to you talk, I hope you will always be happy... I like you, I want to be with you.'" Lin Qingyu repeated Gu Fuzhou's words word for word, "I heard all of this."
Gu Fuzhou was stunned and said in disbelief: "No, what I said was so incoherent and illogical? Why is 'protect you' followed by 'will not get angry with you'? What is the connection between the two?"
Lin Qingyu raised his eyelashes and said with a smile: "You have to ask yourself."
Gu Fuzhou lowered his eyes and said depressedly: "I just now really wasn't Su at all."
Lin Qingyu never forgot to learn Gu Fuzhou's dialect, and asked curiously: "Does 'Su' mean handsome?"
Gu Fuzhou nodded, angry with himself and regretful: "Alas, I also want to act at ease and talk and laugh, so that I will be more handsome. I have thought about it. I will express my feelings to you with poetry, pretend to be elegant, and then tell a funny joke to ease the awkward atmosphere. But this is my first time to confess, I don’t have much experience, I am too fucking nervous." Gu Fuzhou laughed softly, his voice cutting, "Don’t dislike me, Qingyu, I will try my best to be sweet in the future and not embarrass you. If you think my confession is too confusing, I can confess again. But you have to give me some time to prepare..."
"No need." Lin Qingyu raised the corner of his lips, "I think it was good just now. You are very handsome, I like you very much."
Gu Fuzhou was in a trance for a while, and then he said, "So, did I get you?"
Lin Qingyu's cheeks were slightly red, and she held Gu Fuzhou's hand, which she didn't know where to put: "Well, you got me."
In an instant, a trembling feeling spread throughout Gu Fuzhou's body, paralyzing his heart, his limbs, and every corner of his body.
And Lin Qingyu just shook his hand.
Before the confession, they had held hands, even hugged and slept together, but he had never been as instantly attracted to her as he was now.
Is this what it feels like to be in love with someone you like? It’s a bit... intoxicating.
They returned to the general's mansion around midnight. It was too late and everyone was more or less tired. After washing and changing clothes, Gu Fuzhou stood in front of the bunk bed, feeling conflicted.
Is it too fast to sleep in the same bed on the first day of love? Gu Fuzhou asked tentatively, "Then Qingyu, shall I go upstairs and sleep?"
Lin Qingyu paused, then nodded and said, "Okay."
After Gu Fuzhou got on the bed, Lin Qingyu blew out the candle. The room became dark, with only the bright moonlight shining through the window along with the light from the lanterns under the eaves.
That night, although Lin Qingyu was tired, he had no desire to sleep. There was no movement on the upper bunk, and he couldn't fall asleep when he thought that Gu Fuzhou might have been sleeping soundly.
The initial mutual affection between the two would make him, a man, feel like a young girl in love, tossing and turning at night. The word love should not be underestimated.
Lin Qingyu didn't fall asleep until almost dawn. In his sleep, he heard someone calling "General". When he opened his eyes, he saw that it was Huantong calling Gu Fuzhou to get up.
In the past, it was always Lin Qingyu who woke Gu Fuzhou up, but today even he got up late, so Huantong had no choice but to go ahead. Huan Tong didn't want to wake up her young master, so she lowered her voice. As a result, she failed to wake up the general and disturbed the young master's sweet dream.
Lin Qingyu sat up and said, "Go prepare the general's uniform. I'll call him."
Gu Fuzhou was dug out of the quilt by Lin Qingyu, and he got out of bed yawning. He noticed that Lin Qingyu didn't look very well, and his sleepiness immediately disappeared: "Qingyu, did you not sleep well last night?"
"Um."
Gu Fuzhou looked down at Lin Qingyu dressing him and asked, "Why didn't you sleep well?"
Lin Qingyu raised his eyes and glanced at him: "What do you think?"
"It turns out I'm not the only one who's nervous." After a night, Gu Fuzhou seemed to have returned to normal. He smiled and said, "I saw that Doctor Lin was so calm and composed, and I thought that the engagement was nothing to you."
Lin Qingyu's cheeks flushed, and he couldn't help but retort: "It's really nothing, I'm not too nervous."
Gu Fuzhou didn't believe it at all and laughed happily: "You've already suffered from insomnia, yet you're still being stubborn."
Lin Qingyu said indifferently: "Are you happy to see me suffering from insomnia?"
"To be honest, a little." Gu Fuzhou said truthfully, "But it's ok that you lost sleep because of me this time. You should sleep well in the future."
“It’s natural.”
After Gu Fuzhou got dressed, Lin Qingyu saw him off as usual. Before getting on the carriage, Gu Fuzhou suddenly asked him, "What do you people from Dayu usually do after you get engaged? Do you just have fun and forget about the world?"
"No." Lin Qingyu said calmly, "According to Dayu's rules, after the relationship is established, one must still abide by etiquette, start with emotion, stop with etiquette, and enjoy life without being lewd."
The smile on Gu Fuzhou's face disappeared: "Or, just pretend I didn't ask."
Lin Qingyu wanted to laugh: "Hurry up and get in the car, don't miss the morning court."
Gu Fuzhou stood still and said slowly, "No, that's not right. The rules you mentioned are the rules that people in Dayu follow after they get engaged but before they get married. Since we're already married, why do we still have to 'start with love, stop with courtesy, and enjoy life without being promiscuous'?"
Lin Qingyu said: "What do you want?"
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, "Since Dayu's rules are not suitable, we should follow the rules of my hometown."
As he spoke, Gu Fuzhou leaned over and gently touched his forehead with his lips.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water, it leaves in an instant.
Lin Qingyu only felt a burning sensation on his forehead, but before he could feel it, the aura belonging to Gu Fuzhou that enveloped him became fainter.
Gu Fuzhou straightened up and saw Lin Qingyu's calm demeanor, as if he had just been blown by the wind.
At the same time, Lin Qingyu's fair cheeks quickly flushed and her long eyelashes trembled slightly.
Gu Fuzhou felt his heart melt, and said with a smile: "As expected of you, you are Doctor Lin. You are so calm even after being kissed. Unlike me, my heart almost jumped out of my throat."
Lin Qingyu calmed down and said, "You are too vulnerable."
So, in Gu Fuzhou's hometown, the custom after getting engaged and getting married is just a kiss on the forehead. He thought they would do more. He was overthinking it. It seemed that most people in Gu Fuzhou's hometown were introverted and simple-minded.
Not long after the Chinese New Year, Lin Qingyu received a message from Zhang Shiquan from the northern border, saying that everything he had asked Zhang Shiquan to do had been done.
The rumor that the Princess of the Northern Territory was a man and that the King of the Northern Territory was furious after discovering the truth spread quickly in the Northern Territory, and naturally also reached the ears of the Tianji Camp secret guards who were in the Northern Territory to search for Shen Huaishi's whereabouts for Xiao Cheng. The secret guards of the Tianji Camp rode at full speed to report the matter to the emperor.
Lin Qingyu had no idea how the Tianji Camp informed the emperor and how the emperor reacted after hearing the news. All he knew was that the emperor was so angry that his headache recurred and he had to stay in bed to recuperate. Even so, the emperor first summoned the queen and reprimanded her; then he summoned his trusted ministers overnight to discuss the issue of the northern border.
The war in the northwest has not yet ended and the treasury has been empty for a long time. If the northern border is to rebel again at this time, the court will be attacked from all sides. With insufficient food and wages, insufficient troops, and no generals in the army, how can it cope? The only thing to be thankful for is that so far this is just an unconfirmed rumor. The King of the North even submitted a letter of greeting not long ago, and there was nothing unusual in it.
A palace maid turned out to be a man. If this were true, the queen who was in charge of the six palaces would be implicated. When Lin Qingyu went to pay her respects to the Queen, she was worried about this matter.
"I have already checked the files of the Shangyi Bureau, and there is nothing wrong with Jingchun's identity. If this is just a rumor, and it has caused the emperor to be furious, and even suspect that I am not governing the six palaces strictly..." The queen closed her eyes and sighed, "Then I really have a hard time."
Gu Fuzhou had said before that the reason Jing Chun was able to hide the truth back then was due to Xiao Cheng's protection over the years. Xiao Cheng does everything perfectly, so he won't leave any clues easily. The head aunt who protected Jingchun and allowed him to enter the Shangyi Bureau as a man also died unclearly as soon as he left the palace.
Lin Qingyu asked: "There is no smoke without fire. Since there are rumors like this in the North Territory, Princess Jingchun's identity may really be in doubt. The King of the North Territory may not have taken any action because he doesn't want to alert the enemy."
The Queen said, "I have ordered a thorough investigation of this matter. Jingchun entered the palace more than ten years ago. The maid who was in charge of the Shangyi Bureau at that time has long since left the palace and married. It will take some time to find her."
Lin Qingyu knew that this matter should not be rushed, so she put it aside for the time being and said, "My queen, how is the Sixth Prince these days?"
Speaking of her own child, the Queen's expression softened a bit. "The servants who used to serve Li'er were all beaten and thrown out. I have selected a new group of people to go to Jinyang Garden. With the lessons learned from the past, they should know what to do. The day before yesterday, Lai Fu went to Jinyang Garden to see Li'er. He said that he has grown taller and looks much more energetic."
Lin Qingyu smiled: "That's good."
"Even so, I still can't let it go." The Queen said, "There is no good doctor in Jinyang Garden. If you have time, please go see him for me."
Lin Qingyu nodded in agreement.
Lin Qingyu left Fengyi Palace and seeing that it was almost time, he walked towards Qinzheng Palace. Gu Fuzhou was summoned to the palace by the emperor early in the morning to discuss government affairs, and it should be almost done by now.
The person working in Qinzheng Hall happened to be Xiao Songzi. He was a little surprised to see Lin Qingyu: "Didn't Doctor Lin check the emperor's pulse this morning?"
Lin Qingyu said: "I am not here to check the emperor's pulse."
"That is..."
While the two were talking, the meeting in the Qinzheng Hall had ended. The first to come out was the Prime Minister, followed by the Marquis of Nan'an. When Nan'an Hou saw Lin Qingyu, his expression changed slightly and he took a detour, as if he was feeling a little guilty. Gu Fuzhou came out last. He met Lin Qingyu's gaze, curled up the corners of his mouth, and strode towards him.
"Why is Madam here?"
Lin Qingyu said, "I'm just passing by. If the general is done, would you like to go back home with me?"
Gu Fuzhou said politely, "Madam, please."
Xue Ying, who was escorting the ministers out of the palace, saw this scene and couldn't help but sigh: "General Gu is so blessed."
It was inconvenient to talk in the palace, so after getting on the carriage, Lin Qingyu asked, "How is the Qinzheng Palace today?"
"A bunch of nonsense." Gu Fuzhou said lazily, "The only useful thing is that Xiao Jie did a good job in raising military funds. The emperor praised him and asked him to assist Xiao Cheng in governing the country."
Lin Qingyu then told Gu Fuzhou what the Queen had said: "In the case of Princess Jingchun, there is no physical evidence and the witness is dead. If the King of the Northern Territory is deliberately concealing the truth for Jingchun, it is difficult to draw a conclusion on this matter."
Gu Fuzhou said nonchalantly: "It's not difficult to get evidence. Shen Huaishi and Xiao Cheng are both witnesses."
“Chen Huaishi…” Lin Qingyu pondered, “I hope we can find his whereabouts as soon as possible.”
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