Why?
Gu Jinghui was puzzled.
He and she caught it together.
I've been busy until midnight, and I've only been looking at it for a short while. Why am I already thinking about giving it away?
The room, bathed in soft, shimmering light, was so tranquil and beautiful that he couldn't bear to leave it.
Qin Yuan said softly, "I thought that my sixth brother and seventh sister might like it too, so we should send a portion to Mother as well."
Gu Jinghui grumbled reluctantly, "Let them catch it themselves, or let Sixteen take some men to catch it."
Qin Yuan coaxed, "If Sixth Brother and Mr. Songshan enjoy the lanterns together, it might inspire Mr. Songshan's poetic inspiration. After all, there is a saying: 'Autumn wind releases fireflies in the garden, spring grasses roam the cockfighting platform.'"
Gu Jinghui sighed, playing with her fingers, and said, "You're worrying too much. We're enjoying ourselves right now, and you're already thinking about others. I'll have Sixteen and the others do it. Baozhu is wild by nature. She hasn't even finished reading the Four Books for Women. Catching fireflies is just a passing fad for her. She doesn't care about poetry or anything like that."
Qin Yuan said reproachfully, "I was just thinking that Baozhu has been locked up for so long, she must be a little resentful. As her older brother, sending her a lantern will cheer her up. As for Sixth Brother and Mr. Songshan, wouldn't it be a good thing that they have another reason to visit each other?"
"That's a good thing."
Gu Jinghui sighed and hugged Qin Yuan tighter, saying, "You are so considerate and thoughtful in everything you do, I know how good you are. I'm just worried that you're worrying too much and expending too much energy."
Qin Yuan felt a warmth in her heart, and the two of them couldn't help but snuggle closer together. Gu Jinghui's lips lingered near her ear, and he whispered warmly, "Good Yuan'er, when did you start worrying about sending away the Smallpox Goddess?"
"……good……"
"When exactly was that?"
Qin Yuan was already dazed from the kisses, and said in a trembling voice, "...How about...how about tomorrow?"
"Okay, just remember that."
By the firefly light inside the tent, Gu Jinghui gazed longingly at the dazed beauty in his arms.
Her dark hair and fair skin, coated with a layer of fluorescence, were even more alluring.
He gently licked his lips, inhaling the intoxicating fragrance of his young wife's hair, hoping that the smallpox goddess would be sent away soon.
After Qin Yuan fell into a deep sleep, Lord Gu quietly got out of bed and left the main room, ordering Gu Shiliu to send the palace lanterns hanging under the corridor to various places.
Gu Shiliu looked at the twinkling stars in the sky: "..."
Shouldn't everyone be going to bed by now?
Lord Gu stood barefoot under the palace lanterns, his hands behind his back. The flickering fireflies illuminated his high nose and long, thick eyelashes. Accompanied by the distant croaking of frogs and the incessant chirping of insects nearby, his voice was so soft that no one but Gu Shiliu, with his exceptional hearing, could hear him: "Go and coax Baozhu. Tell her that her sister-in-law has gotten some fun toys and is worried that she might be bored, so she wants you to send them over for her to play with."
The Marquis is becoming more and more different from before. Gu Shiliu sighed inwardly and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "I understand."
Lord Gu added, "Scare her again. Tell her I asked her how her embroidery practice was going, and that the Qixi Festival is just around the corner."
Gu Shiliu's expression was somewhat inscrutable, but he still agreed.
Lord Gu then instructed, "Catch some more and send them to Brother Cheng and Sister Yu to play with."
Gu Shiliu said, "How about tomorrow? If the children play too late, they won't be able to fall asleep easily."
"Alright, remember that," Lord Gu said with satisfaction, waving his hand. "Send two of these to Sixth Brother and Mr. Songshan as well, so they can enjoy the lanterns and compose poems. Madam says these fireflies are poetic insects, quite evocative. Scholars love them, and even the emperors of ancient times loved them. Some people even built palaces specifically to release these insects. The Firefly Garden in the eyes of scholars is equivalent to the Cockfighting Arena in the eyes of playboys."
Gu Shiliu was taken aback and laughed, "These insects are just cheap toys we used to play with when we were little. Only young ladies like them now that we're grown up. Who knew there were so many intricacies involved?"
Lord Gu said smugly, "You don't know this, it was all said by the madam..."
Gu Shiliu involuntarily moved his feet a little further away and said, "Then I'll go now. If it gets too late, they'll probably all be asleep."
Lord Gu then shut his mouth, stood under the eaves with his hands behind his back, and admired the firefly lanterns for a while before turning back to rest with Qin Yuan in his arms.
Gu Baozhu had just finished preparing for bed when she heard some commotion outside. Then, the nanny who was serving her came in with a smile, carrying a palace lantern that was flickering. She said with a smile, "Congratulations, Miss, Gu Shiliu has sent a firefly lantern."
"Oh?" Gu Baozhu sat up, her handsome eyebrows slightly raised, and said with great joy, "Did Third Brother send this to Sixteen? It's kind of Third Brother to remember to send me these. I knew Third Brother loved me the most, and he wouldn't forget his sister after getting married."
The old woman said, "Gu Shiliu said that the madam sent it, and also said..."
"What else is there to say?"
Gu Baozhu was starting to have second thoughts about it.
But I'm also a little reluctant to part with it.
Being cooped up these days is quite boring.
Firefly lamps are quite interesting.
The old woman said, "The lady said that on a whim, she caught a lot of fireflies today, made some gauze bags to put them in, and also made lanterns to send to the young lady to cheer her up. The Marquis also asked how the young lady is doing with her embroidery, since the Qixi Festival is coming soon."
Gu Baozhu: "..."
She clenched her fists in frustration and couldn't help but say angrily, "Third Brother really went too far..."
The old woman sighed, "It's a good thing that the madam still cares about the young lady. I heard that the Marquis dotes on the madam and relies on her greatly, entrusting her with all the affairs of the mansion. The young lady will get married sooner or later, and her maternal family will always be a woman's support. What if the young lady and the madam fall out and she suffers losses in her husband's family in the future?"
Gu Baozhu, who was used to being spoiled, retorted angrily, "She's only a few years older than me, how can she manage the whole household? It's just that Sixth Sister-in-law is not well right now, so we're temporarily giving her the reins. Even if she's relying on Third Brother's influence, I don't know how long she can hold the position."
The old woman quickly covered her mouth and said, "Be careful what you say. It's already been spread that the Sixth Madam is in poor health and can't manage anything. Everyone is very convinced that the Madam is in charge of the household. Miss, you don't know that even the twins that the Marquis cherishes are going to be kicked out of the mansion. If you get married and your husband's family treats you like this, this old servant won't worry about you anymore."
Gu Baozhu shyly changed the subject, asking, "Why are Brother Cheng and Sister Yu moving out of the mansion? Third Brother, are you willing to let them go?"
The old woman nodded solemnly.
Gu Baozhu curled her lips, snorted coldly, and said, "I knew that woman was not simple. Look how long she has been married into the family, and she has already caused so much trouble. How could those twins be a match for her? My third brother was so attentive to Zhao Shi and her son back then, I even thought he was going to take her as a concubine."
The old woman didn't answer, but waved the palace lantern in her hand and asked, "Is this placed inside the room?"
Gu Baozhu's eyes were cold as she said, "Since she has taken the initiative to show goodwill, let's keep it inside. Granny, go out and tell Gu Shiliu later that I like it very much and thank you for remembering me, Third Sister-in-law. I'll have a proper talk with Third Sister-in-law after I'm out of confinement."
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