Qin Yuan secretly didn't want Lord Gu to be too ostentatious.
Gu Jinghui immediately sat up straight, looked over, and couldn't stop grinning, asking, "Does Yuan'er really think I'm beautiful?"
“That’s for sure,” Qin Yuan said earnestly, “My husband’s handsomeness is unmatched by most.”
Gu Jinghui laughed for a while, then forced himself to remain calm, looked at her reflection in the mirror from afar, and said lightly, "Then I will comply and not wear flowers in my hair today, so as not to displease the guests."
But the rising tone of his voice and the smug look in his eyes completely betrayed his overflowing joy.
Qin Yuan chuckled and added a comment.
"Besides, the guests today are not only civil officials, but also my husband's colleagues and subordinates. Didn't they not even shave their beards back then to intimidate the soldiers?"
Gu Jinghui glanced at Qin Yuan, his tone probing: "Now that there's no war, I naturally don't need to keep my beard to scare people anymore. I heard from Baozhu that young men in the capital are starting to wear face powder. Do girls these days like men like that?"
“I don’t know about others, but I am a man who dislikes makeup. My husband is so heroic and handsome, how can they be compared to him with a face full of powder?”
Qin Yuan quickly comforted her with sweet words.
Gu Jinghui immediately perked up, got up and walked over, saying, "Madam has discerning eyes. She is different from the daughters of other civil officials. She doesn't like weak and timid scholars."
Qin Yuan secretly rolled her eyes.
She knew there must be a reason for Lord Gu's unusual behavior.
She didn't even send an invitation to Lin Ziqi and his wife. If Lord Gu were to get together with someone like this, who knows what would happen?
Cui Ming buried her head and chuckled to herself.
Qin Yuan cleared her throat and said, "With my husband being such a gem, who would still want rubble?"
These days, things haven't gone as Lord Gu expected, so Qin Yuan hasn't hesitated to use sweet words to coax him.
Instantly, the red color spread upwards from Lord Gu's fair neck, even his ears turned red, as if he had applied rouge.
Qin Yuan thought to herself that Lord Gu's appearance had indeed captured her heart.
Those long, ape-like arms, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and powerful limbs...
Her face also flushed.
Ignoring her dressing up, Gu Jinghui took a few steps closer, gently pulled her into his arms, and said with a smile, "Me too."
Cuiming quickly slipped out and sighed to Hongye, "Even combing my hair and changing clothes makes us so sticky. Now I know what it means to be inseparable."
Hongye snorted, "Out of sight, out of mind. I won't stay inside and get in the way. If I accidentally get caught by the Marquis and praised for my competence, I'll be busy like a dog. Not only will Miss not help me, but she'll also make fun of me. Now, as long as the Marquis is here, I'd love to have a little maidservant go in to serve me, so I can take the opportunity to steal a moment of leisure outside."
Cui Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Hongye glared at her, and the two stood outside for a while before Qin Yuan finished getting dressed.
Lord Gu had also changed his clothes and was wearing a Jinxian crown. As expected, he did not wear any flowers in his hair. He stood beside Qin Yuan, their clothes overlapping, leaning against each other, looking very well-matched.
Hongye obediently followed behind Qin Yuan, when she saw Lord Gu turn around and say to her, "Hongye, you have always been capable. You must be on your best today. This is the first time Madam has organized a banquet, and you are the only ones who can be of use by her side. You will have to work hard."
Hongye said, "...Yes."
Qin Yuan asked curiously, "You know that Hongye and Cuiming are always considerate and know how to prioritize, so why are you reminding them again?"
Gu Jinghui's lips curled up slightly as he took Qin Yuan's hand and said, "I was just worried about you. Let's go quickly, Mother and Baozhu are probably getting impatient."
Qin Yuan looked at the still early sky and was somewhat speechless.
Upon arriving at the main room, Madam Gu said, "Baozhu always gets up late, so there's no need to wait for her. Let's eat first."
After the group finished their breakfast in silence, Madam Gu gave Qin Yuan some more instructions and comforted her for a while.
"Today's guests are all relatives and friends. The Marquis is away from home most of the year, and I only keep in touch with a few old friends, so you don't need to worry."
Qin Yuan said, "Mother, I understand. If anything happens, you will support me. I will just do my best."
Madam Gu said, "That makes sense."
Gu Jinghui said dismissively, "It's nothing if there are some mishaps. Every family makes a fool of itself sometimes."
Madam Gu glared at her and said, "You really know how to comfort people."
Gu Jinghui, with his neck stiff, said, "Isn't what my son said true? There's nothing else to worry about in the capital but officials. Every family has something to talk about."
Madam Gu remained silent.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I understand. Mother and husband, please rest assured. The male guests will be entertained by my husband and sixth brother, and the female guests will be helped by my mother and Baozhu. I will arrange everything properly."
She wasn't really nervous. Old Madam Gu was concerned that this was her first time and had long advised against a big celebration. She said the banquet was just for fun and to ward off bad luck.
Madam Gu nodded, "Yes, that's right. You don't need to stay here and talk to me anymore. I'm afraid the stewards and stewardesses will still have things to bother you. This is the busiest time."
Qin Yuan did want to have someone count it again, so she got up and took her leave.
Gu Jinghui wanted to go out with her, but Old Madam Gu said, "Brother Hui, you won't be of any help if you go, so don't cause any trouble. I have something to ask you."
Gu Jinghui watched his young wife leave with bated breath before asking, "Mother, is there anything I can do for you?"
Madam Gu asked, "Would you like Cheng-ge'er and Yu-jie'er to come out and greet the guests today?"
Gu Jinghui replied quickly: "No need."
"Alright, but the Ninth House sent someone to say they'd like to see them, what do you think..."
Gu Jinghui's expression was very unpleasant: "I've already spoken with Gu Jingcheng, why are they interfering? After we finish our work today, we'll have time to tidy up the courtyard. Once they move in, the two families can have a private ceremony to formally recognize each other as relatives, and that will be settled."
Old Madam Gu patiently explained, "After all, he is from the Ninth Branch and is an illegitimate son, so he will inevitably be constrained. Besides, your adopted son has become the adopted son of the Ninth Branch. Even if the clan elders don't say anything to you, they can say something to him. The two children might even have to be included in the clan genealogy in the future."
Gu Jinghui said, "I'll go and tell Gu Jingcheng that Mother doesn't need to pay attention to them. If the elders of the Ninth Branch insist on seeing them, we can arrange a visit sometime."
Madam Gu stared at her son for a long time.
"You have other plans?"
Gu Jinghui said, "Whatever my plans are, I'm doing this for our own good and for theirs too. The judge hasn't given us any definite answer yet, but once things settle down, the official titles will be finalized."
Madam Gu was taken aback.
Gu Jinghui said, "Mother, if there's nothing else, I'm going to find my sixth brother."
Madam Gu answered absentmindedly, and after a long while, she asked Rong Mama, "What does the third son mean by that?"
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