After taking a few steps, Qin Yuan stopped and asked, "Go and find out who the Marquis went out drinking with today?"
If it were a legitimate invitation, this timing—neither too early nor too late—would seem rather strange.
Cuiming responded and left.
Qin Yuan stood outside the door and waited for a while. Cui Ming replied, "The Marquis went to Sangjia Wazi to listen to storytelling. Later, he met His Highness Prince Qi, and the two had a few drinks."
Did I go to Sangjiawazi to listen to storytelling?
Qin Yuan smiled, knowing why Lord Gu had sought her out.
Her husband was quite concerned about his reputation and would never admit to not knowing in front of her, but would always inquire and question her privately.
Yet they always manage to hide their true intentions.
Seeing her smile with pursed lips, Cuiming asked, "What is it that you're smiling about, Madam?"
"nothing."
Qin Yuan slowly shook her head and said, "Let's go and see what the Marquis has to say."
The two walked through the flowers and willows to the main room. The maidservant waiting outside whispered, "Madam, the Marquis said he had a headache as soon as he returned and insisted on seeing you. He's already lying down now."
Qin Yuan's eyelids twitched.
Lord Gu has made up his mind to stay in the main room and rest.
Qin Yuan nodded and said, "You take good care of things outside. I'll go in and check on things. I'll have someone bring over the hangover soup later."
The maid lifted the curtain, and Qin Yuan went inside. As soon as she entered the inner room, she smelled a strong smell of wine, and Cui Ming quickly prepared incense.
Qin Yuan said, "No rush."
She took a few steps and saw that Lord Gu was lying openly in the red gauze tent, still wearing his outer robe and boots. His jade crown was gone, and his black hair was spread out like clouds, making his handsome, fair profile look like it had been sculpted. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "What a fine face."
Unfortunately, this person was a military general who had fought bloody battles on the border for many years, blowing sand.
Qin Yuan softened her voice and called him, "Lord Marquis, Lord Marquis?"
The person inside the tent did not move.
Qin Yuan stepped forward slowly and whispered, "Why didn't you take off your outer clothes before sleeping?"
She sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to help Gu Jinghui take off his boots. She had just lifted one foot when he was grabbed and pulled into the tent.
Qin Yuan couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
Then she heard Gu Jinghui whisper in her ear, "What have you been doing at home today? Were you secretly cursing me?"
Cui Ming covered her mouth and quietly slipped out.
There were only the two of them in the room.
His hot breath slapped against my ears, and I was also constantly assaulted by the strong smell of alcohol.
She snorted and said, "The Marquis hasn't done anything wrong, why would I secretly scold you?"
"Hmph, you're just saying that."
Gu Jinghui tightened his grip on her waist, and his warmth radiated from his chest and arms onto her body.
Qin Yuan was getting impatient and was thinking of something to say to get out of there.
Gu Jinghui continued, "Why don't you call me husband anymore? With a master like you, there's a servant like Hongye. If you ask her to call you 'Madam,' she'll pretend to comply but then disobey. And what about you?"
Qin Yuan sensed a hint of displeasure and laughed, "Husband, where did you drink? Hongye has only just entered the manor and hasn't gotten used to calling me that yet. You'll get used to it after you call me that more often."
Gu Jinghui asked, "Really?"
As he spoke, he lifted Qin Yuan's body up slightly, so that they were face to face.
Qin Yuan met his unfathomable gaze, paused for a moment, and said softly, "Would I lie to you about something so small?"
Gu Jinghui sighed: "It's hard to say."
"?"
Qin Yuan watched his Adam's apple bob and couldn't help but laugh, "What are you doing, husband? Did you overhear something outside and come back to arrest me?"
Gu Jinghui let go, lay down, and said, "You scholars and intellectuals always criticize me, a mere warrior, indirectly. You never say what you mean directly, but keep it to yourselves. If you can't hold back, you give me a subtle hint. If I still can't guess what you're thinking, you probably secretly curse me as a fool."
Qin Yuan burst out laughing.
She actually detected a hint of resentment in his voice.
That's really strange.
Gu Jinghui said unhappily, "Still laughing? Is it that funny?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "It's true that my husband is a martial artist, but he doesn't act like one. Otherwise, why didn't he explain it to me directly instead of just asking me?"
Gu Jinghui: "..."
He closed his eyes and fell silent.
He clearly wanted Qin Yuan to take it as drunken talk and never mention it again.
Qin Yuan persisted, saying, "Is your husband angry because of the story of Guan Yu reading the Spring and Autumn Annals at night? That was just something my father heard from gossip and was worried about me. I'm being frank to avoid creating any rift between us later. My father can't really tell you these things, so he had to leave it at that. Please be understanding."
"Guan Yu kept watch over his sister-in-law all night and read books all night to uphold the righteousness of the dynasty. I, I, I also had no connection with Lady Zhao."
Gu Jinghui said, feeling wronged.
Qin Yuan gently reassured her, saying, "I know."
"What do you know? How do you know?"
Gu Jinghui was somewhat excited, and then turned to face Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan lowered her eyes, her long, curly eyelashes obscuring the shrewdness in them.
She's already given him the drugs, how could they not be clean?
The ambiguous words spoken by Zhao Niangzi might cause the newlyweds, who are completely devoted to Gu Jinghui, to feel extremely anxious and panicked, leading them to do something foolish.
She never took those words to heart.
Even if things hadn't gone well, she would have had ways to deal with it.
It all comes down to whether it's worth it or not.
In her eyes, Lord Gu is still very worthy.
"Even my mother almost didn't believe me, so why do you believe me?"
Gu Jinghui was determined to get an answer.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I think my husband is just not good at domestic matters and thinks about fighting and marching all day long. He is not the kind of person who would philander. When I pointed out my father's hidden meaning, I just wanted to advise my husband."
Gu Jinghui asked, "What advice are you offering?"
Qin Yuan said solemnly, "Lord Guan's conduct was disciplined and appropriate, which is praised by later generations. Cao Cao tested him only because Cao Cao did not trust him. I'm afraid even Cao Cao himself could not do it, but Lord Guan did it. Not only did he do it, but he also left others with no grounds for criticism. As the saying goes, 'When there is a melon field or a plum tree, public opinion can melt metal.' Why don't you take Lord Guan as your role model? In the future, there will be fewer criticisms in the court. Those people in the Censorate are not idle."
Military officers naturally respected Guan Yu. Upon hearing this, Gu Jinghui was somewhat lost in thought, and after a long while, he said, "Yuan'er is indeed exceptionally talented. Your brother was right."
"oh?"
Qin Yuan found it somewhat strange.
That brat Qin Heng actually praised her behind her back?
Gu Jinghui said, "Just yesterday, I had a drink with my father-in-law, brother-in-law, and brother-in-law. They said you are very talented and have the potential to become a scholar."
Qin Yuan glanced at his expression and saw that he was staring at her intently, so she smiled and said, "It was just a joke. My father is the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, so I have the advantage of being close to him and have read more books than daughters from ordinary families."
Gu Jinghui sighed and said, "My brother-in-law also said that I should just ask you directly if I have any questions, since you've read so many books."
Qin Yuan understood that Gu Jinghui's various anxieties and probing attempts stemmed from this very reason.
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