Upon hearing that familiar voice, Qin Wan froze, as if she were a statue.
She would never forget that voice, even if she turned to ashes!
Gu Jinghui has arrived.
He actually accompanied Qin Yuan on her homecoming visit!
Qin Wanmu stared blankly as the tall, handsome man walked closer against the light, stood beside Qin Yuan, and said with a soft smile, "Yuan'er, I'm late."
His eyes were full of tender smiles as he looked down at Qin Yuan, whose face was flushed. The two of them standing together exuded an indescribable charm and elegance, and were a perfect match.
The women, half-raising their fans to cover their faces, whispered excitedly to each other.
Some of the young women even had a blush on their faces.
Qin Wan was overwhelmed by a surge of shock, bitterness, and jealousy, completely unaware that Lin Ziqi had walked up to her side and was looking at her.
"Wan'er, what's wrong?"
"Wan'er?"
It took several calls before Qin Wan came to her senses.
She forced a smile and said, "Why are you here too?"
Lin Ziqi concealed his displeasure and said with a smile, "Brother-in-law has something to do and needs to pick up my eldest sister. I thought we've been here for quite a while, so we might as well go home early to avoid leaving Mother alone at home worrying."
Qin Wan said listlessly, "Okay."
At this moment, Gu Jinghui, holding Qin Yuan's hand, walked up to Cui Shi and said, "Mother-in-law, please accept my bow."
His agile figure was nimble and graceful, and his manner of bowing was elegant and pleasing to the eye.
Madam Cui smiled broadly and said, "Please get up, please get up. We're all family, no need for formalities."
Gu Jinghui apologized again for being late, but Cui Shi didn't mind at all. She asked him with concern if he was used to the food and wine at the Qin family's house, whether he could get along with his brother-in-law Qin Heng, and whether Qin Yuan was considerate and sensible in her husband's family.
Her words were intimate and her manner considerate, as if Gu Jinghui were her true son-in-law.
Lin Ziqi and Qin Wan stood to the side with grim expressions.
When the bystanders saw that the two sons-in-law of the Qin family had come to say goodbye, they knew that the homecoming banquet was coming to an end, and they hurriedly took their leave.
After seeing off the guests, Qin Jijiu and Qin Heng also came to the backyard.
Qin Jijiu stroked his beard and greeted him with a smile: "My dear son-in-law, you've only been here a short while, and you're already leaving. Has the Ministry of War been quite busy lately?"
Gu Jinghui smiled and said, "The Ministry of War has been busy sorting out the border settlement and land reclamation matters lately, and they're in a lot of trouble. I don't know who can win the argument."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jijiu laughed heartily: "The scholars at our Imperial Academy are always arguing."
The two exchanged a few words about officialdom and then agreed to drink together again when they had time.
Lin Ziqi had no official position yet, so he could only sit there blankly.
After sitting for a while, Gu Jinghui took his leave again.
Qin Jijiu and Cui Shi came out again to personally see the two couples off.
Upon seeing the dark ironwood carriage parked outside, Qin Wan gripped Lin Ziqi's arm tightly, causing the veins on Lin Ziqi's forehead to bulge in pain. He barely managed to maintain his composure.
At this moment, Qin Wan didn't care about him at all. She was only thinking about how Qin Yuan had been allowed to ride in the old lady Gu's private car on her way back to her parents' home. What kind of bewitching potion had Qin Yuan given to the Gu family?
Madam Cui naturally saw through the mystery. She glanced meaningfully at Qin Wan, who couldn't hide her jealousy, and instructed her like a loving mother: "Yuan'er, you must be filial to your mother-in-law and take good care of the Marquis in the future, and have children as soon as possible."
Qin Yuan nodded shyly, "Mother, I understand. You should go back early; there's no need to see me off."
Qin Jijiu stroked his beard and said with emotion, "A married daughter doesn't know how many times a year she can return to her parents' home. Let me see you off properly, my dear son-in-law. You must treat Yuan'er well."
Gu Jinghui helped Qin Yuan into the carriage, then mounted his own horse, saying, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, your son-in-law will definitely treat Yuan'er well, so please rest assured."
As the carriages and horses turned out of the street, Madam Cui said to Qin Wan and Lin Ziqi, who were standing silently beside her, "Wan'er, you stay here for now. I have something to say to you."
The tone was quite impolite.
Lin Ziqi was quite embarrassed.
Qin Jijiu quickly added, "Ziqi, why don't you talk to me about literature before you leave? It's rare that we both have free time today."
Despite his inner bitterness, Lin Ziqi roused himself and said, "Alright, I also happen to have a policy document that I would like to ask my father-in-law for his guidance."
Qin Heng was completely unaware of what was happening around him, and just stared blankly at the street corner, sighing, "If only I could ride my brother-in-law's prized horse."
As soon as they left the street where the Qin family lived, Qin Yuan ordered the carriage to stop.
"What's wrong?"
Gu Jinghui reined in his horse, turned it around, and whispered a question through the carriage window.
Qin Yuan lifted the carriage curtain, revealing half of her pretty face, and whispered, "My lord, please get in the carriage."
Gu Jinghui quickly reached out and closed the carriage curtain tightly, leaving only a crack, and said, "Call me husband."
"Husband, please get in the carriage." Qin Yuan readily agreed.
Why?
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I have something to say to my husband. It's inconvenient for you to ride a horse outside."
Hongye murmured softly, "Is Miss feeling sorry for the Marquis?"
Gu Jinghui's ears twitched, and his face flushed red. He forced himself to say, "Let's talk about it when we get home."
Qin Yuan hadn't spoken yet.
Hongye muttered to herself again, "Won't I get called away by Zhao Niangzi again when I get home?"
Gu Jinghui's face turned even redder, and after a long while, he blurted out, "Thank you for upholding the dignity of the Marquis's mansion today."
“My husband has given me dignity, so I should naturally uphold his dignity.”
Through the carriage curtain, Qin Yuan's expression could not be seen, but her tone was calm, seemingly indifferent.
Gu Jinghui was stunned for a moment before he understood.
He accompanied her back to her parents' home today, which was a gesture of respect for her, and her upholding his dignity in public was a way of returning the favor.
Recalling what Qin Yuan had said before he left last night, Gu Jinghui suddenly felt a bit hot and bothered. Large beads of sweat slid down his cheeks. He forced himself to explain, "I, I'm definitely not what people are saying outside."
"Yes, is my husband sure he wants to say these things in public?"
Qin Yuan pulled back the carriage curtain, peeked out, and whispered, "Let's talk inside the carriage."
Gu Jinghui hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, whatever you say. Quickly close the curtain so that no one else can see."
Qin Yuan then pulled her head back and obediently pulled the carriage curtain closed.
Gu Jinghui dismounted nimbly and then jumped into the carriage.
Upon entering the car, one could see Qin Yuan leaning against a small table by the window, having removed her shawl and wearing only a striking, light, red robe.
A vibrant green jade pendant hung on her fair and delicate neck, trembling slightly in the hollow of her collarbone, drawing his gaze.
Not knowing what to say, he sat down opposite Qin Yuan at the small table, his hands on his knees, waiting for her to speak first.
Hongye secretly rolled her eyes.
As the car drove away from the bustling city, the horse ran faster and faster.
Qin Yuan asked, "Did you hear what my sister said, Lord Marquis?"
"Um."
Gu Jinghui's scalp tingled.
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