Chapter 521: It would be good for him to look at the vast sky and the earth.
As soon as he stepped into the study, he felt an invisible pressure coming towards him. The pressure from the superior made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
"Your subordinate...your subordinate pays his respects to the Duke." Minister Wang bowed deeply, his attitude very humble.
The servants following behind him presented several precious brocade boxes in their hands, which were filled with rare supplements and children's toys.
"My Lord, yesterday's incident was all due to my poor parenting of my wife and son, which offended your young master. I have specially prepared some small gifts today to apologize to you and your wife."
Fine beads of cold sweat had already seeped out of Minister Wang's forehead, and there was a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.
Gu Junze finally turned around slowly.
His eyes did not look at the gifts, but fell directly on Minister Wang's face.
The gaze was calm, yet sharp as an eagle, as if it could see through people's hearts.
"My Zhenguo Mansion cannot accept Lord Wang's gift." Gu Junze's voice was indifferent and distant. "Take it back."
Just one sentence made Minister Wang's heart sink to the bottom.
Refusing to accept a gift is refusing to reconcile.
"My Lord Duke, it's my fault. I will accept any punishment you want. But my wife and son have already realized their mistakes. I hope Your Excellency Duke will be magnanimous and give them another chance." He almost bent down.
Gu Junze walked up to him, and every step seemed to be stepping on his heart.
"Today, I will make things clear in front of Lord Wang." He spoke each word clearly, his voice was not loud but powerful.
"Brother Xuan is the son I, Gu Junze, personally brought home and recorded in the family tree. This is something that I, my wife, and the entire Zhenguogong Mansion all deeply agree with."
He leaned forward slightly, staring at Minister Wang with a sharp gaze.
"So, I'm very curious. Will my son, Gu Junze, stay or go in the future? Why has the family affairs of my Zhenguo Mansion become the topic of conversation among the women and children in the inner chambers of your Ministry of Personnel's residence?"
"I dare not! I absolutely dare not!" Minister Wang knelt down with a plop, his clothes on the back soaked with cold sweat.
"It's my wife's fault for being so ignorant and gossiping. When I get back, I'll definitely discipline her severely, confine her feet, and make her kneel. I won't let her do it again!"
Gu Junze looked at him coldly and did not let him get up.
"Lord Wang is the Minister of Personnel, in charge of the evaluation and promotion of officials throughout the country. He must understand the importance of the word 'rules' best."
"I, Gu Junze, may have many sons in this life, but Gu Jingxuan will always be my, Gu Junze's, son."
"I hope Lord Wang can take this back and clearly explain it to your wife, and to everyone who shares her sentiments."
Gu Junze's voice suddenly turned cold. "I am Gu Junze's son. Not just any random person can come up to him and question his identity."
"As for you," he looked down at Minister Wang, who was kneeling on the ground, "you haven't managed your household properly, and your inner circle is not well maintained. If this gets out, I'm afraid it won't be good for your official reputation."
This sentence is a naked warning.
Minister Wang was trembling all over and his face was ashen.
He knew that what was said today was the ultimatum given to him by the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
If it happens again, he will not only lose face, but also the official hat on his head.
"Your humble servant...your humble servant understands. Your humble servant thanks the Duke for his teachings!" He kowtowed heavily, resting his forehead on the cold ground, not daring to raise it again.
"Butler," Gu Junze stopped looking at him and said loudly, "Show the guest away."
"Yes, Duke."
The butler stepped forward and gestured "please" to Minister Wang.
Minister Wang got up from the ground in a panic, not even daring to look at the gifts he brought. He hunched over and almost walked backwards out of the study, his back looking desolate and flustered.
After he left, a slender figure appeared from behind the screen in the study.
Chu Ruohan walked over to Gu Junze and reached out to smooth out the hint of anger between his brows.
"Are you angry?" she asked softly.
Gu Junze held her hand in his backhand, pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and his voice revealed a hint of tenderness after fatigue.
"No." He paused, then added, "I was just thinking that things like this will happen a lot in the future. Xuan Ge'er's identity will always be a topic of conversation among those people after dinner."
"If an enemy comes, we will fight him; if a flood comes, we will block it with earth." Chu Ruohan leaned in his arms, her voice firm, "You protect him, I protect him, Lu Ge'er and Lan Jie'er also protect him."
"We are all here, no one can bully us."
Upon hearing this, Gu Junze's frown finally relaxed. He lowered his head and kissed his wife on the forehead.
"That's what you said."
The warmth in his arms dispelled the chill of the early morning and also soothed the last trace of unhappiness caused by Minister Wang.
Gu Junze held her in his arms, feeling the security and dependence of the person in his arms.
He lowered his head, sniffed the fragrance of her hair, and his gentle voice broke the silence.
"Speaking of which, that matter should be put on the agenda."
Chu Ruohan raised her head from his arms, a hint of inquiry in her eyes: "What's the matter?"
Gu Junze let her go, took her hand and walked to the rosewood chair beside him and sat down, then pulled her to sit next to him.
"In three days, the Royal Autumn Hunt will begin."
Chu Ruohan was slightly stunned, then understood.
The royal autumn hunt is an annual grand event. All civil and military officials above the third rank in the capital can join in. It is a pleasure for both the emperor and his ministers, and it is also the best opportunity for young men from each family to show off their riding and archery skills.
In previous years, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was naturally the focus of everyone's attention.
"The weather isn't too cold yet," Gu Junze's fingertips gently stroked the back of her hand and continued, "Why not take the children with you? It's a good opportunity for them to go out and get some fresh air."
This proposal surprised Chu Ruohan a little, and she subconsciously thought of her youngest daughter.
"Qingchen is still so young. Would it be inappropriate for the autumn hunting ground to be crowded with people and horses?"
"That's fine." Gu Junze seemed to have already thought of a plan, and said firmly, "We will only camp outside the hunting grounds and not go deep into the woods."
"The camp is heavily guarded and very safe."
He looked at Chu Ruohan with a hint of smile in his eyes: "Yesterday in the third room of the Gu family, Lu Ge'er protected Xuan Ge'er very closely, but he himself is still a half-grown child. Staying in the mansion all day studying, his mind must have become heavy."
"It would be good for him to take him out for a horse race and see the vastness of the sky and the earth."
When he mentioned Lu Ge'er, Chu Ruohan's heart softened.
Chu Ruohan nodded, thinking that Gu Junze was right. The child was too worried and had too many responsibilities on his shoulders that were not suitable for his age.
"Will Third Uncle agree?"
Gu Junze: "I'll go and tell them!"
She smiled and said, "Then I'll go and give orders now to prepare some things for the children's trip."
"Go ahead." Gu Junze nodded and watched her stand up, his eyes full of doting. "Bring some warm clothes, the wind is strong in the mountains."
"I understand." Chu Ruohan responded, turned around and walked out, her steps becoming lighter.
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