Chapter 380: It Was Him Who Got in Trouble
in-law's first visit, we should go greet him."Meng Dongyuan also revealed a long-lost smile on her face and agreed, “Yes, Mother. We should welcome the new son-in-law first. It wouldn't be good to kee...Gu Jingxi came out of the study in the front yard and ran into Liu, the housekeeper.
As soon as Liu Guanjia saw him, he quickened his pace and walked toward him. He must have something to tell him.
As Liu the Butler approached, Gu Jingxi waved her hand, signaling him not to be so formal. She directly asked, "Liu the Butler, is there something the matter"
Liu the steward replied, "My lord, Gu family's branch that remained in Huzhou, upon learning of your return home to pay respects to your ancestors, has come to inquire if they may accompany you on that day."
This kind of thing, he shouldn't have bothered the Marquis. But going to pay respects to ancestors with the Marquis is different. The branch of the Gu family who stayed in Huzhou has no prospects. They stay in their ancestral home and live a peaceful life. This time, by going with the Marquis to visit their ancestors, it will spread prestige and elevate their reputation in Huzhou.
Gu Jingxi heard this and replied without thinking, "Of course."
Ancestors don't just belong to one person. Even distant relatives from the sidelines share the same ancestors as the main branch of the Gu family. He was originally going back home for ancestral rites, and the more people who went with him to pay respects to their ancestors, the better. A larger group would make it easier for him to conceal another matter under the guise of honoring their ancestors.
Liu Guanta nodded and said, “Then I’ll have someone send a message later.”
Gu Jingxi faintly "um"ed, then asked, "How are the arrangements for the ancestral rites going"
“Almost everything is ready. My Lord, rest assured that everything will be completely prepared the day after tomorrow and it won't affect the ancestral rites.” Liu Guanjia replied respectfully. His master had finally come back once, so he naturally wanted to put in his best effort. The old ancestor’s dream instructed the Marquis to return home for ancestral rites, such a significant event, he not only had to get it done but also do it properly.
For a moment, Liu the Butler asked again, "My Lord, a cousin from your own generation has invited you to his grandson's full moon wine celebration in ten days. His eldest grandson will be one month old. The cousin passed the imperial examination for scholars but did not go any further. Now he teaches at a school. He presented the invitation card with his hands."
Gu Jingxi took the invitation and glanced at it, then ordered: “In ten days, I will not be in Huizhou City. At that time, you prepare a gift to send over.”
Liu, the steward, replied: “Yes, Master Hou.”
Gu Jingxi suddenly remembered something and instructed, "Madam likes Taihu silver carp. Tell the kitchen to buy some back. We can have it for lunch or dinner."
Liu Guanjia replied, "Master Hou, this humble servant had someone purchase it yesterday. It should be back now."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi unexpectedly glanced at him and praised him generously: “Well done.
Liu the steward was delighted. To gain his master's favor meant putting in effort. These past few days, he had noticed that the Marquis treated his wife very well, always prioritizing her in everything. The dishes were prepared according to her preferences as well. If the Madam was happy, the Marquis would naturally be happy too.
So, after learning that his wife liked Taohu Silverfish, he immediately had people purchase them. Besides Taohu Silverfish, his wife also liked Taohu White Shrimp and Taohu White Fish. In addition, she enjoyed some local snacks from Huizhou as well.
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Over the next two days, Gu Jingxi took Meng Jin Yao out to play, taking her to visit local attractions and experience the local culture.
Meng Jinyo has also been having a good time these two days. Huzhou Prefecture is far from the imperial city, and the rules and regulations are not as strict as in the imperial city. The local customs are more open than in the imperial city, and relatively more free.
But there's still one thing that's bothering me.
Yu Chuan had been keeping an eye on Lord Wei these past two days, stubbornly trying to find out something from him. But to no avail, he only heard two days' worth of gossip.
Ever since the Marquis and his wife attended Mrs. Wei's birthday banquet, plus on the night of the banquet itself, Master Wei and Madam Wei quarreled four times, each time involving their household Marquis.
I didn't know. I thought their lord had done something to seduce Madam Wei.
To say that Madam Wei is something else! Even after all these years of being married, she still worries about what the Marquis is doing She truly incites hatred towards their family's Marquis. Every time, she praises the Marquis in front of Lord Wei and belittles him, infuriating Lord Wei to the point of smoke coming out of his seven orifices, while also harboring resentment towards the Marquis.
But it has to be admitted, this couple is different from other couples. Other couples who argue like this would certainly no longer share a bed, and wouldn't even want to see each other. But this couple is unique; they can still sleep together after an argument, and they can even continue intimate acts during the fight.
Of course, this was initiated by Lord Wei, who was assertive and forceful in his actions. Lady Wei didn't resist, but only sarcastically mocked Lord Wei afterward. This angered Lord Wei, so the next time, he secretly took medicine beforehand.
Even this bystander was perplexed, what kind of crazy couple were these
They all hate each other, yet they can still do this. Lady Wei is a wicked woman who even plotted against her own children and concubines. Lord Wei knows all this, he could have divorced her and married a truly virtuous woman to bring peace to the household, but he didn't. He stubbornly insists on staying with her and tormenting each other.
Over here, Gu Jingxi was listening to Yu Chuan talk about the gossip of Lord Wei and Madam Wei. The more he listened, the more depressed he felt. How had he become the main reason for the discord between this couple
Lord Wei is incompetent, Lady Wei mocks Lord Wei, but in the end, he is dragged in to take the blame by Lord Wei and called a useless waste.
He frowned. “Yu Chuan, can’t you just inquire about other matters Whether they fight or not has nothing to do with me.”
Yuchuan looked at him with trepidation and replied, "My Lord, their quarrel is all related to you. Lady Wei has a good impression of you. Master Wei thinks that you have deep affection for his wife, and...and he even said that you two are a pair of fated lovers who are destined not to be together."
Gu Jingxi: "..."
He had seen couples who were as close as glue, but he had never seen strangers like this. Let alone this man!
"In a moment, he replied, 'That's just their imaginations running wild. Is there anything else you've found out'"
Yu Chuan replied, "The junior snuck into Lord Wei's study and searched carefully. There were no hidden compartments or traps in the study. He must be a cautious person. There were some letters in the study, but they were only correspondence with family and friends, nothing else.
Gu Jingxi frowned. He knew that Wei the Elder had a reputation for accepting bribes in exchange for favors. While everyone knew this, it was difficult to prove without irrefutable evidence. Unless they found his private ledger. All official property was recorded in ledgers, and each item had a traceable origin. However, some assets acquired through corruption and bribery would appear in the private ledger. Typically, corrupt officials kept a secret ledger alongside their public one. This private ledger held the truth, unlike the fabricated public records.
Alright, let's put aside the evidence of Wei's bribery for now. The matter in Deqing County is more urgent. If we find a lead there and it points directly to Wei, then naturally we can follow the trail and investigate further.
Yu Chuan suddenly said: "By the way, Lord Hou, Wei Da also asked his trusted aides, asking what you have been doing these two days and where you have gone. Wei Da knows your whereabouts."
When Gu Jingxi heard this, his face changed. Was he afraid that I would investigate him
He said softly, "I understand. From now on, you don't have to tell me about their marital problems."
Yu Chuan: "Yes, Lord Hou."
At first, he found the gossip about Lord Wei and his wife rather annoying. But after eavesdropping on their arguments a few times, he suddenly found it quite entertaining. Every time the couple quarreled, their master, Lord Hou, always got caught in the crossfire. Lady Wei would make a comment, and Lord Wei would retort with something equally biting.
Gu Jingxi's face darkened: "Yu Chuan, what are you thinking about"
Yuchuan hurriedly said, "My lord is wise. I haven't thought of anything."
Gu Jingxi warned: "Control your thoughts, don't think about things you shouldn't, and don't spread them to Madam. Don't pollute Madam's ears, or I'll find you a woman like Mrs. Wei with this kind of temperament and marry you off to her.
Yu Chuan: "..."
Such a vicious punishment, how could the upright and honorable Marquis do such a thing A lunatic like Lady Wei's temperament, is it something ordinary people could endure Unless that person was Mr. Wei himself.
Gu Jingxi narrowed his eyes, his voice soft as he asked, "Yu Chuan, did you understand"
Yu Chuan nodded vigorously, like pounding garlic: "The subordinate understands, Your Highness rest assured, the subordinate only wants to dig into Wei's secrets and has no interest in other matters."
Gu Jingxi said lightly, "Alright, you may leave now."
Yu Chuan withdrew, after leaving the study, a scene of Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei arguing flashed through his mind, and then he thought of Hou Ye's words just now, feeling a chill, completely losing interest in this gossip.brave and fearless, defying rumors, and resolutely choosing a new groom.Otherwise, if she were to follow her family's wishes and marry Gu Xiuming who eloped, she couldn't imagine what married life wou...