Chapter 37: Letting Out Cold Air with a Sizzle

Hong Ye stepped back a few steps and whispered, "Miss, is the Marquis glaring at us? He looks really scary."

Gu Shiliu glanced at Hong Ye and reminded, "You should call her Madam, it’s long overdue."

Hong Ye quietly puckered her lips and muttered, "Do you think I’m silly? The Marquis can’t hear us."

They haven’t consummated the marriage yet, why call her Madam.

The face of the oblivious Marquis Gu turned even darker, emanating a cold air.

Qin Yuan recently has somewhat understood the temperament of this gentleman, and hurriedly went up to greet him, softly saying, "The Marquis seems better. It’s quite hot now, and if he’s feeling stifled and wants to go for a walk, maybe wait until later."

Sure enough, Gu Jinghui’s complexion relaxed, the cold aura around him momentarily paused, and gradually warmed up.

"Hmm," Gu Jinghui sparing with words.

Qin Yuan continued, "Let’s go inside."

Marquis Gu stayed silent, turned, and walked towards the house with Qin Yuan.

Hong Ye: "..."

The Marquis Gu, who was like a big ice block a moment ago, suddenly became much more agreeable.

Miss is indeed formidable.

Qin Yuan asked, "What did the Marquis have for lunch?"

"Nothing much."

Marquis Gu’s voice carried a subtle hint of grievance, easily missed if not attentive.

Qin Yuan quickly said, "Why are these little maids treating my words like wind past their ears? I’ve repeatedly urged them, the Marquis is still unwell, how dare they be careless."

"They did prepare the meal, but I couldn’t eat it..."

Marquis Gu hurriedly explained.

Qin Yuan sassed, "If the Marquis wants something, does the kitchen dare not prepare? Or have these maids grown lazy, it’s my fault for not managing them well."

Gu Jinghui had Gu Shiliu protect her, she had to reciprocate.

Between husband and wife, if one cannot achieve mutual love and unwavering devotion, as long as there’s mutual respect, it’s a good marriage.

"It’s too hot, so I couldn’t eat. Don’t blame them," Gu Jinghui changed the subject and asked seemingly inadvertently, "Did you all dine at the tavern?"

Qin Yuan laughed, "No, we hurried back for lunch but still arrived late, Sixteen took me to Ranxiang Inn, unexpectedly encountered Prince Qi there, delayed a while."

"Prince Qi?"

Gu Jinghui quickly asked, "Did you meet Prince Qi?"

Qin Yuan shook her head, "No face-to-face."

"Oh," Gu Jinghui said nothing further.

The two entered the house together and sat at the table, the little maids diligently came forward to serve, Qin Yuan didn’t change her clothes, and asked, "Marquis, would you like to dine with me? Let Hong Ye go to the kitchen and spend some silver, have the cook prepare something simple, what would you like to eat?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Call me husband, you decide, I’m not picky."

Qin Yuan merely asked as a formality, to show respect. She could tell this gentleman only needed things to be decent and sufficient, always served by a servant, not very particular.

She said with a smile, "Then I’ll choose something light, it’s hot and husband’s wounds still need more healing."

Gu Jinghui’s complexion relaxed, followed her arrangement, nodded, "Very good."

Hong Ye noted the dishes and headed to the kitchen to relay them.

Gu Jinghui asked, "Why don’t you change the outer clothes you’re wearing outside?"

Qin Yuan laughed, "We’ll discuss it when Hong Ye returns."

Gu Jinghui found it odd, but didn’t ask more.

Gu Shiliu had taken the pastries from the carriage, brought in by Cui Ming, and placed them on the table.

Gu Jinghui asked, "What is this now?"

Qin Yuan laughed, "Saw pastries from Meixiang House when leaving, told Sixteen to buy some, there’s your favorite Furong Cake, also bought some for mother."

Just as she finished speaking, a gentle smile appeared on Gu Jinghui’s unshaven face.

It seemed somewhat... inexplicably charming.

The quick-growing stubble didn’t diminish his handsome appearance, on the contrary, added a robust quality.

Marquis Gu’s fine appearance is quite pleasant to look at every day.

Upon returning, Hong Ye was unsurprised to find that Marquis Gu had shifted from being icy cold to warm and spring-like, she puckered her lips and said, "Madam, Marquis, the kitchen says the household rules are strict, once mealtime is over, they don’t cook, can’t even find the cook."

As soon as she finished, Marquis Gu frowned and asked, "There’s even such a rule?"

Hong Ye muttered, "I’ve just arrived, how would I know if there’s such a rule."

Qin Yuan said nothing, deep in thought.

Marquis Gu looked at her and said, "Let’s put this matter aside, don’t let yourself go hungry, should Sixteen go to Tianxiang Building to call for a banquet to be delivered?"

Qin Yuan smiled and shook her head.

The more she interacted, the more she realized that as long as Marquis Gu was happy and satisfied, he’d find ways to adapt and protect.

This is good, but also bad.

She, a new bride, dining externally with her husband wouldn’t sound good if word got out.

Things that grant others leverage should be avoided.

Qin Yuan tenderly said, "Husband, let’s go eat at mother’s, I haven’t tasted anything from her small kitchen yet, okay?"

How could Gu Jinghui say no? He immediately said, "Okay, I’ll go change clothes."

Since they were planning to visit the main house, wearing just inner clothing wouldn’t be appropriate.

Fortunately, his injuries have healed considerably these days, wearing an outer garment wasn’t unbearable.

Qin Yuan asked, "Husband, can you manage it? Should I go to mother and have the small kitchen send the food?"

"I can," Gu Jinghui immediately answered, then called, "Sixteen, help me change clothes."

He went to the side room to change, no longer letting Qin Yuan assist.

Qin Yuan said to Hong Ye, "I’m glad I didn’t change outer clothes, redoing my hair and attire would waste half a day, now it gives me a reason to go eat at Old Madam’s place."

Cui Ming asked, "Did Miss anticipate this?"

"Just a thought, didn’t expect I’d actually get it right."

Qin Yuan appeared as if she hadn’t anticipated it would turn out this way.

Hong Ye laughed and said, "Miss holds the wisdom, truly a Zhuge among women, I greatly admire."

Gu Jinghui changed into a dark everyday robe, soft Songjiang Cloth, loose-fitting, yet suitable.

Qin Yuan asked again, "Husband, can you walk a bit further?"

"Do you think I’m a porcelain doll?" Gu Jinghui teased, glanced humorously at Qin Yuan, "Recovered from worse injuries before nothing happened. Let’s hurry, not eaten for long, might get hungry?"

He took a piece of Furong Cake, offered it to Qin Yuan’s mouth, said, "Meixiang House’s Furong Cake is quite good, have a bite to ease your hunger, take good care of yourself."

Qin Yuan could only take it, saying, "Okay."

Gu Jinghui liked Furong Cake himself, assumed she would too.

The two reached the main house together.

Old Madam Gu, having taken a nap, heard Nanny Rong quietly instructing Xiao Hong.

"Xiao Hong, there aren’t many senior maids in the main house now, Qiujie is busy. Isn’t this your chance to appear before Madam? Quickly go and welcome the Marquis and Madam, be quick-witted."