Chapter 300: Imaginings

After having dinner, Gu Jinghui forced himself to chat for a while before returning to Wutong Garden.

The twin siblings also left.

Under the light, Old Madam Gu couldn’t help but hold her forehead and sigh, saying, "Has Hui’er changed his mind again?"

Whoever taught those two children to say such words, it sounds so upsetting.

Nanny Rong stepped forward, gently opened the incense burner, brushed away the ash, placed an incense pill in it, and smiled, "Don’t worry, Old Madam, isn’t Madam still here?"

"Yes," Old Madam Gu tightly held the string of prayer beads, her voice lightened considerably, saying, "Heaven truly has eyes, giving Hui’er such a wonderful wife."

A smile bloomed on Nanny Rong’s aged face.

Gu Jinghui walked quickly with his hands behind his back. When he returned to Wutong Garden, the main room was quiet and deserted, and Mo Zhu, who was guarding outside, wanted to announce his arrival but was stopped by him.

Gently lifting the curtain, he saw Qin Yuan reclining on the Arhat Bed, reading Mr. Songshan’s poetry. The gentle glow of the lamp enveloped her, and her raven-black hair, like soft and dense waterweed, cascaded down, ensnaring the heart of Marquis Gu.

The unspeakable gloom he felt dissipated.

He gently stepped forward, bent over, took Qin Yuan’s delicate hand, and softly said, "Even though it’s still hot, the evenings are cooler now, isn’t the ivory mat cold to lie on?"

Qin Yuan giggled, turning her head.

"You came back so quietly, you startled me."

She glanced at Gu Jinghui’s expression, restrained her smile, put down the poetry scroll, and asked, "Is something on your mind, husband?"

Marquis Gu sat beside her, playing with her hand, not looking at her, and chuckled softly, "Why does Madam say that?"

Qin Yuan sat up with a soft laugh, "There’s a hint of gloom between your brows, is it because of the twins?"

Marquis Gu nodded.

"Yuan’er is smart, nothing gets past you."

Qin Yuan said, "It’s also because you don’t hide anything from me, that’s why I can know."

She indeed was smart, but it also required Marquis Gu to be utterly open with her, not avoiding or hiding anything.

Marquis Gu tightened his grip on her hand a bit, "We are one, as husband and wife. Why should there be secrets? I truly didn’t expect..."

He trailed off.

Qin Yuan didn’t interrupt, quietly waiting for him to continue.

"As the saying goes, eight or nine out of ten things in life are unsatisfactory. I should have long been accustomed to partings and disappointments, giving without receiving, and trust betrayed, all are common. In battles, besides courage and skill, strategy is also crucial; regardless of the reason, a loss is still a loss."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Bitterness is the norm, hence people yearn for sweetness.

Misplaced trust brings such bitterness, but it must be swallowed. Life is full of misplaced trusts and unexpected gains interwoven.

Gu Jinghui’s voice carried confusion and fatigue, along with helplessness.

"But now... even the children I’ve watched grow up..."

Gu Jinghui couldn’t continue.

Qin Yuan gently patted his back.

The room was silent, and after a while, Marquis Gu said, "I should have been used to this by now, shouldn’t I?"

Qin Yuan suddenly felt a pang in her nose.

"Marquis, delaying decisions only leads to chaos. Matters of home and country can’t be neglected."

Marquis Gu embraced her, solemnly saying, "You’re right."

Qin Yuan understood in her heart that Marquis Gu knew what needed to be done but just couldn’t harden his heart.

But after today, using the twins to draw out Mrs. Zhao’s scheme became inevitable.

The two held each other quietly, with faint fragrance wafting indoors and the sounds of insects and frogs echoing outside.

Their long hair hung loose, intertwined as if inseparable.

After who knows how long, the chattering voice of Hong Ye came from outside.

Gu Jinghui suddenly spoke, "Yuan’er, how about we go catch fireflies?"

Though Qin Yuan wasn’t keen on moving, she didn’t want to dampen the mood, so she said, "Then let’s go."

Gu Jinghui immediately stood up, took Qin Yuan’s hand, lifted the curtain himself, and they walked out side by side.

Hong Ye and Mo Zhu, who were talking outside, were stunned.

Hong Ye asked, "...Where is the Marquis taking Madam?"

Marquis Gu said, "We’re going for a walk. You stay here."

Qin Yuan had to ask, "Where will we put the fireflies?"

Hong Ye couldn’t help but laugh, saying, "Oh, so the Marquis is taking Madam to catch fireflies. You’ll need something like a bag to hold them, otherwise, they’ll fly away. And don’t you need a small net to catch them? Otherwise, how can Madam catch them?"

Gu Jinghui couldn’t remember how long it had been since he last caught fireflies and asked, "Then... where can we find a bag?"

Hong Ye said, "Marquis and Madam go ahead, I’ll find one and hurry to you."

Marquis Gu praised enthusiastically, "I knew Hong Ye was the most capable. When a task is given to you, nothing goes wrong."

Hong Ye: "...Hehe..."

Qin Yuan said, "Then let’s go."

Hong Ye asked again, "Where are you going to catch them?"

Gu Jinghui couldn’t answer.

Hong Ye said, "Fireflies are usually found near water, in grassy places, damp and dark areas."

Gu Jinghui thought for a moment and suddenly whistled.

The sound tore through the air.

Soon, a response echoed.

Gu Jinghui said, "We’ll go behind the Taihu Stone rockery to catch them. There’s a small pond there, a place dense with fireflies."

Saying this, he led Qin Yuan away.

Mo Zhu quickly handed over a Sheep Horn Lamp, "Marquis, this is durable. Use it for light."

Gu Jinghui took the lamp, holding Qin Yuan’s small hand, and walked out of the courtyard.

Qin Yuan then asked, "Did you just ask the guards in the manor where the fireflies gather?"

Gu Jinghui replied affirmatively.

Qin Yuan laughed, "Won’t the guards privately think the Marquis is neglecting proper duties?"

Gu Jinghui chuckled and said, "What is a proper duty? Isn’t continuing the family line a proper duty?"

Qin Yuan’s face immediately reddened.

She couldn’t help but think to herself, "A martial artist is indeed a martial artist."

Seeing her silent, Gu Jinghui continued, "I wonder what kind of bag Hong Ye will find to hold the fireflies. When I was young, I used a bag made of plain silk, putting it inside the netting, the gleaming lights looked quite nice."

Qin Yuan said, "When I was young, I used a small pouch made of plain gauze. When my father was in mourning at our old home, my cousins played together and I got one too, hanging it from the top of the netting. When we returned to the Capital City, the house was too small and Mother didn’t like us playing with these, so we stopped."

After getting married, Mrs. Lin couldn’t bear her playing with these. After the child passed away, there was even less interest.

Marquis Gu gently squeezed her hand with heartache, "Yuan’er, you suffered as a child. I’ll make it up to you."

The young wife was so much younger than him, he couldn’t help but feel protective and tender.

If he had a daughter like her, he would let her grow up spoiled from the start.

"If we have a daughter someday, we definitely won’t let her marry far. We’ll find a suitable match, cherish her dearly, and won’t let her suffer any grievances."

Qin Yuan, feeling the evening breeze and listening to Marquis Gu’s musings floating in it, felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

Marquis Gu continued his musing, "We also need several sons to back up our daughter. If the son-in-law misbehaves, the sons can visit and teach the in-laws a lesson."

Qin Yuan: "...?"