My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 102: Chapter 2: Third Brother, I’m Suffering

”Who cares about all that,” Gu Jinghui muttered to Qin Yuan, ”The Emperor suddenly summoned me, saying he wants me to go. The imperial guard isn’t even under my purview. This arrangement makes it seem like the Emperor values me, but who knows what others think. I haven’t even heard of a prayer session - one doesn’t go to Dazao Temple for fasting without a three-day notice. Not eating tonight won’t help, especially since I had wine at lunch.”

Saying this, he poured all the ingredients into the noodle bowl.

Qin Yuan held her forehead, ”If you can’t finish, why not share some?”

Gu Jinghui replied, ”I can finish it, though it’s not right to eat so much at night.”

Cui Ming and Hong Ye glanced at each other but kept their heads down.

Gu Jinghui said, ”You two should rest outside; I’ll have a chat with my wife.”

Both of them left.

Only then did Gu Jinghui feel comfortable; he ate quickly, maintaining his posture.

Qin Yuan silently accompanied him.

The lanterns in the room were all lit by now, occasionally a small insect would hit the delicate window screen, making faint sounds.

In the lamplight, Qin Yuan’s face was softer than during the day. The round fan in her hand waved gently, her whole being soft and ethereal, small yet heavy in Gu Jinghui’s heart.

After finishing a large bowl of noodles, Gu Jinghui stretched and lightly patted his stomach, ”What should I do now?”

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, ”I told you not to eat so much.”

”I saw it was all your doing, I couldn’t bear to waste it.”

His wife personally cooked noodles for the first time; he wasn’t going to share it with others.

Qin Yuan: ”...”

She had a hand in its creation, though the cook did the work and she just gave directions.

Gu Jinghui stood up, walked a few steps, then turned to Qin Yuan who was smiling at him, ”Let’s go, to the bamboo grove to listen to the insects.”

Qin Yuan was surprised, then nodded with a smile.

He remembered.

Gu Jinghui extended his hand to her, and Qin Yuan gently placed her hand in his, using his strength to stand up, ”Alright, let’s go then, but there’s a lot of mosquitoes now, listening to the insects is elegant, but getting bitten will be uncomfortable.”

Hearing this, Gu Jinghui hesitated, ”I’m tough, no fear, but if you get bitten, that’s a pity.”

Qin Yuan blushed, ”I made some incense pills today, the scent’s all over me, mosquitoes don’t like it, don’t worry.”

Gu Jinghui was pleased, ”So you were worried about me; would you give me an incense bag?”

What’s wrong with that.

Qin Yuan quickly asked someone to fetch the newly made incense pills, placed them in a pocket, and tied it to Gu Jinghui’s waist, ”Since you don’t like these, I didn’t prepare one. This was meant for Mother. Take it, if you don’t like the scent, I’ll make another in a few days.”

”No problem, this one is fine.”

Gu Jinghui contentedly pressed it.

They didn’t have anyone follow; Gu Jinghui himself carried the sheep horn lamp in one hand, holding Qin Yuan’s hand with the other, heading towards the bamboo grove.

He matched his pace to hers, walking very slowly.

Qin Yuan asked him, ”Why did Prince Qi Mansion raise the price of pepper and yet not buy it?”

Gu Jinghui pondered, ”I don’t know either. Prince Qi has always acted capriciously. He came looking for me with Princess Fu Yun today, and that’s how I learned of this.”

Qin Yuan asked, ”Then why did he... why did he go to the Great Camp?”

Earlier, Gu Jinghui drank with Prince Qi at the Sang Family’s House; it wasn’t long ago, and now they met at the Great Camp.

If others find out, wouldn’t they think Marquis Gu is too close to Prince Qi?

Qin Yuan hopes Marquis Gu, as in the previous life, stays out of the succession battles.

When the late Empress was around, Prince Qi was young, and the Emperor hadn’t planned to appoint a Crown Prince; the new Empress was the Emperor’s favored Noble Princess Consort Lin, after promotion, her son became the designated heir and later declared Crown Prince.

Empress Lin was shrewd and ambitious, but unfortunately, the Crown Prince was weak and didn’t live long, and Prince Qi didn’t live past thirty either.

The Emperor lived a long life.

This turbulent water is difficult to wade through.

Gu Jinghui pondered, ”Prince Qi knew you were buying pepper, so he came to tell me Prince Qi Mansion isn’t planning on dealing in pepper, also to show goodwill. Princess Fu Yun and Prince Qi are of the same birth mother; as children, they played by the peach blossom pond at Jiaofang Palace and I pulled them out, so they see me as a benefactor and came with the news. The military camp is a restricted area, they didn’t stay long, just had a cup of tea and left.”

Qin Yuan was relieved, then asked, ”Did Princess Fu Yun mention you to the Emperor, resulting in this assignment?”

Gu Jinghui suspected the same, and replied, ”If she did that, it’s revenge, not gratitude. I just want to guard the Great Camp and avoid involvement.”

He looked down at Qin Yuan’s expression.

Qin Yuan smiled, ”Indeed, Marquis guarded the Northern Border for years, returning only to guard the palace doors?”

These words resonated with Gu Jinghui, he couldn’t articulate but firmly clasped the small, smooth, and gentle hand in his palm.

Qin Yuan also smiled, lowering her head.

The couple, feeling good, reached the edge of the bamboo grove, where summer nights in the bamboo grove are much cooler, the rustling bamboo leaves and the chorus of insects, Gu Jinghui quietly said, ”Indeed, it’s peaceful here.”

Qin Yuan replied, ”Indeed, it’s pleasing to the ear.”

After a while, Gu Jinghui looked up at the starlit sky, ”Time’s late, let’s go back.”

”Alright.”

After walking a few steps, Gu Jinghui said, ”You hold the lamp, I’ll carry you, it’s too late.”

Qin Yuan was stunned.

She never expected Marquis Gu to do this.

Gu Jinghui had already handed her the lamp’s handle and squat down, ”Quickly get on, don’t delay.”

Qin Yuan hurriedly raised her skirt and lay on his back.

”You’re so light, like a feather.”

Gu Jinghui marveled as he stood up, steadily walking forward.

Qin Yuan felt his back was wide and sturdy, as if it could bear everything.

This summer night’s warmth was interrupted by Sixth Master Gu’s exclamation, ”Third Brother! What’s happened to Third Sister-in-law?”

Sixth Master Gu reeked of alcohol, holding a servant, staggering out of the path, bellowing upon seeing them.

Qin Yuan, embarrassed, tried to get down from Gu Jinghui’s back immediately.

Gu Jinghui lightly slapped her on the buttocks.

Qin Yuan froze, her face red, dared not move.

”Third Brother’s carrying Third Sister-in-law?”

Sixth Master Gu squinted drunkenly, too drunk to catch his Third Brother’s look of annoyance.

”We went to the bamboo grove to hear the insects, why are you drunk?”

”Hear, hear insects?”

Sixth Master Gu’s tears fell.

Why can Third Brother marry a woman like Third Sister-in-law, and he marries someone who only counts abacus beads?

”I, what do I do if I don’t drink? Third Brother, life is hard, I’m so distressed.”