Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 388

In the early morning of the second day, after waking up, Gu Ye had to go to his mansion next door.

The mansion had undergone several months of renovation, and it was now ready to be lived in. Emperor Zhengyuan had ensured that the guards and servants were all in place.

Gu Ye had selected a courtyard that was separated from Duke Ying’s residence by just a wall. He had a small door installed in the adjacent wall, which allowed him to move freely between the two locations. This arrangement made it convenient for him to stay at Duke Ying’s residence at night, bathe and change clothes in the morning, and then depart from the other side.

Before going to bed the previous night, he had set a small goal for himself, aspiring to become a good prince.

That morning, he hadn’t forgotten his goal. Such matters were frequently mentioned in books about princes. After all, it was usually the emperor who instilled such values.

Gu Ye believed that as a future emperor, he must behave differently. He couldn’t simply rely on his father’s favor, as this would make his younger brothers feel left out.

Emperor Zhengyuan had informed him the day before that, as the eldest son of the emperor, he was not the only one residing in Wenhua Hall. There were two other princes, Lu Zhao, who had health issues and difficulty speaking, and Lu Xu, who accompanied the emperor’s eldest son. The three of them were required to attend classes together.

Feng Yu arrived a bit earlier than Gu Ye, and they hadn’t seen each other for several days. When Gu Ye spotted him, he suddenly became more awake.

As the two of them sat together, Gu Ye was the first to ask, “How have you been these days? Did my grandmother cause you any trouble?”

Both of them spoke simultaneously, inquiring about their respective family members.

Although they posed their questions at the same time, it was clear that Feng Yu was more anxious. Gu Ye spoke first, providing an update, “Aunt Zhu is now working at our restaurant, and she’s even a deputy manager! My mother mentioned that the people there really like her. Grandpa Ge and his wife have returned to the town to prepare for moving to the capital. There’s no need to search for another place to settle. Grandma bought a few small courtyards where they can live temporarily.”

In addition, the emperor had discreetly returned the more than 30,000 taels that Wu Zhong had given to Duke Ying’s mansion, marking the conclusion of their debt.

In addition to the salaries issued by the imperial court during the Chinese New Year, more than 40,000 taels of silver appeared in Duke Ying’s house’s account.

Half of these funds were allocated by Wu Qingyi and Mrs. Wang for the purpose of going out to sea and purchasing goods. They aimed to grow their business with this investment.

With 20,000 taels left, Mrs. Wang contemplated using the money to buy something for Gu Yin. However, Gu Yin was financially comfortable. The restaurant was entirely self-sustaining, generating surplus revenue.

Mrs. Wang decided to use the remaining funds to purchase property, which she planned to lease out. This was an investment in real estate, as it was unfeasible for the court to rent or buy such properties. Therefore, she acquired some fields and small yards to lease to tenants.

One of these tenants was the mother and son duo, Mrs.Xu and Xu Qingchuan, who had recently arrived in Beijing. Although Mrs. Wang wished to keep them within the mansion, she realized that no matter how amicable the relationship, it would be inconvenient for them to reside in someone else’s house. Furthermore, Xu Qingchuan was a scholar who aspired to pursue a career in the imperial bureaucracy. Living in Duke Ying’s house might create the perception of favor.

As a result, the Xu family only stayed in their mansion for a brief period before suggesting that they leave. Mrs. Wang did not attempt to persuade them further and allowed Mrs. Xu to select one of the quiet yards she had purchased.

Initially, Mr. Xu was hesitant because the rent offered by Mrs. Wang was significantly lower than market rates. She pointed out that she had charged a fair price when renting the property to Mrs. Wang and Gu Yin earlier. However, she believed that once Xu Qingchuan passed his imperial examinations, they would both benefit. At that point, the house he resided in would be referred to as “Champion’s Residence,” and she could increase the rent substantially, as many people would be eager to rent a home with such a title. Mrs. Xu eventually accepted Mrs. Wang’s proposal, acknowledging the wisdom in her words.

As a result, there were still a few unrented yards available for housing the Ge family. They would not have to worry about securing a place to live in an unfamiliar city. The grandparents had a comfortable place to stay.

Feng Yu, who was feeling somewhat embarrassed, said with Gu Ye, “I’m ashamed that I can’t do anything for my family, and I have to rely on your family to take care of them.”

Gu Ye quickly reassured him, “You’re being too modest, aren’t you? My mother has mentioned that your grandparents have always looked out for her like a daughter. We’ll study together in the future, and staying in the same place is just like being with a brother. Why do you feel so indebted?”

Gu Ye, even after becoming a prince, was the same as before, which brought a smile to Feng Yu’s face. “Alright, I won’t bring this up again.”

Observing that the others had not yet joined them, Gu Ye lowered his voice and said, “Don’t worry; I’m with you during the day, and I still have a waist badge to enter and leave the palace. I’ll take you out to see Aunt Zhu. However, it’s not possible today because there’s a banquet in the palace, and the palace is crowded.”

Feng Yu hadn’t seen his mother for several days, and despite fully supporting his parents’ separation, he couldn’t help missing her. He wanted to express his gratitude for what Gu Ye had done for his family. However, remembering Gu Ye’s earlier advice not to mention it, he decided to hold back and simply nodded with a grateful smile.

Feng Yu then began to share his experiences within the mansion over the past few days. While he may have concealed certain matters involving his grandmother and father in the past, he now considered Gu Ye as part of his family and chose to be open with him.

“My grandmother discovered early on that I had sent news to your family. Though she didn’t punish me directly, she did mistreat those around me. Later, my aunt returned to the house and called me aside, saying that I should be studying with my cousin. To be honest, although I initially agreed when you proposed it, both my aunt and grandmother were deeply displeased. I was worried that my grandmother might mistreat those close to me, so I secretly reconsidered my decision. Fortunately, the imperial decree arrived yesterday.”

Gu Ye offered an apologetic response, “I should have informed you earlier; it’s my fault. I should have told you, but the emperor insisted I couldn’t reveal it until after the ceremony. I’m just relieved that no one around you suffered.”

Feng Yu shook his head, saying, “There’s no blame on you. It’s a matter of great significance, and if you had told me earlier, you would have been in violation of the emperor’s orders.”