Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 462

In the afternoon of the same day, Gu Yin and Wu Qingyi returned from their outing. After all, it was Wu Qingyi who had led them on a long adventure on the wildflowers.

Their clothes and heads were covered in grass clippings, and their hems were marred with mud spots, a result of their romping in the flower field. Luckily, a gust of wind in the form of a snowstorm ran through the area, and Wu Qingyi shielded Gu Yin in his arms, escorting her back to the camp for a change of clothes and a quick wash, preventing anyone from witnessing her disheveled appearance.

Just as Gu Yin was ready and freshened up, Gu Ye came over not long after.

It had been nearly three days since the mother and son had a proper conversation. When they finally met, they both spoke in unison, “I have something to tell you.”

Gu Yin allowed Gu Ye to speak first.

Gu Ye took a seat at the table and collected his thoughts for a while before sharing what he had heard from Feng Yu and Xiao Luzi, “I had previously set a goal before me, saying that I wanted to become the prince. I didn’t expect that now, as a prince, some people have already started to speculate about my intentions. Feng Yu explained it as ‘what’s good for the top people, the people at the bottom will follow’. I found it quite moving. If anyone else asks you about my preferences…”

Gu Yin, who had raised him, knew his likes and dislikes better than anyone else. If others were unsure and wanted to inquire, they wouldn’t dare approach the Zhengyuan Emperor or Empress Zhou but would naturally seek out Gu Yin for answers.

Gu Yin assured him, saying, “The Empress inquired about it previously, but so far, no one else has asked me. Don’t worry, if anyone else does, I’ll handle it for you.”

Gu Ye nodded, “While you help me handle it, you might as well let me know so I can be aware of who’s being a bit too ‘clever’.”

He referred to incidents like the one with Xiao Luzi, who had acted hastily, making decisions without consulting him.

Such individuals, in their quest to prove themselves, often appeared too shrewd. If it weren’t for the fact that Xiao Luzi was Qian Sansi’s apprentice, Gu Ye would be hesitant to involve him in the future.

Gu Yin added, “It might not be convenient for me to inform Eunuch Qian directly. Next time he visits our restaurant, you can convey a message to him.”

Qian Sansi had developed a fondness for the culinary skills of the Huaiyang chef from the past, frequently dining at their restaurant during his breaks from the palace. Gu Yin nodded and kept that in mind.

After discussing recent events, Gu Ye’s dignified expression faded, and he inquired about what his mother wished to discuss.

In response, Gu Yin wore a shy expression, and her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, “Today, your uncle asked me if I would like to marry him.”

Gu Ye had learned many things in his classes, including the importance of etiquette, particularly in matters of matrimony.

When a man and a woman decide to marry, a wedding ceremony is typically held.

Curiously, Gu Ye asked, “Haven’t you and Uncle been married for a long time?”

Gu Yin couldn’t reveal that Gu Daya was not herself, so she employed Wu Qingyi’s words, “Back then, it was a hurried and simple affair. Your grandmother slaughtered a chicken, found a red head rope for me, and lit an oil lamp at home as a form of blessing…”

“I see.” Gu Ye nodded, “In that case, our family is in good shape now, and we should celebrate properly. Has a date been set?”

“Your uncle suggested having the wedding at this year’s Qixi Festival,” Gu Yin replied.

Gu Ye calculated in his mind, “There are still four months left, and I’ll be assisting with the palace exams in April, with no other commitments afterward. I can make time to help my uncle.”

After Gu Ye finished speaking, he didn’t immediately receive a response from his mother, so he glanced at her.

Noticing her uneasy expression, Gu Ye couldn’t help but laugh, “Why are you looking at me like this? Am I mistaken?”

Gu Yin shook her head and said, “I had already promised your uncle, but I was also concerned that you might not agree. That’s why I wanted to inform you as soon as you came back.”

“Why would I disagree?” Gu Ye asked.

“Isn’t that because of our past…”

Gu Ye nodded in understanding and then laughed again, “What you mentioned is ancient history. I recently attended a class in Wenhua Hall, and I told my uncle about it not long ago.”

With that, Gu Ye scratched his head, appearing a little embarrassed, “Of course, I also felt that I had little time at home and couldn’t keep a constant watch on my uncle, so I said that.”

Gu Yin burst into laughter and said, “You did say that, but you must admit that you used to regard your uncle with suspicion.”

Gu Ye raised his eyebrows and conceded, “Wasn’t that the case?”

“I wasn’t there when you married him, so how would I know if he is worthy of you?” Gu Ye chuckled to himself, “But the time from the previous dynasty of the abolished emperor doesn’t count. We’ve been in Beijing for several months now. My uncle, you, and my grandparents treat me the same. They treat me as if I’m part of the family. I was also thinking, why do my uncle and grandpa treat me so well? Later, I went to school and learned a lot. I came across a phrase called ‘Love House and Wu’ and I understood.”

Having discussed the major topic, Gu Ye took another sip of tea and continued, “Uncle and grandpa love me, which naturally stems from my mother and grandmother loving me. Regardless of anything else, just from this perspective, you can tell that my uncle truly cares about you and values your opinions. And you also taught me that loving someone means making them happy. Since you want me to be happy so much, I should naturally treat you the same way.”

Gu Yin was deeply moved, and she reached out, wanting to hug her son.

Gu Ye instinctively leaned closer but then quickly sat up, asserting, “No, men and women should not sit closely together after the age of seven. While the literal interpretation implies that boys and girls should not sit together after turning seven, the deeper meaning is that a seven-year-old child is considered more mature and should grasp the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries in interactions between the genders. For instance, Wu’an used to share a room with his grandma or occasionally with you, but once he turned seven, he began resting in his own room. Therefore, even in the case of a mother, we should uphold a level of separation.”

Children these days often mature quickly, and Gu Ye was more advanced than most. His studies introduced him to a set of principles that Gu Yin couldn’t entirely explain. She simply smiled and said, “It’s still a few days away. If I don’t hug you now, I won’t be able to do it in the future.”

Gu Ye was truly convinced, and he couldn’t resist leaning closer, saying, “I really can’t help it.”

The mother and son embraced for a while, and soon it was evening.