Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 491

In the midst of onlookers in the palace, it was challenging to delve into the matter further. Mrs. Qin vaguely remarked, “The imperial concubine should understand my meaning.” With that, the mother and daughter concluded their conversation.

After the banquet, Concubine Feng helped her children go through the birthday gifts they received. The Empress Dowager, Empress Zhou, Emperor Zhengyuan, Gu Ye, and others may not have bestowed priceless items, but their gifts were filled with blessings and wishes for the children’s health and growth.

Especially for Chao Yang, who was showing signs of improvement, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Zhengyuan felt a sense of indebtedness toward her, resulting in more thoughtful and particular birthday gifts for her.

On the contrary, it was the two gifts sent by Concubine Feng’s mother, Mrs. Qin, that left her feeling uneasy.

Mrs. Qin had gifted Lu Xu a small knife, small sword, and small bow. Though crafted from wood, the quality of the wood was exceptional. In terms of value, it rivaled gold and jade, with intricate and elaborate polishing and carving. It was a perfect set for a boy of Lu Xu’s age, who had started to express an interest in learning with swords and bows.

For Chao Yang, Mrs. Qin had gifted her a necklace. While the necklace itself was ornate and precious, Concubine Feng vaguely recalled it being one of the gifts sent to Duke Lu from the palace earlier.

As Concubine Feng examined the necklace, she discovered the unique emblem from the palace. It became evident that Mrs. Qin had simply selected an item from the warehouse without much consideration. The realization left Concubine Feng feeling discomforted.

In the end, Concubine Feng chose not to heed Mrs. Qin’s words, focusing her attention on her daughter. This wasn’t to say that she neglected Lu Xu, but he didn’t visit frequently, and Wenhua Hall and Xiefang Hall were places beyond Concubine Feng’s reach.

Emperor Zhengyuan observed Concubine Feng’s dedication to her daughter and refrained from further interference. When he occasionally visited Yonghe Hall, he commended her, noting that she finally appeared like a mother.

Concubine Feng’s life had taken a different course from before, but it followed its own unique pattern.

 ………… 

In the scorching heat of June, the marriage arrangements for Gu Yin and Wu Qingyi took center stage. Mrs. Wang had little to worry about concerning Gu Yin; everything was meticulously prepared for the upcoming union. As part of her maiden family contributions, Mrs. Wang also arranged a dowry for Gu Yin.

She decided to allocate a portion of the farm stores she had previously purchased to Shen Hanchun, intending to transfer the remaining properties to Gu Yin’s name. However, Gu Yin was hesitant. Food of Heaven was already under her name, a valuable asset generating over a thousand taels monthly. Mrs. Wang, uninterested in her earnings, allowed Gu Yin to keep the money.

Concerning other properties, Duke Ying’s Mansion had purchased them, rendering them unrelated to Gu Yin. Despite Mrs. Wang’s insistence on giving, Gu Yin remained firm in her decision not to accept.

Upon discovering the situation, Gu Ye proposed placing the Gu Shipping Line under his mother’s name. The shipping line had been rewarded by Emperor Zhengyuan, surpassing the value of Mrs. Wang’s purchased land. At the time of the reward, Emperor Zhengyuan hadn’t explained its purpose, merely stating that it was a well-deserved business. Initially recorded under Gu Ye’s name, they were given the opportunity to oversee the ships’ operations. Eventually, they learned that the shipping line was a reward for their role in raising the eldest son of the royal family.

Gu Ye was adopted by both Gu Yin and Mrs. Wang, and while Gu Yin preferred not to take sole credit, the familial consensus deemed Gu Ye closest to her, making the award justifiable. When the idea was proposed, the rest of the family readily agreed.

With the support of the family, Gu Yin accepted the proposal and joined Gu Ye in changing the deed. Fortunately, the shipping line had already been named using the Gu surname, eliminating the need for a name change.

As time swiftly passed, July arrived, and the wedding day drew near. Wedding invitations had been dispatched well in advance. Despite the customary grandeur associated with such events, Gu Yin, disliking extravagance, opted to invite only those close to her.

The Wen family, along with Xu Mother and her son, the elderly Ge couple, Chef Xu and his two apprentices, Manager Zhou, Ge Zhu, and ‘Food of Heaven’ staff, as well as Empress Zhou and the Empress Dowager, were invited as Gu Yin’s family.

On Wu Qingyi’s side, colleagues and subordinates from the army, including Wu Zhong, were invited, significantly outnumbering Gu Yin’s family. Following the customs of Batou Village, Gu Yin and Wu Qingyi adhered to the rule of not meeting before the wedding.

At the end of June, Gu Ye assisted his mother in packing, escorting her to Prince Lie’s Mansion from where the wedding would take place. In the days leading up to the ceremony, Gu Ye stayed at Prince Lie’s Mansion instead of Xiefang Hall.

During this time, Wu’an had officially become Lu Zhao’s companion. Although they traveled together, they had to separate upon reaching the entrance—one entering Prince Lie’s Mansion, and the other entering Duke Ying’s Mansion.

Amidst the preparations, everyone ensured Gu Yin felt at ease. Given the scorching weather, she seldom ventured outdoors. To alleviate potential boredom, Gu Ye borrowed recipes from the palace library, allowing Gu Yin to explore new things. She frequently experimented in the kitchen of Prince Lie’s Mansion, making the days pass swiftly.

Upon Gu Ye’s return, Gu Yin had already prepared dinner. After the meal, the two retired to the study room—Gu Ye to complete homework, and Gu Yin to peruse recipes. Although their routine resembled days of the past, there was now an added significance of being solely dependent on each other.

Following their respective activities, Gu Ye chose to sleep in the same room as Gu Yin, concerned she might find it challenging to adjust to a new environment. However, adhering to a growing awareness of boundaries between men and women after his seventh birthday, Gu Ye had a couch moved into the inner room, ensuring they didn’t share the bed at night. Despite sleeping separately, they could still engage in conversation through the curtain.

As they unwound at the end of the day, Gu Ye brought up Lu Xu and said, “Lu Xu is quite amusing now. He’s the only one among us with a sister, and he flaunts it every day. Despite his sister being a source of attention, he shows no signs of jealousy. When Ah Zhao first arrived, he was quite jealous, but now, with his mother focusing on Chao Yang, not only does he harbor no jealousy, but he’s also concerned for his sister’s well-being. He’s afraid his mother won’t take good care of Chao Yang…” Gu Ye continued, “It would be great if you could give me a younger sister. I promise to be a better brother—the best brother ever!”

Gu Yin, lying on the bed and fanning herself, couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t know who it was in the past that repeatedly told me not to have other children and to wait until he’s older…”

Gu Ye blushed at the revelation, hastily sitting up to argue, “That person is already old enough now!”

Seeing his earnestness, Gu Yin reassured him, “Alright, alright, you’re already an older child. But having another sibling is not something we can decide on just because we agree; it’s all a matter of fate.”

Gu Ye lay back down, saying, “Ah Zhao also urged his mother to have a sister for him. Our parents are working hard. Work hard, and you’ll reap the rewards!”

Amused, Gu Yin playfully pated him, telling him to sleep quickly and not worry about it. Having attended class all day, Gu Ye soon fell asleep, snoring softly.

As Gu Yin was about to drift off, a sudden noise emanated from the window lattice, startling her.

Prince Lie’s Mansion was more heavily guarded than the neighboring Duke Ying’s Mansion, prohibiting the presence of animals. Gu Yin smiled gently, rising from bed, and opened the window to peer outside. The night beyond the window was dark, illuminated only by the bright moonlight, revealing no strangers—only Wu Qingyi standing alone.

The ends of his hair and the hem of his clothes were damp with dew, indicating he had been standing there for quite some time.