"...So it's true. Young Master Gu has truly grown." The old man spoke slowly.
"I made thorough inquiries, and it's indeed the case," replied a slightly portly middle-aged man standing beside the long chair in a low voice. "Commander Gu burned a whole chest of IOUs and debt notes. The commotion from the estate could be heard miles away. Most remarkably, the commander even gave those scoundrels a generous severance payment."
In the square armory spanning ten zhang wide, three walls were lined with tall beechwood racks displaying an array of weapons - sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, dagger-axes, hooks, and forks. Bright sunlight streamed through the high windows, glinting sharply off the polished blades throughout the room.
Bo Tianzhou, now sixty-seven, remained imposing and robust. Having developed the habit since youth, he felt restless if a day passed without handling weapons. Seated by the window on a long chair, he meticulously polished a two-foot-long hundred-folded steel horse-slaying sword with clean oil and velvet cloth, while the slightly portly middle-aged man stood beside him.
"During the three-day military review, he showed no expression at all - such composure," Bo Tianzhou set down the cloth, stroking his beard with a sigh. "No wonder he made his name rising from humble origins! In that case, placing your second son under his command would be wise. At my age, I seek nothing but the safety of my descendants. If I can secure an inheritable title for you all before I close my eyes forever, I'll die content."
"Father, you mustn't speak like that!" Bo Jun thudded to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. "It's all my incompetence - neither accomplished in letters nor martial arts - that forces you at this great age to still worry over your descendants! With peace throughout the realm, please rest at home and enjoy your remaining years. Don't exhaust yourself further! When you speak this way, you shame me utterly, I... I..." He bowed his head, weeping bitterly.
"Enough, enough! Rise!" Watching his grown son weep and wail, Bo Tianzhou couldn't help but glare. "You failed the imperial examinations but mastered a bellyful of sentimental formalities! Who in this world doesn't die? Is your old man not human? Shall I not die? What's wrong with securing more advantages for my own flesh and blood before death? A grown man shedding golden tears so easily - silence! Rise! Wipe your face!"
Bo Jun barely contained his tears, sniffling as he regained composure, then whispered: "...Father endured fifty years of bloodshed and battle. Second and Third Brother died at the frontier before even taking wives. By merit alone, our family should have received an inheritable title long ago..."
Remembering his two sons who died young, Bo Tianzhou's heart ached. Ignoring his eldest, he picked up the velvet cloth and resumed polishing the sword, muttering to himself: "The Late Emperor was gentle and benevolent. Serving under him, though lacking great rewards, was safe. Even mistakes could be overlooked. But the present Emperor is different..."
Bo Jun stared blankly at his father, cautiously speculating: "So Father retreated at the height of his career, surrendering his military authority early to the Emperor."
"What height! What retreat! If I truly retired, how could I secure an inheritable title? When Grand Secretary Shen retired recently, it was because his sons, grandsons and sons-in-law were all capable. What do I have? Only a stubborn, blockheaded son like you!"Bo Tianzhou was fuming with anger, but seeing his honest and dull-witted son standing there dumbly without even attempting a clever excuse, the old man could only sigh helplessly. "You must remember, sometimes retreat isn't true retreat - there's also advancing by retreating. Young Master Gu Erlang's recent actions serve as an excellent example."
Bo Jun was an honest man who wouldn't pretend to understand what he didn't. Seeing his son's confused expression, the old man sighed deeply and patiently explained: "On the surface, that young Gu appears to have suffered great losses and looks quite pathetic. You think so too, don't you?"
"Exactly." Bo Jun nodded, pulling over a small stool to sit beside his father while gently massaging the old man's chronically cold legs. "The Late Emperor was benevolent, having long issued clear decrees exempting all imperial estates from additional taxes. Yet those estate managers dared to commit such atrocities! Estates that should only yield three to five thousand taels in annual taxes, within about ten years, not only reduced tenant farmers to destitution but also accumulated thirty to forty thousand taels in rent arrears and loans. How absurd! Neither heavenly principles nor state laws can tolerate this!"
"Nonsense!" Bo Tianzhou secretly sighed in relief that while his son wasn't clever, at least he wasn't foolish. He said bluntly, "If you can understand this reasoning, how could that young Gu fail to grasp it? He's extremely shrewd!"
The old man felt thirsty and reached for a lustrous purple clay teapot from the small side table, taking a long sip directly from the spout before continuing: "This matter indeed cannot withstand scrutiny - it wouldn't fool anyone. Young Gu could naturally expose this affair, having the inspection office or prefectural court investigate, or summon the eunuchs managing the estates for questioning. But doing so would push the problem onto His Majesty. How many imperial estates are there? Taking advantage of the Late Emperor's generosity, how many hands have reached into them? If other estates also erupt in scandal, what should His Majesty do? Conduct thorough investigations? Impose severe punishments? Think of all the interconnected branches and leaves - how many people are involved! It's still too early for that."
Bo Jun took the teapot from his father's hand and gently set it aside, listening as the old man continued: "His Majesty cannot openly pursue this lawsuit, but can only gradually replace the previous personnel batch by batch. Each emperor has his own courtiers - from the previous court to the inner palace, and other domains, His Majesty needs to install his own people, while those from before should make way."
"That young Gu forced those blind fools to report their accounts on the spot, then immediately produced thirty to forty thousand taels of silver. Officials from Shuntian Prefecture, local inspection offices, and even palace personnel all witnessed this with their own eyes." Bo Tianzhou stroked the long sword in his hand, its blade gleaming coldly with a blue light, a peculiar smile appearing on his aged, wrinkled face. "First, when this spreads and people calculate the accounts, everyone will know how corrupt the estates originally were. What courage could mere estate managers have? Naturally, there were people behind them. Second, by stopping here, those behind the scenes aren't severely offended. Third, he gains a reputation for compassion and kindness. Truly killing three birds with one stone."
"So that's why, after the recent military review, following the routine awards, His Majesty secretly granted Commander Gu fifty thousand taels of silver. It seems His Majesty understands everything perfectly and wishes to compensate the Gu family somewhat." Only then did Bo Jun begin to comprehend.Bo Tianzhou let out a hearty laugh, his imposing thick eyebrows relaxing: "That Gu lad quietly exposed those corrupt ledgers of the imperial estate stewards. His Majesty must be thoroughly pleased in his heart! It'll be easier for the Emperor to replace personnel from now on."
Bo Junquan finally understood, privately ashamed of his own foolishness. After a moment, he couldn't help adding: "It's just too lenient on those vicious estate managers, letting them leave like that! Ah... though at least those tenant farmers have finally seen better days. I've heard that Commander Gu's wife is extremely benevolent. She said the elderly laborers who've toiled their whole lives shouldn't end up without support in old age, so she ordered that all direct elders of tenant farmers over sixty would receive annual provisions of silver, grain, and clothing."
"Erlang's young wife's character is beyond reproach - your mother has praised her several times. It's just that despite her youth, they say she's somewhat indolent by nature and doesn't care much for social engagements." Bo Tianzhou recalled his wife's words and nodded gently, his eyes flickering as he murmured, "Too lenient on them? I doubt it."
...
The Western Hills weren't a single mountain but a vast range stretching thousands of miles. With spring's verdant slopes, summer's moonlit lotus ponds, autumn's crimson maples, and winter's clear snowfall, these splendid scenes weren't accessible to all. The finest eastern peak housed the imperial summer retreat, while the scattered hills and smaller ridges hosted only a few estates belonging to distinguished imperial relatives or high officials.
That day after concluding matters with Gu Tingye, he had Minglan come first to this hot spring estate.
Along the journey, Minglan peeked through the carriage curtains to behold the radiant scenery, already utterly captivated. Upon entering the estate and seeing the serene landscapes everywhere, with gentle rolling hills fore and aft resembling sudden arrival in paradise, plus the elegantly refined interior decor, Minglan grew quite fond of the place and generously praised the estate steward.
This steward was originally an old quartermaster from Gu Tingye's army camp who had served for years, consistently thorough in his duties and devoted in his diligence. After becoming disabled in chaotic warfare with no family property to fall back on and a household full of ailing and frail dependents, he had simply thrown his lot in with Gu Tingye.
Since arriving at the hot spring estate, Minglan experienced for the first time in her life release from constrained routines. She either toured the entire estate in cool bamboo sedans or went gathering fresh tangerines in the back gardens wearing a veil. Daily meals featured freshly picked vegetables and newly hunted wild game, along with various forest mushrooms she couldn't even name, prepared in diverse culinary styles. Most importantly, the estate boasted three or four natural hot springs that bubbled year-round. Floating wooden trays on the warm water bearing fruits and honey wine cooled in icy well water, she soaked for half an hour daily until completely refreshed.
Without household management duties, without maintaining appearances for social occasions, without constant visits from noblewomen and relatives - after several days, Minglan felt transported to heaven on earth, every bone in her body relaxed, thinking it wouldn't be bad to continue living like this.
Unfortunately, such good days lasted only four days before Gu Tingye arrived.After dealing with both external and internal affairs, the man was utterly exhausted. The military review was no small matter, and without modern transportation like the Red Flag sedan, even a single day of inspection required riding over a hundred miles since the emperor was determined to thoroughly examine the entire army. As the deputy commander of this review, Commander Gu had to cover nearly three hundred miles daily on horseback. On top of that, he had to endure the patience-testing antics of seasoned veterans, where the intricacies of military life were no less complex than court politics—full of overt and covert conflicts, with schemes at every turn, making it mentally draining.
Seeing the weariness on the man’s face, Minglan lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers. A good man wasn’t just praised with words; despite being busy day and night, he still insisted on returning to the estate every evening... Feeling heartache, she mustered her energy to serve him attentively.
Noticing the stiffness and fatigue in his muscles, Minglan volunteered to give him a massage.
Back when Yao Yiyi had a close friend who was an enthusiast of SPA massages—not only frequenting beauty parlors but also studying techniques herself—Minglan had picked up some skills through osmosis. In her view, the gentle fist-pounding or light tapping with beauty hammers common in ancient inner quarters were merely scratching the surface, utterly ineffective at truly relieving fatigue. The essence of massage lay in the fingers and palms, using fundamental movements like poking, pressing, kneading, pushing, rubbing, and pinching, with pounding and tapping serving only as supplementary actions.
Later, after learning about human acupoints from He Laofuren, Minglan grew even more confident. Old Mrs. Sheng had praised her granddaughter’s skill highly. However, when it came to Gu Tingye, an unexpected problem arose.
It went without saying that men had thicker skin than women. Having practiced martial arts for years, from his shoulders and arms to his abdomen and slender legs, he was covered in robust, tan muscles—well-proportioned without an ounce of excess fat, dense and firm. Minglan worked up a sweat massaging him, abandoning technique and using all her strength to pound and beat, yet Gu Tingye remained unmoved, expressionlessly stating that he "felt nothing."
Minglan was at her wit’s end.
Then the man suddenly mentioned that he had seen children from boat families in Lingnan stepping on adults’ backs to massage them.
Wiping her sweat with a handkerchief, Minglan retorted irritably, "Your daughter is in the capital, and I don’t know about your son."
Gu Tingye silently buried his face back into the pillows. After a moment, he suggested that Minglan could take their place.
"How could that be?" Minglan objected in shock, earnestly declaring herself a virtuous wife who adhered to womanly virtues. Stepping on her husband’s body? If Old Madam found out, she’d be punished to copy the "Admonitions for Women."
"We’ll do it secretly, without anyone knowing," he coaxed.
"I’m not a child. Aren’t you afraid I’ll crush you?" Minglan narrowed her eyes to scare him.
Gu Tingye immediately sat up, hugged Minglan, and hefted her weight, assuring her it was no problem at all. While urging her on, he helped remove her shoes and socks, revealing two plump, pink little feet with ten stubby toes. Gritting her teeth and gripping the bed canopy railing, Minglan cautiously stepped onto the man’s back.
At first, she dared only place one foot, but he complained it was too light. Annoyed and embarrassed, Minglan put both feet on his back, thinking that if he still said it wasn’t enough, she’d do a rabbit dance on him—see if that didn’t stomp the scoundrel to death!
The man’s back was broad, with smooth, powerful muscles, allowing Minglan to stand steadily. She poked with her toes, pressed with her soles, and kneaded with her heels. Gu Tingye closed his eyes, looking thoroughly content.Herbal baths, hot spring soaks, various warm tonics suitable for early summer, and chilled fruit beverages brewed from wild honey and fresh fruit pulp—three carefully balanced meals a day. Pigeon stew with ginseng, angelica, and red dates, West Lake shrimp with fish skin, bamboo pith and bird’s nest chicken soup, jellyfish salad with shredded lettuce, cabbage and tripe soup... The flavors ranged from light to rich, each dish tantalizing enough to make one’s mouth water.
Within just a couple of days, the man was fully rejuvenated. The fatigue of recent times vanished completely, leaving him not only restored to his vigorous, energetic self but even more robust than usual. Soon, his eyes gleamed with a predatory light, his suggestive gaze fixed on the weary, languid Minglan.
Minglan’s ears twitched involuntarily.
Gu Tingye was in his prime and had abstained for quite some time. Now that he had broken his fast, he showed no restraint. Before night had fully fallen, he was already hustling Minglan toward the bed. At first, Minglan had responded with enthusiasm for a few days, but the man’s stamina was astonishing. She deeply felt that if not for the need to reuse her, he might have devoured her whole, bones and all. Soon, she could no longer keep up and resumed her tearful pleas for mercy.
The room was warm and humid, the dark blue silk bed curtains drawn low. Inside, the air was thick with heavy, erotic panting and soft cries—whether pleas or moans was unclear. The bed was a mess of tangled limbs, their bodies still entwined.
The man lay atop her, one hand gripping her slender waist while the other wiped the tears from her face. Lifting her hips, he intensified his movements. Minglan’s body burned as if on fire. She covered her eyes with her hands, sobbing softly, but he pulled them away to reveal her captivating, large eyes glistening with moisture, her face flushed crimson. Unbeknownst to her, this sight only fueled his desire further.
His eyes red with lust, he firmly held one of her legs and thrust deeply into her. Minglan whimpered pitifully. In response, he tenderly caressed her body, hoping to ease her discomfort.
She trembled violently, the two rosy peaks on her chest as vibrant as ripe cherries. He bent to kiss them, sucking as if to melt them away. Her jade-smooth skin flushed with waves of crimson, as enticing as if brushed with rouge. Her legs hung limply around his waist, devoid of strength. When he made to lift her legs onto his shoulders, she shuddered in fear, knowing the intensity that would follow, and quickly wrapped them tightly around his sturdy waist. This caused her inner muscles to clench, provoking a low, guttural growl from him. He frantically kissed and nibbled her neck, his large hands kneading her breasts forcefully.
In the haze of their passion, Minglan clung to the head buried against her chest. Gu Tingye’s thick, dark hair was already damp with sweat. Both gasped hoarsely, her body so limp and tingling it felt as if she had melted into a pool of water. She cried out delicately again and again, mixing endearments like “dear brother” and “good uncle” in her desperate pleas, saying whatever sounded sweet in hopes he would finish quickly.
As their panting gradually subsided, Gu Tingye exhaled heavily, holding her feverish body and covering her with kisses. He pressed his lips to her cheek, his voice low and rough as he whispered, “Silly girl, why cry? Don’t you know how pleasurable this is?”
Minglan lay limp and sore on the bed, utterly drained, and managed to sob brokenly, “...Do it less often... My back aches...”
“Let’s go soak in the hot spring. It’ll ease the ache.” Gu Tingye kneaded the soft, snowy mounds of her chest, smooth and warm like fresh goat’s milk.Minglan's cheeks burned again as she desperately shook her head and buried her face in the pile of thin satin quilts. Ever since he had cornered her in the hot spring last time, pressing her bare body against the wet stones by the spring's edge, running wild with her in and out of the pool for two full hours, she hadn't dared to enter the hot spring again.
Fortunately, the leave he had requested from the emperor wasn't long, and after a few days, the two of them returned home.
Strictly speaking, during this trip they had seen mountains, waters, flowers, and birds—though the birds were domesticated—and climbed half of a small hill—which was actually in the backyard. Gu Tingye's promise to take her to watch the sunrise from the mountain top had fallen through, but at least they had strolled hand in hand. Well, it could be considered a honeymoon.
Minglan suddenly remembered her cousin from her previous life, who had excitedly planned a luxurious six-day honeymoon on Hainan Island before marriage, only to return and urgently ask Yao Yiyi to help photoshop a set of pictures afterward—during their honeymoon, they had been so "busy" they hardly visited any scenic spots.
It seemed most honeymoons were like this; Minglan finally understood.
Along the journey, Gu Tingye rode on horseback, beaming with satisfaction, occasionally pointing out scenery and making comments. Minglan hid in the carriage, pretending to be dead, lying on the cushions without any desire to speak. It wasn't until the carriage passed through the gate of Clear Garden and they switched to sedan chairs that Minglan looked up and saw him standing under the festooned gate, watching her with a half-smile. For some reason, she felt a pang of guilt and suddenly blushed so deeply it seemed blood might drip from her cheeks.
Shortly after returning to their room, before Minglan could help Gu Tingye remove his gold-inlaid green jade crown, someone urgently reported at the door. It was actually Mama Xiang, who looked somewhat flustered but remained composed. She said the Ningyuan Marquis Household had requested their immediate presence for a discussion—it was extremely urgent and they should hurry over.
Minglan looked puzzled, but Gu Tingye beside her didn't ask a single question. He merely said steadily, "It must be an urgent matter. I won't inquire further. Mama Xiang, please return first. We'll change clothes and come right away."
Mama Xiang bowed calmly and left.
As Minglan turned to enter the inner room to change her undergarments, Qinsang quietly slipped in, her face anxious. She leaned close to Minglan's ear and said, "Madam, did you know? Not two days after you left, officials went to the Marquis Household to take people for questioning!"
Minglan's forehead throbbed, and her heart tightened. Her first reaction was to look at Gu Tingye. Through the bamboo curtain's gap, she saw him sitting steadily on the edge of the bed, calm and composed, lifting his feet for Xiahe and Xiazhu to remove and change his boots.
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