CH 10

Chapter 10: Hair Ornament 

The shopkeeper scratched his head laughed nervously and said:

“One of the lord said that Mr. Gu often talks about his wife. The love between your husband and wife makes a lot of people envious, so why not just add to the chaos and let Mr. Gu scrape down the grape trellis1.”

It seemed that he was also embarrassed, so he paused for a while and observed the expression of Mrs. Gu.

Tao Xinhe coughed uncomfortably, and the toes of her delicate embroidered shoes curled up slightly and then let go. Fortunately, her skirt was stable, and she was not showing any signs of expression.

Talk about her?

What did my husband say about me?

Is this the image of my husband in the hearts of his colleagues?

Why do I feel a little embarrassed?

Closing her eyes, Tao Xinhe let out a low “hmm”, indicating that she heard what the shopkeeper said, and at the same time felt her heart beating fast.

What does it mean about them adding chaos?

Could it be that Qiniang was a plot by his colleagues against my husband?

If it’s that way, I guess it’s better than her husband liking someone else on his own accord.

The shopkeeper then expanded further:

“They asked this little one to borrow some of the rouge marks that maidens often use, and the adults took advantage of Mr. Gu’s sleeping face, and then, ah, just dabbed the rouge on his face. This one is not spouting nonsense, Mr. Gu is really good-looking, that side profile was amazing!”

“When Mr. Gu woke up, this little one was busy watching over the guys cleaning the front hall. Cleaning up took awhile, and I forgot to remind him of it. Madam must not be offended by Mr. Gu, right?”

Tao Xinhe didn’t answer, but smiled coldly and reservedly, this things are a matter between their husband and wife, not something for outsiders hear.

It turned out that my husband was just teased by his frivolous colleagues. Her husband was blind, indifferent to others, and not popular enough, right?

Tao Xinhe imagined that if she saw her husband blushing in the face of avoiding others, she would definitely make fun of him if she was on a normal day.

However, the situation last night was special, she was disheartened, she didn’t even mention the rouge marks, and now she had to listen to the shopkeeper to explain what truly happened.

Seeing that the shopkeeper didn’t continue to say anything about Qiniang’s intentions, I guess no one has mentioned it at the banquet. So this woman has nothing to do with the colleagues in the Ministry of Rites, and her husband met her privately. Tao Xinhe swallowed her secret disappointment and thanked the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper was slightly embarrassed with her politeness. He then pointed to the wooden box and said courteously:

“Madam, there are two things in the box. The scarf on the top was taken off by Mr. Gu as soon as he entered the wine shop and placed beside the table. The one below the scarf  was the one bought by him later. It was a beautiful brocade box found in his room, judging by its size, it must have fallen out of the sleeve pocket when Master Gu was sleeping inside the room.”

“Master Gu left in a hurry. We only found out when we were packing up that this little one has to deliver it in a hurry. It was not damaged at all. Madam please check it.”

Tao Xinhe was a little surprised, she closed the lid of the box just now when she saw the scarf, and didn’t notice that there was something else under it.

Now she picked up the wooden box and opened it, shook out the scarf and put it aside, and sure enough, she saw a square brocade box the size of a palm.

The box looked familiar, like the once used by Yanchun Pavilion, a famous jewelry shop in the capital. However, how could it be related to her husband?

With suspicion, Tao Xinhe lightly pressed the hidden button with her light-white index finger tenderly, and the box popped open.

A pair of beaded gilt-pressed hair ornament, with designs in a shape of a magpie climbing a branch. It was lying on a clean and soft white silk surface facing each other from left to right. The sun is just right during the day, and the light coming in from the window shines on it, making it look radiant and golden.

“Is this Gu Sicheng’s belonging? Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?” Tao Xinhe couldn’t help asking.

At the same time, she took a closer look at one of the hairpins. It was brand new and delicate. She had never seen this pattern when she visited Yanchun Pavilion last month, so it must be a newly made style.

The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly.

However, how could there be a female family member’s hair ornament on my husband’s belongings? Tao Xinhe secretly bit her lip, her heart was overwhelmed.

At this moment, Gu Ningxi’s voice came from the door: “My lady, I’m back. I heard that the shopkeeper of Xiangyang Restaurant is here?”

Gu Ningxi, who has always been polite and self-sufficient, entered before he even announced himself. This fully reflects his eager behavior.

Not wanting outsiders to see the couple’s jokes, Tao Xinhe nodded at the shopkeeper and smiled. She stood up to welcome him, while Qingfang and Liu Guang guarded the flower hall.

After crossing the threshold, she arrived in front of Gu Ningxi, who was walking briskly. Just as she was about to say hello, her husband who stared at her for a few times asked first,

“Madam?”

Tao Xinhe smiled to herself, this person only behaved like this before when they were just newly married, and he always confirmed her identity first every time he met me. Later, I often greeted him first on my own initiative, and I wore fixed clothing so he can easily identify me. It has been a long time since I heard this “Madam?” coming out of his mouth. It was like he was lost and asking for directions.

It seemed that Gu Ningxi was frightened by the change of clothing between her and Qingfang last night. He was once bitten by a snake for ten years and was afraid of well ropes.

Her thoughts raced, and a soft response escaped from her lips without delay.

After Gu Ningxi confirmed her identity, he grabbed Tao Xinhe’s hands and called out “Lady” affectionately. The tone of his voice was quite different from the previous one.

He wanted to tell He Niang about Mo Qiqi immediately.

“The shopkeeper of the restaurant came to visit you. He was sitting and drinking tea in the flower hall. My husband come to say hello.” Tao Xinhe responded to the preface with a soft voice.

She didn’t want to see her husband’s face at the moment. He who received a woman’s scarf as a gift. She tried to withdraw her hand to turn around, but found that the strength of Gu Ningxi’s big palm was just right, it didn’t pinch her, but it held her firmly.

“Let go.” Feeling that in the hall behind him, the conversation between the shopkeeper and the maids suddenly stopped, Tao Xinhe wondered whether their actions were seen by them. She suddenly felt ashamed, and reprimanded in a very low voice, but Gu Ningxi only shook his head and added an equally low “No”.

Can’t he tell the difference between inside and outside the boudoir? Gu Ningxi has always only played with her hands and feet when the two of them are alone, but now in broad daylight. She had clearly stated that he has a guest, why is he uncharacteristically refusing to let go?

Could it be that he learned this unruly behavior from some Qiniang? Tao Xinhe thought bitterly.

However, I was caught in both arms, and I couldn’t even turn around. Their husband and wife were stuck outside the door without paying attention to the guests.

With an idea, she lowered her voice and pointed out: “How do you want me to walk?”

Gu Ningxi naturally heard the softening of the lady, his heart then relaxed, he smiled, and generously let go of Tao Xinhe’s arms, but firmly held her right hand.

This was not enough, he intertwined their ten fingers tightly, then sighed and said:

“Madam please.”

He signaled Tao Xinhe to enter the flower hall with him to entertain guests.

Tao Xinhe glanced sideways, and the sleeves of the two naturally drooped to somewhat cover their intertwined hands.

The woman’s red dress overlapped with the man’s bead gray colored cloth, and she still wanted to cover it up, so she could only grind her teeth secretly.

Just wait, wait for the shopkeeper to leave, then turn cold-faced, and settle the scores with the bastard Gu Ningxi!

While wondering if Gu Ningxi had ever held someone else’s hand like this, she endured it and tried her best to move forward as usual.

Gu Ningxi followed the pace of the lady, with three points of pride and three points of caution. He walked side by side with her to the top seat. It was rare for him to take the initiative to greet the person who he couldn’t clearly see.

Anyways, the lady just said that this person must be the shopkeeper of the restaurant , so He couldn’t be wrong.

***

TL NOTE:

Their husband and wife are pretty sweet. Dang Gu Ningxi is just a silly meat bun, and Tao Xinhe ah start communicating broo! They need to start communicating properly or else, these misunderstanding will just keep going until they break apart. Sigh