CH 30

Chapter 30: Thoughts 

The eighth day of the first lunar month is said to be the day of Harvest. If the weather is fine on this day, it means that the year will be smooth and rainy. Otherwise, the crops may fail.

Jichang Bo Mansion, Cheng Shicheng got up early in the morning, walked to his courtyard with his hands behind his back, then looked up at the sky, with a look of sadness between his eyes.

The steward of their mansion had watched him grow up, and had managed the mansion’s affairs as an elder. Seeing him like this, he leaned closer and joked, “Is Master thinking about the peasant farmers? Why is he so focused on the weather?”

Cheng Shicheng was full of thoughts of Madam Gu, and how she was sitting in front of him inside the room. It’s really something he can’t talk about.

A man wearing a black brocade suit that fits his figure, his face is straight, his eyebrows are clear, his shoulders are broad and waist is straight, with a pair of long legs, seemingly decent and strong, now all the thoughts that’s plaguing his mind, was yesterday’s farewell, and what reason will he use to see her again. It was not at all related to the weather…

He coughed lightly, took a look at his steward, bypassed his teasing, and casually asked, “What time did Jia’er return home last night? It’s not an exaggeration for this child to see an unmarried woman, but I’m afraid of offending the future-in-law’s family.”

The steward honestly reported the reason for Cheng Jia’s return last night. He told him that he went to the Ministry of Industries Deputy Head, Tao’s Manor to plead guilty, and escorted the Tao family young master and his wife to the second house of the Gu Family. When he returned, he was afraid of disturbing the sleep of his adoptive father, and quietly went back to his room.

Cheng Shicheng frowned, Tao Cheng, he knew this person. He’s an eccentric person with no understanding of the world. He was never part of any faction in the court, but only focused on playing around with his research and designs. He was the treasure of the Minister of Industries who couldn’t settle down and made his colleagues heads ache.

He didn’t have any interactions with Tao Cheng, he was just a casual acquaintance. How did Cheng Jia provoke his family?

Wait… Tao…?

Cheng Shicheng immediately asked the knowledgeable steward about his uncertainty, “Madam Gu’s father, is Tao Cheng right?”

“Madam Gu, the young master’s future wife? Or the Madam Gu who came yesterday, Mrs. Gu Sicheng?”

“This Gu family is really a mess, they make this play of splitting the house but not the family, it is just so troublesome, they even confused their names easily. Steward, Don’t be funny, answer me quickly.”

Cheng Shicheng felt that the old lady of the Gu family was really not wise, or else they would just divide the houses in a proper manner. The children’s address should be based on ranks, like the second master, the third master, and the eldest young master and the second young master below in turn. The female relatives were naturally called based on their husbands or Father’s family, like the beautiful woman Tao should be addressed as Second Young Lady Gu.

This way the division will be neat and tidy, and everyone has their own corresponding addresses. Jia’er’s father-in-law has no official position, so his mother-in-law naturally cannot bear the title of Madam. The Gu Family only had two people with decent positions that granted titles for their wives, like Gu Ningran’s Wife, Mrs. Bianxiu, since he’s an Academy Editor and then Gu Ningxi’s wife, Mrs. Gu Sicheng.

In any case, it is much better than nothing.

Cheng Shicheng didn’t want to talk too much about other people’s family affairs, and when the steward replied with a smile, “Gu Sicheng’s wife is Tao Cheng’s daughter indeed.”, He quickly summoned Cheng Jia to ask how he was involved with Tao Cheng’s family.

He was going to visit the Tao Manor to make friends with the beauty’s father with an excuse of “Not raising his adopted sons properly”. Thinking about it, it shouldn’t be too far-fetched.

❖

A large courtyard in the Tao Manor is located in the middle of the mansion, that is where Tao Muxian and his wife Lady Hong currently live.

It was already halfway up at sunrise and the sky was twilight, so Lady Hong got up vigilantly, dressed and tidied up. She was thinking whether she should greet her Elder Sister-in-law earlier.

The Master, Tao Cheng, in addition to going to the Ministry of Industries on duty, is in the study of the manor, still obsessed with his research and even forgetting to sleep before the night shifts to day. He was completely focused, not wanting to be disturbed.

Tao Muxian always spends 20 days a month studying in an outside academy, but since it’s currently the New Year’s he decided to stay at home for a longer time. As long as he was around. He would always fool around. He was always proud at night. He even felt sorry for his wife, afraid that he overdid things and hurt her. He would always sleep with his arms around her until the sun finally rises, only then will he let his wife get up.

However, whenever Tao Xinhe returned home for a short stay, Lady Hong was always so respectful, and would go to his elder sister’s courtyard earlier than her usual time and give her greetings.

Tao Xinhe returned home yesterday, so Lady Hong has no exception today.

“I’m afraid my sister is not feeling well at the moment so don’t go. Anyways, we’ll be meeting at breakfast, come and accompany me to rest for a while.” Tao Muxian said as he lay on his side on the bed with his feet on his head and looked at his lovely wife.

Lady Hong shook her head. She looked at her husband in the mirror, kept moving her hands, and replied softly, “Breakfast is breakfast, and it is my intention to go to greet her earlier. By the way, I still want to ask. Eldest sister arrived abruptly yesterday. Did she… Did she have a quarrel with eldest brother-in-law?”

“Well, my sister wants to separate.”

Lady Hong was so shocked that the wooden comb in her hand fell to the ground, and her hair was half untied. She suddenly turned to look at her husband, and almost twisted her neck, “Separate? Why is the elder sister so impulsive?”

Tao Muxian answered Lady Hong with a smile, but when he heard the words, he sat up straight and turned cold, “What do you mean impulsive? It is obvious that Gu Ningxi is deceiving people too much! You are a daughter-in-law of the Tao family. Naturally you have to be like us, firmly standing on my sister’s side, and don’t let her hear your words, you don’t have to annoy her, do you?”

Lady Hong was very happy that both of them had a strong affection for each other, and that the other servants are not allowed to enter their room unless they were called, otherwise, if her husband reprimanded her like this in front of the servants, she would have lose face.

Her chest rose and fell several times, Lady Hong suddenly came to her senses. She clutched her heart to persuade him, “Since you already know that big sister has this kind of idea. Then at least try to persuade her out of it. It’s better to save her marriage than building a Seven-level Pagoda. My husband, you have read a lot, and you should know these truths better than I do. If the elder sister’s husband has done something wrong, we, as the mother’s family, should naturally give support to the elder sister, no matter what reason, we must let elder sister’s husband apologize and admit his mistake. How did it come to the point of separation?”

(T/N: Bravo! Lady Hong! The voice of reason!)

She doesn’t have the heart to say it to her husband, but Lady Hong recalled that during the second day of the new year, Big Sister-in-law and her husband came back to stay for a few days. Gu Ningxi’s inadvertent dependence on big sister-in-law would unconsciously flow, and he would even do his best to make her happy, so she, as the sister-in-law, and an onlooker felt embarrassed and envious.

How many days has it been? How could a loving couple be falling apart?

Lady Hong originally thought that after a few years, if her husband would treat her at least half or even 30% to 40% of how her elder brother-in-law treats his wife, then she would be a blessed woman. But Now, without warning she would find the immortal couple in a mess and the woman would even throw away this marriage, as an onlooker Lady Hong’s heart is full of regret.

There are also practical considerations.

She walked up to Tao Muxian gracefully, put her slender hands on the man’s back, and coaxed him softly, “Husband, Elder Sister has high hopes for you, and she even let you enter this rare academy because she expects you to become an official with a decent position. Don’t you want to continue the glory of the Tao Manor? Last year, you missed the Jinshi examination for some reason. You have to take the examination later instead. Can you bypass the Gongju Division of the Ministry of Rites? In other words, can you bypass Gu Sicheng?”

With his wife’s words, Tao Muxian finally thought about the problem, which he did not think about last night.

That’s right, what if Gu Ningxi took advantage of his position to make things difficult for him during the Jinshi examination? The last time he participated in the inspection tour, he found out more than a dozen cheating candidates, and was dubbed the “Iron-Faced Lord“. He was part of the judging panel who would check the papers. Outsiders didn’t know what kind of criteria the examiners were marking the papers with, including Gu Ningxi naturally.

After more than two years and a half, if he becomes one of the candidates, wouldn’t Gu Ningxi be promoted even more? Even if he stays in place, he is still a general existence that dominates the fate of his own promotion.

The reason why he has studied hard for the past ten years, was nothing more than looking forward to serving the court and enshrining his wife and future son. If he offended Gu Ningxi because he supported his sister’s separation, and was tripped. If the whole thing affects the Jinshi examination and even loses his name. Is he willing?

Lady Hong saw that her husband was frowning, his jaw was tightened, and he didn’t say a word. The muscles on his shoulders and back were stretched, he should be thinking about these things thoroughly now.

That’s right. Lady Hong felt that her husband could clearly understand the pros and cons of this matter, so he should go and persuade his eldest sister now. If her husband finds it difficult to open up, she, as the woman, can volunteer to chat with the eldest sister-in-law to untie her knot, which is not a bad idea.

Tao Muxian thought it through, and he felt that the willows were dark and the flowers were bright. He smiled and took Lady Hong’s hand on his shoulders and held it to play with, and said, “My lady is considerate.”

Hearing his words, Lady Hong shyly responded, “I am also doing this for the sake of my husband, and of course, for the sake of my Eldest Sister-in-law as well.”

Tao Muxian nodded, with a look of approval as if he finally met his confidant, and he started chattering endlessly, “I knew it, I always wondered why my sister has already made up her mind to separate, Why is she still frowning? I’m sure it’s not because of the sticky thoughts about Gu Ningxi, perhaps, she is worried about the damage that her separation would cause me, but she doesn’t know how to speak to comfort me. I’m not afraid of Gu Ningxi, so I’ll let my sister feel at ease and let her do the divorce according to her heart. This is also to show her my kindness as a brother.”

Lady Hong was absolutely stunned, she never thought that what her husband thought was directly opposite to what she hinted him to do.

“Husband!” She couldn’t help stomping her feet, her tone a bit coquettish.

Tao Muxian didn’t take it seriously, he had already stood up and poised himself, without turning his head, and said, “What’s the big deal? So what if I don’t take the Jinshi examination? Now Gu Ningxi can’t have a handle on me anymore.”

After his words fell, he was already dressed decently, after tidying up his appearance, he looked at his wife and said, “Lady, let’s go, I will go to find my sister.” Tao Muxian excitedly pushed Lady Hong’s shoulders and went out with her.

Lady Hong was only feeling that she was suffering and couldn’t explain why, so she walked passively beside her husband. She simply wanted her husband to persuade her eldest sister-in-law to calm down, how can her future be a joke!

❖

Tao Xinhe put on her clothes and stood up. She was feeling that when she woke up, her stomach and intestines were still not comfortable. She didn’t even have the slightest idea about ​​having breakfast. She thought for a while, then squeezed her fingers to calculate, and ordered Qingfang to bring the little maid to prepare some ginger soup with red dates and honey.

She simply made up her mind yesterday, but then her mind is still empty. Tao Xinhe told herself that it’s finally time to gather her spirits up today and carefully plan what matters she needs to discuss with Gu Ningxi in the future.

Speaking of which, ever since her marriage, she had always been the one in-charge of the Gu Mansion alone. She’s afraid that Gu Ningxi is always in a state of not knowing what to do. He should be thankful that she was not a naughty and aggressive woman, otherwise it would not be difficult for her to fool him and divide most of his ancestral property to herself if they separated.

Tao Xinhe let out a long sigh, she still had a lot of things to worry about. Moreover, Gu Ningxi was probably soaking himself inside the small courtyard of the Mo family, and she was afraid that he would even be immersed in the joy of accepting a new concubine. It is not yet known when he will take her proposal of separation seriously, and come to the Tao’s Manor to discuss about it.

Could it be that he wants her to send someone to the Mo house to invite him to stay in their Manor regardless of face?

Would Mo Qiqi think she was robbing someone? How embarrassing would it be for her!

After hearing the warm call of “Sister~” from afar, Tao Xinhe finally pulled out a smile, knowing that it was her brother’s voice before he even arrived. She walked to the door of the room, pushed it open, and greeted the visitors, “Brother, Sister-in-law, good morning.”

The author has something to say:

To describe Lady Hong’s mood in modern words, it is roughly like this:

Why did my fan’s CP collapse without warning? I don’t believe in love anymore! *Falls*