“Ji Zhao is not good-looking?” Gu Jingyuan was taken aback. He carefully observed Gu Jianli’s expression and saw that she was particularly serious. He thought for a moment and said, “But Ji Zhao’s only advantage is that face of his, isn’t it? Yes, he used to be quite imposing, always making a fuss, and everyone worried that he might impulsively draw his sword and strike someone. But now, even his body has deteriorated…”
Gu Jianli frowned. What her father said seemed reasonable, but she inexplicably didn’t like hearing it.
“There must be other good qualities…” Gu Jianli muttered in a low voice.
Not wanting to continue discussing Ji Wujing with her father, Gu Jianli changed the topic and recounted what Ji Lan had told her during the Hundred Flowers Banquet at the palace today. She then asked, “Father, did you really hand over your military power?”
Gu Jingyuan nodded and sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard.
Gu Jianli, puzzled, followed and sat opposite him. She said, “I thought after what happened last time, you would hold on to your military power even tighter.”
“Jianli, the emperor’s mind is hard to fathom, whether it’s Emperor Chang or Emperor Shou. Today, Emperor Chang can turn on your father, and tomorrow, Emperor Shou can do the same. Being second to none? That’s only temporary. To remain in such a high position forever would be like walking on thin ice, with hands stained in blood.” He spread his hands, looking at his palms, and smiled, “These hands of your father only wish to hold a heavy sword and fight on the battlefield, not to engage in the boring scheming and power struggles at court. Moreover…”
Gu Jingyuan was silent for a long time before he said, “Besides, all my talents in this life are in military strategy and warfare. In other matters, I’m careless and not good at vying for power at court. Even my judgment in choosing a son-in-law is not great.”
Gu Jingyuan sighed, a look of dejection in his eyes.
Honor and disgrace are fleeting, and one rises after falling. After years of struggling on the battlefield, Gu Jingyuan naturally did not care about these things. But letting his two daughters suffer along with him pained his heart. He regretted his past recklessness, once believing he would never fall. It didn’t matter if his daughters married into lowly families or if their husbands’ families were not presentable, as long as the sons-in-law were loved by his daughters. With him around, his daughters could walk proudly wherever they went, regardless of whom they married. Even if his daughters did not want to marry, as long as they were happy, it would be fine to keep a few favored men around. If they had no husbands, he would support them, for a lifetime.
However…
This near-death experience didn’t scare him, but learning about his daughters’ plight while he was unconscious did. His daughters were his Achilles’ heel, and for the first time, he felt fear. A battlefield brute could no longer afford to be reckless. He could not gamble, nor would he ever gamble again with his daughters’ safety and happiness.
“Since you have made a decision, father, I will always support you. But if you give up all real power, it may not necessarily be safe,” Gu Jianli said.
Gu Jingyuan laughed heartily and said, “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. I certainly won’t give up everything.”
He added, “It’s still uncertain how long Ji Lan will remain as emperor. You should not get too close to him.”
Gu Jianli was somewhat surprised. After pondering for a moment, she said, “The second prince has still not been found, right? Are you worried that he might return?”
“After all, his family’s power is great, while Ji Lan’s foundation is unstable.”
“If the second prince Ji Yan returns, he might investigate Emperor Chang’s death,” Gu Jianli frowned. “He would see us as part of Ji Lan’s faction. This is a hidden danger I left behind.”
“Given the circumstances back then, your choice was the best,” Gu Jingyuan consoled her.
Still uneasy, Gu Jianli asked, “Has His Majesty found no trace of the second prince? Do you think it is likely…”
“Not just Ji Yan.” Gu Jingyuan’s face grew serious. “The rebellion of the former crown prince might have been a frame-up.”
“But the former Crown Prince is already dead.”
“But the former Crown Princess might still be alive.”
Gu Jianli was completely confused. She had been too young at the time to understand much.
Gu Jingyuan explained to her, “Back then, the second prince killed the former Crown Prince in front of everyone. The Crown Princess fled upon hearing the news. The pursuers saw her jump off a cliff, but despite searching for over ten days, they never found her body.”
Gu Jianli didn’t understand how the former Crown Princess being alive could be of any use.
“At that time, the Crown Princess seemed to be about to give birth.”
Gu Jianli’s eyes widened in surprise.
Gu Jingyuan frowned, his tone uncertain, “Recent information suggests that she had a boy, and he might still be alive.”
Gu Jianli slowly digested her father’s words. She gradually understood that although the capital seemed peaceful, there was no telling how long this stability would last. Her father’s decision to relinquish power at this time was a wise move for self-preservation. Understanding this, Gu Jianli immediately smiled and said, “I understand, Father.”
Jixia hurriedly came running from outside, bowed, and said, “Eldest Miss came home drunk.”
“Drunk?” Gu Jingyuan frowned.
“Yes. According to her maid, Eldest Miss was playing a game of pitch-pot with someone and had to drink as a penalty for losing. She drank several cups and got drunk.”
Gu Jianli stood up and smiled, “Why is Sister playing a game she’s not good at? I’ll go check on her.”
Gu Jingyuan nodded. He watched Gu Jianli walk away and then entered her boudoir.
Ji Wujing was sitting at Gu Jianli’s dressing table, casually flipping through the rouge and powders. The residence had been emptied once, and all of Gu Jianli’s little things had disappeared. Now, the various small items in the room were all bought and placed there by the Tao family.
Ji Wujing opened a hexagonal sandalwood box, curiously examining the delicate little flower hairpins inside.
Gu Jingyuan pulled up a chair and sat next to Ji Wujing.
“My good son-in-law,” he called Ji Wujing.
Ji Wujing was carefully inspecting the hairpins on his fingertips, not turning his head, and leisurely said, “It still sounds more pleasing when you call me Ji Dog.”
Gu Jingyuan was silent for a long time. So long that Ji Wujing turned his head in surprise to look at him, smiling, “What instructions do you have for me, dear father?”
Gu Jingyuan calmly said, “Treat my little girl better.”
His voice carried both sincerity and helplessness.
Surprise flashed in Ji Wujing’s eyes. He looked deeply at Gu Jingyuan. For the first time, Ji Wujing didn’t retort.
Gu Jingyuan felt a bit relieved. He stood up, patted Ji Wujing on the shoulder, and as he reached the door, he suddenly heard Ji Wujing sigh and leisurely say, “Back in the day, we were partners in mischief, and now we’ve both become gray-haired old fathers. Ah, how pitiful.”
“Ji Dog! Where do you see white hair on me? Not a single strand! I’m not even forty yet!”
“Pfft.” Ji Wujing sneered, “Aren’t you just a year away? In the blink of an eye, you’ll be there, old man.”
“You!” Gu Jingyuan was so angry he puffed out his cheeks and glared, pointing furiously at Ji Wujing’s back. “Do you think you’re still seventeen or eighteen? Are you never going to age or become a father? Half-old thing!”
Gu Jianli, having just finished helping Gu Jianli drink some sobering tea, was called by another maid. Hearing that her father and Ji Wujing were arguing again, Gu Jianli felt a headache coming on and hurried back. She realized she should have taken her father with her when she left earlier.
When Gu Jianli returned, Gu Jingyuan had already left.
Hesitant for a moment, Gu Jianli entered the room to find Ji Wujing. He was lazily reclining against the headboard, looking rather displeased.
“You argued with Father again?” Gu Jianli walked over and looked at Ji Wujing’s face. She remembered Ji Jingyi’s words and worried that the anger might worsen Ji Wujing’s health. She tried to comfort him, “No matter what, don’t get angry. It’s bad for your health. You mustn’t get angry.”
Seeing Gu Jianli’s earnest expression, Ji Wujing’s anger flared up.
These two, father and daughter, one called him old and the other said he wasn’t good-looking.
Really… annoying.
Gu Jianli sat down next to him and shook his hand, speaking in a soft, gentle tone, “Come on, don’t be mad. Tonight, I’ll cook fish for you myself, okay?”
Ji Wujing looked at Gu Jianli and sneered, his tone displeased, “With your cooking skills?”
Gu Jianli’s cooking skills were indeed not very good.
Gu Jianli frowned, huffed lightly, and replied in an equally displeased tone, “Cooking fish is troublesome. Do you think I like cooking? Before marrying you, I never set foot in the kitchen. Even Father has never tasted fish I cooked.”
Ji Wujing raised his eyebrows, looking at Gu Jianli in surprise. His expression was inscrutable as he asked, “I’m the only one who’s eaten something you’ve cooked?”
Gu Jianli nodded without thinking, then hesitated and shook her head, adding, “No, Xinglan and Xinglou have also eaten it.”
Then she saw the corners of Ji Wujing’s lips curve up, even his usually cold eyes showed a hint of a smile.
Not mad anymore?
Gu Jianli was a bit surprised. She thought it would take much longer to calm him down.
“Gu Jianli.” Ji Wujing drew out her name slowly, pronouncing each word clearly and deliberately, “Let Uncle hug you.”
Gu Jianli looked at him warily, hesitated a bit, then moved closer, wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug. She rested her face against Ji Wujing’s chest and spoke softly, “Don’t always get angry. It’s scary when you cough up blood.”
Ji Wujing seemed not to hear what she said and simply replied, “Gu Jianli, give Uncle a kiss.”
Gu Jianli frowned, lifted her face, and glared at him, “Ji Wujing, I think I’m still mad at you.”
Ji Wujing laughed, pinching her cheek and watching her pink lips pout. He chuckled oddly and said, “No fish tonight, I want to drink. Little Li, drink some wine with Uncle.”
Drink wine?
Gu Jianli didn’t know how to drink and originally didn’t want to, but somehow, she was coaxed by Ji Wujing into drinking, and she ended up drinking quite a lot.
While Ji Wujing was coaxing Gu Jianli into drinking, there was panic in the Guoping Marquis residence.
Smallpox, the most severe acute infectious disease.
Ye Yunyue was also in a panic. She fell to the ground, her new dress getting dirty, but she didn’t care. Her face was pale, and she was trembling.
She remembered that in her past life, Ji Xinglou had caught chickenpox! Could it be that since she was far away from the capital at the time, the news had been misreported by the time it reached her?
She wasn’t afraid of chickenpox because she had it as a child.
Smallpox… how could she not be terrified?
Not to mention saving Ji Xinglou, Ye Yunyue was so scared at the thought of living near him that she was nearly scared out of her wits.
That night, several servants, tightly wrapped up, stormed into the backyard. They didn’t dare touch Ji Xinglou with their hands, so they used ropes to tie a noose around his neck, and with great fear, they stuffed him into a wooden crate and threw him into the wilderness.
Even Nanny Lin and Ye Yunyue were tied up and thrown out of the residence.
