HMAM CH 27 Heirs And Lovers
Northwest, Tianyu. General Zhenbei Manor.
The servant bowed and smiled ingratiatingly: "Gu Gongzi, please come this way."
Gu Yun followed him to a small courtyard, where the sycamore trees were blooming, which reminded him of the man playing the qin under the flowers that night.
Qi Lan.
The servant stepped forward, knocked on the door and said, “Master, Gu Gongzi is here."
"Please come in."
Gu Yun entered the room, and the servant motioned him to go to the right. Xu Ming sat at the desk behind the partition and said with a smile, “Nephew has stayed in the manor for more than a month, are you used to it?" (TN: no blood relation, term used by elders to refer to a younger generation, just like ‘brother’ and ‘uncle’ can be used to call a total stranger)
Gu Yun cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Thanks to the attentiveness of the manor, everything is fine."
The servant had already left and closed the door.
Xu Ming picked up the envelope on the table and waved it: "Nephew, we generals don't bother with those fancy words. This letter is enough to express my position."
Gu Yun looked up and Xu Ming pressed the letter on the table and pushed it towards him. He picked it up and opened it. It was a letter written by Xu Ming's sister, Madam Xu, the wife of Zhao Mingde.
Most of the letter contained greetings to Xu Ming and his wife and children at home. As well as hoping that Xu Ming would leave from Tianyu in two months and bring his wife and children to the capital to reunite with family after such a long separation.
Two months. Gu Yun flicked the paper, as expected, they had become anxious.
He folded the letter, put it back into the envelope, and said with a smile: "The general is sincere, and what Chi Qing has seen in the manor over the past several days proves it." (TN: courtesy name)
Xu Ming laughed loudly: “Good, good, I'm not good at those fancy words used by the literati. It's good if the one above can trust me. Nephew, you might as well stay a few more days and discuss with the guests under my employee…"
Gu Yun smiled: "Chi Qing must ask you to forgive me. Due to important matters to attend to I cannot stay any longer. I shall visit you again next time when I have the opportunity."
"En, good, good."
"Before leaving, Chi Qing has one more thing to ask of the general."
"Please speak freely, nephew."
"There is a son of the Qi family staying in your manor's Hongqin House." Gu Yun looked at Xu Ming, who nodded to express his understanding. "The Gu family and the Qi family used to have a good relationship. Chi Qing hopes to take Qi Gongzi to the southwest to be taken care of by the Gu family.”
Xu Ming touched his chin and thought for a while, then said: “Fine. The way the child's state is now is because I have failed to teach my son well. I taught Xu Huang that little bastard a lesson already."
Gu Yun: "..." Little bastard?
Gu Yun suppressed his laughter and saluted again: "Thank you, general."
…
Jing Ye went to court as usual today, but something new happened.
"What did qing say?" Jing Ye sat up straight, "Don't be nervous, simply speak slowly."
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was nearly fifty years old, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said: “This subject sincerely requests Your Majesty to grant a marriage to my daughter..."
Jing Ye raised his eyebrows: "Oh... among all the young talents from this dynasty, I wonder which young man qing has set your sights on?"
“This subject would like to propose a marriage to General Li, Lieutenant Commander of the Yulin Guards, for my daughter Jin Xiu."
General Li? Li Tingqiu?
Jing Ye was completely energized. He leaned forward and asked him, "General Li also has this intention?"
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue paused. From Jing Ye's perspective, only his gauze official hat could be seen: "It would be a supreme honor to be granted a marriage blessing from Your Majesty."
Jing Ye narrowed his eyes, this meant... Li Tingqiu had agreed?
Jing Ye thought of how he had returned to the capital inexplicably, could it be to marry the daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Little rascal, he hid it well.
Jing Ye thought for a while. The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue kept wiping his sweat below the throne, and his hands began to shake.
"Although it is a trivial matter," Jing Ye said, "but as the common saying goes: 'It would be better to demolish ten temples than to destroy one marriage.' If zhen confers this marriage blessing, zhen must ask the two families involved. As long as General Li agrees, zhen will immediately issue a decree to grant the marriage, what do you think, ai qing?"
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue hurriedly knelt down and thanked him: "Thanking Your Majesty!"
Jing Ye smiled: "No need."
Jing Ye went to the training grounds where the Yulin Guards trained martial arts again. Looking down from the palace wall, dozens of young men in black and red attire could be seen standing on both sides in pairs, sparring.
Li Tingqiu stood at the head of the team, sparring with his deputy, teaching his subordinates the key to wielding a spear.
Jing Ye looked at him carefully. He didn't even notice it when he wore ordinary robes in the palace. But now that he was dressed in tight uniform, his thin but powerful muscles were very obvious. The hard leather armor on his body also emphasized his long legs and broad shoulders. He was a handsome general who was unsmiling and decisive in his actions.
Jing Ye couldn't help but pinch his own soft belly and cursed, why was it that he still didn't gain any muscles after a period of suffering outside the palace?!
This time no one noticed that the emperor was standing on the wall.
After the training, Li Tingqiu put the weapon back on the shelf, nodded in response to the greetings of the Yulin guards, and walked out alone.
He obviously had something on his mind, and he didn't even see Jing Ye standing under the shade of a tree with a large group of palace attendants.
Jing Ye looked at him for a while, then smiled and said, "General Li."
Li Tingqiu suddenly came back to his senses, turned around and saw Jing Ye. He immediately knelt down on one knee and said, “Paying respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise." Jing Ye stepped forward and raised his hand. Li Tingqiu looked up at him and slowly stood up.
Jing Ye invited him to walk beside him.
The two were silent for a while, before Jing Ye spoke first: “Zhen is here to be a matchmaker today."
Li Tingqiu was startled.
"Lord Dou, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has an honest and upright character. Although he is a bit pedantic, the daughter he raises must be virtuous, gentle, and good in talent and beauty." Jing Ye said slowly, "You can be considered… an old acquaintance of zhen. If you really want to start a family, zhen will be happy to bless you."
Li Tingqiu's expression changed at the phrase "old acquaintance", and then he lowered his head, his throat bobbing.
"Your Majesty, would you like this subject to take a wife?"
Jing Ye was embarrassed: "This..."
Li Tingqiu suddenly stopped and turned to look at Jing Ye: "If Your Majesty is willing, then I will marry."
Jing Ye: "..."
Li Tingqiu looked at him for a while, then bowed and clasped his fists: "It's getting late, please forgive this subject for leaving first." After saying that, he took two respectful steps back and turned around.
"Ting Qiu." Jing Ye called him from behind. Li Tingqiu turned around and glanced at him.
Jing Ye thought about it for a moment and said: "General Li, zhen has done some things in the past that have damaged your reputation and your future, but ever since zhen asked Gu Hong to send you out of the capital, zhen has regarded you as my official. The past is over, you don't have to worry anymore."
He looked at Li Tingqiu, but could not decipher his expression: "If you are still not at ease, zhen promises you that zhen will never let the daughter of the Dou family follow in the footsteps of Lord Zhao's eldest daughter again."
Li Tingqiu raised his head and looked at him. Jing Ye took a step forward, but he stepped back, cupped his fists and said, "please forgive this subject for leaving first."
"You…"
Jing Ye watched him walk away. Ye Mao said carefully: "Your Majesty..."
Jing Ye was silent, pinched his round face, turned around and strode to Ping'an Palace: "Zhen is hungry. Let us go back to the palace for dinner. Are there still any remaining snacks that Lu Baizang brought over at noon?"
"Your Majesty hadn't mentioned it earlier, but by now it should have all entered the prince's belly."
"That little glutton."
After returning to Ping'an Palace, the maid in charge came over to curtsy and said, "Your Majesty is back. Gu Gongzi is waiting for Your Majesty in the bedroom."
Jing Ye entered the hall and saw Gu Hong holding Jing Xiao Yun in one hand and writing something on a scroll with the other. The little fellow huddled in Gu Hong's arms obediently, holding a colorful and beautiful toy tiger in his hand.
Jing Ye felt a little jealous for no reason, so he reached out and said, "Yun'er."
"Susu!" Jing Xiao Yun turned around and saw Jing Ye, and immediately raised his chubby paws, struggling to get into Jing Ye's arms. Gu Hong raised his head, let go and let Jing Ye pick him up.
"Your Majesty came back early today."
"En." Jing Ye leaned his cheek close to the little guy and let Jing Xiao Yun rub half of his face with wet kisses, "You are here alone, where is Lu Baizang?"
"Went back to his palace."
"Oh." Jing Ye picked up the toy tiger that Jing Xiao Yun threw aside, looked at it, and said with a smile, "Where did this come from? It's very unique."
"This subject made it."
Jing Ye: "!!!"
Jing Ye was shocked: "You also know how to sew?"
Gu Hong said with a smile: "When this subject was young, my mother often ordered my younger sister to do needlework. She would cry anxiously when she couldn't finish the work, so us brothers would each do a little bit to help her get by."
Jing Ye couldn't help but smile and said, “Spoiling her that much."
"The youngest child and only girl in the family." Gu Hong said, "We can't help but spoil her."
Jing Ye nodded: "How could an older brother not spoil his younger siblings?" He said, rubbing Jing Xiao Yun's head, "This little guy could also be said to have been raised by his older brother."
Gu Hong said: "Your Majesty wants to take this child under your name and pass the throne over in the future?"
Jing Ye paused: "Yes."
"Your Majesty doesn't plan to have children?"
Jing Ye didn't answer, but in his heart he answered, don't joke, I'm very much gay. Could it be you can give birth to one for me instead?
Jing Ye was silent for a while before asking him: "Do you know that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue wants to propose a marriage to the Li family?"
"This subject knows." Gu Hong replied with a smile, “This subject also knows that Your Majesty promised to grant the marriage."
Jing Ye said: "If General Li is interested, it would be a good deed. But when zhen asked him today, what he said was quite vague."
Gu Hong looked at him and said, "Your Majesty truly wants Ting Qiu to marry?"
"Ah."
"Does Your Majesty know that Ting Qiu was born into a declining noble family. With his talent, it was unfair to be ranked only third on the imperial exam. He came to the capital to take the imperial exam and utilize his talents to serve the country, but he was kept in the palace for three years by Your Majesty."
Jing Ye lowered his head: "Zhen has failed him."
Gu Hong smiled and said, “This subject is not saying that Your Majesty has failed anyone. This subject just wants to say that after serving Your Majesty in the palace for three years, he will never forget Your Majesty again in this life."
Jing Ye froze: "What?"
Gu Hong smiled and said nothing, only holding Jing Ye's hand.
Jing Ye twitched his fingers and pulled his hand back: "Gu Qing, only one person on the pillow next to mine is enough for zhen."
"Your Majesty reigns over this empire. If Your Majesty only entrusts your back to one person, don't you think it would be that person's burden?"
Jing Ye raised his head and looked up. Gu Hong looked back at him with a smile.