Chapter 695

Gu Kang carried Princess Fuk Qing to Consort Rou's residence, and the maidservants guarding the gate instantly saw the scene, a hint of joy flashing in their eyes.

Although the master is a noble princess, compared to a powerful minister who commands the court, a princess with no backing really counts for nothing.

Consort Rou had always worried that her daughter would be overshadowed by Gu Kang; although her daughter was Xiao Yin's niece, the women of the imperial harem all knew that Xiao Yin hated Emperor Longqing to death and understood exactly how he died that night.

After all, Gu Kang was a great meritorious official in the eradication of the eight great clans, and also the Empress's own brother; his standing in the emperor and empress's hearts far surpassed that of her daughter.

If this young couple were to develop any rift, her daughter would surely be the one to suffer.

Originally she only wanted to find someone of modest background to be her daughter's prince consort, never expecting that after all the twists and turns she would end up with Gu Kang as the prince consort.

Although the marriage rites were completed, the emperor and empress treated her daughter quite well, but daily life still depended on the young couple themselves.

She felt especially uneasy, and reports from the grannies had already come from outside.

Granny Sun arrived first, leaning close to Consort Rou's ear and softly laughing, "My lady, the princess was carried over by the prince consort; the two are truly devoted."

Upon hearing Granny Sun's words, Consort Rou finally relaxed, a smile flickering across her face.

Not long after, footsteps sounded from the outer chamber; Consort Rou sat up straight and saw Gu Kang leading Princess Fuk Qing by the hand as they entered.

Setting aside other matters, merely seeing that hint of joy in her daughter's brows and eyes finally let Consort Rou's anxious heart settle.

Gu Kang and Princess Fuk Qing stepped forward together and knelt before Consort Rou, and Granny Sun hurriedly placed the tea cups before the newlyweds.

Gu Kang raised the tea cup above his head, respectfully saying, "Mother Consort, please have tea!"

Consort Rou's face was filled with joy, yet her heart swelled with myriad feelings—she and her daughter had received the emperor and empress's favor to move out and establish a mansion, and her daughter's marriage had proceeded so smoothly.

Looking at this young man before her, he was not only extraordinarily talented and steady in temperament, but also remarkably kind to her daughter.

Overjoyed, she hurriedly took the tea cup from Gu Kang's hand, tipped her head back to drink it, and then, in the same motion, handed him the heavy red envelope she had been holding.

"Fuk Qing has been raised by my side since childhood, and as a princess she is inevitably a little spoiled; if she has any faults, just tell me, and I hope you two will live in harmony and peace for the rest of your lives."

"I can see that I am growing old; if you can soon bear a son, I will be able to help look after him a bit."

Princess Fuk Qing's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lightly pressed her lips to suppress a smile.

Gu Kang laughed and said, "Fuk Qing is excellent; she will become a good wife and a good mother."

Consort Rou did not dare to chatter on in front of this decisive and ruthless minister; after uttering a few auspicious remarks, she excused herself, saying she was tired, and told them to withdraw.

By now the snow outside had stopped, a considerable amount had accumulated in the corridors, and the servants came out to sweep it, thereby clearing a small path leading to the front Ke Yuan.

The Ke Yuan is still some distance from the inner quarters; Granny Sun had the servants prepare a sedan chair and bring it to the gate—making the prince consort carry his mistress all that way on his back would be untenable, clearly the princess's manor is bullying the prince consort.

Gu Kang and Princess Fuk Qing rode in the sedan chair to the front courtyard, finally proceeding to the western side of the Ke Yuan.

Bamboo was planted all around the Ke Yuan; this time the dark-green bamboo grove, laden with snow, looked all the more aloof and chilly, which suited Master Wen's demeanor.

The gatekeeping page bowed to Gu Kang: "Second Master!"

This page was originally brought by Gu Kang from the Gu household; after the Gu family's downfall, those who could still serve Gu Kang were retained, so they continued to address him according to the old Gu family's ranking.

Gu Kang asked, "Has Master awakened?"

"In reply, Second Master, Master Wen has already risen, having taken half a cup of porridge and a plate of vinegar fish, and is now waiting for you in the main hall."

Gu Kang nodded, bringing Princess Fuk Qing inside; at this moment Fuk Qing felt a bit more nervous in her heart.

Master Wen is an unparalleled great scholar of Southern Qi, the spiritual idol worshipped by all scholars of Southern Qi; he is no longer merely a teacher but a divine-like presence.

Seated firmly at Nan Shan Shu Yuan, with Gu Kang's help he eradicated the eight great clans in one sweep, clearing the corruption that had plagued Southern Qi for years; although he lived in seclusion, he still controlled the world.

Fuk Qing did not yet know the profundity behind these events, yet she already revered Master of Nan Shan to the utmost.

Apparently sensing Princess Fuk Qing's tension, Gu Kang seized her hand, gently gripping her icy fingertips and softly laughing, "Don't be afraid, Master Wen is a very good person."

Fuk Qing's heart gradually eased a little as she followed Gu Kang into the main hall; Master Wen, wearing a gray-blue cotton robe, sat in the place of honor, and upon seeing his prized disciple Gu Kang, his smile grew even more affectionate.

"Kang'er! Princess!"

Fuk Qing hurriedly stepped forward and knelt before Master Wen; Gu Kang also knelt beside her, while the page at the side brought over the tea cup.

Fuk Qing raised the tea cup above her head: "Master, please have tea!"

Master Wen smilingly took it, tilted his head back to drink half a cup, and gazing affectionately at Fuk Qing before him said, "One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father; I am Gu Kang's teacher and also his elder, hoping that you two will stay together for life, growing old side by side."

"This is a practice copybook of the small-regular script for flower-pin calligraphy suitable for women; I give it to you! Inside are all the poetry and prose collections personally compiled by me."

Fuk Qing's eyes lit up; this was a rare gift—each character of Master Wen's is worth a fortune, and now he has given her an entire volume; how could she not be delighted?

"Thank you, Master!"

Princess Fuk Qing hastily received it with both hands.

Gu Kang helped Princess Fuk Qing to her feet, chatted with Master Wen for a while, and seeing that Master Wen had something to say to Gu Kang, Fuk Qing withdrew on her own.

As soon as Princess Fuk Qing left, Master Wen dismissed the page, shut the doors of the warm pavilion, and fastened the windows tightly.

At this point only Master Wen and Gu Kang remained in the warm pavilion, but the atmosphere was far less warm than before.

Master Wen, perhaps tired, leisurely leaned against the bolster and glanced lightly at Gu Kang.

Gu Kang drew a breath, knelt before Master Wen, his eyes reddening even before he spoke, his hands clenched tightly into the cold cracks of the floor, his body trembling slightly.

"Master, I don't want to go on anymore; I really don't..."

"These hands of mine… these hands personally killed my own father! I…"

Master Wen stared at him steadily, a flicker of sympathy passing through his eyes, but that sympathy was fleeting.

He slowly rose, lifted Gu Kang from the ground, sighed, and said, "Gu Shijie is a national traitor, a villain, the murderer who killed your maternal grandfather and your mother back then; he more than deserved his death!"

"Furthermore… regarding your becoming Prince Consort to Princess Fuk Qing, why didn't you tell me beforehand? Could it be that you truly intend to withdraw from the Southern Qi Court and become a prince consort who merely walks dogs and fights birds, idly bored?"

"What would your mother in the heavens think? Wasn't your maternal grandfather's sacrifice in vain? So many have died, and the living are watching you—how dare you?"

Gu Kang's heart gave a slight tremor, and his face paled a bit.