Chapter 165: The imperial guard troops are stunned—you

At ten o'clock in the morning, Wang Yulan left her home.

After seeing that a new woman had come to Lu Yuan's house, she also came over out of curiosity to chat.

When she came, she also brought a bowl of candied fruit for Lu Yuan's family.

Wang Yulan's personality is like that; occasionally when she returns to her parents' home, she brings back something and gives some to Lu Yuan's family.

Of course, Lu Yuan is like that; if you treat me well, I will definitely treat you well.

So, whenever Wang Yulan comes, Lu Yuan has his wife give her some white flour to take back.

Of course, Wang Yulan doesn't come just to get white flour from Lu Yuan; even before grain controls, she did the same.

Gu Qingwan curiously sized up Wang Yulan.

She inwardly nodded.

Indeed, Wang Yulan is exactly as reported in her memorial.

She is lovely in appearance and has a good personality.

It's just……

Where does Wang Yulan's family get all these good things from?

Whenever she has nothing to do, she takes some good things from her parents' home and then brings them over to Lu Yuan's family?

Wang Nianjun is merely a blue-cuff worker; although he works at the Forging Bureau, he is not an artisan.

And Wang Yulan's siblings also aren't particularly wealthy.

……

Not long after Wang Yulan came out, Su Liyan went home to cook.

Gu Qingwan also followed.

Lu Yuan looked surprised at Gu Qingwan, who was going to help cook, and asked curiously:

"Ah? You can cook too?"

At that moment, Gu Qingwan, who was washing her hands by the water basin, glanced at Lu Yuan with a hint of pride and said:

"That's~ my cooking isn't bad either~"

Gu Qingwan certainly knows how to cook.

If Gu Qingwan couldn't cook, Gu Lie would have starved to death long ago.

Since her teens, when her mother passed away, Gu Qingwan has been doing the cooking.

One could say the elder sister is like a mother, and Gu Lie was raised by Gu Qingwan.

How could Gu Qingwan not know how to cook?

But…… it's been a very long time since she last cooked.

Today, Gu Qingwan wants to show Lu Yuan a thing or two.

So Lu Yuan won't keep saying he can't do this or that.

She also has the potential to be a good wife~

Having said that, Gu Qingwan washed her hands and then followed Su Liyan to the kitchen.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, half-reclined in his chair, legs crossed, eating the candied fruit Wang Yulan had sent, feeling somewhat surprised.

But after thinking it over, it's really nothing.

Given the situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty, even if a household is well-off, one still ought to know how to make something.

After all, you can choose not to do anything at home.

But if you marry out, and you do nothing, the in-laws will look down on you and say your natal family didn't teach you properly.

Cases like Wang Yulan's are actually quite rare.

At this moment, Wang Yulan had moved a small stool, sat beside Lu Yuan, and was also eating the candied fruit.

Wang Yulan can't cook at all; although she wouldn't mix up sugar and salt, the things she makes are still truly unpalatable.

Once, Wang Yulan on a whim made a meal, and not long after Pang Kaige got off work and came home, the two held hands and went out to eat.

So Wang Yulan doesn't bother joining the fun either.

Instead, she sat beside Lu Yuan, gazing at him curiously and whispered:

"Brother Lu, is that your second wife?"

Lu Yuan blinked, then broke into a grin and said:

"No, she's my friend's sister; today she came with my wife to learn to ride a bicycle, and my wife's bike isn't easy to ride."

Wang Yulan doesn't have many ulterior motives; she believes whatever Lu Yuan says, and immediately nodded and smiled at him, saying:

"She really is pretty~

Just as beautiful as Sister Su~"

After Wang Yulan finished speaking, Lu Yuan picked up his own 《Medical Saint》 from beside him and lightly tapped her head, saying:

"Nonsense, my wife is the prettiest!"

……

At noon, Lu Yuan ate the meal Gu Qingwan had made, hmm……

After chewing a couple of bites, he looked up at Gu Qingwan, who was pretending to be nonchalant but was inwardly full of anticipation, and Lu Yuan said seriously:

"It's really delicious, you're amazing—I didn't know you had this skill!"

Calling it truly delicious might be an overstatement, but a little sweet talk never hurts.

Lu Yuan also felt a bit guilty for having been harsh with Gu Qingwan before.

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan's heart truly blossomed with joy, yet her face remained composed as she gave a slight nod and said:

"If it's tasty, eat more; tonight I'll make you a few more dishes."

Lu Yuan blinked and said:

"Ah? You're still eating at my place tonight?"

Gu Qingwan: "????"

……

The afternoon was free; Lu Yuan's home was already clean, his wife tidied it daily, so there was nothing.

After finishing the morning's work, in the afternoon Su Liyan took Gu Qingwan to learn cycling in the courtyard.

The backyard is also big; just circling the central pond is enough.

Hearing the sound, Wang Yulan also came out to join them.

The three chatted and laughed, quite lively.

As for Lu Yuan, after eating he just lay on the chair, read a bit, then started dozing.

After Lu Yuan dozed for a while and woke up, it was already past three in the afternoon.

He had two coats draped over him.

Lu Yuan blinked awake and saw that Gu Qingwan could already ride the bike on her own.

She rode it quite steadily.

When Lu Yuan woke up, Su Liyan immediately noticed and walked over to him, sweetly saying:

"Brother~ what do you want to eat tonight~"

"Hmm……"

Lu Yuan began to think seriously.

Then Lu Yuan started nodding and shaking his head while deciding on dishes.

After Su Liyan noted everything down, she began to think about what was missing at home.

Meanwhile Lu Yuan looked at Gu Qingwan, who was also riding over on her bike, and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"What are you making for me to eat tonight, brother?"

Gu Qingwan blinked, then thought seriously and said:

"I'll make you chestnut cake, brother."

"Chestnut cake?"

Lu Yuan blinked.

"Hmm…… I've never had it before."

Lu Yuan asked curiously:

"What is it, is it tasty?"

Gu Qingwan immediately replied:

"It's really delicious; Gu Lie especially loved my chestnut cake when he was little~"

Speaking of this, Gu Qingwan was still very proud.

This is her specialty.

Hearing this, Lu Yuan nodded and smiled, saying:

"Alright, tonight we'll do just that!"

The people in the courtyard had black lines on their faces.

What kind of life is Lu Yuan living!

Even under grain rationing, they still do this every day.

Of course, everyone also knows Lu Yuan's family has plenty of stuff.

Now everyone understands that this kid must have gotten some inside information earlier.

Otherwise, they definitely couldn't do this!

Which family could suddenly buy half a year's grain and store it at home!!

This kid surely did this because he knew the news!

Everyone also figured out that if Lu Yuan does anything strange in the future, everyone will surely imitate him!

Meanwhile Su Liyan pondered, then looked at Lu Yuan and said:

"Brother~ we're missing some veggies at home, I'll go buy some~"

At this moment Gu Qingwan also said:

"We don't have chestnuts at home either, come on, Liyan, I'll take you out to buy~"

Gu Qingwan said this while excitedly patting the bike's rear seat.

Now that Gu Qingwan knows how to ride, she's excited to go out for a ride, and she can even bring someone along~

Su Liyan smiled, pursing her lips, and said:

"Okay~"

After saying that, the two left the courtyard chatting and laughing.

Now it's late afternoon heading toward evening, starting to get cool.

Lu Yuan also didn't stay in the courtyard; he got up, grabbed his coat, and while walking home he glanced at Wang Yulan and said:

"Hold this for me, brother."

Wang Yulan immediately nodded, picked up the lounge chair, took the tea cup, etc., and said:

"Sure thing~"

The people in the backyard, watching this scene, couldn't help but curl their lips.

This brat really orders anyone around!!

The young people in this courtyard, none can escape!!

……

Six o'clock in the evening.

The sky is already completely dark.

Lights are lit in every household in the courtyard.

Gu Qingwan is washing the bowls and chopsticks by the pool.

Su Liyan's last dish is about to come out of the pot.

A whole table of dishes, and three people eating together, which gives Gu Qingwan a somewhat strange, inexplicable feeling.

Gu Qingwan alone quietly washes the bowls and chopsticks, and all around her is the rustling sound of spatulas hitting iron pots as each household stir-fries.

The rooms in the rear courtyard are quite lively.

But the courtyard is quiet, with only herself there.

Gu Qingwan slightly lifts her head to look at the night sky.

Living in this courtyard…… is really comfortable……

Today, Gu Qingwan has taken a liking to this place.

She likes the bustling, lively atmosphere here.

Gu Qingwan thinks……

If…… if I hadn't taken this path back then……

Then I would certainly already be married, a wife.

My eldest son would already be about seven or eight years old, following me around every day, calling for food, asking for this and that.

I would also be gentle like Su Liyan.

I could also teach my children to read and study.

If I hadn't taken this path, I would surely be as happy as Su Liyan lives……

Hmm…… impossible!

Gu Qingwan suddenly snaps back to reality.

The expression on her face turns somewhat cold.

Back then, if someone else had become the human emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, let alone how its customs would be, whether the Great Zhou Dynasty would still exist at all is a question.

At the very least, it would have been driven south by the Gilded Dynasty.

The hundreds of millions of people in this Jiangbei region would all become slaves of the Gilded Dynasty!

When the state is no longer a state, what happiness and peace is there to speak of?

Gu Qingwan does not regret her path back then, but also……

"Why wash it? I already said it's clean. It's cold out tonight, hurry back inside, it's time to eat."

While Gu Qingwan was pondering, a disturbance came from beside her.

Gu Qingwan looked up and saw that Lu Yuan had somehow come to stand beside her.

Before Gu Qingwan could react, Lu Yuan snatched the bowls and chopsticks from her hand, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her toward the house, saying:

"You're not just looking for a chill, are you?"

Gu Qingwan, a bit dazed, blinked her eyes and then spoke in a coquettish voice:

"It's not like I'm doing nothing; I'm just finding something to do, otherwise I'm afraid you'll scold me!"

"Look, I've been listening to you so much, and you still want to lecture me!"

Lu Yuan then turned his head to look at Gu Qingwan and said:

"These bowls and chopsticks are clean; you all washed them at noon. Getting scolded is your own fault—this is called not punishing the diligent or lazy, but only the careless."

"Besides, there's plenty of work to do; after you finish eating, wash them properly."

Gu Qingwan stared, then immediately spoke in a coquettish voice:

"I thought you felt sorry for me, but I didn't expect you to still make me wash the dishes!"

Lu Yuan, however, spoke with righteous confidence:

"What, you don't want to wash the dishes after eating, huh? Do you want to be the master?"

At this moment, Gu Qingwan's face was full of smiles, letting Lu Yuan pull her into the house, saying:

"Wash, wash, wash~ you're the master~"

Gu Qingwan does not regret her path back then, but also……

She truly likes this life.

If possible, when the Great Zhou Dynasty is reestablished and the people no longer suffer, living in peace and prosperity, Gu Qingwan has imagined such a life.

……

After dinner, Gu Qingwan and Su Liyan finished washing the bowls and chopsticks.

Gu Qingwan entered the house and wiped the cool water from her hands with a towel.

Looking at this extremely warm room, she felt a bit reluctant, but still gazed at Lu Yuan, who was reading, and said:

"Brother, I'm heading back."

"Huh?"

Lu Yuan looked up at Gu Qingwan and nodded, saying:

"Alright, head back early so your parents don't worry. Daughter-in-law, have you prepared the noodles and such?"

At this moment, Su Liyan also immediately spoke in a coquettish voice:

"Ready!"

Lu Yuan nodded, then went into the kitchen; coming out, he shouldered a 100‑jin bag of white flour and carried a piece of cured meat in one hand.

Come on, I'll see you out.

Lu Yuan walked out, looked at Gu Qingwan, and said.

Gu Qingwan blinked, then quickly nodded.

Afterwards, Lu Yuan carried the load and walked ahead.

Actually, you don't need anything to support it; there's a threshold in this courtyard, you'd use a bicycle to support it, but when you reach the threshold you still have to lift it.

When it comes to carrying over a hundred jin, Lu Yuan's perfect physique is certainly not just for show.

Meanwhile, Su Liyan followed behind her husband, supporting the flour bag on his shoulder to let him move more easily.

Soon, the three left the hutong.

A carriage was already waiting at the hutong entrance.

Lu Yuan came to the carriage, with a clunk, he unloaded the flour bag from his back onto the carriage and also placed the cured meat on top.

Then he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, smiling, and handed one to the driver, saying:

"Sorry, we're a bit late getting out."

The driver was a bit dazed, but he didn't dare refuse, quickly taking it with both hands.

Lu Yuan also put a cigarette in his mouth, reached out to feel, and before he could say anything, there was a striking sound, and then he heard Gu Qingwan's sweet voice say:

"Here, take this."

Huh?

Lu Yuan turned his head and saw Gu Qingwan already holding out a match.

Lu Yuan was startled, then stepped forward to light his cigarette.

After lighting it, Lu Yuan looked at the driver, whose face was full of bewilderment, and said with a smile:

"Come on, buddy, have a smoke before we head back."

And this Imperial Guard posing as the driver was about to be scared silly.

"You're letting the Imperial Lord light my cigarette?!!"

"Does he dare to smoke this?!!"

"Is this cigarette, lit by the Imperial Lord, still a cigarette?!!"

"This is the life of my whole family!!"

The Imperial Guard was so scared he almost wet his pants, and didn't dare kneel to say anything like "Imperial Lord."

He simply waved his hands in panic, saying:

"No, no… I…"

But before he could finish, Gu Qingwan stared at him expressionlessly and said:

"If I say I'll light it, I'll light it—no fuss."

Finally, the man stood there trembling, and Gu Qingwan used the match she had just used to light Lu Yuan's cigarette to light his as well.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly at Gu Qingwan and said:

"Are you that fierce at home? This old guy is so scared of you he's trembling."

"Nowadays it's a new dynasty; slavery and servants have long been abolished—you can't just go around bullying people."

Lu Yuan had heard that these imperial relatives and nobles are constantly under surveillance.

Gu Qingwan's temper isn't great; if she ever beats someone at home, she might find herself in trouble.

Lu Yuan doesn't want Gu Qingwan to get into any trouble.

Gu Qingwan blinked, then looked aggrieved and said:

"Where have I done that? If you don't believe me, ask him yourself!"

The Imperial Guard beside them, trembling while smoking, kept waving his hands in fear and said:

"No, no, my lady is really good to us; I'm trembling because I'm cold."

The Imperial Guard is numb; I have no grudge against you, past or recent.

"Stop dragging me into the execution of nine clans!!"

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly; indeed, although the coldest period has passed, tonight is still cold.

Immediately, Lu Yuan said:

"Alright, you guys head back quickly—it's cold outside."

After saying that, Lu Yuan took his wife's hand, preparing to go back.

And after Gu Qingwan stared blankly for a moment, she suddenly said:

"Um… I'll come next week to bring you the certificate, okay?"

Lu Yuan took his wife's hand, walking into the hutong without looking back, and said:

"You don't need to bring the certificate to come; you're welcome anytime—home welcomes you~"

If someone comes to help my wife with work, how could I not be happy?

Gu Qingwan blinked, and the corner of her mouth curled into a breathtaking arc.

"Sister Wan, heading back~"

As they neared the corner, Su Liyan cutely turned her head and greeted Gu Qingwan again.

Gu Qingwan quickly smiled and waved her hand in response.

Only after Lu Yuan and Su Liyan had disappeared from sight did Gu Qingwan slightly turn her head to glance at the terrified Imperial Guard beside her.

The Imperial Guard blinked, then immediately looked like he wanted to throw away his cigarette from fright.

However, Gu Qingwan merely gave the Imperial Guard a blank look, then turned and climbed onto the carriage, saying calmly:

It's fine, if he lets you draw, then just draw.

Imperial Palace, Hall of Double Splendor.

At Lu Yuan's home, the somewhat petulant and attentive Gu Qingwan has disappeared.

Taking her place is that cold, unfeeling, even said to be cold-blooded empress, Gu Qingwan!

Your Highness, the Nei Ne Qing Cang Wei stand with hands lowered.

A voice of unsurpassed majesty, devoid of any emotion, sounded faintly.

"Go investigate Wang Nianjun."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Today, the first chapter, eh~

Thanks to book friend 201907 older brother for the 100 book coin reward, thank you very much~

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(End of chapter)