Chapter 219

Hearing the little eunuch's words, Gu Qingwan pursed her lips, feeling a headache.

Then she said:

Send someone to placate them, say we'll give a reply in three days.

After Gu Qingwan finished speaking, the little eunuch nodded repeatedly and withdrew.

And Lu Yuan, who was fishing with his legs crossed, turned his head to look at Gu Qingwan and said:

"Kang Linfei's matter isn't over yet, is it?"

Gu Qingwan also pursed her lips and said:

"No, this matter… is troublesome."

Upon hearing Gu Qingwan's explanation, Lu Yuan also gave a slight nod.

Actually, it's not just Kang Linfei; to be precise, the three senior officials of the Cabinet are troublesome.

The reason for this, aside from their authority, is actually most importantly their students.

If we really talk about authority, these three people actually have hardly any authority.

Because the authority of these three people was given by Gu Qingwan; she can take it back whenever she wants.

She could dismiss these three people on any pretext.

But the real problem is because of the disciples under these three people.

The three senior officials of the Cabinet are the most renowned scholars in the world today.

Especially, these three people assisted Gu Qingwan in ascending the throne.

Their disciples and students are countless, truly filling the world with peach and plum trees!

Moreover, these three people also hold concurrent positions at the Guozijian.

One could say that the scholars in the Guozijian are all students of these three Cabinet officials.

And these people…

are the most troublesome to provoke.

Even the Imperial Court must treat these disciples cautiously.

These people are mostly young, in their twenties or thirties.

At this age, they are full of fervent passion.

They really dare to cause trouble.

Moreover, when this bunch causes trouble, it's truly formidable; it's absolutely not like a band of peasants brandishing hoes and iron rods.

Once this bunch starts trouble, it becomes a major affair.

Actually, without discussing the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, just speak of ancient Earth history.

Surveying ancient history, lower-class people who wanted to rebel never succeeded.

Those who succeeded in rebellion were basically the middle class.

Even Zhu Yuanzhang back then was the same.

And these middle-class scholars are the first to bear the brunt!

These people are troublesome; don't look at them having no office or position, but precisely because they have no office or position, they dare to cause trouble.

When this bunch causes trouble, the Imperial Court doesn't dare to say just kill them and be done.

Killing these people would be opposing all scholars under heaven.

It's unknown how these people would write about the Imperial Court afterward.

These scholars are sharp-tongued; no one dares to act with their own reputation at stake, after all, who wants to be infamous for eternity?

Thus, these people are the true foundation of the three Cabinet officials.

With these people present,

Gu Qingwan could not simply find an excuse to dismiss or deal with these three Cabinet officials.

This must have genuine evidence.

If one wanted to fabricate a crime, there would be no lack of excuses.

Rest assured, if the Imperial Court says one thing, those people have a hundred replies waiting.

Thus, some things really aren't as simple as you wish.

Look at the emperors after the Ming dynasty; from the Xuanzong onward, which emperor wasn't firmly controlled by these scholars?

Gu Qingwan's current situation is actually somewhat stronger.

After all, this is a new dynasty; many things have been reformed beforehand, and the disciples of these three Cabinet officials are just these people.

But wait twenty years and see.

Then the imperial power will truly have to share authority equally with the Cabinet.

Later on, it will become even more troublesome.

Those factories in the late Ming— the Eastern and Western Depots— you might think they were making medicine like the Six Harmonies Factory, but they were actually meant to deal with those scholar-officials.

Of course, Lu Yuan feels that the Great Zhou Dynasty later on probably won't be that extreme.

After all, that sort of virtue in the later Ming had many causes because the Ming's Martial God stripped the military officials of their nobility.

Thus, the civil officials rose.

But now, the Ministry of War is fine; as of now, the Great Zhou Dynasty probably has no 'Martial God'.

Hmm…

It's also possible… what if… Gu Qingwan someday bears a son who is also a 'Martial God'?

Wouldn't that be troublesome?

That really could happen.

After all, that Ming "War God" is just because Xuanzong died early, with no one to teach him, so later he turned out like that, right?

Gu Qingwan still hasn't had a child even now; this is the time when we want her to have a child.

Isn't she already in her thirties or forties?

Then an accident occurs, with a 'ga' sound, Gu Qingwan is gone, and then the Zhou "War God" ascends the throne—really, it's all over.

"What are you thinking about, little one?"

Gu Qingwan, seeing Lu Yuan's thoughtful look, couldn't help but ask in a tender voice.

Huh?

Lu Yuan turned his head, blinked, and then spoke somewhat seriously.

"Wan-jie, how old are you this year?"

Huh?

Gu Qingwan was startled, then raised her eyebrows and said.

"I'm eight years older than you, you forgot?"

Lu Yuan blinked, eight years older...

I'm twenty-one this year... no.

I was twenty-one last year, which means, the next moment, Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows and said:

"Wan-jie, you're thirty this year?!"

Gu Qingwan: "..."

Gu Qingwan raised her eyebrows and said:

"Why are you so startled? What's wrong with that?"

Then Lu Yuan put on a serious face and said:

"Then Wan-jie, when do you want to get married? You need to hurry up."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Gu Qingwan was stunned for half a second, then her beautiful face instantly blushed.

Afterward, Gu Qingwan stared at Lu Yuan somewhat unnaturally and said:

"What are you saying that for!"

Lu Yuan was stunned, then broke into a grin and said:

"This isn't just idle thinking; if you marry late, you'll have kids late."

"Giving birth at an advanced age is a bit risky; little brother, this isn't me worrying about you."

Gu Qingwan spat at Lu Yuan, her face slightly red, but she didn't talk to him.

Until it was almost four in the afternoon.

Lu Yuan couldn't sit still.

What a lousy pond this is!

Not a single fish!!

I originally thought wild fishing wouldn't be good, the moat has few fish, but I thought the palace pond might have fish.

As a result...

As a result, there are no fish here!!

Didn't they even put any in here!!

Trash!!

Never coming again!!

Immediately, Lu Yuan stood up and said:

"I'm going back, I'm tired."

Eh?

Since Lu Yuan mentioned marriage and having children, Gu Qingwan, sitting beside him, would occasionally fall into thought.

Her face would also occasionally flush rosy.

Gu Qingwan, immersed in her own fantasies, snapped back to attention upon hearing Lu Yuan's words.

Seeing Lu Yuan already packing up his fishing rod to leave, Gu Qingwan was startled and quickly said:

"You're going back this early? It's only 3:30 PM; let's play a bit longer, we can go back together tonight."

Gu Lie, standing nearby, seeing Lu Yuan about to leave, also hurriedly said:

"Yeah, brother, play a bit more, why rush back?"

"When it's five or six, we'll go buy some veggies, some meat, then head back."

Play? Bullshit!!

Being a deity here, Lu Yuan would be better off going home to sleep with his wife!

Immediately, Lu Yuan waved his hand and directly said:

"Not playing, I'll go back to sleep first; I'm tired, there's nothing interesting here."

Having said that, Lu Yuan gathered his things and then waved his hand and left.

I'll never come to a place like this again.

Gu Qingwan watched Lu Yuan's retreating back, slightly pursed her lips, a bit unhappy.

We just got here a little while ago, why do you have to leave already...

... what else could it be...

The next moment, Gu Qingwan, having snapped back to attention, looked at the senior eunuch beside her and said with a look as if she wanted to devour someone:

"I told you to put more fish in, didn't I? Have you actually done as I ordered!!"

At this moment, this grand eunuch really was about to cry from fright.

With a plop, he knelt directly on the ground.

As for Lu Yuan's fishing being a hopeless mess, that's something everyone knows.

The prince knows, the Nei Ne Qing Cang Wei know, it's obvious, and this grand eunuch himself knows too.

The prince wants Lu Yuan to come fish in the palace often, so the prince can see Lu Yuan from time to time, and this grand eunuch also understands this clearly in his heart.

So, he really released a lot!!

What he released is truly not just a lot!!

The fish in this pond are three times as many as those in other ponds!!

Three times!!

Who would know…… who would know that Lu Yuan's fishing could really be this bad!!

Three hours, and he didn't catch a single fish!!

At this moment, the grand eunuch, looking at the prince, was truly angry, and immediately burst into tears while looking at the prince and cried out:

"Your Highness, I really released them!!"

Looking at the grand eunuch's behavior, Gu Qingwan pursed her lips……

Thinking about it carefully, Gu Qingwan also knows this; no wonder the grand eunuch.

Mainly because that little thing's fishing skill…… really…… really is a bit lacking!

Sigh…… so worrisome……

Gu Lie sat beside them with a dazed look, watching his sister and also this grand eunuch, and said dazedly:

"What are you two talking about??"

……

Night.

Lu Yuan's family was happily eating their meal.

Nowadays, in the evenings, as long as Gu Qingwan has nothing major, she will come to Lu Yuan's home to eat.

Of course, Su Changliang and Gu Lie are also there.

The family was eating.

The door was knocked.

Lu Yuan turned his head and saw Liu Shoucai baring a big white tooth, standing by the window and hehe-ing:

"Master, we're eating."

Looking at Liu Shoucai, Lu Yuan blinked and then quickly said:

"Come in quickly."

Liu Shoucai responded with a sound, then pushed the door and entered.

Liu Shoucai never comes empty-handed; this time is the same, but this time he brought two especially large bags.

What is this now?

Lu Yuan looked at the two bags, didn't ask, and just said:

"Go to the kitchen, get your own chopsticks and bowl, and have a couple drinks with me."

Gu Lie and Su Changliang can't hold their liquor; when they drink a little, the cup always ends up raising fish.

Those two are just about two taels of liquor.

Liu Shoucai can drink, and his capacity is on par with Lu Yuan's perfect physique.

Liu Shoucai grinned, then quickly said:

"Got it, Master."

Soon, after Liu Shoucai brought the bowl and chopsticks over, he didn't rush to sit down, first placing the bowl and chopsticks on the table.

Afterwards, Liu Shoucai squatted down where he had just placed the two bags, and took out several boxes from them.

Liu Shoucai first handed Lu Yuan a box with both hands, hehe-ing:

"Master, this is a razor I brought back for you from Haijin Port; it's sharp and especially easy to use."

"Hmm?"

Lu Yuan took it, looked, and blinked.

This is the kind of razor from Earth in the 80s and 90s.

A small iron case, with the top still having that pattern where turning it changes the design.

Inside is a small mirror, and the razor's head and handle are separate.

"Hmm, good stuff."

However, has Liu Shoucai been to Haijin Wei again these days?

No wonder we haven't seen Liu Shoucai around these days.

And before Lu Yuan could say anything, Liu Shoucai took out another small box, handed it with both hands to Su Liyan, and said with a smile:

"Madam, this is a fountain pen I bought for you, the Shuangyou brand."

"Madam, you now have a shop, so you need to keep accounts; this pen is just right for you."

Su Liyan received it, also beaming with joy, and said thank you.

And Liu Shoucai quickly waved his hands and said with a smile:

"Madam, please don't stand on ceremony with me."

"Besides, this time I went to Haijin Wei and found some top-quality materials; I think our shop is different from others."

"These materials need to be good, or else they must be something others don't have; I brought these all by water from the south, and we don't have much here."

Liu Shoucai spoke while squatting down in front of the two large bundles, then opened these two packages.

Inside were several batches of materials.

This Liu Shoucai really put thought into it.

Lu Yuan never mentioned this matter, but Liu Shoucai had thought of it himself.

Taking on this disciple is truly not a loss at all.

Everyone thought Liu Shoucai had finished giving gifts, and it was time to sit down and eat.

But……

Liu Shoucai then took out another gift box, handed it to Gu Qingwan, and said with a smile:

"This is for you; you are from the Ministry of War, and I saw you wearing those tall boots before.

These are a pair of top-grain cowhide leather boots, very nice; please accept them."

Gu Qingwan was completely bewildered.

Gu Qingwan never expected there to be a gift for her as well.

The first was for the master, the second for the master's wife, the third for herself……

This……

Of course there is a gift for Gu Qingwan; Liu Shoucai is no fool.

Basically, every time I come, I can see Gu Qingwan.

Moreover, the relationship between Gu Qingwan and my master…… Liu Shoucai is not blind; if he didn't notice, that would be strange.

However, Liu Shoucai does not call her "second master's wife".

After all, she hasn't entered the household yet.

Moreover, it seems they haven't held the wedding banquet yet, and Liu Shoucai doesn't know how they will arrange things between Gu Qingwan and his master.

But Liu Shoucai knows Gu Qingwan cannot escape.

It's just a matter of time.

But for now, I'd better not call her that, lest I upset the senior master's wife and cause trouble.

Gu Qingwan took the gift box with some surprise, blinked, and looked at Liu Shoucai, who had finished presenting the gifts and was preparing to sit down to eat.

Before this, Gu Qingwan hadn't really paid attention to Liu Shoucai.

Now, feeling the gift in her hands, Gu Qingwan found Liu Shoucai increasingly pleasing to the eye.

Immediately, unable to contain her joy, Gu Qingwan looked at Liu Shoucai and smiled, pursing her lips:

"I heard from your master that your construction team is doing quite well.

If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to me, and I'll help you handle them."

The second master's wife helping a disciple is absolutely proper!!

 Thanks to 3K Taro elder brother for the 500 book-coin tip, thank you very much~





(End of chapter)