“Nothing — just feeling vexed.” The man reached up and loosened his collar, then sank tiredly into Minglan’s arms and closed his eyes to rest. With the National Uncle Shen confined to home in reflection, Gu Tingye had taken over some of his duties these past days. The sheer volume of tedious affairs had left his face so dark and somber that within twenty paces, no one dared approach him.

Minglan slowly helped him undo his hair, fingers slipping into his hair to press gently at his scalp. The man gradually relaxed his furrowed brow and made sounds of comfortable ease. Minglan said softly: “What is it this time — what’s happened?”

Gu Tingye opened his eyes, revealing a hidden anger in his gaze: “Chengyong has run into trouble.”

“Mountain bandits again?!” Minglan startled. The frequency of attacks seemed high — wait, hadn’t the imperial envoy already reached Lianghuai?

“No.” The man clenched his fist in fury and struck the kang bed. “Chengyong has fallen into that faction’s trap.”

Minglan didn’t understand. Gu Tingye slowly sat up and sighed: “The dispatch reports that Chengyong was invited to a restaurant to drink — and got unexpectedly very drunk. When he sobered up, there was a woman lying beside him.”

“What?!” An ancient-style honey trap? Minglan couldn’t help but laugh. “Could it be that the woman saw young General Duan’s fine looks and took a fancy to him — wanting to hook a son-in-law?”

“If that were so, it would be a much simpler matter.” Gu Tingye’s face went cold, with a seeping, murderous chill. “The woman claims to be a respectable woman of a good family — with a husband and child at home. She insists that Chengyong violated her chastity and says she has no recourse but death.”

Minglan was aghast: “A married woman? That’s truly troublesome.” Even a virtue inspection would be meaningless now. “Wait, wait — Chengyong was at a restaurant drinking. What would a respectable woman be doing at a restaurant?”

“The woman claims she had come to the restaurant to collect money for a fish delivery, and that Chengyong, drunk and passing by, noticed she was somewhat attractive and dragged her forcibly into a private room.”

Minglan was dumbstruck: “This sounds like a storyteller’s tale. Were all the other people in the restaurant dead? Did no one see this and intervene? And furthermore, how did this woman end up asleep until Chengyong sobered up…”

“Exactly — the contradictions are glaring,” Gu Tingye said. “Chengyong naturally refused to acknowledge it. But just as he began to question her, the woman dashed her head against a wall and died. Now the woman’s husband and family have cried out their grievance to the heavens, filing suit against General Duan Chengqian for violating a respectable woman and then driving her to death.”

Minglan let out a long sigh. With this much invested, the other side had clearly arranged everything in advance — Duan Chengyong was in serious trouble this time. Husband and wife sat in silence for a long while. Minglan said: “What happens now? For the imperial envoy to conduct a thorough local audit of the salt administration, there needs to be solid military force backing him up.”

Gu Tingye looked at her, and a trace of hesitation appeared in his eyes. Minglan saw it and her heart became clear: “Do you want to go?”

“The Emperor has not yet summoned me.” He said quietly. “Whoever was capable of arranging things this thoroughly — it couldn’t have been just a few local officials. The local garrison units are probably compromised as well. Someone needs to go and set things in order. An ordinary man couldn’t frighten them — it will take killing a few people as a ritual offering before they’ll fall in line.” With the National Uncle Shen unable to go, of the same rank, only he remained.

“Chengyong — he once did me a great favor.” The man was of two minds, torn in both directions.

Minglan went quiet: “How long would you be away?”

“At quickest, one month. At most, two.” Gu Tingye rubbed her palm. “I have a large pile of affairs on my plate and can’t easily leave either. Once I’ve gotten Chengyong out, I’ll have Zhong Dayou go for garrison duty — by then, Lao Geng’s injuries will likely have healed as well.”

Minglan let out a deep breath of relief and smiled: “I thought you meant to be gone for a year and a half.” The salt administration audit couldn’t be resolved in a short time. “So it’s only a month or two — what does it matter? As long as the Marquis can make it back before I give birth, I’ll be more than satisfied.”

Not minding that she was wrinkling his official robes, Gu Tingye pulled her into his arms and rocked her gently. In his heart, he did not wish to take even a single step away from her. He said, full of remorse: “You’re with child — I shouldn’t be leaving.”

Minglan gathered her courage, pushed him away firmly, and said with seriousness: “The Marquis is also my most important matter. What concerns the Marquis concerns me.” She had long been mentally prepared for this. The man before her was a fierce and spirited leopard — full of energy and fighting spirit. How could she possibly keep him tied up forever? As long as he didn’t go far or stay long, it would be fine.

“But…” Gu Tingye was reluctant to revisit certain things, yet couldn’t help his wandering thoughts. He had been decisive and clear-minded all his life, quick to act in any situation — yet now he suddenly found himself wavering. “If something happens to you and I’m not by your side — what then?”

“Marquis.” Minglan knew what he was thinking of. She pressed her hands to his broad shoulders and said earnestly: “I am not the late Lady Qin.”

Gu Tingye still sat in thought. Minglan raised her voice: “As long as the Marquis leaves some men here — if anyone dares to bully me, if I can’t argue my way out, I can still fight my way out. And if things truly go wrong, I can always run, can’t I?” Gu Tingye couldn’t help but laugh.

Minglan leaned against his chest, her eyes wide open, her voice bright and untroubled: “Unless the Marquis intends to retire from official life, there will always be duties to attend to. Could you possibly stay and guard me forever? In the future, we’re still going to have…” Her face turned red and she couldn’t continue.

Gu Tingye’s heart filled with sweetness: “Indeed — in future we’ll have many more children.”

Minglan was made shy by those words, and burrowed into the crook of his neck, mouthing at him like an affectionate puppy. Gu Tingye laughed heartily and paid her back in kind, nipping her back and then pressing a string of kisses to her neck in a frenzy.

After a long while, the two of them quieted from their playful laughter. Gu Tingye lay pillowed on Minglan’s lap and suddenly said: “You really are not like that Lady Qin.”

He suddenly sat upright, and the two faced each other. “If I were forced against my will to marry another woman — what would you do?” This question had lodged in his heart for a long time.

Minglan blinked, then let out a silly laugh. “How could that ever happen?”

“You would remarry.” The man looked steadily at Minglan and said with absolute certainty.

“…How could… that be…” Minglan played dumb, though she privately thought it was rather likely.

His father’s past had never truly stopped haunting him. Without realizing it, he would compare himself to that history — and each time he did, the result was rather discouraging. Although he did his utmost not to think of the word “remarry,” judging from what he had come to know of Minglan over these past months — if something truly insurmountable were to happen and force them apart, this infuriating girl would mourn for five days at most, and then nine times out of ten would go looking for a second man to marry.

“And what’s more, you would most likely do quite well for yourself.” He ground his back teeth.

“How… could that… be…” How had the conversation veered here? Minglan kept up her silly smile.

Gu Tingye’s gaze turned brooding, and Minglan felt a crawling discomfort all over. She sensed something was very wrong, and quickly asked: “Then what about the Marquis? Surely you’re not truly planning to abandon me?”

The best defense is always an offense.

“…” Gu Tingye actually considered it seriously. “I suppose I would take one of two paths. Either take you with me and flee to the ends of the earth, living incognito for the rest of our lives — or wait for the tide to turn, and then marry you a second time.” And deal with any lover in the meantime.

Minglan nearly blurted out “the second one sounds better” — a peaceful, harmonious life, all under heaven at peace — when her long-dormant sixth sense finally awakened in the nick of time.

She nestled into Gu Tingye’s arms, her large belly making it difficult, but she still managed to wrap herself around his waist, and said in a low voice: “Then carry me on your back. Deep in the mountains and forests, I’ll go with you to be your wild, wilderness wife.” Her voice was full of a tender, lingering warmth, so soft and gentle it was nearly inaudible. Gu Tingye’s heart melted in an instant, and he held her tightly, pressing one kiss after another to her temple and cheek. “Through the Yellow Springs and the underworld itself — we’ll never be parted.”