“Lord Marquis is too courteous. Please, come inside.” Kou Bohai led Shao Mingyuan inward, with more than ten personal guards following closely behind, drawing frequent sidelong glances from the servants of the Minister’s residence.
Civil officials were different from military generals. Even those who reached the highest positions had never displayed such an imposing presence.
After the master had passed, some servants quietly began to discuss among themselves.
“Didn’t that Marquis Guanjun come during the day? Tsk tsk, he seemed refined and courteous then, like an elegant young noble, so how did he suddenly become so menacing?”
“Exactly! I was originally wondering whether it was exaggerated that Marquis Guanjun could make the Tartars flee in terror, but seeing him now, I realize I misjudged him.”
“What do you think Marquis Guanjun came here for at this hour? Those who don’t know might think he’s come to raid the household!”
“Bah, bah! A dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory.”
A steward coughed harshly, and only then did the servants scatter.
Shao Mingyuan followed Kou Bohai inward and saw Minister Kou standing on the stone steps at the doorway, waiting.
Upon seeing Shao Mingyuan approach, Minister Kou descended the steps to greet him.
Shao Mingyuan quickly paid his respects: “I pay my respects to Grandfather.”
“Lord Marquis, please rise quickly.” Minister Kou personally helped Shao Mingyuan up.
He had a portly figure with a round face, and when he smiled, it was like being bathed in spring breeze: “Lord Marquis coming at this hour—is there some urgent matter?”
“Indeed, there is an urgent matter.”
“Come, let’s go inside to talk.”
The wine and dishes on the table in the hall had already been cleared away. As soon as the three men entered the room, servants brought fragrant tea.
Minister Kou gestured for Shao Mingyuan to drink tea.
Shao Mingyuan didn’t decline. He picked up the teacup, took a sip, set it down, and said: “Coming to disturb Grandfather at this hour is my fault, but the matter is quite urgent.”
“What matter has Lord Marquis so anxious?” Though he was honored as one of the Six Ministry Ministers and frequently met with the Son of Heaven, Shao Mingyuan’s special status and his visit at this hour inevitably made one’s heart pound with unease.
“Mingyuan wishes to take Uncle to live at my Marquis residence.”
Minister Kou was stunned and couldn’t help but look toward his eldest son, Kou Bohai.
Kou Bohai was equally incredulous: “Lord Marquis rushed over at this hour just for this?”
“Precisely.”
Upon hearing it was a private matter concerning his grandson, Minister Kou’s heart relaxed, and he assumed the attitude of an elder: “So Lord Marquis came for this. I understand Lord Marquis’s concern for Qiao Mo, but Qiao Mo is currently unconscious, and moving him would be quite inconvenient.”
Shao Mingyuan smiled faintly: “Please don’t worry about this, Grandfather. Mingyuan has brought a specially arranged carriage.”
Minister Kou shook his head: “Why go to such trouble? If Qiao Mo goes to the Marquis’ residence, it would still trouble the Marquis Jing’an’s wife to arrange new accommodations for him.”
“Grandfather misunderstands. Mingyuan meant the Marquis Guanjun’s residence. My dwelling has been renovated, and I originally prepared a courtyard for Uncle.”
“The Marquis Guanjun residence?” Minister Kou was stunned for a moment before reacting, glancing at his eldest son who had already grown a beard, feeling particularly bitter.
Indeed, comparing people was deadly; comparing goods meant throwing them away. The young man before him had already been enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a general just after reaching adulthood, becoming a figure not to be underestimated throughout the capital. Yet his eldest son, old enough to be the other’s father, still relied on his protection to obtain a mere fifth-rank position.
Thinking of this, Minister Kou sighed deeply again.
Regarding this matter, he had to admire his in-law Qiao Zhuo’s foresight.
When his granddaughter was still young, Qiao Zhuo had arranged this marriage, for which his eldest daughter had even complained to them when she returned to her maternal home.
Looking at it now, that in-law of his had excellent judgment. It was just a pity that his granddaughter had a thin fate and was caught in a deadly situation.
“So the Marquis Guanjun residence has been renovated. Later I’ll have your cousins go give you a housewarming.”
“Thank you, Grandfather. I welcome my cousins to visit anytime.”
Minister Kou smiled: “However, there’s no need for Qiao Mo to move. This is his maternal grandfather’s home, and he’s already lived here for so many days. Moving back and forth would make him uncomfortable instead. Besides, Marquis Guanjun’s residence isn’t far from the Minister’s residence. If Mingyuan wants to see him, you can come over anytime.”
Shao Mingyuan stood up and bowed to Minister Kou: “Grandfather, Mingyuan’s desire for Uncle to move there is selfish. Please fulfill this wish.”
“Eh, how so?”
“Today, during the day, Mingyuan heard that Uncle had fallen ill and came to visit.”
Minister Kou nodded.
He had already heard his wife mention this. At the time, his wife had sighed that this grandson-in-law was thoughtful, but it was pitiful that their granddaughter didn’t have the fortune to enjoy it.
“After Mingyuan returned from visiting Uncle, during a brief rest, I suddenly entered a dream where I dreamed that my wife blamed me for not taking proper care of Uncle, causing her worry and concern, making it difficult for her to rest in peace. When Mingyuan awoke and thought of this dream, I could no longer sit still, which is why I came to take Uncle to my place. Mingyuan knows this action is somewhat abrupt and has troubled Grandfather. Please, for the sake of Mingyuan enduring the daily pain of losing my wife, grant this wish.”
Never expecting that Shao Mingyuan’s insistence on taking Qiao Mo away was for this reason, Minister Kou’s lips trembled.
He wanted to scold it as nonsense, but this young man said he dreamed of his granddaughter, which sounded rather gratifying to him.
Moreover, since this young man had spoken to this extent, even if it were a fabricated matter, he couldn’t very well refuse him so bluntly.
“Since that’s the case, then as you wish.” Minister Kou sighed and turned to Kou Bohai, who had been listening in stunned silence: “Go tell your wife to quickly pack for Mo’er. Take everything that should be taken, and have some people accompany Mo’er to the Marquis’ residence with Lord Marquis.”
Seeing his goal achieved, Shao Mingyuan smiled warmly: “Just pack Uncle’s personal belongings. Mingyuan brought many people, so there’s no need to trouble the household staff.”
Kou Bohai snorted coldly in his heart.
This young man had given him quite a scare. He thought something serious had happened, but it turned out he just wanted to take Qiao Mo to live at the Marquis’ residence. He’d never seen anyone make such a grand display just to visit relatives.
More than ten personal guards who were killing gods who licked blood from knife tips—who was he trying to intimidate?
Kou Bohai returned to his room and told Madam Mao about this matter. Upon hearing it, Madam Mao was stunned: “What did Master say? Marquis Guanjun wants to take Qiao Mo away?”
“Yes, Father told you to arrange for people to quickly pack for Qiao Mo.” After speaking, Kou Bohai noticed Madam Mao’s blank expression with no reaction and couldn’t help frowning: “Why do you look like you’ve lost your soul? Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“Ah, I heard.” Madam Mao suddenly snapped back to reality, hesitated for a moment, and asked: “For no good reason, why does Marquis Guanjun want to take Qiao Mo away? Master, it’s not that I’m saying anything, but this is Qiao Mo’s maternal grandfather’s home after all. For Marquis Guanjun to rush over to take him away at this hour, not even waiting until tomorrow morning—how terrible this would sound if it got out.”
“What’s terrible about it?”
“Master, think about it. People always like to think the worst. They’ll gossip that our Minister’s residence is harsh to a grandson who sought refuge here after his family suffered disaster.” So please don’t agree!