Gu Rong's hand trembled slightly, and he forced himself to calm down. "Is this your wife's idea?"
"It's my son's idea. A man cherishes his own wife. We're not short of servants in the manor, yet Mother keeps asking her to do menial chores. I really can't stand it. This young lady was raised like a treasure, and she married me only to endure hardship instead of enjoying blessings. If her father were alive, he'd probably appear in my dreams to trouble me."
If he protects her like this, how could he agree to demote her to concubine?
Gu Rong regained his composure, pondered for a moment, and said, "Come to think of it, I've never asked you, why did you fall for the Lu clan back then? Just because she was beautiful?"
It had to be said, the water from Yangzhou truly nurtured people. The capital gathered guests from all corners, with beauties of all kinds of charms, but when it came to the word "beauty," everyone's first thought was Yangzhou, after all, Yangzhou slender horses...
Heh heh, men understood.
Gu Yan Chen, however, pouted. "Father, why do you see me as so superficial?"
"Then why did you suddenly insist on marrying only her?"
Gu Yan Chen's eyes darted around. "Because she brings me good fortune."
Gu Rong was stunned. Gu Yan Chen fabricated a story for him. "After I went to Xiangshui County, my luck was truly terrible. I almost lost my life several times, so I went to ask a high monk for a divination. The monk said I was born with a propensity to spend wealth and my fortune was blocked. Only by marrying a woman with extremely strong fortune could I see the sun through the clouds and rise step by step. Then he gave me a birth date."
"Could that be your wife?"
"Of course. I went to great lengths to marry her. Speaking of which, he said with some resentment, "Father, you were always so stingy. I couldn't even scrape together decent betrothal gifts. Fortunately, she was from a merchant family, and I managed to get the county magistrate's wife to act as a matchmaker, so she didn't refuse."
Gu Rong was almost collapsing. "You didn't believe in these things before, did you?"
"It doesn't hurt to believe occasionally. Look, didn't that high monk's prediction come true!"
Gu Rong carefully considered his experience. In less than three years, he went from an unknown constable to a Grand Master of the Court of Judicial Review, ranking third in rank. It was hard to say that he didn't have any luck. The key was that his son had been truly miserable as a child. He hadn't shown any good fortune before going to Yangzhou.
Gu Rong was filled with awe. "Which temple was that high monk from, and what was his name?"
Gu Yan Chen replied, "Quanxin Temple in Xiangshui County. As for his name, I forgot."
"How could you forget such an important matter?"
"He just gave me a birth date. It's uncertain if anyone could be found with it, so why would I bother to remember? If Father wants a divination, you could try your luck at Quanxin Temple. He sets up his stall under the big tree at the entrance."
Gu Rong: ...
Listening to this, didn't it sound like a charlatan trying to scam people?
Truly enlightened monks were indeed hidden in plain sight, so low-key.
However, the matter entrusted by the Emperor seemed even more difficult. He rubbed his forehead in distress. Gu Yan Chen, however, did not grasp his old father's heartache and urged, "Father, is it a yes or no? If you agree, I'll move out tomorrow. The houses on Hulu Street are already ready. I can move in with my wife."
"Move out for what? Don't you see? Which manor has the eldest son moving out to live separately? Wouldn't that be inviting ridicule? Stay here with peace of mind, and I'll speak to your mother."
Really, it was just that the wife he married had an unremarkable background, and even the Emperor was inquiring. If he really made him move out, how angry would the Emperor be? Come to think of it, how did the Emperor know he wasn't his own son? And why was he so concerned? Could it be... his background was extraordinary?
His suspicious gaze fell on Gu Yan Chen.
Under the light of the wall lamp, Gu Yan Chen was tall and imposing, with an elegant demeanor. If he didn't speak, he inexplicably exuded an air of nobility.
Gu Rong's heart skipped a beat. Could this child be of royal blood?
Thinking about how he hadn't mistreated him in the past, but when Madam Fang oppressed him, he had never offered any help, Gu Rong felt terrible.
Gu Yan Chen, however, didn't care about all that. Having received his assurance, he took out a tea bag from his embrace. "Father, this is a tribute-grade Lushan Cloud Mist. Lu Shi just got it. Have a taste."
Gu Rong's mood was complex. He knew without a doubt that this was a thank-you gift to appease Madam Fang.
Protecting her like this, how could he be willing to demote her to concubine? The Emperor had presented him with a difficult problem. However, if Madam Fang had such a fortune-bringing quality, he certainly wouldn't want to replace his wife either.
Gu Rong tossed and turned all night. He decided to wait until the Emperor pressed him again.