Qi Ning left the palace, feeling quite excited along the way, with the figure of Gu Qinghan lingering in his mind.
To be fair, Qi Ning didn't have much affection for the Jinyi Hou Mansion. Qi Ning didn't even want to see the eerie lady, but just because of Gu Qinghan's presence, Qi Ning really felt that there was something special about the Jinyi Hou Mansion. The feeling of home.
Thinking that Gu Qinghan must have been looking forward to his early return home these days, Qining even felt a little excited when he arrived in front of the Jinyi Houfu.
Qi Feng and others had returned to the mansion earlier, so the mansion already knew that Qin Ning had returned to the capital. There were people waiting in front of the door. When they saw Qi Ning coming back, someone immediately went to report it, and some people came forward to greet him and salute respectfully.
Qining walked into the house and saw a beautiful figure approaching, with a graceful figure, it was Gu Qinghan.
Gu Qinghan wore a meandering purple plum blossom gauze that swept the floor, and underneath was a thin rose-scented rosy shadow gauze corset. She wore an emerald green flower-strewn soft smoke skirt around her waist. Her waist was as thin as a willow, and her shoulders were cut and stood upright She is wearing a bun with clouds, graceful and graceful, with a slight smile on her pretty face. The fragrance has already arrived before anyone arrives.
"Sanniang...!" Qi Ning quickened his pace and said with a smile: "I went to the palace first to report back to the emperor. It will be very difficult for you in the palace right now."
Gu Qinghan smiled slightly and said: "I know, it's good that you come back safe and sound." He came forward, looked Qining up and down, and said with a smile: "This trip out, there are a lot of people in the dark, it's been a hard journey, right? "
"The hard work is nothing." Qi Ning said with a smile: "I just want to fly back with wings and see Sanniang... and the family earlier."
Gu Qinghan said: "I have already prepared meals. You see that you are so dusty. Go wash up and change into clean clothes. We will wait for you to eat."
"Then... do you want to see the madam?"
Gu Qinghan shook his head and said: "I have already reported to the Madam. The Madam will study Buddhist scriptures recently, so no one will disturb her."
Qi Ning thought to himself that this old woman was really weird. If she were an ordinary old man, her grandson would go out on business for the first time. After walking for such a long time, she would naturally want to see her as soon as possible after she came back. But this Jinyi Hou Mansion The lady didn't see each other because she was practicing Buddhism, and she seemed extremely cold.
But for Qi Ning, it was not a bad thing that the wife was missing. He smiled and said: "Okay, I'll go wash up first." Then he went to his yard, walked a few steps, looked back at Gu Qinghan, and saw Gu Qinghan lowered his head slightly. With her eyebrows furrowed, she seemed to be full of thoughts and a little strange. When she saw Qining looking back at her, Gu Qinghan managed to squeeze out a smile.
Qi Ning immediately knew that Gu Qinghan was hiding something in his heart. He wanted to ask immediately, but thought there was no need to rush. But at this time, he discovered that although Gu Qinghan was still mature and beautiful, his complexion was obviously much worse, and he looked quite a bit... He was haggard, thinking to himself that it was because Gu Qinghan had to work too hard to run the Hou Mansion after he left Beijing
When he returned to the hospital, Gu Qinghan had arranged for someone to prepare hot water. The road was full of dust. After taking a hot bath, he felt comfortable all over. He changed into soft casual clothes and went straight to the elegant hall of the Hou Mansion. He saw Gu Qinghan personally Putting the food on the table, he walked lightly behind Gu Qinghan.
However, Gu Qinghan didn't seem to notice Qi Ning coming in at all. He was preoccupied. Qi Ning stood behind Gu Qinghan and looked at her back, Fengyun Pingting. Her back was as plump and curvy as a gourd. He felt excited in his heart and wanted to hug her from behind immediately. This beauty, but she also knew in her heart that Gu Qinghan was not someone to be trifled with. The first few times she tried to kiss Fangze, it only ended in embarrassment. The relationship between the two was also inseparable. It was not as close as before. On the contrary, There is always some embarrassment.
After returning from Xichuan this time, Gu Qinghan's attitude softened slightly, but he couldn't do it again and again, otherwise this beautiful young woman would really get annoyed, and it would be difficult to deal with it in the future, and both parties would only be more embarrassed.
Qining had to admit that Gu Qinghan was not only beautiful, smart and capable, but also had a figure that was one of a kind, with a slender waist, plump and round buttocks, exuding the alluring charm of a mature and beautiful young woman.
Although Gu Qinghan put the vegetable bowl from the tray on the table, he seemed to be distracted and his mind was not here. He accidentally touched a green finger into the soup bowl. He let out a soft "Ouch" and hurriedly stopped his hand. Seeing this, Ning hurriedly said: "Sanniang, it's not burned, is it?" He stepped forward and wanted to grab Gu Qinghan's hand to have a look. Gu Qinghan immediately retracted his hand before he touched it, shook his head and said: "No... it's okay...!"
This was all the food that had just come out. The soup bowl was being heated. Gu Qinghan's delicate and white fingers were already a little red when touched by the soup. Qining could see clearly and said, "They are all red, and they said they were fine." Turned around. Just as he was about to leave, Gu Qinghan shouted urgently: "Where are you going?"
"I'll go to Miss Tang and get some medicine from her," Qining said.
Gu Qinghan said hurriedly: "No, I'll just go by myself." He went over and grabbed Qining and said, "You eat first, and I'll apply some medicine for the wound myself."
Qining sighed and nodded. Gu Qinghan forced out a smile and walked out lightly. Qining went over and sat down at the table. He always felt that something was wrong with Gu Qinghan and couldn't eat for a while. He went out and called: "Here comes Han." Where is the steward? Send him here."
Han Shou from the Jinyi Marquis Mansion trotted over, entered the room and said, "Master Marquis, are you looking for an old slave?"
"Mr. Han, come here and talk." Qi Ning waved and waited for Han Shou to approach before asking: "Did anything big happen in the house while I was away from Beijing?"
Han Shou hurriedly said: "Master Hou, after you leave, the third lady will handle the affairs of the Hou Mansion, and the old slave will assist you. Everything is in order, there are no mistakes, and nothing has happened."
"Did that third old man come to the mansion to cause trouble?" Qining asked with a frown: "Or were his sons here to stir up trouble?"
Han Shou shook his head and said, "Master Hou, they haven't been here since you left." He cautiously asked, "Why do you ask, Master Hou?"
"Where did Duan Canghai go? Why is he nowhere to be seen?"
Han Shou smiled and said, "Have you forgotten, Lord Marquis, that before you left the capital, you assigned them to train the Black Scale Battalion. Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang have been staying at the military camp these days, and Duan Canghai came back twice. , the third lady asked them not to worry about the palace and just focus on training their troops."
Qi Ning thought to himself that he was so confused that he had almost forgotten such a big thing. He frowned and said: "I saw that the third lady was full of worries, and I thought something happened in the house. Since there is nothing, it is better."
Han Shou hesitated for a moment and stopped talking.
When Qi Ning saw this, he knew something was going on and said in a deep voice: "What exactly happened, why don't we tell you soon."
Han Shou lowered his voice and said: "Master Hou, I'm afraid the third lady is worried about my uncle. Nothing happened in the Hou Mansion, but... But something big happened on my uncle's side."
"Uncle? Gu Wenwen?" Qi Ning was startled, "What happened to him again?"
"It seems... it seems like it's because of a painting." Han Shou seemed to be afraid of being heard, so he leaned close to Qining and whispered: "My uncle collected a painting, but... there seems to be something wrong. Two days ago, my uncle... I also came to the house and was scolded by the third lady. We... we didn't dare to come close. The old slave was outside and seemed to have heard what was going on, but... But what happened, old slave? Not sure either."
Qi Ning wondered: "A painting? Which song is this from?"
Before Han Shou could speak, he heard Gu Qinghan's voice coming from behind: "Manager Han, the Marquis is having dinner, you should go out first." In the midst of the voice, Gu Qinghan had already walked over and sat down opposite Qi Ning. Han Shou hurriedly lowered his head. Head, retreat quickly.
"Still not using your chopsticks?" Seeing that the food on the table was still there, Gu Qinghan frowned and said, "Eat well and don't worry about useless things. After you finish, you can be cleaned up."
Qi Ning smiled, picked up the chopsticks, glanced at Gu Qinghan, hesitated, and said: "Sanniang, what is going on with that painting...?"
"What's going on?" Gu Qinghan said angrily: "It has nothing to do with you, you don't need to ask more, who did the evil, let him pay for it himself, so as not to burden others." At this point, his eye circles were still a little red, As if he didn't want to be seen by Qining, he turned away.
Seeing Gu Qinghan like this, Qi Ning knew that the matter must be serious. He put down his chopsticks and said softly: "If something really happens to uncle, we can't just ignore it. If we can help, we will naturally help. Sanniang, Tell me what happened, and see if I can come up with something."
"There is no way." Gu Qinghan said: "If you really want to help, go and tell the Kyoto Prefecture and ask them to lock up that useless thing early and stay in prison for a lifetime." At this point, but Feeling bitter, he turned around, turned his back to Qing Ning, and took a fragrant handkerchief to wipe the tears from his eyes.
"Why is it related to the Kyoto Prefecture?" Qi Ning asked curiously: "Where is uncle now?" He stood up, walked to Gu Qinghan's side, and said softly: "Sanniang, don't be sad, just tell me if you have anything. , I can always think of a way, you can easily hurt yourself like this."
Gu Qinghan raised his head and glanced at Qining. The tears in his eyes were still wet, and his eyes were watery and charming. He bit his red lips with his teeth and hesitated for a moment before saying: "He owes 60,000 taels of silver for the famine. There will be two more days." , if you cannot repay the money, you will be sued to Kyoto Prefecture, and then you will have no choice but to be arrested and sent to prison."
"Sixty thousand taels of silver?" Qi Ning was startled, "Uncle owes sixty thousand taels of silver? This... what's going on?"
He knew the Gu family quite well. The Gu family and the Qi family were both prominent families in Jiangling back then, and they were very influential in the local area. The Gu family owned a lot of real estate in Jingzhou and had strong financial resources. Even today, Gu Qinghan's natal family can be considered a Although sixty thousand taels of silver is not a small amount for a wealthy businessman, it is completely affordable for the Gu family.
Gu Wenwen came to the capital with his family, and even bought several stores in the capital to do business. This was not something ordinary wealthy people could do. Qining really couldn't figure out how this man could owe 60,000 taels of silver. of famine.