Chapter 56

Lin Wei Xi watched Gu Hui Yan return the numerous books to order. Her heart suddenly moved and she said, “my Prince, you were halfway through teaching me Taibai Yinfu last time. We haven’t finished it.”

That had happened when they first married. During Gu Hui Yan’s three days of wedding leave, the two of them suddenly grew closer. It was inevitable for them to feel awkward when living together, so Gu Hui Yan taught the books to her. It was Taibai Yinfu, an ancient book on the art of war. That day, Lin Wei Xi had only listened to half of the book, leaving midway to meet the managers and receive the servant’s greetings. They’d entered the palace the very next day and then Gu Hui Yan had ended his leave early. They hadn’t been able to finish the book where they’d left off.

Lin Wei Xi suddenly brought it up and Gu Hui Yan was a little surprised, “you remembered?”

“I’m not a blockhead. Why wouldn’t I be able to remember this type of thing?”she glared at him in dissatisfaction and when she looked away, there was meaning in her eyes, “my Prince, you haven’t taught me many things. It’s so rare for you to teach me, how could I forget? It’s just a pity that I’m not talented and couldn’t keep up with your pace. I can’t even finish this one thing.”

Few people now dared to talk to Gu Hui Yan so sarcastically, but Lin Wei Xi spoke so openly that he couldn’t be unhappy. He couldn’t restrain his smile as he glanced at her, “Stop messing around.”

He wasn’t angry and Lin Wei Xi grew bolder. She promptly acted like she’d “been given an inch and wanted a mile” and “emboldened because she had backing”, “how is this messing around? My Prince, you said so yourself that you spent very little time in the residence this month, so how much time is left for me? We’re husband and wife but we can’t even finish a book in one month.”

Although Gu Hui Yan looked at Lin Wei Xi with a smile on his face, guilt rose within him. His expression suddenly grew serious and he said, “This is indeed due to my negligence. I said I’d teach you, but ended up stopping halfway. It’s my fault.”

Lin Wei Xi had been playing along and teasing him, joking around, but Gu Hui Yan apologized so seriously that she felt embarrassed. She hurriedly said, “No, no. My Prince, there’s no reason for you to feel guilty. You were busy with court affairs and you shouldn’t have to worry about what happens in the inner courtyard. You’re already doing very well as my husband. On the contrary, I ought to share your worries, but I always end up causing you trouble. You are willing to go slow and personally teach me military books. It’s due to the character and morals that you’ve cultivated. How can I not know that? Don’t take me so seriously.”

“I have to fulfil my promise to you, I can’t make excuses.” Gu Hui Yan’s opinion was completely different. He said, “You don’t have to gloss over it, I know what I did. I’ve neglected my duty as your husband and spent too little time with you .”

Lin Wei Xi hadn’t expected him to take this so seriously. He truly was someone who was harsh on himself. He had a strong sense of responsibility and had extreme expectations of himself, but expected the least from others. This was how he acted with Lin Wei Xi. He constantly demanded that he be a qualified husband but never held her to the same standard. It could be said that he was very upright and strict with himself but treated others leniently. Lin Wei Xi sighed to herself. Gu Hui Yan was reasonable and responsible. On the contrary, she constantly caused trouble.

Gu Hui Yan finished speaking to find that Lin Wei Xi’s expression had fallen. He was surprised, just as he placed the last book in place. He sat on the chair beside him, the two close together, and he smoothly drew her towards himself, “What’s the matter?”

Lin Wei Xi let him pull her close and sat on his lap. Because it was a little cramped, she was a little unbalanced. She reached her arms around his shoulders and rested her forehead on his shoulders, her voice moody, “my Prince, do I seem arrogant and wilful, with high standards and no ability?”

Gu Hui Yan found it funny. He put one hand on her lower back to hold her steady, his other hand playing with the ornaments dangling from the pin holding her hair in a bun and didn’t say anything.

Lin Wei Xi humphed lightly, her voice displeased, “my Prince, you haven’t said anything. Do you really think that?”

Gu Hui Yan chuckled. He poked the tassel behind Lin Wei Xi’s ear and said, “Look at you. You like to think too much and end up in a bad mood. But when someone brings it up, you don’t let them contradict you. It’s too hard to understand your authoritarian way of doing things and that makes it difficult for others to figure out your thoughts and words.”

“Who said I’m authoritarian?” Lin Wei Xi raised her head. When he looked at her, she happened to catch his gaze. A smile bloomed in Gu Hui Yan’s eyes, “you see? And you still deny it?”

“I…” Lin Wei Xi was speechless and couldn’t hold back from explaining herself, “my Prince, you can’t think that I’m a careless person just because I embarrassed myself in front of you several times. I’m very neat and orderly when it comes to my work.”

“I know.” Gu Hui Yan couldn’t help laughing. He’d barely said anything and she immediately became anxious. After he finished laughing, he said, “Of course I know you have the ability. Everyone can see the changes you’ve made to the residence. I’m very thankful to you for your tireless work at  solving the residence’s mess.”

Although Lin Wei Xi still looked displeased, the corners of her mouth obviously curved. You could insult her, but you could never insult her management skills. She was beside herself with joy at Prince Yan’s praise, but in front of her idol, she hid her feelings a little and pretended to be nonchalant as she said, “I only spent a few more hours on it. My work isn’t that good, so please don’t laugh at me, Prince Yan.”

Gu Hui Yan finally couldn’t hold back his laughter. He ruffled Lin Wei Xi’s hair and her neat bun immediately became undone. He set her on the ground with little effort and stood up as well, “You’re doing a good job. No need to be bothered by what others say. That’s all nonsense.”

His hands were very steady. Even as he hugged her, he still held her firmly in place. Lin Wei Xi stood there and only realized then that his words were in response to her previous question.

She wasn’t blindly arrogant, nor did she have high expectations but was incompetent. Her mood lifted. She quickly caught up to Gu Hui Yan, her voice lively, “my Prince, about the book we didn’t finish last time…”

“It’s time to prepare for dinner. After dinner, the servants who have no more duties to tend to can leave. I’ll continue teaching the book to you.”

“Okay. It’s a promise?”

Gu Hui Yan smiled and stopped. He grabbed her hand, saving her the effort of having to chase him, “Of course, everything is as you will it to be. Don’t worry, these few days are my rare off-days and I’ll have a lot of free time. I’ve rejected many unnecessary invitations to socialize and can certainly finish all the books that you want to read together with you.”

She felt really embarrassed, but she happily responded, “Thank you my Prince.”

It was only after Lin Wei Xi and Gu Hui Yan came out of the study that Wan Yue dared to fall in line behind Lin Wei Xi and whisper, “Princess Consort, the kitchen has sent word that all the food is ready. The dining room has also been properly set up and they’re just waiting for the Prince and Princess Consort.”

Lin Wei Xi said, “they can start preparing the meal. The Prince and I will be there shortly. Right, where are Shizi and Shizi Fei?”

Wan Yue lowered her gaze, not daring to look at the Prince Yan and the Princess Consort’s apparently linked hands, “Shizi Fei came out of the Buddhist sanctum at 5pm, then returned to Qingsong Garden. She’s already waiting in the dining hall with Shizi.”

Lin Wei Xi nodded and said nothing else. Wan Xing had already prepared a cloak and the hand stove. Seeing Lin Wei Xi coming out of the study, she quickly stepped forward to help her into her clothes. It wasn’t as complicated for Gu Hui Yan to get ready as Lin Wei Xi. He didn’t take long to put on an overcoat, but she was still sorting herself out. Gu Hui Yan didn’t wait outside as other people did. Instead, he stood by the door and quietly watched her put on a large cloak. The fluffy collar surrounded her face as she stood absent-mindedly, letting the maid fasten the gold buckles. After that, she took the hand stove and walked towards him, “my Prince.”

He reached out to straighten the fluffy white velvet around her neck. Lin Wei Xi’s palm-sized face was wrapped in fluff. She looked indescribably delicate and romantic.

“Let’s go.”

The two walked hand in hand into the dining hall. When Lin Wei Xi first entered, she intended to walk half a step behind Gu Hui Yan, but he intentionally slowed down and walked into everyone’s line of sight together with her.

When everyone in the room saw them enter, they hurriedly bowed and greeted them. Gu Cheng Yao and Gao Ran also greeted them one after the other, “Father. Mother.”

Gu Hui Yan nodded indifferently and amiably, and said, “You’re excused, you can sit down.”

Gao Ran stood up to follow Lin Wei Xi, her eyes lowered slightly. Lin Wei Xi glanced at her from the corner of her eye and chuckled to herself. During the meal, Gao Ran served Lin Wei Xi food using the serving chopsticks as usual. Lin Wei Xi said, “Shizi Fei has spent the last few days copying books. It’s hard work, so you may take a break.”

“I don’t dare.” Gao Ran intended to decline but Lin Wei Xi interrupted her with a smile, “no need to say anything. It’s rare for the entire family to have a reunion dinner during New Years. Just sit down. You will have a temporary break from copying texts tomorrow. Focus on preparing Qingsong Garden for the New Year. It’s never too late to show your filial piety, but you can’t neglect Shizi during the New Year.”

A temporary break. Gao Ran thought of the message the maid had delivered and felt wronged, but she had to gratefully thank Lin Wei Xi on the surface. The inner courtyard was Lin Wei Xi’s responsibility. When she disciplined her daughter-in-law, even Gu Hui Yan couldn’t easily intervene. Only after she finished speaking and Gao Ran took a seat did the servants by the side dare to fetch the utensils and quietly wait on Gao Ran for her meal.

The soft clanking of the bowls and cups sounded with the distinct tinkling of porcelain. Gu Cheng Yao sat and waited for Gao Ran. He stared at the dishes on the dinner table, a little bored, and suddenly realized something, “why haven’t we had any seafood for dinner these past few days?”

The maids who served them by the dinner table paused, then their movements relaxed. Gao Ran quickly glanced at Lin Wei Xi, raising her eyebrows like she was watching a play.

Everyone in the Residence knew that Prince Yan liked freshwater fish. But due to her grudge against the previous Princess Consort Shen, Lin Wei Xi had one-sidedly decided to remove most of the seafood from the annual banquet, and even changed their everyday menu. Now that someone had asked about it, and that someone was Gu Cheng Yao, there would no doubt be better results.

Lin Wei Xi suddenly became a little curious when she heard this. She put down her chopsticks and turned to look at Gu Cheng Yao, “seafood is rare in winter and sometimes it’s inevitable that it’s not fresh. It’s not uncommon to remove them. Shizi, why do you ask?”

Their eyes met. Ever since Lin Wei Xi married into the household, she rarely looked at him so seriously. Normally, she’d either maintain her image as stepmother and avoid looking at him, or she’d look at him cynically with ridicule in her eyes. Such an earnest and serious expression was really rare. Gu Cheng Yao looked at Lin Wei Xi’s bright black pupils and lost himself momentarily. He quickly came back to himself and said with a serious expression, “although seafood is rare in winter, they are father’s favourite and it’s something we naturally can’t be short on. When my mother was alive, the residence always had fish, shrimp, crabs and other animals in stock.”

Even now, Gu Cheng Yao still staunchly believed that Gu Hui Yan liked fresh seafood. Lin Wei Xi didn’t know what to say. If she remembered correctly, in her previous life, when Gu Cheng Yao occasionally mentioned Prince Yan’s preferences, he specifically mentioned that this was something Princess Consort Shen had told him. If this was the impression he got from his biological mother when he was a child, it definitely wouldn’t be easy to correct. But regarding things like meals, as long as Gu Cheng Yao paid a little attention, he’d know by the third meal that Prince Yan, who was rumoured to love seafood, didn’t actually eat it at all.

And the funny thing was that Gu Cheng Yao never suspected that something was wrong. Everyone else received instructions from the master and continued to steadily spread this wrong information. Now Gu Cheng Yao was even saying it in front of Prince Yan himself.

Gu Hui Yan’s expression was calm and he made no comment. Even if he heard his son forcing his “preference”, his expression didn’t fluctuate. He wasn’t someone who liked to declare things about himself, and the wrong perception had continued for more than ten years. If she corrected it now, not only would it embarrass Gu Cheng Yao, the entire Residence would also make a fuss. This wasn’t anything important so there was no need to get everyone involved.

There was a moment of silence at the dinner table. Lin Wei Xi put down her chopsticks and calmly took the handkerchief from Wan Xing, gently patting the corners of her lips. Her voice was as light as a feather, “My health isn’t good. The imperial physician said that I can’t eat too much food that triggers illnesses so that I avoid contracting a chronic disease. Hence, I decided to remove it.”

Gu Cheng Yao choked. He paused for a moment and finally said solemnly, “This son has been rude.”

Lin Wei Xi didn’t care and only Gu Hui Yan glanced at her lightly. This little miss was sometimes especially irritating, and sometimes she was incredibly sharp.