Skimping

Please enjoy your meal. I'll take my leave!

"Stop right there! Where are you going?" Xu Weibei spoke, his voice tinged with anger.

He hadn't even finished speaking, and she already wanted to run off?

Was she mocking him with those four pieces of charcoal?

Did she really think three years in the army had left him thinking even a sow could rival Diaochan?

"I'm going to build a cucumber trellis," Gu Wanning's voice called from a distance. "I can't let the farm work fall behind. Since you can't bear to let your concubines toil, Marquis, I can only do it myself."

Xu Weibei: "..."

Now that only he and the four pieces of charcoal remained, he felt unbearably irritated.

Fourth concubine, having been dealt a blow by her "pig teammate," had also lost heart and knelt there dejectedly.

The other three went without saying; they hadn't dared look at Xu Weibei once since he arrived.

Naturally, Xu Weibei wouldn't let Gu Wanning off just like that, but just then, a maid came forward to report.

"Marquis, the Grand Princess Dowager has sent someone to summon you," an attendant said respectfully at the door.

"I know." Xu Weibei's expression was indifferent.

After returning and paying his respects to the emperor, he should have gone to see his grandmother, but he hadn't.

Now Grandmother was growing anxious.

"The Grand Princess Dowager said you must bring your wife with you."

A flicker of disgust passed through Xu Weibei's eyes.

If his grandmother hadn't pushed so hard for it back then, the emperor would never have decreed his marriage to Gu Wanning.

"Marquis, shall I send someone to fetch Madam?" Gao Lan ventured.

"No need. Bring third concubine."

Third concubine rose and followed Xu Weibei with her eyes lowered and an obedient air.

The other concubines' eyes showed all manner of emotions, from curiosity to envy.

As for Gu Wanning, she had only intended to put on an act, but as she looked at the neat, thriving, lush vegetable plots spread across the rear courtyard, she even forgot for a moment that she had transmigrated.

Tender scallions stood upright in rows that were a pleasure to behold; purple branches and leaves bore round-bellied purple eggplants, a heartening sight; the cucumber vines were flourishing but somewhat tangled. No need to rush; once the trellis was up, they would soon be tidy...

There were also little red radishes, cilantro, and even a patch of watermelons. Gu Wanning couldn't tear her eyes away from the tiny melons beneath the female blossoms.

Gu Wanning now felt as happy as a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar.

In her previous life, she had grown up in the countryside with her grandfather and had studied agronomy in college.

Although she had been unemployed as soon as she graduated and had been forced to change careers, becoming a cubicle worker amid steel and concrete, Gu Wanning had always kept her dream of a rural life tucked away in her heart.

After all those twists and turns, had the original owner of this body fulfilled her dream?

Unfortunately, this was the marquis's residence, not her own territory.

Although she had just escaped a calamity, she didn't believe Xu Weibei would give up looking for trouble with her.

To hell with the wife and concubines living as one happy family; she only wanted to be beautiful on her own!

She wanted to stay away from the stud and divorce him by mutual consent.

Oh, no, that wouldn't work. The emperor had decreed their marriage.

Unless Xu Weibei committed some heinous crime and she drew a clear line between herself and him, there was virtually no chance of them separating.

If they couldn't divorce by mutual consent, how could they live peacefully under the same roof?

Chapter 3: Skimping

The Grand Princess Dowager's residence.

"Where is your wife?" The Grand Princess Dowager's face fell when she saw that Xu Weibei hadn't brought Gu Wanning.

Xu Weibei said coolly, "She's feeling unwell."

Third concubine stood behind Xu Weibei, her eyes lowered and her manner obedient, without saying a word.

The Grand Princess Dowager glanced at her and seemed to take a deep breath. Her tone softened slightly. "That child is strong-willed. She didn't say a word about feeling unwell. Someone, go find Imperial Physician Zhang and have her go to the marquis's residence to give Madam a thorough examination."

"Grandmother, there's no need," Xu Weibei said.

"What kind of talk is that?" Anger surged in the Grand Princess Dowager as she slapped the small table. "What did I tell you before? Wanning is a child who has suffered. You must treat her well..."

"There are too many people in the world who have suffered. Why do you pity her alone, Grandmother?" Xu Weibei's tone was cold.

Grandmother clearly valued Gu Yuanshi, the chief grand secretary, and hoped he would do his best to assist the emperor and safeguard her Liu family's reign for generations to come.

Gu Wanning was the "long-standing problem" that plagued Gu Yuanshi.

What family of equal standing would be willing to take a shallow, crude woman who had grown up on a country estate as a wife?

Yet Grandmother had insisted on arranging the match for him, making him the laughingstock of the capital.

"Weibei, what do you mean by that?"

"I mean, I don't like Gu Wanning!" Xu Weibei said, enunciating every word. "If you're about to urge me to spread my branches and leaves, Grandmother, save your breath."

"You, you..." The Grand Princess Dowager clutched her chest, her face turning bright red and her breathing growing rapid.

"Grandmother!" Seeing this, Xu Weibei hurried forward and knelt before her, repeatedly calling for someone to fetch an imperial physician.

"Marquis, let me take a look at the princess first," Third concubine said softly, unhurried.

Only then did Xu Weibei remember that she had been able to serve the Grand Princess Dowager because she was a medical woman.

He had brought third concubine today because she was someone the Grand Princess Dowager had given him.

Xu Weibei stepped aside, and third concubine went forward to help the Grand Princess Dowager catch her breath.

"Someone, help the princess lie down first. Sui'er, bring me my silver needles," Third concubine instructed in an orderly manner.

"How is Grandmother?"

"I'll do my best. Please don't worry, Marquis."

Xu Weibei was still uneasy and also sent Gao Lan to fetch Imperial Physician Zhang.

"Get out, get out!" the Grand Princess Dowager snapped at Xu Weibei.

Xu Weibei didn't dare upset her at a time like this, so he could only withdraw and wait outside the door.

Third concubine instructed the maids to close the doors and windows, then told everyone to leave, saying she needed to concentrate all her energy on treating the Grand Princess Dowager with acupuncture and could not be disturbed.

Seeing this, Xu Weibei grew even more anxious. He also regretted provoking his grandmother, who had a heart condition, now that what was done was done.

But inside the room, the Grand Princess Dowager was already breathing evenly, her face serene. Where was there even the slightest sign of an attack?

"Did he make a fuss when he returned to the residence?" the Grand Princess Dowager asked in a very low voice.