I'll Be Jealous (Continued)

"No," Xu Weibei said, "We haven't had any disputes with the Southern Border for many years. The Emperor bestows many gifts upon the Southern Border every year, and the Southern Border also sends people to deliver gifts."

Gu Wanning: Understood.

It turns out it's my old buddy.

"The Emperor is using a combination of kindness and severity on them," Gu Wanning guessed. "He's definitely using you to scare them, saying he'll beat them if they disobey!"

Seeing her blinking and seeking confirmation, Xu Weibei couldn't help but smile and say, "Probably."

Gu Wanning thought that the Emperor was not a bad person.

Is my dad here too?

Xu Weibei nodded.

"I knew it! How could such an important occasion be complete without him? How does he treat you now? Is it the same as before?"

"I didn't notice," Xu Weibei said. "Are you worried about something?"

"I'm worried that you won't talk back when he insults you because of me. Don't worry about it. Stick to your own opinions. If you disagree on politics, you should speak up. Don't suffer because of me. My relationship with him isn't that good; my relationship with you is much better."

Xu Weibei was deeply pleased by these words.

He won't do that.

He thought that no matter what their father-daughter relationship was like, they would always be father and daughter in public.

Even if we don't care about the monk, we should at least give that old man a few words of advice.

Although Gu Yuanshi was not a good father, he did give Gu Wanning life, and Gu Wanning did not completely cut ties with them.

If things get awkward, even Zhi Nu won't be able to come over, and Gu Wanning will be the one who suffers in the end.

Moreover, people are shallow and materialistic. With such a family to rely on, Gu Wanning would have some support should something happen to her in the future. It's better than being adrift like duckweed.

Xu Weibei had considered all these things when he couldn't sleep.

Despite their differences, both sides sought common ground while reserving their differences, because they shared the same goal: to protect Gu Wanning.

"What did you do at home today?" Xu Weibei asked, changing the subject.

"Well, Hua Ying came over this morning and we chatted for a while. Then we dried some peanuts. I went to buy two sets of clothes for Zhi Nu, but then I thought it wouldn't be fair to favor one over the other, so I bought some for He Ge and Ling Ge as well..."

Gu Wanning kept rambling on and on.

That's how it is when there are many people; you have to be considerate.

However, she secretly favored Zhi Nu the most.

"I went to Rongrong in the afternoon, but she was too busy, so I didn't stay. I just left the dumpling filling I brought for her and left. She loves my dumpling filling... Then I went to see Jinxiu. She's pregnant and is vomiting a lot. Qin Lie is very upset but doesn't know what to do. He secretly asked Hua Ying if she could have an abortion, which made me so angry that I scolded him."

That was the child that the First Concubine risked her life to give birth to.

This child doesn't exist in dreams.

The First Concubine felt that he was of extraordinary significance.

It seems that the birth of this child brought her some solace, as her dreams and reality were completely different.

Does that mean Qin Lie will no longer die on the battlefield, his body wrapped in a horse's hide?

Gu Wanning couldn't comment on it, but she could understand her First Concubine's anxious heart.

"Hua Ying and I are trying to figure out what to give her to drink. If she can't eat, it would be good if she could drink something." Gu Wanning said worriedly.

Xu Weibei thought to himself, "Luckily, I got rid of that blockhead, Fourth Concubine."

At least we got rid of the most troublesome one.

The remaining three, which were relatively quiet, consumed a great deal of Gu Wanning's energy.

This one's pregnant, needs taking care of; that younger brother's gotten married, needs help; and there's this sly one, entangled with her third brother again...

Indeed, Xu Weibei thought the Third Concubine who came from the Grand Princess's side was a cunning and wicked person.

He really regrets it!

Why did I have such a rash decision to bring these four things into the household?

It's practically competing with myself for favor.

People always have to pay the price for their actions; it's too late to regret it then!

Gu Wanning then mentioned her plan to attend the wedding.

"I'll go with you," Xu Weibei. "Isn't it the sixteenth? I was free that day."

"You've finally given up."

"What, you don't want to come with me?" Xu Weibei was displeased.

"I want to be with you, just the two of us, alone. What's the point of having so many people around, making so much noise, and separating male and female guests?" Gu Wanning said. "Besides, I don't want the other person to feel like they can cling to you. You're so busy, and everything you're busy with is important."

"And most importantly, I'll get jealous."

"Jealous?" Xu Weibei didn't react for a moment.

"Yes," Gu Wanning said, "Although I know you have no relationship with those girls, to outsiders it looks like you're there to support Rongrong instead of accompanying me. What am I going to do if I get jealous?"

"I'm not going," Xu Weibei said decisively, "But tell me the truth..."

"Um?"

"Does she really get jealous?"

"Yes!" Gu Wanning replied confidently.

Xu Weibei was pleased.

She finally put herself first.

"... There will be a lot of people at the wedding, I don't want anyone to bump into you." Xu Weibei thought about it and was still a little worried.

Mainly because of him, Gu Wanning is probably in the eye of the storm right now.

"It's alright," Gu Wanning said. "It's lively with more people, and I'm not some delicate person."

"Why aren't you precious anymore? You're more precious than anyone else."

"Sweet talk," Gu Wanning said with a laugh.

"No sweet talk," Xu Weibei said. "I spoke to my grandmother about us today. I didn't want to bring it up, fearing it would make her target you even more; but after thinking it over, I couldn't rest easy if I didn't."

Xu Weibei now truly understood the dilemma of being torn between two choices for the sake of the one he loved, fearing he might not treat her well, and unsure how to treat her better.

"Hmm," Gu Wanning said, "Actually, you don't need to worry too much. I rarely participate in those gatherings, so I don't have many opportunities to run into her."

As long as she doesn't come to provoke us, that's fine.