He and I Are Innocent

For example, if you wanted to bring someone into the household, I'd fully support you and make sure she was well cared for.

"What arrangements could you make for me?" Xu Weibei asked with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

Gu Wanning instinctively wanted to say that a mistress would be fine too!

In theory, a mistress could not enter the household without her approval.

But Xu Weibei had not mentioned the mistress. If she took the initiative to poke through the paper window, it would seem as though she were jealous.

Besides, when men wanted to keep something hidden, the best course was to let them believe they had truly fooled the heavens and crossed the sea.

Otherwise, some childish people would fly into a rage from embarrassment when exposed.

"Whatever the Marquis wants me to arrange, I'll arrange. By the way, Marquis, where is the Estate? How much land does it have? The fields aren't lying empty now, are they? What's growing in them?"

Xu Weibei: "..."

Chapter 35: He and I Are Innocent

Xu Weibei was very generous.

The Estate he gave Gu Wanning had thirty qing of fertile farmland and was right on the outskirts of the capital.

"The emperor awarded it to me when I earned military merit for the first time."

On his day off, Xu Weibei took Gu Wanning to see the farm outside the city.

Gu Wanning gazed at the flat land stretching as far as the eye could see, delirious with the feeling that she was dreaming in broad daylight.

Her expression made Xu Weibei feel for the first time that the Estate was more than a line on a list of rewards or a figure in his year-end income; it had been imbued with greater meaning.

In truth, it was only a small estate.

Only someone as inexperienced as Gu Wanning would be so delighted.

"The emperor awarded it to you? Then can you give it away?"

"No."

Gu Wanning: "..."

That's not what you said before!

Xu Weibei had clearly said that after their mutual divorce, he would give her an estate as compensation.

If it couldn't even be put in her name, how could he call that "giving it to her"?

But the thought made her ashamed. After all, she had never believed that Xu Weibei needed to compensate her for anything.

"You can manage it for as long as you like, hire people to farm it yourself, or collect rent. It will ensure you never lack food or clothing. If you remarry someday..." Xu Weibei wore the hint of a smile. "If you still expect me to support you, did you marry a bastard?"

Gu Wanning said, "...I don't want that. Lend it to me for... two years. Later, I'll repay you the rent with interest."

Poverty shortened a person's ambitions, so for now, she needed Xu Weibei's help.

But she believed that one day, she would be able to earn her own living.

Xu Weibei paid her no further attention and told Gao Lan to summon the estate steward.

Gu Wanning gave the steward detailed instructions on how to plant corn. He listened attentively and agreed to each instruction.

At noon, they ate at the Estate.

Gu Wanning was not a picky eater and enjoyed her meal.

She was particularly fond of the Estate's sweet, soft figs and greedily ate a few extra. As a result, her mouth began to feel uncomfortable on the way back.

At first it itched, then it felt a little sore and swollen, and then it hurt as though needles were stabbing it.

"Marquis, could you have them hurry back?" Gu Wanning called through the carriage curtain to Xu Weibei, who was riding outside.

She wanted to go back and have Third Concubine prescribe her some medicine.

Because her mouth was swollen, her voice sounded a little different.

The next moment, she heard Xu Weibei order the carriage to stop.

Gu Wanning: "..."

The two of us really are born to be at odds, aren't we!

I tell him to hurry, and he stops the carriage. Could there be a more resounding slap in the face than that?!

If he were not her "creditor," Gu Wanning would have given him an earful today, one way or another.

Xu Weibei dismounted and sent the driver away for the moment. Then he leaned against the carriage shaft and said quietly, "Do you need to relieve yourself? Go ahead. I'll keep watch behind you."

They still had a long way to go. He did not want her to hurt herself holding it in.

Taking a woman out was such a bother.

Gu Wanning said, "I don't need to relieve myself."

"Why can't you?" Xu Weibei asked bluntly. Then he remembered: could it be that her monthly visitor had arrived?

Yes, Xu Weibei understood such things.

Although he had never been with a woman, he had indeed had maids attending him before.

So he knew a little about it.

I don't need to go!

When Xu Weibei heard nothing from Gu Wanning for a long while, he impatiently lifted the carriage curtain. "Hurry up. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Everyone had urgent needs. What could be more normal?

"You..." Xu Weibei froze when he saw Gu Wanning's mouth. "What happened to you? Did a poisonous insect sting you?"

Gu Wanning said, "I must have eaten something that disagreed with me. Hurry back and let Third Concubine take a look."

"What does she know? Gao Lan, ride off and fetch an imperial physician immediately. Have him wait at the residence!" Xu Weibei said urgently.

Gao Lan did not understand what was happening, but he did not dare delay. He immediately answered and galloped away.

Xu Weibei stopped riding as well and climbed into the carriage to keep Gu Wanning company, his eyes practically glued to her mouth.

Gu Wanning thought, Brother, all I did was eat a little too much, didn't I?

My mouth is already swollen like this, and I'm miserable enough. I'm begging you, could you stop staring?

Even with her thick skin, she could not withstand Xu Weibei's death stare. By now, her face had begun to burn.

Xu Weibei, however, remained anxious. Why did it seem to him that Gu Wanning's mouth was getting more and more swollen...?

Meanwhile, the concubines were grilling meat in the garden.

Gu Wanning had originally organized it, but Xu Weibei had suddenly said he was taking her out today, leaving only the concubines behind. Er Ya had not been taken along either and had joined them.

Fourth Concubine had eaten her fill of grilled meat. Lying on a cool mat beneath a tree, she rubbed her rounded little belly and muttered, "Madam went out to have fun today without taking us. I feel like it's been so many days since we last went out."

First Concubine laughed. "Your heart's grown restless now. You're always thinking about going out."

"Who wouldn't want to go out and have fun?"

Second Concubine was doing the sums. "If we'd eaten today's meal outside, it would have cost a tael of silver."

Er Ya said, "It all came from the household funds. We've made a profit again today."

Everyone laughed.