Qiuxiang Pavilion?

Qin Yuan looked at Marquis Gu, quite surprised, and said with a smile, "Marquis, you’ve chosen an excellent place."

Gu Jinghui also smiled, gently pulling her up, saying, "You’ll only find it good once we get there."

Seeing him in high spirits, Qin Yuan went along with him.

Mo Zhu and the others wanted to follow but were stopped by him, who said, "No need to follow." Then he said to Qin Yuan with a smile, "With me here, why should they follow? They’d just spoil the fun."

The maids stamped their feet and looked at Qin Yuan. Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Now that we’re full and content, it’s fine to have no one follow."

Gu Jinghui smilingly walked away hand in hand with her.

"Rest assured, everything’s arranged. When we’re there, we can enjoy ourselves without needing them."

Qin Yuan nodded, "As you wish."

After all, it’s just watching fireflies on the boat for a while and then returning. Qiuxiang Pavilion is in a secluded spot; I’ve roughly seen it before. It’s modeled after Jiangnan gardens with a waterside pavilion surrounded by corridors, and the East and West corridors lead to small pavilions on the water, making it a good viewing spot.

They walked leisurely to the edge of the pond, stepping onto the corridor. Several colorful lamps were lit in the night, and willow strands waved gently with the breeze. The water surface among the lotus leaves quivered with colorful reflections, accompanied by the lively sounds of frogs and insects.

Qin Yuan nodded, "The night view here is quite beautiful."

Marquis Gu’s eyebrows and eyes softened, and he gave a soft whistle, after which a servant ran over to report, "Marquis, Madam, the wine and tea have been prepared in the pavilion."

Qin Yuan smiled, "Husband has such refined interests."

Marquis Gu also smiled, "Didn’t Yuan’er want to compose poetry? I’d be too dull just watching, so I had them prepare the tea set along with the tea stove, as making tea is the most elegant."

Qin Yuan lowered her eyes with a smile, more and more surprised in her heart, as she let Marquis Gu lead her through the corridors to the small pavilion on the east, where two servants had already set up the tea stove outside the pavilion fence, fanning the fire and boiling water.

Qin Yuan then asked, "What kind of tea is it?"

Marquis Gu smiled, "Naturally, it’s Baihao Yinzhen."

Qin Yuan glanced at Marquis Gu and nodded, "This is quite suitable for the evening."

Marquis Gu smiled, "Although I’m rather unrefined now, I still know these things."

Qin Yuan also smiled, "I haven’t said anything yet."

Marquis Gu sighed, "Indeed, you haven’t said anything, yet it’s as if you’ve said everything. I usually spend time with those soldiers, and if I were too particular, how could I get along with them? If the commander-in-chief lives in luxury every day, wouldn’t the vice generals and assistant generals just indulge in eating and drinking every day too? Thus, unity and harmony would be hard to achieve, with everyone only wanting to enjoy ease and comfort. How could they then hold the Northern Border together? Only by sharing both joys and hardships could everyone be of one mind. I’m the third in my family; my elder brothers took care of me, and when I grew up a bit, I went to the palace as a companion, growing up amidst luxury, having enjoyed every kind of wealth."

Qin Yuan lowered her eyes. If the Gu Family hadn’t met with misfortune, Marquis Gu would have stayed in the Capital as Yu Lang, married, and had children early, and they wouldn’t have had their fate. Who could anticipate so many unexpected events in the world?

In the past, when they talked as husband and wife, it was mostly about household matters and rarely mentioned these things, showing clearly that Marquis Gu has a lot to say tonight.

Qin Yuan then said, "Since ancient times, leading an army has been challenging. Only by sharing both hardships and joys can unity be achieved, and that’s the right principle. Though you’ve trained in martial arts since childhood, I assume you still suffered quite a bit when you went to the military camp."

They entered the pavilion, finding embroidered cushions already laid on the stone stools and tea sets, fruit plates, pastries, and other items placed full on the stone table.

Qin Yuan smiled and asked, "Weren’t we supposed to watch fireflies on the boat? So, it’s here that we’re having tea instead? Didn’t the servant just say the wine was prepared? Could it be I’m drinking tea while you drink wine? Why not prepare some snacks to go with the wine? Does husband only drink plain wine?"

Marquis Gu replied, "It’s just some fruit wine, not very intoxicating; ladies can drink it too. We’ll go to the boat to watch when there are more fireflies."

Qin Yuan gave a gentle smile.

Inside the pavilion above the water, the view was expansive. In the distance, overlapping shadows loomed, while nearby, the exquisite lights and the water surface were interwoven. The gentle breeze brushed by, suddenly making one forget their worries. As a few fireflies appeared, Qin Yuan sat quietly, and half of a poem for her friend Miss Dong came to her hazily.

Gu Jinghui didn’t disturb her, only playing with the jade belt at his waist, his sharp eyes slightly narrowed.

The servants let the water boil and came in to ask, "The water is ready. Would the master like to brew or whisk the tea?"

Qin Yuan looked at Marquis Gu in surprise.

Usually, it’s always brewed. Why ask whether to brew or whisk tonight?

Marquis Gu nodded and said, "I’ll do it myself. You all can leave; come back when I call you."

The servants acquiesced and withdrew.

Qin Yuan asked, "Is it that the Marquis wants to drink the tea I brew?"

Marquis Gu said, "Usually, it’s me drinking it. Today, I want you to try mine."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Alright then."

She grew more curious about what Marquis Gu was planning.

Marquis Gu asked, "So, do you want it brewed or whisked?"

Qin Yuan questioned, "How do you want to brew it?"

Marquis Gu said, "If it’s the usual brewing or whisking, it’s just like Tang and Song times. Since you’ve been in the Capital, you haven’t tried tea from elsewhere. How about I brew it for once and let you have a taste of something new?"

Qin Yuan was quite curious, so she nodded and asked, "Does husband always brew tea at the Northern Border?"

Marquis Gu answered, "In winter, with nowhere to go, we gather around the stove to brew tea. The locals have a taste for strong flavors, hence the saying ’three teas a day, one meal a day.’ The Mongols drink salted milk tea daily, and the Qiang people love a kind of butter tea made with milk, eggs, and nuts, with a fragrant aroma of salt. In winter, when there’s nothing to do, everyone gathers around a pot to brew tea until the flavor’s gone, which is quite different from the Capital, but incredibly rustic."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Then I am lucky to taste tea from the Northern Border without leaving the Capital."

In her past life, she traveled with Lin Ziqi in the south and beyond, and being a Southerner by birth, her eating and drinking were all Southern habits. Hearing Marquis Gu speak thus, she was slightly curious.

Under the lights, in the breeze, Marquis Gu’s sharp eyebrows and eyes were as handsome as a painting, with a natural rhythm in his every movement. Qin Yuan watched without blinking, and occasionally they exchanged a glance, sharing a knowing smile.

There’s an old saying that goes: ’Beauty is seen under the moon or lamp.’

Amidst the misty water vapor, bright lights, and curling incense, Marquis Gu’s usual aura of martial fierceness was subdued, with a newfound serenity and ease in his brow and eyes.

Qin Yuan suppressed her doubts and began to admire the beauty, knowing Marquis Gu had been brewing something in his mind and would soon speak.

What night is this, to share such candlelight?

Qin Yuan sipped the milk tea brewed by Marquis Gu, quite different from the Southern tea habits. It contained sesame, walnuts, orange cakes, persimmon cakes, fresh milk, red dates, and also included salt and eggs.

The taste was hard to describe.

Marquis Gu drank with relish and asked her, "Are you accustomed to drinking this?"

Qin Yuan put down the cup and said, "It’s acceptable."

Gu Jinghui smiled and said, "You drank my tea; now you must enlighten me."