Solving mysteries?

These words made Qin Yuan unable to hold back a laugh, "I’m going to find my mother to judge this. Just because I drank two sips of your salty tea soup, you want me to do something as monumental as solving mysteries. Clearly, Marquis is using his age to bully me."

With that, her delicate hands were seized by Gu Jinghui, who said, "Don’t you always speak of husband and wife as one? Just for the sake of being one, you shouldn’t say that."

Qin Yuan couldn’t break free, and Gu Jinghui intensified his tone, smiling playfully, "Is it because we haven’t become a real couple that you act so distant?"

Qin Yuan’s face turned crimson, and she shot him a sidelong glance, "You say such things outside, what kind of image does that leave for the servants?"

Gu Jinghui gently caressed her slender wrist, and laughed softly, "They’re all ashore, quite far from us; what can they hear?"

Implying that at the moment, in this waterside pavilion, only the two of them were present.

Feeling moved, Qin Yuan asked, "Did husband choose this place for private discussions? What would you like to ask?"

Gu Jinghui coughed lightly a few times and released her hand, awkwardly saying, "I just felt someone here makes it inconvenient, and so I wanted to talk intimately, nothing for secret discussions."

Qin Yuan nodded, agreeing, "So, it was my overthinking; but what did husband want to talk about?"

Gu Jinghui stammered, "Well, it’s not overthinking. It’s still better if fewer people know about this."

Qin Yuan: "..."

Only then did Gu Jinghui relay what Mr. Songshan said, then added, "Wife, what do you think is the meaning of Mr. Songshan’s words?"

Qin Yuan stood up and gave Gu Jinghui a salute, smiling, "Congratulations, Marquis."

Gu Jinghui was first taken aback, then smiled while pulling her into his embrace to sit, "You’re being naughty again, what’s there to congratulate me about?"

Qin Yuan solemnly replied, "I’m not being naughty; this truly is a grand celebration. Mr. Songshan’s words indicate his intent to stay at the Mansion. He’s calling himself a guest scholar, but we cannot take it lightly. His talents far exceed my father’s, and Marquis having his assistance, is it not a cause for celebration?"

Gu Jinghui was momentarily stunned, and then slowly said, "It’s just..."

"Just what?"

Qin Yuan was a bit puzzled.

In a previous world, Mr. Songshan refused to appoint an official position, and now residing at the Marquis Mansion surely is a rare fortune for the Dingbei Marquis Mansion.

Gu Jinghui said, "I just think... well... since his talents are exceptional, it might be good to have him in the residence to teach my sixth brother and nephews... I have already fought my wars and have little need for him, just to consult on some basic knowledge..."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Is it because Marquis feels even when fighting wars he isn’t useful, so you come up with your own plans?"

Gu Jinghui laughed a few "hehehe," saying, "... about the affairs of war, it’s quite different from what books say. Previously, under my command were scholarly types, yet when it came to the actual battles, they truly were ineffective. No wonder people say scholars rebel for ten years without succeeding."

Moreover, Mr. Songshan spoke of enlightening others as if they were ordinary chickens and dogs, making Gu Jinghui feel Mr. Songshan lacked some luck. If only they had crossed paths a few years earlier, he might have earned a military merit. However, all wars are fought now, leaving Mr. Songshan to live at the Mansion with little more to gain.

Qin Yuan laughed, "Mr. Songshan is a grand scholar; if you can acquire even a fraction of his skills, confronting the Emperor in the future would be easier. Many people hope for his presence but cannot get him, yet you think there’s no need for him. Now that there’s no need for war, Mr. Songshan’s abilities will truly shine."

"Oh?"

Gu Jinghui looked at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan leaned on his shoulder and softly said, "Though my father has a vast amount of knowledge, his strategy is somewhat lacking. Mr. Songshan not only surpasses my father in scholarship but is superior in strategy. Now the Crown Prince is weak, various Princes have different thoughts, and courtiers have various plans. Husband is caught in the middle, so consult with Mr. Songshan for any perplexities. Even if it’s relaxing and easing your mind, why not?"

Gu Jinghui was stunned for a moment, then said, "I only thought of consulting with you."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan was also taken aback and smiled, "Husband sees me as your close advisor?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Wife is intelligent and talented, which is too good to be only my advisor. Marrying you is my good fortune for three lifetimes."

Qin Yuan sighed, "Husband doesn’t underestimate me for my youth and being a woman, listening to my words is my three lifetimes of good fortune."

The two praised each other for a while.

Qin Yuan then said, "Listening to one viewpoint creates darkness; listening to multiple brings enlightenment. Husband, having more people to discuss matters with is a good thing, isn’t this precisely three cobblers with their combined wisdom equal to Zhuge Liang?"

Gu Jinghui laughed, "The three of us... haha... what you said makes sense."

Qin Yuan then said, "Tomorrow, I will arrange for a courtyard to be reorganized. In the future, Sixth Master, nephews, and my cousins will inevitably come to bother Mr. Songshan. I think it might be best for the kitchen to let Mr. Songshan pick the menu daily; our small kitchen here should occasionally send some items over. Mr. Songshan will need some clever maidservants and servants to understand his preferences. His family may wish to move in, the registry must be planned, and monthly stipends should be organized properly."

Seeing Qin Yuan count everything with her fingers happily, Gu Jinghui laughed, "All according to you. With your arrangement, Mr. Songshan will surely be comfortable, perhaps even willing to stay at the Mansion for a lifetime. If he has family and they want to live together, it would be perfect. Eventually, not only will Sixth Master and nephews receive his guidance, but our children can benefit as well."

He would teach the Gu Family’s ancestral martial arts, his father-in-law and Mr. Songshan would teach scholarship.

His children, regardless of gender, possess both civil and martial talents, and appear handsome, like dragons and phoenixes among humans.

Gu Jinghui spoke more and more yearningly.

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but get annoyed, "Here I am properly discussing this, and all you do is stray so far."

Gu Jinghui hurriedly kissed her, "Alright, alright, my mistake, continue as you wish."

Qin Yuan said, "Nothing more to say, the rest can be asked from Cui Ming and Hong Ye when we go back. They are more meticulous and detailed than me; perhaps they will think even more thoroughly."

Gu Jinghui nodded.

These two were certainly her right-hand helpers, arranging matters for Mr. Songshan couldn’t do without them.

The two sat quietly for a moment.

Qin Yuan said, "It would be nice if someone was playing silk and bamboo music in the pavilion opposite now."

Gu Jinghui said, "I used to have actors and musicians supported by my Mansion, now if we want to listen, we might have to borrow Sixth Master’s concubine."

He thought some more and said, "Why don’t we raise them again, my mother loved to listen back then, aunts from the family also frequently came to listen to opera together."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Forget it, it was just spoken casually. If others knew, they might think me arrogant."

Gu Jinghui was silent for a while, then said, "Well, I was just wondering whether to ask the Emperor for leave; if we raise actors, the Emperor knowing wouldn’t be good."