Chapter 380: Chapter 381: Uninvited

Li Cuicui wasn’t a heartless person to begin with, and after this reminder from her daughter-in-law, her heart softened considerably.

"This is indeed a problem. Her family background alone is enough to make many suitors hesitate. So many people scheming together against a single girl, and all for the sake of the fortune she possesses."

Li Cuicui said this while staring at Gu Lehuan. "If you’re thinking the same thing, you’d better give up that idea right now. The reputation of the Gu family is not for you to tarnish."

Gu Lehuan’s expression grew even more bitter. ’Even my own family thinks this way. Is this what Mr. Xu thought, too? Is that why he rejected me so decisively?’

Ancient Wen Heng glanced at the fool lost in his own delusions and silently shook his head. ’A brain really is a wonderful thing.’

The family ate dinner in silence. Afterward, Ancient Wen Heng took Gu Yuanshui to the study.

"The rent in Shangjing is too expensive," Gu Yuanshui complained as soon as they were alone. "I found a suitable place today, but setting everything up will be fraught with difficulties."

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "Isn’t starting anything always the hardest part? When I was guiding you through setting up those tofu shops, didn’t we build it all up bit by bit?"

Gu Yuanshui knew that, of course, but he had sought out Seventh for another important matter. "Seventh, I was out and about today and heard some rumors. What’s going on with you two? Aren’t you going to clarify things?"

"It’s fine. They’re just rumors; they can’t hurt us. They’ll naturally fall apart on their own after a while." Ancient Wen Heng had great faith in Jin Qianqian. After her divine maneuver, by the time the gossips realized what had happened, they’d probably be kicking themselves for a long time.

Because of these rumors, some people who just wanted to watch the drama stirred the pot, but it ended up benefiting his family instead.

Thinking of how Qianqian had been holding the newly acquired red contract yesterday, giggling foolishly for half the day, the corners of Ancient Wen Heng’s mouth slowly turned up.

Gu Yuanshui didn’t understand how Seventh could still be in a good mood at a time like this. But since he said it was fine, it probably wasn’t a big deal. "What are your thoughts on Le Huan’s situation?"

Ancient Wen Heng walked to the bookshelf, picked out a book, and began to flip through it. "Isn’t this for the best? He has his parents, and if that’s not enough, he still has Father and Mother to step in. It’s hardly our place as uncles to be making decisions, is it?

"You’re his fourth uncle; you should worry more about yourself. You left behind that whole operation back home to start fresh here. That’s probably enough to keep you busy."

Gu Yuanshui was now conflicted as well. The market here was much larger, but the social connections were also more complex.

He knew his own brother. Judging from the past two days, Seventh and his wife would definitely not get too involved.

"I’ll look around some more. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just have to find a different place." After the journey here, Gu Yuanshui felt that it didn’t have to be Shangjing. If worse came to worst, he could find a place closer to home where they could all look out for each other.

Seeing that his brother didn’t ask him for help, Ancient Wen Heng felt a sense of relief. "I might be posted elsewhere in a while."

"Posted elsewhere?" Gu Yuanshui was confused. "Leaving Shangjing? For how long?"

Ancient Wen Heng tried to explain in simple terms. "I’ll be sent out to serve as an official, like being a County Magistrate in a local area."

"A County Magistrate?" Gu Yuanshui misunderstood. "Seventh, have you been demoted?"

Ancient Wen Heng was speechless. ’...’ ’I expected too much. He really doesn’t get it...’

"How could you be demoted right after being promoted? Did you offend someone?" Gu Yuanshui grew anxious. This was the Gu family’s pillar of support; nothing could go wrong.

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Ancient Wen Heng said, "...Don’t let your imagination run wild. It just means I’ll be serving as an official outside the capital. My rank won’t change."

"Oh, good. Where will you be going?" Hearing that Ancient Wen Heng was just being transferred, Gu Yuanshui’s shrewdness returned. "In that case, I won’t look for a location just yet. Once you confirm where you’re going, we two brothers can look out for each other."

"...," Ancient Wen Heng said. "Nothing’s been decided yet. It’s just my own speculation. Fourth Brother, please don’t spread this around."

"I know, I know." Gu Yuanshui had his own plans. ’A posting outside the capital is a good thing. Being a local parental official is much better than being here in Shangjing, which is crawling with powerful nobles.’

＆

Jin Qianqian had planned to take the old madam on another tour of the neighborhood the next day, but instead, she received an unexpected visitor.

Madam Huang had to summon her courage to show up uninvited so early in the morning.

Jin Qianqian showed her guest to a side hall. As soon as the tea was served, she didn’t beat around the bush. "So, the rumors have been spread, and now you’ve come to my door to call me to account."

Madam Huang gave an embarrassed laugh. "It’s all because the children in my family are immature. You see, it’s caused so many misunderstandings."

Jin Qianqian had no intention of playing dumb with her. "Your household really overreaches. You even meddle in the private affairs between my husband and me. I wonder if you’ve even sorted out the messes in your own home."

"It’s true that Ms. Xiao was being foolish. But she has learned her lesson these past few days. My father-in-law punished them yesterday with three months of closed-door reflection. He also had them copy out the family rules. Otherwise, I would have brought them here to apologize in person."

In the end, Madam Huang didn’t cover for them. She reported the whole incident, involving three generations of women in her family, to Minister Huang.

"So what? Doesn’t everyone in Shangjing now think I’m a jealous wife? And my husband has been painted as an official who’s terrified of his spouse. Who is going to compensate us for this damage?"

Madam Huang was speechless. If this had happened to her, she wouldn’t have let it go so easily either.

But now, their positions were different. Even if she could understand Jin Qianqian, she had to do her best to mediate and make peace.

"We have already sent people out to suppress the rumors as much as possible. As for the damage done to you, our mansion will do its best to compensate you.

"In the coming days, the Huang Mansion will use all of its connections to help clarify that these are all misunderstandings, just baseless rumors."

But Jin Qianqian shook her head. "And what good will that do? Can my and my husband’s reputations really be salvaged?"

Madam Huang said, "Things have already reached this point. Mrs. Gu, if you continue to dwell on this matter, it will not be good for either of our families."

Seeing that reasoning wasn’t working, Madam Huang’s tone began to harden. "Mr. Gu has only just entered officialdom. I’m sure Mrs. Gu doesn’t want to cause trouble for her husband, does she?"

Jin Qianqian naturally understood this principle. If matters of the inner court were not handled well, they would spill out into the open.

She looked at Madam Huang with a troubled expression. "But the current rumors are not so easily quelled. The whole city knows, and new versions are appearing every day."

Madam Huang’s gaze flickered. It wasn’t that they hadn’t tried to quell the rumors before coming to negotiate. But they couldn’t control them at all; in fact, the rumors were only getting worse.

They were afraid, too. If this Mrs. Gu Jin were to use her wealth as an Imperial Merchant to retaliate, the family fortune they had painstakingly built over the years could be lost.

She would never have guessed that the rumors were escalating because Jin Qianqian herself had given them a push.

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