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Recently, everything was going well at the yamen and Gu daren was in an excellent mood.
Xie shi sent someone to him, saying that she had prepared food to accompany wine, inviting him to shang fang to drink with her.
Gu Quan bowed, standing at the side and asked, “Does laoye want to go to shang fang?”
“En!”
Gu daren put down the document in his hand. “What is Xie er laoye busy with these days?”
Gu Quan said, “Xie er laoye goes out to socialise everyday. Xie gongzi occasionally goes out, but he stays in his room to study most of the time.”
“Is that so? These years, Xie jia’s business has grown greatly.”
Gu daren said casually but Gu Quan didn’t dare to reply.
Gu daren asked again, “What about Su Zheng?”
“Su gongzi has stayed inside. He is occupied with transcribing books everyday.”
Gu daren sighed. “It’s a pity.”
Unfortunately, Su jia had fallen. If Su jia hadn’t declined, with Su Zheng’s erudition and talent, he would be able to take up an official post smoothly.
Now, everything was uncertain.
Gu daren said, “Furen has set up a feast specially, I can’t disappoint her. Follow me to the inner courtyard.”
“Yes!”
Gu daren arrived at the inner courtyard.
The weather was sizzling hot and the servants had changed into light summer clothing. Each one was young, fresh and tender. Walking among them really warmed the heart and delighted the eyes.
Gu daren came to Shang Fang with a good mood.
Xie shi had been waiting.
She had specially dressed up today.
Applying exquisite makeup and wearing the jade jewellery that Gu daren had given her, showing snowy skin under her revealing attire, she looked eight or nine years younger, but she still had the charm of a mature woman.
Seeing her appearance, Gu daren was delighted.
He enjoyed Xie shi submissiveness and act of fawning and currying favour.
At that moment, he suddenly thought about the late Su shi.
Su shi was born in a prestigious family and was dignified and luxurious.
But in private, when the husband and wife interacted, Su shi was too dignified, not in the least bit appealing.
Su shi would not carefully dress up and ingratiate herself to him like Xie shi.
Gu daren looked at Xie shi and smiled. It was better for women to be gentle.
“Laoye is here!”
Xie shi stepped forward, welcoming him and leaned against Gu daren calmly.
Gu daren sniffed and he could smell jasmine, the fragrance he was most fond of.
His mood became even better. “Furen has worked hard.”
Xie shi pursed her lips and smiled, waving her hand. The servants retreated consciously.
“Qieshen hasn’t worked too hard. It makes qieshen happy to prepare a feast for husband.”
Inside the room was a round table with food and drink spread all over, all of which were Gu daren’s favourite delicacies.
Xie shi pulled him to sit at the main seat and poured him some wine. “Husband, qieshen wants to toast you one cup.”
Gu daren lifted his cup and drank readily, then pulled Xie shi to sit in his embrace. “Furen has dressed up very beautifully today!”
Xie shi bashfully smiled. “Qieshen is already old. How can I have those young yiniang’s fresh and tender beauty?”
She was jealous!
Gu daren wasn’t angry but smiled instead. There was pride hidden in his smile. “Furen doesn’t need to be modest. Yiniang have yiniang’s benefit. Furen has your own beauty. Husband is fond of both.”
Xie shi looked away, snorting inwardly. Men were all greedy and lustful, liking the old and hating the new.
The next second, Xie shi smiled, pretending to be delicate, snuggling up against Gu daren’s embrace.
“Husband, drink some more!”
Gu daren was in a good mood and Xie shi persuaded him to drink more, so he drank a few more glasses.
Many cups later, the fun between husband and wife needn’t be mentioned.
Later, Xie shi washed up and wore simple and neat clothes, sitting at the dressing table to groom herself.
Gu daren opened his upper garment and relaxed with his eyes closed as he leaned against the headboard.
Xie shi looked at him through the copper mirror, looking for the right opportunity.
“Er ge mentioned Xie Xian’s marriage two days ago, asking me to help him look for a good match.”
Gu daren said nasally, “En.”
Xie shi said softly, “Xie Xian, this child, I see that he is very good. His words are gentle and cultured. He is sensible and well-mannered. It’s only er ge who is worried in vain that the child will be wronged in his marriage.”
Gu daren opened his eyes, saying casually. “Is second brother-in-law looking for an official’s family for the marriage?”
“He certainly is, but I’m afraid that he doesn’t have the qualifications. The families of officials are all picky and they didn’t seem to like Xie Xian very much.”
“Then go to the capital to discuss about wedding matters. With elder brother-in-law there, Xie Xian won’t be wronged.”
“I will take husband’s lucky words.”
Pausing, Xie shi said again, “Speaking of marriage, both the da guniang and er guniang aren’t young. Especially er guniang who has been weak and sickly since childhood. I don’t know what kind of household will be suitable for her.
“I’m afraid that when she marries in the future, she will be wronged and aggrieved. I’ve been thinking about this matter for a long time. I’ve looked for quite a few households but they are all unsuitable.”
Saying so, Xie shi sighed, with a worried expression.
Gu daren said, “You are considerate. As for er guniang’s marriage, we will talk about this again when we return to the capital.”
Xie shi frowned, saying worriedly. “When will husband be able to return to the capital? If we cannot return in three or five years, won’t er guniang’s marriage be dragged on? When a girl is of age, she can neither stay nor leave, she might develop a grudge. Moreover, er guniang’s body isn’t good.
“If she cannot figure things out well, she might feel frustrated and her condition might deteriorate. How can that be okay? If Su jiejie knows about it in her afterlife, I’m afraid she would blame me for not taking care of er guniang.”
Xie shi lowered her head, sighing lightly, looking sad.
Gu daren frowned, his expression solemn. “Furen might as well put forth her opinion directly.”
Xie shi sat down beside him, leaning forward. Her neckline was wide open, exposing the fair and delicate skin beneath.
It seemed to show yet not to show. Seeing the beauty underneath the light of the lamp looking increasingly beautiful, Gu daren’s emotions stirred.
He actively held her hand.
Xie shi’s hand was tender, smooth and well-maintained, like a little girl’s. Gu daren liked it very much.
Xie shi said softly, “I’ve been thinking about er guniang’s marriage. It’s better for her to marry into a family that we know well. It’s best if the in-laws are relatives. Then, we won’t worry about er guniang being wronged.
“Moreover, if the two families know each other well, we can visit each other frequently. If er guniang wants to have a meal or talk to someone, she can always return to her natal home and those in her husband’s family are also unlikely to gossip.”
Gu daren thought over this and said, “Furen‘s words are reasonable. Does furen have a suitable candidate? Is it possible that you have chosen Su Zheng?”
Xie shi pursed her lips and smiled. “Sure enough, I can’t hide anything from husband. But it’s not Su Zheng. Of course Su Zheng is excellent. But with Su jia‘s situation and er guniang’s weak body, she probably won’t be able to bear it.  I can’t bear to watch her suffer and have no choice but to give up on Su Zheng.”
“Furen is considerate. If it’s not Su Zheng, then who?”
Xie shi asked, “What does husband think about Xie Xian?”
Xie shi was a little nervous as she looked at Gu daren uneasily.
Gu daren asked expressionlessly, “Does madam think that Xie Xian is suitable?”
“Xie Xian is intelligent and well-mannered. He is also a relative. If er guniang marries him, everyone in Xie jia will only favour her and won’t let her be wronged in the least. After some thought, qieshen thinks that Xie Xian is a good match for er guniang.” Xie shi said cautiously.
Gu daren raised his brows. “Er guniang’s body is weak. It is unlikely for her to get better. Will second brother-in-law agree?”
Xie shi exhaled. “There should be no problem on er ge’s side. Moreover, Xie Xian marrying er guniang is already climbing high. How can he dislike er guniang for her sickly body? What does husband think?”
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Gu daren thought for a while and said, “I will consider it. I didn’t know about Xie Xian, this child, too much before. Now that he is in the fu and examine him.”
Xie shi was delighted. As long as Xie Xian performed well, this marriage was guaranteed to succeed.