CHAPTER-10

　　Ruan Zhi knew that Gu Qingci would be different from before, but she didn't expect him to be so abnormal.

　　Even in the past life, Gu Qingci had never called Ruan Zhi's parents, let alone been so respectful.

　　Well, she came back to reassure her parents.

　　"Father, I missed home a lot these days, so my wife took me home to see it. I was anxious for a while and didn't send anyone to tell me in advance." Ruan Zhi stood up and bowed to Ruan Maolin.

　　"It's okay. You can come back whenever you want. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare the meal, and we'll eat at home at noon." Ruan Maolin said.

　　"I'm sorry to bother you, father-in-law and mother-in-law." Gu Qingci's appetite was excited when he heard what Ruan Maolin said.

　　The Ruan family started their business as a restaurant.

　　Several generations of the Ruan family were chefs. If nothing else, the food at home is probably better than that at Xiuyi Garden.

　　"Azhi and I have some personal words to talk about. The master is entertaining the Marquis of Jian'an here. Marquis of Jian'an, I'm sorry for the poor hospitality." Qin Ruofang stood up and said to Ruan Maolin, then looked at Gu Qingci and bowed slightly.

　　Qin Ruofang couldn't wait to have a good talk with Ruan Zhi.

　　"Mother-in-law is too polite. Just call me Ah Ci. You guys go ahead, I'll talk to my father-in-law." Gu Qingci returned the greeting and said with a smile.

　　"..." Qin Ruofang was still a little uncomfortable with Gu Qingci like this, and smiled a little awkwardly.

　　Ruan Zhi glanced at Gu Qingci, and Gu Qingci winked at Ruan Zhi, as if to say "Don't worry, leave it to me."

　　Ruan Zhi ignored Gu Qingci, and she had done even more outrageous things before.

　　Ruan Zhi took Qin Ruofang's hand and left the hall to go to Ruan Zhi's boudoir before she got married.

　　When they got to the room, Qin Ruofang's previous calmness could no longer be held, and she hugged Ruan Zhi and couldn't stop crying.

　　Ruan Zhi hugged Qin Ruofang and patted her gently to comfort her.

　　No matter who was around her, who betrayed her, who stabbed her in the back, the closest people in the family have always been the best to her.

　　It's a pity that she failed to protect them in her previous life.

　　"Ah Zhi, is this... the marriage consummation?" Qin Ruofang asked Ruan Zhi in a low voice after a while.

　　Gu Qingci's big change made her think of only one possibility.

　　"Yeah." Ruan Zhi was stunned for a moment, and in order to reassure her mother, she bowed her head and admitted it.

　　After being marked by Gu Qingci, there was still a little bit of Gu Qingci's scent on her body, which could be smelled if you got close.

　　Not to mention the bite marks on her neck were still there.

　　"That day, you were plotted at the birthday party of the county magistrate's daughter. So many people saw it, and I had no choice but to marry her. I met her a few times, and each time I felt a little chilled. When you were taken away, I couldn't sleep every day. I wanted to go to the Gu Mansion to see you, but I couldn't get in. I wanted to break in to find you." Qin Ruofang looked at Ruan Zhi and burst into tears again. "

　　Mother, don't cry. It's okay now. If you want to see me, you can come anytime." Ruan Zhi comforted her, and her fingers trembled unconsciously.

　　Marrying Gu Qingci was out of helplessness.

　　It has been several years since I was driven out of the Gu family in my previous life, and there is no way to find out who set up the trap.

　　Now that this incident has just happened, it can still be checked.

　　"Once Chiwu gets the benefit, he will treat Chang'e differently. If she can pity and love you, your father and I will feel relieved at home." Qin Ruofang sighed.

　　"Yesterday I heard that the Gu family sent a few evil slaves to see the officials. What's going on?" Qin Ruofang remembered the news from the day before.

　　"The slaves bullied their masters and embezzled the public money. I looked at the account book and helped her calculate it. I found more than 100 taels of silver." Ruan Zhi said.

　　"Our Azhi can read the account book accurately. No one can deceive Azhi. Is there a shortage of people in the mansion now? I will let Meizhi and Juzhi go with you, and you can also take Fucheng's family with you..." Qin Ruofang said proudly, and worried about Ruan Zhi again, worried that there would be no one around her to use, so she wanted to send her capable servants over.

　　Ruan Zhi smiled. Her mother was always like this.

　　"The ones that mother is used to, don't give me. Brother Hu sent me a few people, including guards and maids. I have a few candidates, mother, please help me find them at home, I will bring them with me and let the wet nurse teach them in a few days, and then they can be used." Ruan Zhi said.

　　This is also another purpose of her coming today.

　　Instead of going to the pawnshop to buy unfamiliar ones, it is better to use the loyal ones in the previous life.

　　"Okay, tell me, I will find someone for you." Qin Ruofang said immediately.

　　Ruan Zhi mentioned a few people, and Qin Ruofang's capable maid went to find someone to arrange it.

　　"Ah Zhi, why are you here today? Doesn't Marquis Jian'an have to go to the academy?" Qin Ruofang came back and asked Ruan Zhi after remembering something.

　　"She doesn't want to go to the academy, let her." Ruan Zhi said.

　　"Why don't you persuade her about this matter? I have inquired about it. She is in the Ding class of the academy and still needs to work hard. Although she has a title, she cannot protect her descendants. What will happen if she has children in the future? She has such a good status and is still young. It is the time for her to study and take the imperial examination. Don't waste her time. You two can get along well with each other and give her some advice." Qin Ruofang said worriedly.

　　"Mother, I will persuade her when I go back." Ruan Zhi agreed with Qin Ruofang and did not say much about her plan.

　　"Azhi, there is another thing. Since you got married, your cousin has been seriously ill and has become so thin. He was going to marry you when he passed the imperial examination, but he failed twice, which delayed you to marry until you were 20 years old. Who knew that you would have such a thing again. You missed each other like this." Qin Ruofang looked at Ruan Zhi and said regretfully.

　　"Mother, it's done. Don't mention it again." Ruan Zhi said in silence.

　　"No more, no more. I just... Let's talk about Jinyu. The teacher said he is a good student. Last time your father contacted a manager at the government office, do you know how much money he asked for to change Jinyu's nationality? 20,000 taels! It's really a lion's mouth." Qin Ruofang stopped talking about this topic after seeing Ruan Zhi's expression and talked about something else.

　　"Mother, don't spend this money in vain." Ruan Zhi said hurriedly. She remembered that her family had spent a lot of effort to change her brother's nationality in her previous life.

　　"I see that your father is moved. Jinyu is a good student. If he can change his nationality, it would be great." Qin Ruofang said.

　　"Mother, I will also find a way to do this. You persuade father, don't be anxious for the time being." Ruan Zhi said.

　　Qin Ruofang didn't know what Ruan Zhi would think of, so she nodded and didn't say more about this matter.

　　While the mother and daughter were talking, Gu Qingci and Ruan Maolin were not idle outside.

　　Ruan Maolin has been doing business for many years and has strong communication skills. Gu Qingci has the physique of a community bull. She can follow whatever Ruan Maolin says and not let the words fall.

　　Ruan Maolin was getting more and more surprised as he spoke.

　　He always felt that Gu Qingci was praising him and was really respectful to him.

　　Unlike Qin Ruofang, Ruan Maolin thought of another direction.

　　While Gu Qingci was eating pastries, Ruan Maolin went out for a while, and when he came back, he had a box in his hand.

　　"Aci, thank you for taking care of Azhi. I don't have anything good, just a small gift for you and Azhi to play with." Ruan Maolin handed the thing to Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci was stunned for a moment, took the box and opened it to take a look.

　　There was a land deed and a stack of banknotes inside!

　　This father-in-law is so generous!

　　"Father-in-law, what does this mean?" Gu Qingci looked at Ruan Maolin with wide eyes.

　　"I see that you like the lotus in the yard very much. I just bought a farm surrounded by lotus ponds a few days ago. You and Azhi can go and have fun when you are free. When the lotus is in bloom, you can go boating to enjoy the lotus. Later, you can pick lotus seeds and lotus roots, which contain fish." Ruan Maolin said.

　　Gu Qingci was moved when she heard it.

　　Too rich!

　　She has decided on this father-in-law!

　　"Father-in-law, you can't accept rewards without merit. We will go and have fun. When the time comes, we will provide food and accommodation. The land deed is not necessary." Gu Qingci said with a smile.

　　She wanted to accept it.

　　At least she has some moral bottom line.

　　And after accepting it, it is not hers, and she has to hand it over.

　　"..." Ruan Maolin paused and looked at Gu Qingci.

　　I don't know if she really doesn't want it, or if she thinks it is too little.

　　"If Ah Ci likes this house, he can live here with Ah Zhi. We have another house in the east of the city." Ruan Maolin said again.

　　Gu Qingci:...

　　"Father-in-law, how could I possibly take someone else's love away? What kind of person do you think I am? Don't be so polite, we are a family now. Let's not talk about this. My brother is so cute, tell your sister why you didn't go to the academy today? Is it a holiday?" Gu Qingci changed the subject and looked at Ruan Jinyu and asked.

　　Ruan Maolin put it aside for the time being, but his face was a little worried.

　　"The academy does not accept businessmen." Ruan Jinyu was obediently accompanying the guests on the side, and when he heard Gu Qingci ask him, he pouted.

　　He also wanted to go to school, to the academy.

　　"..." Gu Qingci looked at Ruan Jinyu's aggrieved look and felt pity for him. He

　　almost forgot that businessmen could not enter the academy, let alone take the examination for a scholar. As long as he was in business, his career path would be cut off.

　　Although rich, but pitiful.

　　"Dad hired a teacher to teach me at home. Oh, I have to take so many classes every day. Dad said I have to master the Five Classics and the Six Arts. I have to read in the morning, learn the piano, play chess, and practice riding and archery in the afternoon..." Ruan Jinyu said with a puffy face.

　　"..." Gu Qingci's newly risen heart of pity was broken.

　　She should be the one to be pitied!

　　Others go to school and take large classes, but he teaches privately every day, many to one, and learns so many categories, customized.

　　Who should envy who?

　　"It's so hard. Take a break occasionally." Gu Qingci sighed in his heart and said with a smile on his face.

　　"Sister, the academy must be fun, with so many classmates taking classes together." After Ruan Jinyu complained to Gu Qingci, she blinked and looked at Gu Qingci with envy in her eyes.

　　Gu Qingci was a little embarrassed.

　　She was skipping school and was thinking about taking a leave of absence and not going to school.

　　She didn't have any ambitions, she just wanted to live a carefree life in her old age.

　　"It's not good to have too many people, it's too noisy. You said you practice riding and archery every day? Where do you practice?" Gu Qingci said. After talking about the academy, she wanted to see how rich this family is.

　　"Dad, can I take my sister to the horse farm?" Ruan Jinyu looked at Ruan Maolin.

　　"Of course. Let's change into riding clothes and go to the racecourse in the back." Ruan Maolin said.

　　There was still some time before lunch, and Ruan Maolin saw that Gu Qingci was interested and took her to the back.

　　After changing into riding clothes, passing through the main room to the back, there was another world.

　　A lawn as big as the playground in the previous life.

　　There were four horses in the stable on one side.

　　The reddish-brown horse, with big, watery eyes, was agile and beautiful, much more handsome than the horse that was harnessed to the carriage hired before.

　　Gu Qingci's eyes lit up.

　　Is this the happiness of the rich in ancient times?

　　Gu Qingci had ridden a mutated animal to escape in the last days, so she had some experience in riding horses.

　　Considering that Gu Qingci was a "scholar" who probably had not ridden a horse before, Ruan Maolin found the most docile horse for Gu Qingci to ride, and he also took care of him beside him.

　　Ruan Jinyu rode the pony she often rode and followed Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci pretended to ride slowly at first, but when he saw Ruan Jinyu running on the horse, he also ran after her.

　　Ruan Maolin was very nervous, fearing that something might happen to Gu Qingci. Ruan

　　Zhi talked with Qin Ruofang in the room for a long time. The maid reported that it was time to eat, and the two came out.

　　Seeing that Gu Qingci was gone from the living room, Ruan Zhi asked the maid and found out that he had gone to the back to ride a horse.

　　Not long after Ruan Zhi and Qin Ruofang washed their hands, Gu Qingci and the Ruan family father and son followed back, smiling.

　　"Madam, my father-in-law said he would give me a horse. Can I accept it? The money will be deducted from my monthly salary." Gu Qingci saw Ruan Zhi quickly approach her and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

　　If Ruan Maolin gave him a house as a gift, Gu Qingci could still refuse it, but if he gave him a horse, he couldn't refuse it at all.

　　"Take it." Ruan Zhi glanced at Gu Qingci's sparkling eyes and nodded.

　　Gu Qingci's mood immediately soared when he heard Ruan Zhi say that.

　　Qin Ruofang and Ruan Maolin looked at each other, each with emotions in their eyes.

　　When they arrived at the dining room to eat, Gu Qingci was once again enlightened.

　　The round table was filled with various dishes.

　　The table was too big, so a maid was needed to serve the dishes.

　　Gu Qingci was very satisfied with this meal, secretly thinking about this mother's home, it would be nice if Ruan Zhi could come back more often.

　　After lunch, after a short rest, Gu Qingci and Ruan Zhi said goodbye and went back home. They

　　left empty-handed, and when they left, several servants carried fruits and vegetables out to load the carriage. Qin Ruofang gave Ruan Zhi a box, as well as several servants that Ruan Zhi asked from the Ruan family, as well as the horse and a groom that Ruan Maolin gave to Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci felt embarrassed.

　　The Ruan family was too enthusiastic.

　　Before leaving, Gu Qingci bowed to Ruan Zhi's parents again, which is the courtesy of the younger generation to the elders in this world.

　　Qin Ruofang and Ruan Maolin exchanged a few polite words and sent Ruan Zhi and the others out.

　　Just after they walked out of the second door, there was a burst of hurried footsteps and panting.

　　A tall and thin man came from outside and came up to them, along with the smell of green pine, which was the smell of overflowing pheromones.

　　Ruan Zhi's figure paused and her face changed.

　　Gu Qingci didn't recognize the person in front of him, but he thought he looked handsome, and seemed to be a bit like Ruan Zhi.

　　"Xuanming greets his uncle and aunt. I heard that cousin Azhi is back, so I came to see her." The man held his breath, bowed to Qin Ruofang and Ruan Maolin, and then looked at Ruan Zhi, his eyes trembling, as if he had a thousand words to say.

　　Gu Qingci knew the other person's identity after hearing this.

　　This person should be Ruan Zhi's childhood sweetheart Qin Xuanming, who is also Ruan Zhi's cousin.

　　If there was no "Gu Qingci", Ruan Zhi would have married this person.

　　"Thank you, cousin. We'll go first." Ruan Zhi bowed slightly and continued to move forward.

　　Qin Xuanming wanted to say something, but Ruan Zhi walked forward alone.

　　"Father-in-law and mother-in-law, we'll leave first and come to see mother-in-law and mother-in-law another day." Gu Qingci bowed to Qin Ruofang and Ruan Maolin and hurried to chase Ruan Zhi.

　　When Qin Xuanming saw Gu Qingci, the muscles on his face trembled slightly. He was more excited than when he saw Ruan Zhi, and his fists clenched.

　　Gu Qingci felt that Qin Xuanming wanted to hit her, so she nodded at him and took a few quick steps to catch up with Ruan Zhi.

　　"Xuanming!" Qin Xuanming looked back in the direction of Ruan Zhi. Qin Ruofang called out, and Qin Xuanming turned around. The whole person seemed to have been drained of energy and looked lonely.

　　After getting on the carriage, Gu Qingci did not dare to talk to Ruan Zhi, but only carefully glanced at her.

　　Ruan Zhi had no expression on her face, but her eyes were obviously different from before, as if she was immersed in something bad.

　　Gu Qingci didn't know what to say, but seeing Ruan Zhi's expression, he felt a little uncomfortable for some reason.

　　Ruan Zhi might still have some feelings for that person.

　　After all, they grew up together.

　　Should it be considered first love?

　　The two didn't speak all the way. When they were about to reach Gu's house, the sky darkened, and with a burst of thunder in the sky, rain began to fall.

　　Gu Qingci was called back to his senses by the thunder, and saw Ruan Zhi in his sight. He covered his ears, and his body shrank up. He could obviously see the trembling, and the sound of his breathing became a little more rapid.

　　At the same time, a bitter smell emanated, which was the smell of Ruan Zhi's pheromones.

　　Gu Qingci pressed on Ruan Zhi's shoulder.

　　"What's wrong?" Gu Qingci asked in a low voice.

　　Ruan Zhi didn't hear it, and continued to shrink and tremble.

　　As the carriage arrived at Gu's house, the rain outside became heavier and the thunder became louder.

　　Lian Rui was talking outside.

　　Gu Qingci thought for a moment, then reached out and took the straw raincoat that Lianrui handed to her. She put it on first, then picked up Ruan Zhi, covered her body under the straw raincoat, and carried her out of the carriage to Xiuyi Garden.

　　Ruan Zhi was still trembling in Gu Qingci's arms, and the bitter pheromone smell became stronger and stronger.

　　Gu Qingci felt that his marking teeth were a little itchy due to the stimulation of this smell.

　　When they arrived at Ruan Zhi's room in Xiuyi Garden, Gu Qingci was stripped of her straw raincoat by the maid, and carried Ruan Zhi into the room.

　　Gu Qingci recalled the plot on the way, and she remembered.

　　In the several hardships that Ruan Zhi experienced, each time it was thunderstorm weather, including when she was framed and caught in the same room with the original Gu Qingci, when she had a high fever and her glands were burned, the day when her wet nurse Qin Ma died, and the day when she learned of the death of her parents...

　　This caused her to have a stress response to thunder.

　　So as soon as she arrived at the room, Gu Qingci asked the maid to close all the doors and windows. She carried Ruan Zhi to the bed, took off her shoes, and pulled the quilt over her to block out the sound.

　　Gu Qingci did not let go of Ruan Zhi, but just hugged her tightly and comforted her gently.

　　Thinking of Ruan Zhi's experience in her previous life, Gu Qingci's emotions sank.

　　After a while, in the closed space, Ruan Zhi's pheromones were constantly released. Gu Qingci felt a surge of restlessness, his teeth itched, and saliva secreted from his mouth.

　　Gu Qingci felt something was wrong. He wanted to let go of Ruan Zhi and get out of the quilt, but his clothes were pulled by Ruan Zhi.

　　Gu Qingci went to pull Ruan Zhi's hand, but felt Ruan Zhi's hot breath on his neck.

　　"Mark me." Ruan Zhi's voice trembled.