In the past two years, the imperial court had sent considerable funds to the coastal garrisons for border defense construction.
Gu Yan Chen could procure soldiers, obtain land, and build watchtowers with ease, but he lacked the "filial gifts" from merchants, leaving him without personal funds. Although his salary was entirely handed over, he had written numerous IOUs to Lu Nian Fu.
What was it like to accidentally knock over your wife's dressing box and find a stack of your own IOUs falling out?
Gu Yan Chen was experiencing it now.
He counted them; there were over thirty. Each one was for a small amount, but it was humiliating. He had promised to repay her quickly, yet the debt grew, making him feel like a man living off his wife. He was a scoundrel, deceiving her for food, drink, and money with scraps of paper.
Then, resentment flared. He had diligently served in Yangzhou for two years, not daring to pocket a single cent of military pay. Yet, the Emperor didn't even bestow a bit of silver or gold. A three-year term as a prefect could clear ten thousand taels of silver, but he, holding a third-rank official title, had become a kept man. Without his wife's help over these years, he might have ended up begging on the streets.
Lu Nian Fu pushed the door open and saw him holding a stack of paper, his expression shifting erratically.
"What are you doing?"
Gu Yan Chen started, quickly hiding the IOUs behind his back. "Just, just packing your luggage for you. You're busy arranging your businesses, so I'll take care of the household chores."
"Qing Miao and Granny An are handling the household matters. Let me see your hands."
Gu Yan Chen: ...
He reluctantly produced the stack of papers, his voice guilty. "Don't worry, once we return to the capital, there won't be so many expenses. I'll be able to repay this debt quickly then."
Lu Nian Fu couldn't help but smile.
With his protection, her businesses had prospered, and many customers had bought more specifically because of him, indirectly bringing her much trade. She had explained this to him, but his machinations of masculinity kicked in: "A wife's duty is to provide clothing and food for her husband. Isn't it my duty to protect my wife? Are you really charging for this? Then why did you marry me? Let's keep things separate."
And then he had written all these IOUs.
She placed the IOUs back into the dressing box. "Do you really want me to go back with you?"
Gu Yan Chen looked at her suspiciously. "What do you mean?"
Lu Nian Fu's voice grew softer. "You are already a third-rank official. If we return to the capital, there will be countless noble ladies vying to be your wife. But I am merely the daughter of a small merchant, unable to bring you any benefits..."
"What nonsense! You weren't a princess when I married you. Oh, now that you've been promoted and prospered, you want to discard your former companion? Are you really not afraid of being drowned in a sea of spit?"
Gu Yan Chen grew increasingly angry, and then, mid-rant, he sighed and took her hand. "I know you're afraid of going to an unfamiliar place, but rest assured, I will protect you completely. If my stepmother tries to bully you with the authority of a mother-in-law, I will stand up for you."
Lu Nian Fu: ...
"But we signed a contract back then. You married me to protect me, and you've done very well with that."
Gu Yan Chen scoffed, shamelessly stating, "Do you believe everything a man says when he wants to marry someone? If I hadn't said that back then, would you have foolishly married me? Ouyang still envies me to this day, marrying a great rich woman for a hundred taels of silver."
"Rich?"
"Rich in wealth."
Lu Nian Fu choked, almost unable to breathe. "You back then..."
Gu Yan Chen said with mock seriousness, "The past cannot be pursued, Madam. We must look forward. Now, we are in perfect harmony..."
Lu Nian Fu's fists itched, and she swung one at him without hesitation. "Who is in perfect harmony with you?"
Gu Yan Chen caught her fist and stole a kiss, grinning infuriatingly. "Now that you're in my bandit's den, do you think you can leave? I'm telling you, there's no door, not even a window."
To think she had always considered his marriage to her an act of kindness, only to find out this was his perspective. Lu Nian Fu gritted her teeth. "So, you've been plotting against me from the start?"
"Madam, that's a harsh way to put it. A fair maiden is sought by a gentleman, and youthful admiration—how can that be called plotting?"
"Heh." Lu Nian Fu grabbed a feather duster and chased Gu Yan Chen, who darted around the room with exaggerated wails.
"Madam, I was wrong, I was wrong."
"Don't hit my butt."
"My hands are off-limits too, I'm still injured."
...
Song Ming and Meng Chang Dong outside the door were dumbfounded. Their superior was so imposing outside, yet behind closed doors, he was henpecked. If the Japanese pirates saw this, what would they think?
"Um, actually, Miss isn't usually like this. This is an accident, an accident." Qing Miao awkwardly tried to cover for her mistress, but she sounded more and more guilty. Finally, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Young Master, Song Ming and Military Advisor Meng are requesting an audience at the door!"
Requesting an audience at the door...
At the door!!!
Gu Yan Chen, who had been twisting his body to avoid the feather duster, froze in an incredibly contorted pose upon hearing this.
Lu Nian Fu: ...
Her gentle and intellectual image was ruined.