The entire Ouyang family sacrificed themselves on the battlefield, leaving only this single seedling. The old matriarch's hopes for him were limited to a peaceful life and offspring. Thus, at seventeen, she bestowed two concubines upon him, but alas, they never conceived.
The old matriarch suspected the two concubines had issues, but Ouyang Wen was already of age, and she couldn't possibly send more women into her grandson's chambers.
The young ladies of the capital were too precious; which respectable girl would agree to marry into a household with too many concubines?
Before Ouyang Wen departed for the south, the old lady was already scrutinizing prospective brides for him. However, he always found the noble ladies of the capital pretentious and resisted the matter, hence nothing had been settled.
The old matriarch's patience was wearing thin; he was contemplating simply marrying anyone. Then, like a pillow offered just when one is sleepy, the Emperor assigned him to Yancheng to assist with reconstruction. Finally, his ears could have some peace.
He casually accepted the prefect's dinner invitation and then inquired about the location of the garrison.
Prefect Feng quickly dispatched someone to guide him.
However, upon rushing to the garrison, the gatekeeper informed him that the Grand Commander had gone home.
"Doesn't your garrison provide him with housing?" Ouyang Wen was astonished. In his understanding, a penniless bachelor like Gu Yanchen would naturally reside in free dormitories, which would also be convenient for his duties, wouldn't it?
The gatekeeper replied, "Your Imperial Envoy is joking. No matter how poor the garrison, it wouldn't lack a place for its commander to live. It's just that the commander recently got married, and in his honeymoon bliss, he naturally prefers returning home."
Ouyang Wen's scalp tingled: "What did you say? He got married? When did this happen?"
"Around early August. I even attended the wedding banquet."
It was almost the New Year now.
Such a significant event as marriage, and this fellow had kept it from him for over three months. Ouyang Wen's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, and he turned to leave. The gatekeeper muttered to himself, wondering about the Imperial Envoy's disposition. Could it be that someone in his family had a sister they wished to betroth to their commander? httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
The yamen runner leading him had initially thought the official from the capital had a good temperament, but his demeanor shifted, and the air pressure dropped severalfold. He was also perplexed, but having witnessed much of worldly affairs, he thought more deeply than the garrison brother.
He heard that the Imperial Envoy and the Grand Commander were close friends. Looking at him now, it seemed their relationship was more than just friendship.
Otherwise, wouldn't his first reaction upon hearing of his friend's marriage be joy for him?
Could it be that this gentleman harbored unspoken feelings for the Grand Commander, which was why he had pressured the Grand Commander to stay away from the capital? Tsk, tsk, after finally chasing him to Yangzhou, he had already gotten married.
What a complicated tale of love and hate.
He cast a sympathetic glance at Ouyang Wen.
It would be best to escort him to the Grand Commander's residence quickly; this temper was clearly about to erupt, and he, a mere yamen runner, couldn't possibly bear it.
Gu Residence
In broad daylight, the gates of the Gu residence stood wide open.
Ouyang Wen dismounted and barged in, only to be stopped by a young boy. Because he was still in his official uniform, Shuanzi treated him courteously, "Sir, are you looking for my master?"
The young lady had said that the son-in-law was now a man of status. Calling him 'son-in-law' externally made him sound like a kept man, which was too demeaning. Therefore, everyone except those serving in Jiyue Xuan had to address him differently.
Ouyang Wen flicked his sleeves and said, "Where is he? Tell him to get out here for me."
Shuanzi frowned, but still politely asked, "May I know your name, sir, so I can report it inside?"
"Ouyang Wen."
Shuanzi dashed inside. Ouyang Wen, panting, looked around and was once again stunned.
Don't tell him this mansion belonged to Gu Yanchen. How long had it been since he was promoted? How much of the people's hard-earned money had he embezzled to afford this? As he pondered this, Gu Yanchen strode out.
He wore a dark blue, fitted casual outfit, his favorite neat style, but the material was far superior to what he used to wear. In normal circumstances, Ouyang Wen wouldn't find it strange; after all, he was an official, even a fifth-rank one, who needed to present himself well when out and about. Wearing something too shabby would be an insult to the court, wouldn't it?
But with this mansion as evidence, he couldn't help but feel that this fellow had definitely engaged in significant corruption. He stepped forward, put his arm around his shoulder, and punched him in the stomach.
They were often this boisterous together, so Gu Yanchen was completely unprepared and took the punch squarely, wincing in pain. "What are you doing?"
"How dare you ask? I'm asking you, where did this mansion come from?"
"Rented."
Rented?
Ouyang Wen choked on his words, yet he didn't feel the punch was unwarranted. He said indignantly, "Then what's this about you getting married? You got married in August, and neither Ji Jin nor I received any news. If I hadn't come, were you planning to notify us only after you had a child?"
Such a disloyal friend.
Back then, when he took a maid as a concubine, he had treated them both to a meal at Zui Xiang Lou.