Gu Jinghui spoke with increasing joy, "With a mother as knowledgeable and considerate as you to guide her, she certainly won’t be as overbearing and annoying as Gu Baoshu when she grows up. I will cherish her even more than Gu Baoshu, and let her live even more carefree and comfortable."
A daughter with the knowledge and consideration expected of a civil servant’s family, and the uninhibited spirit of a military general’s household.
Qin Yuan looked up at Gu Jinghui.
Now that’s truly a bit of a challenge.
Gu Jinghui was also lowering his head to look at her, his handsome and unruly face under the flickering lantern light, looking even more chiseled.
Truly a handsome gentleman.
Qin Yuan couldn’t help but think, their child, whether a boy or girl, would surely be beautiful.
In her moment of reverie, she heard the call from Hong Ye and Mo Zhu from behind her.
"Marquis, Madam."
Qin Yuan swallowed her words, and quietly hummed, "They’re here."
Marquis Gu muttered, "They really are quick."
Qin Yuan didn’t hear clearly, she turned her face and asked, "What?"
"Nothing," Marquis Gu said flatly, "I was just saying Hong Ye is really capable, finding what we needed so quickly and catching up with us."
Qin Yuan nodded, and added her praise, "Hong Ye is efficient, with a straightforward nature, indeed very capable."
Marquis Gu responded with a few "mm-hm"s.
While talking, they turned the corner of the fake mountain, and Qin Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim softly, taking a few running steps forward before stopping.
Behind the fake mountain was a pond, lush with water plants, firefly lights flitting about, a slender crescent moon and sparse stars floating in the inky blue night sky, so beautiful it left one speechless.
And Qin Yuan, in her gauzy dress, stood gracefully among the twinkling lights like a fairy descending to the mortal world.
She gazed in fascination at the beautiful scenery before her, while Gu Jinghui stood behind her, lantern in hand, entranced by her dainty and graceful figure.
The scene was as beautiful as an ethereal dream.
How did he have such fortune to marry such a lovely wife?
In his distraction, he heard Qin Yuan’s gentle sigh.
"No wonder Emperor Sui Yang once ordered the capture of many fireflies to release in Jinghua Palace, as they say the scenery was exceedingly exquisite, and he even built the ’Firefly Garden’ in Yangzhou."
Gu Jinghui’s eyes shone as he fixedly watched her delicate and lovely silhouette amidst the firefly lights, responding woodenly, "It’s truly beautiful. Did he really release so many fireflies?"
Qin Yuan said, "Yangzhou, such a place of poetic charm, with grasses growing and fireflies flitting, who knows what kind of beautiful scenery that must be. Fireflies are known as ’poetry worms’, embodying the essence of desolation, solitude, dampness, coolness, and beauty, as Du Mei once wrote in a poem, ’The silver candle casts autumn light on the cold painted screen, a small fan in light silk bats at the passing fireflies...’"
Before she finished speaking, Gu Jinghui said, "With you saying so, I now understand why Emperor Sui Yang would build the Firefly Garden."
"Why?"
Gu Jinghui smiled, pouring his heart out, "Yuan’er catching fireflies would indeed be beautiful."
His long, narrow eyes were brimming with tenderness, almost overflowing.
Qin Yuan was taken aback, turned to look at him, and smiled, "Of all the comparisons to make, you choose to compare with him."
Gu Jinghui hurriedly said, "How could I compare with him, he had so many beauties, while I have only you."
For he had studied for a few years and served as a companion at court, of course, he knew the story of Emperor Sui Yang in Yangzhou, indulging in beauty, carousing and debauchery, ultimately being killed by Yu Wenhuaji.
Although Emperor Sui Yang was an emperor of his time, said to be handsome and exceptionally intelligent, in Marquis Gu’s eyes, he was just a fool, lost in indulgence and ultimately ruined.
He would not be so foolish.
Noticing Qin Yuan’s darkened expression, Gu Jinghui hastily added, "Having only you is enough for me."
Qin Yuan’s face blushed again and she bowed her head.
Hong Ye and Mo Zhu had arrived, panting and couldn’t help but exclaim.
"Marquis, Madam, this place is truly beautiful, with so many fireflies, why not catch more and make firefly lamps?"
Mo Zhu, excited, also laughed in agreement.
"Yes, yes, people sell those lamps every year, placing them in the house at night, they’re so nice to look at."
Gu Jinghui didn’t respond, just kept his gaze glued on Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan turned her face, her ears red, not looking at him, only saying, "Hong Ye is right, we should catch more."
Hong Ye, proud, took out a little net for catching fireflies, saying, "Leave it to us, tonight we’ll surely catch a full bag, make as many as you want."
The group divided the tools and were busy with their tasks.
Soon, laughter and cheerful voices filled the air, Gu Jinghui’s eyes softened even more, his smile growing wider, his gaze completely fixed on Qin Yuan in her flowing silk dress.
Hong Ye occasionally glanced over, pretending not to notice, and continued to catch fireflies with Mo Zhu farther away.
Gu Jinghui stayed by Qin Yuan’s side, occasionally helping her catch fireflies that flew by, and when he saw she was tired from playing, he handed her the lantern, took off his outer garment, and with a light tap of his toes, danced among the firefly lights. In half the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, he captured a bag full of fireflies with his robe.