The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 49 [R19]

There was a square bathtub inside the washroom.

Gu Huaisheng sat by its edge.

He was still wearing the inner garments that he wore when he slept on his upper body. They faintly revealed his cold pale skin underneath. His pair of peach blossom eyes seemed to glimmer with heat. His unbound hair was draped over his back, which gave him a sense of dishevelment unusual for someone who was normally as meticulous as he was. 

His lower body was partially unclothed and his lower undergarments had slipped down his waist. One of his hands supported him against the bath’s edge, while the other was…

The slenderness of his fingers only made what he held appear more menacing.

The man who usually resembled an otherworldly immortal was now seated by the edge of the bath doing such a thing. It struck an overwhelming image.

Gu Huaisheng hadn’t expected Jiang Jingchun to wake up so early today.

Their eyes met.

Every sound came to an abrupt halt.

As he looked at the sudden intruder, he couldn’t conceal lust in his eyes. He couldn’t hold back any longer, so he lowered his head and let out a muffled groan. The sound, like water droplets hitting the ground, echoed in the quiet room like thunder.

The air was quiet. Faint traces of his laboured breathing seemed to linger and ring in her ears…

Jiang Jingchun was so shocked by the scene before her that she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even muster a gasp as her entire body froze in place.

Even if she were utterly naive, she should know what he was doing now.

Gu Huaisheng… was pleasuring himself…

Jiang Jingchun’s mind blanked as she stood there. She wished she could faint on the spot.

Before she could react, Gu Huaisheng grabbed a towel from nearby, wiped his hands and that part of himself, and then calmly adjusted his clothing before rising to his feet from the bathtub, as if nothing had happened.

He carelessly tossed the towel aside, walked over to the washstand, and began washing his hands. Seeing that Jiang Jingchun was still frozen in place, he lightly said, “Cousin, I’m a normal man, and what I was doing is perfectly normal.”

He had deliberately refrained from doing anything to her, as he was afraid of scaring her, and chose instead to handle things on his own. But now that she’d seen him, there was nothing else he could do but to say this.

Besides, he wasn’t asking her for anything. He was in agony, but he didn’t force her to help release him from that agony. What was she so afraid of?

He added, “Don’t be scared of me.”

Though his expression remained calm, the way he had instinctively addressed her as ‘Cousin’ betrayed his inner turmoil, no matter how steady he tried to appear. 

Perhaps he had overexerted himself the previous night. This morning, no matter what he tried, he couldn’t find relief. However, seeing her panicked and wide-eyed, like a startled rabbit, had somehow made him lose control right in front of her.

He feigned nonchalance, but the tips of his ears had silently turned red.

Still, he couldn’t just stand there like a fool alongside his cousin. 

That wouldn’t do.

What had happened was already embarrassing enough as it was.

Jiang Jingchun felt her face burning. Even after hearing Gu Huaisheng’s words, it took her a long moment before she snapped out of her daze.

This was normal.

Gu Huaisheng wasn’t wrong.

The last time she kissed him, she should’ve realised he was a normal man.

He hadn’t demanded anything from her. He had handled his needs alone—what was there for her to fear?

She had nothing to be afraid of.

Yet even as she reassured herself, that strange feeling refused to dissipate. It lingered until Gu Huaisheng spoke again, “If you don’t wash up soon, we’ll be late for the visit.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jingchun finally moved. She shuffled to the washstand like a soulless puppet.

The washroom was dimly lit with its doors and windows shut tightly. Only a faint beam of daylight trickled in from a small, high window. The air carried a peculiar scent that was impossible to ignore.

Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning what had just occurred. Jiang Jingchun quickly rinsed her mouth, splashed water on her face, and then hurriedly left without looking back.

After exiting the washroom, Jiang Jingchun prepared for the day while sitting at her dressing table and allowed her maid Huayun to assist her in getting ready.

Gu Huaisheng’s room was quite large. It was also clean and elegantly simple, just like its owner. However, he’d just gotten married, and the decor of the room reflected the recent marriage. Some red cloth and ribbons that had yet to be taken down added a touch of celebratory warmth to the otherwise understated space.

Since Jiang Jingchun moved in, the room had acquired a new piece of furniture—a red sandalwood dressing table. On it rested her jewellery box and various trinkets.

Not long after Jiang Jingchun began combing her hair, Gu Huaisheng emerged from the washroom.

He had returned to his usual cold and composed appearance. His face was devoid of emotion, and his eyes as indifferent as a tranquil lake, which betrayed none of the lust he’d shown just moments earlier. It was as if the man sitting by the bathtub, doing that just now, had been someone else entirely. 

His ink-black hair hung loosely behind him, and he carried himself with a noble and distant yet immaculate elegance like he was a celestial being untainted by mortal affairs.

He was so pretentious.

She withdrew her gaze and let her eyes fall blankly onto the bronze mirror in front of her. 

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the vivid images from earlier out of her mind.

Gu Huaisheng, however, seemed utterly unfazed. Even though he’d been caught in an awkward situation, he could act as though nothing had happened. 

In this regard, no one could rival him.

But Jiang Jingchun merely scoffed inwardly. She decided to let the matter drop and didn’t bring it up again.

After leaving the washroom, Gu Huaisheng changed his clothes and sat nearby, waiting for her to finish getting ready. When she was done getting ready, the two left the room together. 

They tacitly agreed not to mention what had transpired earlier and behaved as though nothing had ever happened.

On the third day after a woman’s marriage, tradition dictated she return to her parents’ home. Although Gu Huaisheng had spent the last couple of days holed up in the study, he had already arranged for the customary gifts to bring with them. Once everything was packed, the two boarded the carriage.

Jiang Jingchun had never felt that the road from the Gu estate to the Jiang family home was so long, until today. The morning’s unexpected incident had left an awkward air between them, and neither spoke during the journey. Gu Huaisheng made no effort to break the silence, and Jiang Jingchun, who rested her head against the carriage window, watched the scenery blur past.

Eventually, the carriage slowed and came to a halt in front of the Jiang family residence’s gates.

The last time Jiang Jingchun had stood here was on her wedding day, with the whole family sending her off. Now, for her return visit, the entire family was once again present to welcome her back.

Jiang Nan and Jiang Jingchun weren’t particularly close. He’d treated her indifferently while she was there. However, as someone who valued appearances, he knew better than to hold grudges on such a significant day. She was married now, and it wouldn’t do to keep old conflicts alive. After all, this was a return visit, and if he didn’t show up, it would reflect poorly.

He was, admittedly, surprised that Gu Huaisheng had ended up with Jiang Jingchun. He had once thought that if Jiang Jinghui showed interest in Gu Huaisheng, he might have tried to match them instead. But things had unfolded unexpectedly, and the old madame had hastily arranged Jiang Jingchun’s marriage to him.

Though the Jiang family was no match for the prominent Gu family, the marriage was still considered a good one, bringing closer two families who were close due to another generation’s marriage. 

Anyhow, for Jiang Jingchun to have a decent husband was a satisfactory outcome.

He’d just consider it fulfilling the duties that entailed whatever thin bond of father-daughter relationship they shared.

Jiang Nan’s gaze shifted to the Gu family’s carriage.

The vehicle came to a steady stop, and Gu Huaisheng,  who was dressed in a deep blue silk robe, stepped out first. He turned and extended a hand to help Jiang Jingchun down. Perhaps due to their recent marriage, their interaction carried a sense of closeness, at least on the surface.

When Jiang Jingchun saw Gu Huaisheng’s extended hand, she hesitated. She couldn’t help but recall the events that had unfolded just before their departure. She was reluctant to take his hand but, knowing that her grandmother was watching them closely, she had no choice but to place her hand in his.

She suspected that Gu Huaisheng deliberately tugged her with extra force. He nearly pulled her into his arms as she descended. Her instinct was to scold him, but the moment her eyes met his, he smiled and said, “Grandmother is watching.”

Jiang Jingchun abruptly swallowed back the scolding words she was about to utter. In the end, she could only give him a glare and didn’t say anything.

While the Gu family servants busied themselves unloading the return gifts, the couple walked towards the welcoming party.

After exchanging greetings, Jiang Jingchun was promptly pulled aside by the old madame, who looked her over with concern.

“How have you been at the Gu family residence these past few days? Has Fuyan given you any trouble? Are your aunt and the others treating you well?”

Although this wasn’t the first time Jiang Jingchun had been away from home, this time was different, as she was away because she’d married. Her grandmother couldn’t help but worry.

She knew that the Gu family residence was a good place for her granddaughter to marry, but she still couldn’t help asking.

Jiang Jingchun smiled and reassured her. Then, she said, “Grandmother, I should call my aunt ‘Mother’ now.”

Her words indirectly responded to the old madame’s question—she was doing quite well.

Now, she had even changed how she addressed her aunt and uncle. She now called them mother and father, as her in-laws.

Jiang Runchu, who was listening from the side, couldn’t help but feel this was all very strange. The hierarchy of relationships in their family was becoming absurdly tangled.

So, moving forward, was Gu Huaisheng her cousin or her brother-in-law?

However, after thinking it through, he realised it was not something he needed to worry about. After all, he never used to address Gu Huaisheng as ‘Cousin’ anyway. He’d always just called him by his name.

What he was truly curious about now was how Jiang Jingchun and Gu Huaisheng would address each other.

Did they call each other cousins? Or husband and wife?

Just as he was mulling over this, he heard Gu Huaisheng speak from the side. “Grandmother, please rest assured, I would never let Cousin suffer any grievance.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Runchu thought to himself that, as expected, Gu Huaisheng still behaved as always. Well, after years of calling her ‘Cousin,’ how could he suddenly change the way he addressed her so easily?

On the other hand, Jiang Jingchun could only roll her eyes inwardly. She clearly remembered what he’d done on their wedding night. 

And now, he was putting on this proper and respectable act.

The old madame, however, was thoroughly amused by Gu Huaisheng’s statement. She teased him by saying, “Fuyan, are you still calling her ‘Cousin’? You’re married now—shouldn’t you start using a different term of address?”

For once, Gu Huaisheng seemed slightly flustered. After a brief pause, he obediently changed how he addressed her. With a smile in his eyes, he turned to Jiang Jingchun and called her, “Wife.”

His voice was deep and low, and though it was just that one word, he managed to make it sound tender and layered, as though it carried a world of meaning.

Jiang Jingchun acted as though she hadn’t heard him.

However, the old madame nudged her and said, “Fuyan is calling you. Aren’t you going to answer him?”

Jiang Jingchun suddenly felt a headache coming on. It seemed Gu Huaisheng had done this on purpose. He must’ve deliberately pulled this move in front of the old madame because she’d refused to change how she addressed him.

The old madame mistook Jiang Jingchun’s reaction for shyness and said, “You two are husband and wife now. Surely you’re not going to keep calling each other ‘Cousin’? There’s nothing to be embarrassed about—just say it, confidently.”

Under the old madame’s expectant gaze, Jiang Jingchun had no choice but to relent. She turned to Gu Huaisheng and stiffly said, “Husband.”

If it weren’t for the others present, Jiang Jingchun’s glare alone could’ve flayed Gu Huaisheng alive.

Even though her tone was rigid, and her ‘Husband’ was as dry as it could possibly be, Gu Huaisheng still found it immensely pleasing. The slight curve of his lips made his satisfaction unmistakable.

Jiang Runchu, who was observing this from the side, was puzzled. Why was Gu Huaisheng so thrilled by this wooden, lifeless ‘Husband’? Was this what married men were like? How odd.

The old madame seemed to have noted Jiang Jingchun’s reserved nature. Still, seeing how the couple appeared to be getting along well, she was finally able to set her mind at ease.

After exchanging greetings with everyone else, Jiang Jingchun had essentially completed her formal visit.

Lady Li, who was present this time, seemed much calmer compared to when Jiang Jingchun last visited with Gu Huaisheng. She appeared unaffected and regarded Jiang Jingchun with a detached demeanour, as though she had truly taken her previous words to heart.

After briefly greeting them, Jiang Jingchun followed the old madame and began talking about her life at the Gu family residence. Gu Huaisheng stood nearby and idly listened to her words, with a faint smile still lingering on his face—one that hadn’t faded since that single ‘Husband’ earlier.

At one point, Jiang Runchu seized an opportunity to sidle up to Gu Huaisheng. He nudged his arm and said, “What’s got you smiling like a fool all by yourself?”

Gu Huaisheng came back to himself. His smile finally eased a little. He nonchalantly replied, “You’ll understand once you get married.”

Jiang Runchu’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t help but think to himself, who knew what underhanded tricks Gu Huaisheng used to marry Jiang Jingchun? The nerve of him to act smug about it now.

“Don’t get carried away with your pride,” Jiang Runchu muttered.

To think he once believed Gu Huaisheng to be a virtuous and upright gentleman. Clearly, after all these years, he still didn’t fully understand his ways.

If he’d known this earlier, he would’ve warned Jiang Jingchun to stay away from him instead of advising Gu Huaisheng.

The group made their way towards Rongde Hall. Unexpectedly, the household received visitors that day. Word came that someone had arrived looking for Jiang Nan, and he soon left for Chongming Hall to meet the guest. Meanwhile, everyone else followed the old madame to Rongde Hall.

The person who came to see Jiang Nan was Secretariat Elder Song.

Soon after Jiang Nan arrived at Chongming Hall, Secretariat Elder Song entered the main hall through the doorway. Jiang Nan hurriedly went to greet him.

He had thought Secretariat Elder Song would come alone today, but unexpectedly, Song Xuan’an had come as well.

What a coincidence. They didn’t visit often usually, and this time, they arrived right when Jiang Jingchun was back to visit her family.

He knew that Song Xuan’an and Jiang Jingchun used to be close, so he couldn’t help but overthink the situation.

Jiang Nan’s expression froze for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered his composure.

He welcomed Secretariat Elder Song into the main hall and said, “Sir, what brings you here today?”

When Jiang Nan first entered the officialdom, Secretariat Elder Song had looked out for him often, so naturally, Jiang Nan held him in great respect.

“There are some official matters I wanted to discuss with you.”

Secretariat Elder Song’s visit today, though ostensibly for official business, also carried some personal motives.

After news of Jiang Jingchun’s marriage to Gu Huaisheng spread, Song Xuan’an locked himself in his room. He refused food and drink and tried drowning his sorrows in alcohol. No amount of persuasion worked. Even after being beaten by his father, he still lay there, half-dead and dispirited.

Given the close bond that Song Xuan’an and Jiang Jingchun had shared in the past, Secretariat Elder Song could understand his grandson’s state of despair.

But there was no choice; he couldn’t live like this forever. So, he took advantage of Jiang Jingchun’s return to her family today and brought Song Xuan’an along on his visit. He hoped that Song Xuan’an could take one last look at her. That way, he might finally let go and move on from the past.

Upon hearing he’d have the chance to see her, Song Xuan’an stopped causing trouble. He cleaned himself up, sobered up from the alcohol, and followed Secretariat Elder Song out of their family residence.

After arriving, Secretariat Elder Song began discussing official matters.

He got straight to the point, saying, “A few days ago, during a meeting between the Grand Secretariat and His Majesty, Wang Shun brought up the Tianlu Terrace project again. He suggested it be restarted next year.”

Jiang Nan’s expression instantly darkened. “Is he out of his mind!? Tianlu Terrace collapsed into such a ruin. Anyone can tell the Ministry of Works must’ve embezzled a lot of money from that project. Now he wants to rebuild it which would pour in another few million taels of silver to the Ministry of Works—why, so it’d collapse again? Then they’ll find a few scapegoats, and he’ll keep himself above it all, untouched. Is that it? Just because he’s the emperor’s teacher and the Grand Secretariat, he doesn’t even bother with appearances anymore?”

Rebuild Tianlu Terrace!

He wasn’t even hiding his corruption now.

Jiang Nan was a man who valued propriety and decorum. However, even so, he couldn’t help but lose his temper upon hearing this.

He couldn’t understand—Wang Shun was already so old. He had no descendants to speak of. He only had a handful of retainers and followers. Why was he doing all this? What was his goal?

It wasn’t as if he could take all that money with him after he died.

Secretariat Elder Song sighed and said, “The only one who could rein him in is His Majesty, but the late emperor entrusted him to Wang Shun’s care, and His Majesty has relied on him for so many years. I’m afraid he’ll turn a blind eye to it again.”

Worriedly, he continued, “The northern border is still fending off the Mongolian cavalry. Their military supplies alone make for a huge expense. Yet Wang Shun is oblivious to priorities and insists on rebuilding Tianlu Terrace. When the Grand Secretariat’s year-end financial review comes around, we’ll definitely find ourselves with another deficit.

“Year after year, we’ve overspent and we’ve been unable to make ends meet. I was hoping he’d die sooner than later, but that old fox just won’t die. I might go before he does.”

Rivalry in politics was common. While appearances remained cordial, scathing insults in private were nothing out of the ordinary.

If Secretariat Elder Song were to pass first, Wang Shun would only grow bolder.

The Grand Secretariat had five Secretariat Elders, but two of them were part of Wang Shun’s faction. Another—Marquis Gu, spent most of his time fishing and only attended to Grand Secretariat matters when absolutely necessary. Unless he had no other choice, he’d rarely go to the yamen and would conduct his work from somewhere else instead.

Gu Huaisheng’s teacher, Shen Changqing, had once been a Secretariat Elder himself. But after his death, his seat had been filled by someone from Wang Shun’s faction.

Thinking about this gave them both headaches.

The two men sighed heavily, and Jiang Nan said, “If Shen Changqing were still alive, the New Policies might’ve been implemented, and things wouldn’t look so bleak now…”

At the mention of Shen Changqing, they both fell silent.

Jiang Nan’s gaze drifted, and it unconsciously landed on the courtyard outside.

The flowers in the courtyard were nearly withered, and the air carried a sense of desolation. Autumn was nearing its end once again.

The withered trees would bloom anew in spring, but the ones who had died would never see another autumn.

Some people’s value wouldn’t be realised until they were gone—when it became painfully clear that they were irreplaceable.

Back when the New Policies was first proposed, no one had stood behind Shen Changqing, save for the Gu family. After he died, he was posthumously branded a traitor and suffered dishonour in death.

A man who lived with no worldly attachments and no selfish desires was ultimately condemned as a traitor. It was a bitter irony.

Jiang Nan eventually came up with an idea to deal with the current problem. He said, “Since today is my daughter’s home visit after her marriage, my nephew from the Gu family has come along as well. Sir, why don’t you stay for lunch today? We can discuss this matter with him and see how he reacts.”

If even Gu Huaisheng found this situation intolerable, perhaps he might have a solution. 

After all, back in the day, the Tianlu Terrace case had only been resolved after great effort on his part. Otherwise, Wang Shun’s people likely would have gone unpunished for what they did.

Hearing Jiang Nan’s suggestion, Song Xuan’an’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Secretariat Elder Song noticed his change in expression but went along with Jiang Nan’s words, saying, “Very well. In urgent matters, we must act as circumstances require. I hadn’t realised today was the time for Jingchun’s visit—I hope we’re not imposing.”

Jiang Nan hurriedly said, “Of course not, Sir. Your visit is providential.”

Soon, it was time for lunch, and the group headed to the dining hall.

When they arrived, the hall was still empty, so the three of them took their seats first.

Not long after, voices and footsteps came from outside. It sounded like Jiang Jingchun and the old madame talking. When the group entered the dining hall, though, the conversation abruptly stopped.

Jiang Jingchun hadn’t expected Jiang Nan’s visitors to be from the Song family, much less that Song Xuan’an would be among them.

She froze. The laughter that she’d shared with the old madame moments ago returned back to her throat in that instant.

Truthfully, she wasn’t sure how to face Song Xuan’an right now. Perhaps it was because Song Xuan’an had seemed so pitiful the last time she saw him that, now that she was seeing him again, she couldn’t help but feel that he was shrouded in a mist of melancholy.

Was it just her imagination, or did Song Xuan’an look significantly more haggard? It hadn’t been that long since their last meeting, yet he seemed like a completely different person.

Song Xuan’an was also looking at her. When his gaze landed on her standing beside Gu Huaisheng, pain flickered in his eyes.

The two of them locked eyes. At that moment, they didn’t seem like friends, but more like a pair of star-crossed lovers torn apart by fate. Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere in the hall grew awkwardly tense.