"Hmm, you should remember this too."

Cui Ming chuckled softly.

Hong Ye didn’t respond and turned to the small kitchen.

It seemed like the meal wouldn’t be served anytime soon, so she thought of adding a couple more dishes that the Marquis liked.

Unexpectedly, the small kitchen had already prepared some dishes.

Seeing this, Hong Ye said, "Not bad, you all prepared ahead."

The cook laughed and said, "When we knew the Marquis was coming back, we prepared. The Marquis only likes a few dishes and isn’t picky, so we usually keep some of them stocked in the kitchen for emergencies, and now we put them to use."

Hong Ye nodded.

"This way, it saves everyone trouble."

The two chatted idly for a bit, and then it was time to serve the meal.

Hong Ye and two young maids brought out the food.

Gu Jinghui even gave Hong Ye a special look.

Startled, Hong Ye quickly glanced at Qin Yuan. Seeing Qin Yuan said nothing, she found an excuse to slip out and didn’t come back to serve.

Once the food was served, Qin Yuan laughed and said, "Why are you scaring her all the time?"

Gu Jinghui pretended, "Yuan’er, you’re getting more unreasonable, always accusing me. When have I ever scared her?"

Qin Yuan huffed, picking up a piece of rouge goose breast and stuffing it into his mouth, saying, "Keep pretending."

Gu Jinghui swallowed it in a few bites and chuckled, "You saw it yourself, I just glanced at her and didn’t say a word, yet she ran off on her own. How can you blame me for that?"

Qin Yuan said, "You’re not allowed to tease her."

"Fine."

Gu Jinghui began to eat.

Qin Yuan paused and couldn’t help asking, "You still haven’t told me what happened to Yelv Guza? Did you find Xu Zhen or Lady Zhao at the Hostage Mansion?"

Gu Jinghui replied, "Yelv Guza was so angry he spat a bowlful of blood, today’s been full with doctors all over town checking him out. He didn’t dare say I hit him, only that he fell from a height last night. We were busy looting last night; his mansion had so many concubines, maids, we couldn’t see clearly."

"How much did we haul back?"

Qin Yuan asked curiously.

Gu Jinghui lowered his voice, "We cleaned him out completely, left nothing behind. Just in silver there was nearly one hundred thousand taels, and even more in silver notes. As for gold, jewelry, and antiques, we haven’t had time to count them. He’s quite affluent, no wonder he could buy off officials in the court."

For the sake of gold, Doctor Liu would even risk his life.

Truly, people die for wealth as birds die for food.

Qin Yuan coldly said, "Where did he get so much wealth after being defeated? I bet he wouldn’t dare report it to the authorities."

Gu Jinghui laughed.

"Why are you laughing?"

Qin Yuan was puzzled.

Gu Jinghui said, "Yesterday, Sixteen and Shi Ba said we’re more like bandits than bandits themselves. The way you’re talking, you seem more like a bandit than us."

Qin Yuan also laughed.

Gu Jinghui said, "He did report it, otherwise how could he explain the huge fire at the Hostage Mansion? We acted both as bandits and rescuers, hauling in water on the way there and hauling out wealth on the way back, never with an empty trip. This wave, we truly profited. I tell you, Gu Shiliu earning money from this trip is nothing; he’s even saved up enough to marry Hong Ye."

Qin Yuan said, "You better not say such things in front of Hong Ye. She’s thin-skinned."

Gu Jinghui said, "These are military secrets; how could I discuss it in front of her? You’re underestimating me."

"Then why tell me?"

Qin Yuan raised her elegant brows.

"You’re different," Gu Jinghui declared with pride.

"How am I different?"

Marquis Gu said, "We conspired together on this matter, you’re my think tank, indispensable."

Qin Yuan laughed.

Marquis Gu laughed along.

Grinning with white teeth, looking a bit silly, but still very handsome.

Qin Yuan thought to herself, Hong Ye was right; this marriage is indeed a stroke of luck.

But the greatest luck is that fate gave her a second chance to make up for her regrets.

Qin Yuan cleared her throat, avoiding looking at the man across who, with his beauty, was disrupting her thoughts.

"Sixteen has been working with you for so long, he should have saved up a fair amount of silver. How come it’s taken this long to save for a wife’s bride price? Where has it all gone?"

She had to ask on behalf of Hong Ye.

If he gambled it away or something...

Better call off the marriage.

Gu Jinghui said, "His money is naturally kept by his mother. He’s unmarried, with many siblings, and future marriage expenses will be a lot. Gu Shiliu said he’s earned quite a bit since returning; his previous earnings were to show filial respect to his mother. He doesn’t spend on food, clothes, or anything in the mansion; all his earnings are saved for when he gets married."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Following Marquis Gu to the battlefield should have earned him a fortune, all used to support his family, showing he’s of good character.

Knowing to save for his own wedding shows he has foresight.

If she also contributed a decent dowry for Hong Ye, they could live well.

Gu Jinghui asked, "Anything else you want to know?"

Qin Yuan said seriously, "We must understand where Yelv Guza got these silvers. If we want to cut off his financial path, we need to dig from the root. Didn’t we say before to investigate what the Yelv Family is doing, if they have any special way of amassing wealth."

A defeated clan far from their homeland could quickly amass such wealth.

Anyone paying attention would naturally be suspicious.

This is also why Qin Yuan was certain Yelv Guza wouldn’t dare make a fuss.

Gu Jinghui laughed, "My wife has the air of a general. We’re on the same page, though our informants haven’t returned yet. However, we can’t just wait idly; now that he’s out of silver, he would naturally try to contact old associates. At that time, we’ll wait for him on the way. Heh heh."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Seems like you’ve gotten addicted to being a bandit."

"Exactly, once we get the info, we’ll ambush him on the road. Soon he won’t afford porridge."

Gu Jinghui got more excited as he talked.

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh.

"That’s the best. Without resources, he can no longer gather court officials to his side. Anyone can step on him, no matter his skills, he’ll be left with nothing, unable to stir any trouble."

Gu Jinghui gained a deeper understanding of his young wife’s vengeful nature.

Qin Yuan didn’t only hold grudges against those who wronged her.

She was also ruthless against those who harmed him.

Marquis Gu felt a surge of sweetness in his heart, eager to flaunt to Gu Shiliu.

That kid said Hong Ye begged the lady for the best medicine for him, now he understood, this was evidence that he was always in Hong Ye’s heart.

He’d been flaunting for a while.

Flaunting so much that Gu Shiba was envious enough to marry.

Qin Yuan noticed Marquis Gu was in a daze again and didn’t bother with him, focusing on her meal.

She was in a great mood at the moment.

As long as Marquis Gu cut Yelv Guza’s resources, what trouble can a mere hostage stir in Daxing!