sovbooks Chapter 31 Husband, isn't it only natural for you to take a concubine?
Chapter 31 Husband, isn't it only natural for you to take a concubine?
"Tsk tsk, Young Master Gu, this tea is smooth, mellow, and sweet, with a lingering aftertaste that lasts a long time. It is truly a rare and excellent tea."
Mi Huan suddenly smiled, praising the aroma of the tea while subtly giving Zhao Yun a wink.
She was subtly reminding Zhao Yun that he must not act rashly.
Seeing this, Zhao Yun forcibly suppressed his anger, slowly released his hand from the hilt of his sword, and picked up his teacup to take a small sip.
Xu Chu also quietly loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword, still standing upright behind Gu Cheng.
Only Gu Cheng remained calm throughout, as if everything around him was irrelevant, leisurely sipping his fragrant tea.
"Cough cough."
Mi Huan coughed twice, and said with some dissatisfaction, "Young Master Gu, our Lord Liu is a renowned benevolent and righteous ruler. It is rather inappropriate for you to speak so disrespectfully to him."
"Benevolence and righteousness?"
Gu Cheng, unconcerned, scoffed and said, "Then why don't you tell me what kind of benevolent deeds this Lord Liu you speak of has actually done, so that I can broaden my horizons."
"this……"
Mi Huan searched through her mind for a long time before speaking: "Back then, when the Yellow Turbans wreaked havoc on the world, Governor Liu personally recruited local militia and soldiers, and once led the court to fight against the Yellow Turban rebels."
"In this world, who hasn't fought against a few Yellow Turban rebels? If we follow your logic, Cao Cao killed far more Yellow Turban rebels than Liu Bei."
Gu Cheng spoke with a disdainful expression.
Mi Huan hesitated for a moment, then quickly said, "Lord Liu traveled a thousand miles to Beihai to rescue Kong Rong back then. What a righteous and benevolent act!"
"Saving a mere Kong Rong is something to boast about repeatedly?"
Gu Cheng's eyes were full of surprise. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Back then, Cao Cao once entered the palace alone to assassinate Dong Zhuo. Later, he was the first to raise the banner of righteousness and call on eighteen warlords to join forces to fight against Dong Zhuo. Wouldn't such a feat be exaggerated to the heavens?"
Mi Huan was speechless for a moment, her cheeks turning slightly red from the words.
Gu Cheng took a sip of tea and said with a cold smile, "What other so-called acts of benevolence does Liu Da'er have? Miss, feel free to think about it. I'm all ears."
"Lord Liu, he..."
Mi Huan opened her mouth, but swallowed the words back.
She racked her brains for a long time, only to suddenly realize that she couldn't find any credible deeds to prove Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and righteousness.
"Can't think of anything, right?"
Gu Cheng gently put down his teacup, his gaze fixed on Mi Huan.
"Cao Cao quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion, executed the corrupt eunuchs, assassinated Dong Zhuo alone, raised the banner of righteousness throughout the land, subdued a million Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou, conquered the Central Plains with his own bloody battles, welcomed the emperor to Xuchang, and allowed the displaced people to return to peace and recuperate."
"Cao Cao had real and outstanding achievements, and all he did was to benefit the country and the people. His achievements were obvious to all, so he didn't bother to use the words 'benevolence and righteousness' to glorify himself."
"As for Liu Bei, it is precisely because he has no outstanding abilities and no real political or military achievements to boast about that he can only desperately try to embellish his image and constantly talk about benevolence and righteousness."
Gu Cheng's words shocked Mi Huan so much that she stood there stunned, lost in thought.
Even Zhao Yun, standing to the side, though his eyes were full of indignation, couldn't find the slightest reason to lash out.
"You two might as well think this through. Cao Cao has done so many practical things that benefit the country and its people, yet I'm too lazy to even go and serve him. Liu Bei, a benevolent ruler who only boasts about his righteousness, do you think I'd be foolish enough to leave my seclusion and assist him?"
Gu Cheng sneered and retorted, word by word.
Mi Huan and Zhao Yun both fell silent, unable to find a single word to refute him.
"Furthermore, regarding the recent salt shortage in Xudu, I suspect that the Mi family's decision to drive up the price of sea salt in Xuzhou must have been due to Liu Bei's instructions and pressure."
"Liu Bei's purpose was simply to take this opportunity to make a fortune so he could support his more than 10,000 soldiers."
"But the despicable methods he used have made the people of the Central Plains suffer unbearably, and their lives are filled with misery."
"Since Liu Bei always prides himself on being a benevolent and righteous gentleman, didn't he consider the millions of people in the Central Plains at all before doing this?"
Gu Cheng's tone suddenly turned stern, his words ringing out as he questioned him.
"He actually calculated everything! My Mi family's raising of salt prices was actually at the behest of Magistrate Liu; we were truly forced into it!"
Mi Huan was startled again, her eyes widening as she looked at Gu Cheng in surprise.
"Yes, what he said makes perfect sense. Our lord has always been known for his benevolence and righteousness, so why has he completely disregarded the lives of the people this time? What are your true intentions?"
Zhao Yun's eyes were filled with deep confusion, and he couldn't help but ponder deeply.
"So, since you two keep saying that I am exceptionally intelligent, yet you advise me to foolishly go and join Liu Bei, isn't that a clear contradiction?"
Gu Cheng spoke with a strong sense of sarcasm.
Zhao Yun and Mi Huan were both embarrassed, but they couldn't think of a single word to refute them.
Gu Cheng raised his hand and poured a cup of tea for each of them, then said with a smile, "In my opinion, instead of you two going to great lengths to persuade me to join Liu Bei, it would be wiser for me to advise you to leave Liu Bei as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun and Mi Huan's expressions changed drastically, filled with shock.
In just a few words, how did the situation completely reverse, turning into Gu Cheng persuading them to abandon Liu Bei?
"General, I see that you are exceptionally brave and capable, and you are sure to be a rare general. If you are interested in joining Cao Mengde, I have some connections and can recommend you."
"As for this young lady, although we have only met once and our relationship is still shallow, if you want to establish yourself in Xudu, I, Gu Cheng, will definitely do my best to help you."
Gu Cheng's tone gradually warmed up, and he even began to plan a way out for the two of them on the spot.
Zhao Yun and Mi Huan stood there, looking embarrassed and helpless, unsure of what to do.
Mi Huan quickly coughed a few times and forced a smile, saying, "We appreciate Young Master Gu's kindness, but we were just saying it casually. Please don't take it seriously."
Zhao Yun quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "We still have a long way to go, so we won't disturb Young Master Gu's leisurely enjoyment any longer. We'll take our leave now."
As soon as they finished speaking, the two hurriedly got up to take their leave.
Gu Cheng rose to see them off, smiling as he urged them to stay, "I've already instructed the servants to prepare wine and food. Won't you two have a meal before you continue your journey?"
"No, no, thank you for your kindness, Mr. Gu. We'll meet again someday."
The two men, no longer having the face to linger, quickly bowed and took their leave, hurrying away.
"May we meet again someday?"
Gu Cheng watched the two figures disappear into the distance and sighed softly, "War is about to break out in Xiaopei. If you manage to escape this calamity, then come back and talk to me about fate."
Outside the Gu residence.
The moment they stepped out of the Gu residence, Zhao Yun and Mi Huan both breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from their bodies.
"That's not right. We came here to persuade him to come out of seclusion and assist our lord, so how come we ended up being persuaded by him to surrender to Cao Cao?"
Zhao Yun suddenly came to his senses, his eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.
Mi Huan's eyes suddenly widened, and she abruptly came to her senses, fully realizing the truth.
"This young master Gu is not only exceptionally intelligent, but his debating skills are also unparalleled. We were both completely fooled by him!"
Mi Huan shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Zhao Yun turned and glared fiercely at the gate of the Gu residence, angrily saying, "How could I have been so stunned by his words, allowing him to slander our lord like that!"
"General Zilong, do you really think that Young Master Gu's evaluation of Prefect Liu just now was entirely baseless slander?"
Mi Huan suddenly spoke up, her eyes and tone carrying a profound and inexplicable meaning.
"he--"
Zhao Yun was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond to Mi Huan's question.
After a long silence, Zhao Yun finally let out a long sigh.
"In any case, let's head back to Xiaopei first and then make further plans."
Mi Huan leaped onto the carriage.
Zhao Yun had no choice but to mount his warhorse and urge the accompanying caravan to continue eastward.
"Gu Cheng, Gu Cheng..."
Mi Huan lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, gazing at the receding Gu Family Village, repeatedly murmuring that name.
Inside Gu Family Village.
Gu Cheng had just seen his guests off and turned to sit down.
Just then, a system notification sounded in his mind.
"Ding! The host has triggered a seclusion mission. The mission period is three months. Please choose a seclusion location for this mission."
The names of the three cities, Xiangyang, Hulu, and Wugong, instantly came to mind.
"We'd only had a break for less than two months, and now there's another mission?"
Gu Cheng couldn't help but mutter a complaint under his breath.
Despite the complaints, the task still had to be accepted; who knows, this time it might yield some unexpected surprise rewards.
Although Xiangyang is relatively peaceful at the moment, it is still Liu Biao's territory, so it's best to avoid going there if possible.
Wugong is located in Guanzhong, where the Xiliang generals are currently fighting fiercely for territory. Going to Wugong would be tantamount to walking into a trap, and would be a sign of utter foolishness.
As for this lakeside city, it was really not famous, so Gu Cheng had to reach out and take out a map to examine it carefully.
After searching the map for a long time, he finally found this inconspicuous little town in the south of Shanyang County.
"This city is quite close to Xiaopei..."
The hesitation only lingered in his mind for a moment before Gu Cheng quickly dismissed it.
He had even lived in seclusion in Xia Cai City, let alone Hu Lu City, which was still within Cao Cao's territory. Even if Cao Cao were to send troops to attack Liu Bei, the war would only burn in Liu Bei's territory and would not reach Hu Lu City.
"Okay, we'll choose Lakeland!"
Just then, Cao Jie walked into the courtyard, followed by a group of maids carrying fine wine and dishes.
"My lord, weren't we supposed to have guests visiting? I've already prepared wine and food, where have they gone?"
Cao Jie glanced blankly at the empty surroundings.
Gu Cheng said with a smile, "Those two guests didn't get along with me, and I made them leave after just a few words."
Cao Jie gave a soft "Oh," then smiled and said, "That's alright, we'll eat by ourselves. Today we'll have venison hot pot."
"Why is it hot pot again?!"
Gu Cheng's face immediately fell, his expression full of bitterness.
It's all because his wife has become obsessed with hot pot, and they eat it every few days. Now, just hearing the word "hot pot" makes him feel nauseous.
The couple sat down facing each other, and a steaming hot pot was soon served.
"Husband, eat more and nourish your body."
Cao Jie picked up slice after slice of tender meat and kept putting it into Gu Cheng's bowl.
"My wife still wants me to take supplements? Is my body not strong enough?"
Gu Cheng smiled knowingly, his words carrying a veiled implication.
Cao Jie instantly understood his implied meaning, her cheeks flushed crimson, and she said shyly and reproachfully, "What nonsense are you talking about, my husband? You're so frivolous~~"
Upon seeing this, Gu Cheng couldn't help but burst into laughter.
After eating a few pieces of meat, Gu Cheng suddenly remembered his business and said, "Madam, I may have to go on another long trip in a few days."
"Going on another long trip?"
Cao Jie was startled, and the venison he had just picked up fell back into the boiling pot.
Gu Cheng nodded and continued, "Madam doesn't need to come this time. Our salt business has just started, and we need Madam to stay and oversee the operations in Xudu."
"Where does my husband plan to go on this trip?"
Cao Jie placed another piece of venison on Gu Cheng's plate and asked tentatively.
"Lakeland City," Gu Cheng said directly, without any attempt to hide anything.
"Lake Lu? What's my husband going there for? Is he planning another sightseeing trip?"
Cao Jie asked, his face full of confusion.
"Of course not."
Gu Cheng smiled and said, "I want to sell our Gu family's salt in Xuzhou. Hulu is very close to Xiaopei, and Xiaopei is the western gateway to Xuzhou, so I want to stay in Hulu for a while and open a shop in Xiaopei first."
Gu Cheng's words were not entirely a made-up excuse. He originally intended to take advantage of the opportunity to seize the salt market in Xuzhou and completely crush the sea salt business monopolized by the Mi family.
Gu Cheng's reasons were reasonable, and since he was the head of the family, Cao Jie naturally couldn't oppose his decision.
"Lake Lu is within the territory of Shanyang County, which is also our own land, so there shouldn't be any danger..."
Cao Jie pondered for a while, but then said with some concern, "It's not that it's not good for my husband to go to Hulu, but if I stay at home, who will take care of my husband's daily life without a caring person by his side?"
"Madam, please don't worry. I will take Chan'er with me. With her by my side to take care of things, that will be enough."
Gu Cheng gently comforted her.
Upon hearing this, Cao Jie had nothing more to say.
After a moment's hesitation, she finally nodded and said, "Alright, my husband is the head of the family. Since you've made your decision, I'll follow your arrangements."
The conversation turned.
Cao Jie then said with a smile, "I can see that my husband doesn't treat Chan'er as just a maid at all. If I'm not mistaken, he must have already taken her before he married me."
"Take her? What do you mean by that?"
Gu Cheng didn't react for a moment and asked with a blank look on his face.
Cao Jie blushed slightly and lowered her voice, saying, "My husband is so clever, do I really need to spell it out? If I take her, it means she and my husband have already... you know, that kind of relationship..."
Gu Cheng suddenly realized what was going on, but just smiled and didn't give a direct response.
"I see that she is extremely loyal to her husband and takes meticulous care of him in daily life. If her husband wants to give her a proper status, he can simply take her as a concubine."
Cao Jie gently advised.
Gu Cheng had just brought a sip of wine to his lips when he heard this and choked, coughing violently.
"Madam, did I hear that right? You're actually advising me to take a concubine?"
Gu Cheng stared at his wife with disbelief and astonishment in his eyes.
Cao Jie, looking completely bewildered, retorted, "It's only natural for a man to have multiple wives and concubines. As his legal wife, am I supposed to object?"
Seeing her serious expression, Gu Cheng suddenly realized that he was living in an era where men were superior to women.
"What you say makes sense, makes sense," Gu Cheng nodded repeatedly.
"Many aristocratic sons like my husband take several concubines before marrying their principal wife, and it's not uncommon for them to take three or four."
"It's rare for a husband to consider taking a concubine only after marrying me; I'm already very fortunate."
Cao Jie reached out and pressed down on Gu Cheng's hand. Instead of showing any dissatisfaction, she looked at him with admiration, as if she had found a treasure.
"What a wonderful era this is..."
Gu Cheng sighed inwardly, then reached out and held Cao Jie's hand tightly, saying, "Since you are so well-educated and reasonable, I will give Chan'er a proper title when I return this time."
"Hmm, my husband, the venison is getting cold. Please eat some more."