Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1737: Coming-of-Age Ceremony

Gu Jinli blushed a little, glaring at him, "Just talk, why are you getting handsy?"

"Is this called getting handsy?" Qin San Lang laughed, holding her in his arms, letting her sit on his lap, kissing her, "I once heard something."

"What was it?" Gu Jinli turned to look at him.

Qin San Lang didn’t say it because he knew it would make her angry... Between a man and a woman, having not consummated their marriage and having consummated it are completely different. Even after marriage, if they haven’t consummated, no matter how good the relationship is, the moments they spend together are filled with heart-fluttering joy.

But if they have consummated, the feelings between a man and a woman are no longer just admiration and joy. It’s the lingering after understanding intimacy, it’s the thrill that comes with just the thought of it, and the irresistible desire to cling to each other whenever they meet.

Seeing that he was only smiling and not speaking, Gu Jinli rolled her eyes and said lazily, "Let go, we need to get to work."

Can’t just do nothing all day long.

"The chickens, ducks, goose feathers, and fruits are being taken care of by Aunt Xiong and the others, no rush for the anti-parasitic medicine, it’s okay if Xiao Yu doesn’t go out today." Qin San Lang released her, letting her sit while he went to the inner room to rummage through the boxes. After a while, he found a cloth cap and a silver hairpin in his hand, "Xiao Yu, help me put it on."

Gu Jinli saw he took out the cloth cap and asked, "Is it time to start wearing it?"

Qin San Lang nodded, "Yes, otherwise people will start asking."

He was already twenty years old, the age for a crown ceremony, and he had made great achievements. With Xu You’s temperament, he would surely hint that Vice General Ma should have Xu You preside over the crown ceremony for him.

But not everyone can preside over a crown ceremony. If Xu You did, he would be bound to him, having to regard Xu You as an elder for life.

He didn’t want an outsider placing the crown on him. Therefore, the night before the wedding, in the presence of County Captain Jiang and others, Elder Qin placed the crown on him, performing the ceremony in advance.

However, back then, he wasn’t quite the age yet and was always wearing a helmet, so he stowed the cloth cap away.

"Did Xu You send someone looking for you?" Gu Jinli stood on the soft couch, asking while helping him to put on the cap.

Qin San Lang said, "Not yet, but he must have checked on me, knowing I’ve reached the age. Once the matters at Daokou Camp and establishing the garrison are settled, he will definitely summon me. Then, he might propose to place the crown on me. If I start wearing it now and spread the word that the ceremony was already held at home, even if Xu You regrets, he can’t say much."

Gu Jinli nodded in agreement. After helping him with the cap, she held onto his arm, sitting down to look at him, "What do you think of Xu You?"

Qin San Lang’s brows furrowed, his eyes flashed with intensity, his voice lowered a few notches, "He harbors rebellious thoughts and is already laying his plans."

Since Xu You ordered the pits to be dug at Daokou Gully to breed poisonous insects against the Rong bandits, he perceived Xu You’s intentions.

It’s true that Great Chu soldiers were weary, but with the Rong bandits disturbed by the insects and the idea of the Witch God’s displeasure, their morale was shaken. It was the best time to drive through Daokou Gully, capturing three cities in succession and pushing the Rong bandits back to Longshan Mountain Range.

Once driven from Long’an Prefecture, digging trenches to breed insects could still instill fear in the Rong bandits, holding them back for years and allowing for recovery and rest.

But Xu You didn’t; he stopped at Daokou Gully with the sole purpose of leaving the Rong bandits within Chu Territory, preventing Emperor Jingyuan from taking his military power away.

Holding these hundreds of thousands of troops, tens of thousands of warhorses, and over ten thousand supplies, Xu You could continuously drain Emperor Jingyuan’s resources, receiving ongoing provisions.

By using Emperor Jingyuan’s finances to support his army, once Great Chu’s instability worsened, he could then revolt with a well-rested army against Emperor Jingyuan.

Xu You’s plan was not bad.

Emperor Jingyuan is not foolish; he must have discerned Xu You’s intentions, but currently, Emperor Jingyuan has no means to deal with Xu You... killing Xu You, who else in all of Great Chu can command these vast numbers of troops?

Is it General Liu from Yangji Prefecture in the northeast?

He can indeed fight battles, but he used to serve under Duke Wei, being promoted through his ranks. Thus, Emperor Jingyuan dares not trust him with such military power and has instead stripped him of his authority.

General Cheng isn’t bad, with considerable battle experience, but his rank is much lesser compared to Xu You, and he has not been in the Northwest for long. Emperor Jingyuan wanting him to counterbalance Xu You is nearly impossible.

One must raise a general, nurture them to be strong enough to replace Xu You.

But once General Cheng reaches prominence, Emperor Jingyuan will grow uneasy, doubting if General Cheng might rebel against him?

Emperor Jingyuan has this disposition; he doesn’t even trust Duke Wei’s faction, let alone these generals who rose halfway through.

Qin San Lang pondered for more than a moment. When he returned to his senses, he found Gu Jinli really watching him with her head tilted, and he smiled, turning to embrace her, "Don’t worry, Xiao Yu, I can handle military matters."

He was only worried about her.

"Don’t do the work yourself, leave it to the servants, just order Xiao Yu to instruct with a few words."

Gu Jinli laughed, "You’re going to turn me into a lazy wife this way."

She was already quite lazy; if this continued, the returning to Da Feng Village would only have Third Grandma and Doctor Wu scoffing at her more.

Qin San Lang laughed along with her, "It’s not being lazy to turn Xiao Yu into a lazy wife; it’s about turning Xiao Yu into a pampered Madam Gui."

The madams in the Capital are like that, never lifting a hand, having servants do everything at a word.

He wanted to spoil her like that, to let her lean leisurely on the pavilion’s railing, lazily gazing at the garden, feeding the fish in the pond, and playing with the children.

Once he returns home, she would only have eyes for him...

"Since you like a lazy wife, fine, I’ll try to be even lazier." Gu Jinli said with a laugh of her own.

Qin San Lang loved seeing her smile, kissing her at the happiest of her laughter, pressing her into the soft couch to indulge, but ultimately he checked himself.

He must restrain himself; Xiao Yu was already very tired.

"Xiao Yu, you’ll have to eat dinner yourself tonight; I have to go see General Liang with Uncle Niu and the others." Qin San Lang picked her up, fixing the clothes disarrayed by his carelessness.

Gu Jinli nodded, "Okay."

She asked again, "Does General Liang want to know about Xu You?"

Qin San Lang nodded, "Yes, General Liang is the garrison commander of the Northwest. He needs to gather information, or else the days ahead will be tough."

No one is foolish; everyone is striving for their own future, and that of their soldiers.

Gu Jinli advised, "Be cautious in your words; don’t say anything that could offend Xu You, otherwise, your days will be difficult."

Qin San Lang chuckled, "Rest assured, I know the balance, to ensure both are satisfied without any faults being found."

He had been taught such social maneuvering and strategies from a young age; he understood.

"Xiao Yu, regarding children, there’s no rush. I’m looking ahead because I’m worried about your safety, not hurrying for children." Qin San Lang explained, "We haven’t been married even a year, seeing each other infrequently, and there are plenty who’ve been married five or ten years before having children."