Chapter 63: Riding Together as Husband and Wife

The "cable car" came to a halt at the main courtyard of Bidanyuan.

Tang Zhao jumped down from him, stripped off her outer robe and cloak, tossed the cloak onto the bed with one hand, and handed the robe to Gu Ci with the other.

Gu Ci took the robe, draped it over himself, and prepared to leave.

Tang Zhao had no choice but to grab him. "Hey, hey, hey! We haven't finished discussing the soybean oil matter yet. Where do you think you're going?"

Gu Ci stopped in his tracks, allowing her to tug at his sleeve, and asked in confusion, "Is there something else?"

Tang Zhao's eyes widened. "Something else?" There was so much more!

Buying soybeans, hiring workers, packaging, recruiting merchant teams, setting up sales points—an entire industrial chain involving soybean oil production, processing, packaging, and sales. How many people and affairs were involved in this, from the inside out?

How had it reached the end before it had even begun in Gu Ci's eyes?!

Tang Zhao rolled up her sleeves and pressed him into a chair, acting like every eager contractor, eloquently and incessantly presenting her business plan to her "Client Papa."

Gu Ci felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Tang Zhao went through three consecutive cups of tea, only finishing her general outline when the sky began to dawn. "What do you think of my first Three-Year Plan?"

Tang Zhao looked at him expectantly.

Gu Ci rubbed his temples; he hadn't understood a single word.

Seeing Gu Ci standing there with his mouth open, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long time, Tang Zhao's smile froze on her face. "?"

Gu Ci said honestly, "I didn't understand."

Tang Zhao:.

Tang Zhao clenched her fists and closed her eyes to take a deep breath: *He is Client Papa, and he has a Client Grandpa behind him. I cannot roar, and I cannot hit people!*

She forced a smile. "It's fine. I can handle these little things myself."

Gu Ci looked down at the small, clenched fists resting on the table.

That did not look like someone who was "fine."

*Ahem.* Gu Ci cleared his throat. "If you need me to do something, just say it plainly."

*Thank goodness, thank goodness, Client Papa still loves me.* Tang Zhao's mood cleared like the sky after rain, and she spoke with blunt simplicity: "Money!"

Gu Ci:.

He said sincerely, "I am poor."

"Who's pointing at you?" Tang Zhao still remembered the family rule of the Prince Xuan Mansion—men were not allowed to hold private property. "I meant Father."

Prince Xuan, the master of the entire fief, the boss of the Northwest!

Gu Ci remained sincere. "Father is even poorer than I am."

Tang Zhao:.

Even if you are the Client, you can't use your status to be this spoiled!

"The military funds are managed by the strategist, and the mansion's funds are held by Mother," Gu Ci explained. "If you want to move money, asking Father is useless."

*Asking me is even more useless.*

Exhausted, Tang Zhao dismissed him. *Fine, I get it. Please leave gracefully.*

Gu Ci stood there somewhat awkwardly. "You..."

This was the first time Tang Zhao had seen a man look so lost, and she was instantly amused. "I'm not angry." In her past life, she had encountered all kinds of clients; a man of Gu Ci's caliber was someone she could crush with a single finger.

"Once you've made your arrangements, I will go with you to see Father," she added after a thought. "And the strategist."

Gu Ci breathed a sigh of relief and turned to go make the arrangements.

Tang Zhao tossed and turned for several days, eventually becoming exhausted. She pulled the quilt over her head to block out the light and fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up again, it was already afternoon.

Chunfeng complained while assisting her with her morning wash. "The son-in-law is far too careless. The late autumn nights are so cold, yet he dares to fly around with you like that. What if you catch a cold?"

Tang Zhao deeply agreed.

"No matter how much you like him, Miss, you can't spoil him like this."

Tang Zhao: *I am not, I did not.*

"I kept the carriage warm and cozy, only to wait all night for nothing. If Dongmei hadn't come to tell me, I would still be waiting here like a fool."

Sitting at the dining table, Tang Zhao honestly admitted her mistake. There had been too much to do last night, and she had forgotten.

Chunfeng's incessant nagging was quite reminiscent of Nanny Song. Tang Zhao endured it until she finished her meal, then made an excuse to go for a walk to aid her digestion. She hadn't walked far down the corridor before turning into the study.

Chunfeng watched the Miss's retreating back with a resentful gaze.

Gu Ci was sitting at the desk writing a letter; Tang Zhao had found a corner to hunker down in and wait for him.

Gu Ci handed the finished letter to Chaohui. Chaohui stole a glance at the slumped figure in the chair and quickly turned to leave.

Tang Zhao asked, "When are we leaving?"

"The sooner the better," Gu Ci said. "During the winter, the Turks also need to rest and recuperate. The Northwest will experience a brief period of peace. This is the best time."

"Alright," Tang Zhao stood up. "I'll go pack my things."

Gu Ci reminded her, "Don't take too much. We will go and return quickly."

Tang Zhao gave him an "OK" sign and went back to pack.

After some thought, Gu Ci went to Minghui Hall and explained the soybean oil matter to the Princess Consort of Xuan in full detail.

The Princess Consort remained silent for a long time before saying, "Since you both have planned it out, then go. I will handle the arrangements within the mansion."

"Thank you, Mother."

"Must we use such formalities between mother and son?" The Princess Consort smiled. "Regarding Xuan'er's matter, I punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall for a month and copy the Four Books and Five Classics a hundred times."

She felt she had failed her son somewhat, but since both her children were her own flesh and blood, she couldn't help but plead for her daughter. "Your sister was spoiled by those black-hearted people in the Meng family. Do not blame her."

Gu Ci nodded. "I understand."

The Princess Consort's smile deepened. "Go then. Take good care of Zhao Shan."

"She is a good child. Marrying her is your blessing."

Gu Ci paused, then accepted the words seriously.

Watching her son's retreating figure, the Princess Consort murmured, "The hardships my son has endured all these years are finally being rewarded with blessings."

Tang Zhao, unaware that she had been elevated to the status of "blessing" in the Princess Consort's heart, was still contemplating what to bring.

Clothes, shoes, socks, cloaks, copper coins, silver, and banknotes... oh, and the Purple Gold Whip.

With a casual wave of her hand, the shimmering Purple Gold Whip let out a crisp crack in the air.

*Snap!*

Judging by the sound, it was made of top-quality material. It would be perfect for whipping people—no, for whipping horses.

That very night, the "cable car" went back online. Tang Zhao was calmly carried as they scaled the city walls. Deep in the dense forest, thirty soldiers of the Black Iron Camp stood ready.

Seeing the two arrive, they stood in neat formation and saluted.

A black stallion with reddish ear tips trotted forward, nuzzling them affectionately.

Tang Zhao: *Wow!*

Gu Ci reached out to stroke the horse's head, placed the two saluting soldiers on horseback, and walked behind Tang Zhao, reaching out his hands to lift her up.

Tang Zhao, who was sneakily trying to pet the horse, felt her body go light, and suddenly she was mounted on the horse.

Gu Ci vaulted onto the horse, his arms reaching over Tang Zhao to grip the reins. He whispered, "Hold on tight," and with a squeeze of his legs, the stallion let out a neigh and bolted like an arrow from a bow.

Tang Zhao, thrown backward by inertia into Gu Ci's arms: "Oh, holy crap!"

She reached into her cloak to feel the back of her head, unable to help but wonder: *Is this man made of iron? That bump nearly made me lose my memory.*

A beautiful profanity was on the tip of her tongue, but as soon as she opened her mouth, a gust of cold wind rushed in. Tang Zhao coughed violently, instantly becoming well-behaved.

Gu Ci, unaware that he had escaped a scolding thanks to the cold wind, waited until the woman in his arms stopped coughing before flipping her cloak over her, wrapping her up tightly.

The cloak blocked the biting wind, and the warmth from the man's chest behind her radiated continuously. The temperature in the small space gradually rose, and her face, which had turned pale from the cold, slowly regained its color.

Tang Zhao leaned back, found a comfortable position, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.