Huo Gongzi's visit to thank Gu Zhaobei for saving his life was genuine, but his most important objective was to propose marriage to the Gu family. Of course, before proposing, a formal introduction was necessary.
The introduction was merely a procedural step to show respect. However, since he was already at the Gu residence, he intended to bring up the marriage proposal that very day.
Therefore, he couldn't come alone for the introduction; it would be too impolite.
After much deliberation, Huo Gongzi felt that Magistrate Huang would be the most suitable person in Jinsha City to demonstrate his sincerity and respect.
Magistrate Huang was, of course, willing to help facilitate such a happy union. Upon Huo Gongzi's suggestion, he readily agreed.
In Magistrate Huang's eyes, Huo Gongzi came from a distinguished family and was a man of exceptional appearance. Gu Zhaobei, a commoner, would be incredibly fortunate to marry Huo Gongzi. How could this marriage possibly fail?
As the matchmaker, it was an easy task that would earn him favor. Why wouldn't he agree?
Gu Zhaobei, unaware of their ulterior motives, repeatedly waved his hands at the lavish gifts from Huo Gongzi, saying:
"You are too kind. I merely did what a physician should do. There was no need for such a gesture, Huo Gongzi!"
After some awkward small talk, Gu Zhaobei invited the two guests to a side room for tea.
Before entering, he apologized, saying:
"This was originally a tea room, but we've had more people staying with us recently, and I haven't found any laborers to set up the di long (heated floor system) yet, so we're having to use it for other purposes. I hope you two distinguished guests won't mind."
Huo Gongzi had been to Gu Zhaobei's tea room before. As he entered this time and heard Gu Zhaobei's explanation, he noticed half of the room was screened off by a partition. Through the gap, he could vaguely see two couches. He asked curiously:
"Who has joined the esteemed physician Gu's household?"
Gu Zhaobei explained that he had adopted a baby who had lost his entire family to the cold, and to care for the child, he had hired a wet nurse. Thus, with new additions to the family, their numbers had increased, and they lacked sleeping space, so they were making do with the tea room that had the di long.
Huo Gongzi and Magistrate Huang repeatedly praised the Gu family's kindness.
In the city, homes with di long were already at an advantage. Some families had over a dozen people squeezing into one room with di long to sleep at night.
For Gu Zhaobei to have di long even in his living quarters placed his conditions far above most landlords and gentry in the city.
The two men had not expected Gu Zhaobei to have good tea. The tea he brewed was comparable to that in their own households; in fact, one variety, Bai Qi Lan Ya, was even slightly superior. It seemed the Gu family did have some hidden reserves.
Little did they know, this was tea that the Gu family had obtained for free from city tea houses.
Gu Zhaobei inquired about Huo Gongzi's injuries with concern.
Learning that he had recovered well and even without a scar, Gu Zhaobei remained impassive. Internally, however, he mused:
"Perhaps the dosage of the strength-boosting pills wasn't quite right, and I gave him too much..."
Otherwise, why had Huo Gongzi, who had suffered such severe frostbite, healed so quickly without any scars?
Fortunately, they attributed it to Gu Zhaobei's exceptional medical skills and didn't probe further. If they had, it would have been hard to justify.
Seeing that Magistrate Huang and Gu Zhaobei were engaged in a deep conversation, Huo Gongzi, wanting to leave Magistrate Huang some space to discuss the marriage proposal, feigned a need for fresh air and left the side room.
Just then, the door to the backyard creaked open. Gu Qingcheng turned to close the back door, her hands and face smudged with two streaks of black ash.
However, these streaks of ash did not detract from her beauty. Against her fair, porcelain-like face, the smudges only served to accentuate the alabaster whiteness of her skin.
Huo Gongzi stared like a lovestruck fool for a few moments before quickly stepping forward to greet her:
"Miss Gu, were you just working? Why is your face covered in coal dust?"
Hearing his question, Gu Qingcheng instinctively touched her face. Seeing Huo Gongzi grin, she suddenly realized her hands were dirty, and in touching her face, she had made it even blacker.
She chuckled sheepishly and said, "I was just cleaning the di long in the backyard."
Huo Gongzi found it very comfortable talking to Gu Qingcheng, and his heart, set on marrying her, beat even more fiercely. In a moment of impulse, he blurted out:
"Miss Gu, I actually came up the mountain today for a very important matter."
"Oh, what is it?"
Gu Qingcheng's heart skipped a beat. This guy wanted to handle something important on the mountain?
Could he be planning to raid her house?
At this thought, Gu Qingcheng became instantly vigilant.
"It's like this: I wish to form a marital bond with you, which is why I invited Magistrate Huang to your home today for a formal introduction."
Huo Gongzi blurted it all out, eager to see Gu Qingcheng's surprised reaction.
No family would directly propose marriage upon the first meeting, especially between families as unconnected as theirs had been.
A formal introduction was the first step. If both parties felt a connection, they could then proceed to discuss marriage.
To his surprise, upon hearing his words, Gu Qingcheng showed no sign of delight, but rather an expression of shock, as if she had seen a ghost.
"No way? Is this guy insane? What marriage proposal? How old am I?"
The thought of this man wanting to be her bed partner sent shivers down her spine.
"Ah? I'm only 13!"
Gu Qingcheng blurted out after being taken aback.
In modern society, age was an insurmountable barrier. As soon as this magic weapon was produced, anyone would falter and retreat.
"Thirteen? While it's a little young, I don't mind. Once you enter my household as my secondary wife, my heart will belong only to you, and I will protect you from any bullying by the primary wife!"
Gu Qingcheng was speechless. What kind of rustic "love talk" was this in the Great Zhou?
The two stared at each other...
One full of self-perceived devotion, the other stunned!
"Primary wife? Secondary wife? What does that mean?"
Gu Qingcheng couldn't quite process it.
Hearing her question, Huo Gongzi assumed she was concerned about such matters. He awkwardly rubbed his nose and said:
"Miss Gu, because of my family's status, you cannot be my primary wife. However, I argued with my father, and he finally agreed to let me marry you, not as a concubine, but as a secondary wife.
Rest assured, even if you are not the primary wife, in my heart, you are. If I were to take a primary wife later, I wouldn't even give her a second glance."
Huo Gongzi declared with conviction.
Gu Qingcheng nearly vomited.
She finally understood what Huo Gongzi meant.
So, this guy was the type from ancient romance novels who favored concubines over his wife?
And she was supposed to be one of those concubines?
Is he out of his mind?
Gu Qingcheng blurted out:
"Huo Gongzi, your marriage is none of my business. But since you aim to marry me, have you even asked if I agree to marry you?"
Hearing this, Huo Gongzi looked incredulous, then immediately said:
"How could you possibly refuse? In Jinsha City, you won't find anyone better to marry than me!"
It wasn't surprising that Huo Gongzi was so confident. He was the legitimate son of the Huo family and would inherit the title his father had earned for him. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
He was handsome and dashing. What noble family in the city wouldn't want to marry into his family?