Ch 108: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

The Ji family entourage entered the Gu residence.

The Gu residence courtyard was lively today, with long open-air tables arranged neatly in rows and guests exchanging pleasantries everywhere. Gu Changzhou, dressed in an elegant silk robe, uncharacteristically stood in the courtyard to welcome the guests.

Master Ji, being well-acquainted with Gu Changzhou, quickly began chatting with him under the veranda. Meanwhile, Ji Zhifei, never one for socializing, waited alone in the courtyard.

“Young Master, was that person at the gate earlier Mr. Zhao Li?” a servant whispered to Ji Zhifei.

“It was,” Ji Zhifei replied indifferently.

The servant continued, “And the one next to him—wasn’t that the Gu family’s tutor, Qin Zhao, the one who won the Triple Top Scholar?”

“Most likely,” Ji Zhifei scoffed lightly. “I thought he’d be someone of note, but seeing him today, he’s nothing special.”

Since learning that Jing Li was acquainted with Gu Heng, Ji Zhifei had quickly investigated Jing Li’s background.

The spouse of the Gu family’s tutor.

This revelation had surprised Ji Zhifei somewhat but didn’t seem particularly unusual. Everyone knew that aside from his parents, the person Gu Heng respected most was his tutor, Mr. Qin. Standing up for his spouse was only natural.

However… compared to Ji Zhifei’s prior assumptions, this status was rather unimpressive.

Ji Zhifei sneered. “A mere tutor’s spouse, trying to act high and mighty…”

“Shall we… teach him a lesson?” the servant suggested, lowering his voice with a hint of malice.

Catching the undertone, Ji Zhifei smirked coldly. “What nonsense. This is the Gu family’s banquet, and we’re here to offer congratulations. How could we do something so uncivilized?”

The servant added, “But that Qin Zhao recently went to the magistrate to reopen the investigation into Shopkeeper Chang’s case. It’s probably his spouse’s doing, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

As they spoke, they saw the Gu family’s tutor leading his spouse into the residence hand-in-hand.

Ji Zhifei’s gaze landed on their clasped hands, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Does he think this will give him leverage over me? How naive.”

It was true that Chang Lao’er wasn’t killed by Shopkeeper Chang but by Ji Zhifei’s planning.

The perpetrator was an assassin Ji Zhifei had hired from the black market. The murder, disposal of the body, and framing of Shopkeeper Chang had been executed flawlessly. Shortly after the incident, the assassin, under Ji Zhifei’s orders, left the city, ensuring no loose ends remained.

No matter how thoroughly the authorities investigated, they would never trace it back to him.

Ji Zhifei hadn’t intended for the matter to escalate to this point.

From the very beginning, his goal had only been that deed.

He had paid Chang Lao’er to mortgage the bookstore to him, obtaining the deed smoothly. The matter should have ended there. Who could have predicted that Zhao Li would suddenly appear, even bringing Gu Heng to step in, humiliating him in public?

If he were to return the deed now, how could he ever hold his head up in the city again?

Returning the deed was out of the question.

Since he didn’t want to return it, the only option was to stir up trouble on Chang’s side first.

Ji Zhifei naturally thought of Chang Lao’er, whom he had hidden away.

However, what Ji Zhifei hadn’t expected was that the seemingly frail Zhao Li would have such courage, even going to the authorities to demand a reinvestigation of the case.

Though he wasn’t worried about his involvement being discovered, this action was undoubtedly a provocation to Ji Zhifei.

Thinking of this, Ji Zhifei’s lips curled into a subtle smile. “But you’re right—it does feel too easy to let him off like this.”

“Young… Young Master—”

Ji Zhifei ignored him and swaggered toward Qin Zhao and Jing Li.

“Isn’t this last year’s Triple Top Scholar, Mr. Qin?” Ji Zhifei blocked Qin Zhao’s path and said with a smile.

His voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it was enough to attract the attention of many.

Everyone invited today was someone of status in the city and had some connection to the Gu family. They all knew Qin Zhao as Gu Heng’s tutor—the key figure behind Gu Heng passing the county examination in his first year.

However, due to his frail health, Qin Zhao rarely made public appearances, so not many had seen him in person.

For a moment, many turned their heads, eager to see what this legendary Qin Zhao looked like.

But the person Ji Zhifei blocked merely inclined his head slightly and replied in a calm tone, “Who are you?”

His voice was steady, without the slightest ripple, as if the man before him wasn’t worth paying attention to.

The onlookers exchanged intrigued glances.

Master Ji was known for his swift and decisive ways in business and had earned Gu Changzhou’s trust. In the city, he had a certain reputation.

But his only son was nothing like him.

Ji Zhifei was notorious for his arrogance and flamboyance, and many secretly disliked him. They were more than happy to watch him embarrass himself.

Qin Zhao’s composure betrayed nothing, leaving it unclear whether his reaction was intentional. Ji Zhifei scrutinized him for a moment, suppressing his irritation, and forced a smile. “The name is Ji, of the Ji family that owns the Jiangling Silk Store. Hasn’t Mr. Qin heard of us?”

Qin Zhao let out a calm “Oh” and nodded. “A pleasure to meet you.”

Ji Zhifei: “…”

Jing Li lowered his head, barely suppressing a laugh, squeezing Qin Zhao’s fingers tightly.

Qin Zhao glanced back at him.

Ji Zhifei could no longer ignore the obvious—this man was doing it on purpose. Still, he didn’t show his displeasure. Instead, he smiled and said, “It’s understandable. Mr. Qin doesn’t go out much. With more interactions in the future, you’ll naturally become familiar with us.”

Before Qin Zhao could respond, Ji Zhifei shifted his gaze to Jing Li. “By the way, a few days ago, your husband was at the gambling house having fun with me. What’s this? He didn’t mention it to you?”

Qin Zhao’s eyes darkened slightly.

Noticing the change, Ji Zhifei’s smile deepened. “Your husband, I must say, is quite remarkable. He cleaned me out at the gambling table—it seems he must dabble in these things often, doesn’t he?”

At first, Jing Li didn’t catch the underlying malice in Ji Zhifei’s words. But as he became aware of the growing number of curious and scrutinizing gazes around him, he realized something was wrong.

To Jing Li, going out for some fun wasn’t a big deal. After that day, he hadn’t given it a second thought.

But he’d forgotten how particular this era was.

In the eyes of others, he was a shuang’er husband. Sneaking out to a gambling house with another man without his spouse’s knowledge could easily lead to scandalous rumors. The consequences for Qin Zhao’s reputation in the city would be disastrous.

For a moment, Jing Li was at a loss for how to respond.

He could feel the strange gazes directed at him—mocking, surprised, disdainful.

This was likely the first time Jing Li had directly faced the era’s prejudice against shuang’ers. Compared to watching Ah Yi’s struggles from the sidelines, experiencing it himself sent chills down his spine.

The discomfort was overwhelming, and perhaps sensing this, Qin Zhao gently squeezed his hand.

Then, Jing Li heard Qin Zhao chuckle lightly and say, “Thank you for the compliment. I taught him.”

Ji Zhifei’s expression froze for a moment.

His intention had clearly been to tarnish Jing Li’s reputation.

Initially, he had only been intrigued by the boy’s striking appearance. But after being provoked several times, he genuinely wanted to put Jing Li in his place.

What Ji Zhifei hadn’t anticipated was how fiercely protective Qin Zhao would be, to the point of sacrificing his own reputation.

The young man before him was delicate, handsome, and pale, exuding a frail air as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

Yet, despite his appearance, there wasn’t a hint of weakness in his demeanor. Ji Zhifei even felt as though this man’s presence overshadowed his own.

No wonder Zhao Li was so taken with him.

Ji Zhifei ground his teeth lightly, not even noticing his slight loss of composure. “I thought someone as well-read as you, Mr. Qin, would stay far away from such troublesome places. But it seems… you are indeed an extraordinary person.”

“That’s quite a mistaken view,” Qin Zhao replied calmly. “Gambling games originated with the royal family before spreading among the commoners. Even today, nobles in the capital still enjoy them. Are you suggesting, Young Master Ji, that they all lack judgment and discernment?”

“You—”

“Mr. Qin, you’re finally here!” A loud call interrupted Ji Zhifei’s retort. Not far away, Gu Heng approached quickly and said to Qin Zhao, “We’ve been waiting for you for ages. Don’t stand here in the courtyard catching the wind; come inside with me.”

Gu Heng’s arrival was perfectly timed, and with this interruption, Ji Zhifei couldn’t continue pressing the issue.

Moreover, Gu Heng’s booming voice caught the attention of Gu Changzhou, who was chatting with friends under the veranda. Noticing Qin Zhao’s arrival, Gu Changzhou immediately found an excuse to leave his group and stepped forward to greet him.

“Mr. Qin is here,” Gu Changzhou said warmly. “You’re not in the best health—please, come inside and sit.”

Ji Zhifei’s expression darkened further.

The Gu family’s banquet had invited many guests, so they had arranged the feast in the courtyard with open-air seating. However, a single table was set up in the main hall as the guest of honor’s seat.

Even the Ji family didn’t have the privilege of sitting there.

Why should this Qin Zhao?

Ji Zhifei’s gaze turned cold and dark, but he didn’t dare act rashly in front of Master Gu. He could only watch helplessly as Qin Zhao was personally escorted into the main hall.

Inside the hall, several people were already seated.

Aside from Madam Gu, the Prefect of Jiangling and his wife were also present.

The two women were chatting amiably, but the Prefect’s face turned noticeably sour the moment Qin Zhao entered.

Qin Zhao seemed unfazed, bowing slightly to the Prefect. “Greetings, Prefect.”

The Prefect responded curtly with a gruff “Hmm.”

“Come on now, Yue Xiong,” Gu Changzhou intervened to smooth things over. “Don’t hold a grudge. This is just a family gathering—no formalities here. Let’s all sit down.”

Qin Zhao led Jing Li to a seat.

Gu Changzhou quickly found a way to redirect the Prefect’s attention elsewhere, giving Jing Li the chance to quietly ask Gu Heng, who sat beside him, “What’s wrong with the Prefect?”

“Didn’t Mr. Qin go to file a formal complaint a few days ago?” Gu Heng whispered back. “The Prefect sent people to reexamine the crime scene and the bookstore, and it turns out they really found some new clues. But even with those, they haven’t caught the culprit yet. I heard the yamen has been working nonstop for days, and the Prefect’s hair loss has been terrible!”

Jing Li blinked. “Isn’t that his job?”

“True enough,” Gu Heng replied in a hushed tone, glancing toward the Prefect. “But he’s always prided himself on never mishandling a case. If it weren’t for Mr. Qin stepping in, he would’ve wrongfully convicted an innocent man. He’s been stewing over it these past few days.”

“…Middle-aged men, I guess. Too much pride.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Heng received a light knock on the head from Qin Zhao, who leaned past Jing Li to deliver it. “Mind your words and actions,” Qin Zhao said.

Gu Heng instantly deflated and shut his mouth obediently.

The banquet ended on a cheerful note, with both hosts and guests enjoying themselves.

The delicious meal quickly made Jing Li forget the earlier unpleasantness. When Madam Gu noticed his fondness for a particular dish—soft white peach cake—she even instructed the kitchen to prepare an extra portion for him to take home.

Rubbing his now-full stomach, Jing Li carried the carefully packed peach cakes and walked out of the Gu residence.

The carriage assigned to them by the Gu family was waiting at the entrance.

By now, some time had passed since the banquet concluded. The street outside the Gu residence was mostly deserted, as most of the carriages from other households had already departed. Only a few remained scattered near the entrance.

Not far away, the Ji family’s carriage was still parked there as well.

Jing Li glanced over, puzzled.

Had Ji Zhifei not left yet?

“Be careful, Madam Qin.” A servant from the Gu residence helped Jing Li into the carriage and asked, “Is Mr. Qin not coming out yet?”

Jing Li replied, “He said he needed to discuss something with Master Gu. He’ll be out shortly.”

Most likely, Qin Zhao was talking about continuing to tutor Gu Heng.

Jing Li and Qin Zhao had discussed this matter privately.

In Jing Li’s opinion, since Gu Heng had successfully passed the county examination, Qin Zhao’s contribution had been significant. It was the right time to ask their employer for a raise.

After all, ever since Gu Heng’s success, many students had been coming to their door, hoping to study under Qin Zhao.

His value was no longer what it used to be.

However… was today really the right time to bring this up?

Jing Li couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

Today was a joyous occasion for the Gu family, and Master Gu had clearly been in high spirits throughout the evening. Bringing up such matters now might dampen the mood.

Would Master Gu be displeased?

Lifting the curtain of the carriage, Jing Li peeked toward the brightly lit Gu residence, anxiously contemplating.

The carriage the Gu family had arranged for them was far more luxurious than those typically seen. It was lined with thick plush rugs and warmed by a stove, making it both cozy and comfortable.

Jing Li rubbed his eyes and, before long, dozed off in the corner of the carriage.

By now, most of the guests had left the Gu residence, but Ji Zhifei was being led deeper into the estate.

“This direction leads to Master Gu’s study, doesn’t it?” Ji Zhifei asked. “What does Master Gu want from me?”

The servant replied, “I don’t know.”

Ji Zhifei clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He and his father had been ready to take their leave over an incense stick’s time ago, but instead of letting them go, they’d been made to wait in the front courtyard for what felt like ages. And now, this mysterious detour—what exactly were they planning?

Could it be that Master Gu also wanted to stand up for that Qin fellow?

The thought flickered briefly in Ji Zhifei’s mind before he dismissed it outright.

Impossible.

It made sense for Gu Heng to feel indebted to Qin Zhao, but Master Gu? A man of such standing—controlling Jiangling’s textile industry, a royal merchant, and someone even the Prefect wouldn’t dare cross—why would he trouble himself over a poor scholar?

The very idea was absurd.

But if it wasn’t about that, then why did Master Gu want to meet him alone?

Ji Zhifei couldn’t figure it out, nor did he have the chance to dwell on it further, as the servant came to a halt.

The servant knocked on the door of the study and said, “Master, Young Master Ji has arrived.”

A voice answered from inside, “Let him in.”

The servant opened the door but immediately stepped aside, bowing his head and avoiding even a glance into the room.

Ji Zhifei’s unease deepened as he stepped inside.

The study was sparsely furnished, divided into an inner and outer chamber. A faint scent of tea lingered in the air, but the outer chamber was empty.

Rounding the curtain, Ji Zhifei first saw a meticulously organized bookshelf directly opposite the entrance. Then, his gaze fell on the man seated at the desk.

Qin Zhao turned a page of the book he was reading, while beside him, Gu Changzhou poured tea into his cup with his own hands.

Ji Zhifei didn’t immediately grasp the significance of this gesture, but an instinctive chill crept up his spine.

Qin Zhao picked up the teacup at his side, took a slow sip, and then raised his head.

“Young Master Ji,” he said evenly, “I’m the one who wanted to see you.”