Gu Yue cried and whimpered, trying to defend herself in a small voice, “Mother, please believe me. I really didn’t do anything.”
Xie shi snorted coldly. “Since you refuse to say anything, then continue kneeling. As for the marriage with Haixi bo fu, I’ll send someone tomorrow to refuse it.”
“No!” Gu Yue lunged forward, crying out.
Xie shi narrowed her eyes. “What’s so good about marrying Zhao erlang? A man who has already lost a wife – you’re not afraid he’ll kill you one day? Even if you survive, even if you marry him smoothly, aren’t you afraid he’ll raise his hand against you?”
“He won’t, he definitely won’t!” Gu Yue said urgently.
Xie shi stared at her. “You’re so certain. Could it be that you’ve already met Zhao erlang?”
Gu Yue was tongue-tied.
Xie shi said, “If you don’t speak a single word of truth, don’t even think about marrying into Haixi bo fu.”
“Mother, please help me, won’t you? Last time, you said you’d fulfil my wish and let me marry into Haixi bo fu. Mother, this is the only thing I want. Please don’t cut off my future path, I beg you…”
Xie shi grew furious. “So according to you, only if you marry Zhao erlang can you live. If you don’t marry him, then you’ll go and die?”
Crying, Gu Yue bit her lip and secretly nodded.
Bang!
Xie shi kicked over the footstool beside her, seething with rage.
The stool rolled across the floor, stopping at Gu Yue’s feet.
Gu Yue trembled all over, looking terrified.
Xie shi roared, “Now you know fear? Ha! Haven’t you always been so bold, daring to do anything behind my back?”
Gu Yue said nothing, only kept crying.
Xie shi rubbed her temples, forcing down her anger. “San yatou, I’ll say this one last time: if you don’t tell me the truth, you will never marry into Haixi bo fu. I can’t stop you from courting death, but I do have ways to make your schemes come to nothing. As long as I don’t agree, you’ll have no way around your father either. Think carefully about the consequences.”
Gu Yue was so shocked she covered her mouth, not even daring to cry aloud.
She could only look at Xie shi pitifully, eyes full of disbelief.
Xie shi’s expression remained hard, showing no sign of softening.
Gu Shan secretly observed Gu Yue. She couldn’t understand – why was san jiejie still refusing to speak even now?
Was it really that she had done nothing at all… or was it that she had done something unspeakable?
Gu Shan guessed that it was most likely the latter. If spoken aloud, it would surely infuriate their mother to death.
She also wondered how Gu Yue had managed it.
At that banquet, there hadn’t been the slightest sign of anything unusual about san jiejie.
From start to finish, she had been quiet, never trying to outshine others or stir up trouble.
So just how did she meet Zhao erlang?
The more Gu Shan thought about it, the more she felt the key lay with Zhao liu guniang.
“Mother!”
Gu Yue looked at Xie shi with pleading eyes.
Xie shi asked, “Are you ready to talk?”
Gu Yue bit her lip, her gaze flitting about, guilty and hesitant. “Mother, that day… I did indeed meet Zhao erlang once.”
“From beginning to end – say it properly.” Xie shi was nearly beside herself with rage. She had known Gu Yue wasn’t being honest.
To pull something like this off right under everyone’s noses – unbelievable!
Gu Yue lowered her head, sobbing. “I asked Zhao liu guniang for help, and then met Zhao erlang smoothly in the garden. I… I…”
“What exactly did you do?”
Gu Yue gritted her teeth before finally saying, “I told Zhao erlang that I admired him. I said I didn’t care about the rumours outside. I wanted to marry him.”
“You shameless, degraded girl! A proper lady with no sense of restraint – you know that behaving this way only makes others despise you? You’ll drag down your sisters as well, bringing gossip and disgrace upon the whole family.”
Xie shi was so angry she nearly struck her again.
It took all her effort to restrain herself, and she demanded, “And then? Don’t tell me Zhao erlang would so easily agree to marry you just because of those words.”
Gu Yue’s cheeks flushed scarlet.
Xie shi’s eyes narrowed. That reaction was wrong.
In a flash, she rushed forward and yanked open Gu Yue’s collar.
Gu Yue screamed in panic. “Mother, what are you doing?”
Xie shi glared fiercely. “Speak! Did you and Zhao erlang already do the deed? Did he defile you? You wretched girl, how could you be so shameless?”
Gu Shan was dumbstruck. She covered her mouth, afraid she’d cry out in shock.
San jiejie and Zhao erlang… how could she dare?
Gu Yue burst into tears, desperately denying. “No, no! I didn’t! I’m still innocent!”
“You say you’re innocent, then why would Zhao erlang so readily agree to marry you? Speak – what did you do?”
Gu Yue sobbed, “H-he hugged me… and kissed me. But I really am still innocent. We didn’t go further. It was freezing that night, and while avoiding people, we couldn’t find a place.”
“So what you mean is – if you had found a place, you would have gone all the way?”
Gu Yue faltered. “I… I didn’t mean it like that.”
Xie shi’s face went pale with rage, her head spinning.
She staggered on her feet, nearly fainting.
“Mother, are you all right?” Gu Shan quickly rushed to support her.
Xie shi’s whole body felt weak. After a long moment, she managed to steady herself a little.
She waved her hand, signalling Gu Shan to help her sit down on a chair.
Once seated, she drew in a long breath.
Then, in a cold, emotionless tone, she said, “Gu Yue, you have disappointed me too much – too deeply. All these years I’ve carefully guided you, yet you turn around and… with another man… You – self-indulgent, unchaste, shameless. You’ve completely disgraced the Gu family.”
“I have no daughter like you. I could never have raised a daughter like you. Look at yourself – what part of you resembles a proper young lady from a respectable family? You are unworthy of that title!”
Gu Yue’s face turned deathly pale. She cried as she pleaded, “Mother, please forgive nü’er. I know my mistake now, I truly know it.”
“Enough! Every time you claim you know your mistake, and every time you never truly repent. Before long, you forget everything you said.” Xie shi was so furious that her heart felt choked, as if she could kill someone.
Gu Yue sobbed, looking at her imploringly: “Mother, please agree to the marriage with Haixi bo fu. As long as I can marry into their family, marry Zhao gongzi, I swear I will be obedient from now on, and never cause trouble again. I swear – if I break my word, may Heaven strike me with thunder and leave me to die miserably.”
Xie shi snorted coldly. “So, to marry Zhao Erlang, you’re not even afraid of death. With such determination, why not marry someone else more worthy? Why insist on a man of such bad reputation? Truly, you must be blind, with pig’s fat clouding your mind.”
Gu Yue nodded desperately. “Yes, Mother, I truly am blinded by pig’s fat. I have failed your good intentions – please punish me. Just, once your anger is vented, I beg you to remember your promise to me.
“You once said you would do your best to fulfil my wish, to let me marry into Haixi bo fu. Now that they’ve come forward themselves to propose, all it takes is your nod of approval.”
Xie shi laughed in rage – so that was what Gu Yue had been waiting for.
But after the laughter came waves of sorrow.
To raise such a daughter – didn’t it only prove that she herself was a failure?
Su shi had been dead for over ten years, yet she still couldn’t measure up to her.
Look at Su shi’s daughter, Gu Jiu, then look at her own daughter, Gu Yue – the comparison was brutally stark.
Xie shi’s heart sank into despair. She no longer wished to waste words on Gu Yue.
She said to her, “Go now.”
“Mother?” Gu Yue’s heart tightened with panic.
Xie shi sneered. “You’ve already disgraced yourself. At this point, what can I do but follow your wishes? I’ll speak to your father myself. For the next few days, you must behave. Do not step foot outside. If you cause another scandal and ruin this marriage, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”
Gu Yue nodded repeatedly. “Mother, don’t worry, I’ll behave. Without your permission, I won’t leave my chambers, not even a single step.”
She kowtowed three times, wiped her tears, and left Furong Yuan.
Gu Shan, feeling uneasy, also wanted to leave, but Xie shi called her back.
“Shan’er, stay. I have something to tell you.”
Gu Shan obediently sat down. “Please don’t be angry, Mother. San jiejie… at this point, it’s the only way.”
Xie shi looked at her. “Don’t concern yourself with Gu Yue. I’ve given up on her completely. Shan’er, you must learn from her mistakes. Don’t you dare follow your sister into disgrace. I place high hopes in you – you must make me proud. Remember that.”
Gu Shan nodded firmly. “When it comes to marriage, it is by parents’ command and the matchmaker’s word. I would never act recklessly. I will leave it to you, Mother.”
Finally, Xie shi was comforted. Her heart eased, even bringing tears to her eyes.
She dabbed at them and said, “You are far better than your san jiejie. I’ve overlooked you in the past, but don’t worry. From now on, I’ll pour my efforts into raising you well. You must make me proud, give me face, do you understand?”
Gu Shan felt a little uncomfortable at her mother’s sudden change, but still nodded sweetly. “I understand, Mother. I won’t shame you – I’ll work hard.”
“Good. Very good.” Xie shi felt much better. Thankfully, she still had an obedient daughter. Not all was lost.
Gu Shan thought for a moment, then said: “Mother, after the New Year, I want to go study at the hou fu school. Please give your permission.”
Xie shi agreed at once. “Studying is good. The more you read, the wiser you’ll be. I approve – after the New Year you may go. Don’t be like your san jiejie who dislikes books.
“You’ll be the mistress of a household one day. You must learn alongside the young ladies of the hou fu. The more skills you acquire, the better prepared you’ll be.”
Gu Shan smiled sweetly. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Xie shi was overjoyed. How wonderful – it was a blessing to still have such a dutiful daughter.
Gu Shan then excused herself and returned to her quarters.
Xie shi lay down on the couch, her body drained of all strength. She had been consumed with fury over Gu Yue – one bout of anger felt like it had stolen half her life.
Chun He, the maid, watched her with concern. “Taitai, should I summon a doctor to take a look?”
Xie shi waved her hand. “No need. I’m only exhausted. Rest will be enough. Has laoye returned?”
“Laoye just came back to the fu.”
Xie shi caught her breath. “Go invite him here. Tell him I have something to discuss – about san yatou’s marriage.”
“There’s no need. What is it you wish to say to me?”
Gu daren entered unannounced.
Xie shi immediately sat up.
Chun He served tea and withdrew tactfully.
Xie shi looked wan, sickly. “Why has laoye returned so early today?”
Gu daren looked equally weary. “There’s business to handle at home. I’ll be going back to the yamen shortly.”
Recently, because of gongzi Zhao’s case, Gu daren had been working day and night.
All kinds of influential figures kept interfering, leaving him caught in the middle and pleasing no one.
What was worse, the Tongfu Restaurant had the backing of Xue guifei’s natal family. Gu daren originally thought the case would end once the trail reached the Xue family.
But the matter had spun out of control. Strangely, it somehow became entangled with the Eastern Palace.
Now Gu daren was at his wit’s end, terrified that he might be implicated and lose his post.
And if it were merely losing his post – that would be a light punishment.
What he truly feared was losing his life.
Xie shi, seeing his weary face, gave a bitter smile. “Laoye, even while handling state affairs, you must take care of your health.”
Gu daren replied, “Don’t worry, I know my limits. On the way home, I heard from the gatekeeper that Haixi bo fu sent someone here. What was the matter?”
Xie shi immediately perked up. “I was just about to tell you. Haixi bo fu sent people over to discuss a marriage between Yue’er and Zhao erlang.”
Gu daren’s brows knit tightly. “Are you certain?”
Xie shi sighed. “I wish I were mistaken, but yes – it was indeed about Yue’er’s marriage.”
Gu daren fixed his gaze on her. “How did this come about? Why would the Haixi bo fu suddenly want to marry Yue’er?”
“It’s my fault for failing to discipline her. At the hou fu’s plum blossom banquet, she secretly met with Zhao erlang and poured out her feelings. Soon after, the Haixi bo fu sent envoys to discuss marriage. They said if we agree, they’ll immediately send a formal betrothal proposal.”
Gu daren’s face grew stern, his brows locked in a frown. “That san yatou really never learns.”
Xie shi looked deeply ashamed. “Laoye, I truly can do nothing about Yue’er. I’ve beaten her, scolded her, but she won’t listen. She insists on marrying Zhao erlang, even threatening her life. I can’t stop her.
“If we refuse this marriage, I fear she’ll cause an even bigger scandal. Unless we send her to a monastery to live out her life in seclusion, I really have no solution. Laoye, please make the decision.”
Gu daren snorted coldly. “I’ve heard enough.”
…That was it?
Xie shi was confused. “Laoye, what about the Haixi bo fu…”
“There’s no rush. Stall for a few days.”
“Then… should we agree?” Xie shi asked nervously.
Gu daren looked at her. “This marriage – I will give it serious thought. In a few days, I’ll give you my answer.”
Xie shi nodded, already sensing his decision.
Since laoye wasn’t angry, only said he would “consider it,” it meant he was leaning toward consent.
She let out a sigh of relief and whispered, “It’s best to send Yue’er off sooner. At least she won’t stir up trouble in the fu and ruin the reputation of the other children.”
Gu daren stood up. “Have people watch san yatou closely. As for the marriage, I’ll decide. I must return to my duties. Take care of yourself.”
“Qieshen respectfully sees you off.”
Gu daren gathered his documents and went back to the yamen.
He summoned Ma shiye, closed the doors, and discussed: “Haixi bo fu came to propose a match – between san yatou and Zhao erlang.”
Ma shiye’s eyes lit up. “Daren, this is an opportunity! You’ve been worried about being implicated in Zhao wang’s case. If you form a marriage alliance with the Haixi bo fu, with houye’s standing before His Majesty, you’ll surely weather this storm.”
Gu daren frowned. “That’s what benguan thought as well. But if benguan is implicated, what if the Haixi bo fu uses it as an excuse to withdraw from the engagement? What then?”
“Then you must settle the engagement quickly.”
“Even if it’s settled, they could still annul it.”
Ma shiye thought for a moment.
“Daren, don’t you find it strange? Why would the Haixi bo fu suddenly propose this marriage, without cause?”
“You mean san yatou secretly did something improper?”
Ma shiye nodded. “This subordinate hesitates to cast suspicion on san guniang’s reputation, but this concerns daren’s career. Please investigate carefully. If there is some leverage, we can hold it over the Haixi bo fu.”
Gu daren secretly nodded. “You make sense. I’ll handle this.”
“Then I request daren to resolve this quickly and seal the alliance with the Haixi bo fu. Once we hold leverage in hand, we need not fear them daring to break the betrothal.”
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