“Guniang, someone from the palace has arrived, saying they carry the Empress niangniang’s command. Da taitai and taitai are in the front hall receiving them. They ask that you hurry over.” Xiao Cui rushed in, panting and drenched in sweat.
Gu Jiu set down the book in her hand and asked, “Laoye and da bofu aren’t in the fu?”
“Both laoye have gone out as guests. Did guniang forget? Tonight, the Chen family is hosting a banquet and has invited both laoye and da laoye.”
The Chen family was Gu daren’s maternal family, the household of Gu Jiu’s grandmother. By Gu Jiu’s generation, the two families had little interaction. Gu Jiu didn’t even recognise all of her Chen family’s cousins.
But in her father’s generation, relations with the Chen family’s cousins were still decent, and they would frequently exchange visits. Whenever one side held a banquet, an invitation would be sent to the other.
Today, the Chen family’s banquet happened to coincide with the hou fu’s banquet.
After eating lunch at the hou fu, Gu daren and the eldest master Gu Zhiming took a carriage straight to the Chen residence.
Xie shi and Zhang shi did not go. Neither did the young ladies or the young masters.
Nowadays, it was really only Gu daren and his elder brother who still cared about maintaining ties with the Chen family. So they were the ones to attend such banquets. The others in the Gu fu avoided going if they could, and the two brothers did not press the matter. The Chen family also had no complaints.
In fact, Gu laoyezi hadn’t set foot in his brother-in-law’s house for over ten years, despite both families living in the capital and not far apart.
The Chen family had never uttered a word of reproach. They were probably relieved; better that Gu laoyezi not come and risk embarrassing them with his drunken antics.
Since both masters were out, only the two taitai could host the palace envoy.
Gu Jiu changed her clothes, brought her maids, and hurried to the front hall.
She had expected only the two taitai to be there, but to her surprise, the main branch’s da ge Gu Ban, er ge Gu Jue, her brother Gu Ting, and liu ge Gu Cheng, were also present, all gathered to receive the palace eunuch.
Taking a deep breath, Gu Jiu entered, bowing first to the palace attendant.
The eunuch was unfamiliar, white-faced, beardless, around forty years old. His surname was Xia, and he was addressed as Xia gonggong.
“Greetings, Xia gonggong.”
Eunuch Xia looked her over from head to toe, like inspecting merchandise.
“So this is Gu er guniang. Truly a fine-looking girl.”
“Gonggong flatters me,” Gu Jiu replied calmly.
Eunuch Xia then announced: “By order of the Empress niangniang, summoning Gu Jiu, er guniang of the Zhenjun General’s fu, to enter the palace tomorrow at the third quarter of the hour of the Dragon.”
[T/N: around 7:45 a.m.]
Gu Jiu bowed low. “Chennü accepts the decree.”
Eunuch Xia smiled cheerfully. “Gu guniang, best bring several changes of clothes. Niangniang may wish for you to remain in the palace for several days.”
Gu Jiu’s heart skipped, her pulse pounded wildly. A heavy sense of foreboding pressed down on her.
She asked carefully, “Does niangniang truly intend for chennü to stay in the palace?”
Eunuch Xia’s face broke into another broad grin, like a smiling Buddha. “Gu guniang, it’s always wise to be prepared. Now, I must deliver decrees to other households. I’ll take my leave.”
“Gonggong, go slowly.”
Gu Ban personally escorted him out of the Gu fu and presented him with a generous reward.
Moments later, Gu Ban returned to the hall. Everyone else remained seated, none leaving.
Zhang shi furrowed her brows, looking worriedly at Gu Jiu. “Why would the Empress summon Xiao Jiu and the others into the palace? What does she intend?”
Xie shi gave a faint, mocking smile. “Who knows? Er yatou, go prepare yourself. Tomorrow morning, you’ll be escorted to the palace gates. For the next few days, you’ll be living inside. Be cautious in everything, speak little, observe much, and don’t bring trouble on this family.”
Gu Jiu ignored her.
Gu Ting blurted, “Meimei, if you don’t want to go, just claim illness.”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “It’s too late. Eunuch Xia saw me with his own eyes, healthy and well. If I claim illness now, the palace will surely be displeased.”
“Sanlang, stop spouting foolish ideas. Do you want to doom the entire fu?”
Xie shi scolded Gu Ting harshly.
Gu Ting muttered, “I’m only worried for er meimei.”
Xie shi snapped, furious, “Is one er yatou’s life more important, or the lives of the entire family?”
Gu Ting was left speechless.
Gu Jiu frowned. What had Xie shi eaten today to be so explosive?
Zhang shi intervened: “Dimei, mind your words before the younger generation. Xiao Jiu already said sanlang’s idea won’t work; she must go to the palace on time. Yet you keep comparing her to the lives of the whole fu, that’s accusing her of disloyalty.”
Xie shi snorted coldly. “I’ll discipline my branch’s children. It’s not dasao’s place to lecture me.”
Zhang shi rolled her eyes.
Gu Jiu said, “Taitai, there’s no need to make a fuss. San ge was only speaking casually, you needn’t get so angry. Once the new year passes, he’ll go with da bofu to train in the military camp. Then, out of sight, out of mind, you’ll finally have some peace.”
Gu Ting chimed in, “Once I’m at camp, I won’t come back unless absolutely necessary. Don’t even call me back, unless it’s meimei who sends for me.”
Gu Jiu covered her forehead, gege, you’re pouring oil on the fire! Couldn’t you see Xie shi’s face was already turning green?
“You’re all rebelling against me, aren’t you?” Xie shi exploded in rage.
Gu Jiu secretly nudged Gu Ting with her foot, signalling him to leave first.
Gu Ting glared at her. How could he abandon his little sister and walk out alone? That would be utterly disloyal.
Gu Jiu rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Gege, don’t you realise you’re holding me back?
Forget it. She would just leave with him.
Gu Jiu said, “Taitai, if there’s nothing else, gege and I will take our leave.”
Xie shi’s gaze locked onto Gu Jiu like iron shackles. “Er yatou, do you think that just because you’ve been betrothed to a wang fu, you no longer need to put me in your eyes? Let me tell you, no matter whom you marry, in name I am still your mother.”
Gu Jiu looked at her with a half-smile. “Taitai is right. In name, we are mother and daughter. So please, show the magnanimity befitting a lawful wife and don’t stoop to quarrelling with me. I must hurry back and prepare for entering the palace tomorrow. Or… unless taitai has a way to persuade the Empress niangniang to change her mind and spare me the trip?”
Xie shi was left speechless, her words choked off.
Zhang shi gave Gu Jiu a discreet look, urging her not to waste breath here, but to leave quickly.
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, filled with gratitude, and left the front hall with Gu Ting.
Zhang shi then turned to her two sons. “You should go as well. And send someone to the Chen household to inform your father.”
“Yes, Mother.” The brothers Gu Ban and Gu Jue both left the hall.
Only Gu Cheng remained, still frowning.
Without bothering to lower his voice, he addressed Zhang shi directly. “Mother, er meimei is already betrothed to Gongzi Zhao. At the very least, give her some dignity.”
“And who gives me dignity?” Xie shi shot back furiously.
Her own son was siding with Gu Jiu, it was like a dagger to her heart.
Gu Cheng said earnestly, “Er meimei is still a member of the Gu family. Even after marrying Gongzi Zhao, she will remain the Gu family’s honoured guniang, my meimei. On every New Year and festival, we will still have ties. If Mother offends her now and leaves resentment in her heart, the consequences will not be good.”
“Hah! As if I should fear her. I don’t believe she would dare lift a hand against me. Unless she wishes to be branded unfilial and scorned by the entire world.”
Xie shi leaned heavily on her status as an elder, utterly unafraid.
Hearing this, Gu Cheng’s brow furrowed even deeper.
He said, “Indeed, er meimei would not dare raise a hand against Mother. But if she truly wishes to target me, she has no such scruples. If Mother doesn’t care about ruining your son’s future, then by all means, continue to be willful, drive her to resentment, and let her hate you for life.”
Xie shi nearly fainted with rage. She pointed a trembling finger at him, her expression incredulous. “You–! You dare threaten your own mother for the sake of that girl? How could I have given birth to such an unfilial son, turning your elbows outward! Do you even have a conscience?”
Gu Cheng’s face turned ashen, deeply humiliated.
Zhang shi could no longer stay silent. She raised her voice sharply. “Dimei, have you made enough of a scene? Do you intend to drive every one of your children away, until not a single one has loyalty left to you?”
Xie shi froze.
Zhang shi snorted coldly. “Look at yourself, what part of you resembles an elder? What Gu Cheng said makes perfect sense. At the end of the day, Gu Jiu is a daughter of your branch. If she holds honour, then it is your household that holds honour.
“Yet you keep finding fault. Aside from venting your own bitterness, what good does it do? You’ve offended everyone. Your children all keep their distance, treating you with nothing but polite fear. Is this the result you wanted?”
Xie shi’s face went pale-green with fury, her teeth clenched so tightly they ground against each other.
Sensing things turning ugly, Chun He hurried forward with tea. “Taitai, please calm yourself. Have a sip of tea to ease your anger.”
Xie shi took the teacup, and, to everyone’s surprise, hurled it straight to the ground.
The tea splashed everywhere, soaking Chun He’s clothes.
With a glare sweeping over Zhang shi and Gu Cheng, Xie shi gave a cold snort and stormed out.
“Mother?” Gu Cheng called after her, frowning hard.
But Xie shi did not look back, acting as though she had heard nothing.
Gu Cheng could only watch helplessly as she departed, finally letting out a weary sigh.
Zhang shi consoled him. “Liulang, don’t be too disappointed. Too much has happened today; your mother is still in the heat of her anger. Wait until she calms down, then find a chance to speak with her again. I believe she will listen.”
“Thank you, da bomu. These past days, we have troubled you too much. That you bear no resentment, we are deeply grateful.”
“We are one family. No need for such formality.”
Later, Gu Jiu reminded Gu Ting sternly not to provoke Xie shi.
Gu Ting was clumsy with words and no match for her. In just a few exchanges, Xie shi could pin him down completely.
He chuckled sheepishly. “That’s only because meimei is around, so I dared to step up. If you weren’t with me, I’d avoid her at all costs.”
Gu Jiu shot him a glare. “From now on, leave the inner-courtyard matters alone. You are a man. Your ambitions should lie beyond the household. Leave the inner chambers to me. I can’t leave the estate anyway, so quarrelling with taitai will give me something to pass the time.”
Gu Ting burst into hearty laughter. “Then I’ll follow meimei’s lead.”
The siblings parted at the second gate. Gu Jiu returned to Zhilan Yuan.
Her maids Qing Mei and the others were beside themselves with worry.
“Guniang is to enter the palace early tomorrow morning. What should we do?”
Gu Jiu, however, was calm. She pointed at them. “If I’m not panicked, what are you panicking for? It’s only the palace, not a mountain of blades or a sea of fire.”
“The palace is far scarier than any mountain of blades or sea of fire,” Qing Mei muttered.
Gu Jiu laughed and pinched Qing Mei’s cheek. “Enough. If the sky falls, taller people will hold it up. Even if the Empress has some scheme in mind, she won’t strike directly at us girls already betrothed to imperial grandsons. Understand?”
“We were betrothed by His Majesty’s decree, and we represent His Majesty’s dignity. The Empress is such a shrewd woman; she would never openly slap His Majesty in the face.”
If she struck, it would be in secret, never in the open.
The Empress was making one last desperate move, plotting for the Crown Prince’s future, not just for the coming year, but perhaps for the next five years as well.
Beyond five years, even she would be powerless. At that point, all would depend on fate.
If the Crown Prince outlived the Emperor, then naturally, he would inherit the throne. If he did not, then it could only be said that such was his destiny.
Gu Jiu reasoned that, in preparing the great momentum for the Crown Prince’s future, the Empress must be arranging matters in three key areas: the court, the military, and the imperial clan.
How exactly she planned to arrange them, Gu Jiu had no idea; she didn’t even know the officials’ names, much less the details. But the general direction, she could see clearly enough.
Perhaps the Empress had summoned them into the palace at this time to use them as pawns? Or perhaps she intended to select some among them as “nails,” planted in various princely households? Or maybe she had other motives Gu Jiu couldn’t yet fathom.
Qing Mei packed a large bundle, filling it with Gu Jiu’s toiletries, changes of clothing, and all sorts of emergency items.
Then Zhang shi sent her trusted maid Shaoyao over.
“Shaoyao jiejie, please, have a seat.” Gu Jiu’s eyes curved in a warm smile as she invited Shaoyao to sit for tea.
Shaoyao returned the smile. “Nubi won’t sit. Nubi must hurry back to report. Nubi came by my taitai’s orders to bring er guniang silver. Tomorrow, when er guniang enters the palace, you’ll need money for everything. Taitai took a thousand taels from the accounts and had nubi bring them all to you.”
Saying this, Shaoyao produced a wooden box filled with silver notes in various denominations, from as small as one tael to as large as one hundred.
Gu Jiu said gratefully, “Da bomu always thinks of me most tenderly. Please thank her on my behalf. The last time I entered the palace to meet His Majesty, it was also thanks to the silver da bomu prepared that I was able to manage well. I have always been deeply grateful.”
Shaoyao smiled. “Er guniang is too polite. And the medicinal recipes you sent last time were wonderful. Since my taitai began using them, her monthly pains are gone, and her complexion is much improved. Even us servants have benefited from them, the formula truly nourishes the body.”
Gu Jiu pressed her lips into a smile. “That da bomu trusted me enough to use my prescriptions, it’s I who should be grateful. If Shaoyao jiejie ever faces any difficulty, and I am able to help, please don’t hesitate to come to me.”
“To have er guniang say such a thing is worth more than anything. Nubi shall take my leave now.”
“Qing Mei, quickly see Shaoyao jiejie out.”
Qing Mei obeyed, escorting her to the door.
Shaoyao, eager to build ties with Zhilan Yuan, treated everyone there with great courtesy.
She thought to herself: er guniang was destined to marry into the wang fu. That was an extremely honourable prospect. Strengthening ties could only be to her benefit.
Holding the thousand taels in her hands, Gu Jiu truly felt grateful to Zhang shi.
Xie shi, always posturing as a senior, had never once fulfilled the duties of an elder. Tomorrow Gu Jiu would enter the palace with barely a few dozen taels to her name; how could that possibly suffice?
Xie shi hadn’t sent her a single coin, neither the last time nor this time.
In contrast, it was her aunt from the other branch of the family who thought of her in every way, preparing funds early so she would not suffer inconveniences inside the palace.
Of course, Gu Jiu had never expected Xie shi to send her silver. She merely despised Xie shi’s behaviour. Not to mention comparing her with others, even compared with Zhang shi alone, Xie shi fell short by a hundred streets.
The hou fu also sent someone to show concern for Gu Jiu.
Wei lao furen was deeply worried; it was plain she held a strong wariness toward the Empress.
Gu Jiu speculated: could the lao furen once have suffered a setback at the Empress’s hands?
“Please thank lao furen for her concern. I am well. All my preparations for tomorrow are ready. Please tell lao furen that I shall pay my respects another day.”
Yu mama smiled. “How filial of Xiao Jiu guniang. Also, this is a small token from the lao furen. She worried you might be short on funds, so she asked me to bring it.”
Yu mama produced two jade pendants, small but exquisite, the jade of superior quality.
Even such small pendants were worth several hundred taels at least.
Gu Jiu quickly shook her head. “Da bomu has already drawn a thousand taels for me. I cannot accept anything more from lao furen. Please take them back.”
“That will not do. The lao furen never takes back what she has given. Besides, when an elder bestows a gift, it is not for the junior to refuse. Xiao Jiu guniang, please just accept them. All that matters is that you don’t let down her kind intentions.”
“How could I possibly…”
Gu Jiu finally accepted the two pendants, quietly noting the kindness in her heart. She resolved that if she ever had the chance, she would be sure to repay it.
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