Gu Jiu went with her sisters to the side chamber, bringing along the gifts they had each prepared.
“Mei jiejie, we wish you a happy marriage, may you grow old together in harmony, and soon give birth to a noble son.”
Everyone voiced auspicious blessings in unison, making Gu Mei blush crimson with shyness.
Seeing her face turn red, the group laughed all the harder.
Gu Mei’s cheeks were flushed as she laughed and scolded, “Your turn will come sooner or later. Just you wait.”
“We shall definitely wait! Who knows, by then Mei jiejie might be waddling about with a big belly, too tired to tease us.”
As soon as the words fell, everyone burst out laughing again.
Gu Mei stomped her foot. “I’m done talking to you all, you only know how to make fun of me.”
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “Today is the day to display the dowry. Each of us has prepared an additional gift for Mei jiejie, so please don’t disdain them.”
“How could I dislike them? I can’t even be happy enough. I’m very grateful you all took the trouble to prepare gifts for me.”
“Mei jiejie, there’s no need to be so polite with us.”
One by one, everyone brought out their prepared gifts.
None of the sisters was wealthy, so most of the items were needlework.
Gu Jiu also took out the gift she had carefully prepared: a one-foot-tall double-sided embroidered table screen.
On one side bloomed peonies symbolising prosperity, and on the other, fish for abundance year after year.
Gu Mei loved it at first sight. “Such exquisite embroidery! Xiao Jiu meimei, this gift is so thoughtful. Thank you.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “As long as Mei jiejie likes it. I also painted a portrait of you. I hope you won’t mind.”
“My portrait? Hurry and show it! As long as you don’t make me too ugly, I promise not to mind,” Gu Mei joked.
Qing Mei came in carrying a long wooden case, set it on the table, and said, “Mei guniang, this painting took my young mistress a full three months to finish. She went through countless discarded drafts before finally producing a satisfactory piece.”
Gu Mei was deeply moved. “Xiao Jiu meimei, you’ve put so much heart into this.”
Gu Jiu pressed her lips into a smile. “Please open it, Mei jiejie. I hope you’ll like it.”
“I definitely will.”
Gu Mei took out the painting and slowly unrolled it.
“Wow!”
“Heavens!”
“It looks just like her!”
Cries of amazement rose one after another.
Gu Jiu had used the method of oil painting to create a lifelike portrait of Gu Mei.
The likeness was detailed down to the finest hair. The eyes sparkled with vitality, smiling before the lips even moved, like a living person carved onto the paper.
Everyone crowded closer, sniffing the scent, examining the hues of the paint.
“What kind of painting style is this? I’ve never seen it before.”
“It must be a realist style.”
“Definitely realism. But Xiao Jiu’s realism is too realistic!”
Gu Mei was overwhelmed by seeing her own portrait. She grasped Gu Jiu’s hands. “Xiao Jiu meimei, thank you. I absolutely love this painting.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “As long as Mei jiejie likes it.”
“Xiao Jiu meimei captured Mei jiejie’s spirit.”
“Look closely, the face isn’t perfectly alike. But those eyes! They truly capture her spirit.”
Everyone marvelled that even a realistic painting could be so beautiful. Though it lacked the poetic atmosphere of freehand brushwork, it triumphed in vivid likeness.
Gu Jiu was very happy that Gu Mei liked her work.
In her previous life, because of congenital heart disease, she couldn’t run, jump, or do strenuous activity. Reading and painting became her pastimes. Later, she truly fell in love with them, dedicating real effort to art.
Though she couldn’t rival masters with decades of training, thanks to her natural talent and over ten years of persistence, she had achieved notable skill.
“I never knew er jiejie could paint, and so well?”
Gu Yue fixed her eyes on Gu Jiu, waiting for an explanation.
Gu Jiu answered with a gentle smile. “There are plenty of things san meimei doesn’t know. It’s hardly reasonable for you to expect to know every little thing about me.”
Gu Yue laughed lightly. “When we were in the northwest, studying the four arts with our teacher, I remember er jiejie’s painting was incomprehensible. Even the teacher said you had no talent and advised you to give up.
“How is it that in just a few years, your painting skills have improved by leaps and bounds, to the point you can produce such a realistic portrait? Unless someone else painted it for you?”
The words someone else painted it sent ripples of suspicion through the room.
Gu Yue smiled smugly and asked Gu Zhen, “Da jiejie, do you recall er jiejie being able to paint?”
Gu Zhen smiled lightly. Gu Yue was asking her, but she would certainly side with Gu Jiu.
“San meimei is always busy running around. You don’t know how much effort er meimei has put in privately. Just because she didn’t understand painting before doesn’t mean she doesn’t now. It only shows that the teacher back then was poor and failed to recognise her talent.”
Gu Yue bit her lip. She had miscalculated. She’d forgotten that Gu Zhen had grown bold, constantly opposing her now, no longer the sycophantic tagalong she once was.
Hmph!
Gu Yue then turned to Gu Shan. “Si meimei, have you ever seen er jiejie paint?”
Gu Shan glanced around, hesitated, then said, “I haven’t, but I believe er jiejie wouldn’t ask someone else to paint for her.”
Someone whispered, “Even if she did, it’s still a gift of heart.”
Gu Mei interjected, “Enough. Does it matter whether it’s painted by her or not? It’s a gift from Xiao Jiu meimei, and I love it. Very much.”
Gu Jiu smiled faintly. “Thank you, Mei jiejie. But I know everyone here must still wonder whether I painted this myself. I also don’t want the stigma of using someone else’s hand. To prove my innocence, how about this? I’ll paint a piece on the spot, so you can see whether I truly can paint.”
“This… it’s not necessary, is it? Xiao Jiu meimei, we believe you.”
Gu Jiu said calmly, “Thank you, Qi jiejie, for your trust. But san meimei certainly doesn’t believe me. If I don’t show some real skill, won’t she keep trying to stick that ghost-painting accusation onto me?”
Gu Yue let out a cold snort. “The real can’t be faked, and the fake can’t be real.”
Gu Jiu looked at her with a half-smile. “If I can prove that I can paint, and paint well, my request is simple: san meimei, you must serve me tea, apologise, and say you were wrong. How about it?”
Gu Yue’s expression shifted slightly as if she wanted to refute her.
But Gu Mei quickly spoke up: “That request is reasonable. Since Xiao Jiu was wrongly accused, an apology is only fair.”
The others also echoed their agreement.
Gu Yue’s face darkened, looking very unpleasant.
The four treasures of the study were brought in, and Gu Jiu picked up the brush.
She glanced around the room at everyone present, pressed her lips into a smile, her eyes shining with confidence, and began to paint.
With just a few strokes, the image of young ladies gathering in a boudoir leapt vividly onto the paper.
“Ah! She’s painting us!”
Someone recognised it.
“Which one is me?”
“Ahhh, it’s so beautiful.”
“Xiao Jiu’s painting skill is truly extraordinary. But to achieve complete realism, it must take a lot of time, right?”
“Of course. Didn’t you hear the maid? For Mei jiejie’s portrait, Xiao Jiu wasted countless drafts and spent so much time.”
A picture of the gathering was soon completed.
Gu Jiu put down the brush and smiled. “Is everyone satisfied?”
“Extremely satisfied.”
“Xiao Jiu paints wonderfully.”
Gu Jiu walked toward Gu Yue. “San meimei, pour the tea and apologise.”
Gu Yue looked sullen, her face stubborn. “I never agreed to apologise.”
Gu Jiu still wore that half-smile. “So san meimei intends to go back on her word?”
Gu Yue snapped, “I never promised anything, so don’t think you can force me.”
“Yue meimei, how can you behave like this? Apologise.” Gu Qi was the first to object.
Gu Mei added, “Yue meimei, if you still recognise me as your elder sister, you should apologise to Xiao Jiu. You slandered her; an apology is due.”
Gu Zhen sneered. “San meimei, how thick-skinned must you be to say ‘I never promised to apologise’? Aren’t you ashamed?”
Gu Shan tugged at Gu Yue’s sleeve. “San jiejie, just apologise. Today’s matter was your fault to begin with.”
“Shut up!” Gu Yue snapped at Gu Shan, then pointed at Gu Jiu. “Why should I apologise to her?”
Gu Jiu seized the opportunity to grab Gu Yue’s hand, discreetly pricking an acupoint with a silver needle.
“San meimei, you’d better hurry and apologise.”
Gu Yue suddenly felt her heartbeat race, her whole body uncomfortable. “Er jiejie, you…”
Gu Jiu fixed her with that same half-smile. “San meimei still refuses to apologise?”
“I…I… let go!”
Gu Yue felt panicked, short of breath, and miserable all over.
Gu Jiu chuckled. “Alright. Apologise, and I’ll let go.”
“Quick, apologise.”
“Yue meimei is being too unreasonable.”
Gu Yue looked around, seeing everyone criticising her, and suddenly broke down.
Bursting into tears, she sobbed, “Fine, I’ll apologise! Why must you all push me so hard?”
“If you had apologised earlier, we wouldn’t need to push you.”
Gu Jiu swiftly released Gu Yue’s hand, the silver needle slipping back into her sleeve. Then she sat gracefully in a chair, waiting for the apology.
A maid brought over a cup of tea.
Crying, Gu Yue wiped her tears, picked up the teacup, and walked over to Gu Jiu.
“Er jiejie, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have doubted you. Please be generous and forgive me.”
Gu Jiu accepted the teacup. “San meimei, mind your words better in the future. Outsiders won’t be as easy to deal with as I am. Do you understand?”
Gu Yue nodded quickly. “I understand. Thank you for your teaching, er jiejie.”
Gu Jiu lifted the teacup, touched it to her lips, and thus accepted Gu Yue’s apology.
The matter was settled.
The room soon grew lively again.
But Gu Yue harboured secret resentment. She glared fiercely at Gu Shan. “Si meimei, why didn’t you help me? Do you just want to see me make a fool of myself?”
Gu Shan looked baffled. “It was clearly you who misspoke, san jiejie. Why blame me?”
Gu Yue sneered. “Don’t act innocent. Inside, you’re delighted. I lose face, you gain it. When Mother hears of this, you’ll be her good daughter, and I’ll be the one who only causes trouble.”
Gu Shan frowned. “Since san jiejie knows she’s causing trouble, why can’t you control your temper?”
“Why should I control it? I don’t believe that when you suddenly saw Gu Jiu draw such a lifelike picture, you didn’t feel the least bit suspicious in your heart.”
Gu Shan replied, “Even if there was suspicion, it should stay only in the heart. Besides, er jiejie has already proved with her ability that she indeed drew that painting.”
Heh!
Gu Yue sneered coldly again and again. “Si meimei, you’re good at playing the virtuous one. We clearly thought the same thing, but I ended up the villain, while you won everyone’s favour.
“No wonder even Mother is taken in by you, endlessly thinking of finding you a fine husband, preparing you a rich dowry. Si meimei, you’ve pressed me firmly beneath your feet, are you pleased with yourself?”
Gu Shan frowned. “I don’t understand what san jiejie is saying. Pleased or not pleased, I’ve never thought that way.”
Hmph!
How could Gu Yue believe her words? Instead, she only grew more resentful.
They were both daughters of the same house, yet treated so differently. Why?
Gu Yue clenched her handkerchief tightly, hatred nearly spilling out of her heart.
Just then, people from Dai hou fu arrived to deliver betrothal gifts, led by Han dalang.
Everyone hid behind the screen to watch Han dalang.
Han dalang, spring breeze in his step and pride on his face, wore a broad smile.
“Han dalang is looking this way. Mei jiejie, come over quickly!”
Gu Mei’s face flushed red, and she shook her head. “I won’t go.”
Before the wedding, men and women must not meet. Still, in her heart, Gu Mei longed to see him.
“Mei jiejie, you really won’t come? Once Han dalang leaves, you won’t get to see him. Don’t you want even one look?”
Gu Mei bit her lip, wavering.
Gu Jiu said, “Mei jiejie, why not just a glance? Only one glance.”
Gu Mei hesitated, then nodded. “Only one glance, surely that’s all right?”
“Of course it’s fine.”
Dragging her steps, Gu Mei came to the screen and, peeking through, secretly looked at Han dalang.
As if sensing something, Han dalang’s gaze swept toward the screen.
Startled, Gu Mei quickly drew back her eyes.
Her face burned scarlet. What to do, he must have seen her!
“Mei jiejie, Han dalang is searching for you!”
Gu Mei stamped her foot in a panic. “Tell him not to! Tomorrow we’ll see each other.”
Haha…
The others couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
Gu Mei’s whole face turned crimson. She had no face left to show.
Wei shi sent someone to remind them not to laugh too loudly lest others overhear, and ordered everyone to the side room to talk.
Gu Mei was the first to run off, and the others followed one by one.
Relatives and friends came in droves to add to the dowry, and the hou fu was bustling with noise.
The hou fu displayed the dowry to show the groom’s family how seriously they regarded this marriage, and how much they cherished the daughter about to wed.
Marriage was the union of two houses; the groom’s side should respect and protect the bride.
Near noon, the hou fu sent off the dowry procession.
One hundred and sixty sedan-loads of dowry items were carried out of the manor, paraded around Baiyi Alley, and finally delivered to the Dai hou fu.
A procession of ten miles in red, drawing countless onlookers.
Indeed, the hou fu was wealthy, sending a daughter with such a vast dowry!
The maidservants and old women who would accompany the bride followed along to guard the dowry overnight and prepare the bridal chamber for the next day’s wedding.
After a meal at the hou fu, everyone set out for home. Tomorrow morning, they would return to send off the bride.
Gu Jiu and the others alighted at the second gate.
Just as they set foot on the ground, a servant woman hurried up to Xie shi and reported, “Taitai, it’s bad, the twelfth young master is failing fast.”
“What happened? Wasn’t a doctor summoned?” Xie shi asked with a stern face.
The servant quickly said, “The twelfth young master developed a fever. The doctor examined him and gave medicine, but the fever hasn’t gone down. It looks like he won’t last. Bai yiniang is weeping bitterly.”
“Yiniang!”
Gu Lin cried out and rushed off at once.
Xie shi kept her face stiff and said to the girls, “You return to your rooms first. I’ll go to Xiangsi Yuan and take a look.”
Gu Jiu said, “We’re also worried about twelfth brother. Why don’t we go with taitai to see?”
Xie shi snorted. “As you wish.”
Zhang shi sighed. “I’ll go too. Since birth, twelfth brother has been frail and plagued with misfortune. I wonder if he can endure this time.”
Xie shi muttered under her breath, That short-lived brat, as if he could possibly endure.
A large group went together to Xiangsi Yuan.
Before they even entered, they heard Bai yiniang wailing in anguish.
Xie shi frowned. “Crying like that, could it be twelfth brother is already…”
Without finishing, she strode into the courtyard.
Bai yiniang was kneeling by the bed, clutching the child and sobbing without end.
Seeing this, Xie shi said, “Bai shi, quickly lay the child down. He’s sick, how can he get better with you clutching him so?”
But Bai yiniang seemed deaf, lost in her own grief.
She wept and cried, “Forgive me, forgive me, my little one.”
“Bai shi!” Xie shi roared.
Zhang shi stopped her. “First, see how the child fares.”
Gu Jiu stepped past the others, knelt by Bai yiniang, and reached out to feel the boy’s pulse.
She frowned, then sighed. The child was gone. She had come too late.
Gu Jiu stood up, heavy-hearted.
Zhang shi asked, “Well?”
Gu Jiu gave a faint shake of her head.
At that moment, Cui Liu entered with reddened eyes. “Taitai, please let Bai yiniang cry a while. The child is gone, and she is heartbroken.”
Xie shi’s heart leapt with secret joy: at last, the brat is dead.
But her brow furrowed as she snapped angrily, “How did you care for him? Yesterday he was fine, and today he’s gone, nonsense!”
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