Gu Jiu arrived at the Furong Yuan and encountered Gu Shan.
Even more surprisingly, Zhang shi and Xiao Zhang shi were also there.
Was this turning into an all-out spectacle?
Zhang shi was chatting with Xie shi, inquiring about her health.
This time, Xie shi’s illness was mainly a matter of the heart.
The doctor had said she needed to think more positively.
Older people shouldn’t dwell on negative thoughts too much, or their condition would worsen.
Xie shi did not yet know that Gu daren had brought a woman home, everyone had kept it from her.
She said to Zhang, “Thank you for visiting me, dasao. I feel much better. Shan’er, come here.”
Gu Shan went to the bedside. “What are your instructions, mother?”
Xie shi leaned back on the bed. “Are you feeling better?”
Gu Shan nodded. “Much better.”
Xie shi sighed with relief. She held Gu Shan’s hand and asked, “Do you hate me?”
Gu Shan lowered her head, furrowing her brow slightly. She shook her head. “Mother, don’t worry. I don’t hate anyone.”
Her answer was the same as before.
Zhang shi noticed Gu Shan was forcing herself and spoke on her behalf, “You’re not well, dimei. Say less. Let the children talk, they must feel uncomfortable staying near us.”
Xie shi agreed and released Gu Shan’s hand.
Gu Shan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurried out of the bedroom.
“Er jiejie, you’re here too?”
Gu Jiu said, “I heard the news and came to see.”
Gu Shan gave a bitter smile. “Soon there will be a commotion again.”
Sounds came from outside the courtyard gate.
A maid shouted, “Laoye is here.”
Then Gu daren strode into the Furong Yuan, confident and purposeful.
Behind him, besides the servants, was a woman.
The woman was not very tall, with a slim, graceful figure.
She kept her head lowered, making her face hard to see; only a portion of her neck was visible.
Gu Jiu suddenly understood what a “swan neck” was.
The woman’s neck was long and slender, her skin fair, and surely her face was attractive as well.
Gu Jiu led Gu Shan forward to pay respects to Gu daren.
Gu daren was surprised, how did the two daughters end up here?
Gu Jiu said, “Da bomu and dasao are inside visiting taitai. Father, are you going in now?”
Gu daren looked slightly embarrassed. After hesitating, he still went in with the newcomer.
He said to Gu Jiu and Gu Shan, “This doesn’t concern you. Step back.”
Gu Shan suddenly asked, “Is this the new concubine? Why doesn’t she lift her head, does she not want to be seen?”
The woman following Gu daren shivered, seemingly startled.
She slowly lifted her head, her eyes already full of tears, a pitiful, delicate expression.
A fragile, charming little flower that naturally drew pity.
Her demeanor was very similar to the former Bai yiniang, though her looks were even more outstanding.
It was said that the women men liked were always similar.
For example, in future generations, there would be Muzi Richen, and the once a wealthy heir.1
Their current partners, and countless predecessors, often resembled each other in one way or another. Sometimes, even looking at photos alone, one couldn’t tell them apart.
Gu Jiu understood: Gu daren had always liked innocent, helpless women who looked harmless and needed protection, commonly called white lotuses.
Gu daren turned to look at Gu Shan, clearly displeased.
Remembering that Gu Shan had been injured before and almost burned alive, he suppressed his anger. He merely said sternly, “Matters of the elders are not for children to question. Go back and lie down; recover your health soon.”
“Thank you, Father. I feel much better.”
Gu daren frowned. “Even if you are well, you shouldn’t be out in such strong sunlight. Alright, everyone return to their rooms.”
With that, Gu daren entered the Furong Yuan with the newcomer.
Gu Shan followed.
Gu Jiu also followed.
Seeing Gu daren come to visit, Xie shi smiled.
Halfway through her smile, it froze.
She clutched her chest, pointing at the woman behind Gu daren. “Who is she?”
Gu daren said, “She is Tan shi. Tan shi, come and pay respects to taitai.”
Tan shi stepped forward. “Qie pays respects to taitai.”
She then knelt, offering a cup of tea for Xie shi.
Xie shi pointed at Tan shi. “Where are you from? What did you do before?”
Tan shi looked embarrassed, as if deeply wronged, and pitifully said, “I’m from the outskirts of the capital, and I made a living singing.”
Xie shi snorted coldly. “A singer, how dare she enter the Gu household. Laoye is getting more and more careless, bringing both fragrant and foul things into the house, not caring to tarnish the children’s eyes.”
Gu daren impatiently interrupted, “You’re talking nonsense. Tan shi is fine; there’s nothing as messy as you imagine.”
Xie shi pointed at Gu daren. “Laoye, I’m still lying in bed, my body weak. Yet you rush in with this woman. Are you hoping I’ll be infuriated to death, so she can take my place?”
“Nonsense. If you don’t want to see Tan shi, then drink her tea quickly, and I’ll take her away.”
Xie shi was so angry her chest hurt.
“Dasao, tell me, is it that I’m talking nonsense, or is it that our laoye handles things carelessly?”
Zhang shi sighed. “Er di, you’re far too hasty. Your wife is still ill, and you bring a newcomer into the house? Aren’t you afraid your wife might be angered into something serious?”
Gu daren, the master of the household, replied confidently, “As the lady of the house, she should be magnanimous.”
Zhang shi frowned.
Gu Shan suddenly stepped forward. “Even if she ought to be magnanimous, Father shouldn’t force Mother to accept a newcomer at a time like this. Doesn’t Father know this will worsen Mother’s illness?”
Gu daren frowned and turned to glare at Gu Shan. “I told you to return to your room, why are you still here?”
Gu Shan said, “I’m standing up for Mother’s sake.”
“Impudent!” Gu shouted.
Gu Shan instantly looked frightened, her eyes wide and tearful like an innocent fawn.
Seeing this, Gu daren’s anger evaporated.
Turning to Xie shi, he said indignantly, “She’s already in the house. Tan shi is my concubine now.”
Xie shi reached toward the teacup.
Could it be that Xie shi actually intended to drink the concubine’s tea?
Her hand touched the cup.
Tan shi spoke softly, “Please, taitai, have some tea.”
Suddenly, Xie shi laughed.
Smack!
The teacup was overturned, tea spilling over Tan shi’s freshly changed gown.
Not only that, Xie shi took the opportunity to slap Tan shi across the face. Gu daren was instantly distressed.
He shouted at Xie shi, “Xie shi, you’ve gone too far!”
Xie shi’s eyes widened. “Get out, take your little concubine and leave!”
“You, you’re completely unreasonable. Don’t forget who calls the shots in this house.”
Xie shi sneered coldly. “Laoye, don’t forget, I observed mourning for the old madam, and I gave birth to two sons and two daughters for you. Don’t think you can dismiss me.”
Gu daren shouted, pointing at her, “Shrew! I won’t lower myself to argue with you.”
With that, he took the terrified Tan shi and left the Furong Yuan.
“Dimei, try to calm down.”
Plop!
As Zhang shi began to speak, Xie shi suddenly coughed up blood.
Crimson blood sprayed over the quilt, the bed frame, and the footstool, spreading out like blooming red plum blossoms.
Zhang shi was stunned. “Dimei, are you alright? Don’t scare me like this. Quick, fetch a doctor!”
“Taitai! Taitai…”
The maids in the Furong Yuan were all terrified.
Xie shi felt dizzy, as if a thunderclap had exploded in her ears, various sounds crashing into her mind, turning everything upside down.
Her body felt hollow, as if several pounds had been lifted from her.
Gu Jiu approached, calmly taking Xie shi’s hand to check her pulse.
She had been enraged to the point that her heart was overactive, yet her body was weak.
This was a case of anger-induced hemorrhage. She would have to recover slowly, relying on herself to calm down.
After all, as the doctor had said earlier, her illness was mainly rooted in her heart.
Gu Shan bit her lip, holding back tears.
Gu Jiu saw her mouth move. “It’s all Gu Yue’s fault. All of it. Gu Yue deserves to die.”
“Si meimei, are you alright?”
Gu Shan came back to herself and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, er jiejie. I’m fine.”
The doctor was summoned, took her pulse, prescribed medicine, decocted it, and administered it, much time was spent.
Xie shi took the medicine and fell into a heavy sleep.
On Gu daren’s side, he personally arranged for Tan shi to settle in, right next door to Bai yiniang’s quarters, identical in size and layout.
It should be noted, Bai yiniang was once the most favored concubine in the fu, and her courtyard had been the largest among the concubines.
Unexpectedly, Tan shi entered the house and received the treatment of a favored concubine.
Many secretly ground their teeth in frustration.
Gu daren was the type to forget the old for the new, he spent the night in Tan shi’s quarters.
Learning that Xie shi had coughed up blood, he casually remarked, “Have you summoned the doctor? If so, don’t disturb me.”
Cold and ruthless, as one would expect.
Gu Jiu shook his head privately. With this behavior, wouldn’t the rear courtyard erupt into chaos?
Xie shi, weakened by illness, could do nothing against Tan shi for now.
Just wait, once Xie shi recovers, the rear courtyard will undoubtedly become lively again.
The weather grew hotter.
Gu Jiu endured the summer quietly, avoiding going out unless absolutely necessary.
Tan shi had been in the house for half a month, with Gu daren sleeping in her room every night. Her treatment rose steadily with each day.
All manner of precious items flowed into her room like a river.
Next door, Bai yiniang heard the laughter and chatter daily, her heart growing cold as ice.
Clearly, laoye had already forgotten her.
Xie shi’s health gradually improved, but she still showed no signs of action.
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was July, the day of Gu Zhen’s wedding.
Following the guest list Xie shi had originally drafted, the Gu residence set ten banquet tables, attended only by close relatives and friends.
Gu Zhen wore a bright red wedding dress, with exquisite bridal makeup, looking truly beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed, full of excitement and anticipation.
Finally, she was getting married, she had waited for this day for so long.
She held Gu Jiu’s hand. “Er meimei, I’m so nervous. What should I do?”
“Da jiejie, don’t be nervous. Take a deep breath first. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask the matchmaker, or the maids assigned to accompany you.”
Gu Zhen took a deep breath. “The method er meimei taught me really works… I… I haven’t said goodbye to yiniang yet.”
Gu Jiu immediately instructed Qing Mei, “Go and bring Hu yiniang.”
There was still some time before the auspicious hour.
Qing Mei hurried off to bring Hu yiniang.
When Hu yiniang entered the bridal chamber, she saw Gu Zhen in her red wedding gown, embroidered with gold thread in elegant patterns, looking exceptionally grand and beautiful.
Overcome with emotion, tears fell from Hu yiniang’s eyes.
“My dear child, yiniang finally sees you wearing the red wedding dress and getting married. The greatest regret of my life is that I never had the chance to wear a red wedding dress. You surpass me.”
“Yiniang, don’t cry. Should I take off my dress and let you wear it once?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. On such a joyous day, once the wedding dress is on, it cannot be taken off. When you arrive at the Xu family, you must…”
Hu yiniang began to carefully give Gu Zhen her instructions.
Gu Jiu, knowing her place, quietly stepped out of the bedroom.
She stood under the eaves, observing the courtyard full of maids, each brimming with joy.
Gu Zhen had four accompanying maids, one matron, and two households of attendant staff.
Yesterday, during the “adding to the bridal dowry” ritual, Gu Jiu had secretly given Gu Zhen 200 taels, reminding her not to mention it to anyone.
Gu Zhen was deeply moved, and did not ask where the money had come from.
After more than half a year of experiences, Gu Zhen had grown steadier and more composed.
The family members arriving to celebrate the wedding had come.
The matchmaker came to urge everyone along.
Gu Zhen bid farewell to Hu yiniang.
She cried, her makeup slightly smudged.
The matchmaker hurriedly touched up her makeup and carried her to the main hall to pay respects to her parents.
Xie shi, silent for many days, finally appeared, standing with Gu daren to receive Gu Zhen’s farewell.
She gave Gu Zhen a few instructions, telling her to return early to the mansion when she came back for her three-day home visit. She would have the kitchen prepare a table of the finest dishes and wine for her and Xu sanlang.
Gu Zhen was astonished and deeply touched, she had never expected Xie shi to be so courteous to her.
She thanked her, bid farewell to her relatives, and was carried out by Gu Ting.
“Meimei, I will escort you to your marriage.”
Gu Ting carried Gu Zhen into the bridal sedan chair and then joined the wedding procession to the Xu family, providing support for her.
The ten-table banquet was not lively in numbers but rich in dishes, leaving everyone satisfied.
All expected guests had arrived, even representatives from Haixi bo fu brought gifts.
The only one absent was Gu Yue, though the Haixi bo fu representatives did not inquire about it.
After the banquet, Gu Shan returned to her room to rest and quietly asked her maid, “Has everything been reported to Haixi bo fu?”
The maid nodded. “Don’t worry, guniang. I have reported everything to Haixi bo fu exactly as it happened.”
Gu Shan exhaled in relief, realizing she had broken into a cold sweat, soaking her undergarments.
She changed into dry clothes, and then waited silently for Haixi bo fu to send word to cancel the engagement.
However, three days passed, Gu Zhen had already returned with Xu sanlang, and there was still no news from Haixi bo fu.
Seeing Gu Zhen radiant and happy, Gu Shan felt distracted.
Could the messenger have encountered an accident? Did the news fail to reach Haixi bo furen?
It shouldn’t be!
The person sent to deliver the gifts was a trusted maid of Haixi bo furen. There was no reason for such important news to leave no trace.
Would she have to wait a few more days?
Gu Yue, who had committed murder and arson, was still marrying into Haixi bo fu. Gu Shan was utterly unwilling to accept it.
She was determined to ruin this match.
“Si meimei, what’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
Gu Zhen, shedding her old, timid demeanor, now had the shy charm of a young woman and indeed looked radiant.
It seemed she was getting along well with Xu sanlang, and the Xu family had not made things difficult for her.
Today was her return-home visit, and she was in a good mood.
Noticing Gu Shan’s distraction, she asked a few more questions.
Gu Shan came back to herself, rubbing her temples. “Maybe I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m feeling a bit weak today.”
“Si meimei, you must take care of your health.”
Gu Shan nodded.
After the banquet, Gu Zhen said goodbye to Xu sanlang and left.
As soon as they departed, a servant came to report that Tan shi had fallen ill.
Xie shi, with an indifferent expression, said, “If she’s sick, have the steward call a doctor. I am not a doctor; I cannot treat her.”
The servants hurried off to find the steward.
Chun He whispered to Xie shi, “Tan shi has finally fallen ill.”
Xie shi smiled, “Everyone eats the five grains; who never gets sick?”
A mere concubine, just arrived, already trying to ride over her, delusional.
She wanted to see if, when Tan shi’s beauty faded, Gu daren would still favor her.
Gu daren had drunk at noon and was napping, undisturbed.
The steward took charge, calling a doctor to examine Tan shi.
Tan shi was covered in red rashes all over her body, especially her face, where dense red spots merged into large patches across her cheeks, looking terrifying, as if she were some kind of rash monster.
The doctor was startled. “What did yiniang eat to cause such a severe reaction?”
Tan shi itched and felt miserable, holding back from scratching to avoid scarring.
But the discomfort was unbearable.
She cried, “Doctor, please help me! I don’t want my face ruined!”
“Don’t cry so quickly, yiniang. The more you cry, the worse it gets.”
The doctor checked her pulse. Tan shi’s condition was caused either by an allergic food or contact with an allergen.
In short, it was an allergic reaction.
Allergies can be minor or severe.
Tan shi’s allergy was clearly serious.
The doctor increased the dosage and instructed the maid to carefully prepare and decoct the medicine according to the prescription.
“Yiniang, remember, do not use your hands to scratch. The more you scratch, the worse it will get. After you take the medicine and wipe your body, your condition should ease somewhat.”
“Thank you, Doctor!”
- “Muzi Richen” (木子日辰) likely refers to Li Chen (李晨), created by splitting the characters of his name into their component parts. “Richest man’s son” likely refers to Wang Sicong, the only son of Wang Jianlin, founder of the Dalian Wanda Group, famous for frequent controversies. But I can’t be sure. ↩︎
Leave a Reply