The maid brought hot water.
“Young Madam, I’ll help you wash up.”
Gu Yue didn’t move.
She stared at her reflection in the water, lifting her hand to gently wipe away the thick layer of foundation on her face.
She looked truly ugly. If it weren’t for going back to her family’s home, she wouldn’t have dressed up like this at all.
The foundation was wiped away, revealing her real face underneath.
Her forehead and cheeks were bruised, blue and purple.
Could a fall alone have caused this?
Of course not.
She had clearly been beaten.
Not just her face, there were more marks all over her body.
Gu Yue shuddered at the memory of her wedding night.
Who would have thought that Zhao erlang, with his handsome appearance, could hide a demon, a pervert beneath it?
He was not only violent but had extremely twisted tastes.
A single tear slid down Gu Yue’s cheek.
Her hands clutched the washbasin tightly.
The ordeal of that night felt like a nightmare, chilling her to the bone.
Every time she thought of it, she felt nauseous.
“Young Madam, don’t cry. Everyone is still waiting outside. Don’t make them wait too long.”
Gu Yue gave a cold laugh. “Let them wait. Anyone wanting to see my little show clearly has bad intentions.”
Putao was full of worry. “Young Madam, why not take this opportunity today and let laoye make a decision for you? You could formally divorce guye.”
Gu Yue shouted angrily, “What kind of joke is that? Divorce right after the wedding? Are you afraid I won’t be embarrassed enough?”
“But, ”
“No buts. This is all temporary. It will get better. It will definitely get better.”
Whether she was saying it for the maid’s sake or for herself, Gu Yue wasn’t sure.
Putao sighed. “Nubi worries about Young Madam. What if guye acts like that again in the future?”
[T/N: Guye: son-in-law; term used by servants and family of the woman for her husband.]
Gu Yue picked up a towel, dampened it, and gently wiped her cheeks.
Every time she touched the injured areas, she drew in a sharp breath.
She said to Putao, “There will be a way. There has to be a way. He… he prefers men. It can be solved.”
Putao shivered. “Haixi bo fu truly causes harm. Guye has such a preference, yet it was never revealed.”
“They are so busy hiding it, how could there be time to reveal?”
No wonder Zhao erlang, at his age, had never married. No wonder the noble families in the capital refused to marry their daughters to him.
Those families probably knew at least a little about Zhao erlang’s strange inclinations.
Gu Yue closed her eyes. How had she even thought so obsessively about Zhao erlang, as if possessed?
Without Zhao erlang, none of this would have happened.
Gu Yue gritted her teeth. She did not regret it, she could not. This was temporary; it could be fixed. It would get better.
Suddenly, the door to the closed side room was pushed open from outside.
Gu Yue quickly grabbed the towel, covering her cheeks.
“Who is it?”
“San meimei, we came to see you.”
Gu Jiu led the way, followed by Gu Shan and Gu Lin.
Gu Yue roared, “Don’t come in! I’m fine. I don’t need your visit.”
Gu Jiu looked at the floor. “San meimei, we’re already here. Why not let us…”
Gu Yue cut her off sharply. “Out! All of you get out! I don’t care about your visit.”
“San jiejie, are you afraid to be seen?” Gu Shan covered her mouth to suppress a laugh.
Gu Yue snapped angrily, “Shut up. You enjoyed making me look foolish. Are you satisfied now?”
“San jiejie misunderstood me. I truly care about you.”
“Hmph. I don’t care about your concern.”
Gu Yue kept her back to the door. She couldn’t let anyone see her at her most miserable.
Gu Shan raised an eyebrow and smiled. “San jiejie keeps her back to us, is it because you don’t want us to see the injuries on your face?”
“I’m not injured! Stop talking nonsense.”
Gu Shan turned to the maid, Putao. “Putao, does Young Madam have injuries on her face? Did Zhao family’s jiefu beat her?”
Putao remained silent, only shaking her head repeatedly.
Gu Shan let out a soft sigh, putting on a look of sympathy for Gu Yue. “The marriage at Haixi bo fu, san jiejie, you planned it carefully. How could Zhao family’s jiefu not cherish you? It’s not easy for him to marry and have children. If the noble families in the capital wouldn’t marry their daughters to him, only san jiejie was willing.”
Gu Yue roared, “Get out!”
Gu Shan’s words clearly struck a nerve.
Satisfied, Gu Shan smiled. “Since san jiejie doesn’t care about our concern, we’ll leave. Er jiejie, let’s go.”
Gu Jiu said to Gu Yue, “If Zhao erlang is not a good match, you’d better plan ahead.”
Gu Yue sneered. “Fake concern from a cat mourning a mouse, there’s no time to even watch my misfortune, and you think you’ll kindly advise me?”
Gu Jiu’s expression remained calm. “Even a stranger would advise someone to plan ahead in such a situation. It’s not about kindness. You can listen or not, I don’t care. After all, I’m not the one being beaten or suffering.”
Gu Shan smiled. “Exactly. We’re not the ones being beaten or suffering.”
“Who said I’m being beaten or suffering? I’m perfectly fine,” Gu Yue said stubbornly.
Gu Jiu said coldly, “Trying to be tough in situations like this won’t help at all.”
Gu Yue snapped, “Mind your own business.”
Gu Jiu said, “I wasn’t planning to mind your business.”
Gu Shan pulled Gu Jiu. “Er jiejie, let’s go. She doesn’t want to see us anyway, not even her face.”
The three sisters left the side room, and Putao quickly closed the door behind them.
Gu Yue gritted her teeth, her pain cutting to the core, tears dripping down her face.
Putao tried to persuade her again: “Guniang, plead with laoye to take action.”
“Shut your mouth! Are you trying to make me furious on purpose?”
Putao had no choice but to stop, too afraid to speak further.
Listening to the commotion inside, Gu Shan secretly smiled, clearly in a much better mood, her face finally showing some expression.
She said to Gu Jiu, “Er jiejie, now I believe that evildoers will eventually be punished. Those who do wrong will face retribution.”
Gu Jiu said, “This isn’t exactly divine retribution. It’s more like ‘not heeding elders’ advice and suffering the consequences.’”
Zhao erlang had a reputation for being unlucky for wives, and there were rumors of his violent temper.
No wonder no prominent family in the capital wanted their daughters to marry Zhao erlang.
But Gu Yue refused to believe in omens; while others avoided him, she insisted on getting close. Her fate was already sealed.
Gu Shan laughed. “Even when Father tried to straighten her out, she wouldn’t change her mind, determined to marry Zhao erlang. I wonder if she regrets it now.”
Gu Jiu said, “I don’t know if she regrets it. That Zhao erlang’s face is handsome, no wonder Gu Yue had been hung up on him.”
Gu Shan sneered, “She only cares about appearances. There are plenty of good-looking men in the capital, yet she fixated on Zhao erlang. She deserves everything happening to her.”
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Shan. After everything, Gu Shan had indeed changed.
Gu Lin asked curiously, “If Zhao erlang is no good, why didn’t san jiejie ask Father and Mother to intervene?”
Gu Jiu replied, “Naturally, because she values pride over suffering. She fought for this marriage herself, even ruining da jiejie’s match. After just a few days of marriage, asking her parents to intervene would be humiliating. With her pride, Gu Yue could never accept it.”
Gu Shan wished that Gu Yue would suffer her whole life over pride, so she would be perpetually miserable.
Gu Jiu continued, “If this hadn’t been discovered, it would have been fine. But now that it has, Father will certainly scold Zhao erlang. After all, nominally, Gu Yue is still the family’s gu nainai. He can’t ignore her injury.
[T/N: gu nainai: term used for married daughters.]
“But I suspect that even scolding Zhao erlang won’t help. Since he dared to act this way as a newly-wed, he clearly feels untouchable. Unless Gu Yue is willing to sever the relationship herself.”
Gu Shan said, “Impossible! Gu Yue will never sever the relationship. It’s about her pride.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “The reason she can’t sever it yet is because she hasn’t suffered enough. Once she has, watch, she’ll cry and come begging for help.”
Gu Shan clutched her handkerchief nervously. “Do you really think Gu Yue will return for help one day?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “It’s possible. But it will be far in the future, after she’s been beaten down enough to discard her pride. Or maybe by then she’ll be used to this life and spend her life with Zhao erlang.”
Gu Shan said, “If she spends her life with Zhao erlang, I wish them a long and happy life.”
Gu Jiu looked at her intently. “Si meimei, don’t be trapped by hatred.”
Gu Shan smiled. “Thank you, er jiejie. I know my limits.”
Gu Jiu shook her head. Gu Yue was truly trouble.
Just as Gu Jiu suspected, once Father learned that Gu Yue had been injured, most likely by Zhao erlang, he naturally scolded the man.
“Marriage unites two families. Erlang, right?”
“Father-in-law speaks wisely,” Zhao erlang replied respectfully.
Gu daren stroked his beard. “Benguan married my daughter to you hoping you’d treat her well. If there’s marital friction, communicate calmly, don’t resort to violence. If you strike her, the matter is different. If disputes arise between our families, both sides will lose face.”
Zhao erlang bowed. “Father-in-law, I understand. I will treat Yue’er well and never let her suffer.”
Gu daren nodded in satisfaction. “Benguan trusts your word. Live well as husband and wife, and may you have children soon.”
“Thank you for your kind wishes, Father-in-law.”
Gu Yue finished her washing and changed into another outfit, reapplying her heavy makeup.
She refused to attend the banquet and instead asked to return to her husband’s home.
Xie shi frowned as she watched her.
“Now that you’re married, live properly. Discuss matters calmly with your husband.”
“I know,” Gu Yue said flatly.
Xie shi waved her hand. “I’ll have a maid escort you out.”
“No need. I know the house; I can go myself.”
“Still, have someone escort you. Chun He, see san gu nainai out.”
“Yes, taitai. San gu nainai, please!”
Gu Yue gave Xie shi a look filled with mixed emotions, then turned and left.
Zhao erlang met her at the second gate. “Should I say goodbye to Mother-in-law?”
Gu Yue kept a stern face. “No need. I already said goodbye for you.”
Zhao erlang nodded. “Then let’s get in the carriage.”
He reached out to support her.
Gu Yue flinched slightly but allowed him to help her into the carriage.
Chun He returned to the Furong Yuan. “Taitai, san gu nainai and guye have left.”
Xie shi replied wearily, “She chose her path; no one else is to blame.”
“Don’t worry, taitai. Maybe it really was just an accident.”
Xie shi shook her head. “Look at her, definitely not an accident. She was beaten by Zhao erlang. I warned her about his reputation. Even ignoring the tales of wives dying, his violent temper alone made him unsuitable. But she didn’t listen, she insisted on marrying him. Now, she’s getting what she asked for. I’ve worried for her enough; there’s nothing more I can do.”
Chun He said, “Taitai has worked hard. One day, san gu nainai will surely appreciate taitai’s care.”
Xie shi shook her head. “It’s useless. She’s married. Regret won’t help.”
Gu daren didn’t concern himself with Gu Yue’s injury at all.
He was focused entirely on Tan yiniang.
After a long period of care, Tan yiniang’s rash faded, and her appearance was fully restored.
She was delighted to see herself fully recovered in the mirror.
She dressed carefully and had a maid summon Gu daren.
That night, Gu daren stayed in Tan yiniang’s room, enjoying himself thoroughly.
The next morning, streams of gifts were delivered to her room.
Clearly, Tan yiniang remained favored.
Originally, when she heard that Tan yiniang’s appearance had recovered and that Gu daren would sleep in Tan yiniang’s room at night, Xie shi was filled with anger.
Tan shi was a lowly woman, yet despite such severe red rashes, her face remained unharmed.
That morning, she also heard that the flowing rewards had been delivered to Tan yiniang’s room, which made Xie shi so furious that she smashed a soup bowl on the spot.
“Taitai, calm down. It’s not worth getting so angry over a single Tan yiniang.”
“How can I not be angry!”
Xie shi was seething with rage.
At that moment, Hu yiniang came to pay her respects. Seeing Xie shi upset, she brought up old matters.
“Taitai, now that laoye favors Tan yiniang so greatly, it won’t be easy to deal with her. The best strategy is to divide his favor.”
Xie shi frowned. “Only divide his favor?”
Hu yiniang nodded repeatedly. “This is the only way without risk. Laoye dotes on Tan yiniang so much that if anything were to happen to her, he would not let it go easily.”
Xie shi nodded inwardly. Hu yiniang’s words were not wrong.
Previously, when Tan yiniang was covered in red rashes, the sight of Gu daren looking like he wanted to devour someone was still fresh in Xie shi’s memory.
If there had been any kind of leverage left, things might not have ended peacefully.
Xie shi had long witnessed Gu daren’s ruthless and heartless nature. This man was capable of destroying a wife for the sake of a favored concubine. Didn’t he do the same to Su shi back then?
Xie shi let out a self-deprecating smile. Karma turns, and now it had turned to her.
She guessed that Su shi back then must have suffered the same way, yet had no means to complain.
Now, it seemed the only path left was to divide Gu daren’s favor.
Xie shi waved her hand, and Hu yiniang, understanding her cue, withdrew.
Chun He stood under the eaves. “Hu yiniang is leaving?”
“Yes. You’ve worked hard taking care of taitai, Chun He.”
“It’s nubi’s duty.”
During their conversation, the two exchanged a subtle glance.
Xie shi’s resolve had been stirred, and Chun He’s heart nearly leapt from excitement.
Dong Mei, hiding in the tea room, watched secretly, her mind complex.
Chun He clearly wanted to become laoye’s concubine. Dong Mei gritted her teeth. Opportunities are meant for everyone. Why should Chun He have it all to herself?
Dong Mei seized the moment. When Chun He went out to attend to tasks, she approached Xie shi.
“Taitai, nubi has urgent news to report.”
“What is it?” Xie shi asked lightly.
Dong Mei steadied herself. “Chun He has been secretly doing needlework for laoye.”
Xie shi froze for a moment.
Dong Mei hurriedly produced a partially finished male undergarment.
The style, the size, clearly made for Gu daren.
Xie shi immediately recognized the stitching, it was undoubtedly Chun He’s handiwork.
Her face went ashen.
Dong Mei added embellishments to the tale, “Taitai, Chun He says she will serve you for life, but in private, she has her sights on becoming laoye’s concubine. She clearly has second intentions.
“If such a cunning woman becomes concubine, knowing so many things about you, there’s no guarantee she won’t tell him. Once he finds out, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
“Silence!” Xie shi scolded Dong Mei.
Dong Mei, flustered, kowtowed, “Taitai, nubi only dares to reveal this because nubi fears you might be deceived.”
Xie shi ground her teeth. “Very good, very loyal. Leave the needlework here. When Chun He returns, summon her to see me.”
Dong Mei was overjoyed. “Yes, taitai!”
Xie shi clutched the unfinished needlework, realizing that without her knowledge, one of her maids had already set her sights on becoming a concubine.
Heh!
Truly, this was a well-trained maid.
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