As soon as Gu Jiu returned to Zhilan Yuan, Xiao Cui came to report.
“Guniang, you’re back just in time. Taitai sent someone to invite you to the Furong Yuan, but nubi stopped them from entering. Guniang should go there quickly. If taitai finds out you snuck out of the residence, it’ll be over.”
Gu Jiu changed out of her maid’s clothes and put on her own cotton robe, dark blue, which complemented her fair skin.
She asked, “When did this happen?”
“About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.”
Qing Mei draped a cloak over Gu Jiu’s shoulders and brought a small brass hand warmer. “It’s cold outside, guniang. Be careful not to catch a chill.”
Gu Jiu said, “I don’t like using hand warmers. Bring me the heated pillow instead.”
The heated pillow was shaped like a small cushion, hollowed in the middle and filled with thick cotton. Placing both hands inside made them very warm. When tired, it could even serve as a small pillow.
This year, the winter in the capital was extremely cold. Gu Jiu remembered the modern heated pillows from the future, drew a design, and had Qing Mei and the others make a few.
Slipping her hands into the heated pillow, Gu Jiu, accompanied by her maids and Fang mama, headed to the Furong Yuan.
The courtyard was very quiet; everyone had hidden indoors to keep warm.
Ever since Chun He became Gu daren’s concubine, Xie shi’s attendants had changed to Chun Cao.
Chun Cao was plain in appearance but meticulous and attentive in her work.
When she learned of Gu Jiu’s arrival, she personally parted the thick door curtain. “Er guniang has arrived. Taitai has been waiting for you a while.”
“Thank you, Chun Cao jiejie. Is taitai in a good mood today?”
Chun Cao lowered her voice. “Taitai’s mood isn’t very good today.”
Gu Jiu nodded, “Thank you, Chun Cao jiejie.”
Qing Mei immediately slipped a small pouch into Chun Cao’s hand.
Chun Cao accepted it and guided Gu Jiu and her maids into the main room.
Gu Shan was there too, talking with Xie shi.
Upon seeing Gu Jiu enter, she stopped her conversation and greeted her.
“Er jiejie, greetings.”
“Si meimei is too polite.”
“What is that in your hands? It looks special.”
Gu Jiu took out the heated pillow and handed it to Gu Shan. “Si meimei wants to try it? It’s very warm.”
Gu Shan slipped her hands inside and indeed felt the warmth.
She smiled. “This is really useful, and it’s not complicated. With this, your hands won’t feel cold when going out.”
Gu Jiu said, “It was made just to keep hands warm.”
Gu Shan examined the stitching carefully. “Er jiejie, what is this called? Did you give it a name?”
Gu Jiu said, “I named it the heated pillow.”
“The heated pillow… the name fits perfectly. Mother, look, this is so practical.”
Xie shi glanced at Gu Jiu. “With the wedding approaching, er yatou still has time to make such small things? Quite idle, aren’t you?”
Gu Jiu smiled faintly. “Greetings, taitai. I’m not idle these days; I’ve been busy. But no matter how busy, I can’t let myself freeze. I thought of making a small sewing project to warm the hands, and so the heated pillow came about. If taitai doesn’t mind, after returning I’ll have the maids make a few more and send one to you.”
Xie shi scoffed. “I don’t see anything difficult about this. Any ordinary maid could make one better than this.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Taitai is correct. Since you dislike the sewing in my courtyard, I won’t embarrass myself, I won’t give you a heated pillow to avoid offending your eyes.”
Xie shi grew annoyed. Gu Jiu truly had the nerve. She disliked it, and Gu Jiu dared not give it. Was Gu Jiu too straightforward, or was she doing it on purpose to irritate her?
Gu Shan quickly returned the heated pillow to Gu Jiu. “Er jiejie, you’re so clever. This heated pillow is extremely practical. When I return, I’ll have the maids make one too, and stuff it full of cotton.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “The more cotton, the warmer it is.”
Xie shi snorted and, with a stern face, asked, “I sent for you. Why did you take so long to come? Do you really think that marrying into the wang fu exempts you from the household rules?”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “Taitai knows that I’ve been weak since childhood, especially in winter. If I’m not careful, I fall ill. Every time I go out, it’s like preparing for battle. Today I’m a little late, please forgive me.”
Xie shi twirled the cup lid, playing with the tea leaves floating on the surface.
She glanced at Gu Jiu with a half-smile. “Everyone in the court and among the commoners speaks of filial piety. Tell me, do you understand filial piety, er yatou?”
Gu Jiu remained calm. “Of course I understand. I never forget Mother’s death anniversary. I remember Father’s birthday and prepare gifts with care every year. Even your birthday, taitai, I never forget, presenting gifts punctually.”
Xie shi arched her eyebrows and gave a derisive look. “The living can never compare to the dead.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “Of course the living can’t compete with the dead. But some people insist on competing with the dead, showing off everywhere yet getting frustrated at every turn. To me, that’s pure self-inflicted misery.”
Xie shi’s hand froze on the teacup; the veins bulged. Her facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, and her bloodshot eyes glared viciously at Gu Jiu.
After taking a few deep breaths, she calmed her anger.
“I heard that the Su family’s er laoye has arrived in the capital. Has he come to deliver your bride price?”
Suppressing her anger, Xie shi asked about the Su family.
Gu Jiu was slightly surprised; she didn’t expect Xie shi could control her temper.
It seemed the double pressure from Tan yiniang and Chun He had taught Xie shi some restraint.
Gu Jiu smiled. “Taitai’s information is quick. Er jiujiu only arrived in the capital a couple of days ago.”
Xie shi’s eyes showed disdain. “Some people have no sense of propriety and don’t know how to properly visit. I cannot ignore that entirely.”
Gu Jiu lowered her head and smiled. Xie shi was speaking with a hidden meaning, criticizing someone indirectly.
She said to Xie shi, “Er jiujiu came to the capital partly to see me off, and partly because he was worried about Su biaoge. Speaking of propriety, the Su family is a scholarly household, so their manners are naturally impeccable.
“Father is often out early and returns late; it was perfectly proper for er jiujiu to go to the yamen to pay his respects. Moreover, er jiujiu even asked Father to convey his regards to you, taitai, were you unaware of this?”
Seeing that Xie shi remained silent, Gu Jiu continued, “I just remembered that these past two days Father has been resting at Chun yiniang’s place. He didn’t see you, taitai, so he forgot to mention it. I didn’t expect it would lead to your misunderstanding that the Su family lacks manners, it truly was not their fault.”
Xie shi’s face darkened.
Gu Jiu, by hitting exactly where it hurt, was clearly stabbing at her heart.
Raising an eyebrow, Xie shi said, “I’ve heard that after the Su family fell on hard times, life became increasingly difficult. Their former servants were sold off; only a few loyal ones remained.
“Su er laoye rarely comes to the capital. Logically, even if it wasn’t convenient to visit in person, he should have sent a servant to inform us, at least letting us know he arrived. Could it be that Su er laoye brought no servants? Or perhaps, being short on money, he couldn’t afford the customary gifts, so he disregarded etiquette altogether?”
Gu Jiu lowered her head, letting out a mocking smile.
Xie shi could only try to find some sense of superiority in criticizing the Su family.
Gu Jiu raised her head and said, “Taitai is mistaken. Er jiujiu did bring servants, and he had enough money on hand. The reason he didn’t send someone to inform us was simply that he deemed it unnecessary. Er jiujiu is a scholar and looks down on nouveau riche pretensions, please forgive him, taitai.”
“What did you say? How dare you!”
“Taitai, are you saying I’m impudent? Or are you saying er jiujiu is impudent?”
Gu Jiu’s gaze was sincere as she looked at Xie shi.
Xie shi could no longer contain herself; her face went deathly pale.
Pointing at Gu Jiu, she shouted, “The Su family is too arrogant! The Gu household does not welcome the uncle and nephew to visit!”
Gu Jiu’s expression darkened. “Whether the Su family comes to visit has nothing to do with your welcome. Though my mother has passed, my brother and I are still very much alive. Taitai, please understand your position. You may criticize anyone you like, but you have no right to criticize the Su family. Nor do you have the right to say they are unwelcome.”
A stepmother is a stepmother, but slapping the original wife’s family in the face? Did she really think the Xie family was that formidable?
The Su family may have declined, but they were not so low as to be insulted by the Xie family. Did she think Gu Jiu and Gu Ting were dead?
Xie shi said forcefully, “I am the lady in charge of the second branch of the Gu household. If I say someone is unwelcome, do I need permission?”
Gu Jiu sneered, “I welcome the Su family. Father also welcomes the Su family. Even combined, we cannot outweigh your objections, taitai?
“Besides, the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month is my wedding day, not Gu Yue’s or Gu Shan’s. Please understand the situation.”
Xie shi roared, “So what if it’s your wedding? I am the lady in charge, your elder. If I say someone is unwelcome, you insist on defying me?”
Gu Jiu lowered her head and gave a disdainful smile. “No matter how much I reason with taitai, you refuse to listen, insisting on displaying your so-called authority. Very well. As the future eldest furen of Ning wang fu, I’ll tell you plainly: on the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Su family uncle and nephew will come, and the Gu household will give them a warm welcome. Understand?”
Xie shi sneered. “Er yatou, are you out of your mind? You are not yet the eldest furen of the wang fu. You are still just the er guniang of the Gu household. Understand your place before you speak to me.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Taitai is correct, I am currently only the er guniang of the Gu household. But so what? Can you stop the Su family from coming? Can you stop me? When you say the Su family is unwelcome, who listens to you?”
Xie shi’s expression changed repeatedly. Pointing at Gu Jiu, she shouted, “Is this what you call filial piety?”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “Taitai, do you wish to accuse me of being unfilial?”
“I…”
Xie shi uttered a single word and could not continue.
She could not accuse Gu Jiu without risking the ruin of the Gu family and the jeopardy of Gu daren’s official career.
A girl personally betrothed by the Emperor turning out rebellious and unfilial, true or not, would be a slap in the Emperor’s face.
Even if Gu Jiu ended badly, the Gu household would suffer equally.
The Emperor’s temper was strange, petty, and vindictive.
Whoever offended the Emperor would lose all face, and whoever failed to protect the Emperor’s dignity would bring ruin to their entire family.
Even a fool like Xie shi would not dare claim that the imperial betrothal edict was wrong.
The edict clearly stated: Gu Jiu is humble and filial.
If Xie shi dared to accuse Gu Jiu of unfilial behavior, she would be claiming the edict itself was nonsense, a fatal mistake.
“Mother, er jiejie is about to be married and busy with matters. It would be best to let her return to her room.”
Gu Shan’s timely intervention eased the tension.
Xie shi twisted her handkerchief, her mind racing with countless thoughts.
How could it be? How could Gu Jiu, of all people, be chosen as a bride for the imperial grandson?
If it weren’t for this, Gu Jiu would not have had the confidence to confront her. Otherwise, she would have long since torn Gu Jiu’s sharp tongue to pieces.
Even when Su shi was alive, she had never endured such humiliation.
Though from a minor household, she had always been cherished by her family, never suffered, never known poverty.
At the right age, she married Gu daren. A few years later, she outlasted Su shi and successfully became the primary wife. Life went smoothly for over a decade, children, marital harmony.
All of this ruined because of Gu Jiu. This damned girl caused her first quarrel with the laoye, and allowed that shameless Bai yiniang to take advantage and become pregnant.
But heaven has eyes, Bai yiniang’s son died, haha…
Yet why does heaven refuse to open its eyes to punish Gu Jiu? Why not strike her down hard for her disrespect toward elders and total lack of filial piety? Just these two faults alone make her unworthy of marrying the Emperor’s grandson, unworthy of wealth and honor.
Xie shi’s heart raged, asking herself why all of this was happening.
“If taitai has no further matters, I’ll take my leave.”
Xie shi remained silent for a long moment, so Gu Jiu rose to leave.
Hearing Gu Jiu’s voice, Xie shi finally snapped out of her trance.
Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with malice and weariness, yet she still said nothing.
Gu Jiu lowered her gaze and smiled, then turned and left.
Xie shi grabbed a teacup, ready to smash it on the ground.
But halfway up, her hand stopped.
She was not angry.
She would not get angry over Gu Jiu.
Gu Shan, who had been tense, secretly exhaled when she saw Xie shi lower the cup.
Braving the cold wind, Gu Jiu crossed the garden, preparing to return to Zhilan Yuan.
Gu laoyezi appeared, walking toward her.
The maids tensed. “It’s freezing, why is laoyezi outside?”
This winter, Gu laoyezi hadn’t stepped outside the compound once. He spent his days drinking and playing with his concubines, outrageous behavior.
Gu Jiu waved her hand. “Relax. That’s laoyezi, not some wild beast.”
She approached, bowed, and said, “Granddaughter greets grandfather, wishing him well.”
“Oh, it’s Xiao Jiu.”
Gu laoyezi’s eyes were cloudy, and he looked as if he had yet to sober from a drunken stupor.
“I hear you’re about to marry, and to the imperial grandson, no less.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Exactly. It’s cold… why is Grandfather out?”
Gu laoyezi’s eyes widened. “Is laofu not allowed to go out? You little girl, so young yet so meddlesome. Here, take this.”
With that, he tossed something toward her. Luckily, Wang Yi was quick and caught it.
It was an envelope, containing something inside.
Gu laoyezi wobbled as he spoke. “It’s for you, just take it. By your wedding day, I won’t come out again.”
Then, he staggered off.
“Guniang, it’s a silver note!”
Wang Yi, nervous, quickly handed the envelope to Gu Jiu.
She counted carefully, inside were silver notes totaling five thousand taels.
Her face filled with astonishment, this was Gu laoyezi giving her a dowry addition!
She turned, shouting toward his retreating figure, “Thank you, Grandfather!”
Then she bowed deeply.
Gu laoyezi barked, “Nonsense! You little girl, always so annoying.”
Gu Jiu laughed.
Back at Zhilan Yuan, she instructed Qing Mei, “Send the hand warmers we made earlier. Don’t forget to take one to the hou fu’s lao furen.”
Qing Mei smiled. “Don’t worry, guniang. I won’t forget.”
Qing Mei and Xiao Cui set out to deliver the gifts.
They were sent to Zhang shi, Xiao Zhang shi, and the other sisters, everyone received one. Only Xie shi did not.
Just as Gu Jiu had said in front of Xie shi, if she looked down on it, there was no reason to send her even a simple hand warmer. No point in offending her further.
When Xie shi learned that Gu Jiu had deliberately skipped her, refusing even a hand warmer, the suppressed anger surged uncontrollably. This time, it could not be contained.
Xie shi smashed a teacup on the spot.
“Preposterous!”
Chun Cao whispered, “Shall I remind er guniang not to forget the Furong Yuan?”
“Remind her? Do you really think she forgot? She did it on purpose.”
Xie shi scolded Chun Cao, forbidding her from going to Gu Jiu lest they embarrass themselves.
After Qing Mei and Xiao Cui finished delivering gifts to the women in the household, they went next door to the hou fu.
Though a hand warmer was a small thing, it carried Gu Jiu’s thoughtful intentions.
Wei lao furen received hers and immediately tried it. “So warm and convenient. Xiao Jiu is clever to invent such a warming gadget.”
Qing Mei explained, “Our guniang worried that lao furen’s hands would get cold when she went out, so she specially had me bring the warmest one.”
Wei lao furen chuckled. “She was thoughtful. Tell Xiao Jiu to focus on preparing for her wedding.”
“Nubi obeys.”
Besides giving one to Wei lao furen, they delivered hand warmers to the three other ladies of the hou fu.
The eldest furen, Wei shi, laughed holding hers. “It’s ingenious of Xiao Jiu. This is convenient to carry, though the stitching is coarse and the outer layer shouldn’t be cotton. I’ll have the maids remake it, prettier this time, embroidered, and send it to the old madam.”
Wei lao furen said with a smile, “Make plenty. Give one to each child at home, and don’t forget our relatives, this is quite a novel idea.”
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