And it’s a century!
Hou fu’s Songhe Hall.
Wei shi sat with her daughter, Gu Mei, accompanying Wei lao furen in conversation.
Lao furen casually asked, “Was there a big commotion between Gu Yue and Gu Jiu in the Flower Pavillion today?”
Gu Mei shook her head slightly. “Replying to lao furen, it wasn’t too serious.”
“Tell me about it.”
Gu Mei hesitated for a moment.
Wei shi gave her a slight nod. “Just speak frankly. No need to hold back.”
Only then did Gu Mei continue, “Gu Yue meimei probably wanted to expose that Gu Jiu meimei had a reputation for being sickly, but she didn’t expect Gu Jiu meimei to not only admit it openly but also use the opportunity to subtly mock her for being thoughtless and having a loose tongue. Gu Yue meimei was thoroughly embarrassed but was eventually stopped by Gu Shan meimei.”
Wei shi frowned. “I didn’t expect that on only the second day after returning to the capital, the guniang from the neighbouring fu would already be causing a scene. It seems like their conflicts run deep.”
Lao furen chuckled. “Gu Jiu, that xiao yatou, is quite sharp and knows how to turn the situation in her favour.”
Wei shi nodded. “I hadn’t noticed at first. Gu Yue seems cunning and forceful, but she’s not as quick-witted as Gu Jiu. Comparing them roughly, Gu Jiu stands out more. It’s just a pity that she’s not in good health.”
Gu Mei quickly added, “Gu Jiu meimei said herself that she has been feeling much better lately and has even been taking less medicine.”
“That’s good. From her complexion today, she indeed doesn’t look like the frail girl people talk about.”
Wei shi then looked at lao furen. “Lao furen, about what Xie dimei requested—should we proceed with it?”
Lao furen replied, “Yes. Since we already promised to help find a match for Gu Yue, we should follow through.”
Wei shi frowned slightly. “But Gu Yue’s temperament doesn’t make her easy to get along with. She is competitive, overbearing, and intolerant. Finding a suitable match for her won’t be easy. If she marries into a family and causes trouble, people will blame me for arranging the marriage.
“On the other hand, if Gu Jiu is in good health, it wouldn’t be difficult to find her a good marriage. She is a clever child. Families like ours favour daughters-in-law who are both intelligent and capable.”
Lao furen nodded in agreement. “Indeed, from what I see now, Gu Jiu has the potential to manage a household well. Unfortunately, Xie shi never gave her the chance to learn. She has never been trained in household management.
“I should remind Zhili that his daughters are all grown up. It’s time they start learning how to manage a household. In families like ours, daughters cannot afford to be ignorant.”
Wei shi agreed. “Erxi thinks the same. I should find a way to subtly remind Xie dimei. Gu Jiu is technically also her daughter. If Gu Jiu can marry well, she might even support her younger siblings in the future.”
Lao furen smiled. “But Xie shi doesn’t seem like the type to be generous in that way.”
They didn’t avoid discussing such matters in front of Gu Mei—this was part of her training.
With her marriage approaching within the next year, lao furen and Wei shi were making sure she learned about social dynamics so she could handle situations smoothly in her future home.
Lao furen then instructed, “You should also keep an eye on Gu Yue’s marriage. Since we have already given our word to Xie shi, we must at least put in an effort.”
Wei shi looked troubled. “Finding a match for Gu Yue will be difficult.”
Lao furen said firmly, “The capital is large; there will always be a suitable family. No matter what, you must present a few options so that it is clear we did our best.”
Wei shi nodded. “I will follow your instructions. And what about Gu Zhen’s marriage?”
“That boy from the Haixi bo fu—the one of shu birth. Arrange for them to meet first. If it’s not a good match, we’ll look for another.”
Lao furen made the final decision, putting Wei shi’s mind at ease.
It was already late when Wei shi and Gu Mei left Songhe Hall and returned to their residence.
As they walked, Wei shi advised Gu Mei, “From now on, keep your distance from the girls at the neighbouring Gu fu, especially Gu Yue and Gu Zhen. Those two…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but her expression showed her dissatisfaction. The way those two conducted themselves was frustrating.
Gu Mei nodded. “I will listen to Mother. Should I also avoid Sister Gu Jiu?”
Wei shi asked, “Tell me in detail—what kind of person do you think Gu Jiu is?”
Gu Mei carefully recounted everything she had observed that day.
Wei shi nodded thoughtfully. “She is a clever girl. There’s no harm in interacting with her. But since she is under her stepmother Xie shi’s control, her movements are likely restricted. It won’t be easy for her to go out. If you do get the chance to meet her, look after her.”
“Nü’er understands.”
Wei shi sighed. “What a pity about Su dimei. She was such a good person, yet she passed away so early. If she were still alive to see her daughter grow up, she would be so happy.”
Gu Mei was curious. “What kind of person was Gu Jiu meimei’s mother?”
Wei shi thought for a moment and said, “She was a good woman.”
The words ‘a good woman’ summed up Su shi’s entire life.
She was a good daughter before marriage, a good wife after marriage, and, after having children, a good mother.
But, unfortunately, her life was short, and she left too soon.
Gu Mei asked, “Mother, was there anything suspicious about Su shenniang’s death?”
Wei shi frowned. “There shouldn’t be. She was already feeling depressed when she was pregnant. When I visited her back then, she was troubled and couldn’t seem to move past it. Then, when Xie shi had her son, Su shi’s condition worsened. Later, when Xie shi got pregnant again, Su shi’s illness became more serious.
“At that time, the Su family was in trouble, and she couldn’t help them, which led to her child being born prematurely. You know the rest—her family fell into ruin, while Xie shi’s brother became an official in the Crown Prince’s household. The Xie family’s fortunes rose. Some things… are just fate.”
Gu Mei sighed. “Gu Jiu meimei is fortunate to have survived and grown up.”
“Indeed. When I heard they were going to the northwest, I worried that Gu Jiu, that child, wouldn’t survive.”
The mother and daughter talked late into the night.
That night, Gu Mei stayed in her mother’s room, cherishing the rare moment of sleeping by her side.
In the morning, Gu Jiu got up.
After washing up, she stepped out the door and immediately felt the bone-chilling cold wind.
It had rained the night before, and the temperature had dropped sharply.
Winter had finally arrived in the capital.
Qing Mei hurriedly draped a cloak over Gu Jiu’s shoulders.
“Guniang, be careful not to catch a cold.”
Gu Jiu tightened the cloak around herself, pulling up the collar to shield her neck from the wind, and prepared to go to Furong Yuan to pay respects to Xie shi.
Yesterday, she had a major confrontation with Xie shi, but today, everything returned to normal.
She would do what she was supposed to do—nothing would change because of yesterday’s conflict.
After all, in this household, Gu Jiu would not evade her responsibilities.
Xie shi was, after all, the taitai.
Gu Jiu would follow the rules, at least on the surface, so that no one could find fault with her. She wouldn’t give anyone an excuse to criticise her.
She set out with her maids. Just as she reached the courtyard entrance, she saw Guo Taohua, a servant from Furong Yuan, hurrying towards her.
Guo Taohua ran up to Gu Jiu and greeted her, “Greetings, er guniang. Taitai has instructed nubi to inform you that there’s no need to pay respects this morning.”
Gu Jiu asked, “Is taitai unwell?”
Guo Taohua quickly replied, “Taitai is not ill. Nubi heard that she received an invitation from the Xie family and will be visiting them today.”
Gu Jiu asked curiously, “When did the Xie family send the invitation?”
Guo Taohua answered honestly, “The Xie family sent it yesterday while taitai and the guniang were attending a banquet at the hou fu.”
Gu Jiu nodded in understanding. “Thank you for running this errand. I understand.”
Guo Taohua waved her hands hastily, looking somewhat flustered, as if unaccustomed to being thanked. “All this is what nubi is supposed to do. Nubi… nubi…”
Gu Jiu smiled. “If you have something to say, say it.”
Guo Taohua drew up her courage and asked, “Nubi wants to inquire about Jiang Yan’s whereabouts.”
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t Jiang Yan tell you?”
Guo Taohua shook her head.
Gu Jiu used the excuse she had prepared earlier and told Guo Taohua, “Jiang Yan fell ill. Since she signed a servant contract with the option to leave, she was sent away. I’m not sure exactly where she went.”
Guo Taohua looked worried. “Then she…”
“She has money with her, and she’s smart. Don’t worry about her.”
Guo Taohua was reassured. “Thank you, er guniang.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Go ahead with your work. I should return to my room and rest.”
Gu Jiu returned to Zilan Courtyard.
Inside the study, a charcoal brazier was burning, making the room warm and cosy.
Gu Jiu removed her cloak, sat at her desk, and prepared to practice calligraphy.
She asked Qing Mei, “Do you know where Su biaoge is staying?”
Qing Mei nodded. “I know the address. But these past two days have been busy, and Erzhuang hasn’t had the time to visit Su biao shaoye.”
Gu Jiu instructed, “Once things settle down, have Erzhuang go see Su biaoge and invite him to visit us.”
Qing Mei acknowledged the order and left for the outer courtyard to pass on the message to Li Chuan.
Returning to the capital had many advantages, but the biggest disadvantage was the severe restrictions on leaving the fu.
Da taitai, Zhang shi, managed the household with strict discipline.
Gu Jiu’s previous trick of bribing the gatekeepers to sneak out through the back entrance was now nearly impossible.
At present, the only way to communicate with the outside world was through Li Chuan, the servant boy attending to Gu Ting, who could relay messages via Erzhuang, who lived outside the fu.
Erzhuang had not followed Gu Jiu into the household.
Instead, Gu Jiu had him rent a place in the capital, settle in, and gather information about the city before making further plans.
Gu Jiu sighed quietly.
Talent a, talent.
In this era, the most valuable resource was loyal and competent individuals.
There were only a handful of people she could fully trust to handle tasks.
The maids by her side were reliable. Unfortunately, they couldn’t leave the fu freely, let alone manage affairs outside on her behalf.
Gu Jiu practised calligraphy, filling five pages, and was quite satisfied with her work.
Qing Mei returned from outside, bringing in a wave of winter chill.
Seeing her, Gu Jiu asked, “Is it raining again?”
Qing Mei nodded. “A light drizzle, but I’m not sure if it will get heavier.”
Gu Jiu remarked, “If it rains, I wonder if taitai will postpone her visit to the Xie family.”
Qing Mei said, “When I passed through the outer courtyard, I saw that taitai’s carriage had already left the fu. San guniang, si guniang, liu shoaye and ba shaoye all went with her.”
Gu Jiu smiled knowingly.
At that moment, Wang Yi entered with a steaming cup of tea. “Guniang, have some tea.”
Gu Jiu looked at Wang Yi and suddenly asked curiously, “Can you climb onto rooftops?”
Wang Yi was stunned for a moment, as if she hadn’t processed the question. Then she quickly shook her head. “Nubi don’t have that skill. Nubi is good with a staff, but nubi can’t climb that high. Though nubi can handle regular courtyard walls without much trouble.”
So, no qinggong skills, huh?
Gu Jiu felt a tiny bit disappointed.
She recalled Liu gongzi she had met in the northwest—without even moving, his small boat had shot forward like an arrow, gliding effortlessly through the lotus pond.
It seemed that compared to him, Wang Yi’s martial prowess was not on the same level at all.
Gu Jiu asked Wang Yi, “Are you adjusting well to life in the capital?”
Wang Yi nodded repeatedly. “As long as nubi can eat my fill every day, I’m fine.”
Gu Jiu chuckled. “That’s good. If you have any questions, ask Qing Mei, Qing Zhu, or Xiao Cui. If you ever run into trouble, just let me know.”
“Nubi have no troubles. Nubi’s parents and older brother are gone, nubi is the only one left in my family.”
The topic was a bit heavy. Gu Jiu offered a few words of comfort before letting Wang Yi return to her tasks.
She remained in her study, writing, sketching, and reading. Before she knew it, the day had passed.
This was her third day back in the capital.
The first two days had been chaotic, one thing after another.
Today, however, had been uneventful. The unexpected peace was almost unsettling.
Qing Mei entered with a tray of snacks, smiling. “Guniang, don’t go wishing for trouble. It’s rare for things to be calm—let’s enjoy the New Year in peace.”
Gu Jiu pursed her lips in a smile. “I was just thinking out loud.”
Qing Mei placed the snacks on the table. “Xiao Cui told nubi that taitai just entered the second gate.”
“Taitai is back?”
Qing Mei nodded. “Yes. Xiao Cui also said that liu shaoye was wearing a different outfit than the one he left in this morning—he must have changed clothes. She also mentioned that when he spoke to taitai, he sounded very cold.”
Huh?
Gu Jiu was intrigued.
“Xiao Cui was at the second gate?”
Qing Mei chuckled. “She knows you care about what happens on taitai’s side. As soon as she heard that taitai was back, she ran to wait at the second gate. She just came back to report and then ran off again—said she was heading to Furong Yuan to snack with the servant girls there.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “Xiao Cui is turning into quite the informant.”
Qing Mei sighed. “I used to think Xiao Cui was a bit slow, not very bright. I never imagined she’d be so good at gathering information.”
Gu Jiu smirked. Perhaps all of Xiao Cui’s natural talents lay in intelligence-gathering. She wasn’t great at serving others, which was why everyone used to think she was dull.
A few days later, a rumour spread through the household—talk of a marriage alliance between the Xie and Gu families.
Gu Jiu was momentarily stunned.
A marriage between the Xie and Gu families? Impossible.
Back in the northwest, Gu daren had made it clear that there would be no such alliance.
How had this rumour started now? This felt very strange.
Just as Gu Jiu was pondering the source of the gossip, Xiao Cui came running in with a report.
“Guniang, Xie da taitai1 has arrived with the guniang and shaoye of the Xie family. Taitai has ordered everyone to gather at Furong Yuan to receive the guests.”
Gu Jiu blinked. “Are you sure it’s Xie da taitai?”
Xiao Cui nodded firmly. “Absolutely. I saw her with my own eyes, leading the Xie family’s guniang and shaoye into Furong Yuan.”
Strange.
Gu daren had made his stance clear—he was cutting ties with the Xie family.
Yet the situation now suggested otherwise.
Just a few days ago, Xie shi visited the Xie family. And today, Xie da taitai had come with her children to the Gu fu.
Had Gu daren changed his mind? Did he now intend to maintain relations with the Xie family?
With these doubts in mind, Gu Jiu headed to Furong Yuan.
Near the courtyard entrance, she ran into Gu Zhen and Gu Lin, who were also on their way.
“I heard Xie da taitai is here,” Gu Zhen said curiously.
Gu Lin scoffed quietly, her eyes full of disdain.
Gu Jiu said, “Let’s go in. It wouldn’t be proper to keep the guests waiting.”
“Er meimei is right.”
As they entered Furong Yuan, they could hear laughter coming from the main hall.
Chun He lifted the curtain and stepped out, smiling. “Da guniang, er guniang, wu guniang, you’re finally here. Taitai has been waiting for you.”
“Thank you, Chun He,” Gu Jiu said, stepping forward and slipping a small embroidered pouch into Chun He’s hand.
Chun He accepted it with a composed smile, discreetly tucking it away.
“It’s nothing, this is nubi’s duty. Please, go inside.”
Gu Jiu asked with meaning, “Is laoye not here?”
Chun He replied, “Laoye went to the Ministry of Appointments. I heard he’ll be drinking with some old classmates tonight.”
So Gu daren wasn’t home.
Gu Jiu smiled faintly. “Thank you, Chun He.”
“Nubi doesn’t deserve er guniang’s praise.”
Gu Jiu released Chun He’s hand and stepped into the main hall first.
- Refers to Xie Mao’s wife – the Xie family’s eldest madam, Xie shi‘s eldest sister-in-law. ↩︎
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