“The doctor is here!”
“Doctor, quickly take a look at Yue’er. Is her injury serious?”
“Er taitai, don’t worry. San guniang’s injuries look severe, but in fact, no bones are harmed – it’s all superficial wounds.”
“How can it not be serious, when she’s lost so much blood?”
Xie shi glared at the doctor, even suspecting that he was nothing more than a quack. Could it be that someone wanted to harm Yue’er by deliberately inviting an incompetent doctor?
Doctor Zhu’s beard twitched. “If er taitai does not trust laofu, then please, find another.”
“You misunderstand, Doctor Zhu. My taitai was only too worried about san guniang and spoke hastily.”
Chun He quickly tried to smooth things over, persuading both Doctor Zhu and Xie shi.
“Taitai, please don’t be anxious. Doctor Zhu is a well-known physician in the capital, highly skilled, and once even served as an imperial physician. San guniang’s injuries are urgent. Changing doctors now would only waste time and worsen her condition.”
Xie shi let out the breath that had been weighing on her chest, calming down a little.
“Doctor Zhu, I was too anxious just now. If I offended you, please forgive me. My heart aches to see my child beaten like this.”
Doctor Zhu opened his medicine box. “Er taitai, you needn’t worry. The person who wielded the board was very measured. These wounds look terrible, but they’re only external. With the best medicine, she’ll recover after a few days.”
“That will trouble you, Doctor Zhu.” Xie shi finally let out a sigh of relief.
She stayed by the bedside, watching as Doctor Zhu applied medicine to Gu Yue.
Gu Yue was still unconscious. When the medicine touched her skin, the sting seemed to rouse her, and she let out a faint groan.
“Yue’er, don’t be afraid. Mother is right here with you.”
Xie shi clutched Gu Yue’s hand, her face full of worry.
Doctor Zhu, while directing the maids in applying the medicine, said to Xie shi, “This medicine works very well, though it does sting the skin. Er taitai, don’t worry.”
Xie shi nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Doctor Zhu.”
Just then, a young maid approached Xie shi and whispered, “Taitai, laoye requests your presence.”
Xie shi’s face darkened. Lowering her voice, she replied, “I know.”
She looked at the unconscious Gu Yue, countless thoughts flashing through her mind.
Turning to Chun He, she said, “Take good care of Yue’er. I’ll be back shortly.”
Chun He replaced Xie shi at Gu Yue’s side, holding her hand with some unease as she looked at Xie shi.
Xie shi did not respond. She stepped out of the room to meet Gu daren.
Gu daren sat imposingly in his chair. When he heard footsteps, he lifted his gaze toward Xie shi.
Husband and wife locked eyes, but neither spoke. The air between them seemed to sink to freezing point.
The servants all kept their heads down. The tension between laoye and taitai was terrifying.
Heavens forbid they should quarrel openly!
At last, Gu daren broke the silence.
“You know very well why I had Yue’er beaten.”
Xie shi nodded, her expression full of restraint. “I know. Yue’er did wrong and deserved punishment. But, laoye, you were too harsh.”
Gu daren snorted. “Benguan merely gave her a beating with the board, yet she destroyed Zhen yatou’s marriage. By comparison, san yatou is far harsher than either you or I.”
Xie shi trembled all over. Of course she knew this.
But to her, the sight of her daughter covered in blood, unconscious from pain, was far more unbearable than a broken betrothal.
Clutching her chest, she said, “Even without Yue’er, Haixi bo fu might not have accepted Zhen yatou.”
“There is no ‘what if.’”
Gu daren’s tone was sharp. “For Yue’er to become what she is today, you bear the main responsibility. Precisely because she knows that no matter what she does, you’ll always shield her – that’s why she dares act so recklessly, so arrogantly, with such cruelty.”
Xie shi shuddered. “Laoye, you blame me too.”
Gu daren snorted again. “It’s not only Yue’er who must reflect – you must reflect as well. Today, she ruined Zhen yatou’s marriage for the sake of a man. Tomorrow, for some other reason, she may ruin you, me and this entire household.”
“No, that won’t happen. Yue’er isn’t that bad. Laoye, you’re being unfair.”
Gu daren’s face was grim. “If you continue indulging her, one day you will regret it.”
Suddenly, Xie shi burst into tears. “Everyone blames me – then what am I supposed to do? Yue’er is my daughter. Can I really stand by and watch her suffer?”
“You still want to indulge her? Foolish woman.”
Gu daren’s face was full of disappointment.
Xie shi looked at him, then suddenly made up her mind. “Laoye, find Yue’er a marriage match! Once she marries, she’ll naturally learn to behave.”
Gu daren frowned. “What are you thinking?”
Xie shi gave a bitter smile. “I’ve beaten her, scolded her – on the spot, she promises to change, to improve. But within days, she reverts to her old ways. Laoye, qieshen admits I’ve failed to raise her well.
“Now, qieshen has no strength left for her. She isn’t like Shan’er – Shan’er is obedient and sensible. Yue’er is too stubborn. But she’s grown up now. Better to send her off early.”
“You’ve thought this through?”
Xie shi nodded. “I wanted to keep Yue’er by my side a few more years. But seeing how she’s set in her ways, if we keep her here, I fear she’ll cause an even greater disaster.”
Gu daren furrowed his brows. He truly wanted to discipline Gu Yue properly, but he simply did not have that much time.
Relying on Xie shi to discipline her clearly had little effect.
It seemed the only solution left was to marry Gu Yue off as soon as possible.
Gu daren agreed with Xie shi’s suggestion and asked directly: “Which family have you set your eyes on?”
Xie shi covered her mouth and cried for a while before answering, “In the capital, qieshen is unfamiliar with people and places, I have no ideas. Yue’er’s marriage will still need laoye to give it more thought.”
After a pause, she added, “Yue’er was beaten – this matter cannot be hidden. I fear the first branch and the neighbouring hou fu may think too much, and it could affect Yue’er’s future.”
Gu daren’s face stiffened. “Are you blaming me?”
“Qieshen doesn’t dare. Qieshen only speaks the truth.”
Gu daren said, “As for the first branch and the hou fu, I will speak to them and explain things clearly.”
Xie shi was stunned. She thought Gu daren meant to tell the truth. If the truth came out, what would become of Gu Yue?
Gu daren gave a cold snort, displeased. “Do you take benguan for a fool? This matter ends here with benguan. But as for your family – make sure they keep their mouths shut.”
Xie shi looked blank and doubtful.
Just then, Steward Gu Quan entered. He first glanced at Xie shi, then walked up to Gu daren and whispered in his ear: “Laoye, gongzi Zhao is waiting for you at the yamen.”
“What?”
Gu daren’s expression changed. “Which gongzi Zhao?”
Gu Quan carefully replied, “Gongzi Zhao of Ning wang fu.”
Gu daren’s heart jolted. “Why would he be waiting for benguan at the yamen? Ben guan has had no dealings with Ning wang fu.”
Gu Quan lowered his voice. “Gongzi Zhao says he wishes to file a case.”
Gu daren instantly felt as though Mount Tai had come crashing down upon him. His face turned grim, an invisible weight pressing down on him until he could scarcely breathe.
Since taking office as Prefect of the Capital, this was the one thing he feared most.
What he dreaded above all was being drawn into a case involving imperial kinsmen.
No one could guarantee that a case concerning the imperial clan wouldn’t hide a greater conspiracy behind it – possibly even touching upon the increasingly fierce struggle for succession.
Sweat broke out on Gu daren’s forehead. “If he wants to report a case, he can go to the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review or, at worst, the Shaofu, the Embroidered Guard, even the Commandant of the Guards. But the mere yamen of the Capital Prefecture cannot accommodate such a lofty figure. Go tell him – benguan will not accept his case.”
Gu Quan grew anxious. “Laoye, I’ve already said all that to gongzi Zhao. He replied that since the case happened in the capital, it ought to be reported to you. Laoye, this case cannot be shirked. If you offend gongzi Zhao, and in his anger he speaks ill of you before His Majesty, what will you do then?”
Gu daren ground his teeth. “These imperial grandsons – they mean to drive me to a dead end!”
“Laoye, it’s best to at least meet gongzi Zhao first and hear what he has to say.”
Gu daren nodded helplessly. “At this point, that’s all I can do.”
Master and servant whispering together naturally caught Xie shi’s attention.
Seeing Gu daren’s expression as though facing a great enemy, she began to worry. “Laoye, has something happened?”
“There’s a matter at the yamen. I must go there at once. As for Yue’er’s marriage, we’ll plan it more carefully later.”
“Laoye…”
But Gu daren had already left the Zizhu Yuan with his attendants.
Chun He came to Xie shi’s side. “Taitai, we’ve already applied medicine to san guniang. Doctor Zhu also prescribed a formula.”
Xie shi collected herself. “Are Yue’er’s injuries serious?”
“Doctor Zhu said with proper care, in a few days she’ll be able to move about freely.”
Xie shi let out a sigh of relief.
Chun He glanced around, then leaned close to Xie shi’s ear and whispered, “Nubi heard a piece of news, though nubi isn’t sure if it’s true.”
“What news?”
Chun He swallowed before saying, “It seems the leak came from the Xie family’s side, and the news reached laoye’s ears.”
“Really?”
Chun He nodded. “Nubi wouldn’t dare deceive taitai.”
Xie shi’s face darkened. In her heart she thought – it must have been that wretched Ma shi, she must have let something slip.
She had known all along that Ma shi was no good.
It seemed she had misjudged Hu yiniang earlier. Hu yiniang had kept her promise and hadn’t spread the matter.
Xie shi hardened her expression and said, “I understand. Keep a careful watch on the household. If you hear anyone spreading rumours, report to me immediately.”
“Nubi obeys.”
Gu daren hurried to the Signing Office of the yamen.
Liu Zhao was standing with his back to the door, gazing at a painting hanging on the wall.
“Cough, cough…”
Gu daren cleared his throat lightly, announcing his presence to gongzi Zhao.
Hearing the commotion, Liu Zhao turned around, his gaze gentle as he looked at Gu daren.
“Gu daren has finally arrived. It seems bengongzi’s wait was not in vain.”
Gu daren put on a stern face, stepped into the records room, and cupped his hands in salute to gongzi Zhao.
Liu Zhao returned the gesture. “Gu daren is too polite.”
Gu daren seated himself in the host’s position.
This was the Capital Prefecture Office, and within its walls, Gu daren held the highest authority.
To maintain official dignity and the majesty of the court, except for the Son of Heaven, no matter who entered or how high their status, Gu daren was expected to remain in the host’s seat – he could never yield it.
Once seated, his face expressionless, Gu daren said, “Gongzi Zhao, please sit.”
Liu Zhao sat down in the guest seat.
Gu daren asked solemnly, “Xiaguan hear that gongzi wishes to file a case?”
“That’s right.”
“What kind of case?”
Inwardly, Gu daren was full of displeasure toward Liu Zhao.
As the Emperor’s grandson, if he had a case, why not take it directly to the court? Why come to him, a mere Prefect of the Capital?
Even if he investigated and solved it, what then?
If the case touched on a princely household, the moment anything significant was uncovered, he would have to report to court and the Emperor. At that point, another office would inevitably take over.
To Gu daren, Liu Zhao coming to the Prefecture Office was nothing but superfluous – wasting everyone’s time.
Liu Zhao’s tone was cool. “Bengongzi was dining at a restaurant today and lost a jade pendant carved in the shape of a fish. It was a gift from my mother, and I dare not take it lightly. I ask Gu daren to help recover it.”
Gu daren was taken aback. “Just this?”
Liu Zhao nodded slightly. “Just this.”
Gu daren secretly exhaled in relief. If it was only about a pendant, that was simple.
“Benguan understands. Benguan will do my utmost to recover it.”
Liu Zhao inclined his head. “Thank you, Gu daren. My guard Zhao San will report the details. Should you need my cooperation, just say the word.”
“Gongzi is considerate.”
Gu daren only wanted to send Liu Zhao away as soon as possible, so he immediately called for someone to register the case.
The pendant had been lost at Tongfu Restaurant. Liu Zhao said it had still been on his belt when he sat down to eat, but when he left, it was gone.
Yet everyone at the restaurant denied having seen it, much less stolen it.
Looking at the case record, Gu daren thought it seemed simple. If nothing unexpected happened, it should be solved quickly.
Once the report was complete, Liu Zhao took his leave of the Prefecture Office.
Only then did Ma shiye, the advisor, anxiously tell Gu daren: “My lord, something’s wrong.”
“What is it?”
“Word from below is that this Tongfu Restaurant is no ordinary place. Its backing seems to come from a wang fu.”
Crash!
Gu daren dropped back into his chair, drenched in cold sweat.
Of course. An imperial grandson filing a case could never be that simple.
It was clear now: their whole office was being used as a blade.
Gu daren’s heart trembled with fear. If this tangled them in a struggle within the royal clan, it could cost them their lives.
And yet Liu Zhao had come to report the case personally, knowing full well the Prefecture Office couldn’t resolve it, but still forcing it through.
Indeed, this seat of Prefect of the Capital was a dangerous one.
The previous holder, Zhang daren, was still imprisoned in the Imperial Guards’ prison, his fate all but sealed. Gu daren had no wish to follow in his footsteps.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Gu daren asked, “Do we know which wang fu is behind Tongfu Restaurant?”
“Not yet. Xiaguan will make inquiries at once. Daren, should we proceed with the case?”
Gu daren ground his teeth. “Of course we must. With gongzi Zhao publicly coming here to file it, how could benguan refuse? Likely the whole capital already knows by now, just waiting to see benguan make a fool of myself. If benguan doesn’t investigate thoroughly, I’ll have no way to explain myself above.”
“Daren is right. In a few days, the court, the palace, even several wang fu may send people to question us about this case.”
Gu daren had already decided: no matter who or what was behind it, he would only investigate the case itself. Anything beyond that, he would not touch.
If he could pursue it, he would. If he could not, he would withdraw in time.
Even if gongzi Zhao or Ning wang tried to pin blame on him, he would have grounds to excuse himself.
Still, a part of him clung to a shred of hope – that this truly was only about a jade pendant.
Unlikely as it seemed, he couldn’t help but wish.
When Liu Zhao left the Prefecture Office, he clearly noticed several groups of suspicious-looking men loitering nearby.
He gave a disdainful smile and stepped into his carriage as though nothing was amiss.
He looked thin, his face unnaturally pale, as if recovering from a long illness.
Zhao San said quietly, “Gongzi, be careful.”
Liu Zhao answered softly, “It’s fine.”
Once in the carriage, Zhao San sat at his side.
“Where to now, gongzi?”
Liu Zhao lowered his head with a faint smile. “Back to the wang fu.”
“Yes!”
Zhao San ordered the driver to head toward the wang fu.
“Does gongzi still remember the guniang of the Gu family, whom you met several times in the northwest?”
Liu Zhao raised an eyebrow.
Zhao San continued, “This Gu daren is that guniang’s father.”
Expressionless, Liu Zhao asked, “And what are you trying to say?”
“I only worry that this matter may implicate Gu daren. That guniang, after all, once saved your life.”
Liu Zhao’s gaze turned icy as he looked at Zhao San. Cold sweat broke out instantly on Zhao San’s forehead. He quickly bowed his head and begged forgiveness: “This subordinate deserves death.”
With a detached air, Liu Zhao said, “No matter whether it is Gu daren, Zhang daren, Li daren, or Wang daren sitting in that seat, bengongzi’s plan does not change. Do you understand?”
“This subordinate understands.”
Liu Zhao looked out the carriage window. As they neared the wang fu, he finally said, “Still, you’re not entirely wrong. I will exercise caution, and do my best not to drag Gu daren into this.”
Zhao San instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Jiu had no idea that, because of her, Gu daren had narrowly escaped a disaster.
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