That evening, when the eldest master Gu Zhiming returned home, he learned that earlier in the day, Xie Mao had brought men to storm their gates.
In a rage, Gu Zhiming grabbed a saber, ready to rush out and cut Xie Mao down on the spot.
It took the combined efforts of Zhang shi to finally calm him down.
“This is a quarrel between er di and his brother-in-law. You don’t need to stick your nose in.”
Gu Zhiming glared fiercely, his eyes full of menace. “How is that sticking my nose in? Xie Mao has gone too far! To dare bring men and charge into our household – who gave him such guts?
“If I had been home this afternoon, he wouldn’t have gotten away so easily. If I were here when he came, I’d have cut him down without a second thought.”
Zhang shi curled her lips, full of disdain.
Gu Zhiming was displeased. “You look down on me?”
Zhang shi rolled her eyes in secret. “All of you are imperial officials. Who can kill whom? Do you think you’re some general on campaign, able to ignore imperial orders – killing whomever you please, then writing up a letter of contrition afterwards to smooth it over?
“This is the capital, under the Son of Heaven’s very nose. Who dares kill an official without an imperial decree? Do you want to rot in the dungeons of the Imperial Guards?
“I’ll tell you: the quarrel between er di and Xie Mao can only be settled through political means. You’re a military man – you can’t beat the civil officials at their own games. You need to respect er di’s judgment in this. Don’t make trouble.”
Gu Zhiming was so furious he smashed a teacup. “So we just let Xie Mao strut around unchecked and can’t fight back?”
Zhang shi replied calmly, “You can fight back, but only in the political arena. He may come to our gates with men, but we cannot retaliate in kind.
“The entire court is watching. Er di is already attracting attention; this is precisely the time we cannot afford a misstep or give anyone leverage. And don’t forget – the Empress niangniang still lies ill in the palace. Do you really think the Crown Prince’s faction is easy to trifle with?”
Compared to the hot-headed Gu Zhiming, Zhang shi was calmer, more clear-sighted, and more rational.
The Zhang family had been generals for generations, long rooted in the capital. Having grown up surrounded by politics and military matters, Zhang shi had a sound grasp of court affairs. She might not have clever strategies, but she knew what could and couldn’t be done – understanding the wisdom of self-preservation.
Gu Zhiming frowned, let out a cold snort, and sat in sulky silence.
As a general, being unable to simply cut down an enemy was unbearably stifling.
He said to Zhang shi, “You’re just a woman. I’ve no mind to argue with you. I’m going to see er di. This matter can’t just be let go.”
Still fuming, Gu Zhiming stormed out.
Zhang shi watched him leave with open disdain. She could already picture him being rebuffed by Gu daren.
As Gu Zhiming crossed the corridor on his way to the study, he unexpectedly ran into Gu laoyezi.
The old man suddenly jumped out, startling him. “Father, why are you here?”
Gu laoyezi’s face was thunderous. The first thing he did on seeing his son was spit at him.
Gu Zhiming nearly gagged with disgust but couldn’t retaliate, his chest tight with pent-up rage.
“Laofu raised two useless sons. You’ve made me lose all face! Worthless trash!” He jabbed a finger at Gu Zhiming, scolding furiously.
Gu Zhiming’s face flushed crimson. Who exactly was useless here?
“Father doesn’t understand the situation, so please don’t speak carelessly.”
“What situation is there that I don’t know? To have raised two cowards – what sins did I commit in my past life to deserve this?”
Gu laoyezi threw himself to the ground, crying and wailing.
Hearing the commotion, Gu daren came out from the study.
Gu laoyezi saw him, leapt up, and grabbed his hand. “Lao’er, how can you be so spineless? Come, go with me to the Xie household. We’ll drag Xie Mao out and give him a beating.”
Gu daren’s face was full of impatience. “Father, please stop this nonsense. This son has my own plan. You needn’t worry.”
“What plan? What possible plan? When Xie Mao storms our gates, you should’ve slapped him across the face to teach him how to behave!”
Gu laoyezi refused to relent, insisting on dragging Gu daren to the Xie residence to “get even.”
Gu daren looked helplessly at his elder brother. “Da ge, help me with Father.”
Gu Zhiming frowned and gave a signal to the servants. A few young attendants rushed forward, expertly lifting Gu laoyezi off the ground.
Gu laoyezi cursed loudly as he was carried away: “Unfilial brats! Sons without balls! Two useless cowards! Put me down! If you dare defy laofu, next time I’ll whip you to death!”
His voice gradually faded into the distance, and the farce finally ended.
Gu daren sighed. “Da ge, you always know what to do.”
Gu Zhiming snorted. “I told you long ago to train a few reliable attendants. Next time Father throws a fit, just do as I did – carry him away and lock him in the courtyard.”
Gu daren gave a helpless smile. “As you can see, I’ve been so busy lately I barely have time to breathe. Father’s affairs have been neglected.”
Gu Zhiming fixed him with a sharp look. “So what’s the story with Xie Mao? He storms our gates and you just let him walk away unharmed?
“If you ask me, Father wasn’t entirely wrong. You should’ve slapped him then and there to teach him a lesson. He hides behind his status as your brother-in-law status and acts like he’s above the law. He clearly doesn’t take our Gu family seriously. Since that’s the case, why treat him with courtesy?”
Gu daren’s face turned stern. “Da ge, it’s not as simple as you think.”
Gu Zhiming gave a contemptuous snort. “It’s just the Crown Prince’s faction. What’s there to be afraid of? Our Gu family has never gotten along with them anyway. The Empress is on her last legs. We might as well tear off all pretence and fight them head-on.
“Xie Mao may have the Crown Prince’s backing, but don’t forget – you have the entire class of military nobles behind you. Don’t tell me that united, the military aristocracy can’t topple one Crown Prince!”
Gu daren frowned. “Da ge, stop making trouble. If it were that simple, do you think the princes would have waited until now? They’d have acted years ago.
“In short, the time hasn’t come yet. That’s why we must endure. If we can’t swallow small grievances, we’ll ruin the greater plan. At this moment above all, we cannot afford a single misstep.”
The eldest master wore a look of impatience. “I just can’t stand your way of doing things – always so slow and cautious. All these years, and it’s still the same sorry state. Forget it. As for your yamen affairs, I can’t be of much help. But if you ever need me, just say the word. We’re brothers – no need to stand on ceremony.”
“Don’t worry, da ge, I’ll never treat you like an outsider.”
The eldest master patted Gu daren’s shoulder. “Remember, this time you must teach Xie Mao a lesson. If you can’t kill him, at least strip a layer of skin off him.”
Gu daren nodded firmly. “That’s exactly what I intend.”
The eldest master laughed heartily. “Good, then I can rest easy.”
That night, Xie shi woke up.
She had someone summon Gu daren to the Furong Yuan. “Laoye, my da ge–”
“There’s no need to bring that up again,” Gu daren cut her off bluntly before she could finish.
Xie shi’s face fell; she was deeply flustered.
She opened her mouth, but facing Gu daren’s stern expression, no words came out.
In the end, she could only sigh.
The couple sat in silence for a long while before Xie shi spoke again. “Lu hou furen sent a matchmaker to our door. She has taken a liking to er yatou, and wishes to arrange a marriage with her di younger son. Laoye, please make the decision, so I can reply to Lu hou furen promptly.”
Gu daren immediately furrowed his brows.
Xie shi was surprised.
She had assumed that a fine marriage like Lu hou fu would be accepted without hesitation.
She cautiously asked, “Laoye, is this match unsuitable? Er yatou is weak in health, unable to manage a household. Marrying Lu hou fu’s younger di son seems fitting for her.”
Expressionless, Gu daren said, “There’s no need to rush this marriage. Let’s wait and see.”
He harboured doubts.
Lu hou, Pei Ren, held great power, but he was a tall tree that caught the wind – his position was unstable.
At first glance, becoming in-laws with the Lu family seemed a good thing.
But on closer thought, the risks were high.
Gu daren recalled that not long ago, Lu hou fu had tried to ally with the hou fu through marriage, only to be rejected.
After some thought, he decided it would be wiser to wait until the political situation became clearer.
He told Xie shi, “There’s no urgency for er yatou’s marriage. If Lu hou fu presses the matter, find an excuse to delay them.”
“Qieshen listens to laoye.” Xie shi was both surprised and relieved at the same time.
Delaying was perfect!
She had no desire to see Gu Jiu married into Lu hou fu.
That sickly girl – what right did she have to marry into such a high family?
On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year,
Gu fu was decorated with lanterns and banners, and everyone was busy preparing for the New Year.
The servants were busier than usual, but full of energy.
After all, on New Year’s they would receive generous rewards. Gathering to feast and gamble afterwards – what could be more enjoyable?
That day also marked the opening of Gu Jiu’s first business venture in the capital.
Located in Shili Alley in the city’s southern district, the residents there were all common folk.
Midway down the alley stood a shop that had previously been a clothing store but had gone out of business. On this day, its doors opened once more.
Passersby peeked curiously inside. What did this shop sell? Jumeizhai? They couldn’t make sense of the name.
[T/N: The name roughly means “a place where beautiful things are gathered” or “The Hall of Gathered Beauties”.]
When Erzhuang set the goods out at the entrance, the crowd suddenly understood: it was a shop selling pearl-flower hair ornaments.
Selling such trinkets – did that really require renting a whole shop?
This owner clearly didn’t have business sense. Surely it would close within a month.
Shaking their heads, the onlookers left without stepping inside. Nobody paid Jumeizhai any attention.
Seeing the crowd disperse, Erzhuang was momentarily stunned.
Fortunately, his years of travel between the Northwest and the capital had given him experience.
He carefully arranged the goods, putting the prettiest ones at the very front, so that any passing young ladies or married women could see the beautiful pearl flowers on the door display at a single glance.
He kept Gu Jiu’s advice firmly in mind: This was just a small venture, a test of the waters. Even if business was poor, don’t panic – they could afford the loss.
Clerks from neighbouring shops stood at their doors, pointing and whispering.
But Erzhuang stayed calm, not intimidated in the least.
“Erzhuang, has business started yet?”
Gu Yu arrived with some yamen officers, lending prestige to Erzhuang’s shop and warning surrounding merchants: This new shop, Jumeizhai, had powerful backing.
Anyone who dared stir up trouble or play dirty tricks should be prepared to pay the price.
Erzhuang grinned. “Gu si shaoye, what brings you here today?”
“I was worried, so I came to check. Haven’t opened yet?”
Erzhuang laughed. “Just starting – slowly, no need to rush.”
Gu Yu laughed. “True enough. It’s just a small business, no need to rush. Think of it as helping er meimei earn some pocket money. Erzhuang, these yamen runners are in charge of security for the Shili Alley area. This is Head Constable Zhang, and this one is…”
Gu Yu introduced a few of the local ruffian-like constables to Erzhuang.
Erzhuang quickly pulled out the red envelopes he had prepared in advance and handed them over one by one.
The constables, pleased with their “gifts,” all grinned.
“So, you’re Erzhuang? Don’t worry. In this neighbourhood, if anyone dares cause you trouble, just come to me – I’ll stand up for you.”
“Thank you, Head Zhang. Let’s have a drink together tonight.”
“Haha, sure! At Juxian Tavern tonight, shall we?”
Erzhuang nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course.”
Juxian Tavern was one of the more upscale establishments in the southern part of the city – just one meal there would cost several taels of silver.
Erzhuang ached at the thought of the expense, but he knew this meal was unavoidable.
As the saying goes: it’s easier to deal with the King of Hell than with the little devils.
Don’t think that just because Gu daren was backing him, everything would go smoothly. The real work was done by the men at the bottom – if he didn’t grease their palms, even Gu daren’s name wouldn’t be enough.
Gu Yu said, “Erzhuang, you get busy with the shop. We’ll take our leave.”
“Thank you, Gu si shaoye. Thank you, Head Zhang…”
Erzhuang watched them go, feeling a huge weight lift off his chest.
The shop clerks who had been watching from the doorway now came crowding in with enthusiasm.
Now that Jumeizhai had ties with the yamen, it was worth getting close.
“Erzhuang ge, you’re selling jewelled hairpins? How much for one? I’ll buy one for my little sister.”
“I’ll take a pair too. The New Year’s coming up – one for my wife, one for my daughter.”
…
Erzhuang hadn’t expected that Gu Yu, just by showing up with the constables, would also bring him business.
At last, Jumeizhai officially opened its doors.
After the clerks made their purchases, young ladies and wives began to crowd in as well.
What everyone had thought would be a hopeless venture turned out, once opened, to have a steady stream of customers.
Erzhuang almost couldn’t handle them all by himself.
That day, the young ladies and wives of Shili Alley were all talking about the jewelled hairpins and ornaments at Jumeizhai.
Pretty, inexpensive, and with plenty of variety.
Much more attractive than the ones sold at Xu’s shop at the alley entrance.
Xu’s shop was an old, established jewellery store in the city. But compared to Jumeizhai’s ornaments, their styles looked outdated and unappealing.
“Oh wow, what’s that you’ve got in your hair? It’s lovely! Where did you get it?”
The young lady smiled shyly. “From Jumeizhai.”
“From what? Where?”
“Jumeizhai, a new shop. They specialise in jewelled hairpins and ornaments – very pretty.”
“Mhm, it is pretty. Must have been expensive.”
“Not at all. This hairpin only costs twenty-five copper coins.”
“Twenty-five coins and you say that’s cheap?”
The women scoffed at the price, yet secretly thought to themselves that tomorrow they too would go and buy a hairpin to wear.
Conversations like this spread through Shili Alley, slowly reaching beyond.
It wouldn’t be long before the entire southern part of the city knew that a new shop called Jumeizhai had opened in Shili Alley, selling beautiful, affordable, and stylish hair ornaments.
That day Erzhuang made a tidy profit. He thought, perhaps they could even move up Gu Jiu’s planned “assembly-line production” schedule.
But even so, it would have to wait until after the New Year.
Once the new year passed and they recouped their costs, they could then hire more people and put the assembly line into action.
He also remembered that Gu Jiu had asked him to recruit talented people.
Erzhuang already had a few names in mind.
Since coming to the capital, he had spent his days wandering and gathering information – he had indeed gotten to know some folks. But whether they were suitable or not, he’d have to wait for Gu Jiu to judge in person.
Busy as ever, the day passed.
As evening fell, lanterns were lit at Gu fu’s gates.
The steward, Gu Quan, personally came to the gatehouse twice. “Has er laoye returned yet?”
The gatekeeper shook his head. “No sign of er laoye.”
Gu Quan frowned. It was this late already, and still no sign of er laoye. Could something at the yamen have delayed him?
Gao Sanfu came over to ask: “Taitai sent me to see when laoye will be home. It’s the Little New Year today – taitai has prepared a banquet, just waiting on laoye.”
Gu Quan’s frown deepened. “I’ll go check at the yamen.”
Gao Sanfu’s heart skipped a beat. “Steward Gu, laoye hasn’t run into trouble, has he?”
“You crow-mouthed fool! On a festive day, can’t you say something lucky?”
Gao Sanfu slapped his own mouth twice. “Look at me, speaking nonsense. Please don’t take offence, Steward .”
Gu Quan gave a curt grunt, then set off toward the yamen with some men.
In Furong Yuan, the entire second branch gathered, waiting for Gu daren to return so the banquet could begin.
Night had fallen completely, and still there was no sign of him.
Xie shi had already sent to the gatehouse several times, but each time there was no news.
She was growing anxious.
Liu shaoye Gu Cheng said, “It’s the year’s end – the yamen must be swamped. Father might not be back until midnight.”
Xie shi frowned. “Today is the Little New Year. When he left this morning, I reminded him to come back early. But it’s this late already, and still no word. Could something have happened?”
[T/N: 小年夜 – Literally “Little New Year’s Eve,” it refers to the evening before Chúxī (除夕, Lunar New Year’s Eve). In many parts of China, especially in the south, families hold a smaller reunion dinner on this night, often marking the beginning of the most festive days of the Spring Festival.]
Gu Ting piped up, “Don’t worry, taitai. Father will be fine, safe and sound, everything will go smoothly.”
Xie shi said nothing.
Gu Jiu furrowed her brow. She called Xiao Cui over and whispered, “Go to the side gate. If the hou fu still has it open, ask their people whether they’ve heard any news of Father.”
Xiao Cui acknowledged softly and slipped away.
T/N:
This marks the beginning of a pivotal arc in the story… Xiao Jiu will soon get into all kinds of trouble.
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