Gu Jiu walked into the room and was immediately hit by a pungent smell of alcohol.
She wrinkled her nose, unable to stand the stench.
Gu laoyezi was half drunk, half awake, his cloudy eyes bloodshot.
“Xiao Jiu is here, sit.”
Gu Jiu sat down on a clean chair, her expression calm as she surveyed her surroundings.
The room was decorated lavishly, yet it reeked of decay.
Unidentifiable stains had long dried on the carpet.
The thought that the stains might be vomit from the old man after a drunken spree made Gu Jiu frown instinctively.
The house itself was fine, and the ornaments were valuable, but the one living here had ruined all of it.
“How rare, that you’d think to come greet this old man.”
Gu laoyezi chuckled.
Gu Jiu instructed Xiao Cui, “Go brew a strong bowl of tea for laoyezi.”
Xiao Cui obeyed and left.
At the moment, Gu laoyezi’s mind was not clear, unfit for discussion.
Gu Jiu hoped that once he drank the tea, he would sober up.
Soon, Xiao Cui returned with a bowl of strong tea and placed it before laoyezi.
Gu laoyezi narrowed his eyes, staring at Xiao Cui, frightening the girl so much that she leapt back and hid behind Gu Jiu.
Gu laoyezi burst into loud laughter, pointing at Xiao Cui, “You little wench, what are you running for? Once you enter this old man’s courtyard, where could you possibly escape to?”
Gu Jiu’s face hardened. “Laoyezi, please look carefully. This is my maid.”
Gu laoyezi froze, needing a while before reacting, “Oh, Xiao Jiu is here.”
Gu Jiu frowned and signalled with her eyes to Wang Yi and Qing Mei.
They understood at once – Wang Yi held Gu laoyezi and pried open his mouth, while Qing Mei poured the entire bowl of strong tea down his throat.
“You… gurgle… cough cough…”
After gulping down the tea, Gu laoyezi felt thoroughly miserable.
He pointed at Gu Jiu, “Er yatou, you–you are too outrageous!”
Gu Jiu said coldly, “It is laoyezi who disgraces his age. This granddaughter had no choice but to take such measures.”
Gu laoyezi was struck speechless.
After a long while, he grunted, “Enough, enough. I won’t bother with a little girl like you. Speak – why have you come? If it’s to greet me, save it. All these years, I’ve never cared for your greetings.”
Gu Jiu stood and said solemnly, “I ask laoyezi to save Father’s life.”
“What? What nonsense?”
Gu laoyezi acted as though he didn’t understand. “Er yatou, are you muddle-headed? Look at me like this – what ability do I have to save your father? Go, go, don’t disturb my drinking. If you want someone saved, go next door to the hou fu and find the old houye.”
He waved his hand to shoo her away.
Gu Jiu’s face darkened. “At this moment, only laoyezi can save Father.”
Gu laoyezi chuckled dismissively, not taking her words seriously.
Gu Jiu steadied her breath and spoke again, “Today I met with Gongzi Zhao. Gongzi Zhao asked me to bring word – he wants laoyezi to hand the thing over to him.”
The playful smile on Gu laoyezi’s face froze.
His head twisted stiffly, like a corpse coming to life. “What did you just say?”
Gu Jiu repeated her words, “…Gongzi Zhao asks laoyezi to hand the thing over to him.”
“You–you really met Gongzi Zhao?” He pointed at Gu Jiu, almost disbelieving.
Gu Jiu nodded firmly. “Yes! I met Gongzi Zhao.”
“He really said that to you?”
“Yes! This matter concerns Father’s life. I would never dare conceal a single word.”
Gu laoyezi clutched his hair. “And he didn’t say what exactly he wanted me to hand over?”
Gu Jiu shook her head.
Gu laoyezi’s brows furrowed, his beard twitching – clearly unsettled.
After a long silence, Gu Jiu urged again, “I beg laoyezi to save Father.”
Gu laoyezi waved impatiently. “Enough, enough. I know. You go back first. Let me think on it.”
Gu Jiu said, “Time waits for no one. The longer Father remains in the Imperial Prison, the greater the danger. He is your own son – please, you must save him.”
“You lot, always troublesome. I said long ago, the moment you all returned to the capital, no good would come of it. And sure enough.”
With disgust plain on his face, Gu laoyezi waved his hand, driving Gu Jiu out.
Gu Jiu left in silence.
Qing Mei looked as if she wanted to speak but held back.
At the courtyard gate, Fang pozi was still keeping watch. Seeing Gu Jiu, her face bloomed with a smile.
“Er guniang finished talking with laoyezi? Those little sluts – I’ve already dealt with them for you.”
“Many thanks, daniang.”
At Gu Jiu’s glance, Qing Mei handed Fang pozi a pouch.
Fang pozi grinned so wide her teeth showed. “Er guniang, take care, come often.”
Back at Zhilan Yuan, Gu Jiu sat in the study practising calligraphy, venting her inner anger with each brushstroke.
Qing Mei brought in a bowl of medicinal soup. “Guniang, you’ve been writing nearly an hour. You should rest.”
Gu Jiu remained silent.
“Guniang, perhaps nubi should go to the outer court, ask what laoyezi really intends?”
Gu Jiu shook her head and suddenly dropped her brush. Ink splattered, ruining the sheet of xuan paper.
“No need to see laoyezi. He will save Father.”
“Ah?” Qing Mei was puzzled. “If laoyezi will save laoye, why then is guniang so angry?”
“I’m just stifled.” Gu Jiu said matter-of-factly.
She had been bottling up her rage, and laoyezi’s attitude nearly broke her restraint.
She could not simply vent her anger on people, so she could only release it by practising calligraphy.
“Guniang, something’s wrong, something’s wrong!”
Xiao Cui rushed in from outside, panting as she spoke anxiously: “Guniang, laoyezi–laoyezi has caused a commotion. He insisted on going out, struck the gatekeepers, mounted a horse, and rode away. The gatekeepers couldn’t stop him, and then they lost track of him altogether. Guniang, what should we do now?”
Upon hearing this, Gu Jiu actually laughed, feeling a weight lifted from her heart.
“Laoye is saved.”
Xiao Cui was utterly baffled.
Qing Mei half-understood, but she too agreed with Gu Jiu’s words.
“Thank heavens, laoye is finally saved. All of guniang’s hard work wasn’t in vain.”
Gu Jiu laughed heartily. “Qing Mei, have the kitchen make chicken soup tonight. I feel like drinking some.”
“Nubi will go right away.”
Qing Mei beamed with joy. Guniang was finally smiling again, and her appetite had returned. Thank heavens, the heavens had finally opened their eyes.
The moment laoyezi rode out of the manor, Gu Jiu knew that Gu daren could be saved. But no one else knew this.
When the gatekeepers delivered the news to Zhang shi, she was so furious she nearly fainted.
“What are the gatekeepers even good for? With laoyezi’s frail body, and so many of them, they still couldn’t stop him? Useless bunch of wine sacks and rice bags!”
Shaoyao softly tried to comfort her: “Taitai, please calm your anger. At that moment, laoyezi charged the gates with his little servants. The gatekeepers were caught off guard, that’s why he managed to escape. What matters now is to find him quickly.”
“Of course I know we need to find him first. But where to look? If the laoyezi causes trouble outside and offends someone, what then? Quickly order the steward to send out more men to search. Also, send word to da laoye, tell him to dispatch men from the yamen – search the entire city for the laoyezi. In any case, we must bring him back quickly. We cannot allow him to run wild.”
“Nubi will go immediately.”
Zhang shi sighed again and again.
Laoyezi had a history of such things. No one knew what kind of trouble he might stir up once he got out.
“Taitai, er taitai has come.”
A maid announced from outside.
Zhang shi sighed, “Invite er taitai in.”
Xie shi was ushered into the main hall of Songbai Yuan.
“Dimei, you’re not in good health – why come out? If you need something, just send someone to call me.”
With a pale face, sickly-looking, Xie shi sat down with Gu Shan’s support.
“I wasn’t at ease, so I came to see for myself. I heard the laoyezi ran out – will this affect my family’s laoye? If he causes offence outside and brings disaster to my laoye, what should I do?”
Before she could finish, Xie shi was already wiping away tears.
Gu Shan softly urged, “Mother, please don’t cry. Let’s hear what da bomu has to say first.”
Xie shi wiped her tears and gave an embarrassed smile. “I’ve let dasao see a joke.”
Zhang shi shook her head slightly. “Er dimei’s feelings, I understand. I’ve already sent out more men to search for the laoyezi. As for da laoye, I’ve also sent word. The people at the yamen will help with the search. I believe the laoyezi will soon be brought back.”
Xie shi let out a breath of relief.
But then she began complaining again: “Laoyezi truly is too much, causing trouble at such a critical moment. Is my family’s laoye not his own son? How can he be so cruel?”
As she spoke, she started crying again.
Ever since Gu daren’s incident, Xie shi had wept endlessly.
She wept while wiping away tears, speaking through sobs: “I’m just a woman, powerless to do anything. I can only rely on the hou fu next door, and on da ge and dasao. If none of you can save my laoye, then I… I won’t be able to live either.”
Zhang shi tried to console her: “Dimei, don’t say such despairing things. Whatever becomes of er di, you must endure. Even if not for yourself, think of the children. Their marriages are not yet settled. Can you really be at ease leaving them so?”
Hearing this, Xie shi cried even harder.
Perhaps because she had wept too much these past days, not only were her eyes swollen, even her cheeks were puffy.
Covering her eyes, she said: “Of course I know I must think of the children. But ever since my laoye’s misfortune, I feel as though I’ve lost the pillar of my heart.
“These two days, I cannot eat or sleep, tossing and turning every night. Every time I think of what will happen if he never returns – what will become of us, a widow and her orphans?
“If my laoye is gone, who would want our children anymore? Dasao, my heart is full of fear!”
It was rare for Xie shi to show such vulnerability before Zhang shi.
As she listened, Gu Shan’s eyes grew red as well. “Mother, please don’t say that. Father will surely return safely.”
Xie shi patted Gu Shan’s hand. “I know, I know. I also hope your father will return safe and sound.”
Watching this scene, Zhang shi couldn’t help but sigh.
“Dimei, try to ease your heart. If er di isn’t back yet, you mustn’t fall ill first.”
Covering her mouth, Xie shi nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, dasao, I can still endure. For the children, I must endure.”
“Still, dimei, don’t push yourself too hard. If you feel unwell, you must immediately summon a doctor for a pulse diagnosis and medicine. The children still rely on you – you cannot collapse.”
Xie shi agreed again and again. “Thank you, dasao, for reminding me. I’ll take care of my health. As for the laoyezi…”
“There’s no need for dimei to worry about the laoyezi. With so many people searching, we’re bound to find him. Why don’t you return and rest first? If there’s news, I’ll send someone to tell you at once.”
Xie shi thanked her, “Many thanks, dasao. I’ll trouble you over the laoyezi’s matter.”
Zhang shi replied, “This is my duty. Dimei, don’t stand on ceremony with me.”
Xie shi rose to take her leave. With Gu Shan and Chun He supporting her, she left the room.
Zhang shi sighed inwardly. Looking at Xie shi’s state, if Gu daren failed to return, she feared the woman would not be able to bear the blow, and would simply waste away in illness.
If that happened, the children of the second branch would truly be pitiful.
Families of equal standing would never marry into a household that had lost its footing. By then, the young masters of the second branch could only marry beneath them, and the daughters could only be married off poorly.
Ai!
Regarding Gu daren’s matter, Zhang shi could only sigh. All of Gu fu, from top to bottom, was waiting for news.
By the time darkness fell, finally, there was word of the laoyezi.
“Taitai, laoyezi has returned. He came back by himself.”
Zhang shi shot up from her seat. “He truly came back?”
The maid nodded again and again. “Absolutely true, he’s already entered the gatehouse.”
Zhang shi gnashed her teeth. “Laoyezi is truly absurd. You all, come with me to see him.”
Zhang shi led people toward the outer courtyard. On the way, she questioned the maid, “You’re saying laoyezi returned on his own, not brought back by others?”
The maid nodded. “Exactly. The steward led men out to look, but none found him. In the end, laoyezi came back by himself.”
Zhang shi let out a cold snort.
The gatekeeping Fang pozi saw Zhang shi and was instantly startled, bowing meekly like a quail. “Greetings to da taitai. Laoyezi just returned, he’s inside drinking wine.”
Zhang shi widened her eyes, scaring Fang pozi nearly out of her wits.
“Laoyezi just came back and is already drinking, and you didn’t think to control him?”
“Nubi can’t control him!” Fang pozi wailed.
Zhang shi coldly snorted. “Spare me your excuses. Do you think I don’t know what shady things you’ve been doing?”
Fang pozi gave a sheepish smile. Da taitai was simply too fierce – nothing like er guniang.
Er guniang was so kind; she gave out a purse as soon as she arrived, and another when she left. Generous, even-tempered.
With her face stern, Zhang shi said, “I’ll deal with you later.”
Then she marched straight into the courtyard gate.
Fang pozi pulled at maid Shaoyao, pleading.
Shaoyao raised a brow and sneered, “Fang pozi, by letting laoyezi drink like this, how much silver have you been skimming? Don’t think we don’t know. Once the ledgers are checked, every coin of your gains will have to be returned.”
“My great aunt! Please, lower your voice. I’ll tell you something, but you mustn’t spread it.”
“What is it?”
Fang pozi looked around, then said, “This afternoon, er guniang suddenly came to pay respects to laoyezi. It was odd. The two of them spoke behind closed doors for about half an hour. After she left, laoyezi wouldn’t touch wine, just sat there in a daze.
“After staring into space, he suddenly dashed out of the house with a servant boy. I reckon his wild run out of the fu must have something to do with er guniang.”
Shaoyao frowned. “Is what you’re saying true?”
Fang pozi thumped her chest. “Absolutely true. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the other servant girls. I even punished a few of them earlier because of er guniang.”
Shaoyao nodded. “I’ll report this to da taitai. You’ll be rewarded.”
Fang pozi grinned from ear to ear. “Thank you, Shaoyao guniang. A beauty like you – who could possibly be worthy of you?”
Shaoyao spat at her. “Enough nonsense. About er guniang’s meeting with laoyezi, don’t you dare spread it further, or you’ll regret it.”
“Don’t worry, Shaoyao guniang, I know the weight of this matter. I promise not to say a word.”
But Shaoyao didn’t believe Fang pozi’s promises. This old servant was loyal only to whoever fed her. Once this business was over, Shaoyao would find a chance to knock her down a peg.
Zhang shi entered the room with her people and saw Gu laoyezi drinking. Her brows knit tight.
“Greetings to laoyezi. On this trip out, you didn’t offend anyone, did you?”
Gu laoyezi gave her a sidelong glance. “Nonsense. When have I ever offended people? Leave quickly, don’t be an eyesore before me.”
But Zhang shi wasn’t bothered. “Laoyezi, er di’s future is already precarious. Can you not add trouble at this time? The neighbouring hou fu heard you’d run out, they’re furious. Lao furen even said – if you won’t behave, should she, as your sister-in-law, come discipline you herself before you’ll settle down?”
At that, Gu laoyezi’s face changed. “That dasao of mine – always meddling in others’ business.”
Zhang shi gave another cold snort.
Nowadays, even the old houye couldn’t rein him in. Only his elder sister-in-law, Wei lao furen, could say a few words that got through to him.
Zhang shi said, “If you don’t want lao furen to come personally and chastise you, then please, laoyezi, keep yourself in line. Don’t bring chaos to the younger generation. We’d be thankful for that.”
“Enough, enough. You, a daughter-in-law, daring to lecture the old man of the house – who gave you the guts? Go, go, quickly leave. Stop delaying my drinking.”
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