“Taitai, Fang pozi said that this afternoon, er guniang came to pay respects to laoyezi. No one knows what the two of them talked about, but afterwards, laoyezi suddenly ran out.”
Shaoyang relayed the news she had heard from Granny Fang truthfully to Zhang shi.
Zhang shi paused, turned back to look at Shaoyang, and asked, “Is this true?”
“Nubi asked around, taitai. It’s true that er guniang did go to the outer court this afternoon.”
Zhang shi turned her gaze toward the entrance of the courtyard where laoyezi lived and said, “I understand.”
Shaoyang couldn’t help but ask, “Should this be investigated? It feels a little odd for er guniang to suddenly come pay respects to the laoyezi when it’s neither a festival nor a special occasion.”
Zhang shi’s expression hardened. “No need to investigate. And don’t let word of this spread.”
Shaoyang nodded. “Nubi understands, taitai. Nubi will also warn Fang pozi.”
“Make sure she keeps her mouth shut. If I find out she’s spreading nonsense and ruining a young lady’s reputation, I will not forgive her.”
“Yes, taitai, Nubi understands.”
Zhang shi had no desire to look further into why Gu Jiu had gone to see laoyezi, nor why laoyezi had suddenly rushed out – whether it had anything to do with Gu Jiu or not.
In truth, she had her suspicions and made several guesses. But Zhang shi knew well: some things are better left unknown.
Gu Jiu must have had her own reasons for meeting laoyezi.
The next morning, Gu Jiu went to Furong Yuan to pay her respects.
As they were leaving, Qing Mei muttered in a low voice, “Guniang, when will laoye be able to return?”
Gu Jiu answered in a steady voice, “Wait a little longer. Perhaps in a day or two.”
The New Year was only a few days away. Since Liu Zhao wanted her to attend the palace banquet, Gu daren would have to be released before the court adjourned for the holiday recess. At the latest, it couldn’t be after the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
If it passed that date, the palace banquet would be out of the question.
At Furong Yuan, they ran into Gu Yue.
Gu Yue’s eyes were swollen and red – no one knew how many times she had cried over the past few days.
Gu Jiu wanted to ask her outright: Were those tears for their father’s safety, or for the attitude of Haixi bo fu, or for her own marriage prospects?
“San meimei, are you doing alright?”
Gu Yue looked frail and lifeless, her face pale, her whole demeanour listless.
Unusually polite and without her usual sharpness, she said weakly, “Thank you for your concern, er jiejie. I’m alright. Er jiejie looks well – how enviable, to be able to eat and sleep soundly.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “That’s because I firmly believe Father will return safely, and everything will turn out fine. San meimei, do you not think Father will come back?”
Gu Yue, too drained to argue forcefully, murmured, “Don’t talk nonsense. I wish more than anyone for Father’s safe and early return.”
That much was true. If Gu daren did not come back, then her marriage to Gongzi Zhao would surely fall apart. So long as she wasn’t yet married into Haixi bo fu, her engagement remained uncertain.
“Er meimei, san meimei, you’re always so early. It’s cold outside – let’s go in.”
Gu Zhen arrived as well. She hadn’t slept much either – her complexion was dark, her looks clearly diminished.
Gu Jiu nodded. “You’re right, da jiejie. You should take care of your health too.”
Gu Zhen gave a bitter smile, shook her head, and said nothing more. She was the first to enter Furong Yuan.
One by one, the others followed her into the main hall. Gu Shan and Gu Lin were already there, sitting quietly in their chairs.
The maids supported Xie shi as she came out.
Gu Jiu fixed her eyes on Xie shi and studied her closely.
In just a few days, Xie shi seemed to have aged seven or eight years. Her complexion was haggard, her skin sallow, her lips cracked, her cheeks sunken.
Gu Jiu led the way in paying respects.
Xie shi waved her hand. “Sit down, all of you.”
Gu Yue hesitated, then asked the question she had long wanted to ask but hadn’t dared:
“Mother, has anyone gone to Uncle’s household? Does Father’s imprisonment have anything to do with da jiujiu?”
Xie shi’s gaze cut into Gu Yue like a knife.
Gu Yue shivered.
With a stern face and a voice firm as iron, Xie shi declared, “Your father’s situation has nothing to do with the Xie family or your da jiujiu.”
“But…”
“No buts. If anyone dares spread such wild rumours again, I will not forgive her.”
Gu Yue dared not speak further.
Just then, maidservant Dong Mei entered to report, “Taitai, the young masters have arrived.”
“Let them in.”
Led by Gu Ting, the second branch sons filed into the hall.
“Paying respects to taitai (Mother).”
Xie shi, short of breath, asked, “Sit. Liulang, is there any news from the hou fu? What does the old houye say?”
“Houye is working his connections to try to rescue Father.”
Xie shi lowered her head, unable to hide her disappointment. “Are you going to visit your father in prison today?”
“San ge and I will go shortly. Please be at ease, Mother – Father has not been mistreated in prison. The Jinwuwei have not made things difficult for him.”
Xie shi nodded. “That’s good. Only… when will your father finally be released?”
“Everything will be all right.”
Xie shi hoped with all her heart that things would turn out well, yet she truly had little confidence.
She had built a small Buddha hall in Furong Yuan, where she prayed and recited sutras every day, but not a single piece of good news came.
Xie shi was almost in despair.
Even so, she managed to hold herself together. She still had a daughter, she still had a son. She could not collapse.
Xie shi did not wish to speak further and went straight to the Buddha hall to chant scriptures.
The others also dispersed.
Gu Cheng took the initiative to speak with Gu Jiu.
“Er meimei, things at the hou fu are not going smoothly. Da bofu has tried to use many connections. He can only ensure that Father will not suffer in the Imperial Prison, but he has no ability to plead directly in the palace.”
Gu Jiu nodded. She already knew all of this. The Gu clan looked like an old and well-rooted family. But ever since their grandfather, Gu laoyezi, had been scolded by His Majesty and ordered to reflect on his mistakes, the Gu family had virtually lost its voice in the palace. Even past connections and acquaintances had all cut ties.
Now that they were scrambling at the last minute, it was naturally of little use.
Gu Cheng sighed. “In recent years, da bofu focused only on building ties within the army. As for palace relations, he simply severed them. Now he can’t even find anyone to help.”
Gu Jiu replied, “This cannot be blamed on da bofu. Even the hou fu has little influence left in the palace – how much less da bofu. Even if he had wanted to maintain connections there, it would have been beyond his power.
“As the Emperor grew older, many new faces entered the palace while the elder ones passed away. The Gu family’s ties in the palace were mostly with these elder figures. Once they died, naturally the relationships were severed.”
Gu Cheng nodded. “Yes, I know all this. But I’ve heard something else, and I wanted to consult with er meimei.”
“Liu ge, please speak.”
Gu Cheng glanced around, then led her to a secluded spot.
He lowered his voice. “It seems the Empress niangniang has set out a condition that places houye in an impossible position, and only then would she agree to spare Father. From what I see, houye will not agree to her terms. Er meimei, Father is in grave danger.”
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow. “Do you know what condition the Empress set?”
Gu Cheng guessed, “It may be connected to the Eastern Palace.”
Gu Jiu pressed her lips together. “If it concerns the Crown Prince, houye will certainly not consent. Suppose niangniang demanded that the hou fu openly support the Crown Prince – how could houye agree to that?
“Compared to Father’s safety, the safety of the entire hou fu is more important. To preserve the hou fu and safeguard the Gu clan, sacrificing Father alone would not be considered too much.
“Not only the clan elders – even da bofu himself might agree to sacrifice Father in order to protect the whole family.”
“Then what are we to do?” Gu Cheng grew anxious. “Are we to just watch as Father is executed?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “Heaven never seals off every path. Just because we cannot come to terms with the Empress does not mean we should give up. There may yet be another way.”
“What way?” Gu Cheng felt she was hiding something.
Gu Jiu looked at him and said, “Why not be patient, liu ge? Today, when you go to visit Father, ask him why he agreed to return to the capital to take office.
“Given the current situation in the capital, the wiser course would have been to remain in the northwest. Staying there meant staying far from all these palace intrigues. Though his career might have stalled, at least the family would have remained safe.
“I have always found this puzzling. Could something have forced Father’s hand, leaving him no choice but to return? And why accept the post of Prefect of the Capital, such a humiliating, thankless position?”
“Er meimei, do you suspect there’s some hidden story behind Father’s appointment?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Haven’t you ever wondered the same?”
Gu Cheng frowned deeply and thought hard. “I may have guessed part of the reason.”
Gu Jiu arched a brow. “What have you guessed, liu ge? Will you tell me?”
Gu Cheng gritted his teeth. “It may have to do with our da jiujiu.”
So it was!
Gu Jiu smiled knowingly. “No wonder Father and Xie daren act like mortal enemies. For Xie daren to manoeuvre Father back to the capital and into the post of Prefect at such a time was indeed most unkind. One might even suspect he harboured ill intent from the start.”
Gu Cheng was reluctant to malign Xie Mao, who, after all, was his own uncle.
But all the signs suggested that Gu Jiu’s suspicion was correct – Xie Mao had never had good intentions. From the start, he had dug a pit for Father, and Father had been left with no choice but to jump in.
The Ministry of Appointments had already issued the decree. What else could Father do? He could only pinch his nose and bring the whole family to the capital. And then, within scarcely a month of taking office, he was thrown into the Imperial Prison.
It set a new record for the fastest downfall of a newly appointed official – one that might be remembered even a hundred years later.
Though his name might enter the annals of history, it would not be with honour.
Gu Cheng said, “I will ask Father about this myself.”
Gu Jiu reminded him, “But have you thought about what you will do once you learn the truth? Will you sever all ties with the Xie family? And if you meet them in officialdom, will you trample them down without mercy?”
Gu Cheng pressed his lips together, worry in his eyes. “I will weigh this carefully. In any case, I am a Gu, not a Xie. My allegiance has never wavered. On that point, er meimei, you may rest assured.”
Gu Jiu, however, would not let him off lightly. “And if taitai insists on maintaining ties with the Xie family – what then?”
“I–I…”
Gu Cheng was left speechless.
Gu Jiu didn’t press too hard. “Liu ge, go on with your work. These things can be considered later – it’s not too late. Also, since you’ve already decided to enter officialdom, shouldn’t you start paying more attention to affairs now? Reading books alone won’t do.”
“What does er meimei mean?”
Gu Jiu smiled. “If liu ge has the time, why not do what you can to help Father? Even if it’s just organising some documents at the yamen, or observing how others handle matters, it would be of benefit.”
Gu Cheng was rather surprised. He didn’t say much, only thanked her solemnly. “Thank you for the reminder, er meimei. I will give it some thought. Take care of your health – don’t linger outside in the wind too long. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Go on, liu ge.”
When Gu Cheng had gone off into the distance, Qing Mei asked curiously, “Why did guniang remind liu shaoye to gain experience at the yamen? Liu shaoye is taitai’s treasured son.”
Ordinarily, people would assume – since Gu Cheng was Xie shi’s son – that Gu Jiu would dislike him by extension, loathing him as she loathed taitai herself. She should have wished for Gu Cheng to remain useless.
But Gu Jiu did not think that way.
She said, “Taitai is taitai, and liu ge is liu ge. Liu ge bears the Gu surname, just as I do. Taitai has her heart tied to the Xie family, but in liu ge’s heart, there is no Xie family.
“Besides, san ge has set his mind on the military, but who knows what his future will hold? Our second branch cannot be without a man to stand at its head. If san ge is to establish himself, it may take many years.
“And even for a military career, court support will be essential. In the future, when Father retires, the only one san ge can rely on will be liu ge. One civil, one military – only then can our branch truly prosper.
“From the perspective of the bigger picture, supporting liu ge to establish himself is the wisest choice.”
“But if liu shaoye becomes accomplished, taitai will certainly make a fuss. Who knows how unbearably proud she’ll become then?”
Gu Jiu laughed softly. “Taitai is already unable to control liu ge, nor can she dictate his future. Once he becomes an official, do you think her words will still carry weight? Even if she tries to stir trouble then, by that time I’ll already be married off – she won’t be able to touch me.
“Besides Father, someone in this household must be able to keep taitai in check. Gu Yue cannot. Gu Shan cannot. Gu Gong even less so. As it stands, only Gu Cheng has the ability to restrain taitai, to make her wary.
“We cannot stop her from acting out – yet she is still the second branch’s taitai, and we cannot deny her position. When she causes trouble, someone must step in to control her. Just as our da bofu controls Grandfather, so must someone control taitai. That person can only be liu ge.
“But if his official career falters and he has no future prospects, how could he possibly have the authority to rein her in? At that point, even Gu Gong might dare to ride roughshod over him, while indulging taitai’s nonsense.”
Hearing this, the maids finally understood.
Qing Mei said, “Guniang is truly far-sighted. There are few in this world with your magnanimity, to set aside prejudice and treat liu shaoye with genuine sincerity.”
Gu Jiu laughed, pinching Qing Mei’s cheek. “Don’t forget – your guniang intends to accomplish great things. How could I waste my days fussing over petty quarrels? With that time, I’d rather do something useful, to make our days brighter and better.”
Xiao Cui clapped her hands with a laugh. “Guniang is right. If we quarrelled with taitai every day over such trifles, we’d be angered to death.”
Qing Mei sighed. “San guniang should really hear these words. She spends all her time obsessing over her marriage into the Haixi bo fu – I think she’s nearly gone mad with it.”
Gu Jiu said, “Leave her be. Let her torment herself. Sooner or later, she’ll regret it.”
For the sake of a man, to live or die – that was something Gu Jiu utterly despised in Gu Yue.
No matter how fine a man was, could he ever be more important than loving oneself?
As for marriage, it was, in essence, a transaction: the order of parents, the word of a matchmaker, two families joining together for mutual benefit.
But such a contract usually endured only in good times, not in hardship.
In her previous life, Gu Jiu had never cared for anyone; in this life, most likely she would not care for any man either.
[T/N: MC digging a pit for herself.]
She was already prepared, in her own way, for marriage.
In her past life, even had she lived to old age, there was every chance she would never have wed.
But in this life, marriage was unavoidable. One day, she would have to marry.
As for what kind of man – Gu Jiu had never thought seriously about it.
When it came down to it, her marriage would most likely be to a man of matching status.
The two would marry, manage the household, deal with in-laws, sisters-in-law, younger sisters – endless petty annoyances.
Thinking of it that way, marriage seemed rather frightening.
At one point, Gu Jiu did not even wish to marry, wanting to delay as long as possible.
But when delaying was no longer possible, when marriage became inevitable, then she would simply regard her husband as a business partner – a partner in shared interests.
Seen in that light, many vexing matters could be put aside.
Gu Jiu pressed her lips together in a smile.
Inwardly, she secretly praised her own cleverness.
To treat her future husband as a business partner – there could be no better solution.
She only hoped that the man she eventually married would be a reasonable one.
Her demands were so very low – surely Heaven would grant her this much?
Heaven: Heh! If I don’t torment you to death, I’ll count it as my loss!
Leave a Reply