Early in the morning, Gu daren arrived at the hou fu carrying gifts.
He first went to Songhe Hall to pay his respects to Wei lao furen.
“It’s good that you returned safely. From now on, serve diligently in your post. For matters you cannot decide on your own, consult with your brothers more often.”
Wei lao furen sighed with emotion. Gu daren had truly been unlucky – just at this critical juncture, he had been transferred back to the capital, and moreover, to the position of Prefect of the Capital. One careless step, and he had nearly lost his life.
Gu daren bowed deeply and said, “Thank you for your concern, da bomu. Your nephew has been unfilial.”
Wei lao furen said, “With such a serious incident happening to you, how could I not worry? Your mother passed away early. If she were still here, your father might still be in court and able to lend support to you brothers.”
Gu daren lowered his head slightly and said in a heavy voice, “As for Father’s matters, it is best not to speak of them.”
Wei lao furen sighed. “This time Heaven has protected you, allowing you to turn misfortune into blessing. From now on, you must act with greater caution.
“These days, the capital is very chaotic. You, holding the post of Prefect, have a difficult task indeed. When it comes to matters involving the princes and imperial grandsons, avoid them if you can. If it’s impossible to avoid, consult the old houye for advice – do not carry the burden alone.”
“Thank you for your concern, da bomu. I will keep it in mind.”
Wei lao furen waved her hand. “I know you do not feel at ease sitting here with me. Go to the outer study and see houye. He surely has much to say to you.”
“Your nephew takes his leave.”
Gu daren followed a young servant to the outer study, where he met the old houye.
Along with him was the eldest son, Gu Zhiwen.
Gu daren first bowed deeply in thanks. “Greetings to da bo. That I was able to leave prison safely this time was entirely thanks to your great assistance. Your nephew is endlessly grateful.”
The old houye exchanged a look with Gu Zhiwen, both of their expressions somewhat grave.
“No need for such courtesy. Rise.”
Gu daren stood and took a seat.
The old houye fixed his gaze on him, then said solemnly, “Your release from prison this time was not laofu’s doing.”
Gu daren was completely stunned.
The old houye continued, “These past days, laofu has indeed been working tirelessly on your behalf, even speaking twice to the Empress niangniang through Li shizhong. But the results were far from satisfactory.
“When I heard yesterday that you had been released, both Zhiwen and I were bewildered. I even asked Zhiwen if he had secretly pulled strings behind the scenes to secure your release.
“But he told me that while he had indeed asked for help, the most those connections could do was ensure you did not suffer while in prison. They were nowhere near enough to get you out safely.”
Gu Zhiwen nodded repeatedly. “Yes. The connections I managed could never have freed you, tang di. Since hearing of your release yesterday, houye and I have been wondering – who was it, working in secret, that secured your freedom?”
Gu daren was baffled. “If it wasn’t da bo and da tang ge, then how could I have been released so quickly?”
The old houye fixed him with a look and asked, “Think carefully – who else could it have been? Could there be someone you overlooked? I heard Lu hou fu recently proposed marriage to you. Could it be their influence that saved you?”
Gu Zhiwen added, “If it were Lu hou’s connections, it would indeed be possible for them to have saved you.”
Gu daren shook his head firmly. “Absolutely impossible. The day after I was imprisoned, my wife sent someone to Lu hou fu, but the hou furen refused to meet and even declared the engagement proposal null and void.
“Moreover, I do not believe Lu hou to be the sort who does good deeds without expecting repayment. If it had truly been their effort, they would have already sent someone to our door to demand a favour in return.
“And besides, I cannot imagine myself valuable enough for Lu hou fu to go to such trouble on my behalf. Back in the northwest, I hardly ever interacted with Lu hou – we had no friendship to speak of. So it is absolutely impossible that they saved me.”
“If not Lu hou, and not our hou fu, then who could it have been? Surely the Emperor did not suddenly change his mind and release you without reason?”
The old houye’s doubts only grew deeper.
Gu Zhiwen asked, “Tang di, think carefully – when you entered the palace to face the Emperor yesterday, did you encounter anyone unusual, or any peculiar incident?”
Gu daren frowned in thought. “When I entered the palace yesterday, I first ran into Zhao wang, who was far from polite to me. Later, I encountered Liu Zhao, Ning wang fu’s young master. He thanked me for retrieving his jade pendant, but said nothing else.”
The old houye frowned. “If I recall correctly, this entire matter began precisely because Liu Zhao reported his pendant stolen, leading him to you.”
Gu daren frowned as well. “Houye, do you suspect Liu Zhao?”
Then, he shook his head repeatedly and gave a mocking laugh. “Absolutely not. It was thanks to him that I was sent to prison in the first place. Why would he then save me?
“Furthermore, I do not believe Liu Zhao has such ability. If he truly could sway His Majesty’s decisions, why would Ning wang be so thoroughly suppressed by Zhao wang?
“Even the Crown Prince, with his weak temperament, can still suppress Ning wang. No, impossible. Absolutely impossible for Liu Zhao.”
[T/N: Gu daren has a tendency to slide past the truth frequently.]
The old houye frowned. “I agree with you. Liu Zhao most likely cannot influence the Emperor’s decisions.”
Among all the imperial grandsons, Liu Zhao’s presence was rather unremarkable. Everyone knew only that he was Ning wang’s di eldest son – beyond that, not much else.
The impression he left on others was that of a slightly frail and ordinary princeling. His learning was not outstanding, his character not outstanding, his abilities not outstanding. In short, he was an entirely average imperial grandson.
For such an ordinary youth to suddenly accomplish something beyond everyone’s reach – even influencing the Emperor’s will – was hard to believe.
Thus, the old houye immediately dismissed the idea.
Gu Zhiwen pressed again, “Then who on earth saved you, tang di? Do you truly have no idea at all?”
Gu daren shook his head. “Until now, I was convinced it was you who had worked tirelessly to save me.”
The old houye let out a sigh. “Seems there really are people in this world who do good deeds without leaving their name. Since the other party refuses to show themselves, let’s leave it at that for now.”
Still full of doubts, Gu daren returned to the Gu fu.
He did not go to the yamen that day. The case from before had already been handed over to the Jinwuwei. They were now investigating the Xue family, the Eastern Palace, and its officials.
The Jinwuwei were the emperor’s hounds; they feared no one. Even if it was the Crown Prince – once they seized upon a weakness – they could bring him down.
For decades their record had been glorious. Four or five princes had already fallen to their hands. As for imperial clansmen and high ministers of the first and second rank, they were simply too many to count.
From top to bottom, the entire court loathed the Jinwuwei to the bone. Yet no one could do anything to them.
After all, they were the emperor’s hounds, with the Son of Heaven as their backing – why should they fear anyone? Whoever dared oppose them was simply waiting to be crushed.
Having just been released from the imperial prison, Gu daren both feared and hated the Jinwuwei. He resolved that, from this day forth, he would keep as far away from them as possible.
“Does daren face some difficulty?” asked Ma shiye, his adviser.
Gu daren did not conceal it from him. “The old houye said it wasn’t him who saved benguan.”
Ma shiye was dumbfounded. “If it wasn’t the hou fu who intervened for daren, then who else could it be?”
Gu daren frowned. “That’s what benguan am wondering too.”
Ma shiye ventured a bold guess. “Could it have been Xie Mao?”
“Impossible. Absolutely impossible.” Gu daren’s face changed. “Benguan’s imprisonment was entirely thanks to Xie Mao. He has sought only to see benguan dead – how could he possibly save me? Do not spout nonsense.”
“Daren is right. Xiaguan was muddle-headed. Only, if it was not the hou fu, xiaguan cannot imagine who else had the power to rescue you.”
Gu daren furrowed his brow, pacing back and forth in the study.
“Recount to me every detail of those days – where I was, who I met. Perhaps benguan can find a clue.”
Bowing, Ma shiye obeyed. He laid out the entire course from Gu daren’s imprisonment to his release, recording every person encountered.
Gu daren read through the notes again and again, but still could not see who had the ability to pull him out of the imperial prison.
Ma shiye thought for a moment, then reminded him, “Daren, xiaguan believes the one who saved you must either be from within the palace, or someone whose voice carries weight before His Majesty. Xiaguan has drawn up a list – these are the officials who could sway the emperor’s decision. Are you acquainted with any?”
Looking at the list, Gu daren noticed Haixi bo fu, but still shook his head. “Not a single one do I know.”
As for Haixi bo fu, Gu daren already knew: after his troubles began, the earl had never once appeared, much less spoken on his behalf before the emperor. So it could not have been him.
Ma shiye put away the list. “That leaves only someone within the palace. Daren, think carefully – does the hou fu have any friends in the palace?”
Gu daren pondered, then slowly shook his head. “No. We once had connections in the palace, but since that niangniang passed away, hou fu’s ties there have long been severed.”
Ma shiye frowned. “Xiaguan truly cannot make sense of it. Could it be that His Majesty simply changed his mind and ordered your release?”
Gu daren gave a bitter laugh. Such a thing was utterly impossible.
He had shown his face before the emperor only twice. If His Majesty even remembered his name, that was already a blessing. How could he suddenly recall him and let him go?
No – unless someone had deliberately whispered his name by the emperor’s ear and spoken words of fairness on his behalf.
As this thought struck him, a sudden notion flashed across Gu daren’s mind – but it was too fleeting to grasp.
“Go call Gu Quan here,” he ordered.
The servant obeyed at once. Soon, Gu Quan was brought into the study.
“Daren, you summoned me – do you have instructions?”
Gu daren fixed his gaze on him. “Write down in full detail everything that has happened in the residence since benguan’s trouble began – your movements, everyone you dealt with. Leave nothing out, however trivial.”
Gu Quan was bewildered, unable to understand his master’s intent.
Ma shiye prompted, “When daren tells you to write, just write. Be thorough – no matter how small or seemingly useless, it must all be recorded.”
“Oh…”
Still confused, Gu Quan dutifully took up the brush and began recording.
Where he had gone, whom he had seen, the time of each event – he listed them one by one.
Affairs within the household – such as when Xie shi sent someone somewhere, and for what business – were all put to paper as well.
And of course, an incident as significant as laoyezi running out of the residence had to be recorded.
“Daren, I’ve finished. Please have a look.”
Gu daren flipped through the sheets, his eyes scanning line after line.
Nothing of value emerged. Could it be that his release was truly heaven’s unexpected blessing?
As he reached the later entries, he asked casually, “Laoyezi running out of the residence – what was that about?”
The steward Gu Quan shook his head. “At that time, I was running errands outside, so I don’t really know the details.”
Gu daren asked again, “When laoyezi ran out, do you know what he did?”
The steward Gu Quan looked embarrassed – he knew nothing at all. This was hardly the mark of a competent steward.
He hurried to say, “I’ll go and ask someone right away.”
“Hurry.”
Gu daren was not actually looking for a clue from this incident. What worried him was that laoyezi might have gone out and caused trouble.
Just in case someone came to demand an explanation one day, he needed to understand the situation in advance.
The person Gu Quan brought in was Fang pozi in charge of guarding the gate and watching over laoyezi’s quarters.
Fang pozi trembled with fear. She had been in service for many years, but it was the first time she had stepped into the outer study. She was so nervous that she didn’t know where to put her hands and feet.
Gu daren gave a brief grunt in response, sizing her up.
Then he cut straight to the point, “The other day, when laoyezi left the residence, what exactly happened? I told you to watch him. Is this how you perform your duty?”
Gu daren carried the full weight of official authority. His stern questioning made Fang pozi drop to her knees in fright.
“Laoye, please be discerning – this matter was not nubi’s fault.”
“If it wasn’t your fault, then whose fault was it?”
Gu daren’s eyes widened. Fang pozi, trembling, said, “Laoyezi wanted to leave the fu, and nubi couldn’t stop him. Nubi is only one person – how could nubi be a match for those young servants?”
Gu daren gave a cold snort. “So what you mean is, you bear no responsibility, and it’s all laoyezi’s fault?”
Fang pozi shook her head repeatedly. “That’s not what nubi meant. Nubi… nubi really did my best.”
Gu daren’s face hardened. “Speak. Why did laoyezi want to leave? Don’t tell benguan he just suddenly had the whim to go out. Benguan wants the truth. If you dare conceal anything and benguan find out, I’ll have you beaten to death on the spot.”
The threat of being beaten to death made Fang pozi’s knees knock together.
She stammered, “Nubi suspects – it might have been because er guniang said something to him that agitated him. That must be why he wanted to leave the fu.”
Gu daren frowned. “What does this have to do with er guniang? Explain yourself clearly!”
The old woman swallowed hard, trembling as she said, “That afternoon, er guniang went to see laoyezi. The two of them shut the door and talked for nearly half an hour. What they said, nubi doesn’t know.
“After she left, laoyezi just sat in his room in a daze. He stopped drinking, stopped making a fuss, and only muttered a few curses under his breath. nubi couldn’t hear who he was cursing.
“Finally, laoyezi led the young servants in forcing their way past the gate and ran out. Nobody knew where he went, and even the eldest young master couldn’t find out. In the end, laoyezi came back on his own, unharmed. So the matter was left at that.”
Gu daren exchanged a glance with Ma shiye, his adviser. Both men were full of doubts.
Gu daren asked, “When er guniang went to see laoyezi, what did she tell you?”
“She said she was going to pay her respects. She said it was unfilial that she had been back in the capital so long without calling on laoyezi.”
Still kneeling on the ground, Fang pozi’s eyes darted shiftily, clearly hiding something.
Gu daren frowned. The excuse that Gu Jiu had gone simply to pay respects to laoyezi was so flimsy it wouldn’t deceive a ghost – let alone him.
He waved his hand. “Go now. Do your job properly. If laoyezi gets into trouble again, you’d better watch your own skin.”
“Rest assured, er laoye, nubi will keep close watch over laoyezi.”
Fang pozi scrambled out of the study in haste, eager to escape that terrifying place.
Ma shiye asked, “Daren, shall we summon er guniang for questioning?”
Gu daren furrowed his brow, thought it over, and finally nodded. “Send someone to invite er guniang. Tell her benguan have something to ask her.”
The steward Gu Quan accepted the order and went himself to Zhilan Yuan to fetch her.
Since the matter was serious, Gu Quan dared not be careless.
At this time, Gu Jiu was sitting in the study at Zhilan Yuan, engrossed in a book of supernatural tales.
Qing Mei nagged at her, “On New Year’s Day, guniang has to accompany taitai into the palace to offer New Year’s greetings. San guniang and si guniang are all busily preparing. How come you show no concern at all, and still have the mood to read idle books?”
Gu Jiu turned a page and replied, “It’s just going into the palace for greetings – what’s there to be nervous about? Once inside, I’ll just follow what the others do. You people worry too much.”
Qing Mei said, “This afternoon, a mama from the hou fu will come to instruct you in court etiquette. You must study carefully and remember everything she says.”
Gu Jiu waved her ears impatiently. “I know, I know. I’ll go learn the rules after I’ve had my nap.”
The thought of etiquette lessons weighed on Gu Jiu’s heart as well. Studying rules was no easy task.
Just then, Qing Zhu entered from outside. “Guniang, the steward has come to invite you. He says laoye wishes to speak with you in the study.”
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