Ning wang fu.
Liu Zhao sat upright in his study, brush in hand, painting.
The guard Zhao San entered, bowed, and reported: “Reporting to gongzi, the Eastern Palace is already in turmoil.”
Liu Zhao added the finishing touch to his painting, his expression icy as he said, “Not chaotic enough. Bengongzi intends to personally add fuel to the fire and make the chaos even worse.”
“Please give the order, gongzi!”
Playing with the jade thumb ring on his finger while admiring his painting, Liu Zhao said casually: “Send men to the hometown of Xu daren, the Crown Prince’s Steward; set a fire there. Then send another group to Xie Mao’s hometown, cut off his roots and make them all anxious.
“As for the Eastern Palace, nothing is more effective than a blaze in the rear courtyard. The Crown Prince and Princess are outwardly cordial but inwardly at odds. If bengongzi doesn’t exploit this, wouldn’t it be a waste?”
“Gongzi is wise.”
The eunuch Lin Shuping smiled faintly. “Still, I worry that Zhao wang and Yan wang will scheme behind the scenes to profit from this chaos and seize the chance to grow stronger. We must guard against that.”
Liu Zhao’s expression stayed cool. “The Zhao wang fu and Yan wang fu are already like fire and water. Bengongzi has better sit back and watch the tigers fight. Let my uncles battle each other first, while bengongzi reaps the fisherman’s profit.”
Lin Shuping suggested: “In this matter, it might be best to start with Xue guifei and Xian fei.”
Liu Zhao nodded. “Bengongzi will leave this to you.”
“As you command!”
The guard Zhao San then spoke up: “Si gongzi’s wedding with Xiao guniang has already been set, it will be in July this year. Shouldn’t gongzi’s marriage with Gu guniang also be settled soon?”
Lin Shuping added, “Gongzi is the eldest. It is only proper that you wed before si gongzi.”
Liu Zhao fell silent.
Zhao San ventured cautiously: “Gongzi… is it because of some concern regarding Gu guniang?”
Liu Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly. “The wedding date need not be set for now.”
Lin Shuping quickly said: “Then wouldn’t your marriage come after si gongzi’s? That would be improper.”
Zhao San also frowned in disapproval. By birth order, Liu Zhao should marry first.
Liu Zhao answered calmly: “It doesn’t matter. A mere wedding date, whether earlier or later, cannot hinder me.”
Both Lin Shuping and Zhao San frowned, exchanging a glance. They knew Liu Zhao’s temper well, and so refrained from pressing further.
After they left the study, Lin Shuping asked Zhao San, “Do you know why gongzi isn’t rushing to set the wedding date?”
Zhao San hazarded a guess: “Perhaps it’s for Gu guniang’s sake. If the wedding were too soon, there wouldn’t be enough time to prepare her dowry. Unlike Xiao guniang, who began preparing her dowry years ago and is ready to marry at any time.”
Lin Shuping frowned. “Why did gongzi choose Gu guniang as his wife? She doesn’t seem favoured in her family; otherwise, her dowry would not still be unprepared. I truly worry whether, once she enters the wang fu, she will be able to contend with Xiao guniang, contend with the wangfei. I fear she may only become a burden to gongzi.”
“Gu guniang is a good person,” Zhao San said quietly in her defence. “It’s just that her stepmother was once a concubine who became the main wife, which makes many things inconvenient.”
Lin Shuping snorted coldly. “Tomorrow, I’ll find a way to meet this Gu guniang.”
Zhao San frowned, warning him: “You had better not overstep. Gu guniang is the bride personally chosen by gongzi. If you overstep and anger him, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”
Lin Shuping merely smiled. “Of course I won’t be reckless. Since gongzi chose her, he must have his reasons. I only want to weigh her measure before the marriage, to see exactly what she is worth.”
At the Gu fu.
Xie shi had rested for several days and finally regained her energy.
By the second lunar month, the weather was gradually warming. Xie shi began planning to confront Zhang shi about the matter of household management.
Just then, Gu Yue came in. “Mother, please uphold justice for your nü’er.”
“What is it this time?”
Gu Yue began to weep with grievances. “This is but a small matter, and I shouldn’t have troubled you with it. But the more I think, the more aggrieved I feel. It’s not just me who was humiliated, Mother’s face was also made to lose dignity. I must speak of it!”
Xie shi frowned slightly. “Tell me what happened.”
Gu Yue wiped her tears and said: “For my wedding dress, da bomu prepared four taels of gold thread. But for er jiejie’s wedding dress, she prepared eight taels.
“We are both di daughters of the second branch. Why should my gold thread be half of hers? What does da bomu mean by this? Is she looking down on me, or looking down on you, mother?
“Is it because you are a stepwife, a mere replacement? Must your daughter also be treated with contempt?”
“Nonsense!” Xie shi flew into a rage. She turned to Chun He. “Chun He, what is going on here? Why didn’t you report this matter of the gold thread sooner?”
Chun He glanced secretly at Gu Yue, truly a troublemaker.
Bowing, she said: “Taitai, nubi only learned of it this morning. I was just about to report when san guniang arrived.”
Xie shi gnashed her teeth. “The main branch bullies us too much. This cannot be let go. Where is da taitai now?”
Chun He cautiously replied: “She should be in the council hall.”
Xie shi snorted coldly. “Come with me to the council hall.”
She stormed over in fury.
The council hall was bustling, people going in and out, busy with affairs.
Gu Jiu, Gu Zhen and the others were all there with Zhang shi, learning household management.
When Xie shi entered, everyone stopped their work and looked at her.
Zhang shi saw her arrive with hostility written all over her face. With a wave of her hand, she had the pozi withdraw.
“What brings dimei here?”
Xie shi gave a cold laugh, glancing around. “I must have come at the wrong time; you all look busy.”
Then she sat down in a chair with a sneer, her eyes fixed on Zhang shi.
Zhang shi raised her teacup, hiding a faint sneer at her lips. “Since you know we’re busy, yet chose this time to come, you must have something to say.”
Xie shi lifted her brows. “Of course I do.”
At that moment, Gu Yue slipped quietly into the hall and sat in her place, thinking no one would notice.
But everyone present did notice, and all guessed that Xie shi’s sudden appearance was undoubtedly tied to Gu Yue.
Gu Zhen glanced at Gu Jiu, silently asking with her eyes if Gu Jiu knew why Xie shi had suddenly come.
Gu Jiu gave a slight shake of her head; she had no idea.
Everything had been fine before, so why had Xie shi suddenly launched an attack today? Who had offended her this time?
Surely not herself?
It really was her, though Gu Jiu herself didn’t realise it yet.
Then Gu Zhen turned to look at Gu Shan, hoping she might know what was going on.
Gu Shan also shook her head slightly. She was utterly confused, her face full of bewilderment.
Zhang shi asked, “I wonder what matter brings dimei here today?”
Xie shi smiled. “The first matter, I wish to discuss household management with you. Since our two branches of the family haven’t separated, this fu is shared between the main house and the second house. It is only proper that you and I manage it together. Am I wrong?”
Zhang shi gave a half-smile. “Of course not.”
“Then I should also be involved in managing the fu, shouldn’t I?” Xie shi pressed aggressively.
Zhang shi chuckled softly and nodded. “Dimei should naturally help me manage the fu.”
Xie shi immediately revealed a victor’s smile.
But to her surprise, Zhang shi continued, “As the mistress of the house, the final say belongs to me. If dimei does not mind assisting me, I have no objection to letting you help with some domestic affairs.”
Xie shi’s smile froze. “What does dasao mean by that?”
Zhang shi smiled faintly. “Others may not see through you, but I can. What you want is not merely to help manage the fu, you’re looking for an opportunity to seize control of the family’s outside businesses.
“I won’t hide it. Over the years, I have indeed used public funds to purchase quite a number of shops and estates, and even invested in two businesses. Thanks to Heaven, the profits have been quite good.
“But let me make myself clear. You may help manage the fu, for example, with the kitchens or the sewing room. As for the external businesses, don’t even think about it. Until our families formally divide, those industries must remain under the control of the main branch.”
“Why should that be?” Xie shi would not accept it. “The outside businesses belong to both our houses. As the wife of the second branch, why shouldn’t I have a hand in them?”
Zhang shi gave her a mocking smile, without the slightest courtesy. “Because I do not trust you.”
“You… dasao, don’t go too far! Could it be that you’ve been falsifying accounts and embezzling the family’s funds, and you fear I’ll discover it?”
Zhang shi gave a disdainful laugh. “Best not to say such things again. Otherwise, when my laoye, who has a fiery temper, hears of it, and the two branches end up fighting, it won’t be pleasant.”
Xie shi was dumbstruck. “Is dasao threatening me?”
Zhang shi sneered. “I am reminding you, watch your tongue. To accuse me without proof of embezzlement, do you think I would not act against you?
“Let me tell you, for that baseless accusation alone, as mistress of the house, as the eldest di daughter-in-law, the future lao fengjun of Gu fu, I have every right to confine you to the ancestral hall to reflect on your behaviour.”
[T/N: Lao fengjun – a titled elderly woman.]
Xie shi’s face darkened. “You wouldn’t dare!”
Zhang shi gave a cold snort, her eyes full of disdain. “You may try me, if you like. Believe it or not, if I lock you in the ancestral hall, even er di would not dare utter a word.”
Xie shi’s expression changed. She was left speechless, unable to say a word.
Zhang shi calmly lifted her teacup and took a sip. “Dimei should spend more time reading and reviewing the household rules. The hierarchy of elders and juniors cannot be disregarded. For example, when Yue yatou raised her voice at Xiao Jiu, by the rules, that would warrant a beating with the board. No sense of rank, what a disgrace.”
Gu Yue’s face paled. She quickly lowered her head, trying to make herself invisible.
Xie shi, furious to the point of laughter, said, “Well, I’ve learned something today from dasao’s lecture. Since you won’t let me touch the outside businesses, I’ll yield. But surely I should at least be allowed to look over the account books?”
Zhang shi smiled faintly and shook her head. “Before the New Year, the account books were already sent to Second Brother. He looked them over and said they were fine. He had no further comments. If dimei has questions about the accounts, you may ask er di. I won’t answer them.”
Xie shi’s eyes widened. “How could I not know of this?”
Zhang shi replied, “Then you must ask er di why he didn’t tell you. That, I cannot explain.”
Xie shi’s face turned ashen. After a moment of silence, she spoke decisively, one might also call it yielding when necessary. “Earlier, dasao said she would hand over the kitchen and the sewing room to me, yes?”
Zhang shi nodded. “Does dimei not wish to take them?”
Xie shi arched a brow and smiled. “How could I refuse? If you entrust me with the kitchen and sewing room, I must certainly shoulder the responsibility. But speaking of the sewing room, there is a matter I must press with you.”
“Please, speak.”
Xie shi sipped her tea to moisten her throat, then said, “Regarding the wedding gowns for er yatou and san yatou, I heard that dasao prepared eight taels of gold thread for er yatou, but only four taels for the san yatou. Why is this?
“Both girls are di daughters of our second branch. Why treat them differently? Does dasao look down on me, believing that the daughter I bore is worth less than er yatou?”
Zhang shi gave a soft laugh. “Why make me spell out what you already know? Yue yatou is marrying the second di son of Haixi bo fu, respectable, but far inferior to the eldest di son of Ning wang.
“Er yatou, on the other hand, was personally betrothed by the Emperor, destined to marry the Imperial Grandson. For her wedding gown, could the gold thread be less than eight taels? Of course not.
“If your Yue’er were marrying the Emperor’s grandson, or the shizi of a bo fu, I would also prepare eight taels of gold thread for her. The groom’s status determines the bride’s wedding robes.
“If you insist on a gown that does not match her husband’s station, are you deliberately trying to overshadow the Haixi bo fu’s shizifei? Do you mean to set Yue’er against her from the very start?”
“At the very least, it should equal the amount of gold thread in the eldest young madam’s gown,” Gu Yue suddenly interjected.
Zhang shi glanced at her. “When elders are speaking, Yue’er, a junior like you should not interrupt at will. Have you already forgotten the rules mama taught you?”
Gu Yue’s face flushed red, and she looked weakly toward Xie shi.
Xie shi gave a cold snort. “Dasao, what a silver tongue you have. Whatever comes out of your mouth becomes reason.”
Zhang shi chuckled softly. “You misunderstand. It isn’t that my tongue is sharp; it’s simply that reason is plain for all to see.
“Take the girls’ dowries, for instance. Why does Xiao Jiu receive forty thousand taels, while Yue’er only gets twenty thousand? Is it not because one marries the Imperial Grandson, and the other only the second di son of a bo fu?
“When girls are still in their maiden home, sisters are equal, affectionate, without distinction. But once they marry, status becomes immediately clear. It’s merciless, but unavoidable. Surely dimei knows this truth all too well.”
At her words, the young ladies’ expressions grew heavy.
Status, rank, marriage, the cruelty of it all was something they had long understood. But rarely had anyone stated it so bluntly.
Gu Yue’s heart burned with resentment, her eyes pleadingly fixed on Xie shi.
Xie shi stared at Zhang shi. “So, according to dasao, my Yue’er can only have four taels of gold thread on her gown?”
“Four taels is already considerable. You mustn’t look down on it.”
Xie shi gave another cold snort. “And if I wished to add two taels more, what then?”
Zhang shi raised a brow, smiling. “If dimei is willing to pay from your own purse, I won’t object. But from the public funds, Yue’er can only receive four taels. I hope you can understand.”
Outrageous!
Xie shi, could, of course, not “understand.” She only felt suffocated.
But the rules stood as they were, and she was helpless.
At this moment, she wished more than ever for the fu to be divided.
If they split, she would have full control. She could use as much gold thread as she liked. Rules could all go to hell.
Gu Yue, meanwhile, looked at her mother with expectant eyes, hoping she would promise to add the extra two taels. But she waited and waited, and Xie shi said nothing.
Two taels of gold thread wasn’t much; together with labour, it cost next to nothing. Yet her mother wouldn’t even give her that.
Gu Yue’s heart sank in bitter disappointment.
“Does dimei have other matters?” Zhang shi asked.
Xie shi smiled faintly. “Since I’m to manage the fu, I must first review the accounts. I plan to stay here in the council hall and look over the kitchen and needlework records from the past few years.”
Zhang shi was refreshingly direct. She ordered at once, “Go, send for the account books. Bring all the kitchen and needlework records from the past five years.”
Then she asked, “Dimei, shall I assign you an accountant?”
Xie shi promptly refused. “No need. I have my own people who can do the sums.”
“Good then.”
Zhang shi smiled. “Girls, that’s enough for today. You may all leave.”
Gu Jiu and the others rose and took their leave.
Gu Yue quickly caught up to Gu Jiu. “Er jiejie, I need to speak with you.”
“What does san meimei wish to say?” Gu Jiu turned to look at her.
Gu Yue rushed forward, standing squarely before her. “Just because you’re marrying the Imperial Grandson, you suppress me at every turn. I refuse to accept it!”
Gu Jiu lifted her eyes to the sky and chuckled.
“San meimei, if you’re dissatisfied, take it up with taitai. Telling me is useless. Marriage is ordained by parents and arranged by matchmakers, hardly something within our control.”
Gu Yue’s face reddened suddenly. “What do you mean by that? Are you mocking me?”
Her marriage was one she had schemed for desperately, life and death. By no means was it truly a case of ‘parents’ command and matchmaker’s word.’
So whenever others spoke such phrases, Gu Yue couldn’t help but feel stung, convinced they were secretly ridiculing her.
But Gu Jiu said solemnly, “San meimei thinks too much. I was merely stating a fact, with no mockery intended. I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t linger. Farewell.”
“You stop right there, stop!”
But Gu Jiu paid her no mind and walked straight away.
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