Gu Jiu, accompanied by Qing Mei, arrived at the outer courtyard study.
Gu Quan came out to greet them. “Er guniang is here. Laoye is already waiting inside. Please go in directly.”
Gu Jiu looked up at Gu Quan. “Steward, how has Father been lately? Is he busy with his work at the yamen?”
Gu Quan’s lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to smile but couldn’t manage it, making his expression somewhat stiff.
He said, “Laoye is busy with official duties. Er guniang, it’s best not to waste his time. Please go in quickly.”
Gu Jiu smiled and nodded. “Thank you for the reminder, steward. I’ll go in now.”
Qing Mei attempted to follow but was stopped by Gu Quan. Feeling a little worried, Qing Mei hesitated. Gu Jiu shook her head slightly at her. “Wait for me here.”
Qing Mei nodded. “Nubi obeys.”
Gu Jiu entered the study alone.
The study was spacious, with three rooms connected into one. The eastern side was the actual study, used for official work. The western side served as a resting area, furnished with a bed and wardrobe. The central room was designated for receiving guests.
Gu daren was in the eastern section, writing busily.
Without looking up, he spoke as he heard the sound of footsteps. “Xiao Jiu, you’re here? Have a seat.”
Gu Jiu stepped into the eastern section, quietly observing the arrangement of the study before sitting down, waiting patiently.
Gu daren finally finished his letter, dried the ink, and sealed it in an envelope before pressing it under a book.
Gu Jiu discreetly glanced at him—he didn’t seem angry.
She pondered. If her father knew that Xie shi had drugged Pei Yun, how could he not be furious?
Or was she mistaken in her judgment?
Perhaps her father had called her here for another reason.
As Gu Jiu was lost in thought, Gu daren spoke.
“How is your health?”
“Thank you for your concern, Father. Nü’er is much better now,” Gu Jiu replied with a slight bow.
Gu daren fixed his gaze on her. “Regarding the banquet at the general’s fu a few days ago, do you have anything to say?”
Here it comes! So, her judgment had been correct.
Gu Jiu steadied herself and said, “Nü’er doesn’t understand what Father is referring to.”
Gu daren’s expression remained indifferent. “Any aspect will do.”
Gu Jiu thought for a moment. “It’s a pity, really. Nü’er had the rare chance to attend such a banquet, yet failed to make any new acquaintances.”
“That’s all?”
Gu Jiu nodded slightly.
Gu daren’s gaze was cold as he asked, “Did Gu Yue truly push you?”
Gu Jiu’s brows furrowed momentarily before she quickly composed herself.
She nodded. “She did. However, it wasn’t with much force. It was only because nü’er was standing near the pond and the stone beneath my feet was loose that I ended up falling into the water.”
Gu daren raised an eyebrow—he hadn’t expected Gu Jiu to be so frank.
He asked, “So you admit that you deliberately used Gu Yue?”
Gu Jiu met his gaze without hesitation. “Yes, nü’er intentionally used san meimei.”
Gu daren frowned. He hadn’t expected such a direct confession.
“Xiao Jiu, you should know that weifu does not tolerate siblings harming each other.”
Gu Jiu remained unfazed. “Nü’er understands, Father. But nü’er did not harm san meimei—only myself.”
Gu daren’s brows furrowed deeply, his expression severe.
Gu Jiu continued, “Nü’er did this for one reason only—to make Father aware of the truth. Last year, when nü’er fell into the water, I nearly died. The incident was never properly explained. Nü’er could not accept that, so dared to set up san meimei. However, she is not being wronged—last year’s incident was indeed her doing.”
Gu daren stared at Gu Jiu intensely. “Why tell me all this? Aren’t you afraid weifu will punish you severely?”
Gu Jiu met his gaze head-on. “Of course, but nü’er is willing to take a gamble.”
“A gamble on what?”
“A gamble on the fact that Father has a loving heart.”
“Haha…” Gu daren laughed heartily. “Xiao Jiu, you are not being honest.”
Gu Jiu smiled sheepishly, then lowered her head. “Father, as an official, you are known for your keen judgment. Nü’er doesn’t believe I could deceive you. That is why nü’er chose to be honest. Please punish me as you see fit.”
But instead, Gu daren laughed again. “Weifu won’t punish you.”
Gu Jiu’s face brightened. “Thank you, Father.”
Gu daren continued, “Weifu appreciates your honesty. If everyone was as straightforward as you, I would have far fewer troubles. But the world is full of those who think themselves clever.”
Gu Jiu blinked. His words seemed to have a deeper meaning. Had someone recently angered him?
Gu daren took a sip of tea, his sharp gaze cutting straight through Gu Jiu.
She met his eyes steadily.
Gu daren secretly nodded—Xiao Jiu was courageous and intelligent, worthy of being nurtured. The only flaw was her frail health.
“Lately, Gu Quan has heard a rumour. This rumour concerns taitai, and it also concerns Lu hou. What does Xiao Jiu have to say about it?”
Gu Jiu feigned ignorance. “Nü’er doesn’t understand.”
Gu daren’s face remained expressionless. “You truly don’t?”
Gu Jiu nodded.
She wasn’t about to openly accuse her stepmother. Complaints needed to be handled strategically.
With Xie shi pregnant, she held an advantage. Now was the time to avoid confrontation. If she accused her recklessly without proof, she could end up harming herself.
Her goal was only to bring the matter to her father’s attention. What happened next was not her concern.
Gu daren smiled faintly. “Even in front of weifu, you won’t speak the truth?”
Gu Jiu put on an innocent face. “Nü’er really doesn’t understand.”
Gu daren stared at her. “Lu hou has a daughter, said to be in the northwest.”
Gu Jiu widened her eyes. “Lu hou’s daughter is in the northwest? Doesn’t the court care?”
“No one in the court knows.”
Gu Jiu quickly covered her mouth. “Father, don’t worry. Nü’er won’t tell a soul.”
Gu daren remained impassive. “Someone had their eyes on Lu hou’s daughter. If they could arrange a marriage, it would be ideal. But Lu hou is powerful, and in the northwest, no one would dare match his daughter in marriage. However, if there was a way to cook the raw rice, turning it into an irreversible fact, then the marriage would have to proceed.”
Gu Jiu’s eyes widened. “Wouldn’t they fear the Lu hou’s wrath?”
“They would.” Gu daren’s tone turned severe. “Which is why they should be grateful the plan was thwarted in time.”
Gu Jiu let out a sigh of relief. “That was close.”
Gu daren fixed his gaze on her. “Xiao Jiu, how should such a scheme be dealt with? Should those who calculated Lu hou’s daughter be punished?”
Gu Jiu hesitated. “Nü’er doesn’t know. Since no harm was done, perhaps it can be overlooked?”
Gu daren smirked. “Do you really think so?”
Gu Jiu chuckled. “Father, nü’er neither understands how to judge a case, nor what kind of responsibility this person should take.”
Gu daren stopped beating around the bush. “If you don’t understand this, then why did you send the message to Gu Quan? Didn’t you do this hoping that weifu would take action?”
Gu Jiu fell silent.
Gu daren scoffed. “Xiao Jiu, are you out of words?”
Gu Jiu said, “Nü’er has nothing to say.”
Gu daren asked, “So, you admit that you were the one who prevented this matter from happening at the general’s fu and that you also sent someone to inform Gu Quan?”
Gu Jiu pondered over the meaning behind Gu daren’s line of questioning. Instead of dealing with Xie shi first, he was interrogating her.
Yes, this was an interrogation.
Gu Jiu frowned and simply said, “Nü’er was wrong. Please punish me, Father.”
“What fault do you have?”
Gu Jiu decided to take the opposite approach and deliberately said, “Nü’er was wrong to stop liu ge. Nü’er should have cooperated with him and let the deed be done.”
“Absurd!”
Bang!
Gu daren slammed his palm on the table, furious.
Yet, Gu Jiu felt at ease. She had understood his stance. Slowly, she raised her head and met his gaze. “Father, did nü’er do wrong?”
Gu daren let out a cold snort. “You were not wrong, but you have created an enormous problem for weifu.”
Gu Jiu smiled, steadied herself, and said seriously, “Father, nü’er has always had a question. Taitai has always been sharp and capable. She must have known about the Lu hou’s notorious reputation. Yet, she still took the risk of arranging such a matter. Could there be another reason behind this?”
Instead of answering, Gu daren asked, “What do you think?”
Gu Jiu considered her words carefully before saying, “I heard that taitai’s elder brother serves in the East Palace. Could this matter be related to the Crown Prince’s faction?”
Gu daren fixed his gaze on Gu Jiu.
Her intelligence had exceeded his expectations.
This conversation could not continue.
Matters concerning the East Palace were something even he dared not discuss lightly, let alone with his daughter.
He decisively ended the discussion. “This matter ends here. From now on, do not mention it to anyone. When you return, get along with your sisters. Weifu does not expect deep affection among you, but at the very least, do not stir up trouble. Otherwise, you will also be punished.”
Gu Jiu lowered her head with a smile and said, “Nü’er will follow Father’s teachings. If there is nothing else, nü’er shall take my leave.”
“You may go.”
T/N:
I tried translating ‘nü’er‘ as ‘daughter’ or ‘this daughter’ in earlier chapters, but it didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t want to translate it directly as ‘I’ either. Since I’m using other terms like weifu and bengongzi anyway, I thought I might as well retain the pinyin.
What do you think?
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