Gu Quan walked into the study from outside.
“Laoye?”
Gu daren furrowed his brows tightly, appearing troubled.
“Has Xiao Jiu left?”
Gu Quan nodded. “Er guniang went straight back to the inner courtyard.”
Gu daren sighed, then chuckled.
“Tell me, how did Xiao Jiu grow up to be this clever all of a sudden? She even guessed about the East Palace.”
Gu Quan hesitated for a moment before responding, “Perhaps er guniang believes that continuing to endure brings no further benefit. That’s why she chose to display her intelligence in front of you.”
“Is that so?”
Gu daren felt doubtful.
He recalled Gu Jiu’s performance—calm, well-reasoned. Despite his repeated pressure, she never faltered.
For a young girl to hold her own against him multiple times and still walk away unscathed—it was no simple feat.
And this young girl was his own daughter. Gu daren couldn’t help but smile.
To have such a daughter was truly a blessing!
Gu daren asked, “What is taitai busy with?”
“Taitai is focused on nurturing her pregnancy and hasn’t left her chambers.”
Gu daren let out a cold snort. “She’s getting bolder.”
Gu Quan carefully inquired, “What does laoye plan to do?”
Gu daren frowned. That was exactly his dilemma.
Xie shi was pregnant, and the fetus was unstable. If he provoked her too much now, she might lose the child.
And then there was Xie Mao.
How could he tolerate Xie Mao interfering with his wife and children? If he didn’t strike back, he would never be at peace. Ultimately, the root of the problem lay with Xie Mao, not Xie shi.
But Xie shi was foolish enough to let Xie Mao manipulate her. Did she not understand that her husband’s prosperity determined her own?
Utterly infuriating.
Fortunately, Xiao Jiu was clever and had skillfully defused the situation, preventing serious consequences.
Gu daren said, “Come with me to shangfang.”
Gu Quan nodded in agreement.
SHANGFANG
The atmosphere was tense.
The maids spoke and acted with extreme caution.
Bai yiniang knelt under the eaves, sweat beading on her forehead, but she dared not relax.
Xie shi leaned on a soft couch, looking through the window at Bai yiniang.
She let out a cold snort.
Trying to challenge me? Benfuren will crush you.
Chun He assisted Xie shi in drinking her medicine.
The decoction was hot, so Chun He carefully blew on it.
At that moment, sounds came from the courtyard entrance.
Someone called out, “Laoye has arrived!”
Footsteps approached the doorway.
Xie shi quickly sat up, her face lighting up with joy.
But the next words from Gu daren wiped the smile right off her face.
As soon as he stepped inside, Gu daren noticed Bai yiniang kneeling under the eaves.
He frowned. “Why are you kneeling? Get up at once.”
Bai yiniang looked at Gu daren pitifully. “Taitai ordered me to kneel. Jianqie1 dare not rise.”
“Benguan orders you to rise. Or do you not listen to benguan’s words anymore?”
“Jianqie wouldn’t dare!” Bai yiniang, appearing fragile, grasped a maid’s hand and stood up.
Gu daren added, “Go rest.”
“Thank you, laoye.”
Bai yiniang wanted to voice her grievances, but Gu daren paid her no mind.
Biting her lip, she suppressed her emotions and left to rest.
Gu daren entered the room.
Xie shi smiled.
There would be plenty of chances to deal with Bai yiniang. There was no need to start a fight with Gu daren over that woman.
“Laoye! The yamen isn’t busy today?”
Gu daren sat beside Xie shi on the couch.
His gaze fell on her stomach, filled with complicated emotions.
Xie shi gently touched her belly and asked cautiously, “What’s the matter, laoye? You came but haven’t said a word.”
“Have you sent word to the capital about your pregnancy?”
Xie shi smiled and shook her head. “Not yet.”
Gu daren chuckled. “Write to da jiuge, telling him the good news. Also, let him know that the East Palace is occupied with its own matters, and he need not concern himself with mine. Most importantly, benguan’s family affairs are no business of an outsider. Some people overstep their bounds. If they anger benguan, benguan won’t hesitate to cut off their hand with a single slash.”
Xie shi’s smile froze. Her eyes flickered with panic.
Gu daren’s sudden shift in attitude left her flustered.
By now, the maids had all been discreetly ushered out by Gu Quan. They had not overheard Gu daren’s last words.
Thinking their master and mistress were having a private conversation, the maids left smiling.
Xie shi gripped the armrest of the couch. “Laoye, what are you saying? You nearly frightened qieshen to death.”
Gu daren smirked, placing his hand over her stomach. “Are you really that scared?”
Xie shi nodded repeatedly.
Gu daren locked eyes with her. “If you’re afraid, then don’t do dangerous things.”
Her heart pounded wildly, like a drum. “Laoye’s words… how could qieshen not understand?”
Gu daren chuckled. “The children’s marriages, benguan has already arranged. Don’t do unnecessary things. If you bring disaster upon us, benguan will make sure da jiuge is dragged down with you—and he won’t die a good death.”
Boom!
Xie shi’s mind went blank.
He knew.
He knew everything about the plot against Pei Yun.
She opened her mouth, unable to utter a single word.
Gu daren remained calm, lifting her hand. “Furen has diligently managed the fu and raised our children. Benguan has always recognised your efforts. Now that you are with child, just focus on your health. If benguan am pleased, I will remember you fondly.”
Xie shi, dazed and disoriented, nodded mechanically.
Gu daren smiled. “Furen is a reasonable person. That is good. Gu Quan, draft a letter to Xie da laoye in the capital in furen’s name, as benguan instructed earlier.”
Gu Quan bowed. “Understood, laoye.”
Gu daren then said to Xie shi, “Furen, take good care of yourself. There is no need to worry about managing the fu—I will arrange for someone to handle it. I will visit you again another day.”
“Laoye!”
A ringing noise filled Xie shi’s ears. She forced herself to stay strong and grabbed hold of Gu daren, who was about to leave.
He wanted to strip her of power—how could she possibly accept that?
No matter what, even if she had to fight to the bitter end, she would not surrender so easily.
With a pitiful expression, her eyes full of innocence and confusion, Xie shi said, “Qieshen have never done anything to betray laoye.”
Gu daren bent slightly and lifted her chin. “Really?”
Xie shi nodded repeatedly.
Gu daren chuckled softly. “It’s best if you haven’t. And in the future, do not engage in dangerous schemes. These are not games women should be playing.”
“Qieshen—qieshen has already refused da ge,” Xie shi stammered.
“Oh?”
“It’s true,” she affirmed, nodding eagerly.
Gu daren traced his thumb gently along her cheek, his deep gaze both affectionate and unreadable.
Xie shi was mesmerised. The fear from earlier suddenly felt like a bad dream.
Then, his rich, magnetic voice sounded beside her ear.
“If furen and benguan are of one heart, that is good. Rest well, and do not overthink things. Benguan still has official duties to attend to, so benguan won’t stay.”
This time, she could not stop him.
She could only watch as Gu daren left.
He was gone.
Xie shi felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body. She collapsed onto the soft couch.
Her forehead, back, and palms were covered in sweat.
“Taitai? Taitai, what’s wrong?”
Chun He rushed in and cried out in alarm at the sight of her.
“Help me sit up,” Xie shi said weakly.
She had no strength left, and only with Chun He’s support could she sit upright.
Her breathing was ragged, her heart still racing unbearably.
He knew. He knew everything.
What should she do?
How had he found out about something so secret?
Haha…
Suddenly, Xie shi laughed.
This was the governor’s residence—was there anything that Gu daren didn’t know?
How foolish she had been. She had thought she had covered her tracks flawlessly, but in hindsight, there were flaws everywhere.
After laughing, she began to cry.
She placed a hand on her belly. The timing of her pregnancy could not have been better.
If not for this pregnancy, she wouldn’t have escaped so easily—Lord Gu would not have merely reprimanded her and taken away her authority. He would have sent her to a temple to reflect on her actions.
Chun He was frightened.
Seeing Xie shi both laughing and crying, she felt increasingly uneasy.
“Taitai, are you all right?”
Xie shi took a deep breath. “What could possibly be wrong with me?”
No one must know about this.
She could not afford to collapse—she had to hold on.
Chun He hesitated before asking, “Should I invite Doctor Xu to check on you?”
She glanced worriedly at Xie shi’s stomach.
Xie shi was about to refuse, but after a moment’s thought, she changed her mind.
“Invite Doctor Xu over. Tell him I’m feeling unwell.”
“As you wish, taitai.”
Chun He hurried off to arrange for the doctor’s visit.
Xie shi leaned against a pillow, her heartbeat gradually steadying.
For now, she would remain quiet and obedient.
She gently caressed her belly. In time, she would find a way to soothe Gu daren’s anger.
- I, this lowly concubine. ↩︎
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