The capital city was in sight.
Towering city walls, endless streams of carriages and horses, and long queues of people waiting to enter.
Everything looked so different from the northwest.
The Gu family’s convoy was stuck at the city gates, unable to move.
Gu Jiu lifted the curtain of the carriage window and peered outside.
As expected of Jingcheng, just its sheer population alone far surpassed Jinzhou City by dozens of miles.
“The carriage is moving. Guniang, please lower the curtain quickly.”
Qing Mei was worried that Gu Jiu would be seen. Gu Jiu complied and let the curtain fall.
The carriage moved slowly forward, finally passing through the city gates into Jingcheng.
Gu Jiu lifted the curtain again to take in the sights of the city.
The streets were bustling with people rubbing shoulders, coming and going in waves. Shops lined both sides of the street, with shop assistants energetically calling out to customers.
Xiao Cui marvelled, “The capital is so lively!”
Gu Jiu chuckled softly. A metropolis with over a million people was naturally extraordinary.
The convoy continued forward, arriving at Baiyi Alley.
Baiyi Alley was not just a single alley but a vast area in the northern part of the city. Jingcheng’s noble families and royal relatives all resided in Baiyi Alley.
In other words, only people of wealth and power could live here. Being rich alone was not enough to even step past Baiyi Alley’s threshold. Money was merely one of the requirements. The most crucial conditions were status and power.
Baiyi Alley was vastly different from other parts of Jingcheng.
Along the way, Gu Jiu and the others had already witnessed the city’s hustle and bustle.
But once they entered Baiyi Alley, the surroundings fell silent—no voices, only the steady rumbling of carriage wheels.
On both sides of the road stood grand estates.
No one knew how long they travelled before the carriage gradually came to a stop.
Gu Jiu said, “Looks like we’ve arrived home.”
She glanced out the window. The gatekeeper confirmed their identities and quickly opened the side gate to let the carriages in.
Gu Jiu and the other women disembarked at the second gate.
The moment she stepped down, she saw a richly dressed lady standing at the centre of the gathered crowd.
Could this be her da bomu, Zhang shi?
Just as Gu Jiu was guessing the woman’s identity, Xie shi, supported by her maids, alighted from the carriage.
Upon seeing the person before her, Xie shi immediately put on a warm smile and affectionately greeted, “After so many years, I finally get to see dasao.”
Zhang shi nodded slightly, her demeanour lukewarm. “Dimei and your family have finally returned. The journey must have been exhausting. Let’s go to the Flower Pavilion for some tea. It has been years since we last met—we must have a good chat.”
Xie shi was unfazed by Zhang shi’s indifferent attitude and responded with a smile, “I’ll follow dasao’s lead. Please, go ahead.”
Zhang shi nodded and walked in front, leading everyone to the Flower Pavilion.
Gu Jiu and her sisters walked together, discreetly observing the estate.
It was winter, so the garden trees were withered, offering little to admire. But the estate itself was massive. The surrounding courtyards and houses looked impressively spacious.
As expected of a residence split from a hou fu—it was certainly different.
Gu Yue was so excited that she nearly screamed. She clenched Gu Shan’s hand to stop herself from behaving improperly.
Gu Shan winced in pain, furrowing her brows. She whispered, “San jiejie, let go of my hand.”
Gu Yue flashed a smile at Gu Shan and released her grip. “Don’t be mad, si meimei. I was just too excited.”
Gu Yue kept her voice equally low.
Gu Shan rubbed her sore hand, internally complaining: If you’re so excited, why don’t you squeeze your own hand instead?
Hmph!
Finally, they arrived at the Flower Pavilion.
Zhang shi finally offered a smile and invited the second branch into the hall.
Seated at the head, she assessed the girls of the second branch and remarked to Xie shi, “Dimei is truly blessed. So many daughters, and each one as beautiful as a flower.”
Xie shi beamed. “Dasao exaggerates. Girls, hurry and greet your da bomu.”
Gu Jiu and her four sisters stepped forward in unison, bowing gracefully. “Greetings, da bomu.”
“What lovely children.”
Zhang shi laughed. “Dimei is so fortunate to have five daughters—how enviable. Unlike me, who desperately wanted a daughter but only gave birth to sons.”
The eldest branch had six sons, three of whom were Zhang shi’s own.
She had only birthed three children, all boys.
The only daughter of the eldest branch was a shu-born girl, ranked sixth in the family—she was even younger than Gu Lin by a few months.
“Jun’er, come greet your second shenniang and all the jiejie. Haven’t you always wanted to meet your sisters?”
From behind Zhang shi stepped out a young girl—the eldest branch’s only daughter, liu guniang Gu Jun.
Gu Jun had a round face and an especially sweet smile.
She bowed to Xie shi. “Niece greets second shenniang. The journey must have been tough on second shenniang.”
Xie shi smiled. “Good child, come, let me see you. When shenniang left the capital, you were still in your yiniang’s womb. In the blink of an eye, you have grown so much. Here, meet your sisters—this is your da jiejie, Gu Zhen, your er jiejie, Gu Jiu…”
Xie shi introduced the second branch’s daughters, which also served as an introduction for Zhang shi.
Zhang shi smiled as she examined the five girls.
Da guniang, Gu Zhen, had delicate features but a faint air of pettiness—understandable, given that she was shu-born.
San guniang, Gu Yue, was strikingly beautiful, yet she seemed strong-willed and competitive.
Si guniang, Gu Shan, was not as pretty as Gu Yue, but she was composed and open-hearted. Zhang shi inwardly nodded in approval.
Wu guniang, Gu Lin, still had a childish air about her. Though only a few months older than Gu Jun, she lacked Gu Jun’s bright and open demeanour. Both were shu-born, but the difference between them was evident.
Finally, Zhang shi’s gaze landed on Gu Jiu.
So this was the daughter left behind by her deceased dimei, Su shi—frail since childhood.
Zhang shi beckoned, “You must be er yatou. Come, let your bomu take a good look at you.”
Gu Jiu stepped forward and bowed. “Niece greets bomu.”
Zhang shi held Gu Jiu’s hand. “Good child, I never imagined you’d be so grown up. When you left the capital with your father, you were just this tiny.”
She gestured to indicate how small Gu Jiu had once been—thin, frail, and weak-looking, as if she wouldn’t survive.
Gu Jiu smiled slightly. “I’ve troubled bomu with worry.”
Zhang shi sighed. “I was by your mother’s bedside when she gave birth to you. Such a pity she wasn’t blessed.”
Gu Jiu lowered her head, her eyes reddening.
Xie shi stiffened, thinking: Dasao is doing this on purpose. Bringing up Su shi now, just to make me uncomfortable.
Zhang shi continued holding Gu Jiu’s hand. “Fortunately, you’ve grown up now into a fine guniang. Jun’er, come here—this is your er jiejie, whom I’ve told you about often.”
“Er jiejie!” Gu Jun greeted with a bow.
Gu Jiu returned the courtesy. “Liu meimei, I have prepared a meeting gift for you. I’ll send it over later.”
Gu Jun smiled sweetly. “Thank you, er jiejie. You must be exhausted from the journey. Once you’ve settled in, I’ll come visit you.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I’d love that.”
Gu Jun grinned. “Talking to er jiejie is so pleasant.”
Zhang shi interjected, “Jun’er, you should spend more time with your er jiejie.”
Gu Jun blinked. “Nü’er will listen to Mother.”
Zhang shi‘s clear favouritism toward Gu Jiu while neglecting Gu Yue and Gu Shan left Xie shi feeling rather displeased.
Xie shi lightly cleared her throat and spoke up, “Yue’er, Shan’er, you must get along well with Jun’er. Sisters should maintain close ties and not be petty with each other.”
Gu Yue and Gu Shan responded in unison, “Yes, Mother.”
Zhang shi raised an eyebrow and perfunctorily remarked, “You’re fortunate, dimei. Yue’er and Shan’er have grown up so well. Yue’er is especially beautiful.”
Gu Yue lowered her head with a small smile, pleased by the compliment.
Xie shi also smiled and said, “Dasao praises her too much. This girl is already spoiled by me.”
Zhang shi chuckled, “Children should be doted on. Yue’er isn’t young anymore, is she? If I recall correctly, she’s only half a year younger than Xiao Jiu. Has she been engaged yet?”
Xie shi shook her head. “I wished to keep my children by my side a little longer. She is not yet betrothed.”
Zhang shi nodded and curiously asked, “Have any of the children’s marriages been arranged yet?”
Xie shi replied, “Not yet.”
Zhang shi quickly advised, “Dimei must hurry. A guniang’s youth is not something to be wasted.”
Xie shi said, “Thank you for your advice, dasao. We have been away from the capital for many years and no longer know many people here. The children’s marriages will require your guidance and assistance.”
Zhang shi readily agreed, “If dimei has any difficulties, just let me know. We’re family, and I will certainly help in any way I can.”
With that, Zhang shi took Gu Jiu’s hand and said, “Before my late dimei passed away, I made a promise to her that as her bomu, I must at least help oversee Xiao Jiu’s marriage.”
Xie shi’s expression stiffened slightly, and she forced a smile. “Dasao is considerate.”
In her heart, she was cursing furiously. Zhang shi had brought up Su shi again and again—what exactly did she mean by that?
Was she doing it on purpose just to upset her?
Xie shi clenched her hands into fists inside her sleeves, her heart seething with anger.
At that moment, a maid entered from outside. She glanced at the members of the second branch, hesitating as if she wanted to speak but didn’t dare to.
Zhang shi’s smile faded, and she asked seriously, “What happened?”
The maid bowed and said, “Taitai, laoyezi is causing a commotion in Chen yiniang’s room.”
Zhang shi’s expression darkened instantly. “Is laoyezi drunk and throwing a fit again?”
The maid nodded. “Yes.”
Zhang shi’s face remained stern. “Laoyezi is truly something. He knew today was the day the second branch was returning, yet he still couldn’t pick a better time to drink.”
Xie shi quickly asked, “Why is laoyezi drinking in broad daylight?”
Zhang shi let out a cold snort. “As a daughter-in-law, I shouldn’t be commenting on laoyezi’s affairs. But dimei will find out sooner or later. Laoyezi stopped attending morning court two years ago. With nothing to do all day, he spends his time fooling around with those yiniang.
“Most of the time, it’s just some indulgence. But once he starts drinking, he throws such drunken tantrums that the entire household is turned upside down. Dimei, I’ll have someone take you all to settle in first. I need to go personally and make sure he doesn’t cause chaos in the entire house and ruin everyone’s mood.”
“Please go ahead, dasao.”
Xie shi was also taken aback.
She never expected that laoyezi had become even more outrageous—fooling around with women, bringing in concubines one after another, and now even turning to drinking and drunken fits.
With such a patriarch in the family, would the children’s marriage prospects be affected?
Xie shi began to worry.
She made up her mind—once she met laoye, she would have to talk to him about this.
She absolutely could not let his behaviour ruin the children’s marriages.
Zhang shi hurried away with a group of sturdy servant women.
The maids then led the second branch to the rear-court to settle in.
The Gu family’s first and second branches were clearly divided.
The first branch resided in the east, while the second branch was in the west. The first branch had fewer daughters, so they had spare courtyards. The second branch had more daughters, and every courtyard was already occupied.
Gu Jiu followed the maids to her courtyard—Zhilan Yuan. It turned out that the courtyards of the provincial governor’s fu were all named after those in the capital.
“Er guniang, this is Zhilan Yuan. Everything inside is fully furnished. Please settle in first. When it’s time for the meal, nubi will come to fetch you.”
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Qing Mei discreetly slipped a small pouch into the maid’s hand. The maid accepted it without hesitation, skillfully tucking it into her sleeve. “Er guniang, please rest well. Nubi will take my leave.”
Gu Jiu looked at the three characters on the courtyard gate—Zhilan Yuan—and smiled. “Let’s go inside.”
The courtyard was quite spacious, even larger than Zhilan Yuan at the governor’s fu, with two extra side rooms.
Gu Jiu took a brief tour of the place and was quite satisfied.
“Guniang, please sit down. Nubi will go boil some water and make tea.”
“Go ahead.”
There was a small kitchen in the courtyard, fully stocked with everything needed. Qing Zhu went inside to boil water for tea.
Qing Mei asked with concern, “Guniang, are you cold?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “No.”
Qing Mei glanced toward the gate. “Our luggage hasn’t arrived yet. Should nubi go check on it?”
Just as she spoke, a group of rough-handling servant women came carrying the luggage.
One trunk after another was brought in. Qing Mei instructed them to be careful and not to toss things around.
The servants made several trips until all of Gu Jiu’s luggage had been delivered.
Qing Mei handed each of them a pouch and then began checking the luggage.
“One, two, three, four…”
She counted several times and then frowned. “A piece of luggage is missing. I’ll go find them.”
Xiao Cui immediately volunteered, “Qing Mei jiejie, let me go.”
Qing Mei nodded. “Alright, go ask at the second gate if they misplaced the guniang’s luggage.”
“Qing Mei jiejie, don’t worry. I will definitely find guniang’s luggage.”
Gu Jiu was reading in the empty study when she heard the commotion and asked, “Qing Mei, what’s wrong?”
“Guniang, a piece of luggage is missing.”
Gu Jiu put down her book and asked, “Do you know which one is missing?”
“Nubi knows. Nubi marked each piece of luggage. The missing one contains the decorations for your study.”
Gu Jiu frowned slightly. “Since Xiao Cui is already checking, let’s wait for her to return. If she finds it, that’s good. If not, we’ll send Li Chuan to investigate.”
“Nubi listens to guniang.”
Half an hour later, Xiao Cui returned.
Qing Mei immediately asked, “Did you find the luggage?”
Xiao Cui shook her head. “The maids at the second gate all say they haven’t seen it. Nubi asked the pozi who transported the luggage, but they were unclear. Nubi even checked with the Da guniang, san guniang, si guniang and wu guniang, but none of them had it.”
Gu Jiu frowned. “Xiao Cui, go to the outer courtyard and find Li Chuan. Have him find out exactly who handled the transport and if anything got misplaced.”
Xiao Cui responded, “Nubi will go right away.”
The missing luggage put Qing Mei in a bad mood.
Gu Jiu reassured her, “Let’s continue unpacking. The missing piece will turn up eventually. Even if it doesn’t, it only contained some trinkets from the study—it’s not a big deal.”
Qing Mei blamed herself. “It’s nubi’s fault. I should have watched them more carefully while they were moving the luggage.”
Gu Jiu said, “It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”
Qing Mei nodded and began unpacking the boxes with the little maids, placing everything in order.
The news of the missing luggage reached Xie shi.
Looking at the chaotic courtyard, where maids and servants were busy unpacking, she asked, “Do we know what was in the missing trunk?”
Chun He replied, “I heard it contained study decorations.”
Xie shi said, “If it was just some inexpensive decorations, then let it be. Inform the er yatou not to make a big fuss over it. It’s our first day back at the manor. We might not think much of it, but the first branch might. If they suspect that we’re implying someone in their branch stole from us, things could get ugly.”
Chun He nodded. “Taitai is wise. But, isn’t this a good opportunity? Does taitai not wish to make use of it?”
Xie shi’s face turned cold. “I said, we just returned, so we should avoid unnecessary trouble. Laoye still needs the first branch’s support. Offending them now would be foolish if it affects his career.”
Chun He quickly said, “Nubi was thoughtless.”
Xie shi scoffed. As if she didn’t want to stir up trouble.
If they did, it would all be that little wretch Gu Jiu’s fault anyway.
But last night, laoye had warned her repeatedly, and she dared not disobey.
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