Chapter 101: Bearing Like Orchids

After Gu Jiu Ling returned to the Rui Wang Fu, her mood was simply terrible to the extreme.

Xiao Yin had something to attend to and went out; she simply ate a bit of food and put down her chopsticks, and the maidservants attending her didn't know how to persuade her.

The master also suffered bloody bad luck—how did she end up with such a brother?

If he weren't her brother, and there were no favor from the Du family, she could just cast him aside and let him fend for himself.

In the end, you can't wake someone who's pretending to sleep.

Gu Jiu Ling let out a deep sigh; she had enjoyed the Du family's astronomical dowry left behind and also received those favors from the Du family—when her mother was pregnant with Gu Kang and died in difficult labor, what she couldn't let go of was her own pair of children.

She never expected that Gu Kang would be completely ruined by those scheming people from the Gu family.

She slowly rose to her feet, gripping the bedpost tightly, a hint of coldness appearing in her brows and eyes.

If this brother is left unattended, I fear even the Du family's spirit in heaven would not rest; she must find a way, cannot let that little bastard continue like this.

At the very least she must get him away from those people of the Gu family; as for whether he lives or dies afterward, that's no longer her concern—first she must pull him out of the mire to repay the original mother's kindness, after which Gu Kang's death or life is nothing to do with her, Gu Jiu Ling.

Having made up her mind, she turned and ordered Jiu Yue and Yun Duo to find a set of men's clothing for her.

Jiu Yue froze for a moment, then, steeling herself, bought clothes according to Gu Jiu Ling's instructions from a street clothing shop and brought them back.

Not long after, Gu Jiu Ling changed into a strikingly eye-catching men's outfit with a pink base and embroidered blue peonies; although Jiu Yue had bought the smallest size, it still looked somewhat loose on Gu Jiu Ling.

Fortunately, being pregnant made her look like a slightly plump, handsome young lord, which was rather cute.

Jiu Yue and Yun Duo also changed into men's clothing, posing as Gu Jiu Ling's guards; the master and her two servants hired a carriage under the cover of night and headed for the Pavilion of Joyful Red by the Imperial River.

The Pavilion of Joyful Red was especially lively at night, bustling with red lanterns and green willows; to appear more convincing, Gu Jiu Ling swallowed a voice‑changing pill, her speech gaining a masculine hoarseness and steadiness, making her seem like a young lord who had just passed his voice‑breaking stage.

Gu Jiu Ling had Jiu Yue and Yun Duo carry two bulging bags of gold leaves, which were still the ones Xiao Yin had given her.

In this place you have to use this sort of thing to keep up appearances and act like a big shot; ordinary silver ingots just don't show off one's noble status.

"Yo! Which household's handsome young lord are you? Wishing you blessings!" Madam Mei Mama glanced up and down at Gu Jiu Ling's pink brocade robe, broke into a smile, and grabbed her arm.

Gu Jiu Ling laughed loudly: "Today I'll have your Pavilion of Joyful Red's finest lady come over; this young master isn't short on money!"

Beside her, Jiu Yue and Yun Duo watched their master's playboyish demeanor, hung their heads, and could hardly bear to look.

One must absolutely avoid being recognized, otherwise the little reputation she had just built up in Shang Jing would be ruined in an instant.

Gu Jiu Ling grabbed a handful of gold leaves and slapped them into Mei Mama's hand; Mei Mama's eyes lit up at once, she lightly bit a piece, and laughed like an old hen.

"Hahaha…… May I ask your esteemed surname?"

Gu Jiu Ling laughed: "No need to ask my name; just call me young master!"

"Understood!" Mei Mama eyes twinkled, thinking this was some young master sneaking out for the first time to lose his virginity.

She hurriedly passed the word along: today there's a fool with lots of money, hurry up!

"The ladies are coming out to greet guests!" Mei Mama bellowed, swiftly opened a private room, and instantly various rosy‑red and willow‑green graceful women entered, surrounding Gu Jiu Ling in the midst.

Some fed grapes, some sang, some danced.

Gu Jiu Ling suddenly felt the joy of being a man, with so many beautiful ladies circling her, her happiness doubled.

Mei Mama looked at Gu Jiu Ling and smiled: "Young master, tell me which lady you like, and I'll let her keep you company alone."

Gu Jiu Ling snapped her folding fan shut, raised her eyebrows, and beckoned to Mei Mama.

"Young master?" Mei Mama hurriedly laughed and stepped closer.

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her voice and laughed: "These ladies are all pretty and fine, but they still feel vulgar and commonplace; I've heard your Miss Ruoxi is good—why not have her come?"

Upon hearing it was Miss Ruoxi, Mei Mama instantly froze.

Miss Ruoxi is the top courtesan of their Pavilion of Joyful Red; although she has fallen into the world of pleasure quarters, she sells only her art, not her body.

Not only is she drop‑deaf gorgeous and graceful, she is also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—especially her zither technique, which can be called the best in the capital.

Mei Mama's face flashed with a troubled look; she quickly smiled and said: "Miss Ruoxi has an appointment with another guest tonight, young master—why not take a look at our other ladies here? If you like, we'll arrange it right away."

Gu Jiu Ling didn't reply, leisurely leaned back against the couch, and waved at Yue on the side.

Jiu Yue directly emptied a bag of gold leaves onto the table; as soon as they poured out, they flashed with golden brilliance, dazzling to the eyes.

Gu Jiu Ling casually pinched a few pieces of gold leaf, raised her eyebrows, and smiled at Mei Mama: "As this young master I also cherish fragrance and jade; I just want to listen to Miss Ruoxi play a piece on the zither, and do nothing else—how could I possibly do such a thing as offending a lovely lady?"

Mei Mama gazed intently at Gu Jiu Ling's lovely, handsome face; she truly was even more beautiful than a woman, yet certainly not that sort of coarse man.

Miss Ruoxi is her top courtesan, and her temper is also the worst; if you anger her, she won't even give face to her own mother.

"Well…" Mei Mama hesitated, while Gu Jiu Ling slowly gathered up the gold leaves from the table one by one.

She sighed and said: "Forget it; since I can't see Miss Ruoxi's face today, staying here is pointless."

"Jiu Yue, let's go……"

"Young master!" Mei Mama quickly seized Gu Jiu Ling's hand holding the gold leaves and laughed: "Young master, how did you get annoyed while talking?"

How could so much money possibly be allowed to enter the Pavilion of Joyful Red and then flow out again?

Mei Mama quickly laughed: "Someone! Take the young master to Miss Ruoxi's pavilion, tell the rear kitchen to make the finest pastries, and attend to him well!"

Gu Jiu Ling gave a light laugh, rose to leave, but Mei Mama blocked her path and said in a low voice: "Miss Ruoxi has a bad temper and dislikes coarse men entering her Moon‑Viewing Pavilion; your attendant cannot go."

Gu Jiu Ling steadied herself and laughed loudly: "Understood!"

"Thank you, Mama Mei!"

Gu Jiu Ling stuffed a bag of gold leaves into Mei Mama's hand; Mei Mama instantly beamed with joy.

Not long after, a male attendant led Gu Jiu Ling to an exquisite pavilion; the pavilion was extraordinarily magnificent, almost comparable to the chambers of noble ladies from great clans.

The closer one got to the chambers, the more one smelled a delicate orchid fragrance; the stair railings were filled with blooming orchids, and the lingering guqin music floated out, exceptionally pleasant.

Gu Jiu Ling pushed open the chamber door and saw a guqin placed on the table by the window, beside which sat a remarkably slender female figure.

She wore a white gauze robe, her hair flowing loose except for a small bun tied up and pinned with an orchid; even just her back view made one feel refreshed and delighted.

"Miss Ruoxi!" Gu Jiu Ling bowed with clasped fists, her demeanor just right.

Miss Ruoxi turned her body to look at Gu Jiu Ling; at first glance, a flicker of surprise crossed her brows and eyes, then she regained her composed calm.

Gu Jiu Ling was truly captivated by the lady's appearance; the person was as tranquil as chrysanthemums, her bearing like orchids; for a moment she could only think of these words.