Chapter 34: Avoiding Her

From within the Feiyun Pavilion of Gu Shangshu's residence came a faint, indistinct sobbing sound; Mrs. Lin collapsed onto the bed, crying so hard she could barely breathe. "How much effort have I given to this family? No merit but plenty of hardship!"

"Shangshu, how can you be so ruthless?"

"Now that the word is out, to take another wife, how could he have any heart for it?"

"Mother, be careful with your words!"

Gu Cheng's face darkened. Mrs. Lin dared not cry any longer; after all, she feared this son. Beside her, Gu Nanxiang's expression grew grim as she clenched her teeth and said, "That scoundrel Gu Jiu Ling! Why doesn't she just die?"

"Now you intend to completely break ties, right?"

"Back then Mother was kind enough to raise her by her side, and now she's such a worthless thing!"

"Shut up!"

Gu Cheng twisted his brows fiercely; the proud third‑rank Jinshi had been saddled with such a foolish mother and sister. His eyes turned cold, and he gave a heavy glance at Gu Nanxiang, whose eyes reddened, yet she dared not retort to her elder brother. She now despises Gu Jiu Ling to death; Gu Jiu Ling took away her dowry, so how will she marry later? Her rouge, powder, even the everyday fruit snacks she uses were bought with silver from those two shops. Although she is of concubine birth, she ate and used only the best in Shang Jing; even the plain paper she casually scribbles on costs dozens of taels of silver per bundle—Yunzhou Snow Paper, which even the Crown Prince rarely uses. Now even those shops have been taken away; how can she afford her future food, clothing, and expenses on just her father's few official salaries, and since yesterday the snow paper in her room has already been replaced with ordinary Bozhou paper. Her trusted maid was also tongue‑cut by Gu Jiu Ling; thinking of this, Gu Nanxiang wishes she could kill her herself. Gu Cheng furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, "Gu Jiu Ling is no ordinary person; from today onward you must not act rashly, do not provoke trouble, and keep your distance from her."

Gu Nanxiang's complexion changed; how could even her elder brother fear that scoundrel? That fool only relies on Prince Rui's power; what is she? She opened her mouth to retort, but seeing her brother's cold gaze, she dared not say anything. Gu Cheng rose slowly and looked at Mrs. Lin, whose eyes were red from crying—after all she was his mother. He sighed and softened his tone, "Mother, the bond you and Father have built over more than ten years, you need not worry. These days, first calm down for a day or two, then in a few days go to Father and plead for leniency. For my sake, Father will not be too harsh on you."

Mrs. Lin dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and nodded. Gu Cheng added, "Even if Father takes another wife, what of it? In this residence you have already borne me and my third brother; even if a new wife bears a son, just a little infant—what are you afraid of?"

A flash of cold ruthlessness passed through Gu Cheng's eyes. Mrs. Lin, looking at her eldest son, gradually calmed, and nodded again. Gu Cheng steadied himself and said, "Watch over your sister, do not act recklessly; whatever happens, I will handle it myself."

Having said that, he turned and left the Warm Pavilion. "Mother! Look at elder brother! What does he mean?"

Gu Nanxiang became frantic, her eyes reddened, and said, "What do you mean watch over me? Gu Jiu Ling bullies us, how can we endure?"

"Xiang'er!"

Mrs. Lin now understood; this time Gu Jiu Ling caught them off guard, the scoundrel truly had changed, and they could not be too hasty. "Xiang'er, listen to your elder brother; these days we should just keep avoiding her a bit."

Gu Nanxiang's face grew pale with anger, and she rose, leaving the Warm Pavilion. "Xiang'er! Xiang'er!"

Mrs. Lin watched her daughter storm out of the Warm Pavilion, trembling with anger; the girl must have been spoiled by her. Early the next morning, Gu Nanxiang received a note sent by the women of Prince Rui's residence. The maid Chunfeng whispered, "Mistress, this is already the second note."

Gu Nanxiang wasn't completely clueless; the last time the lady Su Wanrou from Prince Rui's residence sent a note, she had kept some suspicion and hadn't replied. Now it's the second, clearly Su Wanrou is also being pressured hard by Gu Jiu Ling. Anger boiled in her heart, she crumpled the note and sneered, "Prepare the carriage!"

Gu Jiu Ling had Jiu Yue actually deliver a silver note of ten thousand taels to Xiao Yin, but early Ling Feng arrived with a box. "Princess Consort! This is from the Prince for you!"

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly ordered Jiu Yue to bring the box over, and also rewarded Ling Feng, who bowed and left. She looked at the dark agarwood box in her hand; just the box itself exuded understated luxury and depth. "Mistress, this box could fetch a good price! Not just ten thousand taels!"

Jiu Yue chuckled softly. Gu Jiu Ling laughed scornfully, "How did you also dive into the money pit?"

She hurriedly opened the box and was instantly stunned. Inside lay a complete set of crimson jade ornaments—hairpins, dangling hairpins, chains, bracelets, bead strings, earrings… Crimson jade is far rarer than mutton‑fat jade, almost priceless, a marketless treasure. Such a set would be at least a hundred thousand taels of silver, and that could only buy a single piece, yet this is a full set. Her heart seemed to stop; instinctively she picked up a bracelet and saw it featured internal carving technique—blood‑red jade carved with plum blossoms, the patterns flowing through the jade fibers as if formed naturally. "Mistress, this is… the work of Master Zhang, a jade carving master; this kind of craftsmanship is said to have been lost for ages, even with silver one could not purchase it!"

Gu Jiu Ling was also dumbfounded; last night she sent ten thousand taels, and today he returned such a hefty gift. "Jiu… Jiu Yue…" Gu Jiu Ling staggered, grabbing Jiu Yue's hand, "How much silver do we have left?"

"We sent it all to the Prince; this big brother can handle it!"

Jiu Yue… "Mistress!"

A coarse maid stationed at Xi Ce Men waited outside the Warm Pavilion; the master and servant inside, recovering from their astonishment, packed away the box's contents. "What business?"

Gu Jiu Ling asked, "Regarding your words, a maid said she has business with you."

"Maid?"

Gu Jiu Ling furrowed his brows, glanced at Jiu Yue, and said, "Mistress, let me go check!"

Jiu Yue turned and left; shortly she returned with a middle‑aged woman dressed in an indigo robe. "Mistress!"

Jiu Yue leaned close to Gu Jiu Ling's ear and whispered, "The Gu family's Zhou Fu family has arrived."

Gu Jiu Ling instantly understood; Jiu Yue brought in Wang Shi, and Wang Shi and her husband Zhou Fu both served in Gu Shangshu's residence, though not before Mrs. Lin, yet they were still elders of the residence. Wang Shi entered and bowed her head to Gu Jiu Ling; Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly helped her up. "Grandma Wang, you are too polite."

Wang Shi laughed hurriedly, "This bow must be given to the young lady; thanks to the young lady's medicine, my son managed to cling to life and return."

"Jiu Yue, bring over those supplements I prepared," Gu Jiu Ling said, seeing Wang Shi's stance wasn't just to ask for medicine. Jiu Yue handed a bundle into Wang Shi's arms, and Gu Jiu Ling smiled, "Grandma, hold this for now; inside I've also placed some medicine. Your son, after further consolidation, will be completely recovered; thereafter he must avoid spicy, cold foods."

"Thank you, young lady!"

Wang Shi bowed a few more times, then rose to look at Gu Jiu Ling, her complexion slightly changing, and said, "Young lady, I have a matter to report, concerning the second miss."

Gu Jiu Ling raised an eyebrow, smiled faintly. The one she had been waiting for finally arrived.