Chapter 23: Forcing the Respectful Tea, Making a Show of Power

As soon as the Gu family’s gatekeeper saw Bai Huan approaching, he took off at a run to announce her arrival. None of the servants at the entrance dared block her way; Bai Huan headed straight for Gu Yuanhuai’s Qingfeng Courtyard. As she passed the west garden of the front courtyard, she caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of three lumps blocking the moon gate, sitting out in the rain.

Yesterday, her dowry trunks had been left here. Had they been soaked by the rain, or moved elsewhere?

She quickly changed course and hurried over. Only when she got close did she realize the lumps were people—huddled in blankets, curled up on the wet ground. The dowry trunks in the courtyard were all covered with felt, untouched by rain, and none were missing.

She bent down for a closer look. To her astonishment, it was Gu Yuanhuai, Chenxiang, and Douchou.

Chenxiang and Douchou clung to each other beneath a dark blue blanket, their faces blue with cold. Gu Yuanhuai hugged a pillow, swathed in a crow-black bedsheet, his long legs stretched right across the moon gate—anyone wishing to pass would have to step over him.

The early autumn night was already cold, and with the heavy rains last night, staying out like this would surely make them ill.

Bai Huan felt a sharp pang in her chest.

Her nose stung with emotion. She crouched down and gently nudged Chenxiang, calling softly to the three, “Chenxiang, Douchou, Gu Yuanhuai.”

Three heads shot up at once, six sleepy, dazed eyes staring blankly at her.

Chenxiang was the first to react. Scrambling to her feet, she called out in delight, “Miss, Miss is back!”

Douchou threw her arms around Bai Huan’s leg and burst into tears.

Their anchor had finally returned.

Gu Yuanhuai tried to get up in a fluster, but his legs were numb, and he slipped straight back into the puddle with a splash. Too ashamed to raise his head, he scrambled up, swaying unsteadily, his whole body soaked as he staggered about anxiously, utterly at a loss.

He looked just like a pitiful, drenched puppy—afraid of being scolded, wanting to put on a brave face, yet full of grievance.

Seeing Bai Huan’s teary almond eyes fixed on him, he quickly grabbed the moon gate frame for support and straightened his back. “Don’t cry, don’t cry! Not a single piece of the dowry is missing!”

He thumped his little chest for emphasis, but overdid it and started coughing violently. He tried hard to stifle it, but couldn’t.

Cough, cough, cough—he flushed red, tears and snot streaming down his face. Worried Bai Huan would find him disgusting, he hastily wiped at his face with his sleeve, only to smear it with wet mud and grass, making an even bigger mess.

Utterly mortified, he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself. He looked utterly dejected, tugging at his sleeves and rubbing his face, only making it worse.

Bai Huan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, her heart aching for him.

Choking back tears, she asked, “You… you all stayed here in the pouring rain last night?”

Chenxiang pulled the still-crying Douchou from Bai Huan’s leg. “They tried to steal the dowry, so Young Master guarded it with us.”

The word “Young Master” sent a warm rush through Gu Yuanhuai’s shivering body. He straightened his back immediately.

“My wife’s dowry must be protected.”

Then, realizing he’d been too forthright, he muttered under his breath, “It’s for the five hundred taels and the shop, mind you. You can’t go back on your word.”

Bai Huan shot him a glare. “Honestly, money is just worldly possession—people are what matters most.”

Fighting back tears, she took Chenxiang with one hand and Douchou with the other. “Go inside quickly, make some hot ginger and brown sugar water. If you fall ill, who will look after me?”

Gu Yuanhuai watched the three go, a bit dazed.

And him?

Wait, why had his wife glared at him?

He glanced at the dowry, conflicted—he couldn’t just leave.

Bai Huan, seeing he hadn’t followed, turned to glare at him. “Little Chubby, you’re my husband. You need to stand strong for me—you can’t get sick. If the dowry’s lost, we can always get it back. Now, come inside.”

The word “husband” was like a tonic.

“Yes!” he replied, involuntarily leaping for joy before remembering to act mature and composed. He squared his shoulders and marched after them.

Then, belatedly, he realized something and stomped his foot in frustration.

“I’m not chubby anymore! That was when I was little… You’re not allowed to call me Little Chubby again!”

Seeing the three figures running off, he hurried after them. “Wait for me! I’m your Young Master, you know!”

Qingfeng Courtyard.

In truth, it was just a small main room tucked in a rear corner, with two small side rooms, all encircled by a low bamboo fence—barely better than the quarters of the more respectable servants in the Marquis’s residence.

Gu Yuanhuai had little else, but was often hungry, seldom eating his fill. He’d secretly set up a small stove in a side room, sometimes cooking himself a treat.

The remaining side room was where Chenxiang and Douchou stayed.

Chenxiang and Douchou quickly changed out of their wet clothes. Chenxiang dashed to the main kitchen for some turmeric and brown sugar. The kitchen didn’t make things difficult and handed some over. The two busied themselves at the stove, making brown sugar ginger water.

In her room, Bai Huan rummaged through her medicine chest, retrieving a red porcelain bottle containing pills specially for warding off cold.

Gu Yuanhuai puffed and panted his way back, bursting into the room. Seeing Bai Huan inside, he skidded to a halt.

He tugged at his damp robe, but the stubborn, crumpled garment clung to his body, accentuating his slightly round little belly.

He blushed, hastily sucked in his stomach and chest, and stood awkwardly by the door, not knowing where to put himself.

Bai Huan smiled. “Go change out of those wet clothes, or you’ll catch a chill. Take two of these pills.”

She poured two pills from the bottle onto the dressing table and went off to the small kitchen herself.

Gu Yuanhuai breathed a sigh of relief, closed the door, and started searching the wardrobe. But no matter how hard he rummaged, he couldn’t find a decent robe. The groom’s outfit he was wearing had originally belonged to his elder brother.

He felt he’d really embarrassed his new bride.

–

Anyiyuan.

Madam Gu and the Marquis of Ruyang were talking when they heard Bai Huan had returned. They exchanged a glance.

Madam Gu looked to her most trusted attendant, Nanny Zhou. “Shouldn’t a new bride serve tea to her parents-in-law first thing in the morning? She’s missed the proper hour—she ought to come and apologize.”

Nanny Zhou understood at once. “I’ll go urge her in person.”

Across from them, Gu Yunjiao frowned. “Merchants’ daughters really are poorly bred.”

Madam Gu glared at her. “She’s now under the Empress Consort’s command and has appeared before His Majesty. Don’t provoke her for now.”

“Hah!” Gu Yunjiao sneered. “Mother, you’re too timid. Her father’s crime against the Consort is already set in stone. The family will pay for the father’s debt—neither Bai Huan nor her family can escape.”

“What do you know? If the Consort truly meant it, would she have given her a token to flaunt everywhere?”

Madam Gu disagreed. “In any case, what matters most now is your elder brother’s marriage to the Commandery Princess. Once that’s secured, your own marriage to the Prince’s heir will fall into place.”

Gu Yunjiao flushed. “Who wants to marry him?”

Madam Gu looked at her shy daughter with amusement and said deliberately, “Oh, Marquis, it seems our daughter doesn’t want to marry the Prince’s heir. In that case, we’ll choose another. Once our eldest son becomes the Commandery Princess’s consort, the noble families will come seeking alliances, and then Jiao’er can choose as she likes.”

The Marquis of Ruyang simply sipped his tea and smiled, silent. Women’s chatter was beneath his notice.

Gu Yunjiao grew anxious. “Mother! The Prince’s heir said he’s fond of me. If I turn him down, how will I explain to him?”

Madam Gu laughed. “All right, all right, you’re delighted that the Prince’s heir is fond of you? Truly, daughters can’t be kept at home once they’re grown.”

Gu Yunjiao pouted. “Mother, don’t tease me.”

Madam Gu’s smile faded, and she spoke gravely. “If you and your brother want your wishes fulfilled, our Marquisate must get the Bai family firmly in hand, understand? So don’t pick on her for now. Once the Bai family falls, you’ll have your pick of their sachets, jewels, and trinkets.”

Gu Yunjiao snorted. “I don’t care for her vulgar things. As if the Bai family could ever recover after being raided.”

Madam Gu sighed. “Who knows how things turned out this way? Everything was arranged. The house was raided last night, and they should’ve been executed today—but then, out of nowhere, the Prefect of the Imperial Treasury had the Ministry of Justice suspend the case and merely had the house surrounded. It’s a pity your brother couldn’t bring back that treasure.”

Gu Yunjiao stared in shock. “The Prefect, Master Yu? He’d meddle in her affairs? She must have bewitched him!”

Madam Gu rolled her eyes. “What woman can get close to the Prefect? That little wretch could never seduce him.”

Suddenly, the Marquis of Ruyang set his teacup down with a heavy thud.

“That’s enough. You women are all alike—loose-tongued. These matters are not to be spoken of so freely.”

There were servants present, after all.

Madam Gu immediately fell silent.

Gu Yunjiao huffed, “That little harlot is always out and about, running all over the Bai family’s incense shop and workshop. With looks like hers, even if she doesn’t flirt, she’ll attract trouble. Who knows if she’s pure or not?”

Her words made Madam Gu’s eyes flash with intrigue.