Liu Yu Ru listened to Jiang Rou's words without making a sound. Jiang Rou waited quietly for her response. After a long while, Liu Yu Ru finally asked, "What was it like when you first married Master Gu?"
"Him?" Jiang Rou chuckled lightly. "He was quite reckless back then, keeping a mistress outside. Later, within three years of marriage, he took several concubines."
Liu Yu Ru's eyelids flickered slightly as she listened to Jiang Rou continue: "This was quite common, but I was young then, deeply in love with him, and couldn't accept it. I quarreled with him every day. After going through many hardships and weathering storms together for years, we finally reached where we are now. He settled down, keeping the concubines in the rear courtyard. They're all pitiable women, so they remain there to live out their days. If suitable matches are found for them, we'll provide them with some money to start anew."
"Oh, I'm not suggesting you follow my example," Jiang Rou suddenly remembered that this young woman was at her most sensitive stage and hurriedly added. "My life hasn't been smooth sailing—I was just speaking casually."
Jiang Rou then shared some more old stories. Seeing that Liu Yu Ru's emotions had stabilized, she urged her to rest and stood up to leave. Before departing, she asked, "Shall I bring Jiu Si back for you?"
Liu Yu Ru opened her mouth, then finally said, "Never mind..."
If he were brought back, she and Gu Jiu Si would likely have no way back.
Jiang Rou smiled, offered a few words about resting well, then turned and left.
After Jiang Rou departed, Liu Yu Ru sat alone in her room, motionless and silent.
Yin Hong entered quietly and whispered, "Miss..."
Liu Yu Ru raised her hand to stop Yin Hong from continuing. Softly, she said, "Let me think."
Yin Hong didn't dare speak further. She watched as Liu Yu Ru stood up and slowly walked to the chess table.
Liu Yu Ru had rarely played chess before. Although her mother hadn't restricted her, she always believed that needlework should be the foundation for a young lady. It was only after hearing that Ye Shi'an was particularly fond of chess that she had seriously studied it. Now, needing something to calm her mind, she sat down at the chess table.
Her expression was completely calm, showing no unusual emotions. Yin Hong didn't dare disturb her, letting her sit quietly.
Yin Hong remembered the last time Liu Yu Ru had been like this—when Zhang Yue'er had just entered the household and demanded that she and Su Wan move out of the main courtyard. Liu Yu Ru had cried and made a scene before Liu Xuan, only to be slapped and sent back. That day, she had similarly remained silent, shutting herself in her room. When she emerged, she began sweetly addressing Zhang Yue'er as "Aunt," henceforth behaving with perfect propriety and eloquence. Yet before that, Yin Hong still remembered, Liu Yu Ru had been a wild child who climbed trees, enjoyed playing with slingshots, and would argue with Liu Xuan to protect Su Wan.
She didn't know what Liu Yu Ru would do this time, but she clearly understood that Liu Yu Ru would definitely choose the best path forward.
Sitting at the chess table, Liu Yu Ru picked up a piece and began playing against herself. As the pieces landed, she felt as if everything about her was being cleansed by a torrential storm, tempered in scorching magma, crushed to dust, then reborn anew.
The most important ability in one's life is never how clever one can be during favorable circumstances, but how resilient one remains in adversity.
Quietly placing the chess pieces, she pondered slowly.
She knew well that she wasn't outstanding in any particular aspect—except that in terms of resilience, she possessed slightly more than ordinary people.
The ability to quickly adjust one's mindset, to learn rapidly, to adapt to the surrounding environment.Just as when Zhang Yue'er first arrived at the Liu family, she quickly transformed herself from a privileged young lady into an ordinary one, suppressing her hostility toward Zhang Yue'er and learning to be clever and obedient, thus earning affection under Liu Xuan and Zhang Yue'er's care.
How to win others' favor was something she learned from Zhang Yue'er; how to become a praised gentlewoman was what she acquired from the Ye family.
She possessed extraordinary learning abilities, and today, encountering Jiang Rou—a type of woman she had never seen before in her life—she meticulously dissected this woman in her mind, carefully contemplating all of Jiang Rou's logic.
She viewed the world from Jiang Rou's perspective.
Jiang Rou married a man she didn't particularly like, a man even worse than Gu Jiusi because he was frivolous and troublesome, with many concubines. Yet she never gave up, managing step by step to turn this man into the devoted husband he is today, committed to her alone.
It was said that in earlier years, Master Gu was not particularly wealthy and even somewhat dissolute, but the present Gu Lang Hua was now sociable and adept—perhaps this too was Jiang Rou's doing.
She spent a fortune on betrothal gifts to welcome a daughter-in-law for her precious son, went to great lengths to secure a dowry for her, and yet this daughter-in-law not only harbored resentment toward their family but also lacked any sense of propriety, speaking to her without restraint. Still, Jiang Rou remained unruffled, guiding and advising from the other's perspective, charting a path that benefited everyone.
In any other family, given the Gu family's power, with behavior like hers today, she could have been locked up and disciplined, or sent back in divorce—there were plenty of ways to make her suffer. Yet Jiang Rou reasoned with her emotionally and logically, hoping she would truly settle her heart in the Gu family.
Liu Yu Ru let out a long sigh.
To be in a high position without arrogance, to be in a lowly one without despair.
This breadth of mind was something she rarely encountered.
Yet, in the end, it was hard to accept. She understood the reasoning, but her emotions were difficult to rein in.
But she already knew these emotions could not continue. It wasn't a problem to suffer a setback once; what was feared was remaining trapped in emotion afterward and repeatedly making mistakes.
So she said nothing, simply sitting at the chess table, playing game after game.
Then she had Yin Hong summon all those who had previously served Gu Jiusi, making them recount his past in detail.
How he grew up, what he had done, what his temperament was like, what he liked.
She let them speak, listening quietly as black and white chess pieces clicked onto the board. In the sound of the falling pieces, she slowly pieced together Gu Jiusi's past and future in her mind.
She could roughly grasp the essence of this person.
He had a soft and kind heart, loved cats and dogs, and would feed stray animals on the street.
He had a sense of responsibility, often declaring that one should answer for their own actions, and feared most of all implicating the innocent.
He was deeply loyal to his friends, always ready to risk everything for them.
He dreamed of being a chivalrous hero, often fantasizing about roaming the martial world...
He tried every means to escape the Gu residence—digging dog holes, using ladders to climb walls, even crafting many climbing tools himself; he also loved hoarding private savings, with banknotes hidden all over his room to prevent his parents from controlling him with money; his martial skills were exceptional—even his former master now needed many people to subdue him...Liu Yu Ru desperately searched for this man's virtues, attempting to objectively evaluate his character—his kindness and wickedness, whether he was truly beyond redemption or merely overly naive.
By the third day, she had heard all there was to hear, and the flames within her heart had extinguished completely.
She lifted her gaze and finally spoke her first words in three days.
"Where is the young master?"
Hearing this, Yin Hong was momentarily stunned before collecting herself and stammering, "I... I'll send someone to inquire right away."
Liu Yu Ru nodded, then instructed Yin Hong to prepare hot water for her to bathe, change clothes, and apply makeup.
As she inserted the final hairpin into her styled locks, the messenger returned with the inquiry, respectfully reporting, "Young Madam, the young master is currently still at the Brothel."
Liu Yu Ru was not surprised in the least. Gu Jiusi had previously gambled for a full month without returning home—three days without moving from the Brothel was nothing noteworthy.
She nodded, rose to her feet, and first went to pay respects to Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua.
When Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua heard of Liu Yu Ru's arrival, Gu Lang Hua's hands trembled with fright. He swallowed hard, abandoning his teasing of the family parrot, and turned to Jiang Rou, saying, "My eyelid keeps twitching—I feel terribly uneasy."
Jiang Rou sighed and shook her head. "Let's just listen to what the young ones have to say. Best not to interfere."
Soon after, Liu Yu Ru arrived. Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua sat in the seats of honor while Liu Yu Ru paid her respects with utmost deference. Gu Lang Hua hurriedly urged her to rise, saying, "Our Gu Family isn't so strict with formalities. Please don't stand on ceremony."
"As a junior, I ought to observe proper decorum," Liu Yu Ru replied.
Her expression remained serene, her makeup lending her a refreshed and spirited appearance. Lifting her head gently, she spoke in a calm tone, "In recent days, I was unwell and failed to serve tea to my parents-in-law. I hope you can forgive this oversight."
"This isn't your fault," Gu Lang Hua retorted, his brow furrowing with irritation at the mention. "It's all that wretched Jiusi's doing. Yu Ru, you've suffered since marrying into our family. When Jiusi was young, he was often ill, so we dared not discipline him strictly. By the time he grew up, it was too late—but I never imagined he'd be this unruly. Just wait until I drag him back; I'll make sure he apologizes to you properly!"
"Father, you jest," Liu Yu Ru responded evenly, neither pleased nor displeased by his words. Her voice remained clear and measured, soothing those who heard it. She continued slowly, "The young master has always had this temperament—innocent and carefree. I am well aware of it. Since I have married into the Gu Family, I am now part of it. As long as the young master is content, that is enough. If he enjoys going out to amuse himself, then so be it. It matters little."
Hearing this, Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua exchanged uneasy glances. Gu Lang Hua grew even more apprehensive.
Had Liu Yu Ru openly vented her anger, he wouldn't have felt so unnerved. But her gracious words now triggered his intuition—disaster was looming.
Unaware of Gu Lang Hua's inner turmoil, Liu Yu Ru kept her head bowed, maintaining a posture of utmost respect as she continued, "I have come today firstly to pay my respects to my parents-in-law, and secondly to learn about the family affairs. I wish to understand what I should pay attention to as a member of the Gu Family from now on.""Nothing else, really," Gu Langhua said thoughtfully. "I just hope you and Jiusi can live a peaceful and smooth life, and when you have time, encourage him to be more diligent."
Hearing this, Liu Yuru pondered and hesitantly asked, "Father-in-law, are you hoping that the eldest young master will study and strive for improvement? Have you ever expressed this wish to him before?"
Liu Yuru was well aware that Gu Langhua likely hadn’t. If he had held such expectations earlier, given Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua’s capabilities, would they have allowed Gu Jiusi to grow up the way he did?
"Times have changed," Gu Langhua sighed, not hiding anything, just as Liu Yuru had anticipated. "In the past, we thought it would be enough for him to live a happy life, so we never pushed him to study or improve. But now it’s different. I hope he can develop some skills, so that even if the family can’t protect him, he can protect himself."
"Father-in-law, does this mean there’s some trouble at home?"
Liu Yuru turned her gaze to Jiang Rou, her eyes filled with doubt. Understanding her meaning, Jiang Rou didn’t beat around the bush and took over: "Although the Gu family is a wealthy merchant in Yangzhou, our roots are in the Eastern Capital. My elder brother serves as the Minister of Personnel there. Currently, the political situation in the Eastern Capital is unstable—His Majesty hasn’t held court for three months. My brother originally wanted Jiusi to go to the Eastern Capital, secure an official position for him, and then recommend him to Her Highness the Princess to seek a future. We don’t want Jiusi to get entangled in these matters, which is why we hurriedly arranged a marriage for him."
Jiang Rou’s words were somewhat disjointed, but Liu Yuru understood. If the emperor hadn’t held court for three months, he likely didn’t have much time left, which would naturally lead to a struggle for the throne. Gu Jiusi’s uncle wanted to secure his position by forming a marriage alliance with a powerful princess. But...
Liu Yuru frowned. The emperor had few heirs and had long ago designated the Crown Prince. It didn’t seem like there would be a succession dispute—so what was the Gu family afraid of?
Her thoughts churned, and the dream she’d had surfaced in her mind—
"After Prince Liang’s rebellion, Fan Xuan led troops into the Eastern Capital..."
"Back then, relying on their connection to Prince Liang, they acted arrogantly in Yangzhou..."
Her heart tightened, but she steadied herself and casually asked, "I wonder what stance Uncle holds in the Eastern Capital? Does he have any connections with any of the princes?"
"He stands with the Son of Heaven, of course," Jiang Rou replied lightly, taking a sip of tea. "We don’t have close ties with the imperial relatives, but I do have a niece who is Prince Liang’s concubine."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuru’s heart raced.
For the second time.
The events from her dream had come true again! Was it really just a dream? Was it all just a coincidence?!
Controlling her emotions, Liu Yuru picked up her teacup, using the action to buy herself time to think.
If that dream was real, how much time did the Gu family have left? If the Gu family fell, as Gu Jiusi’s wife, could she escape unscathed?!
Her palms were sweaty. After setting down the teacup, she finally spoke the words she had prepared: "Since the family is facing changes and the situation is no longer as it was, the eldest young master’s temperament really must change."
"A man may not necessarily seek wealth and glory or become a hero, but he should have some skills to rely on. Don’t you agree, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law?"
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