Chapter 116: Punishment
Jinchao’s expression changed as she grasped the crux of the matter! Ye Xian noticed it too, further confirming his suspicion that Gu Jinzhao was withholding something from him.
She stood up and saw through the window that the Chinese flowering crabapple outside had begun shedding its leaves. In these turbulent times, it was no longer possible for her to remain uninvolved. After a moment’s thought, Jinchao finally spoke to Ye Xian: “Mr. Xiao must have secretly pledged his allegiance to Prince Rui. The ideas he proposes likely come from Gu Yingrui’s faction. I suspect Prince Rui isn’t actually plotting rebellion—he might be setting a trap for you to walk into… Young Master, heed my advice: do not act rashly, and do not believe any talk of treason! As for Mr. Xiao’s words… don’t trust a single one of them!”
Ye Xian fell silent. Gu Jinzhao had her reasons for not speaking plainly, but what she had said was clear enough. Whether Prince Rui truly intended to rebel remained to be seen. To understand what game Xiao Qishan was playing, they would have to observe Prince Rui’s next moves.
After a long pause, he spoke softly, “…When I was a child, I rarely spoke and disliked going out. So my master caught wildcat and rabbit cubs from the mountains to keep me company. He would weave grasshoppers and dragonflies from reeds, pick hawthorns in summer to make candied fruit skewers for me, and take me to the river to catch fish. The river crabs he found under the stones were only the size of copper coins, but they were delicious when fried. Once, when I was bitten by a snake, he was frantic—I had never seen him so worried before… He personally sucked the venom from my wound and nearly died himself.”
Jinchao listened quietly, saying nothing.
Xiao Qishan had raised him… How could their bond not run deep?
Ye Xian’s profile was bathed in a faint glow, his jade-like beauty accentuated as he lowered his eyes and continued, “I used to live with my master in Guizhou. He taught me to read and write, and I always thought he was a rare kind of good man—I even mocked him for his kindness… Why must such a man insist on revenge? I never realized he could be so ruthless.”
Jinchao murmured, “…The heart is a mystery.” It seemed the only words of comfort she could offer.
Ye Xian stood and smiled faintly at her. “Consider these words unspoken, Eldest Miss, and unheard.”
His trusted aide, waiting outside, lifted the curtain for him and draped a cloak over his shoulders. The two soon vanished from Beautiful Embroidery Hall.
Jinchao exhaled in relief, though a sense of loss lingered. Ye Xian’s final words… clearly signaled a deliberate distance between them. Perhaps it was for the best. From now on, she would be living with her ancestral family. If Ye Xian continued to visit her as frequently as before, it might invite gossip.
Before long, Gu Dezhao came to see her. After surveying the layout of Beautiful Embroidery Hall, he nodded in satisfaction. “…See? Your grandmother hasn’t treated you poorly.” Gu Jinzhao smiled in agreement. “Father, why did you leave the banquet? Have you had the glutinous rice wine yet?”
Gu Dezhao chuckled. “With your Fifth Uncle’s temperament, who could escape being pressured into drinking? If I weren’t in mourning, I’d have drunk him under the table… I heard you left the banquet and came to check on you in case you were unwell. This afternoon, your grandmother plans to take everyone to Dongshao Mountain, where Bao Xiang Temple is, to admire the autumn scenery. If you’re not feeling well, I can inform her so you don’t have to go.”Jinchao thought Madam Feng did one thing particularly well—she treated both her legitimate and illegitimate sons equally. The brothers were very respectful toward each other.
Father was indeed better off returning to the ancestral home than staying in Shi'an. At least here, he had people to drink and play chess with, discussing poetry and politics. Gradually, he could free himself from the grief of Mother's death and the matter of Concubine Song. At least he wouldn’t seek solace in religion anymore.
Jinchao said, "Daughter isn’t feeling unwell... Since we’ve just arrived at the ancestral home, I shouldn’t act willfully. What does Father think?"
Gu Dezhao laughed heartily. "Alright, Father won’t let Chaojie be willful. Come, have a drink with me!"
He then took her back to the outer courtyard to meet the Second and Fifth Masters of the Gu family. Jinchao glanced up. Second Master Gu Deyuan resembled Father but appeared more composed, with a cold demeanor. Fifth Master Gu Dexiu was all smiles and strikingly handsome—tall and graceful like a jade tree.
... No wonder Ye Shi married him!
During the banquet, Gu Jinxiao was talking to Gu Jinxian without sparing her a glance, but Gu Jinxian looked up and winked at her. The Second Master also had a pair of illegitimate twin sons, around five or six years old, dressed in identical Fu Lu Shou jackets, chubby and adorable. Seeing the two boys, Gu Deyuan said to Jinchao, "... It’s inconvenient for the children to stay here. Would you mind taking them to the banquet and rest area?" The banquet and rest area was where the women dined.
Jinchao nodded in agreement. The nannies looking after Hui Ge and Rui Ge picked them up and followed Jinchao to the banquet and rest area.
"... I went to Father’s table for a drink and happened to bring my two cousins along," Jinchao said with a smile. Once the children were set down, they both walked straight to Madam Feng to pay their respects first, then greeted Second Madam.
Second Madam smiled and took Hui Ge into her arms, saying to Madam Feng, "Look, Hui Ge has grown chubbier!"
Madam Feng responded indifferently with a hum but beckoned Hui Ge and Rui Ge over, asking them questions with a smile. The two children answered politely and well-mannered. Noticing their new jackets, Madam Feng asked, "... These jackets are lovely. Did your mother make them for you?"
Rui Ge, being more sensible, quickly replied, "Mother said it’s getting cold, so she made us new clothes to keep us warm!"
It wasn’t even cold yet, but they had eagerly put on the new jackets—clearly trying to win favor. Jinchao sighed inwardly, watching how carefully they spoke. Even at such a young age, their words were more refined than Gu Lian’s. Illegitimate children had it hard.
The Gu family’s women were seated at two tables. The three illegitimate daughters of the Second and Fifth Masters, Gu Lan, Gu Yi, and Gu Xi, sat at one table. Madam Feng, the wives, and the legitimate daughters sat at another. Madam Feng had the two boys dine with them and asked Fifth Madam about her pregnancy: "... You’ve already given birth once, so this should go smoothly. Give this old woman another grandchild—grandson or granddaughter, both are welcome!"
Fifth Madam smiled gently, while Second Madam’s expression stiffened momentarily. She had gone out of her way to please Madam Feng, only to be ignored. Fifth Madam didn’t need to do anything, and Madam Feng would eagerly fuss over her—all because of the Marquis Changxing’s family behind her!
Jinchao glanced at them, then lowered her head to eat. Madam Feng knew exactly how to handle people, and it seemed she had no trouble keeping Second Madam in check. Out of the corner of her eye, Jinchao noticed Gu Lian’s hand subtly reaching back to grasp Gu Lan’s, as if passing her something.The two of them moved quickly, handing over the items before resuming their meal as usual.
Jinchao turned her head subtly without a word.
After returning to Yu Liu Alley, Ye Xian sat quietly in his study. Resting his chin on the back of the chair, he watched expressionlessly as the turtle in the porcelain tank slowly extended its head before retreating again. Sunlight filtered through the lattice window in thin strands, gradually fading away. As the stars shifted across the sky, night had already fallen.
Gao Shi’s maid, Yu Qin, arrived to summon Ye Xian to her.
Ye Xian went over late at night, but before he could even bow and greet Gao Shi properly, she coldly ordered him to kneel. "...Your grandfather forbade you from leaving the house, yet you had the audacity to take Li Xianhuai with you to the Gu residence! Tell me, did you go to see that Eldest Miss of the Gu family?"
Ye Xian paused before replying, "Mother is overthinking this... I merely went to visit my elder sister."
Gao Shi trembled with anger. "Do you think I don’t know? I had Xu the guard secretly follow you! Gu Jinzhao had just moved from Shi'an to Daxing, and you rushed over to see her, even sneaking into her inner chambers. Tell me, are you trying to ruin her reputation or your own?"
Coming from a scholarly family, Gao Shi valued reputation and propriety above all else.
Ye Xian looked up at Gao Shi, startled. At the time, both he and Li Xianhuai had noticed someone following them, but they assumed it was Xiao Qishan’s men and paid no heed. He hadn’t expected Gao Shi to have sent someone after him... She truly didn’t trust him.
Gao Shi let out a cold laugh. "I was mistaken—how could you possibly tarnish the reputation of the Gu family’s young lady? Someone like her... someone so..." She struggled to find the right words. "Arrogant and unruly, with no sense of propriety. You’re the one ruining your own reputation! Your elder sister is her aunt by marriage—do you want her to lose face in front of the Gu family?"
"I always knew you were willful, but I never imagined you’d insist on getting involved with Gu Jinzhao... Are my words falling on deaf ears? Must you anger me to be satisfied?" Gao Shi grew even more furious, thinking of how her son had always been stubborn and unyielding. His father and grandfather had been so busy these days, yet here he was, sneaking into a young lady’s chambers! What if someone else had seen him?
Ye Xian remained silent. He had indeed gone to see Gu Jinzhao—there was no denying that. Nor could he explain the tangled mess of affairs to his mother. This habit of keeping things to himself was something he’d learned from his father; Marquis Changxing never troubled Gao Shi with matters from the official circles.
After fuming for a while, Gao Shi pointed to the green bricks outside the main hall and ordered Ye Xian to kneel there. "...Kneel for two hours, then go to the study and copy The Classic of Filial Piety . Unless I say otherwise, don’t even think about leaving this place in the coming days!"
Ye Xian frowned. This was a critical time—if he were trapped here under Gao Shi’s watch, what would become of the situation with Xiao Qishan? Her residence was nothing like his Jufeng Hall, where he could come and go as he pleased. "Mother... I don’t mind copying the book, but I have urgent matters to attend to. I’m afraid I can’t stay here..."
Gao Shi scoffed. "The Ye family isn’t so desperate as to rely on you to manage affairs. Stay put!"Ye Xian pondered briefly before saying, "...Then let it be. I'm accustomed to writing with that ink bamboo wolf hair brush. Mother, please have Zhi Shu bring it to me!" He walked outside the main hall, straightened his robe neatly, and knelt down without another word.
Gao Shi grew even more exasperated as she watched. Ye Xian's temper... who could possibly manage him? She waved Yu Qin off to fetch the brush from Zhi Shu. What else could she do? Even if she couldn't control him, she had to try—she couldn't let Ye Xian turn the world upside down.
P.S.:
Organic chemistry lab ran until 1:30. Lab classes are the most inhumane, which is why this chapter is a bit late.
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