Chapter 199: Stepmother
When Ye Xian returned to the Marquis Changxing's residence, Gao Shi was waiting for him in the study.
"Your grandfather isn't feeling well and has already retired for the night. You unfilial child..." Gao Shi murmured softly, tears silently falling. "Our household is in such a state now. Your father's health has been severely damaged—he can't even lift heavy objects. The future of the Marquis Changxing's household rests on you. And yet, what have you done? Such disgraceful behavior..."
After Ye Xian had left with his men, the old marquis immediately sent people to follow him.
Though they couldn't see what happened inside, as the Changxing Marquis's Heir, Ye Xian should have been received with courtesy. Yet there had been no movement at all... something was clearly wrong. Gao Shi asked him, "What exactly are you trying to do? I've told you before—a woman like Gu Jinzhao is unworthy of our Changxing Marquis's household. Besides, she's already engaged to Third Master Chen..."
Gao Shi sat by the candlelight, murmuring to herself, her profile cast against the window lattice. Ye Xian noticed a few strands of white hair at her temples. During his father's illness, his mother had grown even thinner than his father. The jade bracelet on her wrist, which had once fit snugly, now hung loosely. The oversized sleeves and dangling bracelet made her bony wrist appear painfully frail.
Gao Shi sat with her back straight, refusing to look at him.
His mother had been a noble lady from a scholarly family, her calligraphy surpassing even that of ordinary scholars. She had lived a smooth and privileged life, praised by all for her grace and composure. It seemed as though all the misfortune she had ever encountered had been brought upon her by him, her son...
Ye Xian couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. No matter how much Gao Shi despised Gu Jinzhao, she was still his mother. He shouldn't have been so cold to her.
When he was deathly ill as a child, Gao Shi had stayed by his side day and night, playing string games with him and coaxing him to smile. Only when he wasn't looking would she secretly wipe away her tears, never letting her sorrow affect him.
The bite mark Gu Jinzhao had left on his hand still throbbed faintly.
Ye Xian sighed, his voice softening. "It's already Hai hour. You should go rest."
Gao Shi looked up at him, her eyes still red and swollen.
Ye Xian could only say, "Let me think about this alone, all right?"
Gao Shi finally stood up, as if she wanted to say something to him but didn't know how. Her lips trembled slightly. "This matter... Your grandfather and I have agreed to keep it from your father. Don't mention it to him either."
As she reached the door, she suddenly turned back and said, "I've watched you grow up. Others may not understand you, but I do." To her, Ye Xian's thoughts were easy to decipher. He always pursued what he wanted directly, no matter how unorthodox or shocking his methods might seem to others. In truth, this child was very simple—just a little slower than most.
"No matter how much you like her... it's impossible," Gao Shi whispered.
Ye Xian looked at her, puzzled.
Gao Shi's heart ached with pity. She could sense his low spirits, his hands hidden in his sleeves the entire time.
When he was little, he had adored his grandmother's Pekingese dog. Every time he visited, he would play with it, but children didn't know their own strength. After a few times, the dog would hide under the daybed in fear whenever it saw Ye Xian. Little Ye Xian would crouch by the bed, silent, with the same look in his eyes as now.
He didn't understand what he had done wrong—innocent and utterly lost."...You think about it yourself." Gao Shi smiled bitterly, then left the study.
Ye Xian lay back in the armchair, closing his eyes as he pondered for a long time.
In truth, he already understood—it wasn’t anything major. He simply liked Gu Jinzhao. Wanting to protect her, wanting to see her often—how was that not affection? It just seemed too late now.
As Gu Jinzhao had said, no matter how reckless he was, he couldn’t disregard her circumstances, her family, her elders...
Ye Xian opened his eyes irritably. He hated this feeling of helplessness.
He had countless ways to prevent Gu Jinzhao from marrying Chen Yanyun. But no matter what, it would hurt her. She couldn’t be as unrestrained as he was...
No matter how unwilling he was, he had to let it go.
Ye Xian lay back in the armchair again, but his mind had cleared.
So what if she got married? Did his affection for her require her permission?
He could just go on liking her—who would know?
Why bother about others?
Gu Jinzhao stood under the veranda, gazing at the red silk lanterns hanging from the eaves.
Madam Feng had only said one thing to her: "Think carefully before you act. You’ve always been more sensible than your sisters—your grandmother has full confidence in you."
After that, she went to the main hall, where guests were already waiting outside.
The Xu family’s sedan chair had already been carried through the main gate.
Jinzhao saw her father standing among the crowd, tall and silent, dressed in a dark red robe embroidered with floral patterns.
Xu Jingyi stepped out of the sedan holding a precious vase, crossed the saddle and the basin of coins and grain, and was led by a matron to perform the wedding ceremony. A lavish banquet of ham and shark fin was soon served in the western courtyard, with dishes flowing out one table after another. Her father drank heavily and was soon escorted by the crowd to the bridal chamber.
Jinzhao chatted with her grandmother until evening before returning to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall.
Now, deep into the night when all was quiet, she still couldn’t sleep. She draped a robe over her shoulders and stepped out to look at the lanterns.
The lanterns in the garden would remain lit all night.
Her thoughts were in turmoil—about marrying Third Master Chen, about the Chen family, about the child from her past life... What kind of future awaited her? And what had Ye Xian meant by his words earlier today?
Anxiety crept into her heart.
The next morning, Jinzhao inevitably felt weary.
Gu Yi and Gu Xi came to fetch her to pay respects to Xu Jingyi.
Jinzhao tied her hair into a simple bun, put on a pair of earrings, and went with them to the eastern courtyard first.
Along the way, Gu Xi asked, "Eldest Sister, I’ve never seen Miss Xu before."
Jinzhao replied, "You should call her Mother now."
Gu Xi hummed in acknowledgment, then whispered, "Have you met her? Is she pretty? Is she strict?"
Jinzhao smiled and patted her head. "You’ll see her soon. How could I explain in just a few words? Just don’t be afraid."
Despite Jinzhao’s reassurance, Gu Yi and Gu Xi were still nervous. They had heard that Miss Xu the Third’s father held a third-rank official position, higher than Second Master Gu’s. To them, Second Master Gu’s rank was already impressive. They had also heard that stepmothers often asserted control to establish authority, especially if the children were older.
After rising, the bride would first serve tea to Madam Feng and meet her sisters-in-law before the formal family introductions. They were going to the eastern courtyard to pay respects to Madam Feng and, by extension, to Xu Jingyi.Jinchao had just arrived outside the eastern courtyard with her two younger sisters when she heard voices inside. Upon entering, she saw her father and Xu Jingyi both present. Her father was dressed in a navy blue Hangzhou silk robe, while Xu Jingyi, tall in stature, stood only half a head shorter than him. She wore a bright red beizi embroidered with cloud patterns and had her hair styled in a woman's round bun, adorned with a simple yet elegant gold hairpin and a pair of kingfisher-feather bracelets.
Madam Feng, however, scrutinized Xu Jingyi from head to toe.
Indeed, she wasn’t particularly beautiful, but her gentle demeanor made up for it. Though brides were usually shy, Xu Jingyi carried herself with grace and clarity in her eyes.
...She wouldn’t be an easy one to deal with.
Xu Jingyi served tea to Madam Feng, who in return presented her with a red-lacquered box containing a welcoming gift. Xu Jingyi said softly, "Thank you, Mother."
At this moment, Second Madam closed her teacup lid and praised with a smile, "Fourth Sister-in-law is so well-mannered! I remember when I first came to greet Mother, my hands trembled so much I could barely hold the teacup steady..."
Xu Jingyi smiled in response. "I’ve often served my mother at home, so I’ve merely learned to be obedient..."
Gu Dezhao glanced at Xu Jingyi briefly.
It was then that Jinchao entered with her two younger sisters, each greeting everyone in turn.
Xu Jingyi nodded at Jinchao with a warm smile.
Madam Feng said to Xu Jingyi, "As a daughter of the Xu family, you naturally need no instruction in etiquette. The affairs of the fourth household have been managed temporarily by Chaojie and me, but it’s hardly ideal. Follow your second sister-in-law for a few days to learn the ropes, then take over managing the fourth household. With you overseeing things, I can rest easy... Raising children and serving your husband—fulfill your duties, and that will suffice."
After the greetings came the formal introductions to relatives and close friends of the Gu family. Once these were completed, the children of the fourth household followed Xu Jingyi back to her residence, Wanhua Hall, while Gu Dezhao first went to the study in the front courtyard.
The courtyard had three to five rooms connected by covered corridors leading to the front courtyard and Second Madam’s residence. Double-happiness characters were still pasted on the window lattices.
Upon entering the western chamber, Xu Jingyi sat on the kang and pulled Jinchao to sit beside her.
"...To meet again under such circumstances," Xu Jingyi sighed. "Who would have thought our bond would run so deep?"
Jinchao smiled and nodded, then called Gu Xi and Gu Yi over to introduce them to Xu Jingyi. Gu Lan, who had been lingering at a distance, stood coldly by a side table, watching them. Gu Jinchao didn’t call her over, and Xu Jingyi didn’t even glance her way.
Gu Jinchao had known Xu Jingyi before, and their relationship seemed unusually close.
...This wasn’t what she had expected. Shouldn’t the stepmother and Gu Jinchao be at odds? Why did they seem so harmonious instead?
After introducing Gu Yi and Gu Xi, Jinchao said to Xu Jingyi, "...Please don’t take offense, but Rong-ge is at the Imperial Academy and won’t be back for a few more days. He’ll come to greet you properly once he returns."
Xu Jingyi smiled in acknowledgment and had her maidservant present welcoming gifts to the three sisters.
"Naturally, Rong-ge’s studies come first. There’s no hurry for me," Xu Jingyi replied before turning to Gu Lan. "This must be Lan Er. Why are you standing there so timidly? It’s as if you’re afraid of me."
Gu Lan curtsied and said with a smile, "How could I be afraid of you?"
Once everyone had exchanged greetings, Xu Jingyi kept Jinchao behind to talk while the others withdrew. Holding Jinchao’s hand, Xu Jingyi spoke earnestly, "Chaojie, do you resent me in your heart?"Jinchao smiled and shook her head. "What do you mean by that?"
Xu Jingyi sighed in relief. "You're an understanding person... My marriage here has fulfilled my mother's wish, and I'm truly grateful not to have married into the Luo family. Actually... I have some idea why your father proposed to me." Ji Wu Shi had privately explained it to her before, along with the situation of the Gu family. Xu Jingyi found it perfectly normal—just a matter of mutual benefit.
Jinchao gazed at her youthful face, suddenly recalling how pale and weary it had looked in her past life.
Xu Jingyi continued with a smile, "...From now on, we'll be family, sharing both honor and disgrace. But you should first tell me about the Gu family's situation, so I won't be completely in the dark..."
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