Baoshan unhappily stamped her foot. Seeing her mistress’s insistent expression, she had no choice. She could only go to the makeup box to take some of Shen Guiyan’s dowry silver, then went out to find a reliable servant and actually had the silver sent over.
“Miss, this servant doesn’t mean to speak out of turn, but with the Fourth Young Master’s temperament, are you really just going to let him do as he pleases?” Baoshan turned back and said: “You married in and just stay in the courtyard every day like this—won’t the days be so boring?”
Shen Guiyan nodded: “I’ve thought about it already. The days can’t continue like this.”
Baoshan brightened: “Does Miss have a way to win back the Fourth Young Master’s heart?”
“No,” Shen Guiyan shook her head. “I’m thinking I can still do some other things myself, so the days won’t be wasted.”
Baoshan’s face fell: “You’ve already married in. Aside from winning the Fourth Young Master’s heart, what else can Miss do?”
Shen Guiyan’s eyes were bright, looking at what remained in her makeup box: “There are some things I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but previously didn’t have the opportunity. Now at the Prime Minister’s residence, with status and silver, naturally I should do them. I won’t tell you what yet. Today, first help me make a trip to the south of the city and deliver a letter to Master Zhou.”
Master Zhou was Shen Guiyan’s childhood teacher. After she turned fourteen, the master said there was nothing more to teach her, and thus departed.
Baoshan dejectedly agreed, watching her mistress happily write the letter, truly unable to feel happy herself.
In this courtyard, unable to keep her own husband, not knowing how much gossip would be said behind her back—only Miss could not care.
The south of the city was quite far from here. Baoshan wouldn’t be able to return tonight. Shen Guiyan also felt this was fine and found books to read in the North Courtyard by herself.
“Fourth Young Madam,” Yushu came with a bright smile. As soon as she entered, she looked around: “Baoshan isn’t here?”
Shen Guiyan didn’t lift her head: “Are you looking for her about something?”
“Ah, no,” Yushu smiled. “I heard the Fourth Young Master is spending the night out again. My mistress worried the Fourth Young Madam would be bored, so she specially prepared dinner in the East Courtyard and invites the Fourth Young Madam to come share it.”
Dinner? Shen Guiyan looked up outside and only then realized it was already dusk.
“Going to the East Courtyard for dinner seems rather troublesome?” Shen Guiyan stood up. “How about…”
“Fourth Young Madam need not decline,” Yushu stepped forward, sincerely supporting her arm. “Since you entered the residence, you and my mistress haven’t been able to sit down and have a proper talk. The First Young Master isn’t here today either, so my mistress invited you over to have an intimate conversation.”
Gu Chaodong wasn’t there? Shen Guiyan felt more at ease. Yushu used some force supporting her arm. Too lazy to struggle, she nodded: “Then let’s go.”
“Yes, please come with this servant,” Yushu smiled very attentively, leading her all the way to the East Courtyard while continuously talking along the way.
“My mistress’s heart is also bitter. The First Young Master’s heart was set on marrying you—he showed my mistress no small amount of displeasure. With so many people in this residence causing difficulties, my mistress has secretly cried several times already.”
“After all, you’re blood sisters. My mistress has always hoped for you to come. Those old matters from the past—we were young and didn’t understand. Only after marrying does one realize that only blood relatives can be relied upon.”
Shen Guiyan listened quietly, not at all swayed by her words. What kind of person Shen Guiya was, she had her own measure in her heart. Compared to others’ words, she trusted her own judgment more.
But if Yushu wanted to talk, she wouldn’t interrupt.
Arriving at the East Courtyard, a feast was indeed already laid out in the main room, with only Shen Guiya sitting there alone.
“Third Sister,” seeing her enter, Shen Guiya’s eyes reddened slightly as she smiled. “I’m glad you were willing to come.”
Shen Guiyan nodded and sat down. Shen Guiya affectionately moved close beside her: “I prepared many dishes, just afraid you wouldn’t come and I’d have to eat alone. Didn’t Sister used to love vegetarian dishes most? I specially instructed the kitchen to prepare all the fresh vegetarian food.”
Seven or eight plates on the table—though there were few meat dishes, this arrangement wasn’t what they should normally have.
As expected of someone managing the kitchen, she had given herself quite a few conveniences. Shen Guiyan smiled faintly: “Sister-in-law, just say whatever you want to say directly.”
Shen Guiya was stunned, then laughed dryly: “I just wanted to talk with Sister. If Sister still hates me in her heart, then I’ll apologize to Sister. If you don’t hate me anymore, will Sister have a drink with me?”
Shen Guiyan smiled softly, looking at her eyes without speaking.
Her back felt cold from that gaze. Shen Guiya pressed her lips together, composed herself and said: “I know, stealing your marriage—you find it very hard to forgive me. But life must go on. We can’t keep hating each other forever, can we?”
“I’ve never hated you,” Shen Guiyan spoke. “Hating people is too exhausting.”
Shen Guiya raised her eyebrows, somewhat disdainful in her heart. This duplicitous woman—bullied by Shen Guiya all through childhood, then had her marriage stolen when grown up, yet she said she didn’t hate? How hypocritical.
“If you don’t hate me, then why does Sister always maintain such distance from me?” Shen Guiya asked with a smile.
Shen Guiyan said calmly: “Not hating you doesn’t mean I like you.”
What Shen Guiya had done so far was truly enough to make one dislike her. But it could only be dislike. Shen Guiyan felt hating people was too tiring, constantly carrying a burden. Dislike was much better—only feeling it when seeing the person, not putting them in her heart at ordinary times.
Why constantly dwell on terrible people to punish oneself?
Shen Guiya gave a soft “hmph,” her expression gloomy for an instant before recovering her smile. Who wanted to discuss whether she hated or not here? She hated this person thoroughly anyway—an eyesore who should be eliminated sooner rather than later.
“Then this cup of wine is my apology to Sister.”
Shen Guiya handed the wine to Shen Guiyan: “Today happens to be when both Chaodong and Chaobei aren’t here. We sisters can drink some wine together and improve our feelings.”
Shen Guiyan glanced at her and shook her head: “I don’t drink alcohol.”
“Just drink a little,” Shen Guiya pouted. “If you still want to get along well in the future, then drink some.”
Half threatening, half coquettish—Shen Guiyan felt this wasn’t at all like the former Shen Guiya.
Taking the wine cup, Shen Guiyan blocked it with her sleeve and pretended to take a sip. She didn’t dare actually drink it.
Shen Guiya still smiled happily, adding food to her bowl: “Come, eat more. I wronged you before. Now that I’m managing half this Prime Minister’s residence, naturally I’ll compensate you properly.”
Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes, ate a few bites, and her vision became somewhat blurred.
“I’m a bit sleepy. I should go back first,” she stood up, swaying slightly.
Shen Guiya grabbed her, saying: “Such a good opportunity—how wasteful to let you leave like this? Sister, sit down and chat more with me. Don’t you like Chaodong?”
Shen Guiyan was stunned and frowned: “When married, follow your husband. Since marrying in, I haven’t thought of him even once. Chaobei is my husband.”
“Tsk tsk, still so loyal and devoted,” Shen Guiya said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “If you truly haven’t been thinking of him, why were you whispering with him in the garden? Knowing he’s taking the examinations and might place first, are you finding yourself a backup?”
Shen Guiyan wanted to shake her head, but her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Once closed, she could never open them again, only able to hear Shen Guiya’s voice by her ear: “Don’t you like Chaodong and want to wait for him? Come, I’ll take you to wait for him.”
The door opened—Yushu seemed to come in. Shen Guiyan felt herself being carried on someone’s back, heading outside.
She had been careless. Not drinking alcohol, yet still fell for the trick. Shen Guiya had also learned to be clever—what method had she used this time?
Her body was placed on a bed—the bed Gu Chaodong used when resting alone. Shen Guiyan desperately wanted to wake up, but even her last bit of consciousness was leaving her.
If she fell asleep like this and Gu Chaodong returned, what would happen? Shen Guiyan didn’t even want to think about it. She pinched her hand hard trying to regain some clarity, but still couldn’t hold on and fell into darkness.
Gu Chaobei was drinking at the Drunken Flower Pavilion with singing girls beside him. Countless people passing by the private room could see Fourth Young Master Gu’s debauched manner inside.
“Master,” Zhuiyun entered, holding a cloth bundle in his hands, his expression very strange. “The Young Madam sent someone.”
The singing girl stopped, laughing coquettishly: “Look at that—even the most educated and proper person will get angry. She must be here to urge the Fourth Young Master to return.”
Gu Chaobei smiled and said loudly: “Things from home—after seeing them for one day, they’re no longer rare. No matter how she urges, I won’t go back.”
Zhuiyun lowered his eyes: “Master, the Young Madam didn’t come to urge you. Rather… she had someone send silver.”
Everyone in the room was stunned. Gu Chaobei also paused and raised his eyebrows: “Silver?”
“She said she was afraid this servant didn’t bring enough silver, so she had someone send more over,” Zhuiyun held the cloth bag, rather bemused.
Gu Chaobei’s expression didn’t look good. He scoffed lightly: “This wife was well-chosen. Look at that—extremely generous and virtuous.”
“Virtuous is truly virtuous,” spoke a young master sitting on the other side. “But it also shows Miss Shen the Third doesn’t hold you in her heart. When ordinary wives hear their husbands are soaking in brothels, which one doesn’t get furiously angry? Even the well-mannered ones at most turn a blind eye. Never seen one who instead sends silver.”
“Right,” Gu Chaobei’s childhood friend Ye Wendao also smiled. “I heard that Miss Shen the Third and your eldest brother were the ones who were mutually in love. She must still not have let go of your eldest brother in her heart, so she’s this tolerant toward you.”
Not in her heart at all, so she didn’t care.
Gu Chaobei’s expression grew even uglier: “I invited you all to drink for enjoyment. Can you not add to my troubles?”
“Oh my, Fourth Young Master Gu is angry,” Ye Wendao laughed heartily, raising his cup. “I apologize—I shouldn’t have spoken the truth. What I just said, I’ll swallow it all down with this cup of wine.”
Gu Chaobei snorted coldly and raised his hand slightly. The singing girl beside him continued playing.
Brothels were always where news spread fastest. Just as they were talking here, somehow word spread from somewhere, saying Fourth Young Master Gu and Miss Shen the Third were actually only harmonious in appearance but estranged at heart.
“I’m leaving for a bit,” after several rounds of wine, Gu Chaobei stood up drunkenly.