Shen Guiyan frowned slightly. Her mouth had just opened to speak when Madam Gu above spoke first. “After all, blood relations run deep. How could feelings be damaged over some misunderstanding? Guiyan isn’t such a petty person. Yaer, you’re overthinking.”
They’d already said all the good and bad—what more could she say? Shen Guiyan stood to the side, her body stiff. Yet Shen Guiya came over to hold her hand. “As long as elder sister doesn’t resent younger sister, that’s best. If you truly cannot forgive younger sister, then younger sister has nothing to say, since I was in the wrong first…”
Shen Guiya’s expression was so sincere, her tone full of sighs and pity. Everyone in the hall listening would think she was innocent. If Shen Guiyan didn’t say a few forgiving words now, she would be narrow-minded, unable to get along with her own sister.
No one was paying attention to Granny Xu kneeling in the hall anymore. After Shen Guiya’s authentic performance, the blame naturally wouldn’t fall on her head again.
Shen Guiyan looked Shen Guiya over again, sighed, and had to sincerely admire her. She lowered her eyes. “Mother-in-law is right. How could I blame you?”
Shen Guiya’s tears turned to smiles as she said happily, “I’m relieved that elder sister has thought it through.”
Prime Minister Gu sat in the seat of honor without saying anything. Only after those below finished speaking did he open his mouth. “These matters of the inner courtyard should still be left to Madam to handle. Anyone who dares harm their master and slander their master deserves to be sent to the imperial prison. This matter need not be mentioned again.”
Madam Gu breathed a sigh of relief and agreed with a smile.
The people in the hall dispersed. Gu Chaobei pulled Shen Guiyan and headed outside. Behind them came Granny Xu’s crying and shouting. “I didn’t falsely accuse my master—it really was the First Young Madam who gave it…”
Shen Guiyan frowned.
“Fourth Brother, why are you walking so fast?” Gu Chaodong caught up from behind. Though he called out to Gu Chaobei, his hand reached to pull Shen Guiyan’s sleeve.
“Elder Brother.” Shen Guiyan called to him calmly. Gu Chaobei also stopped and turned around. Gu Chaodong coughed lightly and withdrew his hand, looking at them. “Fourth Sister-in-law just entered the manor and isn’t very familiar with it yet. I was thinking of having Yaer show her around…”
“No need for Elder Brother to concern himself.” Gu Chaobei curved the corners of his lips. “Yan’er needs to return to the Northern Courtyard to rest first. Yesterday was too exhausting—she probably doesn’t have the energy to walk around.”
Shen Guiyan: “…” Though it didn’t sound wrong, she somehow felt something was off.
Gu Chaodong’s face stiffened somewhat. He frowned at Gu Chaobei, who calmly looked back at him. The two remained in a standoff for quite a while before being interrupted by Shen Guiya catching up from behind.
“Husband, what are you doing?” Shen Guiya came over with a smile and hugged Gu Chaodong’s arm. Glancing at Gu Chaobei, she said, “Fourth Brother and sister-in-law surely need to hurry back to the Northern Courtyard. There are still so many people in the courtyard waiting to serve tea. Don’t delay them.”
Gu Chaodong took a deep breath and nodded, but couldn’t help opening his mouth like some romantic hero. “Fourth Brother, since you’ve already married Yan’er, don’t let her down. All those people in your courtyard…”
“Thank you for Elder Brother’s concern.” Shen Guiyan interrupted him. “Elder Brother should better address me as sister-in-law.”
Gu Chaodong froze. Gu Chaobei’s expression improved somewhat. “Right, we’re running out of time. Whatever Elder Brother wants to say can wait for another day. Yan’er and I will return first.”
“…Alright.” Gu Chaodong finally made way.
Gu Chaobei snorted lightly, grabbed Shen Guiyan’s hand, and continued toward the Northern Courtyard.
“Do you feel wronged?” As they neared the Northern Courtyard, Gu Chaobei asked Shen Guiyan this question.
Shen Guiyan was somewhat puzzled. “Wronged about what?”
“Knowing clearly who did it but being unable to make her receive punishment, only able to watch helplessly as she’s forgiven—do you feel wronged?” Gu Chaobei lowered his eyes.
Shen Guiyan laughed lightly. “What’s there to feel wronged about?”
In the Shen Manor before, this had been routine. She was already used to it.
Gu Chaobei stopped walking and turned to look at her with some surprise. Shen Guiyan stood properly upright, smiling. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m not someone who can’t bear feeling wronged, nor will I impulsively think about revenge. A person’s life is so long—what’s the point of being hasty?”
When one lacked sufficient strength, thinking about revenge only added burdens. Better to spend effort on oneself. Once stronger than that person, then there would be opportunities to properly settle all accounts.
After a daze, Gu Chaobei smiled, his expression relaxing considerably. He’d truly found a treasure—not because this treasure was so wonderful, but because she suited him perfectly.
“There are still many people in the Northern Courtyard who need to pay their respects to you. Don’t get angry.” Gu Chaobei smiled and continued forward. “I’m sure you’ve already prepared yourself.”
Shen Guiyan nodded very solemnly. Before marrying over, she’d done her homework. She knew exactly how many people were in Gu Chaobei’s courtyard.
Let’s put it this way—any young and beautiful maids the Gu Manor sent to the Northern Courtyard had all failed to escape Gu Chaobei’s clutches. At sixteen, this fellow had even seduced a concubine-born daughter from a steward’s family to come back as a concubine. Though he was the youngest young master in the manor, Gu Chaobei’s courtyard was the largest with the most people.
Shen Guiyan sat in the seat of honor in the Northern Courtyard and saw rows of maids standing below. The woman at the very front was about her age with gentle features. Leading a large group of women, she bowed to her. “Young Madam, greetings.”
This wasn’t just an inner courtyard—it was clearly a harem! Shen Guiyan pressed her forehead. With a single glance, without even counting, there were seven or eight girls. Gu Chaobei’s energy was truly quite impressive.
“No need for formalities. I’ve just arrived and will need all of you to guide me.” Shen Guiyan nodded slightly at the woman in front.
Jiang Shi returned the courtesy. “Madam is kind. There are quite a few maids in this courtyard—Madam will need to take extra care.”
Having said that, she had those behind her come forward one by one to pay their respects.
Shen Guiyan was grateful she had Baoshan beside her with a good memory, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to remember this string of names. Just receiving individual greetings took the time of three cups of tea. The only one she had any impression of was someone called Shuangjiang. Though merely a chamber maid, supposedly Gu Chaobei was quite fond of her.
Taking a closer look, she didn’t find anything particularly special about Shuangjiang. She was reasonably pretty, didn’t talk much, but was nimble with her hands and feet. She probably got Gu Chaobei’s favor by being hardworking and practical.
During her greeting ceremony, Gu Chaobei had already disappeared—off to play somewhere again. Shen Guiyan slowly settled down. After familiarizing herself with the Gu Manor’s environment, she began organizing and managing the Northern Courtyard’s affairs.
This marriage wasn’t something she’d hoped for wholeheartedly—it could only be called unavoidable circumstances. She neither liked nor disliked Gu Chaobei. But life had to go on. Shen Guiyan actually didn’t have any grand goals—being able to preserve herself was enough. If fortunately she could achieve more, then she would extend love to all under heaven.
The Gu Manor was, after all, the Prime Minister’s Manor. Food, clothing, and expenses were naturally much better than the Minister’s Manor. The entire manor’s expenditures were controlled by Madam Gu, but recently, since Shen Guiya had married in with her sweet mouth and ability to handle matters, Madam Gu had handed over the manor’s purchasing and meal coordination to her.
Breakfast had already been eaten. Lunch was taken in their respective courtyards. Shen Guiyan was somewhat surprised to see a pot of duck soup on the table, thinking the Prime Minister’s Manor was indeed generous—serving such rich dishes even on ordinary days without festivals or occasions. Usually, there would only be lighter meat dishes.
Gu Chaobei said he was out playing with some friends and wouldn’t return for the meal. Shen Guiyan didn’t mind. After the meal, she toured the Northern Courtyard once, then returned to read.
However, at dinner time, the table held a cup of bird’s nest soup and several plates of meat dishes.
Shen Guiyan held her chopsticks and asked Jiang Shi beside her, “Is the Prime Minister’s Manor’s dinner always this sumptuous?”
Jiang Shi shook her head. “Dinner is often light congee and simple dishes—that’s the way to nourish health.”
Then why were all these things sent to her? Shen Guiyan was very puzzled. She stood and said to Baoshan, “Don’t eat yet. Come with me to the kitchen.”
Baoshan acknowledged. The master and servant headed to the kitchen. Before they even arrived, they heard a maid’s clamoring voice. “The bird’s nest belongs to my master. Why was it sent to the Northern Courtyard?”
Master Chef Tian, who was cooking in the kitchen, waved his hand. “I’m busy here. Who can see who took what? If it was wrongly sent to the Northern Courtyard, just go get it back.”
The young maid Shuang’er was so angry she turned to leave, but was grabbed by Lin Danniang on the side. “Oh, my dear miss, are you really listening to that rough man and going to the Northern Courtyard to retrieve it? The Fourth Young Madam of the Northern Courtyard is the First Young Madam’s biological elder sister and a daughter-in-law personally selected by the master. Your master is merely a concubine—how would she dare compete with her?”
Shuang’er said indignantly, “Does having status mean you can randomly take other people’s things? That bird’s nest was bought with my master’s own private money. Why should it be given to her for nothing?”
Shen Guiyan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Baoshan beside her. Baoshan quickly shook her head. “Master, it wasn’t me who took it. Today’s meals were all actively sent by the kitchen.”
Shuang’er was gritting her teeth, wanting to find the Second Young Master to judge the matter. When she turned around, she saw Shen Guiyan standing outside. She was immediately startled, her anger diminishing considerably. “Fourth Young Madam…”
Shen Guiyan smiled at her, lifted her foot, and walked over. “I was just coming to ask why everything was being sent to the Northern Courtyard. So the kitchen sent the wrong things. The bird’s nest belongs to your master—just follow Baoshan back to retrieve it.”
Shuang’er stepped back, carefully examining Shen Guiyan twice. Seeing her very amiable expression, she bowed in courtesy. “Thank you, Fourth Young Madam.”
Then she left with Baoshan.
Shen Guiyan smiled at the people in the kitchen. Lin Danniang and Master Chef Tian, who had been speaking earlier, quickly straightened their expressions. “Why has Fourth Young Madam come here?”
“At this hour, I thought you’d all be very busy, so I won’t delay you long.” Shen Guiyan stepped forward two paces and discreetly slipped something to Lin Danniang and Master Chef Tian, then stepped back. “Seeing today’s meals, I know you’ve all taken great care of me, and I’m grateful. However, for future meals, please follow the proper rules to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. What do you think?”
There were quite a few people in the kitchen. Shen Guiyan’s action of slipping silver was concealed, but her words were open and clear. For a moment, everyone in the kitchen secretly glanced this way.