Men’s feelings are truly like the weather. When it’s sunny, there are clear skies for thousands of miles, treating you wonderfully in every way, so well that you think it will never rain again. But once it rains, all the preceding sunny days don’t count. The shifts between clear and cloudy depend entirely on their moods, and women can only endure it.
Gu Chaobei brought her back to the room, smiling as he said, “Tomorrow we’ll be returning to your family home. Have all the gifts been prepared?”
Shen Guiyan nodded. “All the proper etiquette is in order. We’ll be staying for three days—will you be able to endure it?”
Gu Chaobei flopped onto the bed and said carelessly, “What’s there not to endure? Returning to your maiden home, no matter how boring it is, I’ll stay the full three days.”
“Thank you.”
Her expectations of him now were truly not high—as long as he didn’t run off to the Drunken Flower Pavilion during the return visit, that would be enough.
Gu Chaobei rolled over to look at her. “Wife, I’m such a libertine—you truly don’t mind?”
Shen Guiyan raised an eyebrow and poured hot tea, casually handing him a cup. “Would minding help? If my husband enjoys that place, this wife can hardly stop him from going.”
“But other households’ madams would all be angry.” Gu Chaobei looked at her, displeased. “You seem to have no reaction at all.”
“Does my husband want to see this wife angry?” Shen Guiyan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Other households’ husbands all try their best to placate their wives. This is the first time I’ve encountered one who deliberately wants to anger me.”
Gu Chaobei was speechless. After drinking his tea, he pulled a straight face and tossed his outer robe on the floor. “I’m going to rest.”
“Very well.” Shen Guiyan stood up, reached down to pick up the garment from the floor, and prepared to hang it up nearby.
But just as she picked it up, she couldn’t help sniffing it. Shen Guiyan frowned.
When Gu Chaobei went out, he had been wearing this very blue robe with silver flowers and arrow sleeves. He had spent seven days outside without changing, living in debauchery, yet this garment was surprisingly clean, with no scent of rouge or wine.
“Can the Drunken Flower Pavilion also help people wash clothes, husband?” Shen Guiyan asked softly.
Gu Chaobei lay on the bed and rolled over, drowsily saying, “That precious establishment—who would wash clothes for you there?”
So this garment had not been washed?
How very strange. No matter what, after spending seven days at the Drunken Flower Pavilion, the garment should have been full of rouge and wine scents and dirty as well. Yet this one only had a slight sweat smell and wasn’t dirty at all.
After hanging up the garment, Shen Guiyan couldn’t help climbing into bed to study Gu Chaobei. This man had a weary appearance of excessive indulgence, with the darkness under his eyes quite deep.
She suddenly felt curious about what he had actually been doing these past seven days.
Gu Chaobei clearly wouldn’t tell her. Even asking wouldn’t yield answers. Shen Guiyan could only rest as well, waiting for tomorrow’s return visit.
The return visit was merely for the woman to go back to her maiden home to speak of how her days were going. With Concubine Qin already dead, Shen Guiyan truly had nothing much to say. However, following protocol, she still rose early in the morning to prepare for departure.
Steward Gu had prepared a carriage for them. Gu Chaobei looked as if he hadn’t slept enough, climbing into the carriage to continue sleeping.
Guiyan leaned against the carriage window, watching outside the whole way.
Recently, many refugees had come to the capital, all common people displaced by the floods in Qingzhou. However, the court had only provided minimal silver for disaster relief, and after being stripped away layer by layer, not a single coin fell into the people’s hands.
Thus the streets had many more people in ragged clothes, leaning against street corners crying.
Shen Guiyan’s eyes swept over many children sitting helplessly beside adults, gazing around. The capital’s residents all avoided them when passing by, let alone extending a helping hand.
“How pitiful.” Shen Guiyan sighed softly.
Gu Chaobei, who had been sleeping beside her all along, said, “The world is vast—you cannot sympathize with everyone.”
Shen Guiyan jumped in fright, turning to look at him. “You’re awake?”
“The carriage is so bumpy—how could I sleep?” Gu Chaobei leaned against her shoulder with his eyes closed. “I’ll sleep when we reach the Shen residence.”
Shen Guiyan nodded and continued watching outside.
Some wealthy official’s carriage passed by, and a group of disaster victims shrank back toward the street edge in fright. The carriage stopped, and someone laughed loudly, “Look at these people—they must have never seen such a grand carriage! Actually frightened like this!”
Shen Guiyan frowned. Looking out the carriage window, she saw that carriage playfully turn around and charge toward where the disaster victims were gathered, frightening them into scrambling and tumbling away in all directions. Then even louder laughter came from inside the carriage: “How entertaining! How entertaining!”
“Stop the carriage!” Shen Guiyan’s face darkened.
Gu Chaobei opened his eyes, following her gaze to look at the carriage outside, and chuckled softly. “Wife, don’t meddle in others’ affairs. Let’s just go.”
“That carriage clearly belongs to an official household!” Shen Guiyan was somewhat indignant. “Those who serve as officials should empathize with the people’s sentiments. Instead, they treat refugees as playthings, deliberately driving their carriage to frighten them. Should such behavior not be stopped?”
Gu Chaobei pulled her into his arms, laughing softly. “You should know that many things in this world aren’t right just because they should be done. That’s the National Uncle Wen’s carriage. Even if my father came, he couldn’t stop it.”
National Uncle Wen, the Empress’s own younger brother.
Shen Guiyan froze, then pressed her lips together. The Empress’s faction had always been arrogant, and the Emperor turned a blind eye. Loyal officials died in the court halls while treacherous officials ran rampant among the common people. Indeed, it wasn’t something a mere woman like her could stop.
But looking once more at that crazed carriage, then at the refugees crying and fleeing in all directions, Shen Guiyan said grimly, “They will have their retribution.”
“Mm, let’s go to the Shen residence first.” Gu Chaobei tapped her nose with amusement. “You girl, you don’t care about rouge and powder but instead care about the common people?”
“My teacher taught me so.” Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes. “If one comes from the common people, how can one not plan for them?”
Gu Chaobei was slightly surprised. “Your teacher taught you as if you were a son? Women govern the inner household, managing family affairs is sufficient. Leave matters outside to the men.”
Shen Guiyan looked at Gu Chaobei with complex eyes. She didn’t mind managing affairs within the Gu household, but as for matters outside—could this dandy actually involve himself in them at all?
The carriage had traveled far away and could no longer see National Uncle Wen’s atrocities. Shen Guiyan didn’t speak again the entire way, remaining absorbed in thought.
Gu Chaobei glanced at her. Only when they reached the Shen residence and were about to exit the carriage did he say, “Everyone has their duties—only then will the world not fall into chaos. Yan’er, you are a woman, so don’t think about saving the masses. You cannot save them.”
The corners of Shen Guiyan’s mouth twitched slightly. She hadn’t said a word—how did this man know what she was thinking?
The Shen residence staff had been waiting since early morning. However, Master Shen and Madam hadn’t come out—outside were the two household concubines waiting to receive them.
As soon as they saw them, Concubine Ding laughed. “You’ve actually arrived earlier than Fifth Miss. Perhaps with fewer things, the wheels run faster.”
For the return visit, one must bring gifts. Gu Chaobei was a secondary son, so naturally the gifts weren’t as plentiful as Gu Chaodong’s. No one expected that just as they descended from the carriage, Concubine Ding would make such remarks.
Gu Chaobei descended from the carriage first, acting as if he hadn’t heard Concubine Ding’s words. He turned and reached out, directly lifting Shen Guiyan down from the carriage.
Both concubines were startled, and Shen Guiyan’s face also flushed. She said softly, “What are you doing?”
Gu Chaobei smiled. “This husband cannot bear for you to walk more, so I thought I’d just carry you inside.”
Shen Guiyan: “…”
Concubine Ding and Concubine Fang didn’t know what to say for a moment. Being so intimate in broad daylight… well, they were husband and wife, so others couldn’t say much.
But these were two people who had married without any feelings—why be so clingy?
Concubine Ding snorted disdainfully and followed behind them all the way in. She thought, carry if you want to carry—at most it’s just an eyesore, what else could happen?
As it turned out, Gu Chaobei had planned this early on. Throughout the journey, he walked without watching the road, only gazing at Shen Guiyan with deep affection. “Are you tired?”
Shen Guiyan shook her head. Glancing at the servants around them who kept their heads firmly lowered, she said softly, “Husband need not do this…”
“I’m happy to.” Gu Chaobei grinned at her and carried her straight toward the main hall.
Master Shen and Madam Shen looked up to see Fourth Young Master Gu in a white robe with blue flowers and arrow sleeves, carrying Shen Guiyan with a face full of tender smiles as he entered the door.
“Greetings to father-in-law and mother-in-law.”
Shen Guiyan glared at him. If you’re paying respects, at least put her down—she hasn’t performed her courtesy yet!
Master Shen’s expression was somewhat complex. “No need for excessive courtesy.”
“Greetings to Father and Mother.” Shen Guiyan finally struggled down to the ground, straightened her clothes, and performed her courtesy.
Madam Shen laughed lightly. “Enough. It’s good to see you’ve returned safely. I happen to have some words to instruct you with—come with me.”
“Yes.” Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes and followed Madam Shen to a side hall.
Master Shen stood up, approached Gu Chaobei, and said, “Fourth Young Master, this old man has some words—I don’t know if they should be spoken.”
“Then don’t speak them.” Gu Chaobei replied with a cheeky grin.
Veins faintly appeared at Shen Shiqing’s temples. He didn’t waste more words with him and said directly, “Yan’er has married Fourth Young Master, yet I hear Fourth Young Master still frequently lingers in pleasure quarters?”
Gu Chaobei straightened his posture and laughed softly. “Indeed. It’s a man’s nature—how can it change because of taking a wife?”
“You…” Shen Shiqing had thought that before an elder, this man would at least restrain himself somewhat. Who knew he would be like this…
“Father-in-law, please rest assured.” Gu Chaobei smiled. “This son-in-law is truly sincere toward Yan’er.”
Nonsense! Shen Shiqing was so angry he took a deep breath. If this man could have a sincere heart, the sky would rain red!
“The imperial examinations are approaching. Does Fourth Young Master have no thoughts about them at all?” After calming down for a while, Master Shen asked.
No parent would wish for their son-in-law to remain without accomplishments forever.
Gu Chaobei smiled and shook his head. “Entering the officialdom is so boring. In this world ruled by women, what place is there for men to display their talents?”
Shen Shiqing started in alarm and hastily tugged at his sleeve. “Fourth Young Master, watch your words!”
Half the realm belonged to Empress Dowager Wen. If someone heard this, wouldn’t it bring disaster upon the entire clan?
“How boring.” Gu Chaobei pursed his lips. “Father-in-law, don’t worry yourself. This son-in-law has his own ways of making a living.”
With that, he turned and asked, “Which way to Yan’er’s courtyard again?”
Shen Shiqing was both angry and helpless. He had originally thought to pull some strings to secure a position for him, but who knew this man would be so unambitious? What a waste of all his efforts!