Rong Yuanyou did not catch up with the Gu sisters; instead, he was found by the maidservant from his mother’s side, who had come to deliver a cloak to him as per his mother’s instructions. The fief of Xiangxi Duke was located in Qingnan Prefecture, the southernmost part of the Great Ji, where there was no winter all year round. When Rong Yuanyou was young, he found the sight of falling snow in the capital astonishing, but he always caught a cold every year. Even though he was older now, his mother was still worried and feared he might get cold.
Rong Yuanyou accepted the cloak and began to ponder. He knew well that this marriage proposal would face opposition. If he were to ask Gu Zaili and then face family objections, it would not be good for her. It would be better to first convince his mother. He followed the maidservant to see his mother.
Madam Rong had been seriously ill for three years and had only recently recovered this year. However, her body was no longer as robust as before. Coming to the cold capital was somewhat uncomfortable for her. As soon as she arrived, the Tao family arranged a private room for her to rest and warm up her body.
The charcoal fire in the room burned brightly, and Madam Rong lazily snuggled on the beauty couch, holding a hand warmer. The traces of time and illness were evident on her, but she had not lost her former beauty and the dignity of a noblewoman.
“Mother, do you feel warmer?” Rong Yuanyou asked.
“Why aren’t you catching up with your old friends or accompanying your father to see the elders? What are you doing here?” Madam Rong asked.
Rong Yuanyou hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat next to his mother on the beauty couch.
Madam Rong gave him a surprised look and asked, “What is troubling my son?”
“I wish to ask you to propose a marriage for me,” Rong Yuanyou replied.
Madam Rong quickly put down the hand warmer and sat up straight.
“You’ve only been in the mansion for less than half an hour, and already a young lady has caught your picky eye?” Madam Rong laughed and asked, “There are no suitable young ladies in Qingnan, and which young lady in the capital has such great ability?”
Rong Yuanyou felt a bit guilty. He paused for a moment before speaking, “The Gu family.”
“The Gu family? When we used to stay at the Gu residence during our visits to the capital, I thought the second daughter of the Gu family was quite good and even considered bringing her back as my daughter-in-law. But you were all too young then, and later, she got married. I thought it was quite a pity. Wait a minute…” Madam Rong’s expression changed, “You’re interested in the eldest daughter of the Gu family who returned home after divorcing?”
“Indeed,” Rong Yuanyou replied calmly.
“Are you out of your mind!” Madam Rong swept the hand warmer off the couch in anger.
The two maids in the room quickly lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly.
Rong Yuanyou lowered his eyes and quietly sat on one side, saying nothing.
The room fell silent.
After a while, Madam Rong asked again, “Have you met her privately today?”
“No. She is unaware of my feelings,” Rong Yuanyou replied.
Madam Rong laughed angrily and asked, “So my son has a one-sided crush? You haven’t even caught up with the girl, and you’re already coming to me, acting all serious?”
“Yuanyou must first seek your opinion,” Rong Yuanyou said.
“Nice words,” Madam Rong sneered, “You’re asking my opinion? Are you trying to get me, the old hindrance, on your side before pursuing the girl?”
“Mother is not old.”
Madam Rong gave him a sidelong glance and lazily reclined on the beauty couch again, extending her hand toward the maidservant. The little maid hurriedly handed her another hand warmer and crouched down to clean up the one Madam Rong had knocked over.
“And how does my son plan to make her agree?” Madam Rong asked.
A look of panic flickered in Rong Yuanyou’s calm eyes.
Madam Rong sighed heavily and waved her hand, “Alright, go on. Don’t miss today’s great opportunity to network.”
Rong Yuanyou looked at his mother’s expression and was overjoyed. He quickly got up to thank her, “Thank you, Mother!”
After Rong Yuanyou left, Madam Rong’s brow furrowed deeply, and her heart grew restless. The Rong and Gu families were well-matched in terms of status, but… Gu Zaili?
Many mothers-in-law, when choosing daughters-in-law, did not favor those with overly seductive appearances, fearing they would seem petty and inappropriate for high society, or worse, enchant their sons, making them lose their ambition. However, Madam Rong believed that although Gu Zaili’s appearance was excessively beautiful, her demeanor and grace matched her beauty, and her character was also commendable.
Although Gu Zaili had been married once, Madam Rong only felt it was a minor detractor and did not mind much. A man could marry, take concubines, remarry if the wife died, or even divorce and remarry if dissatisfied, so why should a woman be expected to dedicate her life to one man?
Madam Rong sincerely believed that a woman who couldn’t manage her husband within marriage was useless, one who didn’t leave a bad husband was foolish, and one who lived off the government’s stipend with a chastity plaque after her husband’s death was pathetic.
What really concerned Madam Rong was… Gu Zaili was four years older than Rong Yuanyou!
If Rong Yuanyou were over twenty-five or twenty-six, marrying someone four years older wouldn’t necessarily be an issue. But Rong Yuanyou was only sixteen, and Madam Rong worried her son might be making a hasty decision at his young age…
After Gu Jianli and her sister left their father, they went to receive the female guests. As a married daughter, Gu Jianli didn’t need to be as busy as her sister. After entertaining some familiar lady guests for half an hour, she found an excuse to leave.
Gu Jianli had already learned from the servants that Ji Wujing had gone alone to a secluded pavilion in the northwest corner of the backyard. Since Ji Wujing hadn’t wanted to eat anything that morning, Gu Jianli feared he might be hungry, so she brought some food to the pavilion.
The weather was nice today, with plenty of sunshine and no wind. However, as they climbed higher, the temperature dropped, and a breeze picked up.
Gu Jianli placed the fish porridge on the stone table and pushed it toward Ji Wujing, saying, “Eat a little first. Who knows how long the luncheon will be delayed.”
Ji Wujing fiddled with the spoon, stirring the fish porridge. He took a bite, then listlessly continued to stir it.
“I just saw the Chen family’s grandson, and he was quite amusing…” Gu Jianli propped her chin on her hand and chatted incessantly about the interesting things she had just seen and heard.
Ji Wujing’s face remained expressionless. Occasionally, he would take a bite of the porridge and occasionally respond with a simple “oh.”
It was very cold outside, and after a while, the fish porridge had cooled, and Ji Wujing had only eaten four or five bites. He put down the spoon, looking displeased, and said, “It doesn’t taste good.”
“Then I’ll see what else there is to eat.” Gu Jianli asked Jixia to pack up the food box and walked down the high stone steps with her.
At the bottom of the steps, Gu Jianli looked up at Ji Wujing in the pavilion before continuing forward.
JiXiaheld back for a while but couldn’t help herself and quietly said, “Madam, I noticed that Fifth Master isn’t interested in the stories you’re telling. Why do you keep talking so much?”
“But I like telling him,” Gu Jianli said, her eyes curved into a smile.
After a while, she added, “He also likes to listen to me.”
Jixia shook her head. “Then I must be too dull to notice that Fifth Master likes to listen…”
Gu Jianli smiled without explaining. It didn’t matter if others noticed or understood. As long as she knew, it was enough.
This time, Gu Jianli brought fish noodle soup, two bowls. She sat opposite Ji Wujing, eating seriously. The steam from the soup brushed her face, making her cheeks rosy.
Ji Wujing originally didn’t want to eat but was drawn to her earnest eating. He couldn’t help but pick up his chopsticks and silently eat as well.
In the distance, the snow-capped mountains gleamed white, and faint laughter and chatter from the guests drifted up. In the pavilion surrounded by red plum blossoms on the artificial hill, the two of them avoided the bustling crowd, sitting across from each other, eating steaming noodles. It was more worldly than the mountaintop yet more ethereal than the banquet below.
As they were finishing their meal, Jixia sensibly ran off to get some fruits for them.
Gu Jianli took out a small bronze mirror to check her face. Her makeup was still intact, but the hairpin had shifted. She thought for a moment, then handed the small bronze mirror to Ji Wujing, asking him to hold it while she adjusted her hair and hairpin.
“Gu Jianli, why do I feel like your maid?” Ji Wujing drawled.
Gu Jianli, focusing on her hair, didn’t look at him and replied casually, “I feed you and take care of you, so I’m more like your nanny.”
Ji Wujing chuckled. “A nanny? Then why don’t you hold me in your arms and nurse me?”
Gu Jianli’s hand paused. She thought she was used to Ji Wujing’s lewd comments, but each time, his shamelessness seemed to reach new heights.
She glared at Ji Wujing and then said seriously, “Ji Zhao. Actually, I have a hidden ailment. My ears go deaf from time to time. I didn’t hear what you just said, and even if you repeat it, I still won’t hear it.”
Ji Wujing’s expression became equally serious. “Oh, I’ve long suspected you had a hidden ailment. Come, stick out your tongue and let Uncle see if there’s a cure.”
Gu Jianli stifled a laugh and obediently stuck out her little tongue. Her lips were bright red and her pink, moist tongue peeked out.
Ji Wujing suddenly leaned forward and bit her protruding tongue tip.
Gu Jianli’s eyes widened in shock. She pushed Ji Wujing away and quickly turned to look down. A row of maids carrying vases was just passing by the foot of the artificial hill, but they didn’t notice anyone above.
Her heart pounded like a drum, with two small mallets thudding on it.
Once the maids had walked away, Gu Jianli lowered her voice and scolded, “How can you fool around outside!”
Ji Wujing, with a playful smile, placed his hands on Gu Jianli’s cheeks. “My little Lili’s face is red again. Let Uncle cool it down for you so outsiders won’t laugh.”
Gu Jianli pouted and pushed his hands away. She lifted her skirt and got up from the stone stool, walked to a nearby long bench, leaned against the carved pillar of the pavilion, and pressed her face to the cool, carved wood to cool down.
The red plum blossoms, reaching into the pavilion, hung above her head. As a breeze blew, a few petals drifted down, one landing in her raven hair and another on her shoulder.
Ji Wujing licked his lips. “It’s fun, isn’t it? Others are nearby but can’t see us fooling around.”
Gu Jianli covered her ears.
Ji Wujing pulled Gu Jianli up and pressed her against the carved red pillar, biting the red lips he had long desired.
The red plum blossoms concealed their figures.
Gu Jianli heard the laughter of maidservants in the distance, the greetings of young gentlemen, and the approaching and receding footsteps.
Ji Wujing placed his hand over Gu Jianli’s heart, feeling her pounding heartbeat.
Gu Jianli also heard it. She wanted to push Ji Wujing’s hand away but ended up clutching his sleeve instead.
Ji Wujing leaned close to her ear, chuckling softly, his voice deep and low, “Actually, when Uncle taught you self-defense, he left out a move. The ultimate technique is not squeezing but biting. Do you want to learn?”
Here it was—the grudge from the carriage in the morning was finally being avenged.