Chapter 58: The Old Madam's Heart
Although Liu Yiyi's self-directed "chance encounter" did not cause a big stir on the surface, it was like a stone thrown into a still lake, and the ripples eventually spread out and reached the ears of the people in the mansion who should know the most.
Inside Shou'an Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.
The old lady leaned against the warm couch, her eyes half-closed, listening to her trusted nanny, Fang, speak in a low voice. Fang was the old lady's dowry maid, holding a prominent position in the household, so she spoke with less restraint.
"...That's roughly it. Miss Biao waited in the garden for quite a while, dropped her book, and made all the right gestures, but the Duke didn't even stop walking; he just walked straight away." Granny Fang's tone was calm, devoid of any emotion. "Afterwards, Miss Biao threw a huge tantrum in her room, smashing quite a few things. The next day, the Duke reprimanded or disciplined all the people on duty along the western path. Now, if Miss Biao goes there again, she probably won't even be able to scare a sparrow."
The old matriarch slowly opened her eyes, her gaze revealing little surprise, only a faint hint of helplessness and understanding. Having lived to such an advanced age, weathered countless storms, how could she possibly miss the schemes and maneuvers of the young women in the inner quarters? That child, Yiyi, was proud and quick-witted. In the past, she had pitied her loneliness and harbored those feelings, so she had mostly indulged her, assuming it was just the behavior of a young girl. But now, it seemed those feelings had gone too far, and… were rather foolish.
What kind of person is Gui Ge'er? He's a man who's fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, a figure who can manipulate events in the court. His insight is incredibly sharp. How could he not see through her shallow tricks? This eager, affected behavior will not only fail to elicit pity, but will also only annoy her. Moreover, Gui Ge'er's heart and eyes are currently only on his beloved wife; they are deeply in love. Yi Yi's actions are nothing short of humiliating herself.
"This child... in the end, he just can't keep his composure." The old lady sighed softly, her voice tinged with age. "He used to seem quite clever, how could he have made such a foolish mistake in this matter?"
Granny Fang handed over a cup of ginseng tea and whispered, "Miss is getting impatient, isn't she? Seeing that Madam's position is becoming increasingly secure, and even the young master calls her 'Mother' so affectionately, if she doesn't do something soon, I'm afraid..."
The rest was left unsaid, but the meaning was clear. If Liu Yiyi didn't act soon, there would be absolutely no chance left.
The old lady took the teacup but didn't drink. Her gaze drifted to a golden osmanthus tree in full bloom outside the window. After a moment of silence, she said, "Haste makes waste. With her actions, she won't get anything out of it; she might even ruin it." She paused, her tone turning serious. "Gui-ge'er's attitude is clear. He respects Wanrou as his legal wife and will never allow anyone to challenge her position, not even someone like Yiyi who has a familial relationship with him. If Yiyi continues to be unrestrained and touches Gui-ge'er's sore spot, I'm afraid even I can't protect her."
This is the crux of the matter. Gu Yangui's tolerance has its limits, especially when it comes to Su Wanrou. His replacement of the servants this time is a clear warning. If Liu Yiyi continues to misbehave, the next time it might not be so easily dealt with. No matter how much the old lady pities Liu Yiyi, she cannot allow herself to create a rift with her promising grandson, the pillar of the Duke's mansion, for her sake.
Granny Fang nodded in agreement: "The Old Madam understands. Then... should this old servant go and give Miss Biao a warning?"
The old lady pondered for a long time, then shook her head: "A warning is only a temporary solution. She harbors delusions, and even if we suppress them for now, she will inevitably cause trouble again in the future. In the end... we have to find her a place to belong."
Upon hearing this, Granny Fang understood. The Old Madam was determined to completely extinguish Liu Yiyi's hopes and eliminate this potential threat to the Duke's mansion. Arranging a marriage for Liu Yiyi, finding her a suitable family to marry into, would resolve everything once and for all, which would be good for everyone.
“But…” Granny Fang hesitated slightly, “Miss Biao has high aspirations; ordinary families might…”
"High aspirations are desirable, but one must have the corresponding means to back them up." The old lady's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination. "Her parents died early, and she has no family to rely on. She has only achieved this respectable status because our Duke's mansion has supported her all these years. I have already done my duty by finding her a marriage with a wealthy and upright family, ensuring her a life free from financial worries. As for anything higher... unrealistic ambitions, it's best to put an end to them as soon as possible."
Having lived to this age, the old matriarch understood best that a matriarch sometimes needed kindness, but even more so, she needed decisiveness. To let momentary softness leave a troublesome element in the household, causing unrest, was the greatest act of cruelty. Now, she was increasingly satisfied with her granddaughter-in-law, Su Wanrou. She was sensible, virtuous, capable of managing the household, loved by her grandson, and relied upon by her great-grandson—exactly the kind of mistress the Duke's mansion needed. She absolutely could not allow anyone to disrupt this hard-won peace and harmony.
"Keep an eye on Yiyi's marriage in secret. If you find someone suitable, let me know first," the old lady instructed. "As for the present... I will find an opportunity to make Wanrou understand my feelings. I don't want Yiyi's matter to create a rift between her and me, or between her and the rest of the household."
two
Two days later, on the fifteenth of the month, it was the day when all the wives and young ladies of the household gathered at Shou'an Hall to pay their respects to the matriarch.
Su Wanrou arrived at the perfect time. By then, most of the ladies and young women from the second and third branches of the family had already arrived. Liu Yiyi was also already by the old lady's side, carefully massaging her shoulders, chatting and laughing, creating a harmonious scene of grandmother and granddaughter.
Upon seeing Su Wanrou enter, everyone rose to greet her. Liu Yiyi paused, then released her hand, stepped down from the bed, and curtsied respectfully: "Greetings to my cousin-in-law." Today, she wore a light pink dress, still looking charming, but beneath the deliberately feigned gentleness in her eyes and brows, there seemed to be a hint of barely perceptible stiffness.
Su Wanrou remained composed, smiling as she bowed to the matriarch and greeted her aunts and sisters before taking her seat in the place specially reserved for her below the matriarch. Her demeanor was poised and dignified; though the youngest, her presence already subtly made her the leader among them.
The old lady took her hand, looked her up and down, her eyes full of affection: "You look well, but you seem to have lost some weight. Have you been busy with household affairs lately and gotten tired?"
Su Wanrou smiled and said, "Grandmother, I'm not tired at all. There are established precedents for everything in the mansion, and with Uncle Zhong and the stewards helping out, I only need to do a little sorting out things, which is not a big deal."
"That's good, that's good." The old lady patted the back of her hand, her tone gratified. "You are a capable child, managing the household in an orderly manner, so that Gui-ge'er can rest assured in the court. Just take care of your health and don't overwork yourself."
The approval and care in these words were undisguised. Sitting to the side, the second wife, Madam Tian, smiled and chimed in, "Indeed! Since my niece-in-law took over the household, our household has become increasingly prosperous. Even our Xuan-ge'er says that the pastries in the main kitchen are now more exquisite and delicious than before!" The Xuan-ge'er she referred to was the second wife's legitimate son.
The third wife, Madam Zhao, also hurriedly smiled and echoed her sentiments. Although they each had their own thoughts, seeing that Su Wanrou's position was secure and that she was highly regarded by the Old Madam and the Duke, they were naturally happy to say some good things about her.
Only Liu Yiyi, standing behind the Old Madam, wore a somewhat forced smile. These praises pierced her heart like needles. In the three years she had served the household with utmost care, she had never received such generous praise from the Old Madam.
After chatting and laughing for a while, the old lady seemed to remember something and said to Liu Yiyi, "Yiyi, don't just stand there serving me, go sit down and rest."
Liu Yiyi responded with a soft "Yes" and found a seat at the lower end of the table.
The old lady's gaze swept over everyone present, finally landing on Su Wanrou. Her tone was gentle yet meaningful: "Speaking of which, Yiyi is already sixteen in the blink of an eye. She's reached the age where it's time to start thinking about marriage."
The room fell silent upon hearing this. All eyes, whether open or hidden, turned to Liu Yiyi and Su Wanrou.
Liu Yiyi suddenly raised her head, her face turning three shades paler in an instant, her fingers gripping the handkerchief tightly.
Su Wanrou's heart stirred, but she remained calm on the surface, only smiling and replying, "Grandmother is right. My cousin is in the prime of her life, and it is time for her to consider her marriage."
The old lady nodded and sighed, "This child has had a hard life, losing her parents at a young age. I brought her to the manor so I could take better care of her. Now, seeing how beautiful and sensible she has become, I feel both gratified and reluctant to part with her." She then turned to Su Wanrou, "Wanrou, you are now the mistress of the Duke's manor, and you have broad experience. If you come across any young men of good family background and upright character, please keep an eye out for them. We need to find a suitable marriage for Yiyi before this old woman can have peace of mind."
These words were practically an open declaration that Liu Yiyi's marriage was entrusted to Su Wanrou. It both acknowledged Su Wanrou's position as the head mistress of the household and completely extinguished Liu Yiyi's hopes for Gu Yangui—your marriage is to be handled by your "cousin-in-law," the proper mistress of the Duke's mansion. You should just behave yourself and wait to get married.
Liu Yiyi's face had turned from white to ashen, her body trembling almost imperceptibly. She lowered her eyes, not daring to let anyone see the overflowing humiliation and hatred within them. Was the Old Madam... going to abandon her? And hand her marriage over to Su Wanrou? This was utterly disgraceful!
Su Wanrou was incredibly intelligent and immediately understood the old lady's deeper meaning. The old lady was extending an olive branch to her, stating her position, and at the same time testing her to see if she could consider the bigger picture and handle the matter properly.
She rose, gave a respectful curtsy, and said in a gentle yet firm voice, "Grandmother, rest assured, I have remembered. I will take my cousin's marriage to heart and do my utmost to find her a good match that is suitable for all four aspects of her life. I will never let down Grandmother's trust and my cousin's kindness to the family over the years."
His words were impeccable, both accepting the responsibility and demonstrating his commitment to fair handling, thus giving the old lady and Liu Yiyi ample face.
Upon hearing this, the old lady's smile deepened, and she nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, I trust you with my money." She looked at Liu Yiyi, her tone still loving, yet carrying an unquestionable air, "Yiyi, now that your cousin-in-law has agreed, you can rest assured. Your dowry has already been prepared for you, and I will certainly not let you suffer any hardship."
Liu Yiyi's nails almost dug into her palms as she suppressed her turbulent emotions. She stood up, bowed deeply in the direction of the old lady and Su Wanrou, and said in a hoarse voice, "Yiyi... thank you for your kindness, Grandmother, and thank you... cousin-in-law for your trouble."
Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
three
After the greetings were exchanged and the ladies and young women dispersed, they all returned to their respective courtyards.
Liu Yiyi practically fled back to her residence. As soon as she entered, she shooed all the maids out, collapsed onto the bed, covered her mouth tightly with the quilt, and began to sob uncontrollably.
Disgrace! Utter disgrace!
She, Liu Yiyi, had fallen to such a state! Her marriage was to be arranged by the woman she hated most! The old lady's seemingly loving words felt like they were tearing her heart out! What had she become? A nuisance to be "properly" sent away? A tool to showcase Su Wanrou's virtue and magnanimity?
"Su Wanrou... Su Wanrou!" She trembled with hatred. "I will never let you go!"
Meanwhile, Su Wanrou returned to Qiwu Courtyard, but her mood was far from light. While the Old Madam's approval and entrustment reassured her, she clearly saw the barely suppressed hatred in Liu Yiyi's eyes. This was no easy task. The marriage she found for Liu Yiyi couldn't be too good, lest she use it to cause trouble later; nor could it be too bad, otherwise she wouldn't be able to explain herself to the Old Madam, and outsiders would accuse her of being intolerant and mistreating the orphan.
"Madam, the Old Madam has passed you a hot potato," Yunbin said in a low voice as she removed her hairpins and jewelry.
Su Wanrou looked at herself in the bronze mirror and sighed softly, "Yes. It's only right to do it well, but it's a mistake to do it poorly." She rubbed her temples, "Besides, with Cousin Liu's temperament, I'm afraid no matter what kind of family I find, she won't be satisfied and will think that I'm deliberately humiliating her."
Yuebai said indignantly, "What else could she possibly be dissatisfied with? The old lady has already said she would prepare a sufficient dowry for her, and you, Madam, have gone to great lengths to find her a suitable husband. You've already done more than enough. Does she really want to..." She didn't dare to finish her sentence.
Su Wanrou waved her hand to stop her: "Alright, since you promised Grandmother, do your best. Tomorrow, go find Gu Zhong and ask him to quietly inquire whether there are any decent young men in the capital who are currently seeking marriage. Their family background doesn't have to be too high, but their family traditions must be upright, and the young men must be ambitious."
"Yes, madam."
In the evening, Gu Yan returned home, and Su Wanrou briefly told him about what happened at Shou'an Hall that day.
Gu Yangui showed no surprise upon hearing this, and simply said, "Grandmother has always acted with discretion. This arrangement is excellent." He looked at Su Wanrou, "You can handle this matter as you see fit, there's no need to feel too much pressure. If she is unwilling to behave, the household rules will take care of it."
His words reassured Su Wanrou once again. His attitude was clear: everything was for her and the Duke's mansion's stability. If Liu Yiyi was sensible, she would find a safe home; if not, then the rules would be followed.
Su Wanrou felt a warmth in her heart and nodded: "I understand. I will do my best to handle it and not make things difficult for my grandmother and husband."
Gu Yangui reached out and pulled her into his arms, whispering, "You've worked hard." He knew that managing the household and balancing these complex relationships was no easy task. His little wife was growing up rapidly, facing all of this alone, and he felt both heartache and pride for her.
Leaning against his strong chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, Su Wanrou felt that the worries of the day were nothing at all. As long as they were of one mind, there was no difficulty they couldn't overcome.
Four
Since that day at Shou'an Hall, Liu Yiyi claimed to be ill and did not leave her home to pay her respects for several days. The servants in the manor were all well-informed, and news of what happened at Shou'an Hall had already quietly spread. Everyone knew that this young lady's good days were probably over. Those who had previously fawned over her because she was favored by the Old Madam had also become noticeably colder.
The coldness of human nature was something Liu Yiyi felt all too acutely in her room. The hatred in her heart grew wildly like a poisonous vine, not only hating Su Wanrou, but also harboring resentment towards the old lady who had "betrayed" her.
Meanwhile, Su Wanrou quietly began searching for a suitable candidate. She didn't make a big fuss, but secretly inquired through Gu Zhong and some reliable connections. She knew that this matter needed to be handled with caution; if it got out, it would not be good for Liu Yiyi's reputation, nor would it look good for the Duke's mansion.
That day, Su Wanrou was reviewing the information on several potential families that Gu Zhong had secretly handed her when the matriarch, Fang Mama, arrived, saying that the matriarch wanted to talk to her.
Knowing that the old lady must have something to ask, Su Wanrou tidied her clothes and followed Granny Fang to Shou'an Hall.
Today, only the Old Madam was in Shou'an Hall. When she saw Su Wanrou arrive, she dismissed everyone else.
"Sit down, child," the old lady said kindly, pointing to the embroidered stool in front of the bed.
Su Wanrou sat down as instructed and asked respectfully, "Grandmother, what are your instructions for summoning your granddaughter-in-law?"
The old lady looked at her with deep eyes and slowly said, "I called you here to ask about Yiyi's matter. Have you made any progress?" Before Su Wanrou could answer, she sighed again, "That child has been claiming to be sick and not coming out these past few days. She must be feeling very upset. I know this matter has troubled you."
Su Wanrou felt a warmth in her heart; the fact that the old lady understood her difficulties was enough. She replied truthfully, "Grandmother, your granddaughter-in-law is secretly looking for suitable candidates. I've already looked at a few families, all of whom are of respectable background and have strict family traditions. One family is the second son of the deputy commander of the Western City Military Command; he's eighteen this year, has already passed the imperial examination at the county level, and is preparing for next year's autumn examination. Another family is the only son of a wealthy merchant in the Southern City; they have considerable wealth, and the boy is honest and dutiful, learning to manage the family business..."
She described the several alternative options one by one, analyzing their respective advantages and disadvantages, without exaggeration or denigration, but simply stating the facts objectively.
The old lady listened quietly, nodding occasionally, a satisfied look in her eyes. Su Wanrou's work was indeed prudent and thorough. The families she chose all met the criteria of "wealthy and upright," ensuring that Liu Yiyi would neither be disgraced nor given the opportunity to take advantage of the situation—a perfectly suitable arrangement.
"You've considered everything very thoroughly," the old lady praised. "In your opinion, which one would be more suitable?"
Su Wanrou pondered for a moment, then said, "Personally, I think the deputy commander's family might be more suitable. Although he is the second son, he is still an official, and the child is ambitious. If he passes the imperial examination next year, his future is promising. If my cousin marries into that family, she will be a proper official's wife, which will be respectable. Although the wealthy merchant family is rich, they are still merchants. My cousin is ambitious, and I'm afraid..." She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear: Liu Yiyi might not be interested in merchants.
The old matriarch nodded: "You've thought this through. We'll do as you wish. First, we'll focus on finding out about the deputy commander's family. If it's really as you say, then it'll be a good match." She paused, looked at Su Wanrou, and her tone became earnest: "Wanrou, your grandmother knows that entrusting this matter to you is a burden and a difficult task for you. But you are the mistress of the Duke's mansion, and there are some things that you must bear. This is not only for Yiyi, but also for the peace of this family."
"Granddaughter-in-law understands." Su Wanrou stood up and said solemnly, "Grandmother, rest assured, granddaughter-in-law knows what's important."
"Good, good child." The old lady held her hand and patted it gently, her eyes filled with undisguised approval and trust. "Grandmother is at ease entrusting this family to you and Gui-ge'er."
Emerging from Shou'an Hall, Su Wanrou looked up at the azure sky and took a deep breath. She knew that through this incident, she had not only completely gained Gu Yangui's trust and affection but also truly won the approval of the matriarch, the most senior figure in the household. The road ahead might still hold challenges, but her foundation was now solid.
Liu Yiyi's marriage served as a signal, signifying that the last remaining element of instability within the Duke's mansion was about to be completely eradicated. The power of the mansion was truly and smoothly handed over to her.
End of Chapter 58
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