Chapter 102: Rumors Begin
After the snow cleared, undercurrents were quietly swirling at the warm tea parties in the mansions of the great families in the capital.
The plum blossom viewing banquet at the Yongting Marquis's residence seems like only yesterday, and the joyous news of the Duke of Zhenguo's wife's pregnancy was the talk of the town. However, in just over a month, some discordant notes, like moss in a corner, have quietly sprouted in the shadows where the sun doesn't reach.
That day, the wife of the heir of the Duke of Ying's mansion hosted a small banquet, inviting several familiar young ladies to enjoy tea and chat. Su Wanrou, needing to recuperate, was not among the invitees. The warm pavilion was filled with the fragrance of incense, and several elegantly dressed young women sat around chatting and laughing. Somehow, the conversation turned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
“Speaking of Madam Gu, she is truly blessed.” A lady dressed in a crimson-purple embroidered jacket and skirt slowly stirred her teacup. She was Zhao, the daughter-in-law of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. “She has only been married for a short time, and she is already pregnant. The Duke of Zhenguo has been hoping for a child for many years.”
Her words sounded envious, but the ending tone was subtly drawn out.
A lady dressed in a light green brocade satin immediately chimed in. She was Madam Wang, the young mistress of the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion, the one who had probed at the last plum blossom banquet: "Isn't that right? Speaking of which, Madam Gu's month... it seems to be only a little over two months? I vaguely remember that the spring hunt was in March, so it's November now..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the silence she left was enough for everyone present to understand. The spring hunt that startled the horse happened in March, the bestowed marriage was in early April, and the wedding was in mid-May. If we trace back more than two months of pregnancy, wouldn't the time of conception have been during the honeymoon? The timing was so "precise," it inevitably sparked speculation.
Another lady covered her mouth with a round fan and chuckled softly, "Oh dear, now that Sister Wang says that... could it be 'double happiness'? The Duke is indeed... decisive and efficient." The implication in her words was even more explicit, almost implying that Su Wanrou had a pre-marital affair, which was why the Duke was so eager to marry her.
"Shh! Watch your words!" The wife of the Duke of England frowned and stopped her. "Although Madam Gu is young, she is a proper Duchess, someone valued by His Majesty and the Empress. How can she say such things carelessly?"
Madam Zhao, however, disagreed, letting out a light snort: "The young master's wife is just too cautious. We were just having a few casual words between sisters. Besides, aren't there plenty of scandals in these grand mansions? Remarrying, especially with such an age difference, if there weren't some special reasons, why would the Duke, a man of such stature, be in such a hurry? I've heard that from the initial engagement to the wedding, it was astonishingly fast."
Madam Wang chimed in, "That's exactly right. And have you noticed? Madam Gu looks delicate and frail, but her methods are anything but simple. In such a short time, she has not only completely controlled the Duke, but even the young heir is completely subservient to her, calling her 'Mother' affectionately. She also firmly grasps the management of the household... and now she's pregnant so quickly, her position is as secure as a mountain."
In his words, he twisted Su Wanrou's gentleness, intelligence, and ability to manage a household into a scheming "tactic".
The phrase "rising to power through one's son," though not explicitly stated, cast an invisible shadow over the discussions surrounding the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. These rumors circulated among the peripheral figures of several noble circles, and while they had not yet reached the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion at the center of the storm, their poisonous seeds had already been sown.
A few days later, Su Wanrou, as usual, summoned the people in the mansion's sewing room to prepare new clothes for the upcoming New Year and the beginning of spring. When the head maid presented the fabric samples, she smiled and added, "Now that Madam is pregnant, her figure will surely change in the future. Why don't you make a few more loose-fitting spring clothes in advance? According to the date, April or May next year is the time when spring clothes are thin, which is also the time when Madam will give birth."
What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Su Wanrou paused slightly as she took the fabric sample, but her face still held a gentle smile as she replied, "Granny, you've thought this through. Let's do it your way."
However, after the people from the sewing room left, Su Wanrou sat alone in the warm pavilion, gazing at the withered branches outside the window, a vague sense of unease washing over her. She was due to give birth in April or May… She subconsciously touched her lower abdomen. This time of year was so close to her wedding date; could it be… that someone was also calculating and speculating behind her back?
She was no naive young girl; she knew all too well the power of gossip within the confines of a high-ranking family. Having married as a second wife to a man of high status and significantly older than her, she was already a natural target for attention and discussion. Her rapid pregnancy, though a natural consequence of their deep affection, would inevitably lead to unsavory speculations in the eyes of some with malicious intent.
A trace of grievance and unease, like tiny ice spikes, quietly pierced her heart. Her feelings for her husband were clearly pure and innocent, beginning with the accidental rescue of a beauty at the hunting grounds and developing through the little things they did together after marriage. Why should she have to endure such unfounded suspicion?
"Mother, what's wrong?" Mingxuan rushed into the warm room like a little furnace after school. He keenly noticed that Su Wanrou was in a low mood, so he leaned on her knees and looked up at her to ask, "Is it because your younger brother and sister are being naughty that you're upset?"
The child's innocent concern instantly dispelled the gloom in Su Wanrou's heart. She pulled Mingxuan into her arms, kissed his forehead, and said softly, "No, your younger brother and sister are very well-behaved. Mother just... misses Father a little."
She couldn't, and shouldn't, let these vile rumors affect her or her family. She trusted her husband, and even more so, she trusted the love between them.
However, the rumors did not cease simply because the parties involved were open about it. A few days later, Su Wanrou sent Qingdai to the largest jewelry store in the capital to pick up a set of jewelry that had been ordered long ago, intending to give it as a New Year's gift. When Qingdai returned, her expression was rather unpleasant, and she seemed hesitant to speak.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem with your headdress?" Su Wanrou asked.
Qingdai shook her head, hesitated for a moment, and then said indignantly, "Madam, the jewelry is fine, the workmanship is excellent. It's just... but I overheard two unfamiliar ladies picking out jewelry in the silver shop, and in their conversation... it seemed they mentioned our household, and what they said... was very unpleasant to hear."
Su Wanrou's heart sank slightly, but her face remained calm: "Oh? What did you say?"
Qingdai recounted indignantly, "They said something like, 'The new lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion looks young, but she's got some tricks up her sleeve. She's only been a few months and she's already got a gold nugget.' They also said... they also said, 'No wonder the Duke was in such a hurry to marry her back then, he probably already...' I didn't hear the rest, but it certainly wasn't anything nice! Madam, how could they talk such nonsense!"
Sure enough... the rumors spread, even reaching the common people. Su Wanrou's hands, resting on her lap, tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white. She took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and calmly said to Qingdai, "Don't pay any attention to them. There are always some idle people in the world who like to judge others by their own standards and spread rumors. We are upright and honest, and there's no need to get upset over such nonsense."
She instructed Qingdai, "This matter ends here. Do not argue with anyone outside, and there is no need... no need to tell the Duke." She did not want her husband to be bothered by the idle gossip of these women in the inner quarters; he already had many official duties to attend to at court.
Although Qingdai still felt wronged for her mistress, she still sensibly agreed: "Yes, Madam, this servant understands."
But some things cannot be hidden. Gu Yangui was no ordinary person; although he disdained to pay attention to rumors within the inner quarters, he had his own channels of information. That day, when he returned home from the yamen, his expression seemed no different from usual, but Su Wanrou, who knew him well, could still see a trace of suppressed anger in his slightly pursed lips and somewhat cold eyes.
During dinner, he served Su Wanrou as usual, inquiring about her diet and daily life, his tone still gentle. It wasn't until Mingxuan was taken away by the wet nurse to rest, leaving only the two of them in the inner room, that Gu Yangui put down the book in his hand and looked intently at Su Wanrou, who was sewing a small garment under the lamp.
"Jiaojiao," he called out.
Su Wanrou raised her head, meeting his gaze, and understood immediately. She put down her needlework and asked softly, "Husband, did you hear something?"
Gu Yangui didn't answer directly. Instead, he walked over and sat down beside her, taking her hand in his. His palm was warm, even a little hot. He gazed into her eyes, his tone calm, yet carrying an unmistakable coldness: "Have you heard any of the unsettling rumors circulating outside lately?"
Su Wanrou lowered her eyes, tacitly agreeing.
Gu Yangui's eyes darkened further: "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's just the wild speculation of ignorant women. I don't want my husband to worry about such trivial matters," Su Wanrou said softly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible grievance.
"A trivial matter?" Gu Yangui's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger. "To slander your reputation and question the bloodline of my legitimate son, Gu Yangui, is this a trivial matter?!"
He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging anger, and gently pulled Su Wanrou into his arms. He rested his chin on the top of her head, and his voice, though deep, carried a resolute force: "Jiaojiao, you've been wronged. Leave this to me."
His embrace was warm and firm, carrying a reassuring strength. Su Wanrou leaned against his chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat. The unease and grievances she had suppressed for days finally vanished. She knew that her husband would never let her suffer such humiliation in vain.
“My lord,” she looked up, her eyes filled with worry, “do not make a big fuss over these rumors, lest you give others ammunition against you.”
Looking into her clear eyes and seeing the complete trust in them, Gu Yangui felt a surge of tenderness mixed with overwhelming anger. His precious daughter, so pure and kind, had to endure such slander.
He stroked her cheek and said, word by word, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. But my wife, Gu Yangui, will not be slighted by anyone. Our child will not be questioned by anyone either."
Outside the window, the north wind howled, swirling up the remaining snow on the ground, foreshadowing that this winter might not always be so peaceful and beautiful. Rumors, like arrows shot from the shadows, had already quietly left their bows, and the Duke of Zhenguo's anger was about to add even more chill to this cold winter.
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