Chapter 46: Guests from the Qin Family
The afterglow of the peony festival had not yet completely faded when the relaxed atmosphere at the Duke's mansion, brought about by the successful banquet, was shattered by the arrival of an uninvited guest.
The next day, just after noon, the gatekeeper hurriedly reported that Qin Gaoshi, the sister-in-law of the late Madam Qin and the current wife of the heir of the Marquis of Chengen, had come to visit, saying that she had heard of the grand flower festival the day before and had come to offer her congratulations.
Su Wanrou was reviewing the expenses for the flower festival in her small study when she heard this, her hand holding the brush paused slightly. A small ink dot spread across the rice paper. She slowly put down the purple-haired brush, her face expressionless, but she already understood. The congratulations were a pretense; the real purpose was probably to probe the true nature of this new Duchess.
"Please invite the Lady of the Heir Apparent to the flower hall for tea. I will be there shortly," Su Wanrou instructed calmly, gesturing for Yunbin to help her change. Since she was meeting the late Lady's sister-in-law, her attire needed to be carefully chosen, conforming to the status of a Duchess while avoiding being too ostentatious, lest it give others cause for gossip.
She ultimately chose a light purple brocade dress embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, and wore only a simple pearl headdress, exuding a dignified and gentle yet understated elegance. It was neither impolite nor overtly ostentatious, perfectly showcasing the hostess's status.
When Su Wanrou, supported by Yunbin, entered the flower hall, Qin Gaoshi was already seated in the guest seat. She was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, wearing a crimson-purple jacket with lotus patterns, her hair neatly styled in a high bun, adorned with a red-gold and kingfisher feather hairpin. Her face was well-maintained, but there was an inescapable shrewdness and scrutiny in her eyes.
Upon seeing Su Wanrou enter, Madam Qin did not immediately rise. Instead, she held her teacup and scrutinized Su Wanrou from head to toe with her eyes like a fine comb before putting down her teacup and offering a smile that was not exactly warm: "This must be the new madam, right? She is indeed young and beautiful, a sight to behold. No wonder the Duke favors her so much."
These words sound like praise, but they actually contain a hidden barb, pointing out that Su Wanrou rose to power because of her youth and beauty, and subtly attributing Gu Yangui's high regard for her to her looks.
Su Wanrou seemed oblivious, walking calmly to the head seat and sitting down. A polite yet aloof smile played on her lips: "You flatter me, Madam. I apologize for not being able to greet you properly today." Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant, clearly indicating her status as the hostess while maintaining basic courtesy.
A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Madam Qin's eyes. She had expected the other woman, a mere fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, to be somewhat awkward or nervous in front of the late Madam's family, but she hadn't anticipated her composure. She smiled, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, "Madam, you're too kind. Yesterday's peony flower festival at your residence was a great success, and now the whole capital is praising your cleverness and generosity. I feel honored to hear this, and I thought I should come and offer my congratulations in person no matter what. Back then... when my sister-in-law was alive, she also loved organizing these flower festivals and poetry gatherings, and every time the guests were delighted." She then naturally brought up the late Madam Qin, her tone carrying just the right amount of reminiscence and sadness.
Su Wanrou felt a slight chill in her heart, knowing that the main topic was approaching. She still wore a gentle smile and followed the conversation, saying, "I have long heard of the late Madam's virtuous reputation and admire her greatly. It's just a pity that we never had the chance to meet and witness her grace." Her attitude was frank, expressing the due respect to the late Madam, yet she kept a clear boundary, not taking the bait of "it is an honor to share in her glory."
Seeing that she handled the situation appropriately and flawlessly, Madam Qin changed her tone and sighed, "Speaking of which, time really flies. In the blink of an eye, Xuan-ge'er has grown up so much. That child lost his mother at a young age; he's the most pitiful one. In the past, during festivals, we would often invite him to stay with us for a couple of days, after all, he's our blood relative. Now that he has a new mother to take care of him, we feel much more at ease." Her words, ostensibly expressing relief, subtly emphasized the blood relationship between the Qin family and Ming-xuan, implying that the Qin family still had influence over Ming-xuan.
"Thank you for your concern, Madam." Su Wanrou's tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "Mingxuan is well-behaved and sensible. My husband and I will take good care of him and dare not fail the late Madam's trust." She cleverly placed Gu Yangui first, indicating that this was their shared responsibility as husband and wife, and linked the upbringing of Mingxuan with "daring not to fail the late Madam," thus respecting the deceased while clearly rejecting the Qin family's attempt to continue their "special treatment."
Madam Qin Gao was met with a rebuff, and her expression darkened slightly, but she quickly masked it. She glanced around the elegantly yet luxuriously decorated flower hall, her gaze lingering for a moment on several newly added antique ornaments on the display cabinet. She remarked casually, "The scenery and decor of this mansion seem somewhat different from before, with a more vibrant feel. Indeed, new people bring new beginnings. However, some old items, once used and comfortable, might cause the servants to struggle to adapt, potentially leading to mistakes."
These words were almost an explicit indication that the personnel and established practices in the household might change due to the new lady's arrival, implying that Su Wanrou had touched something she shouldn't have.
Su Wanrou picked up the celadon cup with tea foam beside her, her movements elegant and composed. She raised her eyes, her gaze calm as she looked at Madam Qin Gao, and smiled, "You are very kind, Madam. Everything in the manor is fine; we have simply made slight adjustments to make it more suitable for living in accordance with the changing seasons. As for the servants, as long as they are dutiful and follow the manor rules, whether they are old or new, the Duke and I will not mistreat them. If there are any who are truly unruly or unworthy, the manor will naturally not tolerate them. Don't you agree?"
Her tone was gentle, even smiling, but the weight of her words made Qin Gaoshi's heart tighten. This was clearly telling her that the internal affairs of the Duke's mansion were now under her, Su Wanrou's, control, and how to manage them was her responsibility. Whether the servants obeyed or not was not Qin family's concern. If anyone stirred up trouble in the name of the former master, she would not be lenient.
Qin Gao's smile finally faltered. She hadn't expected this young second wife to be so sharp-tongued and so assertive. She had come today under the guise of offering congratulations, intending to test the new wife's strength, hoping to teach her a lesson, to make her aware of the Qin family's connection to the Duke's mansion, especially to Mingxuan, so that she would have some reservations. Unexpectedly, the new wife seemed to be covered in invisible soft thorns, leaving her with nowhere to attack.
After a few more perfunctory and trivial conversations, Madam Qin Gao felt bored and knew that staying any longer would only be pointless, so she got up and took her leave.
Su Wanrou personally escorted Qin Gaoshi to the second gate, her etiquette impeccable.
Watching the carriage from the Chengen Earl's residence disappear into the distance, Su Wanrou's smile gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. Qin Gao's visit today was less a provocation and more a clear signal—the Qin family hadn't completely let go of their responsibilities after Gu Yangui remarried; they were still closely monitoring the Duke's residence, especially everything related to Mingxuan. Today's failed attempt to probe was far from the end; similar troubles would likely follow.
"Madam, the Lady of the Prince of Qin was far too rude in her speech." Back in the main courtyard, Yunbin couldn't help but complain softly.
Su Wanrou rubbed her temples and said calmly, "It's alright. She didn't come here today to say anything polite. Send someone to the front yard to check if the Duke has returned, and report to him immediately."
She needed to tell Gu Yangui about what had happened today.
An hour later, Gu Yangui returned home from the yamen.
Su Wanrou calmly recounted the entire process of Qin Gaoshi's visit, including the other party's words and her own responses, without embellishment or excessive personal emotion.
Gu Yangui listened quietly, his face expressionless, until Su Wanrou finished speaking, then he asked in a deep voice, "Did she upset you?"
Su Wanrou was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to ask this first. She shook her head: "No, not at all. It's just that the Qin family seems to still be very concerned about matters within the manor, especially Mingxuan."
Gu Yangui snorted coldly, his eyes sharp: "The Qin family is overstepping their bounds. Mingxuan is my son, Gu Yangui's son. How he is raised is none of the business of outsiders." He looked at Su Wanrou, his tone softening, "You handled things very well today. In the future, if the Qin family comes to visit, and it's just a casual visit, receive them according to etiquette. If any of them are tactless, just send them away without hesitation."
His clear and firm attitude gave Su Wanrou the greatest support and confidence. The gloom in Su Wanrou's heart caused by Qin Gaoshi's visit instantly dissipated by more than half.
"I understand," she replied softly.
Looking at her obedient and submissive appearance, Gu Yangui recalled her subtle yet sharp demeanor when facing Qin Gaoshi, and a strange feeling stirred within him. His little wife, unseen by him, had already grown into someone capable of standing on her own.
"After a few days of rest, I'll take you and Mingxuan to a villa in the outskirts of Beijing for a couple of days to relax," he suddenly said.
Su Wanrou looked up in surprise, meeting his deep eyes, which seemed to hold a faint gentleness. Her lips unconsciously curved upwards, revealing a genuinely joyful smile: "Okay."
Outside the window, dusk was settling in. The tense exchanges in the flower hall seemed like a mere illusion from a moment ago. Now, what flowed between the couple was unspoken trust and tacit understanding. The Qin family's guests, far from driving a wedge between them, had instead brought their hearts closer together.
End of Chapter 46
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