Chapter 28: My Husband's Protection
A gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers wafted through the courtyard in early summer, but Su Wanrou's heart was warmed by Gu Yangui's words "we're family" and his promise to allow her free access to the study, as if she were immersed in spring wine. She returned to her usual living room in the east wing, sat by the window, and ran her fingertips over the cover of the copy of "The Art of War" that Gu Yangui often read, a faint smile unconsciously spreading across her lips.
"Madam, is there some good news?" Her personal maid, Yunbin, brought in freshly brewed jasmine tea and asked with a smile when she saw Madam's cheerful expression.
Su Wanrou snapped out of her reverie, took the teacup, and gently blew away the foam. "It's nothing, I just feel... life in this Duke's mansion is gradually becoming more interesting." It was no longer the fear and alienation she felt upon arrival, but rather a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging stemmed from Mingxuan's reliance on her, and even more so from Gu Yangui's increasingly apparent trust and protection.
Yunbin, a trusted confidante whom Su Wanrou had brought from the Yongchang Marquis's residence, was also happy for her upon seeing this: "This servant has noticed that the Duke is paying more and more attention to his wife. Yesterday, when the wife went to the study to deliver some snacks, the Duke actually kept her there for quite a while to talk."
Su Wanrou smiled, pursing her lips, without replying, but she knew in her heart that it wasn't just about "speaking," but also a change in attitude. She lowered her head and took a sip of tea; the floral fragrance was refreshing and soothing.
However, life in a grand mansion is never all sunshine and rainbows.
In the afternoon, Su Wanrou was checking the expense ledgers for the month when the steward Gu Zhong arrived again. This time, his expression was even more solemn than when he reported on the late Madam's birthday last time.
“Madam,” Gu Zhong bowed, his tone hesitant, “two old women have come from outside the mansion. They claim to be the maids of the late Madam, who was the late Duchess of the State. They say that they heard the mansion is going to hold a grand funeral for the late Madam, and they have come to see you, Madam, to do their part and pray for the late Madam.”
Su Wanrou's hand, holding the pen, paused slightly. The late old lady's maidservants? Those were Gu Yangui's mother's former associates, their status extraordinary. Why did they come so soon, right after she decided to hold a grand funeral for the late lady, claiming to "pray for blessings"? Their intentions were hard to fathom.
She put down her pen, looked up at Gu Zhong, and said calmly, "Since they are old acquaintances of the old lady, we must not neglect them. Please invite them to the flower hall for tea. I will be there shortly."
"Yes," Gu Zhong replied, but then added, "Madam, those two old women, one surnamed Qian and the other surnamed Sun, were both capable servants of the old lady back then, and their personalities... were quite upright. After the late madam passed away, the Duke, remembering the past, gave them generous rewards and allowed them to retire in comfort. In recent years, they would occasionally send visiting cards to the mansion to inquire about our well-being, and the Duke would usually just have this old servant give them some money and gifts and that would be it."
Gu Zhong's words were tactful, but Su Wanrou understood. These two were respectable old servants, and possibly somewhat difficult to deal with. Gu Yangui kept their distance from them. Now that they had come to her door, specifically requesting to see her, the new mistress, their intentions were probably not good.
"I understand, thank you for the advice, Uncle Zhong." Su Wanrou nodded, already having a plan in mind.
After tidying herself up briefly, Su Wanrou, accompanied by Yunbin and another head maid, Yuebai, made her way to the flower hall at a leisurely pace.
In the flower hall, two well-dressed, meticulously combed old women were holding teacups, their eyes constantly scanning the furnishings. Upon seeing Su Wanrou enter, they put down their teacups, rose, and bowed. Their movements were impeccably precise, but the scrutiny and subtle arrogance in their eyes caused Su Wanrou's hair to furrow slightly.
"This old servant, Madam Qian (Madam Sun), greets the Duchess."
"Please rise, both of you ladies. There's no need for such formalities." Su Wanrou sat down at the head of the table, her tone gentle. "I heard you two are old acquaintances of the old lady. I'm so grateful that you remembered me and made this special trip."
Granny Qian was slightly plump with a round face. She smiled before speaking, but her eyes were shrewd. "Madam, you flatter us. Although we have left the manor, we have always kept the Duke and the young master in our hearts. Yesterday, we heard that the manor was going to hold a ceremony for... the late Madam, on a scale that would surpass previous years. Madam is truly kind and virtuous, and we admire her greatly. That is why we have taken the liberty of requesting an audience, hoping to see if there is anything we can do to help, so that we can fulfill our longing for the late Madam."
Granny Sun, thin and with a serious expression, replied, "That's right. When the late Madam was alive, she was the most kind and gentle, and treated her servants with kindness. We old servants dare not forget her birthday. Madam is young and a new bride, so perhaps she is not very familiar with some of the late Madam's preferences and customs. Although we old servants are not very talented, we may be able to give her some pointers so as not to overlook anything and fail to show proper etiquette."
These words, seemingly well-intentioned help, actually concealed a veiled threat. The phrase "young bride" points out Su Wanrou's lack of experience; the phrase "not very familiar" implies that she might be careless in handling matters; and the final "lacking in manners" is an even more subtle threat.
Su Wanrou sneered inwardly, but maintained a polite smile on her face: "You two are very kind. I have entrusted the steward with handling the ritual according to precedent, and have increased the expenses by 30% to show its solemnity. As for my late sister's preferences, my husband has already given me some pointers the other day, so I'm sure there won't be any mistakes. I feel really bad for troubling you two with all this." She subtly brought up Gu Yangui, both as an explanation and as a warning—the Duke knew how to handle things and supported it.
Qian and Sun exchanged a glance. Granny Qian then smiled and said, "The Duke is so busy with state affairs that it's inevitable that he might overlook some of these trivial matters. We old servants remember that the late Madam loved the white camellias from the back mountain of Guangji Temple. In previous years, she would always offer a vase of them for the Buddhist ceremonies. As for the vegetarian dishes offered as alms, the late Madam usually used the ones from 'Suxinzhai' in the south of the city, which had the most authentic taste. I'm afraid even the steward might not be aware of these subtle details."
They were determined to interfere, even going so far as to use these details to highlight their "closeness" with the late Madam and Su Wanrou's "heretical" ways.
Su Wanrou picked up her teacup, gently stirring the floating leaves with the lid. Her tone remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of detachment: "The nannies are right. However, since my husband has entrusted me with the management of the household, I will do my utmost. The expenses for the religious ceremony have been decided, and the procedures have been discussed and agreed upon with the abbot of the temple. Any last-minute changes would be undesirable. As for the white camellias and vegetarian food, the sentiment is enough. I believe my late sister in heaven would be more pleased to see harmony in the household and Xuan'er's well-being than to be bound by these formalities."
She paused, looked at the two women, her gaze clear and honest: "I appreciate your loyalty, both of you. Everything is fine in the manor, and I dare not trouble you any further. Steward, take two bolts of palace satin, give them twenty taels of silver, and send them back home properly."
This means they're being seen off directly.
Granny Qian and Granny Sun hadn't expected the young Duchess to be so unyielding, her attitude so firm. Granny Sun's face darkened, and her tone hardened: "Madam! We old servants came only out of gratitude to our former mistress, hoping to offer some advice. It's one thing for you to be young and impetuous and disregard us, but please don't let down the late Madam..."
“Granny Sun.” Su Wanrou put down her teacup, her voice soft, yet it stopped Granny Sun in her tracks. She looked calmly at Granny Sun and said slowly, “My late sister was the first wife of the Duke’s family, married through proper channels. I respected her and remembered her, which is why I held the funeral so grandly. But now, I, Su Wanrou, am the Duchess appointed by His Majesty, in charge of the household affairs. How I act is my own business, and it is not for others to interfere, let alone 'let down' me. Granny, you are an elder, you should know the hierarchy, and it would be best to be careful with your words.”
These words were reasonable, well-founded, and neither servile nor arrogant. They not only upheld the dignity of the late lady but also defended her authority as the current mistress of the house.
Seeing this, Granny Qian quickly tugged at Granny Sun's sleeve and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Madam, please calm down. Sister Sun was just too concerned about the late Madam and spoke rashly. Madam handled it properly; we were just being nosy. We'll take our leave now."
Gu Zhong stepped forward at the opportune moment and led the two out, half-inviting and half-seeking them.
The flower hall fell silent. Su Wanrou let out a soft breath, her back feeling damp and cold. Dealing with these long-time servants seemed ordinary, but in reality, it was a nerve-wracking experience. If she had shown even a hint of timidity or handled the situation poorly just now, the rumors of "the new mistress disrespecting her ancestors and mistreating her old servants" would probably have spread throughout the capital by tomorrow.
"Madam, are you alright?" Yunbin stepped forward with concern.
"It's alright." Su Wanrou shook her head. "Go and find out where these two old women went and who they met after leaving the manor."
She always felt that things weren't that simple.
two
As Su Wanrou had predicted.
The following day, Su Wanrou was on her way to Guangji Temple outside the city to finalize the details of the Buddhist ceremony with the abbot, as was customary. However, her carriage was stopped halfway there.
The woman who stopped the carriage was well-dressed and claimed to be a capable nanny of Princess An.
"Greetings, Duchess." The old woman stood outside the carriage window, her tone respectful but her eyes scrutinizing. "Our Princess Consort happened to be offering incense at the Ci'en Nunnery ahead. Hearing that your carriage had passed by, she specially invited you to come and have a chat."
Princess An? Alarm bells rang in Su Wanrou's mind. She had just dismissed those two old nannies yesterday, and today Princess An "coincidentally" was waiting here? What a coincidence!
She knew this was a trap, but she couldn't refuse. Princess An was an elder and the principal wife of a prince; if she didn't go, it would be impolite.
"Thank you for leading the way, Granny." Su Wanrou composed herself and instructed the coachman to turn towards Ci'en Nunnery.
Ci'en Nunnery was a famous nunnery in the capital, with a thriving incense offering. Su Wanrou was led to a secluded Zen courtyard, where Princess An was sitting at a stone table, sipping tea. Beside her sat two elegantly dressed ladies, whom Su Wanrou recognized as relatives of the imperial family who were on good terms with Princess An and also related to the late Princess An's family.
"Your Majesty, I, Su, wish the Princess and the two ladies a good day." Su Wanrou stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Princess An put down her teacup, a smile on her face, but her eyes were cold: "Get up quickly. What a coincidence, I came to pray for the Empress Dowager today and ran into you. Sit down and let's talk."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Su Wanrou sat down at the lower seat, her posture dignified, but her heart was pounding.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Princess An indeed steered the conversation toward the religious ceremony: "I heard you're going to hold a ceremony for Gu Qinshi? And it's going to be quite grand?" Gu Qinshi was Gu Yangui's first wife, Qinshi.
"Yes, Your Highness. My late sister's birthday is approaching, and my husband and I both feel that we should solemnly commemorate her," Su Wanrou replied cautiously.
A princess surnamed Zhou, standing nearby, touched the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and said with a half-smile, "The Duke of Zhenguo's second wife, though young, is quite adept at handling people. This religious ceremony was held in a grand manner, fulfilling the Duke's wishes and also earning herself a reputation for virtue. It's truly killing two birds with one stone."
These words were clearly sarcastic.
Another Mrs. Zhou chimed in, "Yes. But I wonder if this ritual is truly out of respect for the ancestors, or just a show for the living? I heard that even Mrs. Qin (the late Mrs. Zhou's mother) wanted to add some offerings, but you refused her on the grounds that 'the established procedures'? Isn't that a bit...unreasonable?"
Su Wanrou sneered inwardly. Sure enough, it was all because of what happened yesterday. Those two old servants, Qian and Sun, had actually gone to the late Madam's family to stir up trouble.
She raised her head, her clear gaze meeting that of Princess An and Madam Zhou, her tone calm yet firm: "Madam Zhou, I cannot agree with your words. How the memorial service is conducted is a matter for the Duke's mansion. My husband has entrusted the management of the household to me, and I will naturally handle it carefully and strive for perfection. Once the rules are established, they should not be easily changed to avoid chaos. This is common sense in managing a household and is not directed at anyone in particular. Furthermore, I have prepared generous gifts, which I will personally deliver to the Qin residence before the memorial service to express my gratitude to the Qin family for raising my late elder sister. To say that I am disrespectful to my ancestors would be unfair."
Princess An spoke slowly: "Oh? So, it seems the Qin family has been meddling? After all, Madam Gu is Mingxuan's biological mother. It's only natural for the Qin family to want to do their part. Aren't you afraid of alienating your old relatives and causing people to gossip about the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion being mean-spirited by your arbitrary decision?"
This is an extremely serious accusation. If it's proven true, not only will Su Wanrou's reputation be damaged, but Gu Yangui will also face criticism.
Knowing she could no longer back down, Su Wanrou stood up, curtsied again, and raised her voice, her tone resolute and unwavering: "Your Highness, please understand! I am young and inexperienced, but I deeply understand the principle of 'one should fulfill one's duties in one's position.' As the Duchess, my actions should naturally prioritize the interests and reputation of the Duke's Mansion. The solemnity of the memorial service is a testament to our Duke's Mansion's remembrance and respect for our ancestors. If we were to change our orders based on a few words from outsiders, disregarding the rules of the mansion, wouldn't that be a case of losing more than one gains, and making us a laughingstock for our Duke's Mansion's mistress being incompetent and easily manipulated? In my humble opinion, upholding the dignity of the Duke's Mansion and my husband's authority is far more important than catering to some pointless 'wishes'!"
Her words were forceful and elevated the issue to the level of "upholding the dignity of the Duke's Mansion," pointing out that the Qin family's (or Princess An's) actions were interfering in the internal affairs of the Duke's Mansion and attempting to manipulate the mistress of the house.
Princess An was taken aback by her outspokenness, and her face immediately darkened: "What a sharp tongue! According to you, it seems I've been meddling in other people's business?"
The atmosphere inside the Zen temple instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Just then, a deep, cold voice rang out from the courtyard gate:
"I had no idea that the Princess Consort had started to concern herself with the internal affairs of our Duke's mansion?"
Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw Gu Yangui, dressed in a dark-colored casual robe, standing with his hands behind his back under the moon gate. His expression was calm, but his gaze was like a cold, sharp blade, slowly sweeping over each of the women present. He was tall and straight, and just by standing there, he brought an invisible sense of oppression, as if even the air itself had frozen.
Su Wanrou felt a sense of relief upon seeing him, followed by a tightening in her chest. Why was he here?
Gu Yangui stepped into the courtyard and first nodded slightly to Princess An: "Princess." His manners were impeccable, but there was not a trace of warmth in his expression.
Princess An forced a smile and said, "What brings the Duke of Zhenguo here?"
"I've come to fetch Madam back to the manor." Gu Yangui walked to Su Wanrou's side, naturally taking her slightly cool hand and pulling her to his side. Then he looked at Princess An, his tone calm and even, "Just now outside the door, I seemed to hear Princess An giving my wife some pointers on how to manage a household?"
Princess An's expression shifted several times, but she managed a forced smile: "It was just a casual chat. The Duke's new wife certainly has a very strong personality."
Gu Yangui glanced down at Su Wanrou, then looked up with a sharp, piercing gaze: "My wife is young, and if she has been impolite, I will apologize to the Princess on her behalf. However, matters large and small within our Duke's mansion are decided by my wife and me, and there is no need for outsiders to concern themselves with them. If the Princess has some free time, perhaps she should pay more attention to the inner quarters of the Prince An's mansion. I heard that the young master's concubine once again caused a scene before the Empress over a hairpin?"
His words were utterly merciless, directly exposing the shortcomings of the Prince An's mansion. The Princess An's face instantly turned ashen, but she dared not retaliate due to Gu Yangui's power.
Gu Yangui stopped looking at her and turned to the Princess Consort of Zhou and Madam Zhou, his tone even colder: "As for the two ladies, if you have any free time, you might as well teach your own children more, instead of spending your days inquiring about other people's affairs, which only makes you annoying."
Princess Consort Zhou and Madam Zhou turned pale with fright and repeatedly agreed.
Gu Yangui said no more, took Su Wanrou's hand, and said in a deep voice, "Madam, let's go back to the manor."
After saying this, he ignored Princess An and the others and left the temple with Su Wanrou, leaving behind a group of women with ugly, shocked and angry faces.
three
The carriage wheels rolled along the road back to the mansion, and the carriage was completely silent.
Su Wanrou lowered her head, her heart filled with unease. Gu Yangui's protectiveness earlier had warmed her heart, but the timing of his appearance was too coincidental, and his words to Princess An were tantamount to tearing off the mask of civility. Would this bring him trouble?
"Why are your hands still so cold?" Gu Yangui's voice broke the silence in the quiet carriage. He was still holding her hand, his palm warm.
“Husband…” Su Wanrou raised her head and looked at his cold, hard profile, “How did you know I was at Ci’en Nunnery? The way you treated Princess An just now, wouldn’t that…”
“Gu Zhong sent someone to inform me.” Gu Yangui interrupted her, his tone calm. “When you sent those two old servants away yesterday, I knew something was going to happen. Princess An is close to the Qin family and has always liked to act like an elder, so it was only a matter of time before she caused you trouble.”
It turned out he had been paying attention all along and had been prepared. A warm feeling welled up in Su Wanrou's heart.
"As for Princess An," Gu Yangui snorted coldly, with a hint of disdain, "she's just a woman who's all bark and no bite. Relying on her family's power and her status as a princess, she's always meddling in other people's affairs. Giving her some face is only out of respect for Prince An and the Empress. If she doesn't know her place, I don't mind letting her know that this capital city isn't a place where she can run rampant."
When he referred to himself as "this king," the majesty of someone who had long held a high position naturally emanated from him. Only then did Su Wanrou truly realize that her husband was not only her support, but also the powerful Duke of Zhenguo of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who dared to confront even the principal wife of a prince to her face.
"I mishandled today's events and caused trouble for my husband," Su Wanrou said with some remorse. If she had been more tactful, things might not have escalated to this point.
Gu Yangui turned to look at her, his gaze deep: "You handled it very well. Giving in to difficulties will only embolden them. You stood up for yourself today, upholding the dignity of the Duke's mansion, and you did nothing wrong." He paused, his tone softening, "Remember, you are the Duchess of Zhenguo. Apart from His Majesty and the Empress, you have no need to grovel before anyone. If anyone dares to mistreat you again, just fight back. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up."
"I'll take care of it."
These four simple words reassured Su Wanrou more than any sweet talk. Looking into his resolute eyes, the last trace of unease in her heart vanished, replaced by an indescribable sense of security and gratitude.
She gently grasped his large hand in return and whispered, "Yes, I understand."
Gu Yangui felt her subtle response and the complete trust in her eyes, and his hardened heart seemed to have been pried open a little. He reached out his other hand and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his movements slightly stiff, but filled with obvious tenderness.
"I'll have Gu Zhong handle things at Guangji Temple. You've been frightened today, so go back home and rest well," he said.
"Yes, thank you, my husband."
The carriage moved smoothly along the bluestone slabs, the noise outside the windows seemingly shut out. Inside the carriage, the couple held hands, and although they didn't say much, a silent understanding and tenderness flowed between them.
After this incident, Su Wanrou understood that her position in the Duke's mansion was completely secure. This was not only because of her methods, but also because she had a husband behind her who was willing to shelter her from the wind and rain and provide her with a safe haven.
Gu Yangui also clearly realized that his second wife, who was fifteen years younger than him, was not a delicate flower that needed his constant protection. She had her own integrity and wisdom, enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and face the storms inside and outside the mansion.
End of Chapter 28
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