Chapter 9: Stepson Mingxuan
After Gu Yangui left, the atmosphere in Songhe Hall froze for a moment. The harmonious atmosphere that had been maintained by the presence of the male host seemed to have lost a pillar, leaving only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sitting opposite each other, the air filled with the aroma of tea and silent scrutiny.
Su Wanrou sat upright in a rosewood armchair inlaid with mother-of-pearl, her back ramrod straight, her hands clasped together on her knees, her fingertips slightly white from the pressure. She could feel the old lady's seemingly kind gaze, yet sharp as a hawk's, scrutinizing every inch of her features, her posture, and even the finest wrinkles in her dress. This old lady, who had weathered many storms and managed the inner court of the Duke's mansion for decades, was far from the simple and easygoing person she appeared to be.
"Good child, don't be shy." The old lady took a sip of tea and broke the silence first, her smile warm. "Yan Gui is aloof and doesn't talk much. These years he's been busy with both the border and the court, so this mansion has inevitably become a bit deserted. It's good that you've come; this courtyard finally has some more life."
"Mother, you flatter me." Su Wanrou lowered her head slightly, her voice soft yet clear. "My husband works hard for the country, and I am still young and don't understand many things. I will need Mother to teach me more in the future."
Her attitude was humble, and her words were appropriate. A hint of satisfaction flashed in the old lady's eyes, but she immediately changed the subject: "It's not about teaching, it's just a private conversation between mother and daughter. You are young, and you suddenly married into such a family, becoming a second wife and bearing the title of Mingxuan's mother. Do you know how difficult this is?"
Here it comes. Su Wanrou's heart tightened, knowing that the main topic was about to begin. She raised her eyes and met the old lady's gaze honestly: "Replying to Mother, your daughter-in-law knows. Before I got married, my parents at home repeatedly gave me instructions. Now that I have been blessed by the Emperor to marry my husband, I know where my responsibilities lie in this life. I dare not say that I can do everything perfectly right away, but I will do my best to be filial to my mother, considerate to my husband, take good care of Mingxuan, manage the household affairs well, and live up to the reputation of the Duke's mansion."
She did not shy away from sensitive words such as "remarriage" and "young age," nor did she make vague declarations of loyalty. Instead, she specifically mentioned her responsibilities to her elders, husband, children, and family affairs, which made her appear sincere and down-to-earth.
The old lady nodded, her tone softening slightly: "It's good that you have this intention. Especially that child Mingxuan..." She sighed softly, her gaze drifting to the window, seemingly filled with pity and mixed emotions, "His identity is special, I'm sure Yan Gui has mentioned it to you. That child is thoughtful and sensitive, and since he... left, he's kept himself even more tightly wrapped up. Although Yan Gui loves him, he's still a man, and inevitably a bit rough around the edges. Now that you're here, everything else is secondary; the most important thing is to treat that child with sincerity."
Su Wanrou listened attentively, noticing the old lady's ambiguous words about Mingxuan's biological father ("He's gone") and the genuine concern in her voice. She replied softly, "Mother, don't worry. Mingxuan is my husband's child, so he is also my child. Everyone has a heart. As long as I treat him with sincerity, he will eventually feel it."
"Good, good." The old lady smiled sincerely. "I'm relieved that you think this way. That child may seem stubborn, but he has a very soft heart." She paused, as if remembering something, and added, "However, you shouldn't be too hasty. The child is shy with strangers, so you need to take it slowly. Being too deliberate will only make things worse. There are so many eyes watching in this mansion. You're new here, so you need to be even more careful and thorough in your actions."
These words were both a reminder and a warning. They reminded her to be natural in her interactions with Mingxuan and not to be too hasty, which could backfire; they also warned her that the relationships within the household were complex and that she needed to be careful with her words and actions.
"Your daughter-in-law will keep Mother's teachings in mind," Su Wanrou replied respectfully.
After exchanging a few more casual words and inquiring about the situation at the Yongchang Marquis's residence, the old lady showed signs of fatigue. Seeing this, Su Wanrou promptly rose to take her leave: "Mother, you've had a long day, please rest well. I won't disturb you any longer."
The old lady was indeed a little tired, so she smiled and agreed. She then had her old nanny bring her a pair of red gold filigree bracelets as a reward, saying that she could wear them for fun. Su Wanrou thanked her again, and then, led by a maid, left Songhe Hall.
Stepping out of the courtyard, the warm early summer breeze helped Su Wanrou relax her tense nerves a little. Her conversation with the old lady, seemingly gentle, was actually full of subtle wit; every word required careful consideration and response, no less challenging than dealing with nobles in the palace.
"Madam, are we returning to 'Jinse Courtyard'?" Yun Que, the personal maid, stepped forward and asked in a low voice. Jinse Courtyard is an exquisite courtyard next to the Duke's main courtyard, "Guiyan Residence". The bridal chamber for yesterday's grand wedding was set up there, and it will also be Su Wanrou's main residence in the future.
Su Wanrou hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. She recalled Gu Yangui's departing glance, Mingxuan's dry "Mother," and the old lady's instructions. Since she had promised to take good care of Mingxuan, she couldn't just say it. She asked, "Do you know where the young master is usually at this time?"
The maid who was leading the way was from the old lady's courtyard. Upon hearing this, she hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Madam, after the young master greets the old lady every morning, unless there are special circumstances, he is usually accompanied by his wet nurse and nanny to play in the small garden in front for a while, or to return to his own 'Zhuyi Zhai' to read and practice calligraphy."
Su Wanrou nodded: "Then let's go take a look at the small garden."
The group walked through the covered walkway, around the rockery and winding stream, and before they even got close to the small garden, they could hear the clear laughter of children, interspersed with the low coaxing voices of wet nurses and nannies.
As they approached, they saw lush green grass and clusters of flowers under the bright sunlight. Gu Mingxuan, dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, was chasing a round, chubby poodle with a small rattan ball, giggling. The puppy was pure white with fluffy fur, and when it ran, it looked like a rolling snowball, utterly adorable. Several maids and nannies surrounded it, carefully watching over it, their faces also beaming with smiles.
The Mingxuan before me was much more lively and energetic than the well-behaved and aloof little boy in Songhe Hall. His cheeks were rosy from running, and his big eyes were bright and sparkling, full of childlike innocence and joy.
Su Wanrou stopped and gestured to the people behind her not to make a sound. She stood quietly under a crabapple tree, watching this heartwarming scene. A slight smile unconsciously appeared on her lips, and the unease she felt due to the unfamiliar environment seemed to be somewhat dispelled by the childlike laughter.
However, her appearance was eventually spotted by a sharp-eyed maid. The maid's face hardened, and she quickly whispered a warning to the others. Instantly, the laughter and chatter in the garden ceased. The maids and maids bowed deeply, respectfully greeting her, "Madam."
Mingxuan, who was chasing the puppy, stopped, holding the rattan ball, and turned around. When he saw Su Wanrou standing under the tree, the smile on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a scrutinizing and slightly wary expression. He stood there, not rushing over as he had when he saw Gu Yangui earlier, but just staring at her with wide eyes.
The little white dog, however, was not afraid of strangers. It wagged its tail, trotted over to Su Wanrou's feet, sniffed at her skirt, and made affectionate "woof woof" sounds.
Su Wanrou's heart stirred. She squatted down, extended her slender white fingers, and gently stroked the puppy's fluffy head. The puppy rubbed comfortably against her palm.
"What's its name?" Su Wanrou looked up at Mingxuan with gentle eyes and asked in a soft voice.
Mingxuan seemed surprised that she would talk to the puppy first. He paused for a moment before answering softly, "Snowball."
"Snowball? That's a nice name. It looks just like a ball of snow." Su Wanrou smiled and scratched Snowball's chin. The puppy squinted its eyes in enjoyment. She continued to look at Mingxuan and asked naturally, "How old is it? It seems quite lively."
Perhaps because his beloved puppy was mentioned, Mingxuan lowered his guard slightly, took a small step forward, and replied, "It's over a year old. My father gave it to me when he came back from the autumn hunt last year." There was a hint of pride in his tone.
"I see." Su Wanrou nodded, still squatting down to keep her eye level with Mingxuan, so as not to make him feel intimidated. "It seems that Snowball really likes this garden. I saw you all having a lot of fun just now."
Mingxuan pursed his lips and didn't reply, but the fingers holding the rattan ball loosened slightly.
The wet nurse, Granny Zhang, who was around forty years old and had a kind face, quickly smiled and smoothed things over when she saw this: "Yes, Madam, the young master plays with Snowball for a while every day. If you don't mind, would you like to come and sit with us?" She pointed to the stone benches and rattan chairs set up not far away.
Su Wanrou readily stood up and said with a smile, "Okay, I'm tired too." She walked over, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, she beckoned to Mingxuan, "Mingxuan, come here to your mother."
Mingxuan hesitated for a moment, glanced at the wet nurse, then at Su Wanrou's gentle smiling face, and finally took small steps and slowly walked over, stopping two steps away from her.
Su Wanrou didn't insist. She took out a small, lifelike grasshopper woven from fine rattan from her sleeve (actually from her purse) and offered it to him. This was something her family's old servant had taught her to weave when she was young; she never expected it would come in handy today. "This is for you to play with. Do you like it?"
The woven rattan grasshopper was lush and green, and its lifelike shape made it even more interesting than the jade lock from before. Mingxuan's eyes lit up noticeably. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it. He examined it closely, turning it over and over in his hands, muttering softly, "...Thank you, Mother."
This time, the "mother" seemed to have a little more warmth than when she was at Songhetang.
Su Wanrou felt a warmth in her heart, sat down in the rattan chair, and said softly to Mingxuan, "Go play with Xueqiu, your mother will watch over you here."
Mingxuan looked up at her and saw that she was indeed just smiling at him and had no intention of getting any closer or interfering. He nodded, picked up the newly acquired rattan grasshopper, and ran to the snowball rolling on the grass. Soon, laughter rang out again, though not as unrestrained as before, but obviously much more relaxed.
Su Wanrou sat there quietly, watching Mingxuan play, occasionally picking up the teacup offered by the maid and taking a small sip. She didn't try to ingratiate herself or get close to him; she simply accompanied him in a gentle and unassuming manner.
Granny Zhang served her carefully from the side, secretly observing the new mistress. Seeing that although she was young, she was composed and neither impatient nor cold towards the young master, striking a perfect balance. Especially her patience and gentleness seemed genuine, and Granny Zhang couldn't help but nod in approval. Perhaps this new mistress could truly bring the young master some unique warmth.
About half an hour later, Mingxuan was sweating profusely from running. Zhang Mama stepped forward and advised, "Young Master, it's getting late. You should go back and wash up so you can prepare for lunch."
Mingxuan was still somewhat reluctant to leave, but he obediently stopped, picked up the snowball, and walked up to Su Wanrou. His bangs were damp with sweat and stuck to his smooth forehead.
Su Wanrou took out her handkerchief and gently wiped his sweat, saying in a gentle tone, "Are you tired from playing? Go back and have the nanny change you into some dry clothes, be careful not to catch a cold."
Her movements were natural and affectionate, carrying a maternal instinct. Mingxuan's body stiffened slightly, but he didn't pull away, letting her wipe him. His face flushed slightly, whether from the heat or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.
“Mother…” he called softly, then paused, as if gathering his courage, and looked up at her with bright eyes, “Are you… are you coming again this afternoon?”
This question, filled with the innocent expectation of a child, touched Su Wanrou's heart far more than any previous "Mother." Her smile deepened, and she said softly, "If Mingxuan wants Mother to come, Mother will come to see you this afternoon when I have time, okay?"
"Mmm!" Mingxuan nodded vigorously, a shy smile appearing on his face—the first one he had shown her all day.
Watching the wet nurse lead Mingxuan's little hand away into the distance, glancing back at her every now and then, Su Wanrou stood in the early summer sunlight, feeling a warm current flowing through her heart. She knew that there was still a long way to go to truly enter this child's heart, but at least today, she had successfully taken the first step and had not been rejected by him.
It was nearly noon when she returned to Jinse Courtyard. The maids and servants were all orderly and bowed to her, their attitude even more respectful than the day before. Clearly, news of her performance at Songhe Hall and her first private encounter with the young master had already reached her.
The head steward, Granny Zhao, stepped forward to report that the Duke had sent word that lunch would be served in the study in the front courtyard and that he would not be returning. She then asked Su Wanrou whether lunch would be served in the main room or the flower hall.
Su Wanrou chose the flower hall. Although she was dining alone, the dishes were exquisite, consisting of eight dishes and a soup, demonstrating the high standard of living in the Duke's mansion. She ate a few bites and then had the food cleared away.
After a short afternoon nap, Su Wanrou got up and instructed Yun Que and Qiu Yue to open her dowry chests, especially those containing books, embroidery, and trinkets. She carefully selected several illustrated books suitable for children's early education, some fine writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and found a piece of extremely soft and comfortable light blue brocade fabric, intending to make a summer jacket for Mingxuan herself.
Since we've decided to treat Mingxuan with care, these small acts of concern are far more powerful than empty words.
She was instructing the maids to sort and put things away when a maid from the outer room announced, "Madam, the second young lady has arrived."
Second Miss? Su Wanrou was slightly taken aback, then realized. Gu Yangui had a half-sister named Gu Wanru, who was sixteen years old. Because her birth mother died early, she had been raised by the old lady. It was said that she was somewhat aloof. She seemed to have met her once at yesterday's wedding banquet, but there were too many people around, so they didn't talk much.
"Please come in quickly." Su Wanrou straightened her clothes and greeted them at the door.
A young woman dressed in a moon-white silk dress, supported by her maid, gracefully entered. She had delicate features, and her eyebrows bore a slight resemblance to Gu Yangui, but her expression was cold, her chin slightly raised, carrying a subtle air of arrogance.
"I hope you are well, sister-in-law." Gu Wanru slightly curtsied, her voice clear but lacking warmth.
"Please sit down, Second Sister." Su Wanrou smiled and returned the greeting, leading her to a seat and instructing the maid to serve tea and refreshments.
After Gu Wanru sat down, she glanced around the room, lingering for a moment on the open dowry chests before turning to Su Wanrou and saying indifferently, "I heard that you went to play with Mingxuan this morning? You are so thoughtful."
Su Wanrou sensed a hint of...sarcasm in her words? Her expression remained unchanged, still gentle: "Mingxuan is a well-behaved and adorable child. As his mother, it is only right that I spend more time with him."
Gu Wanru picked up her teacup and gently stirred the floating leaves with the lid. Her tone was somewhat casual: "Mingxuan, that child, lost his mother at a young age, so he's a bit aloof. He's also been pampered by his father and grandmother, so it's inevitable that he's a bit spoiled. Sister-in-law, you're new here, so it's best not to be too hasty in getting close to him, lest... it backfire."
These words sounded like a reminder, but they were actually full of hints—implying that Mingxuan was difficult to get along with, implying that her position as the new wife was awkward, and implying that her eagerness to please him might backfire.
Su Wanrou understood immediately; this sister-in-law seemed to be no kind person. She smiled slightly, her tone still gentle, yet carrying an undeniable firmness: "Thank you for the reminder, Second Sister. However, I believe in sincerity begets sincerity. Mingxuan is my husband's child, and I will naturally treat him as my own. As for spoiling him, children always need patient guidance. With Grandmother and my husband's guidance, Mingxuan will surely be a sensible and good child."
She deftly deflected Gu Wanru's provocative intentions by stating her position and bringing up the old lady and Gu Yangui.
Gu Wanru was met with a rebuff, her expression darkening slightly. She put down her teacup and stood up, saying, "Sister-in-law is right. I still have some embroidery work to finish, so I won't bother you any longer."
"Take care, Second Sister." Su Wanrou rose to see her off, displaying impeccable manners.
Watching Gu Wanru's departing figure, Su Wanrou let out a soft sigh. The inner courtyard of the Duke's mansion was indeed not peaceful, just as the old lady had said. Besides dealing with her stepson of special status, there was also her unpredictable aunt, and the forces left behind by the late madam that had yet to show themselves…
But she felt no fear; instead, she felt a surge of fighting spirit. Having chosen this path, she was determined to walk it step by step. And right now, the most important thing was still that sensitive and adorable child—Gu Mingxuan.
She turned back to her desk, picked up the soft brocade fabric, and gently stroked the smooth satin with her fingertips, already sketching the design of the jacket in her mind. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her focused profile, soft yet resolute.
End of Chapter 9
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