Chapter 14: Whispers from My Mother's Family
Su Wanrou's nonchalant "How could I not know?" was like a pebble thrown into a seemingly calm lake, instantly shattering the feigned obedience in the hall. Granny Liu lowered her head even further, the wrinkles around her eyes seeming to tighten, and she hurriedly explained, her voice carrying a deliberately feigned fear:
"Returning to the country, this...this was probably instructed by Steward Gu a couple of days ago. He said that the household expenses need to be more transparent to prevent unscrupulous people from taking advantage of loopholes. This old servant thought that Madam has just taken over and is busy, so perhaps she hasn't had time to know the details yet." She cleverly shifted the responsibility to Gu An, the head steward of the outer courtyard, and pointed out that Su Wanrou "had just taken over" and was "busy," implying that she might have overlooked something.
Su Wanrou sneered inwardly. Gu An was an old friend of the old master, loyal to Gu Yangui, and always the most prudent and thorough in his actions. If he really established new rules, he would definitely come to report to her, the mistress of the house, in person as soon as possible. There was absolutely no way he would use the words of a kitchen manager in the inner courtyard to launch a "surprise attack" on her homecoming dinner day.
This was clearly the idea of these "old folks" in the inner courtyard taking matters into their own hands, trying to intimidate her and test her limits and bottom line.
She didn't immediately expose him, but instead picked up the warm tea beside her, took a small sip, her movements slow and deliberate, displaying a calmness beyond her years. Setting down the teacup, she finally looked up, her gaze landing steadily and evenly on Granny Liu.
“I see. Steward Gu is very thoughtful, and it is only right that he establishes rules.” She first affirmed the matter of “establishing rules” itself, leaving no room for Liu Mama to find fault, and then changed the subject, “However, since these are new rules, there must be clear terms. Who established them and when, what are the specific procedures, and if it exceeds fifty taels, an approval slip is required. Is this fifty taels a single withdrawal or a monthly accumulation? After the approval slip is issued, is the money directly withdrawn from the accounting office, or is there a separate verification process? Are you clear about these things, Liu Mama?”
A series of questions, clear and logical, went straight to the point, demonstrating that she wasn't completely ignorant of housekeeping affairs while also passing the buck back to the source of the problem. "Didn't you say you established new rules? Okay, tell me the details of those rules."
Granny Liu was caught off guard by the question. She had no idea about the details; this was a pre-arranged explanation from the head maids, intended to use the guise of "rules" to get the new mistress to habitually approve the money. She never expected to be questioned like this. She stammered, "This… this old servant… this old servant is just a kitchen manager. The accounting department might know more about the specifics…"
“Since Granny Liu is unaware,” Su Wanrou interrupted her, her tone still gentle but carrying an undeniable force, “then this matter cannot be handled so vaguely. Every expense in the manor must be documented and traceable. Here’s what we’ll do,” she turned to Yun Que, “Yun Que, go to the front courtyard and tell Steward Gu that Granny Liu from the kitchen mentioned that the accounting department has established new rules for withdrawing funds, and I have some questions about the details. Please ask him to come over when he has time, and bring the detailed rules and regulations so that he can explain them to all the stewards, to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.”
Instead of questioning the veracity of Granny Liu's words, she directly summoned the person in charge of establishing the rules—Steward Gu—for a confrontation. Granny Liu's face instantly paled. If Steward Gu arrived and confronted her, her lie would be immediately exposed. Then it wouldn't just be a matter of approving or disapproving the note, but the grave crime of deceiving the mistress!
“Madam! There’s no need to trouble Steward Gu!” Granny Liu said hurriedly, her voice trembling. “Perhaps…perhaps this old servant is too old and misheard! Maybe the accountant was just reminding us to be more careful, and didn’t establish any new rules…How could I dare trouble Steward Gu with such a small matter…”
"Did you misunderstand?" Su Wanrou raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her with clear eyes. "Granny Liu, the kitchen's purchasing is related to the entire household's food and drink, and the flow of money is of utmost importance. I'm afraid you can't bear the words 'misunderstood,' can you? Today it's fifty taels of delicacies, tomorrow it's five hundred taels or five thousand taels of expenses, can you just gloss over it with a simple 'misunderstood'?"
Granny Liu broke out in a cold sweat and knelt down with a thud: "This old servant misspoke! This old servant was confused! Please forgive me, Madam! I will carefully check the purchasing matters with the accountant again tomorrow, and I would never dare to bother Madam with such a trivial matter again!"
Looking at Granny Liu kneeling on the ground, trembling, Su Wanrou knew that she had won the first round of the contest. And she had won decisively, establishing her authority and making her stance clear—she, the mistress of the house, was not so easily fooled, and trying to control her with vague "rules" would not work.
She didn't press the matter further; she had already achieved her goal of establishing her authority, and going too far would be counterproductive. She softened her tone: "Alright, considering this is your first offense and you were only concerned about the affairs of the household, I'll let it go this time. Get up."
"Thank you, Madam! Thank you for your magnanimity!" Granny Liu felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She shakily got up and dared not say another word.
"Kitchen purchases have their own routines and budgets. What to buy tomorrow should be done according to the usual practice and the allotted amount. If there are special circumstances that require additional funds, a list and estimate must be prepared in advance, explaining the reason, and approval must be obtained according to the procedures, instead of just asking for money like this, understand?" Su Wanrou gave clear instructions after her reprimand.
"Yes, yes, yes, this old servant understands! This old servant dares not do it again!" Granny Liu replied repeatedly, her attitude now extremely respectful.
"Go down."
Watching Granny Liu practically jog away, Su Wanrou let out a soft sigh. She knew that tonight's events would soon spread among the stewards of the inner courtyard. Those watching eyes would reassess her worth as the young mistress of the house.
"Madam, you're amazing!" Yun Que exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Let's see if that Granny Liu dares to try anything funny again!"
Su Wanrou shook her head, her face devoid of joy: "This is just the beginning. After this incident, they may temporarily restrain themselves, but they will never be satisfied. In the future, I'm afraid there will be more 'overt schemes' waiting for us." She recalled her mother's warning during the day, and her heart became even more vigilant. With the sewing room and kitchen making moves one after another, the "undercurrents" in this inner courtyard were even more turbulent than she had imagined.
She picked up her chopsticks again, but felt no appetite. After eating a few bites, she asked the maid to clear the table.
After bathing and changing, Su Wanrou, wearing an outer robe, sat on the soft couch by the window, not resting immediately. She asked Yun Que to fetch the brocade pouch her mother had given her. Holding the pouch in her hand, its faint fragrance stirred a sense of unease within her.
The whispered conversation she had with her mother when she returned home during the day still echoed in her ears. Her mother's worried eyes, her careful advice, and the indescribable concern when she handed her this brocade pouch... all weighed heavily on her heart. She knew that her mother was afraid that she was too young to hold onto her husband's heart and would lose her support in this grand mansion.
But... her relationship with Gu Yangui was less like husband and wife and more like... a partnership? He needed a mistress to manage the household and take care of Mingxuan, and she seemed to fit the bill perfectly. He respected and protected her, but the intimacy and tenderness that belonged to a husband towards his wife seemed to be separated by an invisible membrane.
She recalled the warm palm of his on the back of her hand on the carriage during her return visit; she remembered his politeness and understanding at her parents' home today; she also remembered his usual silence and aloofness, and the seemingly more obligatory distance he maintained at night despite their intimacy.
"Warmth of Fragrance..." Su Wanrou stroked the brocade pouch, her cheeks slightly flushed. Was she going to try and win her husband's affection this way? She felt a sense of resistance, a feeling that it was almost a calculation, a betrayal of her true self. But her mother's worries weren't entirely unfounded. If they continued to treat each other with such cold indifference, in the long run...
Just as she was in a state of utter confusion, she suddenly heard a maid's voice outside the door greeting her: "Your Highness."
Su Wanrou's heart tightened, and she subconsciously stuffed the brocade pouch under the cushion. Just as she stood up, Gu Yangui lifted the curtain and walked in. He had changed out of his daytime clothes and was wearing a dark-colored brocade robe with subtle patterns, which made him appear even more upright and his temperament more aloof.
"My husband." Su Wanrou curtsied.
"Hmm." Gu Yangui responded, his gaze sweeping across the room before settling on her. "Still not resting?"
"Not sleepy yet," Su Wanrou replied softly. Seeing that he didn't seem to intend to leave immediately, she tentatively asked, "Would you like some midnight snacks, my husband?"
“No need.” Gu Yangui walked to the edge of the couch and sat down naturally, right next to the spot where she had just slipped the brocade pouch. Su Wanrou’s heart skipped a beat.
He looked up at her. Under the lamplight, her face was soft and radiant, carrying the fresh scent of a bath, but there seemed to be a trace of barely perceptible sorrow hidden between her brows and eyes.
"Are you tired from returning home today?" he suddenly asked. His observation skills were always so sharp.
Su Wanrou sat down beside him and shook her head: "I'm not tired. It's just... I haven't seen my parents in a long time, and I feel a little emotional."
Gu Yangui was silent for a moment, then said, "If you miss home in the future, you can go back to visit often, or you can invite your mother-in-law to your residence for a chat."
His words were simple, yet they warmed Su Wanrou's heart. This was already an immense display of consideration and tolerance. "Thank you, my husband."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. A night breeze blew in through the slightly open window, bringing with it the fresh scent of grass and trees in the courtyard. The candlelight flickered gently, casting swaying shadows on the two of them.
“Just now,” Gu Yangui suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, “when I came over, I seemed to see Granny Liu from the kitchen leaving your courtyard, in a hurry. Is something wrong in the kitchen?”
Su Wanrou's heart skipped a beat; she hadn't expected him to have seen it. After a moment's thought, she decided there was no need to hide it, so she carefully chose her words and concisely recounted how Granny Liu had tried to withdraw money under the guise of "new regulations," and how she had dealt with it. Her tone was calm; she simply stated the facts without embellishing or criticizing Granny Liu.
Gu Yangui listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the edge of the small table on the couch, a habitual gesture when he was thinking.
After she finished speaking, he looked up at her, his deep eyes revealing no emotion in the candlelight: "You handled it very well."
Those five simple words carried a powerful sense of affirmation. Su Wanrou's anxious heart eased slightly.
"These old folks in the manor are deeply entrenched and each has their own agenda. Since you're new here, they might try to take advantage of you and test you." Gu Yangui's voice was deep and steady. "Do everything according to the rules. Don't be overly tolerant, and don't be too hasty. If there are any stubborn ones who are deliberately causing trouble, deal with them yourself. Don't hold back."
These words almost explicitly gave her the power and confidence to manage the inner courtyard. Su Wanrou looked up at him, meeting his calm gaze, and suddenly realized that he was not completely unaware of the undercurrents within the mansion. Perhaps he had been observing coldly all along, waiting to see how she would deal with it.
"I understand." She solemnly replied, "I will certainly do my duty and live up to my husband's trust."
Gu Yangui nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. His gaze swept over her slightly open neckline, where a small patch of delicate skin was faintly visible in the candlelight. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he looked away and stood up: "It's getting late, let's rest."
That same phrase again. Su Wanrou's cheeks began to burn uncontrollably. She stood up and responded softly, "Yes."
The maids came in to help them wash up, lowered the bed curtains, and quietly withdrew. Once again, only the two of them remained in the inner room.
Red candles burned brightly, casting a dim light within the bed curtains. Su Wanrou lay on the inner side, her body somewhat stiff. She could feel the warmth emanating from the man beside her, as well as an invisible sense of oppression.
Gu Yangui didn't seem sleepy, nor did he pull her into his arms as usual. He turned to face her, propped his head up with one hand, and gazed intently at her face.
Su Wanrou felt flustered and confused by his gaze. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but want to close her eyes and pretend to be asleep.
"What did they say to you at your mother-in-law's house today?" he suddenly asked, his voice sounding particularly deep and magnetic in the quiet night.
Su Wanrou's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously thought of the brocade pouch hidden under the cushion, as well as her mother's whispered words about "the way of husband and wife." She forced herself to remain calm and answered softly, "My mother and sister-in-law... were just concerned about whether I was used to living in the mansion, and told me to serve my husband wholeheartedly and manage the household affairs well."
"Oh?" Gu Yangui's fingertips gently brushed against a strand of her hair that had fallen onto the pillow, the movement carrying a casual intimacy. "Is that all?"
His fingertips, slightly cool, touched her earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine. Su Wanrou's heart pounded faster; she could almost hear it pounding like a drum. She dared not look into his deep eyes, lowering her eyelashes, her voice barely a whisper: "...and we...and we talked about some everyday things."
Gu Yangui looked at her blushing ears and trembling eyelashes, like startled butterfly wings. A faint smile flickered in his eyes, and he didn't press further. He leaned down, his cool lips pressing against her smooth forehead, then slowly moving down, brushing past the tip of her nose, and finally covering her soft, rosy lips.
This kiss, unlike the previous ones which were driven by a hint of possessive eagerness, was unusually gentle, carrying a sense of exploration and soothing. Su Wanrou's mind went blank, passively enduring it. Her mother's words, the brocade pouch, Granny Liu's刁难 (difficulties/challenges)... all the chaotic thoughts were dispelled by this gentle kiss at this moment.
When the kiss ended, both of them were a little breathless. Gu Yangui wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer into his embrace. His chin rested on the top of her head, his voice hoarse with the afterglow: "Sleep."
Nestled in his arms, Su Wanrou listened to his steady, powerful heartbeat, his refreshing scent lingering in her nostrils. Suddenly, she felt that all her calculations and worries might have been unnecessary. Perhaps, just like this, slowly, step by step, she could continue on this path... and maybe she could truly reach the "harmony" her mother had described?
Overcome with weariness, she found a comfortable spot in his arms and fell into a deep sleep.
Feeling the gradually steady breathing of the person in his arms, Gu Yangui opened his eyes in the darkness, his gaze clear. He looked down at Su Wanrou's peaceful sleeping face, his fingertips gently tracing her slightly swollen lips.
He could roughly guess what his wife's family had whispered about. It was nothing more than instructing his young wife on how to secure her position and how to establish herself in this grand mansion. Her handling of Granny Liu today was decisive and efficient, already displaying the demeanor of a mistress; she must have received some guidance from her family.
He didn't object to these things. She was young, needed to grow, and needed support. As long as her heart was with this family, with Mingxuan, with him... a few little thoughts were harmless.
As for things like "warmth-inducing fragrance"... a barely perceptible deep meaning flashed in Gu Yangui's eyes. What he needed was not a woman who only knew how to use tricks to curry favor. What he wanted was a wife who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, a wife he could entrust his back to with complete peace of mind.
His young wife seems to be striving to grow in this direction.
However, she still needs to experience the trials and tribulations of growing up. All he can do is stand behind her, providing shelter and support, and offering her an umbrella when she needs it.
As night deepened, candle wax dripped. In the Jinse Courtyard, within the red curtains, the couple slept in each other's arms. The small brocade pouch beneath the cushion, along with the whispered words and expectations it represented from the bride's family, was temporarily forgotten.
End of Chapter 14
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