Chapter 13: The Young Master Must Alter His Temperament And Habits

Liu Yuru listened in contemplative silence as Jiang Rou spoke. After a long pause, she asked, “What was it like when you first married Father-in-law?”

“Him?” Jiang Rou chuckled. “Back then, he was also undisciplined. He kept a mistress outside and took several concubines within three years of our marriage.”

Liu Yuru’s eyes fluttered as she listened to Jiang Rou continue. “This was a common occurrence, but I was young and in love. I couldn’t let it go, so we quarreled constantly. Many trials and tribulations later, we finally reached the understanding we have today. He’s settled down, and the concubines live quietly in the rear courtyard. They are pitiful people, so they stay in their courtyard to live out their days. If a suitable match is found, we give them some money and let them remarry.”

Jiang Rou suddenly realized that the young lady was at a sensitive moment and hastily added, “I’m not suggesting you follow my example, my dear. My path was often rocky. I only meant to reminisce.”

She shared a few lighthearted anecdotes until Liu Yuru seemed more at ease. Rising to leave, Jiang Rou paused. “Shall I bring Jiusi back?”

Liu Yuru hesitated before replying, “No, let it be…”

Compelling his return now might irreparably damage their relationship.

Jiang Rou smiled and reminded her to rest well before turning to leave.

After Jiang Rou departed, Liu Yuru sat motionless, lost in thought. Yin Hong approached tentatively. “Miss…”

Liu Yuru raised her hand, stopping Yin Hong’s words. “Let me think,” she murmured.

Yin Hong stayed quiet as Liu Yuru moved to the chess table, a rare pastime for her. She had only taken it up upon hearing of Ye Shi’an’s love for the game. Now, she desperately needed something to calm her turbulent mind. 

Her demeanor betrayed nothing as she sat, focused intently on the board. Yin Hong didn’t dare to disturb her. 

She recalled the first time she’d seen her mistress like this—after Concubine Yue entered the household and demanded that the Madam and Young Miss be moved from the main courtyard. The young miss had cried and protested to the Master, only to be slapped and dismissed.

That day, she was just like this, shutting herself in her room and sitting silently. When she came out, she sweetly called Concubine Yue “Concubine-Mother” and knew how to conduct herself properly from then on. But before that, Yin Hong remembered a wild girl who climbed trees, liked playing with slingshots, and fiercely argued against her father to defend her mother.

She didn’t know what her mistress would do this time, but she knew that her mistress would choose the best path.

As the chess pieces fell in a rhythmic cadence, Liu Yuru felt the tempest within her still. The pieces clicking against the board seemed to wash away her very self, immolating her in searing flames and grinding the ashes to dust, from which a new self could arise.

Life’s most vital skill was not cleverness in good times, but resilience in the face of adversity.

She quietly placed the pieces, slowly pondering. She knew she possessed no remarkable talents, save for a bit more tenacity than most. She could swiftly adapt her thinking, absorb new knowledge, and blend into any environment.

Just as she had transformed from cherished daughter to overlooked miss upon Zhang Yue’s arrival, hiding her resentment while flattering her father’s concubine to remain in their good graces.

Zhang Yue had taught her to gain favor; the Ye family had molded her into a praised young lady.

She had an extraordinary learning ability. Jiang Rou was a type of woman entirely new to her. In her mind, she carefully dissected her mother-in-law’s words and bearing.

She imagined herself in Jiang Rou’s shoes.

Married to a disappointing man, worse than even Gu Jiusi. But rather than despairing, she had painstakingly reformed him year by year into a devoted husband.

It was said that Father-in-law had once been of average wealth and was even profligate, but now he was a shrewd businessman—likely another of Jiang Rou’s credit.

She spent a hefty sum to betroth her precious son to a daughter-in-law and even went to great lengths to secure a dowry for her daughter-in-law. As a result, this daughter-in-law not only harbored resentment towards her own family but also had no sense of propriety and spoke to her without restraint. Still, Jiang Rou did not take offense and sought to understand Liu Yuru’s view, hoping to persuade her to find contentment in the Gu household.

Any other family of the Gu’s stature would have simply locked up or divorced a bride who behaved so inappropriately on her wedding night. But Jiang Rou approached the matter with empathy and logic, sincerely wishing for Liu Yuru to feel at home with the Gu family.

Liu Yuru sighed deeply, marveling at the rarity of such grace and humility from one so highly placed.

To hold a position of power without arrogance, to endure hardship without losing heart.

This kind of magnanimity was rare.

However, it was still hard to reconcile. Rationally, she understood. But tempering her roiling emotions was another matter entirely.

She knew dwelling in this anguished state would lead nowhere good. Misfortune was unavoidable in life. The danger lay in remaining mired in pain and repeating the same missteps.

So she played round after round against herself in meditative silence.

Then she had Yin Hong call Gu Jiusi’s former attendants to her, bidding them share every detail they could recall of their young master. His upbringing, his deeds, his temperament, his tastes.

She listened intently as they spoke, the clack of chess pieces punctuating their accounts. In her mind, she began sketching a portrait of her husband—past, present, and potential future.

A clear image began to take shape.

Soft-hearted and kind, with a fondness for stray cats and dogs.

He had a sense of responsibility. What he often shouted about when doing things was that one person does it, one person bears it, and he was most afraid of implicating the innocent.

He was very loyal and would go through fire and water for his brothers.

He had a hero’s dream and often fantasized about wandering the jianghu…

He tried every means to escape from the Gu residence, digging dog holes, using ladders to climb walls, and even making many wall-climbing tools himself; he also loved to hide private money, with banknotes hidden all over his room to prevent his parents from controlling him with money; his martial arts were excellent, and now even his master had to bring many people to subdue him…

Liu Yuru sought out every virtue she could discern in this troubled youth, striving to weigh his flaws and merits objectively. Was he truly beyond salvation, or merely lost?

After three days of ceaseless analysis, she had gleaned all she needed. The inferno of pain and confusion in her heart had at last subsided to embers.

Raising her head, she uttered her first words since beginning this strange vigil.

“Where is the Young Master?”

Yin Hong started at the sudden question. “I… I’ll find someone to inquire right away.”

Liu Yuru nodded, then calmly directed her maidservant to prepare a bath and fresh attire, then apply makeup.

As Yin Hong slid the last hairpin into Liu Yuru’s gleaming tresses, the messenger returned. “Young Madam,” she reported with a bow, “the Young Master remains at the Spring Breeze Pavilion.”

Liu Yuru betrayed no surprise. Gu Jiusi used to gamble at the casino for a month without returning home. A mere three days in the Spring Breeze Pavilion was nothing.

She nodded and rose gracefully. Liu Yuru went first to pay her respects to Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua.

Gu Langhua’s hands trembled as he heard the news of her arrival. “My eyelids won’t stop twitching,” he fretted to his wife, abandoning his teasing of their pet parrot. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Jiang Rou sighed. “It’s a matter between the children now. We can only listen, not interfere.”

After a while, Liu Yuru entered and bowed deeply to her parents-in-law. Gu Langhua hastened to have her rise. “Our family doesn’t have so many rules. Don’t be too formal.”

“As the junior, it’s only proper that I observe the necessary rites,” Liu Yuru demurred, her bearing poised. The skillfully applied cosmetics lent a glow to her wan features. “I’ve been unwell these past days and failed to serve tea to Father-in-law and Mother-in-law. I hope you will forgive my lapse.”

“You’ve done nothing requiring forgiveness,” Gu Langhua retorted, his ire rising at the reminder of his son’s misdeeds. 

He frowned and said, “That wretched boy is to blame. Jiusi was sickly when he was young, so we didn’t dare to discipline him strictly. By the time he grew stronger, it was too late. But I never thought he would be so unruly! You wait for me to catch him and make him apologize to you!”

“Father-in-law is joking,” Liu Yuru replied, her manner tranquil. Gu Langhua’s promises of retribution neither gratified nor perturbed her. “The Young Master has always been carefree and naive. I knew this when I wed him. I am a Gu now, and my only wish is for my husband to be content. If gambling and gallivanting please him, so be it.”

Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua exchanged a worried glance at her measured words. Gu Langhua’s sense of unease deepened. Somehow, Liu Yuru’s calm felt more ominous than any display of fury.

Unaware of her father-in-law’s growing apprehension, Liu Yuru continued, “I came today first to pay my respects, and also to better understand the family’s circumstances, so that I may conduct myself appropriately.”

“You needn’t trouble yourself,” Gu Langhua said, choosing his words with care. “As long as you and Jiusi can live together peacefully, that is enough. If you have the opportunity, do encourage him to nurture some ambition. That is all.”

Liu Yuru considered this, then asked delicately, “Does Father-in-law wish for the Young Master to focus on his studies and seek advancement? Has this desire been conveyed to him before?”

She already suspected the answer. If such expectations had been communicated clearly, Gu Jiusi would never have been permitted to run so wild.

“The past is past,” Gu Langhua sighed, confirming her theory. “We thought only of his happiness, so we never pushed him to excel. But times have changed. He needs to cultivate practical skills, so that he may stand on his own even without the family’s protection.”

Liu Yuru’s brow furrowed. “Is the family facing some new challenge?”

Her gaze shifted meaningfully to Jiang Rou. Understanding the unspoken question, her mother-in-law decided to speak plainly.

“While our Gu family has indeed prospered here in Yangzhou, our roots lie in the Capital. My brother serves as Minister of Personnel there. The political winds are shifting—His Majesty has not held court for three months. My brother had hoped to find an official post for Jiusi and wed him to a princess, thus securing our family’s position. We balked at entangling Jiusi in such intrigues, hence our haste to arrange this match instead.”

The scattered pieces fell into place, forming a dire picture. If the Emperor was absent from court, his health must be failing. The imperial succession would soon be thrown into doubt. And Gu Jiusi’s uncle wanted to consolidate his position by having his nephew marry a princess who had power, but…

Liu Yuru’s frown deepened. By all accounts, the ailing Emperor had already named his heir. The crown prince’s claim seemed ironclad. No matter how one looked at it, it didn’t seem like there would be a fight for the throne. What was the Gu family afraid of?

Fragments of her haunting dream rose to the surface of her mind.

“After Prince Liang rebelled, Fan Xuan led his troops into the Capital…”

“They relied on their connection to Prince Liang to act tyrannically in Yangzhou in the past…”

Shaken, she fought to keep her voice level as she probed further. “If I may ask, which factions does Uncle support in the Capital? Are you closely linked to any of the princes?”

“We are loyal servants of the rightful Son of Heaven,” Jiang Rou said, sipping her tea. “Though we have no strong ties to the imperial house, I do have a niece serving as Prince Liang’s concubine.”

Liu Yuru’s heart raced at this revelation.

Twice now, her dream had proven prescient! The thought sent a chill down her spine. Could it truly be mere coincidence?

Hiding her mounting dread behind the action of drinking tea, Liu Yuru’s mind whirled. If her dreams were accurate portents, how much time did the Gu family have left before calamity struck? And when they fell from grace, would she be consumed in the flames as Gu Jiusi’s wife?

Her hands were sweaty. Setting down her cup, Liu Yuru spoke the words she had so carefully rehearsed. “Indeed, in light of the family’s changed circumstances, the Young Master must alter his temperament and habits.”

She met her parents-in-law’s gazes soberly. “Though a man need not achieve dazzling glory or vast riches in his lifetime, he must at the very least cultivate dependable skills. Don’t you agree, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law?”