Chapter 24

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The siblings made their way around to the back of Cihe Hall, turned east, and passed through a covered corridor, heading further east until they arrived at a peaceful courtyard. Compared to the lively atmosphere of Cihe Hall, Yuheng Courtyard was serene and tranquil, enveloped in lush greenery that swayed gently in the breeze. The soft autumn wind brushed against their clothes and hair.

“Young Master,” a woman in her fifties, thin and frail-looking, greeted Gu Yuan with a nervous bow.

The servants left in this courtyard were mostly rough maids and old women who handled menial tasks. They rarely had the opportunity to serve the masters of the marquis’ household, so their behavior was somewhat stiff and awkward.

The old woman bent over, cautiously glancing at Gu Yan Fei. Ever since Old Madam Gu and the eldest young lady returned from their trip to Dan Yang City, rumors had been swirling through the manor that a new second young lady would be joining the household. Could this girl be the one?

“Second Young Lady will be staying here from now on,” Gu Yuan announced as he cast a sweeping glance over the quiet and desolate courtyard.

Most of the old servants from the main branch who remained in the capital now served Gu Yun Zhen. It wouldn’t be appropriate to bring them back to serve his sister. He would need to select more loyal and trustworthy people for her care.

Gu Yuan was mentally calculating where he could find trustworthy people to transfer to the courtyard while giving a stern warning to the servants, “Whatever Second Young Lady says must be followed without question. If I hear of any disobedience, even though the main branch is not what it once was, I’m more than capable of dealing with you.”

He cast a sharp, casual glance at the old woman, his eyes as sharp as blades, radiating a natural authority that needed no raised voice. The old woman quickly bowed in agreement and immediately called for the other servants in the courtyard to greet the two masters.

The arrival of the siblings instantly brought life to the once-dormant Yuheng Courtyard. The servants bustled about in a flurry, hastily cleaning and tidying the area.

“Come, Sister, let me show you around,” Gu Yuan said with a softer expression as he turned to Gu Yan Fei. He walked at her pace, patiently guiding her deeper into the courtyard.

Every tree, every object here held memories of their parents. “After Father and Mother married, they lived here. Father even built that swing for her with his own hands,” he explained, pointing toward the swing set.

“That small bamboo grove was planted by Mother the year I was born, and those chrysanthemums—she planted them too. Mother loved flowers, so Father had this garden sectioned off just for her.”

“This rockery is made from Taihu stones, which were a gift from our maternal uncle, delivered from far away,” Gu Yuan continued.

Gu Yan Fei listened with great interest, captivated by all the details she had never known. In her previous life, she had followed Old Madam Gu’s every command, living in Caiwei Courtyard on the northwest side of Cihe Hall, never once stepping foot in Yuheng Courtyard.

Gu Yuan kept talking as they walked, sharing stories about the main branch of the family. He mentioned their father, the late Marquis of Dingyuan, Gu Ce, who had died in battle eight years ago. Because Gu Yuan was too young at the time, the late emperor had granted the title to Gu Ce’s younger brother, Gu Jian, who now held the title of Marquis.

After about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the siblings completed their walk around the courtyard and arrived at the main house. The room inside was bright and clean, spotless, but also quite empty. Other than some basic furniture—cabinets, tables, chairs, and a bed—there wasn’t much else.

“Sister, from now on, this is your home. Feel free to decorate it however you like—don’t let yourself be uncomfortable…” Gu Yuan’s words were cut off by a soft meow.

The newly awakened milk cat suddenly leaped out of Gu Yan Fei’s arms and darted through the window, landing on a large tree outside. It stretched lazily before happily sharpening its claws on the tree branches, making a rhythmic “scratch scratch” sound.

Gu Yan Fei casually smoothed the wrinkles in her clothes left by the cat, a faint smile gracing her lips. Gu Yuan also smiled, his gaze soft and tender. His sister had grown up, nearly old enough for her coming-of-age ceremony, and he wasn’t sure what more he could do for her.

After racking his brain for a moment, he suddenly slapped his forehead as if remembering something important. He quickly fished a few 100-tael banknotes out of the pouch at his waist and shoved them all into Gu Yan Fei’s hands.

“Buy whatever you want, don’t let yourself go without. If this isn’t enough, just let me know.”

It was only a modest sum—just 400 taels. Not much by most standards, but Gu Yan Fei knew this was everything her brother had. According to tradition, families didn’t divide their assets while the elders were still alive. Since Old Madam Gu was still in charge, the marquis’ estate hadn’t been divided.

The main branch had no private property, and even their mother, Lady Xie’s dowry, was managed by Old Madam Gu. Gu Yuan’s salary was turned over to the family’s public fund, so he lived off the monthly allowance from the estate. It was only through occasional side earnings that he had managed to save up this bit of silver.

“Thank you, Big Brother,” Gu Yan Fei said, accepting the banknotes with a bright smile.

At the prime of her youth, the young girl’s beauty was striking. She needed no makeup or jewelry to enhance her appearance. Just a simple smile lit up her face like a field of blooming flowers, delicate and radiant beyond words.

Gu Yuan felt a surge of indescribable emotion. His sister was no longer the naive child she once was. The time they had lost could never be regained, but he could still dote on her, do his best to be good to her, and ensure that she could always smile as freely as she did now.

As they spoke, Juan Bi brought over hot tea for the siblings. Gu Yuan took a sip, frowning slightly. He called for the servant woman and instructed, “Go to my quarters and ask Wu Tong to bring over a few tins of fine tea… No, never mind, I’ll go myself.”

Inwardly, he sighed—his sister needed much more than just better tea leaves.

With this thought, Gu Yuan set down his cup, suddenly disinterested in drinking tea. He urged, “Sister, you’ve just arrived and must be tired from the long journey. Get some rest. There will be plenty to do in the coming days.” After leaving these words, he hurried off.

Gu Yan Fei watched his figure disappear through the courtyard gate before retreating to the nearby chaise lounge for a short rest.

As the sun set in the west, Gu Yan Fei woke from her nap feeling refreshed. Juan Bi eagerly pulled her up, urging her to come see her newly arranged room.

The room had been mostly tidied up, and the sparse furniture had been rearranged, giving it a clean and simple appearance. Just like in Dan Yang City, a large desk had been placed by the window. However, unlike before, the desk was completely empty, making the space feel somewhat barren.

Since there was no pond outside the window, Juan Bi had placed a large blue-and-white porcelain basin, about the size of a washbasin, on the desk. The basin, too, was empty.

With a bright smile, Juan Bi said, “My lady, there are no fish right now, but in a couple of days, I’ll head out and buy two goldfish for you.”

“Meow!”

The milk cat heard the conversation and happily jumped into the porcelain basin, clearly approving of Juan Bi’s suggestion. Its meaning was obvious—fish soup sounds delicious!

Gu Yan Fei had just finished a quick tour of the room and sat down when a servant woman entered, beaming with a smile, to announce that Li Mama from Cihe Hall was here to see her.

Li Mama was Old Madam Gu’s most trusted confidante. She was known for her constant smile and had a reputation of not only commanding respect but also maintaining good relationships within the household.

“Second Young Lady,” Li Mama greeted her with a bright smile, curtsying politely. She glanced around the still sparsely furnished room, her lips tightening slightly in disapproval.

Had it not been for the insistence of the Young Master, Old Madam Gu had originally planned for the Second Young Lady to stay in Caiwei Courtyard. Before leaving for Dan Yang City, she had even instructed Li Mama to have the courtyard prepared. Though small, it was far more furnished than this bare Yuheng Courtyard.

The Young Master, being a man, clearly lacked the attention to such details, Li Mama thought briefly. However, she didn’t intend to bring it up or suggest that Gu Yan Fei could request furnishings from the household’s storeroom. Instead, with her usual smile, she passed along the message, “Old Madam asks that you come to the ancestral hall tomorrow at the hour of Si (9 AM to 11 AM).”

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