Chapter 47

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Gu Yan Fei didn’t linger in Cihe Hall and instead returned to Yuheng Courtyard with Juan Bi in tow.

The autumn chrysanthemums swayed gently with the shadows of the trees in the breeze, adding a sense of tranquility and a touch of chill to the atmosphere. Along the way, the occasional passing servant walked briskly, their chatter carried by the wind. Words like “Kang Wang,” “proposal,” and “Third Miss” floated to her ears intermittently.

By the time they reached the entrance to Yuheng Courtyard, Juan Bi, who had been holding back her curiosity, couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, didn’t the Empress Dowager say earlier that the Third Miss would marry into the Duke of Ying’s household? So why did His Highness, Kang Wang, come to propose instead?”

The maid frowned slightly and added, “I’ve never heard of a prince or royal duke personally going to someone’s house to propose. Isn’t it usually the Emperor, Empress, or Empress Dowager who selects consorts for the royal family in edicts, just like in the plays?”

“If you’re so curious, why don’t you go investigate it yourself?” Gu Yan Fei replied with a faint smile, her words trailing off as they were interrupted by a dissatisfied meow.

“Meow—”

Qing Guang let out a long, drawn-out meow as it dashed toward Gu Yan Fei, leaping into her arms and beginning to “complain” incessantly. Sometimes it scolded her for leaving it behind, and other times it grumbled about her previously handing it over to Chu Yi.

Gu Yan Fei, unable to understand its grievances, simply held the cat as she walked inside. Meanwhile, Juan Bi cheerfully dashed back out, her steps light and quick.

Juan Bi was a houseborn servant of the Marquis’s residence. Her family had served the household for generations, with relatives scattered throughout the estate. Though none held high-ranking positions like stewards or managers, their wide network ensured she had connections in nearly every corner.

It didn’t take long for Juan Bi to gather some information about Kang Wang. She got it from the niece-in-law of her cousin-in-law, who worked in Cihe Hall. Though her relative could only perform menial tasks there and wasn’t allowed into the main room, she discreetly inquired with a second-tier maid from Cihe Hall.

Apparently, Kang Wang had indeed come to the Marquis’s residence with the intention of formally proposing. However, Old Madam Gu had yet to give her approval. She had remarked that matters of marriage could not be decided by Kang Wang alone. If the Empress Dowager Yuan had other plans, it would create an awkward situation.

In the end, Kang Wang was persuaded to leave.

Although the marriage proposal had not been finalized, it caused a stir throughout the Marquis’s residence. The servants, feeling a sense of shared honor, basked in the joyous atmosphere that now pervaded the entire household.

However, inside Cihe Hall, the mood was markedly different. Old Madam Gu, along with Gu Jian and his mother, was weighed down by a sense of unease. The tension was palpable, and the oppressive air extended to everyone within and around the hall.

“Mother,” spoke the Marchioness, Wang Shi, breaking the heavy silence. She sat beside Gu Jian and cleared her throat before continuing, “Why didn’t you accept Kang Wang’s proposal?”

As soon as her words fell, the curtain of the green gauze screen was quietly lifted by a hand, revealing half a face.

It was that of a stewardess in her mid-thirties, dressed in a dark, patterned jacket of sauce-colored brocade, paired with a sandalwood-colored pleated skirt. She had a slightly plump figure and a graceful oval face, though it was now marked by visible anxiety.

Her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Old Madam Gu as she bit her lip in apprehension.

Fourteen years ago, she had taken a desperate risk and swapped two baby girls, hoping to give her own daughter a brighter future. Back then, she believed that her daughter marrying into the Duke of Ying’s household and becoming the Duchess would be the pinnacle of her dreams. But now, the possibility of her daughter catching the eye of Kang Wang and having the chance to become a royal consort was beyond anything she had dared to hope for.

If her daughter could secure such an ideal match, her entire life would feel worthwhile.

When her daughter’s true origins were exposed years ago, she had nearly believed her life was over. But fortunately…

Su Niang, her dark eyes deep like a bottomless ancient well, held her breath and stood frozen behind the curtain, careful not to make a sound lest she be discovered eavesdropping.

At the head of the room, Old Madam Gu took two slow sips of tea, the silence around her heavy. She seemed to be lost in thought, weighing her words carefully. The quiet in the room was absolute, broken only by the distinct sound of water dripping from a leaking pot nearby.

Su Niang’s legs had gone numb from standing still so long behind the green gauze screen. Just as she thought Old Madam Gu might remain silent indefinitely, the matriarch’s measured and deliberate voice pierced the stillness:

“The harder it is to obtain, the more precious it becomes.”

“Now that the Empress Dowager opposes it, Kang Wang has no choice but to lower himself and personally propose. If the Gu family agrees too readily, it will make Kang Wang feel as though this marriage came too easily,” Old Madam Gu explained, her voice calm but purposeful.

Seated below her, Gu Jian and Wang Shi exchanged a glance, each lost in thought.

Gu Jian pondered briefly before grasping the deeper meaning behind the matriarch’s words. As a man, he understood well the nature of men. The harder it was to attain a woman, the more valuable she became in their eyes. That was simply how things worked.

Yet, despite this reasoning, Gu Jian couldn’t shake a sense of unease. The Empress Dowager was known for her stubbornness. What if she refused to relent? Would Kang Wang remain steadfast in his pursuit?

Irritated, Gu Jian rubbed the furrow in his brow before voicing his concerns. “Mother, I heard that His Highness, the First Prince, also went to Jing Wang Manor today.”

To Gu Jian, the safest course of action was to secure this marriage quickly to avoid unnecessary complications. However, Old Madam Gu’s composure faltered at his words. Her hand trembled as she clutched her string of prayer beads, nearly dropping them. The calm confidence she had displayed moments ago seemed to vanish.

Gu Jian continued, his tone cautious yet deliberate. “The First Prince even had a private meeting with Jing Wang. The two stayed in the study for an entire hour before the First Prince returned directly to the palace.”

Old Madam Gu naturally understood the implication behind her son’s words, and her mood grew increasingly irritable. A cold, sharp glint appeared in her eyes, reflecting the dark thoughts brewing within her.

Just as she had suspected, the First Prince would undoubtedly become the greatest variable in the current situation. His return was bound to stir up a storm in the imperial court, bringing bloodshed and upheaval. In the face of such supreme power, many things—and many people—could easily become insignificant.

Who could guarantee that Kang Wang would resist the temptation of the throne for the sake of Gu Yun Rong?

Old Madam Gu’s lips pressed into a tight line as the weight of her thoughts bore down on her chest like a heavy stone, making it difficult to breathe.

The room fell into a deep silence, so quiet that the faintest sound could be heard.

Behind the green gauze screen, Su Niang, who was eavesdropping with bated breath, couldn’t have imagined the layers of complexity in Old Madam Gu’s mind. Growing anxious at the prolonged silence, she nearly stumbled into the curtain and made a sound, but managed to restrain herself at the last moment. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty as she wondered what decision the matriarch would ultimately make.

Old Madam Gu slowly turned the string of prayer beads between her fingers, her expression unreadable. Suddenly, she shifted the conversation. “How are the preparations for Zhen’er’s marriage progressing? I heard Murong Yong recently earned a merit in Qingzhou?”

Currently, the management of the Marquis’s household was overseen by Wang Shi, who also took charge of arranging Gu Yun Zhen’s marriage. Though Gu Jian occasionally overheard Wang Shi’s chatter about trivial matters, he rarely paid attention. Now, noticing his mother’s inquiry, he gave Wang Shi a pointed look.

Understanding the signal, Wang Shi responded with a warm smile. “Mother, please rest assured. Your daughter-in-law will ensure Zhen’er’s wedding is managed perfectly. At the moment, we’re only waiting for the Murong family to set the date.”

Then, turning toward Gu Jian, she asked, “Lord Marquis, is Young Master Murong returning to the capital soon?”

The wedding date, after all, could only be formally decided after Murong Yong returned from Qingzhou.

Hearing Murong Yong mentioned, Gu Jian’s spirits lifted, and he began to speak with enthusiasm. “He returned just this morning! Murong Yong is truly a young talent. This time, he accompanied the army to Qingzhou to suppress bandits and personally captured the bandit leader, earning himself great merit. It’s highly likely he’ll be promoted.”

“There’s currently a vacancy for a Xiaoqiwei (Brave Cavalry Captain) in the Shenji Camp. I’d say his chances of filling that position are almost guaranteed.”

Murong Yong, despite his youth, had achieved great success. His merit on this campaign had effectively brought him to the Emperor’s attention. Gaining a foothold in the Shenji Camp would set him on a path to a bright future.

Right now, what Kang Wang lacked most was support from the military.