Chapter 57

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Seeing Gu Yan Fei leave without stopping, heading straight out of the courtyard, Su Niang finally let out the breath she had been holding. A self-satisfied smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she comforted herself: That girl Gu Yan Fei really can’t do anything to me!

Yet, despite her smugness, her heart continued to pound erratically in her chest.

Thump, thump, thump!

She clutched her handkerchief tightly, her gaze darting anxiously toward the main hall. Inside, the atmosphere was chaotic, with familiar figures emerging one after another from the eastern side room. When her eyes landed on the slender, graceful figure of Gu Yun Rong, Su Niang’s burning gaze fixed on her, unable to look away.

Gu Yun Rong called over one of the maids from Cihe Hall and whispered instructions for her to check if the medicinal tea for Old Madam Gu had finished brewing in the backyard. As she spoke, Gu Yun Rong’s eyes drifted toward the courtyard, where she noticed Su Niang standing outside. Their gazes met, and for a brief moment, time seemed to freeze.

Gu Yun Rong was momentarily stunned. She saw Su Niang take half a step forward, only to suddenly hesitate as if realizing something. Su Niang quickly withdrew, hiding herself behind the parasol tree again, her eyes peeking out timidly toward Gu Yun Rong.

In those eyes, a mix of hope and hesitation shone, a yearning to approach but restrained by fear.

It was unmistakable—the gaze of a mother.

Gu Yun Rong clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her gaze flickering as a faint sense of discomfort rose in her heart. Turning her head slightly, she instructed her chief maid, “Xia Lian, I’ll stay here tonight to care for Grandmother. Have someone prepare salted osmanthus duck.”

“Yes, Miss,” Xia Lian replied promptly. She gracefully exited the main hall, relaying the order in a clear voice to a young maid in a blue dress standing under the corridor. Her tone was just loud enough for Su Niang, who was hiding behind the parasol tree, to overhear.

Salted osmanthus duck was one of Gu Yun Rong’s favorite dishes—and also one of Su Niang’s specialties.

Upon hearing these words, Su Niang’s heart leapt with joy, and a faint smile appeared on her face. She desperately wanted to walk over and speak to Gu Yun Rong but ultimately restrained herself, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on her daughter.

Every subtle change in Su Niang’s expression was captured by Gu Yun Rong. She watched as the previously despondent Su Niang seemed to regain her spirit, as though she had been given some miraculous elixir.

Inwardly, Gu Yun Rong sighed softly: Everything Su Niang does is for me.

When the maid finally returned with a steaming cup of medicinal tea, Gu Yun Rong re-entered the inner room, with Xia Lian following behind, carefully carrying the tea.

After everyone left, the inner chamber fell silent, its vast space feeling empty. The sandalwood incense in the corner had already burned out, leaving behind only the lingering aroma of medicine that permeated the air.

Old Madam Gu sat alone on the canopy bed, her face haggard and faintly sallow, her frailty unhidden by her aged demeanor. A sense of desolation and loneliness clung to her, like tea gone cold after the guest had left.

“Grandmother, how are you feeling?” Gu Yun Rong asked gently, sitting at the edge of the bed with a look of genuine concern.

Hearing her soft and tender words, Old Madam Gu felt a rare sense of comfort. Once again, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Why is it that Yun Rong isn’t my real granddaughter?

Her thoughts shifted to Gu Yan Fei, who had flatly refused to care for her, offering only cold and indifferent words. The anger she had tried to suppress began to flare up again. That girl Gu Yan Fei must have come to collect debts from her past life! She doesn’t care about me, her grandmother, or about the Gu family at all!

Old Madam Gu’s expression flickered, her emotions shifting unpredictably. Her already pale face darkened further, and she raised her hand to massage her temples, trying to ease her discomfort. But when she turned to face Gu Yun Rong, her expression softened into one of warmth and affection. She gently patted Yun Rong’s hand, saying, “Good child, Grandmother is fine, just a slight headache.”

Gu Yun Rong’s voice became even softer and more considerate. “Grandmother, how about I ask His Highness Kang Wang to send a royal physician to examine you?” she suggested, her delicate brows knitting slightly. Deep down, she couldn’t help but feel that relying on talisman water was far from trustworthy.

“There’s no need to trouble His Highness Kang Wang! Grandmother is truly fine now,” Old Madam Gu said with a satisfied smile, feeling even more pleased. “Shangqing Zhenren truly lives up to his reputation—equally skilled in medicine and Daoist arts. No wonder everyone calls him a living immortal!”

At the mention of Shangqing Zhenren, Old Madam Gu’s spirits lifted, and a spark of energy returned to her eyes.

Gu Yun Rong, seeing this, chose not to press further. She let out a soft sigh and said, “Grandmother, you really scared me this time…” Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, and her eyes grew red with unshed tears.

Old Madam Gu reached out and pulled Gu Yun Rong into her arms, letting her rest her head on her shoulder. “Good child, Grandmother hasn’t lived to see you married off in all your glory yet—how could I bear to leave?”

At the mention of Gu Yun Rong’s marriage, Old Madam Gu’s brows furrowed slightly. The memory of Lady Fang’s earlier threats replayed in her mind, and her expression turned stern. Patting Gu Yun Rong’s shoulder gently, she reassured her, “With Grandmother here, I won’t let Gu Yan Fei harm you.”

Yun Rong was the one she had raised with her own hands. From childhood to now, this girl had never suffered even the slightest grievance. Yet in the few short days since Gu Yan Fei’s return, Yun Rong had been repeatedly humiliated and trampled upon.

Gu Yan Fei truly is a harbinger of disaster!

Leaning against Old Madam Gu’s shoulder, Gu Yun Rong felt a warmth spread through her chest, rippling gently like water. Perhaps blood ties don’t mean everything, do they? Grandmother’s kindness toward me is genuine…

Steadying herself, Gu Yun Rong straightened her posture and took the cup of medicinal tea from Xia Lian’s hands. She gently blew on it before offering it to Old Madam Gu. “Grandmother, have some nourishing tea.”

Having just recovered from her illness, Old Madam Gu’s strength was still lacking. Even after only saying a few words, her breathing had grown labored. She accepted the tea bowl from Gu Yun Rong and was just about to lower her head to drink when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

“Old Madam!”

The curtain was lifted abruptly, and Nanny Li rushed in, her face lined with worry.

“Old Madam, the Marquis just sent someone with urgent news,” Nanny Li began, swallowing hard, her voice strained as she continued. “This morning, the Duke of Ying submitted a memorial to the court, accusing His Highness Kang Wang of attempting to seize a court official’s wife.”

Old Madam Gu’s hand trembled, and the white porcelain tea bowl with blue floral patterns slipped from her grasp.

Crash!

The bowl shattered into pieces on the ground, spilling dark brown medicinal tea across the floor. A few droplets of the scalding liquid splashed onto the hem of Gu Yun Rong’s frost-white dress, leaving stark, shocking stains.

Old Madam Gu’s lips pressed tightly together, her face ashen and grim. A sharp pain gripped her chest like a knife twisting into her heart, followed by a heavy suffocating pressure.

“Cough, cough, cough…” A scratchy itch rose in her throat, triggering a violent fit of coughing. Her frail body trembled as she coughed, her eyes dark and filled with malice.

The Duke of Ying’s household had actually dared to do this!

How dare they!

The news of the Duke of Ying accusing Kang Wang of attempting to seize another man’s wife spread like a thunderclap across the court, shocking everyone.

For days afterward, the Duke of Ying persistently submitted memorials to the Emperor. Three days later, the Emperor finally summoned Kang Wang, Chu You, to the palace.

In the Eastern Warm Pavilion, a white jade three-legged incense burner with dragon motifs stood in the corner, sending out thin wisps of smoke. Golden sunlight streamed through the translucent glass windows, illuminating the room. The heat from the brazier filled the space with a springlike warmth.

“Elder Brother,” Chu You addressed the Emperor directly, refusing to bow his head or admit guilt. His tone was forceful and confident as he argued his case. “Your younger brother and the Gu family’s third young lady are both unmarried, and our feelings are mutual. How could this be called stealing another man’s wife? Royal Grandfather once said that marriage is not only about obeying one’s parents’ wishes but also about mutual affection!”