Shen Ruxu cried so pitifully, with scalding tears falling down her face like broken beads.
Even someone as cold-hearted as Yu Gu had to soften. After all, Shen Ruxu was the child she had raised since a young age - when she first took Ruxu in, the girl was only five or six, nothing but skin and bones.
At that time, Yu Gu was ill herself, living in hiding day to day, yet she still took care of the young Ruxu. It was because of Ruxu's existence that she was not completely alone in her loneliness...
She had always treated Ruxu as her own daughter, secretly hoping she could become her daughter-in-law one day... Yet now...
"Ruxu, let's forget about all that," Yu Gu suddenly said solemnly.
"Why, Mother?" Ruxu did not understand. Glory and riches were within her grasp, so why give them up? On what grounds?
Yu Gu's nose turned slightly sour. "Mother feels tired. Life in Bianjing is suffocating - it would be better to return to the countryside, free and simple. The two of us can forget about Du, forget about Bianjing, and go back to the ordinary, peaceful days we had before. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"But are you willing, Mother?" Ruxu retorted. "Willing to let everything be taken by that woman? Willing to let your son call her 'Mother'?"
"I..." Yu Gu's face was conflicted, her brows furrowing. Of course she hated Cheng and Zhao Hui.
But she had always lived as she wished, saving lives as a doctor by nature. She could neither take revenge nor act against them. After living in the Duke's Residence these months, just seeing Du safe and sound was satisfaction enough.
Though she did not like Gongzhu Ying's bold personality, her son loved Ying, so as his mother she had no complaints and gave her full support.
"Mother... daughter begs you..." Ruxu placed her head in Yu Gu's lap and wept, "Daughter's heart belongs to the Heir alone. And Mother, you are the Heir's mother--"
"Ruxu! Don't speak nonsense!"
Yu Gu immediately interrupted Ruxu's words and pulled the tearful woman up. "I've told you many times, Bianjing is different from other places. Some things must never be said carelessly! Do you understand?"
"But I spoke no falsehoods... Mother, you truly are..."
Yu Gu's gaze was severe, her chest heaving as she said sternly, "If you say more, Mother will disown you as daughter!"
"I..." Ruxu was helpless, and could only shut her mouth. Staring at Yu Gu with red eyes, she said, "Alright, I won't say more, don't be angry Mother... Please."
Yu Gu's eyes held a hint of sorrow. With a resigned sigh, she got up and returned to her own room.
Ruxu clenched her fists tightly, forcing back humiliated tears.
She truly could not understand why Mother insisted on shrinking away, when she had such a noble status and had given birth to Dong Li's Divine General. Yet Mother had fled Bianjing for so many years, living in remote villages to heal people and live a selfless, simple life.
What was so great about mingling with commoners every day?
She was the Duke's wife - if she reclaimed that status, they could live in the Duke's Residence with its carved beams and painted rafters, enjoying endless glory and riches. And she could fulfill her promise to marry Ruxu to the Heir and make her his daughter-in-law.
So why did Mother choose to abandon her for Gongzhu Ying?
Just because the child in Ying's belly was also Mother's grandchild, she readily compromised?
The more Ruxu thought about it, the more upset she became, the more she hated it. Her chest felt oppressed by a boulder, and she found it hard to breathe.
Tears flowing, she smiled mockingly to herself as she stood up. Staring fixedly at Yu Gu's room, she thought: No, I cannot accept this!
Mother said I was the daughter-in-law she was most satisfied with, and would send me to the Heir's side if there was a chance.
Now that I am in Bianjing, I absolutely will not leave easily.
I will make the Heir come personally to bring me into the Duke's Residence!
...
Gu Ying had just returned to the residence where Cheng used to live when she saw Huai An and Yin Lan walking over together.
Huai An's eyes brightened slightly. "Mistress, we've finally found something."
Yin Lan smiled and continued, "Back then there was a scholar named Yuan Xing who stayed in the neighboring residence for a month. After that month he left Bianjing, but he loved reading and often went to the century-old bookstore outside Xing Alley to buy books."
Gu Ying murmured, "Yuan Xing, Yuan Xing, his name also contains the character Xing?"
Yin Lan said, "What's more, very coincidentally, that month he stayed was when Cheng claimed she was pregnant."
Smiling radiantly, Yin Lan relayed the information she had gathered. The corners of Gu Ying's mouth turned up as she listened and got into the carriage. "Since we know his name, it will be even easier to find the person. Huai An, have someone check among officials first."
Holding the horse's reins, Huai An asked in puzzlement, "Mistress, why look among officials?"
Inside the carriage, Gu Ying folded her hands into her sleeves and strategized, "He came to the capital that year to participate in the imperial examination. Whether or not he passed, there must have been someone by that name who showed up at the exam. Moreover, knowing Cheng's personality, if she let Yuan Xing off, she must have paved the way for him in secret. After all, he is her child's father, she couldn't have made things too difficult for him. And she herself came from an official's family. Even if she entered the pleasure quarters back then, deep down she understands a man needs an official position to have a better future. Over the years, what she valued most was face and dignity. If she could not attach herself to the Duke, I fear Yuan Xing would have been her next target."
Yin Lan smiled and gave a thumbs up. "Mistress analyzed perfectly. Cheng was desperate to become an official's wife, otherwise she would not have kept Yuan Xing around."
The corners of Gu Ying's mouth turned up slightly. "Not dealing with him at first was perhaps to keep an escape route. Not dealing with him later was likely because she could no longer do so."
From the other side of the carriage curtain, Huai An stroked his chin as he flicked the whip. He said in a clear voice, "This subordinate understands now. Yuan Xing must not have a low position."
Gu Ying's expression was flat as she lifted the carriage curtain and took one last look at Xing Alley.
This farce had begun in Xing Alley, so it should end in Xing Alley as well.
...
With a lead, news of Yuan Xing indeed came swiftly.
In less than two days, Huai An brought a record to Gu Ying. Combined with the earlier intelligence from Fuyun Building, most of Cheng's life story was now laid bare before her eyes.
At dusk, the melancholy red clouds hung quietly in the sky as the sun set in the west, and night was soon to fall.
Leaning against the low couch by the bed, Gu Ying flipped open the record to read.
Back then, Cheng did not have many close friends. Most were privileged young ladies from official families, daughters of her father's colleagues before he passed away. After the Cheng family's downfall, those women had severed ties with Cheng. Only after she attached herself to the Duke at the teaching hall did those people reconnect with her. Of her acquaintances, only Zhao Rou had a prestigious status.
Gu Ying recalled how she had deliberately probed Cheng some days ago, and the flustered Cheng had sent people to invite none other than Zhao Rou.
At that moment, her heart was somewhat complicated.
Shen Ruxu cried so pitifully, with scalding tears falling down her face like broken beads.
Even someone as cold-hearted as Yu Gu had to soften. After all, Shen Ruxu was the child she had raised since a young age - when she first took Ruxu in, the girl was only five or six, nothing but skin and bones.
At that time, Yu Gu was ill herself, living in hiding day to day, yet she still took care of the young Ruxu. It was because of Ruxu's existence that she was not completely alone in her loneliness...
She had always treated Ruxu as her own daughter, secretly hoping she could become her daughter-in-law one day... Yet now...
"Ruxu, let's forget about all that," Yu Gu suddenly said solemnly.
"Why, Mother?" Ruxu did not understand. Glory and riches were within her grasp, so why give them up? On what grounds?
Yu Gu's nose turned slightly sour. "Mother feels tired. Life in Bianjing is suffocating - it would be better to return to the countryside, free and simple. The two of us can forget about Du, forget about Bianjing, and go back to the ordinary, peaceful days we had before. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"But are you willing, Mother?" Ruxu retorted. "Willing to let everything be taken by that woman? Willing to let your son call her 'Mother'?"
"I..." Yu Gu's face was conflicted, her brows furrowing. Of course she hated Cheng and Zhao Hui.
But she had always lived as she wished, saving lives as a doctor by nature. She could neither take revenge nor act against them. After living in the Duke's Residence these months, just seeing Du safe and sound was satisfaction enough.
Though she did not like Gongzhu Ying's bold personality, her son loved Ying, so as his mother she had no complaints and gave her full support.
"Mother... daughter begs you..." Ruxu placed her head in Yu Gu's lap and wept, "Daughter's heart belongs to the Heir alone. And Mother, you are the Heir's mother--"
"Ruxu! Don't speak nonsense!"
Yu Gu immediately interrupted Ruxu's words and pulled the tearful woman up. "I've told you many times, Bianjing is different from other places. Some things must never be said carelessly! Do you understand?"
"But I spoke no falsehoods... Mother, you truly are..."
Yu Gu's gaze was severe, her chest heaving as she said sternly, "If you say more, Mother will disown you as daughter!"
"I..." Ruxu was helpless, and could only shut her mouth. Staring at Yu Gu with red eyes, she said, "Alright, I won't say more, don't be angry Mother... Please."
Yu Gu's eyes held a hint of sorrow. With a resigned sigh, she got up and returned to her own room.
Ruxu clenched her fists tightly, forcing back humiliated tears.
She truly could not understand why Mother insisted on shrinking away, when she had such a noble status and had given birth to Dong Li's Divine General. Yet Mother had fled Bianjing for so many years, living in remote villages to heal people and live a selfless, simple life.
What was so great about mingling with commoners every day?
She was the Duke's wife - if she reclaimed that status, they could live in the Duke's Residence with its carved beams and painted rafters, enjoying endless glory and riches. And she could fulfill her promise to marry Ruxu to the Heir and make her his daughter-in-law.
So why did Mother choose to abandon her for Gongzhu Ying?
Just because the child in Ying's belly was also Mother's grandchild, she readily compromised?
The more Ruxu thought about it, the more upset she became, the more she hated it. Her chest felt oppressed by a boulder, and she found it hard to breathe.
Tears flowing, she smiled mockingly to herself as she stood up. Staring fixedly at Yu Gu's room, she thought: No, I cannot accept this!
Mother said I was the daughter-in-law she was most satisfied with, and would send me to the Heir's side if there was a chance.
Now that I am in Bianjing, I absolutely will not leave easily.
I will make the Heir come personally to bring me into the Duke's Residence!
...
Gu Ying had just returned to the residence where Cheng used to live when she saw Huai An and Yin Lan walking over together.
Huai An's eyes brightened slightly. "Mistress, we've finally found something."
Yin Lan smiled and continued, "Back then there was a scholar named Yuan Xing who stayed in the neighboring residence for a month. After that month he left Bianjing, but he loved reading and often went to the century-old bookstore outside Xing Alley to buy books."
Gu Ying murmured, "Yuan Xing, Yuan Xing, his name also contains the character Xing?"
Yin Lan said, "What's more, very coincidentally, that month he stayed was when Cheng claimed she was pregnant."
Smiling radiantly, Yin Lan relayed the information she had gathered. The corners of Gu Ying's mouth turned up as she listened and got into the carriage. "Since we know his name, it will be even easier to find the person. Huai An, have someone check among officials first."
Holding the horse's reins, Huai An asked in puzzlement, "Mistress, why look among officials?"
Inside the carriage, Gu Ying folded her hands into her sleeves and strategized, "He came to the capital that year to participate in the imperial examination. Whether or not he passed, there must have been someone by that name who showed up at the exam. Moreover, knowing Cheng's personality, if she let Yuan Xing off, she must have paved the way for him in secret. After all, he is her child's father, she couldn't have made things too difficult for him. And she herself came from an official's family. Even if she entered the pleasure quarters back then, deep down she understands a man needs an official position to have a better future. Over the years, what she valued most was face and dignity. If she could not attach herself to the Duke, I fear Yuan Xing would have been her next target."
Yin Lan smiled and gave a thumbs up. "Mistress analyzed perfectly. Cheng was desperate to become an official's wife, otherwise she would not have kept Yuan Xing around."
The corners of Gu Ying's mouth turned up slightly. "Not dealing with him at first was perhaps to keep an escape route. Not dealing with him later was likely because she could no longer do so."
From the other side of the carriage curtain, Huai An stroked his chin as he flicked the whip. He said in a clear voice, "This subordinate understands now. Yuan Xing must not have a low position."
Gu Ying's expression was flat as she lifted the carriage curtain and took one last look at Xing Alley.
This farce had begun in Xing Alley, so it should end in Xing Alley as well.
...
With a lead, news of Yuan Xing indeed came swiftly.
In less than two days, Huai An brought a record to Gu Ying. Combined with the earlier intelligence from Fuyun Building, most of Cheng's life story was now laid bare before her eyes.
At dusk, the melancholy red clouds hung quietly in the sky as the sun set in the west, and night was soon to fall.
Leaning against the low couch by the bed, Gu Ying flipped open the record to read.
Back then, Cheng did not have many close friends. Most were privileged young ladies from official families, daughters of her father's colleagues before he passed away. After the Cheng family's downfall, those women had severed ties with Cheng. Only after she attached herself to the Duke at the teaching hall did those people reconnect with her. Of her acquaintances, only Zhao Rou had a prestigious status.
Gu Ying recalled how she had deliberately probed Cheng some days ago, and the flustered Cheng had sent people to invite none other than Zhao Rou.
At that moment, her heart was somewhat complicated.
