Chapter 20
Gu Xiyan frowned. “It held you hostage? That monkey?”
Qiusang racked her brains desperately. “Maybe it wasn’t a monkey—its hands had no fur!”
But those hands were even blacker than any monkey’s.
A chill ran down Gu Xiyan’s spine. She glanced back at the bamboo grove. The wind rustled through the stalks, making the leaves whisper eerily, sending shivers down her spine.
She began to feel afraid as well. “What… what should we do now?”
She looked around helplessly. In the distance, she could see two matrons by the lake, scooping up floating weeds.
They were real, living people, but if something truly sinister happened, such matrons wouldn’t be of much use!
Qiusang was also panicking, but she calmed herself and said after a moment’s thought, “Young Mistress, I don’t think it was a ghost or a monkey. It might have been a person.”
“A person?” Gu Xiyan asked.
Qiusang nodded. “Yes. When it grabbed me, its hand wasn’t cold at all—it was warm. So it must be human.”
Hearing this, Gu Xiyan pondered carefully, suspicion rising in her heart. “In broad daylight, inside the Duke’s mansion no less, how did it appear so suddenly? And why would it grab you for no reason?”
A realization struck her abruptly. “Could it be one of Third Master’s people?”
Qiusang also pieced it together, nodding vigorously. “Exactly! It insisted on restraining me at that precise moment, yet didn’t hurt me, didn’t molest me, and didn’t steal anything. It only wanted to immobilize me!”
Having analyzed the situation, both mistress and maid felt somewhat indignant. They decided to investigate the direction of the bamboo grove to uncover the truth.
Sneaking around like that—who knew what they were up to!
The two cautiously approached the bamboo grove but saw neither shadow nor person. Instead, insects chirped among the stalks, and an old crow flapped loudly past their shoulders, startling them half to death.
Trembling, Qiusang clung tightly to Gu Xiyan’s arm. “Young Mistress, maybe we should go back…”
But Gu Xiyan refused to retreat; her stubborn streak had kicked in.
She was convinced her guess was correct—that dark shadow belonged to Lu Chenglian.
Moreover, they had just come from his quarters when the shadow appeared. There must be something suspicious going on.
She reassured her maid, “Don’t worry. Didn’t you say it wasn’t a ghost but a person? If it’s a person, there’s nothing to fear. Besides, this is the Duke’s mansion. Even if it were some petty thief, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly here.”
Thinking this made sense, Qiusang agreed. Treading over years of accumulated fallen leaves, they moved forward anxiously. Suddenly, the view opened up before them—they had reached the lakeside.
Yet the lake rippled gently with emerald waves, and willows swayed along the bank. There was no sign of any dark figure.
Qiusang sighed in defeat. “If it really was a person, they must be skilled in martial arts. How could we possibly catch up?”
Just then, Gu Xiyan spotted something. Staring toward the reeds, she asked, “Over there—look! What is that?”
Following her gaze, Qiusang saw an object partially visible amid the tangled reeds. It looked like a wooden box.
Puzzled, she murmured, “It looks somewhat familiar.”
Gu Xiyan also found it familiar. Growing increasingly suspicious, she lifted her skirt hem, walked to the water’s edge, and peered closer.
As the wind parted the reeds, the wooden box became more visible. Indeed, it was her own rosewood case.
This rosewood case had been part of her dowry. To make the thank-you gift appear more respectable, she had reluctantly used it to present to Lu Chenglian. Never had she imagined it would end up discarded here, stained with mud.
Disregarding everything else, she quickly picked it up. It felt heavy in her hands.
Hurriedly opening it, she confirmed the inkstone was still inside—the very one she had gifted.
Gu Xiyan could hardly believe it.
Her entire personal savings amounted to only a hundred taels, obtained by pawning her cloak and jewelry. Now she had gritted her teeth and spent half of it, managing against all odds to acquire such a fine inkstone!
Even this had been a bargain; sold properly, such an inkstone would fetch seventy or eighty taels!
She had given him this treasure as if carving out her own flesh, only for him to casually throw it away?
She was, after all, the widow of his cousin. Even if he disdained the gift, was this treatment necessary? Witnessing this, Yingtong and Peibai would henceforth despise her completely!
Qiusang was equally incredulous, murmuring, “Young Mistress, could Yingtong and Peibai have thrown it?”
Gu Xiyan sneered. “Impossible. Those maids would have reported to him first before daring to dispose of it. Otherwise, if I ever mentioned it later and word reached Lu Chenglian, how would they explain themselves? No, it was Lu Chenglian himself. He returned home in a fit of pique and ordered someone to discard my gift.”
Hatred surged within her. This man was utterly ungrateful and bullying beyond measure!
She also realized that her difficult circumstances stemmed from the corruption spreading from the top down in the Duke’s mansion. When the master didn’t treat her as a person, the servants below naturally showed her no respect either!
If her husband hadn’t passed away so early, she would never have suffered such indignities!
Qiusang finally understood as well. “So that black monkey belongs to him! That day, when he tried to take liberties with you, he had the monkey restrain me. Today, wanting to discard the inkstone, he specifically ordered the monkey to dump it here?”
Gu Xiyan replied, “Yes. That black monkey moves so fast we can barely see it clearly. It must possess extraordinary skills. It undoubtedly belongs to him, kept within the Duke’s mansion and ready to obey his commands at any time.”
Recalling that day, Qiusang also felt hatred rise. “This is too much bullying!”
Taking out her handkerchief, Gu Xiyan carefully wiped the rosewood case clean. “Such a fine thing, yet they threw it away. Well, I’ll pick it up then!”
After all, money had been spent on it. Such a valuable item shouldn’t be wasted. She had already delivered the gift and fulfilled her obligation. As far as she was concerned, the debt of gratitude owed to Lu Chenglian was repaid.
That wretched Lu Chenglian—if he didn’t want it, that was his business. She would retrieve what he had discarded and use it herself!
With this thought, her heart felt relieved. The favor was repaid, and the item was recovered.
It was the best of both worlds!
Lost in these thoughts, she unexpectedly slipped and nearly fell.
“Oh, Young Mistress, be careful!” Qiusang cried out.
Startled, Gu Xiyan quickly leaned on Qiusang and carefully made her way back to solid ground.
Once safe, Qiusang breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re right, Young Mistress. It’s better that they threw it away.”
Gu Xiyan also smiled. “I placed the gift in their room right in front of those two girls. What they do with it afterward is none of my concern. Next time I see Third Master, I’ll consider the gift delivered!”
Qiusang burst into laughter. “Exactly! That’s the spirit!”
Both mistress and maid were in high spirits. Seeing no one around, they hurried back to their courtyard, clutching the bundle. Although they encountered several maids and servant women along the way, no one noticed anything unusual about them.
Back in her room, after tidying her dress, Gu Xiyan held the inkstone and examined it closely.
The inkstone was truly exquisite. Under the sunlight, it appeared almost emerald green, with delicate grain and a smooth, tender texture.
Remembering Yingtong’s disdainful look, she chuckled. “She’s nothing but narrow-minded!”
Qiusang agreed wholeheartedly. “I’ve heard the Fourth Young Mistress praise her before, saying she’s literate and knowledgeable in poetry. Bah! All pretense!”
Gu Xiyan added, “And that Third Master Lu is blind as a bat! Utterly worthless!”
“And that black monkey is even worse!” Qiusang chimed in.
Mistress and maid traded insults enthusiastically, finally venting their frustrations.
Gu Xiyan laughed. “Giving such a fine inkstone to him would be a waste. Let’s keep it safely stored. Someday, if needed, it could be exchanged for silver.”
Naturally, Gu Xiyan stored the inkstone carefully. The next day, pretending ignorance, she went to the Old Madame and brought up the matter. The Old Madame’s expression visibly darkened, and she scolded Gu Xiyan for visiting Third Master’s quarters without permission.
Gu Xiyan offered no defense, letting the Old Madame say whatever she wished.
For her part, Lu Chenglian had helped her, and she had delivered her thank-you gift. Bringing these matters into the open meant she had won.
If Lu Chenglian dared to leverage his favor for ulterior motives, he would ruin his own reputation.
As they spoke, Yingtong and Peibai arrived. Upon seeing Gu Xiyan, both looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Gu Xiyan noticed that while Yingtong seemed merely awkward, Peibai’s eyes were swollen, which puzzled her.
The two maids paid their respects to the Old Madame and answered her questions. Naturally, the Old Madame asked about yesterday’s incident. Yingtong dared not elaborate, recounting events faithfully but omitting Lu Chenglian’s furious disposal of the inkstone.
The Old Madame remarked, “Why do I hear that Third Son drove Peibai out?”
The Fourth Young Mistress whispered beside her, “Peibai has been transferred to serve at Taihe Hall.”
Hearing this, Gu Xiyan looked at Peibai in surprise, finally understanding.
Biting her lip, Peibai began to cry. “Old Madame…”
Seeing her tears, the Old Madame grew displeased. “Third Son shows filial piety by assigning you to serve Her Highness, yet you weep like this. You are far too ignorant of propriety. As a servant, how dare you disobey your master’s orders?”
At this, Peibai struggled to stifle her sobs.
The Old Madame continued, “Furthermore, I heard that last time, you and Yingtong actually asked your Sixth Young Mistress to weave something for you? Have manners vanished from this household? Is a young mistress someone for servants to order around?”
Hearing this, Yingtong was startled and immediately knelt to apologize and explain.
Gu Xiyan also quickly interceded with a smile, explaining that they had merely been by the lake, idly weaving willow branches for amusement. It was nothing serious—everyone played such games occasionally; it hardly mattered.
Only then did the Old Madame let the matter drop, though she lectured Peibai thoroughly before dismissing her.
Gu Xiyan sensed that as Peibai rose to leave, she cast a deeply resentful glance in her direction.
A chill crept down Gu Xiyan’s back. She admitted she hadn’t been polite to those maids yesterday, but… it had only been verbal sparring.
She hadn’t expected Peibai to be banished to the Princess’s service because of it.
Great. Now she had gained another enemy.
Feeling somewhat dejected, Gu Xiyan reflected that within these high walls, who wanted someone in the household secretly harboring hatred against them?
If there were too many such people around, even the breeze blowing past would smell foul.
After attending to the Old Madame for a while, she left listlessly. Just as she descended the steps, she ran straight into the Third Madam.
Clearly already informed, the Third Madam pulled her aside and questioned her about the incident involving Lu Chenglian.
Gu Xiyan had no choice but to tell the truth.
Frowning thoughtfully, the Third Madam asked, “Why didn’t you mention this to me?”
Gu Xiyan lowered her head. “It wasn’t a significant matter. I didn’t wish to disturb your peace.”
The Third Madam replied, “Your visit may have seemed harmless, but somehow it resulted in that hussy Peibai being driven out.”
Hearing this, Gu Xiyan’s heart pounded wildly.
She feared Peibai’s resentment, but even more, she dreaded that the Third Madam might detect the undercurrents between herself and Lu Chenglian.
Unexpectedly, the Third Madam gave a cold sneer. “This outcome is actually quite satisfying. I’ve long despised that little hussy Peibai! A mere maid whose prospects end at becoming a concubine at best, yet she carried herself with such insufferable arrogance, even putting on airs like a mistress. Now that Third Son has driven her out, heaven has truly opened its eyes!”
Gu Xiyan was left speechless.
She exhaled softly.
Who knew how her mother-in-law had come to harbor such animosity toward another household’s maid? She had inadvertently struck the right note.
But it seemed this was what everyone wanted anyway?
Upon returning to her own courtyard, Gu Xiyan asked Qiusang about it. Qiusang was already so delighted her eyebrows danced with glee. “Isn’t this immensely gratifying! Rest assured, Young Mistress. Aside from Peibai herself, who in this entire mansion isn’t secretly rejoicing? Everyone is happy!”
Gu Xiyan was surprised. “Was Peibai really so universally disliked?”
Qiusang chuckled scornfully and leaned in to whisper, “The servants below have probably detested her for ages. We’re all servants ourselves, so why did she alone carry on so arrogantly, acting as if she were someone important? As for the mistresses above, they either think she got what she deserved or simply don’t care at all!”
Her eyes sparkling with excitement, she added, “In this servant’s opinion, Third Master transferred Peibai to serve the Princess precisely because she was disrespectful to you. He was venting your anger for you!”
Gu Xiyan spat lightly. “Rely on him? I’d have better luck expecting the sun to rise in the west!”
She laughed wryly. “I’d rather go back and focus on my painting.”
Qiusang hurried after her, muttering, “But I really think that’s exactly what happened!”
She vaguely felt that Third Master Lu still looked out for her young mistress. As for the discarded inkstone—
Qiusang frowned in puzzlement. She couldn’t fathom it either. Why throw away something perfectly good?