The Young Mistress’s Little Romance in the Duke’s Mansion 43

Chapter 43
The carriage started moving slowly. Gu Xiyan had the urge to lift the curtain and take another look at Ye Erxun outside, but with maids and older women present, she could not be too blatant. So she gave up.
Leaning slightly against the seat, she inevitably recalled the past. Before her marriage, she had expectations for her future husband. When she first met Ye Erxun, she naturally liked him. He was handsome and elegant, smiling gently when he looked at her. Who could not like such a man?
She had even imagined that if she married him in the future, they would live in harmony, like zither and lute playing in unison.
Everything is determined by fate. Looking back on the past three or four years, she did not know how she ended up marrying into the Duke’s Residence and becoming Lu Chengyuan’s wife. Their six months of marriage were sweet, but the sweetness did not last long before he passed away.
At this moment, she could not help but think about the path she had not taken. She wondered what would have happened if she had been determined to marry Ye Erxun back then.
What would have happened?
She paused, suddenly realizing that if she had married Ye Erxun, she would likely be serving her parents-in-law at the Ye family’s old residence now, enduring hardship while waiting for her husband, who had gone to the capital for the imperial examinations, to achieve success.
Thinking of this, she laughed at herself.
She was greedy. That kind of life might not have been what she wanted. She might have still felt that the grass was greener on the other side.
In an instant, she felt relieved.
She had to believe that the path she was currently walking was the best one, the most suitable for her.
Even if she had made a mistake, she had to forgive herself.
At this moment, the curtain was lifted. Zhou Qing’s wife bent down and entered, smiling as she asked if Gu Xiyan had any further instructions.
Gu Xiyan naturally thanked Zhou Qing’s wife first. For this visit to her natal family, Zhou Qing’s wife had handled matters properly and decently, giving her face.
After exchanging polite remarks, she brought up the serious matter. “Sister Zhou, I was just talking with my sister-in-law. I noticed that the courtyard to the south of her residence is quite nice. It is not very large and is currently for sale.”
Hearing this, Zhou Qing’s wife naturally understood. She smiled and said, “That courtyard is indeed nice. Although it is not large, it is a standalone property with a small storefront. Do not underestimate such a small storefront; it is right at the entrance of the alley. People passing by on the street will always bring some business if one sells cooked food or pastries. Your sister-in-law is alone now, raising two children. If she can have her own courtyard and run a small business, that would be ideal.”
Gu Xiyan had the intention to buy the courtyard. Knowing she could not handle it alone, she did not intend to hide it from Zhou Qing’s wife.
She smiled and said, “I still have some private savings left from my dowry. It is useless to just keep them idle. If I can buy a small courtyard, even if it is not large, my sister-in-law can live there first. If she does not want to live there in the future, she can rent it out for income. It is better to have liquid assets than dead money sitting in hand.”
Hearing this, Zhou Qing’s wife was somewhat puzzled. She had previously heard that this Young Mistress had used her dowry to save her natal family, leaving her penniless.
Now she could actually produce silver to buy a house. It seemed the rumors were not entirely accurate, or perhaps the Old Madam had subsidized her?
Thinking about it, she felt that was unlikely. She could only guess that there was some leftover from her previous dowry.
So she smiled and said, “Madam thinks comprehensively. I have long heard that house prices in the capital have been rising in recent years. If one has silver, buying a property is the best option.”
Gu Xiyan said, “I just do not know the price. If it is too expensive, I probably cannot afford it and will have to give up.”
Zhou Qing’s wife hurriedly said, “Since Madam has taken a fancy to that house, why worry about the price? I will send a page to inquire about the details immediately.”
Speaking thus, the carriage had already left the street. She lifted the curtain and whispered instructions. A page hurriedly went to ask. She also ordered the carriage to slow down to wait for the news.
Soon, the page returned, panting. He asked a maid to relay the message, saying that the owner was in a hurry to sell. Originally, it could have sold for three hundred taels, but now, including the storefront and the courtyard, the total price was two hundred and sixty taels.
Two hundred and sixty taels?
So expensive.
Gu Xiyan quickly calculated in her mind. She had previously pawned fabrics and a gold bracelet, redeemed her large cloak, bought and sold an inkstone, and earned some silver from outside commissions. After deducting daily expenses, she had exactly two hundred taels. There was no way she could come up with the two hundred and sixty taels.
She was short by sixty taels…
Seeing her expression, Zhou Qing’s wife naturally guessed the situation. She curled her lips in a subtle sneer and turned to look outside.
Gu Xiyan was calculating her silver when she saw Zhou Qing’s wife’s reaction. She naturally understood the implication.
She was probably mocking her for worrying about money.
She inevitably recalled what Qiusang had said before. Since Zhou Qing’s wife was a companion servant of the Second Madam, she had considerable face in the residence. Her husband acted arrogantly outside and was rumored to set up gambling dens among the servants and lend money at interest.
Because of this, various quarters had complaints. However, since the Second Madam managed the household affairs, no one dared to offend her, so they endured their anger in silence.
As a result, this housekeeper’s wife now looked down on her.
Intending to make things difficult for Zhou Qing’s wife, Gu Xiyan deliberately said, “Sister Zhou, you are experienced. Help me make a decision. What do you think of this courtyard?”
Zhou Qing’s wife hurriedly said, “If Madam has taken a fancy to it, it is naturally excellent. Two hundred and sixty taels is not expensive. If you want it, just buy it.”
Gu Xiyan asked, “Is this price not expensive? If my sister-in-law stops living there in the future, the courtyard will be vacant. I am afraid that spending two hundred and sixty taels will result in a loss, which would be frustrating.”
Zhou Qing’s wife smiled. “How could that be, Madam? This courtyard comes with a storefront. Renting it out later will ensure no loss. This is a rare opportunity. Otherwise, where else can you buy such a courtyard for two hundred and sixty taels?”
Gu Xiyan said, “Sister Zhou is absolutely right. However, my silver is not readily available at the moment. If it is convenient for Sister Zhou, could you advance the money for me? I will pay you twenty percent interest.”
Zhou Qing’s wife was stunned.
Gu Xiyan smiled, looking into her eyes. “Sister Zhou also knows that this courtyard is excellent. Buying it will definitely not result in a loss. I have a monthly allowance of five taels. I can save it slowly. The monk may run away, but the temple remains. I will definitely repay it. Moreover, with interest, Sister Zhou will not suffer a loss.”
Zhou Qing’s wife’s face became extremely awkward. She smiled embarrassedly. “Madam, what are you saying? My funds are also tight.”
Of course, she could not lend it!
If the master’s Young Mistress borrowed silver from her and did not repay, could she chase her for it? Moreover, if word got out, would she not be the one scolded? In the end, she would lose both the money and her reputation.
Hearing this, Gu Xiyan became unhappy. “Sister Zhou, are you unwilling to lend because you fear I cannot repay? How did I hear that Brother Zhou has opened a gambling den over there and lends money at interest? Could it be that you have silver to lend to those servant women and pages, but none to lend to me?”
Hearing this, Zhou Qing’s wife’s face turned pale with fear.
Let alone the matter of lending, if the words about setting up a gambling den and lending money at interest were spread and reached the ears of the masters, the resulting outrage would cause an unknown storm!
She hurriedly smiled apologetically. “Madam’s words kill me with embarrassment. What gambling den? What lending at interest? We subordinates understand nothing of such things. Even if we have some private savings, they are merely occasional rewards from the masters. We hold them tightly, fearing they will not even warm our hands.”
Seeing her sudden change in attitude, Gu Xiyan found it amusing.
Usually, she appeared organized and composed. Now that her weak spot had been hit, she panicked and lost her previous cold, disdainful demeanor.
Gu Xiyan deliberately said, “Is that so? Did I hear wrong? I was just wondering about your gold hairpins and silver ornaments. No matter how generous the Second Madam is to her subordinates, she would not reward such extravagance. I thought Sister Zhou had skimmed some profits.”
Zhou Qing’s wife was utterly ashamed, sweat breaking out on her forehead. She repeatedly begged for mercy.
She knew that once this Young Mistress went crazy, she was not someone ordinary people could provoke. As a chaste woman honored by the court, if she targeted her, how could she expect a good outcome?
After begging in various ways, she finally smiled apologetically. “If Madam wants that courtyard, however much is missing, this servant will ask my husband to gather the funds for you. Madam, please just say the word.”

Hearing this, Gu Xiyan burst into laughter. “Sister Zhou, look at what you are saying. As the young mistress, no matter how inadequate I am, I would not stoop to borrowing silver from you. I was merely joking just now.”
What? Zhou Qing’s wife was stunned, her face turning awkward. “Madam truly knows how to joke. But this servant was sincere.”
Gu Xiyan lightly patted Zhou Qing’s wife’s shoulder. “Sister Zhou is magnanimous and will not take a joke to heart, will she?”
Zhou Qing’s wife hurriedly replied, “Of course not.”
Gu Xiyan smiled gently. “That is good. In the future, I will still need Sister Zhou’s care in all matters. You have taken trouble.”
Zhou Qing’s wife repeatedly agreed.
In her heart, however, she thought that she must warn her acquaintances in the future: pick on the soft persimmons. This young mistress was not someone to be provoked!
Gu Xiyan pondered back and forth. Sixty taels was indeed a large gap. Although she could pawn her large cloak again, that poor cloak had just been redeemed. Sending it back to the pawnshop would likely annoy the pawnbroker. What kind of family was this, redeeming and pawning repeatedly? It seemed so impoverished!
Moreover, as the weather warmed up, it would not fetch much silver. So she decided to abandon the idea. Stretching on tiptoes to reach something was too exhausting. Besides, buying a house was a major event. Making such a fuss would lead people to believe she had made a fortune, which would damage her reputation if it spread.
However, during dinner that evening, she thought of the courtyard again. The more she thought, the more itching her heart became. She wished she could buy it immediately.
Although she lived in the Duke’s Residence, she felt unsettled in her heart. She was guarding a chastity archway for others as a widow. But she knew clearly that she was restless, or rather, teetering on the edge. One day, if someone casually tempted her, she might fail to maintain her chastity.
If things went well, she would be driven out. If things went badly, she would not even know how she died.
She was essentially a person with no support and no home. Her natal family had no house or land, only a displaced sister-in-law.
She always felt that if she had a courtyard, even a dilapidated hut, it would belong to her. Her natal family had a niece and nephew, and her sister-in-law guarded it there. At least she would have a natal home, and life could continue.
Otherwise, as a widow in such a high-ranking household, each day felt like a year. She did not even know how to endure it.
At one moment, she thought that without the silver, she should stop thinking about it and live peacefully. Enduring with food and clothing provided was not bad.
The two ideas fought in her mind. One moment she thought this, the next she thought that. Tossing and turning, she could not sleep at all. Chunlan was on night duty that evening and asked twice what was wrong with the Young Mistress. Gu Xiyan could not bear to disturb her, so she told her to sleep, saying she was fine.
It was not until the third watch drum sounded outside that she could no longer endure it. Seeing that Chunlan was fast asleep, she got up and rummaged through the five-drawer cabinet nearby.
Now, the items in her room were more abundant than before. During the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration, the palace had bestowed rewards. If she took them out to pawn, she might get some silver.
But these items clearly came from the palace and were fashionable in recent years. If anyone inquired, they would know the source. She naturally dared not take them out.
After searching for a long time, she finally found an embroidered brocade pouch at the bottom of a chest. Inside the pouch was a white jade plaque.
Seeing the white jade plaque, Gu Xiyan paused.
When they had just married, Lu Chengyuan had obtained a piece of top-quality white jade. Excitedly, he had it made into a pair of auspicious peace plaques—one for herself and one for himself.
Later, when Lu Chengyuan left, he naturally wore his. When he died, his body was never found, and the jade plaque disappeared with him.
Recalling this, Gu Xiyan rubbed the jade plaque with her fingertip. It was top-quality white jade, white as congealed fat, delicate and warm. Savoring it carefully, she felt its oily thickness.
Carved on it was the pattern of “blooming flowers and full moon,” with a well-balanced composition and excellent craftsmanship.
In her lifetime, no matter how poor she became, she had never thought of pawning this jade plaque. After all, it was a keepsake.
On the road to the Yellow Springs, she would clutch this jade plaque to find him and renew their former bond.
But now, her thoughts slowly changed. What past lives and present lives, what memories of blooming flowers and full moons, were all void. They were not as good as actual silver and a tangible courtyard.
Gu Xiyan held the jade plaque, tossing and turning in torment throughout the night. Early the next morning, she handed the jade plaque to Qiusang. “Take it and pawn it secretly. Find a quiet pawnshop. Do not let anyone see.”
Qiusang took the jade plaque and looked at it, shocked. “Madam, you really want to pawn this?”
She naturally knew how important this jade plaque was to Gu Xiyan.
At this moment, however, Gu Xiyan had become exceptionally calm.
She knew clearly what she wanted. Keeping a jade plaque for ten or twenty years would not bring her any warmth; it would only evoke melancholy.
She should look forward, not dwell on the past. She wanted a house and a storefront, not illusory memories.
Moreover, since she had sought help from Lu Chenglian, she should have vaguely known what it meant.
If she could not even maintain her chastity, why use a jade plaque to prove anything?
So she said firmly, “Go pawn it. There is no point in keeping it.”
Qiusang lowered her head to look at the jade plaque. After hesitating for a while, she said, “Yes.”
She took the jade plaque and went out to find Kaifu.
Kaifu was a page outside the second gate. Last year, he had gained favor and was promoted to the Duke’s Residence guard team. Now he was quite imposing. Since she had helped Kaifu in the past and was familiar with him, she always sought his convenience when she had matters to attend to.
Who would have thought that just as she left the courtyard and passed the rockery in front, she saw Amole hanging there, swinging back and forth.
She glared at Amole irritably and continued walking forward.
Amole shouted, “Qiusang, Qiusang.”
Qiusang replied, “Why are you shouting? I am not deaf.”
Amole jumped down from the tree. She examined Qiusang, finally staring at Qiusang’s hand. “What are you holding in your hand?”
Qiusang panicked, looking at Amole warily. Her heart skipped a beat. This Amole was as sharp as a monkey; nothing could be hidden from her.
She laughed angrily and glared at her. “What business is it of yours!”
Finishing her sentence, she lifted her leg and walked away.
Seeing this, Amole hurriedly followed. “Qiusang, do you need silver?”
Qiusang ignored her.
Amole said, “I have silver. Lots of silver.”
Hearing this, Qiusang became even more angry.
It was better not to mention it. Mentioning it only fueled Qiusang’s anger. She thought, wasn’t Amole’s silver rewarded by the Third Master? That Third Master lived a carefree life, and all his maids had bulging purses. Even this Amole had been happily eating pastries from Tianxiang Tower a few days ago.
As a result, her own Young Mistress had to pawn a jade pendant to exchange for silver.
Comparing people only leads to death from anger.
She sneered. “Who cares about your silver! Our Young Mistress has never lacked silver to spend!”
Amole persisted. “Really?”
Looking at Amole’s sincere confusion, Qiusang became even more annoyed. “Steamed or boiled, who has the patience to tease you? I am busy. I have no time to deal with you!”
Finishing her sentence, she flicked her sleeve and walked away without looking back.
Amole stood there stunned. She watched Qiusang’s retreating figure and touched her bulging purse.
Qiusang ran outside and asked someone to pass a message. Soon, Kaifu came to the second gate to speak with Qiusang.
Qiusang explained the situation in detail. “I have an item here. Go ask around and see how much silver it can be pawned for.”
Kaifu naturally agreed without hesitation. “Good. I will finish my shift this afternoon and happen to have time to go to the street.”
Qiusang carefully instructed, “Do not let anyone know that our Young Mistress is pawning it. It will not look good if it spreads.”
Kaifu naturally promised. Seeing that Qiusang still looked worried, he said, “Looking at you, I think you worry more than your Young Mistress.”
Qiusang snorted. “Isn’t my Young Mistress’s matter my matter?”
Kaifu said, “That is true…”
Qiusang added, “Besides, when I came out today, I encountered that monkey!”
Monkey?
Kaifu paused, understood, and hurriedly asked, “That Amole? Did she bully you again?”

Qiusang replied, “She did not bully me. It is just that seeing her always makes me unhappy. Never mind. It is getting late. I should go back now.”
Kaifu scratched his head. He was reluctant to part and wanted to say a few more words to Qiusang. However, seeing her in a hurry and knowing that people were passing by the intersection, he realized it would not be good if they were seen together. So they parted reluctantly.
He was efficient in his work. He hurriedly inquired that day and passed the news to Qiusang the next day. The jade plaque had been taken to the pawnshop, but they only offered twenty taels.
Hearing this, Gu Xiyan was naturally unwilling to accept.
She knew it was top-quality jade. It was difficult to find such a jade plaque nowadays. Selling it for so little silver was too much of a loss.
Seeing this, Qiusang asked Kaifu to try another method. Kaifu took the jade plaque to the secondhand market and found a jade shop to consign it, hoping that someone there who knew its value might be willing to buy it.
However, this meant they could not rush. Although the item was good, it was regrettable that it was not part of a pair. They also needed to find a destined buyer; otherwise, ordinary families would not be willing to spend silver on such an item.
Gu Xiyan was anxious, fearing that the courtyard would be sold to someone else. In this state of anxiety, she finally waited for an interested party. The other party offered forty taels of silver. Hearing this, Gu Xiyan felt extremely helpless.
She remembered that Lu Chengyuan had spent over a hundred taels of silver for this piece of jade at the time. Later, he had hired the best jade carver. She thought that under normal market conditions, this item should have fetched at least several dozen taels.
But now the other party only offered forty taels. What could she do? Asking them to raise the price to sixty taels was likely impossible.
If this were the case, she would still be short by twenty taels for the courtyard. How could she make up the difference?
She thought for a moment and made a firm decision. “Try to get the other party to raise the price. If it really does not work, sell it with a heavy heart.”
If she had not thought of selling the jade, it would have been fine. But once the thought arose, she realized that past true feelings were cheaper than grass. She did not blame Lu Chengyuan, nor did she blame herself. She only blamed the times and fate for forcing her to this step.
Hearing this, Qiusang entrusted Kaifu again. Kaifu helped to negotiate the price, but the other party refused to increase it, sticking to forty taels. In the end, it was sold at that price. Soon, the cash was delivered to Gu Xiyan.
When it arrived, the silver was wrapped in yellow mulberry bark paper, with an outer layer of blue cloth bundle.
Gu Xiyan received it in her hands. It was heavy, requiring both hands to hold.
Feeling this weight, Gu Xiyan found some comfort in her heart.
A jade plaque, no matter how exquisite and beautiful, could not be eaten or drunk, nor could a piece be scraped off to exchange for silver. Now that it had been converted into silver, it was for the best.
She placed the blue cloth bundle on the table and opened it. Inside were five-tael silver ingots. Since they circulated frequently in the market, they already showed slight signs of wear and tear. But so what? No one disliked silver for not looking good.
She asked Qiusang to bring a scale and weighed it carefully. It was indeed a full forty taels.
She previously had two hundred taels. Now adding forty, she was still short by twenty taels for the courtyard.
So she invited Sun Momo over and asked her to keep an eye on things, inquiring whether the courtyard had been sold. If not, she wanted to see if the price could be negotiated down further. If the seller was willing to lower it a bit more, she might be able to buy it.
As for herself, she had to find a way to come up with the remaining twenty taels. She thought it over. The Eldest Young Mistress’s child was still very young, so it was not appropriate to disturb her. The Second Young Mistress was kind, but they were not close, and she did not want to owe another favor. As for the Fourth Young Mistress, it was impossible to even ask.
That left only testing the waters with the Fifth Young Mistress.
She and the Fifth Young Mistress were on relatively good terms. For twenty taels, she should be willing to lend it to her, right?
When repaying the money, she could buy a small gift for the Fifth Young Mistress, worth about three to five taels of silver, as interest.
Moreover, her need for twenty taels was temporary. She had a monthly allowance. In the future, she would be frugal in all matters and avoid spending money easily. This way, she could save more than three taels a month. In half a year, she would have twenty taels and could repay the debt.
Thinking that such frugality would allow her to own a courtyard, she actually began to look forward to it.
For a miser, temporary enjoyment was only brief pleasure, while a courtyard was a long-term expectation and security.
Therefore, faced with two hundred and forty taels of silver and a courtyard, she would definitely choose the latter.
She was about to stand up and go to the Fifth Young Mistress’s courtyard when she heard a sound at the door.
Gu Xiyan looked over and saw Qiusang standing at the door, looking cautious.
She asked in confusion, “What is wrong with you, peeking around like that?”
Qiusang hesitated. “Madam…”
Gu Xiyan said, “Come in.”
Qiusang pushed the door open and entered, keeping her head down. She spoke in a very soft voice. “Madam, Chunlan and I… we discussed it just now. You are worried right now, and we cannot help you much. We…”
Hearing this, Gu Xiyan realized that her sighs last night must have been heard by Chunlan.
She smiled. “Look at you. Those who do not know would think the sky is falling. I am indeed worried, but if I cannot afford it, I simply will not buy it. It is not a major issue.”
Speaking thus, she casually picked up a white silver-threaded gauze jacket with a front opening and draped it over her shoulders. “Let’s go. Walk with me.”
Qiusang, however, slowly reached into her pocket. Then, holding something wrapped in a handkerchief with both hands, she presented it. “Madam, please take this.”
Seeing the bulging shape of the handkerchief—
Gu Xiyan looked at Qiusang in confusion.
Qiusang looked somewhat embarrassed. Keeping her head down, she said, “This is the silver Chunlan and I have saved privately. I am doing okay because I receive some rewards, so I have a bit more. Chunlan does not have much private savings. Together, we gathered sixteen taels. Madam, please take it and use it.”
Gu Xiyan paused, unable to react for a moment.
Qiusang kept her eyes lowered. “We grew up with Madam since childhood. If Madam is well, we are well. We can have monthly allowances only because of Madam’s blessing. Now that Madam is undertaking a major endeavor, we offer this to help. It is nothing significant.”
After saying this, she inadvertently looked up and froze.
She saw complex emotions in her mistress’s eyes: emotion, guilt, affection, and something else that Qiusang could not name.
Under such a gaze, despite her usually bold and reckless nature, she became at a loss, not knowing where to put her hands or feet, only staring blankly.
The room was very quiet, so quiet that Qiusang could clearly hear the shouting of a servant woman from another household outside the courtyard, as well as the meowing of a cat.
She thought that she had been too rash and should not have said that.
Which master’s Young Mistress would take money from servants? It was truly undignified.
She stammered, wanting to explain and make up for it, not wanting to make her mistress uncomfortable. Who would have thought that at this moment, Gu Xiyan slowly turned around, facing away from her.
Qiusang bit her lip and held her breath, watching. She saw Gu Xiyan’s narrow, thin shoulders trembling slightly, as if she raised her hand to wipe something.
Qiusang was extremely remorseful and hurriedly explained, “Madam, it is my fault. I should not have mentioned this. But my silver was obtained because of Madam. Others reward me only out of respect for Madam. I thought giving it to Madam for temporary emergency relief was only right and proper.”
At this time, Gu Xiyan said, “You have shown your care.”
Her voice was slightly hoarse, yet seemed to have a touch of forced lightness.
Qiusang’s nose tingled. Choking back tears, she called out, “Madam…”
Gu Xiyan turned back around. “Why are you crying? Did you give me the silver and now feel regretful?”
Qiusang burst out laughing, wanting to smile, but her heart felt sour.
Gu Xiyan pursed her lips and smiled lightly. “Since you have brought it out, I will use this silver first. When I become wealthy in the future, I will definitely reward you. I will give you the highest interest!”
There was still some moisture remaining in her eyes, but she was smiling, a warm and happy smile.
Qiusang breathed a slight sigh of relief. She lowered her head to wipe her tears and smiled. “Good. This servant waits for Madam’s reward. It must be a heavy reward!”