MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 50

Glossary

 ·Gu Jinghui (顾靖晖): The male protagonist, Marquis Gu.

 ·Old Madame Gu (顾老夫人): Gu Jinghui's mother.

 ·Zhao Niangzi (赵娘子): The widow the Marquis brought back.

 ·Gu Baozhu (顾宝珠): Gu Jinghui's younger sister.

 ·Gu Jingjun (顾靖钧): The sixth son of the Gu family.

 ·Sixth Madame Gu (六夫人): Wife of the sixth son, Gu Jingjun.

 ·Gu Shiliu (顾十六): Gu Jinghui's personal attendant.

 ·Rong Mama (容嬷嬷): Old Madame Gu's trusted attendant.

 ·Qiuju (秋菊): A maidservant of Old Madame Gu.

 ·Bai Que (白雀): A maidservant serving Zhao Niangzi.

 ·Zi He (紫荷): Another maidservant previously assigned to Zhao Niangzi.

---

Chapter 50: You Can't Guard Against a Thief Forever

Gu Jinghui said, "I will comply entirely with Mother's arrangements."

Old Madame Gu said, "Then don't interfere from now on. If those two children have any ailments, let them come to me. Your proper business is for you and Yuan'er to give me grandchildren and granddaughters sooner rather than later."

Zhao Niangzi and the twins were originally under her and Rong Mama's care; what was the point of constantly seeking out a grown man?

Gu Jinghui nodded heavily.

"With Mother taking care of them, what would your son have to worry about?"

Old Madame Gu added, "The customs in Saibei are open. Zhao Niangzi probably doesn't want to remain chaste for her former husband. After she finishes mourning, this old woman will personally play matchmaker and find her a good marriage. During this time, you should avoid her. If any servants in the mansion spread irresponsible talk, this old woman will definitely not spare them."

Gu Jinghui breathed a sigh of relief.

He remembered that Sixth Madame Gu and Seventh Miss were involved and couldn't help but report them. "Mother, these rumors all started from Sixth Sister-in-law and Seventh Sister. If Yuan'er hadn't reminded me, saying I had just returned victorious, so how could these rumors appear? Could they be targeting me? Only then did your son investigate. Before, I just thought it was nonsense from people with no insight."

Old Madame Gu tightly clenched her prayer beads, asking incredulously, "You're saying... you're saying these words were spread by Sixth Madame and Baozhu?"

Gu Jinghui repeated what Gu Shiliu had said.

Old Madame Gu was stunned for a long moment, then said, "When you brought Zhao Niangzi and those two children back from Saibei, even I worried you might take Zhao Niangzi as a concubine, afraid you would do something foolish. This originally can't be blamed on others. But for Baozhu to talk nonsense outside is truly improper."

Gu Jinghui said, "She needs proper discipline. Your son has already had Shiliu sign her up for the embroidery competition at the Qixi Festival. If she doesn't achieve a ranking, she can just be shut in at home to focus on her embroidery."

Old Madame Gu was also annoyed that Gu Baozhu couldn't keep her mouth shut, making Gu Jinghui's marriage negotiations difficult.

She originally thought people looked down on her son for his age.

She hadn't realized there was so much more behind it.

But fortunately, the final match was Qin Yuan.

This could be considered a blessing in disguise.

"Alright," Old Madame Gu didn't indulge Gu Baozhu this time. "It's time for her to be engaged anyway; she needs to rein in her temperament. If this continues, I'll get a headache."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

It's easier for boys, but a woman marrying is equivalent to being reborn.

No matter how privileged she was in her maiden home, she has to start over in her husband's family.

She couldn't be spoiled any longer.

Old Madame Gu suddenly said, "What about having Baozhu learn from Yuan'er? Would that work?"

Gu Jinghui was taken aback and said, "Then your son will sound out Yuan'er's thoughts."

He didn't promise outright.

This point satisfied Old Madame Gu, who nodded and said, "Go ask. If Yuan'er is unwilling, we'll drop the matter. We can only blame Baozhu herself for lacking the fortune."

Gu Jinghui assented and made to leave.

Old Madame Gu stopped him, saying, "Ask Yuan'er properly about that story—what it's about. I want to hear it."

"Your son understands."

After Gu Jinghui left, Old Madame Gu called Rong Mama, who was waiting outside, in and said, "Just now, Hui'er called me 'Mother'."

Rong Mama asked in surprise, "Old Madame has coaxed the Marquis for so many years, and he never called you that. How did it happen now?"

"I think he's anxious, calling 'Mother' to beg me to help him decide."

Old Madame Gu laughed heartily.

"This daughter-in-law was truly well chosen. Yuan'er calls me 'Mother' every day, and Hui'er started copying her within days. He was so serious and proper from a young age; he stopped calling me 'Mother' when he was just a few years old."

Rong Mama said, "The Marquis even acts spoiled now. Then again, the Marquis loved to act spoiled when he was little. He changed after the old Marquis scolded him."

"Don't mention that old fool; it ruins the mood," Old Madame Gu said.

Rong Mama smiled and said, "The Marquis was scared by Fengxuan Pavilion. If it were before…"

If it were before, Gu Jinghui would certainly have a dark face and stubbornly bear it alone.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Mentioning Fengxuan Pavilion, Old Madame Gu became interested again. "When that woman first arrived, I knew she was scheming, but I never thought she would dare to have such ideas. Bai Que has been won over by her; many things were hidden from us. She almost succeeded."

Rong Mama said, "Bai Que's intentions have strayed. In the future, she should still be sent to a villa estate. Otherwise, marry her off and let her serve outside."

Old Madame Gu nodded.

Zhao Niangzi is the wife of a benefactor, staying in the Marquis' household with her children. They can't treat her too harshly or too lightly. If they neglect her and it gets out, it might stain the Marquis' reputation, making people misunderstand him as ungrateful.

But if she stays like this, who knows how many more incidents she might cause?

One can be a thief for a thousand years, but you can't guard against a thief for a thousand years.

Old Madame Gu asked Rong Mama, "I remember there was another maid who went with Bai Que named Zi He. What happened to her later? Why did she disappear?"

Rong Mama thought for a moment and said, "Not long after Zi He went, she said her parents were sick, asked for leave to go home and take care of them. At the time, Old Madame even granted her favor, rewarding her with silver and half a ginseng root."

Old Madame Gu said, "Send someone to ask how her parents' illness is. If they're better, have her return to service early."

Rong Mama nodded.

If they suddenly assigned someone new now, it would反而 make Zhao Niangzi suspicious.

Zi He was indeed much more appropriate.

"This old servant will have Qiuju go check. That child is meticulous and considerate in her work. If Zi He can't return, we can also ask about other things."

Gu Jinghui, having received Old Madame Gu's instructions, set aside all his troubles and strode back to Wutong Yuan to find Qin Yuan.

"Third Brother, Third Brother!"

Gu Jinghui stopped and saw Gu Jingjun emerge from behind the artificial rockery of Taihu stones, several scratch marks on his face.

"What happened to you?"

Gu Jingjun was always fastidious, but now, not only were there scratches on his face, his clothes were also wrinkled and stained, as if he had rolled around in some filthy place.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Ah, don't mention it," Gu Jingjun reached out his hand and asked, "Third Brother, can you lend me some money?"

Gu Jinghui was about to reach into his robe for silver notes but stopped. "What do you need the money for?"

Gu Jingjun said urgently, "Good Third Brother, don't ask. I'll pay you back as soon as I get the money."

"If you don't explain clearly, I won't lend it."

Marquis Gu was worried his sixth brother had done something foolish and really wanted to borrow money from him to buy the pure courtesan who played the pipa.

Wouldn't Sixth Madame Gu come crying to his door then?

His mother wouldn't let him off either.

"How can Third Brother be so stingy?" Gu Jingjun's usually soft voice rose sharply, becoming somewhat shrill. "Did that woman go cry to Mother again? Otherwise, Third Brother wouldn't treat me like this."

Marquis Gu didn't hide it either. "Exactly. Your wife cried for a long time, said she's been crying since last night until now. She said you just took in a performer from the pleasure quarters and now want to buy one who plays the pipa. Mother had a headache early in the morning from the disturbance; it was only after your sister-in-law went over that she was appeased. You already have several sons; why are you still so dissolute? I can't indulge you anymore."

Gu Jingjun said angrily, "Third Brother, you can't forbid others to set fires while you do it yourself! You have a celestial Third Sister-in-law, yet you still wanted to bring that Zhao woman into the mansion. We're both men; why won't you help me?"

(End of Chapter)

← prev next →