After the ceremony of recognizing kin ended, everyone proceeded to the back garden.
Seasonal fruits and pastries were already laid out there. Guests gathered in small groups, discussing the recent ceremony.
"The ceremony was quite grand. Marquis Pingning’s eyes were all smiles, he must truly cherish this daughter."
"Of course, with only two daughters, I'd cherish them too."
"It’s a pity she married so early, otherwise she could have enjoyed more years of comfort at home."
"She married well, though. Lord Gu is young and promising. In the capital, it might not have been her turn to marry someone like him."
"What's the use of a husband with a bright future? What matters most is someone who truly values her." A blunt-faced woman, with raised eyebrows, remarked, "Look around. On such an important day, no one from the Marquis of Guangling's estate has come. It's clear they don't consider her important."
At these words, many fell silent.
Gossiping in someone else's home was not something a noble lady should do. Of course, not everyone cared about such things. Those who adhered to etiquette and virtue quietly changed the subject, while those who enjoyed watching others stumble and relished schadenfreude chatted more animatedly.
"Regardless, Lu Nianfu has finally made it. I feel sorry for myself; I had bet she would be divorced."
"Who would have thought? A merchant's daughter from Jiangnan would turn out to be a hidden gem."
"Madam Yao, please stop joking. What hidden gem is she? Marquis Pingning’s estate cannot bear such a title. There were rumors that Lord Gu was deeply affectionate towards her, but it seems to be nothing special. He didn't even come to accompany her today. Her future days will be worth watching."
"So, you’re saying I still have a chance to win back my money?"
"Better not to think about it. Divorcing a wife is a serious matter for officials. Marquis Pingning's estate, no matter how it has declined, still holds a noble title. Divorcing a marquis’s daughter is much harder than divorcing a merchant’s orphaned daughter."
As the few women chattered merrily, none noticed a young girl standing behind the flower bushes not far from them.
Zhao Siyue’s expression shifted with their words, her handkerchief twisting in her hand. However, Lord Gu's absence today was a good start.
The Imperial Palace. The Imperial Study.
The game of chess on the board, with its black and white pieces locked in battle, concluded. Gu Yanchen lost by half a piece. He said, "Your Majesty's skill is truly superb. This subject bows in defeat."
Emperor Changwu said, "It has been a long time since I've had such an enjoyable game. Minister Gu, let's have another round."
Refusing to play chess, a minor matter, should not be considered disobedience, right? Gu Yanchen hesitated for a moment, then decisively stood up. "Your Majesty, this subject has matters to attend to today. May we play another day?"
"What is more important than I am?"
"Uh... Your Majesty is naturally the most important person in the world. But today is the day my beloved wife recognizes her ancestors. This subject should attend."
Emperor Changwu meticulously collected the black pieces from the chessboard. "So, in Minister Gu's heart, I am not as important as a woman?"
Where was this coming from?
Gu Yanchen looked bewildered. "Your Majesty, this subject does not understand your meaning."
Emperor Changwu waved his hand impatiently. "If you want to leave, leave quickly."
Gu Yanchen was overjoyed. He quickly bowed and took his leave, his steps a bit larger than usual. This made Emperor Changwu even more displeased. "Li Furui, tell me, what sort of dark arts has that Lu clan member practiced, to make our son value her so highly?"
"Uh, Your Majesty, it is said that the Seventh Prince had a rather difficult time while working in Yangzhou. The two of them went through many trials before coming together, so their feelings are naturally deeper than others."
"Hmph, it’s all Gu Rong's fault for his poor execution. Go, summon him to me."
And so, the unfortunate Gu Rong knelt once more in the Imperial Study.
Madam Pingning pressed her forehead. A familiar madam quickly asked, "Madam Pingning, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing, just caught a gust of wind."
"That's not a minor matter," a sumptuously dressed madam tentatively said. "Since the ceremony is over, why don't you go back and rest?"
Zeng Weiyang immediately said, "Mother, Madam Zheng speaks wisely. Don't worry, I will take good care of my sister. Sister, shall Weiyang take you for a walk around the estate? Father has also invited some young ladies of similar age to introduce you to."
Madam Pingning nodded. "Then I shall entrust your sister to you."
Lu Nianfu glanced at Madam Pingning and suddenly felt a sense of weariness.
She truly disliked her as much as ever. Fine, from now on, apart from necessary formalities, she would just not visit the Marquis Pingning’s estate.
Just as Gu Yanchen said, they would interact as ordinary relatives.
She offered Zeng Weiyang a slight smile. "Then I will trouble you, sister."
Zeng Weiyang happily led her away. Madam Pingning then excused herself from the other madams and, leaning on her maid’s arm, returned to her room to rest. Madam Feng, who was usually the most straightforward, opened her mouth. "She actually left? Isn't that a bit too disrespectful to her new daughter? Was she not born to her?"
"She was raised outside for over a decade; it's normal not to be close."
"Nonsense. If my daughter were to be lost for over a decade and found, I don't know how I would dote on her. Bah, my daughter would never get lost."
"Enough, enough. It's someone else's family matter. After all, this invitation was written by Marquis Guangning. We are not giving face to her."
Madam Pingning was known for her magnanimity. She had taken in no fewer than eighteen or twenty concubines for Marquis Pingning.
A principal wife who relied on flattering her husband for household status was not someone they needed to associate with. Therefore, there was no need to hold back when discussing her.
"Heh, the father dotes on his daughter more than the mother, that's truly a strange thing."
People's mindsets at this time were generally consistent: daughters were for other families, while sons were the ones who would continue the family line and perform ancestral rites.
"If Marquis Guangning had sons, he might not have paid so much attention."
"That's where you're wrong. This is the daughter of someone who has climbed up to a new noble in the court. Look at Marquis Guangling; because of Lord Gu, his official rank has risen by two levels in just two years. Tsk, tsk. Others spend their family's resources and money to pave the way for their sons, but their family, they do the opposite."
"I heard that his concubine's memorial tablet has entered the Gu family ancestral hall."
At this statement, all the principal wives in the room fell silent. It was good when a son's success benefited the father, but if this son came from a concubine, it would absolutely be their nightmare. Did they not see that the wife of Marquis Guangling didn't come today?
Compared to Madam Ban's indifference, Zeng Weiyang was much more enthusiastic. "Sister, what did you like to do in Yangzhou? I heard that the restrictions on women in Yangzhou were much less than in the capital, with many recreational activities."
That was true.
"When Father was still alive, he gave me a lot of pocket money, which I used for entertainment." Lu Nianfu's smile deepened as she thought of the days when Lu Chaosheng was still alive. "Chess, calligraphy, painting, perfumery, horse racing, archery, and arrow throwing – there was nothing that couldn't be used for entertainment."
"That's about the same as in the capital."
"Far from it. People in the capital always like to distinguish themselves in these matters, losing the essence of enjoyment."
Zeng Weiyang stumbled. "Sister, haven't you just returned to the capital?"
Lu Nianfu: "......I heard, I heard. Aren't you going to introduce me to your young lady friends? Where are they?"
Zeng Weiyang looked around and found some of her acquaintances playing archery in the pavilion. She then pulled Lu Nianfu towards them. The Marquis Pingning’s estate was already showing signs of decline, and coupled with Zeng Weiyang's poor health, the girls she was acquainted with were not of high status. Most were daughters of officials of the fourth or fifth rank, and even if married, their husbands' positions were not much higher.
Finally arriving at the pavilion, Zeng Weiyang surveyed the guests before her.
Good, not a single one she recognized.
This was understandable. When she began to navigate the noble circles in her previous life, she was already the richest person in the capital. Moreover, she carried the label of Prince Ning's retainer. Although the wives of noble families disliked her due to her origins in the entertainment district, she was not someone ordinary officials' daughters could easily befriend.
Seeing their host arrive, everyone stopped playing archery and greeted them:
"Weiyang, you're here. This must be your sister?"
"Your sister is truly beautiful."
"Heh, could she be beautiful if she wasn't able to hook up with a third-rank official?" The remark was too sharp, leaving everyone momentarily stunned. Lu Nianfu turned to see a young woman with her hair in a bun, looking at her with a proud expression.
Lu Nianfu was too familiar with this kind of jealous and resentful demeanor.
She was simply jealous that she married Gu Yanchen. It seemed her own marriage was not that great. Lu Nianfu was uninterested and was about to dismiss it when a furious reprimand reached her ears. "Liao Wanwan, what do you mean?"
Zeng Weiyang, who had always appeared delicate, had changed her expression. Her small face was flushed with anger as she glared fiercely at the woman named Liao Wanwan.
Liao Wanwan was also taken aback. "Weiyang, you're yelling at me?"
Zeng Weiyang took a deep breath. "This is my biological sister. Please speak respectfully."
"How am I not speaking respectfully? I just spoke the truth." Liao Wanwan's father was merely an official of the fifth rank in the Ministry of Personnel, but she had married well. Her husband was the second son of the Grand Tutor of the Imperial Academy.
A fourth-rank official was not considered a high position in the capital, but the Grand Tutor of the Imperial Academy managed the capital's highest institution of learning—the Imperial Academy. Many students who graduated from there went on to become high-ranking officials, meaning their disciples were all over the court.
Furthermore, as everyone wanted to send their sons to study there, the Grand Tutor of the Imperial Academy was always highly respected.
Liao Wanwan had always believed she had married well. But compared to Lu Nianfu, how could she remain balanced? Not being a person of particularly good upbringing, and with some provocations, her words became unrestrained.
Zeng Weiyang’s stern face showed no regard for Liao Wanwan. "Liao Wanwan, you must apologize to my sister."
Lu Nianfu was quite surprised. She hadn't expected Zeng Weiyang to defend her so fiercely. Seeing the atmosphere in the pavilion turn ice-cold, she tried to smooth things over. "Weiyang, forget it."
"No, this is your first day returning home. Under no circumstances will you be wronged like this."
Liao Wanwan looked as if she had seen a ghost. "You actually recognize her as your sister? Zeng Weiyang, wake up. If she becomes the eldest daughter of Marquis Pingning’s estate, then you will be considered born of a concubine."
"So what? She is my sister."
The usually delicate woman suddenly becoming assertive surprised everyone. Especially Liao Wanwan, who was so angry that her chest heaved. "Good, very good. Is this the hospitality of Marquis Pingning’s estate? This place is not worth visiting. Sisters, let's all leave. Let her and her sister love each other. Hmph, do you think marrying into a third-rank official's family will secure a good marriage? Don't dream. Didn't you see no one from her husband's family came? It’s only your family that still considers her important."
With that, she stormed off, sleeves flicking.
The others in the pavilion looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Just then, a plump maid led a tall, slender, and handsome man over. "Husband, look, the young lady is playing archery with people."
Everyone: ...
Liao Wanwan, who had just left but hadn't gone far: ...
What happened to her not being favored by her husband's family?
Practitioners of martial arts have keen hearing and sharp eyesight. Gu Yanchen had naturally heard the entire dispute in the pavilion clearly. However, he couldn't stoop to arguing with a woman, so he simply cupped his hands and bowed to Lu Nianfu. "My apologies, I was delayed by official duties. I beg your forgiveness, Madam."
"My husband is too polite. This is a minor matter." Lu Nianfu actually wanted to grab his ear and yell, "What kind of apology is this in front of everyone?"
Even if he didn't care about his authority as the head of the family, she didn't want to be known as a shrew.
Gu Yanchen ignored her and continued with a solemn expression. "Your recognition of your ancestors is hardly a minor matter. Esteemed young ladies, Gu will be taking his wife to pay respects to her father and mother. We ask for your understanding."
"It's fine, it's fine. You go ahead. We'll entertain ourselves."
"Thank you for your understanding." He then took Lu Nianfu's hand. "Madam, let's go."
The two figures leaving, one tall and slender, the other graceful and petite, were an indescribably perfect match. The young ladies in the pavilion were still somewhat dazed.
Rumors are indeed unreliable. Given Lord Gu's demeanor just now, could he be someone who didn't care about his wife?
Although it was not explicitly stated, if their future husbands could be like Lord Gu, giving them face in public, they would be smiling in their dreams.
Gu Yanchen, holding Lu Nianfu's hand, ignored Zeng Weiyang's guidance and deliberately walked through the most crowded areas.
As they walked, they attracted the attention of almost all the guests.
Although they had never seen Gu Yanchen before, who else could it be but Gu Yanchen, holding Lu Nianfu's hand in public? Of course, there was no shortage of comments about his appearance.
Lu Nianfu endured the stares, her small hand struggling for the nth time, but as expected, her efforts were suppressed. Gu Yanchen lowered his voice. "Stop fooling around."
"Who is fooling around? How long are you going to keep holding me?"
"Am I not dispelling rumors? The women in the capital are not only gossipy but also prone to making assumptions. If I don't walk around holding you, the rumor that you are not favored by me will spread throughout the capital tomorrow."
Lu Nianfu was somewhat speechless. "Even so, do you have to be so ostentatious?"
"This method is more direct."
"That's true."
Lu Nianfu had to accept the fact that she had married a rough man.
Zeng Weiyang silently watched their interaction. Her heart was almost drowned in jealousy, but what surged more powerfully than jealousy was panic. With Gu Yanchen protecting her like this, what would happen even if Lu Nianfu was recognized by her family? Her father would never dare to harm her.
Her only path left was to climb the ranks of power and influence.
She stared absently at the man two steps away. Why wasn't it her who was fortunate enough to marry him?
This sister’s fate was truly too good.