Nanny Lin’s husband, Lin Baowang, was one of Gu Yuande’s most trusted stewards. As for Nanny Lin herself, she oversaw all the household affairs within Gu Yuande’s inner residence. Apart from Gu Yuande, she gave face to no one.
Now Nanny Lin stood before Gu Qingzhao, her expression cold and unyielding.
The moment Gu Qingzhao saw her enter, she knew her father had already received word.
“So it’s Nanny Lin. These things have nothing to do with Fourth Sister. Please go back and tell Father that I do not agree to giving them to Gu Qingjin.”
Nanny Lin’s brows furrowed slightly. “Third Young Lady, we servants don’t concern ourselves with whose things they are. In the end, everything belongs to the Gu family.”
“The Duke is busy with affairs outside and entrusted this matter to me. I must carry out his orders.”
“These items must be taken away. If you can persuade the Duke otherwise, perhaps he will return them to you.”
Gu Qingzhao’s face darkened. “The Gu family’s? Open your eyes—these were gifts from Prince Liao’s residence. They have nothing to do with the Gu household.”
Nanny Lin’s expression did not change. She bowed slightly and said, “These words are wasted on me. The Duke has already said that if you refuse, he will send in the servants from the outer court. I fear those in your courtyard won’t be able to stop us.”
“And when things get ugly, it will be your reputation that suffers.”
Gu Qingzhao saw that Nanny Lin was impervious to reason, and realized this matter would not end peacefully today.
Nanny Lin tried persuasion, then threats, but Gu Qingzhao remained unmoved. Finally, she ordered her attendants, “Go call in the outer servants.”
Just then, a deep male voice rang out from beyond the courtyard. “Weren’t these things supposed to be sent back? Why hasn’t it been done yet?”
Looking past Nanny Lin and her entourage, Gu Qingzhao saw her father, Gu Yuande, stride in.
Gu Yuande, once a military man, was tall and broad-shouldered. Years of guarding the frontier had weathered his face with wind and sand. Since returning to the capital, he no longer practiced martial arts and had grown somewhat stout—appearing both large and imposing. As he entered, his lips pressed tight, his gaze fixed on Gu Qingzhao with obvious displeasure.
Gu Qingzhao stepped forward to salute, her tone distant. “Father, these things are mine. I do not agree to giving them to Gu Qingjin.”
Gu Yuande’s face darkened further. “What nonsense is this? First you nearly caused your fourth sister to miscarry, then you raided her courtyard.”
“Zhaozhao, do you think this is worthy of your Third Uncle?”
Gu Qingzhao’s expression grew strange, her voice low. “Third Uncle saved you. As long as you can face him with a clear conscience, that is enough.”
“I believe if Third Uncle knows from the underworld, he would not hold it against me, a younger generation.”
But if he truly knew how his elder brother treated him, he might claw his way out of the grave to confront him.
Gu Yuande did not catch the hidden meaning in her words. He only wanted the matter settled quickly. “Men, send all these things back to Tangliwu.”
At once, the courtyard erupted into chaos.
Gu Qingzhao, however, remained standing still, her gaze fixed beyond the crowd toward the courtyard gate. Soon, faint figures appeared in the distance. She stepped up to Gu Yuande, raising her voice: “Father, I have my own use for these things. Must you insist on giving them to Fourth Sister? To her, they are mere trinkets for amusement. But for me, they are needed to save lives.”
Gu Yuande was utterly baffled and couldn’t grasp what she meant. Still, he said coldly: “I don’t care whose life it is. All I know is that these are things your fourth sister likes. As long as she likes them, you must give them to her.”
In the past, Gu Yuande would at least try to persuade Gu Qingzhao, coaxing her into swallowing grievances. Now his patience was gone, his words imperious and commanding.
Gu Qingzhao glanced toward the shadowy figures outside the courtyard, her voice heavy with sorrow and disappointment: “Father, how can you say such things? These are items your daughter promised to donate to the Cien Treasury. How could I go back on my word? If you insist on giving them to Fourth Sister, then for her sake you would even abandon righteousness itself?”
Her words came out in a rush, so much so that Gu Yuande failed to notice her mention of the Cien Treasury. He instinctively assumed it was just an excuse to shirk.
“Don’t talk to me about that nonsense of righteousness. Nothing matters more than your fourth sister.”
“Men, take all these things to Tangliwu!”
Then, pointing at Gu Qingzhao, he barked: “If anything happens to your fourth sister today, I will not spare you!”
Gu Qingzhao listened quietly, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. In the past, when she was willing to suffer losses, father and daughter could at least maintain a veneer of harmony. Now that she refused, Gu Yuande’s face changed instantly.
Pitiful. Laughable.
His attendants, having received orders, stepped forward to act. But just as they moved, a sharp voice rang out from beyond the courtyard: “Such grand airs from Duke Ying—daring even to question Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s Cien Treasury!”
Gu Yuande turned, startled to see the Chief Steward of the Imperial Household, Su Baozhong. He hurried forward to greet him: “Eunuch Su, what a surprise! Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner.”
Though Gu Yuande still held a noble title, ever since the Gu family lost its military command, they had drifted from the center of power. The eldest son was born of a concubine and was unreliable; the third son had passed away. Now Gu Yuande’s only supports were Prince Liao’s household and the old matriarch’s closeness to the Empress Dowager. That was why he had always shown exaggerated filial devotion to the old lady—if only for appearances.
At this moment, seeing Eunuch Su, Gu Yuande belatedly recalled Gu Qingzhao’s earlier words. He quickly muttered, “Just a trivial family matter—please don’t laugh at us, Eunuch Su.”
Su Baozhong had already stepped closer. Gu Qingzhao came forward to salute: “Greetings, Eunuch Su. I have often heard Grandmother speak of Her Majesty’s compassion. Today, at last, I can contribute a small offering to the Cien Treasury. I must trouble you to carry these things back.”
Su Baozhong replied warmly: “Third Young Lady, no need for such courtesy. I merely run errands for Her Majesty—it is hardly a burden. The Empress Dowager will be delighted to know that someone so young already possesses such a charitable heart.”
Then his gaze hardened as he turned to Gu Yuande: “Duke, do not make things difficult for the Third Young Lady. She is a person of righteousness.”
Gu Yuande tried to explain, but Su Baozhong cut him off: “You know well that Her Majesty established the *Cien Treasury* out of compassion for the suffering people. She has always said: no forced levies, no blind following—charity must be within one’s means. Above all, households of officials must not let this matter breed discord.”
“Yet just now, in scolding the Third Young Lady, your words carried clear disdain for the *Cien Treasury*. Could it be that you object to Her Majesty’s undertaking?”
Gu Yuande’s heart lurched. He quickly said with flattery: “Eunuch, you misunderstand. I would never show disrespect to the Empress Dowager.”
Turning to his daughter, he added hastily: “Zhaozhao, if you had said earlier these were for the *Cien Treasury*, none of this would have happened. Did you perhaps see me about to take them away and deliberately summon Eunuch Su here?”