The two wet nurses accompanying Jingru also overheard the words inside about making Yun Xiangye the wife, and they both glanced up at Yun Xiangye.
Yun Xiangye halted her steps. She was still pondering why the five noble ladies mentioned by her cousin were of such esteemed backgrounds. It seemed they were aware that Gu Yan already had a wife and daughter, yet they still refused to arrange marriages and insisted on waiting for Gu Yan.
Now Yun Xiangye understood: in Wei Nian’s heart, she and Gu Yan were not considered a proper married couple.
Indeed, her marriage to Gu Yan had been hasty.
On their wedding day, Gu Yan was gravely ill. There had been no matchmaker’s words, no parental orders, no formal betrothal documents or rituals—not even the ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth had been properly conducted.
Seeing that Jingru had already lifted the door curtain and was about to enter, Yun Xiangye had no choice but to pretend she hadn’t heard the conversation inside and followed Jingru in.
Inside the room, Madam Gu’s expression was quite unpleasant, but upon seeing her little granddaughter enter, she beamed with joy. “My dear, come here and let Grandma hold you.”
Jingru threw herself into Madam Gu’s embrace.
Noticing Yun Xiangye and Nuonuo entering, Madam Gu said, “Oh, what’s wrong with Nuonuo? She still has tears on her face.”
Yun Xiangye replied, “Grandmother, earlier when Gu Yan and I went to the palace, Nuonuo woke up and couldn’t find her parents, so she cried.”
Madam Gu smiled and beckoned Nuonuo into her arms as well. “Nuonuo looks so delicate and well-behaved, though she seems a bit shy?”
Yun Xiangye said, “Yes, Nuonuo doesn’t have many playmates in Yongxing City, and she rarely leaves the mansion, so she tends to be shy.”
Madam Gu chuckled. “Once we’re in Chang’an, she can play with her little aunt.”
Yun Xiangye noticed Wei Nian beside Madam Gu looking at her with disdain, but she remained unfazed.
No matter how much Yun Xiangye resented Gu Yan for not valuing her, she still believed that neither Gu Yan nor the Princess Royal’s household would stoop to demoting a wife to a concubine.
After all, the Princess Royal had entrusted her with the management of the restaurant left by Gu Yan’s maternal grandmother, and earlier that morning, the Princess Royal had even mentioned handing over the shops in the princess’s estate to her care…
Besides, if Gu Yan truly intended to demote her to a concubine, she could simply take Nuonuo and return to Jiangnan.
These three years of marriage to Gu Yan could be considered repayment for the debt of him saving her from the lake back then.
Madam Gu grew even fonder of the well-behaved Nuonuo and handed her a piece of sesame pastry from the side. Nuonuo looked at Yun Xiangye for permission.
Yun Xiangye nodded to Nuonuo. “Go ahead and eat.”
Madam Gu stroked Nuonuo’s hair. “Such a sensible child. Xiangye, you’ve raised Nuonuo very well.”
Yun Xiangye glanced at Wei Nian and said, “It’s all thanks to my husband’s guidance. Nuonuo has been raised under his care.”
Yun Xiangye rarely referred to Gu Yan as “husband,” and she never used the term in public. But in front of this cousin who eagerly awaited her being divorced and demoted to a concubine, Yun Xiangye deliberately used the term “husband.”
Sure enough, Wei Nian, whose eyes had been filled with contempt for her moments before, now flashed with hatred upon hearing the word “husband.”
As dusk fell, Yun Xiangye took the two children back to the Wanshui Garden for dinner.
In the dining hall of the Wanshui Garden’s front courtyard, a table laden with delicious dishes was already set.
Upon entering, Yun Xiangye bowed to Prince Ning and the Princess Royal, who were seated at the head of the table. “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law.”
Noticing her father-in-law’s grim expression, Yun Xiangye put Nuonuo down from her arms and prepared to stand and serve the Princess Royal during the meal.
Xie Zhixuan said with a smile, “Our family does not have such harsh rules for daughters-in-law. Please, sit down and join us for the meal.”
Yun Xiangye then took a seat beside Gu Yan. She noticed that Gu Yan’s expression was also rather grim, wondering if he had been reprimanded.
Throughout the meal, Yun Xiangye found it utterly tasteless. It was only when Gu Yan stood up that she finally let out a sigh of relief.
On the way back to Qingfeng Garden, with Gu Yan carrying Nuonuo, Yun Xiangye observed his expression and asked, “Did your father scold you? During the meal, I noticed both of you looked displeased.”
Gu Yan replied, “My father dislikes it when I disturb my mother too often, and he is also dissatisfied with me marrying a…”
Gu Yan trailed off.
Yun Xiangye looked at him. “Why did you stop? Is your father unhappy that you married a merchant’s daughter from a small town, someone he considers unworthy to be his daughter-in-law?”
Gu Yan said, “No…”
Yun Xiangye continued, “Anyway, we didn’t go through the formal wedding rituals, so we’re not officially married. Even if we were, we could still divorce. If you truly regret rejecting that cousin from the Duke of Wei’s household as your wife… you can divorce me and marry her instead.”
Gu Yan frowned. “You’re bringing up divorce again? How many times have you mentioned it in just these two days? And the cousin from the Duke of Wei’s household is still unmarried. You mustn’t speak carelessly—it could damage her reputation.”
Yun Xiangye snorted. Wei Nian’s intentions were so blatant; she didn’t even try to hide her suggestion to Madam Gu about making her a concubine. Yet Gu Yan was still defending his cousin.
Yun Xiangye said, “Gu Yan, if you care so much about Cousin Wei’s reputation, then just divorce me. After all, there are plenty of people in your family who think I’m unworthy of being your wife.”
Gu Yan frowned. “Xiangye, you misunderstand. My father isn’t looking down on your background. He had hoped that after I married, my wife would take over the internal affairs, social engagements of the princess’s household, and manage the various shops, so my mother could have an easier time. But you’ve never handled household affairs before, and managing all the shops in Chang’an would likely be too much for you. That’s why he’s upset—because I chose a wife who can’t share my mother’s burdens.”
Yun Xiangye frowned. “How do you know I can’t handle household affairs or manage those shops? You keep saying you don’t look down on my background, but the one who looks down on me the most is you!”
“Mommy… Daddy…”
Nuonuo, nestled in Gu Yan’s arms, watched her parents arguing again, her round eyes filled with panic.
Yun Xiangye took a deep breath and took Nuonuo from Gu Yan’s arms. “It’s alright, it’s alright. Mommy won’t argue with Daddy anymore.”
Back in Qingfeng Garden, Yun Xiangye shot Gu Yan a fierce glare before shutting the door firmly, leaving him outside.
Standing at the doorway, Gu Yan frowned at the heavily closed door.
Zhuyi, who was nearby, said, “Young Master, this Yun woman truly lacks manners. How dare she treat you like this…”
Gu Yan cast a cold glance at Zhuyi. “Everyone, leave.”
Inside the room, Yun Xiangye played with Nuonuo, completely ignoring Gu Yan’s knocking at the door.
Run’er, standing nearby, said, “Miss, if you treat the young master like this, he might truly get angry…”
Yun Xiangye replied, “Let him be angry. He was the one who deceived me first and refused to live peacefully. Why should I fear his anger?”
I lost my mother at fourteen, my father at fifteen, and single-handedly took over the embroidery workshop to raise my younger sister. What hardship haven’t I faced?
At worst, he’ll just drive me out of the mansion, and we’ll go our separate ways.”
“Mother…”
Hearing Xiao Nuonuo’s voice, Yun Xiangye’s heart ached as she gently stroked the little one’s cheek. The only reason she continued to endure was for Nuonuo’s sake.
Late at night, Yun Xiangye didn’t even ask Run’er to fetch water from outside for washing up. Instead, she simply carried Nuonuo into the bed curtains to rest, paying no mind to Gu Yan.
Just as Yun Xiangye was about to fall asleep, she heard movement by the window. Soon after, her brocade quilt was lifted, and she found herself in a familiar embrace.
Angrily pushing Gu Yan away and sitting up, Yun Xiangye said, “The lofty Prince Ning’s heir, reduced to a cat burglar climbing in through windows?”
Gu Yan replied, “This is my residence, after all.”
Yun Xiangye retorted, “Fine, this is your residence, not mine. Then I’ll just leave.”
Frowning, Gu Yan grabbed Yun Xiangye’s wrist. “Have you had enough of this tantrum?”
“Me, throwing a tantrum?”
Yun Xiangye then slapped Gu Yan hard across the face.
Never having been struck before, Gu Yan stared at Yun Xiangye in disbelief. “You?!”
Yun Xiangye rubbed her own palm. “That really hurt.”
Though it hurt, it truly was satisfying.