Princess’s Mansion, Qingfeng Garden.
Gu Yan returned to the mansion after finishing his official duties in the study. Gazing at the tightly shut door, he pushed it but it wouldn’t budge. He knocked for a long time, but no one answered from inside. All he could hear were the joyful laughter of Yun Xiangye and Nuonuo, the mother and daughter.
“Nuonuo, open the door for Daddy.”
Inside the room, Yun Xiangye and Nuonuo were playing with a cloth tiger. Nuonuo heard Gu Yan’s voice calling for her to open the door from outside: “Daddy.”
Yun Xiangye looked at Nuonuo and said, “Nuonuo, Daddy made Mommy angry. Let’s ignore Daddy for the next few days, okay?”
Little Nuonuo nodded and said, “Okay.”
Seeing her daughter’s adorable nodding, Yun Xiangye smiled softly, unsure if little Nuonuo truly understood.
Yun Xiangye blew out the lamp and settled down to sleep with Nuonuo in her arms.
Outside, perhaps noticing that the light inside had gone out, the knocking soon ceased.
Early the next morning.
Shortly after waking up, Yun Xiangye received an invitation from the Duke of Wei’s mansion.
The plum blossoms in the Red Plum Garden of the Duke of Wei’s mansion had recently bloomed, and the wives and daughters of noble families and high-ranking officials in Chang’an were invited to admire them.
Yun Xiangye had no interest in appreciating plum blossoms, but since the Duke of Wei’s mansion was, after all, the maternal family of Gu Yan’s grandmother, she couldn’t refuse.
As Yun Xiangye was pondering what to wear for the visit to the Duke of Wei’s mansion, Gu Jingyu arrived from outside, bringing several rolls of high-quality brocade fabric.
Gu Jingyu smiled at Yun Xiangye and said, “Sister-in-law, Mother received an invitation to the plum blossom banquet at the Duke of Wei’s mansion and specifically asked me to bring you some fabric. However, with only three days left, the mansion’s seamstresses might not have enough time to make your dress. Later, I’ll take you to a ready-made clothing shop to pick out dresses and accessories.”
Yun Xiangye quickly replied, “There’s no need. I already have dresses.”
Gu Jingyu chuckled lightly and said, “Sister-in-law, please accompany me. I also want to pick out some accessories and dresses. Even if it’s just to take Nuonuo to see the lively streets of Chang’an, it would be nice.”
Yun Xiangye agreed, “Alright.”
After Nuonuo woke up, Yun Xiangye washed and dressed her, then carried little Nuonuo and went with Gu Jingyu to the streets of Chang’an.
With the New Year approaching, the common people were busy preparing for the festivities and buying new fabric. The streets of Chang’an were bustling with activity.
Little Nuonuo leaned against the sedan chair window, watching the lively scene outside. Her round eyes were fixed on a vendor’s candied hawthorn skewers, and she stretched her little hand out, saying, “Mommy, hawthorn…”
Yun Xiangye gently pulled Nuonuo’s outstretched hand back and said with a soft laugh, “We’ll buy you candied hawthorn skewers on our way back after buying the dresses.”
Yun Xiangye noticed the sedan chair stopping in front of a grand two-story shop facing the street.
After getting out of the sedan chair, Yun Xiangye saw a plaque above the entrance bearing the three characters “Chu Jing Pavilion.”
Gu Jingyu walked up beside Yun Xiangye and said, “Sister-in-law, this ready-made clothing shop is the best in Chang’an. The dresses inside are all of the highest quality, and the embroidery skills of the seamstresses here are said to rival those of the palace.”
The female shopkeeper of Chu Jing Pavilion came to the entrance to greet them. “Princess Jingyu, it’s been a long time since you last visited. Who is this distinguished guest?”
Seeing Yun Xiangye holding a child behind Gu Jingyu, the shopkeeper found her unfamiliar.
Gu Jingyu smiled lightly and said, “This is my sister-in-law.”
Inside Chu Jing Pavilion, a young woman dressed luxuriously was taken aback upon hearing this. She hurried to the entrance and asked Gu Jingyu, “Jingyu, sister-in-law? Which sister-in-law of yours?”
Gu Jingyu replied with a light laugh, “Sister Lin, which sister-in-law could it be? Naturally, she is the wife of my own elder brother.”
Yun Xiangye looked at the woman before her, dressed in a begonia-pink ruqun, with a pair of exceptionally captivating peach blossom eyes and striking beauty.
Lin Bolan examined Yun Xiangye, her voice trembling as she said, “Are you Senior Brother Gu’s wife?”
Hearing the woman’s voice quiver as if she were on the verge of tears, Yun Xiangye smiled faintly and replied, “Miss Lin, I am indeed Gu Yan’s wife.”
Lin Bolan clenched the hem of her skirt, her gaze still fixed on Yun Xiangye’s face. Her eyes reddened, and tears blurred her vision as she said, “This is truly too unfair to Senior Brother Gu.”
Yun Xiangye frowned slightly. “Miss Lin, what do you mean by that?”
With the surname Lin and addressing Gu Yan as “Senior Brother,” this must be the daughter of Chancellor Lin, Gu Yan’s mentor, whom her cousin had mentioned—Miss Lin Bolan, Gu Yan’s childhood friend.
But how had she wronged Gu Yan?
With a husband like Gu Yan, she was the one filled with grievances and frustrations.
Realizing her words were inappropriate, Lin Bolan quickly said, “Nothing, nothing.”
The shopkeeper hurried over with a light laugh. “Princess Yu, Madam Heir, the newly arrived pomegranate-red wide-sleeved ruqun at Chu Jing Pavilion features exquisite embroidery. Would you both like to take a look?”
Behind the shopkeeper, two maids hung a pomegranate-red wide-sleeved ruqun embroidered with golden plum blossoms on a clothing rack.
Yun Xiangye stared intently at the pomegranate-red wide-sleeved ruqun before her, finding it strangely familiar. Wasn’t this dress the very one she had embroidered?
Why would a garment sold in her Wuse Embroidery Workshop appear in a tailor shop in Chang’an City?
Seeing Yun Xiangye fixated on the dress, Gu Jingyu said, “Sister-in-law, do you want this golden plum blossom pomegranate-red dress? I’ll buy it for you.”
Just then, a voice came from the doorway: “This golden plum blossom pomegranate-red ruqun is not for sale. I was away from Chang’an for a few days, and my subordinates, unaware, sent this garment to the shop for sale.”
Hearing the voice, Yun Xiangye turned to look outside. The woman who entered was dressed lavishly, her hair styled in a high bun adorned with red coral hair accessories, exuding an air of grace and elegance.
Upon recognizing the woman’s face, Yun Xiangye was surprised. She never expected to encounter an acquaintance in Chang’an City.
“Greetings, Princess Nan’an.”
Everyone in the Chu Jing Pavilion shop bowed to the arriving Princess Nan’an.
Hearing the others address the woman as Princess Nan’an, Yun Xiangye grew even more astonished. She had never imagined that this woman was Princess Nan’an of the Chu Prince’s household!
Yun Xiangye had been curious about how a garment from her embroidery workshop could appear in a tailor shop in Chang’an City. Now, seeing Princess Nan’an, she understood.
This tailor shop was called Chu Jing Pavilion—Chu Jing…
She should have realized it earlier.
Gu Jingyu walked up to Princess Nan’an, took her hand, and said, “Sister Nan’an, could you sell this dress to me? My sister-in-law likes it very much.”
Princess Nan’an held Gu Jingyu’s hand and smiled gently. “Jingyu, when did you gain a sister-in-law?”
Gu Jingyu replied with a smile, “My brother and sister-in-law returned a few days ago. We invited you and Brother Jing to the welcome banquet, but you and Brother Jing accompanied Second Aunt to the Taoist temple. This is my sister-in-law and my niece, Xiao Nuonuo.”
Gu Jingyu then said softly to Xiao Nuonuo, “Call her Auntie.”
Xiao Nuonuo obediently said, “Auntie.”
Princess Nan’an finally turned her gaze to Yun Xiangye, who was holding Nuonuo. Upon clearly seeing Yun Xiangye’s appearance, her face also showed surprise and disbelief. It took a long while before she managed to utter two words from the depths of her throat: “Sister-in-law?”
Compared to Wei Nian, Princess Nan’an could truly be considered Gu Yan’s cousin.
Hearing her address herself as sister-in-law, Yun Xiangye nodded toward Princess Nan’an. “Hello, cousin.”
Princess Nan’an’s eyes held a meaningful look as she said, “I never imagined that, after all these twists and turns, you still ended up becoming my sister-in-law.”
Gu Jingyu asked in confusion, “Sister Nan’an, what do you mean by that? Did you know my sister-in-law before?”
Princess Nan’an looked at Yun Xiangye but ultimately said nothing. She glanced at Yun Xiangye with disdain and said, “Sister-in-law wants this dress? Then I’ll yield it to you.”
Yun Xiangye quickly replied, “Thank you, cousin.”
After speaking, Yun Xiangye turned only to Gu Jingyu and said, “Jingyu, I suddenly feel tired and will head back first. You can continue shopping with Princess Nan’an.”
Gu Jingyu said, “You’re tired? I’ll accompany you back to the mansion. My brother came to find me early this morning, asking me to take you out for a stroll around Chang’an City to ease your mood. If anything happens to you, he’ll surely blame me.”
Yun Xiangye frowned slightly. Gu Yan himself didn’t come to apologize but sent his sister to make amends on his behalf.
Did Gu Yan think buying her some clothes and jewelry would earn him forgiveness?
Inside the Eastern Palace.
Gu Yan entered the administrative hall of the Eastern Palace and, seeing two people inside, bowed and said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, Cousin Jing.”
Chu Prince’s heir, Zhao Jing, turned and saw Gu Yan. He smiled lightly and patted Gu Yan’s shoulder. “You’ve finally returned. It’s been three years since I last saw you. When did you get back?”
Gu Yan smiled and replied, “I just returned a few days ago and haven’t yet taken my wife and daughter to visit my second uncle and aunt.”
Zhao Jing said, “You really have a daughter?”
Zhao Cheng said, “Brother Yan’s daughter Nuonuo is almost two years old. Brother Jing, you should settle down soon. When Gu Yan takes his daughter to visit your Chu Prince’s mansion, you’ll surely face more nagging from Uncle Chu and Aunt Chu.”
Zhao Jing chuckled and said, “After spring begins, I’ll go to Jiangnan again. This time, if she still refuses to marry me, then I’ll have no choice but to resort to force and seize her. If she hates me, so be it. After all, I’ll cherish and spoil her for the rest of my life and never betray her.”
Gu Yan looked at Zhao Jing and said, “Which common girl is so blind that she wouldn’t even want to marry the powerful heir of the Chu Prince?”