The Gu family earned its noble title on the battlefield. For a hundred years, generation after generation had produced loyal and heroic soldiers, and countless blood relatives had died in warfare.
That is why the title Marquis Dingyuan remained hereditary and was never downgraded. Yet behind every victorious general lay countless bones. Aside from the heir who inherited the title, whether the other men of the family returned alive from battle, and whether they returned with all their limbs intact, depended entirely on fate.
Gu Huaiyuan’s right leg had once been badly wounded. Although it had healed, it left permanent damage. His right arm had been slashed as well, making it difficult to raise or lower. Whenever cold nights arrived, his rheumatism would flare up. Now only in his thirties, he looked older than Gu Huaishan. He currently served in the Northern City Military Command, handling matters like catching thieves and preventing fires. Most of the time, he lived there and seldom returned home. Had Madam Xu not been alive—preventing the sons from establishing separate households—he likely would have moved out on his own long ago.
After entering the room and greeting his wife and children, Gu Huaiyuan watched as Song Zhiwei stepped forward and paid her respects.
Since it was their first meeting, Song Zhiwei gave a formal, grand salute. After she knelt, Gu Huaiyuan personally helped her back to her feet. “You’ve grown so much.”
As Gu Huaiyuan looked at this unfamiliar child before him, his thoughts drifted to his second elder sister. When he was young, his second elder sister looked after him. In his memories, she had possessed the gentlest temperament imaginable. When she married and left home, he even cried secretly in his room. Now, more than ten years had passed. Even the strongest feelings had faded with time, but family was still family.
Affectionately, Gu Huaiyuan patted Song Zhiwei’s thin shoulder with a hand as broad as a cattail fan. “You still need to eat more. You’re so skinny a strong wind could blow you over. That’s not a healthy look.”
Compared to all the indirect, roundabout ways people spoke, Song Zhiwei preferred this straightforwardness. She nodded. “I have been eating more meat lately.”
Satisfied, Gu Huaiyuan nodded and turned to Madam Wang. “I received your letter. You said your health had improved. Do you still feel unwell in any way?”
Over the years of Madam Wang’s illness, the couple had grown gradually distant. Gu Huaiyuan had set up a separate residence outside the city, and the two hadn’t shared a bed for six years.
Madam Wang lowered her gaze to her hands. “I’m completely well now.”
The dinner dishes were removed.
With the head of the family having returned home, no one had much interest in eating anymore.
Noticing the excitement on Gu Chunran’s face, Song Zhiwei stayed in the room a short while longer before tactfully excusing herself and leaving. As she departed, she caught sight of the faint blush coloring Madam Wang’s cheeks.
The lantern in her hand swayed gently in the night, casting only a small circle of light around her feet. Anything farther away was swallowed by the darkness and impossible to see clearly.
Listening to her own footsteps and Lancao’s beside her, Song Zhiwei felt a rare confusion. She could not quite put her thoughts into words.
Was she happy for Madam Wang because her husband had finally returned? Or was she worried for her because, if she became pregnant again… that might not necessarily be a good thing. But was she supposed to go tell Madam Wang to avoid pregnancy?
She had no particularly good method to offer, nor did she have the standing or right to involve herself in such a matter.
Forget it. Whose worries was she carrying on her shoulders, anyway?
Song Zhiwei let out a breath and stopped dwelling on it. The next morning, she rose early. After exercising and eating a simple breakfast, she headed to her grandmother’s courtyard.
In truth, she didn’t need to pay respects to Madam Xu every day. Even her own grandsons and granddaughters typically came early in the morning only on the first and fifteenth days of the month, or during holidays and festivals. But ever since entering the manor, Song Zhiwei had made a point of coming every day.
At first, she would simply greet her grandmother and leave. Now, however, she stayed longer and longer. What had started as occasional breakfast with Madam Xu had gradually become occasional lunch as well.
That said, Song Zhiwei had to admit that the food in Madam Xu’s courtyard was genuinely much better. For instance, the same mutton was tender and flavorful here. The portions delivered back to her own courtyard, on the other hand, were tough and dry, with a noticeable gamey odor. Perhaps it was the cut of meat she received. Maybe someone had already picked over the better portions before sending her what remained.
But she didn’t have enough money to ask the main kitchen to buy fresh ingredients and prepare meat dishes for her every day. Most of the time, she could only force herself to eat whatever was provided.
Fortunately, in both her previous life and this one, she had always enjoyed mutton. Otherwise, sooner or later, the sheep would have been the death of her. After all, wealthy households nowadays did not eat pork. And cattle could not be slaughtered at will. Even a marquis’s household could not afford to eat beef every day. As a result, chicken, duck, fish, and mutton had become the most common meats.
The same was true today. After arranging an acupuncture moxibustion treatment for Madam Xu, Song Zhiwei found that the old lady’s appetite had indeed improved significantly, which delighted her and struck her as rather miraculous.
When it was time to eat, Madam Xu instructed Yun’er to place all the rich meat dishes in front of Song Zhiwei.
Song Zhiwei accepted them without hesitation. She was actually quite dissatisfied with how skinny she currently was. A person should only worry about physical beauty after they can afford the luxury of comfort and security. Right now, survival came first. At the very least, if she fell ill, she wanted enough body fat to sustain her. So she had recently been making a real effort to get adequate nutrition.
After eating until she was about eighty percent full, Song Zhiwei put down her chopsticks. By then, she had completely cleaned out a platter of steamed mutton and a dish of shredded chicken in clear broth.
Madam Xu watched her finish eating with a pleased smile.
After they rinsed their mouths with tea, they moved to sit beside the Eight Immortals table. The old lady asked with some concern, “I heard from your Second Aunt that she’s planning to take you to the Princess Royal’s residence so you can broaden your horizons.”
Hearing this, Song Zhiwei nodded, looking every bit the obedient and well-behaved girl.
Madam Xu continued, “When you go, you must understand the relationships and ranks involved. These days, the Empress Dowager oversees court affairs, and she favors the Princess Royal most. You must not offend anyone, and you should stay close to your Second Aunt at all times.”
Song Zhiwei nodded repeatedly.
Madam Xu then instructed Yun’er to bring out two bolts of fabric. “When you’re out in public, what you wear and how you present yourself reflect upon the Marquis Manor. That’s not something to be taken lightly. I know your Second Aunt has already prepared clothing for you, but those were made from styles Chunran wore previously and are no longer fashionable. I’ve summoned embroiderers to the manor. Today they’ll take your measurements and spend the next few days rushing your garments. You should also learn to dress yourself up properly.”
As she spoke, Madam Xu looked somewhat dissatisfied with Song Zhiwei’s simple hairstyle. “You’re a good child in every other respect, but you truly don’t care enough about your appearance. It’s certainly good for a woman to possess talent and virtue, but if she neglects her looks, she’ll never keep her husband’s heart.”
Song Zhiwei knew her grandmother meant well. Although she didn’t agree with those sentiments, she accepted them with gratitude and affection.
Madam Xu was pleased by her response and immediately began arranging jewelry and accessories for Song Zhiwei, selecting ornaments for her hair and hands.
That afternoon, the embroiderers and hairdressers arrived. After taking Song Zhiwei’s measurements, they asked her to choose from various patterns and designs. She had to admit that professionals who made a living this way were far more skilled than she was. Leaving aside the clothing designs themselves, even the embroidery samples they presented were vastly more intricate and refined than anything she could produce on her own.
After selecting the clothing, the hairstylist experimented with several coiffures for Song Zhiwei.
After several attempts, Madam Xu chose a yuanbao bun, a sycee-shaped bun, and told Song Zhiwei to wear the jewelry set she had given her at the banquet.