Song Shiyue patted the booklets on the table and sighed, “Money is hard to earn, shit is hard to swallow. It must take a lot of effort to protect the Gu family’s assets!”
So she was pitying him for having to deal with so many nobles and aristocrats. Gu Yu Chen sat beside her and said half-jokingly:
“The Gu family will all be yours in the future. Dealing with those people will be your responsibility, madam.”
“Dream on! This lady won’t be trapped by wealth. Keep your family fortune for yourself. My life is more important.”
He could guess her unspoken words: I hope you live long enough to enjoy it.
“No reward then?”
“Of course I want it! But not your family assets—just give me what I rightfully deserve.”
Song Shiyue spoke frankly without a trace of regret; she genuinely didn’t care about that enormous wealth.
Uncle Da and Liu Si regarded her with respect, while Gu Yu Chen curled his lips, “You’re trying to cut ties with me.”
“Is that allowed?”
“Too late! Everyone in Jing City knows you’re my wife now. Don’t forget our agreement.”
“So what? I can change my appearance.”
Song Shiyue’s eagerness to draw a clear boundary made the master and two servants anxious—she definitely had the capability to do so.
“Young madam, you can’t abandon the young master. Having money is good—money can make the devil turn the millstone.”
Liu Si intended to speak up for his master. Unexpectedly, Song Shiyue retorted, “It’s the King of Hell who makes ghosts push millstones. Are you cursing me?”
“No!”
Liu Si was dumbfounded. Gu Yu Chen and Uncle Da each gave him a punch, pushing him aside, “If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak.”
This guy—why is he always butting in?
Uncle Da put on a smiling face, “Young madam is just joking with the young master. Marriage is no child’s play.”
Song Shiyue wanted to correct him—she and Gu Yu Chen were only pretending to be married.
Uncle Da immediately dragged Liu Si away, “Young madam, please study the booklets!”
Gu Yu Chen also quickly stood up, “I’ve worked up a sweat. I’m going to bathe.”
Song Shiyue looked around and chuckled softly. This place was much more interesting than the deep mountains.
She began carefully reading the booklets. The records inside were very detailed, clearly documenting the intricate connections between various families, allowing her to understand everything at a glance.
However, these booklets were clearly not prepared specifically for her, but were records compiled from years of investigation and understanding.
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
The Gu family had done a lot to protect their clan!
Song Shiyue spent several days reading through all the booklets. As she read, she thought about her own background—her parents in this life seemed to be people of status.
She remembered an old nursemaid mentioning her biological father, addressing him as “Great Master,” indicating the family had wealth and power. She just didn’t know how wealthy they were.
But based on where her master found her—in the outskirts of Jing City—she should be from the capital.
Trying to trace her origins in this capital where anyone pulled off the street could be nobility would indeed be difficult.
Song Shiyue sighed, hoping the pockmarked man would be found quickly.
Looking at her reflection in the bronze mirror, Song Shiyue thought that once Gu Yu Chen’s legs fully recovered, she could go out on the streets. She planned to be conspicuous, hoping she resembled her biological mother enough for someone to notice her.
But had her master come to Jing City? Where should she look? Song Shiyue turned her gaze toward the direction of the Star Plucking Tower.
The Star Plucking Tower stood seven stories high—the tallest building in Jing City.
Legend has it that it serves as the headquarters of a certain assassin organization. The first three floors house teahouses and taverns, the fourth to sixth floors are entertainment quarters with singing halls, while the seventh floor specializes in trading information.
Some also claim that Star Plucking Tower was established by a certain prince, though no one has publicly acknowledged it.
All that is known is that since its opening, no one has dared to cause trouble at Star Plucking Tower—the consequences are not something just anyone can bear.
In short, it is a den of extravagance and the fastest hub for information exchange.
To purchase information, one must have silver.
At this thought, Song Shiyue frowned. She needed to carefully consider what would be an appropriate amount to request from Gu Yu Chen as compensation.
Gu Yu Chen’s leg had recovered remarkably well; he could already walk freely. However, to avoid drawing attention, he had been staying secluded within the mansion.
During this period, Song Shiyue had not only familiarized herself with the intricate relationships and social customs among the noble families in Jing City and gained insight into the vast enterprises of the Gu family, but out of boredom and enticed by Uncle Da, she had also taken the time to acquaint herself with all the affairs of the entire mansion.
“Uncle Da, you’re putting so much effort into training the young mistress, but will she really stay and become the true lady of the house?”
Liu Wu, Xu Xin, and the other guards were not as simple-minded as Liu Si. Within the mansion, they served not only as guards but also as advisors to Gu Yu Chen.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. They already have a Marriage Certificate, and the young mistress is quite capable. The Old Master will surely approve.”
Uncle Da’s only concern was the young mistress’s background, hoping her origins wouldn’t adversely affect the Gu family.
As winter set in, the nobles and royals who had been visiting daily to see Gu Yu Chen suddenly vanished.
This was because the old emperor had recovered from his illness, causing those who had been restless earlier to rein in their behavior.
Song Shiyue asked excitedly, “Can we go out now?”
“Of course,” Gu Yu Chen said magnanimously. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to Star Plucking Tower. Although the food there isn’t as good as your cooking, it’s not far off. The key is to show you its grandeur.”
“Can we go to the singing halls on the fourth floor?” Song Shiyue’s eyes sparkled.
Gu Yu Chen laughed, “You really are different. What woman would actively want to visit a singing hall?”
“I can dress in men’s clothing.”
After a moment’s thought, Gu Yu Chen said, “That won’t be necessary. As Gu Da Shao’s woman, you can go wherever you please. We mustn’t tarnish this young master’s reputation as a prodigal.”
So, he intended to make her famous as well. Song Shiyue didn’t mind; she had been thinking about making a name for herself throughout Jing City!
The ostentatious carriage rolled out of the gates of Gu Mansion, and immediately, several figures scattered in all directions. Soon, shouts could be heard on the streets: “Gu Da Shao has left the mansion!”
Song Shiyue couldn’t help but facepalm—it was all too flamboyant.
“Scared?” Gu Yu Chen was somewhat worried that she might be frightened by the upcoming scene and retreat.
“Not scared.” It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen the world before.
She was accustomed to the fan frenzy from her past life. However, witnessing a prodigal being so fervently pursued was a first for her.
Before the carriage even reached Star Plucking Tower, they encountered a traffic jam.
Liu Wu reported from outside, “Young Master, the Fourth Prince and others have heard of your recovery and rushed over to celebrate with you.”
With several carriages all heading to the same place, a jam was inevitable.
“The emperor has recovered, so why are these people still openly cozying up to you?”
“Heh! Some things, once started, can’t be undone.”
Gu Yu Chen looked forward to the developments ahead—the more chaos, the better.
Song Shiyue was just wondering how far it would be to walk there after getting off the carriage when Gu Yu Chen spoke to the outside, “This young master has finally managed to leave the mansion and wanted to show my wife the prosperity of Jing City and the grandeur of the Star Plucking Tower. Yet we’re stuck halfway here—what a disappointment. Let’s not go.”
“Don’t say that! I’ll clear the way for you right away, brother.”
Through the carriage window, Song Shiyue saw a fair-skinned, rosy-lipped young man with a baby face looking over delightedly.
He shouted to the guards behind him, “Quick, clear the road! We mustn’t delay Gu Da Shao and his wife from going out.”
He shouted earnestly, his face full of amusement, deliberately emphasizing that the young master Gu was accompanying his wife.
The road that had been chaotically blocked with carriages just moments before was now clear in an instant.
“Gu Da Shao, see you at the Star Plucking Tower.”
With a flick of his whip, the baby-faced man struck Gu Yu Chen’s horse on the rear, and the carriage surged forward.