“Silent Grass Pavilion?” Concubine Yun’s eyes nearly overflowed with hatred. If not for her concern about maintaining her gentle image in Gu Yuanyao’s heart, she would have already started cursing.
Silent Grass Pavilion was the most remote small courtyard in the mansion. Not only was the space cramped, but because no one lived there, it was overgrown with weeds and utterly desolate. Most importantly, it was the courtyard farthest from Gu Yuanyao’s study. She and her daughter were already in a weak position—if they lost Gu Yuanyao’s favor, how could they possibly establish themselves in the mansion?
Suppressing the resentment in her heart, Concubine Yun picked up her handkerchief and wiped her tears, putting on the appearance of someone who had suffered a great injustice. “Master, Lian’er has just suffered such a serious injury and needs quiet rest. How could she possibly endure moving back and forth like this? The eldest miss is trying to take our lives!”
Even if Concubine Yun hadn’t spoken, Gu Yuanyao had no intention of agreeing. Not to mention that Concubine Yun and Gu Qinglian were his two favorite women, just Gu Nanyin’s forceful attitude alone clearly showed she didn’t regard him as her father. How could he allow anyone to challenge his authority, especially the daughter born of the wife he disliked most?
Gu Yuanyao looked coldly at this daughter who was clearly beyond his control, the superficial affection long gone. “Concubine Yun is your elder, and Lian’er is your sister connected by blood. Today you’ve shown such cold-heartedness, without any of the grace and demeanor expected of a legitimate daughter. Is this how your mother usually teaches you?”
“Elder?” Gu Nanyin felt she had heard the biggest joke of her life. “Yun is merely a concubine—calling her ‘aunt’ is already giving her face. She’s nothing but a servant. If I’m unhappy, I could sell her off or have her beaten to death, and no one could say a word against me. Has Father lost his mind, thinking any random cat or dog can be considered my elder?”
Gu Nanyin’s words struck at the heart. Concubine Yun hated being looked down upon more than anything in her life, and today Gu Nanyin was deliberately trampling her into the mud with every word. Gu Nanyin remembered what Gu Qinglian had said in her previous life—Gu Yuanyao’s first encounter with her mother was merely him deliberately approaching her because of her background. In truth, he had already been involved with Yun long before that.
Women already had it difficult enough in this world, and she didn’t discriminate against concubines. But Yun, together with Gu Yuanyao, had deceived her mother’s feelings and used her mother as a stepping stone on their path to success. Such people didn’t deserve even a shred of sympathy.
“If Aunt doesn’t want to move, that’s fine too. But if word gets out about Second Sister pushing me into the water, I wonder if it will affect my sister’s reputation. After all, my sister isn’t like me—even if I never marry, my mother can support me for life. But my sister is just a concubine-born daughter. Without her reputation, her future marriage prospects…”
“I’ll move.” Concubine Yun said through gritted teeth. Gu Qinglian’s appearance was quite good—though not as beautiful as Gu Nanyin’s, she had a delicate, pitiful quality that easily aroused men’s protective instincts. Concubine Yun still hoped Gu Qinglian could marry better than Gu Nanyin, so that she and her daughter could finally hold their heads high. But the more powerful and influential the family, the more they cared about reputation, so she absolutely couldn’t let Gu Nanyin ruin her daughter.
Concubine Yun’s decision was exactly what Gu Nanyin had expected. This mother and daughter had ambitions higher than the sky and would never accept their fate even in death. But Gu Nanyin wasn’t afraid—after all, she and them were locked in a life-and-death struggle this lifetime.Gu Yuanyao saw that Gu Nanyin was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, leaving him with no face in front of his daughter, and he stormed off on the spot.
That evening, Concubine Yun moved with Gu Qinglian to the Jicao Pavilion. Apart from the things Gu Qinglian had taken from Gu Nanyin over the years, they brought nothing beyond what was appropriate for a concubine, leaving their belongings pitifully few. With Gu Qinglian’s injuries uncertain to heal anytime soon, Gu Nanyin felt she wouldn’t have to see those unpleasant faces for quite some time.
However, what she didn’t expect was that while the annoying mother and daughter were out of sight, the scumbag Fang Xuan came knocking.
Although Gu Nanyin had just recovered from a serious illness, her health had suffered some damage from the ordeal. She had originally intended to go out early to the Regent’s residence but was kept at home by her mother, who insisted she couldn’t leave until she was fully recovered.
Gu Nanyin didn’t want to go against her mother’s well-meaning intentions, and besides, the weather these days was indeed unpleasant, with the outside bitterly cold. Yuan Jue, mindful of her reputation and not wanting to leave a bad impression on his future mother-in-law, couldn’t visit in person. Instead, he occasionally sent his subordinates to deliver food and small trinkets.
“Miss, Young Master Fang is here.” Upon hearing this, a somewhat wicked smile instantly appeared on Gu Nanyin’s face. It seemed that, bored from her convalescence, entertainment had come knocking on its own.
“Have him wait in the front hall. Qiuzhi, help me get dressed.” Since Fang Xuan had visited the mansion before, the steward let him in directly. While Baishao went ahead to convey the young lady’s message, Qiuzhi quickly helped Gu Nanyin dress up, thinking her mistress was adorning herself for the one she admired. After all, the young lady had indeed harbored some affection for Young Master Fang before.
“Today, dress me up more lavishly. No need to rush; take your time. We have plenty of it.” In the past, she had always dressed modestly out of consideration for Fang Xuan’s self-esteem, fearing he might feel inferior for not matching up to her.
But today, she was going to humiliate him as an arrogant and flamboyant villainess. Gu Nanyin felt a surge of anticipation.
Although Qiuzhi found her mistress’s behavior a bit strange, she didn’t ask questions since the young lady didn’t explain, and she slowed down her pace accordingly.
By the time Gu Nanyin was ready, Fang Xuan had already waited a full hour. He was extremely impatient, but upon seeing Gu Nanyin, he resumed the demeanor of a refined gentleman, as if he bore no resentment for the long wait.
Gu Nanyin was dressed very ostentatiously today. The cloud-patterned brocade she wore was a royal tribute, something even the imperial palace might not have many bolts of. However, every time her second cousin returned, he would send all sorts of precious things without restraint, so her room was filled with them, and she was no longer surprised by such luxuries.
As he looked at Gu Nanyin, she was also sizing him up. It had to be said that Fang Xuan’s looks were indeed decent—enough to have captivated her heart in her previous life. Despite his humble origins, he carried the air of a noble young master.
However, Gu Nanyin thought of Yuan Jue’s bewitchingly handsome face and then looked at the one before her, finding it utterly bland in comparison. Indeed, she must have been blinded by foolishness in her past life. With looks like these, he wasn’t even fit to polish the Regent’s shoes. How had she managed to abandon a pearl for a fish’s eye?
Seeing Gu Nanyin remain silent, Fang Xuan thought she was angry at him for not visiting her for so long. He was about to explain: “A Yin—””Master Fang,” Gu Nanyin suddenly interrupted him. A Yin? What A Yin? Is that a name you can call me? “We are neither relatives nor close friends. It seems inappropriate for you to address me like that.”
Only then did Fang Xuan realize that Gu Nanyin was acting unusually today. “A Yin, what’s wrong with you?” he asked in the same doting tone as usual.