Gu Nanyin found fate rather amusing. Her dear father, coveting her mother’s family’s influence, had meticulously schemed to win her mother’s heart. Now this Fang Xuan, also a minor seventh-rank official, similarly sought to rise through the ranks by using her. The methods of faithless men were all the same—unfortunately, in her past life, she had truly believed in him and followed her mother’s footsteps.
Gu Nanyin did not answer. Instead, she spoke in a cool tone, “I heard that Young Master Fang’s father passed away early, and you were raised single-handedly by your mother. I wonder if you have ever considered how much hardship your mother endured raising you alone all these years?”
It was only in recent days, after sending someone to inquire, that Gu Nanyin learned Fang Xuan had an elderly mother at home. In her past life, she only knew Fang Xuan came from a poor family, so she believed it was truly remarkable that he could pass the imperial examinations and become a scholar despite his circumstances.
However, Fang Xuan had never mentioned his family to her. Fearing she might hurt his pride, she never asked. Now, having awakened and made inquiries, she learned that Fang Xuan’s father had died in an accident when he was less than two years old. His mother relied on sewing, mending, and washing clothes day and night, earning meager wages to support the two of them.
As Fang Xuan grew older and began his studies, the expenses for his education grew even larger. The hardships his mother endured to support his ten years of diligent study were self-evident. Yet, at his current age, Fang Xuan had never once helped his mother with chores, not even cooking a single meal.
Later, his mother ruined her eyesight from working day and night without rest, leaving only one eye functional. His first reaction was not sympathy or shame but embarrassment—he felt such a mother brought him disgrace, so he never spoke of his family situation to anyone.
Fang Xuan was caught off guard by Gu Nanyin’s sudden question and immediately felt humiliated. He struggled to suppress the resentment in his heart, his words tinged with a pitiable tone, “My mother endured countless hardships to raise me. Naturally, I must do my utmost to repay her.”
He believed he understood Gu Nanyin well enough—by saying this, she would surely sympathize with him even more and offer him greater support in the future.
Gu Nanyin looked at him coldly, “And how do you plan to repay her? With the arrogance of a scholar? Young Master Fang, after so many years of diligent study, you have made little progress in knowledge or principles. You have not learned even a fraction of a scholar’s integrity, but you have mastered their self-importance to perfection. No wonder you have remained stagnant in your seventh-rank position for two years.”
Though Gu Nanyin spoke the truth, to Fang Xuan, it was a tremendous insult. In his view, he was a man of immense talent with no opportunity to showcase it—a pearl hidden in the dust. If not for this, why would he go to such lengths to curry favor with a young lady like Gu Nanyin?
“A Yin, do you perhaps misunderstand me?” Fang Xuan could not give up on the years of careful planning and could only force a faint smile as he asked.
“Not at all,” Gu Nanyin replied decisively. “As a child, Young Master Fang, you have never shared your mother’s burdens—this is unfilial. As a court official, your achievements are mediocre—this is incompetence. These are things I have seen and heard with my own eyes and ears. How could they be misunderstandings?”
“A Yin, how can you say such things to me? Have you forgotten the affection between us?””Be careful with your words, Young Master Fang. You are merely a minor seventh-rank official, while I am the legitimate daughter of the Minister’s household, with maternal relatives who are all outstanding pillars of the court. Our statuses are worlds apart, so there is no need for you, Young Master Fang, to harbor delusions of grandeur. A man who relies on his mother’s support in his youth and seeks his wife’s protection after marriage—such a man who lives his entire life by feeding off women’s blood is utterly beneath my regard, Gu Nanyin.”
Today, Gu Nanyin had thoroughly trampled Fang Xuan’s dignity into the ground, and as if that weren’t enough, she stomped on it a few more times. By now, Fang Xuan had lost all face, both outwardly and inwardly.
He had no choice but to change tactics, putting on a pained and anguished expression: “A Yin, I never expected you to be the kind of woman who despises the poor and values wealth, who cares only for appearances. I thought you were different from those so-called wealthy young ladies, but it seems I was mistaken.”
Gu Nanyin’s lips twitched. She hadn’t expected Fang Xuan’s skin to be so thick. She had already spoken to this extent—anyone with a shred of self-respect would know not to persist. It seemed Fang Xuan was truly obsessed with fame and fortune.
“If one day Young Master Fang loses his official position and his livelihood, you need not worry about making ends meet. With such a masterful performance, you could outshine even the most skilled actors.”
“Qiuzhi, see the guest out. Tell the steward not to let just any stray cat or dog in next time. Our Minister’s residence is not a marketplace—not just anyone can come and go as they please.”
“Right away, Miss,” Qiuzhi replied loudly. “This way, Young Master Fang.”
Fang Xuan watched with a gloomy gaze as the gates of the Minister’s residence slammed shut behind him, his heart filled with even greater resentment. Gu Nanyin, who had once been devoted to him, had suddenly changed so drastically—someone must have influenced her. He refused to believe she could forget their long-standing feelings so completely.
If Gu Nanyin could hear his thoughts, she would likely laugh for three days and three nights. Not only had she forgotten everything, but she also wanted to see him lose everything. Nothing would be more agonizing for a man with lofty ambitions than to watch him fall from the clouds. This was also why she wasn’t bothering to deal with him now—she wanted to watch Fang Xuan exhaust all his schemes, only to remain a failure for the rest of his life, until his death. How else could she repay him for the exploitation and deceit of her past life?
Having dealt with several troublesome individuals in succession, Gu Nanyin had been in high spirits these past few days, and her health had improved even further. Seeing her daughter in such good health and growing bored of staying indoors all day, Madam Gu suggested taking her to Baohua Temple to offer incense.
In her past life, Gu Nanyin hadn’t put much faith in such ethereal matters as gods and buddhas. However, having experienced the strangeness of being reborn, she now held a greater reverence for the mysteries of the world.
Baohua Temple was a renowned monastery in the Inky Moon Kingdom, not only for its long history but also for being the home of the famous Master Xuankong. It was said that Master Xuankong possessed extraordinary abilities, capable of seeing a person’s past and future. Though he rarely made appearances, countless people still flocked to the temple in hopes of receiving a word of guidance from him, making Baohua Temple’s incense offerings exceptionally prosperous.
Today, Gu Nanyin and Madam Gu dressed very modestly, bringing only Qiuzhi and Madam Gu’s attendant, Nanny Wang. Even the carriage they rode in was of an ordinary standard.The journey was uneventful until the carriage nearly collided with an oncoming one at the foot of the mountain. Gu Nanyin dismissed it as a mere accident, especially since no actual collision occurred, and instructed her coachman to continue on their way.
Little did she expect that while she paid it no mind, the coachman from the other carriage would refuse to let it go. “Whose carriage is this? Are you blind? You almost crashed into me! Do you even know who I serve?” The coachman cast a disdainful glance at Gu Nanyin’s carriage, noting its plain appearance that clearly did not belong to any noble family, and thus spoke with utter arrogance.