With that, Zhou Du turned to leave only for Gu Yanshan to call after her.
“Thank you… for what you did just now.”
Had Zhou Du not spoken, it would never have been settled so easily. In truth, he did not wish to keep crossing his father’s will. Zhou Du had been sensible, thoughtful, and proper. Gratitude was due.
Zhou Du looked him over awkward, stiff, and proud then glanced at Song Qingqing’s hands clinging tightly to his arm. She nodded. “I accept your thanks. But remember this: we are not enemies.”
“Brother Yanshan…”
Song Qingqing’s voice pulled him back. He realized, with a start, that he had been staring at Zhou Du’s retreating figure, lost in thought.
“Qingqing? What troubles you?”
Song Qingqing’s lips trembled. She had known no peace since the moment she first laid eyes upon Zhou Du.
“Nothing… it is so cold here. Let us go back, Brother Yanshan.”
“Sister‑in‑Law!”
Zhou Du was scattering fish feed to the koi in the pond when a bright, clear voice called out to her.
“Lijiao?”
Little Gu Lijiao bore a striking resemblance to her brother Gu Yanchuan fair skin, great limpid eyes, a sweet and lively child. She wore a buttercup‑yellow dress, her hair braided into two little pigtails bound with green ribbons bright and fresh as willow and blossom in early spring.
“Sister‑in‑Law, thank you for the lucky lock! I love it so much! And this is for you I made it myself!”
She held out a delicate basket woven of willow twigs and tiny wildflowers.
Zhou Du knelt to receive it, turning it gently in her hands. “What clever fingers you have! How lovely it is and how generous! I shall treasure it. Thank you, Lijiao.”
She turned to Lian Hong. “Arrange fresh blossoms within it, and place it by my bedside. I wish to see it every day and never forget such kindness.”
Lijiao’s face lit up. She truly believed Zhou Du loved her gift and all her nervousness melted away.
They chatted a while longer, until Lijiao’s stomach gave a loud, unmistakable rumble. The little girl blushed bright red young as she was, she hated being embarrassed.
Zhou Du stroked her cheek gently. “You did not eat enough this morning, did you? Come let us go to my rooms and share some cakes.”
Lijiao’s eyes shone then dimmed with hesitation. “My nurse says girls must not eat too much. If we grow plump, we shall not be beautiful any longer.”
“And then… no one will love me. I do not want to be unloved.”
Zhou Du’s heart sank. Her gaze turned sharp and cold. So this was how things were run in the Yong Ning Marquis Manor no mistress to keep order, and servants lording it over the children of the house.
She smiled warmly at Lijiao. “Your nurse is mistaken, little one. You are still growing. Eating well will not make you fat. Why, I was far sturdier than you at your age!”
Lijiao thought it over, brow furrowed. “Sister‑in‑Law is beautiful… so you must be right.”
And her nurse was twice as broad as Zhou Du what could she possibly know?
Hand in hand, they walked back to the main courtyard. “Lian Qing bid the kitchen prepare a light repast for the Young Lady.”
Soon the servants filed in bearing trays: steamed egg custard with chicken broth, fresh stir‑fried greens, millet porridge, and a bowl of warm goat’s milk Zhou Du had specially ordered.
“Eat little and often,” Zhou Du told her gently. “When you are hungry, you must eat but stop when you are nearly full. That is how one stays strong and well.”
Lijiao ate quickly, swallowing almost without chewing. When she noticed Zhou Du watching her, she faltered and set down her chopsticks. “Sister‑in‑Law… is something wrong?”
Zhou Du shook her head, smiling. “Nothing at all. It gladdens my heart to see you eat with such appetite.”
She would teach her manners in time first, she must win the child’s trust.
“Slowly now do not rush.”
When Lijiao had eaten her fill, Zhou Du signaled to clear the table.
“Sister‑in‑Law… may I take this plate of water chestnut cakes back to Second Brother?”
Zhou Du paused. Lijiao hurried to explain. “He loves sweet things but the kitchen almost never makes pastries. And yours… yours taste so wonderful.”
Zhou Du had brought not only wealth but an entire household in her retinue four master chefs alone, so she would never want for familiar fare.
“Of course you may.” Zhou Du thought of Gu Yanchuan’s frayed cuffs, then glanced at Lijiao’s own serviceable but well‑worn clothes. Her heart sank.
These two children born of a concubine, mother dead, unloved lived on a meager monthly allowance. They lacked nothing in bare necessities… yet having enough to eat and wearing decent clothes was very different from living well. Pastries cost coin; the kitchen pocketed the savings. If Gu Yanchuan wanted sweets, he must pay for them himself and he would never spend so freely.
“Lian Qing,” Zhou Du said, “bid the kitchen prepare several kinds of sweet pastries that keep well. We shall visit the Second Young Master together shortly.”
Lijiao motherless, overlooked, yet so bright and unspoiled must have been guarded and cherished by her brother every day of her life.
“Thank you, Sister‑in‑Law!” Lijiao threw her arms around Zhou Du in a joyful hug. Zhou Du’s heart softened at the warm, soft little body pressed against hers. She had only one brother, Zhou Ze always the eldest, never the little one. She had never held a child so dear.
She reached out to playfully touch the ribbons in Lijiao’s hair and suddenly remembered something. “Lian Hong did I not have a set of peach‑blossom hair ornaments?”
“So beautiful!” Lijiao breathed in wonder.
A sandalwood box was brought forth holding seven blossoms of embroidered silk some buds, others in full bloom, vivid pink and soft as real petals, delicate and lifelike. Most wonderful of all was the faint, sweet scent of peach blossom clinging to them. They had been a gift from the Palace, worn by Zhou Du when she was seven or eight years old. As she grew older, she had deemed them too girlish and laid them away.
“Do you like them?” Zhou Du fastened them gently into Lijiao’s hair. “Perfect. You look lovely.”
The room was warm and happy until Gu Yanshan strode in, face dark with fury. Lijiao jumped, startled, and hid behind Zhou Du’s skirt.
“Elder… Brother…”
Gu Yanshan had not expected to find Lijiao there. His expression went blank for a heartbeat, then he forced his anger down, though impatience still sharpened his tone. “Ah.”
Zhou Du paid him no mind. She turned to Lijiao, voice soft and tender as summer rain. “Come, Lijiao let us go to the kitchen and see how the pastries are coming along, shall we?”
From the moment they met last night, Zhou Du had been sharp, distant, cold as ice toward him. To see her so gentle, so tender, so full of warmth… Gu Yanshan stood frozen, eyes wide, his anger forgotten.