Sun Feng'an: "How could that be? I'm not the only one involved—there's also the old master helping to appraise things. I wouldn't dare act on my own authority in anything; I only dare make purchases after getting written approval from the residence."
Gu Youning was somewhat reassured: "Fine, but remember this—Dad is about to leave the capital, and with Mom's temperament, she can't be relied upon. Caution keeps the boat safe for ten thousand years, so you must stay alert."
Sun Feng'an: "How could I not know? Don't you worry."
As they were speaking, Sun Feng'an's Mother outside started shouting, telling Sun Feng'an to hurry out the door so as not to delay his business.
Sun Feng'an was actually a little reluctant to leave Gu Youning—his fragrant wife, so soft and yielding in his arms. But she had night duty and they couldn't share a bed for several days; only in the morning and evening could he hold her and cuddle for a bit, and even that kept getting interrupted.
Feeling quite helpless, he said unhappily, "Then I'm off."
Gu Youning gave an "mm." Sun Feng'an reluctantly rubbed her cheek, then sighed and went out.
Gu Youning kept her eyes closed, listening to the sounds outside.
When things are extremely quiet, one's hearing becomes especially sharp. She heard Sun Feng'an's Mother deliberately lowered muttering, and Sun Feng'an's voice arguing back.
In truth, she knew perfectly well—Sun Feng'an's Mother couldn't stand seeing the young couple being affectionate, and she always found the right moment to call Sun Feng'an away.
She thought of the idea she'd been entertaining—wanting a child—and couldn't help finding it laughable. Like this, where would a child come from?
She might as well just get some good sleep!
That day, whether Sun Yu's conscience had stirred or not, she wasn't disturbed. Gu Youning slept until well past noon, and feeling fully rested, got up—only to learn upon asking that Sun Yu had gone out to have fun with a close friend from her maiden days.
She casually ate some food, and once full, went out to stroll the streets. She happened to see a countryman carrying a shoulder-pole load into the city, containing some fresh fruit. Gu Youning went over to look—it was freshly picked mulberries, some a tender bright red, some black and purple; one look and you knew they were sweet.
She asked the price. Since the mulberries had just come into season, one small basket cost a full two hundred coppers.
She was a little reluctant to spend it, but thinking of her plan, she steeled herself and bought them anyway.
After buying them, she returned to the Sun household, washed them carefully, arranged them on a white porcelain dish, and placed it in the basket. Then she hurried into the residence, heading straight for Yijin Studio, where she peered out cautiously from outside.
Her plan was to first get chummy with the female clerk at Yijin Studio. She didn't hope to borrow the book itself—if she could just copy some of it, that would be enough to satisfy Gu Yueqiu's craving.
She lingered outside Yijin Studio like this, waiting a good while, until at last she saw one of the female clerks come out. She quickly stepped forward and greeted her with a smile.
The clerk was called Shu Juan, and seeing her approach, she proved quite amiable.
Gu Youning was young after all, thin-skinned, and this was her first time doing something like giving gifts and asking favors—she felt somewhat awkward. After chatting for quite a while and beating around the bush, she finally pushed the basket over, saying, "You don't really see these in the market yet. The residence may have some, but those are only for honored persons to taste. Miss Shu Juan, take it and enjoy something fresh."
Shu Juan was surprised, looking at the basket. She knew this was a fresh delicacy that must be quite expensive this time of year.
She said, "You should keep it for yourself to eat. How could I properly accept this?"
Gu Youning pressed it into her hands: "Miss Shu Juan, please don't stand on ceremony. We have some more at home, and this portion was set aside especially for the young ladies of the studio. I'm grateful for how you looked after me that night, and I've been meaning to come see you all. But I didn't have anything rare to bring—you've seen the world, after all, and I wouldn't dare put some ordinary trinket before you to make a show of myself. This, at least, has freshness going for it. If you ladies can't finish it all at once, you can chill it in the well water and enjoy it slowly."
Seeing this, Shu Juan stopped declining and accepted it after all. She exchanged a few more words with Gu Youning, her remarks carrying a hint of probing. Gu Youning felt too embarrassed to be too blunt, but thinking the opportunity too good to pass up, she tactfully brought up her younger brother's wish.
Miss Shu Juan listened and said, "I've never come across the book you mention, madam. I'll look into it later and see what can be done."
Seeing that there was some hope, Gu Youning naturally thanked her profusely before taking her leave.
On the way back, Gu Youning felt delighted. She had grown up in the inner quarters—her father, known as Gu Menzi, only knew how to keep his head down and work, but her mother was clever. Whenever something difficult came up, she knew how to bow her head and ask for favors, slipping people some food or small odds and ends while offering a few flattering words.
In truth, giving gifts also takes the courage to put your face aside. A girl of barely fifteen simply couldn't manage it—she couldn't bring herself to bow that low, and it was hard to get the words out smoothly.
Yet now she had handed it over with ease. It made her feel that she could at least handle matters now, and that her brother's affair had real hope.
Who knew that upon returning home, she would hear Sun Feng'an's Mother berating the maid Ping'er, calling her "cheap hooves" over and over, the filthy abuse unbearable to listen to.
Gu Youning went in to smooth things over, then ordered Ping'er, "There's plenty of work waiting in the kitchen. What are you standing around here for? Get to work at once!"
Ping'er glanced at Gu Youning gratefully and hurried off.
With a belly full of anger and nowhere to vent it, Sun Feng'an's Mother pointed at Gu Youning: "You're back just in time. Let me ask you—what good things did you sneak off and eat today?"
Gu Youning said, "Are you talking about lunchtime, Mother? Yu'e wasn't home today, so I just had a careless meal with the maids and old women—some congee left over from this morning, with a handful of boiled greens mixed in, that's all."
Sun Feng'an's Mother gave a cold sneer. "You really think you can hide it from me? Today I noticed some green leafy scraps left in the muck basket outside. Tell me—what was that?"
Gu Youning had thought she'd been extremely careful and had instructed all the servants, but she hadn't expected Sun Feng'an's Mother to be so thorough as to even inspect the muck basket.
So she said, "That night I was on duty, I passed by Yijin Studio. The woman in charge of the books there was very kind. I thought to myself, that clerk manages the prince's residence's books and records—a learned person. Having some friendly dealings with her could only do our household good. So I bought some mulberries, washed them, and brought them over. It was nothing more than ordinary courtesy."
But Sun Feng'an's Mother spat: "We've got no scholars in this family. What use is cozying up to those bookish bluestockings at the studio? Aren't you just paving the way for your mother's family!"
Caught out, Gu Youning felt no shame at all and said directly, "Mother, he is my brother from my natal family after all. He's unwell right now, so it's only right that I help him out a little. Besides, if a brother from my natal family can make something of himself, it reflects well on you too, Mother. Wouldn't you agree?"
But Sun Feng'an's Mother wouldn't listen. She pressed Gu Youning again and again about exactly how many coppers she had spent on the purchase—mulberries were not cheap this time of year—and Gu Youning told her the truth.
Sun Feng'an's Mother was fuming. Just then Sun Feng'an returned home, and she started berating him at the top of her voice.
"You get one tael and two qian a month. You said you'd keep three qian for yourself, and I let you. I told you long ago that money was for your social obligations outside. But look at you—you saved it for her instead, letting her squander it like this!"
Sun Feng'an hurried to explain: "Mother, I only get three qian a month—how could there be any left to give her? Mine's long spent. What she has now is her own dowry money, the savings from her trousseau chest!"
Sun Feng'an's Mother didn't believe a word of it. She gave them a good scolding, then suspected Gu Youning of skimming silver from the daily household provisions and demanded to go over the accounts.
Gu Youning let her mother-in-law say what she would, keeping her head down and saying nothing.
It wasn't until Sun Futang returned that he put a stop to Sun Feng'an's Mother's tirade. He then mentioned that he would be leaving the capital in the next couple of days and made arrangements for various household matters, while Gu Youning stood silently to the side, head lowered, saying not a word.
After Gu Youning had gone, the young woman Shu Juan entered the study hall carrying a food basket. She climbed the wooden stairs at the corner and went straight into the study.
Prince Duan stood with his hands behind his back by the window, eyes lowered, gazing down at the receding figure. She was walking briskly through the winding corridor, her skirt fluttering, her slender waist appearing and disappearing from view.
Shu Juan stood respectfully in place, waiting quietly.
It was a long while—until Gu Youning's figure had vanished behind the corridor—before Prince Duan finally spoke: "What did she say?"
Shu Juan presented the basket and recounted everything Gu Youning had said, word for word.
Prince Duan: "The Newly Compiled Compendium of Scholars?"
Shu Juan: "Yes."
Prince Duan lowered his eyes, lost in thought. After a long moment, he suddenly let out a cold laugh: "So that's how it was."
So that night, it wasn't some meeting of minds at all. She hadn't been looking at him.
She had only been thinking about a book that might be here.
Seeing him like this, Shu Juan naturally dared not speak, hardly even daring to breathe.
Who would have thought that at that moment, a voice would come from above, slow but leaving no room for argument: "What did you just call her?"
Shu Juan was taken aback: "Your Highness?"
Prince Duan: "'Sister-in-law of the Sun family'?"
Shu Juan: ?
Was something wrong with that?
Prince Duan: "Is her surname Sun?"
Shu Juan: …
She took a deep breath and quickly went along with it, hurriedly correcting herself: "Sister of the Gu family, then."