Sun Feng'an hurriedly withdrew, still shaken.
He kept feeling that something was off about Prince Duan's brief silence when he knelt down. Although the prince was never known for a warm temperament, he wouldn't ordinarily make his subordinates kneel like that for no reason.
Had his mind wandered in that moment? What could he have been thinking about?
Sun Feng'an could not figure it out no matter how he pondered.
All the way, he mulled it over carefully, and decided that the prince seemed odd altogether today.
But soon he thought again—how could a mere underling like him fathom what a prince had on his mind? Forget himself; even those high officials and nobles outside didn't dare breathe too heavily in His Highness's presence.
In any case, His Highness had been exceptionally kind to him today, even granting his mother-in-law a fine position!
At this thought, he grew joyful.
He knew Gu Youning didn't think much of him and was never affectionate toward him, and he had hoped to do something to win her favor. Now, because he had passed along the message before His Highness, the prince had actually given the position to his mother-in-law. He was sure Gu Youning would be pleased.
Hitching up his robe, he hurried outside. He was going to bring the good news to his mother-in-law and give her a pleasant surprise.
Gu Youning was hurrying home when, turning a corner, she ran right into Sun Yue, who was standing in the back alley, standing on tiptoe to peer up ahead. Startled at the sight of Gu Youning, she flushed and said awkwardly, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"
Gu Youning knew she had snuck out to watch Prince Duan, but pretended not to know: "I just came back from the street. And you, Yue'er? What are you doing here?"
Sun Yue said, blushing, "Just out for a stroll."
The two then walked back together, and Sun Yue couldn't help asking, "Sister, did you see the procession up ahead just now? Who was it?"
Seeing her like this, Gu Youning couldn't help but find it amusing, and her tightly wound nerves relaxed a little.
She said with a smile, "It must have been His Highness. I happened to run into His Highness just as he entered, and I was so frightened I stood there not daring to move."
Sun Yue's interest was instantly piqued, and she pressed eagerly, "You saw His Highness? What robe was he wearing today? Where was he coming from?"
Gu Youning shook her head. "How would I know? I only glimpsed him from a distance—I wouldn't dare ask around."
Sun Yue gave a disappointed "oh" and stopped paying attention to Gu Youning.
Gu Youning felt somewhat helpless and remarked, seemingly in passing, "His Highness already has several concubines in his household, not to mention Madam Jiang. From what Mother said, he'll be taking a princess consort eventually too."
She just couldn't understand it. When one could be a proper principal wife, why insist on climbing to such heights? That Madam Jiang beside His Highness, and those concubines—none of them were easy to get along with.
But Sun Yue was displeased and said, neck stiff, "You think I don't know that? Why bring this up out of nowhere—what are you implying?"
By then the two had reached their front gate. Gu Youning couldn't be bothered to argue, so she let the matter drop, only handing over the little clove-pink beaded earrings she had been asked to buy for her, then headed off toward her own family's home.
The book Gu Yueqiu wanted—she had kept it in mind after all.
But just as she reached the mouth of the alley, she saw her mother talking with Sun Feng'an, her mother's face full of delight, positively beaming.
Puzzled, Gu Youning hurried over. "Mother, Feng'an, what are you two doing here?"
The moment Old Madame Gu saw her, she happily grabbed her hand and said: "Just now, Nanny Lu, who runs the prince's kitchen, suddenly called me over and assigned me the task of making several kinds of pastries, and even gave me two kitchen maids to order about. I saw how fiercely the women in the kitchen were fighting—scheming against each other, each pulling their own connections—so I never dared to hope for anything. Who knew I'd stumble into such a wonderful piece of good fortune! Now that I have this job, setting aside the benefits that come with it, I'll finally be someone whose words carry a little weight in the kitchen!"
Gu Youning had never expected this and was naturally overjoyed: "What task did they give you, Mother? How did such a good thing come about!"
Old Madame Gu said: "It's all thanks to Feng'an! He put in a word for me with His Highness, and it was approved right away!"
Gu Youning was surprised and looked at Sun Feng'an beside her.
Sun Feng'an feigned composure and smiled: "I really didn't do much. I just mentioned it to His Highness, and he agreed."
Just mentioned it, and he agreed…
Gu Youning was puzzled: "How did you bring it up? Why would you suddenly mention this to His Highness?"
Sun Feng'an could no longer contain himself, and a bit of smugness showed on his face: "I've served the prince for several years and am deeply trusted by him. Chatting casually about everyday matters now and then is nothing unusual."
But as he said this, he remembered Prince Duan's unusual silence while he had knelt to give his thanks.
A thread of doubt flickered through his mind, but it was faint, and in an instant it was buried under the joy before his eyes.
Hearing this, Old Madame Gu praised Sun Feng'an repeatedly: "I've always said my son-in-law is considerate, filial, and promising! From now on, this old woman can depend entirely on my good son-in-law."
The whole family was naturally delighted. Old Madame Gu insisted Sun Feng'an stay for the midday meal. Since he had just gotten off duty anyway, he went home with them. When they arrived and others asked about it, Old Madame Gu told the whole story, and the women of the communal courtyard were green with envy, while some of them began fawning over Sun Feng'an even more.
Amid all the excitement, Gu Youning brought Sun Feng'an some tea, had Gu Yueqiu keep him company in conversation, and went to the kitchen to help tend the fire.
Old Madame Gu scooped a large ladle of water to wash the vegetables, her smile stretching from ear to ear: "Back when the Sun family came to propose the marriage, you were reluctant, and I hesitated too. But look now—how well Feng'an treats you! He even specially remembered my affairs and put in a good word for me with the prince!"
Gu Youning's hand on the bellows paused.
She thought of the look Prince Duan had given her in front of the prince's residence—a casual, fleeting glance, as if he hadn't seen her at all.
But if he truly hadn't seen her, who had he been looking at in that moment?
Afterward, he returned to his residence, she came home, and by the time he came over, the news had already arrived.
Judging by the timing, he must have returned to his residence and been chatting casually with Sun Feng'an, and by coincidence, Sun Feng'an happened to bring up the matter of her mother's job at just that moment, and he simply agreed.
It was hard not to wonder—when he agreed, did he know that the woman being helped was her own mother? Perhaps he did know. And if he did, what was his intention…
Gu Youning worked the bellows absently, and daydreams inevitably bubbled up in her mind—for instance, that he had done it especially to look after her.
But the thought lasted only an instant. She quickly came to her senses and told herself not to flatter herself.
In this princely residence, the prince was heaven itself—both her natal family and her husband's family were the prince's household slaves, their indenture contracts all held in the prince's hands. They could never turn the heavens upside down.
She was merely the wife of an ordinary household slave. If the prince behaved a bit recklessly—slept with some common maidservant in the residence—he wouldn't even remember it afterward. Who would dare pester him over it?
Now, whether he did it deliberately or not, her natal family had gained the benefit, and since he no longer mentioned anything, her best course was to quietly play the fool.
For Prince Duan's residence, the Qingming tomb-sweeping rites were a major event. According to the ritual codes of Great Zhao, Prince Duan was to travel with the imperial clansmen to Xuling Mountain, where the imperial tombs lay, to pay respects. And since he was still in mourning, besides the fresh seasonal fruits and green rice cakes bestowed by the palace, the residence also had to prepare its own sacrificial offerings of the three animals, wine and delicacies, incense and candles, spirit money, and burial cloth.
These past few days, the residence had already begun preparations, dispatching servants to carry goods and arranging for musicians and performers to go on ahead.
Gu Youning's mother was busy preparing the pastries for the residence's Qingming sacrifices and could not get away. Gu Youning herself had been assigned work within the residence, taking orders in the inner quarters, and would likely have to follow along to Xuling Mountain when the time came.
In truth, Gu Youning was thinking of visiting her own father's grave. Her father had only been gone two years, and she too was in mourning—but as the wife of a slave, there was no such thing as filial piety before one's masters. She dared not insist on any propriety, and could only go pay her respects a few days early.
She hired a carriage from the livery stable, brought along Gu Yueqiu, and hurried to the burial ground. That cemetery had been set aside by the prince's residence specifically for the household's slaves. When she arrived, she saw quite a few familiar faces—all servants of the residence who had come early to sweep their elders' graves.
She knelt there, laid out tea, fruit, and pastries, burned spirit money and paper ingots, murmuring prayers: "Dad, eat plenty of these good things, don't hold back. If you want anything, just send me a dream. Life is good now—whatever you want to eat, we can get it for you."
Her father was known as Gu Menzi—a quiet, honest man who never liked to talk, silently toiling his whole life, knowing nothing but hard labor.
It was a pity he died young, having hardly enjoyed a single good day in his life.
Gu Yueqiu's legs were bad, and the ground was overgrown with weeds, but Gu Youning managed to help him down from the carriage, and he knelt in the cemetery to pay his respects.
When they finished the tomb-sweeping and returned home, Sun Feng'an's mother saw her and immediately demanded, "Where have you been, only coming back at this hour?"
Gu Youning hastily explained. Sun Feng'an's mother instantly turned sour: "I went to such trouble, calling in favors to secure that good assignment for you, and you—of all things—weren't even home, wasting it for nothing!"
She was truly angry, angry enough to stamp her feet.
Hearing this, Gu Youning naturally felt guilty, but there was nothing to be done. She could only bring up what she had already told Sun Feng'an.
Sun Feng'an's mother sneered and launched into a round of scolding her son: "Gets a wife and forgets all the rules! Is he trying to worship you up to heaven? Never seen a wife in eight lifetimes, has he!"
Gu Youning only bowed her head, not daring to utter a sound, letting her carry on.
Only after Sun Feng'an's mother had scolded enough did she explain, none too pleased: it turned out that tomorrow the household's servants would be going to the mourning palace for the sacrifices, and with manpower needed, Sun Feng'an's mother had recommended herself—proposing that Gu Youning attend at Concubine Zhou's side, serving as her helper.
Concubine Zhou?
Gu Youning knew this Concubine Zhou had once been a first-class maidservant attending the Old Dowager Consort. When the Old Prince had fallen gravely ill, fearing the coming mourning period would hold Prince Duan back, the Old Dowager Consort had placed this maidservant at her son's side, hoping she would serve him with attentive warmth and care.
This Concubine Zhou, being of servile birth, had never been granted an official title, but she was still a concubine registered in the household records.
Sun Feng'an's mother chattered on to Gu Youning, telling her that she must serve her well, be quick-witted, observant, and diligent, and must never slack off or be lazy.
Finally, she admonished her: "This position was only obtained because I swallowed my pride and begged for it!"
Gu Youning naturally agreed again and again, but deep down she felt deeply uneasy.
This Concubine Zhou was the Prince's concubine, and yet she herself would have to attend upon her.
Gu Youning dared not imagine the awkwardness that lay ahead, and could only hope… hope that she would not run into that Prince Duan.