“Big brother sent a letter personally, so Gu Tianye must be very important.
What I’m doing is also on behalf of my big brother.”
Hearing that it was on her elder brother’s instructions, Madam Han didn’t say anything further.
In her eyes, her brother must have his reasons for acting this way.
Nearby, Zhuo Lina overheard the conversation.
She knew who Gu Tianye was.
He was her cousin’s love interest, rumored to be a heroic, upright man.
He was well-known in the Annan Army—a force comparable to ten men.
And he was handsome too. She had long wanted a chance to meet him.
But as a young lady confined to her quarters, meeting an outside man wasn’t easy.
Unexpectedly, he came to Qingzhou and was visiting their house today.
“Mother, since Uncle specifically wrote to Father asking him to treat this guest warmly,
he must be someone very close to Uncle.
We should naturally make him feel at home.
It’s also a sign of Uncle’s trust in us.”
Zhuo Lina was sensible and gracious, which pleased Zhuo Haonan.
Seeing his young and beautiful daughter, and hearing that Gu Tianye was unmarried, he had a thought: if his daughter could form a match with Gu Tianye, it would be a fine marriage.
Actually, his concern for Gu Tianye this time wasn’t because of his elder brother.
He had his own channels and knew Gu Tianye was a trusted aide of the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was the future emperor; if he could get connected, it would be far more beneficial than the Han family.
After years of bowing and lowering himself before the Hans, he could finally turn things around.
Having made up his mind, Zhuo Haonan looked at Zhuo Lina with an even kinder smile.
Zhuo Lina understood her father’s intentions. She wasn’t opposed to it; even if her father hadn’t had such thoughts, she would have reminded him.
Now, since he already had the idea, it was even easier.
“Today isn’t a formal occasion. Lina, you can attend with your younger siblings. Just treat it like a meal with relatives.”
Zhuo Lina readily agreed. However, Madam Zhao frowned.
“Lina is grown. With outsiders present, she shouldn’t attend.”
Zhuo Haonan restrained his displeasure: “Gu Tianye is a trusted aide of my brother, not an outsider.”
Madam Zhao despised Zhuo Haonan’s lack of propriety.
Which noble family would allow their eldest legitimate daughter to eat with an unfamiliar man? It clearly showed poor upbringing.
“Heh, one is surnamed Gu, the other Zhuo. How is that not an outsider?”
Seeing Zhuo Haonan about to retort, Madam Zhao said:
“Darling, the man handles the outside affairs, and the women handle the household. Leave the decisions about the inner quarters to me, as mother.”
Being directly contradicted by his wife, Zhuo Haonan naturally looked displeased.
But Madam Han was always strong-willed in front of him.
She knew that as long as her natal family remained influential, Zhuo Haonan wouldn’t dare oppose her.
Sure enough, he compromised.
“Fine, do as you wish.”
She swept out, clearly annoyed, but Madam Han remained unfazed.
Zhuo Lina sighed at the scene.
“Mother, can’t you talk to Father properly?”
Madam Han’s expression darkened: “She wanted to sell you out, how can I give her a good face?”
Zhuo Lina: “Mother, Father didn’t mean that.
He’s my father, how could he do such a thing?”
“Just listen to your mother and don’t quarrel with Father unnecessarily.
If you fight with him, won’t you give the concubines a chance?”
Mentioning the women in the back courtyard, Madam Han’s face darkened.
“Wretched hags, how dare they.”
Seeing her mother like this, Zhuo Lina felt weary.
Her mother always carried herself with superiority, looking down on everyone.
She assumed that with Uncle around, Father wouldn’t dare oppose her.
But Zhuo Lina felt relying on anyone was less reliable than relying on herself.
If Father truly respected Mother as he appeared, he wouldn’t have had the eldest illegitimate son.
Although the concubines appeared meek, they bore three children.
They lived freely in the back courtyard.
Zhuo Lina noticed her father treated the concubines far better than her mother.
She had visited her half-sister’s room. The possessions inside were not cheap.
Only her mother didn’t notice such details.
“Mother, she is also Father’s woman.
If you push Father away, he naturally seeks her.
Today’s matter isn’t serious; just let Father be.”
..
Zhuo Haonan greeted Gu Tianye and Wu Rongguang with great attentiveness.
Gu Tianye merely nodded and strode inside.
At the entrance to the banquet hall, he paused for a moment.
Wu Rongguang, who had been following behind, also stopped as he took in the scene inside, his expression changing.
Inside, two tables were set up—one for women, one for men.
But there was no partition between the tables.
Wu Rongguang clicked his tongue. Even a rough-and-tumble man like him knew this was highly improper.
The way the Zhuo family handled things was, to say the least, unorthodox.
Zhuo Haonan seemed completely unbothered—or perhaps, for him, as long as the goal was achieved, the method didn’t matter.
As a merchant, his specialty was adaptability.
He assumed that even if Gu Tianye disapproved of this arrangement, he wouldn’t openly refuse.
“Gu Tianye has come all the way from Da’an County; he’s not an outsider.
Treat today as if you were at home.
Please, gentlemen, take your seats.”
Gu Tianye cast a quick glance at the women in the room.
“Men and women should be separate. With the ladies present, it’s improper for me to enter.”
Zhuo Haonan’s face stiffened: “Gu Tianye, you are being too formal; these are all family…”
Before he could finish, Gu Tianye interrupted:
“Mr. Zhuo, today is the first time we have met.”
╯□╰╯□╰
With that, Gu Tianye turned and began to leave.
Madam Han, already displeased, couldn’t believe he would act so deliberately.
She immediately called out: “Stop!”
Gu Tianye paused, turning to see Madam Han being supported by a maid as she stepped forward.
“Gu Tianye…”
Gu Tianye asked, “May I know how to address Madam?”
Zhuo Haonan quickly introduced her: “Gu Tianye, this is my wife, Madam Zhuo, also Madam Han’s own younger sister.”
Gu Tianye nodded politely: “Ah, Madam Zhuo. May I know how you would advise me?”
Madam Han said sharply: “You were invited today at the behest of my elder brother.
Yet you attempt to leave just like that—do you not consider this disrespectful?”
Gu Tianye replied calmly: “If Madam Han is angry, I shall personally explain.”
Madam Han warned: “Young men should act more tactfully.”
Gu Tianye smiled faintly: “Thank you for your reminder, Madam Zhuo, but I carry a sword. When it comes to matters, I judge by the sword; I really do not know what tact is.”
He bowed once. “If Madam Zhuo has no further instructions, I shall take my leave.”
Madam Han was furious, her chest tightening with indignation.
Zhuo Haonan, however, began to realize that Gu Tianye was unlike the officials he had met before.
He couldn’t tell whether it was due to his personality or that his relationship with Zhuo Haonan’s elder brother was only superficial.
Either way, Gu Tianye clearly did not yield face.
“Today’s arrangement was my oversight.
I shall set up another table immediately.
I shall accompany you myself, Gu Tianye—how do you see that?”
Madam Han wanted to continue arguing, but Zhuo Haonan restrained her.
Today he was entertaining a key figure from the Annan Army. In Qingzhou, anyone with status would know a distinguished guest was coming, even if they didn’t know precisely who.
If Gu Tianye left without even eating, it would bring shame upon the Zhuo family.
So no matter what, Zhuo Haonan intended to keep him.
He regretted his earlier mistake, realizing he had acted purely by habit.
The Zhuo family servants were well-trained.
Soon, another table was arranged, entirely with male guests.
To show goodwill, Zhuo Haonan generously donated ten thousand taels of silver to the Annan Army.
He also volunteered any future assistance the Zhuo family could provide to Gu Tianye and his men in Qingzhou.
In this way, the banquet turned out to be quite successful.
However, Madam Han’s mood remained sour.
After being slighted by Gu Tianye, she returned to the table and saw the illegitimate daughter dressed more flamboyantly than her own daughter.
She immediately erupted in anger:
“Surely she’s a concubine’s child.
Dressed like that, one might think she came from some random house.
She is unfit for proper company.”
Zhuo Pianpian paled, lowering her head and saying nothing.
With her father and Madam Han absent, speaking would only make things worse.
Zhuo Lina, meanwhile, was in a bad mood.
Just now, Gu Tianye had clearly seen her, yet he refused even to enter.
The concubine girl’s attire clearly had the same goal.
She had previously dismissed her half-sister as insignificant.
As the legitimate daughter, she believed in the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born children; only the concubine would think of flattering others with her appearance.
But now, feeling irritable, Zhuo Lina couldn’t help but vent some frustration at Zhuo Pianpian.
“Mother, the girl means well in trying to please Gu Tianye.
She is only trying to help Father, just her method was wrong.
For her sake, Mother, perhaps have the nanny teach her proper etiquette.
So that in the future, her good intentions won’t cause harm or tarnish the Zhuo family’s reputation.”
Madam Han nodded: “Indeed, Lina, you’re thoughtful.
We should have the nanny instruct her early, to break that concubine-born habit.
Your father did not raise you to serve as a concubine for others.”
Zhuo Pianpian lowered her head, tears welling, biting her back teeth, daring not to defend herself.
Yet, her clenched fists hidden in her sleeves showed her silent anger.
Seeing the concubine’s anger without her daring to speak, Madam Han felt a slight lift in her spirits after the earlier frustration.
At that moment, the loyal nanny hurriedly entered.
“Madam, there’s trouble…”
Madam Han asked sharply: “What trouble?”
The nanny whispered a few words in her ear. Madam Han’s expression changed immediately, and she stood up to leave.
..
Outside in the courtyard, Tao Gu was being dragged along by several soldiers of the Black Armor Army.
“Stop!”
Madam Han stormed out.
Seeing her, Tao Gu immediately gained confidence.
“Madam, help! Save me…”
Madam Han said sharply: “Do you know who I am? How dare you come into the Zhuo residence to seize someone?”
Liùzi (Sixth) replied: “No matter who you are, you cannot stop the Black Armor Army from arresting someone.”
Another Black Armor Army squad?
Even if it was the Black Armor Army, so what? Her elder brother was the commanding officer.
Still, Madam Han’s aggression lessened slightly.
“Ah, you’re all family. Your Commander Han is my elder brother.
I will explain this personally to him.
For now, you can leave.”
Liùzi sneered: “Sorry, Madam Zhuo, today we must take this person.
If you have objections, you may tell Commander Han.
As for whether he punishes or rewards, we are all willing.”
Having just been slighted by Gu Tianye, now not even a soldier of the Black Armor Army would give her face.
Madam Han turned pale with rage and instructed a nearby servant:
“What are you standing there for? Hurry to fetch the master and Gu Tianye!”
Before the words finished, Zhuo Haonan, along with Gu Tianye, hurried outside.
“Madam, what’s happened?” Zhuo Haonan asked as he approached.
Madam Han looked at Gu Tianye with a hint of irony:
“I want to ask Gu Tianye what this means. Tao Gu is just a servant of the Zhuo household. How could she have offended you to warrant such a commotion from your soldiers?”