The Grand Princess remained resolute, making it clear she would never accept the appearance of an Eldest Son by a Concubine.
Before Gu Wanning gave birth to a legitimate eldest son, no one else was to even think about it.
“You are both still young; you can wait, there is no rush,” the Grand Princess comforted Gu Wanning. “Your constitution is weak, so take your time to recover. In a moment, I will have people find some supplements from the storehouse to send to you. You must take them on time…”
She acted like the most benevolent of elders. “Right, since Weibai is back, he should accompany you back to pay your respects to your parents.”
He had left on the very day of the wedding, skipping the three-day return visit to the bride's family. This was indeed a grievance for Gu Wanning.
“No need, no need,” Gu Wanning waved her hands hurriedly. “The Marquis has just returned; he is busy with official matters.”
Was she joking? Her predecessor hadn’t wanted to return to that house at all, so why would she get involved?
Perhaps to the Gu family, she had always been redundant.
Gu Wanning didn’t want to meet so many people and go looking for trouble.
The Grand Princess had good intentions and was looking out for her in every way.
However, it was all a case of "well-intentioned but troublesome."
“Etiquette cannot be discarded,” the Grand Princess insisted. “I will have someone send the gifts later. Additionally, Weibai received many rewards this time. Open the treasury and select gifts according to each family member's preferences. Later, have someone send the gift list to the Princess Mansion for my review.”
The gifts had to be heavy and valuable.
Gu Wanning’s head was buzzing, but she still agreed.
Xu Weibai kept a cold face the entire time, looking as if someone owed him eight hundred taels of silver.
“One more thing,” the Grand Princess said. “Without rules, there is no order. You should make arrangements later for which day Weibai goes to whose courtyard, lest there be squabbling later, disrupting the Marquis Residence and breaking the rules.”
Good heavens, she even had to arrange a "bedding schedule"?
Her life was truly miserable.
And further, whoever she arranged, Xu Weibai would have to go sleep with…
Was Xu Weibai willing?
Object quickly, you stallion!
Shouldn’t a stallion be free and easy, sleeping with whoever he likes?
But Xu Weibai remained silent. Was he actually consenting to this?
Gu Wanning was beyond annoyed, but then she thought with a "to hell with it" attitude: four people, seven days each. For the remaining one or two days, let Xu Weibai choose freely.
Exhaust him to death!
She was the one making the schedule, right?
She would absolutely not include herself!
After instructing her on a few more matters, the Grand Princess returned to her mansion, with Xu Weibai escorting her back.
Having finally seen off these two formidable figures, Gu Wanning could finally breathe.
She was still thinking about her chickens, ducks, and geese, so she said to the four concubines, “As for the Grand Princess’s words today, just listen. Regarding the specifics of how things will be handled later, I will discuss a plan with the Marquis. Until then, whoever’s courtyard the Marquis goes to, serve him well.”
The four of them had expressions of surprise on their faces.
Because Gu Wanning had changed so much from before, they could hardly believe it.
Was it because the Marquis had returned that she was restraining herself?
“Also, from now on, there is no need to go work in the garden anymore,” Gu Wanning added. “Each of you just mind your own business. Morning and evening courtesies and serving by my side—none of that is required. Just remember, don’t cause me trouble, and I will let you live a good life.”
“Yes!”
Gu Wanning looked at the expressions of the four women and thought to herself, You don’t have to work anymore, so why don’t I see you looking any happier?
Go, go away; looking at them made her feel stifled.
Gu Wanning didn't care about their reactions and went to the backyard to get busy.
Er Ya was still worried about her. “Madam, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. The Grand Princess came to back me up. Hurry up and work. Did you catch all the chickens, ducks, and geese?”
“They are all here.”
“Good. Take some people out and sell them all.”
“Yes.”
The four concubines didn't interact much. Except for the Fourth Concubine, who was privately close to the First Concubine, the others had little to do with one another.
The Fourth Concubine’s closeness was purely because of her own martial arts background; the First Concubine’s gentle personality reminded her of her deceased master’s wife, which was why she dared to secretly associate with her.
The four returned to their respective courtyards.
Meanwhile, the Grand Princess was advising Xu Weibai, “You should look on the bright side. You saw a chaotic mess, but I saw that Wanning was tidying up the backyard because she feared your displeasure…”
Xu Weibai said, “Grandmother, you don't need to worry about our affairs.”
“How can I not worry? Wanning is a good child; she has suffered much she shouldn't have. Growing up in the countryside, she was never cared for. If you are better to her, she will rely on you wholeheartedly…”
Xu Weibai kept his lips pressed thin, looking like he didn't want to talk further.
The Grand Princess said no more and had items picked out for Xu Weibai to take back.
Xu Weibai sent someone to deliver the supplements to Gu Wanning. He didn't even want to step foot into the inner courtyard and went straight to rest in the outer study.
The poultry sold for a total of seventeen taels of silver, so Gu Wanning now possessed the massive sum of over thirty taels.
She stared at the blood bird's nest and cordyceps bestowed by the Grand Princess, wishing she could just trade them for cash.
The gifts for her maiden home were already loaded onto the carriage and hadn't been unloaded.
Gu Wanning looked at the gift list. Although there were many items, they weren't overly precious—they were more on the practical side, and everyone was accounted for.
For instance, the gifts for her father and brothers were mostly books, the four treasures of the study, and Fenjiu liquor. For her mother and sisters-in-law, there were fabrics and pastries. For her nephews and nieces, there were small gold and silver ingots and such.
If only she didn't have to return to that maiden home, she could keep the things for herself.
“Madam, didn't you say the Grand Princess wanted you to arrange for someone to serve the Marquis tonight?” Er Ya asked foolishly. “Have you arranged it yet?”
“Today was too tiring, we’ll talk about it tomorrow,” Gu Wanning said.
She would inevitably have to call the four of them over and let them choose their own time slots, avoiding their monthly cycles.
Gu Wanning felt an internal resistance to doing this.
She felt like a pimp…
Fortunately, Xu Weibai seemed to hold her in disdain; surely he wouldn't insist on sleeping with her, right?
If she were forced to participate in their "husband and concubines" games, then Gu Wanning was prepared to flip the table.
She'd rather not live this life and start over!
While she was lying low, she had no idea that Xu Weibai was getting no peace in the outer study.
“Yes, Marquis, it is late. You should rest early.”
“Mhm.”
Gao Lan hurried to help Xu Weibai make the bed.
Before the bed was even ready, someone outside reported, “Marquis, the First Concubine requests an audience.”
“I won't see her!” Xu Weibai snapped, flicking his sleeve.
In the middle of the night, what audience could she want?
She was certainly offering herself up for the night.
He loathed women who didn't know their place.
The person outside hurried to send the First Concubine away.
Gao Lan muttered, “The First Concubine has a gentle disposition and usually takes good care of the Fourth Concubine; the two are quite close. She is normally well-behaved; I don't know why she's being so impatient this time.”
As the Marquis's number one lackey, he had to have a thorough understanding of every situation in the residence upon their return.
A moment later, the Second Concubine came as well.
Xu Weibai remained equally firm and sent her back.
“The next one couldn't be the Third Concubine, could it? Did they plan this today?” Gao Lan couldn't help but mumble.
They had been quite quiet the past few days. It had only been a few days, and they were already showing their fox tails?
Tsk tsk.
The Marquis was truly impressive; as soon as he returned, the women in the residence began competing for him.
Gao Lan’s crow-mouth was half-right.
Someone else indeed came, but it was the Fourth Concubine.
Xu Weibai’s patience snapped. “Get in here!”
He wanted to see exactly what kind of wicked schemes these women were brewing today!
He even felt that Gu Wanning was still too merciful to these creatures, which allowed them to brazenly harass him in the outer court late at night.
Was there no more discipline in this Marquis Residence?
If nothing else worked, he would do as Gu Wanning did—be blunt and crude, and make them go straight to their knees as punishment!