Chapter 21 He Would Never Allow Her to Leave Him
Yan Xuerui flinched under his gaze. Yet, these days, his aloofness had lessened her former fear.
"My Lord."
She tilted her head slightly, her body pliant as if boneless, allowing Gu Yan to draw her into his embrace and settle onto the soft couch in the study's inner room.
Yan Xuerui began, "Ming Lan has reached marriageable age. When a family has a daughter, suitors abound. As his mother, I must worry and plan for him, to choose a good girl."
She sighed softly, lowering her voice. "Mother is growing older by the day; it's time to let her live out her golden years in comfort."
She had previously sought to take over household management from her mother-in-law, but Gu Yan had rebuffed her, citing her need for rest. Seizing this opportune moment, she pressed the matter again.
Yan Xuerui mused wryly. Indeed, age had mellowed her. Ten years prior, she would never have reasoned with Gu Yan so emotionally and logically. A proud spirit resided within her; even if he had tamed her body, her heart had remained unyielding.
Now, she realized how foolish that had been. Youthful defiance had served no purpose but to provoke him.
Now, she leaned docilely against his chest, her soft Wu dialect sounding almost coquettish. Regardless of his inner machinations, Gu Yan's expression remained gentle and considerate.
"Rui'er, I know you are filial."
His palm gently caressed the dark, silken hair at her neck as he spoke unhurriedly, "But Mother is still spirited and strong-willed. Suddenly making her idle would not be good. You are overthinking it."
"As for Ming Lan..."
He chuckled softly, "He hasn't yet come of age; there's no hurry. I'll first have someone gather portraits of suitable girls in the capital, and we can take our time choosing. My eldest son could even marry a princess—why worry about not finding a good girl?"
Gu Yan appeared agreeable, yet he had subtly dismissed both her proposals. Yan Xuerui felt a surge of anger and brushed aside Gu Yan's hand, intending to argue. But as if anticipating her move, he caught her wrist and gently patted the back of her hand soothingly.
"I know you're anxious. How about this..."
Gu Yan pondered for a moment before making a definitive decision. "There's no need to visit other mansions. I will personally write invitations to the wives and daughters of officials of third rank and above in the capital to come to the Marquis' residence for a flower viewing. You can take your time observing them, and it will also be a good opportunity to showcase your prized flowers."
"Two benefits at once. When I have free time later, I'll accompany you to other places for outings, garden tours, and spring enjoyment—whatever you wish."
Gu Yan's voice was gentle, and his words were reasonable. Anyone hearing them would sigh and call him "considerate." He had taken great pains to arrange matters of the inner household so thoroughly—what more could she possibly want?
Her purpose in coming today was for Ming Lan. Whether she visited other mansions or had guests come to the Marquis' residence, as long as she could meet the young ladies, it was the same, wasn't it?
He was so busy, with visitors as countless as fish in a river. Even sending a request for audience a month in advance might not guarantee a moment of his time, yet he said he would accompany her for garden tours and spring outings.
...
For a man to go to such lengths for a woman, she should be content. Yan Xuerui closed her eyes, but her chest felt stifled, as if a fire were burning within her, unable to be released, and could only consume her from within.
No, it shouldn't be like this.
She wanted to refute him but didn't know what to say—he had both emotion and reason on his side, leaving her with no grounds for argument.
Gu Yan looked at her slightly furrowed brows and soothingly said, "Alright, what are you worrying about?"
"I heard that little one has been crying a lot lately? The wet nurses aren't working out; change them."
Mentioning her youngest son, Yan Xuerui's thoughts were suddenly pulled in that direction, and she couldn't help but steer the conversation there.
She said, "He's fussy with his milk. It was hard enough getting him used to a few nurses. Changing them again will just cause more trouble."
Yan Xuerui sighed softly and couldn't help complaining, "He's small but has a big temper, throws a fit at the slightest dissatisfaction. I wonder who he takes after."
"My fault."
Having achieved his goal, Gu Yan smoothly apologized. "Rui'er is gentle and serene; perhaps that boy takes after me. Let's note it down for now, and when he's older, I'll discipline him properly."
The topic suddenly shifted to their youngest son. For fear of early mortality, it was a tradition in the Gu family to wait until a child turned three before giving them a formal name and entering them into the family registry. Thus, the child still had no proper name. As the two chatted, they decided on the spot to give their youngest son a *rùmíng* (childhood nickname given for easy rearing), calling him Zhinu.
Though it wasn't particularly impressive, giving a humble name was believed to help a child survive. Unofficial histories record emperors with milk names like "A'nu," which didn't hinder their greatness and legacy for generations. Zhinu was far better than names like "Dog Leftover" and wasn't embarrassing.
With the matter of the youngest son settled, there was still Ming Wei. Gu Yan had received news and mentioned in passing that Yan Xuerui's parents were accompanying her "younger brother" to the capital for the imperial examinations. Yan Xuerui was slightly surprised and, still concerned about her aging parents, asked a few more questions. Unknowingly, the sky outside had turned completely dark.
Gu Yan stood up, tidied his documents and writing implements, called for snacks and evening meal, and then accompanied Yan Xuerui back to the main residence to rest. She was tired today and quickly fell asleep on the soft pillow.
She seemed to sleep restlessly, her long, thick eyelashes fluttering, casting shadows under her eyelids. Gu Yan gazed at her for a long time, raising his hand to smooth her slightly furrowed brows.
"Sleep."
He said softly, "I'm here. Rest easy."
Yan Xuerui murmured in her sleep, turned over, and tightened the brocade quilt around her.
Gu Yan chuckled softly, turned her back over, and held her in his arms. With her warm, jade-like body in his embrace, one arm could circle her waist completely. She had little strength and couldn't break free no matter what.
Gu Yan sighed contentedly. Every part of her, inside and out, belonged to him. He didn't want her to show herself in public for others to see.
To be fair, it wasn't entirely his fault. Back then, she was always running away. If he couldn't have her heart, he had to have her person. She hated him, but didn't he also hate her? Her legs were like carved jade, perfectly proportioned, and incredibly beautiful wrapped around his waist. He thought it over and over before dismissing the idea of breaking them.
He would never allow her to leave him.
As the children grew older, he didn't completely forbid her from going out or making friends. His mother had said it would drive her mad. He cared well for her, and fearing she would be bored, he gave her shops and had his subordinates' wives keep her company. She could go wherever she wanted, provided he accompanied her.
It was just that he had been exceptionally busy lately. Once he freed up some time, he would take her out for some fresh air. Being cooped up in the residence all day, no wonder she was acting out.
So thought Gu Yan as he tightened his arms and slowly closed his eyes. Outside, the night watch bell sounded. The maid on night duty shuddered, tiptoed in to extinguish the candles, and inwardly lamented the three buckets of water heated tonight.
The Marquis and his wife had returned hand in hand, looking so utterly devoted that she thought they would be up late again tonight. What a waste of charcoal—if she could have taken it home, it would have lasted her family half a month.
Remembering the rules of the Marquis' residence, the maid shuddered and dismissed any improper thoughts. She gently closed the door, stood outside with her hands in her sleeves, and resigned herself to enduring the long night.
***
Fengyi Palace [Phoenix Palace].
Empress Xu sat upright on the phoenix throne. In her forties, she had straight eyebrows, phoenix eyes, thin lips, and wore the phoenix crown and hundred-birds-worshipping-the-phoenix robe symbolizing the empress. A single glance from her carried immense authority.
"At today's morning court, those cases were settled by His Majesty's decision. There's no need to worry about the Virtuous Prince's faction using them against us anymore."
She looked at the Crown Prince below and said, "This is thanks to Grand Tutor Gu. Who knows what methods he used to make someone retract their confession in the Dali Temple prison? You should visit the Marquis' residence again to thank your mentor."
The Ministry of Justice was the domain of the Crown Prince's faction, while the Dali Temple was under the Virtuous Prince's control. The Emperor was adept at playing them against each other. The unjust case handled by the Ministry of Justice had reached the Dali Temple, and the Crown Prince should have been severely compromised this time. Unexpectedly, Gu Yan had undercut them completely by having the confession retracted.
Empress Xu thought of the current state of the Virtuous Prince's faction, and a slight smile touched her thin lips, which were typically unsmiling. She urged, "Crown Prince, did you hear me?"
The Crown Prince drooped his eyelids and uttered an "Mm," his refined face listless and perfunctory.
The slight smile on Empress Xu's lips vanished. She was about to lose her temper but remembered the Crown Prince's recent extended illness. He was her only son, conceived only through great effort. The Crown Prince was not only her support in her later years but also the hope for the resurgence of her Xu family.
Jade requires carving to become useful. She was usually strict and exacting with him, but she was the one who treated him best in the world, even willing to die for him.
Empress Xu silently recited calming Buddhist sutras and glanced at the Crown Prince. "Are you still angry with the Grand Tutor?"
The Crown Prince smiled mockingly and said, "Whatever you say, Empress Mother."
All his desperate resistance, in the Empress's eyes, was merely dismissed as "acting out." The Crown Prince clenched his fist inside his sleeve, yet felt utterly powerless.
Empress Xu took a deep breath and spoke earnestly, "She's just a woman from the pleasure quarters, hardly worth your... Alright, alright, I won't say more."
Empress Xu still did not know that the Crown Prince had been rendered infertile by that courtesan. Had she known, she would have torn the woman apart herself. That the Crown Prince and Senior Tutor Gu had become estranged over such an insignificant woman seemed utterly foolish in her eyes.
She looked at her refined and elegant son, who now stood taller than her. He had grown up.
Empress Xu said, "I know you resent Senior Tutor Gu's authoritarian ways. To be honest, I don’t like him either."
Her own son, the Crown Prince of a nation, had been forced to apologize to a mere official. Though Empress Xu maintained a smiling facade, her inner frustration was no less than the Crown Prince's.
"But, my son, circumstances are stronger than individuals. We must use him."
Her straight spine sagged slightly as she patiently broke down the reasoning for him.
"Some time ago, I asked you to read the *Comprehensive Mirror*. I wonder if you truly understood it. You are the Crown Prince, a hidden dragon in the depths. Think of Gu Yan as a useful blade—wield him to serve your purposes and aid your ascent."
"Even Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling under someone's crotch. Right now, Senior Tutor Gu may seem to be wielding overwhelming power, but once you ascend the throne, he will be nothing more than a subject. Whether to execute or spare him will be entirely up to you. My foolish son, why can’t you understand such a simple truth?"
The Crown Prince’s refined face twisted momentarily. After a pause, he said gloomily, "With Virtuous Prince advancing so aggressively, it’s uncertain whether I will ever sit on that throne."
"Nonsense! How dare you say such things!"
Empress Xu cut him off urgently. "I am the Empress, who entered through the main palace gate! Throughout history, the throne passes from father to son—it is the rightful succession! You are the Crown Prince. As long as you do not make mistakes, the throne will be yours sooner or later."
"Virtuous Prince? The son of a lowly concubine, nothing more than a stepping stone! How could he ever compete with you?"
She spoke too quickly and began coughing, pressing her chest. The Crown Prince, ever filial, hurried forward to pat her back. "Please calm yourself, Mother. I was wrong to say that."
When Empress Xu had recovered slightly, the Crown Prince said, "It is not that I lack confidence, but Father shows me little favor. His intentions are unpredictable—"
"Hah, don’t worry. If your father shows you little favor, do you think he is entirely pleased with Virtuous Prince? Let me tell you—he doesn’t truly like anyone. He is merely selecting a suitable heir for the empire. The only one who ever truly won his heart was…"
Empress Xu paused abruptly, touching her perfectly arranged hair. "With me and Senior Tutor Gu paving the way for you, what is there to fear?"
After a moment of thought, the Crown Prince said, "I heard that Virtuous Prince recently recommended a Taoist priest to the palace. The priest seems somewhat capable and has won Father’s favor."
"Hmph, devious methods will eventually trap him."
Empress Xu snorted coldly and warned, "Do not involve yourself in this matter."
The Crown Prince fell silent. Since childhood, he had known he had an elder sister who had been lost outside the palace. The Emperor had built a Taoist temple for her within the palace grounds, conducting daily rituals to find her.
As a child, he could not understand why they did not send palace attendants to search for her instead of relying on rituals, which seemed unlikely to succeed. The first time he asked, Empress Xu made him kneel for an entire day and strictly forbade him from mentioning it again.
That elder sister was a great taboo in the palace. Born later, he only knew that many people had died back then. Empress Xu had repeatedly warned him since childhood, but it was not until he witnessed it himself that he understood. At a palace banquet, a relatively favored consort performed a dance for the Emperor and remarked, "I heard Imperial Consort Chen was skilled in dance—"
The Emperor’s face immediately darkened, and he swept out of the banquet. The Crown Prince never saw that consort again and later heard that she was new to the palace, unaware of its taboos, and had fallen into someone else’s trap.
"Chen"—a title reserved for the North Star, symbolizing the emperor—was an extremely noble honorific he had never heard of. When he later asked Empress Xu, she only said: "Do not speak of it, do not mention it, do not ask."
He vaguely suspected that the unmentionable elder sister might be related to Imperial Consort Chen. Obedient to his mother, he put it out of his mind. Now that Virtuous Prince was meddling in this matter, it was uncertain whether it would bring fortune or disaster.
After a moment of contemplation, the Crown Prince bowed to Empress Xu and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Mother. I understand."
Empress Xu looked at his noble and graceful appearance with joy. Her long gilded fingerguards rested on his shoulder as she offered words of encouragement, and mother and son shared a harmonious moment.
When the time came, Empress Xu lightly clapped her hands. Two graceful women with faces like lotuses emerged from behind a screen and knelt before the Crown Prince, greeting him in seductive tones, "Your Highness."
"It is natural for men to appreciate beauty. Take these two with you. I selected them myself—you may use them with confidence."
Empress Xu took a sip of tea and added, "They are well-trained in all the necessary skills and are virginal courtesans."
That the Crown Prince had fallen out with Gu Yan over a pleasure-quarter woman filled Empress Xu with frustration, yet she had to comfort him. Perhaps that woman knew special tricks and how to please a man. Losing one was unimportant—she would compensate him with two. The women she chose were surely better than those dubious women outside.
The Crown Prince pressed his lips together, overwhelmed once again by a sense of powerlessness.
No one took Yuan Er seriously. The Crown Prince falling in love with a prostitute sounded like a joke.
He paused briefly and said softly, "There is no need. I need to focus on learning state affairs with Senior Tutor Gu and have no time for women."
"Ah, the Crown Prince has truly grown up."
Empress Xu was greatly comforted and urged him, "Remember to visit the Marquis’s residence often. The imperial examinations are approaching, and Gu Yan will most likely be the chief examiner again. Scholars from outside the capital will flock to the Marquis’s residence to pay their respects, and among them are surely talented individuals. Win some over—learn from your brother Virtuous Prince and be willing to stoop to make connections."
"They may serve you well when they enter government service in the future."
The Crown Prince agreed to everything. In the end, the two virginal courtesans were still sent to the Eastern Palace. He could not refuse them, just as he could not defy Gu Yan now—he remained under Empress Xu’s control.
The Crown Prince shut himself in his study for two days, poring over the *Comprehensive Mirror* late into the night. While the Marquis’s residence was bustling with the Flowerviewing Banquet, news spread from the Eastern Palace: the Crown Prince would attend with the Crown Princess. Instantly, the front gates of the Marquis’s residence were jammed with activity and lively.