Chapter 46: Who Hurt Her
Tangled in her own web. Yan Xuerui felt little to no guilt towards Yun Shu, but facing her mother with graying hair, she couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy.
Her mother, however, was broad-minded. She held Yan Xuerui’s cold hands and sighed softly, "Rui Er, that girl has grand ambitions. I know you’ve tried your best."
"It’s also my fault. Perhaps I shouldn’t have brought Yun Shu to the capital in the first place."
While Yun Shu’s successful entry into the Eastern Palace made Yan Xuefang hold her head high with pride, acting as if she were royalty and behaving arrogantly, her mother was filled with worry.
In her early years, as a woman, she had taken in a live-in son-in-law to help manage the Yan family’s business. She was no ordinary woman. Back then, the eldest daughter of the Yan family was stunningly beautiful, and many high officials and nobles came to propose marriage, but she turned them all away. She feared that if her daughter married into nobility, she might suffer injustices and be unable to protect her. Yan Xuerui had always been decisive, so in the end, she chose Fang Zhixu for her daughter—someone she knew his background well, handsome, of modest temperament, and though not from great wealth, she believed Rui Er would live freely and happily after marriage.
Back then, with her eldest daughter’s stunning beauty, she never thought of currying favor with the powerful, let alone for Yun Shu. She brought Yun Shu to the capital only because she couldn’t find a suitable match in Yangzhou. Out of compassion for her granddaughter, she came to the capital to try her luck.
Now, looking back, it would have been better to marry her off to a family in Yangzhou rather than end up in this situation.
"I’ll teach her again later. Enough of that. Rui Er, your hands are so cold. Has your health not recovered yet?"
Her mother’s eyes were filled with concern. Rui Er had suffered from cold syndrome since childhood, and they had consulted countless doctors in Yangzhou, all of whom said the same thing: "rest and recuperation."
The Marquis’s household was wealthy and luxurious, so in theory, she should have been better cared for there than at home. Yet, she noticed her daughter seemed delicate and frail, even less spirited than when she was a young girl.
Yan Xuerui thought of that bowl of medicine, and a surge of nausea rose in her chest uncontrollably, her face turned pale.
"What’s wrong? Is your husband treating you poorly?"
Yan Xuerui shook her head gently. He wasn’t treating her poorly. He meant well, and she knew it.
It was just that kind of "goodness" she found hard to bear.
Marital matters, even with someone as close as her mother, couldn’t be fully shared. Her mother’s expression darkened. The Yan family were merchants, and it was only under Gu Yan’s care that her father had obtained a sinecure. Even if her son-in-law treated her daughter poorly, what could she do?
Her mother suddenly remembered when they first arrived in the capital. Gu Yan had taken her and her husband to his study. He sat arrogantly at the head of the room, a faint smile on his lips, appearing gentle yet speaking in an overbearing tone that made one’s blood run cold.
She gripped Yan Xuerui’s hand tightly and advised, "Your husband has a strong temper. Just yield to him... Women, that’s just how it is."
She now regretted a bit that she had always been the decision-maker in the Yan family, which led to both daughters having high pride and willful tempers. Both Rui Er and Xue Fang were like this, causing her constant worry.
Her mother reached out to tidy the stray hairs at Yan Xuerui’s temples and said earnestly, "My child, you’re a smart girl."
Unlike her younger daughter, who had high ambitions but little ability, the eldest daughter had always known how to size up situations and do what was necessary to ensure her own comfort.
"Mmm."
Yan Xuerui understood her mother’s meaning without further elaboration. She lowered her gaze and gently changed the subject. Her mother had been in the capital for several days, and Gu Yan happened to be at leisure during this time, keeping Yan Xuerui by his side constantly. It was only now, as they were about to move, that mother and daughter had time for a heartfelt talk.
Her mother said that once Yun Shu’s matter was settled, she and her husband would return to Yangzhou. Yan Xuerui was reluctant to let them go and had originally wanted to keep them a few more days. But Gu Yan’s people were efficient and thorough, and the very next day, the residence was ready, and they invited her parents to move.
Gu Yan declared emphatically:
"Your parents have other concerns. They have another daughter, an adopted son, grandchildren, and granddaughters. Even if they stay a few more days, they won’t feel at ease."
Gu Yan insinuated, "Your parents have too many people on their minds, Rui Er. You should let go."
—Initially, when the Yan family sent Yan Xuerui to Gu Yan as a concubine, she was unwilling and tried every means to escape. Gu Yan had used this very reasoning.
"Where do you think you’re running to? Yangzhou? The deed of concubinage is clear in black and white. Are you waiting to be sold off again?"
"How much has the Yan family gained from me? Would they be willing to give it up? Would they want to?"
"If you run back, will they see you as a daughter or a burden?"
"......"
It wasn’t like that. Yan Xuerui knew her parents weren’t the type to sell their daughter for glory. At the time... they had no choice. But Gu Yan knew how to manipulate people’s hearts. These words were like a curse, surfacing in her mind from time to time.
Over the years, Yan Xuerui had become detached from Yangzhou. Besides the long distance and inconvenience of travel, Gu Yan’s influence was largely responsible.
Now, many years later, that deed of concubinage had long been consumed by fire. Hearing such words again, Yan Xuerui wanted to refute them but didn’t know how, feeling an unaccountable annoyance.
Compared to her frustration, Gu Yan was pleased to have sent the Yan family away. With her attention finally back on him, he was ready to continue his idyllic days with his beloved wife when someone from the palace arrived.
As before, they only summoned the Marchioness of Jingyuan into the palace.
Even though he now knew Yan Xuerui’s background, the old emperor summoning his wife into the palace still displeased Gu Yan. But imperial orders were hard to defy, especially since Gu Yan was currently suspended from his post.
He had originally intended to accompany Yan Xuerui, but just then, a visitor arrived at the residence—a Minister Liu. Yan Xuerui knew he was one of Gu Yan’s close confidants.
He had been meeting many visitors lately, though she didn’t know what he was busy with.
Yan Xuerui seized the opportunity to persuade him, "Marquis, official matters are important. His Majesty is benevolent and kind. I will be fine."
She had thought Gu Yan wouldn’t agree, but after a moment’s thought, he nodded lightly. "Alright."
To Yan Xuerui’s surprise, she boarded the carriage to the palace. Last time, it was Gu Yuan who escorted her. She suddenly realized she hadn’t seen the Second Master since Gu Yan was dismissed from his post.
Earlier, Gu Yan had asked her to help find a suitable match for Gu Yuan. She had selected a few candidates and sent their portraits to the second branch, but there had been no response, like stones dropped into the ocean.
The men of the Gu family, without exception, were difficult to deal with.
Yan Xuerui grumbled inwardly but couldn’t say it outright as she did with Ming Lan. Because of what happened in the past, she always felt awkward around Gu Yuan and couldn’t act like a proper elder sister-in-law.
......
Amid her rambling thoughts, she once again found herself in the Qian Yuan Hall to see the emperor. This time was different from before. When she arrived, an imperial physician was kneeling at the foot of the jade steps.
"...The princess’s pulse is weak and faint, her qi and blood severely deficient. I fear... she may not last long."
"Understood. Send more people from the imperial hospital to keep watch."
The emperor dismissed the imperial physician, his aged voice still stern. "Someone, go to the Ministry of Justice prison and see if the prisoner has confessed."
Then, the emperor turned to Yan Xuerui, who looked bewildered, and his stern expression softened slightly.
"Quick, grant her a seat."
Yan Xuerui remembered what the emperor had said last time. After paying her respects, she lifted her head gracefully and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, may you be well. It’s been days since we last met, and you look more radiant than before."
It was meant as a polite remark, but the emperor snorted coldly and tossed a memorial onto the imperial desk.
"I am not well at all."
The imperial examinations, the Crown Prince, and the Virtuous Prince had already given the emperor headaches. A few days ago, Princess Pingyang had gone out incognito for leisure and encountered bandits. Now, she lay in her princess’s residence, clinging to life.
The emperor was furious. As a ruler accustomed to schemes and plots, his first reaction was to doubt it was a coincidence. Not only were the bandits tortured severely, but with a stroke of his vermilion brush, he also threw the imperial son-in-law’s entire family into prison.
Yan Xuerui, confined to the inner chambers, knew nothing about Princess Pingyang’s assassination attempt, but she had long heard of Princess Pingyang’s renowned name.
She first learned of this princess because of early rumors that Princess Pingyang had taken a fancy to the eldest son of the Marquis' household, Gu Yan, and intended to marry into the family. However, the position of the Marquise was taken by a mere merchant's daughter like her. The princess was furious and resentful, privately keeping a string of lovers for pleasure and indulgence. Eventually, the emperor could no longer tolerate it and demoted Princess Pingyang to marrying an official from a humble background.
After marriage, the princess did not restrain herself. Her life with her husband was chaotic, often escalating to the point of bringing their disputes before the emperor. Her husband accused Pingyang of failing to understand the duties of a wife. Pingyang sneered and retorted, "I am of royal blood, born noble. Why should I understand the duties of a wife? Preposterous!"
She then defied all conventions by boldly declaring, "I wish to divorce my husband."
Because of this statement, Princess Pingyang faced widespread criticism from scholars and officials. Since ancient times, Qian represents heaven and Kun represents earth—even a princess cannot reverse the natural order of yin and yang, heaven's law! The emperor, wanting to protect his daughter while also addressing public outcry, ultimately brokered a settlement and granted the two a divorce.
After this, Princess Pingyang became even more wild. To this day, her residence was filled with entertainers and courtesans. Once, Princess Pingyang had expressed interest in inquiring about Ming Wei's marital prospects for her son. Yan Xuerui was unwilling, precisely because the princess's household was too chaotic and unsuitable for Ming Wei.
The emperor did not have many children. While his sons fought over the dragon throne beneath him, he was exceedingly lenient toward his daughters. He usually indulged Pingyang, and now that she had been attacked, without bothering to find out what actually happened, he first imprisoned the former consort. He suspected the consort harbored resentment and sought revenge against the princess.
...
The emperor did not avoid Yan Xuerui and briefly explained the situation. As matters of the royal family were not for her to judge, Yan Xuerui remembered the emperor's trouble sleeping and promptly presented the embroidered sachet she had made.
Her embroidery skills were exceptional, with fine, dense stitches and gold thread outlining vivid patterns of soaring dragons and auspicious clouds. The fragrance inside was fresh and soothing, unlike the cloying sweetness of ordinary sachets. The emperor was immediately taken with it and was utterly charmed by it.
He immediately hung the sachet at his waist and exclaimed "Excellent" three times in a row.
A moment later, the emperor suddenly sighed softly and said, "You are truly thoughtful."
Yan Xuerui had not expected the emperor to like such a simple sachet so much. She lowered her head slightly in embarrassment, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Your Majesty flatters me."
Spring had quietly passed, and early summer had arrived. Yan Xuerui wore a newly tailored magenta ruqun made of iridescent satin. The lightweight fabric floated like mist, and her wide sleeves billowed like clouds. With her movements, a small section of her fair forearm was revealed.
Against the backdrop of the flowing, wide sleeves, her arm appeared even more delicate and slender, making the crisscrossing fingermarks on her wrist particularly conspicuous.
"Wait."
The old emperor narrowed his cloudy eyes and asked her, "What happened to your hand?"
Suddenly self-conscious, Yan Xuerui hurriedly covered her arm with her sleeve. Blushing, she stammered, "Your Majesty must be mistaken. It's nothing."
In her heart, she cursed Gu Yan—the man was like an animal. Two days ago, he had been too rough. When she looked in the mirror, she saw marks on her neck, forearm, thighs... Before entering the palace today, she had specifically worn a high-necked ruqun and applied a thick layer of powder behind her ears before daring to go out.
She had never expected the emperor to point it out so bluntly. She was overwhelmed with shame and indignation.
The emperor was not easily fooled. Insistently, he said, "No, come here. Let me have a proper look."
He had clearly seen that beneath the blue and purple fingermarks, there were distinct bite marks.
Who had hurt her? Who dared to hurt her!