Chapter 50: Anger and Confusion
In the Hall of Springlight, the two concubines from the second branch and the widowed wife of the Third Master were all present, sobbing and sniffling, each clutching a handkerchief tightly, their eyes swollen and red from crying.
As soon as Yan Xuerui entered, they immediately crowded around her, chattering incessantly:
"Sister-in-law, what is to be done about the Marquis?"
"When will the Marquis return?"
"Heavens, the Marquis is completely innocent—he must have been framed by villains. What are we to do?"
"..."
Previously, with Gu Yan as steadfast as a mountain and the Matriarch firmly in charge of the inner household, the initial panic had subsided. Life in the Marquis' residence continued as usual, with extravagant food, clothing, and expenses. Moreover, the Crown Prince had unabashedly taken Yun Shu into the Eastern Palace, so gradually, no one took the matter seriously.
Gu Yan did not have the habit of discussing court affairs casually. Even the Matriarch, in fact, did not know whether Gu Yan was truly innocent or not. But to claim that Senior Tutor Gu had accepted ten thousand taels of gold and leaked the spring examination questions was utterly absurd—even the women of the inner household felt he had been wronged.
The Gu family's ancestral wealth was abundant, with countless fields, manors, and shops under their name. Combined with imperial rewards and local tributes during festivals, they were hardly short on silver.
Most of the cadet branches and illegitimate descendants of the Marquis' residence had been secured official positions by Gu Yan, providing them with a means to make a living. Every year, vast sums of silver flowed into the Marquis' residence like a river, supporting only the three direct branches under the Matriarch's care. Among them, the second branch had no proper master, and the Third Master had died young. Gu Yan took care of the women and children of the third branch on behalf of his brother, which was not a significant expense.
The bulk of the household expenses went to Yan Xuerui.
The precious flowers and plants in her greenhouse included many rare varieties, some so valuable that a single plant was worth a fortune. Her skin was delicate, and Gu Yan felt that ordinary silk was unworthy of her. Her spring and summer clothing was made of tribute-quality "floating light brocade" and soft satin woven with kesi technique. In autumn and winter, she wore fox fur cloaks made of the finest pelts, dense and smooth without a single flaw.
Gilded hairpins and rings, jadeite hair ornaments, pearl-decorated floral hairpins, pure blood-red rubies, and diancui accessories that shimmered with iridescent colors—these were just the beginning. Yan Xuerui had a weak constitution, so her meals had to be meticulously prepared, and she required nourishing medicinal soups every year. Gu Yan's confidence was not unfounded—he had raised her to be delicate and refined. Besides him, who else in the world could afford to keep her?
Even so, with the Marquis' residence's century-old foundation and Gu Yan and Gu Yuan holding high positions, supporting one woman was more than sufficient. There was truly no need for Gu Yan to take such risks.
...
The women's voices around her rose and fell incessantly. Yan Xuerui patiently said, "Sisters-in-law, rest assured. The Marquis has left instructions—everything in the residence will continue as usual. There is no need to panic."
Her voice was gentle, like a soothing spring breeze, inexplicably calming.
"R-Really? Then when will the Marquis return?"
The Third Madam dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Although the Third Master had passed early, Gu Yan, as the head of the family, had treated their third branch well over the years. The moment she heard Gu Yan had been imprisoned, she was terrified and distraught, rushing to the Matriarch's quarters to seek news.
"Sister-in-law, be at ease. This is only a temporary measure for the Marquis. What kind of person is the Marquis? How could he let those scheming villains harm him in the shadows?"
Yan Xuerui gripped her hand, speaking earnestly. The Third Madam's expression gradually softened. After all, the eldest sister-in-law was beautiful and delicate—if something had really happened to Gu Yan, she wouldn't be so calm.
Hesitating for a moment, she said, "Eldest Sister-in-law, let's wait together for Mother and hear her instructions."
These days had been overcast and rainy. The Matriarch, advanced in years, had a slight chill and had not yet risen at this hour.
The inner household had been under the Matriarch's management all these years, which was why the Third Madam had come directly to the Hall of Springlight upon hearing the news.
Yan Xuerui gently shook her head. "Mother has not yet recovered from her chill. The residence is already in enough chaos. As juniors, we shouldn't trouble her with this."
The Matriarch had always been kind and generous to Yan Xuerui. In earlier years, it was largely thanks to the Matriarch's comfort and counsel. When she couldn't bear it anymore and ran to the Hall of Springlight, the Matriarch would also shield her from Gu Yan.
But Gu Yan was domineering and stubborn. Even his own mother couldn't persuade him.
Perhaps out of some guilt or desire to compensate, the Matriarch took great care of her, the eldest daughter-in-law, shouldering the heavy responsibility of managing the household. People are not unfeeling stones—Yan Xuerui genuinely respected and cared for her mother-in-law.
The Third Madam felt uncertain, her expression slightly hesitant. "But..."
"No 'buts.' Listen to your sister-in-law. Return to your courtyard and settle the children. Food, clothing, and expenses will be the same as before. For now, do not go out."
Yan Xuerui made the final decision, raising her voice to command, "Someone, escort the ladies back to their rooms."
Her voice remained soft, but her tone was decisive, leaving no room for discussion or reconsideration. In her demeanor, there was a faint shadow of Gu Yan's resolute and decisive nature.
The Third Madam unconsciously followed her lead, and the two concubines from the second branch were even more obedient. One of them curtsied to Yan Xuerui and said, "Now that the Eldest Master is in trouble, and the Second Master's whereabouts are unknown. If there is any news of the Second Master, please inform us, madam. I would be most grateful."
Not only Gu Yuan, but even Ming Lan was missing. Gu Yan had left behind this mess, and Yan Xuerui's anxiety was no less than theirs. Now, with no man to hold up the household, no one would have expected the delicate Marchioness to uphold the Marquis' residence's dignity.
"Very well, return quickly."
Yan Xuerui showed no panic on her face as she sent the two branches away. Unlike the Third Madam, she did not announce her arrival and wait but instead barged directly into the Matriarch's bedchamber.
In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were needed. She urgently needed to know if Gu Yan had left any message.
The Matriarch's spirits were not high. Yan Xuerui served her some tea and tried to probe indirectly but could not extract any useful information. After careful consideration, fearing that news of Gu Yan's trouble might shock the elderly lady, she decided to keep it hidden for now.
"Mother, since you are unwell, please temporarily hand over the tallies for the inner and outer courtyards to me."
"Your daughter-in-law has been lazy for many years. It's time I try managing the household."
For women of high-ranking families to enter or leave the residence, they needed to present a tally for the guards to allow passage. Typically, these tallies were held by the mistress managing the household. In the Marquis' residence, the Matriarch was in charge. As the rightful Marchioness, Yan Xuerui only had the inner courtyard tallies and two keys to the storerooms.
She could freely take items from the public storerooms and Gu Yan's private treasury, and she could move freely between the inner and outer courtyards. But even after all these years, after bearing him children, she still did not have a single tally for the outer courtyard.
Without an outer courtyard tally, she could not step beyond the residence's gates.
Every time she went out, she first needed Gu Yan's approval, then had to retrieve the tally from the Matriarch. It was very cumbersome. Gu Yan was not easy to persuade, so she gradually went out less often.
Now, in middle age, she had no particular attachment to external possessions or authority over the household. But she did not want to stay trapped inside the residence, anxiously waiting for news.
She needed to go out and move around.
The Matriarch was very straightforward, immediately having someone fetch the tallies for the inner and outer courtyards of the residence. She held Yan Xuerui's hand comfortingly, advising her not to overexert herself and promising to guide her properly once she recovered from her chill. Household affairs were complicated and could not be rushed—it was not a matter of a day or two.
The Matriarch's earnest advice made Yan Xuerui's nose sting. After leaving the Hall of Springlight, she summoned all the maids and serving women of the hall to the courtyard and read them the riot act, one by one.
First, all matters were to proceed according to conventional practices—no need for panic.
Second, the Matriarch had not yet recovered from her chill. If anyone dared to leak even a hint of news in front of the Matriarch and shock the elderly lady, they would be punished with fifty strokes of the rod and expelled from the residence.
Afterward, she pondered for a moment but did not rashly send people out to gather information. Instead, she first went to Gu Yan's study.
If they ran around like headless chickens now, outsiders would surely think the Marquis' residence was desperate and in disarray. She had a vague idea of who Gu Yan's trusted aides were before. Now, by going to take a look, she might find useful information.
Gu Yan's study was heavily guarded, and none of her tallies granted access.
But last time, during the Flowerviewing Banquet, when the guards stopped the madam outside, Gu Yan had given orders: no one was allowed to enter, except the madam.
Yan Xuerui entered without hindrance, greeted by the strong scent of ink interwoven with faint pine smoke. His study was sparsely furnished. On the spacious redwood desk sat an exquisite set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. On the antique display shelf beside the desk, classics and historical texts were all covered in light blue silk covers, categorized according to the four divisions of classics, history, philosophy, and literature. The labels were written in bold, forceful strokes, penetrating the paper—much like Gu Yan himself, arrogant yet cautious.
Thanks to Gu Yan's habit of keeping things orderly, Yan Xuerui easily found his letters. She had no interest in the secret court affairs he plotted. For now, she left the sealed confidential letters untouched, only flipping through some ordinary correspondence—exchanges between him and other officials.
Among them, a few letters stood out. Some were from Yangzhou, the rest concerning Princess Pingyang.
Princess Pingyang's assassination attempt—it was actually orchestrated by Gu Yan!
Suppressing her shock, Yan Xuerui furrowed her delicate brows, carefully reading word by word.
***
Elsewhere, in the Dali Temple prison.
The blue-brick floor glinted coldly, and the air was heavy with the smell of damp and mildew. The candle flames flickered between light and shadow in the stone grooves, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Gu Yan sat cross-legged on the stone bed in his cell. The prison was clean, and even in confinement, he showed no sign of sloppiness or despondency.
Hearing faint footsteps, he abruptly opened his narrow, almond-shaped eyes.
"Is everything done?" he asked in a deep voice. The man before him, dressed in black and of robust build, was none other than the missing Second Master Gu Yuan.
"Mm," Gu Yuan replied in a hushed tone. Using his martial arts prowess, he had slipped into the dungeon without alerting the guards.
The flickering candlelight accentuated Gu Yuan’s sharp features, making him appear fierce.
He frowned and said, "Brother, this... is too risky."
It went far beyond what they had planned.
Initially, the Virtuous Prince had used Fang Zhixu to appoint Gu Yan as the chief examiner for that year. Knowing they had ill intentions, Gu Yan had been extra cautious, overseeing everything himself. Just as he was beginning to uncover clues, Su Huaimo paid him a visit.
The Virtuous Prince intended to use provincial scholars to frame Gu Yan for imperial examination fraud. Coincidentally, the most suitable candidate they had meticulously selected, Guo Congjia, was a distant cousin of Su Huaimo’s.
Su Huaimo, being upright and principled, sensed something amiss. Whether out of gentlemanly duty or because of his connection to Ming Wei, he passed the information to Gu Yan, giving him the chance to strike first.
Long before the imperial examination began, Gu Yan had already privately met with the Emperor to report the matter truthfully. Out of consideration that the Emperor was the Virtuous Prince’s biological father, he did not mention the Virtuous Prince by name, only stating that someone was plotting against him and requesting the Emperor to investigate impartially.
That was why he remained unafraid when he was dismissed from his post. When Yan Xuerui asked him about it, he said, "Innocence will prevail, and His Majesty will clear my name"—it was not merely an empty reassurance.
In the end, the investigation would lead directly to the Virtuous Prince. Gu Yan needed to do nothing but wait calmly. That was their original plan.
Afterward, they could diminish the influence of the Virtuous Prince Faction.
But now, Gu Yan was in the Dali Temple prison—a sudden decision that had caught even Gu Yuan off guard.
One day, Gu Yan summoned Gu Yuan alone to his study and abruptly said, "A Yuan."
"I can’t wait any longer."
No matter how much they fought, even if he won, it would at most deal a heavy blow to the Virtuous Prince. Given the Emperor’s balancing tactics, he would then suppress the Crown Prince's faction, and the power dynamics between the Virtuous Prince and the Crown Prince, the Upright and the noble families, would return to balance.
Gu Yan had not been in a hurry before because he was in his prime while the Emperor was aging. He had plenty of time to secure the Crown Prince’s position.
But now…
Perhaps it was the frequent summons from the palace, or that imperial decree, which left him with no choice.
Or perhaps he had grown weary of the constant scheming and power struggles.
This time, he intended to completely eliminate the Virtuous Prince and climb even higher.
...
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Gu Yan said calmly. Since he dared to act, he had made thorough preparations.
Gu Yuan glanced around the sparse cell and said, "This place is beneath you, Brother. Should I arrange better conditions…"
"No need."
For the sake of greater goals, such external comforts were trivial. Gu Yan carefully explained the plan to Gu Yuan. Finally, he paused, and his tone suddenly turned peculiar.
"How is... she?"
Originally, Gu Yan had intended to subtly inform Yan Xuerui of his plans to keep her from worrying.
But that day, her merciless strike with the hairpin had left him both furious and bewildered.
Had he been too lenient with her? Should he teach her a lesson so she would behave?