Chapter Forty: The Second Young Lady of the Gu Family

When the various sects—Spring and Autumn Ink, Soul Command Gate—received the news, Ding Miu had also returned to the Gu family.

“Master.”

“How did things go?” Gu Wanfeng was, as always, sitting in the garden, teasing the birds in their cage.

He couldn’t recall how many birds there had been; Ding Miu only knew that each time he returned, it was a different one.

“There is word that Huai Yin and Yi Qingchen are trapped on the Island of the Human Sovereign, and after Bai Li Suhe’s duel with Huan, she vanished without a trace. Rumors say she may not be dead, but instead rescued by a master from Lion Island.”

Gu Wanfeng scattered birdseed on his palm, letting the sparrows peck at it. “Oh? Is the news reliable?”

“Eighty to ninety percent.”

“That won’t do. Later, have someone find a way to land on Lion Island, or at least confirm that Bai Li Suhe is still alive. Remember, I want her alive.” Only with Bai Li Suhe alive could his grand plan proceed, step by step. If she were to die now, wouldn’t his entire scheme fall apart?

“And what of Huai Yin?” Ding Miu asked.

Gu Wanfeng’s gaze grew cold. “To serve one’s master with loyalty, and to die for that loyalty—that is his duty.”

Ding Miu lowered his eyes. “Understood.”

“How goes the game of the hunt?” Gu Wanfeng withdrew his warning, speaking carelessly.

“It’s already begun. Spring and Autumn Ink, Poison Sect, and Soul Command Gate are all involved. However, Spring and Autumn Ink only observed for a moment before withdrawing. Only Soul Command Gate and Poison Sect remain engaged.”

Gu Wanfeng snorted. “No matter. Where there is one, there will be another. Once the precedent is set, countless others will follow suit. Such is human nature…”

Just then, a servant came to announce that the young lady requested his presence.

Gu Wanfeng tossed the remaining birdseed into the dish and instructed Ding Miu, “Once you’ve settled these matters, visit the Jade Maiden on my behalf. That child hasn’t returned to the manor for several days. See if she’s doing well at the villa, if she lacks for anything.”

“Yes, Master.” Ding Miu bowed deeply, then retreated.

After Gu Wanfeng left, Ding Miu finally stepped out of the garden.

When Gu Wanfeng arrived at Gu Lele’s small courtyard, she was hacking away at the flowers and shrubs in frustration.

“My dear daughter, who has upset you this time?” Gu Wanfeng approached, coaxing her.

“It’s that scoundrel Bai Li Leren! He always says such sweet things, claiming to love only me. But the moment my back is turned, he’s off to the Nine Luminaries Pavilion for pleasure. With my beauty, am I really no match for a courtesan?” The more she spoke, the angrier she became.

He calls me “Lele” all day long, but it’s all just empty words.

Gu Wanfeng’s expression darkened. “I warned you long ago—he’s not a good match. You wouldn’t listen. Now you see?”

Gu Lele clung to him, refusing to yield. “Oh, don’t say that, Father! I’m just furious. Even if there’s to be a breakup, it should be me doing the breaking. If he acts this way, where does that leave my dignity? Now the whole city knows the young master of the Bai Li family fancies a girl from the Nine Luminaries Pavilion and lavishes her with gold and jewels.”

“You see? If he’s been so unfaithful, why not seize the chance to cut ties? Wouldn’t that be best for both?”

“I won’t, I won’t…”

Suddenly, a maid called urgently from outside, “Young Master Bai Li? Young Master Bai Li…”

“What’s all this noise? Where are your manners?” Gu Wanfeng scolded, frowning.

The maid, unable to hold him back, had no choice but to lower her head and follow, kneeling as she reported, “Master, it’s Young Master Bai Li—he insists on seeing the young lady. I told him she wasn’t receiving guests, but he refused to listen.”

Upon seeing him, Gu Wanfeng’s face turned cold. “Since you have someone in your heart, you should cherish her. Our Lele is innocent and naive; in the future, you’d best not come to Zhen Garden lest others misconstrue your intentions. It would do neither you nor her any good.”

Bai Li Leren grew anxious and hurried forward to explain, “Uncle Gu, please let me explain. It’s not as Lele says. In my heart, there’s only her.”

Gu Lele flared up instantly, as if a firecracker had been lit. Clinging to Gu Wanfeng, she said haughtily, “Not as I said? Then how is it? Who hasn’t heard about your mess with Lin Jin’er? How dare you try to explain?”

“It’s not what you think. Isn’t it normal for a man to have a drink with courtesans…”

“What did you say?” Gu Lele’s eyes widened in shock, her face flushing crimson.

“No—no, that’s not what I meant! I just had a few drinks that night, did nothing else. If you don’t believe me, I swear by the heavens.” With that, Bai Li Leren raised his hand to swear, but the movement tugged at his injured back, making him wince in pain.

Gu Wanfeng, his head pounding from their squabble, waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. And what’s with your face? What happened?”

Bai Li Leren, seeing Gu Wanfeng’s displeasure, swallowed hard and replied awkwardly, “It’s nothing, really. My father was angry these past days and gave me a beating. As for that night, I was only out drinking with Ji She, Pei Wuji, and Lu Bingsheng. We were going to listen to some music. But we ended up quarrelling, I fought with Ji She, and broke some of Lin Jin’er’s things. Afterwards, she sent people to our house to demand compensation. I thought she was troublesome, so I just paid her off. There’s nothing between us—ask Pei Wuji or Ji She if you don’t believe me.”

He sneaked a glance at father and daughter as he finished. Naturally, he dared not mention that his father had used Lin Jin’er as a pretext to make things difficult because of the token incident.

“Is that so?” Gu Wanfeng pressed.

“Really, truly, I promise,” Bai Li Leren nodded fervently, watching Gu Lele for her reaction.

Gu Wanfeng, satisfied, patted Gu Lele’s hand and brought her to his side. “Since it was unintentional, let’s just drop the matter. Making a fuss benefits no one.”

Gu Lele glanced at her father—weren’t you just saying he wasn’t a good match?

Gu Wanfeng pretended not to notice; times had changed, hadn’t they?

Bai Li Leren, seeing this, quickly bowed and pleaded, “Lele, just trust me this once, will you?”

Gu Lele pouted in silence, but his sincerity softened her. After a while, twisting her fingers, she said, “Very well, since you apologized sincerely, I’ll forgive you this time.”

Truth be told, she rather enjoyed ordering Bai Li Leren around. The young master of the Bai Li family, at her beck and call—even if she wasn’t from the main branch of the Si You, it was enough to make her the envy of all. That was enough.

At her words, Bai Li Leren beamed. “Lele…”

Gu Wanfeng glanced at them. “Good, now that it’s cleared up, I’ll leave you be. Young people these days…”

“Father…” Gu Lele’s face flushed scarlet.

Ding Miu, meanwhile, left the Gu family and hurried to the villa outside the capital.

He paused at the entrance, gazing at the plaque reading ‘Xiyuan’ for a moment before knocking.

The door was opened by an elderly woman who tended to the Second Young Lady.

“Greetings, Master Ding.”

“Is the Second Young Lady in? The master sent me to see if you need anything.”

“Master Ding, the Second Young Lady hasn’t returned for several days.”

“What? When did she leave? Do you know where she went?” Ding Miu was startled, suspicion knotting in his heart. Though she was not the master’s biological daughter, she was cherished like a jewel. Her absence now—had she heard something?

“Two or three days ago, the Second Young Lady said she wanted to go out for a walk and told us not to follow. We’re no match for her, nor would we dare disobey.”

“Why didn’t you report this? Such a serious matter, kept hidden—if anything happens to her, can you bear the blame?” Ding Miu’s anger flared.

The woman dropped to her knees, trembling. “She cast a spell, immobilizing us until noon today. We didn’t have a chance to report. Please, Master Ding, intercede for us.”

“You all…” Ding Miu glared at her, then turned and rushed away.

Watching him go, the woman closed the door in haste and hurried inside.

Ding Miu returned to the Gu family and went straight to report to Gu Wanfeng.

But Gu Wanfeng, upon hearing the news, showed no concern. “Yuren has been clever since childhood. With her abilities, she won’t suffer much in a few days away. Gaining experience is good for her. I’ll have someone else look into it; you focus on finding reliable men to go to Lion Island. Remember—I want her found, dead or alive. As long as Bai Li Suhe still lives, bring me news of her.”

“Yes.” Ding Miu dared not object and swallowed his words.

He quickly dispatched several men to Lion Island.

Meanwhile, with Que Yunzi’s treatments these past days, Suhe’s injuries had recovered by half, though she still could not move. Bu Gu made a four-wheeled wooden chair for her, pushing her outside for sun so she wouldn’t grow ill confined indoors.

Yet Suhe remained anxious for Yi Qingchen and Huai Yin, fearing for their safety on the Island of the Human Sovereign, where they were short-handed and in grave danger.

Her spirits clouded, even the decoctions she drank today brought no vitality.

Que Yunzi scratched his messy hair, flicked off a bit of snowflake, glanced over—tsk—and flicked it away. Then he grabbed a handful of herbs, tossed them into the grinder, rolled up his sleeves, and began to pound medicine. “Listen, kid, fretting does you no good. Why not relax? As you say, with Huan’s character, he’d never kill quickly—he’ll keep them alive as bait for you, then finish you all off together, after enough torment.”

He paused, adding, “Besides, let’s suppose you want to rescue them—you need strength, don’t you? In your condition, you couldn’t even get off the island to die, let alone save anyone. If your friends are truly waiting for rescue, how will you help them? Old friend, am I right?”

Bu Gu licked his finger and flipped a chess manual, staring at the page. “Right, absolutely right. Had I known, I’d never have meddled—if I’d fetched a red snake, at least I could have made soup. Fetching a cripple back… just wastes medicine.”

Suhe looked up sharply. “Senior?”

“What? Not convinced, or think I’m wrong?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then who are you acting so lifeless for? Did I save you just to be insulted? My friend’s been brewing medicine day and night to keep you alive, and you repay him with despair?”

“I… it’s my fault. I’ve troubled you both.” Suhe’s voice was anxious, but her eyes sank deeper still. Some truths are easy to grasp but hard to face. As a cripple, what could she possibly do to save anyone?

Bu Gu glanced at her, tossed the chess manual aside, and stood. “I’m taking this brat out for a walk, or all that medicine will be wasted.”

Que Yunzi tasted a sprig of herb, then grinned, “Tsk tsk, only an old friend knows how to care for people. Unlike the young these days, who have no respect for their elders.”

He clicked his tongue and shook his head with exaggerated disapproval.

Suhe flushed with embarrassment but knew the two elders meant well. She thanked them sincerely, “Thank you both for your wisdom—I’m truly grateful.”

“Enough with the pretty words. Action is what counts. Old friend, take her out before I mix up the medicine by mistake.”

If you really care, pull yourself together. Enough with this self-pity.

Bu Gu nodded and pushed Suhe’s chair to a cliff’s edge.

Looking out at the undulating waves below, he gazed into the distance and asked, “Do you know why I brought you here?”

Suhe hesitated, then replied, “I am ignorant and do not grasp your intent, Senior.”