FHJ - 3

Chapter 3: Behind the Screen

The carriage wheels moved slowly, carrying the nobleman on his journey.

Gu Juhán gazed at Shen Xiling seated inside the carriage. She was huddled in the corner, clutching a small hand warmer. Her complexion had improved slightly since their time at the polo field.

It was dinnertime. He lifted the curtain to glance outside and noticed they were passing by Yi Pavilion. Turning back, he smiled and asked her, “Didn’t you mention wanting to try Yi Pavilion’s pastries the other day? How about it—shall we stop for a bite today?”

Shen Xiling pursed her lips and leaned forward, peeking through the gap in the curtain that Gu Juhán had lifted. She caught sight of the red lanterns hanging outside Yi Pavilion and couldn’t help but recall the sweet, sticky pastries they served.

She hesitated. “If people find out I left earlier claiming to feel unwell, only to be seen here at Yi Pavilion eating pastries with you… wouldn’t that look bad?”

Gu Juhán had already instructed the carriage driver to stop.

Yi Pavilion was a renowned establishment in Shangjing, beloved by the city’s nobility. Its pastries were particularly famous—no matter the type, each was exquisitely crafted and delicious, making them a signature feature of the place.

The interior was elegantly decorated. The first floor housed the main hall, while the third floor offered private rooms. The second floor consisted of individual partitions separated by curtains and folding screens. These allowed patrons to enjoy privacy while still having a view of the bustling scene below, making these seats the most coveted. Even on ordinary days, securing a spot on the second floor was no easy feat.

However, one particular seat on the second floor—the most desirable of all—remained perpetually vacant, except for occasional visits. It was later revealed that this seat was reserved exclusively for the household of Yan Guogong.

This wasn’t due to any other reason than the fact that Yi Pavilion itself belonged to Lady Yan Guogong.

Today, Shen Xiling ordered some date cake. As she took a bite, the rich aroma of dates filled her mouth. The warm, gooey filling paired perfectly with the soft, flaky crust, creating an exceptionally fragrant and sticky treat.

Watching her eat, Gu Juhán’s mood suddenly brightened, dispelling the faint unease that had lingered in his heart since morning. He poured her a small glass of fruit wine and said, “Don’t just eat pastries. Even the Empress noticed you’ve lost weight. Later, you must eat more proper food.”

Shen Xiling nodded in agreement. However, when the meal arrived, she barely touched it, taking only a few bites before setting her chopsticks down.

Gu Juhán tried persuading her for a long time, but she was notoriously stubborn, especially when it came to eating. She preferred sweets and rarely ate regular meals. No matter how much he coaxed her, she refused to eat more, eventually claiming she didn’t have an appetite. In exasperation, Gu Juhán finally said, “Then sit here and keep me company while I eat. If you feel hungry later, will you promise to eat another piece of cake?”

She seemed listless but agreed nonetheless.

Only then did Gu Juhán begin his meal.

Shen Xiling rested her chin in her hand, gazing through the screen and curtains toward the lively scene on the first floor. The pavilion was brightly lit, and though spring had warmed early this year, Yi Pavilion still kept its heated floors, making it comfortably warm.

As she watched, she suddenly asked Gu Juhán, “Why do you think he didn’t come today?”

Gu Juhán paused mid-bite, remained silent for a moment, then ate a piece of fish before replying, “Isn’t it because he caught a cold?”

Shen Xiling hummed softly in acknowledgment, then asked, “Is it… serious?”

“I don’t know,” Gu Juhán replied calmly. “If you’re curious, I can send someone to inquire at his residence.”

Shen Xiling pursed her lips and murmured, “No need… no need.”

After a pause, she glanced up at him and added softly, “But if you happen to see him later…”

She trailed off without finishing.

Gu Juhán set his chopsticks down. Shen Xiling straightened herself and looked at him. He gazed back gently and said, “Xiling, you don’t have to worry so much. I’ll naturally take care of his matters for you.”

Shen Xiling blinked, smiled faintly, and picked up her chopsticks to serve him some fragrant toona shoots.

She then asked, “When will the Emperor and Princess marry?”

“It should be soon,” Gu Juhán replied as he ate the dish she had served him. “But given the Princess of Liang’s noble status, the Emperor is placing great importance on this union, so the ceremonial formalities might be elaborate.”

Shen Xiling pondered for a moment and said, “So… two months?”

Gu Juhán glanced at her, hesitated briefly, and said, “He is now the Left Chancellor of Liang. It wouldn’t be proper for him to personally escort the bride, and staying in Wei for two months might…”

He didn’t finish his sentence.

Shen Xiling nodded, offering a faint smile. “True. At most, it’ll probably be a month.”

She lowered her head and calculated silently, murmuring, “Two days have already passed…”

Gu Juhán hummed in agreement, sipped some chilled tea, and subtly glanced toward the adjacent partition. Then, he served her another piece of cake, smiling as he said, “You promised to eat another piece.”

Shen Xiling glanced at him, then at the cake, and reluctantly picked up her chopsticks. She took a small bite but barely tasted the filling. Afterward, she began poking aimlessly at the pastry with her chopsticks. By the time she was done, the cake was utterly ruined. Looking up at Gu Juhán, she pursed her lips and said, “I… I’m feeling a bit suffocated. I’d like to return to the carriage. You finish your meal slowly and come out when you’re done.”

With that, she placed her chopsticks down and quickly left with her two personal maidservants, leaving Gu Juhán to sigh helplessly as he watched her retreating figure.

A young attendant from Yi Pavilion approached to refill Gu Juhán’s tea. The youthful Lord Yan thanked him politely and dismissed the others.

Sipping his tea, Gu Juhán sat upright and slightly raised his voice. “It’s not easy for you to visit Shangjing once. Now that she’s married into officialdom, it’s even harder for her to see you. And arranging this polo match under the Emperor’s auspices wasn’t easy either. With so many difficulties stacked together, why did you feign illness and avoid coming today?”

Behind him, in the adjacent partition, thick curtains and paper screens concealed a dim candlelight. Unless one looked very carefully, it would be nearly impossible to notice anyone sitting there.

After a long silence, a voice finally responded, “In public, she can’t hide her emotions.”

Gu Juhán chuckled, still facing away. “If you had sent her a single letter over these five years, perhaps she wouldn’t struggle so much to conceal her feelings.”

Silence fell again.

Gu Juhán’s fingers traced the rim of his teacup, his thoughts unsettled. “You had Han Feichi relay a message asking me to bring her here to Yi Pavilion without letting her know it was your intention. But what if she hadn’t wanted to come? Would you have simply avoided seeing her?”

“Jingchen,” Gu Juhán sighed deeply, “she misses you terribly.”

Amidst the bustling noise of Yi Pavilion, the adjacent partition remained eerily silent. Moments later, a series of muffled coughs broke the quiet, followed by a young man’s urgent calls of “Master.” Eventually, calm returned.

Gu Juhán was somewhat surprised and turned his head to ask, “Are you really ill?”

The person didn’t answer directly but instead said, “She’s grown thinner.”

Gu Juhán’s fingers, which had been tracing the rim of his teacup, paused. He lowered his head and replied, “Ever since rumors spread that you were coming to Shangjing, she hasn’t been eating much.”

The person on the other side seemed to sigh. “You shouldn’t indulge her so much.”

“I can’t control her,” Gu Juhán said as he set the teacup down. “If you’re worried, come and handle it yourself.”

Silence fell once more.

Gu Juhán sighed and asked, “Do you really not plan to see her?”

The person replied, “I’ve already seen her today. Why must I see her again?”

“But only you saw her—she hasn’t seen you yet. You know her better than I do. You know she won’t give up easily.”

The person hesitated, their voice calm but resolute. “Wenruo, I cannot see her again.”

Gu Juhán felt as though he were exhaling all the frustration he’d ever felt in his life. He thought of the countless unsent letters tucked away in Shen Xiling’s dowry chest, her brightened expression when she heard the news of the man’s arrival in Shangjing, and her recent restless excitement paired with her loss of appetite. He wanted to say so much to the person sitting just a curtain away behind him.

But he knew—he couldn’t persuade him, just as he couldn’t persuade Shen Xiling.

Gu Juhán rose to his feet and said, “Fine. This is your matter. Whether to see her or not is your decision. She’s still waiting for me outside—I need to go.”

The person gave a faint acknowledgment and bid him farewell.

Gu Juhán returned the gesture, walked to the door, but paused after a moment. Still facing away, he asked indifferently, “Jingchen, is it because you’re afraid she can’t hide her feelings, or because you’re afraid you can’t hide yours?”

With that, he stepped out.

Shen Xiling had waited a long time in the carriage before Gu Juhán finally emerged, carrying a food box in his hand.

Her head immediately felt heavy with exasperation, and she said, almost dejectedly, “I really can’t eat anymore!”

Even in such a dispirited state, her beauty shone through, making her appear endearingly petulant. Gu Juhán couldn’t help but laugh as he settled into the carriage. “It’s nothing special—just steamed egg custard.”

He opened the food box to reveal a small bowl of egg custard. Its color was pleasing, sprinkled with bits of green onion, and still giving off wisps of steam.

Shen Xiling’s heart stirred. She had loved egg custard as a child, especially after indulging in sweets.

She glanced at Gu Juhán, hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the bowl from the food box.

Gu Juhán smiled, recalling how the person had sent this food box with a servant when he descended the stairs earlier. Now, watching her take delicate bites of the custard, he felt a swirl of emotions.

He asked Shen Xiling, “How is it? Does it taste good?”

Shen Xiling blinked, nodded, and then asked, “Why did you think to bring me egg custard?”

Gu Juhán cleared his throat and replied, “I saw it on someone else’s table downstairs and thought you might like it.”

Shen Xiling chuckled. “The general’s guesses are becoming more accurate.”

Gu Juhán coughed lightly, acknowledged her comment, and then instructed the servants outside the carriage, “Let’s return to the residence.”

Yan Guogong’s estate wasn’t far from Yi Pavilion. The estate was vast, occupying one of the prime locations in Shangjing, a legacy of generations of rewards and management by the Gu family. At night, the mansion was brightly lit, illuminating the surrounding sky like a crouching tiger nestled in the heart of Shangjing.

As Gu Juhán helped Shen Xiling out of the carriage, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of unease upon seeing the grandeur of the estate. It reminded her of other imposing mansions she knew well—one had already collapsed, and another was likely struggling to stay afloat.

Together, they stepped through the gates of the residence. The moonlight was perfect, and they strolled together through the courtyard.