FHJ - 5

Chapter 5: A Chance Encounter (1)

Since the day of the polo match, Liu Shaotang had grown bored staying at home.

He had always been restless, much to his parents’ frustration. Since returning from the battlefield, his quirks had multiplied—he now complained about the softness of his bed and the fineness of his rice and flour. This baffled the couple of Juangling Marquis. Why was their twenty-four-year-old son still acting like a nuisance that even dogs would dislike? Didn’t most children grow out of such behavior by the age of seven or eight?

Fortunately, this troublesome son finally couldn’t bear staying indoors any longer and headed to Yan Guogong’s residence, giving the elderly couple some peace.

He rode his horse to the Guogong residence. The gatekeeper recognized this young general immediately—he had known the Guogong since childhood—and welcomed him in without announcement. As he entered Gu Juhán’s courtyard, a servant informed him that Gu Juhán was in the study. Upon entering, he saw Gu Juhán reading a book and called out, “What book are you reading, Brother?”

Gu Juhán had heard him making noise in the courtyard long before he barged in. Without reproaching him, he instructed a maid outside to bring tea. However, Liu Shaotang couldn’t sit still and leaned over to peek at the book in Gu Juhán’s hands. It turned out to be a treatise on antiques, filled with descriptions of scholarly curiosities—precisely the kind of tedious literature he had no patience for.

He stopped looking at the book and plopped down onto a nearby chair, but his teasing tone persisted. “Ever since you married Sister-in-Law, this mansion has truly taken on the refined air of Jiangzuo. Not only is the garden meticulously designed, but even the books you read now are completely different from before.”

Indeed, Gu Juhán usually read military strategies and historical texts, occasionally indulging in literary selections. Books like the one he was reading now—on curios and artifacts—were rarely of interest to him. However, Shen Xiling had always been fond of such books, as well as travelogues. Over time, she had accumulated a large collection of geography and artifact books, along with numerous albums of paintings. Eventually, her room could no longer hold them all, so some were moved to his study. In recent years, during his idle moments, Gu Juhán had casually flipped through these books, and over time, he found them somewhat intriguing, gradually reading more and more.

He smiled and said, “It’s just some light reading—nothing to do with Jiangzuo’s influence.”

Though his smile held no particular meaning, Liu Shaotang interpreted it as a lingering affection between husband and wife, as if the mere thought of something related to their spouse brought an involuntary smile to their lips. This made Liu, who was single, feel a bit envious and cold.

Unable to resist, he teased a bit more. But then Gu Juhán set the book aside and spoke to him earnestly: “If you’re envious, why don’t you hurry up and settle down? Lord Juangling mentioned this to me just the other day, urging me to persuade you.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Shaotang’s face immediately fell, and he waved his hands frantically. “Brother, spare me! Marriage is still far from my mind!”

Gu Juhán sighed at his stubbornness. “You’re twenty-four years old. Several of your subordinates, not much older than you, already have children. How can you say it’s too early?”

Liu Shaotang pouted. “Speaking of children, shouldn’t you be more concerned about this? At twenty-four, it’s normal for me to not have children yet. But you’ve been married to Sister-in-Law for five years and still have none. How can you lecture me on this?”

This remark effectively silenced Gu Juhán, leaving him visibly irritated. Liu Shaotang, adept at reading his expressions, quickly noticed his displeasure and hurried to smooth things over. With a mix of flattery and sincerity, he said, “My parents are indeed too eager. I’m not against marriage, but while marrying is easy, finding someone you truly like is another matter altogether. Many of my friends are married, but none seem happy—only burdened with worries. If I were to marry, I’d want it to be like you and Sister-in-Law—deeply in love, inseparable, feeling as though three autumns have passed after just one day apart…”

The first half of his speech sounded reasonable enough, but the latter half veered off into exaggeration. Gu Juhán gave him a sidelong glance, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, and interrupted him. “I only said one thing, and you’ve gone on this long. Fine, I won’t argue with you. Do as you wish.”

In truth, Gu Juhán wasn’t seriously pressuring Liu Shaotang to marry. On one hand, he still considered Shaotang young, and on the other, his own situation with Shen Xiling was unique. He himself was in no position to advise others. However, since Lord Juangling had repeatedly mentioned it, he felt obligated to relay the message.

Liu Shaotang knew Gu Juhán wasn’t truly siding with his father, so after exchanging a few casual remarks, he managed to brush the matter aside. Then he said to Gu Juhán, “I’ve been cooped up at home these past few days and am practically growing mold. I came today hoping to stretch my legs. Brother, come out and spar with me.”

With that, he dragged Gu Juhán outside.

As the two men emerged from the house, they happened to encounter Shen Xiling and Qin Shi strolling through Wang Garden, accompanied by Lianzi, Wanzhu, and Qin Shi’s senior maid, Yuanyang. By their side was a young girl of thirteen, tugging at Shen Xiling’s sleeve.

“Jingqi!” Gu Juhán called out to the girl, then walked briskly toward them with Liu Shaotang. He scolded her gently, “Don’t tug on your sister-in-law’s sleeve.”

The girl was none other than Gu Juhán’s youngest sister, Gu Jingqi.

Gu Juhán’s father was the eldest son of the late Duke, with two younger brothers—the second and third uncles—who were both still alive. The second branch had two sons, Gu Juting and Gu Juyuan, while the third branch had a son and a daughter, Gu Jusheng and Gu Jingqi. Among their generation, Gu Jingqi was the only girl and the youngest, having just turned thirteen. She was much adored by the family. Though Gu Juhán was fond of his little sister, his disciplined nature and frequent absences due to military campaigns meant they weren’t particularly close.

Gu Jingqi, already somewhat intimidated by her elder brother, looked even more frightened after his reprimand. Pouting, she released Shen Xiling’s sleeve and gazed at her brother with grievance.

Shen Xiling greeted Liu Shaotang, who cheerfully returned the greeting and exchanged pleasantries with Qin Shi and Gu Jingqi. Seeing the pitiful expression on his younger sister’s face, Shen Xiling couldn’t help but find it amusing. Turning to Gu Juhán, she said, “Stop scolding her—it’s really not a big deal. I had planned to visit a few shops to collect account books today, and she simply asked if she could come along.”

Gu Jingqi nodded vigorously, signaling that she meant no disrespect to her sister-in-law.

Gu Juhán softened his expression slightly but furrowed his brow again. “Isn’t today the day Master Fan comes to teach at the family school? Why aren’t you attending class and instead clinging to your sister-in-law?”

Gu Jingqi shrank back slightly. At thirteen, her delicate and lively demeanor was endearing. She replied, “I’ve attended lessons for eight straight days. Last night, I diligently stayed up late to memorize my lessons, and yesterday, Master praised me. Can’t I take a break today?”

Though she was skilled at coaxing, her elder brother was immune to her charms. His brows remained knitted as he continued to reprimand her. “Nonsense! Master Fan was specially hired by Uncle Three for you. He doesn’t usually take female students. Skipping class today will surely invite Father’s wrath.”

Gu Jingqi thought to herself that her father doted on her and would never scold her harshly, even if he did reprimand her. What truly made her uneasy was her elder brother’s stern expression, which left her too intimidated to retort.

Watching the scene unfold, Shen Xiling felt pity for her young sister-in-law, whose face had turned completely red under Gu Juhán’s scolding, especially in front of Liu Shaotang. After some thought, she decided to intercede on Gu Jingqi’s behalf. “I’ve noticed that Jingqi has been quite restless lately. It’s true that she earned Master Fan’s praise yesterday. If it’s not too inconvenient, perhaps we could ask for a day off. I’ll take her out for a stroll—it’s better than her sitting in the study with her mind wandering, which might upset Master Fan even more.”

Gu Jingqi nodded her head vigorously like a pestle pounding garlic.

Gu Juhán had been sternly reprimanding his sister, but after Shen Xiling interceded, his expression softened considerably. He stopped scolding Gu Jingqi and instead said to Shen Xiling, “You haven’t been feeling well lately either. Why bother going out to collect the account books yourself? You could have them sent to the residence.”

Shen Xiling smiled and replied, “It’s no trouble. I just thought today’s weather was so nice and warm that I wanted to take the opportunity to go out for a stroll.”

Gu Juhán still seemed somewhat disapproving, but he rarely won arguments with her. He waved over his adjutant, Xu Chuan, and said, “Let Xu Chuan drive you. It’ll put my mind at ease to have him accompany you.”

Though Shen Xiling felt it wasn’t necessary, she didn’t want to reject his kindness and smiled as she nodded.

Qin Shi, standing nearby, laughed and said, “Big Brother can rest assured. I’ll accompany Sister-in-Law as well and ensure everyone is taken care of.”

With this statement, Lianzi and Wanzhu behind her echoed similar sentiments, leaving Shen Xiling somewhat amused yet exasperated. She found it funny how everyone treated her as though she were an invalid, leaving her momentarily speechless. Seeing this, Gu Jingqi, sensing her elder brother was in a relatively good mood, quickly seized the moment to ask, “Big Brother… may I go along with Sister-in-Law?”

Gu Juhán glanced at her, paused for a moment, and finally relented under her eager gaze. “Don’t bother your sister-in-law on the way.”

Overjoyed, Gu Jingqi immediately exclaimed, “Brother, don’t worry! I’ll stand as straight as a pine and sit as steady as a bell—I promise not to trouble Sister-in-Law!”

This remark made everyone burst into laughter. Shen Xiling patted her little sister-in-law’s head and said, “Thank your brother.”

Gu Jingqi, ever the clever one, immediately chimed in with flattery: “Thank you, Brother!”

Gu Jingqi’s insistence on going out with her sister-in-law today stemmed from two reasons: first, she hadn’t yet memorized the poem her tutor had assigned her, and second, she desperately missed the pastries from Yi Pavilion. Though Yi Pavilion was part of her sister-in-law’s estate, and they could easily have a chef prepare the pastries at home, she believed the treats tasted best when eaten at the pavilion itself. The decor there carried the charm of Jiangzuo, and the flavors of the pastries were reminiscent of her homeland, making the experience more fitting and flavorful.

However, it was still early when they left the residence, long before lunchtime, so she had to suppress her craving for now and accompany her sister-in-law to collect accounts elsewhere first.

Shen Xiling’s business ventures were vast, ranging from restaurants and medical clinics to tea shops, orchards, and farmland. She even owned a saltworks, which reportedly brought in an astonishing income. Originally from Liang, most of her businesses were based in Jiangzuo until five years ago, when she married into the Gu family and gradually relocated her operations to the north. Yi Pavilion was established around that time. In Shangjing, besides Yi Pavilion, she also owned a jewelry shop called Jinyu Hall, which generated significant revenue. Today, Shen Xiling was heading there to check on things.

Inside the carriage, Qin Shi chuckled and said, “After marrying into the family, didn’t you stop managing your businesses? I heard that the profitable ventures, like the saltworks and farmland, are now handled by managers under Brother’s supervision. Why are you suddenly so diligent, personally going out to collect accounts?”

It was widely known that five years ago, Shen Xiling had brought an enormous dowry when she married into the Gu family. Afterward, most of her businesses were handed over to the Gu household to manage. Because of this, the noblewomen and young ladies of Shangjing, though often envious of her, found a reasonable explanation for her marriage to Gu Juhán: the Gu family, though a prestigious household in Wei, was likely strained financially. By marrying Shen Xiling and taking over her businesses, Gu Juhán appeared to be motivated not only by her beauty but also by her wealth. This reasoning helped soothe their jealousy and bring them some comfort.

“It’s just boredom driving me to find something to do,” Shen Xiling smiled and glanced at her sister-in-law and little sister-in-law. “Since you’re accompanying me, why don’t you each pick out a few pieces of jewelry to wear?”

Gu Jingqi sweetly thanked her elder sister-in-law and added, “Though the jewelry at Jinyu Hall is beautiful, I’d say it’s not as appealing as the pastries at Yi Pavilion. Instead of giving me hairpins and rings, wouldn’t it be better to let me try all the pastries at Yi Pavilion today?”

This remark naturally amused both sisters-in-law, filling the carriage with laughter and cheerful chatter.