Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Everyone Knows, Except Gu Nan Xi

Gu Nan Xi’s “two or three little matters” with her lovers became the favorite puzzle of every household matriarch, picked apart and “proven” with smug certainty.

“His Majesty loved cats the most. That year a cat scratched Gu Nan Xi, and His Majesty never kept a cat again.”

“To others, His Majesty grants pearls and jade. To Gu Nan Xi, he granted a crystal hairpin.”

“‘Flawless as jade, pure beyond ice’—that’s His Majesty warning her to keep herself spotless!”

“No wonder Marquis Yong Chang couldn’t return to the capital for more than ten years, even after the late emperor died. So that’s what it was.”

Linked together, those scraps of rumor hardened into “truth” in people’s minds.

Meanwhile, Gu Nan Xi—one of the household masters of Marquis Yong Chang Manor—knew none of it.

The maids in the main courtyard had heard the whispers, but not one dared bring it up.

Even Lu Mei, who served Gu Nan Xi closest, began to lose her confidence under the weight of rumors that sounded so vivid.

Could it be that while she stood night watch, her mistress was meeting someone in secret?

“Lu Mei,” Gu Nan Xi said, watching her, “what are you thinking?”

Lately, Gu Nan Xi felt as if the air around her had turned wrong.

The servants in the manor, in the courtyards—everyone looked at her with strange eyes.

When she asked what they were staring at, they trembled and couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

Lu Mei hurriedly carried in a plate of roasted meat. “This maidservant was… dazed by the smell.”

Gu Nan Xi laughed and slid half the plate toward her. “You really are a little greedy cat. But Da Xiang Guo Temple’s roasted meat is worth the wait. Take this half and share it with the other girls.”

“Thank you, Mistress.”

But Lu Mei’s thoughts scattered again.

Da Xiang Guo Temple only sold roasted meat once every half month. The commoners of Capital City chased it like a treasure, and the line could stretch from the south end of the city all the way to the north.

This time, the errand runners had come back far too smoothly, bragging about their “luck.”

Was it truly luck… or something else?

“Mother!”

After half a month, Su Xuan Ming stepped into Gu Nan Xi’s courtyard again.

His arrival snapped the odd tension in the air. The servants moved as if a switch had been flipped, bustling to pour tea and offer snacks.

They acted as if Su Xuan Ming were the true master here.

Gu Nan Xi was still chewing, so she only flicked her eyes at him, telling him to speak.

Su Xuan Ming looked drained, dark shadows beneath his eyes. He forced a smile, then pointed at the roasted meat like he’d remembered how to be a dutiful son. “Roasted meat for lunch? It smells good.”

Gu Nan Xi pushed the plate toward him, almost reluctant. “Look how skinny you are—you’re nearly a clothes rack. If you want it, eat.”

That small kindness hit Su Xuan Ming like a stone to the chest. His nose stung, and mist gathered in his eyes. “Mother… I want to go to school.”

The words landed like thunder.

Gu Nan Xi stared. Lu Mei stared. The other maidservants stared.

Someone muttered, half incredulous, “Is the sun rising in the west?”

Su Xuan Ming lowered his head. For someone so tall, he suddenly looked small and timid. “No. I just… want to go to school.”

Gu Nan Xi studied his face, frown deepening. “Do you mean it?”

He nodded, still not daring to meet her gaze.

“If you want to go,” Gu Nan Xi said at last, “then go.”

Even then, Su Xuan Ming didn’t leave.

He hesitated, lips parting and closing twice before he forced the words out. “I haven’t been in a long time. I want to treat my classmates to a meal.”

Gu Nan Xi’s voice stayed even. “How much?”

“Two hundred taels.” He swallowed. “N-no—one hundred and fifty.”

Gu Nan Xi looked at him for a long moment, then said quietly, “Lu Mei. Get it for him.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Su Xuan Ming took the money and left the courtyard, wiping his eyes as he went.

Gu Nan Xi stared at the roasted meat on the table. Not a single bite had been taken.

Then Su Yun Yan arrived, as she did every day. She swooped in and shoved roasted meat into her mouth with both hands.

“Ah—so good! Mother, why aren’t you eating?”

Gu Nan Xi poured her warm water. “Slow down. Your brother came earlier. He said it smelled good, but he didn’t touch it.”

Su Yun Yan choked on a laugh. “Brother didn’t eat meat? He’s always loved it. One meal, he can finish two jin. Today he won’t eat at all?”

In the past, that messy chewing would have earned her a scolding.

Now Gu Nan Xi only held the water closer, as if afraid she might choke.

Gu Nan Xi’s brows tightened. “Did your brother fight with Jing Niang?”

Su Yun Yan nodded. “They fought last night and again this morning. Brother wanted to go to school. Jing Niang wouldn’t let him.”

That only made Gu Nan Xi’s unease grow.

Su Xuan Ming had never been studious. Before, only constant pressure forced him to attend. Recently he hadn’t even lifted a brush for ten days straight.

Why would he suddenly insist on going to school—so badly he’d fight Jing Niang over it?

“Has your brother been acting strange lately?” Gu Nan Xi asked.

Su Yun Yan answered without thinking. “Ever since he met Jing Niang, he’s been possessed. Nothing about him is like before.”

When she finished eating, she noticed Gu Nan Xi’s worry and began kneading her shoulders with strong hands. “Mother, why bother with them? Brother is grown. Who’s going to bully him? Don’t mind it. Live your good days.”

Her fingers pressed in firm circles, soothing the tension out of Gu Nan Xi’s neck.

“Mother,” Su Yun Yan said softly, voice thickening, “you’ve suffered for so many years. Brother is right—you should just be happy. Don’t fear rumors. Brother and I aren’t afraid.”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened. “Just… can you not divorce Father? If you divorce and remarry, your new husband’s family will keep you on a tight leash. How would you ever be as free as you are now? You and Father can each do your own thing. Even if you have three or four lovers, it doesn’t matter.”

Gu Nan Xi felt the comfort in her shoulders vanish in a flash. She nearly jumped out of her skin. “Three or four lovers? How do you know about that?!”

Su Yun Yan went stiff. She’d let it slip. Embarrassed, she fidgeted for a long moment before she mumbled, “Brother said it.”

Gu Nan Xi went numb.

In her head, she practically screamed at the Kind Mother System, [Something this important—why didn’t you tell me earlier? You said I’d become a mom with no pain. You never said anything about lovers!]

The Kind Mother System sounded wronged. [It’s not in the book! You’re just the cannon fodder villain’s mother—cannon fodder among cannon fodder. Who would write that much about you?]

While woman and system were arguing in her mind, Lu Mei chose that exact moment to toss in another bomb, voice careful and awed.

“Hanlin Scholar Chen is pure and elegant. Cabinet Minister Li is brilliantly talented. Both are as handsome as Pan An… but you even tangled with His Majesty…”

Gu Nan Xi froze.

So the original owner’s “pond” was this huge—and the catch was this high-quality?

Even His Majesty had been pulled into it?

Her head rang with one thought, loud and helpless:

I can’t act this out. I really can’t.