RNP Page 104
Page 104
Seeing Gu Yu's displeased gaze, the old woman serving her chuckled twice and obediently shut her mouth, but her inner grumbling never stopped.
She had never seen such a beautiful person before. Even the famous Liu Wulang couldn't compare to this one. With just a little softening of her features, she could be considered an unparalleled beauty. It wasn't hard to imagine what she must have looked like a few years ago before she had fully matured. What a pity!
Gu Yu kept his eyes closed and remained motionless as the two old women applied the ointment to his face. After a short while, he felt them stop. Just as he was about to open his eyes to see what was happening, one of the old women stopped him, saying:
"Young master, please don't open your eyes yet. We're not done yet. Please stand up, change your clothes, and then you can sit in the carriage. You can only open your eyes when we arrive at the Confucius Mansion."
Why is it so complicated?
Gu Yu muttered a couple of complaints to herself, but still stood up and followed them to change her outer clothes. She felt a little itchy inside. She had already paid such a heavy price, and she wondered what she would look like in a theatrical costume.
After the old women finished serving him, they helped him to sit in the carriage. Not long after, they heard people outside gradually becoming noisy. Not far away, an old voice shouted, and the entire convoy slowly started to move.
About half an hour later, Gu Yu was almost asleep when she was suddenly woken up by the old woman next to her, and she immediately became alert.
"Young master, we've arrived. You can open your eyes now. We'll enter through the back door. Please make yourself at home."
Gu Yu eagerly opened her eyes and immediately checked how her costume looked. The next moment, seeing a somewhat familiar style, Gu Yu opened her mouth, and then everything went black.
Seeing that he seemed a little stunned, the old woman next to him quickly explained:
“It’s not that our troupe leader is stingy, but these are our troupe’s new everyday clothes, the style that’s popular in the capital this year. Please bear with us for now, young master.”
"...Why isn't it a theatrical costume?"
"Young master is too kind. We haven't even entered the host's house yet, so why should we put on costumes? We'll start putting in real work once we get off the stage."
"..."
Gu Yu took a few deep breaths, barely suppressing the blood welling up in her heart. Now that she was at the Kong family's doorstep, could she possibly jump off the carriage and run back?
"Young master, please go down quickly. The troupe leader has already instructed that you should just blend in with us and you'll be fine."
At the side gate of the Kong family's residence, the second steward, leading several servants, chatted briefly with the head of the Zhou family troupe, then smiled, nodded, and opened the door, gesturing for them to enter.
"Today is a special day for my young lady, so Master Zhou must put on a good show. If you perform well, my wife will naturally reward you."
"Don't worry, Manager Xu, I've brought all the utensils I need today. I guarantee the ladies will be satisfied!"
Manager Xu nodded. He would naturally be rewarded if he handled this matter well, so he couldn't help but take it seriously. Just as he was about to turn around and go in to report, he suddenly froze and stared intently into the crowd not far away.
"What's wrong with Butler Xu?"
"Is there a new student in your class?! She looks...very pretty!"
"You must be mistaken. I haven't recruited any new people for my class. Perhaps some lazy student put on makeup first thing this morning? If the manager gets angry, I'll have to treat Manager Xu to a couple of drinks today, hahaha—"
Butler Xu watched as the crowd vanished in an instant, and then looked at the old troupe leader whose expression didn't seem fake. He couldn't help but rub his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things. He was a regular at the theater; there was no reason he wouldn't recognize such a handsome performer.
"You're too kind, Master. Haha, but I haven't been to the theater in a long time. Do you have two shows tomorrow night, Master?"
"The manager has a good memory! In that case, this old man will be waiting for your arrival, haha!"
"Okay, okay..."
Chapter Thirty-Two: The Plan Was Wrong
Gu Yu, mingling in the crowd, cautiously surveyed her surroundings. The envelope that had been delivered that day contained not only Kong Chengli's letter and tokens, but also the location of the secluded house that Li Wensong had discovered.
Their plan was to take advantage of the early hour, sneak into the opera troupe (the only group that didn't need invitations), find their cousin Wenjuan before the coming-of-age ceremony, deliver Kong Chengli's things to her, get a reply, and then quickly continue to mingle in the opera troupe before sneaking out in the chaos.
The only troublesome thing is that I can't be caught after leaving the opera troupe. Also, I need to make the most of the time. After all, I don't need to worry about my cousin Wenjuan's personal maid, but it would be difficult to deal with the servants in charge of the coming-of-age ceremony.
After matching the surrounding terrain with the map in her mind, Gu Yu, seeing that she didn't see any of the Kong family's maids around, suddenly slipped into a small courtyard. Several old women nearby pretended not to notice and walked past calmly, as if nothing had happened.
"After passing three separate courtyards, and continuing further in, you'll reach my cousin Wenjuan's courtyard..."
The courtyard where Gu Yu was hiding was deserted. She simply pressed herself against the wall and carefully deduced what was going on before peeking around and trying to walk naturally on the road, heading straight for her destination.
Occasionally, a few maids with hurried expressions would walk by and give Gu Yu a bow as they passed by. Gu Yu would force a slight smile and nod in acknowledgment, but she could feel her lips twitching uncontrollably.
"That damned Li Wensong...!"
Although this outfit was much more practical than theatrical costumes, and she didn't have to worry about being exposed when she encountered maids, Gu Yu still felt very uncomfortable. She managed to sneak into the backyard, but as soon as she entered, she was so frightened by the scene that she quickly hid behind a pillar.
"Why are there so many people? Am I too late?"
In the large courtyard, a dozen maids and servants huddled together, peering into the main room. They seemed to see something, occasionally laughing and joking, which prevented them from seeing Gu Yu walk in from the courtyard gate.
Gu Yu hadn't figured out what was going on when she suddenly heard a group of people coming from outside. Her expression changed, and she looked around. Fortunately, there was a small garden on her right with a few rockeries that she could barely hide in. She quickly climbed down the corridor and ran inside.
Before long, a group of people walked in through the courtyard gate. The commotion finally alerted the maids in the courtyard, who all came over to pay their respects.
"Madam~"
"Madam~"
Gu Yu, who was hiding behind the artificial hill, was startled. Could it be the biological mother of his cousin Wenjuan? However, there were too many people and too many eyes in the courtyard now, so he did not dare to peek out to observe. He could only listen to the footsteps, walk over and go into the house. After a while, he came out again, said a few words to the old woman next to him and left.
To Gu Yu's surprise, while the lady had left, she had left behind several old women, which put Gu Yu in a real bind. Although these maids and servants wouldn't be looking his way for no reason, he had no way to leave!
After an unknown amount of time, two more people entered the courtyard. Gu Yu only vaguely heard them say something about "good fortune" and "honored guests" after entering the house. A large group of people then walked out, and the laughter of the women made Gu Yu's head ache.
He knew without a doubt that he had missed the appointed time. The main guests had already left; after welcoming the guests, the ceremony would begin, and everything wouldn't be over until the three bows and three greetings were completed.
It's unclear whether Madam Kong values her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony or not. The fact that she personally conducted it before the head of the Kong family had even returned shows she's a woman of strong will. It remains to be seen whether Chengli will find happiness with his lover...
After lost in thought for a long time, Gu Yu could almost hear the music playing in the front hall. She was in a daze, worrying about how to escape.
The time has already been missed. What if the troupe leader finishes work and goes home early that week, and I have to wait for another opportunity to send a message?
Moreover, if this is delayed any longer, once the coming-of-age ceremony is completed, the maids who are busy in the front courtyard will all return to the inner quarters. At that time, the difficulty of running away will increase dramatically, and if someone finds out, you will lose all face!
After thinking for a long time, Gu Yu gritted her teeth and was about to take advantage of the fewer people to observe in another place when someone else entered the hospital.
"You lot, stop guarding for now! The madam is distributing rewards! Hurry up and go over there!"
"Really? Hong'er, let's go quickly and come back soon!"
"..."
"good chance!"
Gu Yu's eyes lit up. She waited patiently for the maids to run out, then quickly slipped out from behind the rockery. Although the courtyard was not small, there was nothing outside except this small garden to cover her figure.
Gu Yu looked around and her heart sank. It seemed impossible to complete the mission from outside, so she could only gently push open the door and walk into the house.
The small boudoir was furnished with music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. If it weren't for the faint scent of perfume in the room, Gu Yu would have thought she had entered the study of a talented scholar.
Trying not to look at the embroidery bed of the young lady, Gu Yu looked around and found that the embroidery screen next to the desk by the window was quite large. So she walked over, gently lifted it, moved it outwards a couple of steps, and then squeezed in sideways. It was just the right size!
Hiding in this cramped little space, Gu Yu felt a moment of relief, but then a deep sorrow welled up within her, an overwhelming grief.
"I should be playing with the girls in the yard, eating and drinking well, why am I suffering like this... That son of a bitch Li Wensong, he even tricked me into wearing women's clothes! He'll end up in my hands later... Humph!!"
After mentally tearing Li Wensong to pieces a hundred times, Gu Yu finally heard a new sound. Seeing footsteps approaching, she quickly held her breath and patiently waited for the two of them to be alone.
"Young lady, today the wedding ceremony is complete, and you can now marry..."
"You brat, shut up! I knew you'd never say anything nice."
"Qingpei is right. Miss is all grown up now, so naturally she should be concerned about important matters in her life. Master will be returning in a few days—"
"Grandma Wang, Wenjuan is a little tired now. Why don't you go and take care of your mother first? I'll rest for a while."
"...Miss, please rest. This old woman won't disturb you any longer, hehe."
As the door closed, silence returned to the room. Qingpei opened her mouth to speak, but Wenjuan quietly covered her mouth and moved gently to the doorway before saying:
"Who's behind the screen? If they don't make a sound in three breaths, I'll call for help."
"?!"
Gu Yu was startled and looked down at herself. It seemed that she hadn't been exposed. Just as she was lost in thought, the clear, cold counting sound rang out from outside.
"One, two, —"
"and many more!"
Gu Yu interrupted her in a low voice, took out Kong Chengli's token from his bosom, raised his hand, and tossed it over the screen. Wen Juan quickly caught it with her sleeve, looked down, and her eyes immediately reddened.
Gu Yu slowly moved aside the screen and walked out, her mind racing with a thousand curses, but now, no matter how humiliating it was, she could only face reality.
"Cousin Wenjuan, don't be afraid, I'm a good person..."
Chapter Thirty-Three: Twists and Turns
In the quiet room, a figure slowly emerged from behind the screen in the corner. The two girls at the door were stunned for a moment, then visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Yu's voice was never known for its deep and resonant tone, and the lowered volume made it even more androgynous. When Wen Juan saw that the woman who emerged was a stunning beauty, her guard was lowered by half, but she quickly turned pale and became agitated.
"Who are you? Why do you have my cousin's things?!"
Gu Yu awkwardly covered his face, just about to give up and explain, when he suddenly heard Wen Juan start sobbing, glaring at him with a tearful voice:
"Could it be... that you deliberately came to humiliate me? If Cousin Kong didn't want to come, I naturally wouldn't bother him. Why would a woman like you, who willingly stoops so low, sneak in to return this thing? Waaah—"
"...What kind of scenario is this that I've imagined..."
Gu Yu's lips twitched violently as she looked at the gentle and quiet literary girl that Kong Chengli often praised in front of her, who was now crying and sobbing emotionally. Was this really not a crazy girl who had been reading some romance novel and had her brains turned upside down?
"I don't want this anymore!"
Just then, Wenjuan suddenly raised the jade pendant in her hand, about to throw it to the ground. Gu Yu was startled and quickly stopped her:
"Cousin Wenjuan, please have mercy! You've really misunderstood!"
Now that they were closer, they finally realized something was wrong. Although his voice was gentle and melodious, like a spring breeze, it was still different from a woman's voice.
The maid beside her reacted quickly and was about to cry out in alarm when Gu Yu, who was already prepared, darted forward and lightly punched her in the nose. Seeing the maid reflexively covering her nose, sobbing, and squatting down, she knew that this punch would make her cry for a long time.
“Cousin Wenjuan, don’t be agitated! I am Chengli’s classmate and close friend. I’m here to deliver a letter for him. I had no choice but to sneak in like this; it was a last resort…”
Gu Yu forced a smile and explained her origins, then quickly handed the letter to the shocked Wen Juan as if relieved. She then walked quickly to the side, pretending to observe the outside world, but actually trying to escape the embarrassment.
"Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"
Looking at the patterns on his sleeves, Gu Yu inevitably fell into deep philosophical thought, as if this would allow him to ignore the sobs and whispers coming from behind him.
"Girl, my nose hurts, boohoo..."
When Wenjuan realized what was happening, she turned to look at Gu Yu, who was standing by the window with his back to her. Her face was already flushed with embarrassment. The thought of being jealous of her cousin's friend made her face burn. She decided to go to her desk, finish reading the letter, and then write a reply to ease the awkwardness.
With fewer servants in the courtyard now, Gu Yu was able to relax and carefully examine the layout. Adhering to the principle that as long as he wasn't embarrassed, it was others who were, he was able to stand calmly by the window and no longer dwell on the matter.
After all, he had figured it out. The only person who had ever seen him like this was his cousin. As long as she didn't gossip, the matter would be over. Besides, he seemed to have caught her doing something wrong.
As long as both of them are of sound mind, today's events will likely remain a secret forever. Li Wensong will at most utter a few empty words; he has plenty of ways to "take revenge"...
As Gu Yuxian's thoughts began to wander, she stood idly, admiring the scenery. Unconsciously, she began to rate Kong Chengli's cousin. Although her appearance was not among the top among the young ladies at the Flower Goddess Festival held by the Empress that day, her literary temperament was a plus. Coupled with her gentle cousin image in front of Kong Chengli, it was no wonder that Kong Chengli remained infatuated with her.
Thinking of this, Gu Yu couldn't help but look down on the person still lying on the bed. He didn't even understand the principle that those who are like him should die. Luckily, I didn't break his leg. Can't he learn my strategies?
After a brief murmur at the desk, the little maid, her eyes red and her face full of resentment, brought over a cup of tea. Gu Yu looked at the little maid's slightly swollen nose, who looked like a wronged child, and felt rather embarrassed.
She reached out and touched herself, but all she had on her was a purse made by Mengzhi and Daiyu, a sachet sewn by Qingwen, and a family heirloom jade pendant worth a fortune, none of which were suitable to give away.
Seeing his embarrassed expression as he fumbled with the jade pendant, the maid understood that Gu Yu wanted to apologize. Just as Gu Yu gritted his teeth and prepared to lift his outer robe to remove the pendant, she, in high spirits, thanked him.
"Young Master Gu, please don't worry about it. I should thank you for making this trip for Young Master Kong. I'm not injured at all—how did you take off your clothes!"
Gu Yu silently stopped what he was doing, mentally cursing himself a thousand times for wanting to apologize, and calmly tightened his belt, saying:
"I'm not used to this belt, could you please help me with it?"
The little girl hesitated, glancing at Gu Yu's expression. Seeing that he didn't seem to be trying to be a pervert, she leaned over and straightened Gu Yu's outer skirt again, muttering to herself:
"This style is quite novel this year; I see many young women wearing similar ones..."
Gu Yu's eyelids twitched uncontrollably; he wished he could strip off the clothes on the spot and run away on a leash. He really didn't want to hear whether this was a trendy style for young girls or mature women!
"Brother Gu..."
Wenjuan, sitting at the table, carefully folded the letter, then took a hairpin from her box, wrapped it up carefully, and then blushed as she came to Gu Yu and handed it to him.
The girl's voice was barely audible, which had a delicate and quiet beauty. However, her excited and sickly appearance just now was too deeply ingrained in people's minds. Gu Yu could not accept Kong Chengli's boast at all. She hurriedly and awkwardly took the item and put it away, then turned around and ran away.
"Brother Gu, wait a minute. There are still several maids in the courtyard. Why don't I lead them to the front to find my mother before you leave?"
Gu Yu glanced at the six maids outside and realized it was indeed inappropriate to go out, so she nodded in agreement. However, before the two of them could leave, a group of people suddenly rushed in through the courtyard gate. The people standing under the window were stunned and speechless for a moment.
Those who came in and lined up on both sides, judging from their clothes, weren't they palace maids? Wenjuan suddenly realized and quickly gestured for Gu Yu to go back to their usual hiding place.
Seeing the maidservant in the courtyard about to come in to report the news, the two hurriedly went out to greet her, and the room immediately fell silent. Gu Yu hid in the corner again, her heart pounding, and she couldn't help but swallow.