Chapter 13: 13

Chapter 13: Second Aunt’s Letter

Tao Xinhe didn’t know that her husband was thinking about another women’s affairs at the moment. She just shook her head, indicating that she didn’t hear about Gu Runing’s engagement. She dismissed the idea of ​​taking a nap.

She raised her sleeves to repress a sudden yawn, then resigned herself to waiting for her second aunt to arrive.

In Gu Ningxi’s perspective, he  saw the lady raise her arms, her sleeves covered the lower half of her face, she tilted her head slightly, and the cuffs were blown by her breath, which fluctuated for a moment.

He guessed that the lady yawned and was sleepy.

After hesitating for a while, Gu Ningxi asked softly:

“How about I come to entertain her instead and the lady go to sleep?”

Now listening to my husband’s voice, why do I feel that it sounded so gentle and pleasing to my ears?

Tao Xinhe laughed to herself, judging a person’s character whether good or bad was all she wanted.

She knew that her husband was estranged from the rest of his family. From his grandmother to his nephew. Most of their interaction was all a routine. He probably wanted to get closer to the second aunt, and the second aunt had to take the initiative to interact.

After hearing Gu Ningxi’s proposal, she was moved for a moment, and wanted to go to the soft pillow on the high bed as promised.

But the second aunt didn’t tell Gu Ningxi about this matter when they met him earlier. She deliberately wanted to come to the house to find her instead, probably because she was afraid that the matter would involve the privacy of her children and it would be inconvenient for everyone to discuss it.

Forget it, I’ll help if I can, after all, sister Ru Ning and I have always hit it off.

Tao Xinhe informed Gu Ningxi about what she thought, and she was praised as “a lady who is thoughtful”, which made her go back with a smile and with a little coquetry.

Seeing that Gu Ningxi had nothing to do, he decided to hold up a book and immersed himself in it. Tao Xinhe always felt uncomfortable. So she raised her brows, and asked, “Husband, do you want to visit your righteous brother and sister of the Mo family again? ”

She deliberately bit the word “righteous sister” very hard.

Anyway, right now she doesn’t recognize the so-called foster relatives, aren’t her own sisters and sister-in-laws not enough for her to be fussy?

Gu Ningxi responded solemnly: “No need, I told the Mo family siblings yesterday that they can celebrate the New Year with peace of mind. After the new year. I’ll invite them to the family reunion and recognize their relatives.”

Gu Ningxi soon realized that there is something wrong with his words, so he hastily patched it up:

“Of course, the lady has the final say, and everything for this husband is at your disposal.”

“Huh!” Tao Xinhe didn’t answer, and poked Gu Ningxi’s cheek with a finger, quite forcefully, which made the man’s handsome face show a little dent.

Gu Ningxi was so happy, he turned his face towards Tao Xinhe, and said in a vague way:

“Young lady, you can relieve your anger.”

He almost bit his own cheek while talking, so he kept quiet then smiled at her instead.

Tao Xinhe let out a soft “bah”, and retracted her slender index finger resentfully.

Seeing the bright nail prints on her husband’s face, she felt some regret and heartache. She clasped her palms with her fingertips silently, then grinded her back molars unknowingly, not knowing how to continue the conversation.

Gu Ningxi began to chatter instead. Sharing the details about what happened during the banquet the other night.

Most of the officials from the Ministry of Rites entered the restaurant last night since they were on duty. Gu Ningxi is good at distinguishing people by official uniforms so he was able to recognize most of them.

Tao Xinhe listened to her husband’s story:

“Last night, everyone congratulated Zhang Shangshu’s happy event. A Yuanwailang1 wrote a poem, which was unintelligible. He was punished to drink three cups of wine. After he put down the wine cup he wrote another poem. However, It was even more inappropriate. It was really funny. A secretary next to him couldn’t take it anymore and supported him, he then recited a poem written by his predecessor, and that was the end of the matter.”

“A Sicheng2 came to persuade me to drink. He used an extremely rare allusion in “Er Ya3“, saying that if I could guess it right, he would drink one pot, and if I couldn’t, I would have to drink five cups. Guess what, my lady? I answered each of them fluently, and I saw him spilling wine on his official robe, dyeing his whole body crimson.”

“A Sizheng4 and a Yuanwailang joined hands to drink with me. They were about to persuade me, but I responded that my wife is still waiting at home, and it was not appropriate to drink too much. They actually laughed out loud, and told the other people to listen, and came up to talk to each other. They then pulled my sleeves and  held my arms, and finally poured me two drinks, which is really irritating.”

Tao Xinhe listened with a bit of interest, and seeing her husband talking happily, she thought, in fact, he really likes to have fun with his colleagues in his heart.

It’s a pity to say that because of face blindness, my husband is not sociable and has no close friends. Every day is just him focused on his duty in the Ministry of Rites or studying in the mansion, his life was very monotonous. Tao Xinhe is busier than him.

I remembered that my husband mentioned that Mo Qi was full of talent and is very knowledgeable, and he spoke about him with admiration. He mentioned that the two had the same views on learning and had inspired each other. It was very meaningful for him to find a confidant. Tao Xinhe’s natural dislike for the Mo brothers and sisters had slightly loosened up, or at least consider the brothers and sisters as a separate entity.

After Gu Ningxi finished talking about what happened last night, he felt his mood lightened. He picked up the cup of tea at hand to moisten his lips, but he still can’t help but frown at the sourness and bitterness of the hawthorn and kuding tea he was drinking.

Swallowing the tea calmly and with difficulty, Gu Ningxi thought about continuing to distract the lady out of her sleepiness so as to maintain her reputation as a considerate and hospitable hostess. He turned his head around and talked about what he had seen and heard in the old Gu’s mansion this morning.

Grandma is in good health, and his third uncle and aunt are not at the mansion at that time. He heard that they have gone out to socialize, so he doesn’t know what they are busy about.

The eldest cousin Gu Ningran was clearly at the mansion, and grandmother asked someone to invite him, saying that his two most precious grandchildren should be closer to each other, but Gu Ningxi couldn’t wait for him.

He thought he could listen patiently to his grandmother, but when Old Mrs. Gu started talking about He Niang’s flaws, such as her being jealous and having no children, Gu Ningxi couldn’t take it anymore and finally retorted back.

Both Grandmother and grandson, could not change each other’s mind. Gu Ningxi seemed to have experienced the pain and embarrassment of his father back then.

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Heh, if the elders don’t recognize his wife, why not follow his father’s example and protect and love his wife!

Naturally, Gu Ningxi didn’t mention a word about the dispute between him and his grandmother in front of his wife, but he just casually mentioned that Gu Ningran had taken in two more concubines.

Tao Xinhe could hear her husband’s disdain for his eldest cousin’s behavior. After three years of marriage, she could understand the situation even more clearly, and she was able to empathize with him more.

Prime Minister Gu has three sons and grandchildren. He believes in “Holding grandchildren but not sons”. He is extremely strict with his children, but he is kind to his grandchildren, especially Gu Ningxi, the only grandson born from his eldest son.

However, Old Mrs. Gu’s heart is attached to the third son and and to his only son, Gu Ningran.

My husband memorized “The Analects of Confucius” at the age of three, and started studying at the age of five. He was praised highly by his grandfather, and he was often taught and cultivated by him.

In the old Gu’s mansion, Gu Ningxi was considered the “other people’s children”. Compared with the other children his grandfather paid more attention to him, the only shortcoming was that he couldn’t recognize others, and he was considered as someone who lacks etiquette.

Gu Ningran was the most fervent and seemed to want compete with Gu Ningxi. Since he and Gu Ningxi are the only legitimate grandsons of the prime minister. The comparison is the most direct and tragic. As for the concubine-born grandson from the second room, Gu Ninglie, he was never in Gu Ningran’s eyes.

Gu Ningran once led seven or eight of his own concubine and second-bedroom concubine, to try to influence Gu Ningxi to assist him. He relied on his grandmother to make Gu Ningxi take the initiative to help him rise in position.

Even till now, Gu Ningran still waits for Gu Ningxi to take the initiative to help him, but before that, he would spread rumors about Gu Ningxi in the Imperial Academy.

Tao Xinhe heard many such rumors slandering her husband at the banquet, and she had to clarify them one by one every time. In her heart, she felt the same as her husband about this cousin, so tiresome.

“Don’t mention him anymore, he’s spoiling the mood.” Tao Xinhe appreciated her husband trying to appease her but took pity on him after she heard him talk about his cousin.

Comparing her natal family from the old Gu’s mansion, Tao Xinhe couldn’t help but roll her eyes and said with a smile:

“Husband, I don’t have time in the afternoon, so you can go to the Tao’s Manor to deliver the New Year’s gift, and by the way, take Qiangniang over to stay until the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, okay?”

Just as Gu Ningxi was about to be overwhelmed by the softness of the lady’s words, and thought that the situation was fixed, and the lady had already forgiven him. He heard that he was going to visit her natal home alone, he then choked up.

The lady’s family has only a few members. His mother-in-law died young, and the second daughter Tao Xinrong married far away, and he has never seen her.

His Father-in-law Tao Cheng was an official of the same dynasty as a Yuanwailang, he’s a member of the Ministry of Industry.

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His brother-in-law Tao Muxian was studying in the academy, and his third sister-in-law Tao Xinqiang was still a girl in her boudoir. In July this year, a new sister-in-law Hong was added, so there were only a few masters in the household.

The crux of the problem is that Gu Ningxi has never been there alone, and every time he comes to the door with his wife, they will constantly ask him whether the young woman in front of him was his sister or his sister-in-law.

The Tao family father and son are not as accommodating to Gu Ningxi as the Gu family members are. They never report their family background, and they just ignore him.

In the end, they still thinks that Gu Ningxi is sick and not good enough for Tao Xinhe. Their daughter and elder sister are naturally the best and most precious.

Gu Ningxi glanced at the clock, counted the time, and said hesitantly:

“What the lady said is reasonable, I should send the annual greetings to your natal family before the new year. It’s my fault that I was sick earlier, and it was delayed until today. However, Father-in-law and the others must miss my wife more. So how about after Second Aunt comes to the mansion to talk and leave, I will go visit them with my wife?”

Tao Xinhe shook her head. She had a bizarre idea and came up with such a reasonable and legitimate reason, to punish her lying husband.

I still want to live with him for a long time, so I don’t want to make things too difficult, but after being lied to, I feel like I needed to vent on something. I still have that lingering fear of worrying about him day and night.

Besides, she just discovered that the scarf that was originally placed in the flower hall was hidden by Gu Ningxi. The object was made and sent by Mo Qiqi, although she didn’t bother to ask, she was a bit surprised.

It’s just right to send my husband alone to the Tao’s manor, and use them to intimidate him a little.

Everytime father and younger brother meet Gu Ningxi, they would scold him. Originally, I still thought my relatives were quite mean, so I always wanted to stand in front and rescue my husband.

This time, I let Gu Ningxi go alone to receive their scolding carefully. Thinking about that scene, she felt relieved.

Of course, I have to present the facts and reason, occupy the high ground, and persuade my husband.

Tao Xinhe took the initiative to hold Gu Ningxi’s hand, her eyes fluttered, then she smiled sweetly.

“My husband is worrying too much, but I think this is the best way. First, the second aunt rarely comes to the door, and the matter seemed to be urgent. I don’t know how long it would take for us to talk, maybe she’ll stay over for dinner. You can’t wait till dinner. You and I can’t wait to go back to Tao Manor at night, can we? It will make the neighbors laugh.”

Her fingers kept circling the back of the man’s hand, but she lightly followed her words, which made Gu Ningxi feel a bit itchy:

“My sister-in-law has been married for less than half a year, and that time my mother-in-law’s three-year filial piety period was not yet completed when she got married. Both our husband and wife neither helped nor attended the wedding, and I have always worried about her. She is now in charge of the house for the New Year for the first time. As sisters and brother-in-laws, we must always come and ask if there is anything that we could do to help them.

The three maids, including Qiangniang had long been asking whether they would come or stay for awhile now. I agreed, but have been dragging on until today. My husband will pick them up and live at the Tao mansion until tomorrow. That way she wouldn’t cause trouble to my sister-in-law.”

“Good husband, your trip to Tao Manor is a heavy responsibility, please accept this favor, okay? Just troubling you to go and come back quickly, how about it? ”

He finally twisted his wrist and firmly grasped the troublesome beauty’s hand. Gu Ningxi then nodded in response, and quickly recalled the characteristics of his father-in-law, sister-in-law and brother in his mind. He was trying to remember their figure and voices in order not to mistake them for anyone else.

***
TL NOTE:

I’m really a bit bothered by Gu Ningxi’s face blindness.

I know people who claimed to be face blind but they’re not like him where they see people’s faces as tiles but just that they don’t recognize people easily then forget what they look like after not interacting for awhile now. I didn’t know it was actually an actual disease. Eherm~ googled it up… I guess it’s a new perspective for me.

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