extravagante

Capítulo 27

The concubines and beauties in the palace had already learned of Fang Shi's unconventional and vulgar nature during their visits to the Empress Dowager in recent days. Although they inwardly despised her crudeness, seeing that the Empress Dowager liked her, they all outwardly showed affection and showered her with gifts. Now, seeing the Empress Dowager laughing incessantly at Fang Shi's rustic jokes, they all tried their best to laugh along, and the garden was filled with sweet laughter and chatter, creating a lively scene.

When Gu Zao followed the palace maids who were delivering the food to the Shangshe rice and cakes, the Empress Dowager saw her, waved her hand and called her over, and then smiled and said, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is in two days. It is not appropriate for me to keep you in the palace to cook for me. I need to go back and enjoy the moon with my family."

Gu Zao was overjoyed upon hearing this, but dared not show it too much on her face, only offering a slight smile as she thanked the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager then said, "You have prepared meals for me for so many days; a reward is certainly due. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Gu Zao hesitated for a moment, wondering how to reply, when she saw Fang Shi roll off the embroidered stool and kneel on the ground, kowtowing loudly and saying, "Since the Empress Dowager wishes to reward my second sister, I, as her mother, have shamelessly asked on her behalf. A few days ago, I don't know what possessed her, she actually took over a small restaurant near the East Water Gate. It's a desolate place, and I'm afraid that if we can't attract any customers, then even all the money I've invested in it will go down the drain. So I was thinking of asking if the Empress Dowager could bestow a signboard upon the restaurant. With the Empress Dowager's calligraphy, not only will we not have to worry about business, but even ghosts and demons wouldn't dare to approach us."

Gu Zao's eyes lit up, and she secretly sighed that she had truly underestimated Fang Shi. She hadn't expected her usually boisterous and carefree mother to have such a plan. If they could really obtain the Empress Dowager's calligraphy, their restaurant would truly become famous overnight. She just didn't know how the Empress Dowager would react.

The Empress Dowager was indeed taken aback, but quickly pointed at Fang and chuckled, saying, "It's not bad that you want this reward. However, I haven't written anything for many years now, so how can my handwriting be used as a signboard for your family?"

When Gu Zao heard the Empress Dowager speak like this, she thought that the Empress Dowager was unwilling and was afraid that Fang Shi would not know what was good for her and would continue to pester her. Just as she was about to thank her and pull her away, she heard the Empress Dowager continue, "Very well, I will have my son bestow a name upon your family's restaurant tomorrow. His name is probably more valuable than mine."

Before Gu Zao could react, Fang Shi was already overjoyed, kowtowing several times and thanking her profusely. Gu Zao then realized what was happening, and feeling happy herself, she quickly stepped forward to thank her as well, before retreating with Fang Shi. That evening, the two were escorted out of the palace and back home. Qingwu had also just returned, and he and his third sister, Liu Zao, watched as Fang Shi boasted about the rewards she had received over the past few days and bragged about her great achievements before the Empress Dowager. Gu Zao simply listened with a smile, and the whole family was delighted.

The Empress Dowager's words proved effective. The day after their return, just past noon, when the restaurant was busiest, the eunuch who had visited twice before appeared again at the gate of Gu Zao's house, flanked by his attendants. This time, however, the gold-lacquered tray he carried contained the three characters "Fang Tai Lou" bestowed by the current emperor in his own handwriting, with a vermilion imperial seal printed in the lower left corner.

Gu Zao's family, along with those eating in the shop and the large crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacle, all knelt down to receive the emperor's bestowed calligraphy. The eunuch offered a few more words of encouragement in his official tone, accepted the celebratory money handed over by Gu Zao, and then rode away.

With the eunuch gone, Gu Zao's restaurant business collapsed. Almost everyone on the street flocked over, eager to see the Emperor's handwritten calligraphy. They surrounded Fang Shi and Gu Zao, chattering amongst themselves. Some flattered, some inquired about the inside story, and others tried to curry favor. They nearly broke down the threshold, creating a chaotic scene that lasted for almost an hour before people gradually dispersed.

For the first time in her life, Fang was experiencing the feeling of being the center of attention. While others were stars, she was the brightest moon in the center, radiant with pride and beaming with joy. She spoke with animated gestures, her words flowing freely, praising the Empress Dowager as a celestial being descended to earth, and herself as a jade maiden serving the Empress Dowager. When there were fewer people around, she didn't even bother to drink some water to moisten her throat. She hurriedly and respectfully placed the paper on the table in her room and covered it with a blue gauze veil.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Seeing Fang's serious demeanor, Gu Zao didn't stop her. He just thought about finding someone to make a rubbing of the characters to make a new signboard. He also remembered that he had arranged to go to the broker's office to complete the transaction with Wang Yousheng a couple of days ago, but he was stuck in the palace and couldn't leave. Now that he had some free time and Qingwu was at home, he asked him to go to the broker's office together.

The broker had been waiting for Gu Zao for several days, but she didn't come. He thought she had changed her mind and was heartbroken that the money he had just earned was gone. Suddenly, he saw her smiling and coming in with a young man, saying that it was a transaction. He was naturally happy and stayed in the shop with her while sending a shop assistant to invite Wang Yousheng.

A few days ago, Wang Yousheng took Gu Zao's document and studied it carefully several times. Finding nothing that needed to be added or deleted, he was only focused on closing the deal so he could get rid of Qingfeng Tower, which was causing him so much trouble. When the appointed day arrived, no one showed up. Like the broker, he assumed Gu Zao had changed her mind and had been feeling rather down for the past few days. Suddenly, a clerk from the brokerage shop came to call him, saying that the buyer had arrived. He immediately brought over the land deed and documents.

Gu Zao didn't mention her trip to the palace a few days ago, only saying that she had been delayed by family matters and apologizing. Wang Yousheng naturally didn't mind and signed the document provided by the broker. When it was Gu Zao's turn, she had Qingwu sign it.

Qingwu hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist Gu Zao's insistence, so he had no choice but to sign his name on the document. Wang Yousheng knew they were siblings, and seeing that Gu Zao had also signed as a guarantor for repayment, and that each of them would keep half of the land deed until the money was paid off, he wasn't worried that she would renege on the deal, so he naturally didn't pursue the matter. They then went to the government office to report the transaction, and the deal was considered complete.

Gu Zao's wish came true, and she was naturally in a good mood. The reason she used Qingwu's name for the restaurant transaction was for a reason. Since she opened her eyes and arrived here, all she knew was that she was a concubine kicked out by the first wife of the Li family. At first, she didn't care much, but now, sometimes when she thought about it, she realized she had never seen the contract she signed when she sold herself, and didn't know what was written on it. When she asked Fang Shi, she only said it was a three-year concubine contract; if she asked a few more questions, she would just roll her eyes and say she knew nothing more.

Gu knew she was illiterate, and when she was sold, her short-lived father, whom she had never met, probably hadn't even read the document; he just took the money and that was it. She roughly estimated the days; the three-year term should have been up by now, but since the document wasn't in her possession, she was still a little uneasy. Besides, she wasn't now a separate female household, so she figured it would be more appropriate to use Qingwu's name to run the restaurant. She also thought that if she ever returned to Dongshan, she would definitely ask the village head's wife to help her find out what happened at the family where she had been sold.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, shops throughout the capital were selling new wine, and the facades of grand restaurants were newly decorated, with bamboo poles adorned with carved and painted designs and colorful banners bearing the words "Drunken Immortal" hanging high. Gu Zao's family also purchased various seasonal fruits such as pears, dates, chestnuts, grapes, and oranges and tangerines of mixed green and yellow colors.

At this time, Gu Zao had not yet seen mooncakes like those of later generations. There was only a type of rhombus-shaped flatbread called "Moon Cake" that resembled the mooncakes she knew. It also contained various fillings, but it wasn't only for the Mid-Autumn Festival; like chrysanthemum cakes and plum blossom cakes, it was available year-round. In high spirits, she mixed fine white flour with rendered pork fat, rolled it into flatbreads, and then steamed raw pork fat cubes, walnuts, orange peel, melon seeds, pine nuts, and powdered sugar together. She added a little cooked flour and mixed it all together to make the filling, wrapped it inside the flatbreads, pressed it into shape using a mold, and baked it in a flat-bottomed oven. She tasted it herself; it was fragrant, crispy, oily, and sweet—very delicious. She gave some to Madam Shen to take back and share with the old neighbors. The shop closed early that evening, and she invited Yue Teng, who had just taken the provincial examination a few days earlier and was waiting for his results, to come along. The family sat in the courtyard, eating various foods and admiring the bright moon. She first talked about the decoration and opening of the restaurant she had just bought, then she talked about Yue Teng's examination. Seeing his confidence, she was very happy. Finally, Fang Shi steered the conversation back to what she had seen and heard in the palace a few days ago.

Gu Zao leaned back in a small bamboo chair, listening to Fang Shi's incessant chatter, occasionally interjecting with a few words of flattery. Smiling, she suddenly heard the sound of a sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument) drifting from a nearby courtyard, followed by a female singer singing: "The white rabbit pounds medicine autumn after spring, Chang'e dwells alone, with whom as her neighbor? People today do not see the moon of ancient times, yet the moon of today once shone on the ancients. The ancients and the people of today are like flowing water, all alike gazing upon the same bright moon. I only wish that when we sing and drink..."

The female performer's voice was soft and charming, and when it was accompanied by the sheng and yu (traditional Chinese wind instruments), it was as melodious as celestial music carried on the wind.

Gu Zao looked up at the bright moon in the sky, reciting in her heart, "The people of today do not see the moon of ancient times, yet the moon of today once shone on the people of ancient times." A sense of melancholy suddenly arose in her heart. She suddenly thought of that person again. At this moment, far away from the capital, she wondered if he was also looking up at the bright moon, thinking of her thousands of miles away? In a flash, she saw that her third sister and Yue Teng's eyes met. One was shy, and the other was affectionate. But after just one glance, they smiled and lowered their eyes.

Gu Zao suddenly felt a little down. Her eyes were fixed on the wisteria vine that was already bearing pods. She recalled the scene of her and him here the night before he left, and she was lost in thought.

When Fang saw that after the singing started, the people who had been listening to her became distracted, with only Liu Zao still listening, she became displeased and muttered, "What a terrible tune, all that babbling and whining, it gave me goosebumps."

Qingwu immediately corrected, "Mother, these are lines from a poem by Li Bai, lamenting the vicissitudes of life and the impermanence of human existence..."

“Whether it’s too white or too black, it’s a beautiful moonlit night, and singing this mournful tune is really unlucky.” Fang immediately interrupted Qingwu.

Seeing Qingwu's helpless expression, Gu Zao smiled and withdrew her thoughts, then steered Fang Shi back to her previous topic. Fang Shi, as expected, became happy again and talked non-stop. The family didn't disperse to rest until the moon was high in the sky.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Gu Zao spent almost every day at Dongshuimen, overseeing the renovation of the restaurant. He cleared away the overgrown vegetation, planting bamboo groves and creating a series of bamboo and wood pavilions named "Congyu," "Jiazhu," and "Baofeng." He also dug a small pond beside the pavilions, filled with lotus roots and duckweed, and released fish fry into it. Bamboo trellises were built along the edge as shelters and corridors, providing a place for fishing and relaxation. Since the garden already had chrysanthemums, some were already budding; with only minor tending, they would surely bloom in the autumn breeze in a month or two. The restaurant buildings, already somewhat dilapidated, had their exterior wooden walls painted with clear varnish, making them look brand new. Inside, the halls and courtyards had tables set up below, with corridors connecting the upper floors. Upstairs were small private rooms, all adorned with hanging bamboo patterns and curtains. Because the workers hired were all acquaintances of Madam Shen's husband, they all put their hearts into it, and the work was done quickly and beautifully.

More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and the brand-new, lacquered signboard is now complete. The chefs and waiters from the original Qingfeng Restaurant, upon learning of the new owner, all came forward wanting to stay. Gu Zao gave the two chefs a try and, finding their skills acceptable, kept even the other staff. However, some new rules had to be established, and several more days passed in this hectic atmosphere.

Gu Zao gave the restaurant a final inspection of its renovation progress that day. Seeing that it would be completed soon and they were just waiting to choose an auspicious day to open, he returned to Ma Xing Street with satisfaction. It was already afternoon. As soon as he entered, he saw Hu Shi and Xiu Niang sitting together in his home. Although he disliked Hu Shi, he was still very happy to see Xiu Niang and went up to talk to her.

Seeing that Gu Zao had returned, Madam Hu finally turned away from Madam Fang, who had been ignoring her, and said with a grin, "Second Sister, your family's new restaurant has received a plaque with an inscription personally written by the current emperor. I heard that even before it has opened, its reputation has already spread throughout half of the capital. Everyone is craning their necks to wait for the opening and rushing to be the first to drink a cup of wine." She then proceeded to admire it with a series of apologies.

A while ago, Madam Hu brought some money over, saying it was for her family to renovate their restaurant. Gu Zao knew she wasn't that enthusiastic; sure enough, after only a few words, she asked to invest, which Gu Zao politely declined. She left somewhat embarrassed and hadn't visited for several days. Now, seeing her smiling and approaching again, even dragging Xiu Niang along, Gu Zao became wary. Hearing her speak like this, she only smiled faintly and didn't reply.

Seeing that Gu Zao ignored her, Madam Hu didn't mind. She just chuckled twice before saying, "Second Sister, your new restaurant has opened. It must be making a fortune every day. Let's give this small place to our family. We were swindled out of a lot of money by that Hu fellow before, and now the cloth business isn't doing well either. We're just living off our savings every day. If this continues, I'm afraid even Xiu Niang's dowry will be gone."

Xiu Niang felt somewhat ashamed to be used as a shield by Madam Hu. Gu Zao patted her hand lightly and smiled at Madam Hu, saying, "Didn't your family just open a new cloth shop? I'm afraid it's your family making a fortune every day. This small restaurant has meager profits and is hard work. I wouldn't have objected if you thought it was worth it, but unfortunately, I just promised a few days ago to a group of women from the old dyeing workshop in Ranyuanqiao to manage it. Please forgive me, Auntie."

Seeing that her plan had failed again, Madam Hu looked disappointed, but she was still unwilling to give up. She grabbed Gu Zao, wanting to say something more, when suddenly she saw three or four exquisite carriages stop at the gate. First, several maids dressed in red and green got out, then they helped down an old lady with a full head of silver hair and a dignified face, followed by a dignified middle-aged woman, who was also supporting a pretty young woman. Each of them was adorned with pearls and jade and dressed in silk. Madam Hu was somewhat stunned when she saw that the group had already ushered the old lady in the center of the room into the gate.

Fang had been working at the Grand Commandant's residence for over a month, and had only caught a glimpse of the old lady from afar once. She barely remembered her face, only recognizing Huixin, the maidservant beside her. Seeing the old lady's imposing presence, she knew without a doubt who it was. Although somewhat puzzled as to why all the women of the Grand Commandant's household had come to her house today, she hurriedly approached with a smile to greet them. She wiped two stools clean with her sleeve and offered them to her, only to be met with a sneer from the young woman beside Jiang: "Look at you, so clueless! Who wants to sit on your stools? You'll get covered in grease."

Gu Zaochao looked at the woman and saw that she was no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. Her appearance was quite neat, but there was always a hint of arrogance between her brows and the corners of her eyes, which ruined the beauty of her face. Seeing that she had been standing next to Madam Jiang since she came in, Gu Zaochao guessed that she must be the new wife of the little tyrant of the Grand Commandant's mansion. Seeing that Madam Fang had been humiliated by her for no reason, Gu Zaochao felt a little indignant. She stepped forward and greeted the old lady, then looked at the woman and said indifferently, "My mother's eyesight is indeed not very good. It just so happens that she was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager a couple of days ago and accompanied her for a few days. She has learned some manners. If there is still anything inappropriate, please forgive her, young madam."

The woman who spoke was none other than Xu Jiaoniang. Since marrying into the Grand Commandant's household, she and Yang Huan had been incompatible, their relationship constantly tumultuous. Yang Huan frequently went out and didn't return home all night, complaining to the old lady and her mother-in-law, Jiang Shi. At first, she was protected, but after a few times, the old lady pretended not to hear, and Jiang Shi showed displeasure, her words subtly implying blame for Xu Jiaoniang's incompetence. However, Xu Jiaoniang was a strong-willed woman and couldn't bring herself to tell her family about such embarrassing matters, keeping her resentment to herself. A few months ago, she overheard rumors among the servants that the young master had taken a liking to another woman before marrying her, and had been trying to take her as a concubine, only to be rejected. It turned out the woman was Gu Erjie, who ran a restaurant on Ma Xing Street. This made her uneasy, and she longed to see for herself what kind of person Gu Erjie was. Today, knowing that the old lady was going to Ma Xing Street, although I didn't quite understand her intentions, I could tell from her fierce expression that it must not be a good thing. So I felt a sense of schadenfreude and hurriedly begged Jiang to come along with me.

As soon as Xu Jiaoniang entered, she gave Fang Shi a cold shoulder, and was feeling quite smug. However, she was unexpectedly rebuffed by a woman who subtly implied that she was the one who lacked manners, while also invoking the Empress Dowager's authority, leaving her speechless. Seeing this woman standing there, with her beautiful features and composed expression, Xu Jiaoniang felt overshadowed by the woman's presence, despite her own fine clothes and jewels. Her own momentum weakened, but she was unwilling to accept defeat and was about to retort when she heard the old lady beside her tap her cane on the ground, and she immediately shut her mouth.

The old lady looked at Gu Zao before speaking, asking slowly, "Second sister of the Gu family, do you know why I summoned you here today?"

Seeing that the old lady's tone was unfriendly and that her own daughter also looked solemn, Fang was completely baffled. However, fearing that her second sister would suffer a loss, she hurriedly interjected, "The old lady is a bodhisattva-like person. Of course, there must be good news for her to visit my second sister."

Gu Zao sighed inwardly, thinking that what was coming had finally arrived. Not wanting Fang Shi to continue with her forced smile, she gave her third sister a meaningful look. Her third sister already vaguely guessed what it was about and quickly pulled Fang Shi back a few steps. Only then did Gu Zao put on a smile again and said to the old lady, "Of course I know. May I ask if you wish to discuss this here, or would you be so kind as to come to my room?"

Chapter Sixty-Six

The old lady looked closely and saw that her face remained calm, showing neither impoliteness nor panic. She nodded inwardly and thought for a moment before saying, "Very well, then come in with me and we'll talk."

Gu Zao smiled and waited for the old lady to walk into the backyard with her cane before following her in. Jiang Shi and Xu Jiaoniang were about to go in when Hui Xin gently stopped them, saying with a smile, "Madam, the old lady said she only told Gu's second sister."

Although Jiang looked somewhat puzzled, she stopped in her tracks. Only when Jiao Niang called out "Grandmother" again did she realize that the old lady did not seem to hear her and did not even turn her head. Jiang then stopped in her tracks and remained outside.

The old lady entered Gu Zao's room and glanced around at the furnishings. Apart from a bunch of osmanthus branches casually placed in a vase by the window, everything else was clean and tidy. She then looked at Gu Zao, stared at her for a while, and sneered, "Second sister of the Gu family, I underestimated you before. It turns out not only my grandson has taken a liking to you, but now even my son is the same. My grandson wanted you to be his concubine, but you rejected him. Now, are you willing to be my son's concubine?"

Gu Zao looked at the old lady and asked, "Did the Second Master mention this matter to the old lady?"

The old lady snorted coldly, then said resentfully, "If only he had mentioned it in front of me. This unfilial son! I've always spoiled him the most, and I never forced him to accept the marriages I arranged for him, fearing it would be unfair to him. But he pulled this stunt on me without a word. If I hadn't noticed something amiss before he left and gotten the information from San Dun, I'd still be in the dark!"

Gu Zao was taken aback. She had occasionally imagined such a scene before, but now that she was actually in it, she realized how inadequate her previous imaginations had been. She wanted to say something, but felt at a loss for words. Only after the old lady stopped did she slowly say, "Now that you have come to my house today, Madam, there must be other things to say besides these. Please tell me all of them."

The old lady stared sharply at Gu Zao for a long time before nodding somewhat abruptly. Her expression relaxed, and she sighed, "Second Sister Gu, I know you are a capable and efficient person. If you hadn't had that past as someone's concubine, and were still innocent, and now that you've caught my second son's eye, I might have considered you as the matriarch and perhaps even disregarded the difference in social standing between our families and agreed without hesitation. But now, your past is truly shameful. How can I allow a woman who has been someone's concubine to enter my home and call me 'Mother'? A sensible person like you, don't you know what you should do?"

After listening to the old lady finish speaking, Gu Zao sighed and then said softly, "The old lady has already shown me a great deal by being willing to be alone with me in a room today to speak these words. Logically and emotionally, I should listen to her. However, there are a few things I must say, even if the old lady doesn't like to hear them. I was indeed sold as a concubine before, but according to the law, a concubine's contract expires at most after three years, and I am now a free person. I don't believe I was someone who intentionally sought to climb the social ladder." My acquaintance with the Second Master of your household was purely by chance. Now that things have come to this, my admiration for him is partly due to his character, and the rest is simply because of his affection for me. I said this to Second Master Yang before, and now I must say it again to the Old Madam. From this day forward, if the Second Master turns his back on me, no matter how lowly I, Gu Erjie, am, I will never set foot on your mansion again. However, if he is unwilling to abandon me, and the Old Madam looks down on me, I cannot break my promise and abandon the Second Master.”

After Gu Zao finished speaking, he felt a weight lifted from his heart and let out a long sigh of relief before looking at the old lady.

Unexpectedly, the old lady seemed to have anticipated her words, showing little surprise on her face. She merely stared at her strangely for a while before slowly pulling a folded piece of paper from her sleeve and smiling faintly, "Second Sister Gu, I now admire your courage. But there's something I need to tell you. This is the contract you signed when you were sold to the Li family. Look closely; it states a ten-year term as a maid, not the three-year term you thought you would take. I'm rather curious, given your current..." "How could you have been so efficient and capable before, completely unaware that you'd been deceived by that buyer and middleman? That Mr. Li is dead, and you were driven out of the Li family, but the contract is still valid. The eldest wife of the Li family is now regretting her hasty decision to only kick you out; if she had sold you off, she could have made much more money. A few days ago, I sent someone on horseback to Yangzhou, only intending to find out more about you, but unexpectedly, I managed to buy this indenture from the Li family. To put it bluntly, your life and death are now in my hands."

Gu Zao was shocked. She opened her eyes wide and looked at the contract that the old lady had spread out in her palm. Sure enough, she saw that it was clearly listed as the old lady had said, with a signature and fingerprint, the words "this is proof" and a vermilion fingerprint, which she thought was drawn by the former Gu Erjie.

Even with Gu Zao's composure, her expression subtly changed. She had indeed considered the issue of Gu Erjie's indenture before, but she never imagined such a twist would occur. While the Li family's practice of paying the price of a concubine for three years to coax a ten-year maid contract was undoubtedly unscrupulous, Gu Erjie and her parents had also been far too dismissive, completing the transaction without even thoroughly reviewing the contract. It seemed the broker and the Li family were taking advantage of the fact that the other party was an illiterate and greedy country bumpkin.

Gu Zao only panicked for a moment before quickly regaining her composure. Although the old lady quickly put away the contract, since she had presented it to her, she probably only intended to use it to blackmail her. Gu Zao sighed inwardly, about to speak, when she was startled again.

The old lady then took a tinderbox used for lighting oil lamps at night from the table, opened the lid, and lit the paper. In no time, the paper turned into a few charred ashes, which fell to the ground.

Gu Zao stared at the few ashes on the ground, still lost in thought for a long time. Then she heard the old lady's voice again, which made her startled and she looked up.

The old lady's face now held a slight smile as she said, "Second Sister Gu, I appreciate that you are a straightforward person, and I didn't want to use this indenture to blackmail you. I burned this paper in front of you because I acted according to my conscience. I expect you to act according to your conscience as well, and you should be more understanding of my heart as your mother. I'll just say one last thing: if you are willing to be a concubine, I won't care about your past troubles, and I will also fulfill my son's wishes. That's all I have to say. You'd better take care of yourself." With that, she took a steady step towards the door. However, as soon as she stepped out, Huixin, who was blocking the passage, saw her and quickly came over to support the old lady. She then glanced back at Gu Zao, whose face was somewhat pale, sighed slightly, and then helped the old lady out.

As soon as the old lady reappeared outside, Jiang Shi and Xu Jiaoniang immediately surrounded her. Xu Jiaoniang asked a lot of questions and craned her neck to peek inside. The old lady glanced at her and went straight out. Fang Shi bowed and scraped as she saw her off to the door. Only after several carriages had disappeared from sight did she hurriedly rush to the back house. As soon as she entered, she saw Gu Zao and grabbed her, asking her all sorts of questions. Gu Zao managed to answer a few words. However, the third sister noticed that although she was smiling, her face was pale and something was wrong. She quickly pulled Fang Shi out, closed the door, and then dragged Fang Shi forward, saying that the second sister was not feeling well and needed to rest. She asked Fang Shi to help her prepare the evening's dishes. Although Fang Shi was dissatisfied, she remembered that Gu Zao's complexion was indeed different from usual, and she was worried. After picking vegetables for a while, she went back to knock on the door. She heard Gu Zao inside seemingly snort and say "okay," saying that she just wanted to rest. So she reluctantly went to wash the vegetables again. After a while, he thought about it again and was about to knock on the door when he saw that the door opened by itself. Gu Zao was standing behind the door, his face was normal, but his eyes were clearer.

Madam Fang grabbed Gu Zao again, pressing her for an answer. Gu Zao thought for a moment, then sighed and said, "Mother, the old lady came over just now to ask me to be the concubine of her second son. I refused."

Madam Fang was shocked. She bit her fingers for a long time before finally connecting the second son of the Grand Commandant's mansion with the bearded man she had seen before. Her face initially lit up with joy, but when she realized something was wrong, she stamped her foot and shouted, "You ungrateful wretch! How could you refuse such a good opportunity without even discussing it with me? It's not easy to find someone who appreciates you, especially someone of such high birth, and you're still not satisfied. Don't you know that even a nobleman's concubine is far better than a commoner's wife?"

Gu Zao gave a slight bitter smile, but remained silent. Her third sister, however, couldn't stand it any longer and interrupted angrily, "Mother, don't bring up the matter of becoming a concubine again. Have you forgotten what happened to my sister last time? That family is just a wealthy household with some money, yet they can't tolerate anyone. Now you want to send my sister to the Grand Commandant's mansion. Do you want her to never be able to leave once she's inside?"

Fang felt her face flush from the words, but she was still unwilling and wanted to continue. However, seeing that Gu Zao's expression was somewhat gloomy, she finally sighed, shut her mouth, and went to the kitchen to pick vegetables.

Just over ten days after the old lady of the Grand Commandant's mansion visited, Gu Zao's Fangtai Tower opened its doors to guests amidst deafening firecrackers. On the opening day, it was not only packed with diners who had come from far and wide, but even famous restaurants in the capital such as Baifanlou, Huixianlou, and Yuchunlou sent people to deliver red ribbons and lucky red envelopes. The red ribbons were hung at the entrance of the garden, creating a festive scene. Gu Zao, having put aside the messy thoughts of the past few days, was in high spirits. She and the cooks worked until evening, seeing off the last group of guests and personally supervising the closing. Only then, exhausted, did she and Fang's third sister take a pre-rented carriage back to their home on Ma Xing Street.

As soon as Gu Zao entered the house, Liu Zao quietly pulled her aside and whispered, "Sister, that second master of the Yang family came by again just now. I managed to get rid of him with great difficulty. He's already come several times since yesterday. Are you really going to just avoid him like this? I'm afraid he'll go looking for that new restaurant tomorrow."

Gu Zao's heart was in turmoil again. She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then finally sighed and said, "What's meant to happen will happen. I'll wait for him here tomorrow."

Liu Zao nodded slightly, but then suddenly pointed behind Gu Zao, her eyes widening and her mouth agape.

Gu Zaoxin's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head sharply, only to find herself frozen in place, unable to move.

Yang Hao was standing at the entrance of her shop, staring at her intently, but his expression seemed to carry a hint of suppressed anger.

Before Gu Zao could react, Yang Hao strode in, grabbed her hand, and pulled her outside. Gu Zao struggled to break free, but he couldn't. Instead, Yang Hao gripped her even tighter, practically dragging and carrying her out the door. He tossed her onto the horse, mounted himself, and disappeared into the night in an instant. Only Liu Zao remained standing there, stunned. After a long while, she slapped her forehead and hurriedly ran inside to report the news.

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Yang Hao held her tightly, without saying a word. Gu Zao struggled slightly before stopping, letting him carry her on horseback. She didn't know which direction they were going, but they finally stopped in front of a courtyard house. He carried Gu Zao off the horse and practically dragged her through a garden, finally leading her into a house. Only then did Yang Hao release her, kicking the door shut and turning to glare fiercely at Gu Zao.

Gu Zao glanced at him, then turned away guiltily to avoid his gaze, only to be suddenly grabbed by the hand and forced to look at him again.

Gu Zao licked her slightly dry lips and forced a smile, "Where is this place? Why did you bring me here?"

Yang Hao said impatiently, "It's my own garden." As soon as he finished speaking, he snorted and said, "I've been looking for you countless times since I came back yesterday, why have you been avoiding me?"

Gu Zao lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, "My family's new restaurant has opened these past few days, and I've been quite busy..." But before she could finish speaking, he lifted her chin again and said coldly, "My mother came to see you and said some things, so you're deliberately avoiding me, aren't you?"

Gu Zao paused, looked into his eyes for a moment, and finally sighed softly, "Second Master, your mother, she's a good person. What she said, I had actually considered before, and every word she said was correct. It's just that I got carried away later… Now that she's here, she's merely reminding me. I…"

"So you've been swayed by her words and forgotten the promises you made to me?" Yang Hao suddenly interrupted her, his voice cold. "You promised me that in a year or two, as long as my feelings didn't change, you would marry me. Now that I haven't changed, you want me to stay away from you and never appear in front of you again?"

Gu Zao's chin ached from his grip. Seeing him press his head closer, his aggressive demeanor making her angry, she slapped his hand away and said angrily, "Yang Hao, your mother is right. If she had only tried to pressure me with her power when she came to me last time, you know my temperament; I would never have bowed down. But I couldn't find a single fault in what she said that day. I only saw a mother's heart. She is extremely reasonable and upright. If I still act recklessly, it would be my fault. She is devoted to you, and you should understand her heart."

As Gu Zao spoke, sparks seemed to fly from Yang Hao's eyes. He gritted his teeth and sneered, "Her heart? When did you start caring only about her heart? What about mine? Where do you place it?"

Seeing his angry face, which was ashen, Gu Zao realized that this was the first time she had ever seen him with such an expression in all the time she had known him. She guessed he was furious and felt a little guilty. She was about to say a few words of comfort when she suddenly remembered the piece of paper that the old lady had burned on the ground that day. She gritted her teeth and said coldly, "Second Master, let's just consider what I said before as a mistake. I will never have the thought of marrying you again, and you should let it go as soon as possible."

After Gu Zao finished speaking, ignoring Yang Hao's tightly clenched fist that was cracking, she bent down and walked past him, heading quickly towards the door. But before her hand even touched the door frame, Yang Hao grabbed her around the waist and swept her up to a bed in the room, slamming her heavily onto the bed.

The bed was covered with brocade, so Gu Zao wasn't in pain. She looked up at him and was slightly surprised to see his somewhat frightening appearance. She propped herself up on the bed with one hand and said angrily, "Yang Hao, what are you doing?" But before she could finish speaking, he had already pressed her back down onto the bed.

Gu Zao struggled to push him away, but her hands were already pressed down on the bed and her body was pinned down. She kicked wildly with her feet, feeling anxious and angry. Just as she was about to speak, Yang Hao lowered his head and kissed her.

This time, there was not a trace of the tenderness and affection from before. Gu Zao felt a sharp pain from his kisses. She finally managed to catch her breath, but then felt a chill on her chest. He had moved to her neck, opened her clothes, and kissed there.

Gu Zao's heart pounded wildly. She tried to push him away, but he kept kissing and licking her there, and his unshaven chin rubbed against her, making her feel numb, itchy, and slightly stinging. She couldn't even speak. It wasn't until he held that cherry-like nipple in his mouth, reluctant to let go, that she finally managed to push him away with all her might. She pulled her clothes up, sat up, and glared at him angrily, saying with a mixture of shame and anger, "Yang Hao, are you trying to force me?"

Yang Hao was pushed away by Gu Zao. He saw that her face was flushed, her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were haphazardly covered, vaguely revealing a glimpse of her alluring figure. Just as he was feeling unsatisfied, her words rekindled his anger. He threw a piece of paper in front of Gu Zao and said angrily, "Take a closer look and see what this is."

Seeing his expression, Gu Zao sensed a hint of mockery mixed with anger. She unfolded the paper with a puzzled look, but after just one glance, she froze, unable to recover for a long time.

Seeing her stunned expression, Yang Hao sneered, "Did you see that clearly? This is your real indenture. The one you saw burned was just a fake!"