Un jeune homme maladif qui voyage dans le temps jusqu'à la dynastie Song

Chapitre 32

The banquet at Sister Gu's table was ready. According to custom, the father-in-law or brother-in-law should accompany the son-in-law, but since her father-in-law was absent and her brother-in-law wasn't there, Gu Zao drank a couple of cups of wine with Yang Hao herself. After the banquet, it was time to prepare to return home. Gu Zao bid a reluctant farewell to her third sister, Liu Zao. She gave Manager Hu a few more instructions, saying she would come again in a few days. As they were talking, she noticed that Fang Shi had pulled Yang Hao aside and was talking incessantly, her eyes frequently glancing in her direction. Fearing she might say something irrelevant, she quickly went over to interrupt her. The two of them were then seen off by the others and boarded their carriage to leave.

Sitting in the carriage, Gu Zao recalled the scene of Fang Shi talking to Yang Hao earlier, and said with a smile, "My mother sometimes doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. If she says anything inappropriate, don't take it to heart."

Yang Hao glanced at her, chuckled, but remained silent. Gu Zao, noticing his ambiguous smile, became curious and pressed him for details. Yang Hao, keeping her in suspense, finally grinned and said, "My mother-in-law was worried you wouldn't know how to flatter a woman, so she told me to be more lenient with you..."

Gu Zao was surprised; she hadn't expected Fang Shi to say that last thing. Seeing Yang Hao's smug look, she spat at him. Unexpectedly, his eyes lit up, and he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "But why do I feel like the person my mother-in-law described doesn't resemble you? I'm quite satisfied with you, your husband..."

Gu Zao gently pinched his ear, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her into his arms. The two sat together in the carriage. Yang Hao opened one of the carriage windows, and the two enjoyed the scenery as they returned to the Grand Commandant's residence.

Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Charming Lady Unleashes Her Power * Hui Xin's Theory of Management

The two returned to the manor and went together to report to the old lady. Gu Zao saw that her expression was indifferent, and since she had done her proper duty, she also withdrew. That evening, the two lay side by side in bed. Yang Hao simply held her, who was sleeping on the inside, and let her rest her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead and chuckled softly, "I actually heard some of what your mother-in-law said to you today. You didn't sleep well the past few nights, and you had to get up early every morning. Tonight, I won't bother you. I'll let you get some rest so you won't say that you can't even get a full night's sleep after marrying me."

Gu Zao knew he was considerate of her, and recalling Fang Shi's overreaction earlier that day, she found it amusing and chuckled. Unexpectedly, Yang Hao rolled over, placed one hand on her lower abdomen, and gently rubbed it, saying, "Second Sister, could you already be carrying my child?"

Gu Zao felt ticklish from his rubbing and pushed his hand away. She then glanced at him and said, "You wish! You've only been married for three days, and you're already thinking about me having your child?"

Yang Hao sighed and said, "I used to only think about marrying you. But now, seeing the way my mother treats you, I understand what you were thinking when you rejected me that day."

Gu Zao saw his eyes looking at her, so dark they seemed to reflect her own. Her heart warmed, and a playful thought arose. She stretched out two fingers and pinched his slightly prickly chin, saying fiercely, "Second Master, you've finally had a change of heart. Let me go as soon as possible, it's not too late. Of the dowry I brought into your house, you only need to return half of it; the rest is yours."

Yang Hao chuckled, rolled over and pinned her down, tumbling around on the bed in his arms. His hand was already inside her undergarments. Gu Zao slapped his hand a few times and said, "Didn't you just tell me to rest? Why are you clinging to me again?"

Yang Hao wrapped them both in the blankets before speaking seriously: "I originally wanted to let you rest well, but since you mentioned leaving, I can't be gentle with you anymore. I have to do my best while you're here, so that you can at least have a son or daughter. When you see the child in the future, it will be as if you're seeing me, so that you won't have nothing to look forward to."

He spoke with utmost seriousness, but Gu Zao was laughing so hard she was almost choking. Seeing her face flushed and her eyes brimming with tears, Yang Hao kissed her immediately. Outside the window, the autumn night was bleak, but beneath the red silk curtains, soft flesh and fragrant warmth filled the air, a gentle springtime feeling.

Within a few days, Gu Zao had a general understanding of the situation in the mansion. She rarely saw Grand Commandant Yang in the mansion, and recently, due to the tense relations between the Song and Liao dynasties, he was practically invisible during the day. She didn't know what Jiang Shi was thinking, but outwardly she was very warm and friendly, addressing her as "sister-in-law" and frequently sending gifts to her room. As for Grand Commandant Yang's concubines, like Luo San Niang, they had initially looked down on the newlywed second wife, but after seeing her dowry, their pride was significantly diminished. Now, seeing Jiang Shi's close relationship with her, and her own approachable yet dignified manner, with the servants praising this second wife—personally appointed by the Empress Dowager—they naturally became very polite to her. As for the Old Madam, Gu Zao knew that although she disliked her, she was proud of her status and didn't openly express her feelings. Every day when she went to pay her respects with Madam Jiang, her attitude was indifferent, but she never said anything unpleasant to her face. Gu Zao was an easygoing person and didn't expect the old lady to change her mind about her in a short time, so she naturally didn't care. The only one who was acting a bit strangely now was Xu Jiaoniang.

Xu Jiaoniang was Yang Hao's niece-in-law, and according to etiquette, she should have come to pay her respects to her aunt, Gu Zao, long ago. However, since marrying into the family, she hadn't been seen coming to the South Courtyard. Even when they occasionally bumped into each other at the Old Madam's place, Xu Jiaoniang, considering herself of noble birth, often spoke with veiled sarcasm and biting remarks. Although Jiang Shi sometimes tried to stop her, seeing that the Old Madam mostly pretended not to hear, she paid even less attention. Gu Zao knew that Xu Jiaoniang's behavior was mainly due to her lingering resentment towards Yang Huan. Although Jiaoniang was also a shrew, in Gu Zao's eyes, she was just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl who had married a good-for-nothing playboy husband, and would probably suffer a lot in the future. Why would she bother arguing with her and causing herself unnecessary distress? Even if they bumped into each other, she would just walk away quickly.

After noon that day, Gu Zao waited until Huixin returned from the old lady's place, then called Lian and Rongcai to accompany her to Fangtai Tower. As the three of them left the south courtyard, Huixin walked and said with a smile, "The rose and water chestnut cake that you asked me to take to the old lady earlier, I followed the second madam's instructions and only said that I had figured out how to make it myself to give as a token of respect. It is not only delicate and fragrant with flowers, but also has the effects of clearing heat, regulating qi, relieving depression, and eliminating stagnation. Although I didn't see the old lady eat it, she asked me to keep it, just like the previous times."

Gu Zao smiled. She had been there a few days and learned from Huixin that the old lady had a constitution prone to internal heat and some digestive issues. She had written down some health-preserving recipes she had made before and discussed them with Madam Jiang, who praised them highly. Madam Jiang then asked Huixin to send them to the old lady's kitchen so she could prepare them and gradually improve her health. Sometimes she would also personally make medicinal dishes and pastries and send them over through Huixin. This rose and water chestnut cake was the perfect snack for the elderly to relieve phlegm and thirst.

She had been in the household for almost a month and had visited Fangtai Tower several times. Yang Hao had accompanied her the previous times, but today he had to go out on business and, not wanting her to go alone, had Huixin and Rongcai accompany her as well. The three had just left the inner courtyard when they unexpectedly ran into Yang Huan and Jiaoniang, a married couple. One had a fierce expression, the other a glaring look, like a pair of fighting cocks. The maids following behind them all had their heads bowed, appearing trembling with fear.

Gu Zao paused for a moment, but she didn't say a word about the couple's affairs. She simply stood aside and waited for them to finish.

Yang Huan saw that it was Gu Zao, and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, his mouth opening and closing before stopping. The beautiful woman was displeased and said indifferently, "Auntie, are you going out? It's good that we met. You can judge and make a decision for me. All those sluts in your old house have become well-behaved now, except for that one named Xiang Xing, who was always so flirtatious. I sold her to Sweetwater Lane, and he still goes there to flirt with them. If I hadn't slapped them away, she'd probably still be clinging to him. If you ask me, your nephew is really a fickle lover. He'll sleep with anyone, whether they're fragrant or foul, red or pink, as long as he's involved with them, he'll probably dream about them all the time."

Gu Zao, hearing the veiled criticism in her words, was about to speak when Hui Xin beside her sneered, "These are words I, as a servant, shouldn't be saying, but young mistress, you've already made a mistake from the start. Although I am the closest of relatives, there is still a distance between us. I have served the old lady for so many years, and this is the first time I've heard of a niece-in-law asking her aunt to make decisions about these scandalous affairs in her room. Young mistress, you must be confused with anger to say such things, right?"

Gu Zao smiled slightly at Hui Xin's eloquence. Jiao Niang, silenced, looked even more gloomy. After a moment of stunned silence, she managed to squeeze out a sentence: "I know you are Grandmother's favorite, but when I'm talking to my aunt, what right do you have to interfere? Besides, I don't have my aunt's kind heart. On my first day in the family, she had people crammed into the house to serve her, and she even had to put on a smiling face in front of everyone."

Huixin's face changed with anger, and she was about to speak again when Gu Zao stopped her, looking at Jiao Niang and saying calmly, "What Huixin just said is exactly what I think. My niece-in-law is proud and capable, and I, as her aunt, have heard about it. I am ashamed of my own inferiority and dare not make any decisions. If there are any accidental bumps in the future, I hope my niece-in-law will be more understanding."

Yang Huan stood there, his face flushing red and then pale. Seeing Jiao Niang standing there with her arms crossed, though she was also beautiful, compared to Gu Zao's composure, she was utterly unappealing. Seeing Jiao Niang about to glare at him, his anger flared even more. Pointing at her nose, he roared, "You vicious woman! Xiang Xing told me she was pregnant when you sold her. A perfectly good child is gone just like that! I've tolerated you for so long, and now you're taking advantage of me! Get back to your own home right now!"

The beautiful woman, having been publicly insulted by her husband, was furious. She jumped a head taller than Yang Huan and swung her fingernails at his face, which Yang Huan easily dodged. The woman persisted, pulling at him and starting a fight. Although Yang Huan was enraged, he couldn't use his full strength against the woman's tantrum and found himself unable to break free, sustaining several scratches on his face. The maids around him were frightened and dared not intervene, only watching helplessly.

Seeing the two of them openly making a scene in the outer courtyard, Gu Zao shook his head. Just then, he saw several servants from the outer courtyard who had heard the commotion coming over. He waved them away to separate the two of them and then went outside. Hui Xin and Rong Cai, who were watching the commotion, hurriedly followed him.

When the three arrived at the gate, the three men, having received Yang Hao's instructions, had already prepared two carriages and were waiting there. Gu Zao, seeing that her carriage was spacious, and finding it troublesome for the three of them to sit in two separate carriages, told the other two to also sit in hers.

Rong Cai's appearance was of average to below-average quality, and she had never harbored any ambition to seduce men and rise in rank. She was also quite proper in her conduct, so for the past few years, she had remained in the South Courtyard. When Master Yang was getting married, she feared she would suffer the same fate as the maids and servants who had served the young master, being either driven away or sold by the new mistress. Although she knew she had nothing particularly outstanding about her, she worried that the new mistress might not tolerate her, so she had been somewhat apprehensive. Now, after spending more than half a month with this new mistress, seeing that she was not only composed in her dealings with others but also kind and approachable to the servants, her unease had long since dissipated. Now, seeing that she had even been invited to ride in her carriage, she was even more delighted and couldn't help but chuckle, "I overheard some of the girls working outside the courtyard gossiping the other day, saying that there isn't a single decent-looking maid left in the young master's quarters. They were all personally selected by the young mistress, and each one is more unsightly than the last. They're afraid they'll bring shame to the Grand Commandant's mansion if they go out."

Gu Zao smiled but didn't say anything. Huixin looked at Rongcai and said with a smile, "I'm two years older than you, and from now on we'll be like sisters. So there's something I need to remind you of, but don't think I'm being long-winded. Right now it's just the two of us, and the Second Madam is so kind, so you can just treat what you said earlier as a joke. But in the future, when you go out in front of outsiders, or among your sisters, you can't just casually talk about the men and women's affairs behind their backs. If it falls into the ears of someone with ulterior motives, you might get punished. Not only will you suffer, but the Second Madam might also lose face."

Hui Xin's words, though still accompanied by a smile, were somewhat harsh at the end. Rong Cai was startled, her expression turning somewhat ashamed.

Seeing her embarrassment, Gu Zao gently patted her hand and smiled, "Second Master was talking about you to me the other day. He said that you have been in the South Courtyard for several years and have always been very cautious, without making the slightest mistake. From now on, you just need to do the same as before."

Rong Cai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly nodded.

When Gu Zao arrived at Fangtai Restaurant, he told Rong Cai to make herself at home, and then he and Hui Xin went into the accounting room. Manager Hu also came in to report on recent events. Hui Xin tried to avoid him, but Gu Zao stopped her and instead introduced her and Manager Hu to each other.

Manager Hu laughed and said, "A restaurant next door opened a few days ago. As the female manager instructed, I sent people to make sure customers came. Their dishes are not as good as ours, but the prices are similar to ours. Fortunately, they hired a stringed instrument band, so many customers eat and drink while listening to music."

Gu Zao nodded and said, "My family's business is doing well in this area, so others will naturally follow suit. In the future, there will only be more new restaurants, and their storefronts will be bigger than mine. It's impossible for my family to monopolize the business forever. Instead of being wary of others, we should think about how to improve ourselves day by day."

Huixin, who had been listening quietly, finally interjected, "Second Madam is right. In my opinion, this place has the imperial name bestowed by the current emperor, and it also has new dishes. This gives it an unparalleled advantage over other places. Now that others have stringed instruments, we can also invite them. If we manage it carefully, no matter how many restaurants open next door, they won't be able to compete with us. Besides, we can also expand our storefront in the future."

Manager Hu nodded and praised, "Although this is Miss Huixin's first time here, I can tell from your eloquence that you are just as quick-witted as my female manager."

Huixin felt a little embarrassed, afraid that Gu Zao would think she was being nosy. But when she saw Gu Zao just nodding and smiling at her, she felt relieved. Little did she know that Gu Zao had a plan in mind when she brought her along. It turned out that since Huixin had arrived a few days ago, she had been thinking of bringing her along to train with Manager Hu, so that if she couldn't come herself in the future, it would be cheaper to have Huixin handle some things for her.

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Farewell * Duck Offal Soup at the Fourth Watch

Gu Zao gave some more instructions to Manager Hu, and after checking the accounts and finding them perfectly accurate, it was already late afternoon. So she called Hui Xin and Rong Cai to go back together. Fang Shi saw her to the door, and suddenly seemed to remember something. Before she could say anything, she laughed to herself.

Seeing that she was laughing strangely, Gu Zao was about to ask when Fang lowered her voice and said, "I just heard a few days ago that Widow Li gave birth to a son for your uncle. He was overjoyed. That woman must be feeling like she's being scratched by a cat right now." As she spoke, she chuckled.

Seeing Fang's gloating expression, Gu Zao recalled Hu's past arrogance and sighed inwardly. Since Gu Zao married into the Grand Commandant's household, Hu had stopped preventing Xiu Niang from visiting her third sister. During Gu Zao's previous encounters with Xiu Niang, she had overheard a bit about her family. It turned out that the widow Li, ever since being brought into the household, was someone who never fought back or argued. If Hu told her to go east, she would never go west; she always obeyed Hu's wishes, leaving Hu with no reason to vent her anger. Although she seemed timid, she was surprisingly strong. One day, she somehow tripped and fell, but her belly remained perfectly still, leaving Hu to listen to the sounds through the wall all night. Now that she had given birth to a son, the family was experiencing both joy and sorrow, a truly mixed feeling.

Gu Zao told Fang Shi to be more discreet in front of Xiu Niang next time, lest Xiu Niang be upset. Fang Shi readily agreed. Only then did Gu Zao, Hui Xin, and Rong Cai board the carriage.

Gu Zao returned to the Grand Commandant's residence and, as usual, went to pay his respects to the old lady first. Usually, Madam Jiang would be there at this time, but she was nowhere to be seen. He noticed that although the old lady's expression remained indifferent, there seemed to be a hidden sorrow in her eyes. Gu Zao was somewhat puzzled, but he didn't ask too many questions. He stood there for a while and then returned to his room.

Gu Zao noticed that Yang Hao was not there and assumed he had gone out and had not yet returned. He asked Zhenxin, who had stayed in the courtyard that day, and learned that he had actually returned early and was in the study with Grand Commandant Yang, presumably to discuss something.

When Yang Hao returned to his room, it was already dusk. Gu Zao had dinner with him and observed him closely. He seemed no different from usual, chatting and laughing with her, but occasionally a hint of heaviness would flash across his expression. She wanted to ask him, but then held back.

That evening, Yang Hao went to his study. When Gu Zao went to look for him, she found him sitting behind his desk writing something. When he saw her come in, he stopped writing and beckoned to her.

Gu Zao reached out and pulled her onto his lap. Gu Zao glanced at the letter spread out in front of her and smiled, "Who is it addressed to?"

Yang Hao didn't answer, but instead reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, stroking her gently.

Gu Zao turned her head and saw that his brows were slightly furrowed and he looked somewhat absent-minded, so she asked softly, "I felt something was wrong as soon as I came back today. Is something wrong?"

Yang Hao looked at her for a long time before finally saying, "Our late emperor made an alliance with the Liao Kingdom in Chanzhou, agreeing to provide them with 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk annually for military expenses. The handover time is approaching this year."

Gu Zao was taken aback, then realized that the alliance he mentioned must be the Treaty of Chanyuan in history. According to her hazy high school history memories, the Song Dynasty had a better chance of winning this alliance with the Khitan. At that time, a medium-sized war would cost tens of millions of taels of silver. Exchanging 300,000 taels of tribute for good relations between the two countries, preventing the southward advance of the Khitan cavalry and the relocation of the capital, wasn't a huge price to pay. She was just a little confused about the connection between this tribute exchange and the unusual behavior of everyone in the Grand Commandant's office today.

Seeing that she was still somewhat confused, Yang Hao gently ruffled her hair and explained the reason. Gu Zao finally understood, but her heart also felt heavy.

Since the alliance was established with the Khitan during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, the two countries have ceased hostilities, and border trade has flourished. The people of the Hehuang region have enjoyed over thirty years of peace. Just a few years ago, Emperor Shengzong of Liao, Yelü Longxu, passed away, and his eldest son, Zongzhen, ascended the throne at the young age of fifteen. His mother, Consort Shunsheng, Xiao Nujin, not only declared herself Empress Dowager and regent but also heavily relied on her confidants and relatives, incurring Zongzhen's displeasure and causing increasing tension between mother and son. Originally, this was merely an internal conflict within Liao, having little to do with the Song Dynasty. However, according to reports from spies, Xiao Nujin intends to install her youngest son as emperor, while her younger brother, Xiao Xian, is also stirring up trouble, secretly plotting rebellion, with his target being the annual tribute delivery of Xiongzhou this year. Xiao Xian may secretly instigate trouble during the negotiations between the two countries' envoys, attempting to provoke conflict so he can take advantage of the chaos and launch a rebellion.

Although the Treaty of Chanzhou secured decades of peace, the court and the public are now militarily in disarray, indulging in revelry and oblivious to potential dangers. Since the departure of Grand Master Cao Wei a few years ago, it has become increasingly difficult to find a capable military commander. In recent days, Emperor Renzong and his ministers have been discussing the annual tribute from Xiongzhou daily. No one in the court or among the public is willing to step forward as envoy, fearing for their future, or even their lives. Emperor Renzong, having no other choice, finally forced Grand Commandant Yang to go on the mission to Xiongzhou. Yang Rui was initially unwilling, but looking around, there was no military officer of higher rank than him, and the emperor had personally summoned him to the imperial study, offering earnest encouragement and placing high hopes on him. He dared not refuse any longer and had to accept the assignment reluctantly. Fearing that his mother would worry, he waited until today, when he could no longer conceal it, before finally mentioning it.

After hearing this, Gu Zao sighed, "No wonder Mother looked so worried when she came back today. This is indeed a very important matter. A smooth handover is merely the duty of the Grand Commandant. But if things don't go smoothly and it really causes a conflict between the two countries, then..." She paused and didn't finish her sentence.

Yang Hao pulled her to sit on his lap, facing him, and then looked into her eyes and said, "Brother will be setting off tomorrow..." He stopped after saying that.

Seeing his hesitation, Gu Zao suddenly realized what he meant when she recalled the long private conversation between the two brothers in the study that afternoon. She asked hesitantly, "You... do you also intend to come along?"

Yang Hao sighed and looked at Gu Zao softly, saying, "The border markets around Xiongzhou are very prosperous. Although we will be escorted by local soldiers, the area is still a mixed bag, and we can't guarantee anything won't happen. I have several familiar fur merchants who travel around that area year-round. They have good reputations in the martial arts world and are very familiar with the local area. If anything happens, the news will travel faster than the government. This matter is of great importance, not only to ensure my brother's safety, but also to prevent our two countries from becoming enemies due to an accident..."

Gu Zao stared blankly for a while, then turned to look at the letter still lying on the table, its ink already dry, before forcing a smile and saying, "I came in just now and saw you writing a letter. Is it one of those people you asked me to send to you by fast horse?"

Yang Hao stroked Gu Zao's hair with both hands, placing them on her shoulders, and whispered, "It's just a precaution. Nothing will happen. Even if something does occur, my brother and I can handle it. I'll be back soon. Don't worry about me."

Gu Zao hugged his shoulders tightly, buried her face in his chest, and sullenly said for a while, "I'll wait for you to come home. You must come back soon. Promise me..."

Yang Hao remained silent, simply picked her up, stood up abruptly, and with a crash, overturned a chair. He strode towards the bedroom, where he encountered Rong Cai carrying a tea tray, about to enter. She blushed deeply, stood there motionless with her head down.

The two spent the night in tender intimacy, whispering endless secrets until nearly midnight before finally falling silent. Gu Zao, though somewhat tired, was preoccupied with the thought of accompanying Grand Commandant Yang on his journey north to Xiongzhou the next morning, her heart filled with longing. She only managed a brief moment of rest before waking, unable to fall back asleep. Afraid of disturbing him by turning over, she quietly nestled beside him in the darkness, listening to the gentle patter of the early winter rain outside.

Gu Zao was having trouble sleeping when she suddenly heard Yang Hao whisper beside her, "Second Sister, are you sleeping? I can't sleep, and I'm afraid of disturbing you..."

Gu Zao chuckled softly, placed her hand on his chest, and Yang Hao grasped her hand, suddenly turning over and saying, "I'm hungry."

Gu Zao hurriedly tried to sit up, but he pressed her down and laughed, "It's the middle of the night, why would I need you to get up and make me food... I remember there's a duck offal soup shop near the morning market a little past Zhengmen. I ate there once before, and it was quite delicious. Shall I take you there to try it?"

Seeing that he was getting into it, Gu Zao asked curiously, "Right now?"

Yang Hao laughed, "Now is the time. The night market lasts until the third watch, while the morning market starts at four or five in the morning. These soup stalls are open all night long." As he spoke, he threw off the covers and got out of bed. He turned on the light himself and dressed in a few quick movements. Seeing that Gu Zao was still wrapped in the covers and unwilling to get up, he went over and grabbed her, tickling her for a while. Gu Zao had no choice but to get up with him. Yang Hao looked her over, then took out a thick satin cloak inlaid with silver fur from the chest and put it on her before taking her hand and walking outside.

Both of them disliked having people sleeping outside on night watch, so they took an umbrella and a lantern and went out without disturbing anyone. They went through the side gate, where the gatekeeper was dozing off. Suddenly, he saw his master appear with a large oil-paper umbrella in his hand, and the person carrying the lantern beside him vaguely resembled his wife. He thought that there must be some urgent matter at the fourth watch, muttered to himself, and hurriedly opened the gate.

Yang Hao smiled at Gu Zao, held the umbrella in one hand, put his arm around her shoulder with the other, and led her toward the morning market.

The night was deep, and the only sounds were the patter of raindrops on the roof tiles, the occasional clanging of a wooden fish drum, and the barking of dogs in the distance. A gust of wind blew the rain down, slanting it towards their faces. Yang Hao quickly held his umbrella over Gu Zao. Although Gu Zao felt a chill in the early winter air, her heart was warmed.

The two had walked for a little over fifteen minutes when they saw shops selling breakfast with lights and candles. Occasionally, people would pass by carrying pigs and sheep into the market to be slaughtered, or people using carts or donkeys and horses to carry cloth bags from outside the city to sell their wares. All of them were in a hurry.

"That's it."

Yang Hao pointed ahead, and Gu Zao looked up and saw a small storefront in an alley, with a dim candlelight shining through the doorway, reflecting a slanting drizzle.

The two stepped into the shop. Since it was still early, there weren't many customers. The shopkeeper, an old woman, was so captivated by the two figures who looked like they had jumped out of a painting that she forgot to greet them. Yang Hao spoke a couple of times before snapping out of his reverie and smilingly went to work at the stove.

Gu Zao and Yang Hao sat facing each other at the low table. Looking around, Gu Zao suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, reminiscent of the noodle shop at the Zhouqiao Night Market in his old days. Even before tasting the food, he felt a sense of warmth and familiarity. Then, he realized that the duck offal soup Yang Hao had mentioned was actually duck blood soup.

Gu Zao carefully observed the old woman's actions. She saw that the old woman put the duck intestines, cut into inch-long pieces, gizzards, which had been salted, boiled, and then sliced into thin slices, along with small pieces of heart and liver, into the soup. She also added a piece of cured pork belly. Once the soup thickened and boiled, she added the blood that Gu Zao had cut into small pieces. After the soup boiled again, she poured it into a large bowl that had been filled with scallions, salt, and five-spice powder. The duck blood soup was then served to her.

Gu Zao smelled the aroma and found it incredibly fragrant. Taking a spoonful, she found the rich broth, with its few chewy duck gizzards, crisp duck intestines, and fragrant duck liver, along with many tiny chunks of tender duck blood, seemingly sliding smoothly down her throat. The tender, fragrant, and hot broth instantly made her feel refreshed, as if every pore on her body was opening up. She finished the entire bowl of soup. Looking up, she saw Yang Hao watching her. They smiled at each other and each ordered another bowl. Gu Zao drank half, but couldn't eat any more, so Yang Hao finished the remaining half.

The two got up and left the shop, still leaning on each other under the same umbrella. Yang Hao smiled and said, "Perhaps it's because you're here, but it tastes even better than when I ate it last time. When I come back, I'll ask you to make it for me next time; I'm sure it will be even more delicious."

Gu Zao looked up at him and smiled slightly, "That old lady's cooking is excellent, and I might not be able to make it as good as hers. If you like it, I will cook it for you every day, but if I can't make it as good as her, please don't nag me."

Yang Hao chuckled and stopped talking, only tightening his grip on her shoulders.

The two returned to their residence, but it was still past dawn, and the sky remained dark. The gatekeeper, who had been waiting at the gate, vaguely guessed from their expressions that they had gone out for a stroll. Although he was extremely puzzled, he was overjoyed to have received Yang Hao's reward money. Watching the two of them walk away together, he secretly wished that his master would take his wife on nightly outings every night.

Chapter Eighty Farewell * Fang's Instructions to Tu

Today, because the emperor and his civil and military officials would see them off all the way to Jinglong Gate in the north of the city, the people in the mansion only accompanied them inside the gate before being stopped by Grand Commandant Yang.

Gu Zao mentally counted the bags she and Hui Xin had packed that morning. Needless to say, she had prepared all the warm clothes, including boots, thick coats, and woolen cloaks. She had also packed a box of medicated oil, borneol, and liniment for bruises and sprains. If Yang Hao hadn't stopped her and joked that she was moving for him, she probably would have packed a few more bags.

They had already spent time together inside the house before leaving, but now that they were standing outside and it was really time to go, they felt a pang of reluctance. However, because there were many people around, they stood aside and whispered to each other.

While the two of them quietly parted ways, things became much more lively in the main house. Jiang Shi, Yang Huan and his wife, along with a group of heavily made-up concubines, and even Luo San Niang's illegitimate son, brought out by the wet nurse, all stood there bidding farewell to Grand Commandant Yang. Jiang Shi watched as her husband softly comforted Luo San Niang, whose eyes were red and on the verge of tears, while he only told her to take good care of her mother at home. She also caught a glimpse of the two women from the second wife's household exchanging glances, and her heart ached. Any concern she had for her husband's safety vanished, and she stood there coldly watching. The remaining concubines, knowing that the Grand Commandant had spent the night with Luo San Niang and was now being treated so well, were naturally filled with jealousy and envy. Seeing Jiang Shi standing coldly to the side, several of them retreated to her side. As they passed the wet nurse, for some reason, the child suddenly burst into tears.

Seeing everyone looking at her, the wet nurse quickly smiled and said, "Brother Dong knows that Master is leaving today, and he's very sad." She meant to praise the child for being sensible, but before she could finish speaking, she heard someone angrily shout, "You stupid fools who can't say anything nice! My son is going out on an imperial mission today, which is a joyous occasion. All of you, young and old, should put away your mournful faces. If you ruin my son's journey, I won't forgive you!"

Gu Zao looked in the direction of the voice and saw the old lady standing behind the group of people in the main house, leaning on her cane. She was speaking sternly and exchanged a glance with Yang Hao, who smiled slightly.

When the wet nurse saw the old lady suddenly appear and realized she had walked right into the line of fire, she was so frightened that she shrank back and hurriedly shrank behind the human wall, desperately trying to soothe the child. But Dong Ge had just been twisted hard on the leg by someone and was crying because of the pain, so she couldn't be soothed and he cried even louder.

Luo San Niang was about to shed a couple of tears in front of the Grand Commandant when she was scolded by the old lady. Seeing that the old lady was staring straight at her, her tears were quickly scared away. She hurriedly forced a smile and retreated to Dong Ge's side, where she and the wet nurse comforted him.

When Grand Commandant Yang saw that it was his mother coming out, he hurriedly went to greet her and said, "Mother, I went to say goodbye to you this morning. How could I dare to come out again? It's cold outside, be careful not to catch a cold."

The old lady's eyes swept over the group of people in the main room, and she snorted, "If I, this old woman, hadn't come out, I'm afraid this wonderful event would have been ruined. First thing in the morning, everyone's either wearing a long face or crying their eyes out; not one of them is pleasing to the eye!"