During the early days of the twelfth lunar month, families everywhere were preparing Laba porridge early in the morning. Some families had even prepared ahead of time to set up tents and offer porridge at dozens of temples in and around the capital city.
In previous years, the Gu family from Quyu Alley would join the Zhao family, with whom they had good relations, to distribute porridge at Wanyuan Nunnery. However, this year, the second lady of the Gu family canceled the trip because the Old Madam of the Gu family was returning home. The two masters of the Gu household also took a day off, bringing their eldest sons and attendants with them to ride out early in the morning to welcome the Old Madam back.
They hurried all the way and finally encountered the Old Madam’s carriage on the official road around mid-morning.
The Old Madam had been worshiping at Zuwang Mountain for five years and hadn’t returned home during that time. It was always the younger family members who visited her on the mountain. Therefore, this time, there were three carriages just for carrying luggage.
The steward at the head recognized the two masters and quickly ordered the carriages to stop, then reported to the Old Madam inside.
Soon, Nanny Wei, who attended to the Old Madam, lifted the curtain. The Old Madam didn’t show herself, but Nanny Wei called out loudly, “Master Gu, Master Gu, and young masters, the old lady says the road is dusty, so she won’t come out. Whatever needs to be discussed can wait until we return to the mansion.”
Second Master Gu Qirong was a simple-minded scholar. Knowing his mother’s fastidious nature, he didn’t find anything unusual.
However, First Master Gu Qizheng understood that while his mother appeared stern and cold, she actually adored her children and grandchildren. It was impossible for her to not even show her face to the family members who had come specifically to welcome her. When Nanny Wei lifted the curtain, Gu Qizheng vaguely saw two figures inside: his mother and another person…
Tsk, it was likely his unruly daughter, Gu Fu.
Gu Qizheng had previously worked at the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. He had also served outside the capital for two years before joining the Ministry of Revenue. Unlike his brother, who was solely devoted to the classics of literature, Gu Qizheng was quick-witted. It only took a moment for him to understand why the old lady didn’t show her face.
Five years ago, Gu Fu joined the army at the northern border. A month ago, she died from severe injuries while disguised as a man. The emperor posthumously honored her with the title of Marquis Zhongshun. Though her death was faked, the injuries were real.
The old lady likely didn’t come out because she didn’t want the injured Gu Fu to suffer by getting off the carriage.
Gu Qizheng’s guess was almost entirely correct. Inside the carriage, layers of soft cushions cushioned the ride. The old lady half-embraced Gu Fu, softly comforting her, “Be strong, Fu’er, we’ll be home soon.”
Gu Fu, showing none of the weakness of an injured person, even smiled and said, “I’m fine, Grandmother. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Her lowered voice was somewhat hoarse and indistinguishable in gender.
Gu Fu had grown accustomed to pain over the years of hard fighting. Besides, it had been over a month since she got injured. Even the worst wounds had mostly healed. The remaining injuries were just superficial wounds reopened during her swift return from the northern border. They looked alarming but weren’t serious.
However, the old lady, who had led a life of luxury, had never seen such gruesome wounds. The worst injury she had ever suffered was pricking her finger with a needle. Naturally, she didn’t believe Gu Fu and continued to comfort her, treating her as if she were a fragile little thing.
After another hour or so, they finally reached Jingguang Gate in the early afternoon. Due to Gu Qizheng’s official position, the registration for entering the city didn’t take long. The carriages passed through the streets and stopped at the Gu family’s mansion in Quyu Alley.
Nanny Wei lifted the curtain, and Gu Fu was the first to get out of the carriage. She then turned around to help the Old Madam. Seeing the Old Madam’s worried gaze, Gu Fu responded with a smile.
The Old Madam knew that she couldn’t let anyone discover Gu Fu’s injury, so she suppressed her worry and got off the carriage with the help of Nanny Wei and Gu Fu.
At the entrance of the Gu family residence, female relatives were waiting. They, along with the two masters who had just dismounted, welcomed the old madam. Some called her “mother,” while others called her “grandmother,” making the scene quite lively.
Everyone chatted as they entered the house and went to the courtyard where the old madam lived when she was at home. They gathered in the main room to talk.
Finally, someone spoke up, looking at Gu Fu and asking, “Is this the second young lady? She has grown so tall.”
The speaker was none other than Aunt Yang from Gu Qizheng’s household.
Gu Qizheng’s wife had passed away early, and he had not remarried. As the only concubine in the main household, Aunt Yang had naturally risen in status, adopting the demeanor of the main wife and daring to speak up in front of the Old Madam.
However, the Old Madam couldn’t stand concubines overstepping their bounds. She pretended not to hear and didn’t acknowledge her, so the Second Madam spoke up instead, “Indeed, I almost didn’t recognize her.”
The Old Madam then smiled and said, “Fu’er, go and greet your aunt and your younger siblings.”
Gu Fu, who had been quietly drinking Laba porridge, put down her small bowl, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and stood up to bow to the second lady, “Greetings, Aunt.”
Gu Fu softened her tone, sounding completely different from how she was in the carriage.
Second Madam Li, a kind-hearted woman, took Gu Fu’s hand and looked her up and down. Seeing Gu Fu’s tall figure and uniquely beautiful appearance, she praised, “As expected of a girl raised by the Old Madam. Just looking at her makes one like her.”
After the compliments, Second Madam Li called over her five-year-old daughter and told her to greet her second sister.
The little girl was shy and almost hid behind Second Madam Li but managed to say, “Hello, second sister!”
Though Gu Fu had never seen her before, she knew she was the fifth in the family. She replied, “Hello, Fifth Sister.”
Little Gu blushed and completely hid behind Second Madam Li, which caused everyone to laugh.
Standing next to Second Madam Li was a gloomy-looking boy of about seventeen or eighteen years old. Gu Fu remembered him; he was the eldest son of the second household, Gu Zhu.
Gu Fu greeted him, “Third Brother.”
The gloomy boy clasped his hands in a salute to Gu Fu, his eyes downcast, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze, and said softly, “Hello, second sister.”
Then Gu Fu turned and looked at the young man standing next to Gu Qizheng.
The young man had handsome features and bore some resemblance to Gu Fu. He was her full brother, Gu Chen.
“Big Brother.”
Gu Chen opened his mouth as if he had a thousand things to say but only managed to reply, “Second Sister.”
On her way back, Gu Fu had heard that her elder brother was already married, so she asked curiously, “Where is Sister-in-law? Why isn’t she here?”
Gu Chen replied absentmindedly, “She is ill. I will introduce you when she recovers.”
Gu Fu pretended not to notice Gu Chen’s odd behavior and turned to Aunt Yang and the young girl beside her, Gu Shishi.
“Aunt, Fourth Sister.”
Having just been snubbed by the Old Madam, Aunt Yang forced a smile at Gu Fu. Gu Shishi, who took after her mother in being unable to hide her feelings, showed her displeasure openly but dared not say anything. She only greeted Gu Fu dryly, “Second Sister.”
The Gu family consisted of two households: the first with one son and two daughters and the second with one son and one daughter, making the family relatively simple.
However, next to Gu Shishi stood another girl. Seeing her, Gu Fu’s smile became brighter. “Sister Qingyao.”
Mu Qingyao, Gu Fu’s cousin, had been living with the Gu family for years. Despite being a guest, she showed no sign of timidity and exhibited the grace of a noble lady. “Sister Fu.”
After the younger generation exchanged greetings, the family chatted for a while. The old madam, concerned about Gu Fu’s injury, feigned fatigue, and the gathering soon dispersed.
Second Madam Li, who managed the household, worried that Gu Fu, having been away for so long, might not recognize the way, and prepared to personally escort her back to her original courtyard and help her select new maidservants.
However, just as they left the old madam’s courtyard, Gu Qizheng took Gu Fu away. Shortly afterward, Second Madam Li heard that Gu Fu had been punished by her father to kneel in the ancestral hall.
“Why is this?” Second Madam Li was puzzled, not understanding what Gu Fu could have done to warrant such a punishment right after returning home.
The nanny who brought the news was also confused, so Second Madam Li went to find her husband, Gu Qirong. However, Gu Qirong had always listened to his elder brother since childhood. Although he didn’t understand the situation, he advised Madam Li, “My brother has his reasons for doing this. Don’t interfere.”
Meanwhile, Gu Fu knelt before the ancestral tablets of the Gu family ancestors. She shed her obedient demeanor, her back straight as a sword, exuding an uncommon sharpness not found in ordinary noble girls.
Gu Qizheng stood nearby, scolding her harshly.
“What should I say to you? Huh? You dared to stay in the northern frontier alone for five years! You even tricked the emperor into giving you a recommendation letter to join the army in the north. Have you lost your mind? Do you think that just because you saved the emperor, you can do whatever you want?!”
“I wrote to you to come back, but you ignored me. If it weren’t for the emperor’s decree, would you have abandoned your femininity and become a warrior for life?!”
The suppressed anger of five years finally erupted. His scholarly demeanor was completely discarded. Pointing a finger at Gu Fu, he gritted his teeth and said, “Let me tell you, I don’t care what you’ve done these past years. Now that you’re back, you are just a daughter of the Gu family. Stay home, read the classics for women, and don’t cause trouble!”
“You’re not young anymore. I’ve asked your aunt to find a suitable match for you, and you won’t be wronged. If you dare to disobey me again, I will expel you from the family as if I never had such an unfilial child! Don’t think I can’t be ruthless!”
Gu Fu let Gu Qizheng scold her because she knew that even if a princess had such experiences, she would be criticized, let alone her, an ordinary noble girl.
But when Gu Qizheng mentioned reading women’s teachings and finding her a husband, Gu Fu couldn’t hold back her annoyance and interrupted him.
“I heard that when the news of General Gu’s death reached the palace, father nearly fell off the jade steps in front of the civil and military officials?”
The rebuttal came swiftly. Gu Qizheng, who had just claimed to be able to be ruthless, turned red with embarrassment.
Angered and ashamed, Gu Qizheng looked around and grabbed an iron whip from the rack. He raised it but couldn’t bring himself to strike her. Finally, he threw the whip on the ground and roared, “Get out!”
Gu Fu, unafraid, pretended to rise. “Then may I take my leave?”
Realizing his mistake, Gu Qizheng remembered why he had ordered her to kneel and shouted, “Where do you think you’re going?! Kneel down!”
Gu Fu, looking helpless, muttered, “Why go back on your word?” and knelt again.
Since Gu Fu had to kneel, she couldn’t leave. Ironically, it was Gu Qizheng, who had shouted “Get out,” who ended up storming out of the ancestral hall, furious at his own daughter.
Translator Notes
Laba Porridge: A ceremonial porridge eaten on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the Chinese calendar, typically made with rice, beans, peanuts, dried fruit, lotus seeds, etc.
Old Madam: The matriarch of the Gu family, the main character’s grandmother.
Two Masters: The two sons of Old Madam, One being Gu Qizheng (main character’s father) and the other is Gu Qirong
Fu’er: Term of endearment that elders may use by adding the suffix 儿 ‘er’ to the end of a name.
Like the main character, Gu Fu, the younger generation is referred to by names such as ‘Second Sister’ or ‘Third Brother.’ Paternal cousins call each other brother or sister, and the numerical counting tells when they were born in the family. So, our main character is the second-born of her generation in the Gu family.
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