The maidservant named Bao Niang watched him with a pounding heart. Realizing she had done something foolish, she quickly apologized to her mistress.
"Madam said you've returned, miss, and sent me to bring you some sweet soup."
She carried in a food box, her head slightly bowed, face flushed.
Wan Niang had grown up with her; though they were mistress and maid, they were like sisters.
Right now, in broad daylight, the two of them had been embracing—no wonder the maid had laughed. Wan Niang shot her a reproachful glare, then straightened her clothes, determined not to touch him again.
By midday, the banquet ended, and Wan Niang stepped outside for some air.
The maid waiting at the door winked at her secretly. Seeing no reaction, Bao Niang peeked into the room, then cautiously pulled her mistress to a secluded corner outside.
After so many days apart, thinking about how she would have to spill everything about that impostor, Bao Niang couldn't help but cry.
She was the only loyal servant left in the entire Zhao household.
Indignantly, Bao Niang said, "Miss, everyone is lying to you!"
Wan Niang wiped her tears, but replied understandingly, "I know. But it can't be helped."
"Miss, you're being foolish! That wild girl they found—she looks just like you! If the young master hadn't discovered it in time, she would have entered the bridal chamber! Everyone in this house doesn't care about you. They just wanted someone to marry off so they could become relatives of the Gu family."
Wan Niang seemed not to grasp her meaning, her mind full of only one thing: he had searched for her all the way to that remote place.
"I knew he wasn't that kind of person."
Zhao Wan Niang smiled to herself, then actually comforted Bao Niang: "What's past is past. Now I'm back, Father and Mother are happy, Gu Lang is happy—everyone is fine. Why go looking for trouble with that girl?"
Bao Niang rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Miss! Master and Madam went to great lengths to find a substitute bride. Did they ever think of you? When you were gone, they even made me call that wild girl 'miss.' But whenever I thought of you being swept away by the flood, my heart ached. While you were away, I gave her a hard time. In my heart, only you are my mistress, and only I care about you like this."
As she spoke, Bao Niang hugged the young woman in front of her, sobbing uncontrollably. "You're finally back."
"You must have suffered while I was away."
Bao Niang nodded. When she had cried enough, she began to pour out her grievances like beans from a sack.
Zhao Wan Niang sat quietly, listening.
"She touched all your clothes. Whenever I saw it, I scolded her. Last time, we even got into a fight. She was so strong—she hurt my neck."
Wan Niang thanked Bao Niang, then thought of the books and writing materials in her room.
"She came from a poor family. Can she read?"
Bao Niang snorted. "She knows a few characters, but the marriage was urgent, so there was no time to hire a tutor. The governess barely managed to teach her some etiquette. Occasionally, she did read a bit."
So that was it.
Zhao Wan Niang patted Bao Niang's hand and instructed, "Don't mention the substitute marriage anymore. It would embarrass them."
"Miss, you always think of others, but you need to look out for yourself too."
Zhao Wan Niang smiled. "Everything is mutual. Right now, I feel it's already very good."
Bao Niang looked at her carefree expression and sighed. "Just wait until we get to the Gu household. See how things are there. I've heard the Gu matriarch is no pushover."
Gu Lang had never mentioned his mother.
Now, with Bao Niang's prompting, Zhao Wan Niang's heart grew gradually uneasy.
Gu Lang's wedding had already taken place.
Few people knew about the substitute bride. Now that he had brought her back, how would his family see her?
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. With a worried face, she returned to the room.
Tomorrow, she would have to go back with Gu Lang. She was reluctant to leave.
In the eyes of others, she was already his wife. But only Zhao Wan Niang understood that on the day he married, she was still in that small riverside town, enduring a butcher's abuse.
She had no grand dowry procession, no bridal sedan chair, no wedding chamber. She had become his wife in a daze.
Hesitantly, seeing him look at her with concern, she couldn't help saying, "Gu Lang, can I stay home a few more days?"
Gu Lanyin smiled without speaking, just closed the worn book and walked slowly toward her.
"What did that maid tell you just now?"
"Nothing."
Gu Lanyin looked into her eyes, which could not hide secrets, and guessed, "An ugly daughter-in-law afraid to meet her in-laws?"
"No…"
"Between us, what can't be said?"
"But…"
Some words really couldn't be spoken; saying them would make her seem too greedy.
Gu Lanyin looked at her knitted brows, pressed his fingertip to the furrow, and gently smoothed it. Softly, he said, "If it's about the wedding, you don't need to worry."
"When we return, we'll bow to our parents again."
"We can bow again?"
Seeing her innocent look, Gu Lanyin nodded and said with a suppressed laugh, "My parents haven't met you yet. Don't worry. I was the one who ran off on the wedding procession. If they scold anyone, the fault is mine, not yours."