She got up. Outside, the sky was bright. Through the translucent window paper, the rain chains under the eaves clinked, and there were faint sounds of dogs barking and roosters crowing.
Zhao Wan Niang refreshed her makeup, and the maids outside, hearing the noise, came in to attend to her.
"What time is it?"
"Around noon."
Wan Niang nodded. In front of the mirror, she applied some rouge. After a nap, she looked much more spirited. She put on a crimson robe and sat in the main room. Soon, the kitchen staff brought in a food box.
The midday meal was extremely lavish.
A girl in blue clothes smiled as she served the dishes.
Wan Niang couldn't stomach greasy food, so she took light, refreshing dishes, eating a bit more with a smile. As for heavy dishes like crab meatballs with dried crab roe and braised goose with preserved vegetables, she barely touched them.
That was a boon for the other maids.
Bao Niang's mouth watered. She waited until Bai Long left, then stashed away all the good food.
Seeing that she had even brought her own container, Wan Niang was amazed. "So much? Can you finish all that today?"
"It's cold now. These dishes won't spoil in a day or two."
Bao Niang was completely at ease in front of her mistress. She sat down and picked up some meat that tasted excellent, putting it into Wan Niang's bowl.
"Miss, you're too thin. You can't just eat leafy greens. You must eat meat!"
"But... I can't stomach it."
"Just think of the future young master. You have to force yourself. Without meat, how will you have the strength to bear a child?" Bao Niang urged.
Mentioning children made Wan Niang anxious.
Before leaving home, her mother had instructed her to bear a child within the first year of marriage, whether boy or girl. The Zhao family was weak; without a child for support, if her husband ever changed his heart, she wouldn't even be able to return home.
She wanted a child too.
Zhao Wan Niang suppressed her nausea and ate the meat bite by bite.
Her originally flat belly gradually swelled, and soon, sourness rose in her throat.
She took a few sips of tea, desperately trying to suppress the queasiness.
Watching Bao Niang continue to eat, Wan Niang sighed.
"I really can't eat anymore."
Bao Niang kept eating.
Soon, other maids from the courtyard came to clear the table. Seeing that most of the dishes were gone, they were shocked.
After cleaning up, the group gossiped in the kitchen.
"That maid of the young mistress's took food and even packed some, leaving only scraps for us."
"She must come from a humble family, never having eaten good food before. Look at the young mistress—so frail. At home, she probably ate light fare."
...
When Bai Long entered, she saw the maids warming themselves by the fire instead of washing the dishes, laughing and chatting.
She frowned. Seeing the meager leftovers on the stove, she asked curiously, "What happened today?"
"The young mistress's maid really can eat."
Bai Long smiled, remembering that round, brash face.
"She's the young mistress's personal maid. There's no harm in her eating a bit more. Our Gu family won't go broke over her meals. The young mistress has just arrived; don't gossip about her behind her back."
She was afraid the young master would hear and be displeased.
The maids in the courtyard listened to her. Reminded, they stopped laughing and went about their work. Bai Long gazed at the leftovers and sighed softly.
By evening, it began to snow lightly, and darkness fell quickly.
After Bai Long finished sweeping the snow in the young master's courtyard, she heard Cheng Bi's laughter from afar. Clutching her bamboo broom, she stood under the banana leaves.
Before long, a young man passed through the moon gate.
Snowflakes dotted his black fox-fur collar. He walked ahead without looking back.
The maid lifted the door curtain. Inside, the charcoal fire was blazing. The snow on the young man's temples and shoulders melted slightly. Seeing the new bride waiting inside, he smiled.
"I was delayed at the pawnshop, checking goods."
Gu Lanyin bent down to feel her hands and took out a bracelet he had picked out earlier from his sleeve.
It felt heavy on her wrist, and Wan Niang smiled too.
"It's too flashy to wear out like this."
As she spoke, she wrapped the bracelet in a handkerchief and gave it to Bao Niang to put in the jewelry box.
After dinner, she watched him practice calligraphy in the study. Remembering the dream from daytime, she whispered, "Come with me."
Gu Lanyin looked up, saw her hesitating, and put down his brush.
He followed her to the inner chamber.