Her mother had never told her about the dowry.
Gu Lang had never truly spoken to her about that girl either.
Zhao Wan Niang glanced out of the carriage window at the bare mountains.
In this season, the view was entirely bleak. The dim sky pressed heavily overhead, and she clutched her chest, feeling suffocated.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
Wan Niang smiled weakly and shook her head, telling her not to worry.
"After drifting around these days, my body's just like this. Maybe it'll be better once we get off the carriage."
Bao Niang poured her a cup of hot tea and said with a worried frown, "Miss, with such a gentle disposition, you're bound to be bullied once we reach the Gu residence. I've heard..."
She glanced around—the young master was not in the carriage—and, afraid of being overheard, leaned close to Wan Niang's ear to relay what she had gathered these past days.
"Our young master may keep himself clean of concubines and maids, but he has a personal maidservant who holds considerable sway in the inner quarters. They say she's pretty, and the lady of the house likes her too."
Zhao Wan Niang smiled. She had known this long ago.
On the way back from Anqing, Gu Lang had already told her.
"From now on, you'll see her every day. Don't make things difficult for her. She's his only trusted maid. If there's something you can't stand, you'll have to bear it."
"What? Miss! We're family. How can you side with an outsider?"
Wan Niang looked at her helplessly and tapped her head. "A married woman follows her husband. For small matters, you have to endure. As they say, harmony in the family brings prosperity. Don't I know you? At home, only I spoiled you. Now that we're away, you need to restrain yourself."
Bao Niang sighed heavily and drooped her head.
The carriage jolted along the road. Finally, they reached a resting stop, and everyone got out to take a break.
This was an official post station, originally meant only for those on government or military business. But now that a wealthy local landlord had arrived and spent money generously, the staff beamed with delight and set to work everywhere, ignoring the rules.
Wan Niang wanted something fresh to eat, so Bao Niang went to the kitchen to check.
She came back gesturing happily. "They just delivered a big batch of crabs, each as big as my palm. Now is the perfect time for crab. Let's steam a few."
Cheng Bi, sitting nearby, interjected, "The young mistress has only just recovered. She can't eat crab."
"But can we?"
Cheng Bi smiled. "Since you're the young mistress's right hand, of course you can. 'Fragrant orange and crab moon, new wine and chrysanthemum sky.' I even have some chrysanthemum wine here. Care for a drink?"
Cheng Bi had delicate features and spoke with a laugh, so Bao Niang wasn't afraid of him. She held out her hand. "Where's the wine?"
Cheng Bi raised an eyebrow and groped inside his robe, only to come up empty.
"I already drank it."
"You little trickster."
Wan Niang watched the two of them banter, then took out some silver from her sleeve and said with a smile, "You've both been so busy these days. Take this silver to the kitchen and order whatever you like. Don't worry about my health. I only need a few light dishes."
Cheng Bi shook his head and tilted his chin toward Bao Niang. "Greedy girl, hurry up and order some meat and fish."
"You're the greedy one!"
With that, Bao Niang ran off.
*
Presumably because they'd spent generously, the midday meal was particularly lavish—even better than yesterday's banquet.
But since it was autumn, there were fewer green vegetables.
Wan Niang had little appetite. Gu Lanyin picked some light dishes for her bowl. Seeing her pale face and listless expression, he went to the kitchen himself.
When he returned, he brought soup.
The chicken soup had been skimmed of fat, and the wontons were small and thin-skinned, floating gently in the clear broth.
Wan Niang couldn't eat much, so Gu Lanyin replaced the meal with chicken soup wontons.
As she watched him feed her, Wan Niang's face flushed. Though she didn't really like wontons, she forced herself to finish them so as not to disappoint his kindness.
Even though the fat had been removed, the chicken soup still tasted greasy to her.
Zhao Wan Niang ate some water chestnuts and soon felt full.
Once back in the carriage, the food she had eaten seemed to rise to her throat. She covered her mouth, trying to suppress the nausea, but with the jolting of the carriage, no amount of effort helped.
"Miss?"
Wan Niang clutched the spittoon, vomiting violently, her vision turning white.
Bao Niang patted her back and said anxiously, "Miss, you're unwell. Let me tell them to stop."
"No need. We have so much luggage, and we're in the wilderness. Stopping would delay us. What if we run into highwaymen?"
Zhao Wan Niang waved her hand, leaned back against the cushion, and stared aimlessly at the scenery outside.
She didn't know when this journey would end.
Panting, she endured morning and night. Over two days and one night of travel, she hardly ate well.
It was already difficult for Gu Lang to personally attend to her daily needs; how could she add to his troubles?