Through the door, she could only hear the indistinct chatter and laughter of the young couple. Then the boat lurched, and she nearly fell flat on her face.
Bao Niang straightened her hair and adjusted her clothes. She stood outside the door for a long time before the young master emerged again.
Gu Lanyin beckoned to her, and Bao Niang immediately followed.
"We'll dock soon. Please go to the storeroom and pick out some gifts. Pack them well; they're for the relatives and friends in Xunyang."
Bao Niang humbly said, "I'm stupid and afraid I can't handle such an important task."
She lowered her head, revealing a golden butterfly hairpin that shimmered in the dark, rainy day like a dancing speck of light.
Gu Lanyin glanced at her fair neck and smiled slightly. "Your miss says you're very capable—as good as three people. How could you be stupid? Since Wan Niang isn't feeling well, you're the best person for this."
Bao Niang's heart leapt with joy. She tried hard to suppress her smile.
Perhaps to avoid making a fool of herself, she stayed extremely busy for the last two days on the boat.
Wan Niang hardly saw her.
No one urged her to eat more, and she began to look a little better.
On the day they disembarked, relatives from Xunyang were already waiting on the shore. The two families greeted each other. Sixth Uncle Gu latched onto his nephew as if he were his own brother, chattering endlessly. The goods on board took some time to unload, so the women took carriages to the mansion first.
Sixth Uncle Gu's residence was grand. He had married one wife back in his hometown, but after years of separation, their feelings had faded. Here in Xunyang, he had married another woman, Madam Qian, whom the entire household treated as the legitimate mistress. A few days earlier, Madam Qian had thoroughly cleaned the courtyard, prepared a welcoming banquet at home, and invited several close friends.
Wan Niang had heard about Madam Qian from Gu Lang, so she addressed her as "Aunt" and presented the gifts.
The flower hall was full of women. The delicate young woman smiled as she moved, her words and actions flawless. But as she sat down, a thin layer of cold sweat appeared on her forehead. She wiped it with her handkerchief and took a sip of tea.
After several rounds of drinks at the banquet, Wan Niang excused herself to freshen up. Supported by Bao Niang, she left the flower hall.
Her steps grew increasingly unsteady. When she finally reached a secluded corner, she vomited. Seeing her sleeves and skirt soiled, Bao Niang went to fetch clean clothes.
This place was quiet and remote. Wan Niang slowly slid to the ground and looked up at the branches that had not yet sprouted leaves. She was like a newly hatched chick. Her mind was blank, freed from all the constraints of propriety, listening to the sound of flowing water, the wind…
And then a somewhat jarring sound of panting.
Wan Niang frowned and cautiously stood up. She looked around, finally fixing her gaze behind a distant rockery.
Her footsteps were light. As she drew near, apart from the birds in the branches, no one noticed her—least of all the man and woman hidden among the rocks, who were in the heat of passion.
Wan Niang saw the man's bulging muscles, the sticky sweat, and his fierce profile. Her stomach churned, but having just vomited, there was nothing left to bring up. Her gaze dropped inadvertently and she saw something as large as a donkey's member. She frowned even more.
It drove into the woman like a knife, and the woman beneath him endured it obediently, biting her finger and urging him on with a muffled voice.
Those debauched sounds awakened a dream she had once had. Zhao Wan Niang snapped to attention, her face flushed. Unwittingly, she had pictured Gu Lanyin as the man. Now, looking at this repulsive, disgusting scene, everything felt different.
She closed her eyes and slowly walked back. Before Bao Niang returned, she stopped her at a moon-shaped gate.
Bao Niang had brought clean clothes. Seeing her mistress's abnormal expression, she thought she had caught a chill from the wind. But looking closer, there seemed to be another reason.
"Miss…"
"Shh."
Silently, she changed her clothes. But Bao Niang, who had been with her for years, could easily see through her. When no one was around, she deliberately said,
"Could it be that miss is thinking about a man?"
The words had barely left her mouth when a heavy slap landed on her face.
Wan Niang was so angry she could barely stand.
Thinking it in her heart was one thing; being called out was another.
Bao Niang stared at her, finally letting out a bitter laugh.
"What kind of mistress are you? I just said a word. Even if it were the stars in the sky, I would find a way to pluck them down for you."
"Don't say such things again."
But unexpectedly, Bao Niang immediately followed up: "You want a man, don't you? I'll find you one. How about that?"
Author's Note:
None