In April, the results of the government observation assignments came out. The Ministry of Personnel allocated the hundreds of candidates from the second and third ranks to various offices. Gu Lanyin entered the Ministry of War. Since he was to observe governance, he could not easily return home. Counting the days, from the end of the metropolitan examination, traveling northward, he had already lingered for nearly half a year. A letter from Chen Qiu had arrived not long ago. Gu Lanyin looked at the characters on the letter and thought of Wan Niang, far away in Southern Zhili. In this life, he had taken the provincial examination three years early and left Xunyang early. Wan Niang, being pregnant, had stayed there, looked after by his sixth uncle. Not long ago, the child was born—a boy. On the day of the full moon, his parents from his hometown had taken a boat to Xunyang. If he took leave to visit his family, he could just make it for the birth of another child. Having made up his mind, Gu Lanyin spent some money and, citing family visitation, requested leave from the chief official of the ministry, temporarily leaving the capital. He and Cheng Bi boarded the family's merchant ship at Datong Bridge and sailed south along the Grand Canal. By the time he reached his hometown, Mr. Gu had already brought his wife and children back from Xunyang, and the whole family was reunited. It was late spring and early summer. The large estate in Huizhou had been empty for a long time, but now it was draped in red and decorated with festoons, the gates wide open, surrounded by relatives and friends. The sound of firecrackers was incessant. From afar, a cloud of dust rose, and through the haze, a luxurious carriage approached. Mr. Gu, seeing his son surrounded by the crowd, felt proud. Although he himself was not a jinshi, but only a merchant, his son had passed the exam at a young age! Moreover, not long ago, a grandson was born. Looking at the hall full of red decorations, he grinned broadly and quickly ushered everyone inside. The family ancestral hall was opened, and the entire clan had been waiting. Mr. Gu first led his son to worship the ancestors, then added the grandson to the family genealogy. That day, after feasting relatives and friends, the flowing banquet continued for three days and three nights. Nearby, everyone in the surrounding villages knew of their family's joyous event. Old Mr. Zhao, the in-law from a different family, had rushed over from Jinshan early. Basking in his son-in-law's glory, his ears had been filled with flattering words for days, and his status had risen accordingly, making his gaze different when looking at others. Now the couple lived at their son-in-law's home. Holding his grandson, Old Mr. Zhao looked at the furnishings and the decorations on the beams, unable to stop marveling. This wasn't like a place for people to live; it was even more magnificent than the Zhao family's ancestral hall. He couldn't help but sigh, regretting that he was not a woman and didn't have his daughter's good fortune. In the evening, with brilliant clouds, Old Mr. Zhao had just sighed when he heard his daughter say, "On a day of double happiness, Father, it's too unlucky to sigh like that." Wan Niang had finished her postpartum confinement and felt at ease. She ate and slept well, no longer as gaunt as before. These days, the house had been bustling with people, and she had been busy greeting guests with her mother-in-law. It was rare for her to have a moment alone with her parents, and then he had to spoil the mood. She took her son, looked at the fair, tender child in the swaddling clothes, and called his nickname. The two lotus leaves in the courtyard had already emerged, and three golden carp swam among them. Listening to the sound of water, Wan Niang felt she had overcome another hurdle. Her son had been entered into the family genealogy, making him the direct eldest grandson of the third branch. She remembered that when Gu Lang first saw this child, he said the child resembled her. Perhaps that was why he agreed to acknowledge him. In the swaddling clothes, the few-month-old child was clean and fair, showing no trace of a water bandit. His eyes were clear, his nose straight, and he looked very well-behaved, neither crying nor fussing. Wan Niang held the child in her arms and called his nickname a few times. He seemed to understand that she was calling him and smiled. Wan Niang touched her son's cheek and said with relief, "You've done well, not making your mother suffer." Although the birth in Xunyang had been somewhat difficult, everything turned out fine. Afterward, her parents-in-law were delighted and gave her three estates and a large sum of silver notes, and all the shops in Xunyang were handed over to her. "Mother is saving all this for you. When you grow up, you'll study like your father and become a high official, and then you'll honor your mother." Old Mr. Zhao followed behind his daughter and couldn't help interjecting, "The child is still young now. You've got so many shops in your hands. If you don't manage them well, who knows how much will be left by the time he grows up. I may not be as good at business as your father-in-law, but over the years, everything you and your mother have eaten, worn, and used, I earned it. So I'm somewhat accomplished in the way of commerce." Wan Niang was focused solely on the child and carried him to the back of the house. Old Mr. Zhao didn't give up, walking beside her, saying, "A married daughter is not like spilled water. We're still blood kin, tightly connected. Why are you being so distant with your father? If you're not at ease, first hand over your tea house to me and see how it goes after a year or two. If there's a loss, I'll cover it. If there's a profit, I'll give it all to you and my grandson. How about that?" Wan Niang knew nothing about business. When she reached her mother's room and saw him still chattering, she said displeased, "If we're family, I won't speak differently. On a day like this, don't blame me for pouring cold water on you. If I give you the tea house, you'll probably turn around and give it to that concubine at home and to that son of yours. They only take and never give. How dare I?" Old Mr. Zhao pointed at her, looked at the child, hesitated, and finally sighed heavily. "Now that you're rich and noble, you look down on your father. I'm still thinking about this family! You have a younger brother, and your grandson has an uncle. If you encounter big trouble in the future, our family will have someone to support you." Mrs. Zhao, listening from the side, said sarcastically, "A son and a grandson are the same age, and he'll support you? Dream on, you old fool. I'd be thankful if you didn't cause trouble for Wan Niang. Today, in front of the in-laws, you shamelessly wanted to send that son of yours here. Is that something a person would say? What will others think of Wan Niang?" "Shut up! Now that my son-in-law is a jinshi, I want to send my son here so he can absorb some of his brother-in-law's scholarly aura and make something of himself in the future. How pitiful are a parent's heart! And you see me like this... Enough, enough! I'll go home with your mother tomorrow." Wan Niang watched her father putting on a show of packing his bags and said, "I'll have the servants prepare a carriage tomorrow and send you back early. Now that relatives and friends are gradually leaving, it's no longer fitting for you to stay." "Listen to that! She's chasing us away already. Do you really think I cherish their Gu family? If it weren't for my grandson and for you, I wouldn't have come here. This house is empty and cold, I'm afraid to stay here." Old Mr. Zhao was relentless in words, heavily tossing his belt. The belt fell to the ground with a noise, startling the baby in the swaddling clothes. Soon the room was filled with crying. Wan Niang coaxed him in her arms, but it was ineffective. She glared at her father and called for the nanny. Old Mr. Zhao sipped his tea nonchalantly, about to say something else, when his peripheral vision caught a shadow at the door. He suddenly stood up straight. "Is my worthy son-in-law back?" No one answered. The young man at the door wore a dark straight robe, with a shallow shadow cast by his wide hat. At this hour, under the pearl lantern, one could barely see his eyes, only half of his pale face and the faint smile at the corner of his mouth, impossible to tell his emotions. He walked to Wan Niang, took the child from her, and said in a calm voice, "It's getting dark now. Father-in-law may find it hard to return today. Why not stay another night?" Mrs. Zhao said, "We were going to leave today, but around noon, some more relatives came, from your aunt's side. Wan Niang and I accompanied them for a while, and that delayed us until now. Your father and I are already packing." Old Mr. Zhao, always at a loss for words in front of his son-in-law, now that his wife was speaking, hastily nodded and echoed, "Yes, yes." "I see. No hurry." Gu Lanyin patted the child in his arms to soothe his crying, then said politely, "These days have been busy with people coming and going, and if our hospitality was lacking, please forgive me, Father-in-law. I have prepared some stationery for my young brother-in-law, as well as some local products, which will be sent to your residence tomorrow. I hope you won't think them too humble." Old Mr. Zhao shook his head, saying he didn't mind, but as he looked around the house, he still spoke, "My younger son is about the same age as Gu Li. Having a jinshi brother-in-law like you is truly a great fortune. When Gu Li starts his education, if the tutor doesn't find my son too dull, I'd like to send him here too, so he can learn a few characters and read some books. Maybe he can also..." "Father, how old is my little brother? Let's wait until he's older. Gu Lang will be returning to the capital soon. He can't even take care of his own son, so how could he have time to look after a younger brother?" Wan Niang's face turned cold. She interrupted him and was about to pull Gu Lanyin out. Old Mr. Zhao lost face but couldn't say much. He could only gesture to his son-in-law and said, "It's a good thing you have a son. Otherwise, when your daughter grows up, she'd be just like her mother, and wouldn't that break your heart?" Gu Lanyin heard the words "daughter" and laughed. Once outside the door, he handed the child to the nanny and walked toward the inner courtyard. Passing through one gate after another, he faintly heard a baby crying. Wan Niang frowned slightly, wondering where the sound came from. It wasn't until Bai Long came downstairs with a nanny, holding a swaddled baby in her arms, that she understood. The servants had all withdrawn. Gu Lanyin held the newborn baby and looked up at her. "This is also my child, a girl." Wan Niang stood still, motionless. The joy of these past days was washed away like water. Only anger lingered in her heart. "Where is that woman?" "She died after giving birth." Gu Lanyin touched the baby's soft hair and said pitifully, "My little fish has lost her biological mother. She can't even get milk. So I had to bring her back. However—" "Your husband covered up a shameful affair for you and accepted Gu Li without complaint. In return, you become her mother. Shouldn't you be grateful?" Wan Niang gritted her teeth, staring at the ugly child. She wanted to cry but couldn't; she wanted to scream but feared it would ruin things. "She's the same age as A Li. While you were in Xunyang, you kept a woman behind my back. How dare you hide it from me? No wonder you wouldn't touch me. You had a new lover. I was just your cover!" Gu Lanyin did not reveal the truth of that day. He only stood under the eaves, gazing at the wall opposite. Wan Niang cried behind him. In her crying, Gu Lanyin slowly lowered his head. In this life, there were no twins. Jiu Chi had only given birth to one child. Looking at the tiny face not yet fully formed, he called her "Little Fish." A fish without water seemed desperately hungry, opening its mouth wide to wail. The memories of the previous life surfaced. Gu Lanyin frowned and called the wet nurse from outside the courtyard. Seeing his concern for the child in his arms, Wan Niang wiped her tears, slid to the ground, and bitterly thought of her own father. Both of them, the same. She should have known... As long as men were alive, they would be fickle. But money was different. Thinking of the assets in her hands, she closed her eyes and tried to endure the pain in her heart. Soon the wet nurse came in and took the child away, leaving only a deathly silence. Gu Lanyin approached Wan Niang and slowly crouched down. He thought she would have difficulty accepting it, but before he could reach out to touch her, she opened her eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, "What is this child called?" "Gu Yu." He wrote the character in her palm. The original 'Yu' meaning 'fishing' had somehow changed to 'Yu' meaning 'fish.' The sky grew darker. Wan Niang clenched her fist, her tears dried. She nodded and said it was a good name. She was willing to be the child's mother. But there was a precondition. "From now on, you can only have one son—Gu Li." * Gu Lanyin saw Wan Niang off. Lanterns were lit in the house. The child had been taken to another courtyard, leaving only him and his attendants in the room. Deep inside the room was a tunnel. The weather was stuffy and humid, with insects and snakes crawling out, and the place reeked of blood. Several people followed the tunnel to a water dungeon behind the ancestral hall. The man immersed in the water was still unconscious. Shan Ming splashed a basin of cold water on him. After months of torture, Jiang Cha was nearly at his limit. But whenever he seemed about to die, the group would use top-quality ginseng to keep him alive. From the dungeon in Xunyang to this water dungeon, he could neither live nor die. "Just because I slept with your woman and cuckolded you, you go this far?" Jiang Cha shook his head and roared. "You turtle bastard! If you're a man, give your grandpa a quick death!" Gu Lanyin lashed him with a whip, and he soon fell silent. "Lust is a knife at the head. You deserve this." Gu Lanyin patted his face with the whip and smiled. "That son of yours was born. I gave him a name." Jiang Cha looked at him sideways. This gentlemanly-looking fellow was clearly educated. He wondered what name he had given. Thinking of the girl he had slept with, he spat and urged, "What name?" "Gu Li." "You let him take your surname?" Jiang Cha was surprised. "I never knew you had such magnanimity. Could it be... you're impotent? You needed to borrow seed? You beasts, all of you, you've tricked me!" Gu Lanyin looked at his unruly demeanor and thought of the previous life. He smiled faintly, paced before him, and said slowly, "You should be grateful. Your son looks very much like my son. Otherwise, I would have left him in Xunyang. Out of consideration that you are his biological father, I spare your life." "Spare me to drink this filthy water? Kill me!" "I won't kill you." Gu Lanyin was about to return to the capital. Before leaving, this too was his gift. "You will come with me to the capital." If he could find traces of He Ping'an, he would send her a great gift.
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