Chapter 45: Tai Chi Push Hands
Gu Yan entered the second gate, and the doorman on duty hurried forward, reporting with his hands clasped: “Reporting to Young Lord, Madam Pan and several girls did not go to watch the opera. A quarter of an hour after you left, Madam Pan sent someone with a message, saying that as soon as you returned, you should report to her, as she had something to discuss with you.”
Gu Yan frowned and grunted. He walked forward more than ten steps, stopped, and ordered Shi Gun, “Go and ask where they all are.”
“Yes.” Shi Gun bowed in agreement and ran forward.
Gu Yan slowed his pace, looking left and right to admire the scenery. After walking twenty to thirty steps, Shi Gun ran back, approached Gu Yan, and reported in a low voice: “Madam Pan is listening to Pingtan in Ning Cui Xuan. Miss Shi and Ninth Lady Pan, along with several cousin girls, are fishing at East Garden Lake.”
Upon hearing the words “East Garden Lake,” Gu Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment, he let out a faint hum.
Were they guarding East Garden Lake because they knew he had brought Wan Jing?
Her control was already so skillful at this time. Tsk, this ability was not something that could be learned; it was an innate talent!
He had brought Wan Jing out and only sent someone to summon her before leaving. It seemed he had quite a few spies around him. It was time to clean them out.
Gu Yan turned at the next intersection and headed straight for Ning Cui Xuan.
Not far from Ning Cui Xuan, Gu Yan fanned himself with his folding fan, signaling the maidservants standing outside Ning Cui Xuan not to make a sound. He tiptoed and entered Ning Cui Xuan from behind the low couch where Madam Pan was leaning. After listening for a moment, he poked his head forward.
Madam Pan, who was listening intently, was startled.
“You continue singing.” Gu Yan gestured to the Pingtan performer, sat down on a chair in front of the low couch, and smiled at Madam Pan, “Can you understand this Wu dialect, Aunt?”
“Sister Qi had them write down the lyrics for me.” Madam Pan showed Gu Yan a stack of Golden Millet Paper she was holding. “Singing in Wu dialect is truly beautiful.”
“Didn’t Aunt say you were going to watch an opera, why didn’t you go?” Gu Yan glanced at the Golden Millet Paper and smiled.
“Your mother said you’ve become much more sensible, but I really don’t see it.” Madam Pan sat up slightly and waved her hand, signaling the Pingtan performer to withdraw.
“Take her to watch an opera? I don’t remember that.” Gu Yan looked troubled and helpless.
He truly didn’t remember.
“Your mother said you’ve become much more sensible, but I really don’t see it.” Madam Pan raised her hand, and the head maidservant quietly signaled everyone to retreat to the steps of Ning Cui Xuan.
“It’s been almost ten days since I came here. This is the first time I’ve been able to speak with you face to face like this!
“Even at the welcome feast, you prepared many dishes for your aunt, but you yourself were nowhere to be found. Is your official business that busy?” Madam Pan chided, half-jokingly.
“If Aunt were here alone, I would accompany Aunt every day. But Aunt…” Gu Yan smiled bitterly and spread his hands, being completely honest.
“Your honesty with your aunt is better than before. So, Aunt will also speak frankly.
“Aunt has come this time for you and Sister Qi. I ask you, you and Sister Qi grew up together, what a deep bond you have. Even the engagement was chosen by you after searching all over the Capital City. How could such a good marriage be broken off just like that? What did my Sister Qi do to offend you?”
“It’s precisely because it was too good, precisely because we grew up together.” Gu Yan looked very troubled.
“As Aunt said, the bond was too good. I treated her the same as I treated Ah Hui, considering her a sister from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t understand it before, but in the last two years, I’ve felt increasingly awkward. Later, I finally understood. This awkwardness is because in my heart, I see her as a sister. If I were to marry her…”
Gu Yan spread his hands, his face full of bitterness.
“Aunt, think about it, marrying one’s own sister, wouldn’t that be awkward?”
Madam Pan’s eyebrows rose as she listened, and they remained raised for a long time.
She had never expected this reason.
“Then who do you want to marry? Someone with no background or roots?” After a while, Madam Pan managed to utter a sentence.
“I haven’t thought about it yet. In any case, you and Mother are worrying about it.” Gu Yan smiled.
“I think you’re talking nonsense.” Madam Pan was starting to react. “I can see that you treat Ah Hui as a sister, but I don’t see you treating Sister Qi as a sister.”
“I truly treat them both as sisters. Otherwise, Aunt, tell me, why would I break off the engagement? What’s wrong with Sister Qi? What’s bothering me with her? Aunt, please tell me, what’s wrong? Why?” Gu Yan looked serious.
Madam Pan glanced at him sideways.
His words were impeccable, but intuitively, she felt they were all nonsense.
“Eldest Madam and Fourth Mistress have arrived,” the maidservant standing on the steps announced loudly.
“Since that’s the case, then don’t avoid Sister Qi. Tell her these words of yours.” Madam Pan pointed towards Miss Shi and the others who were approaching.
“Why must Aunt make things difficult for me.” Gu Yan was extremely distressed.
“Cousin!” Pan Shihui rushed forward, heading straight for Gu Yan.
“Where did you go? Why did you leave your aunt alone here listening to music?” Gu Yan tapped Pan Shihui with his folding fan, scolding her first.
“Aunt found me noisy. Cousin, take us to watch an opera, you promised me! Let’s go now. I heard that Ting Yue Yuan’s night opera is the best, a unique spectacle in Pingjiang!” Pan Shihui said, laughing.
“What Pingjiang unique spectacle? I’ve never heard of it. Who told you this nonsense?” Gu Yan looked surprised.
“It was Zhang Sao from the kitchen. Sister Qi asked her where the best sights and entertainment in Pingjiang City were, and she said the daytime opera at Ting Yue Yuan isn’t as good as the night opera. Don’t believe me, ask Sister Qi!”
Seeing Gu Yan’s disbelief, Pan Shihui turned to Miss Shi. “Sister, you tell him!”
“Didn’t Zhang Sao say that you need to book tickets for the night opera at Ting Yue Yuan ten to eight days in advance? How can we go today?” Miss Shi said with a smile.
“Cousin definitely has a way!” Pan Shihui reached out to pull Gu Yan’s sleeve. “Let’s go today!”
“Young Lord, an urgent official matter has just been delivered,” Shi Gun announced loudly from the steps.
“What urgent official matter?” Gu Yan’s brows immediately furrowed, his expression serious.
“It’s said that porters at Beixing Wharf got into a fight, and someone died.”
“This is a major issue!” Gu Yan stood up abruptly, bowed to Madam Pan, and said, “I must go and see to it immediately. Please forgive me, Aunt.”
Turning around again, he patted Pan Shihui’s shoulder with his folding fan and smiled, “If you want to watch the night opera today, then today it is. I’ll have someone arrange it. You all accompany Aunt, watch and listen well, and experience it properly.”
After speaking, Gu Yan cupped his hands towards Madam Pan and strode out of Ning Cui Xuan, hurrying outside.
After turning two corners, Gu Yan slowed his pace and looked at Shi Gun.
Shi Gun quickly stepped forward and said in a low voice, “It’s not from the Prefectural Yamen; it’s a message from Wang Gui.”
“Good.” Gu Yan tapped Shi Gun’s shoulder with his folding fan. “You and Wang Gui will each receive five taels of reward silver.”
“Thank you, Young Lord, for the reward.” Shi Gun beamed.
Money was a small matter; he wasn’t short of money. The important thing was that he had handled this task to the Young Lord’s satisfaction.
Some fruits were replenished today, and flour was bought…
