Chapter 6: Deep Hatred
As dusk settled, the Second Master, Gong Xu, returned home after a day of official duties.
As soon as he entered, the butler rushed to greet him.
Gong Xu smiled and asked, “How was today’s Peony Banquet? Madam must be tired, right?”
The butler replied, “I have been waiting here for Master for a long time, and it’s not about the banquet.”
Gong Xu then asked, “Then what is it?”
He asked with his mouth but didn’t stop walking, heading straight to the back.
The butler had no choice but to say, “Master, please slow down. Allow me to explain the matter.”
Gong Xu slowed his steps and asked, “What matter is so solemn?”
The butler said, “Madam returned to the mansion today, bringing the Fourth Young Master with her.”
Upon hearing this, Gong Xu’s entire body tensed involuntarily, and he asked with an unfriendly tone, “What is she doing back here?! Who allowed her to step foot in this door again?!”
“How would I know? Madam’s presence was extraordinary, she even had the Little Madam personally come out to welcome her in, and she even met with the distinguished guests who arrived today.”
Gong Xu was even more enraged upon hearing this. Disregarding the presence of other servants, he gritted his teeth and said, “This bitch! Has she lost her mind?! She actually dares to come back! Where is she now?”
The butler said, “Madam said she wants to stay in Lingyue Pavilion. The Little Madam said that no one has lived there for a long time and it needs to be cleaned. For now, she is settled in Yun Feng Zhai, and maids and old women have been assigned to serve her.”
Gong Xu asked no further. The butler thought he was going to argue with Wen Mingqian there, but who would have thought that despite his overwhelming anger, he still went to Rui Xiang Residence.
Consort Song’s courtyard was small and exquisite, with most of the flowers and trees planted by Gong Xu himself, elegant and graceful.
Consort Song’s second son, Gong Bao’an, was playing on the steps in front of the house. He looked up and saw Gong Xu, and immediately rushed over like a swallow, calling out “Daddy.”
Gong Xu held him in his arms and asked him, sentence by sentence, about his studies at the academy today.
Gong Bao’an had been personally tutored by Gong Xu since he was four years old. This year, at six, he no longer taught himself but audited at the private school of the Gong Family’s cousin’s family.
It wasn’t that the Gong Family couldn’t hire a tutor, but the children of the Main House were all grown. With only Gong Bao’an, it was truly uninteresting.
Moreover, the Wang family’s private school was very good. Not only did Gong Bao’an audit there, but many clan members and relatives also sent their children, and the disciples made faster progress together.
Gong Xu and his son were chatting and laughing. Consort Song came in from outside and saw this scene, naturally pleased. She said softly, “Bao Ge’er, come down quickly, don’t be naughty.”
She then said to Gong Xu, “Master has been working hard all day. Come inside and loosen your clothes to relax. It’s time for dinner.”
Gong Xu took out a straw-woven dog for his son and told the maid to take good care of the Young Master.
Knowing that Consort Song was coming from the kitchen, he took her hand and walked into the room, “You’ve been busy enough today. Just have the servants prepare dinner.”
Consort Song, however, said, “I’m not tired. I don’t trust anyone else with the dishes Master likes to eat.”
As she spoke, she busied herself removing Gong Xu’s outer clothes. Hua Hong brought over a copper basin.
Gong Xu washed his hands and face, tidied himself up, and sat down. By then, the meal had already been laid out.
Gong Xu looked closely at Consort Song’s face. Seeing that her expression was normal, his heart ached even more.
Consort Song felt a little shy under his gaze and couldn’t help but ask with a smile, “Does Master not recognize your concubine anymore?”
Gong Xu looked at her and said softly, “I already know.”
Consort Song immediately understood his meaning and lowered her eyes slightly. But then she said gently and compliantly, “Master, please eat first! You’ve all had a hard day.”
As she spoke, she arranged the spoons and chopsticks, served the dishes, and poured the wine, attentive and meticulous as always.
Gong Xu was accustomed to taking a stroll after dinner. In Consort Song’s courtyard, he looked at the new bamboo shoots sprouting by the wall and picked a branch of late peach blossoms to place in a vase for enjoyment.
Seeing that the sky had completely darkened, he finally went into the room.
According to his usual habit, Consort Song had already prepared bathwater for him, but today she had not.
Just as Gong Xu was about to ask, Consort Song cautiously asked, “Doesn’t Master want to go and see over there?”
Gong Xu sneered, “When would I have the time to see that vicious woman?”
Consort Song lowered her eyebrows and persuaded, “After all, it’s been many years since you last saw her, and there’s the Fourth Young Master too!”
Gong Xu said indignantly, “She returned on her own accord, and I haven’t even questioned her yet! How can I still give her face!”
As they were speaking, Granny Yang walked in and reported, “Master, Little Madam, Madam and Fourth Young Master have come to pay respects to Master.”
Gong Xu said decisively, “Tell them to go back, I will not see them.”
Granny Yang acknowledged and started to leave, but Gong Xu called her back and said, “Tell them to stay put in that courtyard and behave themselves. They will be dealt with when the Old Madam returns.”
It turned out that the Gong Family’s Old Madam would spend some time at Jinghua Nunnery in the mountains every year in March and April, observing fasts and cultivating Buddhism.
This was a vow she had made in her early years, and she had never broken it for twenty years.
The Main House’s Madam, Wei Shi, was worried about her mother-in-law and had been accompanying her in recent years.
And Gong Xu’s elder brother had also gone out of the capital on official business, so no one from the Main House was in charge.
Granny Yang walked up to Wen Mingqian and her son, her tone carrying a hint of apology but also helplessness, “Madam, Master says he will not see you. He also said…”
She hesitated, looking at Wen Mingqian, waiting for him to ask so she could continue.
But Wen Mingqian deliberately did not ask, merely nodding, “Master is tired after a long day and indeed should rest. We will speak another day then.”
After saying that, she took her son’s hand and turned to leave.
Granny Yang quickly chased after them from behind. Gong Xu’s instructions had not been fully conveyed, and besides, how could she miss this opportunity to openly humiliate Wen Mingqian?
“Madam, please wait. Master also said that you and the Fourth Young Master are to stay in the mansion and behave yourselves during this time. A decision will be made when the Old Madam returns,” Granny Yang said.
She expected to see Wen Mingqian’s sad and disappointed expression, but Wen Mingqian actually curved her lips slightly and drifted away without stopping.
“What is she smiling about? What’s so funny about this?” Granny Yang muttered to herself…
Meanwhile, Gong Xu had finished bathing and was sitting at his desk reading. Consort Song knelt beside him, wiping his hair over and over.
Gong Bao’an had already been taken to the room opposite by his granny to sleep. Only a young maid was left in this room to hold the lamp.
“You should go to sleep now!” Gong Xu said, taking Consort Song’s hand, “You must be tired today too.”
Consort Song looked up at Gong Xu and gently shook her head, “If Master doesn’t rest, your concubine cannot sleep either.”
Gong Xu was undoubtedly partial to Consort Song, and what moved him most about her, besides her understanding and thoughtfulness, was the deep affection and tenderness filling her eyes when she looked at him.
Unlike Wen Mingqian, whose eyes, though beautiful, always carried an untamable pride and stubbornness.
Gong Xu waved his hand, and the young maid picked up the lamp from the desk and moved it to the bedside.
Gong Xu and Consort Song got into bed. The young maid lowered the bed curtains and took the lamp outside.
Not long after lying down, Consort Song’s breathing became long and steady.
Gong Xu couldn’t help but chuckle. She said she wasn’t sleepy, yet she was already this sleepy.
But then he thought of Wen Mingqian, and the surge of indignation that had been temporarily suppressed welled up again.
That bitch! She should have died at Shuangxi!
And now she has the audacity to come back and disgust him, truly shameless to the extreme!
The anger in Gong Xu’s heart crackled like a fire, and his breathing became heavy.
Consort Song beside him stirred and mumbled, “Kang’er… Kang’er… let Mother hold you again! Mother… I’m sorry…”
Gong Xu immediately held her tightly in his arms, his heart aching.
On the surface, Consort Song never mentioned the events of that year, but how could the pain in her heart be erased?
She had lost her beloved child, yet she had to consider the family’s reputation and bow her head to the murderer of her child. What a grievance!
In contrast, Wen Mingqian appeared even more malicious and shameless.
