If it were not for some troublesome issue, Gu Zhenguan likely wouldn’t come looking for her.

These past few days, he had been enjoying himself with Zhang Ying, their days spent brewing tea, reminiscing about the past, writing poems, and matching wits. The carefree nature of those days! When one embraces such carefree attitudes, everything else can be set aside. Only when met with vexing matters does one leave such leisurely days behind.

Upon hearing Lao Xutou’s message relayed by Qingdai, Gu Huaixiu already had an inkling.

Gu Zhenguan’s room was arranged in the eastern section, showing just how important he was in Zhang Ying’s eyes. As Gu Huaixiu approached, there were a few maids sweeping nearby, while the Gu family’s maids stood properly at the door, showing their decorum.

Seeing Gu Huaixiu arrive, they bowed their heads and greeted, “Greetings, Third Miss.”

Gu Huaixiu simply told them there was no need for formalities. Even as she spoke, she had already strode into the room.

“Huaixiu, come over here.”

Gu Zhenguan was seated behind his desk, his right hand resting atop it, pressing lightly on an envelope, while in his hand, he held a pale yellow letter paper. Having heard the greetings of the maids from outside, he already realized Gu Huaixiu had arrived and called her in.

With a faintly inquisitive smile, Gu Huaixiu asked, “Father, you’ve been out enjoying the mountains and waters with Lord Zhang. I thought you had forgotten all about me. What could have brought you to remember Huaixiu today?”

“Among all in the family, it’s you who speaks the sharpest.” The slightly reproachful tone in her voice only made Gu Zhenguan feel an intimate warmth. Yet, at the thought of his other daughter, his heart sank a little.

By reason, Gu Yaofang was the most well-mannered, much like her mother in temperament, proficient in the literary arts. Compared to Gu Huaixiu, they were as different as night and day. Who wouldn’t praise Gu Yaofang as the exceptional one? Yet, in practical terms, no matter where Gu Huaixiu went, she had a natural ease, despite her poor reputation. Strange though it seemed, many still had a fondness for her.

Gu Huaixiu always took care to preserve the family’s face, never putting the elders in a difficult spot in public, let alone causing Gu Zhenguan any embarrassment.

But since Gu Yaofang was a different case altogether, Gu Zhenguan always had to worry about her. At first, he held her in his hands, cherishing her dearly, but the longer things dragged on, the more an uncomfortable sense of fatigue grew.

He inwardly chastised himself for not being a good father, and Gu Zhenguan could only sigh. “The teachers often say you’re not the most intellectually gifted, though the truth is you merely don’t like to study. I never pressed you much on it either. The only reason was to help you secure a good match later in life. This time, I believe you can guess why I’ve called you here, can’t you?”

There were clear reasons why Gu Zhenguan favored Gu Huaixiu. She never played dumb when it wasn’t needed.

With a quiet sigh, Gu Huaixiu knew this was an inevitability. She could only hope it would have minimal impact on her.

“Father, eldest sister turned twenty recently, and following the Daoist’s advice, she should be ready for marriage. Father, you’ve repeatedly mentioned how fond you are of the Zhang family’s sons. Every time you speak of Lord Zhang or the Zhang brothers, it’s always with glowing praise. This time, with the timing aligning so well, I’ve also heard some rumors from the servants around the house—though I don’t know if they are just baseless gossip—that you’ve set your sights on the second son of the Zhang family.”

She looked closely at Gu Zhenguan’s expression and, as expected, confirmed her suspicions.

“Father and Lord Zhang are old friends, so where does the difficulty lie in this matter?”

Of course, she knew exactly where the difficulty lay. But those who don’t know how to play dumb well, will always find themselves in trouble. Frowning slightly, Gu Huaixiu hesitated before adding, “But Father, you’re holding a letter sent from home… Could it be…?”

Gu Zhenguan let out another long sigh. “Your eldest sister has always been weak in health, and I’ve indulged her in everything, fearing her old illness might relapse. But I never imagined she could be so confused. Take a look at the letter your sister sent!”

Gu Huaixiu paused for a moment, then stepped forward to accept the letter with both hands. Her face was sober, though, deep down, she could barely suppress her laughter.

Gu Yaofang, for all these years, had been nothing but falsely clever, always showing off her supposed intelligence but never actually making much sense.

She had anticipated that Gu Yaofang might refuse the marriage, but she hadn’t expected her sister to phrase it so bluntly.

Fortunately, this letter was only addressed to their father and had not been seen by the Zhang family. Otherwise, even though the families might refrain from immediately falling out—due to the close friendship between Gu Zhenguan and Zhang Ying—distancing themselves would surely have been inevitable.

The handwriting was delicate and elegant, characteristic of a refined lady, and one could envision Gu Yaofang’s graceful demeanor while writing it. However, perhaps due to the shock when receiving the news, the strokes were slightly chaotic.

Each sentence was a lament.

Gu Yaofang first mentioned her poor health and then described how she had accompanied her father for many years and did not want to leave his side. These were courteous words made to sound serious, but even a person unfamiliar with her thoughts could sense something on the horizon by this point in the letter.

Gu Huaixiu, already prepared, then read what she had been expecting.

“Besides, the Zhang family has fallen out of favor, and Lord Zhang has lost the Emperor’s regard. As they say, ‘To serve the ruler is to stay near a tiger.’ Who knows what will come of the Zhang family? Their future seems as bleak as the setting sun, shrouded in gloomy clouds. Furthermore, I’ve heard that their second son has a strange temperament, making him difficult to get along with… How can a lifelong matter be treated as a trifling one? I, your daughter, born under misfortune, do not refuse the marriage out of unwillingness but out of fear that the Zhang family’s decline may implicate our household. I beseech Father to reconsider.”

Stealing a glance at Gu Zhenguan’s expression, Gu Huaixiu knew that after reading this letter—riddled with contradictions and false sincerity—her father was undoubtedly in a foul mood.

On normal days, Gu Yaofang wouldn’t have been so obvious. But this time, she hadn’t received any advance notice and hadn’t even suspected that when Gu Huaixiu departed, she would be involved in a negotiation concerning marriage. When the news had reached her, it must have been a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Even had Gu Huaixiu been in Yaofang’s place, she might not have handled it much better.

But as for the wording of the letter…

“Father, while eldest sister’s choice of words may… well, she might have been overcome with excitement…”

It would have been better if Gu Huaixiu had said nothing. Her words triggered an outburst from Gu Zhenguan, who slapped the table in frustration. “Isn’t it clear from the letter? She doesn’t want to marry. She looks down on the Zhangs and their son! And she clearly doubts me as her father!”

The friendship between him and Zhang Ying went way back, yet Gu Yaofang’s perception was shockingly shallow.

Zhang Ying was a man of experience and trickery, one who had remained favored by Emperor Kangxi for so many years. Yes, he had lost his position due to a fault in the memorial over the rituals for Tong Guogang, but these were ordinary occurrences in politics. The tides of the court shifted in the blink of an eye—judgments about such matters couldn’t be settled with one glance.

Zhang Ying had braved far harsher storms—he’d been a recluse on Mount Longmian for four years, only to return to court after Emperor Kangxi rid himself of Oboi. Having helped the emperor suppress the rebellion of the Three Feudatories, Zhang Ying was one of his key aides. Was such a figure so easily discarded?

But Gu Yaofang didn’t understand all of this.

For a moment, even Gu Huaixiu hesitated.

She couldn’t find the words to say. Gu Zhenguan had called her here with specific intentions—no doubt there was an important task to entrust her with. It wouldn’t have been just to show her this letter. However, for Gu Huaixiu, actively sinking into this mess was something she was unwilling to do. At this moment, all she could do was offer a slight smile and try to comfort her father: “Perhaps eldest sister is just momentarily confused. When Father returns to Wuxi and talks things over with her, this matter might be resolved. Letters alone can’t explain everything clearly.”

Gu Zhenguan gazed at Gu Huaixiu intently. “You’re quite protective of your elder sister… but I fear the more frail her body grows, the more confused her mind becomes.”

His words sent a shiver down Gu Huaixiu’s spine. There was a feeling that his words held a deeper implication. But when had her cultured and scholarly father ever spoken in riddles? Feigning ignorance, she replied, “Eldest sister’s health has always been poor, and everyone in the household sympathizes with her condition. How could I dare to act differently, Father?”

“Enough,” Gu Zhenguan said with a wave of his hand, as if dismissing the subject. “This matter indeed doesn’t properly concern you, but I do want you to try to persuade your eldest sister when we return. If I speak to her myself, she might think I’m merely coaxing her. You are her younger sister—you may lack her literary skill, but when it comes to understanding the nature of worldly affairs, you surpass her by a wide margin. It’s really up to you whether or not this can be resolved, though if your efforts fail, then so be it.”

This was not something that could be forced.

Gu Huaixiu mentally sighed in relief. This was how it should be. But if she truly were to step in and try to persuade her sister, wouldn’t that only make things worse?

In front of Gu Zhenguan, Gu Huaixiu never gossiped or criticized others. Whenever discussing her siblings, she remained tight-lipped. The only person who had any inkling about her complicated relationship with Gu Yaofang was her Fourth Brother, and Qingdai suspected something but wasn’t clear on the specifics. As for Gu Zhenguan, there was no way he knew the full story.

Thus, Gu Huaixiu said nothing more and only replied, “When we return to Wuxi, I will do my best to give it a try. However, Father, you know I’m not on the same page as Eldest Sister. Our temperaments differ, and my advice might have the opposite effect. If this issue is truly to be resolved, relying solely on me might not suffice. I believe Father should consider other methods as well.”

By expressing the potential difficulties upfront, she was protecting herself from being blamed in the future, should things not go well.

Gu Huaixiu couldn’t help but feel that fate had dealt her a lousy hand. She detested dealing with Gu Yaofang, and yet here she was, being asked to mediate, feeling utterly miserable at the thought.

“Your eldest sister must marry this year. After that, it will be your elder brother’s turn, and then yours. There’s simply no more time to delay.” Gu Zhenguan spoke with resignation, like a man whose best days were behind him. “I only wish for all of you to live well… and to stay together. You should also start gathering your things. I’ll go speak with your Uncle Zhang. Once we’ve done that, we’ll head back to Wuxi as soon as possible.”

“Understood. Then, I shall take my leave now, Father.”

She lowered her head once again, returning the letter to Gu Zhenguan with both hands, and backed away.

When she reached the doorway, she turned, beckoned for Qingdai, and left through the corridors.

Initially, witnessing Gu Yaofang’s self-sabotaging antics had filled Gu Huaixiu with some degree of amusement. But after hearing Gu Zhenguan’s final remark, her mood turned sour.

Qingdai, perplexed, asked, “Miss… shouldn’t you be happy about this?”

Gu Huaixiu had been walking ahead of her, and upon hearing the question, she suddenly spun around, pulling a comical face that startled Qingdai into yelping.

“Hahaha…!” Gu Huaixiu doubled over in laughter, clutching her stomach. Tears were nearly streaming from her eyes as she looked at Qingdai’s dumbfounded expression.

“Miss!” Qingdai cried in frustration, glaring at her in mock anger.

Gu Huaixiu, after laughing her fill, straightened up. She casually patted her own face, remarking, “Laugh, and you’ll be ten years younger! If I walked around looking grumpy all the time, I’d grow old before my time…”

Qingdai was left even more puzzled than before. Her lady loved teasing her like this every now and then, always ending up laughing her heart out. Qingdai, feeling both indignant and trapped with her words unspoken, remained silent for a while. It wasn’t until they neared the courtyard where they were staying that Qingdai finally asked the question that had been nagging at her, “But, Miss… why did you look so upset earlier?”

Gu Huaixiu fiddled with a corner of her light blue cloud-patterned satin sleeve as she nonchalantly replied, “Oh, didn’t you notice? A good show’s about to start.”

What should come, always comes. What was she feeling despondent for? Everyone has their own fate to face. Even though Gu Zhenguan was her father, there were some matters even he couldn’t change. Each person’s deeds and intentions would ultimately lead them to their destiny.

Good and evil would always be rewarded in the end. It’s not a matter of “if,” but simply “when.”