Ever since the eldest son’s death, everyone in the Gu Mansion had felt uneasy, walking with their heads down and hurrying past.
Yi Si followed suit, walking briskly with his head lowered, surprisingly not attracting anyone’s attention.
Although it wasn’t even the seventh day after his death, the Yunsheng Pavilion where Gu Yunwu had lived was already deserted, leaving only a dozing gatekeeper. Yi Si tiptoed past the gatekeeper and slipped smoothly into the courtyard.
Upon entering, a spacious bluestone path led directly to the main house. Though the courtyard was small, it was lined with priceless bonsai and flowers, with rockeries arranged in a staggered pattern. A plum tree blossomed in the corner.
The courtyard had just been cleared, but the scenery hadn’t yet become desolate; instead, it seemed even more tranquil and elegant.
Before Yi Si could fully appreciate the scenery, Gu Yunwu had already entered the main house.
Gu Yunwu, returning to his old home, showed no emotion. Pointing to the bedroom, he said to Yi Si, “Under the quilt at the head of my bed, there’s some silver and a jade pendant my mother left me. You can keep the silver.”
Yi Si nodded, and as he turned over the pillow, an intricately embroidered sachet fell out.
“This was sewn by Chun Tao.” Gu Yunwu leaned over to take a look at it and said, “Take it with you. It’s a pity she died alone in the abandoned old woodshed. If we go back and she’s still there, she might be happy to see this.”
Yi Si picked up the sachet, examined it carefully, and sniffed it. It seemed to contain some soothing herbs. “Chun Tao really does like you, right?”
“I wasn’t fortunate enough to return her affection.” Gu Yunwu shrugged.
“Chun Tao is a nice name, though.”
[TLN: 春桃 (Chūn Táo) → Spring Peach]
“Really? I also had Qiu Feng and Dong Mei in my courtyard.”
[TLN:秋枫 (Qiū Fēng) → Autumn Maple and 冬梅 (Dōng Méi) → Winter Plum.]
“Huh? Why is Xia missing?”
[TLN:夏 (Xià) → Summer
Here they joke: “Why is summer missing?” because the other three seasons are represented (Spring–Autumn–Winter). So basically: Spring Peach, Autumn Maple, Winter Plum… but no Summer.]
“Xia Yuan is married [夏鸢 (Xia Yuan)=Summer Kite]. She was a homeless child I picked up at a temple fair when I was a kid. She was a few years older than me. She was the only person in my courtyard who truly treated me well. So when she was old enough, I cleared her status as a servant and found her a good husband to marry.”
“If someone treats you well, why send her away so early?”
“It was precisely because she treated me so well that I couldn’t bear to watch her be devoured by this den of wolves. I’m considered a distinguished person in this compound, but I still can’t live a decent life. If she had stayed here, I don’t know how much she would have suffered for my sake. It was more reassuring for me if she got married early.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a kind person.”
“Fourth brother, you really have a good eye for people.”
“Tsk. If you’re so kind, why don’t you help me choose a name?”
During their casual conversation, Yi Si had already turned the bedding upside down, but couldn’t find any jade pendant. “Could someone have sold it?”
“It’s just an ordinary item, not worth much. It wouldn’t fetch much.” Gu Yunwu’s brows knitted slightly, a rare hint of worry on his face.
“If it’s still in this compound, don’t worry. Ghosts are best at attaching themselves to familiar objects. Even if you don’t seek them out, they’ll find you.” Yi Si rolled off the messy bed and lifted Gu Yunwu’s hands. “Come, I’ll teach you.”
“Close your eyes and concentrate. Imagine the jade pendant.”
Gu Yunwu did as he was told, and indeed, he could vaguely see something. His vision entered the jade’s perspective, as if he were dangling from someone’s body. The surroundings looked quite familiar.
“It’s the study. Someone did take it away. They’re in the study now,” Gu Yunwu said, opening his eyes.
“Alright, let’s go.” Yi Si raised his foot to leave, but Gu Yunwu pulled him back the next second.
“Do you have a plan?”
“What plan? It’s simply to find that person and then take the jade pendant back.”
“How?”
“Hm? With your hands.”
Gu Yunwu suddenly felt completely powerless. He rubbed his forehead with one hand, while the other clutched Yi Si’s arm tightly, afraid he would run away. “Let me think.”
“Come on, Master Gu. Things will work out in time. You’re always sick because you worry too much.”
Just as the two were arguing, the door to the main room suddenly opened. Madam Cui and several servants filed in.
“You’re here! I had a hard time finding you.” Madam Cui panted, one hand stroking her chest, the other supporting her waist. “Come on, take her to the mistress.”
Before Chun Tao could say anything, she was quickly lifted up by several people and carried out.
Gu Yunwu followed quickly, wishing he could fly to catch up. “From now on, you must not speak carelessly. When we get there, just follow my instructions. I haven’t interacted much with Madam Liu over the years, and I know very little about her. But the Gu Mansion is definitely not a place that treats its servants with kindness or compassion. When you were a ghost, you might have been fearless. But humans are much more fragile. Fourth brother, be careful.”
Madam Liu was having lunch when suddenly a group of people rushed into the room, carrying a large human being among them. A hint of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly regained her composure, as if it were a dragonfly touching water.
“Quickly—quickly kneel before Madam Liu.” Madam Cui had just been furious. Without catching her breath, she forced the words out between wheezes, almost suffocating.
Kneel? Yi Si raised an eyebrow. “I’ve only ever kneeled to our fat Lord of Hell, not to heaven or earth. Who do you think you are?”
Gu Yunwu almost instantly sensed his intention. Before Yi Si could say anything, she kicked him sharply at the joints.
Chun Tao fell to her knees with a thud, a complex expression flashing across her face like a revolving lantern. Then, as if giving up something, she obediently bent down and lowered her head.
“Tao’er greets Madam.”
Madam Liu put down her bowl and chopsticks and signaled for the food to be cleared away. She studied Chun Tao for a moment, as if searching for some answer.
“Your body… are you okay?”
“Thanks to Madam’s care, I’m almost well now.”
“What were you doing in the young master’s courtyard?” Madam Liu asked, slowly accepting tea from a servant.
“Today is the young master’s seventh day after his death, and Tao’er went back to keep vigil for him.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu’s hand holding the tea paused for a moment, but she quickly concealed it with a calm expression. She lowered her head, stirring the tea leaves with the lid, but hesitated to drink. “So it’s already the seventh day.”
Gu Yunwu rarely faced his stepmother directly like this. When they met, he would simply bow his head and pass by. Even so, Gu Yunwu keenly sensed Madam Liu’s momentary hesitation.
“You know, the master doesn’t like the old servants of Yunsheng Pavilion staying in the mansion. While I can still make some decisions for you, choose a farm for yourself tomorrow. Just move over there.”
“Madam,” Chuntao leaned down even lower. “Tao’er is useless. She hasn’t taken good care of the young master, and she’s let you down. Tao’er lost her mother at a young age, and you raised her under your care. To be frank, you’re like Tao’er’s mother. If you find me annoying, I can do laundry in the outer courtyard, pick up groceries in the kitchen—anything is fine as long as I can stay by your side. I only ask that you don’t send me away. Tao’er has already wronged the young master. If you don’t let me atone for my sins and repay my kindness to you, I’m afraid I won’t be able to face my deceased mother.” As she spoke, Chuntao’s voice trembled unconsciously.
Everyone assumed Chuntao was heartbroken. But the truth was, for Yi Si, Gu Yunwu’s words were too bitter. They were so bitter that Yi Si’s tongue was tied and his teeth clenched. He trembled. He couldn’t understand how someone could so nonchalantly say such sentimental words.
Gu Yunwu was clearly pleased with his performance. He even asked if he could shed a few tears. Yi Si gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, “Get lost!”
Madam Liu fell into a long silence. The air in the room seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath, afraid that their own breathing would shatter the stillness.
Finally, a cry of “Master is here” from outside the room broke the silence, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. There was a commotion outside, and the door was thrown open.
A slightly portly middle-aged man entered the room. He was dressed in a rich satin robe embroidered with gold and silver thread, and every inch of his body exuded elegance and grace. However, his appearance was truly ordinary, nothing like Gu Yunwu.
Master Gu also wore a jade pendant of unremarkable carving and quality around his waist. Against his elegant and regal attire, the jade pendant stood out.
Yi Si and Gu Yunwu exchanged a knowing glance. It was truly a case of a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, effortlessly reaping the rewards.
Madam Liu frowned at first, then stood, bowed, and vacated the main seat, stepping aside. Master Gu, having just taken his place, pointed at Chun Tao, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, “Drag her out and beat her to death.”
The breath that had just been exhaled was now drawn back.
Gu Yunwu looked at his father in shock. Why was his father so concerned about the people around him, to the point of not merely dismissing them but even threatening to take their lives? Two servants entered, grabbed Chuntao, and began to drag her out.
Chuntao, finding strength within, shook off the four large hands and stood upright, brushing off the dust. Despite her position, she held her head high and her face stern, giving off a condescending air.
“Master Gu, can you tell me why Chuntao has to die?”
“You have no sense of propriety or honor, repeatedly neglecting my Wu’er, causing his illness to worsen and eventually leading to his death. Shouldn’t you die? Come on, drag her away!”
A servant nearby tried to reach out and pull her away, but as soon as he got close, Chuntao slapped him, knocking him to the ground. The crisp sound of the slap echoed with the low cries of several maids. At that moment, Gu Yunwu’s mind was filled with only two words: It’s over.
The scene now resembled a wild horse running loose. The child had left in a cloud of dust, and there was no way to bring him back.
“Neglect? Master, you didn’t neglect him? How many times have you visited him since he was little? What kind of food did he like to eat, how many hours did he sleep each day, what book was he reading recently? Do you know? Where were you while he waited for you in the yard day after day? Only seven days after he passed away, you cleared out his yard of all belongings of the old servants, not even leaving him a night watchman. If he came home and saw this scene, would he not be sad? What would he think? Even now, you put on a show of loving care for your child, but you’re just taking advantage because he can’t testify. He was all alone when he was alive, and now that he’s dead, you’re still tormenting him. How can a father like you have the nerve to accuse others of neglect?”
The room was in turmoil. Some people screamed softly, while others chanted “Amitabha,” and some cried, “Chun Tao, are you crazy?”
Gu Yunwu’s heart felt as if a torrential downpour had fallen, soaking every corner. Years of loneliness, suspicion, caution, feigned flattery, and forced smiles washed away like mud on a cobblestone pavement, bit by bit.
His eyes widened, piercing Chun Tao’s body and resting on Yi Si’s slightly stubborn face. His breathing became increasingly rapid, and even his pupils trembled slightly.
Master Gu’s face flickered between blue and red, his beard puffing and his eyes glaring, a truly spectacular display. “You, you, you! How dare you! Someone, come in with a stick and beat her to death right here.”
“I can be beaten, but please do it yourself, Master. What? Father, with all his attitude, does he even need someone else to beat for him?” Chun Tao remained unyielding. It was clearly an attempt to provoke him. Master Gu, unable to bear it any longer, rushed forward and slapped her.
No matter how resilient Yi Si might be as a ghost, she was still in a weak woman’s body. Faced with the angry blow of a grown man, Chun Tao was thrown to the ground.
Yi Si saw stars after being hit. He cursed the fragility of his mortal body. After a long pause, he stumbled back to his feet, relying on sheer willpower.
“Fourth brother, that’s enough,” Gu Yunwu shouted. He tried to pull him back, but Yi Si waved him away. He wiped the blood from his mouth. “If you don’t beat me to death today, let me stay. I still have to keep watch for the young master.”
Master Gu was shaking with anger. He looked around and frantically found a broom in the corner. He lashed out at Chun Tao. With just that one blow, blood oozed from Chuntao’s back.
“Stop! Stop right there!” Gu Yunwu said in a trembling voice, but Master Gu naturally heard nothing.
One, two, three blows — more and more bloodstains covered Chuntao’s body, soon soaking through her thin clothes. Yi Si knelt on the ground, but stubbornly held his back straight. He bit his lower lip tightly in pain. When he heard Gu Yunwu’s voice, he looked up at him and forced a smile.
They were separated by life and death.
What they saw was a blood-soaked body and a trembling soul.
