Yuanshi stopped lightly when she heard the voice behind her. She turned, expecting perhaps an attendant, but her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
The middle aged woman she had seen earlier in the pavilion was hurrying toward her, her dignified robes rustling softly with each step. Beside her walked Gu Ming, still looking pale but no longer trembling.
The madam reached them first and inclined her head politely.
"Thank you for paying for my daughter just now. You truly did not have to."
Gu Ming stepped forward immediately and bowed deeply, her long sleeves brushing the ground.
"Gu Ming thanks sister for saving her from humiliation."
Yuanshi reached out at once and gently lifted her upright.
"There is no need to thank me at all," she said warmly. "I simply could not tolerate the behavior of those ladies. So what if someone cannot pay at a particular moment?"
Yuexi folded her arms and sniffed lightly. "Such unsightly conduct is hardly befitting of noble young misses."
The madam laughed softly, a sound that carried both amusement and relief.
"I would still like to express our gratitude."
"There is truly no need," Yuanshi replied with a small shake of her head.
Gu Ming clasped her hands anxiously. "I feel deeply indebted to you. Please allow us to do something."
Her mother nodded. "We will not trouble you. We only wish to invite you to our residence for tea tomorrow as thanks."
Gu Ming quickly added, noticing Yuanshi's hesitation, "If you already have plans, you may decline."
Yuanshi paused for a moment, as if weighing the offer carefully. Then she smiled.
"What time tomorrow?"
"Noon would be perfect," Madam Gu replied.
She glanced at Yuexi. "Your sister may come as well. We would be delighted to have her."
Yuexi inclined her head slightly, her expression cool but polite.
Yuanshi clasped her hands apologetically. "We are new to the city and do not yet know our way around. How would we find your residence?"
Madam Gu waved her concern away. "That is no trouble at all. We will send a carriage to fetch you."
"In that case," Yuanshi said, "we are staying at Lotus Spring Inn for the time being."
"Very well," Madam Gu replied with a smile.
Soon after, the Gu mother and daughter returned to their carriage and departed, leaving the sisters standing outside TianShan Pavilion.
Yuanshi and Yuexi exchanged a long look.
Then both of them smiled knowingly.
---
The next day at noon, the sisters stepped down from the carriage sent by the Gu family.
They found themselves before an imposing estate.
The Gu Manor stretched across nearly half the street, its high walls painted a pristine white and topped with dark tiled roofs. Elegant plum trees lined the perimeter, their branches heavy with blossoms that perfumed the air with a faint, sweet fragrance. Petals drifted lazily on the breeze, settling on the stone pathway like scattered silk.
Servants moved about the grounds in orderly fashion, sweeping, carrying baskets, trimming branches. The entire place exuded quiet wealth and discipline.
As soon as the sisters arrived, Madam Gu emerged from the main residence, smiling warmly.
"Welcome, welcome. Please pardon the state of the compound. We have only just begun cleaning."
Yuanshi offered a shy smile. "Everything looks very clean already."
Madam Gu laughed and beckoned them inside.
She led them through the courtyard into a garden so beautiful that Yuanshi could not help but release a soft sigh.
A small artificial mountain rose near the center, its rocky slopes dotted with moss and tiny shrubs. At its base lay a clear koi pond where brightly colored fish glided lazily beneath the surface, their scales flashing gold and crimson. Cherry blossoms and plum trees surrounded the space, their branches forming a delicate canopy overhead.
It was the most enchanting sight Yuanshi had seen since arriving in Yanjing City.
Madam Gu guided them to a low table set upon woven mats. The table was laden with delicate pastries, fresh fruit, and a steaming pot of fragrant tea.
Gu Ming was already seated there. She rose immediately and bowed.
"Gu Ming welcomes sister."
Yuanshi smiled warmly. "Gu Ming is the most beautiful sight in this garden today."
Gu Ming flushed and lowered her gaze shyly.
"Do not flatter her too much," Madam Gu said with a chuckle as she sat down. "Her head will swell."
"Beauty deserves admiration," Yuanshi replied lightly. "That includes your daughter and this lovely garden."
Yuexi nodded in agreement, her gaze roaming calmly across the surroundings.
Madam Gu took her seat, and Gu Ming began pouring tea with careful movements. The sisters accepted the cups politely, though their manner of drinking was noticeably less refined than that of their host.
Yuanshi noticed and set her cup down with a small apologetic smile.
"Please pardon my lack of etiquette. I am only the wife of a merchant."
Madam Gu waved dismissively. "It is fine. Strict etiquette can be suffocating."
To prove her point, she lifted her own cup and drank in the same relaxed manner.
"You mentioned yesterday that you had just arrived in the city. I assume your husband is here on business?"
Yuanshi laughed softly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"I wish my dear husband were here with me."
She lowered her gaze modestly before continuing.
"Ever since we had our little ergu, traveling together has become difficult. Our son's constitution is very weak, and long journeys are hard on him."
Madam Gu nodded sympathetically. "Your son must be very handsome. Aside from his health, young children truly need stability."
"My mother in law said the same," Yuanshi replied. "So my husband decided we should settle in Yanjing City, since it is excellent for business. He has traveled to the Situ Kingdom for now, and I am here preparing things in advance."
Madam Gu set her teacup down with a small clink.
"Have you found a residence? As a merchant family, you will need to be near the influential families. The Upper Street area would be most suitable."
Yuanshi sighed softly. "Establishing a household is no easy task. I do not even know where to begin."
"My husband is the city lord," Madam Gu said matter of factly. "With his assistance, finding a suitable residence would be simple."
Yuanshi shook her head quickly. "I could not impose such a burden."
Madam Gu reached out and gently took her hand.
"You called me sister yesterday. I consider that a sign of friendship. A friend's matter is never a burden."
Gu Ming leaned forward curiously. "Sister, what is your name?"
"Yuanshi," she replied with a smile.
Madam Gu laughed. "Younger sister Yuanshi, you may come to me for anything."
Yuanshi nodded. "Thank you."
Yuanshi lowered her teacup, her fingers resting lightly against the warm porcelain. She hesitated for a breath before asking,
"Who are the Wei family?"
The moment the words left her lips, the atmosphere shifted.
Madam Gu's smile froze.
Not faded. Not softened. It stopped completely, as if a mask had cracked but refused to fall.
"The Wei family?" she repeated slowly.
Her tone was no longer warm. It carried a faint sharpness, like the edge of a blade hidden beneath silk.
"That is the Marquis household," she said at last. "Why do you ask?"
Yuanshi offered a polite smile, though she did not miss the sudden stiffness in the woman's shoulders.
"My husband suggested I become acquainted with them," she said lightly. "He believes they would be… helpful for establishing our business in Yanjing. But I know nothing about them personally."
A brittle sound escaped Madam Gu. It might have been a laugh, if not for how cold it felt.
"Helpful?"
She set her teacup down a little too hard. The porcelain struck the table with a dull knock, tea rippling dangerously close to the rim.
"If you value peace, sister, you would do well to start elsewhere."
Her eyes darkened, the earlier friendliness draining away entirely.
"The Wei family are not… good people."
The pause before the last words was deliberate, heavy with things unsaid.
"They have made life very difficult for our Gu household these past few years."
Gu Ming's hands tightened slightly around her sleeves. She kept her gaze lowered, but the tension in her posture was unmistakable.
Madam Gu continued, her voice controlled but unable to hide the bitterness beneath.
"Their younger generation is filled with talented cultivators. Our children…" She stopped, her jaw tightening. "Our Gu family cannot compare."
Silence fell over the table. Even the breeze seemed to still, petals drifting down soundlessly onto the stone path.
Madam Gu suddenly reached out and clasped Yuanshi's hand. Her grip was firm, almost urgent.
"I am a straightforward person," she said, meeting Yuanshi's eyes directly. "So I will speak plainly. I despise them."
The words were soft, but the hatred in them was unmistakable.
For a moment, it seemed as though she might say more. Her lips parted slightly, her brows drawing together, something turbulent flickering in her gaze.
Then she stopped.
Whatever she had intended to reveal was swallowed back down.
"Even if I wished to say more…" she said quietly, withdrawing her hand, "the Wei family are extremely reclusive. They seldom appear in public. Finding them is not easy."
She lifted her teacup again, though she did not drink.
"The only thing I know is that their matriarch visits the temple from time to time."
Yuanshi watched her carefully. It was clear there was far more beneath the surface, but pressing further now would only close whatever door had briefly opened.
She sighed softly.
"You have already been very kind to me, Sister Gu. I will persuade my husband to reconsider."
Madam Gu's expression softened slightly, though the tension never fully left her eyes.
"That would be wise."