Chapter 350 — The Earl's Manor

The Earl of Yunyang took the matter up with his wife. "I think we should petition to have the eldest grandson formally designated. If this goes on, the household will lose all sense of rank, brothers will turn into enemies, and everything will descend into utter chaos. And even without a petition, so long as Gu Yu lives, that side will never settle. Fortunately Gu Yu is already seventeen. If he cannot even hold on to what is his own, then such a grandson is no great loss."

Once the eldest grandson was formally designated, the succession to the title was settled.

The advantage was a fixed position; the disadvantage was becoming the target of every arrow.

Gu Yu's stepmother in particular would be left with no hope at all, and her methods against him might grow even more ruthless.

The Countess of Yunyang had been gentle by nature since girlhood. After she married the earl, because his heart had always belonged to his first wife, Lady Song, she yielded to him in everything. Whatever the earl approved, she would never disapprove. Though she knew her daughter-in-law treated the eldest grandson badly, since the earl said nothing, she only secretly slipped Gu Yu a little silver; of more, she dared not speak a word. Unfortunately, silver was the one thing Gu Yu never lacked, and so his relations with the rest of the Gu family were none too good.

Hearing that her husband meant to petition on Gu Yu's behalf, she naturally nodded and said, "Good."

The Earl of Yunyang could not help sighing.

His wife was too soft-natured. But could a household be run on softness alone? If she had it in her to take charge, to manage the Earl of Yunyang's household properly, why would he have tolerated his daughter-in-law's willfulness?

Such thoughts led him inevitably back to Lady Song.

If she were still alive... his life would surely not have come to this.

Come to think of it, she had been gone nearly forty years, and he himself had reached sixty, the age for setting one's affairs in order.

He wanted to be buried beside Lady Song.

But his sons had all been born to his second wife. Even if he left a will, he feared they would not consent. Once he closed his eyes, he would be at others' mercy—they might even drag the matter before the emperor.

For this, someone from the Song family would have to step forward.

Song Cen would not do... it would have to be Song Yan... and as for Gu Yu's marriage, they must find a formidable wife for the eldest grandson, one who could hold her own against the eldest daughter-in-law...

The Earl of Yunyang lay in bed watching the sun climb slowly, and only then did he rise lazily and order his personal attendant to send a calling card to Song Yan: "Tell him to come to the house. I have something to say to him."

The attendant answered and went out. But in less time than it takes to drink half a cup of tea he was back—and not alone: Song Yan was with him.

The earl was startled, then laughed. "Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. You have come to see Gu Yu, I suppose?"

Song Yan had no great opinion of the Earl of Yunyang. For one thing, the man had accomplished nothing of note; for another, in the matter of Gu Yu he had not a shred of principle. Their ordinary dealings amounted to no more than Song Yan offering him the courtesy due a senior, out of old ties between their houses.

"I heard Gu Yu was back," Song Yan said, exchanging a few polite words with the earl.

Ordinarily, once the courtesies were done, the earl would nod and let him go. This time, however, he said, "After you have seen Gu Yu, come to my room."

Song Yan's instinct told him the earl had nothing good in mind, but he smiled and nodded, and went to Gu Yu's quarters.

Gu Yu was sprawled spread-eagle on the heated kang by the window, while several of his personal attendants knelt trembling at its edge, stealing glances at one another, none daring to speak.

Last night's scene had been truly terrible. Even now, thinking of it, they felt a lingering fear.

When the little maid called through the curtain, "The Heir of the Duke of Yingguo is here," her timid voice seemed suddenly the sound of heaven. The attendants nearly leaped to their feet.

Gu Yu sat bolt upright.

Amid a clear, crisp rebuke—"Why are you still lolling in bed?"—Song Yan lifted the curtain and stepped in.

Gu Yu put on a sullen face and lay back down.

"What tantrum is this now?" Song Yan paid him no mind and ordered the kneeling attendants, "Fetch water for the young master and help him wash and dress."

Gu Yu stuck out his neck like a child and cried, "I did not sleep all night!"

"I know," Song Yan said, unmoved, his tone mild. "I hear you won a great victory. What, too excited to sleep?"

Yesterday's victory had been a little dishonorable.

He had even dragged his dead mother into it before his father finally shot his stepmother a few fierce glares.

Gu Yu's face burned.

Song Yan sighed and said gently, "Why did you not come see me when you got back from Liaodong?"

"Things happened at home. I was not in the mood," Gu Yu mumbled, though inwardly he regretted it. Had he known Brother Tianci was thinking of him, he should have gone sooner.

Song Yan said nothing.

Gu Yu submitted meekly to his attendants' washing and dressing.

When that was done, he plopped himself down beside Song Yan and said eagerly, "Brother Tianci, have you eaten breakfast? We have a new cook at home who makes wonderful noodles. Shall I have someone cook you a bowl?"

"I have already eaten," Song Yan said. "If there is something you want, have the cook make it for you."

Gu Yu never stood on ceremony with Song Yan; he loudly ordered an attendant to have the kitchen cook him noodles.

Song Yan said, "Carrying on like this will not solve anything. Is there not a place in your back garden called Tingxiang Pavilion? Why not build a latticed wall on its east side and open a side gate on the west, then move your quarters there? That way you need not go in and out through the main house every day—you will be more comfortable, and your stepmother will not find you underfoot."

Gu Yu's eyes grew moist.

Everyone said they treated him well, but the only one who truly did was Brother Tianci.

He had thought of everything for him.

He decided he might as well be magnanimous himself.

Wasn't she just a child? And Brother Tianci's own flesh and blood.

Madam Dou was spreading branches and putting forth leaves for Brother Tianci; he could not be the one to drag at Brother Tianci's heels. He would simply give Madam Dou the two century-old ginseng roots the Prince of Liao had given him. Didn't people say that a woman in childbirth had one foot already across the gate of ghosts? Brother Tianci was rather fond of Madam Dou; perhaps the ginseng might even save her life.

At that thought his temper smoothed out, and he said scornfully, "I'm not moving! Am I afraid of her?"

"It's not a question of fear or no fear," Song Yan urged him. "You have long days ahead of you; why lower yourself to their level? Once the New Year is over, go into the palace and have the Empress find you a post, and then we'll arrange a good marriage for you, and you can live your own small life in peace and contentment. Let your stepmother watch and burn with envy—isn't that better than squabbling with her like this?"

So Gu Yu told Song Yan how his stepmother had stuffed two maids with almond eyes and peach-blossom cheeks into his rooms.

Song Yan said, "If an ox won't lower its head, can you force it to drink?" Then he prodded him: "Or is it that you haven't even this much self-control?"

"Right!" Gu Yu's mind opened all at once, and he laughed. "All right then, in a little while I'll go beg Grandfather to let me move to Tingxiang Pavilion."

Song Yan nodded. "That's the way. Why lower yourself to that woman?"

Gu Yu nodded again and again. He ate two big bowls of noodles, then hauled out everything he had picked up for Song Yan in Liaodong.