FBC – Chapter 234 Dismissal

Gu Hua watched Mu Junyan leave through the side door, then stepped out of the room.

Dawn had not fully broken; through the wooden flower lattice the sky was just paling.

Dong Qing, who had been sleeping on the outer couch to keep watch, heard the movement and hurriedly rose when she saw Gu Hua.

Surprised, she asked, “Madam, you’re up so early?”

“Mm. Go call Zhou Chunyu and Zhou Zhilan — I have urgent matters to instruct them on.”

Gu Hua had barely slept all night, yet she looked spry and alert.

“All right.” Dong Qing hurriedly put on her outer robe.

Before long, Zhou Chunyu and Zhou Zhilan arrived. Zhou Zhilan hadn’t even had time to comb her hair; she had simply bound it with a headband in a careless twist.

Nervously she gripped Gu Hua’s hand. “What’s wrong? Can’t sleep? Are you unwell? Shall I fetch Shen Li to take a look?”

Gu Hua shook her head. “No. Mu Junyan returned last night.”

She paused. Seeing neither of them looked surprised, she continued, “He will be coming back often from now on, so the Duke Yong Manor must be protected like iron.”

Both of their expressions immediately grew serious; they nodded in agreement.

Zhou Chunyu, knowing something of the situation outside, said, “The court has been in some disorder lately, and there’s a lot of gossip in the capital. We must be cautious — my lord’s whereabouts absolutely must not be made known.”

Zhou Zhilan chimed in, “I’ve been meaning to say, we don’t need so many servants in the house. Those originally bought in the capital can all be dismissed. Those people inevitably have tangled ties with the capital — you never know who might be loose-lipped, or become someone else’s informant.”

Gu Hua nodded. “Let’s go discuss it with Mother.”

There was also the problem of Mu An.

He was like a customized bomb, liable to explode at any moment.

The three of them went to the Auspicious Hall and discussed matters with the Old Madam for some time. Zhou Chunyu and Zhou Zhilan began screening the household at once: any outer-yard servants who were not formerly of the Mu family army or who had not served the family for two or three generations were to be removed. They didn’t force anyone to sell themselves as bonded servants; they issued house servant certificates and paid severance silver to dismiss them.

By early morning the Mu residence felt as though it had been shaken by an earthquake — everyone was stunned.

Some sobbed and refused to leave; others were cheerful, clutching their house-servant certificates and the severance silver with profuse thanks.

It wasn’t until noon that the dismissed people were all sent off.

The household arrangements were also changed. Apart from the outer gate and the screen wall at the entrance, white banners and white lanterns still hung. Guard duty was strengthened in the Auspicious Hall and the Literary Pavilion; the inner courtyard’s mourning decorations were taken down.

The remaining servants were no longer required to wear mourning attire.

Gu Hua sent Dong Qing to the Embroidery Workshop and the Liliang Tower to have several plain ruqun (short robes and skirts) and simple jewelry made for her and the Old Madam, so they wouldn’t be dressed entirely in white all day — that didn’t look auspicious.

After all, Mu Junyan was still alive; Gu Hua felt uneasy and didn’t want to bring bad luck to him.

Gu Hua’s etiquette was impeccable, and over this time she had gradually begun receiving invitations from officials’ wives — to admire flowers, listen to music, and the like.

Last night she and Mu Junyan had agreed that one of them would be visible, cultivating relations with the officials’ wives, while the other operated in secret, planning strategy.

In the past few days Wang Lanyi’s injuries had improved enough that she could get up and walk. She didn’t idle about either; every day she accompanied the Old Madam in conversation. Seeing Gu Hua and the others busy from morning to night, she couldn’t help asking, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Gu Hua smiled. “Nothing much. You two mothers just chat and rest.”

Wang Lanyi hesitated, about to say more.

The Old Madam laughed and linked her arm with Wang Lanyi’s. “Let the young do the tasks. We should take it easy. Don’t add to their trouble — that’s help enough. Come on, let’s play leaf cards.”

Wang Lanyi’s heart ached with a pang of guilt. “Gu Hua is pregnant; I can’t help them with anything. I truly am useless. The Old Madam won’t despise me, will she?”

The Old Madam laughed heartily. “Despise you? Nonsense. I’m crude and don’t fuss over ritual matters. If you don’t mind me, I’m satisfied.”

Wang Lanyi blushed. “Although I was born into the Langya Wang clan, we’re a minor branch. If the head matron of the Langya Wangs had had a suitably aged girl to marry into the Wenchang Marquis’s household back then, perhaps I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

“We soldiers often say a hero is not asked about origins,” the Old Madam said. “Birth and family are given by one’s parents; later effort can change everything. Look at Gu Hua — how she was treated in this household before, and how she has become now. Doesn’t the demeanor of the mistress show?”

Wang Lanyi nodded, eyes slightly red.

A sudden commotion burst forth outside. “I want to see my grandmother! You lot dare stop me? I’ll kill you!” someone shouted.

The Old Madam’s face darkened at the noise. Yiniang hurried out.

“Sir.” She intercepted the one charging in — Mu An.

Mu An’s beard was disheveled; he carried a blood-smeared sword and had cut down anyone who tried to stop him.

Yiniang glared at the fallen people behind him; anger showed on her face. “Young Master! What do you mean by this?”

“What do I mean?” Mu An glared with bloodshot eyes and, with a sweep of his arm, pointed outside. “That bitch dared to seal the door to my Zui Mo Pavilion. What does she think she’s doing? Trying to drive me out so that the bastard in her belly can inherit the Duke Manor?”

Yiniang’s face soured. “Young Master, be careful what you say! The madam is carrying the late lord’s posthumous son!”

“Pah. Posthumous son? That cheap woman is loose — she slept with me and then seduced my father. Who knows with how many else she slept—” His words were cut off when someone suddenly rushed forward and, before he could react, landed a sharp slap across his face.

Mu An’s sword slipped from his hand with a clatter.

Wang Lanyi, trembling with rage, had struck him, crying, “Shut your mouth! Gu Hua’s chastity is beyond reproach; do not insult her!”

Mu An clutched his burning cheek. Seeing it was Wang Lanyi only inflamed him further; his eyes flamed red. “Wench! How dare you hit me! I am a proper son of the Duke’s house, and it’s you who faked being a true daughter to fool me and ruin me! I will kill you!”

He seized his sword and lunged at Wang Lanyi. The blade was about to pierce her chest when suddenly the wooden dragon-head staff shot forward and blocked Mu An’s sword.

The force made his hand go numb; the sword fell to the ground with a clatter. Mu An looked up in shock.

The Old Madam, holding her cane in one hand, flicked it to disarm him, then swept her cane across. The dragon-head staff struck heavily into Mu An’s abdomen.

He staggered back, unable to steady himself, finally collapsing onto the bluestone floor with a cry of pain. He clutched his sore bottom and wounded belly, glaring at the Old Madam with terror and grievance. “Grandmother! Why do you treat me like this?”

The Old Madam’s face turned cold, even showing a hint of disgust. “Do not call me grandmother. I will not bear that.”

Mu An’s face went rigid; a feral, hateful expression crept over him.

Gu Hua, Zhou Zhilan and the others hurried over at the commotion, and seeing the injured people their faces changed.

The wounded were helped away. Zhou Zhilan sheltered Gu Hua as they approached the Old Madam.

Gu Hua felt a wave of disgust at Mu An.

She steadied the Old Madam, speaking calmly, “Mother, do not be frightened. This morning I ordered the side door of Zui Mo Pavilion leading to the main courtyard sealed. Craftsmen have been arranged to enlarge Zui Mo Pavilion’s outer gate so it will open to the outside instead. Mu An need not be confined — he may go out as he pleases.”

This was Mu Junyan’s idea.

Matters of formally relocating the household would wait for Mu Junyan’s return to handle; for now they sealed the two courtyards’ connecting doors, making Zui Mo Pavilion a separate compound — one less thing for the Duke Manor to worry about.

Keeping him confined all the time was no solution. Letting him out might draw out whoever intended to act.

Mu An roared in fury, “Wench, you shall not drive me from the Duke Manor! I am the legitimate son recorded in my father’s genealogy — you are not the one to throw me out!”

The Old Madam spoke with composed authority, “It just so happens Gu Hua is here; I will make things clear myself so no one can twist facts or harbor foolish illusions.”