/
Looking for a Beating
Translated by atsam
Edited by atsam
The weather was warming up.
Gu Jiu’s common cold had already been cured. Her body was still weak but could be slowly nursed back to health.
Her small face was too pale, just like a sickly person’s.
Gu Jiu scrunched up her nose at her reflection. This appearance was very deceptive.
Anyone who looked at her would believe that she was a frail, tender and weak sickly girl and wouldn’t guard against her in the least.
She was very satisfied with this appearance.
More importantly, her features were very good. She would look more beautiful when she added some flesh to her body.
Qing Zhu hurriedly entered. “Guniang, I asked around. The middleman has just entered the second door.”
Gu Jiu’s brows bent. She said with a laugh, “I haven’t paid respects to taitai for a while now. I must take advantage of today. Follow me to pay my respects to taitai.”
Qing Zhu asked anxiously, “Is guniang’s body alright?”
Gu Jiu smiled lightly. “Don’t worry. I won’t be tired by just walking a few steps. Qing Mei, help me wear my clothes. Let it be simple, not too extravagant.”
“Yes!”
Qing Mei chose a light green dress for Gu Jiu.
“Guniang, is this okay?”
Gu Jiu nodded, satisfied. This light green dress made her small face look weaker and fairer.
“It’s not early. Let’s hurry.”
Gu Jiu led her maids out. Xiao Cui was guarding the door. Gu Jiu looked at her. “Xiao Cui will also follow.”
Xiao Cui was first terrified, then astonished, then pleasantly surprised.
Qing Mei reminded her, “Why are you still staring blankly? Quickly catch up.”
“Thank you, guniang.” Xiao Cui was overjoyed.
Gu Jiu walked out of Zhilanyuan for the first time in half a month. She was in a good mood.
It was early summer. The garden was lush and the scenery was very good.
She thought if she had the chance, wouldn’t it be beautiful to admire the moon and flowers with a pot of fruit wine?
As soon as she entered the door of shang fang, before the servant announced her, she heard Gu Yue’s tinkling laughter from within.
Gu Jiu smiled. “Is there some good event that san meimei is so happy?”
The pozi guarding the door said, “San guniang is the most amusing in front of taitai.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “Everyone says that san meimei is taitai’s intimate little cotton-padded jacket. Sure enough, it’s true.”
Listening to her words, the pozi had a good impression on Gu Jiu.
She didn’t expect that the second girl who had previously been very silent could come up with such cordial words.
The maid Chun Cao came out of the room and welcomed her. “Taitai was thinking about the er guniang. Unexpectedly, er guniang came right away.”
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “I am someone who can’t bear being spoken of. Chun Cao jiejie is becoming increasingly beautiful.”
Chun Cao was stunned. Immediately, she smiled. “Er guniang must be joking. Please come in.”
Chun Cao opened the curtain and Gu Jiu entered with the help of a servant.
Inside the room, the light was dim. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to it. When she was able to see clearly, there were over twenty little girls standing at the side, strictly abiding by the rules.
They were probably servants brought by the middlemen for them to choose.
“Greetings to taitai.”
Gu Jiu stepped forward and saluted according to the rules.
There was a lukewarm smile on Xie shi’s face. “Er guniang is here. We were just talking about you. This person, ah! Truly can’t bear being spoken of.”
Gu Jiu covered her lips with a handkerchief, coughing lightly.
“Taitai is right.”
Xie shi watched Gu Jiu. “Er guniang, are you feeling better?”
Gu Jiu lowered her head with a fragile appearance. “Much better. I have worried taitai.”
Xie shi looked dignified. “You are all my children. I ought to care about you.”
Gu Jiu smiled, feeling embarrassed. “Taitai is the most affectionate.”
Xie shi followed with a smile, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
She found Gu Jiu to be an eyesore. Naturally, she had to do some face-saving efforts.
“Er jiejie, your nose is really alert. Why did you rush to pay respects to mother today? I didn’t see you come these last few days.”
Gu Yue stared at Gu Jiu with a smile that wasn’t a smile, clearly mocking her. Gu Jiu earnestly said, “A few days ago, I wasn’t feeling well so I didn’t dare to pass on the illness to taitai. And so, I didn’t dare to come and pay my respects.
“The past two days, I have felt much better. Doctor Chen also said that I could come out and exercise. I thought that I hadn’t greeted taitai for a long time and it was rather unfilial of me. It just so happened that I drank half a bowl of porridge early this morning and my body had gained some strength, so I rushed over here at once.”
Through Gu Jiu’s words, her filial image was instantly established. Her body had barely strengthened when she immediately rushed to pay her respects. If this wasn’t filial, what was?
Gu Yue was infuriated. “Er jiejie has a sharp tongue. Everything you say is always reasonable.”
Gu Jiu said softly, “I am merely speaking about matters as they are. I neither exaggerated nor created something from nothing. I also didn’t unreasonably sow discord. San meimei’s words just know were rather uncomfortable to listen to. Could it be that it is a mistake to pay respects to taitai?”
“Of course it’s not a mistake. I know that er guniang is filial.”
Xie shi smiled, inwardly glaring at Gu Yue. She was almost buried in the pit dug by Gu Jiu. This stupid child was still unconvinced.
Gu Shan said, smiling, “All of us are aware of er jiejie’s filial piety. It’s just that er jiejie should also take care of her body. Today’s weather is warm. If you have a heat stroke, it would aggravate your illness and tire mother out due to her worry. Wouldn’t that be unfilial?”
Xie shi inwardly nodded. Gu Shan’s words were reasonable.
Gu Jiu covered her face partially with her hand. She knew that among her sisters, Gu Shan was the most intelligent. She wasn’t quick-witted, but rather truly intelligent, able to see through and understand the overall situation.
When it came to stabbing people with a soft knife, ten Gu Yue couldn’t compare with one Gu Shan.
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Shan, her appearance delicate and weak. “Thank you for your reminder, si meimei. As a child, how could I dare to not be filial? When I came, I also considered this issue. But Doctor Chen that basking in sunlight is advantageous to my body as long as I don’t stand under the sun until noon.”
Gu Shan was curious. “Did Doctor Chen really say that?”
Gu Jiu nodded.
Gu Shan said, “Doctor Chen and Doctor Xu are really different. When we fall ill, Doctor Xu always tells us to rest.”
Gu Jiu’s brows bent as she said with a pure smile. “Doctor Chen’s treatment is really useful. If meimei falls ill in the future, you can also try it out.”
Xie shi coughed lightly. “What is this talk of falling ill and not falling ill? Er guniang, speak carefully.”
Gu Jiu looked feeble as she bowed her head. “Taitai is right. Si meimei, don’t be angry.”
Gu Shan smiled brightly. “Er jiejie worries too much. I won’t get angry with you.”
Gu Yue snorted. “Er jiejie, are you cursing si meimei to fall ill? You really have bad intentions.”
Gu Jiu inwardly rolled her eyes. Gu Yue was really looking for a beating. Even if she ignored her, she was still stirring up trouble.
Gu Jiu’s expression changed. She had an aggrieved look on her face and tears rolled down her cheeks. “I didn’t expect that in san meimei’s heart, I am such an awful person. I don’t know where I offended san meimei. I ask san meimei to explain clearly. I will definitely apologise to you.
“We are siblings from the same father. But san meimei has criticised me repeatedly making me feel really sad and deeply hurt.”
After speaking, Gu Jiu slumped on the chair, looking as if she had been dealt a huge blow.
Gu Yue’s face looked unwell. “I simply spoke casually and er jiejie began crying. You are such a crybaby.”
Gu Shan was very anxious and angry. Why didn’t san jiejie learn her lesson? Did she forget that she had suffered a loss in Zhilanyuan last time?
What’s more, she really didn’t leave a bit of face in front of outsiders today.
Gu Zhen and Gu Lin lowered their heads together, not daring to say a word.
“Gu Yue, apologise to your er jiejie.”