Chapter 27: Head Courtesan Wei of Guangyun Terrace

Shulan was dragged along at a trot by Pinlan, leaving her slightly breathless, with stray locks of hair at her forehead dampened by a light sheen of perspiration. Feeling a touch embarrassed, the tips of her ears turned a faint shade of pink as she instinctively smoothed the lapels of her dress, which had been pulled askew by her sister.

"Father, please do not listen to her," she said softly. "This girl is always jumping about; she never has a moment of stillness."

"It is no wonder Mother and Grandmother both say she is like a little monkey."

Sheng Wei rubbed the bridge of his nose, then put on a stern face. "If you do not behave yourself, I shall have you sent back to our ancestral home in Youyang tomorrow."

"Father!" Pinlan immediately stamped her feet in distress.

Seeing this, Shulan smiled, her dimples appearing faintly, which only made her look more gentle and lovely. "Silly girl, Father is only teasing you."

"I sent someone to Fanlou to buy cherry preserves; they should be on their way back now. Would you like to come and have some with me?"

Pinlan’s eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed Shulan’s sleeve and, unable to contain her excitement, began pulling her toward the kitchen. "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!"

Shulan stumbled slightly as she was pulled along, but she could only offer a quick smile of apology to Zhao Han and Sheng Wei before they vanished around the corner of the gallery.

Sheng Wei turned his gaze back and said, "Tomorrow, I shall have someone keep a close eye on that girl, Pinlan, so she doesn't sneak over here and disturb your studies."

Zhao Han smiled slightly. "You are too kind, Uncle. Your two daughters are a delight—one gentle and virtuous, the other lively and sincere."

Sheng Wei sighed and lowered his voice. "To be honest, nephew, as Shulan is the eldest daughter, her mother has high hopes for her, and she is inevitably more strict with her upbringing."

"As for Pinlan, that child has been restless since she was small. Her mother tried to discipline her several times to no avail, so she eventually let her be."

Sheng Wei’s words were only half-true. In her childhood, Shulan’s nature had been much the same as Pinlan’s. Although the eldest branch of the Sheng family was wealthy and prosperous, they were, after all, merchants. No matter how much money they possessed, it could not compare to the prestige of an official rank or a distinguished lineage.

Sheng Wei’s wife, Lady Li, came from a humble background and was a concubine’s daughter. Even though Sheng Wei sent large sums of money to the second branch every year, Wang Ruofu—the legitimate daughter of a prominent noble family—always looked down upon the eldest branch and Lady Li. While she remained polite on the surface, her words were always tinged with a condescending aloofness. Years ago, she had given Lady Li the cold shoulder several times, and Lady Li had never forgotten it. She was determined to have Shulan marry a scholar, so that once her son-in-law entered the imperial court, they would no longer need to rely on Sheng Hong’s family.

Thus, she did everything in her power to restrain Shulan, forcing her to adopt the manners of a high-born lady. Over the years, Shulan had indeed become dignified and virtuous, but she had also grown timid and resigned. Sheng Wei had tacitly approved of Lady Li’s methods, as he also hoped for an official in the family.

As for Pinlan, Lady Li had no such expectations, allowing her to grow up as she pleased and often sending her to stay with the Grandmother, which only indulged her wilder instincts. Consequently, Pinlan climbed trees, fished, and raided birds' nests in Youyang—she was a total tomboy.

After providing this brief explanation, Sheng Wei headed to his study to write a letter, which he had a servant deliver to the Sheng estate in Yangzhou at top speed.

For the next four or five days, Zhao Han spent his time either studying in the library or exercising in the courtyard. Pinlan snuck over a few times, begging Zhao Han to teach her archery once he passed the imperial examinations. Looking into those watery apricot eyes, Zhao Han found it impossible to refuse.

One evening, as twilight descended and the light began to fade, Zhao Han sat alone by the window, reading a yellowed volume of *The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons*. Suddenly, Changqing came running in, bowing as he spoke: "Young Master, Second Young Master Gu sent Stone to say he invites you to a wonderful place. The carriage is already waiting at the corner gate."

Puzzled, Zhao Han set down his book, went inside to adjust his attire, and boarded the carriage as the dusk deepened. After passing through the Imperial Street, they stopped after a short while at a bustling, prosperous location. Stepping out, the first thing that caught his eye were three bold, gold-leaf characters: Guangyuntai!

Gilded lanterns hung on either side of the vermilion gates, casting a shimmering glow on the stone path. "Master Zhao, my young master has been waiting for you in the private chamber," Stone said with a smile.

As they entered Guangyuntai, the air was filled with a warm fragrance, and the sound of strings and pipes mingled with the chatter of guests. On the stage, dancers moved with flowing sleeves, like startled geese or swimming dragons, earning rounds of applause.

In a private room on the second floor, incense drifted in the air. Upon seeing Zhao Han, Gu Tingye rose to greet him and personally poured him a cup of wine.

"Brother Zhao, you were right," Gu Tingye said. "After I followed your advice and went home to apologize without being provoked, my father did not punish me. In fact, he has been praising me in front of others these past few days for being sensible."

"I never imagined that my stepmother actually harbored such malicious intentions toward me. No wonder she would always intervene whenever Father punished me; yet, the more she tried to stop him, the harder he would strike. Initially, I always thought it was because my father hated me and wanted to beat me to death to purge the Gu family of disgrace. Now that I think about it, it was all her subtle instigation."

"All these years, I have treated her with the utmost respect and never offended her in the slightest." Gu Tingye’s eyes flickered with sadness. He gave a bitter smile and continued, "My birth mother, Lady Bai, passed away when I was still in swaddling clothes. When the new Lady Qin entered the household, I was only two. In my heart, this stepmother held the same weight as my own mother."

As the candles flickered, Gu Tingye’s voice grew hoarse. Zhao Han’s expression darkened. "Brother Zhonghuai, have you forgotten the saying: 'The innocent man is guilty only because of his treasure'?"

Gu Tingye was not a fool. He frowned, "I have been thinking about this for days, and the only reason I can come up with is the title of the Marquisate."

"My elder brother is in poor health, and after many years of marriage, he has only a daughter, Xian. I am a notorious playboy in Bianjing. I fear my stepmother has long since calculated who my father will pass the title to."

"If it weren't for you, Brother Zhao, I would still be lost in the 'gentle trap' she so meticulously wove. Please, accept my gratitude!" Gu Tingye rose abruptly and bowed deeply to Zhao Han.

Zhao Han quickly helped him up. "Fortunately, the Marquis of Ningyuan still holds high hopes for you. Now that you have seen through Lady Qin’s schemes, with your talent, you are destined for great things."

Gu Tingye sighed. "Do you truly think so highly of me, Brother Zhao? With my current reputation, I cannot even marry a daughter from a respectable family, let alone achieve great things."

"Enough of that. Let us wait in peace for the arrival of Headmistress Wei!"