Chapter 9

Gu Xiaodeng endured in agony for another dozen or so days. Half of each day was spent on body forging. Stretching bones and pressing tendons was one thing, but then came skin-grinding treatments. His entire body was scoured by various methods. The calluses on his palms were worn away. Where his hands were once rough, they were now delicate and smooth. His whole body had been scrubbed paler and more tender.

In tandem with this, Gu Xiaodeng’s eyes were swollen every single day without fail, and his baby-fat cheeks had thinned considerably from all the crying.

To standardize his deportment, Zhu Mi brought him a Restraint Pendant. The Restraint Pendant was a waist accessory originally meant for young ladies of the boudoir. This object was a string of beads threaded from various gems and jade, worn at the waist to constrain one’s speech and conduct. As one walked, the pendant would sway gently, emitting a rhythmic and pleasing sound. But if the person’s movements became flustered, hurried, or improper, the pendant would clatter chaotically.

When Gu Xiaodeng first had the pendant tied on, he could still find the tinkling sound pleasant. But the constraints that followed swiftly wiped the smile from his face.

First, the pendant was conventionally worn at his waist. Two days later, a modified pendant was tied to both his hands. Three days after that, a smaller version was fixed beneath his topknot. From his footsteps to his hands, and then to his head and neck, every single movement was meant to be restrained. If the Restraint Pendants clattered wildly, Gu Xiaodeng would not be punished. Zhang Dengqing would take the punishment in his stead.

This was even more torturous than being punished himself. Gu Xiaodeng’s childish protests were like a single spark, flaring briefly with a crackle before being ground into ash.

In just four or five days, Gu Xiaodeng began to sleep restlessly. In his semi-conscious, half-dreaming state, phantoms of clattering pendants would echo in his mind. He would jolt awake, disoriented, soothe himself, and then struggle to fall back asleep.

As he lay anxiously waiting for sleep, he would sometimes think of the past. Back then, he had followed his adoptive father and sworn brother, traveling as merchants among the common folk. The family of three would often rotate between different inns, civilian houses, or simply sleep in rented horse or ox carts. He never had trouble sleeping in strange beds, nor was he sensitive to sounds at night. He would hit the pillow and sleep until dawn. Now, he found he could no longer do that.

Luckily, Zhu Mi brought him good news. He would be able to attend his sister’s and brother’s birthday banquet in the eighth month. He could see the blood relatives he hadn’t seen in so many days.

Gu Xiaodeng was considerably heartened by this.

“Originally, you were not permitted to attend. The Prince insisted you could not leave the East Forest Garden until you had finished learning the rules.” Zhu Mi swept a glance over the line of servants. “It was the Heir who specifically mentioned it in front of the Princess Consort. That is why you can go to West Prosperity Garden that day.”

Gu Xiaodeng’s nose stung, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “The Heir Brother is a good person.”

Zhu Mi corrected him. “In front of others, you must call him ‘Third Older Cousin.’ The word ‘Cousin’ cannot be forgotten. The same applies to the Second Young Lady and the Fifth Young Master.”

Gu Xiaodeng gave a dazed “Oh,” not daring to tremble within the confines of the pendants. After a pause, he asked, “What about Jinyu? How should I address him?”

“The Princess Consort mentioned before that since you are small and thin and seem even more childish, you are to call him ‘Fourth Older Cousin’ in front of others.”

Gu Xiaodeng agreed. But that night, it was Zhang Dengqing who held him, indignant. After just a few words of comfort, Zhang Dengqing was the one who cried from anger first.

Thus, with red-rimmed eyes, he went to meet Gu Pinghan, slumping dejectedly into a chair and murmuring, “I don’t understand why it has to be this way.”

Gu Pinghan, seated in the host’s seat as usual, leaned down to look at him. Seven parts understanding, three parts confused. “Isn’t he allowed to go to the banquet? Why are you still displeased?”

Zhang Dengqing got angry at this. “What I don’t understand is that you are all blood-related family to Xiaodeng. Why won’t you acknowledge him?”

Gu Pinghan observed him seriously. He had originally intended to explain the importance of Gu Jinyu’s identity as the “Fourth Young Master of the Gu Family” with reason and facts. However, after their nightly meetings, he had actively reconsidered his attitude toward Zhang Dengqing.

He placated him in a detached tone. “Blood ties mean nothing. Just as you, knowing full well he is not your blood brother, still treat him as one.”

Zhang Dengqing’s anger instantly waned. He slumped back into his chair, despondent for a long moment before speaking. “I brought him here because I thought, no matter what, there was still the bond of blood being thicker than water… I can kind of understand not being able to publicly legitimize Xiaodeng’s identity, but what’s wrong with caring about him in private? Isn’t it against the law? He is the biological child of the Prince Zhenbei and his wife. Is there a parent under heaven who doesn’t love their own child?”

Gu Pinghan blinked expressionlessly. His silent envy for Zhang Dengqing reached its peak in that moment.

“If only my dad were still here.” Zhang Dengqing lowered his head and rubbed his hands. “If he were still here, our family of three could continue traveling as merchants. We father and son would protect Xiaodeng. He could go his whole life without knowing his origins. We would just wander the jianghu and never disturb the imposing, lofty gates of your Gu family…”

Gu Pinghan was unwilling to dwell on the parallel path—one of non-interference—that Zhang Dengqing mentioned. “This place has delicacies from land and sea, glory, splendor, and wealth. What you should have done was send him back to claim his kin from the start. There was still time then. We could have acknowledged him and even treated you with the courtesy due a guest.”

The last sentence was urgent and harsh. Zhang Dengqing was stunned for a moment, then thought wrong, and got angry. “Do you think I’m making a fuss for Xiaodeng’s grievances because I’m making a fuss for my own? Pah! Heir Gu, I don’t care if I’m a slave or a guest in your house. What I fcking care about is that your family is truly cold-blooded and heartless!”

His voice rose—perhaps also to mask his guilt toward Gu Xiaodeng. But before he could say a few more sentences, Gu Pinghan rose from his seat, bent down, and covered his mouth.

Zhang Dengqing started, lifting his hand angrily, but was pinned back by the other’s advantage in height and strength. Gu Pinghan’s hand was very large, and his body temperature was lower than Zhang Dengqing’s.

Gu Pinghan’s eyes were like those of a cold-blooded nocturnal creature, deep and faint: “It’s late. Anger harms the liver.”

Zhang Dengqing struggled, getting even angrier. Then he heard Gu Pinghan bend even lower and whisper, “I’m sorry.”

Zhang Dengqing was startled again. His fury instantly deflated. He settled down and fell silent, thinking dejectedly that it was all a messy account. Aside from his brother being innocent, the ones who should apologize were more than just one person.

Gu Pinghan slowly released his hand, condescending to sit down in the neighboring seat. He waited silently for Zhang Dengqing to speak again, like a puppet waiting to be wound.

In the blink of an eye, it was the third day of the eighth month. Gu Xiaodeng had been waiting with extreme anticipation. He scrambled up early in the morning and let Zhu Mi and the servants fuss over him. It took a long time to get his appearance just right, but that set of full-body Restraint Pendants, akin to a wooden cangue, was not tied back on him this time.

The Gu family would hold banquets for two consecutive days, using their two children’s birthdays as a reason to socialize. Zhu Mi planned to take Gu Xiaodeng to West Prosperity Garden to pay respects to the Prince Zhenbei and his wife first. After that, they would likely meet and he would immediately be sent back to the East Forest Garden, with the gates closed to quietly study his lessons.

Gu Xiaodeng didn’t know this. He was simply excited to finally see his birth mother again. He barely endured the journey from the East Forest Garden to the West Prosperity Garden. His heart full of longing, he arrived at An Ruoyi’s seat. Just as he was emotionally offering his greetings, he heard An Ruoyi instruct Zhu Mi to take him back.

Gu Xiaodeng was immediately rooted to the spot. He wore a light green outfit, wilting there just like a tuft of grass.

The little tuft of grass held back tears and turned to walk away slowly. He hadn’t gone far when he ran right into Gu Jinyu, who had just returned from the palace.

His nose twitched, and he bent at the waist into a salutation according to the rules Zhu Mi had taught him. Lowering his head, he said softly, “Fourth Older Cousin.”

Gu Jinyu had just stepped forward with one foot. He paused for two seconds before walking up to him. He helped him straighten up and smiled. “Good morning, Xiaodeng. No need for so much formality at home.”

Facing the light, Gu Jinyu saw the tears swirling in his eyes. His heart inexplicably swelled, a very subtle feeling emerging.

Gu Xiaodeng pulled his hand back and greeted him with a slightly nasal tone. “Good morning. You’re back?”

“Yes, the palace granted special leave. I’m permitted to return home for two days. I came back first thing this morning. Did you come to pay respects to the Mother Consort?”

Gu Xiaodeng held back the swirling tears and smiled. “Mm… I’m done paying respects. I’m going back to the East Forest Garden now.”

“Wait for me here.”

Gu Xiaodeng froze, then instinctively nodded obediently. “Oh, oh, okay.”

It wasn’t until Gu Jinyu walked further in that Gu Xiaodeng came back to his senses. He blinked away the tears and turned his head to speak quietly to Zhu Mi. “Iron Door God, why didn’t you tell me he’d come back? What is he asking me to wait here for?”

Zhu Mi remained unruffled. “Simply do as he says.”

So Gu Xiaodeng just stood there idly. Not long after, Gu Jinyu returned. He walked up to Gu Xiaodeng and whispered softly with his head lowered, “Xiaodeng, I spoke with the Mother Consort. For these two days of my second sister’s and third brother’s birthdays, you can temporarily stay here in West Prosperity Garden. There’s no rush to return to the East Forest Garden until the day after tomorrow.”

Gu Xiaodeng was dazed by this pie falling from the sky. He urgently grabbed Gu Jinyu’s hand and looked up at him with shining eyes. “Really?”

Gu Jinyu almost flung his hand away by reflex but restrained himself. Speaking softly in close proximity, he coaxed, “I won’t deceive you.”

Gu Xiaodeng instantly became radiant and bright, so happy he stammered. “Great, great. Then wh-wh-where will I stay for these two days?”

Gu Jinyu smiled. He felt that he currently resembled a stupidly naive, innocent puppy.

“Stay at my place.”

“…Eh?”