The Concubines Each Showed Their Talents

Wasn't it touching?

The four concubines didn't dare move. Listening to those words, each had her own thoughts.

But on the whole, like Xu Weibei, none of them believed it.

Gu Wanning screamed inwardly, I meant every word! It's truer than pure gold is gold! You all have to believe me!

I really don't want to share his bed!

Chapter 6: The Concubines Each Showed Their Talents

The Grand Princess, however, was firm, making it clear that she would never accept the birth of a firstborn son to a concubine.

Before Gu Wanning bore a firstborn legitimate son, no one else was to even think of giving birth.

"You're still young. You can wait; there's no need to rush." The Grand Princess comforted Gu Wanning. "Your health is weak, so take your time building it up. In a little while, Grandmother will have someone find some tonics in the storeroom and send them to you. Make sure you take them on time..."

She was the very picture of a kindly elder. "Oh, right. Now that Weibei has returned, he should accompany you home to pay your respects to your parents."

He had left on their wedding day, and there had been no customary visit to her parents three days later. Gu Wanning really had been wronged.

"There's no need, really." Gu Wanning hastily waved her hands. "The marquis has only just returned and has many affairs to attend to."

What a joke. The previous owner of this body hadn't wanted to go back to that home at all, so why should she get mixed up in it?

Perhaps, to the Gu family, she had always been an extra person.

Gu Wanning didn't want to see so many people either. Why go looking for trouble?

The Grand Princess meant well and was looking out for her in everything.

But all that good intent was making things worse.

"Propriety cannot be neglected," the Grand Princess insisted. "I'll have someone send the gifts over later. Weibei also received quite a few rewards this time. Open the storeroom and choose gifts for each of your family members according to their tastes. Afterward, have someone send the gift list to the Princess's Residence for me to look over."

The gifts had to be generous.

Gu Wanning's head was buzzing, but she agreed all the same.

Xu Weibei had worn a cold face the whole time, as though someone owed him eight hundred taels of silver.

"One more thing," the Grand Princess said. "Without rules, nothing can be made square or round. Make arrangements later for which day Weibei will visit each woman's courtyard, so they don't start fighting over him and throw the Marquis's Residence into chaos and break the rules."

Good grief, did she have to draw up a "bedchamber schedule" too?

She really had it rough.

And whoever she assigned, Xu Weibei would have to go sleep with her. This...

Was Xu Weibei willing?

Hurry up and object, stallion!

Wasn't a stallion supposed to be free to choose whoever he liked?

But Xu Weibei said nothing. Was he actually giving his silent consent?

Gu Wanning was thoroughly fed up, but then she decided that since the pot was already cracked, she might as well smash it. There were four women, seven days for each, and for the remaining day or two, Xu Weibei could choose as he pleased.

Let the bastard work himself to death!

They wanted her to make the schedule, didn't they?

She absolutely would not put herself on it!

After giving her a few more instructions, the Grand Princess returned to her residence, with Xu Weibei going to see her home.

Having seen off both of those great Buddhas at once, Gu Wanning could finally catch her breath.

She was still thinking about her chickens, ducks, and geese, so she said to the four concubines, "Just listen to what the Grand Princess said today. As for exactly what we'll do from now on, I'll discuss it with the marquis later and settle on an arrangement. Until then, whichever courtyard the marquis visits, serve him well."

All four looked somewhat surprised.

The change in Gu Wanning was so great that they could hardly believe it.

Had she reined herself in because the marquis had returned?

"Also, you won't have to work in the garden anymore," Gu Wanning added. "Just look after yourselves. There's no need for morning and evening visits to pay your respects, or for you to come serve me. Just remember, don't make trouble for me, and I'll let you live comfortably."

"Yes!"

Gu Wanning looked at the four women's expressions and thought, You don't have to work anymore, so why don't any of you look happier?

Go on, go on. The sight of you is making me feel stifled.

Gu Wanning paid no attention to how the four reacted and went to busy herself in the rear courtyard.

Erya was still worried about her. "Madam, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. The Grand Princess came to back me up. Come on, get to work. Have you caught all the chickens, ducks, and geese?"

"They're all here."

"Good. Take some people out and sell them all."

"Yes."

The four concubines didn't have much to do with one another. Apart from the fourth concubine, who was somewhat close to the first concubine in private, the others had little contact.

The fourth concubine only dared to associate with the first concubine in secret because she herself was skilled in martial arts, and the first concubine's gentle temperament reminded her of her late martial master's wife.

The four each returned to their own courtyards, and nothing more need be said of them.

Meanwhile, the Grand Princess advised Xu Weibei, "You should look on the bright side. You saw chickens flying and dogs jumping, but I saw that Wanning tidied up the rear courtyard because she was afraid you wouldn't like it..."

Xu Weibei said, "Grandmother, you don't need to concern yourself with our affairs."

"How can I not be concerned? Wanning is a good child who has suffered a great deal she shouldn't have had to. She grew up in the countryside, with no one to care for her. Treat her a little better, and she'll rely on you wholeheartedly..."

Xu Weibei kept his lips tightly shut, looking as though he had no desire to say more.

The Grand Princess said no more. She had some things selected and gave them to Xu Weibei to take back.

Xu Weibei sent someone to deliver the tonics to Gu Wanning. He didn't want to set foot in the rear courtyard at all and went straight to rest in the outer study.

The poultry sold for a total of seventeen taels of silver, so Gu Wanning now had the enormous sum of over thirty taels.

She stared at the blood bird's nest and cordyceps the Grand Princess had given her, thinking how nice it would be if she could turn them into cash.

The gifts for her family had been loaded straight onto the carriage and hadn't been taken off.

Gu Wanning looked over the gift list. Although there were many items, they weren't particularly valuable and leaned toward the practical. Everyone had been considered.

For example, the gifts for her father and brothers were mostly books, the four treasures of the study, and Fenjiu; those for her mother and sisters-in-law were fabrics and pastries, while her nephews and nieces received small gold and silver ingots and the like.

If only she didn't have to go back to her family home. She could pocket the gifts too.

"Madam, didn't you say the Grand Princess told you to arrange for someone to serve the marquis at night?" Erya asked with a silly grin. "Have you made the arrangements?"