Chapter 13 Our Place in This House

“Has someone taken over the courtyard of the heir’s wife and the quarters of his legitimate eldest son?

“Is there no room left for us in our own home?”

At those words, the atmosphere froze.

Guo Yinuo’s gentle smile stiffened. Unexpected discomfiture flashed in her eyes.

The steward quickly stepped forward and bowed.

“Surely you’re joking, my lady.

“Your courtyard and the eldest young gentleman’s have never been neglected in these ten years.

“We have them cleaned and tended every month.

“The attendants, maids, and older servants are all still there. None has been dismissed.

“As soon as you returned, I had all your luggage taken to your old courtyard.

“Everything is just as you left it.”

He lowered his head and added respectfully, “Only the guards at the gate today are new. They don’t understand the rules, and dared to stop you outside.

“It was a serious failure of duty.”

That set off the anger my mother-in-law had been holding back.

Her face darkened. The prayer beads stopped in her hand.

“Fools!

“Such insolence!”

Her cold gaze swept over Guo Yinuo.

“A month ago, I told everyone myself that my son’s wife and his legitimate eldest son would soon return to the capital.

“All the servants were to prepare and welcome them properly. There was to be no delay whatsoever.

“And now they dare to bar the mistress of the house at the gate?

“Clearly, discipline has grown lax here. No one has been properly supervised. Everyone has become careless, from top to bottom!”

Guo Yinuo immediately lowered her eyes and bowed.

“I have failed to keep proper discipline.

“There are so many people in the household. I can’t teach every one of them perfectly.

“Please forgive me, Madam.”

Her manner was humble.

It looked like a sincere admission of fault, but she had neatly placed every bit of blame on the servants and kept none for herself.

After a short silence, the attendant who had served the old lady for years spoke softly.

“Please don’t be angry, Madam.

“It was only a few new servants who didn’t know the rules and dared to slight the mistress.”

My mother-in-law’s face softened a little, but her anger remained.

“Ignorance is no excuse for insolence.

“No one may bar the mistress from her own home.

“This matter will not be dismissed lightly.”

Standing beside them, I understood.

Being stopped at the gate might look like a small thing.

In fact, it was the clearest sign of how Guo Yinuo had used her years of control to place her own people throughout the household and gradually make Dalang and me disappear from it.

Ten years apart.

The house had long since become her domain.

But today we had come back. The change began here.

I had no intention of competing with her for anything.

I only wanted Dalang, deep inside the palace, to be safe.

* * *

The air in the main hall was tense.

My mother-in-law had not yet calmed down.

Guo Yinuo stood to one side with her head lowered, outwardly obedient, hiding her calculations behind downcast eyes.

My thoughts were still with Dalang.

I could neither sit nor stand comfortably. Each passing moment made me more anxious.

I do not know how long we waited before we finally heard a carriage in the courtyard and servants calling out one after another.

“The heir is home!”

“The eldest young gentleman is home!”

The weight inside me loosened at once.

I hurried out of the hall.

A light breeze passed along the veranda.

Two figures were coming toward us.

The first was my husband, the heir to the Marquis of Zhenbei, from whom I had been separated for so many years.

Time had worn away his youthful air and given him the steadiness and gravity of middle age.

There was authority in his face, the authority of a man who held power in the household.

Beside him, tall and straight in a blue robe, was my Dalang.

He walked at ease, without fear or awkwardness.

His face held the same quiet composure and understanding it always had.

At last, after half a day, my heart settled.

My eyes grew hot.

We all went into the main hall.

My husband first paid his respects to his mother.

Then his eyes rested on me, his expression difficult to read.

Before anyone could speak, Dalang stepped forward and knelt to greet his grandmother, observing every courtesy.

She quickly beckoned him up.

“Were you frightened, being called to the palace so suddenly?

“Why did His Majesty summon you?”

Dalang stood straight and explained slowly and clearly what had happened.

“Grandmother, Mother, you needn’t worry.

“The summons wasn’t a disaster.

“The Grand Tutor had already submitted a detailed memorial to His Majesty explaining my wish to establish a separate household, give up the hereditary title, and seek a place at court only through the examinations and my own learning.

“His Majesty didn’t summon me to hold me to account.

“He wanted to examine my learning and my views on questions of policy himself.”

Everyone in the hall was shaken.

Guo Yinuo most of all.

Her mild expression changed at once. She could scarcely hide the shock in her eyes.