Gu Qingyun led the horse back to the yamen and headed straight home before anyone could react.
Over the next few days, she patrolled the county town at night and practiced her martial arts and horsemanship during the day. Aside from resting for a little over a shichen in the afternoon, she wished she could split every single shichen into two.
Seeing Gu Qingyun work so hard every day, her family did their best not to disturb her in her courtyard during the day, even treading softly whenever they passed her room for fear of disturbing her.
Even the family's meals were upgraded. Her grandmother and the others even prepared separate dishes just for her; not only did she get fish and meat, but they also specifically bought large soup bones to simmer broth for her every single day.
Gu Qingyun felt this was unnecessary. She knew her own body best; if she weren't worried about making her family fret, she wouldn't even need that afternoon rest.
Basking in her family's care, Gu Qingyun lived quite comfortably. Looking at Old Lady Zhang, she said:
“Grandma, when we go to Great-Uncle’s house this time, how about I take you on horseback? I’m already very skilled at riding.”
Hearing this, Old Lady Zhang, who had been watching her eat, excitedly sat down beside her.
“My good granddaughter, can these old bones of mine still ride a horse? Won't I get shaken to pieces?”
Gu Qingyun nearly choked on her food. Her grandmother truly had no filter.
Chuckling with a shake of her head, she replied:
“No, Grandma, don't worry. I'll be right there with you. Just sit comfortably and leave the rest to me.”
Though she felt her riding skills were well-honed by now, she had never ridden such a long distance before and wasn't entirely confident. Still, she certainly couldn't let it show in front of Old Lady Zhang, lest her grandmother get scared.
Noticing the envious looks from the rest of the family, she completely ignored her older brothers and smiled at her mother.
“Mother, Eldest Aunt, don't worry. When I have time in the future, I'll take you riding, too.”
Lady Su and the others smiled upon hearing this.
“It's enough that you're thinking of us. There are so many of us in the family; a single carriage wouldn't fit everyone anyway. We've spent half our lives in the countryside, and we've only lived in the county town for a short while. There are still plenty of places we haven't visited yet, so there's no need to travel all the way to the prefectural city.”
Gu Qingyun glanced at them.
“Mother, if one carriage isn't enough, we can take two. Isn't our whole family earning money?
“When the time comes, my brothers can act as your guards. They can just run behind the carriage—it'll be great exercise for them, killing two birds with one stone.”
Gu Yihan and the others stared at Gu Qingyun with deadpan expressions. What a wonderful younger sister they had, claiming running behind a carriage would make their bodies sturdier!
Still, they truly needed to work harder to earn money. They couldn't fall too far behind their sister, nor could they let her shoulder the burden of the entire household alone.
Once she finished chatting with her family, Gu Qingyun took a piece of peach wood and carved 【Tablet of the Righteous Hound】 onto it.
She placed a fragment of bone she had recovered from the site where Big Yellow met its end inside the spirit tablet, then set up a small shrine in a corner of the residence. Though rudimentary, it offered shelter from the wind and rain, finally giving Big Yellow a place to dwell.
Having a home of its own, Big Yellow trotted around Gu Qingyun in delighted circles. She squatted down and patted Big Yellow's head.
“You'll live here from now on. I already spoke to my mother; she'll place a bowl of clean water and some food before your tablet every day. Protect them well, and keep a watchful eye over this street.”
Seeing that even a dog had its own lodging, Little Black bared its teeth in indignation, furiously clawing at the wood to voice its protest.
Pinching Little Black by the scruff of its neck, Gu Qingyun scolded it:
“You get to sleep in a spacious room with me every day, so what are you getting jealous about? Big Yellow is a canine soul; there are many places it cannot go during the day. Giving it a home lets it wander around and stretch its legs at night. If it stays cooped up inside a talisman all the time, the poor dog will go dim-witted.”
Little Black let out a few 【meows】 before leaping onto Gu Qingyun's shoulder, glaring down at Big Yellow with regal arrogance.
...
Just after night fell, the entire Yun family sat together eating dinner, their table laden with fish and meat.
Yun Dagang ate until grease coated his lips. Potbellied and bloated, he had gained fifty jin in just two short years, appearing completely different from who he used to be.
A woman in dark-colored garments poked at the rice in her bowl with a sullen expression, unable to swallow a bite.
Seeing her like that, fury surged within Yun Dagang. Slapping his palm hard against the table, he barked:
“Lady Xiao, if you don't want to eat, get the hell back to your room! Looking at you pisses me off. Who are you showing that sour face to? If you hadn't birthed such a useful daughter, I wouldn't have tolerated looking at your faded, withered face for a single day!”
Beside him, a young woman poured Yun Dagang a cup of wine.
“Master, don't be angry. Madam is merely missing the Eldest Miss. Why not let Madam go keep the Eldest Miss company directly? That way, Madam won't fall ill from yearning for her daughter, and outsiders won't think you mistreat her.”
Yun Dagang stroked the woman several times and nodded.
“You're right. We'll do as you say. Lady Xiao, move over there tomorrow.”
The woman's face stiffened, and she mumbled:
“I'm fine living in my own courtyard. I’d rather not go.”
Yun Dagang couldn't be bothered with her hypocrisy.
The other young men eating at the table all chimed in to scold the woman:
“Mother, what are you throwing a fit for? Aren't we living wonderfully now? In the past, where would we have gotten food or clothes like this?
“And that gold hairpin in your hair—don't think we haven't noticed you wearing it! Little Sister earned all of that, yet now you want to put on a hypocritical show.”
“Exactly, Mother. You didn't stop it back then either, but now that Little Sister has gone simple-minded, you come playing the saint? Isn't she fine the way she is? Don't worry, we'll support her for the rest of her life—so long as she behaves obediently.”
“That's right. Master Zhu and Master Sun are coming over tomorrow; they're wealthy men. Tomorrow, Mother, take your daughters-in-law and dress Little Sister up nicely. Once we get the silver, the whole family can go buy new clothes.”
Yun Xiu'er stood listening outside the door. Through the wooden slats, her gaze fixed darkly upon her blood kin inside. Only after a long while did she push the door open, her eyes settling on Yun Dagang.
“Father, what are you all talking about?”
Yun Dagang looked at Yun Xiu'er with pleasant surprise.
“Xi'er, you've recovered? You're not simple anymore?”
Yun Xiu'er nodded, her voice measured and calm.
“Yes. I missed Father and Mother, so I came over to see you. I didn't expect you and Mother to be eating so well. I haven't eaten meat in a very long time.”
“As long as you behave, we'll make meat for you every day from now on.”
A flicker of killing intent flitted through Yun Xiu'er's eyes. She nodded gently.
“I'll listen to Father.”
“Good, good, good! Come, sit down. From now on, you'll eat with us. If only you had been this sensible earlier, our family would have lived in peace.
“Perform well tomorrow, and in a couple of days, I'll go to the brothel and find a courtesan to teach you. You must serve those esteemed patrons properly.”
Yun Xiu'er didn't say anything, merely picking up food with her chopsticks. A flash of displeasure crossed Yun Dagang's eyes, but considering that she had already yielded, he refrained from pressing her too hard.
Once the meal was nearly finished, Yun Xiu'er stared straight at Lady Xiao.
“Mother, didn't you say Father wouldn't let you visit me? Every time, you secretly slipped me some steamed buns. But listening from outside just now, it didn't seem to be like that at all.”
Lady Xiao smiled awkwardly.
“Xi'er, you misheard. Just now, I was begging your father, and only then did he relent and let me go see you.”
Yun Xiu'er stared fixedly at the gold hairpin in her hair. Feeling uncomfortable, Lady Xiao turned away to avoid her gaze.
Rate on N.U.
