Riding the Long Wind – Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“You need not worry about that,” Zhang Yue’er said immediately. “I have already sent someone to speak with Old Madam Ye. The Gu family’s proposal came without any warning, and no one could have anticipated it. The Gu family’s position is too powerful to refuse. Old Madam Ye will understand.”

Liu Yuru had nothing left to say. Zhang Yue’er had planned for everything, and left her no room at all.

In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to tear the mask from her own face and take this woman down with her.

But reason held her back.

She kept it all inside. She even managed to keep her voice soft, though it came out barely above a whisper, her head still lowered. “Auntie has taken care of everything so thoroughly. I feel much better knowing it is in your hands.”

Then she rose to her feet. “Auntie, it is about the time my mother takes her medicine. I cannot settle, knowing she is alone. Would you permit me to go to her?”

Zhang Yue’er was quiet for a moment, thinking. Liu Yuru would be marrying into the Gu family regardless. Better not to make an enemy of her if it could be helped. And the girl seemed, for now, not to have fully grasped the situation. The wisest course was to keep playing the part of a good and caring auntie, so that there would be more to gain down the road.

“If you are not too tired, go and look in on her,” she said warmly. “Take good care of your mother. Now that you are engaged, there is no need to put on a show for anyone. Consider the confinement lifted.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Liu Yuru thanked her, and Zhang Yue’er left looking satisfied.

The moment she was gone, Liu Yuru raised her head. Her hands were balled into fists, and her face had gone cold.

“Miss…” Yin Hong said, a little frightened. “What do we do now?”

Liu Yuru did not answer at once. She only said: “Go and fetch Yunyun from the outer courtyard, and bring her with us to see my mother.”

Yin Hong did not understand what she was planning, but went to do as she was told.

When Yin Hong had gone, Liu Yuru sat alone in her chair. She clenched her jaw, lowered her head, and finally let the tears come.

It was over.

She knew it with complete clarity.

No matter how much she fought, no matter what she did, this life she had planned was already gone.

Yin Hong returned quickly with the girl called Yunyun. By then Liu Yuru had already cried herself out. She had washed her face before they arrived, and her expression was composed and settled. Only the faint redness around her eyes gave anything away.

The girl who came in was slender and graceful, with a delicate and gentle kind of beauty. Standing there, she looked like a willow branch in the wind, the sort of appearance that made people feel a reflexive urge to protect her. Liu Yuru looked her over from head to foot, then said: “Yunyun, is your mother feeling better?”

Yunyun responded quickly. “Yes, miss. Thank you for looking after her.”

“Yunyun,” Liu Yuru said quietly, “I called you here because I will be leaving this household soon. After I am gone, would you be willing to look after my mother in my place?”

Yunyun blinked. Liu Yuru said quickly: “I am only asking. If you are willing, stay. If not, you are under no obligation.”

Yunyun understood what was being asked of her. She smiled. “Miss, you are joking with me. I come from a poor family, and I look the way I look. Ordinary households will not take me in. In a wealthy household, a girl like me either ends up as a singing girl or as someone’s bed companion. Being taken as an acknowledged concubine by a proper mistress is a stroke of fortune. Why would I refuse?”

“I was afraid I might be asking too much of you,” Liu Yuru said, hesitating. “You are still so young…”

“Miss,” Yunyun sighed gently, “I have thought it through. Spending a life in comfort is no bad thing, as far as I can see. Besides, the kindness you have shown me has been like a second life. If I can help look after the Madam in your place, I am glad to do it.”

That settled something in Liu Yuru’s chest. She patted Yunyun’s hand, gave her a few quiet instructions, and had her washed and dressed before bringing her along to Su Wan’s room.

Su Wan was still asleep. She was frail at the best of times, and spent most of her waking hours fighting exhaustion. Liu Yuru did not want to disturb her, and waited at her bedside until Su Wan stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Liu Yuru helped her sit up, served her tea to rinse her mouth, and then guided her gently to the table. Su Wan said softly, with a faint smile: “It sounded so lively outside today. Has the Ye family come to make their formal offer?”

Everyone in the room went still.

Su Wan noticed nothing amiss. She picked up her chopsticks and continued: “Once the Ye family has made the offer, the matter is more or less settled. I had someone make inquiries about young Master Ye. He seems like a fine young man. Once you are married to him, I can stop worrying.”

“Mother…” Liu Yuru opened her mouth, and Su Wan turned to look at her with a small frown. “Yes?”

“It was not the Ye family.” The words came out at last. Su Wan stared at her.

Liu Yuru drew a long breath and raised her eyes. “The family that came today to make the betrothal offer was not the Ye family. It was the Gu family.”

Su Wan’s face changed. She gripped her chopsticks. “Which Gu family?”

“Gu Jiusi.” Liu Yuru bit the name out.

Su Wan sat frozen.

Then it hit her. “Gu Jiusi? The one who gambles and brawls every single day, that good-for-nothing who uses his family’s name to do as he pleases?”

No one spoke. Liu Yuru dropped her gaze. Su Wan’s breathing grew ragged, and the moment Liu Yuru moved to steady her, Su Wan coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Yin Hong cried out. Liu Yuru shouted for someone to fetch the physician and held Su Wan down as she tried to struggle upright, her usually gentle face twisted with fury. “I am going to find your father. I am going to find him right now. He has thrown away his last shred of decency. This engagement cannot stand, it cannot!”

“Mother!” Liu Yuru pressed her down with both hands and raised her voice. “It is too late!”

Su Wan went still.

Liu Yuru’s eyes were red. She said, very quietly: “The betrothal gifts have already been accepted. No decent family will take a girl who has broken off an engagement. Mother.” Her voice cracked. “I have no choice.”

Su Wan said nothing. She stared up at the ceiling above her bed, and a kind of despair came over her whole body.