Four Seasons Brocade – CH 037

Chapter 37 ☆、 A Child’s Yearning for Family, Yet Unwilling to Part (Part 2)

Having grown accustomed to being flattered, the Imperial Princess had developed a very discerning palate. Low-quality, unpalatable flattery only disgusted her. Direct, unvarnished flattery felt like a naked, blatant transaction, a transaction shrouded in a pretense of warmth and self-interest that would make her feel nauseous. People like her always cloaked their interests in a veneer of emotion, never allowing anything so blatantly “immoral” or “tainted.”

The Imperial Princess thought that the Sixth Young Lady of the Duke of Anguo’s Mansion was indeed young and a bit impatient, but not wanting to embarrass the newly appointed top scholar, she only gave Ah Wu a cold nod. “I’ve never heard of any Physician He from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Children should not talk nonsense.”

The Princess could have said even harsher things, but she held back out of respect for Third Master Rong. Even so, it deeply wounded Ah Wu, leaving her both saddened and humiliated. Ah Wu felt a surge of anger stuck in her throat, almost choking her.

Ah Wu knew that her Princess Mother did not trust her. She felt disheartened, realizing that no matter what she did, she could not please her mother.

Not only Ah Wu, but everyone in the capital thought Princess Fuhui was extremely difficult to please.

Many more noble ladies arrived, including Tang Yin. Looking at Tang Yin, Ah Wu’s eyes suddenly welled up with tears. She felt incredibly wronged and just wanted to hide away and cry.

Tang Yin greeted the Princess, then went to Ah Wu’s side, took her small hand, and squeezed her palm to comfort her. She had thought the Princess had bullied Ah Wu. Speaking of noble ladies who had been harshly criticized by the Imperial Princess, Ah Wu was not the first, nor would she be the last. Of course, Ah Wu was not the first to cry either.

The Imperial Princess’s peripheral vision caught the mist in Ah Wu’s eyes, and she unconsciously paused, stunned. Those eyes—her Ah Wu, when she was being coquettish or when she was aggrieved, had that same look.

Princess Fuhui had to admit that among so many impostors, Ah Wu was the most convincing.

Ah Wu sat down on a chair nearby, head bowed. A maidservant served the young ladies some pastries. Ah Wu sniffed; it was the aroma of osmanthus cake. This cake was made with osmanthus flowers, sprinkled with licorice water, and mixed with pounded rice flour. One bite and the fragrance filled her mouth—it was one of Ah Wu’s favorite pastries.

And this kind of pastry was especially best made by Nanny Hua of the Duke of Wei’s mansion.

Ah Wu could not resist taking a piece, reminiscing about the past. Back then, Ah Wu had a weak stomach, and the Princess would not allow her to eat much. Whenever Ah Wu was seriously ill, the Princess would encourage her with osmanthus cake, promising to let her eat three pieces if she recovered.

Ah Wu held the osmanthus cake in her mouth, its fragrance filling her cheeks. She almost could not bear to swallow it, and tears welled up in her eyes again. After eating one piece, Ah Wu secretly glanced at the noble ladies around her. They dared not be so presumptuous as to eat pastries in front of the Princess; they all sat upright without moving. Only Ah Wu had eaten a pastry. Ah Wu knew it was inappropriate, but she still could not resist secretly taking another piece and hiding it behind her back. When no one was looking, she took a small bite, a satisfied expression on her face.

Tang Yin, seeing her like a mouse, chuckled and wiped Ah Wu’s mouth with a handkerchief. “You, you are such a silly girl.” One moment she was looking aggrieved, the next she was munching like a mouse.

The Imperial Princess watched this scene, somewhat lost in thought. Her beloved Ah Wu did the same thing, always sneaking a piece of osmanthus cake behind her back, taking small bites whenever she was not looking.

This Sixth Young Lady of the Duke of Anguo’s mansion, in every little gesture and expression, was strikingly similar to her Ah Wu. The more the Imperial Princess looked, the more grief welled up in her heart, almost overwhelming her. She could not bear to stay a moment longer and abruptly left her seat.

With Princess Fuhui gone, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief, and some began to laugh and chat. Others picked up pieces of osmanthus cake to eat, praising, “What fragrant and sweet cake! It’s fragrant but not greasy, sweet with a hint of sourness—much better than the ones my family makes!”

Tang Yin also tried a piece. “Indeed, it’s excellent! Sister Gu, your family’s pastry chef is very skilled.”

Gu Xihui, as if remembering something, forced a smile. “Princess Kangning used to love pastries. To get her to take her medicine, the Princess would always coax her with pastries. Our family’s pastry chefs were specially invited by the Princess from all over the country for her.”

Hearing this, Ah Wu felt a pang of sadness. She made an excuse to go to the restroom, avoiding everyone. A maid led Ah Wu into the room, prepared a chamber pot, and, after relieving herself, Ah Wu avoided the maid and went straight to her old residence.

Qianlong Tower was located in the southeast corner of the garden, not far from Xiefang Pavilion. Ah Wu had lived here for a long time in her previous life. She preferred quiet and disliked noise, and the Princess had specially chosen this secluded yet beautiful residence for her within the garden.

Ah Wu peered out from the tower, seeing no one, and then boldly pushed open the door.

The furnishings in her room were exactly as they had been, spotless, as if someone had been cleaning and tending to them daily. Even the flowers in the vase on the table were changed daily, as if the owner had only been away for a short while.

Ah Wu’s fingers slowly traced the inlaid mother-of-pearl rosewood painting table with upturned ends, the jade armrest, the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea brush holder, and the jade brush washer that she had used before. She felt as if she were still Princess Kangning, still able to receive the Princess’s favor, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

“Oh dear, who are you? How did you get here?” A maidservant entered through the door. Upon seeing Ah Wu, she was startled. If the Princess found out she had let someone trespass into the Princess’s Mansion, she would surely be beaten to death.

Ah Wu quickly wiped away her tears, turned around, and saw that it was a familiar face. “Sister Ai-E, do not worry, I will leave right away; I will leave right away; I will not tell anyone.”

Ai-E nodded and quickly saw Ah Wu out, adding as she left, “Do not tell anyone, alright?”

Ah Wu nodded.

Long after Ah Wu left, Ai-E belatedly observed how the little girl could have known her name. Ai-E’s name was given to her by Ah Wu herself, mocking her honest and simple nature, like a silly goose. She also had a sister whom Ah Wu called Ai-Ya.

Ah Wu knew she could not stay away for too long, so she hurried back to Xiefang Pavilion, only to encounter Gu Tingyi—her second brother—on the way. In her past life, Ah Wu was closest to Gu Tingyi; she could confide in this second brother about things she could not tell the Imperial Princess.

Gu Tingyi was incredibly patient with Ah Wu. Whenever she fell ill, he was more anxious than she was, and he was far more skilled at persuading her to take medicine and lulling her to sleep than even the maidservants who served her.

Ah Wu stopped in her tracks, looking at Gu Tingyi approaching.

Gu Tingyi noticed the unfamiliar young girl on the road and knew she must be a guest at Gu Xihui’s birthday banquet. Thinking he should avoid suspicion, he went around to the stone bridge. But as he stood on the bridge, he glanced back and saw Ah Wu gazing at him intently from below.

Many women in the capital stared at Gu Tingyi with longing, and the fourteen-year-old Gu Tingyi was used to and disgusted by such gazes. But Ah Wu’s eyes, instead of evoking disgust, stirred a deep emotion within him.

In that fleeting moment of eye contact, Gu Tingyi seemed to see his younger sister, Princess Kangning, whose nickname was Ah Wu.

The Princess, filled with suspicion, viewed Ah Wu without discerning anything, while Gu Tingyi, having no prior impression of Ah Wu, could see her more objectively. Thus, upon their first meeting, he saw Ah Wu’s shadow in her.

A person could change their appearance, but those familiar with her could still recognize her from behind, because her words and actions did not change much unless deliberately done.

“What’s your name?” Gu Tingyi could not help but ask, standing on the bridge.

“My name is Ah Wu.” Ah Wu looked up and gave Gu Tingyi a bright smile.

Gu Tingyi’s sorrow was somewhat swept away by Ah Wu’s splayed front teeth. He wanted to laugh, but the name she uttered startled him. “Which ‘Wu’?”

“The ‘Wu’ in ‘Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.’ ^{(Jǐ suǒ bù yù wù shī yú rén de wù)}” Ah Wu lowered her head.

Gu Tingyi said, “Oh,” and added, “It’s a nice name.”

T/N: To reiterate, The Wu of Ah Wu from the past life is different from the Wu of Ah Wu of the Rong family. But they are homonyms or sound the same. Since Chinese words are tonal, it still lead Gu Tingyi to ask.