89. Gu Min Returns

September eighth, an auspicious day for travel, engagement, groundbreaking, and setting up a hearth.

Early in the morning, the entire Gu family residence was alive with excitement. Servants bustled in and out, each donning new garments. Madame Cui’s face was radiant with joy, and even Gu Zhong, who was usually stern and reserved, had his hair meticulously groomed, his sapphire robe free of a single wrinkle.

Unable to sit still, he paced back and forth through the main hall of the first house all morning.

Gu Fei, naturally, was aware of all these happenings. As Ku-ma arranged her hair, she reported each event, finishing with a worried glance, “Miss, Gu Min is returning today. If he targets you, what should we do?”

Gu Fei’s hair was loosened slightly as she spoke, her expression calm. “He’ll certainly be against me, but so what?”

Ku-ma frowned and shook her head, carefully securing a silver and gold peony hairpin in Gu Fei’s dark hair as she replied, “I’ve asked around. Gu Min is quite a character. His talent for ink-making is average, but he’s shrewd and worldly, adept at navigating society. No one in the Gu family has a bad word to say about him.”

“He’s also skilled; before leaving, he assisted Gu Zhong with the family’s shop in Dali. Later, I heard that in the north of Nanqi, there is a rare ancient pine, and ink balls made from its resin are the finest, a rarity in a hundred years.”

Gu Fei’s eyes half-closed, her attention unclear, and just as Ku-ma thought she hadn’t taken it to heart, Gu Fei’s voice drifted, “Anyone who can move freely among the uncivilized, cannibalistic tribes in the wild mountains—who would believe such a person is a fool?”

Hearing this, Ku-ma realized Gu Fei was well aware. She said no more, wheeled her out of the room, instructed Egret to practice spear forms in the courtyard for Gu Fei’s amusement, left Nightingale to attend her, and went out to gather news.

Approaching noon, as Gu Fei was dining, Ku-ma returned, her smile bitter and her expression revealing everything.

Gu Fei paused, chopsticks mid-motion. She looked up and asked, “Gu Min, has he returned?”

“Gu Min has returned,” Ku-ma confirmed.

Meanwhile, at the Gu family’s gate, a man stood tall in a robe of pale gray with bamboo patterns. Mounted on a spirited horse, he held the reins, gazing at the entrance with a complex expression.

A sharp-eyed servant recognized him as the eldest son, Gu Min, and ran excitedly to the inner courtyard, shouting all the way, “Young Master’s back! Young Master’s back!”

Madame Cui, impatient from waiting, would have gone to the gate herself if not for Gu Zhong’s forbiddance.

Hearing the commotion, Cui and Zhong exchanged a glance, their faces breaking into ecstatic smiles. Cui cried out, “My son is home! My son is home!”

The emotion in her words was too complex for anyone to fathom. Even Gu Zhong couldn’t help but smile, his black beard quivering as he stroked it and repeated, “Good, good, good!” Apart from the three consecutive ‘goods,’ he could say nothing more.

After nearly half a year away, Gu Min lifted his robe and walked in slowly, surveying every corner of the house as if matching it to his memory, seeking the familiarity of home.

“Min’er…” Madame Cui could wait no longer in the main hall. She rushed out, crossing the moon gate and the corridor, to see a man standing in the courtyard, lost in thought.

Gu Min was startled by her call. He looked over to see a woman with golden hairpins and soft silk robes, her face aglow with emotion. He was moved, and with a swift step, rushed forward, his voice trembling, “Mother…”

“Mm,” Madame Cui nodded deeply, her eyes lifting to find her son not only thinner but darker. “Good son, good son!”

Gu Min smiled as well. He was handsome, his looks on par with Mo Yuhua and Feng Li, the three jade gentlemen of Yizhou—a reputation well deserved.

He had inherited Gu Zhong’s eyes, a nose like a suspended gallbladder, elegant lips, and an air of unrestrained sharpness lurking beneath his brows, seldom revealed.

While mother and son were caught up in their reunion, Gu Zhong emerged from the hall, standing at a respectful distance, hands behind his back, his eyes betraying much joy.

Gu Min composed himself, bowed deeply before Gu Zhong, and declared, “Father, your son has fulfilled the task—found the ancient pine and returned safely.”

Gu Zhong stroked his beard, unable to suppress his smile. “Well done! My son indeed! A good man must have such abilities!”

“Let’s go inside, the sun is harsh and will burn you,” Madame Cui said, reaching for Gu Min’s hand to lead him to the hall.

But as Gu Min took a step, his other hand was seized, the grip tightening, preventing Madame Cui from pulling him forward.

Gu Min was startled; Madame Cui turned, and saw a girl with strange, multicolored totem markings on her face staring fiercely.

Her eyes rivaled those of wild beasts—dark gold, vertical pupils. Meeting her gaze sent chills to the heart.

Gu Min moved to shield them, blocking the confrontation, and said quietly to Madame Cui, “Mother, this is Princess Duogula from the northern region of Nanqi.”

Though reluctant, Gu Min introduced Duogula to his family. He had done his best to make her seem ordinary—dressing her in a proper skirt, tidying her hair.

Yet, in the moment he took his eyes off her, Duogula's hostility toward his family surfaced.

“Min, tell her to let go,” Madame Cui urged. Duogula’s skin was honey-colored, her long hair braided and draped casually behind her head, a thin cord tied around a tiny skull on her forehead. Combined with her facial markings, she was unsettling in every way.

Gu Min turned to Duogula, his expression earnest, and though he didn’t say it outright, he withdrew from Cui’s grasp. “Duogula, she’s my mother. We haven’t seen each other in so long…”

“You wish to defy the will of the Bone Spirit?” Duogula interrupted, her voice cold. Her features were deeply cut, her gold eyes and high nose more pronounced than women of the Great Yin, her lips sensual, her whole being exuding a wild beauty found only on mountain ridges.

“Even if she is your mother, she cannot touch you. You belong to me, Duogula.” She added, her accent imperfect and her command of the Great Yin language awkward and rigid.

Gu Min regarded her for a long moment, then yielded, “Duogula, I haven’t forgotten.”

Satisfied, Duogula nodded, then looked to Cui and Zhong. She stepped forward, left fist to right shoulder, bowing slightly. “I am Duogula, mother and father. Glad to meet you.”

She offered no explanation, but it was clear what she meant by “mother and father.” Most notably, “mother” came before “father.” Her gaze was warm toward Cui, but indifferent to Zhong.

Cui and Zhong exchanged bewildered looks, Zhong’s face turning cold. He nodded to Cui, who then asked Gu Min, “Min’er, who is this young lady?”

In their eyes, Gu Min was tall and refined; when he married, it should be to a well-born, fair-skinned girl. This strange Duogula was entirely outside their expectations.

Gu Min gave a bitter smile, uncertain how to explain. He said simply, “Duogula is my wife—your daughter-in-law.”

At this, Cui and Zhong were both stunned.

Cui could not help but retort, “Impossible! How can such a coarse girl be worthy of you? I will not allow her into the Gu family!”

Gu Min’s face changed. He glanced at Duogula, seeing she barely understood the Great Yin language and had not grasped Cui’s meaning. Relieved, he replied quickly, “I will explain everything to you later, Father and Mother.”

Cui wanted to say more, but Zhong silenced her with a gesture. She cast a displeased look at Duogula and snorted coldly.

Duogula was no fool. Though she hadn’t understood Cui’s words, she read her expression and inferred enough. Turning to Gu Min, she remarked, “Min, your mother is so pale. Her flesh must be tender to eat.”

Satisfied, Duogula nodded, then looked to Cui and Zhong, stepped forward, left fist to right shoulder, and bowed. “I am Duogula, mother and father. Glad to meet you.”

Again, her meaning was clear: “mother” came before “father,” and her gaze softened for Cui, but was much colder for Zhong.

Cui and Zhong exchanged bewildered looks. Cui asked Gu Min again, “Min’er, who is this young lady?”

They had always imagined Gu Min would marry a refined, well-born girl, never someone as strange as Duogula.

Gu Min’s bitter smile betrayed his confusion. “Duogula is my wife—your daughter-in-law.”

Cui and Zhong were shocked.

Cui could not help but protest, “Impossible! She’s too wild for you. I refuse to let her enter the Gu household!”

Gu Min glanced at Duogula, saw she hadn’t understood, and quickly said, “I’ll explain everything to you both later.”

Cui tried to object, but Zhong stopped her. She glared at Duogula and snorted.

Duogula, not foolish, read Cui’s expression and turned to Gu Min, saying, “Min, your mother is so pale. Her flesh must be tender to eat.”

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