Chapter 6: Misty Rain Pavilion

Chapter 6: Misty Rain Pavilion

There is a beauty in the North.

Peerless and standing alone.

One glance, she topples a city.

Another glance, she topples a nation.

In the past, Gu Yunhan did not understand, but at this moment, Gu Yunhan understood.

Hanzhi watched Gu Yunhan’s mesmerized expression and secretly revealed a triumphant smile.

Stunned, aren't you!

So ignorant.

She spends every day scrolling through pretty ladies on Douyin.

How to infatuate an ancient scumbag—it’s easy as pie.

The dance ended.

Gu Yunhan was just about to chase after the beauty.

Qiuju pushed Hanzhi in front of Gu Yunhan.

"Master, my body is not feeling very well these days. Liuzhi is a servant born in our household; she has been by Mother’s side since she was young and is quite literate. I have already spoken with Mother, and she agreed to elevate this Liuzhi to Concubine Liu. You saw her today, Husband—what do you think about arranging her in the Misty Rain Pavilion?"

"Since it is Mother’s instruction, as a son, how could I refuse?"

Gu Yunhan stared fixedly at Hanzhi. He looked at her for a long while before saying these words. He knew how infatuated this woman before him was with him.

Yet now, she was actually taking the initiative to arrange a woman for him.

This was somewhat unbelievable.

But looking at Hanzhi’s pale face, she looked like a ghost on the verge of death.

Hanzhi’s legs were now crippled. He knew she was ill, but he hadn't expected her to be this sick—to the point where she couldn't even walk.

Gu Yunhan knew Liuzhi was one of Hanzhi’s attendants. He guessed that Hanzhi was likely afraid he would grow tired of her, so she had found someone she trusted to secure his favor.

In the end, she was just a merchant’s daughter, lacking in class.

But since this concubine was proposed by the Old Madam and Hanzhi herself, he was merely accepting it passively, which wouldn't damage his reputation.

In his early years, the Marquis’s estate was powerful, and he hadn't understood the importance of reputation.

That was why he had fathered such an old illegitimate child with Liu Hanyan.

Otherwise, with his talent, why would he have married a merchant’s daughter?

Of course, the most crucial thing was that he had never realized before that Liuzhi was such a stunning beauty.

It must be that the Han woman was jealous of Liuzhi’s beauty and had deliberately made her wear coarse hempen clothes, which was why he hadn't noticed her.

Though the beauty was beautiful.

Gu Yunhan was not entirely blinded by her looks. He asked Hanzhi, "I heard that you handed over those shops to be managed by my second brother. Is this true?"

Of course it was true. The very next day, Gu Yundian had pushed Hanzhi to those shops, unable to wait to take control of them.

The reason Hanzhi was certain Gu Yunhan would come to find her was that Gu Yunhan could not bear to part with such a large sum of money.

The original owner had been too young; she married Gu Yunhan at fifteen and had been deceived by his family ever since. When she grew older, she placed all her hopes on the child she had raised.

Hanzhi put on a weak and fragile appearance as she spoke to Gu Yunhan.

"Master now holds an official position; managing shops would be detrimental to your reputation. Furthermore, this is a critical period for inheriting the title. The Second Master goes out every day to eat, drink, and play, and he causes trouble with many people, which reflects poorly on you. Last time, the debt collectors from the gambling den even came to our door.

I thought that if the Second Master had something to do, he wouldn't be so bored, and he wouldn't be causing trouble everywhere!"

If it were the original owner, she definitely would have helped Gu Yundian handle the matter, never letting it escalate.

But now that it was Hanzhi, she naturally pretended to know nothing and ignored it entirely.

The anger in Gu Yunhan’s heart had subsided.

He felt that what Hanzhi said made sense.

"Master, the Misty Rain Pavilion has already been tidied up. I only wish to nurse my health well and read more books, so I would like to hand over the household management to Concubine Liu for a while. I know that you have always liked women from scholarly families, so I will definitely read more in the future. One day, I will be worthy of you."

If Hanzhi’s current state weren't so wretched, this display of sincere emotion would surely have moved Gu Yunhan.

But Gu Yunhan glanced at Hanzhi’s face.

He really couldn't bring himself to sacrifice his own pleasure.

So he said to Hanzhi, "It is better for you to stay in your courtyard and recover during these days. As for Mother, you don't need to go pay your respects every day for now. I will go speak with her; you just focus on getting better."

Gu Yunhan said to Hanzhi in a gentle voice.

He felt a bit embarrassed to go directly to Liuzhi.

"Thank you, Master."

Gu Yunhan watched Hanzhi’s moved expression and left with a sense of self-satisfaction.

It wasn't that Gu Yunhan was unaware of how the Old Madam treated Hanzhi.

Every time Hanzhi came to him about it, he would scold her.

But Gu Yunhan still remembered how Hanzhi looked when she first married into the family.

He still remembered the spirited Hanzhi from back then.

At the wedding, Gu Yunhan had seen her.

It was just that Hanzhi was too young then, so he hadn't consummated the marriage. Compared to petite and thin women, he preferred those who were plump and charming.

Yet, the Hanzhi of today had been worn down to this state.

Looking at Hanzhi’s cautious demeanor, Gu Yunhan felt fortunate in his heart that he hadn't let Liu Hanyan into the house; otherwise, he didn't know what she would have been tortured into by his mother.

Gu Yunhan knew his mother’s temper.

Even he couldn't stand it sometimes.

However, he had never noticed that Liuzhi was such a stunning beauty before.

Perhaps she was too young before and had only just blossomed.

Walking in front of the Misty Rain Pavilion, he suddenly remembered that this was Liu Hanyan’s former courtyard.

Hanzhi seemed to have mentioned it twice before.

He had been thinking about other things at the time.

Regarding handing over the household management to Liuzhi, Gu Yunhan had neither agreed nor refused.

Gu Yunhan stepped into the Misty Rain Pavilion and pushed open the door. He saw Liuzhi sitting on the bed.

Her snow-white skin was faintly visible under the lamplight.

In that instant, Gu Yunhan felt that since Hanzhi’s health was failing, it was fine to hand over the management to Liuzhi.

The next day, Gu Yunhan actually accompanied Liuzhi to the main hall and even had her serve tea to Hanzhi.

This was giving Liuzhi a great deal of face.

The Old Madam hadn't expected that Gu Yunhan would actually accept this concubine and even let her live in the Misty Rain Pavilion.

The Old Madam glanced at Liuzhi’s attire—it was in the style of a courtesan—and she was displeased.

But compared to that woman outside, the Old Madam felt she could tolerate it.

In her heart, the Old Madam felt that Liuzhi must have seduced the Master long ago.

That was why Hanzhi had suddenly proposed taking in a concubine for him.

She felt that Hanzhi’s illness couldn't be blamed entirely on her; half of it was likely caused by being angered by Liuzhi.

Although Hanzhi’s background was a bit low, she was sensible.

Now, looking at Hanzhi’s face, there wasn't a hint of displeasure.

She heard that Hanzhi had been studying hard by the window lately, thinking that if she acquired a scholarly air, the Master might take a liking to her.

The Old Madam felt she should give Hanzhi a hint to dress herself up properly. Dressed like this, she really couldn't blame her son; she was dressed even more dowdily than she, the Old Matriarch, was.

(End of chapter)