GTB Chapter 195

Chapter 197: Visiting the Gu Residence

Ji Shutíng pursed her lips, remaining silent. After all, this was Jiuchu’s first time visiting, and it was proper for her mother-in-law to greet her.

However, she had misjudged her mother-in-law’s intentions.

In the main hall, after Jiang Jiuchu drank a cup of tea, she saw Ji Shutíng’s figure, accompanied by Gu Changxuan’s mother.

Setting down her teacup, she had just started to rise when she saw Madam Gu step into the hall and greet her, “This old woman greets the Crown Princess.”

Seeing this, Ji Shutíng had no choice but to follow suit and offer her greetings.

Jiang Jiuchu quickly stepped forward and helped Madam Gu up with both hands, “Aunt Gu, you don’t need to be so formal. Shutíng and I know each other, there’s no need for such formality in private.”

“Proper etiquette must be observed, Crown Princess, please be seated.” Madam Gu said as she stood up, then looked at Baitao by her side and said:

“Baitao, quickly refill the Crown Princess’s tea.”

“Yes.” Baitao responded and hurried to the tea table, picking up the teapot to pour another cup of tea for Jiang Jiuchu.

Jiang Jiuchu glanced at Ji Shutíng, then turned to Madam Gu and said, “I’ve already had tea. I’m here to invite Shutíng out to play.”

Madam Gu’s eyes darted around, and she immediately said, “Looking for Shutíng to play! Of course, of course.”

She continued with a smile, “It’s truly Shutíng’s blessing to have a friend like the Crown Princess. As her mother, I’m delighted for her.”

Jiang Jiuchu’s lips twitched slightly, finding Madam Gu’s flattery a bit awkward. Not only did she feel awkward, but Ji Shutíng also seemed somewhat embarrassed.

However, Madam Gu didn’t seem to notice anything amiss and directly pulled Jiang Jiuchu back down to sit, “Since the Crown Princess and my Shutíng are so close, then surely Shutíng will listen to your words.”

“Mother.” Upon hearing this, Ji Shutíng immediately wanted to interrupt Madam Gu.

But Madam Gu didn’t give her the chance, glancing at her and saying, “What? You won’t listen to me, but you’ll listen to the Crown Princess’s advice? Are you unhappy about that?”

Ji Shutíng closed her mouth and looked at Jiang Jiuchu, hoping she could use her status as Crown Princess to quickly send her mother-in-law away.

But seeing the glance Madam Gu gave Ji Shutíng, Jiang Jiuchu not only didn’t send her away but instead asked, “Aunt Gu, what’s the matter that requires me to persuade Shutíng?”

Seeing Jiang Jiuchu ask, Madam Gu quickly pulled Baitao over to Jiang Jiuchu and said:

“This Baitao is my younger sister’s daughter. My sister’s family has been kind to us, but now that her parents are gone, she’s come to Kyoto to seek refuge with me. Considering that she and Changxuan have been childhood sweethearts and have feelings for each other, I only want her to be a concubine, but Shutíng actually disagrees.”

“Which man doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines? Besides, my Changxuan is at least a *zhuangyuan* scholar. It’s not like he’s randomly taking a concubine. It’s just this one cousin; why can’t he take her?”

Jiang Jiuchu’s eyes darkened. After exchanging glances with Ji Shutíng, she retracted her gaze, nodded, looked at Baitao, and said to Madam Gu:

“Since Master Gu wants to take a concubine, I think Shutíng’s personality would never obstruct it.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Gu quickly explained, “She just said herself that she doesn’t want my son to take a concubine. My son is considerate of her, so he doesn’t dare to force it.”

Jiang Jiuchu couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “Want? I think no woman wants that in her heart! Could it be that Aunt Gu wanted Uncle Gu to take a concubine back then?”

She said, not giving Madam Gu a chance to retort, and continued, “But wanting it or not doesn’t matter. After all, a wife should see her husband as her superior, she should be generous.”

“I think a dignified *zhuangyuan* scholar wouldn’t be henpecked. If he doesn’t take a concubine, he must have his own ideas. Perhaps…”

Jiang Jiuchu glanced up and down at Baitao and continued, “Perhaps, he himself doesn’t fancy this childhood sweetheart cousin. After all, if Master Gu isn’t interested, no amount of persuasion from Shutíng will be useful.”

Baitao’s face turned red with shame and indignation, and there seemed to be faint tears in her downcast eyes.

Madam Gu was left speechless for a moment. If she admitted that her son was henpecked, wouldn’t that make her a laughingstock?

She had originally planned to use the same tactics as in the village, intentionally talking to the Crown Princess about trivial family matters to put pressure on Ji Shutíng, hoping she would sincerely persuade her son. But she didn’t expect it to turn into her son being henpecked.

She laughed awkwardly, “Then perhaps my son doesn’t have feelings between a man and woman for Baitao yet! I was too anxious. Mainly, I got pregnant within the first month after I got married. Shutíng has been married for several months, but her belly hasn’t shown any signs. I’m doing this for the sake of the Gu family’s descendants.”

Jiang Jiuchu was stunned. She had never heard of anyone rushing to take a concubine because a woman hadn’t gotten pregnant within half a year.

She straightened her face, intentionally adding a hint of displeasure to her voice, “I didn’t expect Aunt Gu to come from a small place and yet be even more particular than the madams in Kyoto.”

“This Crown Princess got married three months earlier than Shutíng, but I haven’t seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince or Empress Dowager say anything. What? Is your Gu family’s lineage more urgent than the royal family’s? Could it be that you have something more important than inheriting the throne?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Gu’s face immediately changed. She was so frightened that she stood up abruptly, nearly kneeling down. What throne, what royal family – it was simply taking her old life!

“No, no, Crown Princess, you’ve misunderstood. I didn’t mean that. I was just saying it casually. Crown Princess, please don’t overthink it.”

“Alright, since it was just a casual remark, I trust you won’t say it again next time. I have other matters to attend to. I’ll come back another time for tea.”

Jiang Jiuchu finished speaking, stood up, and directly took Ji Shutíng’s arm, heading towards the door.

Hooked on Jiang Jiuchu’s arm, Ji Shutíng slightly turned her head back, saw her aunt still standing blankly in the hall, and could not help but curl up the corner of her mouth.

She had been conscientiously filial to her, but in these months, she had failed to warm her heart. In the end, in her eyes, she was not even as good as a niece.

She turned back and whispered to Jiang Jiuchu: “Jiuchu, you are so amazing, thank you so much today.”

“Thank you for what, it’s been a little over a month and you’re already being so distant with me?”

“Besides, it’s not me who is amazing, after all, I didn’t say anything, it’s just that my current identity is useful.”

“It’s you, your mother-in-law is forcing you so much, didn’t you complain to Master Gu?”

Ji Shutíng shook her head, “He’s busy, and he has also refused to let Baitao enter the door with my mother, so there’s no need for me to say anything, after all, she is his mother, and he can’t force his mother not to look for me.”

“So, whatever my mother-in-law says, I just treat it as water off a duck’s back.”

Hearing Ji Shutíng say this, Jiang Jiuchu didn’t say anything more. She didn’t have a mother-in-law, so she hadn’t experienced it and couldn’t comment.

The two got into the carriage, and Ji Shutíng leaned close to Jiang Jiuchu and whispered, “Jiuchu, I see that many women are pregnant within a few months of marriage, why aren’t we?”

“Do we need to go see a doctor?”

Jiang Jiuchu was stunned, thinking that Xiu Cai had examined her this morning and said that she was in good health!

However, the reason she wasn’t pregnant was because she and Shí Yan had been taking birth control pills except for those first few days.

Based on the number of times they had been intimate, Ji Shutíng was two months ahead of her, “Anyway, I’ve already seen a doctor, and there’s no problem. It’s probably just that the time hasn’t come yet.”

“If you’re worried, I’ll accompany you to the medical clinic to take a look?”