I Became The Stepmother of My Ex-husband

The head of the household didn’t say a word and Shizi lowered his head, conceding. Lin Wei Xi managed to smoothly change something that had been common practice in the residence for many years. This also made it clear that she was the new mistress of Prince Yan Residence and that past customs and rules would remain in the past.

Gao Ran had secretly looked forward to this show, but when she saw the conclusion, the vicious anger that had accumulated in the past many days rushed to her head.

Poor health was truly a shield that could be used wherever Lin Wei Xi wanted to. How was she so brazen and on what basis could she change whatever she wanted to change?

Gao Ran was truly frustrated by this “mother-in-law” who relied on her weak health to make unreasonable demands. She was suddenly at a loss. Lin Wei Xi was around her age, and there was no way she could endure her mother-in-law’s torture. The Duke Ying Residence had come to support her earlier today but failed to resolve her situation in the end. She couldn’t count on her maiden family and her father-in-law, contrary to his astuteness in court, completely indulged and pampered his wife. Surely the rest of Gao Ran’s life wouldn’t be spent being criticised by Lin Wei Xi and enduring her malicious behaviour?

Prince Yan was on leave today, so dinner was especially lavish and exquisite, but it was tasteless to Gao Ran.

Her mind wandered throughout the meal. After sending off Prince Yan and Lin Wei Xi, Gao Ran and Gu Cheng Yao returned to their courtyard. She was dispirited and not in the mood to talk. Gu Cheng Yao didn’t say a word either the whole journey for some reason.

When they returned to Qingsong Garden, he stopped at the entrance to the back courtyard and said, “You must be tired after today. Go and rest first. I need to revise, so I won’t follow you back.”

Gu Cheng Yao turned and left after saying that. Gao Ran couldn’t help exclaiming in surprise, but he didn’t seem to hear and was soon too far away. She watched his figure from behind, growing more agitated than she already was.

Although Qingsong Garden was merely one of the courtyards in Prince Yan Residence, it contained a total of three courtyards. The outer courtyard, study, main building and back building had everything they would ever need. It could be considered a small residence. All they needed to do was close its doors and it could stand alone as a courtyard. Gao Ran resided in the second section of the main building, which was the largest building used to reside in. Earlier, Gu Cheng Yao had walked to the entrance of this building before turning to the study room in the front courtyard.

Of course, what happened at the building entrance wouldn’t escape the eyes and ears of everyone there. Gao Ran returned alone and not long after sitting down, Granny Bu arrived, “Shizi Fei, did Shizi go to the front courtyard?”

Gao Ran wasn’t in the mood to respond to something so obvious and Granny Bu wasn’t truly inquiring about it when she asked that question. Granny Bu paused and said to herself, “It’s almost the New Year and Shizi is still so diligent. It’s truly a blessing for the family. If the Princess Consort could see this, how happy she’d be.”

The Princess Consort Granny Bu was referring to was Shen Shi. Ever since Lin Wei Xi forcibly took away her power, she’d been unable to accept it. Therefore, she vented her anger by refusing to address Lin Wei Xi as the Princess Consort and merely used ‘that one’ instead. She even frequently talked about what happened with Shen Shi in the past; who knew who she was showing off to. Gao Ran and Granny Bu had shared a hatred against a common enemy at first, but Gao Ran couldn’t stand how Granny Bu repeated the same things again and again, and now she couldn’t help feeling sick and tired of it. Even though she was already dead, it was annoying enough to repeat the entire story everyday. What’s more, she’d been dead for more than ten years. What was the use in saying how virtuous and affectionate Shen Shi was every day? Could she not see that the one in power was now that person?

But even if she was unhappy about it, when Granny Bu brought up Shizi’s birth mother, Gao Ran had to smile and respond, “Granny, you’re right. Shizi is so diligent and ambitious despite his respectable birth. If mother-in-law in heaven learns of this, she’ll definitely feel relieved. “

“Exactly. My young lady had been so lucky. In her maiden family, she was treated like a jewel and spoiled by her father and brother, and had never even washed her own hands. When she unfortunately came across a defeated enemy army that had fallen into disarray, she ran into Prince Yan, who’d been Shizi back then. Aiyo, what a magnificent sight it was to see a beautiful boy lead powerful troops. Amidst the confusion of the fleeing army, he alone stood at the forefront, commanding his men to charge from three sides and quickly suppressed the riot. You weren’t there to see the scene. The earth-shattering storm and a young man of only fifteen or sixteen commanding cavalry of more than a hundred strong. His composed bearing as he took command from across the gale and the wall of humans is seared into my mind. At that time, everyone was watching him. But once Prince Yan sorted out the situation, he left with his men without leaving his name. Nevertheless, after he left, we listened to the conversations of those around us and found out that he was the eldest di son of the Yan fief’s Prince, Gu Hui Yan.”

When she heard this for the first time, Gao Ran had been fascinated by the story, but now she only felt annoyed. At first, when she heard that Prince Yan and Princess Consort Shen were together because he had saved her life, she thought it was such a fairy tale romance. However, in reality, Prince Yan not only saved Princess Consort Shen, but many others as well. Afterwards, in the wake of Granny Bu taking great pains to retell the story over and over again, Gao Ran was at the end of her patience and instead felt antipathy.

Granny Bu continued to recall how handsome and brave the young Prince Yan had been back then. This was the kind of thing where if one wasn’t there to see it themselves, even if the person speaking was well spoken and eloquent, they wouldn’t be able to describe how mind-blowing it was to be there. This was currently the situation with Granny Bu. Granny Bu noticed Gao Ran’s disinterest, so she stopped reminiscing and reluctantly concluded her story in one sentence, “Young folks like you have never seen the perils of war. How can you understand how awe-inspiring Prince Yan is on the battlefield? He has risen in power these past few years and handles more court matters, which is why he has become more reserved over time. In fact, he liked to show off his abilities when he was young. Not only was he quick and ruthless in a fight, but he also looked exceedingly valiant and handsome. Back then, the common people at the border didn’t pray to spirits or gods, they prayed only to Prince Yan.”

For some reason, Gao Ran felt uncomfortable at Granny Bu’s high praise of Gu Hui Yan, so she said pointedly, “Even if Prince Yan was handsome and formidable back then, the northern frontier had strong sandstorms, the weapons and sand keeping him company all day long. How can it compare to Shizi’s life of luxury, the faint scent of books on him, and the noble aura he’s always had?”

It wasn’t reasonable for Granny Bu to touch Gu Cheng Yao’s matters on a normal day. But after hearing Gao Ran’s words, she unexpectedly didn’t side with Gu Cheng Yao, shaking her head solemnly, “Don’t say that. Prince Yan now holds a high and important position and his quiet demeanour hides great wisdom. Teenagers are young, frivolous, and like to show off. But no matter if it’s in his youth or now, he is extremely good looking. What’s more, just based on looks, the Prince was more handsome than Shizi at nineteen.”

Gao Ran was very unhappy to hear this, but the other person in question was Gu Cheng Yao’s father. She couldn’t talk badly about her father-in-law and could only swallow it. Even so, her expression showed she still disagreed somewhat.

Granny Bu couldn’t help staring blankly as she recalled the past. After returning to her senses, she again bragged about her lady’s fortunate life, “Our young lady lived a pampered life the moment she was born. She was spoiled by her father and brother in her maternal family, and later married the Yan fief’s young hero. Who knows how many little ladies secretly crushed on the Prince. But in the end, wasn’t it our young lady who became the Princess? This is clearly fate. After marriage, the young lady’s first child was a son. Look how hard she worked. It’s just a pity the lady wasn’t in good health, and she left before her son could grow up.”

Granny Bu sighed. She was obviously thinking that if Shen Shi were still here, how would Gao Ran be able to act so arrogantly. Gao Ran was afraid that Granny Bu was going to talk about the past again and quickly cut her off, “Exactly. However, Shizi is filial and making progress in his studies. Mother-in-law ought to be content in the afterlife.”

Granny Bu gently wiped at her eyes. She didn’t actually have any tears, but always made this gesture. She said, “If my lady were still here and saw Shizi studying hard even during the New Year, she’d definitely worry for his health.”

Gao Ran suddenly had a bad feeling. She prepared herself and casually echoed Granny Bu’s sentiments, “Of course Shizi’s health is the most important.”

“That’s right, us women can’t share the burden of Shizi’s court affairs, so we have to pay more attention to his basic needs. Shizi Fei, you’ve been so busy dealing with the New Year’s celebration that I’m afraid it’s too difficult for you to handle more than one thing at a time. Furthermore, Shizi has been working hard to study all day long with servants constantly around him. This slave came to tell Shizi Fei that Yun Hui has already left to serve Shizi and will not be returning to the inner courtyard tonight. Shizi Fei, no need to worry about how they’re doing in the study. While Yun Hui is there to manage everything, you just need to focus on recuperating.”

Blood immediately rushed to her head when she heard that. How dare a thing like Yun Hui have the audacity to take Gao Ran’s place and give orders to care for Gu Cheng Yao’s basic needs. Moreover, Gu Cheng Yao was unlikely to return to the bedroom to sleep judging by the time he left for study, and with Yun Hui also in the study…

Gao Ran couldn’t sit still. Probably no woman would be able to sit back and watch her own husband spend the night with another young woman. Perhaps Granny Bu saw Gao Ran’s dissatisfaction, as she immediately frowned and said, “Shizi Fei, this slave is one of the people Princess Consort Shen left behind, who was entrusted by the Princess Consort to look after Shizi when she was on her deathbed. And Yun Hui, who has followed Shizi for ten years, cares about him. This old lady can be rest assured if she’s taking care of Shizi. Furthermore, Shizi Fei has not yet given birth to a child for Shizi and for the past few days, has spent much time in the Buddhist sanctum. I’m afraid it’ll be even more difficult for you to conceive. Shizi Fei, you should take care of your health and extend the family line as soon as possible instead of getting jealous.”

It wasn’t good for a woman to be labelled as jealous. Granny Bu had even brought up Princess Consort Shen and jealousy, one of the seven grounds for divorce^◇. Gao Ran could only take a deep breath and responded, “I’m not such an unreasonable person. Granny, you’re only doing this for my own good. I understand.”

◇

Granny Bu smiled and said, satisfied, “It’s good that Shizi Fei understands the trouble this slave goes through. Shizi Fei, this slave did this so that you could have time to take care of your health and not delay having children. Shizi Fei please don’t misunderstand this slave’s good intentions.”

Good intentions? If Granny Bu had good intentions, would she have kept a close eye on the door and chased after Shizi when he left the room, and even sent a servant specifically to stop her from leaving? Gao Ran was very disdainful and barely stopped herself from cursing. But when she thought about Gao Xi’s ending, she held herself back in the end. She squeezed out a gentle smile at this wicked slave in front of her who had inserted a third party into her marriage.

Granny Bu was very satisfied with Gao Ran’s behaviour. She paused for a moment. Only when she saw that Gao Ran didn’t show any signs of losing her temper or even chasing her out did she feel satisfied enough to leave. After Granny Bu left, Granny Tao and Ning Fu hurriedly surrounded Gao Ran and, speaking over each other, asked, “Shizi Fei, for the past few days, Yun Hui has only served Shizi in the study room during the day. But now she’s shameless enough to consider serving him as he studies at night. Granny Bu is still keeping an eye on the inner courtyard. What should we do?”

This scheme of Granny Bu wasn’t a secret. Gao Ran took a deep breath and thought for some time before saying, “It seems Yun Hui hasn’t been embraced by Shizi based on how anxious Granny Bu is. Since he hasn’t accepted her, she will surely think of another method. We don’t need to worry. Let’s bide our time and see what happens.”

Ning Fu and the others answered in affirmation. Gao Ran had gone through many events today and was mentally drained. This exhaustion wasn’t caused by physical fatigue, but one that spread from her heart and gradually consumed her whole. She’d hoped that by calling in her maternal family that they would punish Lin Wei Xi, but in the end, she lost a dowry maid. And when she returned to her courtyard exhausted from head to toe that night, she was told that Gu Cheng Yao wouldn’t return that night and that Yun Hui had followed him to the study to serve him.

Ning Fu and the other servants tactfully withdrew from the room when they saw Gao Ran’s expression. As they left the room, Gao Ran’s voice suddenly came from behind them, “Granny Tao, inform the kitchen to make a bowl of contraceptive soup tonight.”

Granny Tao stopped in her tracks. It was very inappropriate for a concubine to give birth to an eldest son before the main wife gave birth to a son. She also couldn’t stop her husband from doting on the concubine, so she could only give contraceptive soup to the concubine or tong fang^◇ in order to properly safeguarding the interests of the main wife and di son. Gao Ran’s earlier analysis of the situation had been clear, but she was actually panicking.

◇

In the study room outside Qingsong Garden, the candle flame danced. As Gu Cheng Yao moved  to shift the cover of the lamp, someone else picked it up first. Yun Hui held a pair of scissors as she cut the burnt wick, and the room brightened again. After she did that, she fastened the lamp cover and smiled submissively at Gu Cheng Yao, “Shizi.”

He was a little surprised, “Why is it you?”

Yun Hui said, “Daimao is careless and likes to doze off. If he ends up falling asleep tonight, he won’t even be able to get you hot water if you asked for it. I hate how crude he is, so I sent him back.”

Yun Hui took over for Daimao partially because she worried that Daimao wouldn’t serve Shizi properly, but it was mostly out of selfishness. Prince Yan was very strict when it came to managing Gu Cheng Yao’s studies. Those who served Shizi in the study were all young male servants. But without Gao Ran around these past few days, Yun Hui grew bold, running to the study during the day. Gu Cheng Yao also didn’t make her leave. When she saw him leave for the outer courtyard that day, it seemed like he wouldn’t return that night. Yun Hui felt that this opportunity was truly godsent, and quickly entrusted Granny Bu with watching Shizi Fei. Then she bribed Daimao with a piece of silver and sent him out for a drink, while she herself went to serve Gu Cheng Yao in studying and grinding ink. Although it was called a study room, a bed and other items were all available here. Yun Hui’s intentions were not purely to be a beautiful reading companion.

Gu Cheng Yao actually felt it was inappropriate when he heard this. After all, he’d been married twice before and was no longer a naive young boy. Of course he knew the implication behind a maid serving her master at night. Although his father was strict with his education, as he grew older in recent years, his father’s control gradually eased, especially on matters between men and women.

If Gu Cheng Yao were fifteen, Prince Yan wouldn’t have allowed Yun Hui to follow him to the study, regardless of whether he wanted it or not. But now that his son was older, there were some things Gu Hui Yan could no longer manage. At Gu Cheng Yao’s lack of response, he thought that Gu Cheng Yao had asked for it so he closed one eye and pretended not to know.

Gu Cheng Yao looked at the girl in front of him. Her hair was coiled up to reveal her pale, smooth neck, with pearl earrings dangling from her ears. Her skin looked much more exquisite under the light of the lamp, almost like glaze on porcelain. Yun Hui couldn’t be considered beautiful, but she’d served Gu Cheng Yao for more than ten years and had been like his sister since young. Now that she was all dressed up, she felt more like a woman.

His beautiful reading companion who was interested in him, the big sister who’d lived together with him since childhood; perhaps only a few men would refuse. But when Gu Cheng Yao looked at Yun Hui at that moment, he suddenly thought of something that had happened in the past.

It was when Gao Xi had still been alive.