Chapter 10: Tall and beautiful is the noble lady, wearing an embroidered robe over a coat of gauze

“What instructions does the lady have?”
“The lady did not specify the exact details, but merely instructed me to tell the young master to prepare in advance.”
“Oh?” Xu You’s brow twitched, a sense of foreboding washing over him as he asked, “Prepare for what?”
“The lady said the situation has changed. Though this battle was not lost, it was not won either!”
Neither lost nor won?
Hearing this cryptic and headless remark, Xu You could not fathom Zhan Wenjun’s true meaning. Noticing how travel-worn Wan Qizhou was, he had her retire to rest first, deciding to discuss the matter in detail later. He then summoned He Ru and brought up the phrase "neither lost nor won," asking, “Qiyi, what do you think happened over in Wuxian?”
He Ru pondered for a moment and said, “In the worst-case scenario, the Prince of Jiangxia and the Crown Prince may have reached a compromise, trading away certain things under the pretext of releasing Guo Mian...”
Xu You nodded. “That is the only logical conclusion. Neither the Crown Prince nor the Prince of Jiangxia is ready for a complete and final break. Compromise was inevitable!”
“That outcome was to be expected. I am merely curious, given the Prince of Jiangxia’s violent temper, what on earth could he have been forced to abandon under the Crown Prince’s coercion?”
Two days later, Zhan Wenjun and her entourage arrived in Qiantang. However, they bypassed the city gates without entering, keeping their movements covert and flags lowered as they took a winding path from outside the city straight up Mingyu Mountain. After a brief wash and a short rest, Zhan Wenjun personally came to see Xu You. “My maternal uncle invites the young master over for a chat.”
Xu You walked out side-by-side with her and asked in a low voice, “Has the situation changed?”
Zhan Wenjun glanced around their surroundings and said, “There is no time to explain in detail now. Later, if my uncle asks what you desire, feel free to speak your mind and ask for whatever you want.”
Xu You was taken aback. He turned to look at Zhan Wenjun’s profile, trying to read something from her expression. Yet her demeanor remained as calm as usual, entirely devoid of any expected abnormality.
“What is it?”
Hearing no reply, Zhan Wenjun turned to him in surprise. As their gazes met, she instantly guessed what was running through his mind. A bashful flush tinted her eyes, and she quickly added in a whisper, “You... don’t do anything foolish...” With that, she quickened her pace and walked ahead toward the distant courtyard, not even waiting for Xu You.
Xu You’s heart raced wildly, though he knew quite well that Zhan Wenjun had not meant it in that fashion. No matter how progressive the State of Chu was in its social customs, it would never gift its own daughter-in-law as a token of gratitude. He figured Zhan Wenjun simply wanted him to open his lion’s maw and show Guo Mian no mercy, extorting as much wealth as possible so he could establish himself securely in Qiantang hereafter. After all, to Guo Mian, money was merely a matter of digits; whatever leaked through his fingers would be more than enough to ensure Xu You never had to worry about his livelihood again.
This was the classic trope of the wealthy young miss taking care of the impoverished scholar from The West Chamber—or perhaps, more accurately, the melodramatic script of the wealthy young mistress pitying the male farmhand in Red Sorghum.
Watching Zhan Wenjun’s receding figure, Xu You shook his head with an amused smile while silently plotting how to speak with Guo Mian later without appearing too greedy. His skin was thicker than the city walls of Qiantang County; if Guo Mian truly offered wealth as a token of gratitude, he would accept it eagerly and in abundance. Anyone with so-called unyielding pride who disdained worldly treasures was simply an utter fool kicked in the head by a donkey.
Getting paid fairly for one’s labor is never a disgrace at any time!
This was not Xu You’s first time laying eyes on Guo Mian. Last time at Changhe Ferry, Guo Mian had been seated aboard that extravagantly opulent Golden Banner ship, visible only from afar through a dense array of bow-heads. Back then, Xu You had not seen his face clearly, retaining only the impression of a portulent figure with a bared chest, exuding the quintessential bearing of a reclusive scholar.
Sitting face-to-face in the room now, Xu You finally had the time to properly observe this magnate of great wealth. Around forty years of age, clean-shaven and of striking appearance, Guo Mian possessed a calm and piercing gaze. His massive frame filled the chair like a mountain of flesh, radiating a formidable sense of pressure.
How tall and grand the noble man, draped in his embroidered robe!
“Young Seven, I am an old acquaintance of General Yuxiu and have heard him speak of you many times. Meeting you today, your renowned reputation is indeed well-deserved.” Guo Mian’s voice was unusually thin, lacking the deep resonance typical of middle-aged men. However, many corpulent individuals spoke this way, so it was hardly strange.
“Guo Gong flatters me too generously; this junior truly does not deserve such praise!” Pain was clearly visible in Xu You’s eyes as he said, “That night, Fifth Uncle slew over twenty men with his own hands and sustained more than ten wounds, yet still stood tall without falling...”
Xu You’s fifth uncle, Xu Jin, courtesy name Yuxiu, had once served in Jingzhou. Since Jingzhou fell under the territory of the Prince of Jiangxia, Guo Mian might not have actually been old friends with Xu Yuxiu; it was merely a rhetorical flourish of claiming familial ties.
Guo Mian let out a long sigh. “The upheaval in Yixing was truly something that brings grief to loved ones and joy to enemies! For the sake of selfish desires, some disregarded national righteousness—behaving worse than beasts.”
Xu You rose, bowed deeply, and wept, “On behalf of the wronged souls of the entire Xu clan, I thank Guo Gong for speaking out with such righteousness.”
Guo Mian hurriedly helped Xu You up. His thick, fleshy palm possessed formidable strength, quite unlike the pampered merchants raised in luxury. He looked Xu You up and down before saying, “I see extraordinary bearing in Young Seven. Within ten years, the Xu clan is bound to experience a revival. If General Yuxiu has awareness in the netherworld, he can rest with a smile.”
Lowering his gaze, Xu You replied, “Since childhood, I have been unruly, with merely mediocre talent—I fear I might tarnish Guo Gong’s judgment. But should I fortunately live to see that day, it will entirely rely on the wholehearted support of my elders’ old friends and acquaintances. Take Guo Gong for example; had it not been for the twist of fate that brought me to Mingyu Mountain, I would likely still be wandering homeless in Qiantang right now...”
Since Guo Mian had claimed to be an old acquaintance of Xu Jin and his words implied a desire to seek justice for the Xu clan, Xu You naturally seized the opportunity, instantly elevating him to the status of a trusted family friend.
Guo Mian was clearly stunned for a moment before bursting into a carefree laugh, entirely unfazed by Xu You’s petty maneuvering. “If Young Seven does not mind, you may address me as Uncle.”
Ever since Xu You intervened in the deer jerky theft case at the Binxing Tower, his ultimate goal had been to forge a connection with Guo Mian. Through untold hardships, overt threats and hidden knives, and several brushes with death, he had finally secured this hard-won meeting today. To think that just a few words had established a bond of generational friendship.
Of course, this was only because of all the groundwork laid beforehand; otherwise, had he simply sought Guo Mian out upon first arriving in Qiantang, Guo Mian would never have given him the time of day.
“Uncle!”
Guo Mian casually slipped a gold ring from his middle finger and handed it to Xu You. “I cannot let you call me Uncle in vain. This ring has been with me for many years; while not excessively precious, it can protect you from misfortune. Away from Yixing and temporarily residing in Qiantang, you will inevitably face hardships ahead. With this ring, at least malevolent spirits and demons will not dare approach you.”
The ring was a finger band. The custom of bestowing welcome gifts originated in antiquity, but Xu You knew that gold rings of this kind had already existed during the Han Dynasty. The Taiping Yulan, quoting the Book of the Later Han, recorded that Sun Cheng and nineteen others were rewarded with gold bracelets and rings for their meritorious service in establishing Emperor Shun. This demonstrated that even then, rings were regarded as tokens for rewarding meritorious officials, carrying a certain cultural symbolism much like in ancient Rome.
Guo Mian presenting this gift was, in truth, a reward for services rendered!
An uncultured merchant would lack such erudition and subtle scheming.
As the saying goes, one does not dare decline a gift bestowed by an elder, so Xu You accepted it. It felt heavy in his hand and was presumably forged from pure gold. Two strange, stylized fish were carved onto the outer surface, their lips and tails touching in opposition. The lines were crisp and vivid, executed with extraordinary craftsmanship.
Gold was the most precious currency of the era, let alone an artifact of this caliber. Its artistic value far exceeded its material price, making it a priceless collector’s item.
Guo Gou-nu, a startling flash of wild geese over snowy mud—his generosity truly lived up to his reputation!
“I accept this with a sense of unworthiness!”
Guo Mian waved a hand dismissively. “Had you not helped A-wu, let alone the Zhan family estate, even this old life of mine would have been ruined at the hands of that old scoundrel Liu. Such a little trinket is nothing; consider it merely a clever toy for your amusement!”
“A-wu?”
Guo Mian’s gaze flickered. Seeing that Xu You’s confusion did not seem feigned, he smiled and explained, “Young Seven may not know, but A-wu is Wenjun’s pet name. I knew her when she was still unwed, and I have called her by her pet name ever since. Over the years, I simply grew accustomed to it.”
“So that is how it is! I misconstrued it, assuming Guo Gong was using an affectionate moniker for the lady surnamed Song...” Xu You snapped to alertness. Guo Mian’s probing was exceedingly difficult to guard against. He must have learned from Song Shenfei that Xu You interacted closely with Zhan Wenjun, and coupled with Zhan Wenjun speaking so highly of him, it had aroused the suspicions of this Guo Gou-nu.
Unlike men’s courtesy names, a woman’s pet name was rarely known to outsiders unless they were exceptionally intimate. It was only natural for Guo Mian to test him using Zhan Wenjun’s pet name. Anyone who discovered that their daughter-in-law associated too closely with another man would fly into a rage, especially given how heavily Guo Mian had invested his hopes in Zhan Wenjun—he would never permit her to engage in an irredeemable illicit affair with Xu You.
Xu You inwardly called it sheer luck. Although he and Zhan Wenjun occasionally shared ambiguous sentiments, most of their time together was spent discussing serious matters, leaving them too exhausted to entertain other distractions. Otherwise, there was no telling whether Zhan Wenjun might have shared her pet name with him.
Song Shenfei was a singing girl of the Guo household; though favored, her status was low. Xu You’s remark served to deflect the topic and mount a subtle counter-offensive, yet it was not overly offensive. True to form, Guo Mian took no offense, laughing heartily. “Ah, Shenfei! I love the snow between her thighs the most, which is why I often call her Snowy Mud!”
During the Six Dynasties, scholars discussing romantic affairs considered it refined conversation; let alone the space between thighs, even matters from beneath the bedchamber blankets were frequently used to amuse themselves over wine. Xu You merely smiled in response. “Having heard Guo Gong’s words, I suppose I can no longer drink Snowy Mud wine in the future... What a pity, what a pity!”
“Hahaha, Young Seven, Young Seven!”
Before meeting Guo Mian, Xu You had entertained numerous thoughts and speculations. Yet the Guo Mian before him was approachable, amiable, devoid of any nouveau riche airs or pretense, his speech and demeanor possessing the effortless grace native to the great aristocratic clans. But when Xu You recalled that dazzling Golden Banner ship and the scene at Changhe Ferry where the ground was paved with silk and attended by throngs of maidservants, the stark contrast made him almost suspect he had encountered a fake Guo Mian.
The world possessed no art of cloning; Guo Mian could not possibly have two bodies. Thus, only one possibility remained: the ostentatious, overbearing persona of the vulgar upstart was merely a deliberate facade put on for outsiders. The Guo Mian before him possessed restrained bearing and a composure as steady as a mountain, his seemingly simple words pregnant with hidden meanings. In truth, even a fool could deduce that someone capable of shouldering the heavy trust of the Prince of Jiangxia, single-handedly establishing ship pavilions and spring wells throughout the Three Wu region, could never truly be an uncultured, profit-chasing merchant bumpkin.
Much like Dark Fate, who possessed a face capable of transforming into anyone, Guo Mian lacked that supernatural skill, yet he possessed the ability to present two completely different personalities to the world.
A face can only deceive the eyes, but a temperament can deceive the entire realm.
Compared to Dark Fate, Guo Mian was truly terrifying!