Chapter Twenty-Four: I Have an Idea

Leaving the county deputy’s residence, Gou Ye patted his chest, feeling distinctly uncomfortable after that conversation with the two of them. Thinking back on it, although Magistrate Qin hadn’t uttered a word and seemed easy to approach, both in the hall and at the banquet, he wore the same ever-smiling expression. It was precisely because of this that Gou Ye felt completely unable to fathom him; no matter how he observed the changes in Qin’s face or body language, he could glean nothing of the man’s intentions. Clearly, this Magistrate Qin was deeply shrewd, surpassing even Zhu Ling in that regard. It would be best, Gou Ye thought, to avoid further dealings with him if possible.

He had been gone so long that Yun Niang was surely worried. With this thought, he hastened his steps toward the Duke of Jing’s residence. As he reached the gate, he saw Yun Niang standing outside, peering anxiously into the street. The moment she spotted Gou Ye, she rushed over without touching the ground.

Her face was alight with joy as she came up to him. “Brother Gou Ye, I was so worried about you.”

“Don’t worry, Yun Niang. You see, I’m perfectly fine. Why are you waiting at the door? Didn’t the Gu family invite you inside?” Gou Ye frowned slightly.

“They did, they did. I even had lunch inside. But I decided on my own to wait for you at the entrance. I was worried about you, afraid something might have happened.” As she spoke, Yun Niang looked abashed.

Given the closeness that had grown between them these days, Gou Ye was no longer reserved. He pulled Yun Niang gently into his arms, resting his head beside her ear, and murmured, “Yun Niang, it’s so good to have you.”

Back inside, Gou Ye recounted to Yun Niang and Gu Shen what had transpired at the magistrate’s house. Yun Niang saw nothing amiss and made no comment, while Gu Shen tapped the table lightly, curled his lip, and said, “Brother Gou Ye, there’s something you don’t know. This Magistrate Qin and Lady Zhu are no ordinary people. First, Lady Zhu—Zhu Ling—is the daughter of Prince Zhu Jin. In the days when the late emperor curtailed the power of the princes, Zhu Jin was among those affected. Though his title was revoked, his family’s wealth remained untouched. After that, some members of the Zhu clan with assets relied on their property for a living, including Zhu Jin’s household. Those who had no means depended on government stipends to scrape by.”

“But I recall it’s forbidden for members of the Zhu clan to enter the capital without a summons. How is it that Zhu Jin’s family has property in the city?” Gou Ye asked.

Gu Shen took a sip of tea before continuing, “You’re right—Zhu clan members aren’t allowed into the capital without imperial summons. But there’s no rule against owning property here. Before their titles were stripped, the more enterprising among them had already secured holdings in the capital. Even if they themselves aren’t in the city, their estates continue to operate. Of course, the emperor knows about this, but out of regard for family ties, he turns a blind eye. As long as they don’t meddle in politics or consort privately with officials, they’re free to live in peace right under the emperor’s nose.”

“But Zhu Ling and Magistrate Qin are married. Doesn’t that violate the rule against private association?”

“It doesn’t. The Zhu clan is permitted to marry officials of seventh rank or below. Still, it means Magistrate Qin’s career can only go so far. As for Magistrate Qin, don’t think he’s just some minor county official. He has powerful connections at the court, thanks to the Zhu family. Despite his humble rank, the Zhu clan pulls strings for him, and through these connections, they maintain ties with court officials without inviting slander. On the other hand, those officials shelter this branch of the Zhu family in return. In plain terms, Magistrate Qin is the link between Zhu Jin’s household and certain officials at court.”

Hearing Gu Shen’s explanation, Gou Ye finally understood the depths of Magistrate Qin’s and Lady Zhu’s backgrounds. Who would have thought that even a small county would have such murky waters? The capital’s politics must be even darker and more treacherous. With such tangled relationships, offending anyone could spell disaster.

Though Magistrate Qin and Zhu Ling had powerful backgrounds, and he had turned down Zhu Ling’s request today, Gou Ye reasoned that people of their standing would hardly concern themselves with a nobody like him, so he thought little of it. After bidding farewell to Gu Shen, he left with Yun Niang.

Today was unlike any other. There was no endless blue sky; thick clouds blanketed the heavens, and the wind had swept the clutter in Tumen Village into disarray. Gou Ye curled beneath his quilt, but the cold still seeped into his bones. Soon, the sound of raindrops intensified and a torrential downpour battered the earth. His thatched hut swayed in the wind and rain, and droplets seeped through the gaps in the roof, relentlessly dripping onto his floor.

With no other choice, Gou Ye got up and hurriedly tucked his manuscripts into a chest. He had just finished when he noticed the bed was already soaked. Gou Ye, oh Gou Ye, have you always lived like this? Staring at the leaking roof, he was close to despair. Finally, he gave up, wrapped himself in the quilt, and huddled in a corner, waiting for the weather to clear.

Suddenly, Yun Niang appeared, hugging a straw mat, soaked to the skin but still grinning. “Brother Gou Ye, my mother was worried about you. She heard your house was leaking and sent me to bring you a mat.”

Gou Ye was deeply moved. He quickly sat up and wiped the rain from her forehead. Glancing at Yun Niang’s rain-soaked clothes, he realized how the clinging fabric revealed her graceful figure. In that cold hut, Gou Ye suddenly felt his blood heat. Yun Niang, noticing the look in his eyes, realized her predicament, turned away in embarrassment, and scolded him in a flustered voice.

Yun Niang sat by the stove to warm herself, while Gou Ye bustled about the hut, trying to plug the leaks. At last, he wailed, “Yun Niang, I really can’t fix it anymore. I’ve had a very important idea.”

“Oh? What idea is that, Brother Gou Ye?” Yun Niang asked softly.

“I want to build a villa here in our village—a room for you, a room for your mother. Then it’ll be much more convenient for you to visit me.” As he spoke, Gou Ye couldn’t help but start imagining his dream house.

“Villa? What’s a villa?” Yun Niang was curious about the unfamiliar term and asked him about it.

Hands on his hips, Gou Ye ignored the rain dripping onto his head, his voice full of longing. “It’s a really big house—so big that lots of people can live in it. When your Brother Gou Ye finishes building it, hmph, I’ll tell you, it’ll be even more comfortable than living in the Duke of Jing’s mansion.”

Whatever Gou Ye said, Yun Niang believed. But hearing that he wanted to live together with her and her mother, she couldn’t help but blush.

Without delay, Gou Ye opened his money chest and began counting. Aside from the four hundred taels he had just given to Cai Sheng—a major expense—his other outlays had been less than ten taels. Right now, he had nine hundred and seventy-three taels of silver in the chest. He hadn’t realized before, but now that he counted, he was startled to find himself a man of nearly a thousand taels—a minor fortune. Gou Ye grinned in satisfaction, not caring if it was enough or not. As soon as the rain stopped, he would start designing his future home.