The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1622 - 1617: Accepting One’s Fate

After finishing the meal, everyone chatted and laughed for a while before taking their leave.

Wang Yongzhu knew that the Gu Family would be busy today. After the guests left, the Gu Family still had to tidy up and prepare for the next morning’s formal meeting with the family and the tea ceremony.

The bride also needed to be led by Gu Changque to kowtow outside the Gu Family Ancestral Hall, paying respects to the ancestors.

It wouldn’t be until the end of the year when the ancestral hall is reopened that the bride would be recorded in the family genealogy.

The busiest one would probably be Lady An, and even Lady of the Gu Family wouldn’t have it easy.

Wang Yongzhu wanted to help, but it wasn’t her place to intervene.

After all, in the eyes of outsiders, she was merely a cousin who married out. At the Gu Family wedding, there were two sisters-in-law above, and nieces-in-law below. Even if things were tight, there were still aunts married out from the Gu Family. How would it be her place as a cousin to lend a hand?

Otherwise, wouldn’t people laugh at the Gu Family for lacking members?

Not to mention, today was clearly the day of her third uncle’s joyous occasion, yet there were some with shallow opinions who heard that Wang Yongzhu was favored by the Empress. Having never had the chance to meet her before, now that they saw her today, they eagerly surrounded her, ignoring the occasion.

Unaware people who saw might have thought it was her special day.

So, seeing people leaving, she decided to get up and return home, planning to come back early the next morning.

Old Granny Zhang understood this reasoning, seeing her daughter couldn’t even have a peaceful meal.

A bunch of people without the sense of propriety, swarmed to her daughter like bees to honey, buzzing annoyingly.

After all, today was Laosan’s special day. Even if her daughter felt uneasy, she had to keep smiling. She felt suffocated watching it from the side.

Leaving early was fine; the next morning would just be Gu Family members, without as much hassle.

So she didn’t hold her back and simply advised her to come early the next day.

Wang Yongzhu nodded, saying goodbye to the Old Lady Gu and the Eldest Lady before leaving.

Just as she reached the main gate, she saw Little Luzi and a few Little Chamberlains about to board a carriage, with one foot already on it.

Seeing Wang Yongzhu, Little Luzi immediately withdrew his leg, smiled broadly, and trotted over, respectfully greeting Wang Yongzhu, "Little Luzi greets the Wife of the Heir-Apparent! Is the Wife of the Heir-Apparent well?"

Wang Yongzhu, smiling warmly, nodded for Little Luzi to rise, "Why are you out today?"

Little Luzi, shedding his usual reserve seen in front of Ladies of the Outer Court, replied warmly, "Today’s your uncle’s joyous day; it’s a grand occasion. When the Empress mentioned this task, those in the palace eager to bask in the joy nearly scrambled for it. I was only able to secure it by virtue of youth!"

Amused by his words, Wang Yongzhu couldn’t help but laugh out loud, "My third uncle is merely in a ceremonial position. It’s for his dignity that I boldly pleaded with the Empress. Thankfully, the Empress favored me and granted this honor! I should have gone to the palace to thank the Empress, but you know, it wasn’t convenient for me to enter the palace recently, fearing I might offend the Empress and Little Prince. Please help convey my thanks to the Empress, and I’ll submit a card to visit her and the Little Prince soon!"

Upon hearing this, Little Luzi’s face brightened with joy, "Wonderful! The Empress often speaks fondly of the Wife of the Heir-Apparent! Our Little Prince has grown better, and the Wife of the Heir-Apparent hasn’t seen him yet! I shall report this to the Empress immediately—"

...

Onlookers couldn’t help but click their tongues, envious.

Having heard Wang Yongzhu’s words, Little Luzi was genuinely pleased.

Our Little Prince is doing well, with the palace’s Imperial Physician checking his pulse every ten days. Though they always claim the Little Prince is in good health, the Empress doesn’t trust them.

The only person she trusts is the Wife of the Heir-Apparent, but previously her period of mourning prevented her from entering the palace.

Now with the go-ahead, reporting this back to the Empress would surely bring her joy, and maybe even earn him a reward.

Being especially diligent, he personally attended to Wang Yongzhu as she boarded her carriage, watching her depart before he stowed away his cheerful demeanor, reverting to his usual slightly aloof and reserved expression, then boarded the carriage to return to the palace and report.

Returning to the Duke Weiguo Residence, naturally, Wang Yongzhu first went to see Lady Gao.

Lady Gao now seemed disillusioned, with Song Hong claiming her excessive mourning had weakened her health, therefore she should rest well and not let mundane matters trouble her.

But she’s fully aware that this is Song Hong’s attempt to isolate her, keeping her confined in the Duke Weiguo Residence, essentially under house arrest.

Previously, with County Monarch Rongyi around, should she be unwell, her family would visit, and there was no preventing her from seeing others.

Now with County Monarch Rongyi gone, the Gao Family’s current state leaves no one to care about Lady Gao.

Even if the Empress Dowager occasionally remembers her, it’s just sending a Palace Attendant with gifts.

According to typical households, when the mistress is out of favor, she claims illness; with the passage of time, she might die without causing any ripple, with at most outsiders expressing brief sentiment.

Keeping Lady Gao alive now is merely because her death would necessitate the children mourning, which would last at least three years.

Song Chongjin would have to observe mourning at home, and the hard-won status might be handed over.

Moreover, in three years, the children would have grown; delaying their marriages.

Therefore, it’s said internally and externally that Lady Gao is unwell, with the Imperial Physician called in frequently to diagnose her.

Outsiders seeing this commend Song Hong’s profound affection.

Only within the mansion, with Song Hong, Lady Gao, Wang Yongzhu, and perhaps the close incomer Song Wu knowing the truth.

However, Lady Gao is decisive, despite Wang Yongzhu’s refusal to provide any poison concoction, tormenting Sixth Master Gao was enough to vent her frustration.

Upon returning to the residence, when Song Hong spoke, she immediately handed over the household tokens and accounts to Wang Yongzhu without any dispute.

In Song Hong’s eyes, it seemed she had resigned to her fate.

Due to Lady Gao’s cooperation, Song Hong was willing to give her superficial respect and decorum.

Visiting the main house every few days, while everyone remained oblivious to the reality, these once harmonious spouses now cast cold glances at each other.

Sitting in the same room without exchanging glances or words.

With Song Hong’s charades, coupled with Wang Yongzhu not harboring any intent to suppress Lady Gao, the conditions at Gao Residence remained unchanged.

Apart from limiting ingress and egress, nothing else changed.

Entering the main house, Wang Yongzhu found Lady Gao admiring flowers in the courtyard.

Now, she truly seemed to be wasting away from grief, her thin frame hollowed out by her usual attire, gaunt figure with bones poking through. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Those unaware, seeing Lady Gao’s state, might think she was terminally ill with little time left.

But Lady Gao knows she can’t even seek death now.