After the Cold and Aloof Husband's Mask Falls - Chapter 23

Cui Jue looked down at Gu Wanlan, who remained fearless even as he loomed over her. He leaned in slowly. “Lady Gu, regardless of the circumstances, I am still a man.”

Gu Wanlan glanced down. Even though he spoke such “bold” words, he was still maintaining a respectful physical distance from her. She laughed internally. What a paper tiger.

Thud.

Using her core strength, Gu Wanlan lunged upward, bringing her face directly in front of his. Their noses touched; there wasn’t a sliver of space left between their torsos. “I know,” she whispered.

Feeling her soft form against him, Cui Jue’s body jolted. He released her hands and tried to scramble backward. But Gu Wanlan was faster; she threw her arms around his neck, locking him in place so he couldn’t retreat an inch.

“But you’re not just anyone. You are my future husband. What does it matter if I’m a little forward with you?”

Cui Jue’s breath hitched. Husband…

But before he could savor the title, Gu Wanlan remembered something. Her brows furrowed, and she pushed him away abruptly. “Wait! Are you here today to back out of our deal?”

“…Not at all.” The scent of the girl vanished from his arms, and Cui Jue’s hand tightened within his sleeve. He forced himself to look away, straightening his robes. “I came to the palace gates to discuss moving the wedding date forward. I received word from my family… a relative is near their end. If we are to wed, it must be within the next half-month.”

“Half a month?” Gu Wanlan was surprised.

Usually, even for a prepared family, the gap between engagement and wedding was at least two months. For them, starting from scratch, they had originally planned for three months. To wed in two weeks meant stripping the ceremony of many traditional rites. This would invite gossip—especially since he was joining her household as a matrilocal groom.

She looked at him. “I don’t have a problem with it, but we won’t have time to prepare much. You might be slighted…”

Cui Jue smiled. “It matters not.”

After parting with Cui Jue at the Protector Duke’s manor, Gu Wanlan realized something as she stepped inside. Cui Jue is Cui Qiong’s illegitimate elder brother. Why haven’t I heard anything about someone in the Cui family dying? Is it the old Master Cui who has been bedridden?

In the carriage, Cui Jue didn’t lower the curtain until her silhouette vanished. He inhaled softly; the fresh scent of the girl had faded with her departure. Only a porcelain cup sat on the table, still wet from the tea she had finished.

He stared at the cup for a moment, then reached out and cradled it in his palms. His thumb traced the water marks, his eyes dark. “Soon…”

In the flower hall, the Gu Clan Leader had finished three pots of tea and two plates of pastries waiting for Gu Wanlan. He glanced at the Old Matron, who was silently flicking her prayer beads. “Sister-in-law, have you made up your mind?”

The Clan Leader had no great career of his own and relied on the Protector Duke’s branch. He had received many gifts from the Matron over the years and hoped the title would stay with someone he knew.

“The children have their own fortunes,” the Matron said dismissively. “Let them be.”

“That may be, but Gu Wanlan is being too disrespectful to her elders!” The Clan Leader grumbled, gulping down more tea. This was imperial-grade Dragon Well tea; once the manor changed hands, he’d never taste it again.

“Wanlan!” Qi Rong saw a figure rounding the screen and hurried forward. “I heard you were summoned to the palace. Is everything alright?”

Gu Wanlan patted her hand. “Don’t worry, Madam. His Majesty was merely checking on me.”

She greeted the elders in order. “Apologies to my uncles and aunts. I was summoned unexpectedly and kept you waiting.”

The room consisted of the Clan Leader’s party, the Matron, Qi Rong, Gu Qingyun, and the Second Madam. The Second branch no longer had the stomach to fight Gu Wanlan. They realized they were no match for her; better to treat her like a deity than an enemy.

“If the Emperor summoned you, there is no fault,” the Clan Leader said, though he looked uncomfortable. There was no tradition of an elder apologizing to a junior.

Qi Rong sighed with relief. “The Duke hasn’t woken yet today, but he told me that you are to make the decisions.”

Gu Wanlan nodded. Looking at Qi Rong’s face—which shared some of her own features—she saw the woman’s eyes well up. Qi Rong had spent years enduring the Matron’s bullying to protect her sick husband and daughter. Now, her own daughter had returned and achieved what she never could.

The Matron stood up, leaning on her cane. “Now that everyone is here, let us begin.”

With the knowledge that Gu Wanlan had the Emperor’s favor, the Clan Leader behaved. The property was divided quickly without much fuss. Gu Wanlan, a soldier at heart, knew not to push a cornered enemy too far. She wanted the estate split, but she didn’t want to trigger a public outcry about her “unfilial” behavior.

Handing the box of deeds to Qi Rong, she turned to the Matron with a smile. “Grandmother is getting on in years and needs family close by. I think it’s best if you don’t move out. We shall divide the manor itself and open a small side door between the sections. That way, we can look after each other.”

The room fell silent. No one expected Gu Wanlan to speak so… politely. Even Qi Rong was shocked.

Gu Wanlan’s temple throbbed. What, I can’t be graceful for once?! “Fine. If you don’t want to, forget I said it.”

“We want it! Of course we do!” The Second Madam blurted out, grabbing Gu Wanlan’s arm.

The Old Matron pondered for a long time. “You said you wanted to take a matrilocal husband. Do you have a candidate?”

Gu Wanlan raised an eyebrow. “Is Grandmother offering a recommendation?”

The Matron didn’t answer. She walked toward the door, cold-laughing. “You’ve always been capable and full of ideas. If you want a live-in groom, I won’t stop you. But few ‘good men’ are willing to be such a thing. If you end up being swindled out of your fortune by some charlatan—I won’t forgive you even in death.”

After the clan elders left, Qi Rong pulled Gu Wanlan into a private room. “Who is he?”

Gu Lehuan hadn’t been at the meeting but had heard the news. An image immediately popped into her mind. “Is it that Cui Jue from the other day?!”

“Cui Jue? I haven’t heard of such a man in Xijing. Which family is he from?” Qi Rong asked.

“He’s not a noble. He’s a painter who lives on Autumn Mountain,” Lehuan explained.

Gu Wanlan didn’t hide it. “Yes, it’s him. We’ve already discussed it, and he agreed.”

Qi Rong’s face stiffened. She couldn’t lecture her daughter on “propriety,” knowing Gu Wanlan had her own reasons. But as a mother, she was worried. “Is he… a good person?”

“He’s alright?” Gu Wanlan smiled. “Don’t worry, Madam. If anyone’s doing the bullying, it’ll be me.”

Qi Rong knew her daughter was a martial expert, but martial arts didn’t win in matters of the heart. Her daughter clearly hadn’t “awakened” to romance yet. “Wanlan, I must meet him first.”

Gu Wanlan prepared to write a letter to Cui Jue, inviting him over under the guise of painting. But as she stepped onto the path to her courtyard, Gu Lehuan blocked her way.

Lehuan had wanted to ask if the smudged rouge on the day of the banquet was his doing, but she held back. She knew her sister wouldn’t marry someone just because of a lost “reputation.” If she chose him, there was a reason beyond love.

But did her sister realize the truth?

“Sister,” Lehuan said seriously. “I wanted to say this since the banquet. That man, Cui Jue… I fear he has had ambitions toward you for a very long time.”