Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Wu Zhiyu spent almost all his time either in his study or in Concubine Bai’s courtyard.

He only came to the main quarters to deal with me on the first and fifteenth of every month.

I was always polite to him, greeting him with a smile.

When he came to see me, I didn’t refuse him or complain.

When he didn’t come, I wasn’t sad either.

I simply handled my own affairs every day.

Even when the Emperor bestowed gifts of brocade and trinkets, Concubine Bai was always the first to pick through them. Only the leftovers were sent to me, and I raised no objection.

Seeing how quiet and well-behaved I was, Wu Zhiyu found nothing to criticize.

And so, a year passed in a flash, and things were indeed peaceful.

Whenever I had free time, I read books, painted, embroidered, or arranged flowers.

Sometimes, I even played cards with the maids.

For a while, life was quite leisurely.

Before I married into the family, many of Wu Zhiyu’s friends had been pessimistic about me.

Many of them believed that Wu Zhiyu’s excessive favor toward Concubine Bai would be a source of domestic chaos, and that any woman in my position would surely not let things rest.

But they hadn’t expected that I could endure such a slight.

Wu Zhiyu’s best friend, Academician Song, was particularly impressed. He frequently sought advice from him in public:

“Brother Zhiyu, your inner chambers are so stable and your wife and concubine are so harmonious. What methods did you use? Quickly, teach us. I only went out for a drink once, and my wife nearly scratched my face off…”

Every time, Wu Zhiyu would smile without a word, his eyes full of pride.

The Dowager Marchioness also praised me highly in front of outsiders, saying I was virtuous and magnanimous.

My good reputation spread, and several of my sisters were subsequently betrothed into good families.

My eldest uncle had weathered his crisis and became even more cautious and steady in official circles.

Seeing the Gao Family flourishing, I felt that my sacrifice was worth it.

On the ninth day of the seventh month of the following year, it was Wu Zhiyu’s paternal aunt’s birthday.

His aunt had married into the Duke of Yingguo’s Mansion, and the birthday banquet was hosted by her eldest daughter-in-law, Madam He.

Madam He was on very good terms with Concubine Bai.

I heard that she had initially looked down on Concubine Bai’s background, but when her maternal family encountered difficulties, it was Bai Xiniang who begged Wu Zhiyu for help to resolve the issue.

Madam He was deeply grateful.

Wu Zhiyu had strict principles in both his personal life and his official duties, but he would never refuse anything Concubine Bai said or asked for.

As a result, out of respect for the power of the Marquis Jing’an, everyone was warm and polite to Concubine Bai.

I understood in my heart that this was Wu Zhiyu’s doing.

Whomever he chose to elevate, no one would dare to neglect.

So, after arriving at the Duke of Yingguo’s Mansion, Madam He only exchanged a few polite words with me before brushing me aside to warmly take Bai Xiniang’s hand and exchange pleasantries.

“The Concubine is becoming more and more beautiful. It truly makes even a woman like me envious.”

Bai Xiniang covered her mouth and laughed. “Is your mouth coated in honey?”

“Oh my, this dress is made of Shu brocade, isn’t it…”

The two of them talked animatedly, completely ignoring my presence.

Seeing this, the other female guests swarmed forward, surrounding Concubine Bai.

They were either praising her jewelry or her clothes.

Seeing me being ignored, Ruomei was so angry that the veins on her forehead were throbbing.

I shook my head at her and found a corner to sit by myself.

It was just being given the cold shoulder; I had grown used to it over the past year.

But I had only been sitting for a short while when I heard two young wives whispering in the next compartment:

“Was that Lady Gao, the newlywed wife of Marquis Jing’an? She’s actually not ugly?”

“What’s the use of beauty? Didn’t you see? She can’t even hold a candle to that Concubine Bai. If you ask me, she’s truly useless, being suppressed so thoroughly by a concubine. If it were me, I’d risk my life to make a scene and make sure everyone lost face!”

“Sigh, making a scene is useless. Everyone knows Marquis Jing’an only has that Concubine Bai in his heart. When the Dowager Marchioness intended to recruit my younger sister into the family, my parents were so scared they refused on the spot.”

“Indeed, what family would be willing to let their daughter jump into a fire pit? This Lady Gao must be a pitiful soul…”

Listening to them, I felt a bitterness in my heart, but I was helpless.

Circumstances were stronger than people.

I had already carved out the maximum space for myself to survive.

As for the rest, I would pretend not to see or hear it.

But the words of outsiders, after all, cut like knives into the heart.

Thinking of this, I sighed, wanting to find another place to sit to avoid being discovered by those two, which would be embarrassing.

But just as I turned around, I saw Wu Zhiyu supporting the Dowager Marchioness, standing behind me. Both of their expressions were rather unsightly.

I lowered my head, changed my expression, and offered a smile to the Dowager Marchioness.

“Mother, have you finished speaking with Aunt? Shall I help you to your seat?”

The Dowager Marchioness closed her eyes for a moment before saying, “Good child, let’s go.”

Before leaving, she gave Wu Zhiyu a deep, meaningful look.

Although Wu Zhiyu said nothing, his expression was quite uneasy.