Chapter 3: The Hard-to-Deceive Old Lady

Spring weather is often unpredictable—sunny in the morning, only to be followed by thunderstorms and heavy rain at noon. Just like the droplets from the recent rain still clinging to the leaves, shafts of sunlight filtered through the gaps between them cast dappled shadows on the ground, revealing a somewhat charming spring scene.

It was his first time going outside, and Zhang Yue couldn’t resist his mother, Lady Sun, so he allowed her to hold his hand. Leaving their small courtyard and passing through a side gate in the southwest, they came to a row of buildings where the servants lived. Walking straight ahead along the path and turning twice, they saw a small side gate at the end of the western wall. After entering and passing through a corridor and a moon gate, then bypassing a marble screen, they reached the five main rooms where Lady Gu lived.

At the entrance to the main rooms, a maid dressed in dark green armor, about fourteen or fifteen years old, was sternly scolding two younger maids. She stopped speaking when she noticed someone approaching. She ordered someone to go announce their arrival while she hurried forward to greet them. Only after standing up did she smile and say, “I heard that the Third Young Master has recovered greatly. The Old Lady has been very worried and was just talking about it when Third Madam actually brought him here.”

Lady Sun replied with a faint smile, “Since the Old Lady is concerned, I naturally had to bring Yue here to pay my respects.”

“Third Madam is right. The Old Lady will surely be very happy to see the Third Young Master.”

Zhang Yue thought the maid responded appropriately. She even went to lift the curtain at the door, giving him a chance to take a closer look. He vaguely remembered her as Lingxi, the top maid in his grandmother’s household. Inside, he saw his grandmother, Lady Gu, sitting in the central armchair, with several maids standing nearby, but no one else in sight. After his mother bowed, he, though reluctant, stepped forward and respectfully kowtowed, addressing her as “Grandmother.”

Lady Gu wore a calm smile. “Seeing you like this, I know you’ve really recovered. Come here so I can take a good look at you!”

Zhang Yue quickly stood up and stepped forward. As Lady Gu examined his face and body, he tried to meet her gaze with composure.

His parents didn’t hold much influence in this household, so as a descendant, he had to be cautious at all times. Being reborn into a wealthy family meant he wouldn’t starve or freeze to death, but it didn’t guarantee safety from harm. Acting like a good grandson was the first step. Although this white-haired grandmother didn’t seem easy to deceive, as the saying goes, with enough effort, even an iron rod can be ground into a needle.

However, after looking at him for a while, Lady Gu suddenly asked with a stern face, “You’ve always been weak. It’s windy outside today—how could you come out wearing so few clothes? What if you catch a cold? Wouldn’t that cause another illness?” Though she was looking at Zhang Yue, everyone in the room knew her words were meant for Lady Sun. Yet, seeing his mother about to speak, Zhang Yue quickly interjected, “Grandmother, I insisted on coming myself. I heard from Qiuhen that you went out of your way to hire a famous doctor for my injury. So once I’m recovered, I must come to pay my respects first to put your mind at ease. Even though it’s cold and windy outside, I can’t forget my filial duties just because of the weather.”

At first, Lady Gu listened indifferently, but upon hearing the last sentence, she nodded slightly, her expression softening into a faint smile. “So you’ve truly grown up and understood filial piety. If that’s the case, do you realize your mistakes from before?”

Seeing Lady Gu looking at him with a half-smile, Zhang Yue quickly admitted honestly, “Grandmother, I was wrong for ignoring the teachings of my elders and being naughty. I know I was wrong. I heard from my mother that my elder brothers were also punished for me. Please tell Second Auntie that it’s all my fault and nothing to do with them.”

“It’s good that you can admit your mistakes. Having suffered this time, you’ve learned something after all!” Lady Gu’s remaining displeasure gradually dissipated. She happened to see a string of prayer beads in her hand, thought for a moment, then took it off and handed it to Zhang Yue. “You remember them both and even me, your grandmother, as soon as you recover—this shows you truly care. These prayer beads were blessed by a high monk from Daxiangguo Temple. I’ve worn them for decades. Since you’ve always been weak and faced many hardships, wearing them might bring some protection from Buddha.”

“Thank you, Grandmother!”

Zhang Yue immediately put the prayer beads around his wrist, stepped back, and knelt down to kowtow. Just as his head touched the ground, Lady Gu pulled him up firmly. She then asked a few more questions about his illness, and he spun another story about how his mother had worked hard and how the servants had been devoted—in short, everyone was good. As a result, Lady Sun and the maids all smiled.

After talking on and on for quite a while, Lady Gu’s smile grew deeper and deeper, until she finally pulled Zhang Yue closer. Of course, she understood that Sun’s daughter-in-law had never been good at flattering or acting cute—teaching her one thing might be possible, but teaching her so many things was absolutely impossible. It could only be the little grandson’s own words. Thinking of how he had always been sickly, and even when they met he was merely timid, dull, and foolish, yet now he suddenly knew how to please others—this undoubtedly meant that the fall had made him wise.

Recalling how Zhang Yue had fallen from a tall tree with only a few bruises but remained unconscious for a long time, she, who had always believed in Buddhism, couldn’t help but have a vague thought: Could it be that surviving a great disaster brings good fortune?

As Lady Gu was considering whether to invite the famous Master Yun Guang from Daxiangguo Temple to come and take a look, laughter came from outside: “Oh dear, I heard Brother Yue has come to see the old lady. I must be late!”

The door curtain was lifted high, and soon a woman stepped inside. A golden thread lantern hairpin was slanted on her hair, a pearl band encircled her forehead, and she wore a honey-colored long-sleeved round-necked shirt with a gold-embroidered lotus skirt—she seemed even a few years younger than Sun.

As soon as she entered, she bowed to Lady Gu first, then gave Sun a slight nod, her gaze immediately falling on Zhang Yue. Seeing him in Lady Gu’s arms, she was slightly surprised but quickly regained her composure.

“After recovering from his injuries, Brother Yue looks much better. It’s all thanks to the old lady’s lifelong practice of fasting and praying, doing good deeds—that’s how he could recover so quickly!”

“That’s also because Brother Yue is lucky and has a strong fate!” Lady Gu was already happy, and hearing Dongfang’s words made her smile even more. She gently patted Zhang Yue’s shoulder and said, “Go and greet your second aunt.”

Just after Dongfang entered and said a few simple words, Zhang Yue realized she was a shrewd and charming person like Sister Feng, so he didn’t dare underestimate her. He quickly stepped forward to bow and called her second aunt.

Dongfang took Zhang Yue’s hand and examined it carefully for a moment before smiling and saying, “Since Brother Yue has recovered well, Chaoer and Qier now have company. Tomorrow they can study and practice martial arts together. In my opinion, Brother Yue’s body is too weak—he should train hard to strengthen his muscles and bones, so that in the future the old lady and your younger siblings won’t have to worry constantly.”

These words hit the mark for Zhang Yue, but unexpectedly, Sun, who had remained silent until then, immediately stepped forward to object without hesitation.

“Grandmother, Yue’s health has only just recovered; how can he bear such exertion? If it had been earlier, it might have been fine, but this time he’s been frightened and his body is weak—he certainly can’t handle the strain of studying, let alone practicing martial arts!”
Noticing that his mother hadn’t noticed the change in Gu Shi’s expression from sunny to cloudy to gloomy, nor had she seen Dong Fang Shi’s smug look, Zhang Yue quickly came up with an idea. In a few steps, he stepped back to Gu Shi’s side and knelt down on one knee.
“Grandmother, although Mother’s concerns are valid, Second Aunt is also acting for my own good. I think that if I rest for another half month, my injury should be fully healed. I don’t want to stay confined to the house all the time. I want to go to school and learn martial arts. Please grant my wish, Grandmother.”
Gu Shi was already somewhat annoyed, but after hearing Zhang Yue’s words, she hesitated again. After pondering for a while, she made up her mind: “Let’s do as Yuege says. Go to school in half a month. If your body can handle it, then practice martial arts with Chaoge. That’s settled. Our Zhang family has a tradition of martial prowess—as long as we’re still alive, we shouldn’t stay weak and confined at home!”
Hearing this, everyone in the room agreed, though each had their own thoughts. Regardless of what others thought, Zhang Yue was very happy. Anyway, he had taken a fairly smooth first step; everything would depend on what came next.