Bai Suihe resigned to her fate, putting on her clothes meticulously. These cumbersome ancient attires would be impossible to manage without the help of several maids.
However, she diligently memorized every step. Having arrived here, she must adapt slowly. Soon, the confiscation of assets would occur, and such good days would be over.
The jewelry was all in sets. Without her needing to speak, Dongmei had already arranged everything neatly.
After securing the final hairpin, she left the room with two senior maids.
Outside, the young maids and nannies greeted her as she passed, their attitudes exceptionally respectful.
This was another manifestation of the strict rules of the old lady's family—a surface-level display of duty without any overstepping by the servants.
While Bai Suihe walked, her mind was racing. This time, if the old lady dared to trouble her, or if she had to stand in adherence to the rules again, fainting would not be out of the question.
The Gu Mansion was a five-courtyard compound, with their third house and the second house in the fourth courtyard. Just as she reached the corner, she encountered An Tong's sister-in-law, Xu Yulan.
Xu Yulan was the paternal niece of the old lady Xu Huizhen, and even the eldest sister-in-law had to defer to her.
Upon seeing Bai Suihe, she directly walked past her, head held high, without acknowledging this younger sister-in-law.
Bai Suihe smirked, dismissing it as nothing—the existence of cannon fodder, except she had lived a bit longer.
Arriving at the main courtyard, here the maids and matrons moved in and out in an orderly manner, bowing to greet as they passed.
Xu Yulan, who arrived first, had a matron lift the curtain. Before entering, Xu Yulan glanced back smugly at Bai Suihe.
Expecting another extended wait outside, she was surprised when she reached the entrance and heard the matron by the old lady say, "Third Young Madam, the old lady invites you to enter directly."
Previously, upon arriving, Bai Suihe had to wait as the other servantry went in to announce her arrival, leaving her standing out there until Xu Huizhen's mood determined her waiting time.
There were exceptions, of course. During the initial three months of pregnancy, she wasn't made to adhere to the rules, but was required to visit the main room morning and evening, saying it was the conduct of a daughter-in-law.
But once these three months were over, those damned rules were reinstated, under the guise of concern for her health, claiming pregnant women should stand more for smoother childbirth.
The husband's original character wasn't bad, offering some backing within the mansion, sometimes mediating with the old lady to allow her some respite.
However, with many petty affairs in the mansion, he couldn't always be around, leaving Bai Suihe to endure most on her own.
As her body grew heavier, she still had to wait till her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and herself had filled their bellies before she could eat a bite; pregnant bodies suffered greatly without regular sustenance, and only her naturally strong constitution allowed her to faint at five months.
The main courtyard's decor was rather drab, leaning towards darker tones. Whether this was the old lady or Vice Minister Gu's taste, the whole room felt oppressive in its gray-black theme.
Sitting on the couch, the mother-daughter duo bore an uncanny resemblance, both having round faces—a feature deemed auspicious in current times.
But the old lady's harsh gaze added a layer of harshness to her appearance.
"Mother, I want to visit my family today. Do you have anything you'd like me to take back?" Xu Yulan inquired intimately beside the old lady.
"Is there something happening with your father?" Upon hearing about the home visit, the old lady's expression grew stern, "Didn't you visit just a few days ago?"
"It's just that yesterday, Kai Chen brought back some hunted game. We've sent some to the main kitchen, so I thought I'd bring a bit back..."
"Oh, that's the case. Then make the trip. Coincidentally, a few days ago, your eldest cousin sent over some bird's nests, take some back as well."
Against Bai Suihe's entrance, neither paid any mind, engaged in their conversation.
Bai Suihe ignored their chat, merely saluting before finding a spot to sit.
She wouldn't foolishly mimic her predecessor, standing there all day like a stump.
"Ms. Bai," without opening her mouth, Bai Suihe's action triggered Xu Huizhen's taboo, "where are your manners?"
"In response to the old lady," Bai Suihe held onto her belly without rising, "this daughter-in-law is feeling unwell and the doctor has said my fatigue has caused fainting. Such incidents could negatively affect the fetus.
I'm taking precautions for the sake of the family's descendants, handling this carefully."
Xu Huizhen squinted at Bai Suihe; previously, her third daughter-in-law would never retort this way, could the fetal issue be that dangerous?
Moreover, the wording was all traps; even if she wanted to assert authority over her daughter-in-law, her reputation demanded caution.
The mansion's management was strict, but some whispers inevitably escaped. Xu Huizhen was aware of why Bai Suihe fainted, her pale face yesterday sweating profusely like no act could portray.
Oh well, although her third son rarely pleased her, he was still a Gu Mansion heir. No need for trivial conflicts that might affect his meticulous handling of household affairs.
With the head's indulgence over the third son, news might have reached him yesterday, only delayed due to court duties, absent from resolving disputes at home.
"Since that's the case, rest well in your courtyard for a few days, don't wander around unnecessarily." Xu Huizhen, disliking the sight of this daughter-in-law, opted to spare herself the aggravation of dealing with her anymore.
She had secrets to discuss with her niece.
"Thank you, old lady," Bai Suihe hadn't expected today to wrap up smoothly, assuming it would involve tit-for-tat exchanges before leaving, "then this daughter-in-law will take her leave."
Upon exiting the main courtyard, the eldest sister-in-law Liu Yun finally arrived, trailed by a young girl of fourteen or fifteen—a face of beauty wearing a striking red dress, luxury in her attire—this was none other than the novel's heroine, Gu Antong.
Unexpectedly encountering the heroine on her first day, aware this girl didn't frequent the main courtyard's greetings unless there was an agenda.
Seeing Bai Suihe, they waited for her and Liu Yun exchanged courtesies before Gu Antong begrudgingly greeted, "Greetings, Third Aunt."
"Sister-in-law, are you leaving? Have you seen the old lady?"
This remark was somewhat malicious, but her strategy failed today.
"Sister-in-law jokes, certainly I've seen the old lady. She empathetically excused me from morning and evening duties, letting me return and focus on the pregnancy."
"Oh, our mother is kind-hearted," Liu Yun, noticing Nanny Zhou at the doorway, covered her mouth in laughter assuringly, "Since the mother-in-law is thoughtful, rest well, yesterday's appearance indeed frightened everyone."
"That's my fault," Bai Suihe hadn't quite adjusted to the pregnant identity, feeling her strength waning, which reflected outwardly, "won't disturb sister-in-law and old lady's greetings. I'll leave first."
Seeing her complexion pale, Liu Yun quickly pulled Gu Antong aside, "Allow third sister-in-law to return quickly."