Chapter 111: Relocating the Household
Jinchao had Caifu bring over a cup of pine nut tea.
Gu Dezhao took a silent sip before speaking: "Chaojie, regarding the matter with Qingxu Taoist Priest... I was in the wrong..."
Jinchao wasn't sure how to respond. Over the past few months, the Gu family had endured too many upheavals, and her father was struggling to cope. Seeking solace in religion, he had unfortunately placed his trust in a charlatan like Qingxu. Now, without that anchor, he seemed lost.
Seeing Jinchao remain silent, Gu Dezhao smiled faintly. "I know you didn’t interfere with Qingxu’s affairs out of consideration for me. But you needn’t worry—your father may not be the most capable, but at nearly forty, after weathering the ups and downs of officialdom for so many years, there’s little I can’t endure..."
He sighed. "It’s just... I feel guilty, that’s all."
Jinchao thought for a moment before asking, "Did you give the Taoist Priest the four thousand taels?"
Gu Dezhao replied, "I was cautious—only handed over a thousand upfront... What I really wanted to say is that you, still unmarried, have been managing household affairs on top of everything else, and here I am adding to your burdens. I’ve been thoughtless. Without a proper mistress, it’s unseemly for a young woman to handle such matters openly... Your marriage prospects are already uncertain, and if I keep dragging you down, what will become of you?"
Jinchao didn’t see the family’s troubles as a burden. But if her father was beginning to reflect on himself, that was a good sign.
She smiled and asked, "So what do you plan to do, Father?" Taking charge of the Gu household had been a necessity—after all, none of the three concubines were up to the task.
...Could it be that he was considering remarrying?
After a pause, Gu Dezhao said, "Chaojie, it’s been twenty years since I separated from the main Gu family. Over the years, they’ve helped us greatly—even when your mother passed, they sent people to assist... Now, I’m thinking of returning to the ancestral home. Your grandmother could oversee things, or perhaps your second or fifth aunt could step in. That way, you wouldn’t have to shoulder everything alone."
This was his plan? Gu Jinzhao was startled. Compared to her father remarrying, returning to the main family was far less appealing. For one, none of Gu Dezhao’s children had been raised under Madam Feng’s care—going back would inevitably leave them at a disadvantage compared to the other branches.
Moreover, once they returned, Madam Feng would undoubtedly meddle in their affairs. Jinchao’s own plans would be severely restricted.
And relocating was no small matter!
She studied her father’s expression—his resolve was clear. He must have been contemplating this for a long time, and dissuading him wouldn’t be easy. Jinchao said carefully, "Father, would Grandmother truly welcome us back? Besides, moving households is a significant undertaking, especially during the mourning period. And Jinrong is still attending the Yu family school—this hardly seems like the right time."
Gu Dezhao had already considered these points. "You needn’t worry about that. When we visited the main family before the New Year, your grandmother discussed this with me. ‘Two Gu’s written as one’—we’re family, and old grievances shouldn’t linger... Your grandmother and second aunt live in the eastern compound, while the western compound has several courtyards sitting empty. There’s more than enough space for us. As for Jinrong’s studies, he can remain in Shi’an. We won’t be selling this residence anyway..."Gu Dezhao hesitated for a moment before speaking to her: "Father didn't want to tell you these things originally, but since you've become so sensible now, there's no harm in sharing... The court is currently in turmoil, with His Majesty bedridden and Lord Zhang controlling state affairs. Do you know about my mentor, Lord Lin Xianzong?"
Jinchao nodded.
Gu Dezhao sighed and continued: "Grand Secretary of the Dongge Hall Lord Fan was imprisoned due to the Tax Silver Case. Lord Lin was implicated and demoted, now serving as Shaanxi Provincial Administration Advisor. Everyone connected with Lord Lin is walking on eggshells, and coincidentally, I've become involved with the murder of the eldest son of the Prince of Yanping..."
Gu Jinzhao immediately understood her father's meaning. With his mentor's downfall and the Ji family unable to assist him politically, he urgently needed to rely on another power to save his official position. The ancestral Gu family was undoubtedly the best choice. As long as they returned to the Gu family, they would surely receive protection.
Yet she felt surprised. In her previous life, Lin Xianzong had been ostensibly promoted while actually being demoted in influence, becoming Governor of Zhejiang with a second-rank title but reduced power. This time it was an outright demotion! Shaanxi Provincial Administration Advisor was only a third-rank position!
What had changed in this lifetime? Jinchao thought of the Tax Silver Case her father mentioned and asked: "Father mentioned the Tax Silver Case... what exactly happened with it?"
But Gu Dezhao didn't want his daughter dwelling on such matters. "Chaojie, you must understand Father's good intentions. I'm doing this for your benefit. If I'm implicated too, our family will be in grave danger."
Feeling he'd said too much about court affairs to his daughter, he concluded, "Rest well. You can discuss the relocation with your brother and second sister. If everyone agrees, we'll move to Daxing."
After some thought, Jinchao realized if her father wouldn't share more about court matters, she'd need to find other ways to investigate. She instructed Mama Tong to summon Luo Yongping.
Luo Yongping had been busy with shop transfers these days, barely having time to rest. Rushing over, he smiled wryly upon hearing Jinchao's request: "...I can inquire about business or noble families for you, Eldest Miss, but this matter is beyond me—I might ruin your plans! Perhaps summon Cao Ziheng instead? He previously worked as an advisor and could assist you better."
Jinchao remembered Cao Ziheng—he'd helped select a pine-and-cypress painting for her father's birthday, leaving a favorable impression.
When Cao Ziheng arrived, he wore his usual blue Daoist robe, with spotless black cloth shoes.
Jinchao invited him to sit in the garden pavilion, but Cao Ziheng, mindful of propriety, remained standing with clasped hands.
Unfazed, Jinchao smiled and asked: "I heard you once worked as an advisor, Master Cao. May I ask which official's household in Yanjing you served?"
Cao Ziheng answered frankly: "Shopkeeper Luo flatters me. This old man merely scraped by for a few years at the Cao household of the Court of Imperial Seals—hardly qualified as an advisor..." Without scholarly honors, becoming a proper advisor was difficult. The Cao family had offered him charity due to his poverty, but his proud nature couldn't accept such pity, leading him to resign and work accounts for Luo Yongping instead.The position of Minister of the Directorate of Imperial Sacrifices, though ranked as a fifth-grade official, was rather insignificant in reality. While nominally responsible for imperial seals, tallies, and official stamps, all actions were controlled by the Directorate of Imperial Sacrifices. With little actual authority, it was usually given as a sinecure to scions of noble families or used as a stepping stone for promotion. Why would such a position even need advisors!
In her past life, Jinchao had seen many talented individuals who remained unappreciated. Third Master Chen alone had over a dozen advisors, each exceptionally gifted, yet he truly trusted only one or two.
She smiled faintly and said, "You flatter me, Mr. Cao. Whether I become an advisor or not isn’t of great importance. However, with the current turmoil in the official circles—my father’s mentor, Vice Minister Lin of the Ministry of Revenue, has just been demoted—I was hoping you could look into this matter for me. Would you be willing to help?"
Cao Ziheng hesitated before replying, "To be frank, I’ve been keeping an eye on these affairs... If the Eldest Miss wishes to hear, I can explain most of it now..."
He then spoke of the Tax Silver Case. The tax silver had been collected this year from Hubei and was managed by the Treasury Bureau of the Ministry of Revenue. The Director of the Treasury Bureau was the only son of Lord Fan, who took advantage of the chaotic relationships among the Ministry’s officials to embezzle one hundred thousand taels of tax silver. However, the Chief Clerk of the Treasury discovered the scheme and intended to report it to the Emperor. To protect his son, Fan Chuan had three Chief Clerks killed, but the truth was eventually uncovered, leading to the imprisonment of both Fan Chuan and his son. Vice Minister Lin, as a Director in the Ministry of Revenue, was also purged.
After Cao Ziheng finished, Jinchao asked, "Fan Chuan’s son is notoriously arrogant and wasteful, squandering thousands upon thousands of taels from his family. But I find it hard to believe he would embezzle tax silver." Such a spoiled young master would simply demand money from his father rather than scheme to obtain it himself.
Cao Ziheng chuckled. "The Eldest Miss is astute. This was merely Lord Zhang clearing the path for Lord Chen’s rise. Among the Grand Secretariat’s ministers, Lord Fan had deep-rooted influence in the Ministry of Revenue and had long opposed Lord Zhang. His downfall was inevitable..."
Jinchao had also suspected Zhang Ju Lian’s involvement, but in her past life, Fan Chuan’s downfall occurred after Emperor Muzong’s death. This time, for some reason, it had happened earlier, dragging down numerous officials in the Ministry of Revenue.
Had her rebirth changed something? Jinchao couldn’t help but think of Ye Xian. If there was one thing she had altered in this life, it was her acquaintance with him. She had asked Ye Xian to treat her mother, prompting Mr. Xiao to arrive in Yanjing earlier...
Could it be because of Xiao Qishan? Since Xiao Qishan was aligned with Prince Rui, he must also belong to Zhang Ju Lian’s faction... With Xiao Qishan arriving in Yanjing ahead of time, they had acted sooner! But what were they planning against the Marquis Changxing’s household?
Jinchao had too little information. She needed crucial details to analyze the situation, yet obtaining them was beyond her means. She sighed—this matter still depended on whether Ye Xian trusted her. If he was willing to believe her and share his intelligence, she might uncover Xiao Qishan’s true intentions.
Still, Cao Ziheng’s insight was remarkably sharp for someone overlooked. Jinchao then said, "Mr. Cao, if you don’t mind, you could assist me in the future. It wouldn’t be as an advisor, but rather to manage accounts and handle matters that Manager Luo finds inconvenient. Would you be willing?"Cao Ziheng quickly clasped his hands and said, "Since the Eldest Miss is so gracious, I naturally am willing!" He understood clearly in his heart that an accountant's wages were never this high—it must have been the Gu family's young lady secretly giving instructions. In any case, he no longer wished to pursue scholarly honors, and working for the Gu family's young lady would be a way to repay her kindness.
Jinchao had Mama Tong see him out, then privately inquired more about Cao Ziheng's situation.
He lived in Gujing Alley, lodging with another impoverished scholar. His monthly wages were higher than those of a typical accountant, most likely spent on purchasing writing materials or covering the expenses of the scholar's household as repayment. Jinchao instructed Mama Tong to find him a quiet, independent courtyard. From then on, all incoming accounts would first be reviewed and organized by Cao Ziheng before being sent to her.
She had long considered hiring an accountant specifically to manage her accounts. Cao Ziheng, being upright and knowledgeable, was quite suitable for the role.
P.S.:
Thank you to Jialuo Xue'er for the pink votes, and to Yichiyishui for the two safety charms~~ Mwah, the second update will come a bit later!
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