Chapter 115: Private Meeting
Madam Feng didn't even glance up when Gu Lan and Gu Yi entered. She slowly reached out to pick up the famille-rose white porcelain teacup on the small table and took a sip.
Gu Lan and Gu Yi knelt and greeted in unison, "Grandmother, we wish you well." However, Madam Feng didn't instruct them to rise, so the two remained kneeling, not daring to move. Gu Jinzhao understood that Madam Feng was asserting authority over the concubine-born daughters and naturally didn't dare to speak.
Only after setting down the teacup did Madam Feng say, "Rise and speak."
Jinchao noticed that Gu Lan was wearing an indigo upper garment with persimmon calyx patterns and a moon-white eight-paneled skirt. She had arrived in a hurry, her hair slightly disheveled. Madam Feng also noticed and remarked leisurely, "This must be Lan Er?" Gu Lan replied, "Your granddaughter is indeed Gu Lan."
Madam Feng said coolly, "It seems you don’t hold this old woman in any regard. Coming to pay respects, yet your hair isn’t even properly done, and you’re only wearing an upper garment. Were you not taught proper manners in the Gu family?"
Gu Lan gritted her teeth inwardly. Her carriage had arrived last at the ancestral home, so she naturally needed more time to prepare. When Mu Jin returned and mentioned that Gu Jinzhao had already gone to the eastern courtyard, she rushed over in haste. She knew that if she were late, others would surely find fault with her. But she hadn’t considered that if someone truly wanted to pick on her, there would always be something to criticize.
After a moment of internal deliberation, Gu Lan knelt again, her eyes slightly reddened, and said, "Grandmother, please forgive me. I was in such a hurry to leave that I tripped and messed up my hair. It was indeed too abrupt of me. Your reprimand is justified." Admitting her own carelessness was better than being accused of disrespecting Madam Feng.
Her apology left Madam Feng with little else to say. She merely hummed in acknowledgment and allowed her to rise, thinking to herself that this girl was quite clever and not unattractive. If not for her status as a concubine-born daughter and her mother being the way she was, she might have been quite formidable.
Gu Xi finally arrived to pay her respects as well. Second Madam and Fifth Madam brought Gu Lian along.
Gu Lian fluttered into Madam Feng’s embrace like a little bird, calling out sweetly, "Grandmother!" She then mentioned having eaten milk-powdered water chestnut cakes at noon. "...The nanny’s skills aren’t as good as yours, Grandmother. They weren’t sweet enough. I had just finished one when I heard my cousins had arrived, so I came to the eastern courtyard to see them."
Madam Feng hugged Gu Lian and tapped her forehead with a smile. "Don’t eat too many sweets. Once you come of age at the New Year, you’ll be married into the Yao family. What if Yao Wenxiu thinks you’re too plump?"
Gu Lian pouted. "He wouldn’t dare!" Yao Wenxiu treated her like a treasure, handling her with utmost care and sending gifts every month.
Gu Lan watched from the side, thinking to herself that whether one followed the rules wasn’t the real issue—what mattered was who the old madam favored. Zhou Shi smiled and said, "You have no manners at all," then instructed Gu Lian to greet Gu Jinzhao. "...Pay your respects to your eldest cousin."
Madam Feng watched with a pleased smile. In her mind, Gu Jinzhao might have a poor reputation, but she was still a legitimate daughter and, moreover, the granddaughter of the Ji family from Tongzhou. Naturally, Gu Lian should maintain good relations with her.
Gu Lian curtsied to Jinchao in greeting, then blinked at Gu Lan. "It’s been so long since I’ve seen my second cousin!"
Madam Feng’s expression darkened slightly. Gu Lian seemed particularly fond of Gu Lan.Jinchao took it all in, knowing full well that Madam Feng didn’t want Gu Lian and Gu Lan to get along. Madam Feng seemed to prefer that Gu Lian be close to her instead, but unfortunately, Gu Lian didn’t like her. However, Madam Feng’s doting on Gu Lian was ultimately harmful. Jinchao remembered how, in her past life, after Gu Lian married into the household of Yao Daren, the Grand Scholar of the Hall of Literary Glory, she struggled to manage household affairs. She often returned to the Gu family in tears. In the end, she even sent her personal maid to warm her husband’s bed with wormwood, but it still failed to win back Young Master Yao’s affection. That maid eventually bore him a son and gained influence instead.
Jinchao glanced discreetly at Gu Lian’s maid, who wore a sleeveless jacket in rouge red and a lotus-hued ruqun skirt, adorned with a silver hairpin depicting butterflies among flowers. Her skin was fair and delicate, her lips red and teeth white… Jinchao recalled that this maid’s name was Lan Zhi.
Madam Feng paused, then took Jinchao’s hand and said, “Right now, the power over household affairs lies with me and your Second Aunt. Your Fifth Aunt is with child and shouldn’t overexert herself. Come to me more often, and I’ll teach you properly.”
Jinchao stood and thanked her. She glanced at Fifth Aunt’s belly, which wasn’t obvious under her loose clothing. Yet inwardly, she was startled—in her past life, two months after the death of Marquis Changxing, Fifth Aunt had hanged herself. She had been pregnant at the time.
She still remembered Gu Jinxian’s heart-wrenching sobs. Back then, she had found it strange… It turned out to be a case of two lives lost at once!
Zhou Shi smiled and said to Gu Lan, “You and Yi’er will learn the rules from me. Just be careful not to make any mistakes.”
Madam Feng nodded. “Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. The household will set up a chrysanthemum terrace for viewing. I’ve heard Chaojie is skilled with flowers and plants, so do assist your Second Aunt well. Fifth Madam, you’ll prepare the Double Ninth cakes and wormwood.” The women all acknowledged their tasks.
After some more conversation, Madam Feng grew tired. Jinchao returned first to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall, as there was much to do after the recent move.
Today was the first day after the relocation, so dinner was naturally a shared affair. However, since Jinchao and the others were in mourning, a few tables of vegetarian dishes were set up in the banquet and rest area of the eastern courtyard. After the meal, Zhou Shi sought out Jinchao and asked her to check on the progress of the wormwood terrace setup.
After inspecting the terrace and a long day’s work, Jinchao returned to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall and slept until the next morning at mao hour (5-7 AM), when Qingpu lifted the curtain to wake her.
Today was the Double Ninth Festival, and an early start was necessary. It was already autumn, and as Jinchao looked through the lattice window, the sky was still dark, with only the faint sounds of maids sweeping the courtyard. Qingpu draped a pale blue plain satin cloak over her, fearing the morning chill.
The servants in the ancestral home rose earlier than those in the Shian residence. As Jinchao walked from the western courtyard to the outer compound, she was greeted with morning salutations. Zhou Shi and Ye Shi were also up early, overseeing the servants carrying the Double Ninth cakes from the kitchen to the main hall—five-colored, nine-layered cakes topped with two dough sheep, symbolizing ascending to great heights.
Zhou Shi cheerfully pulled her over. “You’re up early too. Come with me to see how breakfast preparations are coming along.”
As they spoke, a maid hurried in with news: “Fifth Madam… the heir has arrived!”Ye Shi was busy directing the servants to cut the Double Ninth Festival cakes when she frowned upon hearing the news. "Didn't they say they couldn't go out? Why are they still coming over?" Zhou Shi chuckled and said, "They must have come to see you because they missed you. Go ahead, I'll take care of things here." As the legitimate daughter of Marquis Changxing, Ye Shi held a highly esteemed position in the Gu family, and even Madam Feng treated her with deference.
Ye Shi was gone for quite a while. Soon, people began gathering in the main hall of the outer courtyard to prepare for drinking the glutinous rice wine. Ye Shi finally arrived with Ye Xian, who was followed by dozens of guards clad in padded jackets, lining up outside the main hall. Madam Feng warmly greeted Ye Xian, saying, "The Heir has arrived just in time!" She instructed Song Xiang to serve him a piece of Double Ninth Festival cake.
Ye Xian wore a sky-blue overgown with dark patterns, but his brow was slightly furrowed. His gaze swept over the seated ladies and quickly landed on Gu Jinzhao. Jinzhao's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't forgotten—today was the Double Ninth Festival, and the palace coup was only four days away! If Ye Xian had come to the Gu family at this time, could it be that he had something to tell her?
After taking just one bite of the cake, Ye Xian told Ye Shi he wanted to take a stroll. Not long after he left, Caifu quietly approached Jinzhao and whispered, "Miss, the Heir is waiting for you at the Beautiful Embroidery Hall. He says he has something to discuss with you."
Even Ye Xian was being so secretive! And this was her ancestral home—if someone saw them, how could she explain herself? Jinzhao lowered her voice and asked Caifu, "Does anyone else know?"
Caifu replied softly, "Don't worry, miss. I asked the Heir to wait in the western side chamber. Apart from our maids, no one else saw him."
The Heir had specifically instructed that this matter must remain discreet. Caifu knew that the Heir and her mistress seemed to be discussing something important, so she naturally took it seriously.
Jinzhao left the banquet and headed to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall. Ye Xian was waiting for her in the western side chamber, gazing out the window at the Chinese flowering crabapple trees outside.
Jinzhao told Caifu, "Bring the Heir a cup of wormwood tea."
Hearing her voice, Ye Xian turned his head and said, "I don’t want tea. There’s no need for the trouble."
Jinzhao smiled. "Wormwood tea clears heat and brightens the eyes. You might as well have a cup. You called me away from the banquet like this—what exactly do you want to tell me?"
Ye Xian snorted. "If I’m not afraid, why should you be?" He pointed to the round-backed chair opposite him, signaling for her to sit.
What did he have to fear? He was the Heir of Marquis Changxing, the future renowned Minister of War, Lord Ye!
Jinzhao silently grumbled but sat down nonetheless.
Only then did Ye Xian speak. "Do you remember that batch of weapons you mentioned? They were spotted in Prince Rui’s residence by men sent by Xiao Qishan. My grandfather told me that Prince Rui has conspired with the Northern City Military Command and the Golden Crow Guard to rebel. They plan to hold their ground and wait until Prince Rui makes his move before apprehending him."
Jinzhao kept her expression neutral, but inwardly, she was stunned. Ye Xian was actually willing to share this with her! Rebellion was a crime of the highest order—knowing about it was dangerous. She asked, "Heir... why are you telling me this?"
Ye Xian smiled. "Liu Zhou is Xiao Qishan’s man. I figured that out long ago. Given my grandfather’s temperament, he’ll surely follow Xiao Qishan’s advice and hold back... but I can’t make sense of the trap Xiao Qishan has set." He looked at Gu Jinzhao and fell silent.Gu Jinzhao finally realized that Ye Xian probably suspected her of hiding something... something she hadn't told him.
She was indeed keeping secrets, but those were things Ye Xian shouldn't know. However, his words made her think. Later, it wasn't Prince Rui who was accused of rebellion, but Marquis Changxing! What exactly went wrong in between?
Jinchao suddenly had an idea. Could it be... that no one actually intended to rebel at all!
Prince Rui deliberately created the illusion of rebellion for Marquis Changxing and entered the palace on the day the Emperor passed away. Upon hearing the news, Marquis Changxing led troops to suppress Prince Rui, only to be branded a traitor instead. He was then executed by Prince Rui's sword, and even if his innocence was proven later, the dead could not be brought back to life.
And the one who played a crucial role in all this... was none other than Xiao Qishan!
PS:
Second update is here~~ Please vote more recommendations, it's not really increasing much, wah.
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