Chapter 118: Cold Dew
Madam Feng perked up and nodded at Second Madam, saying, "Madam Cao the Third doesn’t count as a formal matchmaker. We’ll discuss this further when they send someone to propose. But I’ll need to consult with the third master first. You may go back and attend to the accounts now." Her tone had softened considerably.
Second Madam exhaled in relief and withdrew. Just then, a young maid came to announce that Gu Lan had arrived to pay her respects.
When Gu Lan entered, her expression was visibly unpleasant. Jinchao thought to herself that since Gu Lan was now serving under Second Madam, she must have heard about Madam Cao’s visit. Gu Lan had gone to great lengths behind the scenes to avoid marrying Mu Zhizhai, and now, after all that, she was being forced back into the same predicament. No wonder she was seething with resentment—she was probably grinding her teeth in secret.
It seemed both Madam Feng and Second Madam were eager to marry Gu Lan off, regardless of who the groom was, as long as it benefited the Gu family. But knowing Gu Lan’s temperament, she would never resign herself to such a fate. Jinchao was curious to see what she would do next.
With Gu Lan’s arrival, Jinchao was freed from her duties. Madam Feng ordered Gu Lan around relentlessly—she had to serve tea, massage shoulders, knead legs, and even trim flower branches, trivial as the task was. Gu Lan had no choice but to comply, though she was clearly exasperated. Noticing Jinchao idling nearby, Madam Feng smiled and said, "If you’re feeling bored, you may take a stroll in the courtyard. Just return before lunch."
Compared to Gu Lan, Madam Feng was much gentler with her.
Jinchao curtsied and stepped out along the covered corridor. Autumn was deepening—the cicadas had fallen silent, the lotus flowers withered, and the distant woods were painted in layers of red and gold.
She spotted Gu Lan trimming the branches of a flowering quince, with Mu Jin standing helplessly beside her, not daring to assist. Gu Lan had been pampered in Shi’an, even more so than Jinchao, the Eldest Miss. Such menial tasks were foreign to her. Her slender, delicate fingers fumbled with the branches until a thorn from the quince scratched her.
She yelped in pain and withdrew her hand, only to see Gu Jinzhao standing at the other end of the corridor, watching her.
Gu Lan quickly hid her hand in her sleeve and forced a smile. "Elder Sister, what brings you out here? Could it be to laugh at my misfortune?"
Jinchao walked over slowly and replied gently, "Lan Er, what kind of talk is that? Grandmother simply asked me to take a walk, saying the eastern courtyard has lovely scenery. Why would I ever laugh at my younger sister’s troubles?"
Gu Lan’s smile faded, and she said calmly, "Elder Sister, the state I’m in now is entirely thanks to you. Rest assured, I’ll remember your kindness well… and repay it in full someday." Her voice dropped as she bowed slightly.
Jinchao found it amusing. "Lan Er, you have quite the habit of blaming me for everything. But did I ask you to come out here and trim flowers?"
Gu Lan retorted coldly, "If you hadn’t harmed my mother… I wouldn’t be in this position now!"
Jinchao studied her for a long moment. "Lan Er, deep down, you know who wronged whom." Gu Lan was always like this—convinced she was the victim and that the world owed her. Jinchao couldn’t help but pity her for such a mindset.
Only after Jinchao had left with Qingpu did Mu Jin dare to speak. "Miss… what should we do now?"
Gu Lan thought of everything that had happened since moving to the ancestral home, her fingers trembling with rage. She gritted her teeth and muttered, "They’re all just taking advantage of me because I have no one to rely on! And Gu Jinzhao—she’s no better, kicking me when I’m down!"Mu Jin felt distressed; her young mistress was truly going through a difficult time.
But Gu Lan recalled the cold treatment she had received at Second Madam’s place. Zhou Shi was nothing like Madam Feng, who would constantly order her around. Instead, she was the complete opposite. Whenever Gu Lan went to sit with her, Zhou Shi would simply have a servant brew a pot of tea for her. Gu Lan would sip the tea until it turned pale, and by then, the day would be nearly over.
She returned to Yixiang Court with a stomach full of tea. Gu Xi had come to visit Gu Yi again, and the two sisters were chatting intimately in their room, filling the place with lively chatter. Left alone in her room, Gu Lan could only stare at two young maids who had just started growing out their hair, unable to vent her frustration!
And now… now the Mu family had to come meddling too. Was there really no other woman in the world to marry besides her? Did they have to fixate on her like this? Thinking about it, Gu Lan could well imagine just how despicable this Mu Zhizhai must be, and her heart grew even colder.
She absolutely must not marry him. If she did, her life would be ruined!
Gu Lan didn’t return to Yixiang Court until evening, only to hear the lively sounds coming from the west wing again. She entered the eastern chamber alone, thinking of her mother, left behind in Shi’an, her mind lost to madness. She wondered if the people Gu Jinzhao had sent to care for her were treating her poorly. Autumn had arrived—did she even have a silk-padded jacket to wear? The more she thought about it, the more sorrow welled up in her heart. She hid under the covers and wept quietly, afraid the maids outside might hear her.
Most of her original maids had been dismissed by Gu Jinzhao, leaving only Mu Jin behind. She couldn’t let the others see her in such a vulnerable state. Those maids already didn’t respect her much, and if they saw her like this, they would be even less inclined to obey her. After crying, Gu Lan wiped her tears and went to the study, fetching stationery and an envelope to write a letter to her maternal grandmother, Song Furen. Ever since her father had driven her grandmother away, she had secretly maintained correspondence with her.
Now that Concubine Song was in trouble, Song Furen couldn’t openly intervene in the Gu family’s affairs, especially since her father had been so disrespectful to her. Though Song Furen dearly loved her daughter and granddaughter, there was little she could do to help. She could only discreetly send gifts to Gu Lan.
Who else could Gu Lan confide in about her grievances, if not Song Furen?
This time, in her letter, she made sure to emphasize how the Gu family looked down on her and how Madam Feng was pushing for her marriage to Mu Zhizhai. Surely, her grandmother wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing after hearing this!
After finishing the letter, Gu Lan took the nearby candleholder to seal it with wax.
She called Mu Jin in and whispered to her, “...Same as before. Bribe one of the laborers who come and go from the Gu residence to deliver this letter to the Song family.”
Mu Jin tucked the envelope into her clothes and said, “Earlier, Second Young Mistress’s maid came by and asked you to meet her at Xu hour. Don’t forget.” She took a pouch of coins and hurried out like a thief.
Gu Lan really didn’t want to go see Gu Lian. The last time she visited, Gu Lian had shown her an entire box of exquisite floral appliqués—jade appliqués, gold and silver appliqués, beaded appliqués… all exquisitely crafted. Gu Lian had told her they were brought back from Jiangnan by Yao Wenxiu. Though her tone hadn’t been exaggerated when mentioning Yao Wenxiu, the pride in her heart was impossible to hide.
Just thinking about it made Gu Lan’s chest tighten. They were both daughters of the Gu family, yet Gu Lian was showered with endless affection and had a fiancé with an excellent family background, outstanding knowledge, and handsome looks. Meanwhile, she was left to be bullied by everyone and forced to marry some ignorant fool?
That wasn’t how things should be!Gu Lan gazed at her delicate and beautiful face in the bronze mirror, pressing her lips together. With no one to help her, she would have to rely on herself!
When Jinchao returned to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall, Yuzhu and Xiuqu were playing shuttlecock. Seeing her return, the two young maids quickly curtsied. Yuzhu added, "Since you went to the eastern courtyard, we did some needlework for a while and thought to stretch our limbs with shuttlecock..."
Caifu and Baiyun, who had been doing embroidery under the corridor, also stood up and greeted her with a smile. "Indeed, we worked for nearly an hour!"
It was already autumn, and they were making hand-warmer covers, Zhaojun hoods, and cotton-padded jackets for the maids. The mourning attire now was different from before, so many things had to be remade.
When Jinchao returned to the Gu family, she brought along six maids she often used, as well as Cao Ying, who tended to the flowers in the back rooms.
Yuzhu pouted upon hearing this. "Sister Caifu is exposing my shortcomings. What if the young mistress stops liking me..."
Everyone laughed. The maids in Jinchao's household were all steady and sensible, and the senior maids doted especially on Yuzhu and Xiuqu. Particularly the quiet Xiuqu, who always shared any treats or nice clothes with others. Jinchao often rewarded Xiuqu, but she always distributed everything among everyone without hesitation.
Jinchao smiled. "Autumn is the perfect time to stay active." She let them continue playing shuttlecock and entered the study. Mama Xu was waiting there, showing her the accounts sent by Cao Ziheng from Gujing Alley. There were important matters requiring her decision, which she needed to review first. Cao Ziheng had not only prepared the previous month's accounts but also reviewed those from past years, drafting a general development plan for Jinchao.
Jinchao found his suggestions brilliant and showed them to Mama Xu. "...He’s a sensible man. Proceed according to his advice."
According to the ledger, last month's income was eight hundred taels of silver, with even more expected monthly. From her mother's assets alone, she earned over ten thousand taels a year! Meanwhile, Madam Feng had calculated the Gu family's accounts today—income barely exceeded six hundred taels, while expenditures surpassed seven hundred.
Jinchao stared at the ledger for a long time without speaking. Though her mother was gone, what she left behind still protected her well. With these resources, she had leverage even in her ancestral home.
Typically, the legitimate daughters of the Gu family were allotted one stewardess, one first-rank maid, and two second-rank maids. Jinchao, however, had two stewardesses, and her maids received higher monthly allowances with better provisions—all funded by her private accounts. She never asked Madam Feng for anything, and Madam Feng never interfered.
After a while, Mama Tong entered to speak with Jinchao.
"...At Yixiang Courtyard, Mu Jin secretly went to the side gate of the backyard. I couldn’t see clearly, but it seemed she passed something out..."
Jinchao hummed in acknowledgment. She had no mind to deal with Gu Lan's affairs now. Who else could Gu Lan be passing things to but the Song family? However, with Concubine Song in trouble, Song Furen wouldn’t dare meddle in the Gu family's matters. Gu Lan was simply out of options.
Jinchao looked out the window. Night had just fallen, and a faint crescent moon hung in the sky. The green lion-shaped lanterns under the eaves had just been lit, casting a dim glow.
She murmured, "Tomorrow is Cold Dew..." The time when wild geese arrive as guests and chrysanthemums bloom yellow.Mama Tong was originally a farmer, so she was quite sensitive to the solar terms. She smiled and said, "If we were in the countryside, this would be the time for sowing wheat, picking cotton, and threshing beans."
Jinchao remained silent.
Tomorrow would be the thirteenth day of the ninth month, coinciding with the Cold Dew solar term. The Emperor would pass away at the first quarter of the Si hour. Marquis Changxing would storm the forbidden palace at night and be executed by the blade, leading to the swift decline of the Changxing Marquis household—and the beginning of Fifth Aunt’s humiliation. These events would soon come one after another...
She wondered if Ye Xian could change any of it.
Jinchao sighed. She had done all she could to help, but the rest was beyond her control.
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