Chapter 131: Resentment
Gu Lan returned to Yixiang Courtyard to rest. Song Luo brought in a small basket of roasted chestnuts, saying they were brought back by Gu Wuye from his horseback outing.
Song Luo personally peeled and fed them to Gu Lan—they were perfectly warm, soft, and sweet.
After eating the chestnuts, Gu Lan instructed Song Luo, "...The sky-blue water-weft silk double-layered robe that Grandmother sent the other day has been sitting in the trunk untouched. Since tomorrow looks like it’ll be sunny, take it out and have it starched for me."
Song Luo was petite and adorable, dressed in a dark brown sleeveless jacket, and handled tasks meticulously. However, since she had been sent by Madam Feng, Gu Lan remained somewhat wary. Madam Feng must have had ulterior motives beyond just having Song Luo tend to her...
Song Luo acknowledged and went into the inner chamber to fetch the robe. Mu Jin waited until her figure had disappeared around the corner before speaking to Gu Lan, "I’ve scouted the person for you—it’s the second steward of the stables. He’s never married. The stables have been doing well these years, so he’s saved up some money and is looking for a wife!"
Gu Lan made a sound of acknowledgment, sipped tea to moisten her throat, and asked, "Since he’s the second steward, he must be around thirty. Why hasn’t he married yet?"
Mu Jin chuckled. "The man is lustful. Whenever he has free time outside the estate, he’s usually off to Yuying Lane. He’s not upright and doesn’t have much money—no wonder no girl wants to marry him. But if Qingpu were to marry him, her life would surely be... interesting. Do you think Eldest Miss would agree to this match?"
Gu Lan glanced at her. "This is why you’ll always remain a maid."
To Madam Feng, controlling the lives of her legitimate and illegitimate daughters was second nature. Anyone who defied her would be seen as disrespectful. Moreover, Madam Feng had long been wary of Gu Jinzhao’s maids. Marrying off one of Gu Jinzhao’s personal attendants to someone in the household would undoubtedly please her.
Besides, what was Qingpu worth anyway? Aside from being Gu Jinzhao’s personal maid, she had nothing to recommend her. Qingpu was already eighteen, plain-looking, and trained in martial arts—any man who married her would be cursed with misfortune!
Mu Jin didn’t understand Second Miss’s meaning, but whatever Second Miss said must be right.
Gu Lan turned to face the bronze mirror as Mu Jin loosened her hair. She took out a small box from her vanity and lazily flicked it open with her fingers. Inside were floral appliqués in yellow, red, and blue—though not as exquisite as the ones in Gu Lian’s collection.
"Kingfisher ornaments adorn her cheeks, light as a smile;
Jade phoenix hairpins tremble as if about to take flight."
Such beautiful, sentimental things—Young Master Yao had gifted them all to Gu Lian, and each piece was crafted with utmost delicacy.
Gu Lan studied her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t think she was any less beautiful than Gu Lian. Moreover, she was more cultured, intelligent, and considerate. If not for Gu Lian’s status as the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, would such a marriage... ever have fallen into her lap?
For some reason, Gu Lan thought of Ye Xian again. With his status, which noble family’s legitimate daughter could possibly be worthy of him? If not a noble daughter... perhaps he might even marry a princess someday.
As for someone like Young Master Yao, he would always belong to Gu Lian. In Madam Feng’s eyes, Gu Lan was only fit for someone like Mu Zhizhai.
Gu Lan smirked at herself. Just because she was born beneath them, did that mean she had to remain beneath them forever?
After washing up, Song Luo returned, and the two maids helped Gu Lan prepare for bed.The next day, Gu Lan deliberately waited until dusk had settled before coaxing Gu Lian to accompany her to the eastern courtyard. Gu Lian had recently acquired a pair of mutton-fat jade paperweights and had been diligently practicing her calligraphy. She thought it the perfect opportunity to show Madam Feng the scriptures she had copied.
Madam Feng had always been the most indulgent toward Gu Lian. Though dinner had already been served, she still had the maids bring out jujube paste yam cakes and silver ear soup for them to enjoy.
When Gu Lan first arrived, she noticed the head manager overseeing Gu Dezhao’s tea and rice shops leaving.
"...I never expected Manager Lei to come pay respects to the mistress now," Gu Lan remarked with a smile. "Did he bring you some daily necessities?"
Madam Feng chuckled lightly. "I summoned him here. Manager Lei has a son who’s a scholar, and I heard he even passed the Imperial Academy exams. The family is well-off, and the young man is quite promising. I was thinking of betrothing Song Xiang to him."
Gu Lan feigned delight. "What a fortunate match for Song Xiang—and what a blessing for Manager Lei’s son! To marry your personal maid is no small honor."
Song Xiang flushed crimson, secretly pleased with the arrangement. It offered both financial security and social standing. Moreover, since Manager Lei worked under Gu Dezhao and was under Tai Furen’s watchful eye, the Lei family wouldn’t dare mistreat her.
Gu Lian giggled and chimed in, tugging at Madam Feng’s sleeve. "Sister Song Xiang has found her match, but Cousin Jinchao’s maid still has no prospects." These were words Gu Lan had fed her, and Gu Lian found them perfectly reasonable. She blurted them all out: "That maid is getting older and isn’t much to look at. I doubt she’ll marry well. Why not help Cousin Jinchao by finding her a reliable match within our household? After all, that maid can’t serve her forever."
Madam Feng considered this thoughtfully. Her intention in marrying Song Xiang to Manager Lei was to plant her own influence within Gu Dezhao’s circle. Since Gu Dezhao’s family had just returned, many things displeased her, though she had kept silent, biding her time for gradual adjustments. If Gu Jinchao’s maid were to marry someone within the household, her own people could exert control over the maid—an advantageous move.
Gu Lan glanced at Madam Feng and added with a smile, "Now that Lian jie er mentions it, I recall there’s an unmarried manager in our household—the deputy manager of the stables, I believe. He’s got some savings and is currently looking for a wife."
Madam Feng set her teacup down without a flicker of expression. Could this really be a coincidence?
The moment Gu Lian suggested marrying Qingpu to someone in the Gu family, Gu Lan had a candidate ready. It was clear Gu Lan had planned this long ago. The superficial harmony between Gu Lan and Gu Jinchao was something Madam Feng saw through entirely.
Unsure of the man’s character, Madam Feng decided to summon this deputy manager, Xu Houcai, for an assessment.
Upon hearing that Tai Furen had requested him, Xu Houcai arrived within the time it took for an incense stick to burn. Madam Feng observed him in the parlor and asked a few questions, quickly piecing together his circumstances. Xu Houcai knelt and kowtowed before taking his leave.Madam Feng thought this Xu Houcai was rather mediocre—somewhat old in age and not particularly handsome. The only merits were his managerial position, his lack of dependents, and his financial means. When it came to marriage, what did a man’s looks or age matter? The ability to provide was what counted. Besides, Qingpu wasn’t exactly outstanding either. With her looks and age, if she weren’t Gu Jinzhao’s personal maid, she wouldn’t even measure up to an average servant.
Madam Feng felt this match could definitely be settled.
In Madam Feng’s courtyard, a young maid who had received a large bag of Pine Nut Candy from Mama Tong quickly dropped her broom and ran to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall to deliver the news.
After listening to her report, Mama Tong gave her a packet of scallion candy and some crispy salt-roasted peanuts. The little maid, delighted with her treats, skipped away happily.
Mama Tong, however, left the Beautiful Embroidery Hall to seek out a familiar matron in the Gu household and gather all the details about this Xu Houcai before returning to report to the Eldest Miss.
"...Gu Lan had barely stepped inside when Grandmother summoned Xu Houcai right after?" Jinchao said with a laugh. "She really can’t wait, can she?"
The moment Gu Lan gained a little standing, she dared to scheme against her like this?
Well, she shouldn’t blame Jinchao for not holding back. Those dirty little secrets of hers—did Jinchao not know them all?
She had plenty of leverage against Gu Lan. Once she dealt with Qingpu’s situation, she’d take her time settling the score.
Mama Xu was also worried after hearing this: "If Qingpu marries this man, it’ll be her ruin! Visiting the Yuying Alley seven or eight times a month—how is that someone worth marrying?"
Qingpu stood behind Gu Jinzhao, biting her lip tightly as she listened.
Jinchao would never let Qingpu marry someone like Xu Houcai—he wasn’t worthy of her! Even if it meant openly defying Madam Feng, she wouldn’t allow it. But if she openly opposed Madam Feng, neither of them would benefit. The best approach was to devise a plan to make Madam Feng abandon the match herself.
After a long silence, Qingpu finally murmured, "If there’s really no other way... I’ll just marry him..." She had been thinking about this for days. Her stubbornness was only causing trouble for her mistress. Without her, the young miss still had other maids. But if the young miss opposed Madam Feng for her sake, what good would come of it?
Jinchao shook her head. "You absolutely cannot marry him. This isn’t just for you—it’s for me too. I can’t let her gain control over me."
Once Madam Feng had a hold over her, the control would never end. Jinchao understood this clearly.
Since they couldn’t use Qingpu as leverage, they’d have to target Xu Houcai instead. If he had been embezzling or doing anything detrimental to the Gu family, he would naturally be disqualified from marrying Qingpu.
Mama Tong went to investigate as instructed.
The next day, Madam Feng summoned Jinchao and, as expected, brought up Qingpu’s marriage.
"...I’ve found a match for Song Xiang—the scholarly son of your father’s Manager Lei. Since Song Xiang is getting married, we can’t leave Qingpu without a prospect. Last night, I arranged for her to meet Xu Houcai, the deputy manager of our stables. Though he’s a bit older, he has no dependents and some savings. If Qingpu marries him, she’ll live a life of comfort as a proper wife."
Madam Feng took Jinchao’s hand and smiled.Jinchao was so angry she almost laughed. How could Madam Feng be so unreasonable? Manager Lei’s son, a scholar who had passed the Imperial Academy exams, had been highly sought after by many maids in the household back in Shi'an. And now, Madam Feng had suddenly married off her own senior maid to the scholar son of their manager, while trying to assign Qingpu to some lecherous old man in the household. How could Madam Feng do such a thing!
Gu Jinzhao withdrew her hand and took a sip of tea.
The smile on Madam Feng’s face stiffened for a moment.
"Grandmother, this matter is too sudden—I haven’t even seen what this Xu Houcai looks like. Naturally, I trust your judgment in choosing someone of good character, but I must also consider Qingpu’s feelings. She has served me for so many years, and I should respect her preferences," Jinchao said slowly. "Perhaps we shouldn’t rush into this decision. Let me meet Xu Houcai first."
Madam Feng’s smile returned. "What does it matter whether you’re satisfied with his appearance? It’s about living together. If you insist on seeing him… I’ll have Xu Houcai come tomorrow."
Madam Feng kept some thoughts to herself—after all, a maid was just a maid. If her mistress told her to marry someone, how could she disobey? She could sense Gu Jinzhao’s resistance to the matter, and it unsettled her.
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