Chapter 135: The Letter
Mu Jin lit a pine oil lamp to brighten Gu Lan's workspace and brought over a bowl of osmanthus leaf soup, placing it beside the writing desk.
Gu Lan was practicing calligraphy. The Academy Style commonly used by scholars didn't suit young ladies, so she was practicing small seal script instead. After finishing a sheet, she held it up to the lamplight and frowned in dissatisfaction. Gu Jinzhao's handwriting was far more elegant than hers—after all, she had studied with the young masters of the Ji family during her time there. In contrast, Gu Lan had only been taught the basics by a governess hired by her father.
Mu Jin gathered the used paper for Gu Lan and whispered, "Earlier, Song Luo was summoned back to the eastern courtyard. They said Tai Furen wanted to question her..."
Gu Lan sneered. "Let her go." A dog that couldn't be tamed wasn't worth feeding. Her voice turned colder. "I was too careless this time—I actually fell into Gu Jinzhao's trap. From now on, Grandmother will surely give me even more disdainful looks..."
Mu Jin looked puzzled. "This servant doesn’t quite understand today’s events. Does the young lady think it was the Eldest Miss’s doing?"
Gu Lan took a sip of the osmanthus soup and asked, "Who do you think benefited the most from this?"
Without hesitation, Mu Jin replied, "Naturally, it was the Eldest Miss. Now Qingpu doesn’t have to marry Xu Houcai."
Gu Lan chuckled. "It’s more than just Qingpu escaping Xu Houcai—Song Xiang also can’t marry Manager Lei’s son anymore. She killed two birds with one stone." Yet, frustratingly, she couldn’t find any flaw in Gu Jinzhao’s scheme. There was no way Gu Jinzhao could have bribed Xu Houcai to frame Song Xiang...
Gu Lan silently cursed herself for being outmaneuvered.
Moreover, there were too many oddities in this matter. Why had Song Xiang refused to confront the maids? What was she hiding? Gu Lan felt the situation was far more complicated than she had initially thought.
With a sigh, her gaze fell on the pair of Hetian jade paperweights.
After returning to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall, Jinzhao was immediately surrounded by Caifu and the others, who were puzzled to see traces of tears on her face. Jinzhao smiled. "It’s alright now. Everything’s settled. Go fetch Mama Xu for me."
The maids cheered in delight, pulling Qingpu aside to chatter excitedly. Qingpu not having to marry Xu Houcai was truly a joyous occasion. Baiyun went to summon Mama Xu while Jinzhao personally wrote letters to Cao Ziheng and Manager Lei in her study, explaining the situation, and instructed Mama Xu to deliver them.
She then added, "...Song Xiang will be married from Cheng’an Alley. I expect Grandmother will contribute fifty taels for her dowry, so we only need to give twenty. Also, prepare some candied sweets and peach cakes as wedding gifts."
Mama Xu hesitated. "Why does the Eldest Miss look as though she’s been crying... Did Madam Feng suspect something?"
Jinzhao smiled. "Don’t worry. Madam Feng knows the waters run deep in this matter and won’t dare touch it again—she’d rather no one bring it up. My tears were just to secure our advantage." No sooner had Jinzhao left than Madam Feng had punished all the maids and servants who had witnessed the incident. Song Xiang’s admission of seducing Xu Houcai had humiliated her, and she wanted to ensure everyone kept their mouths shut.
Besides, it wasn’t as if Jinzhao had forced them to watch—how could she be blamed? On the contrary, Madam Feng would have to praise her for being sensible and proper, saving the life of her personal maid in the process.
After this incident, though Madam Feng wouldn’t completely restrain herself, she would at least behave for a good while.Mama Xu delivered the letter the next day. Upon learning that his son no longer had to marry Song Xiang, Manager Lei was immensely grateful and immediately arranged for a matchmaker to propose to the girl his son had taken a liking to. By the time Song Xiang married Xu Houcai, Mama Xu had already attended the wedding with a gift.
Soon, the eleventh month arrived.
After the Minor Snow solar term passed, the first snowfall came the following day.
On the third day of the eleventh month, the new emperor finally ascended the throne, proclaiming the era name "Wanli." A general amnesty was declared, and the entire nation celebrated.
Hearing this, Jinchao fell silent for a moment. In this life, the new emperor's enthronement had been delayed by about a month compared to her previous life.
Seizing the joyous occasion of the new emperor's ascension, Madam Feng hosted a banquet in the eastern courtyard, inviting everyone in the household. Ye Xian also came from the Marquis Changxing's residence to visit Madam Feng and Fifth Madam. After the banquet, Madam Feng invited Ye Xian to the eastern courtyard. Given his status, he should have been received in the main hall, but the western side chamber was warmer, so they conversed there instead. Madam Feng also had her new personal maid, Fuling, serve Ye Xian a cup of Huangshan Mist Bud tea.
Jinchao attended to Madam Feng by her side.
Outside, the first snow had yet to melt. Maids swept the snow off the steps with brooms, while newly bloomed plum blossoms adorned the courtyard, vibrant and lively. The western side chamber was separated by thick curtains, and the warm charcoal fire inside kept the cold at bay.
Madam Feng asked, "...With the imperial physicians attending to him, the Marquis's health should be fine now, right?"
Instead of answering immediately, Ye Xian removed his dark blue engraved gray squirrel fur cloak and casually handed it to Gu Jinzhao beside him, instructing, "Spread it over the brazier to warm for a while. Be careful not to let it catch fire."
Madam Feng was momentarily stunned before realizing—Ye Xian had mistaken Gu Jinzhao for a maid.
She had never introduced Gu Jinzhao to Ye Xian, as Jinzhao was a young lady of no noble status, making it inappropriate to present her to the heir of a marquis. But the young master must have been confused—Jinzhao's attire was nothing like a maid's.
Holding his cloak, Gu Jinzhao was both amused and exasperated. Yet, his manner was so natural, as if he were truly ordering a maid around.
Fifth Madam, who had been sipping Cordyceps Pigeon Soup, froze mid-sip, nearly choking. She handed the soup bowl to a maid before laughing and saying, "How odd of you. You remember every guard you've ever met at a glance. Yet you met your cousin's daughter last year—how could you not recognize her today and even try to order her around?"
Hearing this, Madam Feng recalled the incident from the previous year.
Ye Xian turned to look at Gu Jinzhao. She wore a pale green satin jacket with persimmon calyx patterns and a stone-blue moonlit skirt—still a plain and understated outfit. Holding his cloak, she kept her eyes downcast, avoiding his gaze. He smiled faintly and said, "Now that Eldest Sister mentions it, I do recall such a person."
Madam Feng chuckled. "She is the eldest daughter of your brother-in-law's third brother. She recently returned from Shi'an and is learning etiquette under my guidance."
Ye Xian exchanged greetings with Jinchao but paid her no further attention, instead continuing his conversation with Madam Feng: "...Father's health is no longer in serious danger, though he will need years of recuperation. There's no need for concern."
Fifth Madam smiled. "Mother, you may not know this yet, but the Marquis Changxing's household is now under our young master's management. He has also secured a position as a clerk in the Court of Judicial Review and attends to official duties there daily. And after just a few days in charge, he's already bold enough to boss his cousin's daughter around..."Madam Feng was also pleasantly surprised. Ordinary scions of noble families could at best secure positions in the Golden Crow Guard or the Imperial Clan Court. As for places like the Dali Temple, only Scholars of the Two Boards could enter... Who knew how Ye Xian had managed to get in!
Jinchao stood by listening and sighed inwardly. Just as in her past life, Ye Xian had still entered the Dali Temple...
Holding his cloak awkwardly, she eventually retreated to the side to help dry it. Once the cloak was dry, she stepped out of the western chamber and handed it to Ye Xian's page to carry properly. In the courtyard, some maids were arranging pots of four seasons begonias. Noticing they were placed incorrectly, she went over to correct them.
A short while later, Ye Xian emerged from the western chamber.
Fifth Madam was still inside chatting with Madam Feng.
Ye Xian draped the cloak over his shoulders, feeling its warmth and comfort. Gu Jinzhao must have dried it for him.
After the maids finished moving the flower pots and left, Gu Jinzhao looked up to see Ye Xian standing under the corridor, silently watching her.
His face was half-buried in the fluffy fur of the cloak. Despite his refined and handsome features, there was an almost childlike quality to him.
She approached and curtsied. "Why is the Young Master standing outside in such cold weather?"
Ye Xian replied, "You didn’t dry the cloak properly—a corner of the fur got singed. How could you mess up such a simple task?" He lifted a corner of his cloak to show her, and indeed, there was a coin-sized burnt patch.
Gu Jinzhao hadn’t noticed the damage earlier. After a moment’s thought, she smiled and said, "I must have been careless. But if the Young Master hadn’t mistaken me for a maid and ordered me around, your cloak wouldn’t have been ruined. If you’re upset... perhaps I could compensate you with a new one?"
Ye Xian chuckled. "Now you’re being petty... Fine, I won’t bother arguing. Madam Feng doesn’t seem easy to deal with. If you ever find yourself in trouble, you can write to me..." Before he could finish, a guard entered.
"My lord, Master Wei requests your presence regarding the Imperial Pharmacy..."
Ye Xian responded indifferently, then bid farewell to Gu Jinzhao. "...I’ll return in the twelfth month."
With that, he left the eastern courtyard with his entourage.
Jinchao was momentarily stunned. Why had Ye Xian told her he would return in the twelfth month? What did it matter if he came back?
Before she could ponder further, a young maid approached, saying Madam Feng wanted to speak with her.
Madam Feng wished to discuss her progress in etiquette. "...You’ve been serving me for over two months now. I’ve observed your manners in walking and sitting—all are impeccable. From now on, you needn’t attend to me daily. I wouldn’t want to hinder your other duties." She held Jinchao’s hand with a smile. "Lan Er has been serving under Second Madam but keeps conspiring with Lian jie er. How can she learn proper behavior? From now on, Lan Er will serve me instead, so I can teach her discipline. We mustn’t let her stir up mischief."
In Madam Feng’s eyes, Gu Lan’s constant companionship with Gu Lian surely meant she was a bad influence.
Jinchao curtsied in gratitude. "...Even if I no longer serve you daily, I will still come to pay my respects every morning."Madam Feng smiled at Fifth Madam and said, "Look at this girl, I told you she's well-mannered. There's no need for me to nag—her every word and action is impeccable." She then called for the maidservant outside and selected several plain satin fabrics, a pair of fist-sized bloodstone pieces, and a string of small-leaf sandalwood Buddhist beads with golden speckles from her own treasury to gift to Gu Jinzhao.
Jinchao thanked Madam Feng once again.
When she returned to Beautiful Embroidery Hall in the evening, Mama Xu was already waiting for her outside the courtyard. She took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Jinchao, saying it was from the Ji family in Tongzhou.
At this time, what could her grandmother want with her? Jinchao felt a little puzzled.
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