Chapter 139: Acknowledgment
Jinchao took another look at Yi Ge'er. The child's cheeks were rosy, squirming incessantly in her arms.
How could such a lively child die before even turning five...
Ji Mei, fearing she might tire from holding the child, reached out to take him. Ji Wu Shi suggested Jinchao accompany Ji Mei to pay respects to the eldest and second aunts, as she had just returned and hadn't yet visited the elders. "...It's also a good chance for you to see your third brother's child, Chun Ge'er. He's grown so well now."
Ji Mei agreed and, smiling, took Jinchao's hand. Followed by maids carrying gift boxes, the group made their way to the western courtyard.
Song Shi was discussing gifts with Liu Shi when a maid announced that the Eldest Miss had returned and was accompanied by the young mistress.
Song Shi couldn't contain her joy: "Quick, let the Eldest Miss in!"
Her only daughter—she hadn't seen her in over a year. Jizhou was far away, and with Ji Mei managing household affairs and raising a young child in her husband's home, how could she find time to return? She had been longing for this moment.
Upon entering, Ji Mei and Song Shi embraced tearfully. After a while, Song Shi finally smiled through her tears: "You're a mother now, yet you still cry so easily!" She had Ji Mei greet Liu Shi, and maids brought over embroidered stools.
Gu Jinzhao exchanged a few words with Liu Shi before sipping her tea. Song Shi and Ji Mei chatted animatedly, leaving Liu Shi somewhat neglected. Liu Shi busied herself organizing a large box of toys for Chun Ge'er, whispering to him softly.
Yi Ge'er was still in Ji Mei's arms as Song Shi playfully teased the child, then instructed Liu Shi: "...Second daughter-in-law, call for Nanny Wu and fetch that pair of gold anklets with the infant and lotus pattern from my storeroom!"
As the daughter-in-law, Liu Shi complied, setting down the child's toys and stepping out.
With no one to talk to, Chun Ge'er blinked his large eyes and stared at Jinchao's hand.
He crawled swiftly from one end of the kang.
Gu Jinzhao was startled—this child was anything but timid and seemed quite clever. Ji Anchun tugged her sleeve and said, "Aunt Jinchao, Chun Ge'er wants to play with your bracelet."
Song Shi was alarmed by his boldness and quickly interjected, "Chaojie, don't mind him. This child always wants whatever catches his eye." She motioned for the attending nanny to take him aside to play.
Jinchao was wearing an intricately braided silver bracelet today, its three intertwined strands exquisitely crafted. She didn't mind parting with it and smiled. "It's fine to let Chun Ge'er play with it for a while. Aunt, don't scold him—he's still young and naturally curious about everything."
Chun Ge'er took the silver bracelet and crawled back. Song Shi said to Jinchao, "...Thank you for indulging him!" Jinchao found Chun Ge'er's personality quite unique—when he liked something, his eyes fixated on it intently.
As she picked up her teacup again, Chun Ge'er dragged his large toy box over, huffing and puffing. Jinchao was puzzled until he opened the box generously and declared, "Aunt Jinchao, I have lots of treasures... You can pick one."
Ji Mei laughed. "Third Brother's child knows his manners—he understands the importance of returning a gift!"Jinchao looked at his full box and smiled wryly, "Auntie doesn’t need Chun Ge’er’s things. You keep them all."
Ji Anchun thought for a while, then bent over and rummaged through his box. There was a small wooden horse he liked, a Cloth tiger, and a tiny sword the length of a palm. After much hesitation, he finally chose a wooden bead painted with an image of Guan Yu and handed it to Jinchao.
"...I dug it out from a New Year’s lantern," he said solemnly as he pressed the bead into Jinchao’s hand. "I’m giving it to you."
Song Shi and Ji Mei both laughed. Yi Ge’er peeked out from Ji Mei’s arms, not understanding what was so funny, but giggled along anyway.
Gu Jinzhao stopped refusing and tucked Chun Ge’er’s gift into her sleeve. She replied just as solemnly, "Auntie thinks it’s very beautiful... Then Auntie will give you this bracelet in return." Hearing this, Ji Anchun grinned and huffed as he pushed his toy box back into place.
When Ji Yao came to pay his respects to Song Shi that evening, he saw Ji Anchun playing with a silver bracelet.
Recalling that Gu Jinzhao had been wearing a similar bracelet that morning, he asked Song Shi where the one in Ji Anchun’s hand had come from.
Song Shi recounted how Ji Anchun had asked for the bracelet. "...None of you boys were as bold as Chun Ge’er at his age. So young, yet already acting like a little adult."
Ji Yao chuckled. He hadn’t expected Gu Jinzhao to take off her bracelet for a child to play with—her temperament had truly softened a great deal.
Song Shi sighed and brought up Ji Mei’s child. "As for your elder sister’s Yi Ge’er, though he’s good-looking, he’s terribly shy..."
Ji Yao had also observed Yi Ge’er and found him less clever than Chun Ge’er. He then mentioned how Ji Mei had come to see him that afternoon.
Ji Mei had wanted to open a perfumery in Jizhou and had asked him for advice on what to watch out for.
"Elder Sister clearly knows nothing about perfumes, yet she’s in such a hurry to open a shop. She might be short on funds and hoping to make money this way. Since she’s my elder sister, I couldn’t say much... But you should advise her. Most perfume shops these days struggle—how many actually succeed? She thinks good products alone will attract buyers, but what really matters is building connections with noble families and expanding her network..."
After all, perfumes weren’t something ordinary households could afford. Ji Mei’s intentions were good, but her thinking was too simplistic.
Song Shi couldn’t help but feel a chill in her heart. "When Mei’er married, her dowry was a full one hundred and fifty loads!... How could she be short on money?" Ji Mei had married the legitimate son of the Yu family in Jizhou. The Yus had once held the position of Assistant Salt Transport Commissioner in Jizhou and were exceedingly wealthy. They had been very sincere when proposing the marriage. Recalling how Ji Mei had spoken earlier, with a subtle hint of fear toward her mother-in-law, made Song Shi even more uneasy.
She nodded and told Ji Yao to go back first. "I’ll speak clearly with your elder sister."
A married daughter’s life was dictated by her husband’s family. Unless things were truly unbearable, what room was there for her to interfere?
Ji Yao understood this well. After a moment’s thought, he said, "If Elder Sister insists on opening a shop, she’d be better off starting a trading firm to handle the Ji family’s goods. It wouldn’t require much capital—just hiring some hands would suffice." This way, it would effectively be the Ji family supporting her.
Song Shi nodded in agreement.
Ji Yao took one last glance at the bracelet in Ji Anchun’s hand before leaving Song Shi’s courtyard.Ji Yao walked along the stone-paved path, gazing at the eastern courtyard in the distance. In Eastern Dwelling stood a deciduous locust tree, planted by Gu Jinzhao when she was a child.
Yet somehow, he found himself recalling Ji Wu Shi's words. If he was unwilling to marry Gu Jinzhao, she could always wed a poor scholar or the son of a noble family. But who could predict what kind of man she would end up with? Even this legitimate son from the Yu family, carefully selected by the Ji family, had ultimately failed to treat Ji Mei well. Ji Mei cared deeply about appearances and couldn’t even bring herself to speak of her grievances in front of her own family...
And what of Gu Jinzhao? She had always been stubborn since childhood, the type who would never voice her grievances if wronged.
If Gu Jinzhao were oppressed by her mother-in-law, given cold looks by her husband, or had to endure him secretly taking concubines or keeping mistresses... The mere thought of such things was unbearable to him. How could anyone dare mistreat someone as proud and strong-willed as Gu Jinzhao?
He had never dared to bully her himself—how could he stand by and let an outsider do so?
Ji Yao’s mind was in turmoil.
When he returned to his own courtyard, he saw Ji Yun pacing back and forth under the elm tree in front of his study.
Spotting him, Ji Yun hurried over and said with great seriousness, "Second Brother, I need to talk to you about something..."
Ji Yun was genuinely anxious—this matter concerned An Songhuai.
The first time An Songhuai laid eyes on Gu Jinzhao, Ji Yun had sensed something off. The way he looked at her was anything but proper. Ji Yun had warned him, assuming An Songhuai would restrain himself afterward. Yet today, he had reverted to his old ways. When the two were alone, Ji Yun had berated him harshly, reminding him that he was already betrothed and should show some restraint.
To his shock, An Songhuai had merely sulked before replying dismissively, "It’s just a betrothal. Until the wedding takes place, does it even count?"
Those words had sent a chill down Ji Yun’s spine. Damn An Songhuai—for a scholar who had passed the provincial exams, he acted worse than a street ruffian! If he dared to persuade his family to break off the engagement and propose to Gu Jinzhao instead, Ji Yun swore he’d beat him to death!
But upon reflection, Ji Yun realized that while the idea was absurd, An Songhuai was fully capable of it. His family wasn’t as strict in upbringing as the Ji family. An Songhuai was the sole heir, doted on by his grandmother and great-grandmother. If he threw a tantrum demanding to marry a princess, his family would surely scramble to make it happen! The An family held influence in Yanjing—if they truly wanted their precious heir to wed Gu Jinzhao, they could easily make it happen.
Ji Yun felt he had to inform Ji Yao. Hadn’t the engagement been settled long ago? Why hadn’t Ji Yao proposed yet? Even if Gu Jinzhao was in mourning, he should at least formalize the betrothal—then what could the An family possibly say?
Ji Yao’s expression darkened upon hearing this.
That An Songhuai was clearly no proper gentleman. He spent his days racing horses and fighting eagles, shirking any real responsibilities. Now he had taken a fancy to Gu Jinzhao and even entertained thoughts of breaking off his engagement—what an irresponsible, reckless man. How could someone like him be allowed to pursue Gu Jinzhao?
Ji Yao stood up, deep in thought.
This matter could no longer be delayed. He had decided—he would propose to Gu Jinzhao. Marrying her was marrying her; he would accept it. Better that than letting someone like An Songhuai set his sights on her!
Meanwhile, Jinchao remained unaware of all this, quietly having her evening meal in Eastern Dwelling.She told Ji Wu Shi about Chun Ge'er's amusing antics, and Ji Wu Shi laughed heartily: "...That child is quite clever. Knowing how to trade wooden toys for your silver bracelet—he'll surely grow up to be good at making money."
Ji Wu Shi then spoke to her about the wedding banquet arrangements.
"The invitations will be sent out tomorrow, and guests will start arriving soon after... Ji Can's new house is nearly ready. We'll go take a look tomorrow. If there's anything lacking, you can help furnish it."
OpenNovel