Chapter 143: Settled
Ji Wu Shi was overjoyed but still gave Ji Yao a stern look and asked, "Have you truly thought this through? If you change your mind halfway, don’t say your cousin Jinchao... even this old woman won’t let you off easily."
Ji Yao smiled wryly. "Grandmother, how is it that Jinchao is your dear granddaughter, but I’m not your dear grandson?"
When had he ever wavered once he made up his mind?
Ji Wu Shi was simply overanxious.
Ji Wu Shi chuckled. "Of course I know you well." Her eyes crinkled with laughter, and she seemed much more spirited. She called Mama Song in and said they would visit the Countess of Yongyang the next day. "Their family used to be neighbors with the Gu family, and they’ve always been on good terms. The Countess holds considerable status and influence. What do you think about asking her to be the matchmaker?"
Ji Yao thought for a moment and said, "The wife of Senior Secretary Xu, who acted as matchmaker for Fourth Brother, is still at our residence. Perhaps we could ask her instead..."
Ji Wu Shi stared at her grandson with amusement until Ji Yao grew embarrassed and averted his gaze.
"Since when have you been so impatient? Who’s going to snatch her away from you?" Ji Wu Shi had never seen her usually composed and obedient second grandson act so urgently before, and she found it rather amusing. Arranging a marriage proposal for Chen Xuan was one thing, but arranging one for Chaojie was entirely another. This was something that couldn’t be rushed.
Ji Yao also realized he was being too hasty and coughed lightly. "...Then I’ll trouble you, Grandmother."
He bowed and prepared to take his leave.
Ji Wu Shi added, "Speak to your mother about this. You know she’s never approved of this matter."
Ji Yao’s steps faltered, but he didn’t turn back. He felt that even if he cultivated himself for another ten years, he still wouldn’t match his grandmother’s wisdom. She understood everything clearly yet chose not to voice it, observing and discerning others' thoughts silently.
Ji Wu Shi took a sip of tea, already mentally listing the betrothal gifts to prepare. Conveniently, many of Chaojie’s belongings were already here, so there’d be no need to move the dowry back and forth! The thought made her beam with joy—soon, Chaojie would be able to stay with her in the Ji family forever.
Meanwhile, the banquet guests began to depart one after another.
An Songhuai and Chen Xuanqing were returning to the Imperial Academy and came to bid farewell to Ji Wu Shi before leaving. She gifted them a hundred taels of silver for their journey.
An Songhuai looked around but couldn’t spot Gu Jinzhao anywhere. Disappointed and reluctant to leave, he was nonetheless dragged away briskly by Chen Xuanqing as they exited the eastern courtyard.
An Songhuai grumbled, "What’s the hurry... is something chasing after you?" He had hoped to see Gu Jinzhao one last time. Next year, after taking the spring imperial examinations, he was set to formally marry the third daughter of the Marquis of Jiangyin. After that, it would be a matter of going their separate ways.
Chen Xuanqing knew exactly what was on An Songhuai’s mind—his feelings were obvious even to a blind man. Truthfully, every time he saw Gu Jinzhao, his emotions were complicated... Chen Xuanqing was aware of her special affection for him. The scar on his hand was left by her bite, and whenever asked about it, he always claimed it was from a pet cat. He still remembered the bright-eyed girl in the study, biting her lip and glaring at him with vivid intensity. Yet her relentless, unreasonable pursuit of him had only ever irritated him.
Now that Gu Jinzhao seemed to have stopped pestering him, he felt a sense of relief.Chen Xuanqing straightened his clothes. "You might not care, but I have to report to the Imperial Academy early tomorrow morning. If you're not leaving, stay here by yourself." He strode briskly toward the screen wall, while An Songhuai muttered something about bookworms before catching up.
Jinchao returned to Daxing on the third day.
Qingpu distributed the sunflower seeds, walnuts, and dried sweet potatoes they had brought back as snacks for the maids. Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhao was sorting through the items her maternal grandmother had given her. Every time she returned from Tongzhou, her grandmother would insist on loading her with piles of gifts, but this time there were noticeably fewer.
She selected a box of pine nut amber candies and several boxes of soft, sweet pastries to deliver to Madam Feng later.
Before long, Gu Yi and Gu Xi came to visit her. Gu Jinzhao had brought them several compartmented boxes filled with dried fruits and pastries, as well as some pineapple slices and durian cakes rarely seen in Yanjing. Gu Xi tugged at her sleeve and chattered, "...Grandmother said she’s teaching Third Sister etiquette now. Third Sister often goes to her place. I heard Second Sister is reciting Buddhist scriptures with Grandmother and has copied many of them... Do I have to learn etiquette and recite scriptures too?"
Gu Xi looked up at her with wide, blinking eyes. "Third Sister comes back exhausted every day. Xi Jie'er is afraid of getting tired..."
Gu Yi, ever cautious, quickly interjected, "Eldest Sister, don’t misunderstand. It’s just helping Grandmother with small tasks—nothing tiring at all."
Gu Jinzhao had already heard about this from Mama Xu. Gu Yi was now learning etiquette under Madam Feng’s strict supervision. Madam Feng, displeased that Gu Yi had been raised by a nursemaid and lacked the refined manners of Gu Jinzhao and Gu Lan, punished her harshly—making her stand for hours on end. In truth, the manners of the Gu sisters were all similar. Madam Feng’s nitpicking over Gu Yi’s etiquette stemmed from her disdain for concubine-born daughters.
And with Gu Lan fanning the flames, the situation only worsened.
Gu Jinzhao took Gu Yi’s hand, finding it icy cold, and instructed Mama Tong to bring a hand warmer. "If Grandmother makes you stand too long, take the chance when others are present to serve tea, massage her legs... She won’t be too hard on you."
Gu Yi lowered her head, her eyes reddening slightly. She missed Du Yiniang, her birth mother, who was far away in Shi'an. Though she disliked Du Yiniang’s temperament, she was still her mother—the one who made her cloaks and winter clothes every autumn and winter, along with the Zhaojun hood. When Madam Ji was alive, she had also treated Gu Yi kindly, gifting her the white fox fur cloak when she noticed Gu Yi was prone to catching colds in winter.
Now, only her eldest sister did these things for her.
Feeling the warmth of Gu Jinzhao’s palm, Gu Yi’s nose tingled with emotion. But she quickly composed herself and smiled. "Eldest Sister, it’s really nothing."
Gu Jinzhao insisted, "You’ll be paying respects to Grandmother later. I’ll go with you."
Madam Feng was delighted to hear of her return. After examining the pastries Gu Jinzhao had brought her, she beamed and said, "Chaojie truly has her grandmother in her heart!" She took Gu Jinzhao’s hand and made her sit beside her.
Though Madam Feng never voiced it, she surely harbored some resentment over Gu Jinzhao’s visits to the Ji family in Tongzhou, given the longstanding feud between the two families.
Gu Jinzhao smiled and said, "I heard Lan Er has been reciting Buddhist scriptures with you and copying many of them. Reciting scriptures brings peace and harmony, which should help temper Lan Er’s temperament. While I was away, I’m glad she was here to take care of you. Has Lan Er been attentive?"Madam Feng smiled and shook her head: "She's been reciting Buddhist scriptures with me, but it's only been a few days—nothing significant. However, she does serve me attentively and is quick to act when given tasks..."
Gu Jinzhao had long witnessed Gu Lan's talent for pleasing elders.
Upon hearing of Gu Jinzhao's return while in the study, Gu Lan came to pay her respects.
Gu Jinzhao noticed she was using that box of rose-scented cream. The cream left a subtle sweet fragrance on the skin and softened the lips' color.
"Elder Sister, you've been away for over ten days. I've missed you day and night," Gu Lan said softly with a smile. "I was afraid you might prefer the bustle of Baodi and never return. For your birthday on the 28th, I've even prepared a gift for you."
Gu Lan remained as honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted as ever.
After not hearing it for over half a month, Gu Jinzhao actually found it somewhat endearing. She smiled faintly and replied calmly, "No matter how bustling Baodi is, it's still Baodi. After all, I'm a daughter of the Gu family—how could I not return? Lan Er, you're overthinking it."
Madam Feng sipped her tea, pretending not to understand. The discord between Gu Jinzhao and Gu Lan was undoubtedly beneficial to her. She had never wanted to intervene.
Gu Jinzhao, however, grinned and said, "But Lan Er, you promised me a birthday gift—you can't go back on your word! That rose-scented cream you're using looks wonderful. Rosewater is expensive, and turning it into cream is even rarer. I can't even bring myself to buy a box for myself!"
At these words, Madam Feng's eyelids twitched. Only then did she notice Gu Lan's unusually radiant complexion.
A box of rose-scented cream cost at least eight taels of silver. Gu Lan's monthly allowance was only ten taels—where had she gotten the cream?
Madam Feng naturally didn't suspect Yao Wenxiu. She assumed Song Furen had supplemented Gu Lan's daily expenses.
This displeased her. Gu Lian's monthly allowance was only fifteen taels, yet Gu Lan was using an eight-tael rose-scented cream. And it was Song Furen who provided the funds—were they raising a daughter of the Gu family or helping to raise a daughter of the Song family?
Gu Lan's expression faltered. She had grown accustomed to the cream's fragrance after daily use, and since Madam Feng had never commented, she had used it without hesitation. Yao Wenxiu had originally given her a box, and after finding it delightful, she had used the silver from Song Furen to buy more.
How did Gu Jinzhao know about this?
Gu Lan quickly smiled and said, "If Elder Sister wants it, of course I'll give it to you. Unfortunately, I only have one box at hand..."
Madam Feng suddenly interjected, "Lan Er, stop chattering and go put these pastries away."
Gu Lan flushed, realizing Madam Feng had closed the matter and didn't wish to pursue it further, but she still felt uneasy. She curtsied and took the compartmented box of pastries to store it in the side room.
Gu Jinzhao continued entertaining Madam Feng with amusing anecdotes from her trip, making her laugh heartily.
By the time dusk fell, Gu Jinzhao returned to Beautiful Embroidery Hall to rest. Baiyun lit the pine-oil lamp and showed her the account books Cao Ziheng had sent the previous month. Mama Xu was still in Shi'an, so Baiyun had kept them safe and informed her, "Mama Xu said she'll return in two days with the young master. He misses you dearly and has been looking forward to your return for days..."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. After months apart, she wondered how much Rong'er had grown.Last month's surplus was nine hundred taels. Indeed, cutting down on some redundant shopfronts had increased the income instead. Jinchao no longer recorded this silver in the accounts of her mother's dowry. She kept it in mind and included it all in her private treasury, using it as circulating silver in the gold and silver trade.
She always had to guard against Madam Feng, lest one day she suddenly took it into her head to help manage her mother's dowry, leaving Jinchao unprepared.
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