Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 144: Obstruction

Gu Lan returned to Yixiang Courtyard, her heart still filled with resentment.

Throughout the entire day, Madam Feng had not shown her any kindness, while Gu Yi had received a few words of praise from her.

She stared at the cosmetics box on her dressing table for a long time before gently pulling open the small copper ring and taking out the box of rose-scented cream. Young Master Yao often sent things through the side gate, but they were always for Gu Lian. Madam Feng knew about this but never questioned it.

That day, when Mu Jin went to the side gate, she was stopped by a laborer delivering vegetables, who shoved a box into her hands, saying it was for the Second Miss, specially ordered by Young Master Yao. Mu Jin was startled and quickly slipped a few coins to the laborer, urging him never to speak of it.

When she brought it back to Gu Lan, they discovered it was a box of rose-scented cream. Why would Young Master Yao send her this? Gu Lan thought of Gu Lian’s box of floral appliqués—both were delicate items used by women in their boudoirs.

Her heart pounded like a drum, but she also felt a pang of disappointment. Young Master Yao had only sent her an item without a single word, clearly not putting in any real thought. The one he could marry was only Gu Lian, the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, with a doting mother and grandmother—someone worthy of his status.

Mu Jin poured hot water to warm her hands and noticed Gu Lan sighing softly.

She carefully applied osmanthus oil to Gu Lan’s hands. "Next time Tai Furen asks you to wash the inkstone, you should refuse… Look, your hands are red from the cold. It pains me to see."

Gu Lan replied, "If it wasn’t this, it would’ve been something else… But I have something to ask you. When you took that box of rose-scented cream, did anyone see you?"

Mu Jin smiled. "There are always people coming and going at the side gate, so someone must have seen. But many people pass things there—I shouldn’t have stood out. Unless someone was deliberately watching, they wouldn’t have noticed…" She looked up at Gu Lan, surprised. "Are you saying…?"

"Gu Jinzhao must have sent someone to watch you," Gu Lan warned. "From now on, when you go to fetch things, be extra careful."

She bit her lip. Being careful alone wouldn’t be enough—it would be best to send someone else. Unfortunately, all the maids under her were assigned by Madam Feng, and she dared not use them. Gu Jinzhao probably didn’t know this was sent by Young Master Yao, or else, given her temperament, she would have clung to the matter relentlessly…

Mu Jin nodded in agreement and then added, "By the way, Song Furen sent a message. She said she’s arranged a match for our Eldest Miss, and the matchmaker will come tomorrow…"

Gu Lan nearly knocked over the basin. "Grandmother is arranging a match for Gu Jinzhao? Did she say which family?"

She then scolded Mu Jin, "…Why didn’t you say so earlier!"

Mu Jin felt wronged—she had assumed the Second Miss already knew.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "The messenger didn’t explain clearly. It seems to be the eldest legitimate son of Lord Wang, the Assistant Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture."

Gu Lan had never heard of this person and felt that Song Furen was rather unreliable. If she wanted to arrange a match for Gu Jinzhao, she should have discussed it with her first. The Assistant Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture held a sixth-rank official position, but she had no idea what the eldest son was like. The status didn’t sound bad at all. She frowned in thought for a long while before Mu Jin spoke again. "Second Miss, don’t worry. I know about this eldest son."

Gu Lan glanced at her. "What do you know about him?"Mu Jin thought for a moment and said, "This servant has only heard rumors... Lord Wang's eldest legitimate son has a violent temper. He had a bedroom servant girl by his side who, in a bid for favor, secretly stopped taking her contraceptive medicine. When she became pregnant and Lord Wang found out, he summoned the young master and scolded him harshly. In response, the young master returned to his quarters and beat the pregnant girl to death... a tragedy of two lives lost! Not only did he kill her, but he also displayed her corpse in the main hall for all his servant girls to see, warning them that disobedience would lead to the same fate."

"Such scandals are usually kept quiet, but the young master's actions made it common knowledge... Lord Wang was furious, but Madam Wang, ever protective of her son, defended him, saying the girl had disobeyed and deserved her fate."

Gu Lan felt a chill run down her spine. Though the girl had broken the rules, she had been his bed companion and carried his child. Even if punishment was necessary, there was no need to make such a spectacle of it! "...He's ruthless," Gu Lan mused, then suddenly laughed. "A perfect match for our Eldest Miss. Both have terrible tempers. She’s always flaunting her status as the legitimate daughter—marrying him might finally teach her some humility!"

If Gu Jinzhao married this young master, it would be a match of equal standing. As long as Madam Feng agreed and convinced their father, the marriage could proceed. After all, she only cared about appearances when it came to the children of the third branch, not whether Gu Jinzhao would truly be happy.

She wondered how persuasive the matchmaker Song Furen had hired would be. With silver-tongued eloquence, this marriage would surely go smoothly...

Gu Lan eagerly awaited the drama. Stroking her gilded rouge box, she smiled and said to Mu Jin, "My elder sister should thank me... If not for my grandmother’s help, she might not even have had a single suitor come calling..."

She went to bed smiling, looking forward to seeing Gu Jinzhao’s humiliation the next day.

The following day, however, Gu Jinzhao went to discuss matters with Second Madam. Since Gu Jinrong was returning, arrangements had to be made for his lodging. It was decided he would stay in the west courtyard’s side rooms with Gu Jin Xiao. He originally had two attendants, Qing An and Qing Xiu, so no additional servants were needed. But Gu Jinzhao harbored reservations about these two. In her past life, they had led Jinrong astray under Gu Lan’s orders. Keeping such people around was inherently unsafe.

Jinchao planned to discuss replacing the attendants with Jinrong after his return.

Second Madam pointed out the Hexi Hall, nestled beside a pagoda tree and a pond: "It’s adjacent to your grandmother’s small prayer hall—cool in summer and warm in winter..."

As she spoke with Gu Jinzhao, Caifu hurried in, first paying respects to Second Madam before smiling at Jinchao. "Miss, you mentioned delivering Sichuan fritillary and lamb lung soup to Tai Furen at noon. This servant noticed we’re out of Sichuan fritillary and came to ask for funds..."

Each household’s kitchen expenses were covered by their monthly allowances, which were typically managed by Mama Xu, so Jinchao rarely had to deal with such matters.

Caifu must have had something urgent to discuss, otherwise she wouldn’t have come to Second Madam’s Xianya Hall.

Gu Jinzhao smiled at Second Madam and followed Caifu outside. A bitter wind howled, stripping the trees bare. The cold was piercing.Caifu whispered to Jinchao, "Madam Wang, the wife of Lord Wang, the assistant prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, has come to visit Tai Furen to propose a marriage between her eldest legitimate son and you. As soon as the news came from the eastern courtyard, I rushed to inform you. I was afraid of delaying the matter..."

Gu Jinzhao frowned. Why would someone suddenly come to propose marriage to her... and it was the eldest legitimate son of the assistant prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

When proposing marriage to a woman, it was customary to send a respected elder as a matchmaker. What did it mean for Madam Wang to come herself? Moreover, her reputation wasn’t exactly stellar, so the family proposing likely wasn’t reputable either. There must be something fishy about this...

Gu Jinzhao immediately said to Qingpu, "Send word to Second Aunt. Tell her I have urgent matters and will visit her this afternoon."

Qingpu acknowledged and left.

As she walked toward the Beautiful Embroidery Hall, she asked Caifu, "Does Mama Xu know about this?"

Caifu nodded. "Mama Xu already knows and has written to Manager Luo to inquire about Lord Wang. But many people are aware of the eldest son of the Wang family..." She then recounted how the young master Wang had beaten his pregnant maid to death.

Only then did Gu Jinzhao vaguely recall having heard of this young master Wang before. In her past life, due to his violent temper, he had struggled to secure a marriage. Later, he married a girl from a humble family, who died in childbirth within a year. His mother arranged for him to remarry, but he continued to torment his new wife. Eventually, even his mother grew disillusioned and demanded he divide the family estate with his half-brother. In a dispute over the inheritance, he struck his elderly mother, who was already over seventy. She passed away soon after, and his half-brother had him arrested by the authorities.

No wonder this marriage proposal had landed on her! It was this young master Wang!

But in her past life, the Wang family had never come to propose to her.

Caifu cautiously glanced at Gu Jinzhao and asked, "What does the young mistress plan to do..."

What else could she do? She naturally couldn’t marry such a person. Her father likely wouldn’t agree, but Madam Feng was another matter. She was already sixteen, and with a marriage proposal from a family of decent status, Madam Feng would certainly consider it.

However, Madam Wang had come herself to propose, which was already a sign of disrespect. Madam Feng would surely feel displeased.

Gu Jinzhao decided to first sound out Madam Feng’s stance.

She instructed Caifu to bring the soup prepared for Madam Feng and deliver it to the eastern courtyard in a food box.

The lattice windows of the western chamber in the eastern courtyard were tightly shut. The matron guarding the door gave an awkward smile upon seeing her. "Young Mistress, you’ve come unusually early today. Tai Furen is still discussing matters inside."

Gu Jinzhao noticed two unfamiliar maids in dark brown sleeveless jackets standing at the door.

She replied coolly, "It’s no trouble. I’ll wait here a while longer. Is Grandmother meeting with Fifth Aunt inside?"

Hearing this, Madam Feng could no longer pretend and sent Fuling to call her in.

"It’s too cold for you to wait outside..." Madam Feng had Fuling take the food box and said with a smile, "This is Madam Wang, the wife of Lord Wang, the assistant prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. You should greet her properly."Madam Wang sat on a brocade stool nearby. She wore a dark blue velvet robe embroidered with golden floral patterns and a pair of gold Fu-Shou hairpins at her temples, adorned with a South Sea Pearls headband. Two well-dressed maids stood beside her, her entire demeanor exuding nobility. When she saw Gu Jinzhao enter, she immediately sized her up from head to toe and smiled, saying, "So this is your Eldest Miss?"

Gu Jinzhao curtsied in greeting.

Madam Feng smiled and said, "She's the eldest daughter of the third branch. Well-mannered, polite, and quite beautiful—I’ve kept her by my side, reluctant to let her marry."

A faint smirk crossed Madam Wang’s lips. Reluctant to let her marry? More like no one has come to propose!

Gu Jinzhao’s heart sank. If Madam Feng said that, it meant she considered Madam Wang’s marriage proposal acceptable!

She maintained her smile, but her mind raced. Judging by Madam Wang’s expression, she didn’t seem entirely pleased with the match either. Who convinced her to propose? There must be someone meddling behind the scenes.

Could I use this to my advantage and reject this proposal?

PS: Thank you to book friends 140121184934099, 090428180738524, Yuanlai Qiqiao, 140519123843421, and Kawabera for the pink votes, as well as Xiaoyuanzi and sunflower889 for the peace talismans~~