Chapter 173: Garden Tour
Madam Feng smiled and said to them, "...Your cousin rarely visits Yanjing, so she'll be staying for a while. Make sure to keep her company when you have time. For now, she'll stay with me in the eastern courtyard." Everyone acknowledged her words, and Madam Feng then instructed Xu Momo to prepare the side rooms in the eastern courtyard for Cheng Baozhi to inspect. If anything needed to be added, she was to send someone to inform her.
After Cheng Baozhi left, Madam Feng continued, "Your cousin is from Yichun, Jiangxi—a small place where people haven't seen much of the world. Be patient with her. My own younger sister married into Jiangxi, and Cheng Baozhi is her youngest daughter. Though you address her as 'cousin,' she's only just reached marriageable age this year." She paused briefly before turning to Gu Jinzhao. "You have the gentlest temperament, so accompany her more often."
Gu Jinzhao agreed.
Soon after, the full-month banquet began, and she returned to Beautiful Embroidery Hall.
The kitchen maids from the outer courtyard had just delivered a basket of red-dyed eggs—a customary gift for the eleventh young miss's full-month celebration, distributed to all the household maids. Mama Xu divided the eggs and, noticing Jinzhao deep in thought, followed her into the study and asked quietly, "Eldest Miss, is something troubling you...?"
Gu Jinzhao found Cheng Baozhi rather peculiar.
Madam Feng had a distant relative staying over, even sharing the eastern courtyard with her. From Madam Feng's tone, she didn't seem inclined to send her away anytime soon. The Cheng family of Yichun—Jinzhao had never even heard of them. Why would Madam Feng keep such a person in the Gu household?
She recalled Cheng Baozhi's eager smile when speaking to Gu Lian.
To Mama Xu, she said, "It's hard to say for now." She then asked for paper and brush to write a letter to Luo Yongping, instructing him to investigate the Cheng family thoroughly.
She also summoned Yuzhu and Xiuqu: "...Go to the stables in the front courtyard and see if there's a donkey cart tied up there. Speak to the old man driving it—ask where he came from and his purpose. Just say you're junior maids doing odd jobs in the Gu household."
Yuzhu was clever and young, making her well-suited for the task.
Yuzhu promptly took Xiuqu with her. Among the many carriages in the outer courtyard stables, a donkey cart stood out conspicuously.
Before long, she returned to report.
"Young Miss, we did find the donkey cart. The old driver wasn't there, but a maid was standing nearby—a little older than me. I shared my red egg with her. She said she was the maid of the Cheng family's fourth young miss, accompanying her to Yanjing to prepare for marriage. The fourth young miss's aunt is the mistress of a wealthy and noble household in Yanjing and can arrange a good match for her."
Yuzhu added, "The maid was wearing a pink cotton jacket with floral patterns, but she had a solid gold bracelet on her wrist."
Jinzhao praised Yuzhu and gave her the remaining red eggs from the basket.
The next day, Madam Feng instructed Gu Lian, Jinzhao, and the others to accompany Cheng Baozhi on a tour of the Gu residence.
Cheng Baozhi wore a bright red silk jacket woven with silver threads in a ruyi pattern, paired with an eight-paneled green ramie horse-face skirt. Her hair was adorned with a pair of gold filigree hairpins inlaid with rubies, while her ears bore delicate pink South Sea pearls. Behind her stood the maid in the pink floral-patterned cotton jacket—shorter than her, with delicate features, named Peihuan.
Gu Lian nearly burst out laughing at the sight, turning away to suppress her amusement by staring at a nearby wintersweet tree.Cheng Baozhi didn’t seem to mind and continued chatting cheerfully with Gu Lian: “...I heard my niece is engaged to the son of a Grand Secretary—such an illustrious match! Back in Yichun, the highest-ranking official we ever saw was my father...”
She went on about her life in Yichun. Originally from Ganzhou, Jiangxi, her father was a jinshi from the Dingmao examination cycle. Though he didn’t qualify as an Imperial Academy Bachelor, he was assigned as a ninth-rank secretary in Yuanzhou Prefecture and only promoted to seventh-rank magistrate of Yichun three years ago. Once she got going, she proved quite the talker—eloquent and flattering, capable of heaping praise sky-high. Gu Lian smiled faintly in response: “Aunt, you exaggerate...”
Cheng Baozhi only doubled down on the flattery: “Not at all! I simply speak my mind. We don’t stand on ceremony like you do here!”
When Cheng Baozhi turned to Gu Jinzhao, her smile noticeably cooled. As she spoke, her eyes swept over Gu Jinzhao from head to toe, her gaze laden with unspoken meaning. Unsettled by the scrutiny, Gu Jinzhao set down her teacup and asked with a smile, “Does Aunt find something amiss?”
Cheng Baozhi shook her head, replying slowly, “Chaojie is so lovely—your late mother, whom I never met, must have been a great beauty!”
Jinchao replied, “You flatter me, Aunt. I’m merely passable.”
The words sent a shiver down her spine.
After the morning garden stroll, Cheng Baozhi returned to the eastern courtyard. Madam Feng summoned her for a chat.
“...How are you getting along with your nieces?”
Cheng Baozhi curtsied respectfully. “Lian jie er is lively and sweet, and the other daughters treat me with respect. Chaojie is rather quiet... but truly stunning.” Compared to Gu Jinzhao, Gu Lian and the others paled like leaves beside a blooming flower—each pretty in her own right, yet merely average when standing next to her. If Cheng Baozhi were a man, she’d favor a beauty like Gu Jinzhao too... The thought left her vaguely unsettled.
Madam Feng hummed in acknowledgment. “What do you think of the Gu family?”
This time, Cheng Baozhi hesitated before answering, “Under your stewardship, Aunt, the household naturally thrives. The estate is magnificent—even the maids dress better than our family’s daughters. The gifts you sent me last night—I’d never seen their like before.” She smiled. “Take these South Sea pearls, for instance. I’d never known they came in pink. And these gold hairpins—six taels of pure gold...”
Madam Feng’s lips twitched slightly. For the daughter of a jinshi, Cheng Baozhi seemed oddly unsophisticated. But perhaps that was for the best—someone like her wouldn’t last long in the Gu household without support. She’d be easy to control.
Dismissing Cheng Baozhi to rest, Madam Feng sighed deeply and turned to Xu Momo. “What do you make of her?”
Xu Momo said, “She’s certainly deferential to you and gets along well with the young ladies. But her family background is lacking...”
Madam Feng replied, “What choice do I have? The Feng family has no suitable women, or I wouldn’t have picked from the Chengs. My younger sister wasn’t as fortunate as I—after marrying into the Cheng family, she bore four daughters in a row, letting the concubine who bore a son climb over her head. Refusing to accept it, she tried for another child past forty, and that pregnancy took her life. Cheng Baozhi was raised by a wet nurse. No properly raised young lady would lack even the most basic refinement—like never having tasted pea cakes...”Xu Momo sighed, "She's quite pitiful too. From what this servant observed, she doesn't seem to know much about dressing properly..."
As Xu Momo spoke, Madam Feng frowned, not wishing to elaborate further. "...It gives me a headache. Later, take Chen Yong's wife to teach her how to dress properly. A perfectly fine young lady, dressed in gaudy reds and greens, and pairing them with pink South Sea pearls... Once she's properly groomed, bring her to see me. At noon, take her to the west courtyard to join the banquet, and let Fourth Master meet her as well."
Xu Momo withdrew.
Not long after Gu Jinchao returned to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall, Luo Yongping's letter arrived.
Since Jiangxi was too far away, Luo Yongping first inquired about the Cheng family from the Feng family in Liangxiang and sent over the initial findings. Once his men reached Jiangxi, a second letter would follow.
After reading the letter, Gu Jinchao smiled and asked Mama Xu to bring over the candlestick. Mama Xu was puzzled, "Miss, what did Shopkeeper Luo say?"
As she burned the letter, Gu Jinchao replied calmly, "A month ago, Grandmother sent someone to the Feng family to ask if they had any eligible young ladies. The Fengs didn't, so she inquired among families related to them by marriage and finally settled on Cheng Baozhi. And now, in great haste, they've brought her all the way from Jiangxi, claiming she's here to visit relatives in the capital. Do you believe that?"
Mama Xu was still confused, "You mean..."
Gu Jinchao said coolly, "If Father gets promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue, do you think Grandmother would be anxious? She's afraid we'll become too independent for her to control. So she's rushing to find a girl from her own family to marry in. She can use the stepmother's authority to keep me in check and whisper into Father's ear. Controlling a daughter-in-law is much easier for her than controlling us."
Mama Xu's expression darkened at this. She had caught a glimpse of Cheng Baozhi the previous day, "Someone like her... how could she marry into the Gu family! Back then, Tai Furen even looked down on our late mistress, yet now she approves of this Cheng Baozhi?"
Jinchao smiled, "The daughter of a Jinshi, under her control, and very kind to Gu Lian. Isn't that exactly her criteria for a daughter-in-law?"
Recalling what Cheng Baozhi had said earlier that day, she felt deeply uncomfortable.
Mama Xu hesitated. Naturally, they didn't want such a person marrying into the Gu family, especially as Jinchao's stepmother. But matters of marriage were decided by parental authority and matchmakers—they had no grounds to object. Gu Dezhao's mourning period was nearly over, and in any case, he would need to remarry. This wouldn't change because of them.
Jinchao was also pondering the matter. Rather than letting Madam Feng bring in someone like this, it would be better for her to take the initiative and choose a stepmother for her father. At the very least, this stepmother shouldn't side with outsiders! She couldn't openly interfere, but her father could certainly voice his opinion about his own marriage.
First, they needed to decide on a candidate. But where could she find a suitable person on such short notice?
Just then, Madam Feng sent someone to summon Jinchao to the west courtyard for lunch.
Gu Jinchao changed into a lotus-root-colored winter coat with lotus petal patterns and a plain, light-colored Xiang skirt before heading over.The womenfolk were dining in the flower hall, while the masters of the Gu family were in the banquet and rest area. She sat down beside Gu Xi and noticed Cheng Baozhi standing behind Madam Feng. This time, Cheng was dressed much more elegantly - wearing a long pink jacket sprinkled with vermilion floral patterns, paired with a dark green plain skirt with embroidered lines. Her jet-black hair was styled in a parted hair bun, adorned with a kingfisher-feathered golden phoenix hairpin. With light makeup applied, she looked quite beautiful indeed.
Madam Feng was speaking with Fifth Madam, inquiring about the wet nurse's meals. After a while, she summoned a maid nearby and asked, "Go check if Fourth Master has returned yet. He left early this morning and still hasn't come to pay his respects."
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