Chapter 174: Decision
The maid acknowledged and left, returning shortly with Gu Dezhao. He had just come back from his official duties, dressed in a navy blue straight robe, his hair neatly tied with a sandalwood hairpin. His posture was upright, his features handsome and refined. Upon entering, he first paid his respects to Madam Feng before nodding and smiling slightly at Gu Jinzhao.
Gu Jinzhao couldn't help but glance at Cheng Baozhi.
When Cheng Baozhi saw Gu Dezhao, she froze for a moment, her eyes fixed on him. Madam Feng pulled her forward and introduced her with a smile, "...This is my cousin's daughter from my maiden family, so she’s also your cousin."
Only then did Cheng Baozhi snap out of her daze and curtsy. Gu Dezhao paid her little attention, merely exchanging the usual pleasantries before excusing himself.
Madam Feng glanced at Cheng Baozhi, whose cheeks were now flushed red.
Second Madam and Fifth Madam, who were present, immediately took note and exchanged subtle glances at Cheng Baozhi.
Gu Jinzhao chatted with Gu Xi, placing a piece of osmanthus honey lotus root cake into her bowl.
After noon, Madam Feng returned to the eastern courtyard for her nap. Second Madam had a maid bring out sewing baskets, needles, thread, and embroidery hoops, setting up a table in the pavilion of the flower hall. Meanwhile, Fifth Madam accompanied the ladies who had stayed after the full-month celebration to see the baby.
Second Madam handed an embroidery hoop to Cheng Baozhi and said with a smile, "Cousin Baozhi is so elegant and charming—I’m sure your needlework is just as exquisite. I’m not particularly skilled in embroidery myself, but if you’re willing, I’d love to learn a few tricks from you."
Cheng Baozhi took the hoop and smiled faintly. If nothing else, embroidery was her greatest talent. Among her sisters, hers was the best. Her stepmother had even hired a professional embroiderer to teach her, claiming her work surpassed that of the young ladies in the capital. She replied modestly, "You flatter me, Second Cousin. My skills were taught by my third sister—nothing extraordinary. I can manage a simple pattern, though!"
As Gu Jinzhao and Gu Xi worked on Chinese knots, she thought to herself how sharp Second Madam was—she had already guessed that Cheng Baozhi was Madam Feng’s intended match for her father. She glanced at Cheng Baozhi’s stitching technique before looking away.
A while later, Second Madam called her over. "...I remember Chaojie’s embroidery is outstanding. I think your cousin’s work is quite lovely—what do you think?" She handed the hoop to Gu Jinzhao.
What was Second Madam up to? Testing whether she approved of Cheng Baozhi?
Gu Jinzhao took the hoop and examined it. The piece depicted a pair of dragonflies, neat and detailed, though lacking a bit of liveliness. It was on par with most noble ladies’ work—not as good as Gu Lan’s, let alone her own. She smiled gently and said, "It’s very finely done."
Cheng Baozhi was accustomed to praise for her embroidery, so when she noticed Gu Jinzhao’s lukewarm reaction, she felt slighted. Before coming, she had thoroughly researched the Gu family and learned that Gu Jinzhao’s birth mother had died of illness, that she had a younger brother, and that she was known to be arrogant and domineering. If she really became Gu Jinzhao’s stepmother, she’d have to put the girl in her place.
Was Gu Jinzhao looking down on her because she came from a small town? How dare she?
Cheng Baozhi smiled and said, "I’m from a humble background, so my work is hardly impressive. Since Second Cousin says your embroidery is excellent, why don’t you show us?"
Her words were somewhat inappropriate, but Gu Jinzhao merely smiled without responding.Second Madam fell silent upon hearing this. She slowly took a sip of tea before saying, "Cousin, you haven't been with the Gu family long and probably haven't seen the Green Vine Courtyard on the back hill. It's secluded and elegant, quite beautiful. Right now is when the winter plums are in full bloom. Why don't I take you to see it?"
Gu Jinzhao chimed in, "Aunt, you should go with Second Aunt. Jinchao won't accompany you." She performed a curtsey and withdrew.
After Cheng Baozhi stood up and walked a few steps, she overheard a young maid muttering behind her, "Country folk have no sophistication. Who does she think she is, daring to ask our proper young lady to show her embroidery skills..."
Cheng Baozhi flushed with shame and anger.
Pretending not to hear, Second Madam cheerfully took her hand and said, "Chaojie's embroidery skills were taught by a famous master from Yanjing. She combines the strengths of Shu and Su embroidery. I happen to have a brocade handkerchief she gave me—see if you like it."
Second Madam showed Cheng Baozhi the handkerchief.
Cheng Baozhi paled and said nothing more.
Without changing her expression, Second Madam released Cheng Baozhi's hand and had her own maid show Cheng Baozhi around. Smiling, she said, "...I'm terribly sorry, but I just remembered I have matters to attend to with Mother. I'll join you shortly to chat."
Cheng Baozhi nodded absently; she wasn't particularly interested in seeing the Green Vine Courtyard anyway. She excused herself, claiming fatigue, and returned to the eastern courtyard.
As Second Madam walked with her head maid, the maid whispered, "Madam, I don't quite understand—are we trying to elevate this Miss Cheng or help Second Miss? It seems to me you're doing both..." After the recent reordering of seniority, Gu Jinzhao was now the second daughter.
Second Madam replied coolly, "If we don't elevate her, she was still chosen by Tai Furen. If we do, look at how narrow-minded she is. She hasn't even set foot in the door and already tries to manipulate Gu Jinzhao—as if Gu Jinzhao is easy to manipulate! Even if she does marry in eventually, she'll never outmaneuver Gu Jinzhao... Just wait and see. Our Second Miss is no simpleton either."
After returning to the eastern courtyard, Cheng Baozhi had Peihuan bring her a cup of tea.
As Peihuan poured the tea, she said, "No matter what, you're still her elder. That maid who spoke was utterly ill-mannered. For such a well-bred family like the Gus to say nothing to reprimand her—I don't think they're as proper as they claim... Miss, why don't we just return to Yuanzhou? What's so great about the Gu family? So many rules, and they treat us like this!"
Cheng Baozhi scolded her quietly, "What do you know!"
Peihuan bit her lip, hurt and confused about what she'd said wrong.
Seeing this, Cheng Baozhi frowned but finally said, "Go fetch the gifts Aunt sent last night."
Peihuan obediently brought out two bolts of fabric—one silver-red floral-patterned kesi silk, the other onion-green with interlocking branches and treasure-vase designs—along with a box containing six pairs of gold gourd hairpins and two strings of multicolored crystal beads. Pointing at these items, Cheng Baozhi said, "...When in Yuanzhou would we ever have such fine things? These are just greeting gifts. If I truly become the Madam of the Gu family someday, won't there be plenty more where these came from..."When it came to the master of the Gu family, she immediately thought of Gu Dezhao's handsome and upright appearance. Before coming here, she had imagined she would be marrying a man in his fifties, and had struggled with the idea. But today, seeing him in person, he was countless times better than she had imagined. This only strengthened her resolve to marry into the family no matter what.
She then pointed out the carved dressing table with gilded edges adorned with treasure-flower motifs to Peihuan: "...This afternoon when I was getting ready, Chen Yong's wife brought out three boxes of eyebrow cosmetics—mother-of-pearl powder, indigo powder, and emerald green. The rouge and face powder had such a delicate, elegant fragrance, and the texture was incredibly fine. Even if I didn’t recognize them, I could tell they were rare and exquisite... If I were back in Yuanzhou, what fine things could the Cheng family possibly offer me?"
Peihuan fell silent for a moment before asking, "If we’re staying, won’t we have to curry favor with the Gu family? But I’ve noticed that apart from Miss Lian, you don’t seem particularly warm toward the other young ladies. Especially the eldest daughter of the fourth master... Wouldn’t she be the closest to us in the future?"
Cheng Baozhi replied, "The reason I’m nice to Gu Lian is because she’s the most favored, the apple of my aunt’s eye, and destined to marry into a grand secretary’s family as a daughter-in-law... As for the other illegitimate daughters, I find their status beneath me. Once I become the mistress of the Gu family, why should I bother with them?" She took a sip of tea. "As for Gu Jinzhao... If I show weakness now, wouldn’t she just walk all over me after I marry in? That’s simply not how things should be! If I don’t assert myself now, I’ll never be able to keep her in line later. Besides, this is also my aunt’s intention..."
"As for closeness, it doesn’t matter who I’m close to—what matters is being close to my aunt. Only with her support can I establish myself in the Gu family... Let those who look down on us do as they please. There’ll come a day when they’ll regret it."
Cheng Baozhi gazed at the set of six gold-inlaid treasure-gourd hairpins, unable to tear her eyes away.
Her aunt had told her that Gu Jinzhao’s maternal family was the Ji family of Tongzhou—a family with wealth beyond counting...
She caressed the hairpins lovingly and murmured, "No matter how much hardship I endure now, what truly matters is the future. As long as I can marry into the Gu family and bear a legitimate son, won’t my position be unshakable then...?"
She simply had to marry in. The splendor she had witnessed in Yanjing these past few days surpassed everything she had seen in over a decade back home. The life of a young lady in Yanjing was the true life of a noblewoman. She had no intention of ever going back.
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