Chapter 180: Acknowledgment
Ji Wu Shi took a sip of tea before leisurely saying, "This Miss Xu... she is the second legitimate daughter of the Director of the Office of Transmission..."
Madam Feng felt a twitch in her forehead. "Old Madam Ji! I already know that. What I want to ask is how this marriage arrangement came about?"
Ji Wu Shi glanced at her. "Don’t be impatient, old sister. I was just getting to that. This Miss Xu the Third is virtuous, gentle, and respectful. Though not exceptionally beautiful, she has a clean and proper appearance—healthy and well-mannered. Didn’t you already approve of these qualities? Why are you asking me now?"
Madam Feng suppressed her irritation for a long moment before finally saying, "Please wait in the banquet and rest area for a while, Old Madam Ji. I have some matters to attend to briefly."
Ji Wu Shi smiled and replied, "No trouble at all."
After returning to the western side chamber, Madam Feng summoned Xu Momo and asked her what kind of person this Miss Xu the Third truly was.
Xu Momo had always been thorough in her inquiries. "Tai Furen, Miss Xu the Third is indeed quite suitable. However, she is a bit older—already nearly twenty... Rumor has it she was too picky in her younger years, and her looks were only average, so she remained unmarried. Now that she’s older, it’s even harder to find a match."
Madam Feng frowned. The age wasn’t a major issue. Since Gu Dezhao was remarrying, it might be difficult to refuse. And besides, they couldn’t refuse...!
The thought made her gnash her teeth in frustration.
The Xu family must have ties to the Ji family. She refused to believe this wasn’t part of someone’s scheme! Who asked Ji Wu Shi to meddle by proposing a match for Gu Dezhao, even claiming it was done on her instructions...
Gu Dezhao arrived promptly at the eastern courtyard after receiving Madam Feng’s summons. As soon as he entered the western chamber and bowed, Madam Feng snapped, "Explain yourself! What is this about Miss Xu the Third?"
Gu Dezhao was baffled. Cupping his hands, he replied, "Mother, what Miss Xu the Third? I don’t understand."
Madam Feng trembled with anger, her voice icy. "Your dear mother-in-law has already arranged the marriage for you. How could you not know?"
Gu Dezhao was still confused.
Beside them, Xu Momo quietly explained in a few words about Ji Wu Shi’s visit to propose the match.
Gu Dezhao then clarified, "Mother, you’ve misunderstood. After our last discussion, I carefully considered the matter. Since we needed someone reliable to manage the household, I thought long and hard and recalled Miss Xu the Third—we once met briefly during a banquet at the Ji family. Coincidentally, my mother-in-law is acquainted with Madam Xu, so I inquired a little. She must have taken my words as our intention and proceeded with the proposal."
Madam Feng glared at him coldly. "Such an important matter, and you didn’t even consult me before running to Ji Wu Shi? Going behind my back to settle a marriage—what else are you capable of? Do you even see me as your mother anymore?"
Gu Dezhao was equally aggrieved. "Mother, I truly didn’t know about this! I only asked my mother-in-law a few questions, intending to inform you once things were settled. Who knew she misunderstood and thought it was our wish, then went ahead and finalized the arrangement?"Madam Feng felt the blood rushing to her head. Gu Dezhao was just passing the buck! Ji Wu Shi had shifted the explanation onto him, and now he was pushing it back onto Ji Wu Shi. Both of them were giving her the runaround, washing their hands of any responsibility! She couldn’t help but scold, “How can this be unclear? Fourth Son, you’re heartless! You’re in cahoots with Ji Wu Shi to scheme against our Gu family! You clearly know I had someone in mind. You just don’t like this old woman, do you…”
Gu Dezhao was even more baffled: “Mother, what do you mean? Who did you have in mind…? My mother-in-law has already settled the marriage arrangement. Shouldn’t this be a good thing? Why do you seem unhappy about it?”
Madam Feng nearly fainted from anger!
After a long while, she took a deep breath. Right, who had she had in mind? She had outright denied in front of Gu Dezhao that she wanted to betroth Cheng Baozhi to him and had instead advised him to take a new wife. And now he had gone and chosen Miss Xu the Third—aside from being slightly older, she was impeccable in every way. She should be happy that the marriage was settled and even thank Ji Wu Shi. After all, the latter had let bygones be bygones and helped secure a good match for Gu Dezhao…
Madam Feng had never felt so humiliated before. None of the words she had prepared could come out.
What could she say? She had no grounds to reprimand Gu Dezhao. The only thing she could do was thank Ji Wu Shi and accept this marriage arrangement.
If she were to break off the engagement with the Xu family on the pretext that Ji Wu Shi had misunderstood, it would become a huge scandal. The Xu and Gu families would surely become enemies from then on, and the Xu family’s patriarch, the esteemed Commissioner of the Office of Transmission, was not someone they could afford to offend.
Seeing Madam Feng silent, Gu Dezhao continued, “This was also my fault for not informing you beforehand, Mother. Since my mother-in-law has already settled it, we can’t go back on it now. I think it’s best we just proceed with it…”
Madam Feng looked up at him.
After Gu Dezhao left, Madam Feng smashed her favorite white-glazed celadon teacup with chrysanthemum and plum designs. It took her a long while before she called Fuling over and said in a gloomy tone, “…Go invite Ji Wu Shi here.”
Gu Jinzhao arrived at the eastern courtyard but lingered outside for a while before entering.
Maids, old servants, and married women stood outside the central hall, heads bowed and staring at their shoes, not daring to make a sound.
Mama Song, who served Ji Wu Shi, walked over to her and whispered with a smile, “Young Miss… it’s all settled. Tai Furen is inside speaking with Old Madam Gu. She’ll be out soon.”
Gu Jinzhao sighed in relief. With her grandmother here, she truly didn’t have to worry about anything.
A short while later, Ji Wu Shi emerged from the western chamber with a smile, saying Madam Feng had claimed illness and refused to see anyone.
Gu Jinzhao escorted Ji Wu Shi back to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall and thanked her profusely. Ji Wu Shi pinched her nose playfully and said, “You owe your grandmother far more than this! No need to thank me for such a small matter!”
After the maids served tea and snacks, Ji Wu Shi recounted how she had infuriated Madam Feng, who had been so angry her veins nearly popped but still had to hold it in—and even ended up thanking her. Jinzhao listened and chuckled. “…This was all thanks to you, Grandmother. Father’s marriage—you’ve settled it with Grandmother?”
Ji Wu Shi nodded. “We discussed it first and will invite the Dowager Lady of Dingguo, Lady Fan, to formally propose the marriage as the matchmaker. Both sides will finalize the arrangement first. The wedding will take place after your father’s mourning period ends in May.”Gu Jinzhao pondered for a long time before sighing, "Although it's good that Miss Xu the Third is marrying into our family, I still can't let go when I think of Mother..." But this was already the best outcome—far better than Madam Feng choosing someone like Cheng Baozhi to be her stepmother.
Ji Wu Shi held Jinchao's hand and said softly, "Jingyi is a loyal and kind-hearted child. If she were to marry the eldest son of the Luo family, it would be a waste. She's very mature and steady. If you marry in the future, with her in the fourth branch, Madam Feng won’t be able to do anything to your younger siblings." Thinking of Madam Ji's death, she hated Gu Dezhao intensely and wished for him to die in regret to vent her anger! But these words couldn’t be spoken to Jinchao.
Jinchao could only voice such thoughts in front of her grandmother. She squeezed Ji Wu Shi's hand and smiled. "Jinchao understands everything."
Ji Wu Shi chuckled. "Well, as long as it's not Madam Feng's niece marrying in. I just caught a glimpse of that Cheng Baozhi—she’s truly shabby, wearing several bracelets on her wrist as if she’s not afraid of weighing them down..." She added, "You clever girl, coming up with such an idea! Now Madam Feng has no choice but to swallow her bitterness!"
After chatting for a while, Ji Wu Shi, who still had matters to attend to in Tongzhou, took her carriage and left.
By evening, someone from the eastern courtyard came to summon Gu Jinzhao—Madam Feng wanted to see her.
Gu Jinzhao changed into a thick winter coat and went to the eastern courtyard. Not only had she arrived, but all the younger sisters from the fourth branch were also present. Second Madam sat beside Madam Feng, while Fifth Madam cradled the sleeping Eleventh Young Miss, gently patting her as she spoke with Second Madam.
Cheng Baozhi stood on the other side of Madam Feng, her eyes red.
Gu Jinzhao noticed that one of the gold-and-jade hairpins Cheng Baozhi usually wore was missing, and her face looked haggard.
Madam Feng gestured for her to sit on an embroidered stool, her expression unreadable as she counted her Buddhist beads. "Chaojie, you know your grandmother visited this afternoon. She arranged a marriage for your father—the third daughter of the Xu family, the Commissioner of the Office of Transmission. Once she marries in, she’ll be your stepmother. You all must prepare yourselves. After your father’s mourning period ends in May, the wedding will be held in June..."
Gu Lan looked surprised and glanced at Cheng Baozhi. Gu Xi and Gu Yi, however, turned to Gu Jinzhao—their eldest sister was their pillar of support.
Cheng Baozhi bit her lip, silent, but tears streamed down her face.
Madam Feng pretended not to notice and continued, staring at Gu Jinzhao. "Chaojie, as the legitimate daughter of the fourth branch, you must take on more responsibility. In a few days, I’ll be meeting Miss Xu the Third. Talk to your younger sisters—once your stepmother enters the household, you must treat her with respect and not offend her..."
She hoped to glean something from Gu Jinzhao’s expression, but the girl only showed a brief flicker of surprise before obediently agreeing, as if she knew nothing. There was no trace of sorrow or anger at her words.
Madam Feng felt as though she had punched cotton, only growing more suspicious. Ji Wu Shi suddenly arranging a marriage for Gu Dezhao couldn’t be so simple. Even if Ji Wu Shi had helped, she didn’t believe for a second that Gu Jinzhao hadn’t played a part in it.
Madam Feng couldn’t help but recall the incident during Gu Lian’s coming-of-age ceremony when she had tried to make Gu Jinzhao take the blame for Gu Lian, only for Gu Jinzhao to threaten suicide.
...This granddaughter of hers was truly no ordinary person!Gu Jinzhao knew that Madam Feng suspected her, but the matter was perfectly reasonable, and Madam Feng's suspicions were of no use.
She calmly responded to Madam Feng's words.
After giving her orders, Madam Feng felt utterly exhausted and dismissed everyone.
Once the others had left, Cheng Baozhi knelt down, clutching Madam Feng's legs, and sobbed, "Aunt, how can I go on now that you've made this decision...?" For her, Madam Feng suddenly arranging another marriage for Gu Dezhao was nothing short of a bolt from the blue. Before this, she had even made plans for what she would do once she married Gu Dezhao and became the mistress of the Gu family. Everything had seemed so perfect—how could it all slip away now, like a cooked duck about to fly off?
Madam Feng had made her travel all the way from Jiangxi, only to have Gu Dezhao marry someone else—wasn't this just playing her for a fool?
She refused to accept this!
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