Chapter 277: The Banquet
The fifth day of the tenth month arrived swiftly.
Jinchao instructed Caifu to wake her at the fourth watch, so Caifu dared not sleep too soundly. She curled up with a quilt outside the lattice window, dozing intermittently, checking the clepsydra from time to time. When the hour came, she hurried in to rouse her mistress.
Beyond the lattice, the sky was pitch black, but the small kitchen had already begun heating water. The muffled voices of maidservants could occasionally be heard.
Jinchao could barely open her eyes, preparing to rise, when Third Master Chen pulled her into a tight embrace.
Alert even in his drowsiness, he rested his head against her neck and murmured, "Why so early? Where are you going?"
Jinchao tried to free herself from his arms. "This concubine must oversee the kitchen. It's time to get up. You should sleep a little longer..." Third Master Chen didn’t need to rise too early. He could afford to linger until the eighth hour, when distinguished guests would begin arriving at the outer courtyard, many of whom required his personal attention.
Third Master Chen frowned and asked Caifu, "What time is it?"
Caifu replied, "The fourth watch."
Jinchao nudged his arm. "Let me get up, or Second Sister-in-law will arrive before I do."
Only then did he release her, sitting up himself. Jinchao looked at him. "Why are you getting up?"
"Since I’ll be up in another hour anyway, I might as well keep you company." Seeing she was busy, he didn’t trouble her to help him dress, instead retrieving his straight robe from the clothes rack himself. Later, he would change into his official second-rank robes to receive guests.
Maidservants filed in, carrying several red jackets. Jinchao hesitated between a watery pink and a deep crimson, thinking her youth might make the lighter shade seem too girlish. She settled on the crimson jacket and instructed the maids to style her hair in a peony bun—an intricate arrangement she usually disliked but deemed necessary today. Her jewelry included a gold filigree hairpin inlaid with tourmaline and gold floral hair ornaments. Once fully adorned, she felt she looked several years older and was pleased with the effect.
When Third Master Chen emerged from the washroom, Jinchao tilted her head and asked, "What do you think? Do I look dignified?"
He shook his head, smiling without a word.
Approaching her, he motioned for the maids to step aside. Picking up a box of rouge, he perched on the edge of her dressing table. "Look up," he murmured. As she raised her gaze, he dipped a fine brush into the rouge and lightly traced her lips.
The rouge, made from rose petals, was not overly bright but beautifully subtle.
Setting it down, he said, "I’ll accompany you." Having never managed such affairs before, he worried she might lack experience.
Jinchao shook her head. "You mustn’t. A gentleman stays clear of the kitchen." She couldn’t possibly let him follow her there.
Third Master Chen chuckled. "Since when am I a gentleman?" Realizing his presence might inconvenience her, he didn’t insist. Instead, he compromised, "Then take Granny Sun with you." Summoning Granny Sun, he instructed, "The mistress is with child—she mustn’t overexert herself. Keep a close eye on her."
Jinchao smiled wryly. "Third Master, I’m not that delicate."
He stroked her hair. "Right now, you are exactly that delicate. Truthfully, I’d rather you didn’t go..." He paused. "Never mind. I’ll come see you at noon. If anything troubles you, send for me immediately. Understood?"Gu Jinzhao nodded. By the time she went out, it was already the end of the Chen hour (around 9 AM).
When she arrived at the outer courtyard kitchen with her maids and matrons, Madam Qin was already there.
The main kitchen in the outer courtyard was a three-bay building with seven purlins. Madam Qin was dressed lavishly in a crimson gold-woven beizi, adorned with two pairs of gold longevity hairpins and ruby grape-shaped earrings. She sat on a round-backed chair outside the veranda, sipping tea while listening to a steward report to her, surrounded by a large crowd. She looked surprised when she noticed Gu Jinzhao approaching.
She had assumed Gu Jinzhao, unfamiliar with wedding banquet preparations, would sleep until the proper Chen hour (7-9 AM).
"Quick, bring a chair for the Third Madam," Madam Qin instructed a nearby matron before pulling Jinzhao down to sit beside her with a smile. "It's hard on you to come so early despite your pregnancy. I thought you wouldn't come, so I've already started here..."
The stewards and matrons from the outer courtyard, many of whom had never seen Gu Jinzhao before, all bowed in greeting.
"I'm just here to observe and learn from Second Sister-in-law," Jinzhao said with a smile, motioning for those who had greeted her to rise and distributing red envelopes to them.
Madam Qin said, "Then you sit here first," and had someone bring her silver ear soup and pastries.
The steward who had been speaking with Madam Qin continued, "Twenty-four dishes total—twelve large and twelve small. The cold meats, fresh fruits, and dried fruits were prepared days ago. For the nine hot meat dishes, the braised sea cucumber with scallions is complicated—the sea cucumbers haven't swollen enough... If we delay preparing it, we might run out of time. Among the hot dishes, the ham and shredded chicken with winter melon soup and braised mutton need to be served later."
Madam Qin frowned. "Who was in charge of soaking the sea cucumbers? Weren't these things supposed to be prepared earlier?"
The steward replied awkwardly, "Yesterday we were busy preparing the cold meats, dried peanuts, and fried cashews, so the workers weren't as careful..."
After discussing with several matrons, Madam Qin said, "Just start cooking them now. Add more water when stewing."
The steward went off to carry out the order.
As the sky gradually brightened, the kitchen became even busier, with a constant stream of people delivering and carrying dishes.
Fortunately, the inner courtyards all had their own small kitchens; otherwise, the main outer courtyard kitchen would have been overwhelmed. Gu Jinzhao silently observed the stacked dishes on the tables. She didn't speak much, only helping when Madam Qin asked for her input.
They didn't need to enter the kitchen themselves—stewards and matrons were overseeing things inside. Madam Qin only needed to make decisions when necessary.
Jinzhao recalled the time in her past life when Chen Xuanxin got married. By then, she had already held power over household affairs and had faced a similar scene. Chen Xuanxin's wedding had been sudden, and she had been much busier than now—Madam Qin and Madam Ge couldn't assist, Madam Chen was unwell, and only Wang Shi had helped her with the rituals. She had been swamped, managing both the kitchen and the guests, and by the time the newlyweds bowed in the ceremony, she had been utterly exhausted.
A matron came in to speak with Madam Qin. "...Madam Lu has arrived with her daughter-in-law."
Madam Lu's husband was a colleague of Second Master Chen, and the two families were close. Consequently, Madam Qin and Madam Lu were also on good terms.
Madam Qin stood up and said to Jinzhao with a smile, "I should go greet them first. Third Sister-in-law, please keep an eye on things here. If anything comes up that you're unsure about, send someone to let me know."
Gu Jinzhao didn't mind. "Go ahead, Second Sister-in-law. I'll take care of things here."Madam Qin walked out of the main kitchen with the maidservant, who whispered, "Madam, the Third Madam has little experience. What if she fails? Won't you also be blamed by Tai Furen..."
"I must at least let her try," Madam Qin said indifferently. "If she can't handle it, I'll step in to clean up the mess... How can a young girl like her shoulder the responsibilities of a matriarch?" If she performed poorly, it would only prove to Madam Chen who was truly capable. She saw through Madam Chen's intentions clearly. Despite all the talk about treating sons equally regardless of their birth order, when it came down to it, she still favored her own son's wife.
As soon as Madam Qin left, a maidservant hurried over to ask, "Third Madam, there’s no more space for the hot dishes. Should we add a few more tables?"
Gu Jinzhao thought for a moment and asked, "What have you prepared so far that’s taking up space?"
The maidservant replied, "Steamed wine-marinated goose feet."
"Marinated goose feet lose their flavor once cold," Gu Jinzhao said. "If they can’t be served immediately, keep them in the steamer."
The maidservant acknowledged and left.
Several others came seeking instructions. Granny Sun had intended to step in and assist, but she soon realized her help wasn’t needed. Gu Jinzhao remained composed, her actions methodical and her arrangements orderly. Moreover, she was well-versed in kitchen affairs, eliminating the need for anyone to double-check with her.
Gu Jinzhao’s throat grew dry from speaking, so she picked up her teacup for a sip. The stewards waited for her orders, not daring to make a sound.
Though young, the Third Madam of the Chen Family was decisive in both speech and action.
Once the tasks were nearly settled and most guests had arrived, Gu Jinzhao gave a few final instructions before heading to the banquet and rest area.
On the way, Granny Sun praised her, "...I never expected you to be so knowledgeable about kitchen matters. I thought you might need my help after Second Madam left."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "I learned a bit while at home."
Entering the banquet and rest area, she found it filled with guests. Madam Chen sat at the center, conversing with an elderly woman while Madam Qin attended to her. Spotting Gu Jinzhao, Madam Chen took her hand and introduced her to the others.
By noon, dishes were served in an endless stream. Madam Chen beamed as she complimented Jinzhao and Madam Qin, "The banquet is splendidly arranged!"
Madam Qin smiled and curtsied without a word.
Outside, gongs, drums, and firecrackers resounded. Maidservants scattered peanuts, longans, and copper coins for children to gleefully collect. Seated by the window, Gu Jinzhao glanced outside...wondering where Third Master Chen might be dining.
It wasn’t until late afternoon that the bride’s dowry was carried into the Chen Family, followed by the lively return of the wedding procession. Firecrackers exploded again, mingling with the clamor of voices and the din of drums—a scene of jubilant chaos.
Standing before the Leaking Windows in his study, Third Master Chen observed the festively decorated estate. The noise outside seemed distant.
Behind him, Jiang Yan reported in a low voice, "...I’ve confirmed it wasn’t Gu Lan who poisoned the pastries, but a maid of Yao Wenxiu... However, Gu Lan has already been confined by Madam Yao. Madam Yao is convinced she’s the culprit. Gu Lan is now crying and demanding to see Madam Yao, claiming innocence and insisting she has vital information that could save her life..."
Since it had nothing to do with Yao Ping, Third Master Chen paid it little mind.He turned around and looked at Jiang Yan, speaking calmly, "Have you found out about Madam's affairs?"
Jiang Yan continued, "What I have to report is indeed related to Madam. Madam originally lived in Shi'an, and many people knew her, but with the passage of time, others couldn't provide clear details... I managed to find a maid who once served the Gu family. The maid had married far away to Baoding Shulu, and I had to go through considerable effort to make her talk before I could get the full story."
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