Chapter 27: Eavesdropping
Gu Jinzhao explained to her grandmother: "Do you still remember Yun Xiang, the maidservant who accompanied Mother to the Gu family as part of her dowry?"
Ji Wu Shi naturally nodded and said, "Yun Xiang grew up with your mother since childhood. After your father took Song Miaohua as his concubine, I advised your mother to have your father accept Yun Xiang. Later she was elevated to concubine status, but was unfortunate—she died before her child was born."
Jinzhao smiled: "Father may not be as devoted as he appears, but he doesn't take just anyone either... Mother said that Father was very fond of Yun Xiang back then, otherwise he wouldn't have accepted her so readily. After Yun Xiang became a concubine, Concubine Song also lost favor for a time..."
Of course, this wasn't something her mother had told her directly. After hearing her mother's remarks, she had inquired with Mama Tong to get these details.
Her grandmother looked at her with an odd expression: "Are you thinking of..."
Jinzhao nodded: "Yun Xiang had two elder sisters—one was Concubine Yun, Yun Jin, and another named Yun Yan, who reportedly married the son of a county magistrate as a concubine. I want to find Yun Yan's daughter. If the resemblance is strong, Father might be moved by old affections. Otherwise, at this time, Father wouldn't casually take a concubine—not for his official career, and Concubine Song would oppose it too."
After a moment of silence, her grandmother said, "Tomorrow I'll summon Concubine Yun. You can ask her where Yun Yan married into. If her daughter hasn't married yet, we can bring her directly. A county magistrate's illegitimate granddaughter wouldn't pose any inconvenience..."
She meant that if the other party refused, they could use their influence to pressure them. Whether it was the Ji family or the Gu family, both were beyond what a minor county magistrate could withstand. Moreover, forming this connection would bring immense benefits to a magistrate about to leave office.
Gu Jinzhao greatly admired her grandmother's straightforward and decisive nature.
After discussing this matter with Ji Wu Shi, Jinzhao felt somewhat relieved. Before coming, she had worried her grandmother might not support her idea, but now it seemed just like when she was a child—her grandmother never opposed anything she proposed.
As dusk fell, Jinzhao helped Ji Wu Shi to the Chuihua Hall for dinner. After the meal, Gu Jinrong and Ji Yun continued their lively conversation, shifting to Zhu Xi's methods of studying.
Ji Yun was very knowledgeable and not at all arrogant despite having passed the imperial examinations at a young age. He spoke steadily, unhurriedly, yet with rich citations, making his words exceptionally brilliant.
He said Zhu Xi was different from others: "Regarding Zhu Xi's achievements, I believe his greatest contribution wasn't Neo-Confucianism. Though his Neo-Confucianism was excellent, his actions often contradicted it, making it hard to convince others... His Confucian scholarship was best. But compared to Confucius and Mencius, he fell short. Since Rong'er enjoys reading Zhu Xi's works, it would be better to study more of Confucius and Mencius—it would also benefit the Eight-legged essay writing..."
Gu Jinrong found this strange: "How did Zhu Xi's actions contradict Neo-Confucianism?"
Ji Yun coughed, his face slightly reddening, and changed the subject without answering.
Gu Jinzhao glanced at him, thinking that despite Ji Yun's seemingly rigid and dull appearance, he actually read unofficial histories... It was said that although Zhu Xi emphasized "preserving heavenly principles and eliminating human desires," he himself had lured two nuns to become his concubines and had an affair with his daughter-in-law, making his actions inconsistent with his teachings and drawing criticism.After the meal, Ji Wu Shi called Ji Yao to the Immortal Crossing Pavilion to discuss matters. Jinchao went to her grandmother’s courtyard first to wait for her but ended up falling asleep on the Arhat bed due to exhaustion from the journey. When she regained clarity, she saw warm red light filtering through the window and found herself covered with a blue cloud-patterned brocade quilt.
She sat up halfway and noticed the inner chamber was empty, but voices could be heard outside the room.
"...This is too much for me to bear!" It was her grandmother’s voice, sounding somewhat angry.
Jinchao lifted a corner of the curtain to peek outside and saw Ji Wu Shi and Mama Song standing under the corridor, talking.
Mama Song comforted her, "You must give the Second Young Master some time. After all, this matter is too sudden for him."
Her grandmother’s voice was icy. "Hasn’t there been enough time? He and Chaojie practically grew up together. If we’re talking about who knows Chaojie best, he’s certainly one of them. I thought he had finally learned to be obedient over the years, but it turns out he’s still as defiant as ever!"
Mama Song sighed and, after a long pause, spoke softly, "Tai Furen, after all these years of observing... I still don’t quite understand. The young mistress has been doted upon in our Ji family, and you’ve indulged her greatly... If you’ve heard what outsiders say about her, you might understand a little why the Second Young Master refuses..."
Hearing this, Jinchao’s heart tightened. If even Mama Song knew about the rumors circulating about her, then her grandmother must know as well. But how did this involve her second cousin? What did he have to do with it?
After a long silence, her grandmother’s voice finally came again. "Of course I know... When Han’er was growing up by my side, I didn’t have the heart to care for her properly, and she ended up being raised by the former Tai Furen to be timid and weak, afraid to do anything. After marrying Gu Dezhao, with all his concubines and bed-warming maids one after another, did she ever stand up to him? Back then, just because of a single remark from Qingxu Taoist Priest, Chaojie had to leave her mother’s side and be raised by me! Before she could even return, her father had already welcomed a second and third daughter..."
"When Chaojie was five, I took her back once. At that time, Han’er had just given birth to Rong’ge, and Gu Dezhao already had a well-behaved and sensible Gu Lan by his side. No one even wanted to hold her. When I returned from my walk, I found Chaojie hiding alone in a pitch-dark room, too afraid to come out... At that moment, I swore no one would ever bully my Chaojie again. After we returned, I spoiled her twice as much, unable to bear seeing her suffer even the slightest grievance..."
By now, Mama Song’s heart ached with sympathy. "I know you love Chaojie dearly. Having watched her grow up, I also know that our Chaojie is truly a pure-hearted person... But what will become of her in the future?"
Her grandmother sighed. "That’s why I’ve long decided that when Chaojie comes of age, I’ll have Yao’ge marry her into our family. Under my watch, let’s see who would dare bully her then."
Mama Song hesitated before adding, "But have you considered... what if the Second Young Master refuses?"Grandmother sneered, "He was reluctant to handle the Ji family's affairs at first, but isn't he doing quite well now? I raised him myself, so I know his temperament. Once forced to agree, he won’t go back on his word—he’ll do his utmost to see things through. That’s precisely why I dared entrust Chaojie to him..."
She sighed and continued, "It’s a pity. I wanted to protect Chaojie properly, but the Gu family members are all unwilling... When Chaojie told me those things today, it occurred to me—how could she have understood such schemes before? Someone must have bullied her..."
Gu Jinzhao lowered the curtain and slowly walked to the brazier, her face unable to conceal her shock.
She steadied herself against the screen with one hand while covering her mouth with the other, tears already streaming down her face.
She had always thought her grandmother simply doted on her, never realizing that her grandmother had long planned her path, determined to protect her Chaojie for a lifetime.
Gu Jinzhao’s thoughts raced—now, the inexplicable events of her past life suddenly made perfect sense!
A month before her mother’s death, Ji Yao had proposed to her father.
At the time, she had been puzzled. Her second cousin had never shown her any special favor, treating her no differently from others. But now she understood—he had only proposed on Grandmother’s orders. That meant, in the end, Ji Yao would still yield to Grandmother’s persuasion.
...Of course. How could Ji Yao resist Grandmother’s methods?
No wonder, even her third cousin already had a wife and a one-year-old child, while Ji Yao, the eldest legitimate son, didn’t even have a concubine. He had been reserved for her!
All the faint doubts Jinzhao had harbored toward her grandmother now vanished.
In her past life, her heart had belonged to Chen Xuanqing. She had yearned for him, waiting just for a single glance from him—even that would have thrilled her! So when Ji Yao came to propose, and her father asked for her opinion, she had refused without hesitation. Later, Ji Yao married the third daughter of the Earl of Yongyang’s household, and the couple lived in harmony, deeply devoted to each other.
It was just as well she had refused, sparing Ji Yao the dilemma. The thought almost made Jinzhao laugh. In her past life, her beauty had been renowned—enough to stir the capital—yet not a single person had truly loved her. How pitiful.
Hearing footsteps approach, Jinzhao lay back down on the daybed. Grandmother entered, first tucking in the blankets for her, then gently wiping her face. She whispered to Mama Song, "Why does this child look as though she’s been crying...?"
"Perhaps she recalled something sorrowful..."
Mama Song’s voice was equally soft.
Grandmother couldn’t help but feel heartache. "Han'er is gravely ill now... Chaojie must protect herself. I only hope that niece of Concubine Yun hasn’t married yet—then everything will be easier to manage..."
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