Chapter 30: Luo Su
The next day was Ji Anchun's first birthday celebration, where the child would choose an object to predict his future. The plump, fair-skinned baby could already call out to people.
Jinchao smiled as she held her nephew. The energetic child clung to her neck while turning his head to look around, then reached for the silver hairpin adorned with lotus patterns in her hair. The young wet nurse hurriedly tried to take him back. "Chun Ge'er, you mustn't grab the young mistress's hairpin!"
Liu Shi, worried that Jinchao might be displeased, quickly added with a smile, "The child just adores his aunt..."
Jinchao winced as the baby tugged painfully at her hair. Unable to hold onto the squirming child any longer, she handed him back to the wet nurse and removed the hairpin to give to Chun Ge'er. She kissed his chubby cheek affectionately. "If Chun Ge'er likes it, then he can play with it!"
Delighted, the child clutched the silver hairpin and waved it toward Liu Shi, babbling, "Mama... give... give..."
Ji Wu Shi found this amusing. "Chun Ge'er is so young, yet he already knows how to present borrowed flowers as an offering!"
The entire parlor burst into laughter. Many guests had come for the celebration—wealthy families from Tongzhou, relatives by marriage of the Ji family, and even the Gu family had sent their steward with gifts.
...But her father had not come.
Jinchao glanced at the solid gold Maitreya Buddha the steward had presented.
Soon, a large table was set up in front of the heated kang, displaying an array of objects: an official seal, Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist scriptures, brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, an abacus, coins, account books, and more. Chun Ge'er was placed before the table. He crawled in a circle, seemingly unsure of what to do. Gazing at his wet nurse and Liu Shi, he babbled incoherently, much to everyone's amusement.
Then, as if spotting something he liked, he wriggled toward it, dropping the silver hairpin in the process.
Finally, Chun Ge'er grabbed his chosen item—a clattering abacus. He hugged it tightly and shook it vigorously, thoroughly enjoying himself. Liu Shi relaxed slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
The ladies congratulated Ji Wu Shi and Liu Shi, saying, "...Chun Ge'er will grow up to be a skilled merchant, achieving great wealth like Tao Zhu!"
After playing with the abacus for a while, Chun Ge'er suddenly discarded it and crawled back to pick up the hairpin Jinchao had given him earlier.
Why did he pick up the young mistress's hairpin? Liu Shi grew uneasy, glancing at her mother and grandmother, but neither seemed bothered. Chun Ge'er, however, refused to let go, happily stretching his arms toward the wet nurse to be carried.
Gu Jinzhao was also surprised. Children naturally gravitated toward shiny, attractive objects during such ceremonies.
Fortunately, Ji Wu Shi didn't seem to mind. Instead, she chuckled and said, "Chun Ge'er knows to pick something valuable and pretty!"
"The child really does adore his aunt," Liu Shi murmured softly, relieved to see her grandmother's smile deepen.
Once the ceremony concluded, Chun Ge'er was taken to the outer courtyard while the ladies gathered to chat and play mahjong. Before long, an elderly maidservant entered and whispered something to Ji Wu Shi, who nodded and motioned for Jinchao to come over.
"...Concubine Yun has returned ahead of the others. Let's go see her."
So soon? The journey from Tongzhou to Taihe County took nearly half a day one way, let alone a round trip. They must have traveled day and night to deliver the news quickly. Since she had returned alone, it likely meant the matter had been settled successfully!Jinchao pondered these thoughts briefly before nodding and following her grandmother back to her courtyard, where Yun Yiniang was waiting in the western side chamber.
She looked utterly exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, sipping sweet soup from a doucai teacup.
Her grandmother excused her from formal greetings and had Jinchao conduct the questioning.
Yun Yiniang smiled faintly. "When we arrived in Taihe County, the magistrate came out to greet us first. Upon hearing our purpose, he hastily summoned the assistant magistrate, Luo. This Assistant Magistrate Luo has four sons, and my elder sister married the son of his concubine."
"My niece, named Su, had her hair-pinning ceremony half a year ago. She’s fair and delicate, gentle in temperament—no less than my sister in her youth. She was originally betrothed to a local scholar. But after hearing our intentions, Assistant Magistrate Luo personally went to the scholar’s home to break off the engagement. The matter was settled within hours. My niece is currently preparing and should arrive by evening."
Jinchao nodded and asked, "Did the scholar agree readily?"
Yun Yiniang’s lips curled slightly. "What choice did he have? He wouldn’t dare offend the Ji family. But he didn’t resist either—a poor scholar still hoping to advance in the provincial exams. We gave him a thousand taels of silver, and he said nothing more."
Jinchao felt a wave of relief. As long as the girl wasn’t married yet, things were manageable. Once she arrived, Jinchao could assess her properly. She’d give Assistant Magistrate Luo a sum of money, and if his daughter could later persuade her father to seek promotions or favors, that would be entirely up to her own abilities.
To have ties with the Gu family—many would beg for such an opportunity.
Her grandmother said, "You’ve had a long journey. Go rest for now."
Yun Yiniang acquiesced and withdrew. Her grandmother then summoned a maidservant. "Fetch two sets of gold hairpins with the infant and lotus pattern, gem-inlaid gold-wire hair ornaments, fine Shu brocade and Hangzhou silk, and a fifty-year-old ginseng root for Yun Yiniang from the storeroom. Also, have Mama Li prepare a side chamber." The maidservant left to make arrangements.
With this matter settled, Yun Yiniang’s future prosperity was all but assured.
Jinchao took Ji Wu Shi’s hand and said softly, "Grandmother, you’ve gone to such lengths for me..."
Ji Wu Shi gazed at her. "I’ve watched you grow up. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give you—how could this be considered trouble?"
Holding those warm, rough hands, Jinchao found herself at a loss for words. Anything she might say felt inadequate.
By evening, a plain green-curtained carriage quietly entered the inner courtyard, arriving at the Eastern Dwelling. The first to step down was Tai Furen’s trusted attendant, Mama Song. Following her was a slender figure draped in a pale lotus-hued cloak, descending with the aid of a footstool.
A maid in a brown short jacket, her hair tied in two buns, sallow and thin, trailed behind, carrying a bundle far too large for her frame. Mama Song led the two into the Eastern Dwelling’s greenhouse.
Her grandmother had gone ahead to receive the guests, leaving Jinchao in the greenhouse tending to the Luoyang Red peonies she had brought for her. Mama Song lifted the curtain and announced, "Young Mistress, they’ve arrived." The two newcomers filed in behind her.
Jinchao hummed in acknowledgment, continuing to prune the peony branches without glancing their way.
Only after she had finished arranging the branches did she address Mama Song. "These Luoyang Reds are delicate—they mustn’t leave the greenhouse. Ensure the servants tend to them carefully. By late spring, they’ll bloom a hundred flowers, adorned like strings of jewels."
Mama Song smiled and agreed. Jinchao then allowed Qingpu to assist her in washing and drying her hands before settling into the Grand Preceptor’s Chair to observe the two newcomers.The young girl standing before her was as delicate as a willow, her small face as fair as jade, evoking a sense of pity. Her dark hair was simply tied into a small bun, adorned with a plain silver hairpin carved with cloud patterns. She kept her head down, staring at the satin surface of her shoes, dressed in a water-blue jacket and skirt. It was clear the outfit was newly made but ill-fitting, making her appear even more frail.
Jinchao spoke indifferently, "You don’t even know how to greet someone properly. State your background first."
The girl’s palms grew sweaty as she clenched her sleeves and bowed slightly, murmuring, "Greetings, Eldest Miss Gu. My name is Luo Su, and my grandfather is the county magistrate of Taihe County."
The little maid behind her promptly knelt down with a thud. "This servant is called Erya, thirteen years old, from Zhaojiagou in Taihe County. I was bought by Mama Song yesterday to serve Miss Luo." The little maid was bold and quick-witted, truly a fitting choice by Mama Song.
Jinchao nodded. "Since you’re now Miss Luo’s maid, you should have a new name. From now on, you’ll be called Qingyi."
The little maid showed no reluctance and replied crisply, "Thank you, Eldest Miss, for bestowing this name."
Jinchao then instructed Qingpu to take Qingyi to settle her belongings, give her a hot bath, and dress her in a warm cotton-padded jacket before returning to serve.
Feeling that the intimidation had been sufficient, Jinchao smiled at Luo Su and said, "Sit down first. There’s no need to fear me."
After all, Luo Su was just a fifteen-year-old girl. Upon entering the Ji family’s estate, she had been overwhelmed by its opulence and the multitude of servants. Seeing Jinchao’s composed and dignified demeanor, she couldn’t help but feel awed—this was indeed the bearing of a noble young lady.
Luo Su stammered, "It’s not that I’m afraid… I just find Eldest Miss’s noble presence… rather intimidating."
Jinchao gave a bitter smile. Others might take such words as praise, but she certainly didn’t.
Inviting Luo Su to sit, Jinchao had Caifu serve tea and then asked, "Do you know why you’re coming with me to the Gu household?"
Luo Su nodded. "My father said… I’m to serve Master Gu." A faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks, and her voice grew even softer.
So it had been made clear to her.
Jinchao continued, "Do you know how to serve others? What have you learned?"
Luo Su replied, "I’ve learned needlework, household management… and the pipa from my concubine mother. She used to be a singing girl… Before coming here, she taught me how to… serve others."
Her words were halting, and the latter "serving" was clearly different from the former.
As long as she could keep her father occupied, Jinchao didn’t care what skills Luo Su had. She was quite satisfied with this girl—aside from her beauty, she was gentle and obedient. Though somewhat timid and weak, with some wormwood training, she could still be of great use.
The only question was whether, over time and with more exposure, she might develop other ambitions…
Gu Jinzhao picked up her teacup and took a sip. This Luo Su would definitely need to be firmly under her control.
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