Chapter 318: Ji Yu
After dinner, Ji Wu Shi had tables set up in the flower hall for conversation. Both Chen Shi and Liu Shi came over. Chen Xuan first greeted Gu Jinzhao with a smile: "I should really call you Third Aunt, but I'm not sure what would be most appropriate. It's been a long time since I last visited—how has Grandmother been recently? And how is Mother?"
Ji Wu Shi laughed: "No need for such formalities. Just call her cousin for now! You can address her as Third Aunt when you return to the Chen Family."
Gu Jinzhao also nodded with a smile: "Don't stand on ceremony. Your grandmother hasn't been feeling well lately, but it's nothing serious. Your mother is doing fine as always. Third Young Master's wife, Sun Shi, has given birth to a niece for you, named Yu."
As a concubine-born daughter, Chen Xuan had never been particularly close to the Chen Family. She smiled and said, "That's good to hear," before retreating to the side.
Ji Wu Shi then spoke to Gu Jinzhao about Ji Yun: "...He's now serving as the county magistrate of Suqian County in Huaian Prefecture. A few days ago, he even sent someone to deliver fish and turtles via the canal. But most of them died on the way, and your eldest uncle wrote him a letter scolding him for it."
Huaian Prefecture was an excellent location—a famous hub for grain transport and a crucial salt transportation center, home to both the Grain Transport Governor's Office and the Jiangnan River Governor's Office. After Ji Yun passed the imperial examinations during the spring session, he only managed to earn the third-tier jinshi title in the palace examination. Securing such a county magistrate position was still quite an achievement.
Chun Ge'er, now four years old, looked curiously at Changsuo sleeping in the wet nurse's arms and whispered to Liu Shi, "Mother, is that my cousin?"
Liu Shi nodded with a smile. Chun Ge'er then crawled across the kang to peek at his cousin, clinging to the wet nurse's arm. After staring for a while, he asked, "Why does cousin look different from my little brother?"
Liu Shi, somewhat embarrassed, quickly pulled Chun Ge'er back and said softly, "Be careful not to wake your cousin!"
Gu Jinzhao knew Chun Ge'er was referring to Ji Yu as "little brother." She didn't mind, though others might find it awkward. She had been back for quite some time but still hadn't seen Ji Yao—likely because he was avoiding her. She smiled and said, "It's fine. This child won't wake up even if there's noise."
Despite saying so, she still had the wet nurse take the child away to sleep so everyone could relax.
Just then, a small child peeked in through the doorway.
He was tiny, with delicate, rosy cheeks and a pair of upturned peach-blossom eyes.
Soon after, a nursemaid with a round bun appeared behind him and led him inside.
The child wore a small silk jacket embroidered with gourd patterns and a golden neck ring. Seeing so many people, he grew a little nervous. The nursemaid guided him to greet everyone one by one, and he obediently called out in a soft voice, "Great-Grandmother, Grandmother." When the nursemaid told him to greet Gu Jinzhao, he also complied, saying, "Hello, Cousin."
Gu Jinzhao immediately realized this child was Ji Yu.
Ji Wu Shi frowned. "Wasn't he supposed to be studying in the study? Why was he brought here?"
The nursemaid explained, "Second Young Master insisted on reciting the poem he just learned to you. He ran over before I could stop him."
Ji Wu Shi then motioned for Ji Yu to come forward and patted his head, her voice softening. "Yu Ge'er, how about reciting it for Great-Grandfather tomorrow morning? For now, go back with the nursemaid and rest."
Ji Yu let out a quiet "Oh," looking a little disappointed as he fiddled with his small hands. Nevertheless, he obediently followed the nursemaid back.When the evening came and the crowd had dispersed, Gu Jinzhao finally spoke to Ji Wu Shi, "That child doesn’t resemble Second Cousin at all—he’s fair and delicate. And quite obedient." She didn’t want her grandmother to keep the child away just because she was here.
Ji Wu Shi had someone bring over a candlestick and picked up two pairs of children’s shoes from the sewing basket, handing them to Gu Jinzhao. "These were your shoes when you were little. Most of them were made by me and Mama Song. Soon, Changsuo will be old enough to learn to walk. Try these on him."
Her eyesight wasn’t as good as before—why was she still doing such delicate work...
Gu Jinzhao took the tiny shoes, no bigger than a palm, and traced the thickly padded soles, deeply moved.
Ji Wu Shi put away the sewing basket before continuing, "I didn’t want you to see him and feel sad. The child is under my care now. Your second cousin rarely visits him, so he’s only close to me. But whenever I look into his eyes, I’m reminded of his birth mother, Madam Zhao. I just can’t bring myself to like him... Did you know Madam Zhao died not long ago?"
Gu Jinzhao quietly watched Ji Wu Shi, waiting for her to go on. After a pause, Ji Wu Shi added, "She hanged herself in the small prayer room. It was the cleaning maid who found her... No one knew. No one expected her to suddenly take her own life. The child was separated from her early on and has no memory of her, so he didn’t grieve... In a few months, the fifth young lady of the Earl of Yongyang’s family will enter the household, and he’ll have a proper mother then."
Gu Jinzhao held Ji Wu Shi’s hand, hesitating before speaking. "What happened back then wasn’t Second Cousin’s fault, nor the child’s... It was simply fate. Things will get better."
Ji Wu Shi smiled faintly. "Alright, you should go rest now. Tomorrow, I’ve invited the Deyin Troupe to perform. Don’t oversleep."
Gu Jinzhao retired to the western chamber. Her old courtyard had been given to Ji Yu so Ji Wu Shi could care for him more easily.
That night, Changsuo didn’t disturb her, but Gu Jinzhao still slept poorly. Her thoughts lingered on Fourth Master Chen...
She dreamed all night.
At one point, she saw Third Master Chen, his shoulders drenched in blood, standing halfway up a mountain. His face was indistinct, and the wind howled fiercely at the cliff’s base.
Then she saw Fourth Master Chen, his expression icy, standing silently behind Third Master Chen.
Later, she saw a large kang by the window, where a gaunt figure lay curled under the blankets. As she drew closer, she saw the person’s eyes tightly shut, their face deathly pale—wasn’t that how she herself had looked when she died...
Caifu entered with water and noticed the fine sweat on Gu Jinzhao’s forehead. She quickly wrung out a cloth to wipe her face.
Only then did Gu Jinzhao slowly wake.
Ji Wu Shi sent a maidservant to summon her for breakfast. She ate a plate of date cakes and a bowl of white fungus soup before joining the others at the waterside pavilion to listen to the opera. On the way, she spotted a tall, lean figure with sharp, cold features, followed by several stewards, heading toward the screen wall.
Ji Wu Shi called out, "Ji Yao!" and beckoned him over. "Where are you off to so early?"
Ji Yao replied, "There’s trouble with one of the merchant ships. I need to check on it. I’ll likely have to pay my respects to you in the evening instead..."
His gaze fell on Gu Jinzhao, and his lips moved slightly before he said softly, "Cousin, I haven’t had the chance to visit you yet. I’ve been terribly busy. I heard your nephew came with you this time?"The Ji family's trading firm had countless merchant ships traveling the canals daily. If there really was an issue, Ji Yao wouldn't need to personally inspect it...
Gu Jinchao smiled slightly: "He came along, but I didn't bring him out for fear he might be mischievous. If you have time, you can come see him this afternoon."
Ji Yao forced a bitter smile before saying: "I'll try to return early!"
After giving her another glance, he took his leave from Ji Wu Shi and led the stewards toward the screen wall.
Gu Jinchao watched his noticeably thinner figure, feeling her eyes grow uncomfortably dry... Even though she held no romantic feelings for Ji Yao, they had grown up together. Moreover, she had ruined his marriage...
The opera being performed was The Jade Hairpin , which Gu Jinchao had heard several times before and found rather uninteresting. Wanting to take a walk outside, she informed Ji Wu Shi. The older woman, thoroughly engrossed in the performance, simply squeezed her hand: "There'll be an opera you like later, remember to come watch."
Gu Jinchao nodded with a smile and walked back along the lakeside path with Caifu. Autumn was approaching, and the leaves on the locust tree branches stretching over the high pink walls of her former courtyard were beginning to yellow again. Caifu supported her hand, smiling: "Last time I accompanied you here, Qingpu-jiejie was with us too. How time flies..."
Gu Jinchao also seemed lost in thought: "I wonder how she's doing now..." The last letter mentioned she was pregnant and had sent some little jackets for Changsuo, which was why she hadn't come to pay respects these past months.
A rustling sound came from behind. Gu Jinchao turned to see a cluster of fernleaf hedge bamboo shaking not far away.
She frowned—was someone following her? This was within the Ji family estate, who would do such a thing!
Retracing her steps with Caifu, she reached out to part the bamboo when a child suddenly backed out—wearing a gourd-patterned silk vest, a gold necklet, with delicate features like carved jade... Standing very straight, he whispered: "Auntie..."
Yu Ge'er? Gu Jinchao glanced around before crouching to meet Ji Yu at eye level, asking gently: "Yu Ge'er, why are you following Auntie? Where's your nanny?"
Ji Yu was the same age as Chun Ge'er but not as lively. His slightly upturned peach-blossom eyes faintly reflected his birth mother's beauty.
After much hesitation, he finally said: "Nanny fell asleep while fanning me... I saw Auntie outside, so I followed."
Noticing crumbs on his face, Gu Jinchao took out a handkerchief to wipe them away. The child startled, staring at her in surprise.
What would such a young child want with her?
Spotting a pavilion nearby, she led him there and had him sit down.
"Do you want Auntie to play with you? How about I call some maids to play jump rope with you?"
Ji Yu quickly shook his head: "Don't want them... They all dislike me."
Gu Jinchao smiled, stroking his hair: "How could that be! Yu Ge'er is adorable, everyone likes you.""Really." Ji Yu nodded earnestly. "Grandmother, second grandmother, aunts, father... none of them like me... Everyone likes Chun Ge'er. Yu Ge'er isn't likable, no one likes me... Great-grandmother used to say that if Yu Ge'er could recite poems, father would like me. But he still doesn't like me now... Third uncle often carries Chun Ge'er, but father never carries me. Cousin, is there something Yu Ge'er isn't doing well?"
He looked at Gu Jinzhao expectantly: "Everyone smiles at cousin... Cousin, could you teach Yu Ge'er? Yu Ge'er wants to be likable too."
Gu Jinzhao felt a pang of sadness. She sighed and smiled, "You see everyone smiling at me, but not everyone actually likes me. Don't worry, Yu Ge'er. When you grow older, everyone will like you."
When he grew up, he would understand many things.
Ji Yu still sat with his back straight, listening attentively to her words, hoping he too could become likable, just like Chun Ge'er.
PS: Thank you to Bi An Hua Kai Zhong Shi Shang for the Heshibi jade gift! Much love~
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