Chapter 334: Returning Home
When Gu Jinzhao returned to Daxing in the afternoon, the Gu residence was already decorated with lanterns and colorful banners.
Madam Xu was bustling about, setting up tents, testing stoves, and arranging dowries, too busy to come greet Gu Jinzhao.
Upon learning of her arrival, Gu Dezhao personally went to the moon gate to welcome his eldest daughter, eagerly asking about his grandson: "…Has Linge come with you?"
He had only seen his grandson once since his birth, back when he was still a swaddled infant.
It was rare for Gu Jinzhao to see her father in such high spirits. He wore a vibrant maroon straight robe, his hair neatly combed. She smiled and replied, "Yes, he came. The wet nurse is carrying him." Just then, the wet nurse stepped down from the carriage with Changsuo in her arms. The child, unfamiliar with his grandfather, stared at him curiously with wide eyes.
Gu Dezhao immediately scooped the child up. "Our Linge is growing so sturdy!" He lifted him playfully, and Changsuo, unafraid of strangers, giggled and wrapped his arms around Gu Dezhao’s neck. Delighted, Gu Dezhao held his grandson tighter and beckoned his daughter inside.
Gu Jinzhao followed him through the festooned gate when, before she could react, a figure strode toward her and embraced her warmly, beaming with joy.
"Elder Sister!" It was Gu Jinrong’s voice.
Gu Jinzhao gently pushed him back to get a better look at his face. The older Jinrong grew, the more he resembled their father. He now stood a head taller than her, and when he spoke to her, he had to lower his gaze. He truly looked like a grown man now.
Gu Jinzhao patted his shoulder. "When did you return?"
Jinrong grinned. "I’ve been traveling with a few mentors and am no longer at the Imperial Academy. This summer, I went to Jinan Prefecture in Shandong and even paid respects at the Temple of Confucius in Qufu." His gaze then fell on Changsuo, who was nestled in their father’s arms, dressed in a little jacket and hat, peering curiously at his uncle. Jinrong studied him for a long moment before saying, "Elder Sister, Linge looks just like you when you were little."
Gu Jinzhao laughed. "You remember what I looked like as a child?"
Jinrong nodded earnestly. "Of course I do. When you were ten, you were swinging in the small garden of Xiexiao Courtyard and trampled Mother’s pink peony. You wore a gold necklace inlaid with South Sea pearls—each as big as a thumbnail."
Gu Jinzhao herself barely recalled these details.
Had she really destroyed her mother’s peony?
A nostalgic smile crossed Gu Dezhao’s face as he reminisced. "Back then, you only came up to my waist. So small, yet so fierce. You even refused to let your mother’s maids comb your hair." She had been like a puppy leaving its den, baring her teeth and putting on a tough front—perhaps out of fear, or perhaps because the Gu household had felt so unfamiliar to her then.
Gu Jinzhao still remembered that maid. She had reeked of wormwood, and young Jinzhao had disliked her intensely.
At the memory, she simply smiled.
Seeing his mother laugh, Changsuo giggled too, stretching his arms out to her.
Gu Dezhao, reluctant to part with his grandson, refused to hand him over. "Linge, how about Grandpa takes you for some date cakes?" He turned to Jinrong. "Take your elder sister to pay respects to Grandmother. I’ll keep Linge company for a snack."
Gu Jinzhao instructed the wet nurse to follow her father. It was rare to see him so happy—she might as well let him enjoy this moment.On the way, Gu Jinrong told her about the Gu family affairs: "...Second Uncle has returned."
Gu Jinzhao frowned and asked, "Wasn't he appointed as the magistrate of Dong'an County?"
Gu Jinrong nodded: "Yes, but he only lasted half a year. Second Uncle’s health isn’t good. It seems he also offended the eldest son of the Jiang family in Dong'an and resigned from his post. Now he spends his days either quarreling with Second Aunt or staying overnight at the concubine’s place. Grandmother is furious! Second Aunt used to insist on dividing the family property, but now she doesn’t dare anymore."
It's easy to go from luxury to frugality, but hard to go from frugality to luxury.
Gu Jinzhao was taken aback: "What does Grandmother think? If the family divides in the future, won’t you suffer losses?"
Gu Jinrong smiled: "Don’t worry! We won’t suffer. Mother has already retrieved the account books from Grandmother. Now she and Second Aunt jointly manage the household affairs, but Second Aunt is too busy dealing with Second Uncle and Lian jie er to meddle in public matters. Otherwise, how could Yi jie er’s wedding be so grand? Besides, Grandmother has never cared much for the daughters born of concubines..."
Xu Jingyi was a remarkably capable woman. Gu Jinzhao had known this in her past life.
When they arrived at Madam Feng’s place, Fifth Madam was helping her comb her hair. Tang jie er sat on the kang playing with a tangram puzzle.
When Madam Feng saw Gu Jinzhao, her expression was strange—both excited and sorrowful.
Fifth Aunt urged Tang jie er to greet them, and the three-year-old sweetly called out "Second Sister" and "Third Brother." Ye Shi no longer harbored the same wariness toward Gu Jinzhao as before and said with a smile, "You talk with your grandmother. I’ll have the maids bring some pastries!" She then carried the child out of the western chamber.
Madam Feng held Gu Jinzhao’s hand and sighed after a long pause: "Forget it, forget it! There’s nothing more to say. Yi jie er is getting married, and you sisters have always been close. Go and spend more time with her!"
Since she had nothing else to say, Gu Jinzhao didn’t press further. She stood up, bid farewell to Madam Feng, and took Gu Jinrong to see Gu Yi.
A matron was instructing Gu Yi on matters after marriage—what to pay attention to when serving tea, how to greet relatives, and how being a daughter-in-law in another family was far less carefree than being a maiden. She must serve her parents-in-law and husband with reverence, obedience, and gentleness.
Gu Yi blushed deeply at the advice. Gu Xi, too embarrassed to listen, retreated to the parlor for tea.
Both were delighted when Gu Jinzhao arrived. Gu Xi had grown up and become much more composed.
Gu Jinzhao smiled and presented Gu Yi with a set of gold bridal head ornaments and a collection of fine jade pieces. She also handed over gifts prepared by Madam Chen and Third Master Chen. "These are all for your dowry. How about it?"
Gu Yi was stunned: "Eldest Sister, this is far too much!"
Since it was all from her private savings, more was never too much. Besides, she was giving it to Gu Yi privately.
Gu Jinzhao had Gu Yi’s maids put everything away and asked cheerfully who the "full blessings" matron would be and who would comb her hair on the wedding day.
The three sisters chatted until evening when the wet nurse came looking for them with Changsuo, carrying several Duanshi inkstones, a blue-and-white brush washer, and a wolf-hair brush—gifts from Gu Dezhao for his grandson to use when learning to read. Gu Jinzhao felt somewhat helpless. Not only were these items cumbersome to carry, but the Chen Family’s storeroom was already overflowing with such things. Still, it was her father’s kind intention.
Guests arrived one after another, and the banquet began that evening.Gu Jinzhao spotted Gu Lian, who had arrived with Yao Wenxiu, holding a baby just a few months old.
After her father's demotion, Gu Lian's temperament had mellowed considerably. Ironically, this misfortune had spared her the humiliation of being divorced and sent back to the Gu family.
Xu Jingyi pointed to the child in Gu Lian's arms and remarked, "That's Lan Zhi's child—now she should be called Concubine Lan! It's a boy, raised under Gu Lian's name. They say Concubine Lan isn't even allowed to see the child. Given how ruthlessly Gu Lian dealt with Gu Lan, I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually eliminates Concubine Lan to secure the child. At least this way, she has some security."
Gu Lian approached Gu Jinzhao with the child, noticeably more composed, her words no longer as sharp as before.
Yao Wenxiu followed behind her, smiling as he cupped his hands in greeting. "Now we must address you as Third Master Chen's wife! Did Third Master Chen not accompany you? Lian jie er thought he might come, and I was hoping to speak with him."
Gu Jinzhao glanced at Gu Lian, who awkwardly averted her gaze.
With a gentle tone, Gu Jinzhao replied, "He had matters to attend to and couldn't come."
Yao Wenxiu nodded. "Naturally! Third Master Chen is a busy man. It's rare to have the chance to meet him..."
Only after Yao Wenxiu left did Gu Lian exhale in relief, murmuring, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Gu Jinzhao said simply. "Third Master truly was occupied."
Gu Lian didn't know what else to say. Once, she had faced Gu Jinzhao with resentment and bitterness, but now she only felt awkward and out of place. Hesitating, she found an excuse and slipped away.
As usual, Gu Jinzhao rested in her old courtyard.
Changsuo played with the Chinese knot untied from his mother's bedside, nestled in her arms. Noticing her distant expression, he babbled and lifted his head to catch her attention, urging her to play with him.
But Gu Jinzhao asked Caifu to prop open the window so she could look outside. It had been snowing all day, and she wondered if Third Master Chen had stayed in the capital.
...
The next day was the wedding.
Gu Jinzhao helped Gu Yi with her hair. In the main hall, she saw Du Huai, who had come to fetch the bride. Compared to a few years ago, Du Huai had grown tall and sturdy, dressed in a red round-collared robe embroidered with floral patterns, his posture elegant. He served tea to Gu Dezhao and Xu Jingyi.
Jinrong stretched and grinned at Gu Jinzhao. "When you got married, I couldn't carry you to the bridal sedan! Now I can carry Yi jie er."
Gu Jinzhao brushed the snow off her shoulders. "The path is slippery in the snow—be careful not to trip."
Jinrong responded loudly and carried Gu Yi to the bridal sedan. Firecrackers were set off again, and several matrons led maids to scatter longans and peanuts at the gate.
"On your wedding day, your father watched your sedan leave, heartbroken... He stood outside the central hall for a long time," Gu Dezhao suddenly told her. "I thought this was how it felt to marry off a daughter. But now that Yi jie er is leaving, I feel nothing but joy... I can't understand it."
Gu Jinzhao felt her nose sting with emotion.
Xu Jingyi watched the father and daughter with a smile. "Such a joyous occasion—let's not dwell on sad thoughts! There's a banquet in the east courtyard later. Chaojie, will you join me?"
Gu Dezhao looked at Xu Jingyi, a faint smile on his lips, and said to Gu Jinzhao, "...Go with her."
Just as Xu Jingyi and Gu Jinzhao stepped out, they noticed several figures entering the moon gate.These men were dressed in Chengzi uniforms, appearing strong and robust—clearly the Chen Family's guards. Their solemn expressions made them stand out conspicuously among the guests.
Gu Jinzhao recognized them at a glance—they were indeed the Chen Family's guards. The one leading them seemed to be an advisor close to Third Master Chen, named Feng Jun, if she recalled correctly?
Why had they come to the Gu residence?
The steward had already ushered them inside, and they happened to spot Gu Jinzhao. Feng Jun stepped forward and bowed respectfully to her.
Wearing a silk turban, Feng Jun looked quite young. Among Third Master Chen’s advisors, he was clearly one of the youngest. Precisely because of his youth, his abilities were all the more outstanding—otherwise, he wouldn’t have risen to such a position. Cupping his hands, he said, "Madam, there is an urgent matter at the estate. Please find a suitable place so I may explain in detail. Additionally, Third Master has instructed me to escort you back immediately."
Something major must have happened in the Chen Family!
Gu Jinzhao’s expression remained unchanged as she asked, "Did Third Master mention what the matter is?"
Feng Jun only replied, "The situation is urgent. Please board the carriage first, and we can discuss further on the way."
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