Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 46: Hairpin Ceremony Assistant

A few days later, Father summoned Jinchao to inquire about Ye Xian.

Jinchao explained, "The Young Master accidentally injured my cat during his last visit, so this time he came specifically to apologize."

Gu Dezhao glanced at Jinchao, seemingly unconvinced.

After sitting down, he continued, "I heard from Lan Er that the Young Master once gifted you a painting?"

Jinchao remained composed. "The Young Master felt guilty about harming the cat, so he gave me a painting—of a cat. Second Sister was present and witnessed it. Did she not explain this clearly to you, Father...?"

Gu Dezhao frowned and admonished her, "The Young Master is of a higher seniority than you. You must treat him with utmost respect from now on." His words carried an implicit warning against any improper relationship. Jinchao couldn’t help but laugh inwardly—she wouldn’t dare entertain such thoughts about Ye Xian even if she had ten times the courage.

Gu Dezhao then brought up Gu Lan’s hair-pinning ceremony. "Your second sister will come of age in half a month, and the household is gradually becoming busier. As the Eldest Miss, you should consider what gift to present to Lan Er for her ceremony. Her hair-pinning ceremony requires an assistant—would you be willing to take on the role?"

Jinchao naturally agreed. But inwardly, she thought that even if she were willing, Gu Lan might not be. Proud as she was, she would likely disdain Jinchao’s tarnished reputation.

"Has Father already chosen the hairpin ceremony assistant and the officiant?" Jinchao asked further.

Gu Dezhao replied, "Concubine Song suggested selecting one of her two married sisters from the Song family as the assistant, and the officiant will be chosen from among her nieces. You needn’t worry about this matter."

Upon returning to Paulownia Courtyard, Jinchao instructed Mama Tong to summon Luo Yongping from Baodi.

Luo Yongping had since become the manager of two Hangzhou silk shops, a position secured through Jinchao’s recommendation to her mother. Grateful for her support, he carried out every task she assigned with exceptional diligence.

Dressed in a silk robe printed with intricate floral patterns, he appeared even fairer and plumper. Smiling cheerfully, he asked Jinchao, "...What instructions does the Eldest Miss have for me?"

Jinchao tasked him with preparing a gift for Gu Lan’s ceremony. "...It must be extravagant, dazzlingly golden, and exude opulence at first glance. Be sure to include a set of gold filigree hair ornaments—she adores those..."

Baiyun and Caifu suppressed smiles behind their lips.

Luo Yongping readily agreed. "Rest assured, I’ll handle it perfectly for the Young Miss!"

Jinchao then recalled her father’s mention of Concubine Song’s two sisters.

She knew little about the Song family and even less about the temperament of these two sisters or the households they had married into.

She further instructed Luo Yongping, "The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Song, has two legitimate daughters married as wives. Investigate these two women for me."

After a moment’s thought, Luo Yongping immediately responded, "...This servant understands."

Luo Yongping departed to fulfill his tasks. Two days later, he sent a servant to the Gu residence bearing gifts. They were contained in three boxes: two sets of gold filigree hair ornaments adorned with grass and insects, along with a pair of gilded bracelets.

Pleased with the selection, Jinchao had Mama Tong store the items away. Luo Yongping then produced a blue booklet from his sleeve. "This details the backgrounds of Concubine Song’s two sisters. I feared omissions if I relayed the information verbally, so I prepared a copy for the Eldest Miss."

Luo Yongping was meticulous in his work.

Jinchao had Mama Tong reward Luo Yongping before seeing him out. She then asked Qingpu to open the window, allowing sunlight to stream into the room. Settling onto the heated kang, she unfolded the booklet and began reading carefully.Song Yiniang had two elder sisters. The eldest was married to Commissioner Li Xuanfu of the Shaanxi Pacification Office. Although Commissioner Li was stationed in Shaanxi, he only brought along maids and servants, leaving Madam Li to live with her mother-in-law and two daughters in Daxing County. Rumors circulated that Commissioner Li had already taken a concubine in Shaanxi and fathered a son, which was why he refused to return to Yanjing. Madam Li was a proud woman who detested such gossip. The last time she overheard a young maid spreading rumors, she immediately expelled the girl from the household.

She placed great emphasis on the traditional virtues of women, and her two daughters were renowned far and wide for their grace and propriety.

Song Yiniang’s second sister was married to Lord Wen, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Their marriage was harmonious. Although Lord Wen only held a fifth-rank position, he had once been a protégé of Zhang Ju Lian, making him part of Zhang’s faction, and his future prospects were limitless. Madam Wen had borne him a legitimate heir and held considerable influence among the circles of high-ranking officials’ families in the capital.

Luo Yongzheng had not only documented the circumstances of Song Yiniang’s two sisters’ households but also included some secretive rumors, providing an exceptionally detailed account.

After Jinchao finished discussing these matters with Mama Tong, the latter remarked, “Given Song Yiniang’s temperament, Madam Wen is likely the one assisting Second Miss with her hairpin ceremony. Madam Wen is forthright and enjoys matchmaking—nine out of ten marriages she arranges turn out harmonious. Song Yiniang surely wants to secure a good match for Gu Lan and will go out of her way to please Madam Wen.”

“However, Madam Li is a proud woman. If not properly appeased, she might secretly hold a grudge against Song Yiniang.”

Jinchao smiled faintly. “It’s not certain which one she’ll choose. If it were me, I’d pick Madam Li—better to offend a noble person than a petty one. Being resented by someone narrow-minded is troublesome… But of course, there’s nothing to worry about. Gu Lan has plenty of tricks up her sleeve.”

Mama Tong chuckled in agreement. “This old servant forgot about that. Young Miss should rest now; you’ll need to pay respects to Madam in the afternoon.”

Jinchao nodded and instructed Qingpu to light the candle stand, then personally burned the booklet to ashes.

As mid-spring passed and late spring approached, summer was soon to follow. The water lilies Jinchao had planted in her small pond began to sprout pale purple buds.

The Gu residence bustled with activity. Pomegranate trees, oleanders, and cannas were moved from the greenhouse to adorn the courtyards and gardens, and special flower stands were erected. Father personally drafted the guest list and booked the Virtuous Sound Theatre Troupe for performances. In the days leading up to Gu Lan’s hair-pinning ceremony, gifts arrived not only from the nearby Earl of Yongyang’s household and the Song family but also from the Luo family of Luoxian Alley and even the Marquis of Dingguo’s Fan family.

Jinchao was in her room dyeing her nails.

That morning, she had noticed the balsam flowers blooming splendidly, and seeing her own pale hands, she was suddenly inspired to dye her nails. She had Yutong bring a crystal bowl and personally plucked balsam petals from the flowerbed.

After crushing the petals, she mixed the crimson juice with alum and carefully applied it to her nails, then wrapped her fingertips in cotton cloth.

Resting her hands on the small table, Jinchao listened as Caifu read from the ledger copied from the Affairs Office.

“The Luo family of Luoxian Alley, one box of glass bowl sets… The Fan family of Luoxian Alley, one ancient two-eared, three-legged auspicious beast incense burner… The Mu family of Yu’er Alley, one pair of jade bracelets with emerald silk threads…”

Hearing the Mu family mentioned, Jinchao interrupted, “The Mu family also sent gifts?”

Caifu replied, “Several of the master’s close colleagues sent gifts, but the Mu family’s was the most lavish…”

“The more lavish it is, the more headaches it’ll cause them.” Jinchao nodded and motioned for her to continue reading.After a while, Baiyun came to report, "Miss, Madam Li and Madam Wen have arrived. They are currently with Concubine Song."

There were only four days left until the hair-pinning ceremony, so Concubine Song had sought permission from Father to have the stewards fetch her two elder sisters early. They would stay at the Gu residence these few days, allowing the sisters and nieces to catch up.

Originally, Madam Li and Madam Wen had little interaction with Concubine Song. But now that they saw she might have a chance of being elevated to the main wife, they had grown much closer. After all, Father’s mentor was about to be promoted, and behind the Gu family stood the ancestral Gu family, which had marital ties with the Marquis of Changxing. Being on good terms with the Gu family would undoubtedly bring benefits.

Gu Jinzhao thought for a moment and instructed Caifu to help her wash her hands.

Caifu found it odd. "Miss, it’s not yet time..."

"A light pink is the most beautiful; it doesn’t need to be bright," Jinzhao casually explained. Caifu attended to her, and sure enough, her hands, smooth as congealed fat, now had soft, pale pink nails that looked exceptionally lovely.

Jinzhao took Qingpu and Caifu with her to visit Concubine Song, specifically to meet Madam Li and Madam Wen.

Madam Li had brought her second daughter, Li Fu, likely chosen by Concubine Song to be Gu Lan’s ceremony officiant. Li Fu was fifteen, dressed in a lilac-colored vest with winding branch patterns. Though delicate and pretty, her cautious demeanor made her seem somewhat rigid.

When Madam Li saw Jinzhao, her expression turned peculiar, as if she looked down on her. Even when Jinzhao greeted her, she merely gave a perfunctory "hmm" before ignoring her.

Jinzhao recalled the dossier Luo Yongping had given her, which mentioned that Madam Li valued a woman’s "three obediences and four virtues" above all else. Women like Jinzhao, who were rumored to be domineering and unrestrained, were particularly disliked by her.

Madam Wen, however, smiled and praised Jinzhao, "…Chaojie is so beautiful, she outshines even the flowers in this garden."

Madam Li scrutinized her and remarked, "The Eldest Miss is indeed radiant, but perhaps she could try wearing more subdued clothing."

It seemed she found Jinzhao’s appearance too alluring.

Jinzhao was baffled. She was wearing a sky-blue satin robe with cloud patterns—how was that not subdued?

Concubine Song also felt her elder sister’s words were tactless and quickly interjected with a smile, "Our Eldest Miss is renowned in Shi’an for her beauty. It’s rare for her to visit me. I heard you like water lilies, and the ones in my Waterside Pavilion have just bloomed. If you see any you like, feel free to take them back."

Jinzhao teased her playfully, "Your water lilies are thriving, Auntie. I wouldn’t dare take what you love!"

Concubine Song’s eyes flickered as she was about to respond when Qiaowei came in to announce that the Second Miss had arrived.

As soon as Gu Lan entered, she took Madam Wen’s hand with a smile. "Madam Wen, it’s been so long since I last saw you!"

Madam Wen immediately embraced her. "Let me look at you—you’ve grown into such a young lady now!"

Gu Lan laughed. "No matter how much I grow, I’ll always be close to you. I still remember when I was little and refused to take medicine, you bought me filigree candy to coax me!"

Concubine Song chided her lightly, "Mind your manners. Greet Madam Li and Second Miss Li properly."

Gu Lan then took Madam Li’s hand and said, "I was just so happy to see you all. Madam Li is broad-minded, and Second Miss Li is virtuous and gracious—I’m sure they won’t mind my informality."

Madam Li replied, "Of course we won’t mind! But you’re such a simple-hearted child—what if someone takes advantage of you in the future?"Gu Lan smiled sheepishly, "With Eldest Sister here, who would dare bully me..." Her gaze drifted toward Jinchao, full of meaning, while Madam Wen affectionately stroked her hair.

Jinchao watched from the side, secretly amused.

Gu Lan's skill of speaking sweet words to people's faces and deceitful ones behind their backs was truly well-honed.

Gu Lan's skill of speaking sweet words to people's faces and deceitful ones behind their backs was truly well-honed.