Chapter 49: The Scheme
After Xiuqu left, Yuzhu gave her all the remaining candies and invited her to come play whenever she had time. Then, she hurried off to find Jinchao.
Jinchao was practicing the zither.
Baiyun stood at the study door and, upon seeing Yuzhu, couldn't suppress her irritation. "You silly girl! Where did you run off to with Baopu earlier? I called for you, but you didn’t answer me..."
Yuzhu replied softly, "Sister Baiyun, it's urgent. Please inform the young mistress quickly."
Just as Baiyun was about to say more, Jinchao, hearing their conversation inside, pressed her fingers against the strings to silence them and called Yuzhu in to report.
Yuzhu recounted everything that had happened between her and Xiuqu: "...I stood outside the door with my ear pressed against the panel and heard every word clearly. She mentioned that Madam Li blamed Concubine Song, but Concubine Song took her anger out on her instead. She also overheard Concubine Song telling Gu Lan to persuade Madam Li... She was so afraid of being caught and beaten out of the manor that she fled immediately. That’s the gist of it. The girl was speaking in bits and pieces to Baopu, so it wasn’t entirely clear."
After listening, Jinchao frowned and fell into deep thought. Seeing her silent, Qingpu remarked, "As the young mistress said, this Madam Li is indeed narrow-minded. But what exactly did Concubine Song and Gu Lan discuss that frightened the girl so much?"
Jinchao chuckled. "It must have been something terrible for her to be so afraid..."
What could Concubine Song have wanted Gu Lan to say to Madam Li? Given Gu Lan’s personality, it was all too easy to guess. Combined with what she already knew, Jinchao was almost certain that Concubine Song intended to sow discord between Madam Li and Madam Wen, reaping benefits from both sides.
If she allowed Concubine Song to profit like this, wouldn’t she be utterly incompetent?
Jinchao recalled her grandmother’s words: if Gu Lan were betrothed to the eldest son of the Mu family, she would no longer pose a threat.
Her mind raced, and a plan quickly took shape. Seeing her maids staring at each other wide-eyed—with Yuzhu blinking expectantly, as if waiting for some earth-shattering revelation—Jinchao burst into laughter. "Why are you all standing there dumbfounded? Qingpu, reward Yuzhu with a pouch of silver bullion! She’s done a great service today!"
Yuzhu grinned sheepishly. "I did do something useful... but, young mistress, I don’t want silver bullion... I just gave the Filigree Candy you gave me to Xiuqu. Could I have another box?"
Jinchao, Qingpu, and Baiyun all laughed. Baiyun tapped Yuzhu’s forehead teasingly. "What a little glutton!"
Jinchao smiled. "Fine! Filigree Candy, pyramid candies, crispy sugar—I’ll give you a box of each from my Baodi candy shop. But don’t ruin your teeth!"
Yuzhu was both shocked and delighted. The madam’s candy shop in Baodi had the widest variety of sweets. She immediately kowtowed in gratitude, repeatedly promising not to spoil her teeth. Everyone laughed again.
Meanwhile, Gu Lan had just returned to Cui Xuan Yuan and found Jinrong waiting for her with Qing Xiu and Qing An.
She hurried over with a smile, placing a hand on Jinrong’s shoulder. "You actually came back in person? You could’ve just sent someone with the gifts."
Jinrong’s face was slightly flushed from rushing. He grinned at Gu Lan. "How could I miss my second sister’s hair-pinning ceremony?"He took a blue brocade box from Qing Xiu and handed it to Gu Lan: "...I came specifically to give you this for your hair pinning ceremony."
Gu Lan noticed Qing An was holding another sandalwood-colored brocade box, identical in size to the one she held.
Her heart sank slightly, but she smiled and said, "Your return is gift enough. Your elder sister doesn't expect presents."
Gu Jinrong replied, "But gifts are essential. Second Sister, I'll go see Eldest Miss first and come back to chat with you later."
Gu Lan nodded with a smile as she watched his still-youthful figure retreat into the distance, her worries deepening.
It seemed Jinrong no longer disliked Gu Jinzhao as much as before.
...
After discussing matters with Qingpu and others, Gu Jinzhao went to have lunch with her mother. When her mother retired for her afternoon nap, a maidservant came to report that Gu Jinrong had returned and had first visited Second Miss. She asked if Eldest Miss wished to have the Tranquil Fragrance Study prepared for the young master's stay.
After brief consideration, Jinzhao softly replied, "No need. He's only staying one night. Just arrange a side room for him to avoid unnecessary fuss."
Then she said to Qingpu, "Later, accompany me for a walk by the lake. Tell Yuzhu to bring in the camellias I placed outside this morning into the greenhouse."
Qingpu smiled and went to carry out the instructions.
Soon after, she returned to accompany Jinzhao on their walk. They strolled leisurely along the lakeside pavilion until they reached the Waterside Pavilion, where a flower stand was being constructed. Concubine Wen, accompanied by two maids, was discussing the vibrant flowers with an elderly servant.
"Perhaps we could replace the cannas with celosias. Though not as showy, they complement the purity of the June snow..."
She was instructing the servant on flower arrangement.
Jinzhao remarked, "I agree. The cannas are rather too bright in color..."
The servant arranging the flowers bowed respectfully upon seeing Jinzhao and said, "Madam and Eldest Miss are truly knowledgeable. I only know red signifies festivity and wouldn't understand such things. Many thanks to Madam and Eldest Miss!"
Madam Wen's expression stiffened as she addressed Jinzhao perfunctorily, "Eldest Miss has come here too!"
Jinzhao smiled gently. "Madam Wen, you're being too formal with me. I also prefer celosias..."
Jinzhao wondered what poison Concubine Song had fed Madam Wen to make her harbor such inexplicable hostility. Concubine Song must have painted Gu Lan as an innocent, kind soul while portraying Jinzhao as utterly wicked to gain Madam Wen's sympathy.
Madam Wen wasn't one to remain cold for long. Hearing Jinzhao's conciliatory tone, she softened. "I do think cannas are quite lovely."
Madam Wen recalled Concubine Song's tales of how this Eldest Miss had bullied Lan Er, which had initially filled her with righteous anger. She had vowed to stand up for Lan Er. But seeing Jinzhao's impeccable manners and gentle speech now made her doubt those stories.
Jinzhao engaged Madam Wen in conversation about flowers. "I see you have a great fondness for flowers..."
Madam Wen nodded. "In my leisure time, while others enjoy needlework or playing instruments, I prefer flowers. Though I love admiring them more than tending to them—I'm too lazy for that."Jinchao smiled and said, "Why don't you come take a look at my place then? I've cultivated many flowers—mostly camellias, but also orchids and peonies. While they may not be exceptionally rare varieties, they're currently in full bloom..."
Concubine Song had mentioned to her that she would help Gu Lan select hairpins in the evening.
Madam Wen hesitated, worried about time constraints. Yet it seemed impolite to decline such a warm invitation from the Eldest Miss. Moreover, since her maternal family was the Ji family of Tongzhou, maintaining good relations couldn't hurt...
"Then I shall feast my eyes today," Madam Wen replied with a smile, accepting the invitation.
Jinchao and Madam Wen proceeded together toward Paulownia Courtyard. At the entrance, an elderly maid was sweeping the stone steps. The bodhi tree planted last year had just shed its leaves, scattering tender green buds of new growth across the ground. There stood Gu Jinrong beneath the bodhi tree, gazing quietly at the stone path.
Seeing Jinchao return, Jinrong approached her, though his steps faltered slightly as if fearing she might still be angry with him.
So he did come back after all, Jinchao sighed inwardly. Then she smiled and asked, "What brings you here?"
Relieved that his elder sister was willing to acknowledge him, Jinrong relaxed slightly. "I've brought you something," he said.
Without addressing his statement, Jinchao first introduced Madam Wen: "...Concubine Song's second sister, here for Lan Er's hair pinning ceremony." She then introduced Jinrong to Madam Wen. The presence of a young man in the inner courtyard naturally indicated he was the young master of the Gu family, which didn't surprise Madam Wen.
Jinchao ushered Madam Wen into the western chamber, where a maid promptly served tea. Jinrong followed them in but, seeing Jinchao engaged in conversation with Madam Wen and ignoring him, pursed his lips and sat down without invitation.
After letting him stew for a while, Jinchao finally asked, "What gift have you brought me?"
Jinrong summoned Qing An, who presented a dark sandalwood brocade box to Jinchao.
Opening it, Jinchao found a fist-sized jade linglong inside—an exquisitely carved hollow sphere with intricate, lifelike patterns, containing a smaller sphere within which nestled a jade bead.
Jinrong explained, "While exploring Jade Alley with the heir of Marquis Zhenwei, I purchased some fine jadeite. I had this linglong carved, along with a qilin paperweight—one for you and one for Second Sister. Tomorrow is her hair pinning ceremony after all, and it reminded me how I missed yours last year..."
Jinchao took a deep breath. So this was meant to make up for missing her own ceremony?
She remembered clearly that during her hair pinning ceremony, Jinrong hadn't even sent a gift, let alone returned home. Now that he'd rediscovered some conscience to gift Gu Lan for her ceremony, he'd thrown in a belated one for her too. Jinchao instructed Caifu to put the item away, feeling neither gratitude nor disappointment.
She certainly didn't believe Jinrong had truly seen through Gu Lan's nature. Still, his particular attention to Gu Lan's ceremony left her somewhat unsettled.
With a smile, Jinchao told Madam Wen, "I've gifted Gu Lan a set of gold filigree hair ornaments—she's quite fond of them, having asked Father for some previously. There's also golden insect jewelry and bracelets, all carefully selected. I only hope she'll like them."
Madam Wen smiled in return. "Lan Er has such a gentle disposition—she's bound to appreciate them."
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