Chapter 5 Morning Greetings
The Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion was planted with many willow and locust trees, though they were all bare at this time. The three-bay, seven-rafter residence featured a rockery made of Taihu stones, flanked by lush green bamboo. The main hall facing the entrance still bore a gilded plaque, and two of Father's maids were carrying in large red-lacquered trays. Another bed-warming maid, Biyue, curtsied to her: "...The Eldest Miss has come at just the right time. The master is having his morning meal."
Jinchao nodded, and Biyue lifted the curtain for her to step inside.
Father was having his breakfast in the East Side Room. The table was set with dried mackerel, honey-glazed pastries, and a small dish of sliced duck gizzards and cured goose meat. Concubine Song stood nearby, serving Gu Dezhao his soup. She wore a lotus-blue embroidered jacket and skirt with cloud and wave patterns, her wrists adorned with a pair of jade bracelets that made her skin appear as white as frost or snow. Her phoenix eyes, set in a face as fair as jade, brimmed with warmth, and two silver hairpins with dangling red tassels adorned her chignon, enhancing her delicate charm.
She was the perfect balance of dignified elegance and alluring beauty.
As she spoke with Father, Gu Jinzhao lowered her head, though a faint smile quickly flickered across her lips.
Gu Dezhao, now thirty-seven and in the prime of life, had a refined and handsome face. Dressed in an official robe embroidered with cloud and wild goose motifs and fastened with a silver belt, he would soon leave for court. Seeing Jinzhao come to pay her respects, he motioned for her to sit and asked, "...I’ve been too busy with court affairs these past few days to visit your mother. Has her illness improved?"
Jinchao replied gently, "There’s been no real improvement, though her coughing has lessened."
Gu Dezhao nodded. "Good. Stay by your mother’s side—no one else serves her as attentively as you do. But you’ve been of age for half a year now, and you mustn’t neglect your needlework. Tutor Xue mentioned you haven’t attended her lessons for days... A young lady must master embroidery."
Gu Jinzhao agreed to everything, and Father’s expression softened. "That’s good. You ought to rein in your temperament. Your mother spoils you, and she may think I meddle too much. But as the Eldest Miss of the Gu family, your conduct, speech, and posture must be impeccable."
Father, being a scholar, placed great emphasis on a woman’s virtue and often lectured her.
She used to find such talks tiresome. But the last time she had seen him was when he lay gravely ill, and she had returned to visit. By then, he had wasted away to skin and bones. He had turned his head to look at her, then gasped in fury, ordering the maids to drive her out—the Gu family had no such daughter!
The memory of that day still pierced her heart like an awl. To be able to speak so calmly now was more than she could have hoped for.
When Gu Dezhao stopped questioning her, Concubine Song smiled and said, "...Today, I specially prepared some fritillary bulb and yam porridge. Eldest Miss, you should try some too. Fritillary bulbs soothe the lungs and relieve coughs. Since you’ve been ill for so long, you ought to have an extra bowl."
Jinzhao’s heart tightened. She hadn’t told Father about her illness.
Sneaking off to attend the Duke’s flower banquet and falling ill—if Father found out, he would surely be displeased with her again.
Sure enough, Father asked, "Ill? Why wasn’t I informed? What made you sick?"
A cold laugh rose in Jinzhao’s heart. In her past life, she had truly believed Concubine Song to be gentle and kind. Yet with just one sentence, the woman had stirred up trouble.Her expression dimmed: "Mother is seriously ill, and I've been so worried that I haven't been able to sleep day or night... I originally wanted to calm my mind at the Duke's flower gathering, but who knew the snow was heavy and the weather bitterly cold that day, and I ended up catching a chill. I feel guilty that I couldn't attend to Mother these past few days. I didn't want to worry Father and Mother, so I told my maids not to mention it. Now that I'm better, I came early to pay my respects to Father before visiting Mother."
Song Yiniang was momentarily stunned—Gu Jinzhao's words were flawless.
Father hummed in acknowledgment, expressed some concern, and instructed Biyue to fetch some nourishing medicinal materials for her.
Gu Jinzhao looked up at Song Yiniang, her eyes brimming with amusement. Naturally, Song Yiniang smiled back and said, "The Eldest Miss has been most diligent in serving Madam. It truly warms my heart. Since it's almost time, why don't I accompany the Eldest Miss to pay respects to Madam?"
Jinchao replied, "Of course. I was also hoping to share some private words with you."
Her years in the Chen Family hadn't been for nothing. Gu Jinzhao rubbed the engraved silver bracelet hidden under her sleeve, thinking to herself that she’d like to see whether Song Yiniang could still stir up trouble in this lifetime.
After Gu Dezhao left, Jinchao and Song Yiniang, each accompanied by their maids, walked along a path lined with tall goldenrain trees. Ahead lay a small frozen lake, its surface long since iced over. A winding pavilion extended over the water, topped with a paulownia wood pavilion.
Recalling the earlier exchange, Song Yiniang found it odd. Those words didn’t sound like something Gu Jinzhao would say—not at all.
Song Yiniang glanced at Jinchao’s pale-red embroidered lotus-petal and vine-patterned brocade gown—she was as radiant as ever.
"You’ve been tending to Mother these days, which must have been exhausting. I must thank you," Jinchao said, withdrawing her gaze and smiling at her.
Softly, Song Yiniang replied, "Serving Elder Sister is my duty. For the Eldest Miss to thank me like this feels too formal. Lan Er is so close to you—there’s no need to stand on ceremony with me."
Unlike Gu Yi and Gu Xi, Gu Lan had been raised by her birth mother, Song Yiniang, who came from a good family.
Gu Jinzhao said, "You’re the concubine of both me and Second Sister—how could I be formal with you?"
Her smile remained unchanged, as if nothing were amiss. Yet Song Yiniang felt a twinge of discomfort. Even though Lan Er was her own daughter, in front of outsiders, she still had to address her as "Yiniang"—her status was, after all, only that of a concubine. Gu Jinzhao’s words, however, subtly widened the gap between her and Lan Er’s positions.
As they spoke, they arrived at Mother’s Slanting Cloud Garden, where the other concubines had already gathered.
Mother lay on the arhat bed, her face weary. Moyu brought a small stool for Jinchao and a peony stool for Song Yiniang, who then inquired in detail about Mother’s daily routine and meals.
Mother’s voice was faint: "...You’re very thoughtful."
Song Yiniang said, "I’ve grown accustomed to serving Madam. I couldn’t come yesterday afternoon and felt terribly guilty. I personally prepared a pot of codonopsis and black chicken soup—the kitchen will bring it shortly..."
Du Yiniang smiled and said, "Song Yiniang is truly considerate."
Gu Jinzhao glanced at Du Yiniang. Father had three concubines—Du Yiniang and Guo Yiniang had originally been his bedroom servant girls. After Mother married in, they were elevated to concubines to counterbalance Song Miaohua. But in her view, neither of them could hold a candle to Song Yiniang.Later, Mother also gave her own dowry maid Yun Xiang to Father as a Bed Warming Maid, who was soon elevated to Concubine. Jinchao didn't have much impression of this Yun Xiang—it seemed she had died in childbirth when Jinchao was eight years old, but she had been deeply cherished by Father during her lifetime.
After sitting briefly, Gu Lan arrived with Gu Xi and Gu Yi to pay respects to Madam Ji.
Hearing the girls' voices, Gu Jinzhao lowered her head, slowly twisting the bracelet on her wrist.
"...We met Third Sister and Fourth Sister on the way and came together. Has Mother's health improved?" The speaker's voice was gentle, prompting Gu Jinzhao to finally look up.
Gu Lan's dark hair was tied into a small bun, adorned only with light green beaded flowers. She wore a lotus-root-colored satin jacket with persimmon calyx patterns and a water-blue skirt with branch motifs. Her delicate face was as fair as jade, with a pointed chin and charming, smiling eyes that seemed ready to laugh at any moment.
She would be coming of age in half a year.
Gu Yi, now twelve, had a temperament quite unlike her birth mother Concubine Du—she spoke little. Gu Xi, clutching Gu Yi's sleeve, looked timidly at Gu Jinzhao. When their eyes met, she unexpectedly offered a small smile.
Gu Jinzhao was momentarily startled. Just yesterday, the girl had seemed terrified of her—why would she dare smile today?
Collecting herself, she returned the smile.
Gu Lan sat beside Gu Jinzhao and asked playfully, "...I saw Elder Sister exchanging glances with Fourth Sister just now. What secret are you sharing behind my back? I won't stand for it!"
Gu Xi whispered, "Elder Sister had Liu Xiang send me a box of pine nut candy yesterday..."
So that was why—the box of candy.
Still, given how tightly she clung to Gu Yi's sleeve, she must still be somewhat afraid.
Concubine Guo, however, seemed not to notice her daughter tugging at Gu Yi's sleeve as she sipped her tea.
Gu Lan took Gu Jinzhao's hand and pouted. "Elder Sister is favoring Fourth Sister now. Third Sister and I want pine nut candy too!"
This drew laughter from the concubines, and even Madam Ji smiled faintly.
Gu Xi, thinking she had misspoken, blushed crimson, unaware that she alone had received candy.
Gu Jinzhao said, "I only had that one box and remembered Fourth Sister loves sweets, so I sent it to her. I recall Second Sister and Third Sister prefer delicate pastries. Later, I'll have the small kitchen prepare some for you both."
"If we're speaking of pastries," Gu Lan added cheerfully, "I've just made some powder fruit at my place. If the sisters and concubines would like, I can have some delivered to your quarters later."
Madam Ji listened quietly. She often worried about Jinzhao—her temperament was too willful and reckless, far inferior to Gu Lan's. She felt guilty, thinking that had she not sent Jinzhao to her grandmother's household, the girl might not have developed such a disposition. Lately, however, Jinzhao seemed more restrained. Madam Ji hoped her illness might help Jinzhao mature.
"I'm tired now. Everyone may leave..." Madam Ji finally said.
The concubines and younger sisters exited first, with only Concubine Song remaining to chat with Madam Ji. Gu Jinzhao rose and approached her mother, speaking softly, "Mother, I'll visit Second Sister at Cui Xuan Yuan for a while and return to keep you company this evening."
Madam Ji squeezed her hand.
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