Ji Madame Wu doted on her, the entire household knew this.

When she was young, she played in her second cousin’s study and took a fancy to his favorite Duan inkstone. She insisted on taking it away with her. Her second cousin always yielded to her in everything, but this inkstone he was unwilling to part with. She immediately went and told Ji Madame Wu about it. After hearing this, Ji Madame Wu said nothing more and ordered her second cousin to send the inkstone to her study, and also instructed servants to find two good Duan inkstones from the storehouse to give to him.

That inkstone was originally a gift from her second cousin’s enlightenment teacher, and he treasured it greatly. That day, he stood alone in his study facing a cluster of emerald bamboo for a long time, silent and wordless. Jin Chao didn’t like the inkstone very much; she only liked the carved sika deer on it. After playing with it for just a few days, she tossed it into a corner of her study where it grew moldy, and later it could no longer be found.

After this incident, the maids and elderly female servants of the Ji family understood clearly: that even the Ji family’s legitimate son could not contend with Jin Chao. In the entire Ji family, who could be more beloved by the Grand Madame than Gu Jin Chao? She was spoiled beyond recognition by these subordinates.

After viewing Qi Dongpan, a large group of people surrounded Ji Madame Wu and went to the Sherxian Tower in the outer courtyard. This was where Ji Madame Wu received managers from various businesses and estate stewards. Elder Uncle and the others had already been waiting there. The Ji family had only one legitimate son and one concubine-born son. Jin Chao also had two aunts who had married long ago, but both had married far away and could not return to Yanjing for years.

Elder Uncle and Elder Aunt had one son. A concubine-born eldest son had died in childhood, so the legitimate eldest son was Second Cousin Ji Yao, and the concubine-born son was Third Cousin Ji Yun. His concubine had also borne a daughter who was already married. Second Uncle and Second Aunt had given birth to Fourth Cousin Ji Can, and there were also two unmarried daughters born from concubines. Concubine Yun had not given birth to any children, so her status in the Ji family was not high.

Jin Chao now took out the things she had brought: gifts for each household, a longevity gold lock for her grand-nephew, and sugar boxes for her grandmother. When her grandmother saw her take out several black lacquer boxes of sugar, she laughed at her: “You still remember that I eat sugar, bringing so much! I’m old now, I certainly can’t eat all this!”

Jin Chao smiled and held her hand, saying: “How could you be old? Your hair is still glossy black, and your spirit is even better than mine!”

Gu Jin Rong also paid his respects one by one to his two uncles and cousins.

Ji Yao was the legitimate eldest son of the Ji family, dressed in a moon-white fine cotton straight robe with a jade flute hairpin in his hair. His features were handsome and his build was tall.

Ji Madame Wu said to Jin Chao about Ji Yao: “…He’s currently learning household management from me, and he learns quickly. He manages the restaurant in Baodi, and business is booming. He’s even created several signature dishes. If you want to try them, just have him take you there!”

Ji Yao gave her a faint smile and cupped his hands: “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen cousin.”

Gu Jin Chao also smiled at him, but inwardly she was puzzled. In her impression, she had always thought her second cousin’s interest was in studying, not commerce. He had the gentle and composed temperament of a scholar. But as the legitimate eldest son of the Ji family, he couldn’t choose what he liked.

Elder Uncle was tall and had a steady appearance. He was now over forty. He asked about Gu Jin Rong’s studies.

Gu Jin Rong answered: “…I haven’t entered the Imperial Academy but am studying with Teacher Zhou in Qifang Hutong. We’ve finished the ‘Great Learning’ and ‘Doctrine of the Mean,’ and now we’re studying the ‘Analects.'” When it came to scholarly matters, Gu Jin Rong became much more serious, after all, Elder Uncle had passed the provincial examination. He would take the autumn examination in three years, but he didn’t have much confidence.

Elder Uncle nodded and said: “You’re still young, it’s nothing if you don’t pass on your first attempt. Your third cousin is a legacy student at the Imperial Academy…”

Elder Aunt smiled and said: “He’s now a qualified student!”

That meant he had passed the provincial examination! Jin Chao was very happy to hear this. She only vaguely remembered that Ji Yun had passed the examination, and later participated in the palace examination but had not been selected as a Hanlin bachelor, which was that. But she couldn’t remember exactly when it happened and didn’t expect it to be so early.

Standing to the side, Ji Yun just smiled. He was a very steady person.

Gu Jin Rong congratulated him: “I haven’t heard Third Cousin mention it! A young provincial graduate is truly remarkable!”

Having studied himself, he naturally knew how difficult it was to pass the provincial examination, especially since Ji Yun was not yet twenty.

Fourth Cousin Ji Can also said with a smile: “I have no hope of passing the provincial examination. In our family, academic success rests with the Third Brother. When others pass the examination, they’re overjoyed and announce it everywhere, but Third Brother is strange—now he doesn’t even want to go out.”

Jin Chao also felt happy. Regardless of whether Third Cousin could pass the metropolitan examination in the future, having one more provincial graduate in the Ji family was good. She held her grandmother’s hand and asked: “How come you didn’t write to tell me about this?”

Grandmother smiled: “He just passed the autumn examination this year. I had planned to tell you after the New Year…”

Ji Madame Wu was also very pleased. The Ji family hadn’t produced someone with academic talent for many years. If Ji Yun could pass the metropolitan examination and participate in the palace examination to become a Jinshi in the future, the glory and prominence of the Ji family would likely reach unprecedented heights!

Gu Jin Rong looked at Ji Yun with some admiration and asked: “May I come to Third Cousin in the future to discuss essay writing?”

Ji Yun nodded: “Of course, you’re welcome to come!”

After meeting at Sherxian Tower, Gu Jin Rong followed Ji Yun and Ji Can to the study to discuss essay writing with Ji Yun. Gu Jin Chao naturally liked him to interact more with the Ji family members, at least it was much better than being with Gu Lan.

Ji Madame Wu returned to Qi Dongpan with her.

Grandmother was very worried about Mother’s illness, but the affairs of the Ji family were numerous and she simply couldn’t get away. She had visited Mother only once half a year ago.

Jin Chao could only tell her that everything was fine. She didn’t dare tell her grandmother about Mother’s last attack, fearing she would worry.

Ji Madame Wu held her hand and said to her: “Chao, Grandmother hasn’t seen you for half a year, but finds you’ve become more sensible…”

She felt melancholy, thinking that if nothing external had changed her, how could Gu Jin Chao have suddenly become sensible? She thought it was Ji Madame’s illness that had saddened Jin Chao.

Gu Jin Chao naturally knew what her grandmother was thinking but felt somewhat self-mocking. If only her mother’s illness had truly awakened her back then.

Although Grandmother had a stern appearance, she was exceptionally gentle with her. She simply loved and spoiled her without any ulterior motive or questioning any reason.

Such favoritism, whether in her previous life or this one, Jin Chao had only from this one grandmother.

Song Mama brought up a plate of lotus root powder sugar cakes that Jin Chao loved. Seeing Ji Madame Wu holding Jin Chao’s hand by the stove fire and talking, she smiled and said: “The young miss should return often. When you come back, the Grand Madame smiles even more.”

Song Mama had been Ji Madame Wu’s dowry maid, following her for more than fifty years. She was the person Ji Madame Wu valued most.

Grandmother also smiled and chided her: “You don’t come back often either! I recently grew a pond of water lilies for you, thinking you would come here to escape the summer heat. Who knew that after the water lilies bloomed and the leaves withered, you still hadn’t returned.”

Jin Chao liked to appreciate water lilies, with light purple and orange-yellow being her favorites.

Jin Chao could only smile bitterly; she didn’t know about her grandmother growing water lilies for her.

But her return this time wasn’t simply to see her grandmother… she also wanted to inquire about Concubine Yun’s niece.

Jin Chao asked about Concubine Yun’s situation.

Ji Madame Wu frowned slightly and said: “Your Second Uncle’s concubine… I don’t pay much attention. Last year your Second Uncle took in the Second Aunt’s maid Wan Yun, so those other concubines haven’t been much in contact. Why do you suddenly ask about her?”

Jin Chao said very calmly: “At home, Mother is ill, Concubine Guo and Concubine Du are aging and losing their beauty. It all depends on Concubine Song to attend to Father. Besides serving Father, she must also look after Mother’s illness and manage all matters in the inner courtyard. I’m afraid she can’t handle it all. I’m thinking of finding another concubine for Father.”

Ji Madame Wu’s grip on Jin Chao’s hand tightened. Her expression also became serious.

“…Such a matter, and you didn’t plan earlier! Only telling me now!”

Gu Jin Chao smiled: “Originally, Mother kept refusing… We haven’t even asked Father yet. We wanted to find a suitable person to bring back before discussing it.”

Grandmother looked at her for a long time. Jin Chao didn’t explain further; Grandmother was so clever, she would naturally understand her meaning.

Father was a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, in charge of military supplies, managing military provisions, tax collection, salaries, and granaries. The Left Vice Minister of Revenue, Lin Xianzhong, was his teacher. In recent years, it was evident that Lin Xianzhong was increasingly favored by the emperor and was on good terms with the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Hall, Fan Chuan. It was the right time for Lin Xianzhong to be promoted, and once promoted, Father would benefit greatly. At this critical juncture, Father would not take a concubine casually.

But if he didn’t take a concubine, letting Concubine Song remain so favored, sooner or later she would conceive a concubine-born son. In her previous life, half a year after Mother’s death, Concubine Song gave birth to a concubine-born son and was elevated to be the official wife. But that child was born a month premature. Calculating backward, if Father didn’t take a concubine, Concubine Song would become pregnant in about half a month! By then, who could stop her from becoming the Madame of the Gu family?

So this matter couldn’t be delayed any longer; it had to be settled within this half month.

Grandmother thought for a long time. When she seemed to have made up her mind, she finally asked: “If you want to find a pure and obedient girl, it’s not difficult. I have many maids here with good looks. Why are you asking about Concubine Yun?”

Ji Madame Wu indeed understood Jin Chao’s thoughts and knew what kind of successor she wanted to find for her father.

Jin Chao smiled slightly. If others heard this conversation, they would certainly look at her strangely, but her grandmother wouldn’t.