Song Miaohua only instructed Qiaowei to watch Gu Dezhao’s movements and paid no further attention to Gu Jinchao.

Gu Jinchao went to pay respects to her father the next day.

Father had just finished discussing matters with the Deputy Director of the Imperial Stables in his study and came out wearing a blue straight robe. Although Gu Dezhao was approaching middle age, he maintained himself extremely well. Unlike those young masters from noble families who spent their days riding horses and hunting with falcons, he had a balanced, slender build, proper features, and a steady demeanor. The blue straight robe made him appear particularly refined and handsome.

“…How are your several uncles? I heard your third cousin just participated in the autumn imperial examinations. Did he pass and become a Ju Ren?” Father asked her.

Jinchao nodded: “Cousin Ji Yun passed the provincial examination and became a Ju Ren. It’s truly a double blessing—his eldest son just turned one year old the day before yesterday. During the ceremony where the child picks objects to predict his future, he grabbed an abacus, which is an excellent omen!”

Father’s face revealed a smile: “Becoming a Ju Ren at such a young age is indeed a great joy! They should have sent someone to inform me so I could prepare some gifts!” He spoke with great pleasure and summoned the steward, saying he wanted to prepare inkstones and calligraphy works by famous artists to send to Ji Yun.

Jinchao shook her head and said slowly: “Not necessarily. Perhaps cousin might send you gifts instead.”

Gu Dezhao was in good spirits and laughed: “What happy occasion could our household possibly have?”

Jinchao stood up, bowed respectfully, and said: “Father, when I recently visited the Ji family, I happened to meet Miss Luo Su who was visiting relatives there. I noticed she somewhat resembled Concubine Yun and asked who she was, only to discover she is the daughter of Concubine Yun’s sister who married into Taihe County.”

“I was thinking that since Mother is seriously ill and Concubine Song is busy managing the inner quarters, the other two concubines inevitably cannot manage everything. So after obtaining permission from Miss Luo’s parents and clan members, I brought her back…”

As Gu Dezhao heard her explanation becoming increasingly inappropriate, he frowned and asked: “Why did you bring her back?”

Gu Jinchao smiled: “As I said, Father lacks people to serve him, so I brought Miss Luo back to attend to you. Right now, she is in the nearby Jing’an Residence. Would you like to see her first?”

Gu Dezhao’s face darkened as he coldly looked at Jinchao: “Whose idea was this, your mother’s?”

Jinchao glanced at her father’s tense face, her tone unwavering as she looked directly at her father: “Mother is so gravely ill, how could she concern herself with such matters? This was my idea. Moreover, besides Mother giving birth to my brother, the Gu family has had no male descendants born. Considering the need to continue the family line and expand our branches, you should take another concubine.”

Hearing his daughter’s words, Gu Dezhao became somewhat angry, placing his teacup heavily on the table: “How could you think of doing this… an unmarried young lady helping her father take a concubine—what would people say if this got out? Send her back immediately, and don’t mention this again!”

Gu Jinchao had anticipated her father would be angry—at this critical moment, his daughter bringing someone back for him to take as a concubine would certainly make him uncomfortable.

She glanced at the blue-glazed porcelain in her father’s hand, still intact, and continued: “Please see the person before deciding, Father, otherwise I will find someone else. You know my temperament; I won’t give up until you take this step.”

Gu Dezhao saw that although she lowered her head, she remained silent, showing no sign of backing down.

The two silently confronted each other for half a quarter-hour before he finally snorted: “Fine! You’re becoming increasingly capable! I’ll go with you just this once, but I can’t take another concubine. No matter what, don’t ever mention this matter again!”

The Jing’an Residence had many willow trees planted. Looking through the latticed window, Luo Su saw the bare willow trees by the lake outside and felt a bit cold.

Qingyi was helping her light the stove when Madam Xu walked in from outside, stopping her and waving for her to leave first.

She stood beside the screen and softly said to Luo Su: “Miss, please make yourself presentable.”

Luo Su came to her senses and seeing Madam Xu looking at her, felt somewhat anxious. Make herself presentable… did that mean Master Gu was coming? Her father had told her that Master Gu was a fifth-rank official, and his ancestral family’s influence was even more formidable. The highest-ranking official she had ever seen was just a county magistrate… she wondered what Master Gu looked like. Would these wealthy masters be especially intimidating?

She touched the cold gold ornaments on the dressing table.

These things seemed to wound her—the gorgeous pearls and kingfisher feather ornaments, the black lacquered redwood furniture, silk curtains, and the exquisite vases and trinkets displayed on the curio shelf… all these fine things she had never seen before were casually used as decorations.

Madam Xu came to her side, picked up a comb, and smiled: “Miss Luo, let me help you.”

She styled Luo Su’s hair into a falling-horse bun, adorned with two light pink silk flowers the size of copper coins, without using any pearls or kingfisher feathers. For earrings, she used lustrous pearls, which complemented Luo Su’s gentle and beautiful face. Looking at Luo Su in the mirror, Madam Xu smiled and said to her: “Miss truly resembles your aunt. The master will certainly like you when he sees you.” This resemblance was not just in appearance but also in that gentle and quiet temperament.

Pinmei, who had been waiting outside, came in: “Madam Xu, the eldest young miss is bringing the master over.”

Madam Xu then left with Pinmei. Luo Su didn’t know what she should do. Her hands clutched her sleeves as her eyes gazed at the frozen lake outside… wondering when this winter would pass. In previous springs, her third brother would take her out to enjoy the scenery.

Someone lifted the curtain, and Luo Su turned to look—it was a refined-looking man standing with his hands behind his back, silently observing her.

Luo Su’s face suddenly flushed red. She suddenly recalled the reproachful words that Miss Gu had spoken to her that day, and forcing herself to overcome her fear, she stood up and bowed: “This humble girl is the daughter of the Luo family from Taihe County. Greetings to the master.”

Her voice was trembling.

But from the corner of her eye, she noticed that the master’s expression had relaxed considerably. He looked at her, his gaze not avoiding her in the slightest.

Luo Su had expected to see a lavishly dressed, corpulent middle-aged man, but instead found an elegant and remarkably refined master. Her heart pounded, not knowing why she felt so nervous.

He still didn’t speak. After a long while, Luo Su finally dared to raise her head, though she didn’t dare look directly at him. Her gaze fell on the white jade pendant hanging from his belt, with its blue tassels swaying gently in the breeze from outside the window.

“What is your name?” Gu Dezhao finally asked.

Luo Su hesitated for a moment, then answered: “This humble girl’s name is Su.”

“Luo Su… a nice name.” Gu Dezhao smiled slightly, then said to her, “Don’t be afraid. You rest here for now.” He lifted the curtain and left. Seeing the curtain drop, Luo Su suddenly felt drained of all strength and collapsed onto the arhat bed.

Gu Jinchao sat drinking tea in the corridor outside. The courtyard had a pond dug for lotuses, all of which were now withered and blackened by frost. Jing’an Residence had long been uninhabited and lacked proper care, but it would likely improve from now on.

Father came out from inside, and Gu Jinchao stood up to meet him, still smiling as she asked: “Father, does Jing’an Residence need some tidying up? I noticed the lotus pond is all withered.”

Seeing Gu Dezhao’s calm expression, she knew the matter was likely settled.

Gu Jinchao felt somewhat disappointed.

For a moment, she had hoped that her father would emerge with an angry face and refuse to take Miss Luo as a concubine. It seemed as if her mother would then not be so heartbroken, and she would not be so disappointed in her father.

However, her rational mind quickly suppressed these thoughts. She needed her father to agree. This matter was not for her to decide; she had no choice.

Gu Dezhao looked at the withered lotus throughout the garden, his eyes narrowing as if recalling years past. When he saw Luo Su’s face, which bore an eighty percent resemblance to Yun Xiang, all his anger dissipated. He remembered that delicate woman who had died in his arms years ago, her tiny face as white as paper, her hand tightly grasping his, her voice as faint as a sickly infant’s cry.

“This concubine is useless… cannot… cannot bear children for the master anymore…” He only remembered that he had said nothing as her body slowly grew cold, completely cold. He had held her all night.

He finally withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Gu Jinchao, sighing: “Chao’er, father knows what you’re thinking. Father’s anger is merely because I feel that treating Concubine Song this way is truly unfair to her… Back then, she married me with the status of the legitimate daughter of the Deputy Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, yet could only be a concubine. These years have been difficult for her.”

Jinchao smiled without speaking. What did he know? If he truly knew, what happened afterward would never have occurred.

Gu Dezhao continued: “You shouldn’t always bully Lan’er in your daily interactions. She is, after all, your half-sister. Be more accommodating toward her…” He paused, then said, “Taihe County is too far from Shi’an. Since Luo Su has come, there’s no need for her to return. Order someone to tidy up Jing’an Residence, and send fifty loads of betrothal gifts to Taihe County…”

Jinchao replied: “Daughter understands.”

Currently, Concubine Song was managing the inner quarters, but for matters like taking a concubine, Father seemed somewhat embarrassed to have Concubine Song handle the arrangements.

Father returned to Juliu Pavilion, while Jinchao went to tell her mother about this matter. Mother had already anticipated that father would agree and wasn’t surprised at all. She merely had Madam Xu inform the various concubines and young ladies of this development. After all, a new person entering the household was considered a significant event.

Jinchao took her mother’s authority token and went to the household management office. Since her mother was unwell, this matter would naturally be handled by her.

She instructed the manager at the office: “…Secure a small courtyard in Qinglian Lane and send Miss Luo Su there first. Bring her over on the twenty-fifth. Have people carry the betrothal gifts in red containers, with gongs and drums to the Luo family in Taihe County, making it grand and lively. Also, assign two nimble maids to serve Miss Luo Su in the small courtyard, along with two strong elderly female servants. Provide food, clothing, and daily necessities according to the standard for concubines…”

Madam Tong watched from the side. After the manager acknowledged the orders and withdrew, she smiled and said to Jinchao: “…Tonight, someone will likely be unable to sleep.”

Jinchao smiled faintly: “Whether one can sleep or not depends on one’s abilities.”