Father’s birthday was approaching, and Gu Lan was finally released from the study room, no longer required to copy “Female Instructions” and “Admonitions for Women.” The next day, she came to pay her respects to Madam Ji, her expression neither servile nor arrogant. Jin Chao watched her from the side, noticing how the half-month of writing had tempered Gu Lan’s composure.

After some thought, Father found a teacher skilled in Su embroidery from Wan Xiu Pavilion to teach Gu Lan the art of embroidery, giving her something to do.

Meanwhile, Program Wangxi, the teacher Father had found to instruct Jin Chao in the art of the zither, had started missing Jin Chao’s lessons every other day.

He was staying in the guest quarters of the outer courtyard, and Father provided him with the finest food and drink daily. It was said that a few days ago, Program Wangxi went sightseeing in Xi’an County and took a fancy to an ancient painting. When he mentioned it to the servant Father had assigned to attend him, the painting was delivered to his table the very next day.

Father privately asked Jin Chao about her progress with the zither, saying, “…After all, he came to teach you, so we can’t mistreat him. Master Wangxi is an inheritor of the Yushan School, so his arrogance is justified. You should understand.” He had heard that she wasn’t getting along well with Master Wangxi.

Jin Chao merely smiled.

There was a reason this Master Wangxi wasn’t coming to teach Jin Chao—he had many friends. This time, an elderly scholar from Hangzhou had come to visit him at the Gu residence. It was said that his ancestors had once passed the imperial examinations, but now his family had fallen on hard times. After passing the same examination, he was unwilling to while away his days in the Imperial Academy and instead spent his time traveling aimlessly. Upon arriving at the Gu residence, he had found food and lodging. Program Wangxi generously invited him to stay, and the two often drank and played the zither together, or went sightseeing in Xi’an and Daxing. They could spend dozens of taels of silver in a single day.

The old scholar occasionally asked Program Wangxi how his teaching was going, to which Program Wangxi frowned and said, “This young lady has a poor reputation in Xi’an. I don’t want to teach her. If it weren’t for Master Gu’s politeness, and having heard that she was taught by Master Zixu, I wouldn’t have come at all!”

The old scholar asked, “If she was taught by Master Zixu, shouldn’t she be quite good?”

Program Wangxi was even more disdainful: “Although Master Zixu taught her, I find her understanding lacking. I’ve taught her ‘Pu’an Incantation’ several times, and she still doesn’t get it. It seems the rumors about her being stupid are indeed credible…”

Their conversation under the corridor verandah was overheard by a servant nearby, and naturally, it reached Jin Chao’s ears the next day.

She found it both infuriating and amusing. “…He acts as if he’s the one being wronged!”

Cai Fu, listening beside her, also felt it was excessive and said to Jin Chao, “Why not tell the master and have these two driven out? They eat and drink for free, yet they slander you like this!”

Jin Chao smiled and said, “Let’s not rush.”

When Program Wangxi came to teach in the afternoon, she stood waiting for him outside the flower hall. Program Wangxi was startled—he had emphasized to Jin Chao the importance of propriety between men and women! Usually, he would wait until Jin Chao was seated in the flower hall with the curtain lowered before entering. After he left, Jin Chao would come out. He had never seen what this young lady looked like. Of course, he didn’t want to see her either. Such a harsh and willful girl—with disposition reflecting appearance—how could her face be pleasing to look at?

Who would have thought that this young lady would be standing quietly outside the flower hall waiting for him today? No more than fifteen or sixteen, she wore a water-blue lotus petal patterned satin garment with an ivory moon-bright skirt and a stone-blue belt with two jade pendants. She was exceptionally beautiful and radiant, with extraordinary looks, like a crab apple tree in full bloom in spring, truly stunning.

Jin Chao glanced at Master Wangxi and smiled, saying, “Master has been absent for so long that I’ve come outside to welcome you. Please, come sit in the flower hall.”

Program Wangxi came to his senses, coughed, and said, “Young lady, it would be better not to wait outside in the future.”

Jin Chao replied, “Master, you are my teacher, so I should personally welcome you. If you continue to speak this way, wouldn’t it show disregard for our teacher-student relationship?”

Program Wangxi was blocked by her words, pursed his lips, and felt displeased.

Jin Chao invited him to sit down and asked Cai Fu to lower the bamboo curtain. She said, “Master, please listen to me play a piece. This is a score created by Master Zixu. I have learned but a fraction of the old master’s skill.”

Program Wangxi had originally planned to play casually and then leave—his old friend was waiting for him to go drinking.

Since Jin Chao had put it this way, he could only say, “Go ahead and play.”

Jin Chao calmed her mind and played a piece that Master Zixu had taught her. The zither’s sound was ancient and ethereal, yet graceful, with lingering meaning. Despite his reluctance to listen, Program Wangxi was secretly surprised. Master Zixu’s zither skill was indeed extraordinary, and this piece was remarkably composed… For Jin Chao to capture its essence meant she wasn’t completely stupid!

After Jin Chao finished playing, she asked Cai Fu to lift the bamboo curtain and calmly said, “Master has now heard it once. I wonder if you could play the piece I just performed?”

Program Wangxi frowned: “What do you mean? With the curtain between us, I couldn’t see how you plucked the strings. How could I possibly play it!” He was very displeased, feeling that Jin Chao was using Master Zixu to humiliate him.

Jin Chao said, “Oh. Since you know that one cannot see how to play with the curtain down, why have you been teaching me this way all along? When I couldn’t learn, you called me stupid. I want to ask you, Master, since you’re not stupid, can you play it after hearing it once through a curtain?”

Program Wangxi was stunned for a moment before reacting, suddenly becoming angry: “I am your teacher! How dare you speak to me with such disrespect!”

Jin Chao smiled and said, “You would be my teacher if you had taught me something. You’ve taught me nothing at the Gu residence, so how are you, my teacher? Even if you only came to play music for me to listen to, after all the food and accommodations you’ve enjoyed at our home, we should be even!”

Program Wangxi’s face alternately turned red and white with anger, and he pointed at Jin Chao, saying, “You… you really… your Gu family is truly outrageous…”

Scholars were like this—they couldn’t curse at all. Forget cursing; when asked to speak reason, their tongues would tie in knots!

Cai Fu and Qing Pu watched from the side with smiles at the corners of their mouths. Jin Chao picked up her teacup and instructed Cai Fu, “The master is so upset. Quickly, escort him out for some fresh air!”

Cai Fu repeatedly complied, but Program Wangxi stood up and snorted coldly: “No need! The young lady is extraordinarily talented, and I truly cannot teach her! I take my leave!” He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Jin Chao instructed Cai Fu, “Go tell my father what happened and explain it clearly. Tell him not to stop the master.” Cai Fu quickly went to carry out her orders.

Program Wangxi returned to his quarters and began packing his belongings. The old scholar who was staying with him hurried over and asked, “What are you doing? Aren’t you comfortable here?”

Program Wangxi was too angry to speak: “Absolutely outrageous! I simply cannot stay here any longer!” He told the old scholar to pack his things and leave with him. Since he was leaving, there was no reason for his guest to remain at the Gu residence. The old scholar reluctantly packed his things and came to ask, “Where will you go?”

Program Wangxi was taken aback. He had been so consumed by anger that he hadn’t considered this question. He had assumed that once word of his departure spread, Master Gu would blame his daughter and then come to stop him. Who would have thought that even the servant attending him would not return?

This Master Gu, who appeared polite on the surface, was as unreasonable as his daughter! Thinking of this, Program Wangxi became even more furious. He packed his belongings and pulled the old scholar out through the main gate of the Gu residence. All along the way, the servants, stewards, and even the sweeping old women acted as if they hadn’t seen him, not even greeting him—this was not how they had treated him in the past.

When he reached the main gate, a steward suddenly appeared. Program Wangxi recognized him as Steward Li, who often attended to Gu Dezhao. He felt relieved—leaving the Gu residence like this made him somewhat reluctant, but fortunately, someone had come to persuade him to stay. To his surprise, Steward Li smiled and said, “Master Wangxi, the master has instructed that we won’t stop you from leaving, but please don’t take anything belonging to our Gu family!”

Program Wangxi was stunned. This man wasn’t here to stop him?

He coldly looked at Steward Li and said, “Tell me, what have I taken from your family?”

Steward Li continued smiling and said, “Three days ago, you mentioned wanting that ancient painting, which the master bought for four hundred taels. Then there’s the Chengni inkstone from Caishi Residence, and the three-legged incense burner from the previous dynasty bought at Duan Wen Pavilion…”

As Steward Li spoke, Program Wangxi’s expression grew increasingly uncomfortable. These were all items he had carefully selected! Well, if they wouldn’t let him take them, so be it. Sooner or later, he would make these people pay! Program Wangxi threw down a chest: “I don’t covet these trinkets!”

He left the Gu residence with the old scholar, carrying his zither. Once outside in the sunlight, he came to his senses. He had little money, and the only few dozen taels of silver he had were in the chest he had just thrown at Steward Li. He certainly didn’t want to go back for it!

The old scholar could only say, “I still have a position as a tutor at the Tao family in Xianghe. Why don’t you come with me?”

Program Wangxi was somewhat dissatisfied: “That Tao family, with just one successful imperial examination candidate, is constantly showing off and making a fool of themselves. I don’t want to…” Considering his situation and seeing the old scholar’s helpless gaze, he obediently swallowed the rest of his sentence.

Cai Fu recounted how Program Wangxi had been swept out by Steward Li, making all the maids laugh. Jin Chao smiled and sighed, finding Master Program Wangxi quite amusing, always acting as if everyone owed him something. At that moment, Yu Zhu had just crossed the threshold and quietly said to Jin Chao, “Young lady, Xiu Qu wants to see you. She’s waiting outside now.”

Xiu Qu’s wounds had almost healed, and she was now often moving about in Qing Tong Court, though this was her first time coming to see Jin Chao.

Jin Chao went to the inner chamber to see her.

After such a serious illness, Xiu Qu was even thinner than before, with a very sallow complexion. She wore a light green upper garment that made her look too frail to bear its weight.

Xiu Qu bowed to Jin Chao and said, “This servant wishes to ask the young lady for a task. I am willing to work in Qing Tong Court, even if it’s sweeping, laundry, or similar chores. This servant is now covered in scars and would not be able to marry if sent away. I beg the young lady to keep me.”

She prostrated herself deeply. Jin Chao quickly helped her up, saying, “Your body hasn’t fully recovered; you needn’t do this…” She then asked, “After what happened to you, I bear some responsibility. Don’t you resent me?”

Xiu Qu smiled and shook her head: “Although this servant is young, I can distinguish right from wrong. It was Concubine Song who harmed me; you were merely unintentional. Moreover, you saved my life, for which I am forever grateful…” Her voice lowered as she continued, “This servant has had no parents since childhood, and no one cares about my life. Even if I had died then, no one would have grieved for me… I only ask that the young lady grant me food to eat. This servant wishes to serve the young lady forever.”

Jin Chao sighed. With her body covered in scars that would never fade, Xiu Qu could indeed never marry if she left the household.

She smiled and patted Xiu Qu’s hand. “Then come and serve by my side. We’ve just taken in two new little maids. Cai Fu needs to divide her attention to manage them, and I’m short of help around me.”