At this moment, Ji An Chun, who had been playing outside, secretly slipped in. Ji Yun had been away for several months without seeing his child, but he felt awkward mentioning Ji An Chun to his good friends from school. Chen Xuan Qing was only sixteen and not yet married. Though An Song Huai was engaged, he was still far from marrying and having children. Yet Ji Yun, being the oldest, already had a child almost two years old. Feeling embarrassed, he pretended not to notice his son and continued talking with Madam Ji Wu.
Ji An Chun, however, was holding a walnut in his little hand. His eyes darted around before he ran over to Jin Chao. He tugged at Jin Chao’s sleeve with his tiny hand and said in his childish voice, “Auntie Jin Chao, little walnut, have little walnut…”
Jin Chao, being an unmarried lady, found herself in an awkward position—neither able to engage nor able to retreat—and had simply been listening silently to their conversation. She was surprised when Ji An Chun grabbed her sleeve. She wondered how this child, who had seemed afraid of her earlier, now dared to pull at her clothing.
The sudden appearance of this little one in the room drew everyone’s attention.
Seeing him holding up the walnut with such anticipation, Jin Chao smiled and asked, “Young Master Chun, what do you want to do?”
An Song Huai inserted jokingly, “…Perhaps he wants to give you the walnut to eat!”
Ji An Chun, however, solemnly shook his head and said, “Chun eat… Chun can’t open it, Auntie Jin Chao open.”
Everyone laughed. Madam Ji Wu tapped his little head and said, “So clever at such a young age!” She asked Song Mama to bring the small hammer used for cracking walnuts for Ji An Chun. Jin Chao also found Ji An Chun amusing as he leaned against her seriously, staring at his walnut while waiting for Jin Chao to crack it open.
Jin Chao simply helped Ji An Chun crack the walnut and carefully fed him the pieces. Ji An Chun obediently opened his mouth to eat, and Jin Chao showed no sign of impatience. When walnut crumbs stuck to the corner of his mouth, she took out her handkerchief to wipe them away.
An Song Huai noticed the embroidered orchids on her handkerchief and couldn’t help thinking that such a beautiful person shouldn’t dress so plainly. She should… should be wearing bright reds and purples to do justice to her radiance!
Ji Yun also noticed something unusual about An Song Huai and harbored suspicions.
He coughed a few times, not wanting to discuss Ji An Chun further, and led An Song Huai and Chen Xuan Qing to the flower hall for a meal.
After the meal, Ji Yun took them to pay respects to his father, the eldest master of the Ji family. When visiting his father, Ji Yun inevitably heard about Ji Can’s marriage, which delighted him. As he congratulated Ji Can, Ji Can appeared somewhat embarrassed and said, “…Don’t congratulate me yet, I need to tell you something!”
Ji Yun was puzzled, and Ji Can explained, “Isn’t Third Sister-in-law Liu’s elder brother serving as the Deputy Commissioner in Hebei? He’s returning to Beijing on official business and sent word that he’ll arrive in Tongzhou tomorrow. Uncle has already arranged to welcome him… You’d better make a good impression, don’t let your brother-in-law laugh at you!”
Liu’s elder brother was more than ten years her senior, now over thirty, a jinshi graduate from both examinations, holding a fifth-rank official position.
Ji Yun couldn’t help feeling nervous and said, “I haven’t heard Grandmother mention this at all!”
Ji Can smiled and replied, “Grandmother is busy from morning till night. Uncle handles these matters now.”
After hearing this, Ji Yun became somewhat distracted. An Song Huai teased him, “…If you’re this nervous just meeting your brother-in-law, won’t your legs turn to jelly when you face your father-in-law!”
Ji Yun retorted irritably, “What do you know! Liu’s eldest son, Liu Min, is quite formidable… Not only is his literary skill outstanding, which we can hardly match, but his alcohol tolerance is impressive too. When I went to marry, he discreetly made me drink two pots of wine. I was so drunk that night that I couldn’t think clearly. He also finds me too bookish and has never liked me much. Whenever he sees me, he always gives me a hard time…”
An Song Huai suggested, “The Seventh Young Master is here! Let him help you.”
Among their circle of noble family sons, though Chen Xuan Qing neither inherited a title nor was the wealthiest, he was the most influential. After all, he was the son of the Third Master Chen from the Imperial Academy. Third Master Chen’s current influence in court was not to be underestimated. Hence, they jokingly called Chen Xuan Qing the Seventh Young Master.
Chen Xuan Qing merely smiled faintly, “Although Liu Min placed in the second tier of the imperial examinations, I’ve read his essays. Zijian definitely can’t compare to him… No need to bring me into this. I won’t participate in such matters!” He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant weeping willows, his tone quite calm. An Song Huai knew that Chen Xuan Qing was more than eighty percent confident he could outperform Liu Min. Ranking third in the Northern Metropolitan area… the top two were already over thirty. To achieve such honor at such a young age was no simple feat!
An Song Huai understood Chen Xuan Qing. One might say he had a serene personality with a certain pride. Less charitably, one might call him somewhat rigid. When they were dismissed from the Imperial Academy, they would often arrange to meet at Pinfang Tower, which featured courtesans and had a somewhat questionable reputation. They would listen to opera and have some wine, which wasn’t a big deal, but Chen Xuan Qing always refused to go, citing strict family rules.
An Song Huai smiled and changed the subject, discussing Madam Ji Wu with Ji Yun: “Your grandmother is truly remarkable. Never mind my father, there are few in Beijing who don’t know her reputation! But I didn’t know you had a cousin. You never mentioned her…”
Ji Yun smiled bitterly and said, “You may not have heard about her, but you’ve heard plenty about her affairs. You’ve even mocked her before! My cousin is the eldest daughter of the Gu family… remember? The famous Gu Jin Chao! The one who publicly slapped her maid at the flower gathering. At that time, my elder brother, the Seventh Young Master, and I were all at the Dingguo Duke’s residence… After the news spread, you said whoever dared to marry this eldest daughter of the Gu family would have a busy life ahead!”
He turned to ask Chen Xuan Qing, “I don’t know if you saw it…”
Chen Xuan Qing didn’t hesitate at all and replied casually, “No.” He had no desire to mention that the slapping incident was caused by him.
At that time, while serving tea, the maid accidentally tripped on a stone. The hot tea not only spilled on him but also drenched the maid. Seeing this, he went to help the maid. Unexpectedly, Gu Jin Chao witnessed this scene, called the maid over on some pretext, and publicly slapped her. He still remembered how the maid’s hands were scalded red, her face covered with chaotic fingerprints, her eyes moist and red, but no one came to her aid.
Chen Xuan Qing glanced at the maid but felt that even looking at Gu Jin Chao was a waste. If before this incident he merely found Gu Jin Chao irritating, afterward, his feelings turned to complete disgust.
Using one’s status to bully a maid, especially over something involving him—what kind of behavior was that?
An Song Huai was surprised: “How is that possible… when we saw your cousin today, wasn’t she very gentle?” She had been so attentive, feeding the child walnuts—how could she be a malicious person?
Moreover, he hadn’t expected that the legendary Gu Jin Chao would be… so beautiful. Like the spring color of crabapple blossoms, soul-stirring. Though she dressed so plainly, the vibrancy of her features could not be suppressed, rushing toward him like a wave.
Seeing An Song Huai’s expression, Ji Yun finally understood what he was thinking. Having been married, he was no longer as obtuse as before.
He glared at An Song Huai and said, “You’re already engaged. Don’t think about my cousin!”
An Song Huai mumbled, “I wasn’t thinking anything…” with no conviction whatsoever.
An Song Huai still found it hard to believe that this Miss Gu was the Gu Jin Chao. If she was indeed such a person, he couldn’t bring himself to speak ill of her. Considering himself a man who cherished and pitied beautiful women, he couldn’t help adding, “…Men are always like this, it’s nothing unusual.”
Ji Yun smiled and said, “Ask our Seventh Young Master if he agrees!”
Chen Xuan Qing remained silent and walked straight ahead. Others might be acceptable, but as for Gu Jin Chao, he respectfully declined.
Madam Ji Wu received the news of Liu Min’s impending visit in the early evening. Since the elder master of the Ji family had taken care of everything, she didn’t need to worry. Ji An Chun finished eating his walnuts and even napped in Duan Hua Pavilion. Upon waking with drowsy eyes, he still wanted to lean against Madam Ji Wu for a while longer, ignoring everyone’s calls.
When Madam Liu came to take Ji An Chun back, Madam Ji Wu asked her about Liu Min.
Madam Liu answered very respectfully, “My elder brother is returning to Beijing on official business, and my father says he might be up for promotion. He has done an excellent job pacifying the borders and supervising the military in the northwest areas of Hebei. As a graduate of both imperial examinations, achieving such success is truly remarkable.”
Madam Ji Wu was very pleased with this and told Madam Liu to go to the storehouse to find two exquisitely carved, gold-flecked small-leaf purple sandalwood Buddha statues to gift to Liu Min. Madam Liu smiled and carried Ji An Chun back. On the way, she asked the nanny if Ji An Chun had behaved well in Duan Hua Pavilion today.
The nanny cautiously replied, “Today, the Venerable Madam asked Young Master Chun to address the young lady as a cousin, but Young Master Chun cried. The Venerable Madam might be somewhat displeased… Third Madam, you really should teach Young Master Chun better!” In the Ji family, whoever displeased Madam Ji Wu would find life difficult.
Madam Liu seemed thoughtful, while Ji An Chun tugged at his mother’s hand, happily telling her loudly about eating walnuts today.
Madam Liu said softly, “As for pleasing the young lady… I understand it in my heart. But if Gu Jin Chao were to marry into the Ji family, it would be difficult for me…” She didn’t speak her final thoughts aloud: if Gu Jin Chao married into the Ji family, with the way Madam Ji Wu doted on her, wouldn’t Gu Jin Chao rule the Ji household? What would become of her then? Even after serving Madam Ji Wu so attentively and thoroughly, how well did Madam Ji Wu treat her? Just thinking about it made her feel uncomfortable!
The nanny asked curiously, “Will the young lady marry into the Ji family?”
Few people knew of Madam Ji Wu’s intention to have Ji Yao marry Gu Jin Chao. Madam Liu had only sensed this from her mother’s hints and long observation of Madam Ji Wu’s intentions.
She didn’t want to continue discussing this matter and sighed, “Forget it. If neither my mother nor Ji Yao can prevent this, what can I do? Let’s go see how the preparations for my elder brother in the outer courtyard are coming along…” She led the nanny toward the outer courtyard.