When Feng saw Gu Lan and Gu Yi enter, she didn’t even lift her eyelids, merely reaching out to pick up the porcelain teacup from the small table and sipping slowly.
Gu Lan and Gu Yi performed the kneeling salutation and said in unison: “Greetings, Grandmother.” But they didn’t hear Feng tell them to rise, so the two maintained their kneeling posture, not daring to move. Jin Chao knew that Feng was establishing her authority over the concubine-born daughters, so she naturally dared not speak either.
Feng finally put down her teacup and said: “You may rise and speak.”
Jin Chao saw that Gu Lan wore a dark blue upper garment with persimmon calyx patterns and an eight-panel ivory moon-glow skirt. She had come in a hurry, and her hair was somewhat disheveled. Feng noticed this too and said languidly: “This must be Lan girl, correct?” Gu Lan responded: “Yes, granddaughter is Gu Lan.”
Feng said coolly, “It seems you don’t take this old woman seriously. Coming to pay respects to me with your hair unkempt and wearing only an upper garment. Didn’t you learn proper etiquette in the Gu household?”
Gu Lan secretly gritted her teeth. Her carriage had arrived last at the ancestral home, so naturally, she needed more time to prepare. When Mujin came back saying that Jin Chao had already gone to the eastern courtyard, she hurried over. She knew if she came late, others would likely gossip about her. But she hadn’t realized that if someone wanted to find fault, they could always find something to criticize!
After thinking for a moment, Gu Lan knelt again, her eyes slightly reddened, and said: “Please forgive me, Grandmother. I was rushing out when I tripped and messed up my hair. I was too hasty. Grandmother’s criticism is justified.” Admitting her hastiness was better than being accused of disrespecting Feng.
Having acknowledged her fault, Feng could find no more words to criticize her. She simply grunted and told her to rise, thinking to herself that the girl was indeed clever and not bad-looking. If she weren’t a concubine’s daughter, and if her mother weren’t such a person, she might have been quite remarkable.
Gu Xi was the last to come to pay respects. The Second Madam and Fifth Madam brought Gu Lian with them.
Gu Lian darted into Feng’s arms like a little bird, sweetly calling her: “Grandmother.” She also mentioned having eaten milk lotus seed cakes at noon, “…The nanny’s skill isn’t as good as Grandmother’s; it wasn’t sweet enough. I ate one piece and then heard my cousins had arrived, so I came to the eastern courtyard to see.”
Feng embraced Gu Lian, smiling as she tapped her forehead: “You shouldn’t eat too many sweets. When you come of age after the New Year, you’ll be marrying into the Yao family. What if Yao Wenxiu complains you’re too plump?”
Gu Lian pouted: “He wouldn’t dare!” Yao Wenxiu treated her as carefully as a treasure, sending gifts every month.
Gu Lan watched from the side, thinking that following rules wasn’t what truly mattered—what mattered was who the old lady favored in her heart; they were the ones who were always right. Zhou smiled and said, “She has no manners at all,” and instructed her to greet Jin Chao: “…Pay respects to your eldest cousin.” Feng watched with a smile. In Feng’s mind, though Jin Chao had a poor reputation, she was still a legitimate daughter, and from the Ji family of Tongzhou. Gu Lian should certainly be on good terms with Jin Chao.
Gu Lian curtsied to Jin Chao in greeting, then winked at Gu Lan: “It’s been so long since I’ve seen my second cousin!”
Feng became somewhat displeased, as Gu Lian seemed particularly fond of Gu Lan.
Jin Chao observed all this, understanding that Feng didn’t want Gu Lian to be close to Gu Lan. Feng seemed to prefer that she befriend Gu Lian instead, but unfortunately, Gu Lian didn’t like her. However, Feng’s spoiling of Gu Lian was hurting her. Jin Chao remembered that in her previous life after Gu Lian married the family of Grand Secretary Yao of the Hall of Literary Brilliance, she couldn’t manage household affairs well and often returned to the Gu family in tears. In the end, she even sends her maid to her husband’s bed after the girl’s face is “opened” (made beautiful with makeup), but fails to regain Yao’s affection. That maid eventually bore a son and gained favor.
Jin Chao discreetly glanced at Gu Lian’s maid, who wore a rouge-colored short jacket and lotus-root colored garments, with a silver “butterfly love flower” hairpin. She had snow-white delicate skin, red lips, and white teeth… Jin Chao remembered this maid’s name was Lan Zhi.
Feng paused for a moment, then took Jin Chao’s hand again and said to her: “Currently, the household is managed by me and your Second Aunt. Your Fifth Aunt is with a child and cannot handle much work. Come learn from me often, and Grandmother will teach you well.”
Jin Chao stood up to express her thanks, glancing at the Fifth Aunt’s belly, which wasn’t obvious in her loose clothing. Inwardly, she was startled—in her previous life, two months after the Marquis of Changxing’s death, the Fifth Aunt had hanged herself, and she had been pregnant at that time.
She still remembered the scene of Jin Xian crying in anguish. At the time, she had wondered… so it had been two lives lost!
Zhou smiled and said to Gu Lan: “You and Yi girl should learn etiquette from me. Just be sure not to make any mistakes.”
Feng nodded, “Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. The household will set up a chrysanthemum terrace for viewing. I hear that Chao girl is skilled with flowers, so you should help your Second Aunt. Fifth daughter-in-law, you prepare the Double Ninth cakes and dogwood.” Everyone agreed.
After talking for a while, Feng grew tired. Jin Chao returned to Yanxiu Hall first, as she still had many things to do on this first day of moving in.
Since it was their first day after moving, they naturally had dinner together. However, as Jin Chao and the others were in mourning, a few tables of vegetarian food were set up in the Eastern Courtyard’s rest area. After dinner, Zhou came to find Jin Chao again, asking her to check how the chrysanthemum terrace was being set up.
Jin Chao inspected the chrysanthemum terrace, then, exhausted from a full day, returned to Yanxiu Hall and slept until the early morning watches the next day when Qingpu lifted the curtain to wake her.
Today was the Double Ninth Festival, requiring an early rise. It was autumn now, and Jin Chao looked out through the latticed window. The sky hadn’t brightened yet; she only heard the soft rustling sounds of maids sweeping. Qingpu, fearing the cold outside, draped a plain cyan silk cape over her shoulders.
The servants in the ancestral home rose earlier than those in Shi’an. As Jin Chao walked from the Western Courtyard to the outer courtyard, she heard greetings all along the way. Zhou and Ye were also up early, watching servants carry Double Ninth cakes from the kitchen to the main hall—five-colored, nine-layered chrysanthemum cakes, topped with two sheep made of dough, symbolizing climbing heights.
Zhou smiled and pulled her over: “…You’re up early too. Come with me to see how the morning meal is being prepared.”
As they were talking, a maid hurriedly came to report: “…Fifth Madam, the Young Master has arrived!”
Ye, busy directing servants cutting the Double Ninth cakes, frowned upon hearing this: “Wasn’t he forbidden to leave? Why has he come here?” Zhou smiled and said, “He must miss you and came to see you. You should go to him; I’ll take care of things here.” Ye was the Marquis of Changxing’s legitimate daughter, holding a very distinguished position in the Gu family. Even Feng showed her some deference.
Ye was gone for nearly half the morning. People gradually gathered in the main hall of the outer courtyard, preparing to drink chrysanthemum wine. Finally, Ye returned with Ye Xian, who was followed by dozens of guards in padded jackets, lining up outside the main hall. Feng greeted Ye Xian very warmly: “The Young Master arrived just in time!” She had Songxiang bring him a piece of Double Ninth cake.
Ye Xian wore a sky-blue patterned robe with a faint frown between his brows. He glanced at the seated women and quickly spotted Jin Chao. Jin Chao’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t forgotten that today was the Double Ninth Festival… only four days away from the palace coup! Why would Ye Xian come to the Gu family at this time? Could he have something to tell her?
Ye Xian took only one bite of the cake before telling Ye he wanted to take a walk. Not even a quarter-hour after he left, Caifeng came over and whispered in Jin Chao’s ear: “…Miss, the Young Master is waiting for you in Yanxiu Hall. He says he has something to tell you.”
How audacious of Ye Xian, sneaking around like this! And in the ancestral home too—how would she explain if someone saw them? Jin Chao asked Caifeng in a low voice: “Does anyone else know?”
Caifeng whispered: “Don’t worry, I’ve asked the Young Master to wait in the western corner room. No one has seen him except our maids.”
The Young Master had specifically instructed that this meeting must be kept secret. Caifeng knew that the Young Master and her mistress seemed to be discussing something important, so she naturally took great care.
Jin Chao left the gathering and headed to Yanxiu Hall. Ye Xian was sitting in the western corner room waiting for her, with the window open, looking at the crabapple trees outside.
Jin Chao told Caifeng: “Bring the Young Master a cup of chrysanthemum tea.”
Hearing her voice, Ye Xian turned his head and said: “I don’t want tea. Don’t trouble yourself.”
Jin Chao smiled and said: “Chrysanthemum tea clears heat and brightens the eyes. The Young Master should have a cup. You called me away from the feast… what exactly do you want to tell me?”
Ye Xian snorted: “If I’m not afraid, what are you afraid of?” He pointed to the round chair opposite him, indicating she should sit.
What could he be afraid of? He was the heir to the Marquis of Changxing, the future illustrious Minister of War, Lord Ye!
Jin Chao inwardly mocked but sat down nonetheless.
Ye Xian then said to her: “Do you remember those weapons you mentioned?… They appeared at the Rui Prince’s mansion and were seen by Xiao Qishan’s men. My grandfather told me that the Rui Prince had joined forces with the Northern City Military Commander and the Golden Tiger Guards to rebel. They plan to wait quietly until the Rui Prince makes his move before taking him down.”
Jin Chao’s expression remained unchanged, but she was extremely surprised inside. Ye Xian was willing to tell her these things! Treason was an enormous crime—knowing about it was serious for anyone. She asked, “Young Master… why are you telling me this?”
Ye Xian smiled slightly: “Liu Zhou is Xiao Qishan’s man; I discovered that long ago. Given my grandfather’s character, he will certainly listen to Xiao Qishan and remain inactive… I truly don’t understand the trap Xiao Qishan is setting.” He looked at Jin Chao without saying more.
Jin Chao finally understood—Ye Xian probably felt she was concealing something… not telling him everything.
She indeed had concealed something, but what she had concealed was something Ye Xian shouldn’t know. However, Ye Xian’s words made her think. Later, it wasn’t the Rui Prince who was charged with treason, but the Marquis of Changxing! What was wrong with this picture?
Jin Chao suddenly had an idea. Could it be… that no one was planning rebellion?
The Rui Prince deliberately created the appearance of treason for the Marquis of Changxing, then entered the palace on the day of the Emperor’s death. The Marquis, upon hearing the news, led troops to suppress the Rui Prince but was instead labeled a traitor and beheaded by the Rui Prince. Even if his innocence was later proven, the dead could not be brought back to life.
And the person who played a crucial role in this… was none other than Xiao Qishan!