She rose at the Mao hour; the sky had not yet brightened.
Jinchao sat on the embroidered stool before her dressing table as Qingpu helped her comb her hair.
“This servant found a brazier and hand warmer for you in the western wing. The weather is getting colder. Later when you return from the Old Madam’s chambers, you can warm your hands…” Qingpu set down the comb and took a purple sandalwood hairpin to help secure her hair.
Jinchao made a sound of acknowledgment and told her, “…if you all feel cold as well, go to the private storehouse to find quilts. No need to ask me first.”
Qingpu responded with a yes. After her hair was styled, Caifu brought in a bowl of chestnut porridge, a stack of fried pastries, and pickled white bait. After finishing her morning meal, Qingpu accompanied Jinchao to the eastern courtyard.
The Old Madam had risen earlier than usual today, with lamps already lit in the western side room. The steward who served the Second Master Gu was standing under the corridor with hands lowered, waiting. Seeing him, Jinchao involuntarily slowed her steps. Second Master Gu coming so early to find Madam Feng must surely be to discuss important matters.
Jinchao thought of the affairs at the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion.
By the time she reached the corridor, the steward bowed and greeted her, while Songxiang went in to announce her arrival.
She soon entered the western side room and saw not only Second Master Gu there but her father as well. Madam Feng sat on the arhat bed wearing a hemp-made padded jacket, her left hand fingering Buddhist prayer beads. Seeing Gu Jinchao enter, she smiled and pulled her to sit beside her: “Our Jinchao has already arrived.” Then turning to Gu Dezhao, she said, “She is an obedient child, coming to attend to me before the Chen hour every day, following rules properly, and working diligently. I am quite fond of her.”
Jinchao just smiled and said, “Grandmother is praising me too much.” She could feel Madam Feng’s ice-cold palm, with a certain greasiness as if coated with fragrant balm.
Gu Dezhao looked at his daughter with some reproach: “When your grandmother praises you, that is indeed your virtue, and you should accept it. Your father had the shopkeeper in Baodi make several satin jackets for you, along with pastries your maternal grandmother sent, all delivered to your Yanxiu Hall.”
Jinchao expressed her thanks, though inwardly she thought her father really shouldn’t mention these things in front of Madam Feng; these matters should be discussed privately.
Sure enough, Madam Feng’s expression soured after hearing these words.
In the past, when Gu Dezhao wanted to marry Lady Ji, she and Madam Ji Wu had become somewhat estranged.
Gu Dezhao also seemed to realize his words were inappropriate. He coughed a few times and added, “Making winter clothes for Jinchao was just incidental. I mainly had satin jackets made for Mother, with Lian’er and Lan’er also receiving theirs. Now that the household servants need winter clothes as well, I simply instructed the Baodi shopkeeper to make them all. If mothers were to have others make them, they might overcharge. At my place, naturally, not a penny would be charged.”
Madam Feng’s expression improved considerably, though she couldn’t help but chide Gu Dezhao: “…You run a ready-made clothing shop as a business; how could Mother take advantage of you? Next time, please don’t do this.” Yet she said nothing about paying money.
In Madam Feng’s view, since Gu Dezhao had returned to the Gu family, his property naturally belonged to the Gu family as well. She simply couldn’t bring herself to ask Gu Dezhao to hand it over, especially since most of his current assets were acquired with the Ji family’s support. But with Gu Dezhao’s family living and consuming resources in the Gu household, if he didn’t contribute some finances, she would feel quite dissatisfied. That Gu Dezhao would be so generous was naturally good.
Second Master Gu suddenly spoke up: “That being the case, Third Brother and I will take our leave first. The Marquis of Changxing is gravely ill. Please remember to visit him this afternoon, and also comfort Fifth Brother’s wife.”
Madam Feng nodded and said, “I remember. You need to enter the palace to mourn, so go ahead.”
After Second Master Gu and Gu Dezhao left, the maids successively brought up Job’s tears porridge, honeyed pastries, yellow cakes, and a dish of fresh young cucumber shreds. Jinchao served Madam Feng her morning meal and then peeled a Tangqi mandarin orange for her.
Madam Feng leaned against the large pillow, half-closing her eyes, neither asleep nor awake. Having risen too early today, her energy was not good.
Jinchao, however, was thinking about what Second Master Gu had said. The Marquis of Changxing was injured, and the injury was serious enough to require Madam Feng to personally visit… In her previous life, the Marquis of Changxing had died on the spot. Since he hadn’t died in this life, and judging from Second Master Gu’s reaction if the Marquis of Changxing had been accused of treason, they would certainly avoid him, yet he still wanted Madam Feng to visit. This proved that the Marquis of Changxing’s household had managed to escape this calamity.
She wondered how Ye Xian had saved the Marquis of Changxing.
Since the charge of treason hadn’t fallen on the Marquis of Changxing, would Prince Rui simply let matters rest?
Jinchao knew nothing of this.
She thought for a moment, then reached out to massage Madam Feng’s temples, softly saying, “I see that Grandmother is still very tired. Why not rest for a while? Second Uncle and Father came to speak with you so early, you probably haven’t rested well. Father should have been more considerate…”
Madam Feng didn’t open her eyes, but the tension between her brows relaxed considerably. She slowly said, “The matter was urgent, so your father can’t be blamed… Last night Prince Rui’s rebellion was thwarted and he was killed by the Marquis, who was then severely injured. Your Fifth Aunt had someone deliver this news overnight, so we cannot relax. Grandmother also wants to rest, but I need to go to the capital this afternoon, so household matters can only be dealt with now…”
Prince Rui rebelled and was killed.
Jinchao could hardly believe it. Wasn’t the Marquis of Changxing the one who was supposed to be charged with treason? How did it become Prince Rui rebelling and being killed?
The situation had changed so dramatically—Prince Rui’s attempt to frame the Marquis of Changxing had failed, and he had lost his own life instead! She found it truly puzzling. But this had happened to Ye Xian, and she knew very well how meticulous and calculating he was.
Could Ye Xian have orchestrated this? Such a scheme of using others as tools for killing certainly seemed like his style.
Jinchao couldn’t help but marvel at the depth of these people’s scheming and machinations. Court politics were indeed too complex and ever-changing. Even if she knew what would happen in advance, if she opposed such people, she would likely only be defeated.
She stopped thinking about Ye Xian’s affairs and saw that Madam Feng was truly exhausted. She couldn’t help saying, “Grandmother should still go and sleep for a while. Perhaps let Second Aunt come and help today. You need to go to the capital this afternoon, which will be even more tiring on the journey…”
Madam Feng thought it was indeed reasonable—she did have to go out in the afternoon. She had the nanny call for the Second Madam to come over, and then Songxiang helped Madam Feng to rest.
Jinchao went to the study. Although Madam Feng was resting, she had no reason to leave just yet.
The Second Madam came in a hurry, wearing only a pair of South Sea pearl earrings the size of lotus seeds, with no other ornaments. Those who had come to pay respects to the Old Madam, seeing that Madam Feng hadn’t risen, gradually left. Stewardesses and senior maids came in one after another.
The Second Madam handled the inner courtyard affairs with great skill, clearly having helped frequently.
Soon Gu Lian arrived and, after coquettishly chatting with the Second Madam for a while, leaned against her mother’s side and casually played with the inkstone on the desk.
This was in Madam Feng’s quarters—how could the Second Madam allow Gu Lian to be so unruly? She said to her, “How can you lean against your mother like this, sitting so improperly? Put your grandmother’s inkstone back.” That inkstone was personally carved by the late Old Master, and Madam Feng normally didn’t allow others to touch it.
Gu Lian pouted, then took Madam Feng’s hand and said, “Daughter’s quilts are too thin; I couldn’t sleep well all night…”
Hearing this, Madam Feng became concerned: “Why didn’t Nanny Luo tell me… let mother see.” She reached out to feel Gu Lian’s forehead, fearing she might have a fever. How could she remember the issue of improper behavior now?
Jinchao sat in a red lacquered round chair beside the tall table reading a book. Hearing this, she glanced at the two, then lowered her eyes back to her book. Second Madam was clever and capable, smooth in social interactions, but worst at raising Gu Lian. Her eldest sister Gu Jinhua was also dignified and gentle; how had Gu Lian turned out this way…
Gu Lian avoided her mother’s hand and said in a clear, delicate voice, “Daughter is fine, but Lan’er is truly pitiful. She has nothing in her private storehouse, and the household hasn’t allocated anything to her. Last night she had to sleep with a maid’s satin jacket meant for winter. Unlike certain people who are beloved by everyone and have many possessions. Anyway, the daughter pities her and feels uneasy about it. Between sisters, there should be affection…”
After hearing this, Jinchao raised her head to see Gu Lian coldly staring at her. She found it somewhat amusing. What did Gu Lian mean by these words—was she trying to stand up for Gu Lan? This was ridiculous. How had Gu Lan’s actions toward her been sisterly? She hardly needed to forgive and forget, let alone overlook her mother’s death. Was she supposed to deliver whatever Gu Lan lacked?
These words certainly weren’t spoken at Gu Lan’s request; she wasn’t that foolish.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Second Madam’s face darkened as she asked Gu Lian, “These words—did you think of them yourself, or did Lan’er tell you to say them?”
Gu Lian had thought her mother would sympathize with Gu Lan after her words, but instead, her expression had soured. She stammered for a moment, then said, “Daughter thought of them myself. Lan’er is truly pitiful.”
Second Madam didn’t believe her. She loved her younger daughter, and when Gu Lian and Gu Lan talked and kept each other company, she turned a blind eye. But if Gu Lan dared to use her daughter as a mouthpiece, she couldn’t be lenient!
Second Madam had Nanny Luo take Gu Lian back, then walked to Jinchao’s side, smiling as she said, “Lian’er doesn’t understand things yet; please don’t take her words to heart… I have a box of dried fruits that I’ll send to your place later.”
Gu Jinchao naturally didn’t mind Gu Lian’s words: “Second Aunt need not say more. Cousin Lian is still young and doesn’t know better, easily led by others. These words must not have been her idea. Second Aunt, please don’t blame her—it would hurt Cousin Lian’s feelings.”
She needed to firmly grasp this opportunity Gu Lan had handed her.
Madam Zhou thought inwardly that Gu Jinchao was sensible while feeling displeased with Gu Lan… how dare she instruct Gu Lian like this! These few days she hadn’t set rules for Gu Lan… did she think she could be easily bullied?
Gu Jinchao, however, acted as if nothing had happened. In the afternoon, after Madam Feng left for the capital, she had free time. Coincidentally, Gu Yi and Gu Xi wanted to make satin jackets and asked her to help look at patterns. Jinchao brought Caifu and Bai Yun, who were skilled at embroidery, but saw a large group of maids kneeling in the courtyard of Yixiang Court.
The bluestone slabs were extremely cold in late autumn. Mu Jin knelt at the front, her eyes red-rimmed, while several small maids from Gu Lan’s room were quietly crying. The doors to the main room where Gu Lan stayed were tightly shut.
Seeing Gu Jinchao enter, Gu Xi poked her head out and beckoned her over, looking mysterious.