After returning from the west courtyard, Jin Chao wrote a letter to Madam Ji Wu overnight, explaining how Madam Feng wanted to betroth her niece to Jin Chao’s father.
Judging by Cheng Baozhi’s behavior, it was obvious what would happen if she married into the family. Gu Jin Chao naturally didn’t want her to marry in. Even if her father were to remarry, it should be to a proper young lady with upright conduct. She wanted to ask her maternal grandmother if she had any suitable candidates.
Her father’s remarriage was something she couldn’t prevent, but she could mediate the process, at least to select someone suitable for their fourth branch of the family.
Occasionally, Gu Jin Chao still dreamed about the scene of her mother’s death.
Jin Chao sighed. In truth, she was unwilling to let a stepmother enter the household and take over everything that had belonged to her mother. She also didn’t want to call anyone else “mother”…
At the very least, this person absolutely could not be Cheng Baozhi.
After finishing her letter and sealing it, Jin Chao’s hand paused as she set down her brush.
She suddenly recalled what Third Master Chen had said. He mentioned having met her before, during the summer when she went to her maternal grandmother’s house to escape the heat.
But she had no recollection of such a person…
Jin Chao thought for a moment, then took another sheet of fine paper and wrote various other matters, before casually inquiring about Third Master Chen to her maternal grandmother.
The next morning when Jin Chao awoke, she noticed that the snow outside the latticed window had mostly melted.
Cai Fu, while helping her comb her hair, smiled and said: “…February’s spring breeze cuts like scissors. Look, the ginkgo tree outside has already sprouted. Behind our chambers, there are two elm trees with tender leaves hanging all over… In a few more days, we’ll be able to eat elm seed cakes.”
Spring had come again.
Jin Chao selected a jade hairpin from her jewelry box and handed it to Cai Fu. Her slender fingers brushed over the silver-gilt openwork case, somewhat lost in thought. Without realizing it… her mother had been dead for almost a year, and in three months, she would complete her mourning period.
Madam Tong entered from outside, wearing a plain blue silk winter jacket with a simple gold hairpin. She walked to her side, paid her respects, and reported: “Young Miss, early this morning, the Dowager Lady took Miss Cheng to Baoxiang Temple to worship Buddha…”
She paused, lowering her voice: “The Dowager Lady… had Concubine Luo and the two young ladies from the Master’s household continue taking medicinal soup yesterday.”
Jin Chao frowned slightly. Madam Feng was moving too hastily. Cheng Baozhi hadn’t even married yet, and she was already helping to pave the way.
She carefully arranged the hairpins in her jewelry box and asked Madam Tong: “Who told you this?”
Madam Tong replied: “…Qing Yi, the maid who serves Concubine Luo.”
Jin Chao nodded and instructed Madam Tong: “…Take several boxes of pine nut candy to the east courtyard. We should know something about what Grandmother and Cousin discuss daily.”
Madam Tong acknowledged the order and left.
In the afternoon, Madam Feng returned with Cheng Baozhi.
“…According to the Taoist master, your and Fourth Master’s eight characters are very compatible. That puts my mind at ease,” Madam Feng said, holding Cheng Baozhi’s hand and having her sit beside her on the lohan bed. “However, my support alone isn’t enough; you must also be attentive. Socialize more with the people in the mansion, and be on good terms with your second and fifth sisters-in-law. A man like Fourth Master is easy to handle—just be gentle and respectful toward him… that’s exactly what he likes!”
Cheng Baozhi nodded with a slightly reddened face and began calculating how to treat Gu De Zhao well.
That evening, she went to the west courtyard to speak with Gu Lian.
Gu Lian was chatting with Gu Lan while they crushed garden balsam flowers picked from the greenhouse to dye their fingernails. Gu Lian said: “…I kept pestering Mother yesterday until I found out that Grandmother wants to betroth Cheng Baozhi to Fourth Uncle.” Her face showed disgust. “The thought of someone like her marrying into the Gu family makes me sick… Lan, if she becomes your stepmother, won’t she control you everywhere? I’m surprised you can tolerate it. If it were me, I would have caused a scene in front of Grandmother long ago.”
Hearing this, Gu Lan felt self-mockery. She wasn’t Gu Lian; if she dared express dissatisfaction to Madam Feng, she wouldn’t have any good days ahead.
She fiddled with the agate pestle for crushing flower petals and said softly: “It’s not that serious. On the contrary, I hope Miss Cheng marries. Think about it—even without a stepmother, how is my life now? I’m still oppressed by my elder sister, who controls me in everything. If Miss Cheng marries… then my elder sister will finally have someone to manage her. With the two of them in conflict, I might even find some room to survive…”
Gu Lian thought about it and felt she was right. She then held Gu Lan’s hand and said: “About last time, I’m sorry… Don’t worry, in the future, if you have any trouble, I’ll help you! What’s so difficult about dealing with Cheng Baozhi?”
Gu Lan was held by her jade-white hands with bright pink fingernails. Looking at those nails, she found them jarringly bright.
Gu Lian was unreliable; truly caring for her was impossible—she could only be used.
She smiled very gently: “…I understand everything, how could I blame you!”
Remembering Gu Lian’s coming-of-age ceremony, when those ladies from noble families saw her serving Yu Ming Ying tea, she felt cold all over from their meaningful glances, like being trapped in a nightmare… She hated being looked down upon more than anything!
Lan Zhi had just brought in a plate of rose mung bean cakes when a little maid outside the flower hall announced that Cheng Baozhi had arrived.
Gu Lian said: “Quickly invite Cousin in.”
Cheng Baozhi came with Pei Huan and was very curious to see them dyeing their fingernails.
Garden balsam wasn’t in bloom yet at this time of year!
A maid brought over an embroidered stool. Gu Lian handed her a crystal cup to look at: “…These were grown in the greenhouse, so they bloom all year round. If Cousin likes them, you might as well dye your nails too—they look beautiful.”
Cheng Baozhi saw her delicate hands with pink nails, then looked at her own plain hands and became very interested.
Gu Lian immediately ordered a maid to pick more garden balsam: “We’ve planted orange-red, pink, and bright red colors. Cousin should try the bright red…”
Cheng Baozhi was amazed by the lifestyle of the Gu family’s young ladies as she looked at the crystal cup filled with flower petals and the valuable agate pestle.
After the maid helped her dye her nails and wrap them, Cheng Baozhi exchanged a few words with Gu Lian before glancing at Gu Lan beside her.
She had heard this was Gu De Zhao’s concubine-born daughter… who was quite beautiful, soft, and delicate, arousing pity at first sight.
Cheng Baozhi said: “We haven’t spoken much yet. This is Lan, right? You don’t look anything like your sister.”
Gu Lan smiled back: “I just take after my mother.”
So does that mean Gu Jin Chao looks like the former Fourth Madam?
Cheng Baozhi smiled, her tone unconsciously slowing: “I see that Gu Jin Chao is beautiful. I suppose my Fourth Sister-in-law must have been very beautiful too?”
Gu Lan couldn’t help raising her eyebrows slightly. Cheng Baozhi’s words carried deep implications. She smiled and answered: “Elder Sister takes after our maternal grandmother. Our mother was merely average-looking, nothing particularly beautiful.”
Gu Lian immediately understood and added: “No matter how beautiful someone is, once they pass thirty, their beauty fades. I think Cousin is more beautiful, with your shiny black hair and such lovely skin! You’re at your most beautiful age now.”
Cheng Baozhi smiled with pursed lips, then indirectly asked Gu Lan about Gu De Zhao’s preferences, inquiring about nearly everything before returning to the east courtyard with Pei Huan.
Gu Lan watched Cheng Baozhi’s retreating figure with some unease. This Cheng Baozhi wasn’t very clever… even if she married in, she probably couldn’t handle Gu Jin Chao.
Meanwhile, a little maid had gone to Yan Xiu Hall to report that Madam Feng had taken Cheng Baozhi to have their eight characters calculated today, and they were highly compatible with the Fourth Master.
Hearing this, Gu Jin Chao took a deep breath: “They’re calculating eight characters behind our backs. Next thing you know, they’ll be secretly sending betrothal gifts and holding wedding feasts without telling us!”
Normally, one would invite the proposer to visit, and only after agreement would they exchange names and calculate eight characters.
Madam Xu listened with great concern: “What does Young Miss plan to do?”
Gu Jin Chao thought for a moment and said: “For now, I can only speak with Father. If I openly interfere, I’ll certainly be giving others ammunition against me.”
She changed her clothes and went to the front courtyard.
Gu De Zhao was reading in his study when he heard Shui Ying’s announcement and let her in. He also instructed Shui Ying to bring in freshly cooked yam and pork trotter soup. “I was going to have someone deliver this to you, but now there’s no need. Your bowl doesn’t have sugar added. Drink it while it’s hot.” Gu De Zhao liked his pork trotter soup sweet, thinking it tasted better that way. But Gu Jin Chao didn’t like it sweet, so he always accommodated her first.
Gu Jin Chao accepted the bowl and sipped slowly. Seeing her silence, Gu De Zhao teased her: “Has someone upset you?” Then he thought it unlikely—his eldest daughter was very independent, unlike other children who would cry to their parents when wronged.
If she came to see him, it must be about something she couldn’t resolve herself.
After a moment’s pause, Gu Jin Chao asked: “Father, have you considered remarrying?”
Hearing this, Gu De Zhao laughed: “What made you think of such a thing? Did someone say something to you? Don’t worry, I’m still in mourning for your mother. Remarriage is impossible.”
After Madam Ji’s death, not only did he stop visiting Concubine Luo, but even the two maids no longer served in his chambers. He knew he had wronged Madam Ji in too many ways. Only by properly honoring her memory and treating their children well could he make some amends…
Gu Jin Chao looked directly at him: “But what if Grandmother asks you to remarry? And wants you to marry a woman of her choosing? What would you do then?”
Gu De Zhao immediately replied: “I certainly wouldn’t agree.”
But Gu Jin Chao just smiled and continued: “Marriage is determined by parental command and matchmaker’s words. Father, can you resist Grandmother’s persuasion? What if your Grandmother pressures you with arguments about offspring and the Gu family? Or if she invokes filial piety? What will you do then? After all, you only have a few more months of mourning left. What reason will you have to refuse then?”
Gu De Zhao fell silent. He hadn’t considered the scenarios Gu Jin Chao described. Given Madam Feng’s personality, it would be impossible for him to simply refuse.
From childhood, he had been taught to respect his stepmother. The only time in his life he had ever rebelled against her was when he married Madam Ji.
How did Jin Chao suddenly think of this matter?
Gu De Zhao asked her: “Jin Chao, tell me what’s going on. Did you hear something from someone, or did you see something?”
Note:
“八字” (Bāzì or Eight Characters) refers to the traditional Chinese astrological concept of the “Eight Characters” or “Four Pillars of Destiny.” This is a form of divination that’s been used in East Asian cultures for centuries, especially for determining compatibility in marriages.
Here’s what it involves:
- The eight characters consist of four pairs of Chinese characters derived from a person’s birth date and time.
- Each pair represents a pillar: year, month, day, and hour of birth.
- Each pillar contains two characters – one for the Heavenly Stem (天干/tiāngān) and one for the Earthly Branch (地支/dìzhī).