After Xu Jing Yi’s arrival, many of the tasks that Jin Chao had been handling were transferred to Xu Jing Yi’s hands. The daily clothing and meals of the sisters, as well as Father’s care—she became familiar with everything after just a few days. She was extremely intelligent.
At first, Jin Chao felt somewhat awkward around Xu Jing Yi, but Xu Jing Yi treated her like a close friend, consulting her opinion on everything. Gradually, the two became more comfortable conversing with each other.
Jin Chao had thought that when it came to navigating social relationships, she had rarely encountered anyone who could compare to Xu Jing Yi. Even with her experiences across two lifetimes, there were many areas where she couldn’t match Xu Jing Yi. No wonder in her previous life, Xu Jing Yi had been able to support the entire Luo family despite being merely a secluded housewife.
A few days later, Elder Madam Cheng and Elder Madam Chen personally came to the Gu family again. They had exchanged birth charts a few days before, and now it was time for the formal engagement. They brought the three sacrificial animals and wine to officially deliver the betrothal letter, setting the wedding date for the eighteenth day of the sixth month. Madam Feng invited all the women of the household to come to pay their respects to Elder Madam Chen.
As Jin Chao approached the flower hall, she saw Elder Madam Chen sitting upright in a circular chair. Elder Madam Chen wore a jacket embroidered with longevity patterns, a forehead band, and a round bun secured with a white jade hairpin. Elder Madam Chen was over sixty years old, and had been a beauty in her youth; even in her old age, her countenance remained benevolent.
After entering, Jin Chao paid her respects to Elder Madam Chen, who scrutinized her thoroughly.
Jin Chao slightly lowered her head, her face still wearing a faint smile.
Neither obsequious nor arrogant, and without any affectation. Elder Madam Chen was quite satisfied, though if there was any flaw… it was that she was a bit too beautiful.
Jin Chao had served Elder Madam Chen for many years and understood her temperament thoroughly. She was very compassionate, and with age, had become detached from most matters. As long as others didn’t cross her bottom lines, she wouldn’t find fault with them. Like all mothers-in-law in the world, she simply hoped for a daughter-in-law who was obedient, sensible, and capable of serving her husband well.
Elder Madam Chen took Jin Chao’s hand and said with a smile: “She appears well-behaved and sensible, and knows proper etiquette. I like what I see…” She instructed her attendant, Madam Zheng, to give Jin Chao a red lacquered box carved with peony patterns. Jin Chao accepted the box with a bow of thanks, without offering excessive flattery.
Madam Feng, seated nearby, didn’t feel it appropriate to speak and merely took a sip of tea.
Elder Madam Chen, however, was very pleased; she disliked glib people. While it was good for a girl to know how to say a few pleasing words, too much talk became annoying.
Although this daughter-in-law was perhaps too striking in appearance, her character was beyond reproach—her son’s judgment was impeccable.
Elder Madam Chen smiled and said to Madam Feng: “It’s all due to the in-laws’ good upbringing.”
Madam Feng carefully set down her teacup and replied with a smile: “Elder Madam is too kind.”
Elder Madam Cheng, watching from the side, also said: “All the Gu family daughters are wonderful. Looking at those who came to pay respects earlier, each one is lovely and pleasant. Jin Chao is especially fine—you’ll be blessed in the future…” She took Elder Madam Chen’s hand, who smiled in response.
Elder Madam Chen held an official First Rank title and had two sons who were Second Rank officials. She could speak with her back straight anywhere.
Jin Chao withdrew, remembering her first meeting with Elder Madam Chen in her previous life, which had been the day after her wedding. While serving tea to Elder Madam Chen, the tea had accidentally spilled, scalding her hand, and she had scolded the little maid who had passed the tea. Although Elder Madam Chen had continued to smile, her expression hadn’t been so pleasant.
While the maid had erred in brewing the tea too hot, it had been inappropriate to scold her servant in front of Elder Madam Chen.
Jin Chao never saw that maid again afterward.
Wasn’t this a better beginning…
After meeting Elder Madam Chen, Jin Chao took Qing Pu to Wan Hua Hall.
Xu Jing Yi has been teaching Gu Xi needlework recently. She had told Madam Feng: “Since I have nothing else to do, and the needlework of the matron in Xi’s room is too coarse…”
Madam Feng couldn’t be bothered with such trivial matters; in her view, a concubine’s daughter was hardly worth noticing. If Xu Jing Yi wanted to teach her, so be it. Xu Jing Yi’s willingness to take an interest in these minor affairs was convenient; not only had she arranged for fabrics, silks, and threads to be prepared, but she had also had embroidery frames of all sizes sent over, along with gold and silver thread.
When Jin Chao arrived, Gu Xi was sitting on an embroidery stool, while Xu Jing Yi sat cross-legged on the kang bed, teaching Gu Xi how to stitch.
Gu Yi was also watching from the side.
Jin Chao paid her respects to Xu Jing Yi, and her two younger sisters paid their respects to her. Xu Jing Yi invited her to sit on an embroidery stool as well.
Xu Jing Yi’s voice was soft and patient: “Young lady, that’s not right, you’ll prick your finger… the needle should go through from the diagonal side, and come out around this thread…”
Jin Chao saw that Gu Xi’s face was slightly flushed, though her needlework was indeed clumsy. She silently blamed herself; while she had always ensured her sisters’ food and clothing were taken care of, and knew that the matron attending to her was teaching her needlework, she hadn’t paid attention to how well she was learning. Being a concubine’s daughter, if she couldn’t perform these tasks well, she would face hardship in her future husband’s household.
Such matters indeed required supervision.
Once Gu Xi finally mastered the technique, Xu Jing Yi began to speak with Jin Chao: “Did Elder Madam Chen come today?”
Jin Chao nodded, and Xu Jing Yi fell silent for a moment before sighing: “Everyone congratulates you on this marriage… but I feel you have a difficult path ahead. The main household son is already grown—that Chen Seventh Young Master, who was imperially appointed as the third-place winner in the palace examination, was so impressive during the parade of successful candidates.”
As the saying goes, only the one who drinks the water knows whether it’s cold or warm.
Xu Jing Yi felt that the Gu family had agreed to this marriage because they valued the Chen family’s power and influence, without considering Jin Chao’s future. No matter how sensible Jin Chao was, she was only sixteen years old and would find many situations difficult to handle.
Jin Chao couldn’t explain these matters to Xu Jing Yi, so she changed the subject. “Fortunately, we have you looking after things. I feel that Xi’s needlework has improved considerably…”
Xu Jing Yi smiled and stroked Xi’s head: “…My eldest sister’s daughter is about Xi’s age. She’s mischievous all day long, while Xi is so well-behaved that she endears herself to everyone.” All the children of the Fourth House had been raised well.
An Ma Ma, who had come as part of Xu Jing Yi’s dowry, entered and curtseyed: “Madam, the milk rice cakes are ready.”
After they had enjoyed some refreshments, darkness gradually fell.
Gu Lan came to pay her respects to Xu Jing Yi. The relationship between Gu Lan and Jin Chao was very complicated, which Xu Jing Yi had long known about, and she treated Gu Lan with reserved politeness. Gu Lan was also tactful, mostly just paying her respects morning and evening without engaging Xu Jing Yi in many conversations.
Luo Su also came to pay her respects to Xu Jing Yi, who treated her warmly as well. Before Xu Jing Yi entered the household, Luo Su had been fearful and anxious, but after some time together, she gradually relaxed. However, she remained meticulous in observing proper etiquette and chose her words carefully.
Soon after, Jin Chao and the others returned to their quarters.
Gu De Zhao came home from his official duties.
Xu Jing Yi helped him change his clothes and served him dinner.
Amid the sounds of bowls and chopsticks, only silence remained. Gu De Zhao barely looked at Xu Jing Yi, but quietly ate the food she placed in his bowl.
Gu De Zhao was still very reserved; except for their wedding night, he usually slept in the study in the front courtyard. He came to eat with Xu Jing Yi every day only to maintain her dignity, fearing that if Madam Feng misunderstood that he was slighting Xu Jing Yi, she might harbor criticism toward her.
Following the custom of not speaking while eating or resting, only after the meal was finished and the servants came to clear the dishes did Xu Jing Yi smile and say: “Today I taught Xi needlework, and she learned very quickly… would you like to see?”
Gu De Zhao replied: “I still have matters to attend to. You should retire first.”
After Gu De Zhao left, An Ma Ma quietly said to Xu Jing Yi: “Madam, this cannot continue indefinitely… the master cannot let go of his heart.”
Xu Jing Yi lay on the arhat bed, leaning against a large pillow, allowing An Ma Ma to massage her temples as she said softly: “Water dripping through stone is not the work of a single day. His faithfulness is a virtue. It’s not so bad, and I’m quite content…”
Jin Chao’s wedding was drawing ever closer.
A husband had been found for Bai Yun—the son of the village head Xu from Yongxin in Xianghe. Jin Chao gave her fifty taels of silver as a dowry supplement, along with two gold hairpins. Madam Feng, the Second Mistress, and the Fifth Mistress all sent maids with dowry additions for her. When it was time for Bai Yun to leave, she embraced everyone wept, and finally knelt respectfully before Jin Chao: “This servant cannot bear to leave Young Lady…”
Jin Chao smiled and said: “That’s enough. Go early to the residence in Nine Li Alley to prepare, and have a splendid wedding. Village Head Xu has only one son, who has worked hard in the fields with his father since childhood. He is honest and dutiful, and will not mistreat you.”
Bai Yun’s feelings were complex, but she held back her tears.
She had been serving Jin Chao since she was eleven years old, and now seven years had passed. Serving her had become a habit, and naturally, she was reluctant to leave.
She followed Madam Xu past the screen wall and boarded a carriage to Nine Li Alley, where she would wait for the wedding party from Xianghe.
Cai Fu stood in the corridor watching the two of them disappear into the distance, suddenly recalling the scene of Zi Ling’s wedding. It had been cold and cheerless everywhere, without even a maid of any standing present. The people who had come to escort the bride had been very rowdy, almost insulting…
She took a deep breath and said to Jin Chao: “Young Lady, the wind is strong. Let’s go inside first.”
Jin Chao returned only after Bai Yun had passed through the hanging flower gate, and as they walked, she said to Cai Fu: “After we go to the Chen family, I’ll find a good match for you too. Don’t be in a hurry…”
Cai Fu blushed: “Young Lady is teasing me again!”
Jin Chao smiled without saying more. She had already selected the maids who would accompany her as part of her dowry: Cai Fu and Qing Pu would certainly go, along with Xiu Qu and Yu Zhu. As for her servants, that would be decided by her father and grandmother, but they wouldn’t let her be shortchanged.
The Chen family was much more complex than the Gu family, so the personal servants she brought would need to be exceptionally clever and sharp.
A few more days passed, and the betrothal gifts from the Chen family arrived.
Four thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift, two loads of ceremonial cakes weighing two hundred jin, three sacrificial animals and seafood delicacies, longan and peanut sweets… various items totaling fifty loads. Beyond this were the major gifts. When the list of betrothal gifts was handed to Madam Feng, her hands trembled.
Four thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift… When the Yao family had betrothed Gu Lian, they had only given five hundred taels of silver. The betrothal gifts had been far less impressive as well… The most important part of betrothal gifts was the monetary value, and generally adding ten or twenty loads of items would have been sufficient, yet the Chen family had sent fifty loads!
Madam Feng hurriedly summoned Gu De Zhao and Xu Jing Yi to discuss the matter. With such generous betrothal gifts, Jin Chao’s dowry would likely need to be increased!
When the betrothal gifts arrived, Gu Lian was with Gu Lan in the east courtyard.
Gu Lian took one look at the list of betrothal gifts and her face turned ashen.
Compared to four thousand taels… five hundred taels seemed stingy!
Why did Gu Jin Chao always have to outshine her in everything?