Jin Chao rested for two days before she stopped lazing in bed. After hardly moving for those two days, Jin Chao felt her bones had gone soft. The morning she got up, she walked several rounds along the stone path outside Muxi Hall, working up a good sweat before bathing, which made her feel much refreshed. Changing into a crimson jacquard creeping branch patterned vest and styling her hair in a falling-horse bun, Jin Chao then went to Tanshan Courtyard.

Lü Luo was helping Old Madam Chen trim her nails, cutting them evenly and filing them smooth and round.

Old Madam Chen had a servant bring over a stool for her and said with a smile, “I had a red date and Job’s tears porridge this morning. The small kitchen made it very delicious. If you weren’t pregnant, you could have had a bowl too.” Pregnant women couldn’t eat Job’s tears.

Jin Chao smiled as she handed over some fragrant cream, “Miss Lü Luo serves you so well, it’s rare to find someone so attentive.”

Old Madam Chen applied the cream evenly and sighed, “She has served me for eight years now, and soon it will be time for her to leave the household. I heard your maid Qing Pu is getting married. She is your closest maid, how is her future husband’s family?”

Jin Chao replied, “The groom is also from my estate. He’s honest and reliable, a proper man.”

Hu Jin had come to see her the day before yesterday.

Probably because he was coming to meet her, he had taken special care with his appearance. He wore an ill-fitting brown floral round-collared robe and black boots that were splattered with mud from the rain of the previous days. He had large hands and feet, showing he was quite strong.

Though not as handsome as Lin Yuanshan, he had a square, honest face with regular features and thick eyebrows.

Jin Chao had Qing Pu hide behind a curtain to secretly observe him.

She asked him, “I hear you’re already nineteen by Chinese reckoning, why haven’t you married until now?”

Hu Jin smiled sheepishly, “My family used to be poor, so no one was willing to marry me. It was only two years ago when my father became a farm manager that people suddenly started proposing marriages. But my mother felt they were all just after our money, so she turned them all down.”

Jin Chao asked him further, “Have you seen Qing Pu before?”

Hu Jin answered, “Once when I came with my father to pay respects to you. Miss Qing Pu served us tea… though she probably doesn’t remember. I recall Miss Qing Pu was wearing green clothes that day.”

Jin Chao couldn’t help but exchange smiles with Mama Sun. Finally, she asked, “Although Qing Pu is my chief maid, she doesn’t like to save money. She usually refuses the rewards I give her. So if you marry her, there won’t be much of a dowry. If you feel you need to reconsider, go home and think about it.”

She worried that the Hu family wanted Hu Jin to marry Qing Pu for financial gain, as her maid would surely have a generous dowry.

Hu Jin appeared thoughtful and said, “It was originally because my mother and I thought Miss Qing Pu was good, and she had served you. But my father is still hesitant… Marriage is a big matter, if you’re asking me to reconsider, I’ll go back and ask my father again.”

Jin Chao felt somewhat disappointed after hearing this, but didn’t show any unusual reaction, and let Hu Jin return home first.

Afterward, she tried to comfort Qing Pu, who just smiled and said, “It’s all right. If this servant can’t get married, I’ll serve Madam for a lifetime. When I’m old, you can reward me with a room, and I’ll live by myself.”

Of course, Gu Jin Chao couldn’t let her grow old alone and was planning to find another suitable candidate.

Unexpectedly, the next day Hu Yongchang came with a matchmaker to formally propose to Qing Pu.

Everyone was extremely happy. However, since the household was holding a wedding on the fifth day of the tenth month, to avoid any clash, after some discussion, Jin Chao set Qing Pu’s wedding date for the eleventh month. Hu Yongchang left with the matchmaker to prepare.

Old Madam Chen nodded after hearing this and had Lü Luo open a chest. She found a pair of white jade hairpins to give to Qing Pu.

This pair of white jade hairpins was worth ten times the value of gold hairpins.

Qing Pu quickly knelt to thank her.

Old Madam Chen waved her hand with a smile, “You’re such a quiet girl, I’ve always liked you. Take these for your dowry chest. Wear them after you’re married, and your in-laws won’t mistreat you.”

Qing Pu agreed with a blushing face and accepted the long red filigree lacquer box before retreating to the side.

Jin Chao smiled and said, “You’re too generous.” She thought Old Madam Chen’s gift was excellent; the value of a pair of white jade hairpins was high, which meant she wouldn’t feel restricted when supplementing Qing Pu’s dowry.

“They’re just material things. I don’t use such things anymore anyway,” Old Madam Chen said. She then took out a Buddhist scripture, opened it, and removed a red silk-covered booklet to show to Gu Jin Chao. “This is the guest list that your Second Sister-in-law and I have drafted. Take it back and discuss it with the Third Master to see if there are any additions or subtractions. Once you’ve approved it, send it to the ceremonial office, and the invitations will be sent out tomorrow.”

Jin Chao opened it for a glance. From her past life as a household manager, she was familiar with the Chen family’s social connections. Many of the names were familiar at a glance… She handed the booklet to Mama Sun beside her to keep her safe. “I wanted to discuss Seventh Young Master’s wedding with you. Although I’m pregnant, I shouldn’t let my Second Sister-in-law help with everything. Let me handle the banquet arrangements for the female guests, to avoid burdening the Second Sister-in-law.”

These were the most laborious tasks in wedding preparations, especially preparing the feast, which required getting up at five in the morning to supervise the kitchen in making steamed and stewed dishes.

Old Madam Chen had thought that Jin Chao was young and inexperienced, and with her pregnancy, she didn’t want her to work too hard. Otherwise, Chen Xuanqing’s wedding arrangements should have been her responsibility. Having Madam Qin help was out of concern that Jin Chao might later lack authority among the household stewards.

Although Old Madam Chen didn’t favor one child over another, the future mistress of the Chen family would certainly be from the third branch.

“It’s good that you’re so sensible…” Old Madam Chen sighed softly. “You’ve managed the third branch so well, and I’m very pleased. I was thinking that in a few more years, after the child in your womb is born and turns one, I would let you take over the household affairs. By then, your Second Sister-in-law won’t have to be so busy.”

Old Madam Chen indeed intended for the third branch to manage the household.

Jin Chao thought that in her previous life, even when she had been so reckless, Old Madam Chen had still been willing to support her, not to mention now.

Gu Jin Chao wasn’t pursuing the position of mistress; rather, as the wife of Third Master Chen, it was a responsibility she couldn’t avoid.

While the two were discussing matters, the second branch came to pay their respects.

The room was suddenly filled with children’s laughter. Xian and Zheng were competing for Old Madam Chen’s attention, with Xian also wanting to recite the “Standards for Students” for her. He recited haltingly, in an adorably childish way.

Old Madam Chen was delighted after listening and tapped Xian’s forehead, saying, “You’re so little and already know the ‘Standards for Students’!”

The eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Zhuang, was very modest: “I taught him to recite it, but he still doesn’t know it well. He just likes to show off!”

“In two more months, Xuanfeng will return from Gaochun County. When he hears his son can recite the ‘Standards for Students,’ he’ll surely be pleased too.” Old Madam Chen stroked Xian’s head, but he couldn’t sit still anymore and wanted to go play with his aunts.

After passing the provincial exams, Chen Xuanfeng didn’t take further exams but became the magistrate of Gaochun County in Yingtian Prefecture. In a few more days, the Imperial Academy would close for the term, and Chen Xuanran, Chen Xuanrang, and Chen Xuanyu from the sixth branch would return. By the New Year, Chen Xuanfeng and Second Master Chen would rush back from Northern Zhili. That’s when the Chen family would truly become lively.

Old Madam Chen was aging and looked forward to seeing her children and grandchildren all together. She was also looking forward to the New Year.

Gu Jin Chao took this opportunity to discuss Chen Xuanqing’s wedding with Madam Qin, whose expression stiffened slightly.

It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to arrange Chen Xuanqing’s wedding, but she had become accustomed to managing all household affairs, both big and small, and was used to the status of mistress and the respect it brought her. When she heard that Jin Chao’s fetal position was unstable, she felt a hint of joy, hoping that Jin Chao was one of those delicate young ladies who couldn’t handle the strain, so she wouldn’t have to hand over her responsibilities to anyone else. Madam Qin smiled faintly, “You’re pregnant, and it would be hard on you to manage everything. Why don’t I assist you? That way, you won’t be overwhelmed by inexperience.”

After hearing this, Jin Chao didn’t refuse and said, “Then I’ll trouble Second Sister-in-law.”

She knew exactly what kind of person Madam Qin was.

The household began to be decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments. Fortunately, the weather these days was clear and crisp, making everything perfect. The wedding preparations began with great excitement.

Third Master Chen consulted with Old Madam Chen and settled on a bride price of two thousand taels of silver. The betrothal gifts were selected through discussions between Jin Chao and Madam Qin. Jin Chao had good handwriting, but it wasn’t grand enough, so she asked Third Master Chen to personally write out the list of betrothal gifts. She looked at it herself and smiled, “This list itself is worth a hundred taels. Our bride price is effectively two thousand one hundred taels.”

Third Master Chen put away his brush and teased her, “You’ve got your eye on the money.”

Jin Chao took his arm and asked, “After Seventh Young Master’s wedding, you’ll be out all day every day. Why don’t you teach me calligraphy during this time? I’ve always wanted to learn clerical script but couldn’t find anyone to teach me.” She had always liked the heaviness of clerical script.

Third Master Chen said, “My clerical script is only average.” He had mainly studied the Guange style; only the scholars in the Hanlin Academy had the best clerical script calligraphy. Seeing Jin Chao looking at him, he slowly said, “Of course, I can teach you enough.”

He spread out some Chengxin Hall paper and dipped his brush in ink to write “Second Ode to the Red Cliff” for her. “Clerical script models are hard to find. I’ll write one for you, and you can practice tracing it in red. After tracing it twenty times, I’ll teach you how to handle the brush.”

Jin Chao took the model he had written and thought to herself, “And he calls this average.”

She picked up the brush he had just used, overlaid a sheet of paper, and began to trace.

Third Master Chen sat drinking tea nearby, quietly watching Gu Jin Chao. She wrote very earnestly. On her fair wrist, she wore a string of red agate beads with a lucky knot hanging down, making her wrist look especially slender and elegant. When she was serious, she appeared particularly gentle.

Gu Jin Chao looked back and suddenly felt that Third Master Chen’s expression was exceptionally calm, different from his usual calmness. He was watching her almost imperceptibly. Jin Chao thought she had misunderstood because Third Master Chen quickly asked, “Are you finished?”

Gu Jin Chao handed him the page she had completed, “Please see how it is.”

Third Master Chen only glanced at it before shaking his head with a smile, “If I were your teacher, I would punish you to write twenty more pages. Fortunately, I am your husband, so… it’s not bad. If you keep working hard, you’ll eventually write well.”

Jin Chao wasn’t discouraged by his criticism. She said, “I’m not naturally talented. When I was young, my teacher often hit my palms with a ruler. Now I’m afraid at the sight of a disciplinary stick. Anyway, diligence can make up for lack of talent.” She didn’t need to take the provincial exams, so she could learn at her own pace.

But the faint sense of discomfort in her heart didn’t disappear. She felt that Third Master Chen must be thinking about something.