Jin Chao asked Cai Fu to bring up a cup of pine nut tea.
Gu Dezhao silently took a sip of tea before saying, “Chao, regarding the matter with Daoist Master Qingxu, I was in the wrong…”
Jin Chao didn’t know what to say. Too many things had happened to the Gu family in these past few months, and her father was somewhat overwhelmed. He wanted to seek support from religion, but unfortunately, Daoist Master Qingxu was just a charlatan. Now he couldn’t find support and felt lost.
Seeing that Jin Chao wasn’t speaking, Gu Dezhao smiled, “I know that you didn’t interfere with Qingxu’s affairs out of consideration for me. You needn’t worry—your father is nearly forty years old and has weathered the ups and downs of officialdom for many years. What can’t I endure?…”
He sighed, “I just… feel guilty, that’s all.”
Jin Chao thought for a moment and asked him, “The four thousand taels of silver—did you give them to the Daoist Master?”
Gu Dezhao said, “I was cautious and only gave one thousand taels first… I just wanted to tell you that you’re helping manage the household before you’re even married, and I’m still causing you trouble. I’ve been too inconsiderate. Without a mistress in the house, it’s not appropriate for a young lady to step forward like this… Your marriage prospects are already not good, and if your father continues to burden you this way, what will happen to you in the future?”
Jin Chao didn’t feel that the Gu family’s affairs were truly burdening her. But it was certainly good that her father was now reflecting on himself.
She smiled and asked, “So what does Father plan to do?” She had stepped up to manage the Gu household out of necessity, as none of the three concubines were capable.
…Could it be that Father wanted to take a new wife?
After thinking for a while, Gu Dezhao said, “Chao, I’ve been separated from the Gu ancestral home for twenty years. Over these years, the ancestral family has helped us a great deal. When your mother passed away, they sent people to help… I’m now thinking, why not return to the ancestral home? Your grandmother could help manage things, or she could ask your Second Aunt or Fifth Aunt to look after us, which would make things easier for you.”
So that was Father’s plan! Gu Jinchao was shocked. Compared to her father taking a new wife, she was even more reluctant to return to the ancestral home. Not to mention that none of Gu Dezhao’s children had grown up under Madam Feng’s care, if they returned to the Gu family, they would inevitably be treated less favorably than the children of other branches.
Moreover, after moving back, Madam Feng would inevitably interfere in their family affairs. She would certainly be restricted in what she wanted to do.
And was moving house a small matter?
Jin Chao glanced at her father. His expression was very determined, and she knew that he had been thinking about this for a long time. She probably couldn’t easily dissuade him. Jin Chao then said, “Father, if we return like this, will Grandmother welcome us? Besides, moving house is a major affair, and we’re still in mourning. Jinrong is still studying at the Yu family school. This isn’t the right time.”
Gu Dezhao had thought about all this. He told Jin Chao, “Don’t worry about these things. When we visited the ancestral home before the New Year, your grandmother already discussed this with me. You can’t write two ‘Gu’ characters with one stroke—we’re all one family, how could there be irreconcilable grudges… Your grandmother and Second Aunt’s family live in the east wing, while the west wing still has several courtyards vacant, more than enough room for us. As for Jinrong’s studies, he can still stay in Shi’an. We’re not selling this mansion…”
Gu Dezhao hesitated for a moment before telling her, “I didn’t want to tell you these things, but since you’re so sensible now, there’s no harm in telling you… The court is now in turmoil. The Emperor is bedridden, and Minister Zhang controls the government. Do you know about my mentor, Minister Lin Xianzhong?”
Jin Chao nodded.
Gu Dezhao sighed, “Grand Secretary Fan of the Cabinet was imprisoned for the tax silver case, and Minister Lin was implicated and demoted. He’s now been relegated to Shaanxi as an assistant commissioner. Everyone associated with Minister Lin fears for themselves, and I happen to be connected to the case of Prince Yanping’s eldest son’s murder…”
Gu Jinchao immediately understood her father’s meaning. Now that her father’s mentor had fallen from power, the Ji family couldn’t help him in officialdom, and he urgently needed to rely on a powerful faction to save his position. The Gu’s ancestral family was, all things considered, the best choice. If they returned to the Gu family, they wouldn’t have to worry about not being protected.
But she was also very surprised. In her previous life, Lin Xianzhong had been nominally promoted but demoted—although he was promoted to the second-rank position of Zhejiang Governor, his power was diminished. In this life, it was a clear demotion—Shaanxi Assistant Commissioner was only a third-rank position!
What had changed in this life? Jin Chao thought about the tax silver case her father mentioned and asked, “Father mentioned the tax silver case… what exactly is this case about?”
However, Gu Dezhao didn’t want his daughter to think too much about these matters. He only said, “In any case, Chao, you need to understand your father’s good intentions. I’m doing this for your benefit. If I were implicated too, our family would be in danger.”
He felt he had said too much to his eldest daughter today. What use was it for a daughter to know about court affairs? Finally, he said, “Rest well. You can discuss the matter of moving with your brother and second sister. If everyone agrees, we’ll go to Daxing.”
Jin Chao thought for a while. Since her father was unwilling to tell her more about the court affairs, she would have to find a way to inquire herself. She asked Maid Tong to find Luo Yongping.
Luo Yongping had been busy with shop rental matters these past few days, running non-stop. He hurried over, and after hearing Jin Chao’s words, he smiled bitterly, “…You can ask this servant to inquire about business or family affairs, but I’m not good at this. I’m afraid of ruining Miss’s affairs! Why not ask Cao Ziheng to come? He was once someone’s advisor, and it would be good for him to help you with these matters.”
Jin Chao did remember this Cao Ziheng. During her father’s birthday, he had helped select a pine and cypress painting, and he seemed quite decent.
She had someone invite Cao Ziheng over.
When Cao Ziheng arrived, he was still wearing a blue linen Daoist robe and clean, dustless black cloth shoes.
Jin Chao invited him to sit under the pavilion in the courtyard, but Cao Ziheng, not wanting to breach etiquette, clasped his hands and stood to the side.
Jin Chao didn’t mind and smiled, asking him, “I heard that Mr. Cao was once an advisor. May I ask which official’s household in Yanjing?”
Cao Ziheng didn’t conceal anything and said frankly, “Manager Luo is being too kind. I merely spent a few years eating at the home of the Seal Keeper Cao, which hardly counts as being an advisor…” He had no academic qualifications, so becoming an advisor wasn’t easy. The Cao family had only seen his destitution and given him food. But he was proud by nature and didn’t want to eat charity food, so he resigned from this position to work as an accountant for Luo Yongping.
Though the position of Seal Keeper was of the fifth rank, it was quite useless. It was said to be in charge of imperial seals, tokens, and stamps, but all actions were controlled by the Seal Keeping Office. The position had little real power and was generally given to sons of noble families as a sinecure or as a stepping stone for promotion. How could such a position need an advisor?
In her previous life, Jin Chao had seen many talented yet frustrated people. The Third Master Chen had more than ten advisors, each with extraordinary talent, but he truly trusted only one or two.
She smiled and said, “Mr. Cao is being modest. Whether you were an advisor or not doesn’t matter. With the current turmoil in officialdom, my father’s mentor, the Left Deputy Minister of Revenue, Minister Lin, has just been demoted. I’d like to ask you to inquire about this matter. Would you be able to help?”
Cao Ziheng hesitated for a moment before saying, “To be honest, I’ve been following these matters… If Miss wants to hear, I can tell you most of the details right now…”
He spoke about the tax silver case. The tax silver had just been collected from Hubei this year and was managed by the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Revenue. The section chief of the Treasury was Grand Secretary Fan’s only son. Taking advantage of the chaotic relationships among the Ministry of Revenue officials, he embezzled one hundred thousand taels of silver but was discovered by a Treasury Department clerk who was about to report to the Emperor. To protect his son, Fan Chuan killed three Treasury Department clerks, but the truth was eventually uncovered, and Fan Chuan and his son were imprisoned. Minister Lin, as the Minister of Revenue, was also purged.
After Cao Ziheng finished, Jin Chao asked, “Fan Chuan’s son is known for his arrogance, and his family’s wealth isn’t enough for his extravagance, but I don’t think he would embezzle tax silver.” Such young masters, when short of money, would simply ask their fathers for it, not come up with schemes to get it themselves.
Cao Ziheng smiled, “Miss is perceptive. It’s just Minister Zhang clearing obstacles for Minister Chen’s advancement. Among the Cabinet ministers, Minister Fan has deep influence in the Ministry of Revenue and has always opposed Minister Zhang. His downfall was only a matter of time…”
Jin Chao also suspected that Zhang Julian was behind this, but in her previous life, Fan Chuan’s downfall occurred after Emperor Muzong’s death. She didn’t know why it had happened earlier in this life, affecting many officials in the Ministry of Revenue.
Had her rebirth changed something? Jin Chao couldn’t help but think of Ye Xian. If there was anything she had changed in this life, it was meeting Ye Xian. She had asked Ye Xian to treat her mother’s illness, and Master Xiao had arrived in Yanjing earlier…
Could it be because of Xiao Qishan? Since Xiao Qishan was the Wise Prince’s man, he must also be part of Zhang Julian’s faction… With Xiao Qishan arriving in Yanjing early, they had made their move earlier! So how did they plan to deal with the Marquis of Changxing’s household?
Jin Chao had too little information. She needed some core information to discern the matter, but that was beyond her reach. She sighed. This matter… would depend on whether Ye Xian believed her. As long as he was willing to trust her and share his information, she would be able to know Xiao Qishan’s true actions.
However, Cao Ziheng had an unusually clear perspective on issues; his talent had been wasted. Jin Chao then said, “If Mr. Cao doesn’t mind, you can come work for me in the future. It wouldn’t count as being an advisor, just managing accounts and handling some matters that Manager Luo cannot. Would Mr. Cao be willing?”
Cao Ziheng hurriedly clasped his hands and said, “I’m honored by Miss’s invitation, of course, I’m willing!” He understood clearly that an accountant’s wages wouldn’t be so high; it must be the Gu family’s Miss who had secretly instructed this. Anyway, he no longer wished to pursue an official title, and helping Miss Gu was also a way of repaying her.
Jin Chao asked Maid Tong to see him out and privately asked about Cao Ziheng’s situation.
He lived in Ancient Well Alley, staying with another poor scholar’s family. His monthly wages were more than a typical accountant’s, and he mostly spent them on brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, or on supporting the poor scholar’s family as a form of repayment. Jin Chao asked Maid Tong to help find him a quiet, independent courtyard. In the future, accounts from various places would first be reviewed and organized by Cao Ziheng before being sent to her.
She had long thought of finding an accountant specifically to help her review accounts, and Cao Ziheng was upright and knowledgeable, making him quite suitable.