When Gu Dezhao returned from the ancestral home, the Second Madam came along with him.
She wore a purple-patterned embroidered padded jacket, her hair arranged in a perfectly neat bun, adorned with a pair of “fortune” character hairpins and a gold “Pool of Delight” center hairpin. Her fair, oval face with phoenix eyes was full of smiles as she held Jin Chao’s hand, saying, “…I heard you’re moving back, and I’m truly delighted. Your grandmother specifically instructed me to come help, fearing you might be overwhelmed with all the arrangements.”
Jin Chao caught the scent of rose perfume emanating from her, exuding elegance and nobility.
She smiled, “I’m certainly happy to have Second Aunt’s help.”
Gu Lan and the others also came to greet the Second Madam. Upon hearing about Gu Yi’s engagement to the Du family of Wuqing, the Second Madam pulled her aside and chatted with her for quite some time. Meanwhile, Gu Lan was left sitting idly by. According to proper etiquette, the Second Madam should have spoken to her first as the elder sister, but instead, she conversed intimately with Gu Yi, clearly showing no regard for her…
Gu Lan thought to herself while inadvertently revealing a slight smile. Because of Concubine Song’s situation, these people from the ancestral home probably looked down on her. But the more they despised her, the more she needed to maintain her dignity. One day, she would make them all see.
Yet, she felt an inexplicable chill inside. Perhaps after moving to the Gu family… life would become even more tumultuous. If she didn’t find ways to protect herself, being devoured by this family of wolves and tigers was entirely possible!
Jin Chao glanced at Gu Xi. She had begun learning proper etiquette from her new nurse, sitting stiffly on the embroidered stool, not daring to move, clearly miserable. Her eyes darted around, and seeing her eldest sister watching, she grimaced. Nanny Jin beside her whispered, “Fourth Young Miss, sit properly with decorum.”
Gu Xi immediately stopped her antics and turned her face away pitifully. Jin Chao smiled slightly.
Gu Xi would turn ten years old after the New Year. Their father felt her personality was too lively, unlike the well-behaved Gu Yi, so he specifically assigned a new nanny to instruct her.
After finishing her conversation with Gu Yi, Second Madam Zhou finally spoke to Gu Lan: “…Your father said your Concubine Song hasn’t been feeling well lately and can’t accompany us to Daxing. It’s a pity. After you follow Second Aunt to the Gu family, you should learn proper etiquette from me, as your grandmother arranged beforehand. From now on, put Concubine Song’s matters out of your mind, and once you’re in Daxing, don’t return to Shi’an…”
Gu Lan smiled and agreed, but internally she was furious. What did Madam Zhou mean? Was she implying that her mother had taught her poor manners? And telling her not to return to Shi’an—how utterly disrespectful toward her mother!
Recalling how warmly Zhou had once treated her mother, Gu Lan couldn’t help but sneer. Truly, loyalties change like winter melons rolling off a roof!
Second Madam then took Jin Chao’s hand again, speaking to her more gently: “As for our Chao girl, Grandmother will personally teach you. When you marry out in the future as a lady from the Gu family, no one will dare look down upon you!”
Grandmother Feng wants to personally teach her. Jin Chao inwardly wanted to laugh bitterly. Seeing Gu Lan’s face turn cold, she surely felt Feng had shown favoritism. Jin Chao didn’t see it that way. Between her past and current lives, she had lived over forty years—what was there left to teach? Besides, serving in Feng’s presence would require constant vigilance, with no room for mistakes.
Jin Chao silently thanked herself for having already enlisted Cao Ziheng to help manage the accounts. Given Feng’s strict teaching style, she would certainly forbid unmarried young women from handling such matters.
Second Madam then called over the three concubines for a chat. Concubine Du now spent her days praying and chanting Buddhist sutras, never leaving Tongruo Tower. Concubine Guo had an even colder temperament. Only Concubine Luo appeared delicate and pleasant, which greatly satisfied Zhou, who specifically kept her for conversation.
Luo Su gazed at Zhou’s dignified appearance with some trepidation. She had never experienced such formal occasions, but managed to maintain her composure, greeted Second Madam, and then lowered her gaze to her dark blue satin shoes.
Zhou had been sent by Feng this time not only to assist Gu Dezhao with the move but also to assess his concubines. Seeing Concubine Luo’s timidity pleased her even more. For a concubine, besides serving her master, the most important quality was obedience. After everyone left, she asked Jin Chao, “…Does your father see much of Concubine Du and Concubine Guo?”
Jin Chao pondered Zhou’s meaning. Concubines Du and Guo had served her father for years. Now with their beauty faded, his affection for them had waned, and they showed no interest in competing for favor. Perhaps Grandmother intended to clear out those around Father… Did Grandmother want to select new concubines for him?
Even before moving, Jin Chao could sense Feng’s domineering style everywhere.
After some thought, she answered, “Father rarely saw them before, and now with Mother’s passing, he’s been grieving and hasn’t visited the concubines for a month or two.”
Father was still observing the mourning period for Mother; surely Feng wouldn’t arrange new concubines for him now?
Hearing this, Zhou nodded: “Your father is a man of deep affection…” She looked at Jin Chao for a long time, then sighed, “Your mother… to leave at such an age, it’s hard on you sisters. Once you’re at the Gu family, Second Aunt will certainly take good care of you all. Chao girl need not worry.”
She certainly wasn’t worried.
Jin Chao thought this but inwardly sighed. The attention her grandmother and Second Aunt showed them must be due to her father’s influence on her Grandmother.
With Zhou’s help, the move naturally progressed faster than before. Feng wanted the move completed before the Double Ninth Festival so that when the Gu family reunited, they could enjoy viewing chrysanthemums and autumn outings together.
With the assistance of the Marquis of Changxing and Right Investigating Censor Gu, the second master, Gu Dezhao’s official position was secured. Another purge occurred in the Ministry of Revenue, with Right Vice Minister Xu Bingkun of Cangzhou implicated and removed from office. Master Chen personally led the arrest, which resulted in exile to Ili. With this, all of Fan Chuan’s influence in the Ministry of Revenue was eliminated. On the sixth day of the ninth month, Master Chen officially entered the Cabinet, appointed as Grand Secretary of the Eastern Hall and concurrently Minister of Revenue.
By this time, over twenty officials in the Ministry of Revenue had been implicated, and Fan Chuan’s other power bases had been repeatedly struck. If not for the Marquis of Changxing’s covert interference, the number of people involved would have exceeded one hundred and thirty.
When discussing with his advisor, Gu Dezhao couldn’t help but lament: “Truly, when great demons fight, the little ghosts suffer…”
Gu Dezhao’s advisor, surnamed Pan and named Shiying, had previously passed the same imperial examination and served as a finance secretary in Zhending.
Hearing Gu Dezhao’s words, he also felt deeply moved: “Master Chen isn’t yet thirty, but has already entered the Cabinet and been appointed minister. Even throughout the great Ming, such examples are rare…” When Master Zhang entered the Cabinet at thirty-six, it was considered quite early. Now, with Master Zhang’s assistance, Master Chen had entered the Cabinet while still in his prime, truly enviable.
Pan Shiying smiled again: “It’s also because of Master Chen’s superior tactics. While the Marquis of Changxing was entangled in the murder of the Yanping Prince’s eldest son and barely managed to free himself, Fan Chuan had already lost his head, leaving no room for maneuver… Now, among civil officials, Master Zhang’s faction dominates, surely giving the Marquis of Changxing a headache.” In court, Master Zhang controlled the Cabinet while the Marquis of Changxing commanded the military, traditionally in stark opposition. Now Master Zhang had subtly gained the upper hand.
Gu Dezhao sighed: “Taking advantage of His Majesty’s serious illness and disengagement from state affairs, they’ve schemed enough for power, both openly and secretly.”
He secretly felt this wasn’t the end. If Master Zhang hadn’t seized this opportunity to suppress the Marquis of Changxing, allowing him to recover, the backlash would surely have been even more terrifying.
As he discussed with Pan Shiying, a servant came to report that the eldest young miss had been waiting outside for a while.
Pan Shiying took his leave, and Jin Chao entered from outside. She had been standing behind the bamboo curtain, overhearing most of their conversation. She knew the timing was almost right—once the Emperor passed away and the Rui Prince made his move, the Marquis of Changxing’s family would fall.
As the servant invited her in, she was still thinking about the palace coup.
Seeing her lost in thought, Gu Dezhao smiled: “What is Chao girl thinking about so seriously?”
Jin Chao came to her senses, curtsied, and said: “With Second Aunt’s help these past few days, the items to be moved ahead have been prepared and packed in pear blossom wood chests sent to Daxing. Some servants without formal contracts who were willing to go—I had them taken by carriage to Daxing to clean the courtyards first. However… Second Aunt seems to intend for Concubine Du and Concubine Guo to remain in Shi’an, as she’s had very little of their belongings packed. I wanted to mention this to Father first, as Second Aunt will likely discuss it with you in detail.”
After listening, Gu Dezhao remained silent for a while. He hadn’t visited the concubines for several months. And he rarely saw Concubine Guo and Concubine Du now… besides, Concubine Du had done that thing. He said calmly to Jin Chao: “Let them stay in Shi’an then. Send supplies and monthly allowances in the future, and leave some servants to look after them.”
The Shi’an residence needed to be well maintained, as Jin Rong would still study there. After they moved, Jin Rong would live in Juliu Pavilion in the front courtyard, avoiding any gossip. After his one-year mourning period ended, he would continue his studies at Seven Square Alley in Daxing.
Father must truly despise Concubine Du… Jin Chao thought. Not bringing the two concubines was for the best, as she had observed that neither Concubine Du nor Concubine Guo showed any desire to move.
When Jin Chao returned from Juilu Pavilion, her maids were already packing things in the side rooms. The side and main rooms weren’t much trouble, but her and Ji’s private collections were extensive. Jin Chao felt it wasn’t appropriate to bring so many valuable items to the ancestral home, so she had Madam Tong help sort out some unused items to send to Baodi in Tongzhou for her maternal grandmother to keep.
Her grandmother replied, teasing her about her secret treasure hoard, but said nothing else and kept the items for her. Jin Chao had her reasons for doing this.
Jin Chao’s reasoning was quite simple: some items that Ji Wushi had given to her and Ji weren’t registered and couldn’t be counted as dowry. If Feng suddenly decided to take over her mother’s dowry in the future and privately appropriated these unregistered items, what could she do? Who could she complain to?
Caifeng came to ask if the flowers in the greenhouse should also be sent to Daxing. Jin Chao naturally couldn’t bear to part with the flowers she had so carefully nurtured, but she couldn’t move all of them either. She selected only the most precious and rare ones to load onto the carriage. Standing in Qingtong Courtyard, she looked around again and again, taking a deep breath. She likely would never return.