Night had fallen deeply over the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion in Yuliu Alley. Horn-shaped glazed lanterns hung from the eaves. Autumn had arrived, and the stone steps outside the main hall were covered with yellow locust tree leaves. A middle-aged man about seven feet tall, wearing an official robe, approached with four guards in padded jackets.
He made a gesture, and the guards positioned themselves on both sides of the steps. The man coughed several times and walked up the stone steps. A scholar-dressed man standing at the door whispered to him, “The Marquis is inside speaking with Master Xiao…”
The man also lowered his voice, “…It’s a message from the Rui Prince, the matter is urgent, I must inform the Marquis! Master Wei, please announce me!”
The scholar thought for a moment, then knocked on the door and went inside. When he came out, he nodded to the man. The man showed gratitude, “…Tomorrow morning I’ll treat Master Wei to salty soybean milk at the alley entrance!” Master Wei whispered, “Soybean milk? I doubt we’ll even be able to leave the mansion.”
The voice of the Marquis of Changxing came from inside: “Liu Zhou, come in.”
Liu Zhou quickly bowed to Master Wei and hurriedly walked to the main hall. He saw not only the Marquis of Changxing and Master Xiao but also the Old Marquis sitting in the grand chair, discussing something… Something major must be happening!
The Marquis of Changxing was tall with fine eyebrows but imposing features. He wore a formal robe with the qilin emblem. Liu Zhou’s heart sank at the sight… He should have changed into casual clothes at home, why was he still in official attire? He must have just returned from the palace, not even having time to change!
The Old Marquis put down his teacup and slowly said, “You say there’s news from the Rui Prince. What exactly is it?”
Liu Zhou hurriedly greeted everyone and answered with cupped hands: “Master Xiao had this servant watching the Rui Prince. There was nothing unusual, but yesterday a shipment of silk arrived from Baodi and was quietly delivered to the Rui Prince’s mansion… The Old Marquis may not know, but the Rui Prince regularly buys silk from Baodi monthly. He has two silk shops in Yanjing Alley in the west of the city, and the silk is usually delivered directly to Yanjing Alley.”
The Marquis of Changxing frowned: “What’s the point of all this nonsense… What exactly was in that silk shipment?”
Liu Zhou said: “Forgive my rambling! Our man in the Rui Prince’s household took a secret look—it was two full carts of sharpened sabers and spears. Judging by the forging craftsmanship, they were no ordinary weapons!”
At these words, Xiao Qishan and the Marquis of Changxing both changed expression.
The Marquis lowered his voice to the Old Marquis: “It seems Master Xiao’s analysis was correct… The Rui Prince met with the Commander of the Northern City Military and the Left Golden Tiger Guard yesterday. When I entered the palace today, I noticed all the guards on duty at the hall were unfamiliar faces. Now he’s transporting so many weapons… He must have plans!”
The Old Marquis snorted: “He seems to have forgotten how the late Emperor dealt with him. Now, seeing the Emperor gravely ill, he’s harboring such thoughts!”
The Old Marquis stood up and paced the main hall for a few rounds, deep in thought. The Marquis dared not speak. When the Old Marquis finally stopped, he asked Xiao Qishan, “…What does Master Xiao think?”
Xiao Qishan had been examining a purple bamboo brush holder on the curio shelf. He turned his gaze back and smiled slightly: “The Old Marquis knows that although the Rui Prince now controls some military power, he’s no match for the Marquis of Changxing’s household. He may have convinced the Northern City Military Commander, but he has no way with the other four city commanders, and most of the Golden Tiger Guards are the Emperor’s trusted men. I believe if the Rui Prince intends rebellion, he still faces considerable difficulties! You might as well remain quietly vigilant, and when he makes his move… strike him down at once, cutting the grass and removing the roots!”
The Marquis of Changxing nodded, deeply agreeing. The Rui Prince’s foundation was still shallow and could not shake the Marquis of Changxing’s house. He also strongly disapproved of the military power the Rui Prince held… A prince who had never been on a battlefield, yet obtained military power with just a few clever words… To someone who had spent a lifetime fighting wars, this was truly unbearable!
The Old Marquis thought for a moment. He had originally planned to consult with the other four city commanders to arrest all the conspirators. But that might alert them prematurely, and without sufficient evidence, they might not be able to find incriminating proof against the Rui Prince. Moreover, relations with the Yanping Prince were still tense.
As Xiao Qishan said, if they didn’t capture him during his rebellion, how could they thoroughly eliminate the threat?
The Old Marquis instructed the Marquis: “Even so, we cannot just sit idle. Make secret preparations and guard against the Rui Prince’s sudden action.”
The Marquis nodded, “I understand, Father… but Xian is now involved in this matter…”
The Old Marquis frowned: “His health hasn’t fully recovered. It’s fine for him to help with other matters daily, but he must not get involved in this! That Li Xianhuai following him was brought from Sichuan by me, and I fear he might lead him astray. I’ll speak to him personally.”
Xiao Qishan sighed: “It’s my incompetence that I haven’t cured him after all these years.”
The Old Marquis shook his head, “What are you saying, Master? If not for you, Xian might not have lived past five. I can see how well you’ve treated him all these years.”
Xiao Qishan smiled at this and remained silent for a long time.
After their discussion, the Old Marquis personally went to speak with Ye Xian.
After listening, Ye Xian was silent for a moment, then said: “Grandfather, you usually let me manage household affairs. Now with such a major matter, you don’t want me involved. I truly don’t understand.”
The Old Marquis said: “Your father is too straightforward, but you’re quite the opposite. Too calculating…” with too many thoughts, thinking too much. So much that his ambition was as high as the sky, yet his fate was as thin as paper—this could shorten his life. He only realized this after hearing Xiao Qishan’s words.
The Old Marquis was reluctant to involve Ye Xian. The Marquis of Changxing’s household had only one male heir—who else but Ye Xian could shoulder the responsibility?
The Old Marquis’s voice strengthened: “Leave everything else aside, but you absolutely must not get involved in matters concerning weapons and fighting.”
Ye Xian remained silent.
Seeing Ye Xian’s demeanor, the Old Marquis knew that if he didn’t explain clearly, Ye Xian wouldn’t let it go. His stubborn temperament—who knows whom he took after? He sighed, “…Let me be clear with you. This concerns the Rui Prince conspiring with the Golden Tiger Guards for rebellion, even involving the Northern City Military. This is no small matter, and you must not act rashly!”
“Rebellion… how do you know?” Ye Xian somehow thought of the weapons Gu Jin Chao had mentioned.
The Old Marquis naturally wouldn’t continue answering his questions, “These days you should stay in the study practicing calligraphy. You’re not allowed to leave the mansion!”
The Old Marquis left after saying this, instructing Ye Xian’s guards to watch the young master carefully.
Ye Xian certainly wouldn’t obediently stay in the Marquis’s mansion. He felt that Gu Jin Chao had something she hadn’t told him, and he wanted to ask her.
Meanwhile, Jin Chao and the others had just moved from Shi’an to their ancestral home in Daxing.
Jin Chao resided in Yanxiu Hall in the western side courtyard. Walking through the hall led to Yixiang Courtyard where Gu Lan and Gu Yi lived, while Gu Xi lived with the Second Uncle’s other concubine-born daughter Gu Xin in Chenxiao Courtyard. Yanxiu Hall had east and west side rooms, with the eastern corner room serving as an inner chamber and the western side room as a study. There were no ear rooms on either side, three rear rooms at the back, and reversed seating rooms to the south. Though not as spacious as her previous Qingtong Courtyard, it was still quite elegant.
“The courtyard not only has a rockery of Taihu stones but also a small pond. A corridor crosses over the pond, allowing you to enjoy the lotus flowers. If you plant ivy near the Taihu stones, it will be even more serene and elegant in summer…” Nanny Chang, who was showing them around, smiled and said, “Please see if there’s anything you’d like to add or remove so I can report back to the Old Madam.”
Jin Chao looked carefully. The window frames were newly lacquered in black, with freshly installed openwork hangings. The courtyard had two beautiful pines and a ginkgo tree, with several clusters of orchids. From the western side room, one could open the windows to see the crabapple trees of the west compound. Inside, her belongings had been generally arranged, with nothing amiss.
Jin Chao smiled and said, “I naturally love what Grandmother has arranged.” She had Madam Tong give Nanny Chang two high-quality red envelopes.
Madam Xu watched from the side and said, “Though the ancestral home is large, accommodating so many people is still hasty. See how the Second Miss and Third Miss are squeezed into one courtyard? This courtyard is quite nice, and the arrangement is elegant.”
After touring the courtyard, Jin Chao was about to pay respects to Feng.
She said to Madam Xu, “Gu Lan and Gu Yi are still sharing a courtyard, so I’m already fortunate to have this. Please arrange the reversed seating room as a greenhouse for flowers and plants, clear one room as a storeroom, and let Qingpu and the others live in the rear rooms. You and Madam Tong should stay in the western corner room.”
Madam Xu agreed, and Jin Chao thought for a moment before instructing, “Grandmother will likely send someone over later to show you and Madam Tong around the ancestral home. Prepare some silver coins for the servants who guide you, and gather clear information about the family situation.”
Madam Xu smiled, “Rest assured, I understand.”
Jin Chao was confident. Having served her maternal grandmother and mother for a long time, Madam Xu was certainly capable of handling such matters.
Qingpu helped her arrange her hair, fastening it with a pair of silver double-lotus petal hairpins. She wore a light blue jacket with eight auspicious patterns and an ivory-white embroidered skirt. Looking simple yet dignified, she went to Feng’s eastern side courtyard.
Feng had first called Concubine Luo over to talk. When Jin Chao arrived, Concubine Luo was just leaving Feng’s room. Upon seeing Jin Chao, she greeted her respectfully. Jin Chao noticed her slightly flushed face and thought that Feng must have discussed matters of offspring with her, considering that her father now only had Luo Su as a concubine besides two personal maids. Both maids were taking medicinal soups and couldn’t bear children.
She pondered for a moment before stepping into the western side room.
Feng sat on a black-lacquered arhat bed, wearing a dark sandalwood-colored jacket with treasure patterns. On her left wrist was a string of prayer beads, and she had a kind, benevolent face.
“Chao girl has come.” She smiled and beckoned Jin Chao over, instructing her serving maid Songxiang to bring a stool. “Grandmother hasn’t seen you for almost a year, and you’ve grown even more beautiful. Do you like Yanxiu Hall? If you need anything, just tell Grandmother.”
Jin Chao naturally couldn’t lack anything. She smiled and said, “I like everything I see. Now that I’ve returned to Daxing, your granddaughter will come morning and evening to serve you, honored elder, and fulfill my filial duties.”
Feng responded with satisfaction: “You are filial indeed. Your eldest cousin has married, and Lian girl is still immature. The other concubine-born daughters hardly count, so having you attend to Grandmother makes me very happy.”
At this time, Gu Lan and Gu Yi, having also settled in, came to greet Feng.