Madam Song didn’t leave until the second day, leaving many things for Gu Lan. When Gu Lan went to pay respects to the Second Madam the following day, she indeed noticed a dramatic change in the Second Madam’s attitude toward her. She had prepared sweet pastries, pickled yellow sprouts, and a bowl of thin-skinned wontons with meat filling for breakfast.

The day before, the Second Madam had stayed in the East Wing and was scolded by Madam Feng, who criticized her management of the inner courtyard. How could a proper young lady not have a winter coat to wear? She hadn’t even addressed this matter! What kind of household management was this? It had made Madam Song laugh at them, and people might think the Gu family was falling into decline if their young ladies couldn’t even afford winter coats!

Second Madam didn’t dare speak when scolded. In truth, Madam Feng had always been harsh toward Gu Lan as well, but Madam Feng felt she had lost face in front of Madam Song, so she reprimanded Second Madam to save her dignity. Second Madam naturally didn’t dare talk back, or else Madam Feng, with her temperament, would torment her even more.

Gu Lan felt much better inside but didn’t show it openly. After finishing breakfast, she respectfully served Second Madam tea, without any sign of becoming arrogant due to her newfound favor. Seeing this, Second Madam felt somewhat relieved. If Gu Lan had dared to take advantage of the situation and act haughty toward her, she would have resented Gu Lan even more.

After a while, Gu Lian came in with her pipa to play for Second Madam.

After listening, Gu Lan praised her: “Like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate, I’m truly impressed.”

Gu Lian smiled cheerfully and handed her pipa to Lan Zhi who was serving at the side. She spoke to Gu Lan: “…I see you’re not wearing the satin coat my mother gave you. Didn’t you say you liked that color and style?”

After Madam Song left, Madam Feng sent several servants to deliver a large pile of items to Gu Lan and personally assigned her second-tier maid Song Luo to serve her. The night Song Luo arrived, the two maids Spring River and Spring Creek became as obedient as rabbits, running quickly to do whatever they were told.

Gu Lan just smiled: “I cherish the things Second Aunt gave me too much to wear them. I’m thinking of saving them for the New Year.”

Gu Lian went over and linked arms with Second Madam, “It’s all thanks to me! I spoke to you, and only then did Sister Lan get a winter coat! I know Mother treats me best; you remember everything your Lian’er says.”

Hearing this, Second Madam glanced at Gu Lan, who smiled gently and gracefully.

She hadn’t mentioned these matters to Gu Lian… and her words even seemed to put Second Madam in a better light. This made Second Madam feel somewhat embarrassed. She had always thought Gu Lan had instigated Gu Lian to speak to her about these things. Now thinking about it, Gu Lan didn’t seem to be that kind of person.

She was generally aware of the Gu family’s situation. None of the young ladies in the Gu family had it easy. At least Gu Jin Chao was a legitimate daughter with her father and the Ji family in Tongzhou backing her, which made the ancestral family treat her respectfully. But Gu Lan had no support, and her birth mother had become… what she had become.

Second Madam couldn’t help but recall seeing Lady Song last year, such a brilliant and gentle person.

Most importantly, Gu Lan now had the Song family backing her, and the Song family affected Gu De Zhao’s future. Second Madam had no choice but to treat her more cautiously.

Gu Lian grew tired of playing the pipa after a while and begged to visit Madam Feng to see her grandmother. Second Madam naturally allowed her to go, adding: “…Let Sister Lan go with you.” This way, Madam Feng wouldn’t think she was mistreating Gu Lan.

Gu Lian was very pleased and called loudly for Lan Zhi to bring her Xiang Fei-colored floral padded jacket, which she wanted to wear to pay respects to Madam Feng.

Gu Lan glanced at the bright and beautiful padded jacket but said nothing.

In the East Wing, Gu Jin Chao was helping Madam Feng organize the account books in the treasure cabinet. Madam Feng had been busy and tired these days and was taking a short rest in her inner chamber. Jin Chao arranged the scattered account books neatly.

Madam Feng’s household management style involved keeping everything under her control. Second Madam managed the inner courtyard affairs, but Madam Feng kept a tight rein on her. For the various shops and workshops of the Gu family, she reviewed every transaction. The monthly expenses of each household and courtyard were all personally checked by her.

The old lady should have been enjoying her grandchildren at this time, but there were no legitimate grandsons of the right age for her to teach. As for teaching those born of concubines, she looked down on that. With nothing to do all day, she could only focus on these matters.

Jin Chao wanted to smile at the thought—Madam Feng didn’t seem to mind living such a tiring life. Then she noticed that under a yellow-glazed longevity-patterned ceramic plum vase, there was another stack of account books, seemingly deliberately hidden underneath. Jin Chao saw the words “Three Rivers” and “Auspicious Cloud” written on the account books.

Her father had a restaurant in Three Rivers called Auspicious Cloud Pavilion, which was the most profitable establishment…

She moved the ceramic vase and gently opened the account book. She indeed recognized the shopkeeper’s name.

Madam Feng’s servant woman stood at the doorway, occasionally glancing at Gu Jin Chao, as if afraid she might steal something.

There was a thick stack below, with identical covers, probably all her father’s things. These should have been for her father to review, so why were they now with Madam Feng? Why had Madam Feng hidden the account books under the vase? Was she afraid of Jin Chao seeing them?

Many thoughts flashed through Jin Chao’s mind. Her father had entrusted these to Madam Feng, so now Madam Feng was managing these things. Most likely, her father’s shops were now all in Madam Feng’s hands. After they returned to the ancestral home, the things under her father’s name should rightfully become part of the Gu family property… this was all reasonable.

Jin Chao put the vase back.

Not long after, Gu Lian and Gu Lan came together to pay respects to Madam Feng, who had just woken up. She invited Gu Lian and Gu Lan to sit together and asked Song Xiang to bring out a box of bone-in abalone snails she had recently acquired. Jin Chao had heard Madam Feng mention that Gu Lian loved bone-in abalone snails the most. Since they were hard to come by, Madam Feng would specially save them for Gu Lian whenever she got some.

In addition to the box of bone-in abalone snails, Song Xiang also brought several snacks: blessing orange cakes, pine nut candy, and olive preserves.

Madam Feng also called Jin Chao over, and the maid set porcelain dishes for all four of them. Gu Lian quickly picked up a piece of bone-in abalone snail and placed it in Madam Feng’s small dish, then placed another piece in Gu Lan’s dish. She smiled charmingly: “Grandmother works hard, Grandmother should eat first.”

Madam Feng laughed at her: “…You act as if someone might steal it from you. Your cousin Jin Chao hasn’t gotten any yet; you shouldn’t show favoritism.”

Gu Jin Chao also found it strange that Gu Lian harbored a faint hostility toward her. Although she had never done anything to Gu Lian, sometimes a person’s dislike can be clear and without reason. She smiled and said: “We’re all sisters in the family; cousin Lian is being intimate with me.”

Madam Feng was very pleased with Jin Chao’s understanding. After eating the bone-in abalone snails, Gu Lian noticed Song Xiang standing nearby. Song Xiang was tall and beautiful, with a gentle oval face, full lips, and a demure demeanor with lowered eyes.

Gu Lian spoke to Madam Feng: “I feel like Song Xiang has been serving Grandmother for a long time. She must be sixteen by now, right?”

Madam Feng said: “Song Xiang has been with me since she was little; she’s almost seventeen this year. I’ve been thinking it’s time for her to be registered for marriage, but I haven’t found a suitable match yet. I find the manor’s servants too lowly, and the stewards all have wives. It might be better to marry her to a manor manager or a shop foreman. That wouldn’t be mistreating her.”

Song Xiang turned red with embarrassment listening to this, but as a servant, she couldn’t interrupt when her master was speaking. Only after Madam Feng finished did she say softly: “This servant is willing to continue serving the Lady.”

Madam Feng laughed heartily: “You want to keep serving me, but I’m worried others will say our Gu family is holding you back. It’s not just because Lian’er brought it up today that I’m thinking about this; I’ve been considering it for a long time. It’s just that I haven’t found a suitable match yet.”

Gu Lan, who had been silent, put down her chopsticks and smiled: “Speaking of maids, I recall that my eldest sister has a maid who is also over seventeen now. Eldest sister cherishes this maid and hasn’t registered her for marriage yet… I believe it’s the one who came with the eldest sister, isn’t her name Qing Pu?”

Her gaze turned to Qing Pu standing behind Gu Jin Chao.

Gu Jin Chao coldly glanced at Gu Lan. Just as her situation was improving, Gu Lan couldn’t wait to target her. Even if Qing Pu were to marry, she should be the one to choose someone reliable and honest, not ruining Qing Pu’s life. Who knew what kind of marriage Madam Feng might arrange for Qing Pu on a whim?

Sure enough, Madam Feng seemed quite interested.

She carefully examined Qing Pu, who lowered her head.

Madam Feng said: “I’ve also been noticing her these days. She’s a rare good maid by Chao’s side. Not to mention her appearance, she looks quite spirited and is understanding and obedient. A few days ago when we were setting up the chrysanthemum display in my courtyard, she helped carry things… Now that she’s older, it’s not so suitable for her to continue serving as a mistress. How about I make the arrangements and marry her to someone in our manor? What does Chao think?”

When a maid passed a certain age and wasn’t registered for marriage, people would inevitably gossip.

Jin Chao’s hand gripped her handkerchief inside her sleeve, while her face wore a faint smile: “This maid is dull and slow; she’s only suitable for serving me because I’m not particular. Grandmother, don’t be fooled by her… She’s hardly understanding.”

Gu Lan smiled again: “Eldest sister, don’t slander Miss Qing Pu. When you were in Shi’an, didn’t Qing Pu help you with everything?… Miss Qing Pu even has some martial skills, which makes her even more valuable.”

Hearing this, Madam Feng felt it was inappropriate for a young lady’s maid in the inner chambers to have martial skills. In her view, the young ladies of scholarly families, even if they didn’t study the four arts, should follow feminine virtues and teachings, and their maids should have some scholarly qualities.

Gu Jin Chao knew Madam Feng’s preference.

She continued: “Listen to what Sister Lan is saying. She doesn’t have any martial skills. She’s just stronger than most maids and can help me with tasks. Sister Lan rarely comes to visit me at home, so how would she know whether my maid has martial skills or not?”

Gu Lan could only smile: “Perhaps I remembered incorrectly, but Miss Qing Pu has reached that age, and eldest sister shouldn’t keep holding her back.”

Gu Jin Chao continued smiling: “Sister Lan is overthinking this. I naturally have plans for my maid. Qing Pu has served me for many years; if I carelessly matched her with just anyone, wouldn’t that be mistreating her?”

Madam Feng looked at Qing Pu again but said nothing more.

Gu Lan stopped mentioning Qing Pu, and after finishing the snacks, she returned to the West Wing with Gu Lian.