Jin Chao returned to Yan Xiu Hall in the evening. Cai Fu helped make her a bowl of sweet red bean soup in the small kitchen, adding several spoonfuls of cane juice, making it especially fragrant and sweet. Jin Chao thought that her father would be hungry when he came over after finishing at the Six Ministries, so she also made him a bowl of sweet soup with tangyuan dumplings.

When Gu De Zhao arrived after finishing his official duties, he indeed hadn’t eaten yet.

After finishing a bowl of hot tangyuan soup, Gu De Zhao sat down with his eldest daughter around the fire brazier. Gu De Zhao asked her with concern how things were going with Madam Feng.

He also told her: “…Your grandmother has always had a strong personality, but she still treats you well. Some rare things that even Lian doesn’t have, she gives to you first. She’s just not very good at showing affection, but you’ll get used to it.”

Jin Chao didn’t speak. Madam Feng naturally treated her well, at least much better than she treated those concubine-born daughters. But Madam Feng’s kindness to her was different from her maternal grandmother’s. Madam Feng’s true affection was reserved for Gu Lian.

Jin Chao had Qing Pu bring over the six-panel hat for Gu De Zhao, who fell silent after receiving it.

Jin Chao then brought up the matter of the Three Rivers shop: “I saw the account books for Auspicious Cloud Pavilion at Grandmother’s place. All the businesses under your name are managed by Grandmother, right?”

Gu De Zhao hadn’t known Jin Chao had seen them. After thinking for a moment, he said: “After all, we’ve returned to the Gu family. Father doesn’t have many assets, so let’s consider it as our family’s expenses. Since returning to the Gu family, your grandmother hasn’t mistreated us in any way.”

Jin Chao smiled slightly: “Father, I’m not saying these things shouldn’t be handed over. But you shouldn’t completely let go of control. Grandmother doesn’t fully understand business matters. Which shops make money and which managers are competent—you’re the one who knows clearly. The profits from the shops go into the family fund anyway, so we’re not keeping it all to ourselves.”

Hearing his eldest daughter’s words, Gu De Zhao felt they made sense, but he had already handed everything over to Madam Feng and couldn’t possibly ask for it back.

Gu Jin Chao continued: “Take that Auspicious Cloud restaurant in Three Rivers, for example. It’s in a prosperous area, and running a restaurant is the best use for it. If we follow Grandmother’s preference and change it to a bookstore or something, how much money could it make? The manager, steward, and chefs there have all worked for us their entire lives, coming over from the Ji family. If the restaurant closes, what about their livelihoods?”

In truth, Jin Chao had another thought. The account books were with Madam Feng, and she managed the income. But the property deeds and land certificates were surely still in her father’s hands. If Madam Feng changed the restaurant to a bookstore, wouldn’t the people inside be replaced with her own? Would she be unable to control even a small restaurant?

Gu De Zhao certainly hadn’t forgotten that these people were originally from the Ji family. Without the Ji family’s care, could these shops be in their current state?

He couldn’t let the old servants feel disheartened.

Gu De Zhao nodded: “I understand everything Chao says, but it’s not appropriate to ask for the account books back now…”

Jin Chao smiled: “There’s no need to take them back. You just need to instruct the manager to prepare two copies of the accounts—one sent to Grandmother and one to you. For any major decisions, they should write to you and let you decide. The regular income can be deposited into the family fund each month. Doesn’t that make sense?”

When Father first left the Gu family, what did he have? The current assets were accumulated over these years. Now the monthly income entering the family fund is counted as their contribution to the Gu family. Madam Feng was unreliable, so it was better for these things to remain in Father’s hands.

Gu De Zhao strongly agreed and went to discuss with Madam Feng that night that the restaurant in Three Rivers should continue operating.

Jin Chao was still thinking about Madam Feng’s mention of arranging a marriage for Qing Pu. She called Mama Xu and Mama Tong to discuss the matter. There were many young maids and rough-work servants in Madam Feng’s East Wing. She gave them sugar pastries and silver coins to bribe them, asking them to inform her if Madam Feng suddenly called for manor servants or stewards to come look. Just as Mama Tong and Mama Xu had left, Yu Zhu announced that the Third Young Lady had come.

Gu Yi rarely came to her place.

Jin Chao quickly had Yu Zhu invite her in and served her a bowl of the red bean soup that had just been made.

Gu Yi was dressed very neatly, wearing a dark blue kesi cloak, her hair damp from the night dew. She had grown taller, almost exceeding Jin Chao’s height.

“…I’ve been wanting to come to talk with Eldest Sister these past few days, but there hasn’t been a suitable opportunity.” Gu Yi took off her cloak, which a maid immediately took and placed near the brazier to dry for a moment, removing the moisture.

Jin Chao held her hands, which were indeed ice-cold, and asked Qing Pu to bring a hand warmer. She said: “The weather is getting colder. You shouldn’t come at night. If you have something to discuss, just send a young maid with a message. There’s no need to come personally.”

Gu Yi smiled and shook her head: “Second Sister doesn’t pay attention at night, so it’s easier for me to come out. I wouldn’t trust a little maid to relay these messages.”

…What exactly did Gu Yi want to say?

Jin Chao became cautious and asked Cai Fu to close the door to the east side room, leaving only the two of them inside.

Gu Yi finally spoke: “…The day Madam Song came, she was talking with Second Sister in the main hall. I noticed something wasn’t right and sent a maid to eavesdrop… Madam Song and Second Sister were speaking in hushed voices, but we could still hear some of it. Madam Song seems to want to act as a matchmaker, finding a new wife for Father.”

Jin Chao frowned upon hearing this. Father was still in the mourning period and couldn’t marry, but they could arrange an engagement. If it were just Madam Song, that would be one thing, but now there was also Madam Feng hoping Father would soon have more children. What kind of person would Madam Song find for Father? This person would certainly benefit Gu Lan while being completely detrimental to herself.

As the legitimate eldest daughter, nothing was more of an eyesore to a new wife than children left by the previous one.

If they chose someone narrow-minded, she might not even spare Jin Rong as the legitimate eldest son.

Jin Chao inwardly sighed at how formidable Madam Song was. If she couldn’t intervene in the Gu family’s affairs directly, couldn’t she find someone who could?

Gu Yi looked at her with some concern. After hearing this news, she too felt restless. Given the kind of new wife Madam Song would choose, how could it be good for them? But she didn’t know what her eldest sister could do.

Jin Chao slowly said: “None of us can prevent Father from taking a new wife… but if Madam Song wants to have a hand in this, why can’t we?” Madam Feng would arrange a new wife for Gu De Zhao, so it would be better to take the initiative themselves.

Gu Yi didn’t stay long before returning.

Jin Chao kept thinking about the matter of her father taking a new wife. If her father were to remarry, good legitimate daughters from noble families certainly wouldn’t marry him. It might be better to consider concubine-born daughters or legitimate daughters from lesser families. She didn’t have a candidate in mind yet, and Madam Song’s side probably wouldn’t find someone easily either.

When Mama Xu returned, Jin Chao instructed her to inquire about eligible young women in the capital. She also asked her to keep an eye on Madam Song to see if she was looking for suitable candidates recently.

Several days passed, and by mid-October, it was time to remove the national mourning clothes.

Madam Feng held a vegetarian feast in the East Wing. The entire Gu family went to attend, marking the end of the national mourning period.

Jin Chao helped prepare the feast. Madam Feng didn’t like meat and preferred tofu and vegetables daily. She grew yellow chives, tender cucumbers, and flat beans in her greenhouse, all fresh and succulent. The vegetarian banquet was prepared very elegantly. Madam Feng was pleased and rewarded Jin Chao with a pair of plum vases.

The Yao family’s young master was about to leave the Gu household. Gu Lian was reluctant to part with him and wasn’t as lively during the feast.

After Jin Chao had arranged the dishes, she saw Gu Lian playing with the tender tofu in her bowl, saying coquettishly to Madam Feng: “Cousin Jin Chao’s dishes are too bland. I can’t eat them. I want to go for a walk at the waterside pavilion.”

The Yao family’s young master had just mentioned wanting to stroll to the waterside pavilion, which made Gu Lian restless. Madam Feng said nothing and nodded, allowing her to go.

Jin Chao looked at the seats and noticed that not only was the Yao family’s young master missing, but Gu Lan was absent as well.

She suddenly recalled Gu Lan’s shy demeanor toward Young Master Yao and decided not to take her seat yet. She called Yu Zhu over and said: “Follow this small path and go to the waterside pavilion. If you see Young Master Yao… come back and tell me.”

Yu Zhu ran off like the wind, and Jin Chao finally took her seat and began eating.

Yu Zhu was gone for a long time, returning to Yan Xiu Hall only after Young Master Yao had been sent off.

Upon her return, she said she was thirsty. Cai Fu helped pour her a large cup of hot tea, which Yu Zhu gulped down before speaking to Jin Chao.

“Young Lady, guess what I saw…” Yu Zhu’s eyes danced with excitement. “Our Second Young Lady met the Yao family’s young master and was talking with him in the pavilion! I couldn’t hear clearly what they were saying, probably discussing scholarly matters. Then Second Young Lady’s foot slipped, and Young Master Yao held her shoulder for a moment. He let go quickly… but Young Master Yao looked uncomfortable afterward. Later, the Cousin Young Lady came over, and the three of them walked away, chatting and laughing…”

Jin Chao’s mouth twitched as she listened. The pavilion was floored with wooden planks—how could Gu Lan have slipped? And Young Master Yao had embraced her shoulder?

This was no ordinary slip from Gu Lan.

Moreover, during the vegetarian feast, how did Gu Lan also end up at the waterside pavilion?

If anyone claimed there was no calculation in her heart, Jin Chao certainly wouldn’t believe it.

Young Master Yao was engaged to Gu Lian. What was Gu Lan plotting with such behavior?