Gu Jin Chao returned to Yanxiu Hall, utterly furious. If she had retained her previous life’s temperament, she would have quarreled with Madam Feng immediately. After calming herself, she instructed Xu Mama: “Write to Cao Ziheng and ask if Manager Lei truly agreed to this marriage.” Madam Feng’s intention to marry Song Xiang to Manager Lei’s son wasn’t pure. She wanted to see how Madam Feng had presented this marriage to Manager Lei.
Cao Ziheng replied the very next day, saying that Manager Lei had also complained to him about this matter. His scholar son had already taken a liking to a neighbor’s daughter and was about to send a matchmaker when Old Lady Gu suddenly wanted Song Xiang to marry his son.
They weren’t even clear about Song Xiang’s character. However, as a servant of the Gu family, Manager Lei couldn’t refuse.
Jin Chao had guessed that Manager Lei probably wasn’t willing, especially since his scholar son was very strong-minded. Previously, Lady Ji had suggested matches for his son, but they were all declined after he heard about them.
Not long after reading the letter, Xu Houcai came to pay respects to Gu Jin Chao.
Gu Jin Chao received him in the flower hall. He was in his thirties but looked about forty, inappropriately dressed in a straight robe, with a perpetual smile on his face.
Jin Chao sent him away first, telling Madam Feng that Qing Pu needed a few more meetings.
Madam Feng felt that this matter was inevitable anyway. Though impatient, she agreed.
Tong Mama finally uncovered everything about Xu Houcai’s background and came to report to Gu Jin Chao.
“…His father was a carpenter who loved alcohol like life itself. When he was young, his father sold him for New Year’s wine money. Xu Houcai even named himself. This man has many minor flaws—apart from loving to visit brothels, he doesn’t have many major problems…”
For someone like Xu Houcai, with no relatives, even if he embezzled funds, he had nowhere to spend them. His monthly manager’s allowance was enough for his expenses.
Tong Mama glanced up and noticed Qing Pu standing under the veranda talking with Yu Zhu. She lowered her voice: “Xu Houcai has been a servant in the Gu family all his life. He’s illiterate but finally worked his way up to second manager and is eager to take a wife. Hearing that the Old Madam wanted to match him with Miss Qing Pu, he specifically asked someone about our young miss’s appearance, saying he wanted a beautiful bride… After hearing what others said, he wasn’t very satisfied with Miss Qing Pu and even found the manager of the private quarters to drink with…”
After Madam Feng’s words, Jin Chao had become very calm. “He should look at himself first—what kind of woman could he marry? It’s better if he’s unwilling. If he has a maid he prefers, he should report to me tomorrow, and I’ll speak to Grandmother.”
After finishing, Tong Mama hesitated: “Young Miss, when your servant was talking with the stable matron, I seemed to hear something…”
Seeing Tong Mama’s expression, Jin Chao became serious. She asked Cai Fu to close the door and stand guard outside the east wing room. Then she asked Tong Mama: “What exactly is it, Tong Mama? You can speak freely.”
Tong Mama paused, then said, “It’s not a major issue. The stable matron was chatting with me. She said a young maid from the east wing often sneaks to the latrine near the stables, secretly hiding things in the crevices of the Taihu rocks nearby. They’re feminine items—sometimes sachets and handkerchiefs, sometimes snacks. She noticed it by chance and even took some snacks to eat. The strange thing is that the matron saw these items appearing on Manager Zhao from the latrine the next day…”
The east wing… that would be where Madam Feng’s servants are!
Tong Mama continued: “This kind of thing isn’t uncommon, but once the stable matron secretly took a handkerchief. Your servant thought it didn’t look like something an ordinary maid would use, so I gave her a silver coin to buy it for you to see.”
Tong Mama handed the handkerchief to Jin Chao. Jin Chao felt the material and immediately recognized it as a Hangzhou white crepe handkerchief. Ordinary maids definitely couldn’t use such things unless gifted by their masters. It also had an embroidered cluster of roses.
Jin Chao handed the handkerchief back to Tong Mama and said: “Only a trusted maid by Grandmother’s side could use such a handkerchief. Secretly sending things to a lover… that would have to be an older maid. Find out whose item it is and then tell me.”
Madam Feng had three most trusted maids, but as for age… that would have to be Song Xiang.
When maids reach a certain age, they have to plan for themselves—first looking for suitable matches within the household, then inquiring about the country estates. If they had their hearts set on someone, they might tell their master, who might agree. But such secret liaisons were forbidden.
Regardless of which maid it was, if they could be exposed, Madam Feng would certainly lose face.
Jin Chao called Cai Fu in and gave her a brocade box containing a pair of gold hairpins with filigree cloud and phoenix patterns. She told her: “Tomorrow, take these gold hairpins to the east wing to see Song Xiang. Say they’re from me for her to adorn herself.” She had Tong Mama show her the handkerchief. “Your needlework is the best. Look at this embroidery and see if it’s Song Xiang’s…”
Jin Chao suspected Song Xiang the most. If this person was Song Xiang, she could use it as a reason to refuse the marriage to Manager Lei’s son. With Madam Feng’s face marred, she probably wouldn’t inquire about Qing Pu’s marriage for a while.
Tong Mama understood at a glance. “Your servant also thinks Song Xiang is the most likely… although Manager Zhao already has a wife. Though he’s tall and handsome and manages the latrines in the mansion, the young lady’s behavior is too despicable…”
Tong Mama then took something else from her sleeve—a white jade hairpin. “Second Young Miss had someone deliver it, saying it’s for Miss Qing Pu to adorn herself… Miss Qing Pu asked your servant to show it to you.”
Jin Chao glanced at it and smiled: “It’s good jade. Tell Qing Pu to keep it safe. How can one not treasure gifts from others?”
Did she think she could persuade Qing Pu to “rather be jade shattered than tile intact”?
Looking at the white jade hairpin, Jin Chao thought of the pair of white jade paperweights Yao Wenxiu had given to Gu Lian. She told Tong Mama: “Return a gift. Find a pair of paperweights from the private storehouse… I remember I had a pair of Hetian green jade cloud-patterned paperweights. Wrap them nicely and send them to Gu Lan.”
Tong Mama acknowledged and left.
The next day, Cai Fu took the pair of filigree cloud and phoenix gold hairpins to the east wing. Song Xiang had just finished serving Madam Feng’s lunch and had been relieved of duty. Madam Feng’s maids lived in the rear rooms and ate food prepared by the outer courtyard kitchen. Song Xiang, as Madam Feng’s chief maid, had her room but still ate with the other maids who had just finished their duties.
The maids’ meals weren’t very good: sorghum and white flour steamed buns, a plate of pickled vegetables, and a bowl of radish and bone soup—the bones scraped so clean that not a shred of meat remained.
Song Xiang couldn’t eat much, so she went to the small kitchen and asked for a piece of braised meat, which she cut up and wrapped in oiled paper to bring back for the maids. As Madam Feng’s chief maid, even the small kitchen staff wanted to please her, so they cut the meat pieces thick and plentiful. The other maids were practically salivating at the sight.
Song Xiang gave each person two slices, with an extra slice for those she was close to. Those who received less meat inevitably tried to gain favor: “I heard Sister Song Xiang is betrothed to the Third Master’s manager’s son. Not only is he handsome, but he’s also a scholar!” Everyone had a deep respect for scholars. Being able to pass the examination and become a scholar made one different from ordinary people—exempted from taxes and not required to kneel before the county magistrate.
Song Xiang smiled: “Not just a scholar, Master Lei has entered the Imperial Academy…” She gave another slice of meat to this maid. “You talk too much. Eat more meat to block your mouth.”
Other maids exclaimed: “Then our Sister Song Xiang will be an official’s wife in the future! I heard some young masters from noble families can’t even enter the Imperial Academy. You can see how much our Old Madam cherishes Sister Song Xiang, finding her such a good match.”
“Sister Song Xiang is beautiful, gentle, and sweet. I think she matches well with a scholar!”
After the maids laughed for a while, one brought up the second manager of the stables: “That Xu Houcai, I heard he’s also been matched—with the Hall Young Miss’s maid. It’s a pity for such a maid… that Xu Houcai is such a person… Indeed, Sister Song Xiang has the Old Madam’s favor, immediately matched with a good husband. Otherwise, like that maid marrying Xu Houcai, it’s truly pitiful…”
Song Xiang smiled: “You haven’t seen what that maid looks like. I think she’s not even worthy of Xu Houcai…”
Her ability to marry a scholar was naturally her good fortune. If she weren’t good-looking or well-mannered, would the Old Madam have matched her with a scholar?
Cai Fu, standing outside the door, had heard most of what they said before stepping in with a smile: “…Am I disturbing you sisters?”
Seeing an unfamiliar maid, Song Xiang stood up. Cai Fu said: “Your servant is from Yanxiu Hall. Our Young Miss asked me to deliver something to Miss Song Xiang. May I have a word in private?”
Song Xiang saw the brocade box in her hand. The mistress from Yanxiu Hall happened to be the master of the Lei family she was to marry…
She smiled and invited Cai Fu to her room to talk, pouring her water. “Thank you for coming all this way.”
Cai Fu showed the item to Song Xiang. “…The Young Miss said it’s for you to adorn yourself.”
Song Xiang’s eyes widened. She had seen many fine things by Madam Feng’s side, but she had never seen such generosity in rewarding maids! Her opinion of the Hall Young Miss greatly improved. She accepted it with a smile, saying, “Please thank the Hall Young Miss for me!” She then opened her cosmetic case and found a package of silky candies she had been reluctant to eat and gave it to Cai Fu. “…Please take these and enjoy them casually.”
Cai Fu declined, but Song Xiang insisted. Cai Fu then smiled wryly: “I dare not eat sweets anymore. If you insist on giving something, why not a sachet or handkerchief? I could make use of those. I’ve heard your embroidery skills are renowned!”
Song Xiang was puzzled—her embroidery skills weren’t that good! Thinking it was just flattery, she took several expensive handkerchiefs from her box and gave them to Cai Fu, saying she would visit her when free.
Cai Fu accepted the handkerchiefs and smiled: “…Don’t forget, miss.”