Gu Lan returned to Yixiang Court with resentment still in her heart.

All day, Madam Feng had not shown her a pleasant countenance but had given Gu Yi several words of praise.

She stared at the cosmetics box on her dressing table for a long while, then gently pulled open the small copper ring and took out the box of rose cream. Master Yao often sent things through the side gate, but they were always for Gu Qian. Madam Feng knew about this but never questioned it.

That day, Mujin went to the side gate and was stopped by a farmhand delivering vegetables, who pushed a box into her hands, saying it was for the Second Young Lady, specifically instructed by Young Master Yao. Mujin was startled and gave the farmhand a few coins, begging him not to tell anyone.

When she brought it back to Gu Lan, Gu Lan discovered it was a box of rose cream. Why would Master Yao send her this? Gu Lan thought of Gu Qian’s box of flower ornaments, all things used in a lady’s boudoir. Equally exquisite.

Gu Lan’s heart pounded, but she also felt somewhat disappointed. Master Yao had only sent her a gift without a message, clearly not putting his heart into it. The one he could marry was only Gu Qian, the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, with a mother and grandmother who cherished her, worthy of his status.

Mujin helped her pour hot water to warm her hands and saw Gu Lan sigh deeply.

She carefully helped apply osmanthus oil to her hands: “Next time the Old Madam asks you to wash the inkstone, you should decline… Look how red your hands are from the cold. It pains me to see this.”

Gu Lan said: “If not this, it would be something else… But I do have something to ask you. When you received this box of rose cream, did anyone see you?”

Mujin smiled, “Many people come and go through the side gate every day, so someone might have seen. But many people deliver things there, so I shouldn’t have been conspicuous. Unless someone was deliberately watching, they wouldn’t have noticed…” She looked up at Gu Lan, somewhat surprised, “Are you saying…”

“Gu Jin Chao must have had someone watching you.” Gu Lan instructed, “You must be more careful when retrieving things in the future.”

She bit her lip, knowing that being careful wasn’t enough; it would be best to find someone else to fetch things. Unfortunately, the few maids under her were all assigned by Madam Feng, and she dared not use them. Surely Gu Jin Chao didn’t know this item was from Master Yao? Otherwise, with her temperament, she would certainly not let it go…

Mujin agreed, then told her: “By the way, Madam Song sent a message saying she has arranged a matchmaker for our eldest young lady. The matchmaker will visit tomorrow…”

Gu Lan nearly knocked over the water basin when she heard this: “Grandmother is arranging a match for Gu Jin Chao? Did she say which family?”

She reproached her: “…Why didn’t you tell me earlier!”

Mujin felt a little wrong, as she had thought the second young lady already knew.

After thinking, she said: “The messenger wasn’t very clear, but it seems to be the legitimate eldest son of Magistrate Wang of Shuntian Prefecture.”

Gu Lan had never heard of this person and felt that Madam Song was not very reliable in handling matters. To arrange a marriage for Gu Jin Chao without consulting her first? Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate was a sixth-rank official title, and she didn’t know what the legitimate eldest son was like. This status didn’t sound bad at all. She frowned for a long time before hearing Mujin add: “Second Young Lady needn’t worry, I know about this legitimate eldest son.”

Gu Lan glanced at her and asked: “What do you know about this legitimate eldest son?”

Mujin thought for a moment, “I’ve only heard… This legitimate eldest son of Magistrate Wang has a violent temper. He had a personal maid, and to gain favor, she secretly stopped taking contraceptive medicine. When this maid became pregnant and Magistrate Wang found out, he called his son in for a scolding. When the young master returned to his room, he beat the pregnant maid to death… killing two lives at once! Not only did young master Wang beat the maid to death, but he also placed her body in the main hall for all his maids to see, saying that anyone who disobeyed would meet the same fate!”

“Normally such scandals wouldn’t spread, but young master Wang’s actions became common knowledge… Magistrate Wang was furious, but Madam Wang protected her son, saying it was the maid who disobeyed, so what did it matter if she was beaten to death.”

Gu Lan felt a chill in her heart. Although the maid had broken the rules, she was still his bedmate and carried his child. Even if punishment was necessary, there was no need to beat her to death as a warning to others! “…He is ruthless and cruel.” Gu Lan thought for a moment, then smiled, “That’s perfect for our eldest young lady since they both have bad tempers. She’s always showing off about being a legitimate daughter; maybe after marrying him, she’ll finally be beaten into submission!”

If Gu Jin Chao were to marry this young master, Wang, it would be a perfectly matched pair. As long as Madam Feng agreed and their father was persuaded, this marriage could happen! After all, she only cared about face when it came to the children from the third branch, not whether Gu Jin Chao would have a good life after marriage.

She wondered what kind of matchmaker Madam Song had hired. With a persuasive tongue, this marriage would surely proceed…

Gu Lan looked forward to watching the show. She rubbed her gold-patterned rouge box and said to Mujin with a smile: “Elder sister should thank me… if not for my grandmother’s help, she might not have anyone proposing to her at all…”

She was so eager to see Gu Jin Chao’s embarrassment the next day that she went to sleep with a smile on her face.

The next day, Gu Jin Chao went to consult with her second aunt. Since Gu Jin Rong was returning, they needed to arrange his living quarters. It would be best for him to live in the side rooms of the west wing courtyard with Gu Jin Xiao and the others. He originally had two study boys, Qing’an and Qingxiu, so there was no need to arrange for others to serve him. But Gu Jin Chao had reservations about these two study boys. Although in her previous life, they had seduced Gu Jin Rong because of Gu Lan’s instructions, having such people around was inherently unsafe.

Jin Chao planned to discuss changing the study boys with Gu Jin Rong after his return.

The second madam pointed out He Xi Hall, which was near a pagoda tree and a pond: “It’s right next to your grandmother’s small Buddha hall, warm in winter and cool in summer…”

As she was speaking with Gu Jin Chao, Caifu hurriedly entered, first bowing to the second madam, then smiling at Gu Jin Chao: “Young lady, you said you would send lung and fritillary bulb soup to the Old Madam at noon. I noticed we’re out of fritillary bulbs and came to ask for money to buy some…”

Each household and courtyard’s small kitchen used its monthly allowance for expenses. But these expenses had always been managed by Madam Xu, and Jin Chao didn’t need to concern herself with them.

Caifu must have something urgent to tell her, or she wouldn’t have come to the second madam’s Elegant Hall.

Gu Jin Chao smiled at the second madam and followed Caifu out. Outside, the cold wind was blowing, the vegetation was bare, and the weather was bone-chillingly cold.

Caifu whispered to Jin Chao: “Madam Wang, wife of Magistrate Wang of Shuntian Prefecture, has come to visit the Old Madam, intending to propose marriage between her legitimate eldest son and you. As soon as word came from the east wing courtyard, I hurried to tell you. I was afraid of delaying the matter…”

Gu Jin Chao frowned. How could someone suddenly come to propose marriage to her… and the legitimate eldest son of the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate at that?

When proposing marriage to a young lady, one would usually ask someone of high virtue and prestige to come. What did it mean for Madam Wang to come herself to propose? Besides, her reputation wasn’t good, so those proposing were likely not from a good family. This matter seemed suspicious…

Gu Jin Chao immediately told Qing Pu: “Please tell my second aunt that I have an urgent matter and will come to see her again in the afternoon.”

Qing Pu agreed and returned.

As they walked toward Yan Xiu Hall, she asked Caifu: “Does Madam Xu know about this?”

Caifu nodded: “Madam Xu already knows and has written to Manager Luo to inquire about this Magistrate Wang. But many people know about this legitimate eldest son of the Wang family…” She told Jin Chao about young master Wang beating his pregnant maid to death.

Gu Jin Chao vaguely recalled that she had heard about this young master Wang before. In her previous life, because of his violent temper, he had not been betrothed for a long time and later married a daughter from a humble family. She died in childbirth before a year was out, and his mother arranged for him to take a second wife, whom he continued to torment. Later his mother became disheartened and asked him to separate from his half-brother. Due to disputes over family property, he even raised his fist against his elderly mother. By then, his mother was over seventy, and she soon passed away. His half-brother then brought officials to arrest him.

She wondered how this marriage proposal had found its way to her! So it was this young master Wang!

But in her previous life, the Wang family had never proposed to her.

Caifu carefully watched Gu Jin Chao and asked: “What does the young lady plan to do…”

What could she do? She certainly couldn’t marry such a person. Her father probably wouldn’t agree, but it was hard to say about Madam Feng. She was already sixteen, and someone had come to propose, with a status that wasn’t low. Madam Feng would consider it first.

But Madam Wang had come herself to propose, which already showed a lack of respect, and Madam Feng would certainly feel uncomfortable about it.

Gu Jin Chao decided to first gauge Madam Feng’s thoughts.

She had Caifu take the soup she had prepared for Madam Feng, put it in a food box, and deliver it to the east wing courtyard.

The lattice doors of the west side room in the east wing courtyard were tightly closed. The nurse standing at the door saw her and couldn’t help but smile awkwardly: “Young lady has come especially early today. The Old Madam is still giving instructions inside.”

Gu Jin Chao saw two unfamiliar maids wearing cinnamon-colored jackets standing at the door.

She said calmly: “It doesn’t matter, I can stand here and wait a while longer. Is Grandmother meeting with Fifth Aunt inside?”

Hearing this, Madam Feng naturally couldn’t keep up the pretense anymore and had Fuling come out to call her in.

“It’s very cold outside for you…” Madam Feng had Fuling take the food box from her hands and smiled, saying: “This is Madam Wang, wife of Magistrate Wang of Shuntian Prefecture. Pay your respects to her.”

Madam Wang sat on a brocade stool nearby. She wore a blue gold-patterned velvet robe with a pair of golden longevity hairpins and a South Sea pearl headband. Two well-dressed matrons stood beside her, her imposing air of nobility overwhelming. Seeing Gu Jin Chao enter, she looked her up and down and smiled: “Is this your eldest young lady?”

Gu Jin Chao curtseyed.

Madam Feng smiled and said: “She is the eldest daughter of the third family, well-mannered and beautiful. I keep her by my side and am reluctant to let her marry.”

A smile crossed Madam Wang’s lips—what reluctance to let her marry? It was probably that no one had come to propose to her!

Gu Jin Chao’s heart sank. Madam Feng’s words meant she thought Madam Wang’s marriage proposal was acceptable!

She continued to smile, but her mind was racing. Judging by Madam Wang’s expression, she didn’t seem very satisfied with this marriage either. Who had persuaded her to come and propose? It was impossible that there wasn’t someone behind this interference.

Perhaps she could use this point to reject the proposal.