It wasn’t appropriate to discuss the marriage proposal in front of Gu Jin Chao. Seeing it was almost noon, Madam Feng had Fuling prepare lunch in the resting area.
She was also contemplating this matter.
Early this morning, Madam Wang had arrived with several boxes of pastries. The Gu family and Wang family didn’t interact much, so Madam Feng was quite surprised. After inviting Madam Wang to speak in the west side room, she heard Madam Wang bluntly state that she wanted to propose marriage between her eldest son and Gu Jin Chao.
Madam Feng felt that Madam Wang’s approach was improper, showing she didn’t take Gu Jin Chao seriously. But regardless of how little respect she had, shouldn’t the proper etiquette be observed? What was so difficult about asking someone of high virtue and prestige to speak on her behalf? Yet she had come personally.
But setting that aside, this marriage proposal wasn’t bad.
That young master Wang had a bad temper… had beaten a maid to death. But wasn’t he young then? Once he married, he would naturally learn to restrain his character! The status of the legitimate eldest son of the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate wasn’t low and was sufficient for Gu Jin Chao.
Most importantly, Gu Jin Chao’s reputation wasn’t good either, or she wouldn’t still be unmarried at nearly sixteen. Continuing to delay wasn’t a solution; if there was a suitable family and the engagement could be settled, that would be secure. Once Gu Jin Chao was married off, it would be easier to arrange marriages for the other sisters from the third branch. Moreover, their Qian’er was to marry the legitimate son of the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Cabinet… it wouldn’t sound good if people spoke of Gu Jin Chao as an unmarried elder cousin!
So despite Madam Wang’s poor attitude, Madam Feng received her with a smile, thinking that if this marriage could be settled, then let it be settled.
When Gu Dezhao returned from his official duties, she would have to discuss it with him.
After lunch, Madam Wang said she needed to leave. Madam Feng tried to persuade her to stay: “…We don’t interact much usually, but we might become in-laws in the future. Why not stay a few more days? I could tell you more about Chao’er’s good qualities.”
Madam Wang smiled: “I have matters at home that I must attend to. But Old Madam, don’t hesitate too long. If not for the matchmaker’s guarantee, I wouldn’t even consider proposing to your Gu family! Your daughter already has a bad reputation outside; actually, she’s barely a match for our Zuan. I’m not boasting, but if our Zuan wanted to choose, there are plenty of better options. I’m considering the face of your Gu family’s scholarly reputation.”
If not for Madam Song’s visit, she wouldn’t have come at all.
It was her son who, upon hearing Madam Song mention Gu Jin Chao, thought marrying such a beauty would be quite nice. He had persuaded Madam Wang to agree to this marriage; otherwise, Madam Wang would have resisted for a while longer.
Madam Feng had been holding back all afternoon, but hearing these words, she almost couldn’t contain herself. It wasn’t as if she had begged her to come to propose; what was the point of this ambiguous attitude? Was this how one proposes marriage? She might as well have pointed at her nose and said this was charity.
If there were plenty of better options, then go find them! Everyone knew about her son’s scandals, yet she was putting on airs!
Thinking that Gu Jin Chao had no one else proposing, and considering Qian’er and the future marriages of the Gu family’s grandchildren, Madam Feng still held back. These matters needed more discussion; if it could work, then let it work.
After lunch, Madam Feng had Fuling escort Madam Wang out through the hanging flower gate.
Meanwhile, Luo Yongping, who was overseeing the newly opened Suzhou and Hangzhou silk shop in the capital, received Madam Xu’s urgent letter. He immediately had his subordinates investigate thoroughly. The reply came after noon. Caifu hurriedly brought it to the east wing courtyard for Gu Jin Chao to see.
Magistrate Wang had married Madam Wang when he was still a poor Hanlin scholar, and she had remained childless. After turning thirty, he took several concubines, but they all bore girls. Madam Wang, in her thirties, finally gave birth to Wang Zuan, spoiling him without discipline, which led to his current character.
Before proposing to her, Madam Wang had already arranged many marriage proposals for her son, all with women of good family and virtue. Naturally, they wouldn’t consider Wang Zuan, so none of those matches succeeded.
Madam Wang’s proposal to her was prompted by Madam Song. Otherwise, Madam Wang would have continued to pick and choose among legitimate daughters of prominent families, trying to secure a golden prize for her son, and wouldn’t have even looked at Gu Jin Chao.
Seeing that Madam Feng remained silent, Gu Jin Chao continued serving her the lung soup as usual, while thinking about Madam Wang’s proposal.
Even if Madam Wang hadn’t come to propose, she should be considering her marriage.
In her previous life, Chen Yan’yun had proposed to her in the spring of the following year. But Gu Jin Chao didn’t plan to marry into the Chen family in this life; she didn’t want to see Chen Xuanqing again, nor did she want to follow the path of her previous life. The Chen family, with three inner branches and seven outer branches, was not simple. Besides, she had little interaction with Chen Yan’yun in her previous life and still didn’t understand why he had married her then. She also didn’t want to return to the complex environment of the Chen family.
Her grandmother still wanted Ji Yao to marry her, but thinking of Ji Yao’s deep conjugal love with the fourth young lady of Baron Yongyang’s mansion in the future, Gu Jin Chao was unwilling to break them up. Marrying her might not bring Ji Yao happiness, and she didn’t want to force anyone.
Taking a step back, she had substantial assets, not only her mother’s dowry but also her private funds. If she disregarded status, marrying a concubine-born son from a noble family or a poor scholar would be quite good. Gu Jin Chao thought carefully, but if there were no suitable candidates, she could remain unmarried. She had a legitimate brother and her mother’s dowry to support her. What was wrong with being a leisurely wealthy person?
Of course, not marrying was the last resort; having an old spinster at home was certainly not well-regarded.
Gu Jin Chao had already made up her mind to decline the Wang family’s proposal. She could also keep an eye out for suitable candidates herself.
Of course, regardless of everything else, she had to deal with the Wang family matter first.
Judging by Madam Feng’s expression, she was probably a bit dissatisfied with Madam Wang too.
After helping Madam Feng finish the lung soup, Gu Jin Chao asked: “Madam Wang doesn’t usually interact with us, so why did she come to see you today? I heard she brought you a box of South Sea pearls the size of lotus seeds…”
Madam Feng looked at Gu Jin Chao, recalling the scene when she had cried to her about Song Xiang’s incident. No matter what, she was a legitimate granddaughter. She could treat Gu Lan poorly, but if she treated Gu Jin Chao badly, people would think she was showing favoritism…
Moreover, this child was truly beyond reproach toward her, even more filial than Gu Qian. Although it was her duty as a granddaughter, who else was as thoughtful and considerate as she was?
Madam Feng had her sit beside her and smiled: “Grandmother won’t hide it from you. Madam Wang came to propose marriage. She wants to request your hand for their legitimate eldest son… Grandmother hasn’t decided yet. When your father returns from his official duties, I’ll ask for his opinion. Then I’ll discuss it with your second aunt and fifth aunt…”
Gu Jin Chao looked surprised, then said softly: “That young master Wang… I’ve heard of him! He has a violent temper and once beat a maid to death…”
Madam Feng nodded, then held her hand and said: “Don’t worry, Grandmother will consider carefully for you. If the negotiations aren’t satisfactory, we’ll let it go. If they are satisfactory, don’t be anxious… If you marry into their family, young master Wang wouldn’t dare touch a hair on your head. Youthful temperament—who isn’t flamboyant? He’ll become more restrained with age. Your second uncle also had a violent temper when he was young, but isn’t he very steady now?”
Wang Zuan wouldn’t dare? Wang Zuan even dared to raise his fist against his elderly mother; what wouldn’t he dare do?
Gu Jin Chao thought silently, then sighed: “They say they’re proposing marriage, but Madam Wang didn’t even invite a proper matchmaker. Though my reputation outside isn’t good, isn’t Madam Wang’s behavior also disrespectful to our Gu family…”
Hearing these words, the anger Madam Feng had just suppressed began to rise again: “Madam Wang has indeed gone too far! Don’t worry about it. If their family truly wants to marry you, it’s not that simple. Our Chao’er isn’t desperate for marriage! No need to rush into their family.”
Wang Zuan wasn’t a good person anyway!
Gu Jin Chao wiped her eyes, which had reddened. She continued softly: “Grandmother, to be honest, Chao’er would rather marry a poor scholar than suffer this humiliation… If Wang Zuan were truly good, he wouldn’t still be unmarried now. Besides, although Magistrate Wang is the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate, he has no prospects for promotion. Young master Wang hasn’t even passed the provincial examinations yet; he’s unlearned and unskilled. How can such a family prosper in the long run… I don’t mind, but I fear it might burden my two cousins.”
Gu Jin Xiao and Gu Jin Xian would also participate in next year’s autumn imperial examinations.
Hearing this, Madam Feng frowned deeply. She had only been thinking about the marriages of the girls and hadn’t considered her grandsons’ official careers. If what Gu Jin Chao said was true, if Wang Zuan had no hope for scholarly success and used Gu Jin Chao’s name to burden the Gu family, what then?
She had almost married off Chao’er based solely on her current wealth! She couldn’t ruin the Gu family’s century-old foundation.
When Gu Dezhao returned from his official duties, Madam Feng went to discuss this matter with him.
Gu Dezhao frowned as he listened: “Mother, such a marriage is unacceptable! What kind of person is Wang Zuan? Even if I wanted to marry off Chao’er, it would have to be to a proper young man. Besides, Madam Wang came to propose without even inviting a matchmaker, showing no regard for Chao’er…”
Madam Feng nodded. It was mainly Gu Jin Chao’s words that made her feel this marriage was inappropriate.
However, she still wanted to discuss Gu Jin Chao’s situation with Gu Dezhao: “…I know, and I think it’s best to decline. But you can’t neglect planning for Chao’er’s marriage.”
Gu Dezhao smiled and said: “Rest assured, I’ve been keeping an eye out. Even if not from a wealthy family, I must find a young man of both virtue and talent for her.”
The news of Madam Wang’s proposal to Gu Jin Chao also reached the ears of the other branches of the Gu family, including Gu Lan.
Gu Lan was dumbfounded when she heard Mujin’s report: “…Madam Wang came personally?”
Mujin nodded.
Gu Lan’s expression darkened: “How could Grandmother find someone so unreliable? Not even bringing a proper matchmaker…”
Was this the attitude for a marriage proposal? This Madam Wang probably didn’t value the Gu family at all. Gu Jin Chao had seized upon this point; rejecting the proposal would be easy, and Madam Feng couldn’t say much. The Wang family was peculiar—with their son’s reputation, which noble family would be willing to marry their good daughter to him? Yet they still had this attitude when proposing. If not for young Master Wang’s acceptable status, Madam Feng probably wouldn’t have entertained it at all.
Gu Lan bit her lip. Her grandmother, honestly, wasn’t very reliable in handling matters. Relying on her to secure her future would probably be difficult…