Madam Feng found Gu Jin Chao to speak with her about Ji Yao’s marriage proposal. She smiled while holding Jin Chao’s hand and said, “…this cousin of yours from the Ji family is not only handsome but also of excellent character. Moreover, you two have a childhood friendship between you. Your maternal grandmother sought out the Baroness of Yongyang to propose marriage, which shows great respect to our family. I’m telling you this because if you’re willing… we can accept this marriage proposal.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Jin Chao laughed bitterly in her heart. In her previous life, the daughter of the Baroness of Yongyang had married Ji Yao, but in this life, she was helping arrange a marriage between Ji Yao and herself.
How unpredictable life truly was.
No matter how she looked at it, she should accept this marriage proposal.
Gu Jin Chao thought for a moment and told Madam Feng, “…I’ve always seen Second Cousin as just a cousin, with no other intentions. This matter comes suddenly; perhaps you should let me think about it for a couple more days.”
Madam Feng nodded in agreement: “The Baroness will come again the day after tomorrow. We’ll settle this matter then.”
Gu Jin Chao acknowledged and withdrew. As she walked out of the East Wing Courtyard, she happened to meet Gu Lan and Gu Lian, who were coming to pay their respects to Madam Feng.
After the two curtseyed to Gu Jin Chao, Gu Lan looked at her with a strange expression.
Gu Jin Chao smiled and asked, “What’s the matter, Sister Lan?”
Having heard that the Ji family had asked the Baroness of Yongyang to propose marriage to Gu Jin Chao, Gu Lan was displeased and indignant. Why did Gu Jin Chao have an external family like the Ji family, who would even sacrifice their own grandson’s marriage to save her marriage, just to give Gu Jin Chao honor and dignity? Meanwhile, her maternal family consisted of people like Madam Song, who couldn’t even properly arrange for Madam Wang to propose marriage. After Gu Jin Chao married Ji Yao, would she ever need to worry about her life?
But what about herself? Where would she seek her marriage and future?
Thinking of her mother who had been left in Shi’an and had gone insane, Gu Lan’s heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Gu Lan then smiled and said, “Second Cousin has come to propose to Elder Sister, and this second sister is happy for you. Grandmother has truly gone to great lengths for your marriage, even mobilizing Second Cousin. If you marry into the Ji family, won’t you enjoy endless wealth and honor…”
Gu Jin Chao also understood Gu Lan’s meaning, but she saw no need to explain herself to Gu Lan. She smiled and said, “Sister Lan is truly happy for me, so I can rest assured. I dare not speak of wealth and honor; peace and safety are most important.”
Gu Lian merely snorted at the side without speaking. After being scolded by the Second Madam, she had come to terms with the situation.
Regarding this marriage, she felt somewhat disdainful in her heart. No matter how wealthy the Ji family was, they were still just merchant folk. Even with Mr. Ji serving as a Deputy Prefect, that position wasn’t impressive enough in front of their noble families. Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, the Ji family was already a step below their Gu family.
It was just someone from the Ji family proposing marriage, yet her grandmother and the others seemed so pleased. The Ji family couldn’t even compare to a single finger of the Yao family.
Gu Lian recalled what the Second Madam had told her: “…why must you compare yourself to your eldest cousin? Think of it this way. No matter how good your eldest cousin is, no matter how much your grandmother likes her, how could that compare to how much she likes you?” The Second Madam continued meaningfully, “Why do you think your grandmother likes you? Is it just because you grew up at her knee? Of course not. It’s also because you’re betrothed to the young master of the Yao family. Among all the young ladies of our Gu family, you’re the most honored one.”
“Your eldest and second cousins will marry into families not even a tenth as good as yours. You should be more broad-minded. Why bother tangling with them over small matters? Your future glory and wealth will be something they’ll all envy. Look at your Fifth Aunt—how is she better than your mother? Her conduct is far inferior to your mother’s. Why does your grandmother favor your Fifth Aunt more? It’s because of her status as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Changxing… a status none of us can challenge. Look at her pregnancy—everyone treasures her as if she’s carrying a golden egg. Who else could be as pampered during pregnancy? Your grandmother has even exempted her from morning and evening greetings!”
After hearing her mother’s words, Gu Lian went back and thought carefully, feeling that it was indeed so.
What would her future status be? She would be the legitimate wife of the Yao family. Her father-in-law was the Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. In the future, when Yao Wen Xiu succeeds in his scholarly pursuits, he will enter the court as an official. What about Gu Jin Chao? Marrying her cousin would be the best she could achieve, not to mention that her cousin might not even be willing—he was probably being forced by her maternal grandmother to marry her. For Gu Lian to quibble with Gu Jin Chao would be beneath her dignity.
So she immediately took Gu Lan’s arm and said with a smile, “Second Cousin, we still need to pay our respects to Grandmother. Let’s hurry in!”
Gu Lan nodded, but as they passed by Gu Jin Chao, she asked in a feather-light voice, “Elder Sister, are you content to marry like this? What about Young Master Chen Seven…”
Her voice was so low that even Gu Lian couldn’t hear clearly.
Gu Jin Chao closed her eyes and laughed coldly, then said, “Gu Lan, stop right there!”
Gu Lan turned around with an innocent face: “Does Elder Sister have something else to say? I’m about to pay my respects to Grandmother!”
Gu Jin Chao knew that Gu Lan would cause trouble in this matter. Her marriage might not have happened, but it absolutely couldn’t fail because of Gu Lan’s interference. She walked over to Gu Lian and said, “…if Sister Lan would excuse us, Cousin Lian, please go in first.”
Gu Lian hesitated, but Gu Lan said, “You go in first. I’ll be there shortly.”
She wanted to see what Gu Jin Chao had to say. Could she possibly eat her?
Gu Lan looked at Gu Jin Chao without fear, smiling brightly: “Elder Sister should understand better than I do that rumors are to be feared, right?”
She would eventually use the Chen Xuan Qing matter to threaten her, Gu Jin Chao knew. Now she wanted to thoroughly cut off Gu Lan’s intentions. Gu Jin Chao said calmly, “If rumors spread that the Gu family sisters are at odds, do you think you’ll gain any benefit? You’re already in a precarious position now—don’t let rumors spread that you enjoy gossiping and framing your relatives.”
Gu Lan sneered, “Gu Jin Chao—so you do have times when you’re afraid? Are you afraid I’ll reveal what you’ve done? How shamelessly you pursued Chen Xuan Qing, writing him letters, sending him sachets, eagerly wanting to meet him privately, but he didn’t even want to acknowledge you!”
Gu Jin Chao had done too many outrageous things in the past, and Gu Lan knew them all. If she revealed these things, who would dare marry Gu Jin Chao then?
Gu Jin Chao shook her head: “Am I afraid of you revealing these things? What do I have to fear? But before you do anything, you should think about your Concubine Song far away in Shi’an.” Gu Jin Chao paused, then laughed softly, “What if you anger me, and one of the old women in Shi’an is negligent in serving Concubine Song, and she accidentally dies? Who would inquire about her life or death?”
When Gu Lan heard Gu Jin Chao mention Concubine Song, her face turned ugly.
She hadn’t expected Gu Jin Chao to be so ruthless, using her mother’s life to threaten her!
She looked at Gu Jin Chao and said angrily in a low voice, “…don’t be too shameless. Our issues shouldn’t involve my mother!”
Gu Jin Chao laughed as if she’d heard a joke, “Sister Lan, you truly have double standards. In our matters, haven’t you involved my mother and my brother? My mother has already passed away, yet you tell me not to involve your mother?”
“I’ve spared your mother’s life and even sent people to serve her with good food and drink, which is already the utmost kindness. If you don’t offend me, I won’t offend you. If you don’t plot against me in secret, Concubine Song will live well, and no one will harm her in the slightest.”
After saying these words, Gu Jin Chao looked coldly at Gu Lan: “Including last time, when you tried to marry Qing Pu to Xu Hou Cai… let’s let bygones be bygones. From now on, if I discover you working against me, beware for your Concubine Song far away in Shi’an!”
Gu Lan bit her lip, like a snake gripped by its weak spot, with no strength left to retort.
Gu Jin Chao felt she had said enough and turned to leave the East Wing Courtyard. From far behind came Gu Lan’s unwilling voice: “Elder Sister, even if I don’t reveal it, can you pretend those things never happened? Do you want to marry a Second Cousin? Does Second Cousin want to marry you… you should think carefully…”
Gu Jin Chao didn’t even pause her steps.
Her affairs were not for Gu Lan to meddle in. Hopefully, Gu Lan will behave herself from now on.
Gu Jin Chao returned to Yan Xiu Hall.
The next day was her sixteenth birthday.
Madam Feng instructed the kitchen to make Gu Jin Chao a bowl of longevity noodles and also gave her a birthday gift. The Second Madam gave her a set of Bao Xiang flower cosmetics, and the Fifth Madam gave her a pair of black jade bracelets—exceptionally fine jet jade that showed a transparent, rich emerald color in the light. Holding these black jade bracelets, Gu Jin Chao marveled that the Marquis of Changxing’s family was indeed wealthy and generous, giving her such items as birthday gifts. As Jin Chao and her two aunts were accompanying Madam Feng in the room, a young maid came to report that the young master had returned from Shi’an. The carriage had just arrived at the screen wall, and he was coming to pay his respects to Madam Feng.
Madam Feng was overjoyed: “This child, I haven’t seen him for several years.” She spoke to Gu Jin Chao, “I wonder how the Yu family’s clan school is. When my grandson comes, I must ask him properly!” Madam Feng’s fondness for her grandson was most genuine. As the son of Gu De Zhao, he should excel in his studies. If another imperial scholar could emerge to bring glory to the Gu family, that would be the best thing possible.
Gu Jin Chao smiled: “Don’t worry, the Yu family’s old master was once the Emperor’s teacher.”
Just as she finished speaking, she saw Gu Jin Rong approaching, surrounded by servants and maids. He wore a fox fur coat and a melon-shaped cap, wrapped up tightly, with a smile on his face. First, he bowed to Madam Feng and paid his respects, then greeted his two aunts and Gu Jin Chao one by one, even secretly smiling at his elder sister.
Madam Feng held Gu Jin Rong, examining him from all angles, truly delighted beyond measure: “…this child has grown well, clean and handsome, and tall too. He’ll grow taller than his father in the future! How do you find the Yu family’s clan school? Are you diligent in your studies?”
The old lady’s greatest concern was naturally scholarly achievements.
Gu Jin Rong respectfully answered: “The several teachers of the Yu family are all profoundly learned. Your grandson is eager for knowledge. I am diligent in my studies. Apart from missing Elder Sister and Father, everything else is good.”