Li Xian Huai immediately said: “…The Ji family started by selling tea leaves, and by their grandfather’s generation, one became a Deputy Commissioner of Salt Transportation, which is when they began to prosper. The Ji family doesn’t have many officials, just one County Magistrate who bought his position. But for generations they’ve been imperial merchants, trading north and south via the Tongzhou Canal, with truly frightening wealth. Their Old Madam is now at the helm, and I can see she’s clever. In recent years, the Ji family has kept a low profile while growing even larger…”

“This Ji Yao is quite a character, though hampered by his family background. He’s been doing many things behind the Old Madam’s back, without her knowledge.” At this point, Li Xian Huai chuckled twice, “Does the Young Master remember the imperial merchant Luo family? Their eldest son Luo Tai. You once saw him at Liuhe Restaurant, the one you spilled tea all over?”

Ye Xian thought for a moment. When he was ten, just a year after returning to Yanjing, he went out with his cousin from the Gao family. They sat briefly at Liuhe Restaurant. A young man with delicate features and a slender build got into an argument with his cousin over something trivial. Finding him too noisy, Ye Xian poured a cup of scalding tea on him. The young man screamed in pain, threatening that Ye Xian wouldn’t leave the restaurant. Their guards behind them pointed at Ye Xian and told him: “This is the Heir of Marquis Changxing.” Then pointed at his cousin: “The eldest grandson of Minister Gao from the Ministry of Rites.”

This young man who claimed to be Luo Tai, the eldest son of the Luo family, was suddenly speechless. After receiving another cold look from the guard, he fell to his knees and begged for forgiveness.

“A clownish creature,” Ye Xian said dismissively, “What does this have to do with Cousin Gu Jin Chao?”

Li Xian Huai replied: “Their Old Madam certainly doesn’t know that Young Master Ji has been associating with Luo Tai. The Old Madam is upright in business, never shorting those who work under her, nor making unconscionable profits. The Luo family is exactly the opposite, and the Old Madam despises them completely. She’s always forbidden anyone in the family from associating with the Luo family… but Young Master Ji met Luo Tai at a flower-viewing party and has continued associating with him against the Old Madam’s wishes.”

Ye Xian looked at Li Xian Huai: “…Get to the important part.”

Li Xian Huai scratched his head: “When I went to inquire, Luo Tai’s attendant told me quite a lot. I wanted to explain it clearly to you… His association with Luo Tai might not matter much, but what kind of person is Luo Tai? Horse racing and falcon fighting aside, he frequently visits brothels and pleasure quarters. How could he not bring Young Master Ji along… though this Young Master Ji isn’t truly indulgent in such things—he went once or twice, then stopped going.”

He lowered his voice a bit: “Ji Yao only asked courtesans for company and kept himself pure… but this Luo Tai has many schemes and had long wanted to drag Ji Yao down. He put something in Ji Yao’s wine, and Ji Yao ended up taking the virginity of a fourteen-year-old courtesan. Afterward, Ji Yao stopped associating with Young Master Luo, but he didn’t know that the courtesan became pregnant because of this. Luo Tai found a courtyard to house her, planning to use the child to control Ji Yao in the future…”

Ye Xian’s eyelid twitched as he listened. Everyone has moments of youthful indiscretion, and if no major mistake was made, it could be overlooked… but this Ji Yao was truly not smart. Even if passion led him to take someone’s virginity, how could he be careless enough to leave a child for others to use against him? If Gu Jin Chao were to learn about the existence of this child in the future, what would happen? Could she be happy after marrying such a person?

Ye Xian took a deep breath: “Is everything you found out true?”

Li Xian Huai glanced at the Young Master. This was the first time he had asked such a question. Though Li Xian Huai appeared rough on the outside, he understood better than anyone that the Young Master’s concern for Miss Gu, even rushing to see her before, meant he must have feelings for her.

After thinking, he said: “This servant bribed Luo Tai’s attendant for information. Perhaps not everything this attendant said is correct…”

Ye Xian immediately said: “There’s no smoke without fire. Find this courtesan and have her confront the Ji family privately.” This matter couldn’t be spread openly. “It must be done privately. We’ll see how the Ji family reacts to this child, then we’ll know the truth.” Not only would this reveal whether the matter was true but also the Ji family’s attitude toward Gu Jin Chao. If they dared to conceal this matter and proceed with marrying Gu Jin Chao as if nothing had happened, then it would be better for Gu Jin Chao not to marry into the Ji family.

Ye Xian thought further, then said: “It’s almost the twelfth lunar month, and I haven’t visited my elder sister for a long time. Prepare some gifts for me, we’ll visit the Gu family tomorrow.”

He must explain this matter clearly to Gu Jin Chao; he couldn’t let her place her trust in the wrong person.

Yet Ye Xian felt hesitant. If Gu Jin Chao didn’t marry Ji Yao, with her reputation, what good family’s son could she marry?

Looking at the current situation, this Ji family would at most flourish for twenty years. Unless they declined midway, they would certainly face suppression. For the imperial court, powerful merchant forces were not good. That’s why the Luo family declined rapidly after their grandfather’s generation, which was a good way to preserve themselves. The Ji family’s Old Madam was clever, knowing not to flaunt wealth, but if the Ji family continued this way, sooner or later they would run into trouble.

The scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant social hierarchy—the Old Madam didn’t quite understand why it existed; her perspective was ultimately limited.

Meanwhile, at the Gu family home in Daxing, Madam Feng had been frequently calling Jin Chao over to talk, with clear implications that the matter was settled: “…Seeing that you’re about to get engaged to Second Young Master Ji, and will marry over there in May after the mourning period ends. Your grandmother wants to talk with you more now, to avoid missing you too much after you’re married. If anything is lacking in your dowry, you can tell this old woman, and I’ll add more to your trousseau.”

Madam Feng said with a smile. The income from Gu De Zhao’s assets had been returned to the Gu family, making them much more comfortable financially. She worried that since Jin Chao’s mother had died early, her dowry might not be well-prepared, which would reflect poorly on the Gu family when she married.

Gu Jin Chao smiled: “Grandmother needn’t worry about this, I don’t lack anything.” Madam Feng seemed to have already decided to settle the matter, leaving Gu Jin Chao unable to say what she wanted to say. She knew she should yield to reality and marry Ji Yao. But there was always a knot in her heart that wouldn’t untie.

The smile of the Fourth Miss of Baron Yongyang, the face of her child, and Ji Yao’s indifferent gaze. These things wouldn’t go away.

However, Madam Feng’s sudden inquiry about her mother’s dowry made Gu Jin Chao’s heart tighten.

It would be better if she didn’t inquire; when she married, the dowry would leave the Gu family directly. But if Madam Feng asked about it, her mother had left quite a substantial dowry. When she married, would Madam Feng not examine the dowry?

This was a subtle hint that Madam Feng intended to review her dowry.

Jin Chao immediately smiled: “I originally planned to leave half of mother’s dowry for Jin Rong. If the matter is settled, I’ll show you the register.” It was better for her to show Madam Feng than for Madam Feng to make assumptions.

Madam Feng made a sound of agreement. Madam Ji was the daughter of the Ji family from Tongzhou, so how could her dowry not be substantial? Although Gu Jin Chao’s daily expenses weren’t conspicuous, she had more maids and servants than other concubines’ daughters, and none appeared poorly dressed or fed. This showed that her mother’s dowry was substantial, but exactly how much, Madam Feng didn’t know.

Gu Jin Chao then excused herself and returned to Yanxiu Hall. She told Madam Tong: “My private treasury and mother’s dowry were inventoried before. Count them again and make a register, dividing mother’s dowry in half to leave for Rong.” After thinking, she added, “The accounts from the gold and silver building aren’t included.”

The amount of silver circulating in the gold and silver building accounts was large. This part of the money she would give to Rong later; he was still young now.

Madam Tong agreed and took the literate Cai Fu and Bai Yun to count the items.

Shortly after Jin Chao sat down, a little maid came to report that the Heir of Marquis Changxing had come to visit and had gone to the Fifth Madam’s courtyard.

He had said he would come in the twelfth lunar month, Gu Jin Chao remembered. But at this time of year, it was busy with year-end matters.

He must have come to see the Fifth Madam; her child was due in three months.

Gu Jin Chao dismissed the little maid. With nothing to do, she made a small coat for the Fifth Madam’s unborn child. She sat by the stove with her needlework on the kang bed, with Qing Pu helping her match threads, embroidering a pattern of five bats offering longevity. Small tassels were tied to the bats’ tails, making them very cute.

After a while, Yu Zhu sneaked in.

“Miss, the Young Master says he wants to speak with you. He’s now outside the opposite building in the west wing compound and has sent a servant to relay the message…”

Gu Jin Chao put down the tassel she had just finished and frowned: “Did he say what it was about?”

It was one thing for him to secretly see her before, after all, it was about his father’s matter. Now that she was about to be engaged, she couldn’t meet with him privately.

Yu Zhu added: “The Young Master told the Fifth Madam he wanted to ask you about raising orchids, and said you shouldn’t worry.”

Gu Jin Chao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She changed her clothes and went to the opposite building in the west wing compound.

Ye Xian was standing under the colonnade hung with icicles, watching the light snow falling outside. Gu Jin Chao appeared in the distance, walking very slowly, wearing a cape.

She brought her maid Qing Pu, who often accompanied her.

Gu Jin Chao walked to the colonnade, and Qing Pu closed the umbrella.

She greeted Ye Xian with a curtsy, without removing her hood.

Ye Xian stood with hands behind his back, looking at her for a long time. Outside, the snow was falling, making the world exceptionally quiet.

He said nothing, suddenly reaching out to remove her hood. Gu Jin Chao was caught off guard, staring blankly at Ye Xian. What was he doing?

Ye Xian paused and said: “Your cape doesn’t fit you, the hood is too large, I can’t see your eyes.” Without waiting for Gu Jin Chao to respond, he immediately asked, “I heard you’re getting engaged to Ji Yao?”

Of course, he couldn’t see clearly, he was so tall. Gu Jin Chao thought to herself. But how did he know she was getting engaged to Ji Yao? Did he come to find her just for this engagement matter? What did it have to do with him? Gu Jin Chao said: “Why is Cousin asking about this?”

Ye Xian felt that Gu Jin Chao showed no sign of unwillingness, but she was very calm as if the person getting engaged wasn’t her at all. He paused and said: “I told you I owed you a favor, now I want to make things clear to you. Hold off on the engagement for now. You probably don’t know what this Ji Yao has done. Find out the truth first, to avoid suffering after you marry him.”