Right after Gu Lian’s coming-of-age ceremony, the New Year was approaching.

The household began preparations early, arranging the three sacrificial offerings for ancestor worship, along with fruits and cooked foods. Gu Lian and Yao Wenxiu’s wedding date had also been set for the third month of spring. Because of this joyous occasion, the household’s New Year celebrations would be especially grand this year. Each branch of the family issued cloth for new winter clothes to the servants, along with an additional twenty taels of silver as a clothing allowance.

Qing Pu, wearing a red double-happiness patterned shuttle-woven jacket, seemed to feel somewhat uncomfortable, tugging at the hem several times, which made Bai Yun laugh at her: “Sister Qing Pu, these new clothes look so beautiful on you, why are you still so uneasy!”

Qing Pu mumbled, “The young miss is still in mourning, isn’t it inappropriate for me to wear something so bright…”

Jin Chao put down the paper-cutting in her hand and said with a smile, “Bai Yun is right, if you’re wearing new clothes, wear them properly. After all, the New Year is a time of celebration. If we all dress plainly, others might have something to say about it.”

Yu Zhu also nodded, grinning: “Young Miss, last New Year you gave each of us a box of assorted candies… This servant still remembers, there were three nests of silk candy, six pieces of rose candy, amber candy, and sugar-frosted hawthorn cakes…”

Bai Yun glared at her, and Yu Zhu stuck out her tongue, not daring to say more.

Jin Chao handed her the cut window paper and smiled, “You want a candy box? Whenever you’re like Cao Ying and can memorize all the camellia names in the rear courtyard, I’ll give you one.”

Yu Zhu’s little face fell into a frown. She couldn’t even distinguish between the camellias in the young miss’s rear courtyard…

She clenched her small fists, “Young Miss, I’ll remember them all.”

Indeed, from the next day, she began diligently memorizing the camellia names with extraordinary dedication. By the time she had almost learned them all, it was already the twenty-seventh day, and Cao Ziheng came to visit Gu Jin Chao in his capacity as an elderly Confucian tutor. He gave Jin Chao the account books for the year. During the Shanxi famine relief effort, he followed Jin Chao’s orders to investigate the relationship between Third Master Chen and the Gu family, and this visit was also to discuss this matter with Gu Jin Chao.

Jin Chao asked him about Official Wen, and Cao Ziheng praised this person highly.

“…He was truly a person of exceptional literary talent. When Master Chen was serving as an Expositor in the Hanlin Academy, he had quite a deep friendship with Official Wen, however…” Cao Ziheng said, then showed a hesitant expression.

Seeing this, Jin Chao asked, “Master Cao, please speak freely, don’t hold back.”

Cao Ziheng paused, then said, “This old man just finds it strange. Eldest Miss said that Official Wen wrote to Master Chen two years ago, asking him to look after the Master. But… Official Wen passed away from illness at his old home in Chengde, Hebei, four years ago. Many scholars from the capital specifically went to Hebei to pay their respects. This old man remembers it very clearly.”

Jin Chao was stunned for a moment.

Cao Ziheng then moved on to discuss the income from the Su-Hang silk and satin shop in Daxing, as well as letters from some estate managers about matters he couldn’t decide on. After he finished speaking and took his leave, Gu Jin Chao had Madam Xu see him out through the festooned gate.

She sat in the flower hall, gazing at the winter plum blossoms blooming in the courtyard, her thoughts in disarray.

If it wasn’t because of Official Wen’s entreaty, why would Third Master Chen help the Gu family? Even if it was to suppress a political opponent, why would he use this excuse as a cover? And it was a statement with obvious flaws… If she had paid attention to investigate, she would have known that what he said wasn’t true at all.

Gu Jin Chao felt that behind all this seemed to be a very clear answer, but she still couldn’t figure it out.

Why did Third Master Chen marry her in her previous life… Why did he ask if she still remembered…

What was she supposed to remember?

She had a vague speculation in her heart, but Gu Jin Chao felt it was too absurd. She took a sip of tea, and just as she was thinking of going to the west wing to see Gu Jin Rong, she saw Qing Pu hurriedly entering the flower hall.

The Fifth Madam had given birth prematurely.

“…She had gotten up early to check the three sacrificial offerings prepared for the New Year… The bluestone path from the west wing to the front courtyard was icy, and the Fifth Madam slipped and fell, immediately feeling pain in her abdomen. The servants hurriedly carried her back, and when the Old Madam heard the news, she quickly sent someone to fetch a midwife. But before the midwife could arrive, the child was born, a young miss…”

Qing Pu explained as they walked.

Jin Chao had Qing Pu bring the baby items she had made and hurried to the Fifth Madam’s residence in the west wing. Outside, she saw a large group of maids and old women waiting. Fan, the nursemaid who had accompanied the Fifth Madam from the Marquis of Changxing’s household, was directing maids to boil water and found things, extremely busy.

The west side room was already full of people, including Madam Feng, the Second Madam, several Gu family young misses, and serving maids, old women, and wives. Madam Feng was holding a swaddled infant in her arms, smiling as she spoke to the Second Madam: “Although it’s not a full-term birth, the baby isn’t weak at all. Look at this rosy, soft face; it truly melts my heart.”

Gu Jin Chao paid her respects, and the Second Madam beckoned her over to see the child. The tiny baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes, with only a small face the size of a fist visible, making it impossible to tell whose eyebrows and eyes it resembled. But Madam Feng looked at it as if it were a precious treasure: “…This child has delicate features, she’ll surely be a beauty like her mother when she grows up.”

The baby was sleeping, its little mouth moving slightly.

Several young misses had never seen such a small baby before and gathered around with curiosity, wishing they could touch it.

Gu Jin Chao sat on a stool. Women typically didn’t give birth in the inner chamber, as men would need to enter there, and it was feared they might be contaminated by the blood energy. Several old women were preparing the bedding. After a while, the Fifth Madam was carried by old women from the east side room to the inner chamber. Madam Feng immediately brought the baby for her to see. Ye Shi’s pale face showed a hint of a smile.

The Fifth Master had gone horseback riding with friends that morning. Upon receiving news from a family servant, he hurried home, but now stood outside the door, not daring to enter. Madam Feng brought the baby for him to see, but he was timid and hesitant, waving his hands in fear, yet unable to resist leaning forward to look.

Everyone laughed.

One joyous event followed another in the household, and everyone was in high spirits.

Upon hearing of the Fifth Madam’s premature delivery, Lady Gao, the Marquis of Changxing’s wife, and the heir came with their people the next day. They first visited the Fifth Madam and held their newborn granddaughter before meeting with Madam Feng in the resting area.

Madam Feng smiled and asked about the Marquis of Changxing’s recent condition. Lady Gao didn’t answer, but slowly said, “Why did my daughter Shu give birth prematurely? In-law, you must be clear about this. Shu says it was her carelessness, but what do you say?”

Madam Feng’s smile stiffened slightly, then she said, “It’s this old woman’s fault. The Fifth Young Madam was in her later months and shouldn’t have been moving about freely. Unfortunately, the snowy paths were slippery, and she accidentally slipped… In-law, say whatever you wish!”

Lady Gao sneered, “Say whatever I wish? What I can say is only what I heard from my daughter Shu. As her mother-in-law, would she dare to disobey what you told her to say?” Lady Gao had never liked Madam Feng. When Ye Shu wanted to marry into the Gu family, she had been one of the strongest opponents. Now that her daughter had given birth prematurely in the Gu household, she was even more upset.

Usually, everyone was respectful to Madam Feng, but Lady Gao’s words made her extremely uncomfortable. Even if Ye Shu had been carrying a golden egg, she would still need to move around! She had treated Ye Shu well enough, but from Lady Gao’s tone, it seemed as if she was blaming her for the premature birth!

The person speaking to her was the Marchioness of Changxing…

Madam Feng held back her feelings, smiled, and said nothing.

Lady Gao then said, “Since both mother and child are well, I won’t ask further. In-law, you should also take note of these things…” She called forward two fair, plump young women standing behind her. Both had delicate skin, rosy complexions, and full bosoms. “…I specially requested a decree from the Empress and selected two wet nurses from the palace to bring here. In-law, whichever one you think is suitable, keep that one.”

As if the Gu family couldn’t afford to hire wet nurses!

Madam Feng suppressed her discomfort and replied, “Whichever one the Marchioness thinks is suitable!”

Lady Gao didn’t stand on ceremony and casually pointed to the wet nurse wearing a blue with light pink brocade padded jacket to stay.

After speaking with Madam Feng, Lady Gao went to the west wing to see her daughter. Madam Feng, furious, smashed the blue-and-white porcelain teacup on the table and said with a gloomy expression, “What kind of person… Just relying on her high status to lord it over me!” Because of Lady Gao, she had never dared to manage Ye Shi the way she managed Zhou Shi. But Lady Gao’s attitude truly made her uncomfortable.

Fu Ling whispered, “Old Madam, why get upset with the Marchioness? No matter what, the Fifth Madam is still your daughter-in-law. If you want to control her, there are plenty of ways…”

Madam Feng exhaled and said heavily, “Although that’s true…” But as long as the Marquis of Changxing’s family remained, Ye Shi was still the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s household, not merely her daughter-in-law.

Fu Ling comforted her again, “…Let’s not talk about that; you now have a granddaughter!”

Madam Feng’s expression softened somewhat, but she sighed, “After all, it’s a girl…” She had wanted a grandson, especially since the Gu family’s bloodline wasn’t flourishing. The old master had entrusted her before his death with continuing the family line, which was the most important matter for the family’s prosperity. The Fifth Madam’s belly had been pointed, and she had thought it would be a boy…

What a pity.

In the west wing, the Fifth Madam had just shown the baby to Ye Xian, telling him, “Your niece’s eyebrows look like yours… She definitely won’t be pretty when she grows up.”

Ye Xian disagreed, “How big is she? You can’t even see her eyebrows. Besides, how could she not be pretty if she looks like me!”

The Fifth Madam laughed, “Fine, fine, look at you!” She handed the baby to the nursemaid beside her and asked Ye Xian, “Weren’t you busy recently? I asked you to come in the twelfth month to keep your nephew company with his studies, but you didn’t come.”

Ye Xian said, “There’s nothing to be busy about… I want to take a walk, I’ll come back to see you later.”

What could he be busy with, if not thinking about what kind of husband to find for Gu Jin Chao? After searching everywhere, he still wasn’t satisfied with any of them… None were even as good as Ji Yao! Yet how could Gu Jin Chao possibly be interested in them?

But when it came to what kind of man would be suitable for Gu Jin Chao, he had no idea.

Ye Xian walked out of the west wing and happened to see Gu Jin Chao coming toward him. She had found a pair of gold ankle bracelets from the private storehouse, intending to give them to her newborn little cousin. Upon seeing Ye Xian walking out, she had no time to hide.

Ye Xian saw her take a step back toward the Taihu rock and couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re such a timid little thing… Why are you hiding from me!”

Did she think that rock could hide her?