On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Second Master Gu brought news back that Right Deputy Minister Yan Mao of the Ministry of Revenue had resigned due to old age and returned to his hometown in Anhui to enjoy his retirement. The position of Right Deputy Minister was temporarily vacant, and the matter of the Shanxi disaster relief had finally eased. Gu Dezhao, as the Director of the Granary Division, was rewarded for his contributions. Now that the Deputy Minister position was vacant, he stood a good chance of promotion.
Cao Ziheng wrote to Gu Jinchao saying that currently within the Ministry of Revenue, there were four Directors: the Revenue Director, Finance Director, Currency Director, and Granary Director. The Revenue Director had only been appointed two years ago and lacked seniority; the Finance Director was mediocre during his tenure; both the Currency Director Feng Anyuan and her father had some chance. Gu Dezhao had worked in the Ministry of Revenue for over eight years, so if judged by seniority, his possibility was greater.
However, Gu Dezhao had connections with the Marquis of Changxing’s family, and without any outstanding merits, it might be problematic.
Gu Jinchao felt the same way. In her previous life, her father had remained a Director until his death, and likely couldn’t fulfill his wish in this life either.
For an official to advance from Director to Deputy Minister was no simple matter. Before promotion, Directors would typically be transferred to serve as Prefect of Yangzhou or Wuchang for three years. If they governed these places stably and properly during their tenure, they could then be promoted to the third-rank Deputy Minister.
But in recent years, with chaotic court politics, the proper transfers hadn’t taken place. None of the four current Revenue Directors had the necessary experience.
Nevertheless, Lady Feng was very pleased when she heard this. From Revenue Director to Deputy Minister sounded like just one level difference, but the official ranks differed by two grades—Deputy Minister of Revenue was a third-rank official position!
She not only called Gu Dezhao to speak with him but also summoned Concubine Luo to give her some instructions.
She sat resting on the arhat bed while Fuling helped massage her legs, whispering to Lady Feng, “This servant feels the Old Madam doesn’t seem very happy.”
Lady Feng sighed, “Although I raised Gu Dezhao, he’s not my biological son, so there’s naturally some distance. And back then, I didn’t approve of his affair with Lady Ji… he harbors some resentment toward me. If he’s promoted to Deputy Minister, he’ll be the highest-ranking official in our Gu family. Without a layer of relationship there, I always feel uneasy.”
Fuling smiled, “This servant thinks the Third Master is very filial to you.”
Lady Feng said, “How can that be the same!” She thought for a long while, “In a few months, he’ll finish his mourning period. Why not arrange his marriage before then? I may not have a grip on him, but I can certainly handle a daughter-in-law! Besides, he can’t be without someone to serve him. Taking a wife would not only serve him but also continue our Gu family’s lineage.”
Fuling agreed, “Looking at Concubine Luo’s slender frame, she doesn’t seem like someone who can bear children… Old Madam’s idea is excellent!”
Lady Feng, recalling Concubine Luo’s appearance, also frowned. Though beautiful… she was too thin!
With this intention in mind, Lady Feng pondered for several days.
After burning door god papers and worshiping the God of Wealth, it was soon the eighth day of the first lunar month, time to worship the stars.
Lady Feng summoned the Gu family ladies and young misses to talk, giving each person a bowl of osmanthus sesame tangyuan. Lady Feng sat on the arhat bed, wearing a bright red winter jacket embroidered with longevity characters, an emerald-studded headband, and gold hairpins with lotus patterns. Her hair was combed smoothly, and she looked very spirited.
“Today happens to be the eighth, and Fifth Young Master’s wife has just given birth. Let’s go to Baoxiang Temple to offer incense. I’ve copied ninety-nine volumes of Buddhist scriptures to burn for Buddha, showing our sincerity, not only praying for favorable weather in the coming year but also blessing my newly added granddaughter with good health,” Lady Feng said with a smile.
Everyone agreed, and the Second Madam smiled, “Miss Lian has also copied Buddhist scriptures, which can be offered to Buddha together.”
Lady Feng looked at Gu Lian, finding it curious, “Didn’t you always find copying Buddhist scriptures tedious?” The matron attending Gu Lian smiled, “Young Master Yao will be taking the spring examination. Our Second Miss copied the scriptures for him, hoping he can become a successful candidate…”
Everyone laughed, and Gu Lian’s face turned red as she said softly, “I also copied some scriptures for Grandmother…”
Lady Feng nodded repeatedly, “It’s good that you think of your grandmother… Grandmother also hopes Young Master Yao can pass the examination, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
They had already set the date for the wedding ceremony, so there was no need for taboos.
Listening to this, Gu Jinchao thought silently that Gu Lian would indeed get her wish—Yao Wenxiu would pass the spring examination this year. However, his scholarship was quite average; he took the metropolitan examination several times and only obtained a regular jinshi degree, remaining a bureau director in the Ministry of Works’ Measurement Bureau. She didn’t know what happened after that.
Lady Feng then asked everyone to go back and change clothes, with maids carrying sweet boxes, small stools, and cloaks, following behind as they boarded the carriages.
Lady Feng specifically invited Gu Jinchao to ride in the same carriage with her. On the way, she told her about Baoxiang Temple in Daxing, how the ladies and young misses of the household all had eternal lamps enshrined there, and how the Gu family donated three hundred taels annually to the temple for printing scriptures. When the women of their household went to offer incense and worship Buddha, they were treated with special care.
“…Also enshrine an eternal lamp for you at Baoxiang Temple, a lamp with a white stone lotus base carved in a pointed arch niche, with two catties of lamp oil per year. How does that sound?” Lady Feng told her. “Placed together in the lamp tower, even better would be one with a white marble lotus base… It’s not about being precious, but about supporting one’s destiny.”
Jinchao didn’t believe in Buddhism. In her previous life, she knew that faith in anything couldn’t save people.
She smiled and very respectfully said, “I’ll do as Grandmother says.”
Usually, it was Gu Lian who shared a carriage with Lady Feng. Now it had been changed to her, likely due to her father’s possible promotion.
Baoxiang Temple was located on Yuanjing Mountain at the border of Daxing and Shunyi. Half a mile from the foot of the mountain was the prosperous Shunyi County town. An official road passed through Yuanjing Mountain, making carriage travel very convenient. Everyone only disembarked from the carriages when they reached the entrance of Baoxiang Temple, but by then the sky had grown dark.
Madam Xu, who was accompanying them, expressed concern, “The way the sky looks, it seems like heavy snow is coming again…”
If the snow became too heavy, they would have to stay at Baoxiang Temple. But this wasn’t a problem as Baoxiang Temple had specially designated meditation rooms for visitors. Lady Feng told her that when her grandfather first died, she had stayed here for a month, praying for him every day.
Seeing that Lady Feng didn’t say anything, Jinchao knew she had this plan in mind.
After the women offered incense, they were led by the guest master to the meditation rooms to sit for a while, and a pot of hot fragrant tea was brought over.
The Second Madam removed Gu Lian’s cloak and smiled, “Baoxiang Temple’s vegetarian cuisine is quite excellent. Your grandmother especially loves their crispy tofu, golden needle mushrooms with tender cucumber, and blanched vegetable hearts. You should all try them later.”
The Fifth Madam was still in her confinement period after childbirth and hadn’t come, but the Fifth Master’s two concubine-born daughters had accompanied them. The Gu family women totaled twelve people, requiring two tables of vegetarian dishes to be sufficient. Hearing this, the guest master smiled, recited a Buddhist phrase, and said, “It just so happens that the temple has received distinguished guests, and the master had disciples grind soy milk early this morning. Please sit for a moment, this poor monk will go fetch it.”
Gu Lian couldn’t sit still and didn’t think much of soy milk. She asked Lady Feng if she could go out to look around.
Lady Feng said, “…Let Madam Xu accompany you, with two additional guards. Just look around the few Buddha halls, and don’t go anywhere else. Since your elder cousin hasn’t been to Baoxiang Temple before, take her to the lamp tower to enshrine an eternal lamp.”
She turned her head to instruct the household matron, “…Give Miss Chao ten taels of silver.”
This had been arranged earlier in the carriage.
Gu Lian was unwilling but couldn’t refuse, so she had to take Gu Jinchao out.
Baoxiang Temple was much larger than Lingbi Temple in Shian, with seven towers, nine pavilions, and twenty-seven halls, a grand temple with flourishing incense offerings. The most famous structures were the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Grand Buddha Hall, Great Hero Hall, Reception Hall, Vairocana Pavilion, Qiyun Pagoda, and others. The lamp tower was particularly beautiful at night with its many eternal flames.
After leaving with Gu Lian, they arrived at the Grand Buddha Hall. Gu Lian pointed to a bluestone path to the west and smiled, “Elder Cousin, if you want to offer an eternal lamp, go this way. I’m going to the Hall of Heavenly Kings with Miss Lan, so I can’t accompany you!”
Gu Jinchao smiled, “You go ahead, I’ll be fine.” The lamp tower stood tall and was especially eye-catching; she wouldn’t get lost.
Gu Lian left with Gu Lan, matrons, and guards.
Gu Jinchao and Qingpu walked along the bluestone path toward the lamp tower. Baoxiang Temple was built halfway up the mountain. The early snow hadn’t melted, and the distant mountains were covered in silver, with vast skies, exceptionally beautiful. As she and Qingpu walked along chatting softly, suddenly someone blocked their path.
The man who stopped them wore a servant’s robe and had a stern expression. “You cannot go any further. Please turn back!”
Qingpu was startled—how could there be such a man in the temple? She protected Gu Jinchao, stepping back two paces, warily watching this person.
Gu Jinchao also frowned and asked softly, “This gentleman… this path was built for everyone to use. Why won’t you let us pass?”
Before the man could reply, laughter was heard. “Wang Chun, quickly let this young lady pass!”
Gu Jinchao looked up to see a man wearing a silken robe, seemingly unafraid of the cold. With a square face, though smiling, he didn’t look at all genial—it was Jiang Yan, the adviser from Third Master Chen’s side!
Why was Jiang Yan here? Had he also come to worship Buddha? Gu Jinchao looked up again and noticed that almost every ten feet ahead stood a guard wearing a servant’s robe with a large sword at his waist—the security was extremely tight.
Jiang Yan bowed to her, “Miss Gu, please forgive us. The path is fine, you may proceed!”
Gu Jinchao, however, felt somewhat reluctant to continue.
Jiang Yan quickly pulled the man aside and again gestured with a smile.
There were no fearsome beasts ahead! Gu Jinchao took a deep breath, and quickened her pace, planning to offer the eternal lamp and return immediately.
The lamp tower was not far ahead. No more guards dared to stop them; they all turned a blind eye.
Soon, gray clouds pressed down from the sky, and snow began to fall. At first, it was gentle, but gradually the snow fell more heavily, mixed with fine ice fragments, swept by the north wind, stinging when it hit the face.
Qingpu hurriedly draped the cloak over Gu Jinchao, and looked toward the lamp tower ahead, anxious beyond measure, “Young Miss, the snow is so heavy… it’s not good for us to go back either…”
The lamp tower was still ahead, and they were far from the Grand Buddha Hall, without even a place to shelter from the snow and wind!
Gu Jinchao felt her face stinging from the wind and saw that Qingpu’s shoulders were already soaked through.
The snow fell in a blinding sheet.
She was about to suggest they continue to the lamp tower, as it was closer. But then she saw Wang Chun from earlier braving the snow to catch up with them, holding an umbrella.
He approached Gu Jinchao and said softly, “The Third Master says, since the snow has become heavy, he invites Miss Gu to take temporary shelter in the Reception Hall.”