In less than an hour, Madam Feng sent someone to summon Gu Dezhao.

Gu Dezhao put down the white jade chess piece in his hand and said to Jin Chao, “…I will speak properly with your grandmother. I cannot stand how Cheng Baozhi treats you! If she dares to act this way now, what won’t she do once she gets what she wants? She would turn everything upside down!”

Jin Chao smiled at her father as she had Qing Pu help him with his cloak: “Please be careful not to catch a cold in the wind.”

Gu Dezhao adjusted the cloak on his body and slowly walked to the east wing.

Madam Feng lay resting with her eyes closed in the west side room. After a moment, she opened them and looked at Cheng Baozhi with an expression that showed utter disappointment. “Are you really this stupid? What’s the point of trying to control Gu Jin Chao? In the future, when you become her stepmother and gain the advantage of your position, won’t you be able to deal with her then? Making her serve you tea… are you finding your stay at the Gu household too comfortable?” She had long experienced that Gu Jin Chao was not easy to control.

She had tried to get the upper hand on Gu Jin Chao several times, but each attempt had come to nothing. What qualifications did Cheng Baozhi have to dare challenge Gu Jin Chao?

“You think she suddenly became so agreeable, serving you tea just because you asked, even finding an excuse for you to criticize her? She had already set a trap waiting for you to step into it… and you happily walked right in!” Madam Feng was so angry her chest hurt.

Cheng Baozhi had completely wasted her careful planning.

Cheng Baozhi felt wronged. When she first arrived, Madam Feng had clearly instructed her to help manage the people in the Fourth House. She was following the elder’s instructions, so why was all the blame falling on her now? She dared not argue and could only lower her head as she listened to Madam Feng’s words.

Madam Feng did have other options; it was just that comparatively, Cheng Baozhi was the best choice. If Madam Feng wished, she could find several other Cheng Baozhis among her Feng family relatives. Who did Cheng Baozhi think she was?

Nanny Xu advised from the side: “…It’s just a matter of a few words between young ladies. If you speak with the Fourth Master, there might still be room for reconciliation.”

Just at that moment, Fuling announced from outside the curtain that the Fourth Master had arrived.

After some thought, Madam Feng asked Cheng Baozhi to wait in the west corner room.

Gu Dezhao entered and greeted her respectfully.

Madam Feng revealed a gentle smile and had Nanny Xu bring over a stool: “…You’ve grown thinner these past few days. It pains my heart to see it. Are you too busy with court affairs?” She instructed Nanny Xu to bring a bowl of duck soup with mushrooms.

Gu Dezhao accepted the bowl but set it aside, saying, “With the current vacancy of the Assistant Minister of Revenue, naturally everything is busier. But I hear a new Assistant Minister will take office soon, and things won’t be so hectic then.”

Madam Feng felt something was off: “This new Assistant Minister of Revenue, has someone been selected already?” From Gu Dezhao’s tone, could it be that it wasn’t him?

Gu Dezhao shook his head: “…Matters from above, who can know for certain.”

Madam Feng noticed the duck soup he had placed aside without touching it and felt somewhat uncomfortable.

She smiled slightly: “Actually, the reason Mother called you here was to discuss the matter with your Cheng family cousin… This morning, I heard there was some misunderstanding between you two. Did you even step in personally? These matters between young ladies shouldn’t be taken so seriously. Serving tea is just a casual favor, there’s no need to make a big issue of it. Your few words have made your cousin feel uneasy, and she came to me explaining herself for a whole hour.”

Gu Dezhao could barely contain himself. He stood up and said, “Mother, please don’t say such things! I can certainly distinguish between jokes and mockery. The words Cousin Cheng spoke, about my daughter waiting on her? That was truly excessive!”

Madam Feng asked him to sit down first.

“About Baozhi, I understand. Let me tell you about this cousin of yours… Her mother was my only full sister. When she was young, I took care of her for several years, as close as my own. Unfortunately, she didn’t marry well. In a family like the Chengs, after marrying she gave birth to several daughters in succession, with Baozhi being the youngest. This child has suffered since birth, never even seeing her mother’s face. It was her third sister who raised her. After her stepmother gave birth to legitimate sons, life became even harder. Growing up without a mother’s proper teaching, her behavior may sometimes be inappropriate, but her nature isn’t bad…”

Gu Dezhao felt increasingly uncomfortable listening to this.

Was he supposed to sympathize with Cheng Baozhi just because she lacked a mother’s guidance? Did that justify her actions?

Watching Madam Feng continue praising Cheng Baozhi, his heart sank slightly, and he asked: “…Are you planning to have Cousin Cheng become my second wife?”

Madam Feng was startled!

How did Gu Dezhao know?

Madam Feng felt somewhat uneasy but immediately said: “Fourth son, who told you this? How could I possibly be thinking of giving Baozhi to you in marriage?”

Who could have told him this? Could it be Gu Jin Chao? The person most unwilling to see Gu Dezhao remarry would certainly be Gu Jin Chao!

Gu Dezhao continued: “Never mind who told me. I want to tell you this. If you truly intend for Cheng Baozhi to enter my household, then let her marry my memorial tablet! I absolutely will not agree to this! I am a fifth-rank court official; I certainly won’t marry the daughter of a fallen family with poor character!”

Madam Feng’s forehead throbbed as she listened. Gu Dezhao’s words were too harsh, and Cheng Baozhi was still inside listening!

She spoke sternly: “Fourth son, your words lack conscience! She is a pure and innocent young lady. How can you speak of her so disparagingly? Saying she should marry your memorial tablet — is this how you speak to your mother? Are you trying to threaten me?”

“…When you were young and had a fever, wasn’t it I who watched over you day and night, afraid you would become delirious? I raised you to adulthood, and after you passed the provincial and imperial examinations, you moved out to live on your own without showing me filial respect for even a few days. I accepted your heartlessness. When you were involved in that incident with the Prince of Yanping, who in our Gu family didn’t help you? And now look at you, you ungrateful creature, daring to speak to me this way!”

Gu Dezhao was left speechless by Madam Feng’s words.

It was true that Madam Feng had raised him, but he had his wet nurse to serve him, with many maidservants and elderly female attendants in his quarters. Madam Feng never personally did anything for him. His success in the provincial and imperial examinations came from his hard studies. Madam Feng hadn’t valued him much before, but after he passed the imperial examination, she suddenly realized this concubine’s son was a golden egg and began arranging a marriage for him. By then, he already had feelings for Lady Ji, and for the first time, he defied Madam Feng’s arrangements and left the Gu family.

But when the poisoning incident involving the eldest son of the Prince of Yanping occurred, threatening his official position, he returned to the Gu family seeking help, and his second brother did indeed assist him greatly…

After a moment, he began: “I dare not threaten Mother. But this is my stance — I don’t wish to remarry. You know Lady Ji’s death was my failing. I don’t want to take another wife…”

Madam Feng coldly laughed: “You’re almost forty now, yet so irresponsible? Marriage isn’t something to be decided on a whim. Rong is only thirteen, and you still have two concubine-born daughters who haven’t come of age. These matters are managed by me and Jin Chao. I’m already halfway in the grave, and Jin Chao is about to be married. Even if you won’t consider yourself, think of Rong. You can’t expect your second sister-in-law to manage everything!”

“Children without mothers aren’t raised properly. Although Daughter Yi is engaged, what about the other three daughters? This matter of a wife isn’t something you can simply refuse on a whim!”

Gu Dezhao hadn’t considered his daughters’ situations before, thinking that marriage was entirely his affair.

Hearing Madam Feng’s words, he was suddenly alarmed as he remembered his son and concubine-born daughters.

Gu Dezhao finally understood why Jin Chao didn’t trust him. He truly hadn’t thought things through.

Madam Feng had watched Gu Dezhao grow up and knew his character well — tough on the outside but soft inside. She found this quite satisfactory and never thought to change this aspect of him. Seeing his current state, she knew he was wavering inside.

Madam Feng felt relieved.

Unfortunately, because of Cheng Baozhi’s earlier behavior, Gu Dezhao’s resistance to her was too strong. Otherwise, this would have been the perfect moment to propose Cheng Baozhi’s case. Now she would have to proceed slowly.

After a while, Gu Dezhao finally said: “Mother, even if I were to take a second wife for the sake of the children… it would not be Cheng Baozhi. Someone like her — Mother, please don’t harm me and my children!”

Madam Feng coldly replied: “I’ve raised you to adulthood; when have I ever harmed you? Whoever told you such things, go back to them. I never said anything of the sort!” Gu Dezhao’s resistance to Cheng Baozhi somewhat exceeded her expectations.

With Madam Feng’s denial, Gu Dezhao found it difficult to press further.

Madam Feng continued: “Don’t speak ill of her. Only by interacting can you know a person’s depth. Your cousin has no ill intentions.”

Gu Dezhao gritted his teeth and said: “As long as she doesn’t marry me… naturally, I’ll consider her to be good as well!”

Madam Feng snorted: “…Go and think this through carefully. The next time you speak to your mother this way, the matter won’t be resolved so simply.” Men were unpredictable; today he might refuse marriage, but tomorrow he might change his mind. It was best not to push too hard.

Gu Dezhao respectfully took his leave.

Madam Feng then heard the faint sound of Cheng Baozhi crying from the west corner room. She called Fuling over and instructed her to console Cheng Baozhi.

She couldn’t be bothered to make the effort.

Jin Chao received a letter from her maternal grandmother, delivered urgently from Tongzhou.

Her grandmother’s letter mentioned Xu Jingyi’s situation.

Looking at the scattered chessboard, Gu Jin Chao pondered how Xu Jingyi had met her father during Ji Can’s wedding.

At that time, she had felt that Xu Jingyi seemed to have some affection for her father.

If her father had to take a second wife, then Xu Jingyi would be quite suitable. She was the daughter of a third-rank Commissioner, and not a simple person herself — not someone who could be easily manipulated. Moreover, in her previous life, Xu Jingyi had ended up in a tragic situation, burdened by marriage. If she became her father’s second wife, she might avoid the fate of having a husband who died in a brothel, leaving her to be pointed at and becoming the subject of gossip…

But would the Xu family agree?

Gu Jin Chao unfolded another page of the letter and continued reading. Her grandmother mentioned Third Master Chen’s matter.

Qing Pu noticed her young mistress freeze, holding a letter for a long time without moving.

Qing Pu bent down and whispered: “Miss, is something amiss?”

Gu Jin Chao shook her head with a bitter smile: “Not really… I just feel that what I owe Third Master Chen, I may never be able to repay in this lifetime.”

So it was he who had saved her when she fell into the water!

Gu Jin Chao owed Chen Yan Yun two lives now. But with Third Master Chen holding the position of Minister of Revenue and being a Grand Secretary… what could she possibly do to repay him?

She still remembered the incident of falling into the water years ago. By the time she was in the water, she had already lost consciousness and was sinking continuously, then someone embraced her. This person kept speaking in her ear, very gently and steadily. She remembered clutching tightly at his sleeve.

He indulgently allowed her to hold on.

Gu Jin Chao hadn’t wanted this person to leave; she had been afraid at that time. She had threatened him, though she couldn’t remember what the threat was.

She had always thought it was a servant or guard from the manor. Her grandmother didn’t want to tell her, and she had never asked.

It turned out to be Chen Yan Yun.

It was Chen Yan Yun.

In her previous life, he had saved her and then married her…

Gu Jin Chao smiled bitterly, recalling the things she had done before. She felt that the fate she met was truly deserved!