Father returned quickly.

Jin Chao saw his gloomy expression and knew he must have parted with Madam Feng on bad terms.

Seeing his daughter looking at him, Gu Dezhao paused and said, “…Your grandmother said many things, trying to make excuses for Cheng Baozhi, but Father didn’t accept them.” He felt he had done the right thing in this matter, and thus spoke with more confidence, “Father will not marry her as your stepmother!”

Jin Chao smiled slightly. Madam Feng probably hadn’t forced her father. She also knew that the more she pushed, the less Father would want to marry Cheng Baozhi.

She helped her father remove his cloak.

But after some thought, Gu Dezhao asked, “Jin Chao… how would you feel about having a stepmother?”

Jin Chao wasn’t surprised that Madam Feng would persuade Father to take a second wife. She wanted to hear Gu Dezhao’s thoughts.

“What do you mean by that, Father?”

Gu Dezhao hesitated: “I wanted to observe the mourning period for your mother. I truly don’t want to remarry. But what your grandmother said makes sense. Currently, you’re helping manage our Fourth House, but you’ll eventually marry. If others take over, how can they be as attentive? Rong still needs to study and marry, and your concubine-born sisters can’t be left without care… If you think it’s acceptable, we could select a girl from a modest family with good character and proper conduct…”

He needed to consult his eldest daughter’s opinion on this matter. This second marriage was truly for the Fourth House’s benefit; who he married didn’t matter, the key was finding someone who could take good care of the Fourth House.

Jin Chao thought for a moment and said, “Father, are you afraid I’ll resent a stepmother?” Without waiting for Gu Dezhao’s response, she continued, “I indeed don’t want you to remarry, and I don’t want to call another woman mother. But these are childish thoughts… I remember Mother in my heart, and no one can replace her. The same goes for Rong. It’s just a title, don’t worry about it.”

Having lived two lifetimes, she understood clearly. The living were what mattered most.

Gu Dezhao remained silent for a moment. Jin Chao had already thought everything through. On his way back, he had been constantly thinking about how to discuss this matter with her. After all, he had previously said he wouldn’t remarry.

Gu Jin Chao asked about Cheng Baozhi: “…Did Grandmother tell you about her background?”

Gu Dezhao nodded, feeling his daughter was almost prophetic. “She did. I felt uncomfortable hearing it and directly asked your grandmother if she wanted to match Cheng Baozhi with me, but she flatly denied it.”

This wasn’t surprising. After such an incident, it would be strange if Madam Feng dared to reveal her intentions. That would only make Gu Dezhao more resistant.

Gu Jin Chao became thoughtful, and after a while, she smiled.

“Father, don’t worry about this matter. I have a plan.” Jin Chao felt her idea was quite feasible and asked Gu Dezhao with a smile, “Father, do you remember the Third Miss Xu?”

…

Ji Madam Wu received Gu Jin Chao’s reply letter and burst into laughter after reading it, startling Liu who was holding young Master Chun beside her.

She held the sleeping Chun tighter and asked, “…Grandmother, you seem so happy. Did Miss Gu share some good news with you?”

Ji Madam Wu thought for a moment and said, “It’s not exactly good news. The clever little thing!”

She immediately called Song Mama to come in and instructed her to prepare a carriage quickly, along with several boxes of rice cakes, almond cakes, several large boxes of sugar candy, and a pair of wild geese. She said she needed to go to the Xu family to propose a marriage.

Song Mama was greatly surprised: “Madam, this… on whose behalf are we proposing?”

If it was for Gu Dezhao, would it be their place to propose? Wasn’t Madam Feng planning to match her niece with Gu Dezhao? Why would they go to the Xu family to propose?

Ji Madam Wu just smiled: “Hurry and prepare everything. You’ll understand shortly.”

Gu Jin Chao planned to act first and report later.

Madam Feng had spoken with Gu Dezhao, hoping he would remarry, but denied wanting to match him with Cheng Baozhi. So why couldn’t Gu Dezhao find someone himself?

It would be better to entrust her to first settle this marriage, then visit Madam Feng to inform her. She would say that Gu Dezhao had mentioned it to her before, which was why she approached the Third Miss Xu. As Gu Jin Chao’s maternal family, her involvement in this matter was perfectly justified.

Even if Madam Feng became angry, she couldn’t express it. How could she cancel an arranged marriage? Wouldn’t that be slapping the Xu family’s face? Given the Xu family’s status, Madam Feng wouldn’t dare say such things. She could only swallow her anger.

As long as the Xu family agreed, there would be no problem whatsoever!

In her letter, Gu Jin Chao had added… she would have to trouble her grandmother to play the villain for now.

Ji Madam Wu was more than willing to play this role. She was eager to see Madam Feng too angry to speak.

She took a carriage to the Xu family in Wanping’s Kuanzhai Alley and explained her purpose to Madam Xu. Madam Xu was also surprised – why would Ji Madam Wu come personally for such a matter? After some thought, she accepted the gifts, invited Ji Madam Wu to stay for lunch, and said they would need a few days to consider.

Ji Madam Wu extolled Gu Dezhao’s virtues until she felt it was excessive, then returned to Tongzhou by carriage.

She was eighty percent confident and not at all anxious.

Madam Xu discussed the matter with Master Xu. After some consideration, Master Xu felt the match was quite suitable.

“I’ve met this Gu Dezhao,” Master Xu said as Madam Xu helped him arrange his official robes, “He contributed significantly during the Shanxi famine relief. Though he’s nearly forty, he still looks youthful and is quite handsome. His wife died almost a year ago. He keeps himself clean, and even when colleagues invite him for drinks, he doesn’t go. Compared to people like the Luo family’s eldest son, he’s far superior.”

Madam Xu hesitated: “But after all, it would be a second marriage…”

Master Xu disagreed: “Do you think if Jingyi were to become someone’s principal wife, she would fare any better? I find this matter acceptable, but let’s ask Jingyi’s opinion. If she disagrees, we’ll drop it.” Master Xu was always open-minded in such matters.

In truth, Madam Xu was an indecisive person. For everyday matters like what patterns to use for clothes, she would ask her daughter’s opinion. In her eyes, her husband and second daughter were the decision-makers. With her husband saying this, if her daughter also agreed, there would be no doubt about the outcome.

After hearing about it, Xu Jingyi blushed deeply but nodded seriously: “Mother, he’s not a bad person…”

Having made up her mind, Madam Xu visited Ji Madam Wu in Tongzhou the next day, bringing her daughter’s birth date and time.

Ji Madam Wu found a Daoist master at Changchun Temple to check their compatibility. The birth charts matched!

On the third day, she took a carriage to the Gu family.

Gu Jin Chao was making summer silk stockings with Cai Fu and others when she heard that Ji Madam Wu had come to visit.

Jin Chao was startled: “…She came just like that?” In her letter to her grandmother, hadn’t she asked her to inform her once things were settled? It had only been three days, and things were already arranged.

Grandmother was truly efficient! Coming directly like this meant she must have already settled everything.

Indeed, no one was as reliable as Grandmother in handling matters.

Jin Chao quickly had Qing Pu bring her shoes and hurried to the east wing.

Madam Feng was teaching Cheng Baozhi how to review accounts when a young maid came to announce: “…Old Madam Ji has arrived and brought many gifts to see you!”

Madam Feng found it strange. It wasn’t a festival or special occasion, and there were no celebrations in the family. What was Ji Madam Wu doing here?

A guest is a guest, so Madam Feng received Ji Madam Wu in the reception area.

As soon as Ji Madam Wu entered, she walked up to Madam Feng, took her hand, and smiled: “Elder Sister, I’ve completed the task your Gu family entrusted to me!”

Madam Feng found Ji Madam Wu’s words puzzling. What did she mean? What task had she asked Ji Madam Wu to help with?

Ji Madam Wu continued: “Elder Sister, are you going to disregard my hard work? I’ve arranged a stepmother for Jin Chao! Your Fourth Son said he had his eye on the Xu family’s Third Miss, and said this was your intention as well. I went to the Xu family to propose, didn’t I? They’ve agreed. Look, on my way here, I even had their birth charts compared. Elder Sister, if you don’t believe me, you can have someone check them again!”

Madam Feng felt as if she had been struck by lightning!

She seemed to understand each sentence Ji Madam Wu said individually, but together, what did they mean?

She had found a stepmother for Gu Jin Chao and even had the birth charts matched. Who asked her to do this?

Gu Dezhao said he had his eye on the Xu family’s Third Miss. How did she not know about any Third Miss Xu? She wanted Cheng Baozhi to marry Gu Dezhao so the Fourth House would remain under her control. How did it become an engagement with the Xu family’s Third Miss?

Madam Feng’s face darkened: “Old Madam Ji, please explain clearly. I never mentioned anything about a Third Miss Xu!”

Ji Madam Wu, having weathered many storms, didn’t take Madam Feng’s anger seriously. Her maid brought over a chair, and Ji Madam Wu sat down of her own accord. Ignoring Madam Feng’s black face, she continued with a smile: “The Third Miss of the Wanping Xu family, wasn’t she first approved by Elder Sister? Her father is the third-rank official, Commissioner Xu. She is the family’s second legitimate daughter, and her elder sister married the second son of the Marquis of Pinjin. Her character is beyond reproach. The Xu family has a scholarly tradition for generations, so there can be no mistake with their daughter… The Xu family has already agreed. I’ve come to discuss it with Elder Sister, haven’t I?”

Madam Feng felt dizzy. A legitimate daughter of a third-rank Commissioner…

How could she possibly agree to marry Gu Dezhao as a second wife?

Seeing Madam Feng’s silence, Ji Madam Wu appeared somewhat surprised: “Elder Sister, you’re not thinking of going back on your word, are you? The Xu family is one of the top aristocratic families in Wanping. This marriage was something Gu Dezhao set his heart on before telling me. I’ve been running back and forth for days to arrange it…”

Hearing these words, Madam Feng couldn’t even show her displeasure. She felt suffocated, unable to breathe, silently cursing Ji Madam Wu. Who the devil wanted her to run around? Who ever said anything about marrying the Xu family’s Third Miss!

She needed to calm down first and think about what to do. Could Ji Madam Wu’s arrangement be of any benefit to her? What about her niece from Jiangxi? Ji Madam Wu’s enthusiasm surely concealed something suspicious!

With a stern face, she had Fuling quickly summon Gu Dezhao. Then she asked Ji Madam Wu: “Old Madam Ji, I never discussed this marriage. Tell me, since the Third Miss Xu is the legitimate daughter of a Commissioner, why would she agree to be Old Fourth’s second wife?”

In her heart, she hoped this Third Miss Xu had some defect; otherwise, she couldn’t find a way to refuse this marriage.

After all, Ji Madam Wu had already settled it, and the other party’s family background was impeccable. If they expressed regret now, wouldn’t they incur the Xu family’s resentment?