Madam Feng coldly lowered her eyelids and stared expressionlessly at Cheng Baozhi. After a long while, she finally said: “You still have the face to cry? If it weren’t for your stupid actions, would things have fallen to such a state?” She was also implicated and had lost all dignity.

This niece hadn’t chosen well!

Cheng Baozhi froze for a moment, her tears flowing even more violently: “Aunt—You are my aunt! With our relationship, you can’t just abandon me like this. Third Sister said that you and my mother were the closest of friends…”

Madam Feng impatiently closed her eyes. Someone this stupid wouldn’t be able to handle the Fourth House even if she married in.

Her sister had been gone for so many years—who would still remember their friendship? She had long been married into the Gu family and had even less contact with the Feng family. Did Cheng Baozhi expect her to show great mercy?

Madam Feng said flatly: “If you want to enter the household, that’s fine. Wait here in the Gu family for Miss Xu San to enter the household. If she agrees, then you can be taken as Gu Dezhao’s concubine, or first be received as a bedchamber servant. Once you give birth to a son, you can be elevated to a Yiniang. You choose.”

Cheng Baozhi finally stopped wailing and stared blankly at Madam Feng.

Yiniang… her father had five concubines who didn’t dare to breathe loudly in front of her stepmother. Her stepmother could punish them however she wanted. The daughter born to the Third Concubine was raised by her stepmother and died within a month. Her father never even asked about it…

Cheng Baozhi felt waves of cold rising in her heart. She murmured: “I won’t be a concubine. If I’m to be anything, I’ll be the main wife, not a concubine…”

Once Miss Xu San entered the household, what would be the point of her awkwardly staying here? By then, everyone in the mansion would be laughing at her.

Shamelessly lingering in someone’s home, just hoping to become a secondary wife to a man she had lost…

Madam Feng didn’t want to speak with Cheng Baozhi anymore. She beckoned Matron Xu to come over and told her: “Miss Cheng will return to Jiangxi tomorrow. Help her pack her luggage and give her twenty taels of silver for travel expenses. Those unnecessary jewelry pieces that Miss Cheng has, take them all back.”

Matron Xu agreed with a smile and took two elderly female servants to Cheng Baozhi’s side room. Cheng Baozhi hurriedly got up and stumbled after them.

The two servants were rummaging through her things messily. Peihuan was so frightened that she shrank to the side, not daring to speak. Cheng Baozhi shouted angrily: “Those South Sea pearls are mine… The bracelet is also mine! You dogs, are you trying to bully me? Looking down on people… Don’t take my purple agate bracelet!” She snatched the items back from the servants’ hands, clutched them tightly to her chest, and glared fiercely at Peihuan, wanting her to come help.

Madam Feng heard this and got a headache. She sent a young maid to relay a message: “Forget it, let her take those few things away! If she continues to make a scene, I’ll be the one losing face.”

No matter how greedy one was, they shouldn’t be shameless about it. Madam Feng suddenly felt somewhat grateful that Cheng Baozhi hadn’t married into the family.

The next day, Cheng Baozhi was sent away from the Gu family, crying and grieving bitterly all the way.

Gu Jinchao had Caifu send over a box of tea snacks: “…Consider it our farewell gift to the cousin.”

No one from the Gu family even went to see her off.

After Gu Dezhao’s marriage was settled, it was already early February, when the weather was still alternating between warm and cold.

In another month, Gu Lian would be getting married. Madam Feng, troubled by the Cheng Baozhi incident, had originally wanted to make elaborate arrangements for Gu Lian’s wedding. However, the Yao family sent someone over with a message saying that Yao Wenxiu’s grand-aunt had passed away, and he needed to observe mourning for three months, so he wanted to postpone the wedding until June.

Madam Feng felt this wasn’t good and said to the Second Madam: “Fourth Brother will be remarrying in June. It’s already inappropriate to have two weddings in the family within a year, let alone in the same month.” She sent a reply to the Yao family, suggesting that the wedding be postponed until August.

Gu Lian had been looking forward to this for so long and had already started embroidering handkerchiefs, socks, and shoes for her wedding. When she heard that the wedding would be delayed by half a year, she was very unhappy. When her maid made a small mistake, she was punished by being made to kneel for an entire afternoon.

Gu Lan went to comfort Gu Lian with a few words, but she was in a sullen mood and didn’t want to pay attention to anyone. Instead, it was Gu Lan who ended up with a belly full of anger. After returning to her studies, Gu Lan thought for a long time and asked Mujin to bring her letter paper. She said softly: “…I heard that this grand-aunt of Young Master Yao’s raised him since childhood, and they were very close. He is observing mourning for his grand-aunt, and Gu Lian is gloomy and depressed. I should at least offer a few words of comfort to Young Master Yao.”

Mujin said in a low voice: “…Last time, the Old Madam said that Young Master Yao’s perfume shouldn’t be brought in anymore. I thought you wouldn’t be in contact with Young Master Yao anymore…” Yao Wenxiu was already engaged to Gu Lian; if her lady’s actions were discovered, they might not be able to live with the shame.

She looked at her young mistress. Since Gu Lian had come of age, her mistress had begun to grow thin. Now she looked even more so. Her face was as tender as luminous jade, with a thin, pointed chin, and eyes as gentle as spring water, their color more vivid than before.

Mujin also felt pain for her mistress. Despite being superior to Gu Lian in both appearance and character, she was just an unfavored daughter born to a concubine…

Gu Lan also knew—she understood very well. If Madam Feng discovered her private correspondence with Yao Wenxiu, it would have been terrible.

After all, Gu Lian’s marriage was the Old Madam’s greatest weakness.

Gu Lan smiled slightly: “Look at Gu Jinchao. How formidable is she? But no matter how formidable, she’s still a maiden in the inner chambers who must be subject to Madam Feng’s control. If Madam Feng betroths her to Wang Zan, would she dare say no? If even Gu Jinchao is like this, what about me?” Madam Song rarely came to the Gu family now, so Madam Feng valued her even less. If she were to be married off in the future, she would surely be casually promised away…

No matter what kind of person the other party was, as long as it benefited Madam Feng, she would do anything.

Gu Lan continued: “I don’t want to be manipulated by her! I need to plan for myself… Let them all see in the future that I can also hold my head high! The bold survive, and the timid starve. If we fear everything, what path is left for us?”

She handed the letter to Mujin, asking her to send it along with the letter to Madam Song.

Gu Jinchao had also heard about the delayed wedding.

She paid her routine morning and evening respects to Madam Feng, pretending she knew nothing.

However, the position of Vice Minister of Revenue had not yet been decided, and Gu Dezhao had been returning home increasingly late. With spring plowing beginning at the start of the year and the disaster in Shanxi easing, this year’s taxes couldn’t be collected. Moreover, Minister Chen had submitted a memorial reducing Shanxi’s labor and tax obligations for two years.

As dusk fell, Gu Dezhao had just left the Six Ministries’ office and was talking with his colleague, Director of Revenue Wang Yu.

“…Minister Yuan’s death is no small matter. They say he died from overexertion while managing the Shanxi disaster. The Emperor posthumously awarded him the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and bestowed a merit archway… it’s been erected in Minister Yuan’s hometown of Jizhou. I think this is a worthy death; the people of Shanxi have even built a memorial temple for him.”

Gu Dezhao sighed: “Although there’s glory after death, once a person is gone, it doesn’t mean much.”

Wang Yu glared at him and whispered: “Save those words for when you get home.”

They hadn’t even left the palace gate yet.

Gu Dezhao thought of the humiliation Yuan Zhongru had suffered during his lifetime and still couldn’t agree with Wang Yu’s words. He waved his hand and said: “…Forget it, there’s nothing more to say.” He was about to ask Wang Yu about the Director of the Bureau of Currency when he saw a soft sedan chair coming out from the Meridian Gate.

Wang Yu also glanced at it: “That looks like Minister Chen’s sedan chair. He must be coming from the Grand Secretariat.”

A sedan chair carried by four men moved slowly and steadily, followed by two teams of guards.

Gu Dezhao pulled Wang Yu to the side to wait for Minister Chen’s sedan chair to pass. The two of them held lower positions than the Third Master Chen, and their carriages could only be parked outside the Gate of Receiving Heaven. If they saw an official of the third rank or higher coming out from the Meridian Gate in a sedan chair or carriage, they were expected to stop and wait for the superior to pass as a sign of respect.

The sedan chair slowly approached and, upon reaching the two men, a voice from inside called out “Stop.”

Both men were surprised and looked at each other in confusion. Gu Dezhao stepped forward first to bow, and Wang Yu followed, cupping his hands and calling out “Minister Chen.”

The curtain of the sedan chair was lifted. The Third Master Chen was still wearing his crimson right lapel round-necked official robe of the proper second rank. He looked at Gu Dezhao and smiled: “Have you two just finished work?”

Wang Yu glanced at Gu Dezhao, wondering when he had established connections with Grand Secretary Chen. He was usually so quiet; could he have powerful backing?

Gu Dezhao also found it strange but then remembered how the Third Master Chen had helped him when the Daxing Granary incident occurred.

No matter what, the man had practically saved his life, so any respect shown wouldn’t be excessive.

Gu Dezhao respectfully answered: “Thanks to Your Excellency’s concern, we have just finished at the office and were about to return home.”

The Third Master Chen gave a sound of acknowledgment. Although Gu Dezhao and Wang Yu weren’t exceptionally talented, they were diligent in the Ministry of Revenue and considered dutiful in fulfilling their responsibilities. He counted prayer beads with his left hand and continued to address Gu Dezhao: “…I wonder if Master Gu would be willing to invite me to your residence for a brief visit?”

Gu Dezhao was stunned.

Wang Yu’s expression became even more peculiar. This Fourth Master Gu must have established a connection with the Third Master Chen! The man was taking the initiative to go to his home for a meal—what kind of treatment was this? With the Third Master Chen’s support, this Fourth Master Gu would certainly secure the position of Vice Minister of Revenue.

Before the Third Master Chen came to the Ministry of Revenue, there had been two vice ministers: Left Vice Minister Lin Xianzhong was implicated because of Fan Chuan and later demoted to Shanxi Anchashi. Zheng Yun took his position. Right Vice Minister Jiang Bingkun was personally arrested and imprisoned by the Third Master Chen, with Yan Mao temporarily taking his position. Now Yan Mao had retired. How could it possibly be Gu Dezhao’s turn, given his connection to Fan Chuan…

Seeing him dumbfounded and speechless, the Third Master Chen slowly said: “If Master Gu is unwilling, then let it be…”

Hearing these words, Gu Dezhao’s face turned red with embarrassment. He had just been momentarily stunned. He quickly cupped his hands and said: “Your Excellency’s visit would bring great honor to my humble home! This official is only afraid of not being able to provide proper hospitality… My carriage is still outside the Gate of Receiving Heaven, so I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble Your Excellency to wait a moment.”

The Third Master Chen said: “That won’t be necessary. You can ride in my sedan chair.”

Although Chen Yanyu held the prestigious position of Minister of Revenue, he rarely went to the Six Ministries’ offices, so the directors like themselves saw him even less frequently. Gu Dezhao thought about riding in the same sedan chair as Chen Yanyu and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. That was the Grand Secretary Chen…

Gu Dezhao opened and closed his mouth, lacking even the courage to refuse. He could only say goodbye to Wang Yu and climb into the Third Master Chen’s sedan chair.

With the Third Master Chen coming over, what should he serve him? Gu Dezhao was very worried.

…He must not slight Grand Secretary Chen!