Gu Jin Chao was tending to her camellias in the rear chamber, selecting varieties that bloomed in spring to send to her father. She pointed to a pot of white and pink bicolored camellia and instructed Qing Pu: “When you go to pay respects to Grandmother at noon, bring this camellia pot.”

A few days ago, Madam Feng had officially sent a matchmaker to the Xu family in Tongzhou to request a date, setting the wedding day for the twenty-eighth of May. These days, Madam Feng often called her over to talk, mostly to instruct her about what would happen after Xu Jing Yi married into the family. She had also called her father over to discuss the betrothal gifts.

Madam Xu privately told her: “The Grand Madam said that betrothal gifts for a second marriage shouldn’t be too extravagant. After all, the manor will soon have another wedding to prepare for, and needs to prepare Miss Lian’s dowry as well, so twenty loads of betrothal gifts should be sufficient…” Madam Feng attached great importance to Gu Lian’s marriage and feared that if the two marriages conflicted, her father’s side would be suppressed.

After all, Gu De Zhao and Xu Jing Yi’s engagement still bothered Madam Feng, and she wholeheartedly wished for Gu Lian to bring glory to the Gu family.

Jin Chao said to Madam Xu: “I fear that too few betrothal gifts will make the Xu family feel disrespected. Please tell my father that even if there are only twenty loads, the items in each load must be of the finest quality. We absolutely cannot slight them. If he doesn’t have enough money, he can take it from me.”

After Madam Xu spoke with Gu De Zhao, he immediately came to find her.

He had dark circles under his eyes, suggesting he hadn’t been sleeping well lately. “…How could Father take money from you!” he said firmly. “Your money was left to you by your mother, and it will be your dowry in the future. No matter how difficult things get, Father would never touch what belongs to you.”

Jin Chao countered: “Then what do you plan to do? All your income is in Grandmother’s hands now, isn’t it? You have at most a thousand taels of silver on hand, which isn’t even enough to buy two fine jade Buddhas, and you still need a gold ruyi scepter to top the wedding chest. Are you going to ask Grandmother to help?”

His eldest daughter was quite clear about his finances. Gu De Zhao blushed and said: “Your grandmother has her difficulties too, with such a large family depending on the income from your Second Uncle and our household. I might as well sell the small estate in Liangxiang to raise the money. That estate doesn’t yield much income anyway…”

Jin Chao smiled: “Second Uncle’s salary? The second Uncle gets twenty-four stones of grain and one hundred strings of cash per month, barely enough to support the second branch. With Cousin Lian about to marry, Grandmother is using all her money to prepare Cousin Lian’s dowry.” She recalled overhearing Madam Feng talking with Second Uncle.

“…Second Uncle said that since our branch joined the household, expenses have increased considerably. But your income alone is over two thousand taels of silver each month, and all this money is with Grandmother. Everyone in our fourth branch, Sister Xi, and Sister Yi, we’re extremely frugal. How much could our expenses be? And now we can’t even come up with enough silver for the betrothal gifts?” Jin Chao smiled slightly.

Hearing Jin Chao speak this way, Gu De Zhao fell silent. He had always defended Madam Feng in front of Jin Chao, not wanting their relationship to sour. But Madam Feng was indeed biased at times, always giving the best to the second branch because of Gu De Yuan’s higher official position and Gu Lian’s pending marriage to the Grand Secretary’s family. Even Madam Feng’s expectations for Gu Jin Xiao were the highest.

Gu De Zhao asked Jin Chao: “Did your Second Uncle say that?”

Jin Chao merely replied: “I don’t want to manage your affairs, but we can’t let the Xu family lose face, can we? You need to find a way to resolve this. However, the deeds to properties and houses are in your hands, and shouldn’t be touched carelessly.” Her father needed these assets to maintain his authority.

Gu De Zhao went to speak with Madam Feng.

Madam Feng became very angry that day, extremely agitated: “How am I favoring your second brother? Think about it—if Lian marries gloriously into the Yao family, and the Yao family treats our family well afterward, the entire Gu family benefits. You mustn’t be so shortsighted!”

Gu De Zhao said: “I understand everything you’ve said. I’ve never complained about giving you the income. It’s fine if you want to prepare Cousin Lian’s dowry, but the betrothal gifts for the Xu family shouldn’t be too meager either. If you think there’s not enough money, why don’t I sell the things I was saving for Chao and add them to Lian’s dowry!”

Madam Feng was left speechless. Selling what was meant for Miss Chao to add to Miss Lian’s dowry—how would that sound if word got out!

Madam Feng said coldly: “The Xu lady hasn’t even married into our family yet, and you’re already taking her side, afraid I’ll slight her with the betrothal gifts. Do you still consider me your mother?” Thinking of Gu De Zhao and Xu Jing Yi’s arrangement, Madam Feng’s liver ached with anger!

These two had arranged the marriage behind her back, and she could only send Cheng Bao Zhi back to Jiangxi. Otherwise, how could these betrothal gifts end up in the hands of outsiders?

When Xu Jing Yi married, who knew if she would obey her authority?

Gu De Zhao hesitated for a moment before saying: “Of course, I care about you in my heart. I only fear that I’m not in your heart.”

After speaking, he left the East Wing Courtyard.

Madam Feng fumed for half the day before calling the Second Madam over to discuss matters again, changing the Xu family’s betrothal gifts from twenty loads to thirty.

Once the matter was settled, she didn’t speak to Gu De Zhao for a long time, not until the betrothal gifts were sent over. Only then did Madam Feng’s heart begin to ease. Recently, Madam Yao made a special visit regarding Gu Lian’s marriage. Although the marriage had been delayed, she treated Madam Feng with even more respect and gentleness. After meeting with Madam Yao, Madam Feng felt much better and didn’t pay much attention to these small matters of the fourth branch.

Who knew what scene would unfold after Xu Jing Yi entered the household…

Jin Chao stopped her flower-cutting scissors. Xu Jing Yi’s character was beyond reproach; she wouldn’t mistreat them and was a person of strong principles. Jin Chao didn’t have to worry about the fourth branch being neglected in the future.

Jin Chao sighed and placed the scissors on the large black lacquer tray.

After lunch, she brought the camellia to Madam Feng.

But just as she reached the path, she saw Madam Tong walking quickly toward her, appearing as if she was returning to Yanzhu Hall. She bowed to Jin Chao and whispered: “…Miss, something terrible has happened!” Then she whispered further in her ear.

After listening, Jin Chao was extremely shocked and hurried to the East Wing Courtyard.

The atmosphere in the reception room was tense. Madam Feng gripped her teacup tightly, nearly dropping it a moment ago.

She set the teacup down heavily on the table, her voice icy: “Madam Yao, this is not a matter to be taken lightly!”

Madam Yao wore a silver-red embroidered jacket with colorful borders and a pair of gold gourd-shaped hairpins. She was fair, plump, with slightly high cheekbones. Madam Yao had never thought much of the Gu family and had always been arrogant. Now, however, she had to smile at Madam Feng and say softly: “Grand Madam, please don’t be angry! This breaking of the engagement is entirely our fault. We didn’t consider things thoroughly. Who would have thought that Wen Xiu would take a fancy to another family’s daughter…”

Madam Feng felt her forehead throbbing and waves of nausea.

Her heart was filled with fury, but she couldn’t express it to Madam Yao. Who did Madam Yao think she was? How could Madam Feng lose her temper with her?

But to have the engagement canceled like this—Madam Feng wanted to jump up and point at Madam Yao in rage.

What kind of behavior was this?

It was Yao Wen Xiu who said he liked Gu Lian, and now it was him saying he didn’t. How could this be?

The Yao family prided themselves on their scholarly heritage, yet they were backing out of an agreed engagement because their son fancied someone else. Wouldn’t they be laughed at if this got out?

What was the point of all the dowry she had prepared for Miss Lian? Miss Lian had been rejected for no reason—how could this be acceptable?

Madam Feng could only grit her teeth and say: “Madam Yao, please speak plainly. We accepted when you said the marriage would be delayed, but for you to come directly to break the engagement is utterly unreasonable! If word of this gets out, it will affect the reputation of both our families.”

A done deal had fallen through, and Madam Feng was so furious she could vomit.

Madam Yao had anticipated that Madam Feng would be unwilling to accept. If she hadn’t laid out the situation clearly, Madam Feng probably wouldn’t let the matter drop.

Madam Yao said: “This matter is truly significant. Grand Madam, please dismiss everyone first, and then we can discuss the details.”

Madam Feng closed her eyes to calm herself for a moment, then waved her hand to dismiss everyone from the reception room.

Madam Yao moved closer to her, covered her mouth with her hand, and whispered in Madam Feng’s ear: “…This matter has enormous implications! My husband only gave me a hint. Grand Madam, do you know the Chen family of Wanping, specifically Third Master Chen?”

Madam Feng nodded. Who wouldn’t know the name of Third Master Chen Yan Yun?

Madam Yao continued softly: “Your Miss Lian is truly fortunate, to have caught the eye of Lord Chen…”

Madam Feng was stunned for a moment, looking at Madam Yao in disbelief. Madam Yao added: “Grand Madam, don’t be surprised. This is true.”

Madam Feng was so shocked that her jaw nearly dropped. This was too absurd—how could Lord Chen take an interest in Gu Lian?

He was the Minister of Revenue, a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Cabinet!

Madam Feng’s hands trembled slightly.

If Gu Lian could marry Third Master Chen, even as a second wife, it would be an incredible blessing for their ancestors.

Could Madam Yao be lying just to get out of the engagement with Miss Lian?

Looking at Madam Yao’s demeanor, Madam Feng felt this was impossible. Madam Yao had never shown her such respect before!

The more Madam Feng thought about it, the more she saw traces of truth. Though Third Master Chen didn’t know them, he had accepted their food box at Baoxiang Temple… He had even personally come to the Gu household for dinner, through Gu De Zhao. If he had no interest, why would he bother with such things?

It took Madam Feng a long while to process this, then she immediately ordered servants to bring over the Second Madam and Fifth Madam. She was extremely excited—this matter had to be arranged promptly. If Lian could marry Third Master Chen, what did Yao Wen Xiu matter?

…

When Gu Jin Chao arrived at the East Wing Courtyard, she saw that the Second Madam and Fifth Madam had already arrived, while Madam Yao had been invited to the flower hall for tea.

A young maid brought her a stool: “Second Miss, please be seated. The Grand Madam will finish speaking shortly.”

Gu Jin Chao sat under the corridor, looking at the tightly closed lattice doors of the western side room, feeling puzzled.

Madam Tong had said that Madam Yao had come to break the engagement. For Madam Feng, who had long hoped for this marriage between the two families, this would undoubtedly be a major blow. But Madam Feng’s reaction to calling her daughters-in-law for a private discussion didn’t seem like one of anger.

Gu Jin Chao glanced at the Yao family’s maids and servants standing outside, who had abandoned their usual arrogant posture and appeared extremely submissive.

…Something was not right about this situation.