Jinchao had thought she would toss and turn all night, but instead, she slept soundly without any dreams.

When she awoke, daylight was already visible through the latticed windows.

After getting up, she called for Qingpu, but it was Madam Xu who entered, parting the bed curtains and securing them with silver peony-carved hooks. Behind her followed a young maid carrying clothes. Jinchao glanced at what was laid out on the large red lacquer tray: a brocade russet jacket with lotus patterns, a stone-blue twelve-panel moonlight skirt, a violet belt inlaid with pearl grains, and on another red lacquer tray, a pair of purple-blue dual-colored tasseled white jade pendants.

Madam Xu smiled and said, “Let me help the Young Miss Dress.”

Jinchao remained silent for a moment before saying, “Madam Xu, nothing is settled yet. Don’t rush.”

Madam Xu stepped forward to help her up, continuing to smile as she said, “These are the Old Madam’s instructions from last night. Young Miss, you must be careful about your appearance from now on. The Old Madam has specially sent Chen Yong’s wife to come and do your hair later…”

Jinchao said nothing more and allowed the maid to help her dress. Madam Xu personally helped her attach the jade pendants, softly saying, “…this servant is already half in the grave, having served Madam for half a lifetime. Now I only hope to see Young Miss married…”

Madam Xu was her mother’s wet nurse with a son in Tongzhou, though her husband had died some years ago. Her son had married a few years back, with her mother helping to arrange the match. Madam Xu was getting on in years and deserved to enjoy her remaining days in peace. Jinchao thought silently about how Madam Xu’s son still worked at the Ji family’s rice shop and was about to become the second manager.

She had indeed served her mother for half a lifetime, with great merit and hardship.

Jinchao sighed. Madam Xu naturally thought this marriage proposal was excellent. She was trying to persuade her to accept, but how could she know of Jinchao’s concerns?

Soon enough, Chen Yong’s wife arrived and styled her hair in a central-parted bun with hanging locks, securing it with two gold lotus-patterned hairpins. She also selected a pair of jade rabbit earrings for her. Jinchao looked at herself in the mirror. Having observed mourning for her mother, she had dressed simply for the past year, not even changing her hairstyle.

Though she knew she was someone who suited vibrant attire, she had deliberately dressed plainly.

Now it seemed as if everything that had been suppressing her was gone. She felt somewhat lighter.

There was nothing wrong with dressing like this… Jinchao thought to herself as she adjusted her clothes and stood up. When she turned around, even Chen Yong’s wife was startled.

Jinchao instructed Caifu to reward Chen Yong’s wife with two eight-fen silver pieces: “Thank you for doing my hair. Everything is fine. Please go back and report to Grandmother.”

Chen Yong’s wife stammered a bit: “Second Young Miss is too kind, this… is this servant’s blessing!” She accepted the silver and withdrew.

After breakfast, Jinchao went to pay her respects to Madam Feng. Everyone was unusually present: Second Madam, Fifth Madam, Gu Lian, Gu Lan, and even the two concubine-born daughters from Second Uncle’s family, all talking with Madam Feng.

When she entered, everyone simultaneously stopped and turned to look at her with expressions of great surprise.

Jinchao found it strange. Even if she was dressed more brightly, compared to Gu Lian’s water-red jacket embroidered with gold crabapple flowers, she was still relatively plain! Everyone was staring at her as if they hadn’t seen her countless times before. What was so remarkable?

Madam Feng coughed once and smiled, inviting her to sit by her side.

Gu Lan finally smiled and complimented her: “Elder Sister looks beautiful today. Even your younger sister thinks so.”

Previously, everyone had always praised Gu Lian while she stood aside silently. Now everyone was complimenting her, which she found both amusing and bewildering.

Third Master Chen… indeed, no one would underestimate him. Now that she was connected to Third Master Chen, others were looking at her with new respect.

Fifth Madam’s expression, however, was strange, her handkerchief clutched tightly. After a while, she said the Eleventh Young Miss must be hungry and indicated she wanted to leave. Madam Feng allowed her to go.

After the Fifth Madam left, the Second Madam took Gu Lian’s hand and smiled at Jinchao, saying, “…Previously, Miss Lian was immature and spoke too directly.” As Second Madam said this, she felt her eyelid twitch. She had never paid much attention to Gu Jinchao before, but now thinking about what Gu Lian had done… could it all be excused as mere immaturity? When Yu Mingying’s tourmaline bracelet was lost, Gu Lian dared to directly accuse Gu Jinchao and make her take the blame. And last time, she had boldly asked for Gu Jinchao’s maid…

“Miss Chao, you know your sister. We’ve spoiled her since childhood, and she lacks restraint in her actions. But she doesn’t have a bad heart.” Second Madam smiled again and took Gu Jinchao’s hand. “Here, let your sister Lian apologize to you. For all past transgressions, it was her fault!”

Gu Lian bit her lip, remembering her mother’s instructions from the previous night. After a long while, she finally said, “Second Sister, I was immature. Please forgive me!”

Gu Jinchao hadn’t held grudges against her before and naturally didn’t want to now either. However, the idea that wrongdoings could be covered up with a simple claim of immaturity left her at a loss for words.

But looking at everyone’s demeanor, it seemed as if this marriage was already set in stone.

Jinchao laughed bitterly inside.

She replied to Gu Lian: “Of course, I don’t blame you.”

Both Second Madam and Madam Feng visibly relaxed.

Madam Feng was about to say something more to Gu Jinchao when Madam Xu lifted the curtain and announced: “Old Madam, Master Chen has come to visit. Second Master received his calling card and asked you to quickly come to the reception hall in the west wing…”

Though aware that someone from the Chen family would come, Madam Feng found it surprisingly early and somewhat incredible. She asked, “Is it Cabinet Minister Chen?”

Madam Xu nodded.

Madam Feng hurriedly had Madam Xu help her change clothes and asked everyone else to leave, keeping only Gu Jinchao. “…In a moment, wait behind the curtain in the reception hall, so you can see what Third Master Chen looks like.” Madam Feng thought that since Gu Jinchao had never seen Third Master Chen, and considering the kind of man he was… few women could remain unmoved. Perhaps after seeing him, Gu Jinchao would agree to the marriage!

He had come personally…

Wasn’t he supposed to be busy with government affairs…

Jinchao felt strange emotions stirring. The mere thought of meeting Third Master Chen, of him proposing to her, made her want to turn and run…

Naturally, she was taken to the west wing by Madam Feng.

After walking a distance, Gu Lian and Gu Lan felt increasingly uncomfortable. Gu Lian said to Gu Lan, “Why don’t we secretly go to the west wing and take a look… I haven’t seen what this Master Chen looks like yet…”

Gu Lan had been eager to see him too. When she learned that Chen’s family had proposed to Gu Jinchao, she wanted to see what kind of person would want to marry Gu Jinchao. Hearing Gu Lian’s suggestion, she hesitated: “…What if Grandmother discovers us?”

Gu Lian couldn’t care less whether Madam Feng discovered them or not and pulled Gu Lan along to the west wing.

In the reception hall.

Gu Deyuan was smiling as he said to Third Master Chen: “…Last time Master Chen visited our humble home, we hardly had a chance to talk. It’s rare to see you again. I have long admired Master Chen’s scholarship. If time permits, I would like to ask you about academic matters.”

Gu Deyuan sat in the first position on the right. Gu Dezhao sat in the second position on the right, while Third Master Chen sat opposite Gu Deyuan.

He wore a blue straight robe with decorated borders. His black hair was tied up with a bamboo-patterned jade hairpin, looking like an ordinary scholar. This made Gu Deyuan’s fourth-rank official’s robe seem overly formal in comparison. Third Master Chen leaned back against the chair, lifted the tea from the high table, took a sip, and smiled in response: “When there’s time.” But he suddenly turned to Gu Dezhao and asked, “Lang Gu, is this tea the new Huangshan Mist Tea?”

Gu Dezhao, startled by the sudden question, hurriedly replied: “Yes, it’s new. I wouldn’t dare serve you stale tea.”

After speaking, he realized what he had said and almost wanted to slap himself. He quickly added: “Huangshan Mist Tea has a warm nature and is more nourishing than other teas…”

Third Master Chen found this father-in-law to be impulsive but good-hearted. He was here to propose marriage; how could he embarrass his prospective father-in-law? Naturally, he helped smooth things over by smiling and saying: “I mentioned it once before, and you’ve remembered.”

Hearing Third Master Chen’s words, Gu Dezhao suddenly realized. The man wasn’t even wearing his official robes today; he had come to propose marriage. If the proposal succeeded, he would be Third Master Chen’s father-in-law, and Chen wouldn’t want to cause him to lose face.

Regardless, he should show some authority. Whether or not Jinchao was satisfied with this marriage, he shouldn’t embarrass her in this matter.

Gu Dezhao sat up straight, coughed once, and said: “…Come to think of it, I passed the imperial examination one session before you. Master Chen, after we finish discussing our main business, why not join me for a few drinks? We can talk more about what you mentioned.”

Join me for a few drinks…

Gu Deyuan listened with his forehead twitching, almost wanting to take out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

Third Master Chen didn’t like drinking, but since his prospective father-in-law had spoken, he had no reason to refuse. He nodded: “As you wish.”

Gu Deyuan turned his face away momentarily, only turning back when he had regained his composure.

Finally, a servant announced that Old Madam Gu had arrived.

While Madam Feng was talking with Third Master Chen, Gu Lian, and Gu Lan had already hidden behind another curtain.

Gu Lian could hardly believe her eyes.

“That’s the Cabinet Minister Chen?” Gu Lian murmured, “Isn’t he supposed to be past fifty by now…”

Gu Lan didn’t know if she was asking her, and she couldn’t speak either.

Outside the reception hall stood two guards in formal attire. The man was tall, wearing a blue straight robe with decorated borders. He was extremely handsome, with a scholarly elegance that made his age indiscernible. His smile was faint, but his eyes were sharp and profound. He had the refined bearing of a scholar, yet also exuded steadiness.

If a man were a jar of wine, he would be one that had grown increasingly mellow and profound with age.

The more Gu Lian looked, the worse she felt. How could he appear to be at most thirty years old? Shouldn’t he be much older?

Inside, Madam Feng smiled and said: “Since you’ve come to discuss Miss Chao’s matter, why doesn’t Master Chen sit for a while, and we can talk at leisure.”

Third Master Chen glanced at the hanging curtain to one side and smiled: “Old Madam, there’s no rush for that. I would like to speak with Miss Chao first. Do you trust me?”

Madam Feng was taken aback. Wasn’t this somewhat improper…?

But for Third Master Chen, there were few rules left to observe!

Gu Jinchao stood behind the curtain on the other side, very hesitant about what he wanted to say to her…

In her previous life, when the proposal came, it was merely the Chen family sending someone to make the offer. Her father and Madam Song had quickly agreed to it. She had been persuaded by Gu Lan with a few words and also agreed. This life seemed completely different… The memory of Third Master Chen thus became very clear.

The two met in the flower hall, with Madam Feng sending maids to stand at a distance on the blue brick path.

Third Master Chen waited with his hands behind his back as she approached.

Jinchao bit her lip before saying softly: “Shouldn’t you be very busy?”

Third Master Chen smiled and made an affirmative sound: “Marriage is a significant matter; I dare not be careless. I am indeed very busy.”

Jinchao felt that this Third Master Chen was being somewhat unreasonable.

She took a deep breath, knowing she couldn’t let him gain the upper hand with just a few words. The matter needed to be clarified.

She gestured to a stone stool, inviting Third Master Chen to sit down, and began speaking seriously: “Master Chen must know that my reputation in society is not good. I am a motherless eldest daughter, and my family status and position cannot match yours. I don’t know how you made this decision, but I feel that perhaps you decided too hastily…”

Chen Yan’yun’s smile faded, and he seemed to sigh: “Mm, I know all that.”

“You don’t mind?” Gu Jinchao looked directly at him, managing to remain steady despite his profound gaze.

Third Master Chen fell silent. His fingers tapped on the edge of the stone table, and after a moment he said: “Are you concerned that I’m too old?”

This was completely beside the point… how could she mind his age?

Jinchao shook her head: “Of course not.”

Third Master Chen paused for a moment, lowered his eyes to look at his hand, and said: “You mustn’t be biased. This isn’t something I could control…” When he could meet her, despite all his intelligence and strategy, he couldn’t have planned everything perfectly… Thinking about this, he felt helpless.