Both children were fond of their new brother. On the day of the third-day washing ceremony, Chen Xi came early to pay respects to Gu Jin Chao and presented her brother with a small gold anklet strung with two small pure goldfish.
The baby had just been brought over by the wet nurse. He lay in her arms, struggling and crying incessantly, his tiny face flushed red.
Gu Jin Chao felt heartbroken listening to him and asked the wet nurse to bring the child before her.
“Why does he cry so much… Has he been fed today?”
Chang Suo lay in her arms, his little hand clutching her collar, his voice hoarse from crying.
The wet nurse, Madam Zou, was still quite young with fair, clean skin. She replied, “This servant has just given birth to her first child, and I am the one nursing the Thirteenth Young Master. When he woke up at dawn, I fed him once. The Thirteenth Young Master is always crying; this servant also finds it strange…”
Gu Jin Chao patted Chang Suo’s back. After crying for a while, he seemed tired and gradually fell asleep in her arms.
Chen Xi, seeing her brother cry so intensely, was almost frightened. She stretched her neck, curiously looking at the sleeping little fellow. He was only as long as her arm—how could he cry so loudly!
Gu Jin Chao felt this wasn’t right; they must find a doctor to examine him. Perhaps something was making the child uncomfortable, causing him to be so fussy.
However, today was the third-day ceremony, so it would have to wait until after today.
Madam Zhu came in and took Chang Suo to the warm room to change his swaddling clothes. Cai Fu then led Xiu Qu in to arrange Gu Jin Chao’s hair and helped her change into a lilac-colored jacket with white borders. Shortly after, people from various households began arriving one after another.
Madam Ge came earliest, bringing the Tenth Young Master Chen Xuan Yu, who was home on leave. Chen Xuan Yu resembled Chen Sixth Master greatly—cultured and refined, with dignified speech and manners. He was completely different from his father. Gu Jin Chao remembered that he had passed the imperial examination even earlier than the Chen Xuan An brothers, was later selected as a Hanlin Academician, and now served in the Hanlin Academy observing governance. His official career had been quite smooth.
Unable to rise and greet guests, she had Madam Sun help with the arrangements, inviting everyone to sit and talk in the main hall.
When Lady Chen arrived together with Lady Chang, Mu Xin Hall became even livelier, filled with cheerful chatter.
The two Madam Wu were in the inner chamber talking with Gu Jin Chao and playing with Chang Suo, who had just awakened.
Chang Suo was still too young and did not react to their playful teasing. He flattened his little mouth, closed his eyes, and fell asleep leaning against Gu Jin Chao’s arm.
First Madam Wu praised the child: “He is indeed a quiet one, with Chen Third Master’s demeanor!”
Gu Jin Chao patted the baby’s back and smiled helplessly: “You haven’t heard him when he’s fussy. Last night he was also restless. I was worried about him all night and couldn’t sleep well.”
Second Madam Wu said: “This is normal. Some children are fussy when they’re small, they say it’s because they don’t feed properly and get stomach pains. When he’s two or three months old, it will get better. When Qin’er was just born, she was also…”
Gu Jin Chao listened attentively.
Chang Suo lay in her arms, sleeping obediently.
A maid lifted the curtain and entered: “Third Madam, people from the ancestral home have arrived.”
Hearing that visitors from the Gu family had come, the two Madam Wu’s, thinking they were from Third Madam’s maternal family, voluntarily withdrew to the main hall. Shortly after, Xiu Qu led Madam Zhou, Madam Xu, and Madam Ye in, followed by Gu Lian, who walked slowly behind them.
Seeing Madam Zhou and her daughter had also come, Cai Fu’s face immediately stiffened.
Gu Jin Chao smiled: “My condition doesn’t allow me to rise and greet you!” She instructed the maid to bring stools for the four visitors.
Xu Jing Yi smiled: “Your health is naturally the priority! No need to concern yourself with formalities.”
She took the lead and sat beside Gu Jin Chao’s bed, watching the little fellow sleep in Gu Jin Chao’s arms.
“He looks wonderful! Chubby-faced with thick hair…” Xu Jing Yi couldn’t help but feel a touch of envy as she teased the baby’s nose. She then reached out to hold him in her arms for a closer look.
Madam Zhou’s face was also rigid. Gu Lian, watching Xu Jing Yi hold the baby, seemed a bit lost.
Fifth Madam Ye smiled: “This is my first time visiting you at the Chen family. Look, I’ve brought some things for you.”
The maid behind her stepped forward with the gifts—mostly common tonics, which were unremarkable. But Madam Ye held a stack of things wrapped in parchment paper and told Gu Jin Chao: “These are medicinal herbs for postpartum recovery. They’re very beneficial when brewed into a medicinal soup while your lochia is still discharging. I specially obtained them from Imperial Physician Guo. You must try them!”
Gu Jin Chao smiled gratefully and had Cai Fu receive them.
Inwardly, however, she was skeptical. Her relationship with Fifth Madam had always been rather ordinary—why would she especially seek out medicine for her?
Gu Lian, prodded by Madam Zhou, became somewhat uncomfortable. Twisting her handkerchief, she finally smiled and said: “Sister Chao… I must apologize for what happened last time. The pastries were tampered with by Gu Lan, who is now gone. I didn’t mean to…” She lightly slapped her face, “It’s all my fault. I nearly harmed my nephew! Sister Chao, are you still angry with me?”
Gu Lian looked at her hopefully.
Gu Jin Chao silently observed Gu Lian. She wore a brand-new gold-embroidered blue-colored jacket with buttons down the front, her hair arranged in a high bun adorned with gold and pearl ornaments—clearly, she had taken pains with her appearance. After just half a year without seeing her, her cheeks had become somewhat thin. Where was the vivacious young girl from before?
Gu De Yuan had been demoted to a county magistrate, and her days in the Yao family were certainly not easy. This once proud and spirited Lian’er had probably had her sharp edges worn down.
Now in the Yao family, she could no longer rely on her father’s status. She could only try to please Gu Jin Chao, speaking as the sister of Chen Third Madam.
Gu Jin Chao understood this clearly. Seeing Gu Lian’s forced smile, she remained silent.
Seeing that Gu Jin Chao wasn’t speaking, Madam Zhou had her maid bring forth the gifts she had brought. She chatted and laughed with Gu Jin Chao as if nothing had happened. Naturally, Gu Jin Chao also engaged in this diplomatic dance. By noon, she had her maid lead them to the resting area.
Xu Jing Yi stayed behind.
Only now did the two women share some heartfelt conversation. Xu Jing Yi mentioned Madam Feng’s illness: “…Your grandmother’s health is deteriorating. She’s aged severely and has had a minor stroke… I originally wanted to bring Yi’er along, but she’s busy at home embroidering her wedding clothes.”
Gu Jin Chao was pleased to hear this. She had estimated that it was about time for Gu Yi to get married, but didn’t expect it to happen so soon!
She asked about Gu Lian’s situation.
“I heard she elevated Lan Zhi to be Yao Wen Xiu’s concubine. How is that going?”
She remembered that in her previous life, around this time, Lan Zhi was discovered to be pregnant. However, in her previous life at this time, the Gu family hadn’t yet fallen from grace, and Gu Lian still had a father who was a Fourth Rank Surveillance Commissioner. She had leverage to make trouble in the Yao family.
Xu Jing Yi smiled: “That girl is fortunate. After becoming pregnant, she was elevated to a concubine by Madam Yao. Lian’er was furious but didn’t dare say anything in front of Madam Yao. She could only return to the Gu family to complain to your Second Aunt, which is why your Second Aunt brought her here…”
Inwardly, Gu Jin Chao thought that for Gu Lian, her father’s lack of an official position might be a good thing.
As long as Gu Lian was willing to tolerate the situation, Yao Wen Xiu wouldn’t divorce her.
Xu Jing Yi then spoke about Gu Jin Xiao’s upcoming marriage. It had long been arranged with the legitimate daughter of the Deputy Director of the Imperial Stud, but because Gu De Yuan was demoted, the other side wanted to back out. Not wanting to directly propose dissolving the engagement, they kept delaying with excuses, hoping the Gu family would take the initiative to end it. Madam Zhou, being shrewd, would never propose such a thing. Instead, she brought matchmakers to their door, persistently pushing until the wedding was set for early June.
At this moment, Madam Zhu came over.
“Madam, the midwife has arrived! This servant has come to take the Young Master to the main hall.”
It was time for the third-day ceremony to begin.
Gu Jin Chao asked Xu Jing Yi to go and observe the ceremony. She had been entertaining guests for half the day and was now a bit drowsy, so it was a good time for a nap.
All the preparations for the third-day ceremony in the main hall were in place—the umbilical cord pin, the basin cloth, the small millet for the brazier, and the gold and silver ingots. When Chang Suo was brought out, it was Lady Chen herself who went to hold him. The midwife smilingly took him, unwrapped his swaddling clothes, and began the third-day ceremony.
At this time, maids entered in succession, carrying large vermilion-lacquered square trays. On red silk lay many precious children’s items.
A gold necklace inlaid with dragon eye pearls from the South Sea, a complete set of cloud-patterned embroidered swaddling clothes, a hand bracelet strung with tourmaline stones…
Gu Lian’s eyes bulged at the sight. She pulled on Madam Zhou’s sleeve and asked softly: “Who sent these? Such extravagance!”
Madam Zhou didn’t know either, but she heard a stewardess dressed in a dark red short jacket announcing the gifts: which were from Cabinet Minister Zhang Ju Lian, which was from Duke Zheng Guo’s mansion, and which was from Duke Ding Guo’s mansion… a frightening list of titles.
For just a third-day ceremony, so many people sent gifts!
Gu Lian felt even more discontented and gripped her mother’s hand without speaking for a long time. She had never seen such grandeur.
…
Chen San Ye was in the outer courtyard entertaining guests.
After Zhang Ju Lian alighted from his sedan chair, he waited at the screen wall and then escorted him to the reception area.
Zhang Ju Lian, despite being over fifty, didn’t look old at all. His eyes were narrow, long, and bright, his eyebrows thick and imposing. He wore a very ordinary crane-patterned straight robe, appearing just like a common elderly scholar. He said to Chen Yan Yun: “Your child’s third-day ceremony happens to coincide with my day off. I might as well come to your place for a drink. There’s no need for too much trouble. Everything can be simple.”
Chen Yan Yun hadn’t expected Zhang Ju Lian to come personally and smiled while cupping his hands: “Teacher, rest assured, we will certainly host you well.”
Since Zhang Ju Lian had come, he wouldn’t go to greet others. He asked Chen Fourth Master to help entertain the other guests, while Chen Yan Yun brought tea implements over to personally make tea for his teacher, discussing some matters of court.
Others in the reception area, seeing Chen San Ye personally attending to someone, knew the visitor was extraordinary. When they saw that this dressed man was Zhang Ju Lian, everyone was secretly astonished and came over to give Zhang Ju Lian respectful greetings. Chang Hai came over with wine, smiling as he proposed a toast to Zhang Ju Lian.
The atmosphere was quite lively at this time.
Just then, Jiang Yan hurriedly walked in. Seeing everyone looking at him, he forced a smile. Walking to Chen San Ye’s side, he said in a low voice: “Third Master… a guest has arrived! You’d better see for yourself.”