Gu Lan was in the study reading a letter from Gu Jinrong.

Jinrong studied in Qifang Hutong and often wrote to her about interesting things in Daxing. Like how he debated Master Zhou on the philosophy of Master Zhu, and Master Zhou praised him for his diligence in philosophy. Or how he and the son of the Marquis of Yongyang secretly went to watch cockfights, and the Marquis’s son lost ten taels of silver and took his anger out on his servant. His classmate, the second son of Minister Xu from the Court of Judicial Review, enjoyed gambling on raw jade stones and cut out some excellent jadeite… However, since he went to Qifang Hutong this time, he rarely wrote to her—this was the first letter.

As usual, Jinrong told her many interesting stories and asked how she was getting along with her eldest sister if she was doing well, and other such questions.

After reading the letter, Gu Lan sighed in relief. Since he was willing to write, he must have forgiven her. Young people couldn’t bear to give others the cold shoulder for long.

But thinking about what her mother had said, she still couldn’t feel happy.

…Father now intended to marry her to Mu Zhidai.

Gu Lan turned her gaze to a cluster of small-leaf privets blooming just outside the window. Tiny white flowers adorned the leaves, and normally she enjoyed their rich fragrance, but now it seemed too strong, making her feel oppressed.

Mujin, who had just become Gu Lan’s maid, performed all her duties with caution and care. Seeing Gu Lan’s distress, she quietly went out and brought back a cup of sour plum soup, saying softly, “Second Miss, this servant used well water to cool the sour plum soup. It’s very refreshing.”

This maid was much better than Ziling. Gu Lan now felt that her mother had been right to send Ziling away.

She took the sour plum soup and had a sip, remembering that when she paid respects to Madam Ji today, she saw the third wife of Duke Guo Fan’s family visiting. That third madam had given Gu Jinchao a carved red coral bracelet as a meeting gift, but only gave her an ordinary jade bracelet. Then she spoke with Madam Ji for a long time, and even Madam Ji’s two personal maids stood outside the veranda, not listening from inside.

Madam Fan was considered Father’s maternal cousin’s wife, though Father’s mother had originally been a concubine in the Gu ancestral family. This wasn’t openly acknowledged, but the two families had always maintained good relations. When she reached adulthood, although no one from the Fan family came in person, they still sent gifts.

Under normal circumstances, Madam Fan wouldn’t visit the Gu family without a reason.

After thinking for a long time, Gu Lan finally asked Mujin: “Have you found out why Madam Fan came?”

Mujin quickly replied: “Madam Fan later went to see the Master, and they talked in the reception hall for a while. I heard from the maid who served tea there that Madam Fan came to discuss marriage for the Third Miss. She spoke of her nephew from the Du family in Wuqing. The Master was very pleased and then called for Concubine Du to talk, seemingly intending to settle this marriage proposal first.”

The Mu family had just proposed, and now the Fan family was joining in! Just thinking about marriage proposals made her feel irritated, so she stopped asking about it. Instead, she took Jinrong’s letter to Concubine Song, as all their correspondence had to be reviewed by her.

Jinchao also heard about this matter and had Madam Tong inquire about the Du family in Wuqing. Madam Tong returned saying that two generations ago, the Du family had produced a successful imperial examination candidate who became the Vice Minister of Works, but since then, the Du family hadn’t produced any notable scholars. Du family’s second master had passed the provincial examination, but nothing more. They all lived off their ancestors’ legacy. Madam Fan was the eldest legitimate daughter of the Du family’s second master.

The marriage proposal was for Du Huai, the grandson of Old Master Du Four, who was fifteen sui this year and had passed the county examination last year. The Du family was already in decline, and Old Master Du Four’s branch was particularly ordinary, so this marriage wasn’t considered good. However, Father most appreciated those with scholarly ambitions. Hearing that Du Huai had passed the tribute student examination and gained the opportunity to study at the Imperial Academy, Father’s opinion of him greatly improved, thinking this marriage was quite suitable.

Jinchao had no impression of this Du family from Wuqing. She was only familiar with important officials at court or those related to the Chen family. However, since he had earned his tribute student status through his efforts rather than relying on Du Second Master’s position for a hereditary studentship, he must be a person with ambition.

When Jinchao went to pay respects to her mother, she happened to find her talking with Gu Yi.

Gu Xi was also sitting nearby, her small face slightly flushed. She took Jinchao’s hand and quietly asked: “Third Sister is only thirteen sui. Is her marriage already being arranged?”

Girls typically started receiving marriage proposals from the age of twelve. Their family’s situation was special—no one dared propose to Gu Jinchao, and for Gu Lan, the suitors’ status wasn’t high enough, and she refused to be someone’s concubine. So both had come of age without being betrothed, which gave Gu Xi the wrong impression.

Thinking about it, Jinchao felt very sympathetic toward her. Gu Xi grew up under her mother’s name, and Concubine Guo didn’t dare get too close to her, fearing it would displease Mother. She only sent her things during festivals. Mother, however, couldn’t spare the energy to care for her, so she and Gu Yi were both raised by their nurse. There were many things the nurse found inappropriate or didn’t dare to tell them, so they remained ignorant.

Mother smiled at Jinchao, acknowledging her presence, then continued speaking with Gu Yi: “I’ve given less thought to your matters and feel guilty about it. If you think this marriage is suitable, I’ll speak with your father and arrange it…”

Though Gu Yi had a steady temperament, she was still young, and her face turned red as she said: “Mother… I… I don’t know…”

She had never heard of this person and didn’t know what he was like.

Madam Ji, having gone through this at the same age, naturally understood her concerns. She glanced at Madam Xu and said: “Why don’t we have Madam Xu ask Madam Fan to bring her nephew to meet your father? If you want to see him, you can hide behind the curtain…”

Gu Yi bit her lip without speaking, her face as red as blood. Such a thing… how could she do it!

Jinchao smiled: “That sounds perfect. Madam Fan is still in the side room. Why don’t we go talk to her now?”

Gu Xi nodded in agreement: “…It would be good for Third Sister to see him!” Being young, she enjoyed such exciting matters.

Gu Yi said nothing more. Madam Xu spoke with Madam Fan, and three days later, her nephew Du Huai came to visit Father.

Father prepared to receive Du Huai in the main hall.

On the day of the visit, all three daughters were crowded behind the curtain. When Gu Dezhao saw this, he smiled wryly and said: “If you want to look, at least hide yourselves better…”

Jinchao felt somewhat helpless; she had been pulled there by Gu Xi. Beside them, Madam Xu smiled without speaking; she was there on Madam Ji’s behalf to observe. Gu Xi was the most interested one. Since she was rarely this happy, Jinchao didn’t want to say anything about it being improper. After all, no one could see them.

Du Huai’s calling card was quickly presented. When Gu Dezhao saw that he referred to himself as a “nephew of the same generation,” he nodded in approval… the young man understood etiquette well.

When the visitor entered, he didn’t even have a servant or page boy with him. Du Huai wore a spirited lake-blue straight robe with a white jade double-fish pendant hanging at his waist. He was tall and handsome, with a modest demeanor. He respectfully greeted Gu Dezhao, who then discussed essay composition with him and tested him on the “Spring and Autumn Annals.” Though his answers weren’t particularly brilliant, he didn’t boast, which pleased Father even more.

After seeing this, Gu Yi’s heart was moved. The marriage was thus settled, dates were chosen, horoscope cards were exchanged, and Madam Fan was invited for a celebratory meal. Gu Yi was officially betrothed to Du Huai.

When Concubine Song heard that Du Huai was a good scholar and handsome, she was making an upper garment for Gu Lan, sewing plantain leaf patterns on the sleeves.

After hearing the news, she said indifferently: “The Imperial Academy has over three thousand students. Each imperial examination selects at most a hundred, sometimes only a dozen court academicians. Many students reach fifty without passing—it’s nothing special. It would be better to have his second uncle donate for a minor official position for him to work his way up. With the support of Duke Guo’s family, there’s no need to worry about his career prospects.”

Originally, after hearing what her maid said, Gu Lan had felt a pang in her heart. How was it that Mu Zhidai, who had proposed to her, was such a person, while this Du Huai, though from a less prestigious family, was several times better than Mu Zhidai? But after her mother’s comment, she felt more at ease. After all, she would never marry Mu Zhidai, and Du Huai’s future was quite uncertain. If Gu Yi supported him until he succeeded, she might already be old and faded, with few years of prosperity left.

Concubine Song felt this marriage was quite ordinary, but after some thought, she said to Gu Lan: “…It’s good enough for Gu Yi.”

As mother and daughter were talking, Yuxiang entered. She bowed and said softly: “Concubine, the old woman Chen who escorted Miss Ziling to Shulu in Baoding has returned. She says she has urgent matters to discuss with you.”

Wondering if there was some problem with Ziling’s marriage, Concubine Song frowned, but still asked her to come in.

Old woman Chen had just rushed back from Baoding, looking travel-worn with her bun askew. She loudly paid her respects, her eyes appearing particularly bright.

“Why did you need to see me urgently?” Concubine Song asked.

Old woman Chen quickly smiled and said: “…As it happens, when this servant escorted Miss Ziling to Shulu in Baoding, I met a familiar old woman. She used to do odd jobs in our mansion but was sent back to her hometown to retire when she got old. Her son works at the Song family’s estate. She recognized me and pulled me aside to talk for quite a while…”

Concubine Song nodded, gesturing for Old Woman Chen to continue. These words seemed quite irrelevant.

Old woman Chen continued: “That old woman previously served Concubine Yun…”

Concubine Song’s hands stopped moving. Gu Lan, hearing about Concubine Yun, also became cautious and looked toward Old Woman Chen.

Concubine Song waved for Qiaowei to put away the items first, then carefully asked the old woman: “What exactly did this woman who served Concubine Yun say that made you rush to tell me?”

Hearing this, Old Woman Chen estimated that there was something worth pursuing and continued: “This old woman only did cleaning for Concubine Yun and wasn’t very important. But she told this servant that one of Concubine Yun’s two personal maids—the one who didn’t die—had spoken to her. She said that Cuiping was wrongly accused and that the medicine wasn’t mixed up by her. Someone deliberately wanted to harm Concubine Yun…”

“You’d never guess who she said that person was—the Madam.”