DBB – Chapter 13: Aunt

Mother did not agree to Jinchao’s suggestion of selecting a new concubine for Gu Dezhao.

As she tended to the four-season begonias she had planted, Jinchao pondered in silence.

It was understandable that Mother was unwilling—what woman would want her husband to take in more concubines? Besides, she and Father had once been deeply devoted to each other. In her eyes, there was no need for another concubine. The current concubines were all obedient, and if a new one turned out to be difficult, it would only bring trouble.

However, while Madam Gu saw things this way, Jinchao could not.

She could not allow Song Yiniang to conceive. With a child as her leverage, Song Yiniang’s path would become much smoother. And with Gu Jinrong already favoring Gu Lan, Jinchao had lost the upper hand. She needed Mother to realize how dangerous this situation was—but without stating it outright.

Liuxiang handed her the scissors, and after trimming the plants, she washed her hands with rose-scented water, freshly prepared in the warm room.

Jinchao then instructed Qingpu to send a few potted orchids to her father and Gu Jinrong. Orchids were rare in winter, but her greenhouse had plenty. Scholars often cherished orchids, so both her father and younger brother would likely appreciate them.

Today was the twenty-second, and the estate was growing livelier. The stewards and shopkeepers from Mother’s dowry businesses arrived early to pay their respects, as they would be too busy to visit on New Year’s Day. They brought many gifts, and Mother took the opportunity to ask Master Ge, the head craftsman in Changzhou, to expedite the creation of the silver hair ornaments. She wanted them ready before the Lantern Festival.

Jinchao couldn’t help but laugh at this—Mother was clearly hoping she would meet a suitable husband at the Yongyang Marquis Manor’s lantern festival gathering.

Mother also introduced her to Song Chuan, the steward of Baodi, and Luo Yongping, another shopkeeper. Song Chuan was a lean man with a goatee, while Luo Yongping wore a silk robe adorned with a baoxianghua pattern. He was plump, fair-skinned, and always smiling.

Mother commented, “Luo Yongping’s family is from Xinxian Prefecture. He is from your grandmother’s hometown.”

At the mention of Xinxian Prefecture, Jinchao took another look at the man—she remembered him.

Back when she first took charge of her dowry, Song Yiniang had already replaced most of the original stewards, but Luo Yongping had remained. He was an eloquent speaker, a master of persuasion. Mother had never liked such smooth-talking people but had kept him because he was efficient, though she never fully trusted him.

Years later, when Jinchao’s silk shop faced a crisis, it was Luo Yongping’s glib tongue that saved it. Under his management, the business flourished, and he even expanded trade by using the Ji family’s merchant ships to import fine Shu and Xiang embroidery from Sichuan and Hunan. But in the end, she lost control of her dowry, and those businesses fell into her second sister-in-law’s hands.

After the stewards left, Jinchao asked Xu Mama to bring the gift prepared by Luo Yongping.

“It’s a pair of jade bracelets—exquisite quality,” Xu Mama said as she examined them under the light and reported to Madam Gu.

Mother frowned. “Chao’er, do you think this man is reliable? I trust Song Chuan more. He passed the county examination and is a refined gentleman.” She was not fond of Luo Yongping but tolerated him because he was a dowry steward and a fellow townsman of her mother’s.

Jinchao knew that Mother wasn’t skilled in business affairs. Smiling, she said, “Managing a business is different from studying, Mother. You shouldn’t judge a man’s competence by his demeanor.”

She met with Luo Yongping in the eastern side chamber. Since he was a dowry steward, he was technically a household servant, and there were no concerns about propriety.

Luo Yongping was caught off guard by the Young Miss’s request for a meeting. Overjoyed, he bowed and offered numerous flattering remarks.

Jinchao let him rise and asked about the silk shop in Baodi. She also entrusted him with handling the matter concerning Liuxiang’s brother. Luo Yongping readily agreed—anything entrusted by the Young Miss was a matter of utmost importance.

The days passed quickly. On the twenty-third, they honored the Kitchen God; on the twenty-fourth, they wrote couplets. Offerings of cooked meats, fruits, and wine were placed before the ancestral tablets in preparation for the New Year’s Day ceremony. These duties now fell to Song Yiniang, with Jinchao assisting her.

Song Yiniang had assumed that the young Miss, unfamiliar with such responsibilities, would surely be overwhelmed. She left the kitchen arrangements entirely to Jinchao, expecting her to struggle. However, Jinchao, who had once managed the vast Chen family estate, handled everything with ease. Instead, it was Song Yiniang who found herself constantly on the move, so busy she barely had a moment’s rest. Meanwhile, the concubine attending to Father had been switched to Concubine Guo.

Jinchao also summoned Tong Mama. With the New Year approaching, she wanted to prepare new winter clothing and jewelry for all the maids in Qingtong Courtyard, along with a monetary bonus.

Just then, Baiyun entered with a message. “Miss, the Madam from Zhenzhou Prefecture has arrived. She is speaking with Madam Gu now. Xu Mama had Pinmei come to inform you.”

Madam from Zhenzhou?

Jinchao frowned. For a moment, she couldn’t recall any connections the Gu family had in Zhenzhou.

Qingpu quietly reminded her, “…She is the Old Master’s elder sister, married into the Xu family of Zhenzhou Prefecture.”

With that, Jinchao remembered.

Father was the sixth son, and his only full-blooded elder sister had married into the Xu family in Zhenzhou.

Why had she come now? The household was already swamped with New Year preparations, and she had no reason to visit at such a busy time.

A thought crossed Jinchao’s mind. She decided to check on her mother first—her aunt must have heard something and come to see Mother’s condition. Mother had been ill for over half a year, neither worsening nor improving. It was only natural for the Gu family to send someone to visit, but why had they sent an already married daughter?

“Are you going now, Miss? Shall I help you change?” Liuxiang asked.

Jinchao shook her head. “Father will send someone to call me soon enough. No need to change—this outfit is fine.”

She wore an ochre-white brocade dress embroidered with cranes and orchids, paired with a pale blue silk jacket adorned with trailing vine patterns. Though understated, it was still dignified. However, since she was meeting her aunt, she could not appear too plain. Removing the silver filigree bracelet from her wrist, she replaced it with a pair of translucent jade bangles and adorned her hair with three gold-threaded gemstone hairpins.

Sure enough, not long after, Biyue, one of Father’s maids, arrived to summon her.

Jinchao entered the guest hall at Juyliu Pavilion. Since Mother was unwell, Song Yiniang and Concubine Du had been asked to accompany the guest. Gu Lan and the other sisters were also present.

The moment Jinchao stepped in, Father beckoned her. “Jinchao, come greet your aunt.”

Jinchao looked up and saw a woman dressed in a red brocade robe embroidered with qilins. Her hair was adorned with elaborate silver filigree ornaments, and gold hairpins shaped like bats and peaches symbolizing fortune and longevity. She was smiling as she looked at Jinchao.

“My dear Chao’er, you’ve grown so much—more beautiful than ever!”

Father beamed. “The last time you saw her, she was only eleven. Of course she has grown.”

Jinchao bowed respectfully, and Father motioned for her to sit with her younger sisters.

Gu Lan took her hand and whispered, “Elder Sister, I must apologize again about Qingpu…”

Dressed in a deep crimson brocade, Gu Lan looked more striking than usual.

Jinchao smiled coolly. “What are you talking about, Second Sister? I don’t remember anything of the sort.”

Gu Lan was momentarily at a loss for words. If she explained, she would only reveal how closely she had been involved in Gu Jinrong’s confrontation with Jinchao. 

Before the silence could stretch too long, she quickly smiled and said, “Perhaps it was my mistake—I must have misremembered.”

Jinchao returned a polite smile but said nothing more.

Aunt was still speaking with Father, reminiscing about past events. Soon, a maid entered with refreshments, serving everyone fragrant tea and delicate pastries.

Gu Jinrong, having finished his greetings, sat beside Gu Lan, occasionally glancing at Jinchao with an unreadable expression. It seemed he had yet to fully process their earlier conversation.

Jinchao sipped her tea calmly. Gu Lan was careful with her words, always maintaining an appearance of gentleness, but she was still too young to truly conceal her thoughts.

Seeing Gu Lan’s slight distraction, Jinchao’s lips curved into a barely noticeable smile. No matter how shrewd she was, she lacked the patience and restraint of someone who had truly experienced adversity.

Aunt turned her attention back to the younger generation, her gaze sweeping across the sisters. “My nieces are all stunning, one more beautiful than the next…”

Jinchao straightened her posture, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips. Clever as Gu Lan was, she was still too young to truly hold her composure.

Aunt and Father continued their conversation. “My nieces are all stunning, one more beautiful than the next. Chao’er is radiant, Lan’er graceful, and both Xi’er and Yi’er are as delicate as carved jade. When the time comes to choose husbands for them, they are sure to marry men of great talent and distinction.”

Gu Lan smiled playfully. “They say nephews and nieces take after their uncles—we must have inherited it from you.”

The room filled with laughter, and Aunt praised her, “What a bright and clever child! You flatter people so well that it warms the heart.”

But Jinchao noticed Song Yiniang’s smile freeze slightly. While others were delighted, she, as Gu Lan’s birth mother, was surely displeased to hear her daughter openly crediting someone else’s lineage.

At that moment, Gu Jinrong entered to greet his aunt. It was clear that he was her favorite. She praised him several times before removing a small talisman she had long carried and handing it to him. “This was obtained at the Grand State Temple. It is said to be highly efficacious.”

Jinchao nearly laughed—Gu Lan’s habit of angling for gifts was surely about to surface.

Sure enough, Gu Lan immediately grasped their aunt’s hand. “Aunt, you’re playing favorites! If Rong ge’er gets a gift, then we four sisters must have one too. Consider it our New Year’s money.”

She pouted just enough to be endearing rather than petulant, making her plea more charming than demanding.

Jinchao, however, saw no reason to be dragged into this. She had no need for New Year’s money—she was already of age. “If my younger sisters want one, that’s fine. But I’ll pass.”

Aunt hesitated, momentarily caught off guard. She had come in haste and had not prepared gifts for the girls. It wouldn’t be proper to simply hand over the items she carried.

Song Yiniang quickly noticed the dilemma and thought to herself that Gu Lan’s habit of asking for presents needed to be curbed. She smoothly interjected, “Why not let Master Gu handle it? The household just received some exquisite gold and silver jewelry—it would be most fitting.”

Aunt gave her a grateful look.

Father said easily, “The newly delivered jewelry was meant for you all anyway. Go and pick what you like.” He cared little for such things.

Gu Lan beamed. “I noticed two gold-threaded hair ornaments from Changzhou. The rubies on them are beautifully clear—one features children playing among lotus flowers, set with delicate jade inlays, while the other has a lotus and auspicious cloud motif, crafted from twelve taels of gold and paired with a set of filigree grass-and-insect hairpins…”

Jinchao’s heart stirred.

These were the ornaments prepared for her by Steward Ge from Changzhou—how had they already arrived? And why was Gu Lan bringing them up? Did she want them?

Jinchao had never been overly attached to jewelry, but these pieces had been specially commissioned by her mother, using the finest rubies from her private collection. Every detail had been personally instructed by her mother, down to the accompanying accessories.

Father responded, “Steward Ge from Changzhou… those were made for Jinchao by Xiangjun.”

Xiangjun was Ji Shi’s courtesy name.

Song Yiniang smiled. “Look at you, Lan’er. You’re not even of age yet—those ornaments wouldn’t suit you. Naturally, what belongs to Elder Sister should remain hers. If you’d like, Mother still has some fine sapphires. I’ll have a filigree Butterflies Amid Blossoms hairpin made for you. How about that?”

Gu Lan looked a bit embarrassed. “I didn’t realize they were Elder Sister’s. But of course, such fine rubies and exquisite craftsmanship must have been specially made by Mother for my eldest sister…”

Jinchao clenched her hands tightly.

Gu Lan, young as she was, already had such a sharp tongue. She had deliberately framed it as though Mother were being partial, subtly implying favoritism.

If Jinchao refused to share, she would appear selfish and petty.