Shortly afterward, Madam Qin arrived with several household managers to report household affairs to Elder Madam Chen.
Chen Xuan An and the others left for the study.
Madam Qin had sharp, slender phoenix eyes and was exceedingly capable, managing the vast Chen household with impeccable order.
“Since Yun Ru is pregnant, we’ve specially purchased some valuable medicinal herbs for her, which has increased our expenses slightly. Third Sister-in-law’s purchases when she returned to Daxing, Fifth Sister-in-law’s newly acquired stepped bed… the expenditures for each household have increased somewhat.”
Elder Madam Chen flipped through the account book and frowned, asking, “Why have the Sixth House’s expenses decreased by more than half?”
Madam Qin explained, “Sixth Sister-in-law said that since the Sixth Master has gone to Baoxiang Temple for spiritual cultivation, she alone doesn’t need so many maids, so she sent some to work in the front courtyard. That’s why the expenses have decreased significantly, as have her daily expenditures.”
Elder Madam Chen retorted, “She’s just afraid of others talking. Even without Sixth Master, how much could expenses be reduced? Food, clothing, daily necessities—how could the absence of one person reduce costs by more than half…” Madam Ge’s temperament was indeed too cautious, unlike the other daughters-in-law who were steady, capable, and understood the bigger picture. Elder Madam Chen pitied her greatly for this and often supported her.
…But she also needed to stand up for herself! After her death, given the current dominance of the Second and Third Houses, not dividing the family property might prove problematic. What would happen to her then? Would she be bullied to death by the Sixth Master?
Madam Qin hurriedly said, “I thought the same and specifically went to check. Sixth Sister-in-law herself said it wasn’t necessary…”
Elder Madam Chen returned the account book to Madam Qin. “You just listened to her. I’ll go see for myself later.”
Apart from this, Elder Madam Chen only glanced briefly at the other accounts, quickly reconciling them.
Madam Qin instructed the matrons to take the account books back and began shelling walnuts for the Elder Madam.
“Mother, didn’t you mention yesterday that Xuan’er wrote a letter saying she wanted to come stay for a few days? I’ve already had people prepare the Eastern Half Bamboo Pavilion, so Xuan’er can stay there when she arrives. Perhaps you’d like to check if anything else needs to be added.”
Elder Madam Chen replied, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten that Xuan’er is coming… Jin Chao,” she turned toward Gu Jin Chao, who was watching Chen Zhao play with a string game, and asked, “You haven’t met Xuan’er yet, have you?”
Gu Jin Chao looked up. While Elder Madam Chen and Madam Qin discussed household matters, she politely pretended to watch Chen Zhao’s game.
Xuan’er… of course, she had met this person, but that was in her previous life.
Gu Jin Chao smiled and said, “I heard you mention her during the family introductions, but I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her yet.”
Elder Madam Chen introduced her, “…Your eldest sister married into the Zhou family in Longqing and had a son and a daughter, but she passed away two years ago.” At this point, Elder Madam Chen sighed, “Your eldest sister had a thin fortune. After working hard to manage the Zhou household and raise her children, she departed so early. Xuan’er couldn’t attend your wedding celebration because she was in mourning, but she removed her mourning attire last month and wants to come see you. She should arrive in a few days.”
The eldest sister Elder Madam Chen referred to was Lord Chen’s sister. The Chen family of the previous generation had an abundance of sons but few daughters, with only this one concubine-born daughter, who was raised under Elder Madam Chen’s name and married off as a legitimate daughter. The Zhou family in Longqing was also quite wealthy, though they had few officials. Gu Jin Chao only remembered that Xuan’er’s uncle was a county magistrate. Xuan’er’s father had passed the imperial examination years ago, and observed governance in the Ministry of Personnel for decades, but eventually resigned and returned home.
Gu Jin Chao said, “Then I must prepare a proper welcoming gift.”
Elder Madam Chen smiled and said, “You’ll like her when you meet her. She’s very lively. That child loves receiving gifts.”
Gu Jin Chao’s impression of Zhou Yi Xuan was indeed very deep, so much so that she hadn’t forgotten her after all these years.
Zhou Yi Xuan was Lord Chen’s niece. In her previous life, when Jin Chao married into the family, Chen Xuan Qing had already married Yu Wan Xue. Zhou Yi Xuan was in love with Chen Xuan Qing and cried and shouted about wanting to be his concubine, insisting on marrying him. Jin Chao remembered how furious Elder Madam Chen had been. She had summoned Zhou Yi Xuan’s eldest aunt overnight, who scolded her severely before taking her back. When Zhou Yi Xuan left, she was still reluctant to part. Later, she seemed to have married far away in Xiangyang…
Madam Qin, whose conversation had been interrupted by Elder Madam Chen, now smiled and changed the subject, “Why haven’t we seen Xi’er come by today? Doesn’t she usually come to play in the afternoon?”
Elder Madam Chen said, “She came by once this morning, but she seemed drowsy and not well-rested, so I sent her back. She might be tired. Yesterday she was playing kickshuttle with Zhao’er and worked up quite a sweat…”
Just as she was speaking, Chen Zhao pouted, “Fourth Sister is so stupid, she can’t even kick the shuttlecock as well as my little maid. I don’t like playing with Fourth Sister!”
Madam Qin glared at her, “Your Fourth Sister didn’t even want to play, but you insisted on dragging her along, and now you complain that she doesn’t play well? How is that reasonable?”
Chen Zhao didn’t dare contradict her mother and shrank her neck, saying softly, “But she doesn’t play well…”
Elder Madam Chen patted Madam Qin’s hand, “Children say whatever comes to mind. Don’t be so strict with her.”
Gu Jin Chao, however, realized she hadn’t seen Chen Xi for some time and thought it would be good to check on her. She said to Elder Madam Chen, “I’ll go see her. It’s been more than half a month since I’ve seen her, and I miss her.”
Elder Madam Chen agreed, and Jin Chao left with her maids and matrons.
As she walked through the corridor, she was about to pass the Sixth House’s courtyard. The gate was half-open, and a maid wearing a purple-red vest with her hair in double buns walked out. Seeing Gu Jin Chao surrounded by her attendants, the maid quickly curtseyed. Gu Jin Chao frowned slightly. This maid was a first-class attendant to Madam Ge, usually always by her side. Recalling that she hadn’t seen Madam Ge today, Jin Chao asked her, “Is Sixth Madam resting? Why aren’t you attending to her?”
The maid replied, “Sixth Madam is reciting sutras and sent your servant to fetch some tea leaves from the tea room.”
The tea leaves used by each household were generally purchased separately according to each household’s taste.
Madam Ge wasn’t even buying tea anymore… Yet Madam Qin claimed there was no problem with the Sixth House and didn’t manage Madam Ge’s affairs at all.
In her previous life, Madam Qin had never been particularly kind to Madam Ge, and they barely spoke when they encountered each other.
Gu Jin Chao pondered this.
Matron Sun carefully asked, “Is Third Madam finding this strange?”
Gu Jin Chao asked, “Does Matron Sun know something about this?”
“It might not be much…” Matron Sun hesitated, “When Second Madam first began managing the household, the Elder Madam had Sixth Madam assist her. You know Sixth Madam’s personality—she can’t manage people effectively. The servants were lazy, and the Second Madam had to intervene. Later, when money was placed in the Sixth Madam’s hands, the Sixth Master took it as if it were the Sixth Madam’s funds. By the time Second Madam needed to distribute the monthly allowances, there was nothing left… Later, Elder Madam Chen reprimanded them both, but Sixth Madam concealed Sixth Master’s actions and wouldn’t tell the truth. She wanted to use her dowry to cover the deficit.”
“Since they were managing things together, if Sixth Madam covered the shortfall with her own money, Second Madam would look bad. The second Madam urged the Sixth Madam to tell the truth, but the Sixth Madam feared the Sixth Master’s reproach and wouldn’t speak up… Eventually, the Second Madam grew increasingly displeased with the Sixth Madam. Their relationship remains poor to this day…”
Gu Jin Chao was surprised she hadn’t known about this.
She asked Matron Sun, “How was it later discovered that the Sixth Master had taken the money?”
Matron Sun lowered her voice, “Sixth Master was spending lavishly outside, and news reached Lord Chen, who was then a Junior Supervising Secretary. Lord Chen brought him back for questioning, and only then was this matter revealed. That sum was deducted from Sixth Master’s private funds… For a period, Sixth Master didn’t even have new clothes.”
Given Madam Qin’s personality, once she disliked Madam Ge, she would find everything about her distasteful. Since these matters didn’t require her involvement, Gu Jin Chao thought for a moment and then said to Matron Sun, “When you return, pack some Junshan Silver Needle tea and send it to Sixth Madam.” Madam Ge liked this tea.
Matron Sun acknowledged the instruction.
The group walked past the lakeside pavilion and arrived outside Muxi Hall. Going past the side corridor of Muxi Hall for some distance, they reached Fanghua Pavilion, where Madam Jiang used to live. Xi’er still resided there.
In the courtyard, two menial matrons were laundering clothes and hurried over to greet her and pay their respects.
“Is Xi’er in?” Gu Jin Chao asked them.
A matron in a short blue cloth jacket replied, “The Fourth Young Miss is sleeping in her room.”
Gu Jin Chao crossed the cruciform bluestone path. The maids guarding outside paid their respects to her and lifted the curtain for her to enter.
Gu Jin Chao walked into the west secondary room and saw the screen she had given to Xi’er still in place. On the large kang by the window lay a half-finished embroidery frame with zodiac sachet pendants; the monkey and tiger were embroidered to look plump and adorable. Below the kang was a pair of satin shoes with somewhat faded patterns.
The latticed door was half-closed, with a layer of gauze curtain hanging, obscuring the view inside.
Gu Jin Chao couldn’t help but soften her voice as she asked the attending maid, “How long has the Fourth Young Miss been sleeping?”
The maid replied, “The Fourth Young Miss has been sleeping since she returned from the Elder Madam’s place, for about two and a half hours now. Sister Qiu Tang went to the kitchen to get some snacks and hasn’t woken the Fourth Young Miss…”
Gu Jin Chao sensed something was wrong. Even for a nap, how could she sleep so long and miss lunch?
She quickly entered the inner chamber and instructed Qing Pu to lift the curtain. Walking to the bedside, she saw Chen Xi sleeping with a flushed face, her body curled up tightly, wrapped snugly in the quilt. She tested Chen Xi’s forehead temperature and was startled.
This child had such a high fever, and no one had noticed!
The maid followed behind her and said softly, “Third Madam, the Fourth Young Miss is sleeping well. Perhaps we should let her sleep a little longer…” She was concerned that Gu Jin Chao’s actions might wake Chen Xi.
Gu Jin Chao felt a surge of anger. A motherless child, and a legitimate young lady at that, yet these maids and matrons were so negligent in their service. Not knowing where Qiu Tang and Matron An had gone was one thing, but how could they fail to notice a fever?
She had returned from Elder Madam Chen’s place in the morning. Had they not called Chen Xi to eat lunch?
Gu Jin Chao couldn’t help but say, “Sleep more? Go find Qiu Tang for me immediately!” She then instructed Cai Fu, “Go inform the Elder Madam that Xi’er has a fever. Have a doctor come right away. Qing Pu, help me carry her up. We’re going back to Muxi Hall.”
The maids were frightened pale upon hearing about Chen Xi’s fever.
Gu Jin Chao first removed the quilt and took Chen Xi in her arms. The child’s small body was drenched in sweat, and she whimpered indistinctly. Hearing this broke Gu Jin Chao’s heart. She loosened one of Chen Xi’s jackets and carried her back to Muxi Hall.