Chapter 23 Proposal
As soon as the carriage entered the city gate of the capital, Chen Xuanqing lifted the curtain, his gaze sweeping over the familiar bluestone road and vermilion archway, his fingertips unconsciously reaching for the jade clasp in his sleeve pocket.
The lustrous white jade ornament engraved with the character "朝" became even more lustrous as he caressed it, just like the warmth surging in his heart at that moment.
Instead of returning to the Chen residence, he sent the coachman to the silk shop first, not even bothering to drink the tea offered by the servants, as he was in a hurry to finalize the red silk and ceremonial items to be used for the betrothal.
"Young Master Chen, what do you think of this 'Rosy Clouds and Moonlit Charm' piece of cloth? It has a red background with lotus scroll patterns, making it the most elegant material for betrothal gift boxes. Last year, Minister Li's family used this material for their betrothal ceremony."
The shopkeeper of the silk store held up a bright red silk ribbon, his eyes crinkling with a smile.
Chen Xuanqing reached out and stroked the silk, his fingertips touching the delicate texture, but shook his head: "Get some more water-green material, the lightest kind, like the color of lotus leaves in early spring."
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, but still brought it as instructed.
As Chen Xuanqing looked at the light green, the image of Gu Jinchao standing on the bow of a boat in Jiangnan suddenly appeared in his mind.
The light green skirt was lifted by the river breeze, making her features appear even brighter.
He unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth: "Ten bolts of red silk and five bolts of light green silk, all with the best embroidery, with the character '朝' (chao, meaning 'morning') and twin lotus flowers embroidered on the edges. They must be finished within three days."
After leaving the silk shop, he went straight to the jewelry store.
I selected a pair of mutton fat jade bracelets and a kingfisher feather hairpin. I also specially commissioned a craftsman to make a jade pendant with the four characters "Xuanqing Jinchao" engraved on it. Only then would it be in a red silk gift box and meet my expectations.
Upon returning to the mansion, he went straight to his grandmother's courtyard and handed her the betrothal list: "Grandmother, do you think these gifts are enough? The silk, jewelry, and pastries are all prepared. Tomorrow I will ask Old Madam Chang from the Zheng family to be the matchmaker, and we will hold the betrothal ceremony at the Gu family on the sixth day of next month. What do you think?"
Old Madam Chen took the list, looked at the densely packed items, and saw the undisguised smile in Chen Xuanqing's eyes. She was both helpless and amused: "You child, you're already busy as soon as you get back from Jiangnan. Don't you know how to rest? But since you've made up your mind, Grandmother will help you arrange it. I'll make sure that Miss Gu receives this betrothal gift in a grand and glorious manner."
After receiving his mother's approval, Chen Xuanqing turned around and went to his study to write the invitation.
The ink and brush were spread out on the table. When he picked up the brush, his fingertips trembled slightly. He had never been so solemn in his previous life. Now, every stroke was filled with anticipation, as if he wanted to turn the regrets of his two lives into ink marks on the paper.
After writing the invitations, he took out a sheet of Xuan paper and carefully drew the design of the betrothal gift box. The gift box was wrapped in red silk, with light green tassels on the corners. A big red flower had to be tied to the gift box to make it festive.
The setting sun outside the window gradually dipped below the horizon, painting half the sky red.
A servant came in to light the lamp and saw that his young master was still studying the blueprints. He couldn't help but advise, "Young master, it's getting late. Why don't you rest for a while? The steward will take care of the betrothal, so there won't be any problems."
Chen Xuanqing shook his head, his fingertips lightly brushing over the character "朝" on the drawing: "Wait a little longer, I still need to check all the schedules."
He was determined to let Gu Jinchao know how much he cared about this marriage.
She also wanted to ask her grandmother to prepare more of the tonics that Madam Ji liked, and send them along with the betrothal gifts, so that Gu Jinchao's mother could rest assured and entrust her daughter to her.
As the lamplight flickered, he looked at the list and drawings on the table, his smile deepening.
*
The autumn morning light, warm and gentle, filters through the sycamore leaves in the Gu family courtyard, casting dappled gold patterns on the bluestone slabs.
Gu Dezhao got up early in the morning, changed into his most presentable royal blue brocade robe, and even adjusted his belt three times. He would glance at the door every now and then.
Aunt Song carried a cup of warm pre-rain Longjing tea and walked with light, quick steps down the corridor.
The sycamore leaves on the bluestone slab swayed gently in the wind, causing the pearl hairpins at her temples to tremble as well. However, the smile she had deliberately put on turned a little cold when she saw Gu Dezhao pacing back and forth.
"Master, please don't worry. Madam Chang said it would be Chenshi (7-9 AM), but it's not here yet."
She handed over the teacup, her voice soft and gentle, but her fingertips were gripping the handkerchief tightly under her handkerchief, the embroidery thread at the corner of the handkerchief wrinkled from her pinching.
While she was trying to calm Gu Dezhao down, her mind was in turmoil.
No one expected that Gu Jinzhao's trip to Jiangnan would actually capture Chen Xuanqing's heart!
Even Old Madam Chang personally went to the Chen family to propose marriage.
This marriage seems to be a done deal.
She had originally hoped that Gu Jinzhao would have an accident in Jiangnan, and that after Madam Ji fell seriously ill, she could climb to the position of the principal wife step by step with the help of Gu Lan and Gu Jinrong.
But now, things have turned out differently. Gu Jinchao has become the daughter-in-law favored by the Chen family. With the Chen family as her backing, Ji Shi's position in the mansion will only become more stable in the future. Her dream of becoming the principal wife has become an unattainable bubble!
"What do you know?"
Gu Dezhao took the teacup, but had no interest in drinking it. His gaze remained fixed on the doorway, and his tone was filled with barely suppressed excitement. "This is the Old Madam Chang from the Zheng State Duke's family! Moreover, Xuanqing is a third-place scholar in the imperial examination, with a bright future ahead of him. It is a blessing that our Gu family has accumulated over several generations to marry into the Grand Secretary's family!"
"Now that I think about it, I, Gu Dezhao, am actually going to be related to Grand Secretary Chen by marriage... This, this, I'm so happy I'm speechless..."
Aunt Song lowered her eyes, hiding the resentment in them, and responded with "Yes, yes, yes" but her heart ached as if it were being pricked by needles.
She glanced up and caught a glimpse of Gu Lan standing behind a pillar, her daughter dressed in a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).
That color was originally Gu Lan's favorite, but now she was clutching the hem of her skirt, her fingertips almost tearing the fabric apart, her eyes glaring red as she stared intently at the doorway, as if she were about to breathe fire.
Gu Lan's hatred was even greater than that of Aunt Song.
Watching her father overjoyed at Gu Jinchao's marriage, and thinking about how Chen Xuanqing had gone so far as to break off the engagement with the prestigious Yu family in Jiangnan and even persuaded Old Madam Chang to personally propose marriage for Gu Jinchao, she felt a tightness in her chest.
On what grounds?
Gu Jinchao was just a lucky legitimate daughter. In terms of talent, she was no less talented; in terms of appearance, she was no less beautiful either. But Chen Xuanqing only had eyes for Gu Jinchao!
"Gu Jinchao... what have you done to deserve this?" Gu Lan gritted her teeth and roared in her heart again and again.
They dug their fingernails deep into their palms, not even noticing the blood seeping out.
She was unwilling to accept it.
I'm really not reconciled!
The thrushes under the eaves were still singing cheerful tunes, and the morning light was getting warmer, but in the hearts of Aunt Song and Gu Lan, it was as if they were covered with a layer of autumn frost, cold and hard.
No sooner had she finished speaking than a servant announced from outside the door, "Old Madam Chang has arrived—"
Gu Dezhao's eyes lit up, and he quickly put down his teacup and hurried out to greet them.
Madam Chang, dressed in a dark purple jacket embroidered with subtle patterns, was helped by a maid as she slowly walked into the courtyard. She had a gentle smile on her face and was carrying an exquisite brocade box in her hand.
"Madam, you've finally arrived! Please come in, please come in!" Gu Dezhao bowed and led Madam Chang to the main hall, his tone full of eagerness. "I just cooked some osmanthus porridge in my courtyard. Would you like to try some? It was specially made by Chao-jie in the kitchen. She said it's suitable for your teeth."
Madam Chang smiled and nodded, and was led to the seat of honor in the main hall: "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Gu, and thank you for your concern, Miss Jinzhao. I came today for two reasons, firstly to see Lord Gu and Madam, and secondly to discuss the marriage of Xuanqing and Jinzhao—I had the fortune teller calculate the betrothal gifts exchanged between the two families yesterday, and the sixth day of next month is an auspicious day, perfect for the betrothal ceremony. What do you think, Lord Gu?"
As she spoke, she instructed her maid to hand over the brocade box, which contained a copy of the betrothal letter prepared by the Chen family, as well as a jade hairpin of excellent quality, which was a gift for their first meeting.
Gu Dezhao took the brocade box, his fingers touching the neat handwriting on the Geng Tie (a type of divination document), and he was still somewhat dazed.
When the Chen family sent someone to deliver the birth chart yesterday, he looked at it several times, feeling as if he were dreaming.
Now that Old Madam Chang had personally come to the door and set the date for the betrothal, he finally felt a sense of reality, and even his voice was filled with excitement: "Good! Good! The sixth day of next month is good! We will follow Old Madam's arrangements! It is Chao'er's good fortune to marry into the Chen family and to be valued by Old Madam, and it is also a good fortune for our Gu family!"
Just then, Madam Ji came in, supported by her maid.
She had just recovered from her illness and her face was still a little pale, but she specially changed into a festive red jacket. When she saw Madam Chang, she quickly bowed and said, "Madam, it is truly an honor to have you grace my humble abode with your presence today."
Madam Chang quickly asked her to sit down, took her hand, and said in a particularly kind tone, "Madam Ji, you've just recovered, so please don't stand on ceremony. I've watched Xuanqing grow up. Although she's a bit stubborn, she's a loyal and righteous person. Once Jinzhao marries into the family, I will definitely treat her well and never let her suffer the slightest grievance."
Upon hearing this, Madam Ji's eyes welled up slightly, and she quickly nodded, "Thank you, Madam. I am relieved to hear your words."
*
The osmanthus trees in the Gu family's side courtyard were in full bloom, and a breeze carried their sweet fragrance over.
Chen Xuanqing stood under the tree, his moon-white robe making his figure appear even more upright. His gaze fell on Gu Jinchao not far away, and the smile in his eyes was as sweet as honey, even his voice softened a bit: "Jinchao, I did not break my promise."
Gu Jinchao had just come from the main hall, her ears still flushed.
She wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), the hem of which swept over fallen osmanthus petals. As she nodded gently, the silver hairpin at her temple swayed, shimmering with tiny lights: "I know."
Just now in the main hall, she saw through the window screen that Old Madam Chang and her father were having a pleasant conversation, and heard her mother whisper to the maid that "the betrothal day is set for the sixth day of next month." The weight in her heart was completely lifted.
Chen Xuanqing took a step forward and took out a bright white jade button from his sleeve.
The jade buckle is polished to a smooth, rounded shape. A small character "朝" is engraved on the front, while the back features intertwined lotus blossoms. A delicate silver chain adorns the edge, and it gleams with a warm light in the morning sun.
He held it out to her, his fingertips gently touching the back of her hand, his tone full of solemnity: "Jinzhao, now, you can finally be my wife—my lawfully wedded wife."
Gu Jinchao curiously took it, his fingertips touching the coolness of the jade buckle.
She looked down at the "朝" (chao) character on the jade clasp, gently stroking the patterns on it, her voice as soft as the fragrance of osmanthus: "Did you pick this out in Jiangnan?"
"Um."
Chen Xuanqing nodded, his gaze falling on her reddened ear tips. He couldn't help but reach out to brush away the osmanthus blossoms that had fallen on her shoulder. "When I first arrived in Jiangnan, I was thinking of finding something to give you as a token. When I saw this jade clasp, I felt that it should be yours—like you, clean and gentle."
Gu Jinchao stroked the jade buckle and looked up at him.
The morning light fell into his eyes, reflecting her figure. The tenderness and joy in his eyes made her unable to hold back any longer, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
She held the jade clasp in her palm as if grasping the years to come, and whispered, "I like it very much."
Looking at her smile, Chen Xuanqing felt a surge of satisfaction.
He recalled the regrets of missing out in his past life, and the image of her crying uncontrollably in his arms in the alley. Suddenly, he felt that all the waiting and running around had been worth it.
He took half a step forward, getting closer to her, his voice filled with cautious anticipation: "After the betrothal, I will have someone send over the list of betrothal gifts. If there are any you like, or anything you'd like to add, just let me know."
Gu Jinchao lowered his eyes, his fingertips gently twirling the silver chain of the jade buckle, and whispered, "Okay."
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