Chapter 156: Private Matters
Luo Yongping carefully noted down Gu Jinzhao's instructions. These matters were better handled by Cao Ziheng than himself, so he planned to discuss them with Cao Ziheng. Although he hadn't signed any indentures, he was effectively a servant of the Gu Family—more precisely, he was Gu Jinzhao's man. Their fates were intertwined; if the Eldest Miss married into an unfavorable household, none of them would fare well.
Gu Jinzhao took a sip of tea, intending to wait for Gu Lian and the others before leaving. Luo Yongping went to fetch the account books of the Xinluo Silk Shop for her to review. As she gazed out the window, she noticed a blue-canopied carriage traveling along the clean stone-paved road before stopping in front of the Liuhe Restaurant. A rhinoceros-flower patterned ram horn glass lamp hung from the carriage, and the driver was a tall, burly man.
Gu Jinzhao immediately recognized it as a carriage from the Chen Family—their carriages all bore such rare lamps. But the Chen Family was based in Wanping; why would they come to Daxing?
And who exactly had come to Daxing?
She lifted the blue cloth curtain slightly for a better look. After the carriage halted, the burly man pulled aside the carriage curtain, and a man in a gray overcoat and blue straight robe stepped down. His features were handsome and refined, with deep, unfathomable eyes. Once he alighted, the burly man promptly lowered the curtain and respectfully ushered him toward Liuhe Restaurant, where a middle-aged man in a yellowish-brown Chengzi uniform approached to greet him.
Gu Jinzhao’s pulse quickened—why had Third Master Chen come to Daxing? She also recognized the man in the yellowish-brown Chengzi uniform: Jiang Yan, the Assistant Commander of the Imperial Guards who often assisted Third Master Chen. Eager to see more clearly, she lifted the curtain a little higher.
Yet Third Master Chen seemed to sense her gaze. Across the bustling street, his eyes turned toward her.
Gu Jinzhao immediately dropped the curtain. Third Master Chen disliked being surrounded by crowds when traveling and never brought guards. His carriage driver, Hu Rong, was a martial artist capable of splitting a bowl-thick tree trunk barehanded. But as a Grand Secretary and Minister of Revenue—a high-ranking official of the second grade—what business could he possibly have in Daxing to drink tea? Gu Jinzhao glanced again at the several other carriages parked outside Liuhe Restaurant and beckoned a nearby shop assistant, whispering a few instructions for him to investigate.
The assistant hurried off and soon returned to report, “...Eldest Miss, allow me to explain. Our staff often chat with those from Liuhe Restaurant, so we’re quite familiar. But when I asked, they refused to say anything. I checked the carriages—the one accompanying them belongs to our Daxing’s Lord Zheng, and there are several others that look unusual. My guess is they must be high-ranking officials from the capital...”
The silk shop assistant was quite sharp. Gu Jinzhao had Qingpu reward him with a few pieces of silver bullion.
Lord Zheng of Daxing... That would be Zheng Yun, the Left Vice Minister of Revenue.
Gu Jinzhao found the situation rather unusual.
But matters of the court had little to do with her. And she had no desire to be associated with the Chen Family.
She decided she shouldn’t meddle in such affairs.
Before long, Gu Lian and Gu Lan returned from visiting other silk shops. Gu Lian glanced at Gu Jinzhao and asked with a smile, “Cousin Jinzhao, you’ve been choosing for so long—aren’t you going to buy any silk?”
Gu Jinzhao quickly declined, “...I didn’t bring much silver with me today. Let’s just forget it.”Chen Yong's wife smiled and said, "Please don't stand on ceremony. Tai Furen has said that she will cover all expenses for you and Miss Lantang."
Gu Jinzhao replied that she truly didn't see anything she fancied, and after chatting for a while, the three of them strolled out of the silk shop.
Chen Yanyun ascended the stairs of the Six Harmonies Restaurant, with Jiang Yan following closely behind and whispering, "Lord Zhang has already arranged matters, but the Director of Granary Affairs is being uncooperative. Minister Zheng has transferred him to the Department of Measurement... If this comes to light, we can eliminate him immediately."
Chen Yanyun nodded slightly and said calmly, "Speak with that Director. If word gets out, even his family... shouldn't blame us for being ruthless..." Before he could finish, they had reached the second-floor terrace, where Zheng Yun, who had been waiting, clasped his hands and greeted with a smile, "Lord Chen, our esteemed guest, you've arrived late. We've been waiting for you for quite some time." With a gesture, he invited Chen to take his seat first.
Chen Yanyun smiled faintly and said, "I ran into my son on the way and gave him a few extra instructions. You gentlemen could have started without me—why wait?"
Chen Yanyun removed his overcoat and handed it to Hu Rong. Among those seated were several officials from Daxing, as well as Wang Xuanfan, the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Prudent Actions and a fellow member of the Grand Secretariat. Everyone bowed to Third Master Chen, who then exchanged greetings with Wang Xuanfan.
Wang Xuanfan chuckled and said, "I just saw Third Master lingering downstairs, looking at the Su-Hang silk shop across the way. I noticed two young noblewomen out for a stroll at the entrance. Frankly, who wouldn't want to take an extra glance at such youthful beauty?" He then called over a servant and sent him down to inquire about the ladies' identities. "...If they've caught Third Master's eye, they must be extraordinary. Your Chen family members all seem to act as if they're immune to feminine charms."
Chen Yanyun traced the rim of his wine cup and replied with a deep chuckle, "Lord Wang, I dare not accept the title 'Third Master' from you. In terms of age and seniority, you far surpass me." This Wang Xuanfan was excellent in every way except for his weakness for women—his household boasted over thirty concubines and bed-warming maids. Wang had always been at odds with Chen, and given that both served under Zhang Ju Lian, clashes were inevitable.
Wang Xuanfan's smile stiffened slightly. In terms of age and experience, he certainly wasn't inferior to Chen Yanyun, yet within the Grand Secretariat, he had to defer to Chen. It rankled him—had Chen Yanyun not been Zhang Ju Lian's protégé, would he have entered the Grand Secretariat at such a young age?
He quickly burst into laughter again, clapping Chen Yanyun on the shoulder. "Last time, when Lord Zhang heard the entire court referring to you as 'Third Master,' he joked about it too—had everyone in stitches. For Lord Zhang to hold you in such high regard is truly rare."
Just then, the servant returned with his report: "...Reporting to Lord Wang, they are the Second Miss of the Gu family in Daxing and her cousin."
Wang Xuanfan asked, "Which Gu family in Daxing?"
Someone at the table immediately chimed in, "Lord Wang may not know, but the Gu family in our Daxing is famous far and wide for producing beauties. The eldest daughter of Censor Gu married into Cangzhou, and his second daughter was betrothed to the second son of Yao Ge Lao before she even came of age. I've heard that the eldest daughter of the branch family, the one from Household Gu Langzhong, is exceptionally beautiful—though unfortunately, her reputation isn't the best, so she hasn't had many suitors."
Wang Xuanfan grinned and asked Chen Yanyun, "If Third Master has taken a liking to either of them, why not send word to the Gu family? Taking one as a concubine wouldn't be out of the question."Chen Yanyun glanced at Wang Xuanfan before smiling faintly. "...Lord Wang overestimates me. I merely thought I recognized someone familiar and looked a moment longer. Please don’t accuse me unjustly—I have no such inclinations."
Wang Xuanfan found that glance of his rather chilling.
He pondered but couldn’t pinpoint what he might have said wrong. Chen Yanyun was famously even-tempered, but once provoked, he was not someone to be trifled with... Could it be that he truly had taken a liking to that young lady from the Gu family?
Wang Xuanfan made a mental note to investigate the two Gu sisters thoroughly upon his return.
After three rounds of drinks, the gathering was in full swing.
Yet with each cup, Chen Yanyun only grew more clear-headed. His gaze drifted toward the window, where sunlight streamed in brightly.
He rose and walked to the window for some air. Jiang Yan hurried forward to assist him. "Third Master..."
Chen Yanyun’s glance silenced him instantly. Jiang Yan ventured cautiously, "Shall this humble official arrange a room for you to rest awhile?"
Chen Yanyun waved him off. "...Summon Hu Rong instead."
He stood by the window, looking down at the bustling Dezhong Quarter below—shops and teahouses lining the streets, rooftops and eaves blanketed in snow that glittered painfully bright under the sun. Before a Suzhou-Hangzhou silk merchant’s shop, a carriage waited as servants escorted three young women aboard. The one in a honey-colored winter coat with floral motifs and a pale lake-green skirt lingered behind, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear while smiling at her maid. As she moved, a black jade bracelet slipped down her wrist.
Hu Rong arrived, draping an overcoat over his shoulders. "Wasn’t that the girl who was watching us earlier? Why the interest, sir?"
Chen Yanyun smiled. "It seems... she doesn’t remember me at all."
Last time at the Ji residence, while accompanying the family to view Ji Can and Chen Xuan’s newlywed quarters, he had overheard Gu Jinzhao critiquing his painting: "The composition is grand, but this 'ascending the summit to dwarf all peaks' ambition feels rather hollow on an ordinary scholar... I’d prefer an Ink Bamboo Painting for its understated elegance." Her tone had been utterly earnest.
As a Scholar of the Two Boards who placed Second in the imperial examinations during the 31st year of Jiajing’s reign, and now Grand Secretary of the Dongge Hall serving two emperors, never had anyone called his work "hollow." He hadn’t taken offense, but when Gu Jinzhao turned and saw him, her startled expression showed no recognition.
Then again, they’d only met twice, and she’d been very young. How could she remember?
Hu Rong frowned. "You’ve met before?"
Chen Yanyun tapped the windowsill lightly, lost in thought.
She ought to be living carefree in her boudoir, awaiting marriage and domesticity—yet fate had other plans. Should the Gu family fall into turmoil, her peace would shatter. Political struggles always demanded sacrifices... He’d resolved not to intervene, but his conscience pricked him.
This shouldn’t be.
Closing his eyes briefly, he murmured, "Fetch me paper and ink."Gu Jinzhao had just boarded the carriage when Qingpu, who had folded the carriage steps, was about to follow. Suddenly, someone tugged at her sleeve. She turned to see a burly stranger who quickly handed her something, whispering, "For your mistress..." The man then walked away as casually as if he had merely been strolling by, the entire exchange happening so swiftly it seemed almost unreal.
Who was this man? And why was he giving something to the Eldest Miss?
Qingpu watched the man's retreating figure, certain that he was a trained martial artist—and a highly skilled one at that.
She pressed the object in her hand, sensing it was a rolled-up piece of paper, and discreetly tucked it into her sleeve. Chen Yong's wife was speaking to the coachman, instructing him to drive carefully, and even gave him a silver bullion as a tip.
Only then did the carriage begin to move, with the entourage following behind as they headed back to the Gu residence. Qingpu kept her hand on the paper roll, her palm growing damp with sweat.
(Note: Just one update today—writer's block has me stumped.)
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