Chapter 165: Seeking Help
Outside the mutton shop, a large pot of mutton soup simmered, its steam drifting in through the lattice windows.
Faint cries of street vendors echoed in the distance, accompanied by the rhythmic clinking of a peddler’s stick as he walked.
Gu Jinzhao lowered her gaze to the honey-colored scented sachet embroidered with orchids hanging at her waist, her mind swirling with countless thoughts.
Surely Third Master Chen wouldn’t go so far as to silence her…
Noticing her silence, Third Master Chen found it amusing that she seemed afraid of him now. “Only now do you feel fear?” he remarked. “You’re quite bold for a young lady—sneaking out alone, stopping the carriage of a second-rank official, and inviting me for mutton soup. I thought you feared nothing.”
His tone was chiding, like scolding a child, but without malice.
Indeed, at just sixteen, what was she to Third Master Chen? He probably didn’t even consider her worth the effort of reprimanding.
Strangely, this realization steadied Jinzhao. Softly, she said, “Lord Chen wields immense power—it’s only natural I’d be afraid. I came to you because I truly have no other recourse. I thought… perhaps you had your own reasons for wanting to help the Gu family. It seems I overestimated myself.”
Third Master Chen raised a hand gently, signaling her to pause. “Though I don’t know where you heard about Lord Wang’s affairs, don’t speculate recklessly. I’ll pretend I never heard this, and you should never speak of it to anyone else. Such words could bring you fatal consequences.”
Leaning back in his chair, he continued leisurely, “Your father and I were scholars who passed the imperial exams a year apart. When he first joined the Ministry of Revenue for observation, he worked under Lord Wen, then the Director of the Department of Measurement. Lord Wen and I were close despite our age difference. He admired your father’s talent and often looked out for him. After retiring to his hometown in Wuhu, Anhui, he wrote to me last year, asking me to watch over your father.”
Jinzhao remembered this—Lord Wen was an elderly scholar she had met as a child. After his retirement, her father had turned to Lin Xianzong for patronage.
Was this truly because of Lord Wen?
Her eyes met Chen Yanyun’s, and she found herself drowning in their unfathomable depths. Instinctively, she took a step back.
Chen Yanyun wasn’t finished. His voice was deliberate. “Given this connection, ensuring your father’s survival is already more than enough. Asking me to intervene further would place me in an untenable position.”
Jinzhao’s expression darkened. So, he refused to help. Lowering her voice, she said, “Lord Chen, I shouldn’t overstep, but this relief grain crisis doesn’t just involve my father—it concerns hundreds of thousands of starving people in Shanxi. In times of famine, desperation drives people to sell their children… As the Minister of Revenue, your decisions shape lives. How will history judge your choices?”
The words felt dangerously bold the moment they left her lips. She didn’t truly understand Chen Yanyun. If he were a corrupt official, why had his years in office seen reduced taxes and prosperity, with no trace of embezzlement? Yet if he were virtuous, how could he have abetted Zhang Ju Lian in so many unscrupulous deeds?
Without waiting for his reply, Jinzhao curtseyed and turned to leave.
The smile on Third Master Chen’s face finally faded.
Though he saw no need to explain himself, the sight of her despondent figure tugged at his conscience.He tightened the string of Kynam Agarwood Beads in his hand and said lightly, "You're still so young, how could you understand these things... Ordinary people only see the surface. Good is good, bad is bad. But some matters are inherently complex."
He couldn't act as he pleased—he was constrained by many things. Political struggles were intricate affairs, unpredictable and treacherous. A single misstep could jeopardize the Chen Family's century-old foundation.
Gu Jinzhao hadn't expected Chen Yanyun to speak to her like this. After a moment of silence, she replied, "Regardless, I must thank you for the warning, sir. It's getting late, so I shall take my leave."
She turned and walked toward the door.
Chen Yanyun sighed. "...Did you bring paper and brush?"
Gu Jinzhao's steps halted.
Qingpu went outside to purchase ink, brush, paper, and inkstone.
Jiang Yan helped Third Master Chen spread out the xuan paper, feeling as though he were in a dream. Since when was Third Master Chen so accommodating?
He stole a glance at the unfamiliar yet strikingly beautiful young woman seated nearby. He had never seen a maiden so radiantly lovely. It was the height of spring, with warm days and blooming crabapple flowers—she looked like a painting.
Third Master's attitude toward that note had been odd too... He must have met this woman before.
The daughter of Physician Gu.
Third Master had just asked him about Physician Gu earlier.
Whoever this woman was, Jiang Yan disapproved of Third Master's actions. Second Master Chen was returning to the capital from Shaanxi tonight to report on his duties. If Third Master delayed any longer here, it would be dark by the time they reached Wanping. Moreover, this woman spoke openly about Shanxi disaster relief—hardly the behavior of an ordinary young lady.
Jiang Yan sensed trouble brewing.
Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhao watched as Third Master Chen leisurely ground the ink, dipped his brush, and began writing.
"Have your father take this letter overnight to Tongzhou and find Granary Supervisor Ding Yongmo. They'll know what to do."
Was Third Master planning to use Tongzhou's granary reserves to cover Daxing's shortfall? But what if they were discovered?
Third Master set down his brush. "The Tongzhou granary holds over 700,000 dan of grain. Unless there's war or large-scale famine, it's rarely touched." The granary stores were the nation's foundation, strictly guarded—they wouldn't be opened unless the country's stability was threatened. He paused, then continued, "With peace across the land except for occasional Japanese pirate raids along the southeast coast, there's no need for Tongzhou's grain. This year's heavy snowfall means we can replenish the granary with new harvest next year. The older stock will be distributed to Beijing's major grain merchants then—just keep the accounts proper and no one will know."
Noticing Gu Jinzhao's strange expression, he added, "...Ding Yongmo is my protégé. But tell your father to watch carefully—if the letter isn't destroyed immediately after reading, he must inform me. Understood?"
Gu Jinzhao nodded, then suddenly asked, "...Do you write with your left hand?"
Third Master Chen smiled. "What, does it surprise you?"
It wasn't surprise—she felt an indescribable emotion stirring within her.
In her past life, she had been married to Third Master Chen for years, yet she'd never noticed he was left-handed.
And so naturally so at that.
As Third Master finished writing and set aside his brush, Jiang Yan immediately produced a carved seal wrapped in red silk from his sleeve. After stamping the letter with his seal, Third Master placed it in an envelope and handed it to Gu Jinzhao.Gu Jinzhao felt the envelope weighed a thousand pounds in her hand, yet there was an unreal sensation in her heart. Did Third Master Chen truly agree to help them? And even wrote her a letter? What exactly was inside? Could he have written something else entirely?
She eyed the envelope suspiciously.
Third Master Chen found her expression amusing. Taking a sip of tea, he said, "Don’t let curiosity tempt you to open it. If you do, the letter will be void. Ding Yongmo will be able to tell." Though he trusted Gu Jinzhao, he did not trust the Gu Family behind her. They had special methods to detect whether an envelope had been tampered with—it would be obvious at a glance.
Gu Jinzhao nodded and bowed again. "Rest assured, my lord, this matter will not implicate you. Such great kindness is beyond words of gratitude, and you have no need for my humble assistance… But should you ever require it, my father and I will spare no effort to aid you."
Chen Yanyun replied, "Helping you is also helping myself. There’s no need for thanks." If Wang Xuanfan failed in handling the disaster relief grain, delaying Shanxi’s aid efforts would be out of the question—it wasn’t without benefit to him. In a way, he was also helping the common people this once.
"You needn’t make promises. If you do implicate me, whether the Chen Family suffers consequences or not, I won’t say, but the Gu Family will undoubtedly face utter ruin."
He added with a smile.
Jiang Yan helped him drape his overcoat. In a gentle tone, he bid farewell to Gu Jinzhao. But as he reached the doorway, he paused and turned back to look at her, asking, "...You truly don’t remember?"
The sun was setting outside, casting its glow over the bluestone street, where remnants of snow lay like a blanket. The sunlight was unusually bright, and with Third Master Chen silhouetted against it, she couldn’t make out his expression.
Gu Jinzhao wondered if she had misheard. "What did you say?" she asked.
Third Master Chen chuckled, waved his hand dismissively, and said nothing more before finally turning and disappearing from sight.
Clutching the letter in her hand, Gu Jinzhao felt utterly bewildered.
But her father’s matter couldn’t be delayed any longer—she ought to return quickly.
She promptly took Qingpu and left Lanxi Lane by carriage.
P.S.: There’s a second update today~~
But when I tried to upload it, the backend nearly froze on me. Folks, I finally managed to squeeze through!
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