Chapter 182: The Problem
When Gu Jinzhao heard Shui Ying's message, she nearly spat out her tea.
After forcing it down, she choked and coughed several times before recovering. Taking the embroidered handkerchief Caifu handed her to wipe her mouth, she asked Shui Ying, "Are you certain? Lord Chen has come to our residence, and Father wants me to help arrange the evening meal?"
Shui Ying wore a plain tea-green winter coat with vine patterns and a twin-lotus silver hairpin. Her fair complexion and watery eyes gave her a modest charm. She confirmed, "The master asked you to hurry to the outer courtyard kitchen—the sedan chair is already waiting by the screen wall. This servant still needs to inform Tai Furen and will take my leave first."
Qingpu was adding silver-frost charcoal to the brazier and warming the shoes and socks Jinzhao would wear the next day. Hearing this, she whispered to Gu Jinzhao, "Miss, why has Lord Chen come here...?" While others might not know about Jinzhao's connection with Third Master Chen, she was well aware.
Gu Jinzhao was equally puzzled. Logically, the Gu family aligned with Marquis Changxing's faction. Even if Third Master Chen acted on a whim, he wouldn't visit the Gu residence.
Unless it was related to the selection of the Ministry of Revenue's vice-minister...
Gu Jinzhao changed into an eggplant-colored satin coat and a lake-blue Xiang skirt, then draped a cloak over her shoulders before heading to the front courtyard kitchen.
The kitchen steward had just been summoned. Since the evening meal had already been served to the various households in the residence, preparing another one now had everyone in a frenzy. Stoves were lit, broth was simmered, and the steward personally supervised the selection of two tender lamb chops, eight plump crabs, and several four-gill perch.
Cooks, maids, and kitchen hands scurried about without pause.
Seeing her arrival, the steward hurriedly bowed and greeted her, then asked, "...Does Second Miss have any instructions? Would you like to review the dishes? This humble one was just wondering whether to serve Autumn Dew White Wine or Bamboo Pit Viper for the occasion."
At this hour, the ladies of the second and fifth branches had already retired. With no one else to consult, the steward naturally sought her opinion.
Gu Jinzhao had come intending to offer advice. After all, in her past life, she had been part of the Chen family—surely she knew something about Third Master Chen's culinary preferences. But now, faced with the chaos of the outer courtyard kitchen, her head spun.
What did Chen Yanyun like to eat? How would she know? She had only recently discovered he disliked sweets!
Behind her, Madam Feng arrived upon hearing the news.
Supported by two matrons and followed by several stewards, Madam Feng crowded the kitchen to the point of congestion. Everyone bowed in greeting, and the steward was especially surprised—Madam Feng disliked the kitchen, considering it unclean, yet she had come in person today.
Frowning, Madam Feng scolded the steward, "...Why are you still dawdling? The lamb chops have only just begun marinating—how will they be ready in time?" She then directed the skilled cooks among her entourage to assist.
"Send someone to the western courtyard to fetch Second Master and have him join Fourth Master. No need to bother Fifth Master..." Madam Feng meticulously arranged everything, anxious to leave no detail overlooked. Once the evening meal was finally settled, she noticed Gu Jinzhao still standing in the kitchen and said, "Chaojie, keep an eye on things here. I’ll go to your father first."
Gu Jinzhao paused briefly before acknowledging. Madam Feng smoothed her immaculate hair and left with her matrons for her husband's quarters.Gu Jinzhao gazed at the bright waning moon outside the window before taking a deep breath and instructing the kitchen steward, "No wine should be served. The lamb chops aren't necessary either—steam the four-gill perch... and add a few vegetarian dishes."
There wasn't much else she knew, but she still remembered that Third Master Chen disliked drinking alcohol.
Unless absolutely necessary, he would never touch wine at banquets.
Gu Jinzhao suddenly recalled that not long after she married into the Chen family, Chen Xuanqing had passed the imperial examinations as a jinshi and was subsequently honored by the emperor as the Third Scholar. She had sat at the banquet watching Chen Xuanqing surrounded by admirers—a young jinshi , full of ambition and vigor. His refined face bore a faint smile, and his normally distant, immortal-like brows and eyes had softened slightly.
She had stared at him unblinkingly for a while, until Chen Xuanqing left the banquet to find Yu Wanxue in the flower hall.
He had said something to Yu Wanxue with a faint smile, then reached out to wipe the corner of her lips. Yu Wanxue had blushed as she looked up at him.
Gu Jinzhao had found the sight unbearably irritating. Determined to spite Yu Wanxue, she had ordered a maid to bring Chen Xuanqing a bowl of sobering soup. Still unsatisfied, she then sent Liu Xiang to summon Yu Wanxue, claiming she wanted to eat fish and needed Yu Wanxue to pick out the bones for her.
That night, when she returned to her chambers, Third Master Chen was reclining on the Arhat bed, eyes closed as he counted his Buddhist beads, waiting for her.
Not a single maid was in the room. Gu Jinzhao had caught the strong scent of alcohol.
Frowning, she had called for maids to help him change.
But Third Master Chen had opened his eyes. Staring coldly at her, he had asked softly, "Aren't you going to brew me sobering soup?"
Gu Jinzhao had curtsied and replied, "Third Master jests. If you wish to drink it, this humble wife will have it prepared at once."
Chen Yanyun had remained silent for a long time before finally saying indifferently, "...You are the Third Madam of the Chen family. Remember your position." Without another glance at her, a trace of weariness had surfaced between his brows. He was heavily drunk—after standing, he had swayed and steadied himself against a side table before summoning a servant to fetch his cloak. Then, without looking back, he had left. From that day onward, he never stepped foot in her chambers again.
Gu Jinzhao remembered how she had watched coldly from the side, not even considering reaching out to steady him.
...That was likely the most emotion Chen Yanyun had ever shown her.
Looking back now, Gu Jinzhao naturally found her past self utterly absurd. But upon deeper reflection, she suddenly understood—back then, Third Master Chen must have already discerned her feelings. No wonder he had treated her with such indifference afterward.
Gu Jinzhao sighed. She owed Third Master Chen far too much.
Before long, Gu Dezhao sent a servant to inform her, "...Fourth Master says to prepare a few plates of pastries first and bring them up."
Gu Jinzhao then had the kitchen steward clear a space and personally made several light pastries—cloud hemp leaf cakes, red bean paste balls, and crispy fried cashews. After some thought, she personally delivered them to her father with her maids in tow.
Gu Dezhao had taken the carriage back to the Gu residence first and, upon arrival, immediately instructed a maid to relay a message to Madam Feng. He then hurried to the screen wall to welcome Third Master Chen, escorting him to the banquet and rest area for a brief seat. Smiling, he said, "Lord Chen, please rest a while... This humble official has already arranged the evening meal."
Third Master Chen paused upon hearing this and replied, "Magistrate Gu, there’s no need to rush. I didn’t come here solely for dinner—just to chat with you for a bit."
Gu Dezhao felt his scalp tighten at those words.
What in the world did Third Master Chen have to chat with him about...?The servant brought in the tea, which Third Master Chen took first. He poured himself a cup unhurriedly, then one for Gu Dezhao. Slowly, he asked, "Magistrate Gu, you've served in the Ministry of Revenue for eight years now. As the Director of the Treasury Bureau, overseeing weights and measures, and managing the markets of both capitals as well as the palace markets... do you know how much silver passes through the Treasury Director's hands in a month?"
Gu Dezhao thought for a moment before replying, "This official does not know." He performed his duties within his own position and never inquired about matters of the Treasury Bureau. Asking too much might breed suspicion among colleagues.
What did Third Master Chen mean by this? Could it be that the meal was just a pretense, and the real purpose was to assess his suitability for promotion to Vice Minister of Revenue?
The more Gu Dezhao thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He couldn't help but regret answering so hastily...
Third Master Chen took a sip of tea—the finest Ten Thousand Springs Silver Leaf.
He set down the cup without showing any expression and continued, "The Director of the Budget Bureau is responsible for determining the amounts of taxes and tributes nationwide, the profits from land and water transportation routes. Each year, they calculate expenditures against income, regulate the transportation and collection of taxes, all according to established procedures while controlling the pace... What does Magistrate Gu think of Wang Yu, the current Director of the Budget Bureau?"
Gu Dezhao now responded more carefully, weighing his words: "Magistrate Wang is diligent in his duties. This official often interacts with him and finds him to be a rare and honest man. The officials of the Budget Bureau, both high and low, also hold Magistrate Wang in great respect."
Third Master Chen gazed at his teacup in thought for a moment, then ceased questioning Gu Dezhao. Instead, he turned the conversation to tea: "...Since the Magistrate enjoys tea, I find that Ten Thousand Springs Silver Leaf is rather cooling in nature. Given the Magistrate's current state of melancholy and physical weakness with a cold stomach, it would be better to drink boiled water."
Gu Dezhao breathed a sigh of relief and continued conversing with Third Master Chen.
After a while, Madam Feng arrived, only to find Third Master Chen's guards stationed outside the banquet and rest area. A guard with a purplish complexion, dressed in a Chengzi uniform, approached her with a cupped-hand salute and said, "We beg the Elder Madam's pardon, but our Third Master has given orders that no one is to enter. Might you wait outside for a short while?"
Madam Feng frowned. "This is really..." This was the Gu residence, after all. To bar her entry? How preposterous!
Gu Deyuan, dressed in his fourth-rank official robes, stood nearby and quickly pulled Madam Feng aside, whispering, "Mother, let us speak in the side hall." Leading her past the covered corridor, he continued in a hushed voice, "That man is Lord Chen's most trusted guard. We must not provoke him. If he says we must wait, then we wait. We must not offend him."
Madam Feng whispered back, "I know... but with Fourth Brother having connections to Third Master Chen, if you could go and say a few words, wouldn't that be a chance to gain some recognition..."
Gu Deyuan sighed. "It's not that simple."
Truth be told, Madam Feng was just a woman—what did she know of court affairs!
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