Chapter 206: Bathing
Pulling aside the bed curtains, she lit the candles, and the room was instantly illuminated.
Jinchao lay on the wormwood, utterly exhausted. The square lantern with beaded tassels above her head swayed dizzyingly before her eyes, and she drifted off to sleep in a daze. Third Master Chen extinguished the flame of the tinderbox and turned to see her lying motionless with closed eyes, finding it somewhat peculiar.
Her small face was nestled in the crimson brocade quilt, her forehead glistening with fine beads of sweat, looking rather pitiful. Yet her breathing was even—she had actually fallen asleep...
She must be exhausted.
He sighed helplessly and strode toward the door. Jinchao's night-duty maids were waiting outside. Third Master Chen ordered hot water to be prepared, and soon the serving women carried in a huanghuali wooden bathtub. The lead servant, Mama Wang, came to ask for instructions: "...Everything is ready, should we wake the madam?"
Chen Yanyun gazed at Jinchao's sleeping face for a moment before replying softly, "...No need." He walked to the bed, scooped Gu Jinzhao up in his arms, and carried her into the bathing chamber, placing her in the tub. Only then did Mama Wang lead the two maids inside.
Third Master Chen glanced at the two maids—fifteen or sixteen years old, unfamiliar faces. One wore a brand-new silver-red sleeveless jacket, while the other was dressed in a water-green short coat, both with lowered heads. He asked Mama Wang, "Are these maids part of the madam's dowry entourage?"
Mama Wang replied, "They were originally selected by Tai Furen to serve you, but since you never used them, they were assigned to the Fourth Young Miss's quarters. Tai Furen summoned me earlier and instructed that they now be reassigned to serve the madam..."
Third Master Chen gave a noncommittal hum and said, "New maids might not be accustomed to serving her yet. Go and call the madam's personal maids in."
Mama Wang curtsied in acknowledgment and went to fetch Qingpu and Caifu.
The two maids stood awkwardly in the bathing chamber. The room was lit with candles, and moments ago, the master himself had carried the madam in for her bath. Third Master Chen wore only a straight robe, tall and upright in stature, yet his demeanor was gentle... When Mama Wang returned with Qingpu and Caifu, the two maids looked up. The maids wore satin garments and could even adorn themselves with gold bracelets or silk flowers—they must be the new madam's personal attendants.
The one in the silver-red sleeveless jacket stepped forward first and curtsied. "Greetings, elder sisters."
Mama Wang said, "Please assist the madam with her bath first." She dismissed the maids who had entered with her.
Chen Yanyun retreated to the western chamber to read while he waited.
Jinchao was gently roused by Qingpu. Only then did she notice the red candles still burning in the bathing chamber, while she herself was submerged in the warm bathtub, utterly relaxed...
"It's just past the third watch... Please get dressed first," Qingpu whispered as she helped Jinchao into her clothes.
Jinchao was now mostly awake but found herself ravenous—she hadn't eaten all day.
"Tomorrow, you'll accompany me to serve tea and meet the family, so you should rest early too," Jinchao said. "There are maids on night watch outside." She knew the two were uneasy about unfamiliar maids keeping watch over her, but being exhausted the next day would be worse.
The two smiled and complied, withdrawing from the bathing chamber.
Jinchao draped a lake-blue plain silk back robe over herself and stepped out, only to find Third Master Chen reading by lamplight. Hearing her approach, he closed his book and said, "You take the inner side of the bed." It would be better if he kept some distance from her for now.
Jinchao glanced at the daybed... Earlier, the heated bed table had been set with a feast...
Had it been cleared away?Her stomach ached with hunger, but calling for food now would be utterly improper.
Chen Yanyun hadn't heard her response and finally looked up. She wore a lake-blue jacket that made her skin appear like congealed fat—why was she looking at him like that... He averted his gaze, stood, and walked over to her, pulling her into his arms before closing the lattice window.
They lay back down on the wormwood. Third Master Chen slept on the outer side, turned away from her at a distance.
Jinchao's stomach hurt from hunger. She waited until Third Master Chen had settled before carefully shifting to find a more comfortable position.
With her eyes closed and vision obscured, her other senses sharpened unbearably. The faint scent of camellias from Jinchao's body. The soft rustling sounds of her movements, maddeningly distracting.
Third Master Chen finally couldn't take it anymore and sighed quietly, "Stop moving..."
Jinchao froze immediately—hadn't he been asleep? She whispered, "Did I disturb you? I thought you were sleeping..."
It seemed completely ineffective. No matter how far apart they lay, she was right beside him, their breaths mingling. Third Master Chen reached out again, pulling her close before pressing down on her helplessly. His voice was low: "You didn't disturb me... do you understand?"
That scorching heat... Jinchao's face flushed instantly.
Other matters she could handle—having lived two lifetimes—but this was where her experience was most lacking. How had her wedding night gone in her past life? She couldn't quite remember, only that she'd endured it with closed eyes. From start to finish, she hadn't even seen Third Master Chen's expression and had stubbornly refused to make a single sound. After one or two more attempts, he'd noticed her indifference and stopped sharing her bed altogether, moving instead to the eastern chamber near his study.
When had they ever been this intimate before...
Pinned beneath him, unable to move, her breathing gradually grew heated...
Third Master Chen thought of her earlier expression but closed his eyes briefly to restrain himself before withdrawing and covering them both with the light quilt. Then he asked, "Why can't you sleep? Are you thinking about tomorrow...?" His voice remained hoarse, desire still present.
The subject change was painfully obvious... but Jinchao welcomed it. Adjusting her position, she said, "It's nothing. I just slept too much earlier and can't fall asleep now. Dawn will come soon—you should rest..." That she was hungry was something she absolutely couldn't admit. Stomach pain could be endured—it wasn't a big deal.
They lay down again. Jinchao remained awake for a long time, staring at the scented sachets hanging from the four corners of the canopy bed, the colored lantern light filtering through the scarlet gauze curtains. A strange yet comforting feeling came over her...
Her hand suddenly brushed against something at the edge of the bed. Jinchao felt it for a moment and identified it as a peanut—likely left behind during the earlier bed-scattering ritual, not properly cleaned up by the maids. It was Wang Shi who had called them over to tidy up... Jinchao remembered this Mama Wang, Jiang Shi's wet nurse who had accompanied her as part of the dowry. Her embroidery work was excellent. In her past life, she'd never been particularly loyal but had been serviceable enough.
As these thoughts passed through her mind, the peanut had already found its way into her mouth—completely naturally. When starving, what room was there for propriety? She chewed carefully and swallowed.
A low chuckle came from beside her: "Got a little mouse over there?"
Gu Jinzhao startled—he was still awake!
Wasn't he tired? He'd spent the whole day fetching the bride, entertaining guests, and now this late-night exertion.Having experienced all sorts of situations, she remained quite composed. She explained simply, "I'm just a bit hungry."
Chen Yanyun couldn't help but laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. Clearing his throat, he said, "My apologies. I noticed you didn't touch the banquet earlier. I meant to remember, but later..." He stood and helped her up. "Have something to eat before sleeping."
Would this disturb the servants outside? By tomorrow, Madam Chen would surely hear of it—how the bride asked for food on her very first night. How would that sound? Jinchao hesitated. "It's too late now. Let's just forget it."
Chen Yanyun smiled. "No need for candles. There are tangerines and pastries in the western chamber. I'll fetch them for you..."
Was he trying to ease her worries? Gu Jinzhao propped herself up, watching as he stepped past the lattice window. Soon, he returned with tangerines and chestnut cakes, sitting by the canopy bed. His gaze still held amusement, as if she were a child sneaking snacks in bed...
The Chen Family was a prominent, scholarly household. Eating by the bedside was hardly proper—shouldn’t he mind such things?
Jinchao took the chestnut cake and moved to sit on the Grand Preceptor's chair nearby to eat.
The next morning, when Mama Wang brought sweet poached eggs for her to eat, Jinchao naturally had no appetite. She took one bite and set it aside, letting Qingpu attend to her hair and makeup.
Women’s preparations always took longer. By the time she was ready, Third Master Chen had already finished dressing and was waiting for her in the western chamber, reading a book.
Today, she would serve tea and receive greetings, and later, members of the third branch would come to pay their respects. Her attire couldn’t be too plain nor too elaborate. Jinchao chose an Auspicious Patterned Back Robe, styled her hair in a married woman’s round bun, and adorned it with a jeweled knot embedded with amethyst and pearl drops. Her striking features didn’t suit heavy makeup, so she only lightly traced her brows. Satisfied, she went to the western chamber to call for him.
Third Master Chen sipped his tea, observing her. The mature hairstyle contrasted with her youthful, radiant face, accentuating her slender neck and snow-like complexion... He nodded. "This will do."
The two then set off for Madam Chen’s residence.
The Chen Family’s rear courtyard wasn’t divided into conventional east and west wings but followed the layout of a Jiangnan garden, connected by winding corridors and pathways. As Jinchao followed Third Master Chen out of their bridal chamber, she realized they were in a three-section compound. Their chamber was located in the second section’s right wing—five main rooms and two side rooms, with covered walkways linking the eastern and western wings. The courtyard held several lush osmanthus trees, and on the right, a stone vat housed pale yellow water lilies in full bloom...
She remembered now—this residence, close to the front courtyard, was called Osmanthus Hall. In her past life, Madam Chen’s granddaughter had stayed here while living with the family. To think it had been given to her now.
Third Master Chen walked briskly but slowed his pace for her, explaining the layout of the Chen estate—which branch lived where—and the history of the compound. "...My father served as a censor in Suzhou for over a decade, so the renovations followed a garden style. Without a guide, one could easily get lost."
As the familiar scenery unfolded before her, Jinchao thought to herself—others might not know their way around, but she knew it all too well.Beyond the path lined with fragrant locust trees, the black-tiled pink walls visible among the Haitang blossoms mark Second Madam Chen's residence. Further in, past a waterside pavilion, lies the Sixth Branch's dwelling. To the other side stretches a vast bamboo grove, leading to Madam Chen's compound which connects to a small Buddhist chapel, with a lotus pond at the rear...
Though somewhat faded, the general layout remains clear.
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