Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 210: Morning Exercise

Jinchao woke up just after mao hour (5-7 AM).

In the early summer season, the sky outside the lattice window was already bright, and the light filtered dimly through the bed curtains, casting a warm reddish hue.

For a moment, Jinchao thought she should get up to pay respects to Madam Feng, but then she remembered—she was already married... She instinctively turned her head and found the bedding beside her in disarray, but no one was there.

She called for Qingpu, but it was Xiuqu who lifted the curtain and entered. Now a second-rank maid, Xiuqu wore a plain satin beizi and curtsied with a smile. "Madam is awake. Sister Qingpu went to oversee your breakfast." After hanging up the bed curtains, she came over to help Jinchao dress.

Jinchao asked her, "Did the Third Master leave early?"

Xiuqu replied, "The Third Master specifically mentioned that he went for his morning exercise first and asked you to have breakfast without waiting for him."

Mama Wang led Caifu and others in, carrying a red-lacquered square tray with clothes. Jinchao glanced at Caifu, who smiled and said, "Mama Wang picked a bright red beizi with wide sleeves for you." Mama Wang added with a smile, "Miss Caifu chose a lilac-colored beizi, but I thought it was too plain. You're a new bride, so wearing bright red would be more fitting."

Jinchao smiled faintly. Her first-rank maids were brought in by Mama Wang, who even helped select her beizi—acting as though she were her personal attendant. Though she was a new bride, she was still a second wife, so she had to be cautious in all matters. Wearing bright red for one day was enough.

Jinchao recalled how, in her past life, she had known nothing when she married into the family. Back then, only Liu Xiang was somewhat clever among her maids, and the two matrons assigned to her by Concubine Song were clueless about household management. Left with no choice, she had to rely on Mama Wang for everything. Mama Wang had been left behind by Jiang Shi and remained loyal to her. Jinchao treated all of Jiang Shi’s former servants kindly, and gradually, her authority among the servants grew. Once, when Jinchao wanted to investigate the theft of a coral bracelet from Chen Xi’s room, all the maidservants kept their heads down in silence. It wasn’t until Mama Wang sharply reprimanded them that they knelt in fear.

It was then that Gu Jinzhao began to regard Mama Wang with wariness.

The woman was formidable, fearing that Jinchao might seize Chen Xi’s dowry. She secretly recorded the daily expenses of Jinchao’s household. Though Jinchao had married into the family for other reasons, she had never treated Chen Xi poorly, considering her Chen Xuanqing’s sister and occasionally showing her concern.

Mama Wang, worried that the young Chen Xi might forget Jiang Shi and grow close to her stepmother, often reminded Chen Xi of how gentle, respectful, and virtuous Jiang Shi had been, urging her to remember her birth mother and not trust others easily. Yet she never mentioned a single thing Jinchao had done for Chen Xi. Over time, Jinchao noticed Chen Xi becoming increasingly hostile toward her and eventually stopped bothering with her. Under Mama Wang’s influence, Chen Xi grew increasingly petty. Once, she quarreled with the sixth young miss of the Wu family over a hairpin. Unable to out-argue the other girl, she returned home in tears and refused to eat for days.

Now that Jinchao intended to manage things properly in this life, she wouldn’t allow Mama Wang to gain undue influence again—nor let her lead Chen Xi astray. The girl was pitiable enough as it was.Jinchao smiled and said, "Mama Wang, as someone left behind by the late madam, your experience and maturity are natural. There are many things in this household I'm unaware of, and I'll need to seek your guidance often. Mother must have had her reasons for assigning you to serve me. Since you'll be attending to me from now on—Xiuqu." She called out, and Xiuqu curtsied in acknowledgment. "Share my daily preferences with Mama Wang in detail later."

Mama Wang bowed and replied, "The madam is most considerate. This servant will carefully note everything Miss Xiuqu says."

Jinchao nodded. "Good. I’ve always preferred plain and simple attire. Caifu, bring the lilac-colored one instead." Caifu immediately complied and left.

Only then did Mama Wang realize Jinchao’s roundabout remarks were meant to point out her poor choice of clothing. Her heart tightened, and she hurriedly said, "This servant overstepped!"

Jinchao replied leisurely, "You weren’t familiar with my preferences. How could I blame you?"

Mama Wang smiled and withdrew to arrange breakfast.

After washing up and finishing breakfast, Jinchao took a full tour of Osmanthus Hall. The day before, Third Master Chen had only shown her the layout without explaining each room’s purpose. Now, seeing it all, she understood. At the front were the reverse-sitting rooms, now repurposed as her storerooms. The first courtyard held the reception hall, with towering pines and locust trees in the front yard, their dense shade providing coolness in summer. The second courtyard housed her five main rooms, while the third led to a garden with a small pond, white stone steps, and a grove of tung trees. The rear rooms were the maids’ quarters.

The garden was sparsely maintained. Jinchao eyed the pond, thinking water lilies would be a lovely addition.

Just then, a maid came to report that Third Master had returned.

Jinchao returned to the main rooms to find Third Master Chen eating noodles in the East Side Room. He ate the bowl of sliced meat noodles slowly and methodically but finished quickly. Jinchao handed him a towel, which he used to wipe his mouth before gesturing for her to sit opposite him.

"Did you and Mother tour the estate yesterday?" he asked.

Jinchao nodded.

"Did you enjoy it?" he pressed.

Walking around wasn’t exactly enjoyable, but after a moment’s thought, she replied, "I only just learned that you learned to swim in the lotus pond behind Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard."

Third Master chuckled, his gaze nostalgic. "I was a mischievous child. Playing hide-and-seek with Fourth and Fifth Brothers, I hid there where no one could find me."

Fifth Brother... did he mean Fifth Master Chen? Jinchao had never heard anyone mention him before. She only recalled an elderly nursemaid saying he was a concubine-born son who died young.

Madam Chen had told her the story, saying that despite Chen Yanyun now being a high-ranking official, he’d been quite the troublemaker as a boy. His brothers had dragged him into playing hide-and-seek, and though he’d acted reluctant, he’d hidden so well no one could find him. Later, they discovered he’d been submerged in the lotus pond, breathing through a thin bamboo stalk...

"They searched for half an hour without success, and his nursemaid was beside herself with worry. Then they spotted his clothes floating on the water, and the old woman nearly fainted in fright. They rushed to fish him out, only to realize he hadn’t fallen in—he’d been hiding underwater the whole time..."

Madam Chen had recounted this with a laugh.

Jinchao had asked with interest, "What happened after that?"Madam Chen said, "What else could it be? He came back with a high fever, delirious from the heat. Everyone was running around in circles. When he finally woke up, he insisted on finding his fourth brother, saying it should be his fourth brother's turn to come looking for him next time—he was so serious about it... Everyone didn't know whether to laugh or cry."

Jinchao couldn't help but smile at the memory.

Third Master Chen glanced at her, and Jinchao immediately lowered her head, though her smile remained.

Chen Yanyun said, "Holding it in isn't good. If you want to laugh, just laugh openly."

Jinchao replied, "How could I... No wonder you're so good at swimming..." Her last words were spoken softly, recalling how it was Third Master Chen who had rescued her when she fell into the water at the Ji family's residence.

After a moment's thought, she asked, "Do you practice martial arts in the mornings?" Third Master Chen ought to share his daily routine with her so she could prepare accordingly.

Third Master Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the table, considering before answering, "In my early years, I learned swordplay from my father. I practice with the sword every morning. There's a training ground at Crane Extension Tower where my personal guards and assassins reside." He hesitated slightly before continuing slowly, "Jinchao, given my current position, life isn't always peaceful. Even if there's a day without guards, I must be able to defend myself. When you go out in the future, you must have guards I personally assign accompanying you..."

This was the first time Gu Jinzhao had heard Chen Yanyun call her name so gently.

Yet his words carried great gravity, and after speaking, he looked up at her.

Gu Jinzhao nodded with a smile, "Yes, I understand." She remembered how, in her past life, Third Master Chen had been assassinated—something about investigating a corrupt provincial governor. He had been injured then, throwing the entire household into turmoil. Chen Yi and others had knelt outside his door, awaiting punishment. She had only heard fragments and couldn't recall anything about the governor...

Jinchao chided herself for her past carelessness and placed her hand on Chen Yanyun's shoulder, speaking earnestly, "Then you must be extra careful in your daily life..."

Chen Yanyun smiled, taking her hand from his shoulder and holding it in his own. He kissed her delicate, pale pink fingertips and said, "Alright."

Jinchao felt her fingers burn and quickly withdrew her hand, saying, "I also wanted to ask about your morning court duties..."

Chen Yanyun finally looked away from her hand—her slender fingers, tender as polished jade—and responded, "What would you like to know?"

Jinchao asked many questions, and Chen Yanyun answered each one. Gradually, she began to understand his routine: he rose early for martial practice, had breakfast, then went to his office. Morning court was held once every six days, with rest days on the first and fifteenth of the month. On court days, he rose earlier, dressed in full court attire. If Grand Secretariat affairs were light, he would return by mid-afternoon; if heavy, he might not return at all, as there were designated resting quarters there. In his free time, he occasionally went horseback riding with Duke Zheng or socialized with various officials. When truly at leisure, he read.

After her questions, Third Master Chen said to her, "...I noticed your maids arranging the furnishings. Leave the side room in the front hall of Osmanthus Hall untouched. For convenience, I'll move some frequently read books there. You can take them to read whenever you wish." Jinchao had also brought some books over, but her study had yet to be set up. Married women typically didn't have studies, but she longed for such a quiet space for her own thoughts. Hearing this, her heart stirred, and she asked softly, "Third Master, may I have a study?"Third Master Chen thought for a moment and said to her, "Why not share a room with me? I'll just add a few more Curio Cabinets. We can set up a folding screen, and place your desk behind it. You'll also have the window nearby for fresh air. What do you think?"

Jinchao thought to herself that she didn't want to mix her casual reading materials with the Grand Secretariat academic's collection... Aside from books on epigraphy and connoisseurship, she often read miscellaneous notes and unofficial histories. What if Third Master Chen saw them? His scholarship was so profound—he might laugh at her.

Seeing her silence, Chen Yanyun assumed she was unwilling and said with a gentle sigh, "Never mind then. How about the eastern side chamber? It has an underfloor heating system, so you can stay warm in winter."

Jinchao thought this arrangement wasn't bad either. Reading was a quiet activity after all, and she often practiced the zither—it might disturb Third Master Chen.