Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 218: Apology

When her monthly cycle arrived, Gu Jinzhao felt less inclined to move around. After returning from paying respects to Madam Chen in the morning, she sat on the Arhat bed embroidering a cloak for the Third Master. Xiuqu lifted the curtain and entered, informing her that the three concubines had arrived.

Each concubine entered with her personal maid in tow, greeting Jinzhao in turn.

Concubine Xue bowed with a smile and said, "Last night, when I came to pay my respects, the Third Master mentioned you had already retired. So I thought to make up for it by coming early this morning."

A maid brought stools for the concubines to sit. The maid behind Concubine Lu carried a red-lacquered food box, which she took and opened, retrieving a purple clay bowl to place on the heated bed table. "The Third Master mentioned you were unwell, so I prepared some cordyceps and duck soup. Please taste it and see if the seasoning is to your liking."

Qingpu came forward to serve a bowl to Jinzhao. Though Jinzhao wasn’t fond of tonic soups, she took a sip before setting it aside.

When she looked up, she noticed Concubine Lu’s expression was full of unease.

Jinzhao then said, "You’ve been thoughtful, Concubine Lu. Please sit." Concubine Lu relaxed visibly and took her seat.

Jinzhao mused to herself that she had set the rule for the concubines to pay their respects on the first and fifteenth days of the month to avoid unnecessary trouble. Yet when the time came, they competed to show their eagerness, fearing they might lose her favor. For concubines of low status, their very survival depended on her word.

Concubine Xue glanced at the cloak she was embroidering and smiled again. "Your needlework is truly exquisite, Madam—so lifelike. I always thought my embroidery was the best among us sisters, but seeing yours, I realize how far I fall short." In the half-month since Gu Jinzhao had married into the Chen Family, she had remained composed and aloof, as if the concubines didn’t exist. This unsettled Concubine Xue. To be so young yet so unshakably poised—she was clearly no ordinary woman.

It couldn’t hurt to curry favor. Concubine Xue was past her prime; if she didn’t rely on the mistress, who else could she turn to?

Yu Xianyin had remained silent until now. Dressed in a pale purple jacket embroidered with dendrobium orchids, her skin flawless and luminous, she finally spoke. "This must be for the Third Master, given the colors and patterns. It’s truly beautifully made..."

Her words were slightly out of place. When no one responded, she tensed and added, "If only I had even a fraction of your skill, Madam."

Realizing this wasn’t any better, she sipped her tea and fell silent.

Gu Jinzhao wasn’t bothered. In her past life, Yu Xianyin had never been good with words. Those who didn’t know her might think her narrow-minded, but it was simply that she lacked tact.

After a moment’s thought, Jinzhao said, "The Carp-envying Pavilion is quite a distance, and it must be inconvenient for you all to come and go. If you lack anything, send someone to inform me. Otherwise, you may occupy yourselves with needlework. When I last visited the pavilion, I noticed Concubine Xue’s screen embroidery was quite fine..." Giving them tasks would keep them from idleness and the mischief it might breed.

A faint smile appeared on Concubine Xue’s face.

Soon after, Caifu brought in longan and brown sugar water, which Concubine Xue took and helped Jinzhao drink.

Once the three concubines had withdrawn, Mama Wang bowed and said, "Madam, there’s no need to be so gentle with them. Concubines must be kept in check. When the previous mistress was alive, the concubines took turns serving her, standing for hours on end..."Jinchao glanced at Mama Wang and said, "I prefer to be served by those I'm close to. Whether they're easy to handle or not doesn't matter much, as long as they don't make me uncomfortable."

Mama Wang smiled. "Naturally, the mistress's preference comes first. Last night... it seemed the mistress was having her monthly courses?"

Gu Jinzhao remained silent, lowering her head to sip her tea.

Mama Wang continued, "Third Master observed three years of mourning for the late Grand Master, followed by two years for his previous wife. He hasn't had a bed-warming maid all this while... Now that the mistress is indisposed during her courses, it might be difficult to attend to him properly. Perhaps you could arrange for a bed-warming maid?" She hesitated before adding, "This servant notices that Concubine Yu hasn't yet served..."

At her words, the maids standing in the room couldn't help but shift uncomfortably.

Gu Jinzhao was taken aback. Suddenly, she recalled what Third Master Chen had whispered in her ear the previous night. He treated her so well... Most men, apart from having concubines, naturally kept bed-warming maids for convenience when their wives were unavailable. Third Master Chen wasn't one to indulge in women—in his previous life, he had lived alone, abstaining from female company with such restraint that he never even mentioned concubines or bed-warming maids in her presence... What would he think now?

Mama Wang's suggestion about the bed-warming maid was likely out of concern that if things continued this way, Gu Jinzhao might conceive too soon, which wouldn't be favorable for the child left behind by Jiang Shi. Gu Jinzhao replied coolly, "There's no need for you to worry about this matter. Last time, I asked for the stewards managing the villa and shopfronts to come report. Have you summoned them yet?"

Mama Wang said, "This servant spoke out of turn! I've already sent someone to relay the message. They should arrive within the next two days."

The thought of Third Master Chen treating another woman with the same kindness made her uneasy. She took a deep breath, realizing how frightening habits could be. A woman's jealousy was considered one of the seven grounds for divorce—she couldn't refuse outright. She ought to ask Third Master's opinion.

Before long, Chen Xi arrived, accompanied by her maid Qiutang.

Qiutang was fourteen, with delicate features, dressed in a blue-purple sleeveless jacket. She hovered protectively behind Chen Xi, curtsying respectfully to Gu Jinzhao.

Mama Wang, however, brightened at the sight of Chen Xi and called out, "Fourth Miss!"

Chen Xi hurried forward, her eyes wide as she whispered, "Mother... were you all right yesterday?"

Jinchao motioned for her to sit beside her, thinking the summer heat must have made the journey uncomfortable for the child. She then instructed Qingpu to fetch some chilled sugarcane juice and smiled, shaking her head. "I'm fine."

Chen Xi exhaled in relief and said, "Grandmother told me to thank you." Still too young to fully grasp the situation, she paused before pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve. "...I embroidered this handkerchief a few days ago. I want to give it to you."

On it was a red dragonfly, its eyes embroidered large and round, somewhat resembling Chen Xi herself.

Jinchao smiled, patting her head. "Mm, our Xi Jie'er did a wonderful job." She certainly wouldn't judge a child's handiwork with a critical eye.

Chen Xi beamed, grinning shyly. "Then I'll embroider more for you."

Qingpu returned with the sugarcane juice, and Chen Xi sipped it slowly, her eyes darting curiously around the room.

Remembering the lotus pond screen Chen Xi had mentioned earlier, Jinchao ordered the servants to fetch it from the storeroom. Chen Xi slid down from the Arhat bed and circled the screen several times, utterly mesmerized. Pointing at the lotus flowers, she exclaimed, "An Momo could never embroider such beautiful lotuses—they look like real flowers growing in a pond... Did you really embroider this?"Jinchao nodded with a smile and said to her, "I'll have someone bring it over to you this afternoon, alright?"

Chen Xi gave a soft hum of agreement but then approached somewhat shyly, "...Could I learn from you?"

...

Jinchao had someone carry out a large embroidery frame and set it under the shade of a tree in the courtyard. The maids also brought out a long table, a sewing basket, and an embroidered stool. Jinchao had studied Su embroidery and Shu embroidery, and the silk threads were arranged by color on the embroidery stand, looking quite beautiful.

"For the lotus petals, use layered stitching, and for the stems, use slanting twined stitches..." Jinchao had Chen Xi bring a small stool to sit beside her as she demonstrated the technique.

A maid came to report that the Seventh Young Master had arrived.

Gu Jinzhao frowned slightly. What was he doing here?

Chen Xi, however, was delighted and straightened up to look around, "Seventh Brother is here?"

Jinchao instructed Xiangye to escort Chen Xuanqing to the flower hall for a conversation and served him a cup of scented tea.

Chen Xuanqing was dressed in a straight robe adorned with cloud patterns, his posture upright and his features as refined as a painting. Chen Xi tugged at his hand, "Seventh Brother, Mother is teaching me needlework... Her embroidery is so beautiful, and there’s even a lotus pond screen."

Held by his younger sister, Chen Xuanqing looked somewhat helpless. He had already seen the large embroidery frame in the courtyard on his way over—a delicate pink lotus so lifelike it seemed to sway in a gentle breeze, with tender new leaves.

When had her embroidery skills improved so much? When she gave him that scented sachet, it had been quite clumsy.

Qingpu took Chen Xi to the side room to enjoy some freshly made pea cakes.

By the time they returned to the flower hall, Chen Xuanqing fell silent as Gu Jinzhao invited him to sit.

"I came to apologize..." he said quietly. "That cup of tea was placed on the side table by me."

Gu Jinzhao smiled faintly. "Xi Jie'er was sitting beside that table. Even if you wanted to harm me, you probably wouldn’t have risked involving her." It was just an accident, and she had no intention of holding it against Chen Xuanqing.

"I... never meant to harm you." Chen Xuanqing didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the privet trees planted outside the pavilion.

Gu Jinzhao recalled how, in her past life, he had stood before her, looking down with icy indifference. Back then, she hadn’t realized that someone usually so gentle could become so ruthless when hardened. There was no tenderness or mercy—he had treated her like a venomous scorpion, never showing the slightest leniency.

"I understand. If the Seventh Young Master has nothing else, I’ll take my leave now." There was no reason for her to be warm when he offered no kindness in return. Gu Jinzhao nodded and rose to head toward the side room.

Chen Xuanqing had ignored her countless times before, but this was the first time he had seen Gu Jinzhao treat him this way.

Pressing his lips together, Chen Xuanqing walked to the side room and overheard Chen Xi whispering to Gu Jinzhao. It seemed he had misjudged her—Gu Jinzhao truly treated Chen Xi very well.

That was good. Chen Xuanqing exhaled in relief. His left hand slipped into his sleeve, where the scar from her bite remained. Every time he saw it, he felt uneasy. How could a woman be so lacking in propriety... But how could someone change so drastically? Gu Jinzhao really didn’t like him anymore, and Chen Xuanqing could sense it. The person who had once clung to him, chased after him, and tried so hard to please him had changed—it was a strange feeling.

During dinner, Jinchao took Chen Xi with her to pay respects to Madam Chen.

Madam Chen wanted to offer her some chilled plum soup, but Gu Jinzhao declined with a smile, explaining softly that it was her time of the month. Madam Chen was a little disappointed but had her stay for dinner without bringing up the matter of bed-warming maids or concubines.When Gu Jinzhao returned, Chen Yanyun had just changed out of his official robe and was wearing a navy blue Straight Robe.

"Have you eaten at Mother's place?" Chen Yanyun asked her.

Jinchao had the maids set up dinner on the Heated Bed Table in the western chamber and took a bowl to serve him soup. "Yes, I have."

Chen Yanyun smiled. "Good, as long as you don't go hungry. I asked the small kitchen to prepare red date and black chicken soup for you to have as a late-night snack later."

More tonic soup... Jinchao could only nod. "There's one more thing I'd like to ask you."

Chen Yanyun was in a good mood and hummed in acknowledgment. "What is it?" (...)