Jinchao offered a white lotus Eternal Lamp.
The Lantern Tower was filled with countless lamps, their flames flickering endlessly. Holding her own lamp, she stood amidst the sea of lights. A stone-railed staircase led up to the tower’s higher levels, where several monks were tending to the lamps, refilling them with oil.
Jinchao turned to look at Third Master Chen, unsure where to place her lamp.
Third Master Chen walked over to her and said, “Follow me.” He led her up the staircase to the upper levels of the Lantern Tower. The walls were lined with niches, their surfaces polished smooth from years of exposure to pine oil. Passing through a narrow opening, he brought her to a small terrace.
Here stood a statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva, before which only a single lamp was placed—a long-burning Eternal Lamp carved with Buddhist lotus motifs by the Dali Temple. Judging by its appearance, it had been there for many years.
Gu Jinzhao glanced at Chen Yanyun, only to see him gazing at the lamp with a faint smile. “The abbot has taken good care of it,” he murmured. “Place your lamp here. Under the Bodhisattva’s blessing, it will bring abundant fortune.”
...Whose lamp was this, to have such a special place reserved for it?
After setting down her lamp, Jinchao followed him back down the stairs and asked quietly, “Third Master, whose lamp is that?” The Lantern Tower was eerily silent, the flames dancing as if alive, and her voice was hushed.
Chen Yanyun, walking ahead of her, replied, “When I was ten, my mother brought me here to light it... The abbot at the time was a close friend of my father’s, so he arranged this spot for us. He passed away a few years ago.”
By then, they had already stepped out of the Lantern Tower.
Jinchao looked back, suddenly recalling the day Third Master Chen had first shown her the tower, snowflakes swirling in the air.
Chen Yanyun instructed Chen Yi to escort her back to the meditation quarters while he went to visit Sixth Master Chen, who was in seclusion at Bao Xiang Temple.
After attending the Ullambana Festival rituals and returning to the Chen Family, everyone was exhausted and retired to their rooms to rest. Madam Chen summoned Chen Yanyun to ask about Sixth Master Chen’s well-being at Bao Xiang Temple, so Jinchao returned first to Osmanthus Hall to bathe. Having walked all day, she was drenched in sweat, and only after a hot bath did she feel refreshed.
Qingpu brought her a plain water-green silk jacket, but Jinzhao thought for a moment and asked for a pale pink lotus-patterned silk one instead.
In the sweltering heat, the Arhat bed was laid with a bamboo mat inlaid with white jade. Jinchao sat on the bed, reviewing account books. Xiuqu brought a plate of sliced watermelon, chilled with sugarcane juice—cool and sweet.
The account books had been delivered yesterday by Cao Ziheng. Whenever Jinchao found discrepancies, she had Caifu note them down to send back for verification. The densely packed characters strained her eyes, so three pine-oil lamps were lit on the Heated Bed Table to illuminate the pages.
Soon, Mama Tong entered with a letter. “...It’s from Fourth Madam in Daxing. The messenger said the Fourth Young Miss of the Zu Family is set to marry on the second day of the eighth month. Tomorrow, Second Madam of the Zu Family will personally deliver the invitation and request your presence for a few days.”Gu Jinzhao took the letter and read it carefully. It was written by Xu Jingyi, mentioning trivial daily matters—Gu Xi learning needlework or their father writing another article. At the end, it mentioned that Gu Lan had fallen ill and had been bedridden with wormwood for months. Her condition was strange—nauseous but unable to vomit anything... Tai Furen, fearing it might be an epidemic, had isolated her in a separate courtyard, forbidding anyone from visiting.
Xu Jingyi also urged Jinzhao to bring more tonics when she returned, to help Gu Lan regain her strength, as she had grown too frail lately.
Gu Jinzhao had been leaning against a large pillow, but she sat up straight after finishing the letter.
Xu Jingyi’s words carried deeper implications... Was she suggesting Gu Lan was pregnant? Nausea and tonics—what else could it be?
She nearly laughed aloud and handed the letter to Qingpu to burn. Then she instructed Mama Tong, "...Prepare for tomorrow—Second Madam from the ancestral family is coming. As for the wedding gift for Gu Lian, there’s no rush." Since Second Madam was personally delivering the invitation to the Chen Family, Madam Chen might not attend but would certainly send a gift. Jinzhao would decide her own gift after Madam Chen’s, to avoid overstepping.
After a moment’s thought, Jinzhao added, "By the way, there’s a forty-year-old ginseng in my storeroom. Wrap it properly and buy some more tonics like gastrodia and cordyceps. I’ll take them back when I visit the ancestral home."
Mama Tong was puzzled. "Madam, are these tonics also meant as gifts?"
Jinzhao smiled. "Of course not. They’re for Lan Er to nourish her health." She paused, then said softly, "She’s likely with child..."
Mama Tong knew about Gu Lan and Yao Wenxiu’s scandalous encounter—it had happened two months ago! Her expression darkened. "...Fourth Miss is about to marry into the Yao family. If Third Miss is pregnant now, even if she’s later taken in as a concubine, the timing of the birth won’t align... Won’t this bring shame to the Gu family?"
Jinzhao shook her head. "If Madam Feng truly cared about shame, she wouldn’t have arranged for both Gu Lian and Gu Lan to marry Yao Wenxiu. She just couldn’t pass up the chance to secure a grand secretary’s legitimate son. Besides... whether Gu Lan’s child survives is another matter."
Madam Feng had claimed Gu Lan had an epidemic—she could easily dispose of her now, let alone the unborn child. Not just Madam Feng, even Second Madam wouldn’t let Gu Lan’s child live. That child would be like an abomination—if born, how would they explain it? It would be undeniable proof of Yao Wenxiu and Gu Lan’s disgraceful affair.
If the child were born and constantly under Gu Lian’s nose, she’d likely find its presence unbearable. Given her temperament, she might even strangle the child herself in a fit of rage.
Had Gu Lan married the eldest son of the Mu family, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. Even marrying the son of Zhao Juren, whom she’d once been betrothed to, would have given her a peaceful life. Gu Jinzhao sighed inwardly. Without her lifting a finger, Gu Lan had walked straight into ruin.
Without Concubine Song to scheme for her, her future would be bleak.
Mama Tong acknowledged and withdrew. Just then, a maid announced that Third Master Chen had returned.Chen Yanyun walked in, and the maids in the room withdrew one after another. Jinchao personally brought him a cup of chilled plum syrup: "The weather is quite hot today. Please have a bowl of plum syrup first. I prepared it this morning."
Chen Yanyun took a sip as suggested... The plum syrup tasted unusually sweet. He didn’t comment, calmly finishing it in one go before handing the jade cup back to her. "Hmm... It’s quite good."
Jinchao had a maid take the bowl away and then brought up Gu Lian’s marriage: "...I need to return to my ancestral home for about half a month. It’s been a long time since I last saw my father and younger sister. Besides, Sister Yi is about to come of age, so I should help prepare for that."
"Half a month?" he asked.
Jinchao nodded. "Second Aunt will arrive tomorrow. I’ll take her to pay respects to Mother and discuss it with her."
Third Master Chen remained silent for a long while. When Jinchao looked up, she found him staring intently at her.
Gu Jinzhao asked, "What’s wrong? Do you think it’s too long..."
Chen Yanyun shook his head. "It’s nothing. Do as you wish." He then went into the washroom to freshen up.
Jinchao spent some time reading the Book of Changes . Shortly after, Third Master Chen emerged from his bath, the air carrying the clean scent of soap.
Jinchao closed the book, blew out the lamp, and shut the lattice window before walking over. He was already lying on the wormwood bed, covered by the light quilt.
She lay down as well, but the moment she closed her eyes, a pair of arms pulled her into a warm embrace.
Her body stiffened momentarily, but the familiar scent of Third Master Chen soon made her relax.
Chen Yanyun rested his chin atop her head, feeling how small she was curled up against him. Half a month was far too long... Slowly stroking Jinchao’s long hair, he murmured in a low voice, "This afternoon in the Welcoming Hall, you fell asleep... I might have done something."
The deep male voice within the scarlet gauze curtain was far too suggestive.
Gu Jinzhao felt her ears grow warm. "Hmm?" she asked. "What did you do?"
Third Master Chen chuckled. "It would have disgraced the sanctity of the temple, so I stopped after just beginning... But now I’d like to continue."
The arm around her waist tightened. Jinchao understood his meaning, her body growing weak at the thought. Remembering their previous encounters, she instinctively wanted to pull away but found herself powerless.
Yet reason told her she ought to be more accommodating to him...
When he rolled over onto her, Jinchao bit her lip and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Third Master Chen gazed down at her, his eyes dark and intense. Jinchao, deciding to go all the way, leaned up to kiss his lips.
He immediately cupped the back of her head and kissed her back.
When they finally broke apart, panting, he whispered huskily in her ear, "Jinchao, come..." Guiding her hand downward. Jinchao touched his waist, feeling the taut, restrained strength beneath. His inner robe was half-open, revealing his firm chest...
The moment her fingertips brushed against him, her entire body burned.
Soon, she was swept away in the tide...
When she woke the next day, it was already past 7 a.m.
Gu Jinzhao still felt slightly dizzy, having slept poorly the night before. Third Master Chen, however, had risen early and left for the Grand Secretariat.She couldn't help but remind Caifu: "I've told you before, you must wake me when Third Master rises." It was improper for her to still be abed when her husband had already risen. Third Master Chen didn't even have anyone attending to him, doing everything himself—she felt rather guilty that he was putting up with living with her like this.
Caifu had only woken her once before.
With some grievance in her voice, Caifu replied: "Third Master has given orders not to wake you. Last time I woke you, he even summoned me afterward to reprimand me..."
Gu Jinzhao could only sigh and let it be. At least it didn't delay her from paying respects to Madam Chen at the proper hour. Third Master Chen was very protective of her, attending to such details with utmost care. If she refused his consideration, she might hurt his feelings.
Soon maids brought in hot water and breakfast in succession.
After eating a bowl of mung bean porridge and two red bean paste buns, Jinchao went to Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard. Madam Chen was supervising Chen Xuanxin's calligraphy practice.
Chen Xuanxin was always polite and respectful toward her. He addressed her as 'Mother' dutifully before returning to his writing desk to practice.
Madam Chen said to her: "...Though not as clever as Xuangqing, at least he's diligent. Better than his Sixth Uncle."
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