In the afternoon, Second Madam's carriage arrived in Wanping.
Jinchao went to the screen wall to greet her and led her to pay respects to Madam Chen.
Second Madam had brought along her personal maids and elderly servants. Not only did she present the wedding invitation for Gu Lian, but she also brought tea and pastries as gifts for Madam Chen.
Madam Chen received Second Madam in the flower hall. After carefully examining the invitation, she handed it to Granny Zheng beside her to put away and inquired about Gu Lian's marriage: "...Your family's fourth young lady is marrying the third son of Yao Ge Lao?"
Second Madam, accustomed to grand occasions, was not the least bit intimidated by Madam Chen's status. She smiled and nodded: "The third young master of the Yao family and our Lian jie er have known each other for a long time. This marriage was arranged even before Lian jie er came of age... Originally, Jinchao's grandmother was supposed to come herself, but she hasn't been feeling well lately. So I came instead. Fortunately, Chaojie came to the screen wall to meet me. The Chen family residence is so vast and elegant—without someone to guide me, I might have gotten lost."
Gu Jinzhao was sitting beside Madam Chen, shelling pine nuts for her. The gilded small plate already had a little pile of pine nuts.
Madam Chen loved eating dried fruits like walnuts and pine nuts.
Madam Chen took Jinchao's hand and laughed: "Her? She would get lost even without someone leading her. Last time, when watching a play at the Carp-envying Pavilion, she and her maid nearly got lost in the Peach Blossom Dock... It was Third Master Chen who went to find her and bring her back." But there wasn't the slightest hint of reproach in her gaze—only gentle teasing.
Jinchao explained: "I had already found my way out. Third Master just happened to run into me on the way back..."
That time, she had only wanted to see the distant mountains from the Peach Blossom Dock and had lingered a little longer. How did that turn into her getting lost?
Madam Chen pointed at Gu Jinzhao and laughed: "Was she this fond of arguing back when she was at her maiden home?"
Second Madam's smile turned slightly awkward.
In the Gu family, Gu Jinzhao would never have dared to speak like this. Madam Feng's rules were strict—she would not tolerate daughters-in-law or granddaughters talking back, not even in jest. The only one who could act spoiled and win her favor was Gu Lian. Gu Jinzhao would never have had the nerve.
Madam Chen continued: "When you hadn't returned after half an hour, Third Master grew anxious. He even sent Chen Yi to the Crane Extension Tower to summon guards, intending to search the entire Peach Blossom Dock. It gave me quite a fright..."
Jinchao remembered that when Third Master Chen had found her that day, he hadn't said anything. Even after they returned, Madam Chen hadn't asked many questions...
Had he really called for people from the Crane Extension Tower? No wonder she had noticed the unusually tight security around her at the time.
As Second Madam listened to the conversation between Gu Jinzhao and Madam Chen, she took the opportunity to observe Jinchao more closely.
Jinchao was wearing a violet gold-threaded peony-patterned jacket with a light blue sash, adorned with a vibrant emerald-green jade pendant and a snow-white embroidered skirt. The amethyst earrings she wore were as large as fingernails—translucent and flawless, clearly of great value. On her head was a pair of golden lovebird hairpins inlaid with rare, uniformly sized green gemstones... Gu Jinzhao had never been one for flamboyant dressing, but every piece she wore was worth a thousand times more than plain gold...
Second Madam recalled how, when she had first entered the Chen residence, she had seen Gu Jinzhao surrounded by a grand entourage of dozens of maids and elderly servants—an awe-inspiring sight.After marrying Third Master Chen, she truly became the treasure of the Chen family. With an old husband and a young wife, it was only natural for her to be cherished and protected. Just look at Madam Chen—she wouldn’t even speak a harsh word to Gu Jinzhao. Was there really a mother-in-law in this world who didn’t discipline her daughter-in-law?
When Second Madam first married into the Gu family, Madam Feng spent a whole year enforcing the rules on her.
If it had been Gu Lian who married over instead… she would have enjoyed the same kind of carefree life!
But fate played a cruel trick—in the end, it was Gu Jinzhao who married in, not Gu Lian. Gu Lian was to marry Yao Wenxiu, whose status was worlds apart from Third Master Chen’s, and to make matters worse, he had entangled himself with Gu Lan in such a scandalous way. Gu Lan was even carrying his illegitimate child…
At this thought, Second Madam clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly dug into her flesh.
Jinchao also spoke to Madam Chen about her plans to return home for a stay: “...I’ve already discussed it with Third Master. My younger sister is about to come of age, and I’d like to go back to help prepare for it. I’ll return once Lian jie er’s wedding is over.”
Madam Chen agreed. “It’s good for you to visit your father.” She then beckoned Granny Zheng over and listed a pile of items for Jinchao to take back—pears from Zhending, walnuts and Chinese torreya nuts sent from Shaanxi, and since she heard Madam Feng liked bone-shelled abalone, she ordered three boxes of it to be packed as well.
Soon after, Madam Qin, Madam Wang, and Madam Ge also came to see Second Madam.
Coincidentally, the eighth and twelfth young masters of the fourth branch had returned from their study retreat. It was said that their tutor’s mother had passed away, and he had to return home for the funeral. He likely wouldn’t be back in Wanping for the next three years.
The two young masters came to pay their respects to Madam Chen as soon as they arrived.
Chen Xuanan, born to Madam Wang, resembled her but wasn’t particularly close to her. He merely addressed her as “Mother,” and though Madam Wang glanced at him a few times, she said nothing. The concubine-born Chen Xuanping and Chen Rong were siblings from the same concubine, sharing similar features, though they were still very young.
Jinchao couldn’t help but glance at Madam Wang again.
She was curious about the dynamics of the fourth branch because she vaguely remembered that, in her past life, Fourth Master Chen had fallen out with Chen Xuanqing.
Fourth Master Chen… was truly an odd one. Jinchao recalled that after Madam Chen passed away, the Chen family divided their estate. At that time, Chen Xuanqing hadn’t yet risen to the position of Vice Minister of Revenue. Due to the division of the family, he and Fourth Master Chen became bitter enemies. However, with the support of Grand Secretary Zhang, Fourth Master Chen was appointed as the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. After Zhang Ju Lian’s death, Ye Xian personally investigated his faction and executed many. Chen Yanwen was among those purged…
It was a pity she had been in such dire straits back then and couldn’t learn more details. Otherwise, she might have been able to piece together the full story now.
By dinnertime, Madam Chen had the meal set up in the flower hall, which was cooler than the banquet and rest area since it was next to the lotus pond. After dinner, while the sky was still bright, Jinchao took Second Madam for a stroll along the pond’s corridor to chat.
Up ahead, the voices of children could be heard, loud and lively, as if several were playing together.
Second Madam remarked, “With a pond like this, children must never be allowed to play here without supervision.”
The pond carried heavy yin energy, and it was feared that water ghosts might lure children in. Generally, children weren’t allowed near unless accompanied.Gu Jinzhao first had the maids set out a small stool, inviting Second Madam to wait there. "...I'll go take a look first to avoid any mishaps," she told Second Madam before leading Qingpu around the corridor. There, she spotted a pavilion ahead where several children were playing, attended by numerous matrons.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Then came a clear child's voice: "You said you could recite the 'Three Character Classic.' Let's hear it then."
Judging by the back, the speaker was likely Chen Xuanan, the legitimate eldest son of the fourth branch.
Another voice chimed in: "Master Liu had a distinguished reputation. He was a great scholar when teaching at the Imperial Academy—how did he end up with a student like you?"
This voice was familiar to Jinzhao—it must be Chen Xuanxin, Third Master Chen's illegitimate son.
A timid, stammering voice replied, "I... I can recite it, I just can't remember right now."
The boys burst into laughter. Chen Xuanxin dangled a scented sachet teasingly. "If you can recite it, I'll give this back to you. If not..." He lazily drew out his words, "I'll toss it into the lotus pond, and you'll never find it again!"
Gu Jinzhao had never seen this side of Chen Xuanxin before. In front of elders, he was always polite and well-behaved. Since when did he start threatening others? She wondered who he was speaking to.
Frowning, she quietly stepped forward.
Now she could see clearly—the one surrounded by the three boys was Chen Xuanyue, the future Gansu Military Commander. He was still wearing that too-short jacket, looking utterly flustered and nervous. "...I... I can do it, I just forgot."
Chen Xuanan raised an eyebrow. "Did your nanny teach you that? No matter what anyone asks, just say you forgot?"
Chen Xuanyue looked up at him anxiously, sniffling but saying nothing.
That was exactly what his nanny had taught him. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t recite it. It didn’t matter if he didn’t listen during lessons. When his mother checked his studies, he just had to say he knew it but had forgotten for the moment. His mother never pressed further—she even had the servants reward him with candies and melon seeds.
Cornered against a pillar, the chill from the lotus pond made his whole body tremble.
Chen Xuanxin grinned. "Well then, Ninth Brother, don’t blame me—this sachet is going to feed the fish!"
Chen Xuanan held Chen Xuanxin’s hand, smiling gently. "Ninth Brother, don’t listen to Eleventh Brother’s nonsense. Just tell us—is this sachet from one of your maids? If you do, we won’t make you recite the 'Three Character Classic.' No need to make things hard for you, right?"
Chen Xuanxin added, "I heard Eldest Brother took two of his maids as bed-warming maids. Don’t look down on our Ninth Brother just because he’s slow and no one would marry him... He can always make his maids concubines later! Just say the word to Second Aunt—he can have as many as he wants."
Gu Jinzhao’s lips twitched. Third Master Chen had once said Chen Xuanxin took after Sixth Master Chen’s temperament. She hadn’t believed it at first... but here he was, barely grown, already talking about bed-warming maids and concubines. What would he be like when he grew up?
Seeing Chen Xuanyue’s pitiful state, her heart ached. A slow-witted illegitimate son—wasn’t he just an easy target for everyone’s bullying?
She stepped forward with a smile. "What are you all playing here?"
The boys turned and froze at the sight of her. They hurriedly bowed, calling out "Third Aunt" or "Mother," while the matrons flustered into curtsies.Jinchao smiled slightly, "I just overheard you mentioning the 'Three Character Classic' and a scented sachet. What's going on?"
The children exchanged uneasy glances. If they told her about this, it would surely reach Madam Chen or Third Uncle's ears by the next day.
Then they'd be in real trouble!
It was Chen Xuanan who stepped forward and said, "Third Aunt, we came to the lotus pond for a stroll and happened upon Ninth Younger Brother. We noticed his scented sachet was exquisitely made and wanted to borrow it for a closer look. As for the 'Three Character Classic,' we were just testing Ninth Younger Brother's knowledge!"
Hearing their explanation, Gu Jinzhao chuckled, "...If you've already seen it, then return the scented sachet to the Ninth Young Master. The pond area is chilly—be careful not to catch a cold. Why don’t you all go play in the flower hall instead..." It was better to turn a blind eye, after all, since they weren’t directly her responsibility.
Chen Xuanan had no choice but to return the scented sachet to Chen Xuanyue, and the group quickly took their leave.
Only then did Jinchao notice the maidservant attending to Chen Xuanyue hurrying over, her face all smiles. "Ninth Young Master, how did you end up here? You had me searching everywhere!"
Yet, at the sight of his maidservant, Chen Xuanyue took a step back, his expression fearful.
The maidservant finally noticed Gu Jinzhao and hastily bowed. "Apologies for disturbing the Third Madam's peace. I'll take him away now..." Without another word, she tugged Chen Xuanyue along, not pausing for even a moment.
Chen Xuanyue glanced back at Gu Jinzhao, as if wanting to say something, but was swiftly pulled away by the maidservant.
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