When Jinchao returned to Osmanthus Hall, she was still thinking about Chen Xuanyue.
Soon after, Granny Sun came to pay her respects. Having just returned from Baoding, she had brought dried fruits like longan and walnuts for Jinchao, along with two packs of Yunpian cakes to share among the maids. Jinchao smiled and asked how the wedding banquet had gone.
Granny Sun replied, "...The bride is from a neighboring village, introduced by the child's third aunt. She's neat and capable, good at both work and childbearing..." She sounded quite pleased with her daughter-in-law and went on to talk about her son. "Originally, it was Madam Chen's kindness that allowed him to work at the Villa. Now that he's married, he's returned to the village, renting land to farm. Once he saves enough, he'll buy a few more acres—enough to get by."
Jinchao smiled and said, "You'll soon be the head stewardess of the fourth household. Look at Mama Wang—she managed to acquire a hundred acres of land and two double-courtyard houses. Her sons and daughters-in-law wear gold and silver, not to mention their properties... With your current monthly allowance, you could also buy land for them."
Granny Sun chuckled sheepishly. "Mama Wang managed things for over a decade, so naturally, she has more to spare. Although I have some savings... just the fifteen taels you gave me could buy five acres back home. But I believe children must forge their own fortune. No matter how much I earn, if they rely on me, they'll eventually drain me dry..."
She glanced up and noticed the Third Madam listening attentively, seemingly finding it quite interesting. For a moment, she felt she had spoken out of turn. The Third Madam was still so young, born into privilege as the Eldest Miss—how could she understand the worries of someone like her?
She quickly added, "I’m not well-educated, just learned some needlework and basic literacy from my aunt, which allowed me to work as a stewardess in the Chen Family... If I’ve said anything inappropriate, please don’t take offense."
But Gu Jinzhao thought Granny Sun’s perspective was quite sound. She had seen countless cases in both lifetimes where doting on children only harmed them. For a servant like Sun Shi, though her views might be narrow in some ways, they were correct and dutiful.
She nodded. "I think you’ve spoken very well. There’s nothing inappropriate about it."
Granny Sun was momentarily stunned.
Just then, Caifu lifted the bamboo curtain and entered. "Madam, the Fritillaria bulb and pear drink is ready."
Jinchao instructed Caifu to pour the drink into a porcelain jar. She intended to send it to Third Master Chen.
Earlier that morning, she had faintly heard him cough twice and had ordered the drink prepared. With the Grand Secretariat’s heavy workload, he had been exceptionally busy lately and resting little... catching a cold would be troublesome.
Soon, Caifu brought over the celadon twining flower pattern porcelain jar. A bowl was prepared, and Jinchao carried it to the study.
Outside the study stood several people—some familiar faces like Jiang Yan and Chen Yi, along with a few scholars dressed in silk turbans and black shoes. They all bowed to her and retreated to a side chamber. Jiang Yan approached and said, "Third Master is inside speaking with the Seventh Young Master..."
Chen Xuanqing was here? Gu Jinzhao felt reluctant to enter.
Though she was Chen Xuanqing’s stepmother, he was already an adult and lived separately in the front courtyard. He disliked paying respects to her, and she, in turn, preferred not to see him. At most, they exchanged a brief "Mother" when they met at Madam Chen’s place.
At that moment, another of Third Master Chen’s attendants came out and bowed to her. "Third Master requests your presence inside."Gu Jinzhao had just stepped into the study.
Third Master Chen stood with his hands behind his back, leaning slightly against the desk as he spoke with Chen Xuanqing.
Chen Xuanqing stood ramrod straight, his handsome face wearing a faint smile. "...Scholar Zhao said the compilation was fairly well done, but the section on Emperor Gaozu of Han wasn’t smooth enough. He asked me to reconsider it. What do you think would be an appropriate approach?"
Chen Yanyun pondered for a moment before looking up at him. "Scholar Zhao is a student of Lord Zhang, which makes him somewhat close to me as well. Do you know why he singled out your section on Emperor Gaozu as lacking?"
Chen Xuanqing thought for a while, then ventured cautiously, "Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, Xiang Yu... I balanced praise and criticism. Sima Qian wrote, 'The Qin government did not reform. Instead, it intensified cruel laws—was this not absurd? Thus, when the Han rose, it inherited the flaws and enacted changes, ensuring the people were not exhausted, thereby attaining the Mandate of Heaven.' Liu Bang’s achievements were ultimately due to aligning with the will of Heaven. Had circumstances not been unfavorable, couldn’t Xiang Yu also have risen to greatness..."
Chen Yanyun watched him with a faint smile.
Noticing Chen Yanyun’s dissatisfaction, Chen Xuanqing quickly stopped speaking, looking somewhat puzzled. "Back when I studied Records of the Grand Historian with Grandfather, you once praised my analysis... I don’t see anything wrong with what I wrote now."
But Chen Yanyun had spotted Gu Jinzhao entering. He straightened and beckoned her over.
Chen Xuanqing turned and saw Gu Jinzhao standing at the door, holding a food box and watching them.
He turned back, his expression slightly stiff.
He didn’t want Gu Jinzhao to see him being lectured by his father.
Jinzhao said softly, "I brought you something. Please continue speaking with the Seventh Young Master. I’ll take my leave now."
As she spoke, she placed the food box on the nearby Golden Phoebe wood table with the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea pattern.
Chen Yanyun told her, "No need to hurry. Wait for me here."
He then stopped beating around the bush with Chen Xuanqing and instructed him directly, "Emperor Gaozu rose from humble beginnings, just as our dynasty’s founder did. Therefore, when writing about Emperor Gaozu’s achievements, you must not use phrases like 'the world turned to him.' Instead, use this line from Preface to the Monthly Records of Qin and Chu : 'The prohibitions of Qin only served to aid the worthy in overcoming difficulties. Thus, he rose in indignation to become the hero of the world—how could it be said that no land could produce a king? Is this not what the ancients called a great sage?' Scholar Zhao was hinting at this. If you use the phrasing I suggested, there will be no issue."
Chen Xuanqing frowned after a moment of thought. "But wouldn’t that sound too... flattering?"
Chen Yanyun replied, "Do you still think you’re a child in school? Speaking so carelessly. You’re learning to be an official now. After serving as a Compiler in the Imperial Academy for a few years, you’ll be sent to the Ministry of Personnel to observe governance. Though your father is in the Grand Secretariat and you’ll need to avoid favoritism by being posted elsewhere, you must still learn how to speak and act in official circles..."
He then coughed lightly twice.
Jinzhao opened the food box, ladled out a bowl of Fritillaria bulb and pear drink, and brought it to him. "I heard you coughing this morning, so I had this prepared."
Chen Yanyun took it and drank. The tea-brown pear drink was cloyingly sweet, and he downed it in one gulp, thinking he might as well have taken medicine directly... but he didn’t want to waste her kindness. Gu Jinzhao was like a timid rabbit, cautious and hesitant. It was rare for her to take the initiative, so he indulged her in everything, coaxing her along.
It felt like luring a little bird to peck food from his palm.
He reassured her, "It’s nothing serious. I’ve just been too busy lately and haven’t rested well."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "You should inform Chief Minister Zhang and take sick leave. Don’t overwork yourself."Chen Xuanqing was about to say that matters of the court were of great importance, and his father, being deeply principled, wouldn't delay them over minor ailments. But then he heard his father say with a smile, "Hmm, I'll speak with the teacher tomorrow to see if he'll grant me leave."
Gu Jinzhao felt it inappropriate to stay any longer and prepared to excuse herself. Chen Yanyun added, "...When it's time for you to return, I'll personally come to fetch you. Chen Yi will escort you back with guards for now. You may stay at the Gu residence first."
Gu Jinzhao found this arrangement improper—Chen Yi was Third Master Chen's personal guard.
She declined, "My family has guards as well. If I take Chen Yi with me, what will you do?"
Third Master Chen sighed. "I need peace of mind. Don't refuse this."
...Third Master Chen personally saw Gu Jinzhao out of the study.
Chen Xuanqing kept staring at the porcelain jar left on the table. Gu Jinzhao... He began to wonder, was she really Gu Jinzhao?
The first time he saw her, he knew she was beautiful—he had never seen anyone so striking, like the vibrant hues of spring blossoms, intoxicatingly fragrant.
Such ostentatious beauty displeased him.
He prided himself on being a gentleman who admired the purity of lotuses and the resilience of plum blossoms. He had no interest in peonies and their gaudy splendor. So, after concluding that Gu Jinzhao was all looks and no substance, his disdain for her only grew. Yet why did his father treat her like a treasure?
The screen she made for Chen Xi depicted a lotus pond in a gentle breeze, serene and profound. She treated his father and Xi'er so well... In fact, it would be more accurate to say Gu Jinzhao treated everyone kindly—except him. She acted as though he were a stranger...
Chen Xuanqing still remembered how she had clutched his sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably: "How could you not like me? Lan Er said you did! I stayed up all night embroidering that Scented Sachet for you... even pricked my fingers!"
Gu Jinzhao held out her fingers, waiting expectantly for his comfort.
Chen Xuanqing merely replied indifferently, "You've gone to too much trouble, miss. Please don't bother next time." He pried her fingers off his sleeve, one by one. She bit her lip, seemingly genuinely upset. But when he turned to examine another flower arrangement, she approached again, hesitantly saying, "Ah, my grandmother has green wormwood... and even blue ones..."
Nonsense. How could wormwood be blue? Chen Xuanqing didn’t even want to humor her, but when he glanced back, he noticed her fingers clumsily wrapped in a handkerchief. She cradled her hand, blowing on it pitifully. Her awkwardness amused him, and he couldn’t help but smile.
Seeing his smile, Gu Jinzhao brightened. "If you're curious, I’ll ask my grandmother to send you some!"
Chen Yanyun entered and noticed his son lost in thought. He tapped the desk. "...If you've figured it out, go revise the scroll on Emperor Gaozu of Han. I still need to discuss matters with Jiang Yan."
As Chen Xuanqing prepared to leave, he turned back to ask, "Are you really taking sick leave? Is it serious?"
Chen Yanyun chuckled. "She’s returning to the Gu family tomorrow—I just said that to reassure her. It’s just a cough... nothing major. By the way, since you're back, remember to check on Xuanxin’s studies. I’ve noticed he’s been spending time with Chen Xuanan again."
Chen Xuanqing acknowledged and withdrew. Only then did Jiang Yan enter, cupping his hands in salute. "Third Master, regarding the case files on the river pirates from that year... I’m afraid there might be some complications.""What's the matter?" Chen Yanyun continued writing, asking indifferently.
Jiang Yan replied in a low voice, "The river pirate case is already a ten-year-old matter... the records are hard to find. The only existing file is with the heir of Marquis Changxing. After borrowing it, he never returned it to the Dali Temple."
Chen Yanyun looked up.
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