Ye Xian seemed to be strolling leisurely, walking very slowly.
Gu Jinzhao only glanced at him before entering the flower hall with Xu Jingyi. The last time she had seen him was right after her engagement to Third Master Chen had been settled. It would be inappropriate for them to meet again now, so it was better for her to avoid him.
Madam Xu had also come to attend the wedding banquet. Xu Jingyi led her to pay respects to Madam Xu, and they sat together at the same table.
After the feast, desserts, watermelon, and pear juice were served in succession. Madam Xu was called away to play mahjong with the other ladies, leaving Xu Jingyi and Gu Jinzhao to chat.
"...Last time I spoke with Fifth Sister-in-law, she mentioned her younger brother," Xu Jingyi said, gesturing toward the banquet and rest area. "...That was the heir of Marquis Changxing just now. You glanced at him—do you recognize him?"
Jinchao nodded. "The young master often visited Fifth Aunt in the past. We’ve exchanged a few words before."
Xu Jingyi smiled. "I heard he’s about to marry the legitimate daughter of Marquis Wuding. The Changxing Marquis's Wife has already gone to Marquis Wuding’s residence to discuss it, and they’ve exchanged the Marriage Certificate. When your grandmother heard, she summoned Fifth Sister-in-law to ask why such a big matter hadn’t been mentioned to her... Fifth Sister-in-law didn’t know what to say. Afterward, she even specially sent a pair of white jade pendants to your grandmother as an apology."
Gu Jinzhao replied, "That’s just Grandmother’s temperament." Madam Feng had been trying to forge connections with the Changxing Marquis’s family for quite some time.
Ye Xian was about to get married... It made sense. He was older than her, probably close to eighteen. In her past life, Ye Xian had never married. After the decline of the Changxing Marquis’s household, he had lost interest in such matters. Later, when he became the Minister of War, many people sent him concubines... Gu Jinzhao had once heard rumors that Ye Xian had been so reckless as to engage in daytime trysts with palace maids, even being caught by the emperor. Somehow, he had talked his way out of punishment, and the emperor had even gifted him some intimate items instead.
She didn’t know if it was true—perhaps it was just slander meant to make him seem more dissolute.
But Jinzhao only remembered one thing clearly: Ye Xian had never had children, even in his thirties.
Because she had distinctly heard Chen Xuanqing once say of him, "After all the atrocities he’s committed, it’s only fitting he ends up without heirs."
Him marrying the daughter of Marquis Wuding was a good thing. At least he wouldn’t be as obsessive as he had been in her past life.
Xu Jingyi then asked Jinzhao if she knew how to play leaf cards, and the two went to watch a few rounds. Soon, Fuling came to the flower hall with a message—Madam Feng had summoned Gu Jinzhao. After excusing herself from the ladies, Jinzhao followed Fuling to the banquet and rest area.
The place was now nearly empty, with only Madam Feng remaining, chatting with an elegantly dressed elderly woman. The woman wore a jade headband, golden lantern earrings, and a purple gown with subtle floral patterns. Madam Feng beckoned Jinzhao over and introduced her with a smile, "...This is our family’s second daughter. What do you think—does she seem well-mannered?"
The old woman lazily lifted her eyes to look at Gu Jinzhao. Her attire was simple yet refined, her beauty striking, though the gold bracelet inlaid with tourmaline on her wrist was clearly valuable. However, her hair was styled in a married woman’s coiffure, indicating she had already wed and was now visiting her family. In Jiang Shi’s eyes, Gu Lian’s marriage to Yao Wenxiu had been an overreach. She had always spoken casually with Madam Feng, so she merely smiled and replied perfunctorily, "She’s very pretty."Madam Feng told Jinchao that this was Yao Wenxiu's grandmother, Jiang Shi, from Changping.
The Jiang family of Changping was renowned in the Northern Zhili region for producing four father-and-son Jinshi scholars. Gu Jinzhao curtsied and greeted her politely, saying, "I have long heard of the Jiang family's prestige. It is a rare honor to meet you, Madam Jiang."
Madam Feng pulled Jinchao to sit down and then slowly added, "My second granddaughter has just married Chen Ge Lao. This is her first time returning home after the wedding."
Only then did Jiang Shi look up, somewhat surprised. "...The Chen Ge Lao just now?" She had only caught a glimpse of him earlier and assumed he was merely on good terms with Fourth Master Gu, gracing the occasion with his presence as a courtesy to the Gu family for their daughter's marriage.
Jiang Shi hadn’t heard from Madam Yao that the Gu family had a daughter who had become Chen Ge Lao’s second wife. No wonder Yao Wenxiu was marrying Gu Lian... She smiled at Gu Jinzhao and said, "How careless of me! Come, sit with us... The tea your grandmother served is Junshan Yinzhen Tea..."
Gu Jinzhao disliked Madam Feng’s maneuvering and replied, "I’ve had too much pear juice earlier and can’t drink tea now." Then she turned to Madam Feng. "Grandmother, I heard Third Master Chen has arrived. Do you know where he is now?"
Madam Feng nodded toward the pavilion. "Your second uncle invited him for a game of chess. Your father and fifth uncle are there as well."
Gu Jinzhao excused herself and left the banquet and rest area directly. Madam Feng stiffened. "Chaojie, won’t you stay and chat with Madam Jiang a little longer?"
Jinchao lowered her head and smiled faintly. Given her current status, she no longer had to submit to Madam Feng’s control in the Gu household. There was no need for politeness, so she turned back and said, "I just wanted to take a stroll by the pavilion. It’s better not to disturb your conversation with Madam Jiang."
Madam Jiang quickly interjected with a smile, "Third Madam Chen, please go ahead. There’s no need to keep an old woman like me company."
Madam Feng was displeased. She had hoped Gu Jinzhao would put in a good word for Gu Lian. Since she had married Chen Yanyun, shouldn’t she contribute something to the Gu family? It wasn’t as if they were asking for favors or money—just a few words. But these thoughts remained in her heart. Outwardly, she could only smile and agree. Nowadays, even a harsh word required careful consideration before she dared utter it. How could she possibly control Gu Jinzhao anymore?
With so many people around, Jinchao had no real intention of seeking out Chen Yanyun. She walked along the corridor with Qingpu when suddenly a familiar voice called out from behind, "Third Madam Chen, why are you in such a hurry?"
It was Ye Xian... Gu Jinzhao turned around, curtsied, and addressed him as "Uncle," keeping her head lowered.
Ye Xian studied her for a long moment before approaching. The wind rustled his black-edged robe, and the faint scent of medicinal herbs drifted around him. He finally said coolly, "It seems he treats you well. You look much better... I just spoke with him."
This "he"... did he mean Third Master Chen?
Jinchao raised her head. "What did you say to him?"
Ye Xian glanced at her, his hands clenched behind his back, his tone still indifferent. "Are you nervous? Don’t worry. We only played chess earlier." He paused before continuing, "A few days ago, Chen Ge Lao came to see me. I mentioned you, and he seemed displeased at the time. But Chen Ge Lao truly has composure—today, he showed no trace of that displeasure when he saw me. Still, when you meet him, you’ll likely have some explaining to do."Gu Jinzhao found it utterly baffling—why was Ye Xian bringing her up? She replied steadily, "Thank you for your concern, Cousin."
Ye Xian didn’t know what else to say to her. Her hair was styled in a married woman’s round bun, accentuating her slender, graceful neck. Truthfully, he shouldn’t have come at all—what did Gu Lian’s wedding have to do with him? He couldn’t care less about saving face for her. But the thought that Gu Jinzhao would return for the bridal visit had crossed his mind...
Seeing that he had fallen silent, Gu Jinzhao said, "If there’s nothing else, this humble wife will take her leave..."
Ye Xian pressed his lips together tightly. Now she had to refer to herself as 'this humble wife.'
"Gu Jinzhao... I’m getting married," he said softly behind her. "It’s a match my mother arranged—the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wuding. The wedding should take place before the New Year..."
Gu Jinzhao didn’t know how to respond.
Ye Xian continued, "Sometimes, I don’t even want to bother with any of this. What does the Marquis of Changxing’s household matter to me? What does the future of the Ye family have to do with me...?"
His voice carried a faint weariness.
Gu Jinzhao turned to look at him and suddenly remembered that night when the Marquis of Changxing was severely injured, when he had killed his own master. He had rushed from the capital to Daxing overnight to see her. His delicate face had been deathly pale, his entire body weak, as if he were utterly pitiable. Now, he wore the same expression. Some people were like this—covered in thorns on the outside, yet the most fragile within, hurting others while secretly regretting it in their hearts.
She said gently, "If you don’t want to, you can say so."
Ye Xian fell silent again before finally murmuring, "...Never mind. You should go first."
Gu Jinzhao said nothing more and left with Qingpu for the western courtyard. By dusk, when it was time for the bridal sedan to depart, Gu Lian was carried out by Gu Jinxiao. Together with Yao Wenxiu, they bowed to Second Master Gu and Second Madam before being escorted onto the bridal sedan by the matron of honor.
At the same time, a dark red sedan chair was carried out through the side gate of the Gu residence. Behind it trailed only a young maid carrying a bundle. Her strides were too short to keep up, forcing her to jog breathlessly the entire way.
Inside the sedan, Gu Lan wore a water-red jacket—she had no right to the proper bridal red. Her hair was styled in a sleek phoenix-tail bun, adorned with two red crepe silk flowers. The jade earrings swayed gently as she listened to the sounds of firecrackers, suona horns, and children laughing as they scrambled for scattered coins—none of which were meant for her. She lifted her head toward the direction of the Gu residence, unable to stop her eyes from welling up.
From this day onward, she would be Yao Wenxiu’s concubine, bowing in deference to Gu Lian. Even if she bore children in the future, they would never call her 'Mother.'
And the Gu residence... she would likely never return. Perhaps it was for the best. She didn’t want to see any of them ever again.
...
Jinchao spent some more time playing with Gu Yi and Gu Xi before returning to Beautiful Embroidery Hall. There, she found a maid already waiting for her, announcing that Third Master Chen had arrived and was inside. Peering into the hall, she indeed saw several guards standing beneath the veranda.
She quickly entered the western chamber but didn’t see Third Master Chen. Only when she stepped into the study did she find him standing before her desk, painting. His left hand held an ink brush, while his string of qinan Buddhist beads dangled loosely. His profile was refined, bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, his lowered lashes casting faint shadows.
The study was so quiet that the sound of the brush against paper was audible.Gu Jinzhao also softened her footsteps, took the teacup handed by the maid, and gently placed it on the side table. She then approached Third Master Chen and said softly, "You're coming for the wedding banquet, why didn't you tell me?"
Chen Yanyun set down his brush: "I said I would come to take you back." He looked up at Gu Jinzhao and added calmly, "And to see where you've been living."
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