He had painted a scene of pine and cypress trees, with a deer beneath them. In the distance, towering mountains loomed, shrouded in mist and clouds.
Though Gu Jinzhao was more learned than most young women from aristocratic families, she was not particularly well-versed in such matters. She couldn't discern the deeper meaning—since it depicted a deer, it likely symbolized prosperity and good fortune. Chen Yanyun, however, gazed intently at his own painting, adding a few strokes to the pine branches before handing it to her. "I noticed your study was rather bare, with only a calligraphy piece by Yan Zhenqing hanging there. So I painted this for you... Have it mounted and hung in your study."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "Yes, I'll send it for mounting later." She glanced at his waist. "Where's your seal? The one engraved with 'Bamboo Mountain Hermit.'"
Chen Yanyun replied gently, "What about it? I don’t often carry that seal with me, though my official seal is still here."
With a regretful expression, Gu Jinzhao said, "Your calligraphy and paintings sell for a hundred taels of silver apiece. With the seal, they could fetch up to five hundred... The real value lies in that seal. How could you not carry it with you?"
Chen Yanyun laughed at this, setting down his brush to sip tea. "How do you know my paintings are so valuable?"
Jinchao looked at him earnestly. "I inquired about it. But your works are rarely circulated outside—people treasure them as heirlooms, passing them down to future generations. They’re priceless in the market."
Knowing she was teasing him, Chen Yanyun reached out to touch her hair. "Well, I’ll paint more for you. You can pass them down to our children as family heirlooms." Gu Jinzhao’s cheeks warmed, but she continued, "Then you should add your seal to this painting."
"The official seal will do just as well." Chen Yanyun retrieved a silk-wrapped seal from his sleeve and had Jinzhao fetch the ink pad to stamp the painting. The official seal bore the characters 'Nine Ministers.' He had another official seal, but it was kept at the Ministry of Revenue and not carried on his person.
Jinchao called Qingpu over and instructed her to take the painting for mounting.
Chen Yanyun took her hand. "Come, show me where you live."
He had spent an hour painting for her, and his bones had grown stiff. A walk would do him good.
The Gu family’s residence was smaller than the Chen Family’s, and Jinchao’s Beautiful Embroidery Hall was situated between the western courtyard and the front compound. From the western wing, one could hear the clamor of guests in the front courtyard. Beyond the passageway lay a small garden with a pagoda tree—planted by Jinchao herself after moving to Daxing, as she loved its edible leaves. In the courtyard stood a moss-covered earthen jar holding a few water lilies with blooms as wide as bowls. By the window of the western chamber, she had deliberately planted ivy, so a serene green greeted her whenever she opened the window... Inside the chamber, a folding screen embroidered with the common motif of plum, orchid, and chrysanthemum stood—her own handiwork.
Third Master Chen examined each detail and asked, "You moved from Shi’an to Daxing. Did you grow up in Shi’an as a child?"
Jinchao shook her head. "I was raised by my grandmother in Tongzhou’s Baodi." She tilted her head to look at him. "What about you? Did you always live in Wanping with your mother?"
Third Master Chen replied, "I also spent a few years in Suzhou when my father was posted there. Back then, I loved taking boat rides. I remember a restaurant by Lake Tai that served delicious freshwater delicacies. Suzhou was full of refined scholars, and my father often took me to visit renowned recluses of the time, including the most celebrated of the Four Talents of Wuzhong—the Hengshan Hermit."The Hermit of Mount Heng... Such a renowned figure was naturally known to Gu Jinzhao. She asked with keen interest, "And what did you discuss with him?"
Chen Yanyun gazed into the distance, his voice warm and mellow as he recounted, "The Hermit was already nearing eighty years of age then, with a long white beard. Not only did he offer guidance on my calligraphy, but he also gifted my father a basket of hairy crabs."
Gu Jinzhao found this quite amusing. However, noticing how dark it had grown outside, she thought it improper to keep him longer... They would have to avoid each other when returning to their chambers later that evening.
She discussed their plans to return to Wanping the next day: "...In the morning, I'll first pay my respects to bid farewell to Grandmother, Mother, and Father before we depart. Will you be attending the Grand Secretariat tomorrow? I could have the kitchen prepare breakfast in advance."
Chen Yanyun shook his head. "I came specifically to escort you back. Naturally, I'll accompany you. The Grand Secretariat has been rather idle lately." As his left hand absently caressed the Buddhist beads, he suddenly inquired softly, "You know Ye Xian, don't you?"
Gu Jinzhao fell momentarily silent. Since he hadn't asked earlier, she had assumed the matter wouldn't come up.
What exactly had Ye Xian told Third Master Chen? She wasn't certain, and Ye Xian had always been willful and unpredictable... The thought gave her a headache. Carefully choosing her words, she replied, "The Young Marquis is Fifth Aunt's younger brother. We've met on several occasions."
When she looked up, she found Chen Yanyun staring intently at her—that familiar gaze of his. Though his expression remained gentle, his eyes were piercingly sharp, like knives cutting through all pretense, sending an involuntary chill through her palms.
Her relationship with Ye Xian was indeed complicated, truth be told. He had helped her once, and in return, she had aided the Marquis Changxing's household in evading Prince Rui's schemes. As for that day when Ye Xian had burst into her courtyard, taken her hand, and proposed, "Why don't I marry you instead?"—Gu Jinzhao had dismissed it as a momentary lapse of judgment.
Resolving to be forthright with Third Master Chen, as there was nothing truly improper to conceal, she explained, "When my mother was gravely ill... the Young Marquis summoned his own master physician to treat her. But it was too late; my mother passed before they could..." Her words trailed off hesitantly. She omitted the details about the Marquis Changxing's palace coup, as these matters were far too complex, entangled in the power struggle between the Marquis's household and Prince Rui. These were affairs she shouldn't have known about, and she couldn't explain how she came by such knowledge.
Moreover, Prince Rui had been on good terms with Zhang Ju Lian. By aiding the Marquis Changxing's household, she had inadvertently acted against Zhang Ju Lian's interests. Though Third Master Chen was her husband, he was also the Minister of Revenue and a Grand Secretariat elder—no one understood court intrigues better than he did. Compared to him, even with her two lifetimes of experience, she still seemed naive.
Yet Chen Yanyun slowly reached out and patted her head, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Look at you, what are you afraid of? Would I not trust you?"
His touch only made her heart clench tighter.
His hand slid downward, gently caressing her face—her skin was fair and smooth... Then abruptly, he pulled Jinzhao into his embrace, lowering his head to kiss her cheek. "Enough, I won't ask further. But you should see less of him from now on..."
When Ye Xian had mentioned Gu Jinzhao, Chen Yanyun had known immediately that there was more to their acquaintance than met the eye. Yet he hadn't realized their connection ran so deep. For someone as cold-hearted, calculating, and complex as Ye Xian to help her mother without reason—what could it mean?Gu Jinzhao felt the kiss was scorching, landing on her face, then her lips. The embrace grew equally fervent. The large hand restraining her waist tightened further, and she could sense Third Master Chen's restraint. Yet he remained remarkably composed. After kissing her, he set her down and straightened her collar for her—this was her maiden home, after all... They couldn't indulge in intimacy here.
Gu Jinzhao felt the need to explain: "Third Master, someone like the heir apparent is accustomed to acting recklessly. Given our nominal uncle-niece relation and how rarely we meet, it truly means nothing..." She feared he might misunderstand.
Third Master Chen nodded. "Mm, I know. It's just that Ye Xian's methods are too ruthless... When Xiao You betrayed him, he personally killed his own master. He won't remain an ordinary man in the future." He sighed, then added, "But it's also true that I dislike you seeing him. Be obedient, alright?"
Gu Jinzhao naturally agreed.
After their conversation, Gu Jinzhao intended to see Third Master Chen out, but he waved her off, donned his cloak, and left alone.
The next day, Third Master Chen took Gu Jinzhao to bid farewell to Madam Feng and personally escorted her home.
Madam Feng saw them off at the screen wall, watching as Third Master Chen half-supported Jinzhao into the carriage. His posture was straight as a pine, noble and distinguished, the center of attention. Only when the carriage disappeared beyond the gates did she exhale and say to Second Madam, "Gradually see off the remaining guests... And prepare for Lian jie er's return visit in three days."
Second Madam acknowledged, then glanced toward the departing carriage. She whispered to Madam Feng, "...Third Master Chen seems quite fond of Gu Jinzhao. Despite his heavy official duties, he still came personally to fetch her. Chaojie has truly married well." And indeed she had—the South Sea pearl headpiece Gu Jinzhao gifted her was exquisite, each pearl perfectly round, smooth, and uniform in size, worth a small fortune.
Madam Feng still felt slighted by Gu Jinzhao's disregard the previous day, but since the couple had at least paid their respects before leaving, she held her tongue. Instead, she called for Xu Jingyi and instructed her to oversee the dismantling of the banquet kitchen.
With her daughter newly married, Second Madam felt somewhat unsettled. She wondered how Lian jie er was faring in the Yao household... As she supported Madam Feng, her thoughts drifted—Lian jie er should be serving tea to Madam Yao by now.
...As a new bride, Gu Lian had just finished serving tea to Madam Yao and Yao Daren. Yao Wenxiu had been pulled aside by his second brother, leaving Gu Lian to manage her sisters-in-law.
The elder sister-in-law had recently given birth to the family's first grandson, the precious heir of the main lineage, coddled beyond measure. When Gu Lian held the child awkwardly, he burst into tears, prompting the sister-in-law to quickly retrieve him, politely saying, "...I feared your arms might tire."
The sister-in-law, a gentle woman from Jiangnan, was always amiable. Yet Gu Lian felt slighted, her expression darkening. By afternoon, the endless stream of relatives during the formal introductions left her dizzy and disoriented before she finally retreated to the bridal chamber.
When Yao Wenxiu returned, he asked softly, "Lian jie er, has the day worn you out?"
Gu Lian forced a smile. "Not too much. Let me help you change."
Yao Wenxiu declined. "No need—you're exhausted as it is." He summoned two maids to attend to his washing in the bathing chamber.Gu Lian found Yao Wenxiu quite considerate and felt somewhat at ease. When the two maids entered and first paid their respects to her, Gu Lian suddenly frowned, hesitating, "You two... are the Third Young Master's personal maids?" They were quite pretty and had their hair styled in a married woman's bun...
The taller maid curtsied and replied, "Answering Third Madam, this servant is Yilan, and this is Chengzhi. We are the Third Young Master's personal maids."
Hearing Yao Wenxiu already calling for the maids inside, the matron by Gu Lian's side stepped forward and had the two maids enter the bathing chamber first. Turning back, she said to Gu Lian, "Third Madam... these two are likely Bedroom servant girls. It's unavoidable! Even if they've served the Third Young Master, they're still just servants. Treat them as you would any other servant—no need to mind them."
Gu Lian reluctantly nodded, thinking to herself that such matters weren't something she could simply choose not to mind.
Just as she was pondering this, a maid outside announced that Concubine Lan had come to pay her respects.
Since they shared the same surname, Gu Lan could only be referred to as Concubine Lan to avoid confusion. Upon hearing the name, Gu Lian clenched her hands tightly and said with a smile, "Then let her in!"
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