Xi Jie'er took her medicine and went back to sleep. Jinchao had the maids set up stools in the small pavilion in the backyard and invited Wang Shi and Madam Ge to view the newly bloomed water lilies. The white water lilies brought back by Third Master from the palace hadn't bloomed yet, but the pool was filled with beautiful pale yellow ones.
As servants kept moving flower vases and long tables in and out, Wang Shi asked Jinchao curiously, "Third Sister-in-law, what's all this for?"
Jinchao replied, "Xi Jie'er will be moving to the back courtyard later. We're preparing her new quarters."
Wang Shi said, "That's good. It was pitiful how lonely Xi Jie'er was living in the Fragrant Splendor Pavilion. But it's also kind of you—you take care of her without any reservations, and I see she listens to you well."
Madam Ge chimed in, "When the previous Third Sister-in-law was still here, she always worried Xi Jie'er would be bullied. She entrusted her to me and Fifth Sister-in-law to look after. Seeing her fall ill makes me anxious, feeling I've failed that trust. Our Ninth Young Master is also a child without a mother, not adopted under Second Sister-in-law or Mother's name—his life is so hard... he doesn't even have new clothes to wear. You're truly kind-hearted. I think the previous Third Aunt needn't have worried so much." She smiled at Jinchao.
Wang Shi coughed lightly. This Madam Ge really had no tact—why bring up Jiang Shi for no reason? Didn't she worry about making Gu Jinzhao uncomfortable?
Gu Jinzhao wasn't bothered. She'd experienced Madam Ge's shortcomings too many times in her past life.
She picked up her teacup to drink, then set it down before saying, "I also find Ninth Young Master pitiful. Simple-minded as he is, if the servants mistreat him, he probably wouldn't even know who to complain to."
Wang Shi shook her head with a smile. "If he weren't simple-minded, he wouldn't have survived this long..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize her mistake and quickly added, "His mother had a difficult birth—they had to sacrifice the mother to save the child. When he was five, he had a high fever that damaged his mind, leaving him simple-minded. Perhaps fools have fortune's favor. Despite it all, he's grown up healthy without illness or mishap, and is now ten years old."
Madam Ge turned pale, her fingers unconsciously digging into her palms.
Gu Jinzhao found Madam Ge's expression strange and glanced at her. "Is Sixth Sister-in-law unwell?"
Madam Ge hurriedly shook her head. "No, not at all." She pushed a plate of peanut crisps toward Jinchao with a smile. "Try these—I find them particularly fragrant."
Jinchao grew even more suspicious. What had Madam Ge thought of?
After Wang Shi and Madam Ge left, she summoned Granny Sun and asked if she knew about Chen Xuanyue's circumstances.
Granny Sun replied, "This servant only knows a little. I heard he was born through sacrificing the mother. He's the only surviving illegitimate son in the second branch—the first two died, one at birth and another at four years old. This one grew up, though his mind isn't right... I hear he doesn't live well either, with patched bedding that isn't changed all year."
Gu Jinzhao recalled Wang Shi's words... if not for his simple-mindedness, Chen Xuanyue wouldn't have survived until now.
What exactly did that mean?
She asked Granny Sun, "Who originally said it was a case of sacrificing the mother for the child?"Granny Sun shook her head. "This servant wouldn't know. It could have been Second Master's decision, or perhaps the Old Madam's. In difficult childbirth cases with concubines, most choose to save the child. Unless Second Master specifically instructed to save the mother... If you wish to inquire further, I can summon another maidservant who previously served in the Second Household and now works in the sewing room."
Gu Jinzhao had only asked casually, not truly intending to stir up trouble.
"Let it be. It's not proper for us to inquire too much into Second Household's affairs. Pretend I never asked."
Granny Sun acknowledged, then after some thought added: "...Madam, there are many unsavory matters behind these grand gates. Even if you wanted to intervene, it's better not to. Everything appears respectable on the surface, but Second Madam is extremely formidable—you must be careful around her in future."
This was the first time Granny Sun had spoken to Jinzhao with such candor, almost confiding in her.
She smiled. "I simply won't cross paths with her then."
Granny Sun sighed. "After all, Third Master is the legitimate heir. The power over household affairs will inevitably pass to you. Conflicts are unavoidable—Second Madam has controlled household affairs for so many years that everyone inside and out is already her person. You'll face difficulties when the time comes..." She finished with a smile, "This servant has spoken out of turn. Please take it as you will."
Jinzhao replied, "Plain words often carry truth. You're considering my interests. In future, speak your mind freely." Granny Sun was intelligent and remarkably perceptive.
She had asked about Chen Xuanyue, yet Granny Sun had turned the conversation to Second Madam's formidable nature. Whether through conjecture or knowledge, the old servant clearly understood the situation.
Had Chen Xuanyue not been simple-minded, he likely wouldn't have escaped the fate of those two illegitimate sons.
Granny Sun nodded with a smile and asked where to serve the midday meal.
Two days later, Chen Xi's fever finally broke completely. Jinzhao permitted her to leave bed, and Chen Xi donned a pea-green sleeveless jacket to learn shuttlecock kicking from Qingpu in the courtyard. Qingpu knew many fancy moves—kicking two shuttlecocks simultaneously, forward and backward kicks. Chen Xi watched with rapt attention.
Soon Chen Xuanqing came to visit, carrying a dough figurine. Delighted, Chen Xi cradled the figurine as she ran to the veranda, calling to Jinzhao, "Mother, look at the dough figurine brother bought me! It's so exquisite!"
Chen Xuanqing approached and likewise bowed his head to address Jinzhao as "Mother."
The dough figurine wore a red jacket and skirt, its hair styled in a bun adorned with yellow flowers, its face beaming happily.
Jinzhao praised, "How lovely! It makes me envious just looking at it."
After some thought, Chen Xi tugged Chen Xuanqing's sleeve, signaling him to bend down for a whisper. With slight resignation, he leaned over as Chen Xi murmured in his ear, "Brother, why didn't you bring one for Mother too?"
Though hushed, Jinzhao still caught the words.
Chen Xuanqing whispered back, "You're a child, but Mother's an adult. What if she doesn't like it?"Chen Xi said very seriously, "How could Mother not like it? I like the little rabbit buns, and Mother likes them too. I like pine nut candy, and Mother also likes it... it's all the same. Just now Mother even said it was pretty. Seventh Brother, are you out of silver? You clearly know Xi Jie'er lives with Mother, yet you didn't bring anything for her." She added, "If you're short on silver, I still have several twenty-tael banknotes in my purse from the allowance Grandmother gave me last time. You can use them."
Jinchao couldn't help but laugh. Chen Xi was the kind of child who became especially amusing once she grew familiar with someone—utterly delightful.
Chen Xuanqing showed a faint, helpless smile. "Alright, alright, it's all my fault. Next time I'll remember to bring something for Mother too, okay?"
Only then did Chen Xi nod and hand the dough figurine to Jinchao to hold, pulling Chen Xuanqing along to watch Qingpu play shuttlecock.
Jinchao returned to the western side room first and had someone prepare mung bean sweet soup to help them cool off from the summer heat.
Chen Xi peeked in through the doorway and was spotted by Caifu, who asked with a smile, "Fourth Miss, are you looking for Madam?"
Chen Xi gave an affirmative hum.
Jinchao called her in and wiped her forehead with a handkerchief. "What is it? Has your brother left already?"
Chen Xi shook her head. "Not yet. Come with me..." She took Jinchao's hand and led her outside, whispering, "Brother can play shuttlecock too, and he's really good at it. But he doesn't want others to see... I begged him to do it. I'll take you to watch..."
Jinchao let Chen Xi pull her to the narrow path beside the side rooms, where they indeed saw Chen Xuanqing playing shuttlecock. He was quite skilled—his movements clean and precise. But such a girlish activity really didn't suit him.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Chen Xuanqing quickly became alert. He caught the shuttlecock and turned to look, only to find Chen Xi standing outside the side rooms with Gu Jinzhao in tow. His temper flared—if not for Chen Xi's pleading, he would never have played shuttlecock. He'd deliberately chosen a secluded spot, yet this little girl had gone out of her way to bring someone to watch... and of all people, she'd brought Gu Jinzhao.
"Xi Jie'er, come here," Chen Xuanqing said in a low voice.
Seeing he was a little angry, Chen Xi hid behind Jinchao and whispered, "I just wanted to show Mother. What's the big deal..."
Chen Xuanqing found it hard to explain the situation to her. As a Hanlin Academy Compiler, he was now an imperial official. Playing the fool to amuse his little sister was one thing, but having others witness it... was rather inappropriate.
Jinchao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Seventh Young Master, you played very well. Come along now—I've prepared mung bean soup for you."
To spare Chen Xuanqing further embarrassment, she took Chen Xi back first.
It was quite a while before Chen Xuanqing finally entered the main hall.
Caifu served him a bowl of mung bean sweet soup. After a moment's hesitation, he picked it up and took a sip.
It tasted quite good.
In the western side room, Gu Jinzhao was chatting with Chen Xi.
After a while, the two emerged.
Chen Xi cautiously asked him, "Brother, are you still angry? Xi Jie'er was wrong."
Chen Xuanqing remained silent.
Chen Xi added, "Seventh Brother, if you're angry, Xi Jie'er will apologize, okay?" She tugged at Chen Xuanqing's sleeve, looking upset. "If you're angry, Xi Jie'er will cry..."
Remembering she had only recently recovered from a serious illness, Chen Xuanqing sighed and said, "Seventh Brother isn't angry."
He glanced up at Gu Jinzhao, hesitating over whether or not to speak.Gu Jinzhao quickly dispelled his concerns, saying, "Seventh Young Master, rest assured, I won't go around talking about it."
Chen Xuanqing breathed a sigh of relief—he had never been this embarrassed before.
"Thank you. Actually, I wanted to apologize for the way I spoke to you before..." Gu Jinzhao had always treated Chen Xi well, yet he had viewed her with prejudice. Looking into her clear eyes, he found himself inexplicably unable to continue. "In the past, I..."
Gu Jinzhao swiftly interrupted him, "Seventh Young Master, you're overthinking it. Let's never mention the past again."
The matters between her and Chen Xuanqing were like a tangled mess—best left untouched. As long as neither of them spoke of it, no third person would ever know.
Chen Xuanqing nodded silently. Perhaps this was for the best... Some things were better left unsaid.
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