Third Master Chen had just returned to Osmanthus Hall when he saw the stewardesses filing out of the main hall. Upon noticing his return, they each curtsied in greeting.
Why were they here at this hour?
Third Master Chen nodded in acknowledgment before stepping into the central courtyard. Four guards remained stationed in the front yard.
A maid lifted the bamboo curtain as she curtsied, revealing Jinchao leaning against a large bolster while reading. A cup of light tea and a candle were placed on the heated bed table. She was so engrossed in her book that she didn’t seem to hear him enter.
Third Master Chen quietly approached her and leaned over to glance at the book’s contents.
"Always reading such things—are you planning to take the imperial exams someday?"
His gentle voice startled Gu Jinzhao. As she turned her head, she accidentally bumped his chin with a soft thud.
Third Master Chen grunted, stepping back while covering his chin.
Gu Jinzhao set the book aside and straightened up, quickly pulling his hand away. "Are you hurt? Was it bad?"
His chin was slightly red.
She reached out to rub it gently. "I didn’t know you were behind me…" She wasn’t sure whom to blame. "You startled me."
But her hand was caught in his larger one.
Third Master Chen smiled at her. "I just wanted to see you… I’m fine." Having practiced swordsmanship, he was no stranger to bumps and bruises—his skin was rough and thick. But her hands were so soft. Was this what they meant by "skin like congealed fat"?
Only then did Gu Jinzhao realize she was kneeling on the Arhat bed, half-embraced by Third Master Chen. The maids in the room discreetly lowered their gazes.
His heartbeat against her was steady and strong, but Jinchao caught a faint metallic scent.
She tried to push his hand away, but Third Master Chen held her firmly, unmoving. He whispered, "Jinchao… look at me."
Gu Jinzhao raised her head and found his handsome face mere inches away. Unlike other men with sharp brows or cold, chiseled features, his eyebrows were gently arched, lending him a refined, scholarly air when he smiled. His nose was straight, and his lips were perfectly shaped… He was already thirty-two. By this age, men shed their youthful restlessness and gained a deeper steadiness.
He was truly handsome… in a way unlike any other.
The scent of sandalwood clung to him. Softly, she said, "What is it…? You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Should I have the meal served?"
"I like it when you fuss over me," he said with a smile, slowly tracing her face with his fingers—like a blind man, deliberate and thorough, as if memorizing her through touch.
Gu Jinzhao didn’t know how to respond and lowered her eyes to the auspicious patterns on the Arhat bed.
But Third Master Chen released her and sat on the edge of the daybed. "You haven’t eaten either, have you?" He summoned Granny Sun to bring in the evening meal.
Gu Jinzhao coughed lightly and sat down as well. "How did you know?"
Third Master Chen explained, "Earlier, I saw several stewardesses leaving your quarters. What were you busy with?"
She ought to tell him about Mama Wang—after all, she was originally Jiang Shi’s woman.Gu Jinzhao sighed, "I called them over to talk, mainly about Mama Wang's matter..." She recounted how Mama Wang had privately met with Xi Jie'er and explained her own actions. "I’m afraid Xi Jie'er will become narrow-minded if she’s taught like that. The child already overthinks things—she mourned her dead rabbit for months and couldn’t bear to throw away old shoes."
Chen Yanyun responded with a hum, "You did the right thing. Someone like Mama Wang shouldn’t stay by your side. Back when Jiang Shi managed her, she also embezzled some things—otherwise, how could she have acquired those two houses?" Originally, Jiang Shi was in charge of household affairs, and she couldn’t bring herself to punish the wet nurse who had followed her into the Chen Family. As for him, he couldn’t be bothered with such trivial domestic matters.
Third Master Chen idly flipped through her copy of the Book of Changes and said, "She’s been giving you such a hard time. I originally planned to send her to Baoding to manage Jiang Shi’s mountain villa. But since you punished her by assigning her to the kitchen, I didn’t proceed. If you encounter someone like this again, just tell me directly, and I’ll handle it for you."
Gu Jinzhao’s heart trembled, and she looked up at him for a long while.
Dishes were served one after another, and Third Master Chen drank a bowl of old duck and radish soup.
The maids quietly arranged the dishes and chopsticks. Qingpu walked over and carefully brightened the oil lamp.
Yet Gu Jinzhao’s mind was in turmoil. In her past life, before Third Master Chen left for Sichuan, Wang Shi had inexplicably been punished by him and sent to Baoding to manage Jiang Shi’s villa. Later, Madam Chen reassigned a senior maidservant to assist her—one who had served Third Master Chen in his childhood. But less than three months after Mama Wang was transferred... news arrived of Third Master Chen’s death in Sichuan.
Why had he intervened in such a minor domestic matter before leaving for Sichuan?
Why specifically before his departure?
Did he know how much Mama Wang had been controlling her and wanted to help? Knowing he might not return from Sichuan, he had even arranged for a trusted maidservant to look after her.
Gu Jinzhao wondered to herself—was she overthinking this? Maybe it was just a coincidence...
But what an uncanny coincidence it was. In this life, Third Master Chen had the same intention.
She also recalled her relationship with him in her past life. She had been indifferent to him, neither caring where he lived nor whether he was well-fed and clothed. Third Master Chen, in turn, had been distant with her, always polite in words and actions.
Had he actually been protecting her all along? Even when they were like strangers, and she was fixated on Chen Xuanqing, he had known but never said a word. Before he left, believing he might not return, he had made final arrangements for her.
Now that she thought about it, it really was true. Without the new maidservant, Jinzhao wouldn’t have known how to endure the chaotic period in the household right after Third Master Chen’s death. If she hadn’t accidentally caused Yu Wanxue’s miscarriage, Chen Xuanqing wouldn’t have wanted her dead. She might have lived peacefully in the Chen Family until old age, free from worries.
Gu Jinzhao remembered many small details.
The railing of the daybed in her room had broken. He noticed it during one of his rare visits, and soon after, someone from the outer courtyard’s Affairs Office came to replace it.She had behaved improperly in front of Madam Chen and was reprimanded by her. The next day when she went to pay her respects again, she overheard Third Master Chen speaking about her inside with Madam Chen: "...Although she lacks manners, she is still young after all. Please be patient with her." Yet when Third Master Chen came out, he didn't even glance at her. That day, when Jinchao spoke with Madam Chen again, the latter indeed stopped scolding her and even took the initiative to teach her how to play chess.
Without her knowing, he had always been protecting her.
Chen Yanyun noticed she hadn't eaten for a long while and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Doesn't the food suit your taste? I remember you prefer strongly flavored dishes. There's no need to make them so bland for my sake." The meal consisted of a plate of bean sprouts with vinegar, assorted tofu soup, steamed whitefish, and bitter melon with sliced pork—indeed quite light.
Gu Jinzhao struggled to suppress a surge of bitterness in her heart and replied nonchalantly, "This concubine was just distracted, thinking about the embroidery pattern for the shoe uppers."
Third Master Chen had spent his life maneuvering through court politics, only to be dragged down by her.
In her past life, Third Master Chen had made arrangements, so he must have known in advance about the dangers in Sichuan. Why did he still go?
Perhaps because he simply couldn't refuse. Or perhaps things had escalated beyond his expectations.
At that time, the emperor was only seventeen and hadn't yet consolidated his power. The only one who could make Third Master Chen unable to refuse... was Zhang Ju Lian.
Chen Yanyun found her increasingly endearing. "Don't think about such things during meals. Eat properly," he said, placing some bitter melon with sliced pork into her bowl. "You've been eating less and less lately. If you want something else, just ask the kitchen to make it for you. Don't starve yourself."
Gu Jinzhao shook her head. "I just have no appetite." She felt like she couldn't eat anything, her appetite completely gone.
Third Master Chen thought she was eating too little and insisted she finish a heaping bowl of rice, a small half-bowl of whitefish, and some red bean soup.
She ate until her stomach was slightly bulging.
After his bath, Third Master Chen, as usual, leaned against the bed to read. Jinzhao went to bathe as well.
When she came out, she debated whether to ask Third Master Chen about Zhang Ju Lian. But she felt it might be inappropriate. After all, Lord Zhang was Third Master Chen's mentor. Even if he intended to harm Third Master Chen, there must be a reason. What could that reason be? If she abruptly brought up Zhang Ju Lian, given Third Master Chen's sharpness, he would likely notice her unusual behavior quickly.
Gu Jinzhao thought it over and decided she should first consult Cao Ziheng about this matter, not rushing to alert Third Master Chen yet.
After all, it was just her speculation.
She climbed into bed quietly, lying on the inner side, and looked up at him.
The candlelight illuminated his profile. Third Master Chen, wearing only his inner garments, cast a shadow inside the Canopy Bed, enveloping her completely.
"Going to sleep?" he asked. Jinzhao replied yes. He got up to extinguish the lamp.
In the darkness, she could still hear the rustling sounds of him getting into bed. He lay beside her without another word. But suddenly, Gu Jinzhao found herself unable to sleep, thoughts of her past life flooding her mind. She felt she owed Chen Yanyun so much...
She lifted her own quilt and slipped under his. Third Master Chen's body stiffened momentarily.
Then, slowly, his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to his chest. "What's wrong?" he asked softly.
He sensed Gu Jinzhao was acting unusually today. Had something happened? Could someone have troubled her?
Gu Jinzhao said, "Nothing. I just remembered there was something I hadn't told you. Xuan Jie'er came by today."Third Master Chen gave a soft hum. "I heard Mother mention she was coming... I didn’t expect her to arrive today." He wasn’t sure why she had brought up Xuan-jie, but after waiting a while, she didn’t say anything else.
Had she crawled into his bed just to say that?
Hearing her steady breathing, Third Master Chen could only close his eyes with a wry smile.
Jinchao drifted in and out of sleep but sensed that Third Master Chen was restless, tossing and turning.
After a long while, he pulled her close, kissed her, and whispered, "Jinchao... are you asleep?"
Gu Jinzhao was instantly awake and asked softly, "What’s wrong?"
He had intended to let her rest, knowing she hadn’t been well lately. Yet here she was... slipping under his covers.
His voice grew huskier as he rolled over and pinned her down. "It’s my fault..." His fingers gently loosened her outer robe, sliding over the smooth Luzhou silk Dudou she wore, tracing upward along her slender waist.
Gu Jinzhao shivered, squirming to escape. "Third Master..." She had been sleeping!
"Hmm..." he murmured, his fingers deftly untying the strings at her back.
He leaned down, capturing a peak between his teeth.
The sensation was utterly...
Gu Jinzhao could only see the dark crown of his head buried against her chest, her face burning with embarrassment.
OpenNovel