The next morning, Jinchao woke to find the sun already high in the sky—Third Master Chen had long since left for court.
Her body ached with exhaustion. They hadn’t retired until midnight, drenched in sweat, and he had held her for a long while before summoning the maids to bring hot water for her bath. Now, waking up, she still felt drained.
Caifu combed her hair while she struggled against drowsiness.
Granny Sun came in to report on Mama Wang’s situation: “...This servant sent her to Baoding overnight as instructed. Her belongings were packed, and she was given twenty taels for the journey. A canopied cart was arranged to take her there.” She then mentioned Wanshi’s wife. “For her negligence, this servant fined her one tael, and she accepted without protest.”
Jinchao nodded. “Good. Now that Xi Jie’er has moved in, her meals should also be prepared in the small kitchen. Inform Wanshi’s wife to follow the same menu as Xi Jie’er’s side.”
Granny Sun acknowledged and withdrew.
Yuzhu entered carrying a crystal bowl filled with several white camellias. Smiling, she said, “Madam, the camellias in your garden are blooming beautifully. Why not use them for hair ornaments?”
Jinchao chuckled. “Only young girls wear fresh flowers. Just place them on the table—they’ll scent the room nicely.”
She avoided doing anything unconventional or drawing attention with her attire—perhaps a lingering habit from her past life.
Yuzhu set the bowl on the table, and indeed, the fragrance soon filled the chamber.
Maids brought in breakfast one after another.
A young maid announced from behind the curtain, “The young mistress is here to visit.”
Gu Jinzhao was surprised—what was Zhou Yixuan doing here?
Zhou Yixuan entered with two maids in tow. Taller than most women, she had a delicate, pretty face and a bright smile. “Perfect timing—Third Aunt is having breakfast! I heard we live close by and thought to join you in paying respects to Grandmother.”
From Half-Bamboo Bank to Osmanthus Hall was at least the time it took to burn an incense stick—she might as well have gone straight to the inner gate...
Gu Jinzhao welcomed her with a smile and had an extra set of utensils brought out. “The dishes are simple—I hope you don’t mind.”
Zhou Yixuan laughed. “Everything at Third Aunt’s place is wonderful, even if it weren’t!”
Gu Jinzhao caught a faint whiff of rose dew from her. Looking closer, she noticed Zhou Yixuan’s neatly styled hair adorned with a ruby treasure knot and a lotus bud gold hairpin. Her nails, freshly painted, still bore a delicate hue.
Zhou Yixuan took a few distracted sips of porridge, her eyes wandering.
Gu Jinzhao guessed the truth—Zhou Yixuan hadn’t come for her at all. She was here for someone else...
“Is the plain porridge not to your taste?” she asked. “Shall I fetch some salted duck eggs to go with it?”
Zhou Yixuan hastily declined, but Jinzhao had already ordered them brought. “Third Master brought these back a few days ago—they’re from Gaoyou County. The yolks are rich and red, very fragrant. Try them and see.”
Zhou Yixuan thanked her, then asked, “Third Aunt... doesn’t Seventh Cousin come to pay his respects in the mornings?”
So she couldn’t resist asking after all.
“He lives in the outer courtyard—it’s inconvenient to come and go. Besides, he’s grown now and doesn’t need to visit daily,” Gu Jinzhao replied.Zhou Yixuan let out an "Oh," though she didn't seem particularly happy anymore.
After a while, Xi Jie'er arrived, and the three of them went together to Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard to pay respects to Madam Chen.
They happened to run into Chen Xuanqing, who had also come to greet Madam Chen.
Chen Xuanqing bowed to Madam Chen, who pulled him down to sit and chat: "Your second uncle is currently in Shaanxi. Your father is so busy these days that we barely see him morning or night. And you're always running off to the Imperial Academy. Since you have time today, don't go back to study—stay and talk with this old woman for a while."
Chen Xuanqing felt somewhat helpless. He couldn't refuse her, but he still had matters to attend to. He could only tuck the dough figurine in his sleeve deeper and plan to accompany his grandmother for a short while.
Outside, a maid announced that the Third Madam, the cousin, and the Fourth Young Miss had arrived to pay their respects.
After the bamboo curtain was lifted, Gu Jinzhao entered first, followed closely by Zhou Yixuan and Chen Xi.
Gu Jinzhao greeted Madam Chen first. Upon seeing her, Chen Xuanqing stood up and nodded, addressing her as "Mother." Zhou Yixuan, however, brightened at the sight of Chen Xuanqing, her whole demeanor becoming bashful. She softly called him "Seventh Cousin." Chen Xi obediently bowed to her grandmother before following An Momo to the study at the back to practice calligraphy. She now practiced two pages of writing every day.
Madam Chen smiled and said to Chen Xuanqing, "It's perfect timing that your cousin Yixuan is here. It's been years since you last saw each other, hasn't it?"
Chen Xuanqing nodded. "It must have been four years."
"I remember back then, Seventh Cousin was only twelve, a head taller than me, and he used to play with me and pick golden kumquats from the back mountain for me to eat," Zhou Yixuan said with a smile. "Later, I heard that Seventh Cousin was Named on the Golden List, achieving the rank of Third Scholar and being appointed as a Hanlin Academy Compiler. I've always wanted to come see Seventh Cousin. My two older brothers passed the provincial exams years ago, but they still haven't passed the imperial exams. Is there some kind of secret to it? If Seventh Cousin tells me, I'll pass it on to my brothers."
Chen Xuanqing inwardly sighed, unsure how to respond.
Most young women from boudoirs were like this—they hadn't read much and thought the difference between a provincial graduate and a metropolitan graduate was merely a title, believing there was some trick to it. What secret could there be in the Eight-legged essay? It was simply a matter of studying. Those with high comprehension, like his father, went from provincial graduate to Second Place in just a year, while those without might never pass in their lifetime.
Gu Jinzhao, worried that Chen Xuanqing might inadvertently offend Zhou Yixuan with his words, interjected, "Yixuan, you're asking the wrong person. If you ask him about poetry or calligraphy, he might answer, but if you ask for secrets, even Seventh Young Master himself would probably be at a loss."
If there really were secrets, there wouldn't be so many scholars failing the exams.
Zhou Yixuan was already somewhat flustered just from seeing Chen Xuanqing, and hearing Gu Jinzhao's words made her blush, realizing her question had been naive. She quickly changed the subject: "Then I'd like to ask Seventh Cousin what kind of calligraphy style would look good for a girl. My aunt used to write in Plum Blossom Small Seal Script, and it was beautiful. I'd like to learn it too."
Chen Xuanqing glanced at Gu Jinzhao before replying gently, "Xi Jie'er also practiced Plum Blossom Small Seal Script for two years—it's truly difficult to master. But the Academy Style Calligraphy used by scholars wouldn't suit you either. I happen to have a copy of Zhao Mengfu's 'Songxue Zhai Ji' calligraphy manual, which would be perfect for you. I'll retrieve it later and have it sent to you."
His tone was warm, his words gracious.
Gu Jinzhao nearly forgot—Chen Xuanqing was only impatient with her. With other women, he was always courteous. Why would he ever say anything to embarrass Zhou Yixuan?She smiled and lowered her head to sip her tea without speaking.
"Then I’ll thank Seventh Cousin in advance." Zhou Yixuan was delighted. She had adored her seventh cousin since childhood—not only was he exceptionally handsome, but his demeanor was also refined and ethereal, far surpassing other men. She admired learned individuals the most, believing most young masters from noble families were empty-headed. But Seventh Cousin was different. Perhaps this was what people meant when they said "elegance stems from a heart filled with poetry and books."
Madam Chen sensed something amiss with Zhou Yixuan and glanced at her a few more times.
Chen Xuanqing raised his hand to take his teacup, but something accidentally slipped from his sleeve. He immediately bent to retrieve it, but Zhou Yixuan exclaimed, "Seventh Cousin, what's this?"
Quick as lightning, she picked it up. It turned out to be a dough figurine with twin spiral buns, dressed in a red short robe, exquisitely crafted.
Madam Chen was also curious—why would Chen Xuanqing have such a child's plaything on him?
Gu Jinzhao’s fingers twitched slightly. Could this be the dough figurine Chen Xuanqing had mentioned giving her? Why was he still carrying it around?
Chen Xuanqing himself didn’t know why he lied, but he instinctively felt this wasn’t something to be spoken of openly. He replied indifferently, "I bought it for Xi Jie'er. I was waiting for her to come out before giving it to her."
The dough figurine was soft, yet it hadn’t been damaged at all despite being tucked in his sleeve. Besides, since Chen Xuanqing had bought it, no matter how trivial it was, she adored it… Zhou Yixuan couldn’t bear to part with it and was reluctant to return it to him. But snatching something from Chen Xi wouldn’t be right—after all, Xi Jie'er was her little cousin…
She gave Madam Chen a pitiful look and cooed, "Grandmother, I like this kind of dough figurine too."
Her grandmother doted on her and usually granted her requests whenever possible. A small matter like this should be no exception.
To her surprise, Madam Chen chuckled and said, "You’re grown up now—how can you snatch something from your little cousin? Later, I’ll have someone make one for you, bigger and prettier. Let Xuanqing’s gift stay with Xi Jie'er."
Madam Chen sensed that Zhou Yixuan’s feelings for Chen Xuanqing were unusual, and this simply wouldn’t do! Chen Xuanqing was already betrothed to Yu Wanxue, and in a few months, the two families would finalize the marriage arrangements. What if Zhou Yixuan truly fancied Chen Xuanqing? They couldn’t possibly break off the engagement with the Yu family—they were a prestigious household. Such girlish infatuations were best nipped in the bud.
Gu Jinzhao realized Madam Chen had noticed Zhou Yixuan’s feelings.
But Zhou Yixuan’s emotions were painfully obvious—written all over her face, clear as day.
Zhou Yixuan had no choice but to return the dough figurine to Chen Xuanqing, though she did so reluctantly.
Chen Xuanqing took it back and tucked it into his sleeve again before continuing to drink his tea.
After lunch at Madam Chen’s quarters, Jinzhao discussed Mama Wang’s matter with her and accompanied Xi Jie'er back to take her medicine. Though she had recovered, her constitution was still weak and required further care. Only after Xi Jie'er had her afternoon nap did Jinzhao return to Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard. Madam Chen had invited her to play leaf cards together that afternoon.
On the way, however, she spotted Chen Xuanqing walking toward her—alone, without a single attendant.
Chen Xuanqing addressed her as "Mother" and said with a smile, "A word in private?" Then he strode ahead without waiting for a response.
Gu Jinzhao was accompanied by Qingpu, Caifu, and a few others. Unsure of his intentions, she hesitated briefly before following him.Beside the piled Taihu rocks, under the dense shade of a locust tree, Chen Xuanqing finally stopped. He took out the dough figurine from his sleeve and handed it to her. "This was promised before, lest Xi Jie'er say again that I treat you poorly. Take it."
Gu Jinzhao remained silent for a moment before speaking softly, "Seventh Young Master, you already told Mother this was for Xi Jie'er. Then it should belong to Xi Jie'er. It wouldn't be right for me to take it now, do you understand?"
Chen Xuanqing was momentarily stunned. After a while, he realized... he had inexplicably lied earlier, saying it was for Xi Jie'er. If this item ended up with Gu Jinzhao... he and Gu Jinzhao would have no way to explain it!
But he had chosen this dough figurine after much deliberation, thinking it resembled Gu Jinzhao. When he saw it, he had even felt a bit of joy in his heart.
After a long silence, he withdrew his hand and sighed. "Then forget it."
Gu Jinzhao nodded and, without another word to him, turned to leave with Qingpu and Caifu.
Chen Xuanqing stood there for a long time, clutching the plump dough figurine in his hand, unsure of what he was thinking.
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