Chapter 254: Doubts
When Gu Jinzhao and Wang Shi brought the Yu mother-daughter pair to Half Bamboo Bank, the opera troupe was still preparing.
Madam Qin handed the opera program to Madam Chen.
After a brief glance, Madam Chen passed it to Gu Jinzhao: "See what you'd like to watch."
Though Madam Chen was giving her face, Gu Jinzhao couldn't actually make the decision herself. After reviewing it, she returned the program: "I think 'The Story of Washing Silk,' 'The Purple Hairpin,' and 'The Dream of Nanke' are all good choices, though I'm not sure which to select."
Madam Chen then offered the program to Chang Laofuren: "Would you like to look as well?"
Chang Laofuren waved her hand with a smile: "No need, no need. As a guest, I'll follow the host's arrangements."
Only then did Madam Chen give the program back to Madam Qin: "Your sister-in-law's suggestions are all fine. You may choose any of them."
Madam Qin showed no reaction, smiling as she took it to instruct the opera troupe.
While waiting for the performance to begin, Madam Chen exchanged pleasantries with Madam Yu, who treated her with great respect. Yu Wanxue sat beside her with orchid-like grace, answering Madam Chen's questions in soft tones.
When Madam Chen asked if Yu Wanxue read books, she replied gently: "I do, though not well. I've read 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Lessons for Women.'" She then presented Madam Chen with a handwritten copy of Buddhist scriptures as a gift.
Her maid brought forward a red-lacquered paulownia wood box, from which Yu Wanxue extracted the scriptures.
Madam Chen was quite pleased and instructed Luo to accept the box.
While virtue was prized over talent in women, Madam Chen worried Chen Xuanqing might be too proud to accept an unlearned woman. Hence her inquiry—literacy was sufficient, as reading could broaden one's horizons and prevent narrow-mindedness.
Madam Chen further questioned Yu Wanxue about needlework and household management, to which she answered affirmatively though admitted no expertise.
Chang Laofuren and Zheng Laofuren also posed many questions, making Yu Wanxue blush.
Though aware she was being evaluated as a potential match, the situation was nonetheless embarrassing.
Madam Qin selected 'The Purple Hairpin,' and soon Huo Xiaoyu appeared on stage in costume. The audience was captivated. The grand finale saw Liu Yi and Huo Xiaoyu reconcile without further misunderstanding, aided by the generous Yellow-shirted Stranger, reuniting the couple to rekindle their love.
By the opera's end, it was noon. Madam Chen invited everyone to the flower hall of Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard for lunch, ordering the kitchen to serve pear juice.
Zhou Yixuan approached Gu Jinzhao and whispered: "Third Aunt, what's Madam Yu's background that you had to personally receive her?"
After consideration, Gu Jinzhao replied: "The late Elder Yu was Governor of Shandong. Madam Yu and Mother are close. This visit with her daughter is likely for matchmaking. Miss Yu has a childhood betrothal with our Seventh Young Master, pledged with a pair of jade pendants."
She hoped Zhou Yixuan would abandon her aspirations to marry Chen Xuanqing.
After all, Madam Chen would never break the engagement with the Yus—she wouldn't slight their honor for Zhou Yixuan's sake.
The real concern was Zhou Yixuan persisting in her desire, clamoring to become a concubine—she'd only disgrace herself.
Zhou Yixuan's expression indeed darkened, fingers twisting her handkerchief. "Seventh Cousin... he... he's already betrothed? How come I never heard?"Gu Jinzhao said, "I only heard about this from Mother recently... Alright, you've been listening to opera all morning and don't care for tea. Go have some pear water to quench your thirst." She handed her a cup of pear water.
But Zhou Yixuan was too distraught to drink anything.
Madam Chen had invited Yu Wanxue today partly to make Zhou Yixuan give up her feelings. Knowing Chen Xuanqing was betrothed and would soon marry, surely she wouldn't still harbor affection for him. So she'd summoned Zhou Yixuan to introduce Yu Wanxue. When Yu Wanxue stood to greet her, she appeared half a head shorter—petite and delicate—which only made Zhou Yixuan feel worse.
What man wouldn't prefer such a dainty, clinging girl? She hated how tall she was.
Madam Chen smiled at Zhou Yixuan. "Wanxue and Xuanqing were betrothed as children and will marry soon. Though she's a few months younger than you, you'll soon be calling her Seventh Sister-in-law."
Zhou Yixuan forced a smile.
Madam Yu, however, was delighted. If Madam Chen said so... then the marriage was settled?
After lunch, Madam Yu happily took Yu Wanxue home.
Madam Chen asked Gu Jinzhao her opinion of Yu Wanxue.
Gu Jinzhao replied, "She speaks with reason, acts with propriety. Gentle, refined, and modest—I think she's quite suitable."
Madam Chen nodded in agreement. "Though she's rather quiet, that has its merits. Someone like Xuanqing appears courteous but is inwardly proud. He treats people well, but that doesn't mean he likes them. Stubborn like his grandfather too—no bed warming maid, just single-minded devotion to the Eight-legged essay. His father thinks him rigid, but his grandfather approves."
After a pensive pause, she sighed. "Inviting Miss Yu today... was unavoidable. Their wedding may need to be moved up." She pulled Jinzhao down beside her. "Discuss Xuanqing's marriage with Third Master when you return. If he agrees, I'll invite Madam Yu to set the date—before Xuanqing turns seventeen. Their birth charts were matched long ago, so no worries there."
Gu Jinzhao assented.
That evening when Third Master Chen returned, Jinzhao mentioned Chen Xuanqing's marriage.
After some thought, Third Master Chen said, "Years ago, Mother and Old Madam Yu were close and arranged the betrothal, exchanging tokens." Breaking such a pledge would be dishonorable. "...Now that Xuanqing's of age, I'll defer to you and Mother on this matter."
Gu Jinzhao said, "Then I'll inform Mother tomorrow." She straightened to serve him soup. "You're home early today—finished with court affairs?"
Third Master Chen smiled wryly. "Court affairs are never finished." His fingers tapped the table edge as he fell into thought.
Gu Jinzhao watched him, puzzled by his distraction. "What are you thinking?"
Slowly, he replied, "An opportunity... I need one to break the deadlock."
Without implicating Liu Hanzhang, Wang Xuanfan couldn't be drawn in. He had to find a way to make Zhang Julian relent. And just now, an idea had come to him...It must be related to his affairs at court. What opportunity was Third Master Chen seeking?
Gu Jinzhao didn’t know. Although she had memories of her past life, she had been an inner household woman in that life as well. She had no idea how he had ultimately succeeded in bringing down Wang Xuanfan, demoting him to the position of Yangzhou’s prefect. No matter how much she thought about it, they still had to eat. She pushed the bowl toward him. "The small kitchen stewed ham and tendon soup. Try it and see if it suits your taste."
Third Master Chen took it and drank, but noticed she had barely touched the rice in her bowl.
"Why have you been eating so little lately?" He picked up his chopsticks and served her dishes, piling a heap of meat into her bowl. "Eat all of this. Don’t leave any." Yesterday, when he had held her waist by chance, he realized she had grown too thin. If she kept being picky, how could that be acceptable?
Jinchao’s expression soured. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to eat—she simply couldn’t stomach it. This morning, she had woken up feeling nauseous, though a cup of scented tea had helped suppress the queasiness. The smell of the tendon made her even more uncomfortable; it felt too pungent, and she had no appetite for it.
She whispered, "Third Master, I really can’t eat… At noon, I had a lot of braised lamb at Mother’s place. I’m still full."
Third Master Chen raised an eyebrow. He pulled her into his lap, and Gu Jinzhao, seeing the maids and servants still present, clutched his sleeve and asked in a hushed voice, "Third Master… what are you doing…"
Third Master Chen said calmly, "Checking if you’re lying." His hand pressed lightly against her stomach a few times. "It’s still flat. You’re lying."
He called Qingpu over. "What did Third Madam eat at Tai Furen’s place today?"
Qingpu hesitated. Third Madam had been eating too little lately, and they were all worried… "A cup of pear water, a few pieces of melon, and half a bowl of eight-treasure rice. Nothing else."
Third Master Chen looked at her helplessly, as if she had truly done something wrong.
Gu Jinzhao could only say, "Perhaps it’s the stifling weather—my appetite is poor. I’ve always eaten less in the summer. If you force me to eat this, I might feel sick and throw up…" She was afraid Third Master Chen would truly insist she finish that bowl of meat.
Third Master Chen studied her seriously, thinking for a moment before his gaze suddenly softened.
He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Jinchao, your monthly courses haven’t come this month, have they… Could you be…?"
Jinchao was startled. Her cycles had always been irregular—delays were common.
Could it be… Was she really pregnant?
Jinchao hesitated. "...I don’t know." How could she confirm something like this?
Third Master Chen froze for a moment. A child… Why hadn’t he thought of this before? "Tomorrow, I’ll have someone summon Physician Ji to examine you. If it’s true, you can’t be as careless as you are now… Not eating will starve my child." He gently rubbed Jinchao’s belly, his voice brimming with unmistakable joy. "Jinchao, you’re carrying my child…"
Their child. Jinchao might be carrying their child.
What deeper bond could exist between two people than the ties of blood?Third Master Chen gently set her down and immediately called for Granny Sun, instructing her to send someone to Dr. Ji’s place that very night to inform him to come the next morning to check Jinchao’s pulse. It was already too late today, and Dr. Ji, being seventy years old, shouldn’t be disturbed to come over. Since she couldn’t stomach meat, Jinchao was forced to have a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup, three pieces of pea cakes, and a plate of walnut kernels for dinner that night.
Holding her as they lay on the wormwood, Third Master Chen also took a long time to fall asleep.
Jinchao shifted slightly, and Third Master Chen immediately wrapped an arm around her waist, saying, “Don’t move around—just sleep like this. If you sleep alone on the inside, you’ll kick off the covers…”
Jinchao murmured softly, “It’s still warm now—kicking off the covers won’t hurt.”
Third Master Chen lowered his head and whispered by her ear, “Not allowed anymore. Sleep properly.”
They would find out tomorrow.
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