Chapter 257: Awakening
Third Master Chen lay on the wormwood bed, still unconscious, covered with thick bedding. He usually only used a light quilt, but after losing so much blood, it likely wasn’t enough to keep him warm. Apart from his pale complexion, he seemed otherwise unharmed.
Shuyan brought over a stool, and Jinchao sat by the bed, taking his hand in hers.
His usually warm hand was now icy cold. The fingers that held brushes bore thin calluses on the pads of his index and middle fingers. His fingers were long, with distinct knuckles.
This was the first time Jinchao had examined his hand so closely. She softly instructed Shuyan, "Go heat up a hand warmer."
Shuyan froze—why would they need a hand warmer in such hot weather?
Jiang Yan said, "What are you standing around for? Just go heat it." The madam must have thought Third Master Chen’s hands were too cold.
Shuyan soon returned with the warmed hand warmer, and Gu Jinzhao tucked it under the bedding. Sure enough, his feet were also freezing. After arranging the hand warmer, she showed no intention of leaving. She gazed at Third Master Chen for a long time... Whenever he was on leave, Gu Jinzhao would often wake to find him watching her, though she never knew for how long. What was the point of watching someone sleep? She had never quite understood.
Gu Jinzhao even felt a little self-reproach. Perhaps she should have been clearer about the assassination attempt. If she hadn’t framed it as a warning from the Buddha, he might have taken it more seriously and avoided this harm.
Before, when she had no one to rely on, perhaps she wouldn’t have felt such fear. Only when you truly care do you begin to be afraid.
Gu Jinzhao was terrified that something might happen to Third Master... that there would no longer be anyone to comfort her when she was in pain, to tolerate her, to treat her with gentleness. Or those moments when he read, and she sat beside him. No matter what she asked of him, he would respond swiftly, calm and composed.
Gu Jinzhao buried her face in his hand, and the tears she had held back for so long finally fell, dampening his palm.
She had always been a proud person, disliking others seeing her cry.
Chen Xuanqing noticed her shoulders trembling slightly.
Was she crying? In the past, when Gu Jinzhao cried in front of him, it had often been somewhat performative—an attempt to capture his attention. Since marrying into the Chen family, Chen Xuanqing hadn’t seen her cry. It seemed her tears were no longer for him, becoming far more restrained. Had she really been unable to hold back?
Did she truly care for Father this much now?
Chen Xuanqing lowered his eyes and said nothing.
But then Gu Jinzhao felt Third Master Chen’s fingers twitch. Before she could react, she heard his gentle voice: "...Why are you crying?"
Gu Jinzhao looked up to find Third Master watching her, a faint smile on his lips. "I told you, I’d be fine... Don’t cry..." His voice was still weak, but he struggled to sit up. Seeing her staring blankly at him, he tried to wipe her tears with his sleeve.
For some reason, seeing him awake only made Gu Jinzhao want to cry even more. She stared at him, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Third Master sighed, pulling her into his arms and patting her back gently. "There, there. It’s alright now. Don’t cry."
With a gesture from Third Master, Jiang Yan led the guards out of the room. Chen Xuanqing also withdrew, closing the door behind him.Third Master Chen only felt her body trembling incessantly, yet her hands clung tightly to his waist as if she depended on him entirely. His heart softened, and he asked gently, "Why did you come... Didn't I tell Chen Yi... not to let you come..."
His plan had been set before her pregnancy. Had he known she was pregnant, he wouldn’t have taken such a risk. But it was too late now. Originally, he had intended for Chen Yi to downplay the situation to avoid worrying Gu Jinzhao. Yet, unexpectedly, she had stayed by his side...
Normally, Gu Jinzhao would have found being held like this awkward. But now, nothing else mattered as long as Third Master was safe. She explained, "I insisted on coming... I was afraid something might happen to you. I thought it might not be good for the baby and was about to leave..."
"What exactly did Chen Yi tell you?" he asked, still soothing her back, suspecting Chen Yi must have said something misleading.
Gu Jinzhao shook her head, unwilling to elaborate. Remembering he had just woken up, she asked, "Should we call the imperial physician to check on you? Are you hungry? I’ll make you some red date and goji berry porridge." After losing so much blood, he needed something nourishing.
Third Master Chen shook his head.
He knew the severity of the situation—otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to take the risk. The wound looked serious, but it hadn’t damaged his heart or lungs.
His voice was slightly hoarse. "Actually... I’m quite happy. Jinchao, if I were to die one day, knowing you’d grieve for me like this would be enough. That you still remember me..."
Gu Jinzhao felt her nose sting again. Chen Yanyun was wrong. In her past life, when he died, she hadn’t grieved at all. For decades afterward, even after her rebirth, she had rarely thought of him. She reached out to cover his mouth. "Don’t talk about dying. You’re perfectly fine now."
Third Master Chen took her hand and smiled. "I’m fifteen years older than you. Of course, I’ll go first."
After a moment of thought, Gu Jinzhao replied earnestly, "Then you must try to live a dozen years longer."
Chen Yanyun hummed in agreement. For Gu Jinzhao’s sake, he had to take better care of himself. He cupped her face, drew her closer, and kissed her lips. His hand slid to her abdomen, gently circling. "Did you treat it well today?"
Losing so much blood had left his lips icy cold. Remembering her earlier warning, she couldn’t help but ask, "Third Master, just two days ago, I reminded you to be careful. How did you still get hurt?" Someone as cautious as him should have been on high alert at the slightest suspicion.
Chen Yanyun had no intention of telling her the truth. She was already so upset—if she knew the real circumstances, she might get angry and ignore him.
Even if Wang Xuanfan had the audacity to attempt an assassination, his guards weren’t just for show. He had deliberately left an opening to lure Wang Xuanfan in. Wang Xuanfan probably hadn’t expected him to actually get injured—it was likely just meant to intimidate him. Now that a high-ranking second-grade official had been attacked, given Zhang Ju Lian’s temperament, he would no longer tolerate it.
"Man proposes, God disposes," Chen Yanyun said. "Your husband isn’t heaven—he makes mistakes too."Gu Jinzhao watched him for a long time. The more Third Master Chen spoke like this, the more she felt something was unusual. Yet his face remained smiling, revealing nothing. Of course, how could she possibly discern anything? Gu Jinzhao sighed helplessly, "I'll call Jiang Yan in to examine you. Mother is also very worried about you."
Soon, Jiang Yan and Chen Yi entered first.
Third Master Chen asked Chen Yi indifferently, "Didn't I say... not to exaggerate the injury? What exactly did you say?"
Chen Yi scratched his head and chuckled, "I did follow your instructions... but perhaps I overacted... I thought Third Madam was too clever to be fooled by ordinary tricks, so I deliberately prepared for a while before going in to report."
Third Master Chen glanced up at him. Knowing he was at fault, Chen Yi lowered his voice, "This subordinate will receive twenty strokes of the rod tomorrow as punishment."
Third Master Chen then instructed Jiang Yan, "Lord Zhang will surely come to visit tomorrow. When he does, withdraw the guards from Crane Extension Tower outside."
Jiang Yan acknowledged and went to relay the orders.
He needed to eliminate Wang Xuanfan, but he also had to leave himself a way out. Feigning injury to appear vulnerable was an excellent method.
The next day, Zhang Ju Lian indeed came to the Chen Family.
Though already the Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, Zhang Ju Lian did not put on airs. His plain green-curtained carriage was accompanied by only four guards, each breathing so lightly they were nearly silent—clearly top-tier experts. When Zhang Ju Lian entered the study, Chen Yanyun moved to rise and greet him, but Zhang Ju Lian waved his hand, "No need. You're still unwell."
Settling into a seat beside him, a servant promptly served Lion Peak Longjing tea. Zhang Ju Lian asked, "Imperial Physician Wang said the arrow wound was deep—had it been even slightly off, your life would have been in danger... How are you now?"
Chen Yanyun smiled wryly, "Thanks to Imperial Physician Wang's skill, my life is spared, but I’m afraid several months of recuperation are unavoidable."
Zhang Ju Lian said, "Then rest well. Leave Liu Hanzhang's matter to Lord Liang to investigate. These people dare to harm an imperial official—utterly audacious. Initially, I didn’t want to make too drastic a move, sparing their wretched lives, but it seems our mercy was misplaced."
His gaze fell on the Longjing tea. "One bud, one leaf—truly premium. Nine Balance, you’ve always been thoughtful toward your teacher, and I trust you most. As long as you stand by my side, we remain the closest of kin."
Chen Yanyun replied, "Naturally."
Zhang Ju Lian left some tonics for him, and Chen Yanyun had Jiang Yan escort him out.
Gu Jinzhao was bringing fish soup to Third Master Chen when she happened to see a man walking over, surrounded like the moon by stars. She quickly stepped aside to avoid them. Glancing up briefly, her eyes met those of the man in the center. He was of average height, with slender, bright eyes, thick brows, and an extraordinary bearing.
Gu Jinzhao’s heart skipped a beat—it was Zhang Ju Lian, the current Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat... In her past life, she had only seen him once, at Third Master Chen’s funeral. Had he come to visit Third Master Chen?
But Zhang Ju Lian did not look at her again and was soon ushered into his carriage by the entourage.
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