Chapter 260: Explanation
(Under revision, please refrain from reading for now.)
Shuyan received Caifu's message and rushed over without delay, carrying his medicine chest. Wiping sweat from his brow, he asked Caifu, "Miss Caifu, did Third Master summon me?"
Caifu raised a finger to her lips in a hushing gesture, then lifted the curtain slightly with the help of a young maid to peek inside. After lowering it again, she said solemnly, "It’s fine now. Just leave the medicine chest here. Madam will change Third Master’s dressing later."
Huh? She had said Third Master was in pain and urged him to hurry over—why was everything suddenly fine?
Shuyan hesitated. "Miss Caifu, is Third Master’s injury serious? Should I fetch Imperial Physician Wang instead..."
Caifu replied softly, "I’m not sure either. Let’s ask again later."
Inside, Third Master was holding Madam, his head bowed as if coaxing her. It was best not to disturb them now.
Third Master Chen spoke in a low voice, "My injury was indeed deliberate. It was for the case of the illegal salt trade. The matter is too complicated to explain in detail, but the original plan was to weaken Lord Wang’s influence. However, the testimonies of Zhang Ling and the Salt Distribution Commissioner alone weren’t enough to touch him. The Southern Metropolitan Governor, Liu Hanzhang, is deeply entangled with Lord Wang. If we drag him down, Wang Xuanfan won’t escape unscathed. But arresting Liu Hanzhang isn’t simple—it required the Grand Secretary’s approval. That’s why I resorted to this plan..."
Gu Jinzhao listened quietly.
He smoothed her hair. "It’s alright if you don’t understand. In short, Jinchao... I had my reasons."
Gu Jinzhao replied calmly, "I understand... Your injury made Lord Zhang wary of Lord Wang. He feared instability in the Grand Secretariat."
"Mmm..." Though not entirely accurate, Third Master Chen nodded with a smile. "You’re clever. I never knew my Jinchao had the makings of an advisor." Of course, this was just praise—and an attempt to placate her.
Gu Jinzhao straightened up silently.
"Jinchao," Third Master Chen grasped her hand. "I didn’t tell you because I thought you shouldn’t hear such things."
Politics was the filthiest thing in this world.
Gu Jinzhao whispered, "When you were injured, my heart ached. I didn’t know what I would do if something truly happened to you... I’ve never felt so lost before." Her eyes reddened as she spoke, her voice thick with emotion. "And I’m carrying your child..."
She had grown dependent on him. Once something became a habit, it was hard to break.
Third Master Chen was protecting her. But Gu Jinzhao wanted him to consult her before making major decisions—or at least inform her. Third Master Chen would face many trials in the future. Even after his death in his past life, his reputation had wavered between that of a virtuous minister and a treacherous one. Gu Jinzhao didn’t want him to die tragically in Sichuan again, nor did she want his lifelong honor tarnished by posthumous slander.
She had witnessed enough of that coldly in her past life.
Yet after hearing her words, Chen Yanyun suddenly laughed and flipped her onto her back, pinning her beneath him.
Caught off guard, Gu Jinzhao tilted her head up in confusion as his entire frame loomed over her, his body radiating warmth and the scent of medicine.
"Jinchao... Though it might be a little untimely," he murmured by her ear, his breath tickling her skin, "but..."Gu Jinzhao felt weak all over and tried to push him away. But Chen Yanyun instead pinned her hand down, kissing her face repeatedly.
Holding her made it hard to restrain himself, yet Third Master Chen didn’t tell her. He liked how Jinchao relied on him. When he woke, he felt her crying in his palm. His heart overflowed with tenderness, as if a little pet had finally warmed up to him—because he had been patient and restrained, not pulling her into his arms too abruptly.
His breathing gradually grew heated.
Gu Jinzhao hesitated but then broke free from his grasp. Just as Third Master Chen was about to catch her again, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him instead.
It was like poking a hornet’s nest.
In the end, he let her go with a bitter smile, noticing her disheveled robes—the ties of her Dudou undone, revealing most of her snow-white peaks. Her expression still held a trace of confusion. Third Master Chen didn’t dare look at her. Straightening up, he stepped aside and said, "...Hurry and fix your clothes."
Only after sitting up did Gu Jinzhao remember she couldn’t engage in intimacy now...
Her face slightly flushed as she fastened her sash.
Once she had dressed properly, Third Master Chen remarked, "If you don’t tend to my wound soon, I might bleed out..."
Seeing the dark red stain seeping through his gray-blue Straight Robe, Gu Jinzhao hurriedly called for Caifu.
As she applied the medicine, she asked, "Even if it was part of the plan, did you have to make it so realistic?" The wound was truly gruesome; just looking at it made her wince.
Third Master Chen explained, "Imperial Physician Wang is Lord Zhang’s man. If I didn’t make it convincing, I wouldn’t have fooled him. Besides, this injury gives me a chance to feign weakness. Wang Xuanfan has been suppressed, while I’ve been too prominent—that’s not good for me."
It was about biding his time and concealing his strength.
Gu Jinzhao thought for a moment and asked, "Do you think Lord Wang will leave the Grand Secretariat?"
In her past life, Wang Xuanfan had been demoted to Prefect of Yangzhou.
Third Master Chen shook his head. "No such plans. He’s no longer a threat anyway." Once she finished bandaging his wound, he began dressing.
But Gu Jinzhao was puzzled. If Third Master Chen wasn’t the one to remove Wang Xuanfan from the Grand Secretariat, then who was?
The next day, when she went to pay respects to Madam Chen, she encountered Tai Furen of the Zheng family, the two Zheng wives, and a woman she had never met before—Madam Sun, the maternal relative of Sun Shi, Chen Xuanrang’s wife. Besides them, Madam Qin was there with her three daughters-in-law, and Wang Shi sat chatting with Chen Rong.
Madam Chen first introduced Madam Sun, who appeared to be in her forties. She had eyes much like Sun Shi’s, though with fine wrinkles at the corners, and was dressed neatly and luxuriously. Since they were of the same generation, Gu Jinzhao and Madam Sun exchanged slight bows.
Madam Chen smiled and said to Gu Jinzhao, "...You’re going to give me a grandson! It’s already been over two months!"
Hearing this, Tai Furen laughed. "Then you have double blessings—a great-grandchild on one side and a grandchild on the other. Once the children are born, you’ll be juggling them from arm to arm!"
Madam Chen was delighted. "Sun Shi is already six months along. She’ll give birth in four months, just in time for early spring. Jinchao’s child will arrive in May, the start of early summer—both auspicious timings. We’ll go to Bao Xiang Temple then to get protective talismans and light Eternal Lamps, ensuring the Bodhisattva’s blessings."
Gu Jinzhao listened with a smile and pulled over a stool to sit.
Madam Chen waved her hand. "The stool’s too hard. Come sit with me—the cushion’s softer." She tugged Gu Jinzhao onto the Arhat bed and then beckoned Sun Shi over as well.After Sun Shi sat down, she affectionately took Gu Jinzhao's hand and spoke to her. "Third Aunt is in her first trimester—the most exhausting period. When I was in my first three months, I was actually quite energetic, eating, drinking, and sleeping well. I didn’t even realize I was pregnant. If Third Aunt craves something sour, I have preserved apricots and sour jujube candies. I’ll pack some and send them over to you later."
Madam Sun laughed at her. "You’re so carefree. Third Aunt’s pregnancy is precious, and she herself is delicate. How could she be like you..."
Since it was her own mother saying this, Sun Shi simply smiled. Had it been Madam Qin, Sun Shi would have surely retorted. Madam Sun had come to bring maidservants to attend to her daughter and to check on her. She planned to visit again in the month of delivery.
Jinzhao had just become pregnant, and the second madam of the Zheng family, who had been her bridesmaid at the wedding, couldn’t help but share many words of advice and precautions with her.
By the time Jinzhao returned in the afternoon, Third Master Chen had already left for Crane Extension Tower.
Jinzhao’s appetite was still poor. The nourishing soups had grown cloying after being consumed for days, and she no longer had any desire for them. She forced them down like medicine. After finishing a bowl of sweet pig trotter soup, she immediately popped a slice of hawthorn to cut the greasiness.
A young maid announced from outside that the young cousin had arrived.
Zhou Yixuan? Gu Jinzhao had just asked Madam Chen about her earlier, and Madam Chen had mentioned she had caught a cold and hadn’t been feeling well these past few days. Why had she come here now? Puzzled, Jinzhao instructed the maid to let her in.
After entering, Zhou Yixuan remained silent for a long while, staring blankly at the plump, snow-white lilies blooming by the windowsill.
Unlike her previous visit, when she had dressed meticulously, even carefully painting her nails, today she seemed disheveled.
Gu Jinzhao instructed Caifu to serve her kumquat tea while she continued her needlework alone. The baby’s bib was already finished, and she was now working on tiny shoes—adorable little things no bigger than half a palm.
After a while, Zhou Yixuan finally perked up and asked with a smile, "Third Aunt, are these for my little cousin?"
Jinzhao showed her the completed shoe. "Yes, take a look. Do you like it?"
Zhou Yixuan had no mind for shoes. After much hesitation, she finally asked, "Third Aunt, do you know what kind of person Miss Yu is?"
Jinzhao had already guessed the reason for her visit. "Hmm," she replied, "I’ve only met her once."
"Then... do you think Seventh Cousin would like her?"
Jinzhao looked up and saw an anxious expression on Zhou Yixuan’s face.
She sighed. "Xuan-jie... don’t let others guess what you’re thinking. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this. Mother said you’ve caught a cold, so go back and rest. Don’t dwell on these messy thoughts anymore."
Zhou Yixuan lowered her head and whispered, "Third Aunt, I know you’re kind. I’m only telling you this. When I was little and visited Grandmother’s house, I didn’t know anyone. Seventh Cousin was the one who always played with me. He caught dragonflies for me, made amber from wax. When I couldn’t recite the 'Disciple Rules' and got my palms slapped by the governess, he taught me how to memorize it... He even made little boats from lotus leaves and crafted lotus lanterns. I’ve wanted to marry him since I was a child..."
Gu Jinzhao’s expression turned stern. "Xuan-jie, Seventh Young Master is already betrothed. If such words spread, it will ruin your reputation. Stop this at once."
Zhou Yixuan smiled faintly. "It’s alright. I’ve only told you."Gu Jinzhao felt somewhat helpless; Zhou Yixuan truly had a fearless nature.
At that moment, Qingpu entered and whispered in her ear, "Madam, the Seventh Young Master has arrived. He said he came to see the Third Master."
Gu Jinzhao asked softly, "Did you tell him the Third Master went to Crane Extension Tower?"
Qingpu nodded. "I did... The Seventh Young Master said he just brought some tonics and would leave after delivering them."
Upon hearing the words "Seventh Young Master," Zhou Yixuan's face lit up with delight. "Aunt, is it Seventh Cousin who's here?"
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