Chapter 261: The Incident Unfolds
Gu Jinzhao could only nod vaguely in response.
Zhou Yixuan was somewhat curious. "Won't he come in to pay his respects to you?"
"He's here to see your Third Uncle on some urgent business," Gu Jinzhao replied with a smile. "He's already grown up—there's no need to stand on ceremony with formalities."
"Then I..." Zhou Yixuan hesitated. "Third Aunt, I should go back to take my medicine. I'll visit you again tomorrow." With that, she climbed down from the daybed, lifted her skirt, and eagerly hurried out after him. Her voice calling for Chen Xuanqing could be heard from afar.
Gu Jinzhao sighed deeply. Why was this child so troublesome?
She instructed Qingpu, "Follow the young mistress from a distance and keep an eye on her, lest she does anything improper."
Qingpu nodded and left.
Chen Xuanqing had set down his things and was about to leave when he heard his cousin calling out to him as "Seventh Cousin." He stopped and waited for her, asking what she needed.
Zhou Yixuan's face flushed slightly as she stammered, "I... I wanted to thank you. That copy of Zhao Mengfu's Collected Works of Songxue Studio has been very helpful. The maidservants attending to me say my calligraphy has improved... I was wondering if you'd like anything in return. I have a few fine inkstones."
Chen Xuanqing listened and smiled faintly, shaking his head. "No need for thanks. Grandmother mentioned you haven't been feeling well lately. Are you better now?"
Hearing his concern, Zhou Yixuan's heart pounded like a drum. "Mm... I've taken a few doses of medicine," she said. It was an illness fabricated out of thin air—how could there be any real improvement? She quickly brightened her smile. "I heard Seventh Cousin's wedding is approaching. I even saw Miss Yu the other day—she's very beautiful. Have you met her yet?"
Wedding... Grandmother had mentioned it once, but he hadn't paid it much mind.
Chen Xuanqing frowned. He knew of the betrothal arranged since childhood but hadn't realized the families had already progressed to marriage discussions... His hands clenched tightly behind his back, and his voice was indifferent. "Miss Yu has already visited?"
Why did he seem displeased? Zhou Yixuan nodded. "It was the day Grandmother invited everyone to enjoy the opera. Weren't you there?"
"I had matters at the Imperial Academy," Chen Xuanqing replied. "Cousin, you should head back. The autumn wind is growing colder—be careful not to catch a chill again."
Nearby, the leaves of a ginkgo tree had begun to yellow. The weather was indeed not as warm as before.
He turned and walked away along the stone path. Zhou Yixuan stood there dazed for a moment before a smile curled at her lips. It seemed Seventh Cousin wasn't particularly fond of Miss Yu after all.
......
Qingpu observed from a distance for a long while before returning to report their conversation to Gu Jinzhao.
Since nothing improper had been said, Gu Jinzhao decided not to intervene. She only instructed Qingpu not to speak of it to others.
In the afternoon, Third Master Chen returned, carrying a basket of female crabs.
"Nine round, ten pointed—just the right time to eat female crabs. Have the kitchen steam them later," he said, handing the basket to Granny Sun.
Granny Sun took it to the small kitchen.
Third Master Chen examined the tiny shoes Gu Jinzhao had made and found them amusing. "They're only as long as one of my fingers... Won't they be too small?"
Gu Jinzhao had made them in preparation, but she wasn't sure either. Her feet weren't particularly large, but Third Master Chen had big feet—what if the child inherited them? Still, children's shoes were generally around this size."If they don't fit, we can adjust them later," Gu Jinzhao said as she put the items back into the sewing basket, which Xiuqu then carried away.
Third Master Chen teased her: "Silly girl, clothes can be altered if they don't fit, but how do you alter shoes?"
Jinzhao had no reply. By dinnertime, the servants brought out steamed crabs.
The aroma of crab whetted Jinzhao's appetite—she had always loved seafood and freshwater delicacies. She asked Third Master Chen, "Were these crabs sent by someone?" as she reached out with her chopsticks to take one.
But Third Master Chen's chopsticks firmly intercepted hers: "An old subordinate from Suzhou sent them. They've been distributed to all the households."
Gu Jinzhao was taken aback—why was Third Master Chen stopping her chopsticks?
Seeing her puzzled expression, he explained, "I'll peel them for you." Setting down his chopsticks, he began carefully peeling the crab for her.
Granny Sun, standing nearby, quickly interjected, "Third Master, the mistress is with child—she shouldn't eat crab or similar foods."
Only then did Chen Yanyun remember that crab was cooling in nature. "I forgot about that... Later, make a list of foods the mistress shouldn't eat and give it to me." He had specifically arranged for the crabs because he knew she loved them and had been suffering from poor appetite lately.
Third Master Chen had the maids remove the crabs. Gu Jinzhao said, "Even if I can't eat them, you should. There's no need to waste them."
Third Master Chen shook his head with a smile. "...No need. If you smell them, you'll only crave them more."
Pregnancy was already difficult enough—he wouldn't torment her further.
After the crabs were taken away, a dish of braised beef was soon served.
At that moment, Luo from Madam Chen's quarters arrived, saying Madam Chen had summoned them both.
What could be so urgent? It was already dark outside...
Gu Jinzhao changed into a long overcoat and draped a warm cloak over her shoulders before accompanying Third Master Chen to Madam Chen's residence.
The room was lit by candlelight, casting a golden glow on the Buddha's profile. Madam Chen was kneeling on a prayer mat, chanting scriptures. Hearing their arrival, she instructed a maid to bring stools. Seeing his mother's stern expression, Third Master Chen knew something unpleasant must have happened.
Once the three were seated, tea was served—though Jinzhao was given a sweet red bean soup instead.
"Tonight, Yixuan came to speak with me," Madam Chen sighed. "I'm truly upset. Do you know what she said?"
Third Master Chen frowned slightly. Why had Zhou Yixuan spoken to his mother, and why had his mother summoned them?
Could it involve the third household?
Gu Jinzhao's heart skipped a beat—had Zhou Yixuan repeated the foolishness of her past life?
Third Master Chen said, "Mother, I've watched Yixuan grow up. Just tell us."
Madam Chen, still counting her Buddhist beads, said quietly, "That child... has no self-respect! She came today saying she's in love with Seventh Cousin, even gave him her calligraphy. She claimed he doesn't like Miss Yu and asked if the engagement could be called off..." She closed her eyes.
In her past life, Chen Xuanqing had already been married, and Zhou Yixuan had clamored to become his concubine... At least now she was only talking about breaking the engagement. Gu Jinzhao felt some relief—thankfully, Zhou Yixuan hadn't yet uttered anything like "if the engagement isn't broken, I'll marry Chen Xuanqing as a concubine," or Madam Chen would surely be even angrier.
After hearing this, Third Master Chen fell silent for a moment, and the room grew tense. He asked, "Yixuan said she gave her calligraphy to Chen Xuanqing?"Madam Chen sighed heavily: "That's precisely why I called you here... Even if Xuan'er was foolish, she's still not yet of age. Chen Xuanqing is an educated scholar who understands propriety—how could he not grasp such basic matters? How is he supposed to uphold the family's reputation in the future? If Chen Xuanqing hadn't given any indication, would Xuan'er have come talking about breaking off the engagement? Go back and question him properly to get to the bottom of this."
Among all the brothers, Chen Xuanqing had always been the most upright, not even keeping a personal maidservant. Yet now, at the critical moment of his engagement to Yu Wanxue, such an inappropriate affair with his cousin involving wormwood had emerged—it was truly inexcusable.
Chen Yanyun frowned deeply and asked Madam Chen, "Is Xuan'er still here with you now?"
Madam Chen nodded. "After such an incident, how could I let her return? I reprimanded her and confined her to the side chamber with Granny Zheng keeping watch. She's still crying now."
Upon listening carefully, faint sobbing could indeed be heard from the western side.
"I'll summon Chen Xuanqing immediately to clarify this matter," Chen Yanyun said, rising to his feet and instructing Shuyan, who was waiting outside.
Gu Jinzhao took Madam Chen's hand to comfort her: "Mother, please don't be angry. At least this hasn't spread beyond the family—once we clarify and resolve it, all will be well. I think Xuan'er is simply too young and impulsive, acting on whims rather than genuine affection."
In her past life, the scandal had been far worse, with nearly the entire Chen Family knowing. Zhou Yixuan had eventually been married off to a distant place.
Madam Chen squeezed her hand in return: "You're with child yet still worrying over these matters... Ah, while I'm angry at Xuan'er, my fury is directed at Chen Xuanqing. Once he arrives and we get to the truth—if he was curious about relations between men and women, he could have taken a couple of bedroom servant girls instead of carrying on with Xuan'er..."
She shook her head again. "Never mind, it's pointless now... If you're tired, you should rest first. Don't strain yourself."
Gu Jinzhao shook her head. "It's alright—I napped longer at noon and don't feel sleepy now."
She understood Madam Chen's concerns. Had Jiang Shi still been alive, Chen Xuanqing's affairs would have been her responsibility. At his age, when he should understand matters of intimacy, bedroom servant girls would have been arranged for him.
Now that she managed the Third Household's affairs, she couldn't avoid such matters.
Before long, Chen Xuanqing arrived wearing a blue cloth straight gown, his refined features handsome yet puzzled as he paid his respects. "Father... what did you wish to see me about?"
This was a matter between father and son, so Madam Chen and Jinzhao remained silent observers.
Seeing his grandmother and Gu Jinzhao's grim expressions while his father appeared utterly composed, Chen Xuanqing grew uneasy.
Chen Yanyun began questioning him: "Have you met your cousin privately?"
Why mention Zhou Yixuan? After thinking, Chen Xuanqing replied, "Twice—once when she came to pay respects to Grandmother and returned my copy of Bai Xiangshan's Anthology , and another time when we happened to meet..."
"Where did you meet by chance?" Third Master Chen pressed.
Chen Xuanqing hesitated. "Today I went to Mother's quarters to see you. When you weren't there, I left and encountered Cousin on the way."
"Was anyone present during these meetings?"Third Master Chen's questions were getting increasingly pointed, and Chen Xuanqing also noticed something amiss—there were likely rumors circulating about him and Zhou Yixuan... He took a longer moment to think this time before answering cautiously, "The first time was in Grandmother's courtyard, where a cleaning woman saw us. The second time..." He raised his head and glanced at Gu Jinzhao.
OpenNovel