Chapter 270: Rejection
The maid came to inform them that the Third Madam Chen would arrive shortly. Zhou Shi gave Gu Lian a few more instructions: "Try not to speak. Let me do the talking..."
Gu Lian didn’t understand her mother’s intention and asked, "Didn’t Grandmother say I should help persuade her too?"
"Every time you open your mouth, you offend someone," Zhou Shi replied. Seeing Gu Lian’s expression, she was reminded of the incident with Yao Wenxiu, and a wave of irritation washed over her.
Her personal maid soon entered, sounding slightly nervous: "Madam, I saw a man accompanying Second Miss here—very tall... It might be Third Master Chen."
As an elder, it was reasonable for Zhou Shi to visit Gu Jinzhao, and Third Master Chen should have greeted her. But this was Third Master Chen—even if he ignored them entirely, Zhou Shi wouldn’t dare complain. It was said that Third Master Chen had been injured unexpectedly some time ago and had been recuperating at home. He must have accompanied Gu Jinzhao here.
But now, those words she had planned to say would be difficult to bring up in front of Third Master Chen...
Gu Lian, however, was delighted: "Mother, since Third Master Chen is here, why don’t we just ask him directly? That way, we won’t have to deal with Gu Jinzhao’s attitude."
Zhou Shi snapped, "What do you know? Just cry when you need to cry, and don’t interrupt otherwise."
Before she could finish admonishing Gu Lian, the maid lifted the door curtain.
With Third Master Chen present, they couldn’t very well sit around the kang to talk. Zhou Shi led them to a small adjacent hall furnished with six Grand Preceptor’s Chairs. On the wall opposite the lattice window hung a portrait of Confucius, accompanied by a gilded incense burner.
Gu Jinzhao entered first, followed by the tall man.
This was Gu Lian’s third time seeing Third Master Chen. The first was when he came to the Gu family to propose marriage, and the second was when he came to fetch Gu Jinzhao back. But both times, she had only seen him from afar—never up close. Now, as she looked at him again, she was momentarily stunned. At first glance, he wasn’t strikingly handsome, but the longer one looked, the more one realized how refined and distinguished he was. His scholarly elegance carried the bearing of a wise man, making it impossible for anyone to overlook him.
Zhou Shi quickly pulled Gu Lian up to greet Third Master Chen with a curtsy.
Third Master Chen gestured for them to sit. "No need for formalities, Aunt. It’s just that Jinzhao is less than four months into her pregnancy, and I couldn’t rest easy letting her come alone. The physician said she hadn’t rested well in the early months and now needs a period of quiet recuperation."
This wasn’t untrue. Though Gu Jinzhao hadn’t suffered from morning sickness, she had struggled with appetite until the tenth month, when she finally began to improve.
Zhou Shi forced a smile, thinking to herself how shrewd this man was—blocking her words without even a hint of effort. She replied with a smile, "Rest assured, I only wanted to chat with Chaojie about family matters. It’s been months since she last visited."
Third Master Chen smiled. "By all means, go ahead. I’ll wait for her." He pulled up a Grand Preceptor’s Chair and sat down, sipping his tea.
Gu Jinzhao, however, noticed Gu Lian unconsciously twisting a handkerchief in her hands, lost in thought.
She took the initiative to ask about family matters: "Was Yi-jie’s hair-pinning ceremony well arranged? It’s a pity I had just found out about my pregnancy then and couldn’t attend. I still sent the gift over with Granny Sun."
Zhou Shi answered, "Your mother invited Madam Cao from Huai Xiang Hutong to assist with the hairpin. The Du family of Wuqing sent a complete set of gold hair ornaments. It was quite splendid. Now the two families are discussing the wedding date. We’ll send you an invitation once it’s settled."Gu Jinzhao then asked Gu Jinrong, "...You wrote to me last time when you didn't pass the autumn imperial exams. Are you studying diligently now?"
Zhou Shi smiled and said, "He packed his things and went to the Imperial Academy right after the results were announced. Your mother says he studies very hard, even burning the midnight oil to read."
The mention of the autumn exams made her feel slightly uncomfortable. Yao Wenxiu had failed... Gu Jinrong's failure was understandable since he was still young. But Yao Wenxiu was already almost eighteen. Without passing the provincial exams, how could he ever attempt the metropolitan exams? It was said that on the day the results came out, Yao Daren had been furious with him, scolding him that "excellence in studies comes from diligence, while neglect leads to failure"—it was his own laziness that caused him to fail.
Hearing about the exams, Gu Lian couldn't help but interject, "It's normal for Rong'er not to pass—even Wenxiu didn't! Wenxiu said this year's questions were too obscure, making it hard to structure the essays..."
Zhou Shi's temple twitched at this, and she pushed a plate of walnut cakes toward Gu Lian. "Didn't you say you were hungry earlier? Have some snacks."
Gu Lian didn't think she had said anything wrong, so why was she being silenced? Huffily, she turned her head away.
Gu Jinzhao continued to smile. Since Zhou Shi had said they were just chatting casually, she would oblige. After circling the topic for so long, Zhou Shi was growing impatient. The conversation had been entirely steered by Gu Jinzhao, and not a word had been said about the real matter at hand.
With Third Master Chen present, now was the perfect time to bring it up!
Gu Jinzhao then asked about the eleventh young lady, Gu Jintang. "...Can she speak now? I remember last time I saw her, she could already sit up."
Zhou Shi felt this transition was too abrupt, but she couldn't afford to wait any longer—if they kept chatting like this, it would soon be time for dinner.
With a sigh, Zhou Shi's eyes reddened slightly. She hastily took out a handkerchief to dab at them. "Look at me—here we are talking, and I'm reminded of your second uncle's plight. Thinking of him in the prison, cold and hungry, my heart just aches!"
Gu Jinzhao's lips twitched. Zhou Shi was being far too obvious.
Zhou Shi took Jinzhao's hand and pressed on, "When you were getting married, your second uncle insisted that I give you the finest dowry additions, worried you might be slighted. He even urged your mother to prepare extra dowry trunks for you. After you returned from Shi'an to the ancestral home, your second uncle took great care of you all. When your father was in trouble last time and nearly lost his position, wasn't it your second uncle who helped him through it?... Jinzhao, now that your second uncle is in distress, by reason and by duty, you cannot refuse to help!"
Invoking past favors to pressure her—if she refused now, she would be branded ungrateful and unjust.
Especially with Third Master Chen present.
Zhou Shi continued, "Your grandmother... made me promise to deliver this message. If you refuse, she will come here herself. She's elderly—surely you wouldn't want to put her through such trouble? You know how she is... Ah, the whole family is scrambling to save your second uncle, but we're powerless! If this drags on and your grandmother falls ill from distress, our household will be thrown into even greater chaos..."
Gu Lian couldn't resist trying to speak again, but Zhou Shi's foot stomped hard on hers under the table. She could only lower her head resentfully, biting her lip as she waited for Zhou Shi to finish.
Seeing Gu Jinzhao remain silent, Zhou Shi felt a wave of relief. Could Jinzhao really refuse? To do so would be to show herself as unfilial and unjust—and with Third Master Chen right here, she wouldn't dare be so direct. Even Third Master Chen, hearing this, would find it hard not to agree!Gu Jinchao couldn't help but feel amused that Zhou Shi dared to bring up these matters. Regarding the dowry, after her father's property was confiscated, the annual income of nearly ten thousand taels of silver all went to the Gu family. Her dowry was insignificant in comparison. Besides, if not for her marriage into the Chen Family, would Madam Feng have given her so much? During her year in the Gu household, how many ill deeds had been done to her—Madam Feng trying to control her, Gu Lian looking down on her? Madam Feng had wanted to assign Qingpu to Xu Houcai, and Gu Lian had tried to make her take the blame... Now these people came demanding gratitude from her!
True, when her father had been in trouble before, Second Uncle had helped him. But that was a separate matter—she wouldn't drag Third Master Chen into this. Moreover, her father's exoneration back then wasn't due to Second Uncle's help but to Third Master Chen's covert assistance. Zhou Shi's twisting of facts suggested she hadn't even clarified the details!
If Second Uncle had truly been framed, Gu Jinchao wouldn't have refused to help. But since he wasn't, there was nothing more to say.
"I understand Second Uncle's difficulties," Gu Jinchao said, "but Second Aunt also knows how serious willful misconduct is. It's impossible for Second Uncle to retain his position entirely... Besides, as an inner-household woman, even if I wanted to help, I wouldn't know how."
Zhou Shi choked up. If she didn't know how, surely Third Master Chen did!
Her peripheral glance caught Third Master Chen resting with his eyes closed, as if completely oblivious to their conversation... Why wasn't he following the expected script?
She burst into tears: "Chaojie, you're not sincere! Search your conscience—shouldn't you help your Second Uncle...?"
"Jinchao," Third Master Chen suddenly called.
Gu Jinchao turned to him. He was idly rubbing the teacup lid. "You have another dose of medicine to take this afternoon. It's time to return." Smiling at Zhou Shi, he added, "Her health is delicate now—she mustn't overexert herself. I hope you'll understand."
With that, he stood and took Gu Jinchao's hand to help her up.
Zhou Shi panicked. "Third Master Chen... Won't you say something?"
He disliked her overt and covert attempts to pressure Gu Jinchao and had been restraining himself while listening.
Turning to face Zhou Shi directly, he said, "Second Uncle is an official in the Censorate. I've already spoken with Feng Xianlun—he'll ensure Second Uncle doesn't lose his position. If you want him reinstated, go ask the families of those beaten to death by Luo Tai, or the family of the wronged Vice Minister An, and see if they agree. Pressing Jinchao won't yield anything."
Zhou Shi was stunned. Feng Xianlun was the Left Censor-in-Chief—Gu Deyuan's direct superior. Third Master Chen had already negotiated with him?
As he led Gu Jinchao to the door, Third Master Chen glanced back coolly. "By the way, it was I who rescued Father-in-law during his trouble. Second Uncle did nothing—in fact, fearing implication, he'd preemptively drafted a statement to distance himself if things went awry. Clarify the facts before making claims. You might even tell Father-in-law, lest his efforts go unappreciated."
Gu Jinchao was astonished. How did Third Master Chen know all this?
"Let's go," he murmured to her, then escorted her out of the western chamber.
Only then did Gu Jinchao pull her hand free. "Third Master, about my father being framed back then... How did you know Second Uncle's intentions?"Third Master Chen patted her head and said with a smile, "What doesn't your husband know? At the time, I wanted to help you, so naturally, I had to investigate everything thoroughly. Your second uncle has too many faults, and I thought knowing would only trouble you, so I didn’t mention anything."
He walked ahead first.
Gu Jinzhao watched Third Master Chen’s back, her heart filled with unease. He knew everything—nothing could escape his notice. He must have investigated the Gu family’s affairs too… What about her past with Chen Xuanqing?
Did he know that she had once… been in love with his eldest legitimate son?
If he found out, what should she do?
Gu Jinzhao dug her nails into her palms.
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