Chapter 275: Discussion
Chen Xuanqing saw Third Master Chen approaching from afar and stopped to bow. "Father."
Third Master Chen acknowledged him with a hum.
Chen Xuanqing stared at the black toes of his shoes, finding it difficult to meet his father's gaze. When he finally looked up, he noticed his father's expression was remarkably calm.
"Have you come to see your mother?" Third Master Chen asked indifferently.
Chen Xuanqing nodded silently.
"I heard you were the first to arrive at the western chamber yesterday. That was timely. Your mother was fortunate to have your assistance," Third Master Chen continued.
Chen Xuanqing's heart skipped a beat. His father might not have meant anything by it, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy. "Yesterday, I came to teach Xi Jie'er the qin and overheard an argument in the main room. It seemed inappropriate, so I went to check. Since it concerned Mother, it wasn't really any assistance."
"Go back and rest well," Third Master Chen finally smiled. "You don't seem to be in the best spirits."
"I stayed up late studying last night and woke up too late this morning," Chen Xuanqing replied, trying to appear composed.
His father was an astute man—any slip-up would be noticed immediately. He wasn't sure if his father had already detected something. Though the questions seemed ordinary, the weight of his father's gaze made Chen Xuanqing certain he must have noticed something.
When one is guilty, everything seems suspicious.
"You're about to get married. There's no need to study anymore," Third Master Chen said. "Tomorrow, I'll have your grandmother assign two maids to attend to you closely."
Chen Xuanqing looked up, about to say something, but Third Master Chen had already stepped inside.
Before a man married... he was usually instructed in the ways of intimacy. If it was a matron teaching him, she would only provide an illustrated manual. But if it was a maid, physical contact was often involved. Was his father implying he should take a bed-warming maid?
Under normal circumstances, he should have had one long ago. But since Third Master Chen had never mentioned it, and his grandmother hadn't brought it up, no one else had either.
When Wang Shi saw Third Master Chen return, she took her leave from Gu Jinzhao.
Gu Jinzhao smiled and asked, "You're back so early today?"
Third Master Chen glanced at her first before replying slowly, "I was worried, so I thought it best to come back and oversee things myself." He took a book he often read from the Curio Cabinet and sat beside Jinzhao. "You two seemed to be enjoying your conversation. What were you discussing with Fourth Sister-in-law?"
"About Seventh Young Master's wedding. I saw Miss Yu last time—she's truly beautiful. Once she marries into the family, our third branch will be livelier," Jinzhao said with a smile. "I think after Miss Yu arrives, we can arrange for her to stay in the nearby Shuyage Pavilion. By spring, we can even pick Chinese toon leaves to eat."
Third Master Chen's gaze remained on the book, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Gu Jinzhao always referred to Chen Xuanxin by name, never as "Eleventh Young Master." Perhaps she genuinely felt guilty, or perhaps she thought Chen Xuanqing was already an adult and she needed to maintain propriety. But which one was it?
Once suspicion took root, it wasn't easily dispelled.
But he had never been a particularly curious man. Because behind curiosity often lay unpleasant truths.
Third Master Chen closed the book and placed his hand on her belly. "It seems to have grown a little." Jinzhao was too slender—her pregnancy only began to show after three months.
Gu Jinzhao said, "Granny Sun says this is normal. I eat plenty every day, but I just can't seem to gain weight."
"A smaller child is easier to deliver," Third Master Chen remarked.Jinchao felt his gaze upon her belly was particularly tender. She smiled and said, "I like chubby children. Let's raise a little chubby one!"
Third Master Chen kissed her forehead and murmured, "Mm, whatever you prefer."
Jiang Yan arrived.
Chen Yanyun went to the study to meet him.
"Third Master, the matter you instructed has been clarified. Fan Hui's background is clean, with no signs of close private connections to anyone. He isn’t someone Lord Zhang secretly placed in the Ministry of Works either. However, Ji Qiuping has some irregularities... Half a year ago, his nephew was conscripted into the military and now serves as a battalion commander in the Garrison of Nurgan. It’s said he has overly close ties with the Ministry of War. The Iron Cavalry Battalion was also stationed in Nurgan and provided him with many conveniences."
In other words, it wasn’t Fan Hui who had connections, but Ji Qiuping who was linked to the Marquis Changxing’s family.
Jiang Yan continued, "Lord Zhang is most wary of the Marquis Changxing’s resurgence. Ji Qiuping might have been excluded from the Grand Secretariat because of his nephew. In my opinion, even if Fan Hui enters the Grand Secretariat, he wouldn’t be able to stir up trouble."
"After another half month of rest, I should return to the Grand Secretariat. Even if it’s to feign weakness, it’s about time..." Third Master Chen said. "But a clean person may not truly be clean. You won’t make progress by focusing on Fan Hui. Investigate Ji Qiuping and his nephew’s relationship instead."
If Ji Qiuping really had ties to the Marquis Changxing’s family, would he flaunt such connections so openly?
After careful consideration, Jiang Yan agreed and prepared to leave.
"...While you’re investigating the Yao family, also look into Madam’s past affairs."
Jiang Yan thought he misheard. Yesterday, Third Master Chen had instructed him to find out who within the Yao family was obstructing matters and whether the target was Yao’s third wife or Madam. But why would Third Master Chen want him to investigate Madam?
Jiang Yan looked up and saw Third Master Chen standing by the window, silently gazing at the sky.
"Understood," Jiang Yan finally replied. As he left the study, he noticed the sky outside was heavily overcast.
It looked like rain was coming soon.
...
Gu Lian and Zhou Shi returned to Daxing by noon the next day.
They hadn’t even had a sip of water along the way, their throats parched and dry. The jolting carriage ride left them sleepless, and both looked utterly exhausted.
Upon arriving at the Gu household, they didn’t even have time to speak with Madam Feng first, instead wolfing down a bowl of noodles to fill their stomachs. When Madam Feng heard of their return, she was shocked—how could they be back so soon? Had the matter been resolved?
She had Fuling help her change into an outer robe and personally went to the western courtyard to question them.
Zhou Shi sighed repeatedly as she recounted the events of the past few days to Madam Feng.
"I suspect someone intended to harm Lian jie er, but their scheme backfired onto Gu Jinzhao instead. And Gu Jinzhao is pregnant—Mother, you have no idea how furious the Chen family was when her child was nearly lost. They practically wanted to skin me and Lian jie er alive... It was only out of courtesy that Third Master Chen didn’t throw us out. If we ask him for help again, he’ll likely crush Deyuan without hesitation. That’s why I didn’t dare say more and came back first."
Madam Feng was stunned. "So we’re just letting this go? What about your second brother’s official position?"
Zhou Shi sighed. "Mother, Gu Jinzhao is now Third Madam Chen, not the same Gu Jinzhao from before. With the Chen family protecting her, none of us can do anything." After everything that had happened, Zhou Shi was exhausted. Now, she even felt it might be better if Gu Deyuan remained a minor official.Heaven sees all, and she found this saying quite profound.
Madam Feng sat on the stool, trying to calm herself, and it took a while before she recovered. Indeed, after such an incident, even if she personally went to plead with Gu Jinzhao, she wouldn’t agree. Besides, how could she bear such humiliation!
Madam Feng sighed deeply and said, "None of you can be relied upon! When this old woman dies, I won’t even have the face to meet our ancestors in the afterlife!" Clearly, both granddaughters had married well, yet neither could help the Gu family.
They were all so disappointing!
Zhou Shi helped Madam Feng sit on the kang and comforted her, "Mother, life and death are fated, wealth is determined by heaven. Let’s not dwell on it too much."
Madam Feng straightened up, unwilling to show weakness in front of her daughter-in-law, whom she had always controlled. She said coldly, "You spineless thing, you speak so lightly! No wonder the sons you raised can’t even pass the imperial exams."
Zhou Shi dared not retort.
Madam Feng then asked her, "Does Lian jie er know who tampered with the pastries she brought back from the capital?"
Since returning, Gu Lian had been in low spirits. Zhou Shi, heartbroken for her, had let her rest first.
"She said it was Gu Lan, but there’s no proof. She just said it casually. I’ve thought it over and it’s possible. The pastries were given to her by Madam Yao—it couldn’t have been Madam Yao who wanted to make her infertile!" Zhou Shi whispered.
Madam Feng said, "...Even if she didn’t do it, she’s still involved! Letting her live this long was our mistake. We might as well finish her off now to avoid future trouble."
Zhou Shi remained silent. Madam Feng spoke of killing so lightly. But how could they just kill a living person, especially now that she was in the Yao family?
Madam Feng continued slowly, "You’re usually quite skilled at dealing with those concubines. Why are you at a loss for words now?"
Zhou Shi looked troubled. "...Do you have any ideas?"
"No evidence? Then find some!" Madam Feng said coldly. "Just grab a maid and say she witnessed Gu Lan tampering with the pastches, that she tried to poison the mistress. Then have two old women strangle her—done."
Zhou Shi whispered, "You don’t understand... Right now, Lian jie er is at odds with Yao Wenxiu. If we kill his concubine, I’m afraid..."
Hearing this, Madam Feng sighed. "I always knew she couldn’t keep a man, with that temperament of hers... It’d be better to choose a maid from Lian jie er’s side—someone obedient and gentle—to serve him. Her own maid, as long as she isn’t elevated to concubine, can still stay in Lian jie er’s quarters."
Zhou Shi fell into a long silence.
OpenNovel