Chapter 284: Anger
Madam Chen gave Granny Zheng a few more instructions, telling her to select two well-behaved and gentle-tempered young servants from the attendants' quarters. She personally chose a stewardess surnamed Yu from the accounting office and sent her to the outer courtyard. "Xuanyue will live in the five-room house next to Xuanging's courtyard—the one with many banana trees planted outside. It's called Banana Leaf Hall. Clean it up and prepare it for Xuanyue..."
Granny Zheng accepted the orders and left.
Madam Chen then called Madam Qin over. "Later, you and Jinchao should pack Xuanyue's belongings and move them to Banana Leaf Hall. Leave the rest to others."
Madam Qin took a deep breath before replying, "Yes, Mother."
Gu Jinchao wanted to take Xuanyue by the hand to see if he had anything he wanted to bring himself. However, Chen Xuanyue seemed to misunderstand her intention and crawled under the heated bed table instead. Fortunately, his small frame allowed him to curl up beneath it, leaving only his eyes visible as he stared at Jinchao.
She decided to leave him there—after all, he wouldn’t know what to take even if he went along.
Gu Jinchao ignored him and followed Madam Qin to the Second Household with a few maids in tow.
On the way, Madam Qin said softly, "You’re quite clever, Third Sister-in-law. How did you get that little thing to warm up to you?"
Gu Jinchao replied, "Second Sister-in-law is overthinking it. I really did just run into him on the road... He looked pitiful. Even if he isn’t your own child, he still calls you 'Mother.' How could you bear to neglect him and let him end up like this?"
"What does this have to do with me?" Madam Qin said coldly. "Besides, this is the Second Household’s matter. Third Sister-in-law is meddling too much..."
She was furious. Why was Madam Chen making such a big deal out of this? Wasn’t it just to suppress her and pave the way for her own daughter-in-law?
Did she think it would be that easy? Madam Qin had held power over household affairs for years. The stewards and maids in every household and department were familiar with her—they were her eyes and ears. Even with Madam Chen’s support, Gu Jinchao wouldn’t find it easy to become the matriarch! She’d still have to get past Madam Qin first.
The Chen Family was vast and prosperous... but beneath that prosperity, rot inevitably festered. Second Master Chen’s official rank was no lower than Third Master Chen’s, so the Second and Third Households were evenly matched, to say the least. Madam Qin was certain that the Fourth and Sixth Households also had their own schemes and ambitions.
With two formidable branches in the Chen Family, once Madam Chen passed away, the family would likely divide.
Both Second Master Chen and Third Master Chen were incorruptible officials. The Chen Family’s wealth came from ancestral property and business ventures—assets managed by Madam Qin and Fourth Master Chen on behalf of the family. These were public assets, and when the time came to divide the inheritance, bias was inevitable... That was why whoever held authority over the household was crucial.
Madam Qin thought far ahead. She was sure the other branches did too. Outwardly, everyone appeared harmonious, but privately, who didn’t have their own calculations?
She had shared these thoughts with Second Master Chen before, but men’s perspectives always differed from women’s. He had scolded her, insisting that brotherly unity was the foundation of the Chen Family. He and Third Master Chen shared a deep bond—such a day would never come.
Madam Qin privately disagreed. What did these men know about the intricacies of the inner household?
Today’s incident had left her deeply unsettled. Chen Xuanyue was an idiot, born of a concubine—she couldn’t stand the sight of him. No matter what, it wasn’t Gu Jinchao’s place to interfere. Was she trying to play the saint? Madam Qin doubted it. This was clearly aimed at her!Gu Jinzhao smiled. "Second sister-in-law, you've truly misunderstood. I merely wish to foster goodwill—this is also helping you."
If Madam Qin continued tormenting Chen Xuanyue like this, the day he achieved success and fame would likely bring her even more severe retribution.
In their past life, Chen Xuanyue had indeed done such things. Otherwise, none of the three young masters from the second branch would have amounted to anything.
Madam Qin chuckled. "So I should thank my third sister-in-law for helping me? Indeed, whoever ends up with this fool has trouble. If third sister-in-law wants to take charge, wouldn't that be a relief for me?"
Gu Jinzhao merely smiled without responding.
The second branch's residence was closer to Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard, with several courtyards connected by corridors. Chen Xuanyue lived behind the corridors, adjacent to the plum grove on the rear slope.
Gu Jinzhao went inside to look around. There really wasn't much to pack—just three small rooms. The main hall had only a portrait of Confucius hanging on the wall. The west side room served as the inner chamber, and upon opening the door, a musty, damp smell greeted her. On the kang bed lay a few wooden puppets of roosters or monkeys, likely Chen Xuanyue's toys, with layers of yellowed cotton padding spread beneath them. Above, thin blue linen curtains hung, and the Curio Cabinet held only two dust-covered blue-and-white porcelain pieces. A red-lacquered clothes rack stood nearby, draped with a few jackets and cotton-padded garments.
...It wasn't even as good as the quarters of her senior maids!
Her heart ached as she looked around. She instructed someone to pack Chen Xuanyue's puppets and went to the east side room. A round table with four embroidered stools held rice paper and an inkstone, the paper scrawled with crooked characters—nothing but his own name, written over and over.
He didn’t even have a study. Who had taught him to write his own name?
After surveying the sparse belongings, Gu Jinzhao simply instructed Granny Sun to have new clothes and bedding made for Chen Xuanyue. If his monthly allowance wasn’t enough, she would cover the expenses from her own accounts.
By the time everything was settled, it was already afternoon. Since Chen Xuanyue’s room in Banana Leaf Hall wasn’t ready yet, he joined Madam Chen for dinner.
Jinchao led him back to Osmanthus Hall. Chen Xuanyue, clutching a tangram puzzle he’d taken from Madam Chen, squatted alone on the floor to play.
Chen Xi watched her ninth brother for a while before fetching her own toys—a nine-linked ring, a feather shuttlecock, a Shandong stone guardian, and a tiger-shaped pillow—piling them on the floor for him. Curiously, she asked, "Ninth Brother, do you like candy? I’ll ask Mother to give you some."
Chen Xuanyue looked blank for a moment, then pushed her toys away and retreated to play by himself.
Gu Jinzhao called Chen Xi over, patting her head with a smile. "He prefers to play alone. Let him be." She had Caifu bring a small stool for him to sit on while he played.
When Third Master Chen returned, he saw a thin, small figure crouched on the dark oak floor, surrounded by a pile of toys. The child remained silent, not even turning at the sound of movement.
Gu Jinzhao approached him, removing his six-tiered crown. "Husband... shall I have dinner served?"
Third Master Chen gave a faint hum. "Whose child is this? Did you pick him up?" Or was he the child of one of her maids?
Only then did Gu Jinzhao explain Chen Xuanyue’s situation. "...I find Ninth Young Master pitiable. Second sister-in-law pays him no mind... I thought to raise him in the outer courtyard. Could we have a physician examine him? The child barely speaks now."Third Master Chen sat down and took a sip of tea before speaking. "We've tried treating him before. When Second Brother was still at home, we even summoned imperial physicians from the palace. They all said it was incurable. I've seen cases like his... after being trapped in the wilderness for too long, one temporarily loses the ability to speak. As long as someone keeps talking to him, he'll gradually recover." Everyone in the Chen Family knew about Chen Xuanyue's condition; they just chose to ignore it. No one expected Madam Qin to go so far.
Incurable? Then how did he recover later?
The dishes were soon served, and Jinchao served Third Master Chen his meal. He had returned later than usual today—after two months of rest, there must be much to handle. It was rare that he still managed to come back. Seeing his slightly damp temples, Jinchao felt a pang of heartache.
Third Master Chen, however, motioned for her to sit beside him and asked about her day—what she had done, what she had eaten, and whether the child had disturbed her.
Gu Jinzhao answered everything and added, "...I felt a movement in my belly. I wonder if it was him kicking me."
Third Master Chen shook his head. "It's only been three months—too early for that. Fetal movements usually start around the fifth or sixth month..."
Curious, Jinzhao asked, "How do you know that?"
With a smile, Third Master Chen changed the subject. "It's so late already. Have the nursemaid take the child to bed. We'll send Xuanyue to the outer courtyard tomorrow." Of course, he had consulted the nursemaid. Jinzhao had no experience with her first pregnancy and often overlooked such details, so he made sure to pay attention for her.
The maidservant led Chen Xuanyue away, and he glanced back at Jinzhao before leaving.
Jinzhao walked over and touched the back of his head—the spot where he had hit it earlier was no longer swollen. Xuanyue winced slightly as if in pain. Jinzhao comforted him, "Mama Song will take you to rest now. It's alright." She picked up his tangram puzzle and tucked it into his arms.
Xuanyue didn’t resist and obediently let the maidservant lead him away.
Jinzhao returned to Third Master Chen and said, "I’ve noticed this child is often bullied. Perhaps you could have him learn some martial arts from the guards at Crane Extension Tower..." Teaching Xuanyue to read wouldn’t be of much use, but martial arts might serve him better.
In a few years, the Chen Family would face a great calamity, with Third Master Chen bearing the brunt. If Xuanyue could become a military officer, he might prove to be an asset.
Third Master Chen considered it and found the idea acceptable. Both he and Second Master Chen had practiced swordsmanship since childhood and believed that learning martial arts would benefit the boy. Even if he couldn’t fight, it would at least help him stay fit and defend himself. He summoned Chen Yi and instructed him to take Xuanyue to Crane Extension Tower the next day.
When Yu Wanxue returned to Shuyage, Chen Xuanqing was already there.
He was practicing calligraphy in the study, with two maids attending to him—spreading paper and grinding ink.
Upon her entry, the maids withdrew. Wanxue rolled up her sleeves and prepared to continue grinding ink when Xuanqing asked, "Did you eat at Grandmother’s place before returning?"
Wanxue nodded and said, "I witnessed something unusual today... Would you like to hear about it?"
Xuanqing had just finished writing a piece. Pausing his brush, he replied indifferently, "What is it?"
Wanxue recounted how Gu Jinzhao had rescued Chen Xuanyue: "...Mother has such a kind heart—she actually managed to protect Ninth Young Master. The look in Second Aunt’s eyes frightened me. Poor Ninth Young Master, so young yet treated so harshly."
Suddenly, Xuanqing set down his brush. "Stop grinding ink. Let’s have dinner instead."He walked straight out of the study.
But he usually writes two essays... Yu Wanxue felt a chill in her heart. She'd never heard such a stiff tone from him before!
Had she said something wrong earlier?
With unease in her heart, she followed him out and saw Chen Xuanqing washing his hands with a maid's assistance. Biting her lip, she then smiled and went to help him dry his hands. Relieved when she didn't sense any rejection from him.
Why had he been angry just now? Countless thoughts swirled in Yu Wanxue's mind, yet she didn't dare ask him directly.
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