Chapter 286: Conversation
After Third Master Chen returned, he told her about Chen Xuanyue: "...This afternoon, Chen Yi took him to Crane Extension Tower for an assessment."
He paused briefly.
Gu Jinzhao looked at him expectantly, hoping he would say that Chen Xuanyue was a martial arts prodigy destined to become a general. Even if not a prodigy, at least someone of extraordinary talent.
Third Master Chen continued, "The boy has great brute strength, but his bone structure is average. Still, it's sufficient for self-defense martial arts."
Gu Jinzhao felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing this and asked, "...Could they have made a mistake?"
It didn’t make sense—Chen Xuanyue was supposed to command troops in the future. If he didn’t have exceptional martial talent, then where exactly did his strength lie?
Third Master Chen found her reaction odd and looked at her. "You seem very concerned about this child. The martial artists at Crane Extension Tower are all experts—they’ve been selecting and training children sold into servitude since childhood. They wouldn’t misjudge." He then chuckled. "You have so much free time at home to worry about such matters."
Gu Jinzhao merely smiled. "I just thought that since the boy is so strong, he must be naturally gifted in martial arts. If Ninth Young Master could master martial skills, even if he couldn’t become an official through imperial examinations like other descendants of the Chen Family, he could still make a name for himself on the battlefield."
Third Master Chen explained, "Martial arts depend on many factors. While his strength is an advantage, there’s also comprehension and bone structure. His comprehension aside, the boy was poorly raised from childhood—even the best bone structure wouldn’t develop well under such conditions."
He added, "...Achieving merit on the battlefield isn’t that simple. The Chen Family has no hereditary military positions. If he wants to enlist, he’d have to start as a common soldier. Even if he enters the Garrison, he might end up doing guard duty or farming. From Squad Leader to Banner Leader, and eventually the Five Armies Commandery—it would take years of hardship. Unless he achieves extraordinary military feats, promotion would be slow. But how many return alive from war, let alone achieve glory?"
As he finished, Third Master Chen noticed Gu Jinzhao staring at him. He ruffled her hair, realizing he had said too much. She meant well, but these matters were unduly harsh. "Why trouble yourself with these thoughts? Even if Chen Xuanyue never attains rank, the Chen Family won’t abandon him."
He must think I’m being naive...
Gu Jinzhao watched as Third Master Chen returned to his book. She couldn’t help but reflect. Her words did sound childish.
But she knew the outcome—Chen Xuanyue was an anomaly. Within four years, he rose to the position of Registrar in the Five Armies Commandery. Later, during the Mongol uprising, he beheaded Weida'er. After returning victorious, he was promoted to Left Commander-in-Chief and appointed as Gansu’s Regional Military Commander. But the Mongol uprising was over a decade away—by then, Third Master Chen would have been dead for years, and she would have spent countless seasons confined to the side courtyard.
Could it really be, as the folk tales claimed, that Chen Xuanyue encountered an immortal’s guidance while in Shaanxi?
Gu Jinzhao didn’t believe in spirits.
The candlelight flickered as she refilled his tea. "Is the Grand Secretariat still busy?"
Third Master Chen closed his book. "The Grand Secretariat isn’t busy, but I’ve been seeing the Emperor frequently lately." His brow furrowed slightly in contemplation, his profile cast in the candlelight, exuding quiet steadiness.Is something troubling you? Gu Jinzhao asked softly, "Didn't you serve as the Lecturer of the Imperial Academy and teach the Emperor before? Could it be that His Majesty still needs your guidance in his studies now?"
Third Master Chen looked at her, somewhat surprised. "You knew I was once a Lecturer of the Imperial Academy?"
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "Of course I knew. I even read your poems when I was little. Back then, I didn’t know you yet. The scholar who taught me was an old Confucian who greatly admired your character and forced me to memorize your poems... I hated you so much back then!"
Third Master Chen reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
Though they were nestled close, Gu Jinzhao could sense the silence in his heart.
He was the kind of man who could hide things well. And Gu Jinzhao wished he would confide in her—after all, the more she understood about the affairs of the Grand Secretariat, the better her chances of protecting his life in the future. She felt she was still hovering on the edge of the conspiracy, which wasn’t ideal.
At the very least, she needed to figure out who wanted to harm him and why they might succeed.
Before she could ask, Third Master Chen spoke. "It’s about the Emperor’s selection of Imperial Concubine Candidates. Since the time of the founding emperor, to prevent imperial relatives from monopolizing power, the candidates have always been chosen from commoners. There was only one exception—the current Dowager Consort, the sister of Marquis Changxing. However, when the late emperor took her as his consort, he had to override strong opposition. Moreover, Marquis Changxing had merits in quelling the rebellion of Prince Cheng, which was why the current Dowager Consort was able to be named Imperial Noble Consort back then..."
The Emperor was nearly fourteen now. Had it not been for the heavy state affairs following the late emperor’s passing, the selection of Imperial Concubine Candidates should have taken place long ago.
Gu Jinzhao looked at Third Master Chen. Holding her, he gazed at the night outside the lattice window, his voice low and gentle, his narration clear and unhurried.
"Lord Zhang wants his niece to be among the Imperial Concubine Candidates. Once she becomes a candidate, it won’t be difficult for her to enter the palace and be named a consort." Chen Yanyun could now see that although Zhu Junan appeared devoted to his studies and leisure, he was actually well aware of his circumstances and had his own schemes—he was just too inexperienced. The fact that Zhu Junan had summoned him so many times showed that he was growing anxious.
"If Lord Zhang’s niece enters the palace and becomes a consort, wouldn’t that mean placing a spy right beside the Emperor..." Gu Jinzhao said, quickly recalling whether there had been such an event of naming a consort. Later, his niece did become one of the Four Consorts—Consort Shu.
Third Master Chen nodded. He had initially regarded Zhang Ju Lian as his teacher, aware that Zhang Ju Lian was wary of him, and he too had held back.
But now it seemed Zhang Ju Lian’s ambitions went far beyond that.
He was Zhang Ju Lian’s student, and Zhang Ju Lian had promoted him over the years. Thus, he had no complaints about working for Zhang Ju Lian. But he feared that one day, Zhang Ju Lian’s schemes would turn against him...
And Third Master Chen absolutely despised being manipulated."Are you planning to do anything about this?" Gu Jinzhao still asked him. Zhang Ju Lian had his niece participate in the imperial consort selection—the consequences could range from minor to major. However, as an outsider, she naturally didn’t know whether this consort would have any real influence, so she didn’t dare to speculate. Compared to the fourteen-year-old emperor, she was far more wary of Zhang Ju Lian... When Third Master Chen passed away, Zhang Ju Lian came to pay his respects. Though she couldn’t discern what lay behind that calm expression, the man’s gloomy demeanor made her deeply uncomfortable. Zhang Ju Lian was, after all, a man consumed by ambition.
From Third Master Chen’s approach to the matter, she should have already understood his stance.
Third Master Chen shook his head. "Even doing nothing has already made others wary of me. If I were to act, it would only escalate matters further."
In other words, he intended to let Zhang Ju Lian proceed unchecked.
Gu Jinzhao sighed. Third Master Chen was cautious of Zhang Ju Lian but had no intention of opposing him. After all, Zhang Ju Lian had once been his teacher—there was still the weight of duty and propriety between them.
A maid brought in a bowl of Fritillaria Steamed Pear, prepared on Third Master Chen’s orders after his return. Last night, she had coughed a little from not covering herself properly while sleeping.
The whole pear had been cored and filled with Sichuan fritillary bulbs, wolfberries, red dates, and other ingredients, then drizzled with honey. Steamed until the pear skin wrinkled, the brownish pear juice had seeped out. Not only was the pear itself crisp and delicious, but the juice was also smoother and sweeter than the usual honeyed pear soup made with chopped pears.
Gu Jinzhao had always been in good health and felt her cough had already subsided, so she didn’t think she needed this remedy.
But Third Master Chen insisted. He scooped up some of the pear juice and urged her to drink it. "You’re always so restless when you sleep..."
Gu Jinzhao knew she was a restless sleeper—even more so after becoming pregnant. When she slept alone, she might start at the head of the bed and wake up at the foot. Though Third Master Chen tried to keep her in check at night, there were still moments when he couldn’t manage it.
So while they might sleep apart initially, it wasn’t unusual for her to wake up tightly embraced by him. It wasn’t intentional on his part.
After some thought, she suggested, "Perhaps I should move to the East Side Room to sleep. That way, I won’t disturb you at night." He rose early every day and was busy from morning till night—if he didn’t sleep well, it would take a toll. Though Third Master Chen showed no signs of fatigue yet.
Third Master Chen glanced at her and flatly refused. "No."
Gu Jinzhao, however, thought it was a good idea. If she slept alone, she could wrap herself tightly in the blankets—even if she rolled from the head to the foot of the bed, she wouldn’t catch a chill. She knew Third Master Chen wouldn’t relent if she asked, so she had already decided to move to the East Side Room the next day and let the results speak for themselves.
She smiled and changed the subject. "Today, I accompanied Ninth Young Master to the outer courtyard. He’s staying at Banana Leaf Hall now—that child has quite the temper... He even smashed several of my porcelain pieces." And those had all come from her private collection!
"Banana Leaf Hall..." Third Master Chen frowned. "The one next to East Wind Pavilion?"
East Wind Pavilion was Chen Xuanqing’s residence in the outer courtyard.
Gu Jinzhao nodded. "That’s the one... I also ran into Seventh Young Master there today. Since he seemed free lately, I asked him to teach Ninth Young Master how to read. Surprisingly, he agreed without any reluctance."
The hand holding the porcelain spoon tensed slightly.
"You asked him to teach Chen Xuanyue, and he just agreed?" he asked coolly.Gu Jinzhao said, "Not exactly, he did consider it for a while."
Third Master Chen continued, "He's quite proud in this regard. Even Xuanxin had to plead with him for a long time before he agreed to teach. He completely ignored the younger brothers from the fourth branch. But he seems to have taken a liking to Chen Xuanyue..." He set down the porcelain spoon. Afraid his stiff expression might arouse Gu Jinzhao's suspicion, he stepped down from the daybed and walked to the curio cabinet to put away a book.
Though he knew there was nothing to it, Third Master Chen couldn't help overthinking.
He didn’t like Gu Jinzhao meeting Chen Xuanqing in private.
Gu Jinzhao, however, noticed something was off and reached out to tug his sleeve. "Third Master, what's wrong?"
By the time he turned back, Third Master Chen had regained his composure and replied calmly, "Just thought he’s been acting unusual lately. Perhaps it’s because he’s getting married."
Gu Jinzhao also felt Chen Xuanqing had been acting strangely. So it wasn’t easy to get him to teach others? Then she must have owed him a favor.
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