Chapter 287: The Spy
Chen Xuanyue was indeed brought by Mama Song early in the morning to pay his respects to her.
He still seemed quite wary of Mama Song, following far behind her as they entered.
Gu Jinzhao asked if he had eaten breakfast, and Chen Xuanyue shook his head.
Mama Song smiled bitterly, "...Breakfast was steamed buns, black rice porridge, and pickled bamboo shoots. The Ninth Young Master refused to eat. Last night, it was braised pork knuckle, bean sprout salad, and rice. The Ninth Young Master wouldn’t eat that either. I found him sneaking pastries in the middle of the night to fill his stomach."
Gu Jinzhao could only ask Chen Xuanyue, "Then what would you like to eat?"
She hadn’t noticed him being picky before!
But Chen Xuanyue remained silent, standing there blankly as he looked at her.
Gu Jinzhao had the small kitchen prepare a bowl of noodles, which Chen Xuanyue quickly devoured while hugging the bowl. The small kitchen then sent over a plate of steamed buns, and Chen Xuanyue didn’t complain, eating until he was full and burping. He sat on a stool by the door, clutching his stomach as he rested.
Gu Jinzhao suddenly realized she had essentially adopted a puppy—one that, once accustomed to her care, refused to eat anyone else’s food!
She smiled wryly, guessing that the child had been traumatized by confinement and now wasn’t quite right in the head.
Yu Wanxue came to pay her respects and was startled to see Chen Xuanyue crouching by the door. Now dressed in fresh, clean clothes and looking quite handsome, Chen Xuanyue carried the dignified air of a young master from a noble family—as long as he didn’t act foolish.
Chen Xuanyue glanced at her before lowering his head. A maid lifted the curtain for Yu Wanxue.
As the weather grew colder, the rooms had just been warmed with charcoal. Jinzhao was instructing Granny Sun to distribute silver frost charcoal to various parts of the Third Household, ensuring Chen Xuanyue wasn’t left out. Yu Wanxue bowed to her and had her maid open the sewing basket she had brought. "Mother, I’ve made two dudou for the children. Please see if they meet your approval." Smiling, she handed Gu Jinzhao two palm-sized dudou.
One was bright red, the other golden yellow. The outer layer was crafted with kesi silk, while the inner layer was made of Luzhou silk. They were embroidered with carps and twin lotus flowers.
"The embroidery is truly exquisite," Gu Jinzhao praised. The carps looked lively, and the lotus petals were layered beautifully—the needlework was indeed fine. She smiled and instructed Caifu to put them away, then asked Yu Wanxue, "You’re rather late today. It’s good to get some extra rest."
Yu Wanxue was a woman who strictly adhered to propriety. If she was late, there must have been a reason, and Gu Jinzhao didn’t wish to press the matter.
Yu Wanxue didn’t quite know how to respond. With a bitter smile, she said, "I wanted to apologize to you, Mother. I stayed up too late last night and didn’t wake until the sun was high..."
Gu Jinzhao sipped her tea and smiled faintly without comment. Young couples always found the night too short—it wasn’t her place to pry.
"It would be good if you could bear the Seventh Young Master a child soon. His older brothers already have children of their own," Gu Jinzhao consoled her.
Thinking about it, she was still so young herself. Being a mother-in-law wasn’t easy, especially when her own child hadn’t even been born yet... and soon, she might even become a grandmother!
Yu Wanxue paused.
Last night, she had waited for Chen Xuanqing late into the night. When he finally returned from the outer courtyard and saw her still awake, he frowned and asked, "...Why didn’t you sleep first?"
Yu Wanxue replied softly, "How could I sleep before the Seventh Young Master returned? That would be neglecting my duty as a wife."
She then helped him wash and change. Only then did Yu Wanxue hear him say indifferently, "Don’t wait for me next time."
Hearing his cold tone, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. He got into bed first and quickly closed his eyes, while Yu Wanxue lay there staring at the ceiling, her nose tingling with unshed tears.But these were all the duties of a wife; how could she question her husband? Yu Wanxue, deeply ingrained with the teachings of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, would never dare to defy her husband.
It was true that Chen Xuanqing treated her with respect—he never summoned the bed-warming maid to his chambers, nor did he call for the senior maids to attend to him after their intimate moments. Yet, apart from this respect, Chen Xuanqing was exceptionally cold toward her. He had been somewhat gentle in the earlier days, especially these past two days...
The deep affection she had envisioned after marriage turned out to be nothing more than sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams.
Perhaps they were still strangers to each other, and things would improve with time. Yu Wanxue could only console herself this way. She couldn’t possibly go crying to her mother-in-law just because her husband was too distant!
Moreover, although Gu Jinzhao was her mother-in-law, she was still young, and Yu Wanxue found it difficult to broach such topics with her.
At least it was better than marrying a philandering and lustful husband and serving a mother-in-law who made life difficult for her daughter-in-law at every turn! Yu Wanxue could only comfort herself with this thought. Unable to sleep the previous night, she had stayed up to finish sewing the Dudou, planning to visit her mother-in-law the next day for a chat.
After chatting for a while, they took Chen Xuanyue with them to pay respects to Madam Chen.
Now, Chen Xuanyue had become quite well-behaved, and Madam Chen was very pleased.
It wasn’t until noon that Jinzhao had Mama Song take him back, as he still had to study in the afternoon. When Mama Song mentioned that Chen Xuanyue wasn’t eating, Gu Jinzhao said, “He just feels unsafe—it’s nothing serious. If he still refuses to eat, leave the heated bed table with the food there. He’ll eat when he’s hungry.”
Mama Song nodded and sighed, “Who knows what kind of life the Ninth Young Master lived before…”
She didn’t find Chen Xuanyue troublesome—only pitiable.
In the afternoon, Gu Jinzhao returned to Osmanthus Hall.
She was already preparing for Qingpu’s wedding.
She had ordered the three-courtyard house in Siyu Alley to be cleaned and decorated with red lanterns, planning to have Qingpu move there the next day. When the time came, Hu Jin would come to escort her as his bride.
After returning from Madam Chen’s place, the maids were already helping Qingpu pack her belongings.
The bedding and curtains from the canopy bed in her room had been packed away. A few flower vases Gu Jinzhao had given her remained untouched, while the maids helped organize the items in her dressing table. Inside the small drawer of the dressing table were gold, silver, and silk flowers—a full drawer. The young maids helping her pack couldn’t help but admire them, picking them up and exclaiming, “This agate hairpin shaped like a Buddha’s hand is so beautiful! Why don’t you wear it, Sister Qingpu?”
Several packed bundles were already piled on the table.
Qingpu smiled. Whenever her mistress rewarded her, she accepted it—otherwise, her mistress would be displeased. Since she didn’t particularly like using these things, she saw them as tokens of her mistress’s kindness. The thought of leaving Gu Jinzhao soon filled her with reluctance...
Gu Jinzhao deliberately went to the back chamber, startling Qingpu. “Madam, the back chamber isn’t clean… Why have you come here!”
The maids hurriedly greeted her.
Seeing Qingpu’s slightly reddened eyes, Gu Jinzhao said softly, “I came to help you check. What does it matter if it’s clean or not?”
Qingpu had accompanied her through the most difficult times—she was the maid Gu Jinzhao valued most. Her wedding had to be grand and splendid.Jinchao saw that everything was almost packed and said to Qingpu, "...Wait a moment. Take the carriage to Siyu Alley—Xiuqu will accompany you for the wedding. I’ve already asked Shopkeeper Luo to arrange everything there. He’s in charge of all the wedding preparations, and it will be handled flawlessly."
If Xiuqu left, Gu Jinzhao would only have Caifu left as her senior maid. Qingpu shook her head repeatedly. "Madam, I alone am enough. You’re already short on hands..."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "How can you get married without someone accompanying you? Just relax and wait for your wedding. Don’t worry about these things... Later, you and Hu Jin can visit me together—you’ll be someone else’s wife by then."
At that time, people would call Qingpu "Hu Jin’s wife."
Qingpu pressed her lips together and smiled, though her eyes grew even redder. She took a deep breath. "Madam, rest assured, I will definitely come back to pay my respects to you."
By the afternoon, the maids had helped Qingpu move her belongings to the screen wall. Xiuqu accompanied Qingpu as she left.
Gu Jinzhao planned to give Qingpu eighty taels of silver as a dowry gift, along with furnishings like wardrobes, a bed, and bedding—enough to fill twelve dowry chests. Twelve fully packed dowry chests were already considered lavish in the countryside.
When Caifu returned after seeing Qingpu off, Gu Jinzhao teased her, "When it’s your turn to marry, we’ll do the same!"
Caifu would also be released in a couple of years.
Caifu chuckled. "I’d rather marry within the Chen Family—any servant would do... so I wouldn’t have to part from you."
Caifu was the prettiest and cleverest maid by her side, always seeing things clearly. Gu Jinzhao merely smiled without responding. But once Qingpu married, she would be short on senior maids, so she planned to promote Yuzhu to a senior position.
However, though Yuzhu was smart, she was still too lively.
Gu Jinzhao instructed Caifu, "Take Yuzhu under your wing from now on. With some tempering, she’ll be capable of great responsibility."
Caifu nodded. "Don’t worry, Madam. She’s been tending to your flower room and has grown much more patient."
Soon, Mama Tong brought in the account books for September for her to review.
After going through the accounts for a while, Gu Jinzhao instructed the maids to pack her bedding—she planned to move to the East Side Room.
...
When Third Master Chen stepped out of the Grand Secretariat, Jiang Yan immediately draped an overcoat over his shoulders.
The shortfall in Zhejiang’s tax revenue had terrified the Provincial Administration Commissioner, who rushed to the capital overnight to report. They had debated the matter all day without reaching a conclusion.
As Third Master Chen descended the steps, his carriage waited nearby.
"Lord Chen." Someone suddenly called from behind. Adjusting his overcoat, he turned and saw Fan Hui, the newly appointed Grand Secretary.
Fan Hui was a few years older but still young and lacking a firm foundation. Though unremarkable in appearance, his fair complexion gave him a scholarly, delicate air. Smiling, he cupped his hands toward Third Master Chen. "Lord Chen, a moment, please. Might I invite you for a drink? Would you honor me with your presence?"
Third Master Chen smiled faintly. "It’s already quite late. If Lord Fan wishes to share a drink, is there something you’d like to discuss?"
Fan Hui quickly waved his hands and stepped closer, lowering his voice as if hesitant. "It’s just... I’ve only recently joined the Grand Secretariat and am unfamiliar with many matters... I was hoping to seek your guidance. I come with a humble heart—please enlighten me, Lord Chen."Another figure emerged from the Grand Secretariat, and an attendant quickly draped a cloak over his shoulders. Stepping out from the shadow of the eaves, he smiled and said, "Nine Balance, still here after all this time?" Dressed in a Crane Pattern Right Closure Round Collar Robe, he was of medium height with narrow, bright eyes—none other than Zhang Ju Lian.
Fan Hui was about to speak when Third Master Chen interrupted with a smile, "Lord Fan here wanted to invite me for a drink."
"Oh?" Zhang Ju Lian chuckled, glancing at Fan Hui. "Lord Fan, didn’t you know our Third Master Chen doesn’t drink?"
Fan Hui’s face paled, and he hastily forced a laugh, adding, "I only learned that today! My apologies to Lord Chen!"
Third Master Chen waved it off. "No offense taken. Next time, Lord Fan can treat me to tea instead."
Fan Hui eagerly agreed, and Third Master Chen bid farewell to Zhang Ju Lian before boarding his carriage.
Once inside, Third Master Chen’s smile vanished instantly. Jiang Yan, sensing the shift, tensed and asked, "Third Master, what’s wrong?"
With a calm tone, Third Master Chen replied, "That Fan Hui is Marquis Changxing’s man."
Jiang Yan was stunned. How did Third Master Chen know?
Third Master Chen pointed out, "He had no reason to seek my advice on anything—we’re both Grand Secretaries!"
Only then did Jiang Yan realize something was amiss. Upon further reflection, the truth dawned on him.
If Zhang Ju Lian had seen Fan Hui speaking privately with Third Master Chen, he might suspect Third Master Chen of forming factions behind his back, breeding distrust. As for Fan Hui’s appointment as a Grand Secretary, they had initially assumed it was sheer luck. But now, thinking again...
If Marquis Changxing’s faction wanted their man selected, how would they go about it?
They would never openly or covertly support their own candidate. Instead, they’d tarnish the reputations of their rivals. Ji Qiuping’s nephew was implicated with Marquis Changxing, barring Ji Qiuping from the Grand Secretariat. So, who else could enter but someone truly aligned with Marquis Changxing?
After a pause, Jiang Yan asked, "Then... do you think Lord Zhang knows?"
Third Master Chen closed his eyes to rest. "No. If he knew, he wouldn’t have let Fan Hui remain in the Grand Secretariat."
Though Fan Hui belonged to Marquis Changxing’s faction, he was insignificant and posed no real threat. The real question was how to make the best use of him.
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