Chapter 293: Misunderstanding
Third Master Chen had been frequently out with Second Master Chen these past few days, though no one knew what they were busy with.
On this particular day, Gu Jinzhao woke up early while Third Master Chen was still dressing. She lay there for a while, watching his back. He dressed methodically, ensuring every collar and sleeve was perfectly neat. It was likely a habit from his years as an official—even a simple straight robe looked formal on him. She asked, "Did you enjoy your horseback ride at Xiangye Mountain yesterday?"
Third Master Chen walked over and bent down to look at her. "Awake? Did I disturb you?"
Gu Jinzhao shook her head. "I didn’t sleep well."
He lay down beside her and reached out to pull her close, but his outer robe was cold, making her flinch. With a resigned smile, he withdrew his hand and propped his head up instead. "With Chang Hai and the others, it’s never dull. The wintersweet blossoms at Xiangye Mountain were in full bloom, and we stopped for tea at a Taoist temple halfway up the mountain."
Gu Jinzhao said, "It’s good to get out. Are you going back to Xiangye Mountain today?"
Third Master Chen shook his head. "Today I’m meeting with Minister Liang—official business. I’ll return in the afternoon to spend time with you."
He kissed her forehead. "Sleep a little longer. Mother stayed up late last night and said there’s no need for morning greetings today."
Gu Jinzhao murmured in acknowledgment, watching as he left the bed. Only after he had gone did she open her eyes fully.
She stared at the ceiling for a while before calling Caifu in.
Not long after Gu Jinzhao had risen, Mama Song brought Chen Xuanyue over. He was dressed in a brand-new silk jacket embroidered with floral patterns, his little face fair and plump.
After paying his respects, he immediately sat beside Gu Jinzhao, swinging his little legs excitedly. He held something out to show her—round and smooth, like an egg.
Mama Song explained with a smile, "A chicken from the outer courtyard’s kitchen escaped and laid an egg in the grass. Ninth Young Master found it and treasures it dearly. He even sleeps with it—none of us are allowed to touch it, or he gets upset."
Yet Chen Xuanyue trustingly offered the egg to her. "Auntie, chick."
Gu Jinzhao patted his head. "This won’t hatch into a chick."
He wasn’t a hen—how could he hatch an egg? It wasn’t as simple as tucking it under the covers and waiting for a chick to emerge.
Chen Xuanyue grinned and pushed it toward her again. "Chick. Hatch for Auntie."
Gu Jinzhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Giving up on reasoning with him, she humored him, "Alright! Hatch it for Auntie." She then called Mama Song over. "If he really wants a chick, just buy a few for him to raise."
A maid brought a plate of sliced frozen pears, and Gu Jinzhao fed Chen Xuanyue a few pieces.
The boy was all smiles, much livelier than before.
Chen Xi came to pay her respects and was delighted to see Chen Xuanyue there. She wore a red sleeveless jacket with eggplant-flower patterns, looking as adorable as a doll. Noticing Chen Xuanyue clutching something secretively, she leaned in. "Ninth Brother, what’s that?"
Chen Xuanyue turned away, refusing to show her. Chen Xi stubbornly tried to pry his hands open, making him snap, "No looking!"
Though the boy was simple-minded, he had quite the temper. If provoked, he wouldn’t hesitate to throw things.Gu Jinzhao took his hand and said, "Xuanyue. When Xi Jie'er has toys, doesn't she share them with you? Reciprocity is important. When you have something nice, you should also show it to Xi Jie'er. You can't keep it all to yourself."
Chen Xuanyue silently looked at her as Gu Jinzhao smiled.
Only then did he reluctantly open his hand to show Chen Xi, who didn't mind his reluctance at all and asked with a laugh, "Ninth Brother, isn't this just an egg? What are you doing with it?"
Chen Xuanyue replied, "A chick. It will come out."
Chen Xi's eyes lit up. "Really? When will it come out?"
Chen Xuanyue nodded seriously, and the two children began whispering to each other.
After playing until they were tired, the two children sat beside Gu Jinzhao to drink cinnamon soup. Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhao was listening to Mama Tong discuss matters concerning her shopfronts.
"...The revenue from the three Luzhou silk shops in the capital and the Hangzhou silk and satin shops in Baodi, Wanping, and Xianghe has decreased slightly. Shopkeeper Luo says the price of silk has dropped significantly. It's not just our smaller shopfronts—even the larger shops and silk estates under the Ji family have been affected."
Gu Jinzhao thought for a moment and asked, "Is the decrease substantial?"
"Not too much, about half a percent. There have been similar situations in the past when silk production was high, and many didn't pay much attention. But Shopkeeper Luo finds it suspicious. Although silk production was high last year, the silk tax was heavy, so the price shouldn't have fluctuated this much. Shopkeeper Luo even went out of his way to visit the Ji family's chief steward, who said it was because the Ever Prosperous Trading Company released a large amount of silk fabric this year..."
The Ever Prosperous Trading Company? Gu Jinzhao found the name very familiar, though she couldn't recall exactly who it belonged to at the moment. Just hearing the name gave her a strange feeling—she must have heard of it in her past life.
"What is the background of this Ever Prosperous Trading Company?"
Mama Tong shook her head. "This servant doesn't know much about it. Should I ask Shopkeeper Luo for details?"
Gu Jinzhao took a sip of tea and nodded. "If Luo Yongping doesn't know, then write to the Ji family and ask." The Ji family would likely know more.
Thinking of the Ji family, Gu Jinzhao wanted to visit her grandmother—it had been a long time since she'd seen the old lady. Unfortunately, she was currently pregnant and couldn't travel far.
After Mama Tong withdrew, Gu Jinzhao asked Chen Xi, "Xi Jie'er, is your Seventh Brother coming to see you today?"
Chen Xi nodded. "Seventh Brother is going to teach me to play the qin."
That was good—it saved her the trouble of having to invite him over.
When Chen Xuanqing came in the afternoon to teach Chen Xi the qin, Gu Jinzhao asked him to speak with her in the western side room.
The last time she had seen Chen Xuanqing was on New Year's Day at Madam Chen's place. Chen Xuanqing looked somewhat cold, standing far away as he asked, "Do you need something, Mother?"
Gu Jinzhao thought to herself that she really shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess. She had Yuzhu bring a stool for him to sit and poured him a cup of Emei Snow Bud tea.
He glanced up, noticing Gu Jinzhao's two personal maids standing in the western side room.
"Lately, I've spoken with Wanxue, and she mentioned that you seem troubled," Gu Jinzhao said calmly. "I shouldn't interfere in matters between you and your wife—I'm just saying a word or two in passing. If you're unhappy, find someone to talk to. Life must go on..."
Chen Xuanqing's lips pressed tightly together, his anger growing with every word she spoke.
"What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?" he sneered.Gu Jinzhao frowned. "...Just idle words, Seventh Young Master needn't listen." He didn't have to speak so rudely!
"I'm unhappy inside, who can I talk to?" Chen Xuanqing seemed to have reached his limit, his entire body filled with incredible anger, his smile growing even more mocking. "Do you know what's on my mind? If I say it, would you dare listen?"
He stood up, suddenly feeling he should say it.
He shouldn't be the only one enduring this—Gu Jinzhao should know, Gu Jinzhao should understand!
Exactly what had brought him to this state!
Why was he suddenly so angry? Gu Jinzhao found it strange. "Seventh Young Master, even if you're unhappy, you shouldn't speak like this..." What was Chen Xuanqing even saying? No wonder Yu Wanxue said he wasn't normal—he truly wasn't! She took a deep breath. "I'll rest now. Seventh Young Master may leave on your own." Continuing this conversation would only make things messier. This wasn't her concern—she shouldn't interfere.
"Stop right there!" Chen Xuanqing suddenly reached out and grabbed her, tightly gripping her wrist. "I'll tell you—sit down!"
Not only Gu Jinzhao, but even Caifu and Yuzhu were shocked. Yuzhu hurriedly closed the lattice window, while Caifu stepped forward. "Seventh Young Master... what are you doing?"
Gu Jinzhao struggled fiercely, but Chen Xuanqing held on tightly. Even if he was a frail scholar, he was still a man!
Gu Jinzhao said in a low voice, "Chen Xuanqing, have you gone mad? Do you realize what you're doing?"
If someone discovered this, would he ruin her reputation and make her the target of public scorn?
Gu Jinzhao thought Chen Xuanqing was utterly incomprehensible!
"I know. In fact, I want to ask you," Chen Xuanqing said quietly. "You used to like me—why don't you anymore?"
Gu Jinzhao froze.
"It was just my foolishness in the past. Doesn't Seventh Young Master understand?" Gu Jinzhao continued. "I'm your stepmother now. These words shouldn't be spoken."
He laughed mockingly again. "Gu Jinzhao, the reason I'm like this now is because of you. You made me say it."
...With words like these, how could Gu Jinzhao not understand what Chen Xuanqing meant?
Even without their past life, she was still his stepmother—let alone with it. Gu Jinzhao was so shocked that she instead calmed down.
She closed her eyes briefly. "If you want to ruin my reputation, then don't let go."
Chen Xuanqing struggled to suppress the anger in his heart before realizing just how far he had gone.
He released her and took a step back, but his gaze remained fixed on her. "I'm a dignified Hanlin Academy Compiler. Why is it that the moment you asked, I agreed to teach an idiot how to read... Gu Jinzhao, don't tell me you don't know."
Gu Jinzhao stayed silent—her emotions were far too complicated.
Just as Third Master Chen entered the central courtyard, the maid guarding the moon gate spotted him and quickly stood to bow.
The guards behind him remained outside the gate as Third Master Chen walked along the stone path. Xiuqu hurried forward to greet him. "Third Master has returned. This servant will announce you!"
Third Master Chen noticed her nervous expression.
He asked calmly, "Where is Madam?"
Xiuqu thought of the tightly shut lattice window in the western chamber, her hands trembling. She hid them in her sleeves and forced a smile. "Seventh Young Master came to teach the Fourth Miss the qin. Madam had a few words with him." She spoke in an overly loud voice.The more concealed, the more conspicuous... Third Master Chen silently observed Xiuqu, whose behavior was full of loopholes, causing his heart to sink.
Inside the western chamber, Gu Jinzhao also heard Xiuqu's voice... Third Master Chen had mentioned he would return in the afternoon, but she hadn’t expected such an incident involving Chen Xuanqing! She glanced at Yuzhu, who was quick-witted and immediately opened the lattice window of the western chamber.
Hearing his father's return, Chen Xuanqing was startled, as if his mind had only just cleared.
...It seemed he had confessed everything just now.
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