Chapter 298: Distant Transfer
The next day, Third Master Chen and Gu Jinzhao went together to pay respects to Madam Chen.
Madam Chen spoke to her son about the Buddhist scriptures she had been reading recently: "Old Sixth brought me back a copy of the 'Śūraṅgama Sūtra' from Bao Xiang Temple, annotated by Master Jianming. I find it excellent—awakening to the fundamental nature, cultivating great concentration, and realizing perfect penetration. It brings peace to the mind. I hand-copied a volume for you; take it back and study it carefully. Master Jianming's annotations are remarkably insightful, so I copied those for you as well."
A maid presented a sandalwood box.
Third Master Chen accepted it and said to Madam Chen, "You shouldn't have troubled yourself to copy scriptures for me. Next time you find a good sutra, there's no need to go through such effort—I can simply borrow yours to read."
Madam Chen shook her head with a smile. "I wanted to copy it for you. My health has been declining lately, and I don’t know how many more years I’ll be able to do this for you."
Third Master Chen frowned at her words and called Granny Zheng over to inquire, "Has Tai Furen been unwell recently?"
Granny Zheng was about to speak when Madam Chen waved her hand to stop her.
"Old age brings weariness. I’ve been sleeping less lately, so I feel weaker. There’s nothing else wrong."
Third Master Chen knew his mother’s temperament—she disliked troubling him. He sighed. "If you feel unwell, you must summon Physician Ji. If it’s just poor sleep, I’ll have the imperial pharmacy prepare some calming herbs for you."
Gu Jinzhao also noticed that Madam Chen’s complexion wasn’t as good as before. Middle and old age inevitably brought more ailments, but proper care would suffice. She wasn’t overly concerned—in her past life, Madam Chen had been frail but long-lived.
Madam Chen opened her mouth to refuse but stopped when she saw her son’s stern gaze.
Third Master Chen had other matters to attend to, so he left after visiting his mother.
Madam Chen took Gu Jinzhao for a walk by the lotus pond. Smiling at her rounded belly, she said, "Moving around more will make childbirth easier. Don’t be like those young ladies who avoid walking—it only makes labor harder."
Gu Jinzhao nodded knowingly. "Don’t worry, I walk several laps around Osmanthus Hall every day."
Madam Chen thought for a moment and added, "But don’t overdo it—that’s not good either. I think half an hour a day is best."
She treated her like a treasure, fretting over every little thing.
Gu Jinzhao linked arms with her and smiled. "I understand, Mother. Let me take you over there—the red plum blossoms are in full bloom."
The two went to admire the plum blossoms, cutting a large bundle of branches to arrange in several vases. Later, when the various households came to pay respects, they distributed them.
Madam Qin came to consult Madam Chen about the Lantern Festival celebrations.
Every year, the Chen Family contributed funds to Wanping’s Lantern Festival, providing entertainment for the locals. The event was grandly organized—rather than being held in Rongxiang Lane, it took place in nearby Zaozifang, though the lantern displays extended into Rongxiang Lane. This allowed the noblewomen residing nearby to enjoy the festivities from their doorsteps.
Wang Shi told Gu Jinzhao, "Third Sister-in-law, you’ve never seen our Wanping lantern festival—it’s exceptionally lively."
Chen Zhao clapped her hands excitedly at the mention of the festival. "I want to see the lion lanterns, the embroidered ball lanterns, and the fairy lanterns! Third Aunt, last time they performed with the lion lanterns, my maid even picked up some coins!"Madam Chen said to Madam Qin, "Third Master Chen has instructed that we invest more in this year's lantern festival. I think we should allocate five hundred taels of silver. As for the lanterns, let's discuss it with the Chang family."
The Chang family was also investing in the lantern festival. Madam Qin nodded and went to the Chang residence.
Just the mention of the Lantern Festival made Gu Jinzhao think of Chen Xuanqing's pond full of lotus lanterns.
Back then, Rongxiang Alley was bustling with activity. The ice in the front courtyard's pond had just melted, and the water was filled with lotus lanterns, shining as brightly as stars.
Chen Xuanqing... she wondered how he was doing now. And how exactly Third Master Chen planned to resolve this matter.
Gu Jinzhao sighed inwardly.
In the afternoon, upon returning to Osmanthus Hall, Mama Tong came to report: "Manager Luo sent word that Ever Prosperous Trading Company is a newly established firm, but it has an extremely powerful background—likely backed by high-ranking officials. The silk they sell is twenty percent cheaper than that of the Ji family and the other two major trading companies. Without official backing, this would be impossible. No one knows their true origins... Manager Luo has written to Daxing for inquiries, but there's been no reply yet. He suspects even the Ji family doesn’t know."
Such companies were often the result of collusion between officials and merchants, with shadowy figures pulling strings—likely high-ranking officials embezzling funds. No matter how powerful the Ji family was, they were still merchants and no match for a company with such deep connections.
Gu Jinzhao asked further, "The price of raw silk is mostly fixed. How can they sell it so cheaply? Did Luo Yongping explain this?"
Mama Tong nodded. "Manager Luo said Ever Prosperous's silk is of excellent quality, definitely not substandard. Selling at such low prices would only be possible if they were cutting costs, likely by bribing the Imperial Weaving Bureau for tribute-grade satin. I don’t fully understand the details myself. If you want a thorough explanation, you’d have to ask Manager Luo directly..." She could only assist Gu Jinzhao with accounts; the intricacies of business operations were beyond her.
Gu Jinzhao wasn’t concerned about the profits from the silk shop. Her interest lay in Ever Prosperous Trading Company. She had a nagging feeling that this company was familiar, that it had appeared somewhere in her life before, but the memory was frustratingly vague. It didn’t help that her last decade in the side courtyard had been spent in idle seclusion, detached from worldly affairs.
She shook her head. "Never mind. He’s busy during the New Year. Just keep an eye on Ever Prosperous for me."
Mama Tong acknowledged and withdrew.
As soon as Third Master Chen returned, he sent someone to summon Chen Xuanqing.
He waited for him in Ninghui Hall, in the outer courtyard.
Chen Xuanqing had been anxious for days. Now that his father had finally called him in for a talk, he felt oddly relieved.
What was coming would come. He had acted shamelessly and deserved to face the consequences.
After the attendant announced him, he stepped into the study.
His father stood behind the desk, dressed in a black straight-collared robe with a gray crane cloak embroidered with bamboo leaves draped over it. His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression calm as he regarded his son.
Chen Xuanqing paused in front of the desk. His lips moved slightly before he spoke first. "Father."
Third Master Chen said nothing. Slowly, he walked up to his son and studied him for a long moment.
Then, without warning, he raised his hand and struck him across the face.
The slap rang out sharply.
Caught off guard, Chen Xuanqing staggered, his head snapping to the side. His cheek burned instantly. He drew a deep breath but didn’t dare touch the injured spot. His father had never struck his face before—as a child, he’d only been punished by having his palms hit. And he had rarely made mistakes to begin with.
Shame and regret threatened to drown him. Chen Xuanqing closed his eyes briefly.
"Do you know why I hit you?" Third Master Chen asked calmly.Chen Xuanqing lowered his voice after a moment and said, "I did something wrong. It's only right that I was punished."
Chen Yanyun looked at his eldest son.
He had originally thought Chen Xuanqing was still too green, not yet ready for greater responsibilities. Now he realized it wasn't just inexperience—his son was downright naive. Without trials and tribulations, this temperament of his would be his undoing someday. His disappointment in Chen Xuanqing outweighed his anger.
"Do you know what exactly you did wrong?" he continued asking.
Chen Xuanqing smiled bitterly. "Father, it's all my fault. I still can't forget her! I thought I didn't like her... Actually, I hate myself for this too. For over ten years, your son lived by the rules, never stepping out of line. Who knew this would happen when I finally did. I've been holding it in for too long, with no one to confide in. That day when she asked me those questions, I couldn't hold back anymore... But I swear, our relationship was completely proper."
"When you left Osmanthus Hall, I knew you misunderstood her. I just wanted to explain—this truly has nothing to do with her... Maybe she pursued me before, but now she keeps her distance. Even when we speak, she makes sure there are always two maids present. She's been extremely cautious."
Third Master Chen waited quietly for him to finish.
"I punished you for two reasons: first, because I'm her husband, and second, because I'm your father. All these years, you've been the one who gave me the least worry. When your mother was dying, she held my hand and asked me to take good care of you and Xi Jie'er." He paused, looking directly at Chen Xuanqing. "Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. Did you ever consider what would happen if someone else—not me—had discovered your actions?"
"You might have escaped unscathed, but you would have ruined your mother's reputation and brought shame upon the Chen Family. As the eldest grandson of the Chen Family, you bear great responsibility for our future prosperity. How could you possibly do something so reckless?" Third Master Chen's tone was severe.
"Let me ask you again: do you now understand where you went wrong?"
Each word weighed heavily. Chen Xuanqing had thought long about what his father might say, but hearing these words spoken aloud made them feel unbearably heavy. He nodded silently. Violating propriety and morality was his own failing.
Seeing his bowed head, Third Master Chen sighed and motioned for him to sit.
"I've already made arrangements for you. In March, you'll take up your post in Suning County, Hejian Prefecture. The official documents will arrive after the Lantern Festival."
Third Master Chen continued, "Sending you away now isn't ideal timing." Chen Xuanqing should have spent a few more years tempering himself at the Imperial Academy, gaining experience before going to Suning County. Now he had to leave prematurely.
"You need to stay away for a while. See how common people live, understand the hardships of the world."
People often become obsessed with petty grievances due to limited experience. Only by seeing how vast and profound the world is can one realize their own suffering means little. Chen Xuanqing needed not only to stay away from Gu Jinzhao but also to face some trials. He was still too young—time would wear away these feelings.
Chen Xuanqing nodded. He understood his father's thoughtful intentions.
Right now, he truly needed to leave. With his father handling arrangements, there was no need for further trouble.
"Don't worry, Father. When I return, whether I've truly forgotten or not, at least no one will be able to tell." Chen Xuanqing smiled faintly.Chen Yanyun softened his tone, "I've always been strict in teaching you, but I hope you understand why."
"I know," was all he said.
When he returned to Yu Wanxue, she was shocked by the injuries on Chen Xuanqing's face.
Before long, his father sent over some medicine for the wounds.
Holding the porcelain bottle, Chen Xuanqing smiled faintly, his heart finally settling into calm. After all, his father was still his father—he would never measure up to him in this lifetime.
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