Chapter 302: The Mastermind
Ye Xian thought for a moment, deliberately changing into a sapphire-blue Hangzhou silk robe and draping a feathered cloak over his shoulders before going to meet Chen Yanyun.
Chen Yanyun’s carriage was parked at the end of Fuxue Alley, guarded by his attendant, Chen Yi.
Jiang Yan lifted the curtain and invited him inside.
The carriage was spacious, with a bronze brazier placed inside. Third Master Chen was pouring water from a teapot.
"Please have a seat, Young Master Ye," he said, setting down the teapot and sliding a blue-and-white porcelain cup with intertwining branches toward him. He smiled faintly. "My tea-making skills are poor, so I hope you’ll bear with me."
Ye Xian glanced at Chen Yanyun, whose refined smile revealed nothing.
Slowly, he picked up the teacup. "If Lord Chen were to poison me now, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Your guard could then kill mine, leaving no witnesses. Tell me, should I drink this tea?"
Chen Yanyun chuckled lightly. "Since you dared to come, you must have prepared for all eventualities. Your Iron Cavalry Battalion is full of skilled fighters—even if I tried to ambush you, it wouldn’t be easy. Besides, if I wanted to kill you, this wouldn’t be the time."
Only then did Ye Xian take a sip. He smiled. "Lord Chen certainly isn’t being modest."
His gaze sharpened. "Since your tea-making skills are lacking, you must not have invited me here just for tea. Get to the point—what do you want?"
Chen Yanyun rubbed his Buddhist beads, his smile fading. "Your recent actions have been quite reckless, Young Master Ye. Framing Zuo Hede, putting Fan Hui in Lord Zhang’s favor… Such a double-edged scheme must carry great risks."
Ye Xian’s expression remained calm, but his mind was in turmoil.
How did Chen Yanyun know about these things?
If he knew, why hadn’t he informed Zhang Ju Lian and secretly eliminated Fan Hui? Why come to him instead?
What was Chen Yanyun planning?
Chen Yanyun paid no mind to his reaction and continued, "During Prince Rui’s palace coup, you had a mastermind aiding you—that’s how you outmaneuvered Xiao You and outwitted Prince Rui. But where is this mastermind now? Without guidance, your actions have become far too conspicuous."
"A mastermind?" Ye Xian frowned slightly, unsure what Chen Yanyun meant.
Chen Yanyun was skilled at reading people. He could tell Ye Xian’s surprise wasn’t feigned.
Did this mastermind not exist? Had Xiao You not actually died?
But that didn’t make sense. If Xiao You were still by Ye Xian’s side, he wouldn’t have allowed him to act so rashly.
Ye Xian was highly intelligent, but he was still young—and he didn’t truly understand Zhang Ju Lian.
Even Chen Yanyun, whom Zhang Ju Lian had personally promoted after years of service, was met with suspicion. Why would Zhang Ju Lian suddenly trust an upstart like Fan Hui? Fan Hui’s sudden overtures would only make Zhang Ju Lian wary.
Chen Yanyun spoke slowly, "This person warned you about Mr. Xiao’s treachery. Surely you haven’t forgotten…"
Only then did Ye Xian realize—Chen Yanyun was referring to Gu Jinzhao. He stared at Chen Yanyun with a strange expression. "Chen Yanyun, what are you implying?"
He didn’t even bother with formalities anymore.
Chen Yanyun replied mildly, "I’m merely making conversation."
Ye Xian took a long moment to process this before finally laughing.
"This mastermind… you should be the one to answer that. Why ask me? Unless you’re mocking me?"Ye Xian suddenly lost interest in continuing the conversation. He set down his teacup and said coolly, "I have matters to attend to and can no longer keep Lord Chen company. Please enjoy your tea alone." He exited the carriage, leaving Li Xianhuai, who had been waiting for him, momentarily stunned.
With a dark expression, Ye Xian strode ahead before Li Xianhuai hurried to catch up.
Perplexed, Li Xianhuai asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?"
Ye Xian remained silent.
Li Xianhuai scratched his head in confusion. "What did Third Master Chen say to you? From what I overheard outside... it seems he knows about our affairs!"
Ye Xian abruptly stopped walking. Something wasn't right... he might have overcomplicated things.
Third Master Chen had come to question him—likely as a test. He truly didn't know who that person was... By saying what he did, he might have inadvertently aroused Chen Yanyun's suspicions instead.
After Ye Xian left, Jiang Yan spoke with Third Master Chen.
"Master, I couldn't quite grasp the Young Master's meaning. Was he implying... that we know this expert?"
Chen Yanyun wasn't sure what Ye Xian had meant either.
But judging from Ye Xian's words, this person likely existed—and had some connection to him.
So who could it possibly be?
By the time Chen Yanyun returned to the Chen Family, Gu Jinzhao was still asleep. He lifted the bed curtain to look at her. She lay curled under the blankets, breathing steadily.
Hearing movement, Gu Jinzhao stirred awake.
Noticing through the lattice window that it was already dark outside, she sat up, surprised she had slept so long...
Seeing Chen Yanyun dressed in a gray zhiduo robe, she realized he had gone out. She smiled at him. "When did you leave? You should have woken me when you returned..." She ought to have prepared dinner.
"I was just about to wake you—it's time for dinner," Third Master Chen said, reaching to lift her.
Flustered, Gu Jinzhao dodged his hand and searched for her slippers. "I haven't instructed the kitchen to prepare dinner yet... The main kitchen sent over some four-gill perch earlier—we could steam them."
"Let me carry you so you don't have to bother with slippers," Third Master Chen chuckled, bending to scoop her up suddenly.
Gu Jinzhao hastily wrapped her arms around his neck as his low laughter brushed her ear. "Still shy? You're about to be a mother."
She was only worried her pregnancy made her too heavy for him. Besides, being carried to dinner seemed overly pampered—something she couldn't bring herself to indulge in. "I'm carrying extra weight now. It must be tiring for you."
He murmured, "It's fine. Your husband is strong enough."
True to his word, he carried her to the western chamber and set her on the Arhat bed. Gu Jinzhao glimpsed her feet clad only in thin silk socks and grew even more embarrassed, tucking them beneath her skirt as maids filed in with dinner.
"I gave instructions before leaving, in case you overslept," Third Master Chen said, then brought up hiring midwives. "You're just over seven months along, yet your belly is slightly larger than usual—though it doesn't seem like twins. I'll arrange for two midwives from the palace to attend you regularly."
Naturally, he would handle such arrangements. She only needed to listen.
Gu Jinzhao nodded with a smile, her hand drifting to her belly. Three more months... and their child would arrive.
...
On the fifteenth of February, Sun Shi gave birth to a baby girl.
Though Sun Shi was displeased, Madam Chen adored her great-granddaughter, cradling the infant and refusing to let go.Gu Jinzhao brought some tonics to visit Sun Shi.
Sun Shi lay on the wormwood bed, wearing a headband inlaid with South Sea pearls, her face still somewhat pale. She had Chen Xuanrang running around for her. Having just given birth to a daughter, Chen Xuanrang treated her like a treasure, fetching water and handing her candied fruits. Madam Qin’s expression turned cold at the sight.
Since when should a husband wait on his wife like this? Madam Qin shooed Chen Xuanrang away: "The women are talking here, so you shouldn’t stay. Sun Shi’s childbirth has delayed your studies at the Imperial Academy—don’t let it affect your progress. Go and study properly so you don’t fall behind."
Naturally, Chen Xuanrang obeyed his mother. After comforting Sun Shi with a few words, he left, much to her displeasure.
Seeing that she had given birth to a daughter, her two sisters-in-law were naturally smug! Both of them had borne sons on their first try, while she had a daughter. From now on, she wouldn’t have the confidence to speak to them. If she failed to bear a son within the next two years, Madam Qin would surely find an excuse to arrange a concubine for Chen Xuanrang!
Being publicly reprimanded by Madam Qin in such a roundabout manner, Sun Shi could only swallow her anger.
The child was swaddled in a red blanket, its little face round and tender, melting Wang Shi’s heart.
She handed the baby to Gu Jinzhao to hold: "Look at it… pouting its little mouth, it’s absolutely adorable."
Yu Wanxue watched from the side, also feeling fondness and a touch of envy. She wondered when she would have a child of her own. Chen Xuanqing had gone to Suning County and likely wouldn’t return until next year…
The baby was still too young for any distinct features to show. Gu Jinzhao smiled and praised, "The brows and eyes resemble the mother." After holding it for a while, she handed the child back to the wet nurse.
Madam Ge took Sun Shi’s hand with a smile: "Your labor was quick—others suffer for hours, if not days. You delivered in just one hour, and the child is so healthy… You’ll surely have an easy time bearing more in the future!"
Sun Shi couldn’t help but feel proud at this: "At noon, I felt abdominal pain and called for the midwife. The midwife was so startled she immediately brewed labor-inducing medicine and boiled water… But before I could even drink the medicine, the baby was born. People say childbirth is agonizing, but I didn’t feel a thing!"
Madam Qin remarked coolly, "Your two sisters-in-law suffered for a long time. Since yours was easy, the reward naturally comes easily too."
Madam Qin simply couldn’t stand Sun Shi’s attitude, especially with Madam Ge chiming in. She had to put her in her place.
Sun Shi’s face paled, and she fell silent.
Madam Qin then turned to Gu Jinzhao with a smile: "...Now we’re just waiting for Third Sister-in-law’s child. Have you chosen the midwife and wet nurses yet? If there’s anything I can help with, don’t hesitate to ask." In her eyes, Gu Jinzhao merely benefited from being the wife of the main branch. In terms of background and capability, she believed Gu Jinzhao was far beneath her.
Gu Jinzhao nodded with a smile. The midwife was a palace matron arranged by Third Master Chen, and the wet nurses were selected from the Naizi Bureau. Everything was handled by Third Master Chen—she only prepared the baby’s clothes, shoes, and socks. Chen Xi and Chen Xuanyue had even saved up a small basket of toys for the child. They were all eagerly awaiting its arrival. She was just worried the little one might grow up spoiled and unruly under everyone’s doting.
"Everything is nearly ready. Thank you for your concern, Second Sister-in-law."Wang Shi glanced at Madam Qin, then looked at Gu Jinzhao's belly and said with a smile, "I see Third Sister-in-law's belly is pointed, and Mother often says this child is very active. That must mean it's a boy. When Third Sister-in-law's child is born, I'll gift them a Longevity Gold Lock."
Gu Jinzhao didn't particularly care whether the child was a boy or girl. If she had to choose, she actually preferred girls - boys were too mischievous. When Chen Xuanyue got mischievous, it was quite troublesome to handle. A quiet, well-behaved girl would be best.
PS: The bun is coming soon~~ Second update
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