Chapter 309: The Opponent
Third Master Chen frowned slightly.
Who could have arrived?
He excused himself to Zhang Julian, saying, "I'll return shortly."
With that, Third Master Chen stepped out of the banquet and rest area.
As he turned the corner, Jiang Yan lowered his voice behind him, "It's Ye Xian, the heir of Marquis Changxing!"
Third Master Chen had already passed through the screen gate and indeed saw Ye Xian standing by the spirit wall. He wore a pale green overgown with a black cloak draped over his shoulders. His figure was slender and upright, his skin as fair as jade, exuding an air of effortless grace.
"Lord Chen, your family’s spirit wall is rather plain," Ye Xian remarked without turning, carefully examining the carvings on the wall. "I think glazed tiles and white marble carvings of a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate would be more fitting. Or perhaps a mountain-shaped spirit wall like the one in the Yingyang Marquis’ residence—that would be truly impressive."
Chen Yanyun observed him calmly. "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Ye. I’ll mention it to the craftsmen later."
Only then did Ye Xian turn around with a smile. "I’ve come uninvited—I wonder if Chen Ge Lao finds my presence unwelcome… I’m merely here to attend my grandnephew’s third-day celebration gift ceremony." He motioned for Li Xianhuai to bring forward a cage covered with blue velvet.
"This is my gift for my grandnephew. I spent quite some time teaching it to recite The Classic of Filial Piety —ordinary parrots certainly couldn’t memorize so much. Just a little amusement for the child. I hope Chen Ge Lao won’t disdain it—though the gift is humble, the sentiment is sincere."
"Of course not," Chen Yanyun replied with a faint smile, naturally unwilling to engage in petty disputes with Ye Xian. "Since you’re here for the ceremony, would Young Master Ye care to come inside? As it happens, Chief Grand Secretary Zhang and several other officials are present—it’s quite lively inside."
Jiang Yan listened to their exchange, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
He stepped forward to take the birdcage and retreated behind Third Master Chen.
Ye Xian raised an eyebrow. Chen Yanyun clearly wanted him to leave—why else would he bring up Zhang Julian?
They were political adversaries—ordinarily, they wouldn’t even exchange words. Though Zhang Julian was wary of him, he didn’t hold Ye Xian in high regard either. Ye Xian had no intention of forcing an awkward encounter. Unlike Chen Yanyun, who maintained a cordial demeanor toward everyone, Ye Xian’s relationship with Zhang Julian was far more strained.
Didn’t want him inside? Well, he’d go in anyway.
He’d never visited the Chen Family before—might as well see where Gu Jinzhao lived.
"Since there are so many people here…" He paused deliberately. "I suppose I’ll take a look inside! Truly, it’s hard to refuse Chen Ge Lao’s hospitality."
Without waiting for Chen Yanyun’s response, he strode past the screen gate.
Li Xianhuai stood frozen for a moment, scratching his head in confusion. Wasn’t the young master being a bit shameless? Lord Chen didn’t seem particularly welcoming. Hadn’t they parted on bad terms last time?
Chen Yanyun hesitated, then shook his head with a resigned smile and followed Ye Xian inside. Against someone as unpredictable as Ye Xian, he had no choice but to play along—let’s see what he was up to.
When Chen Yanyun entered with Ye Xian in tow, the expressions of the assembled nobles and officials in the banquet and rest area turned peculiar.
Chang Hai nearly leapt to his feet, choking on his wine. After coughing twice, he remembered that most of the guests were Zhang Julian’s faction. Since his family had some ties with the Marquis Changxing’s household, he offered Ye Xian a polite nod.
To his surprise, Ye Xian ignored him entirely, sweeping his gaze indifferently over the room.Chang Hai's smile froze at the corners of his lips.
No one had ever slighted him like this before...
To cover his embarrassment, he forced another smile and asked Chen Yanyun, "Third Master, why didn't you mention earlier that the heir was coming?"
After all, he had already inherited his own noble title, which was higher than Ye Xian's, so he didn’t need to address him as "Young Master Heir."
Chen Yanyun smiled faintly. "I was surprised too..."
Zhang Ju Lian slowly swirled his purple clay teacup and smiled at Ye Xian. "I heard that the heir is the maternal uncle of Lady Nine Balance. There’s a familial connection between you. Would you care to sit and share some tea?"
Ye Xian returned a faint smile. "Then I’ll gladly accept your hospitality."
The two sat at the same table, sipping tea in silence, neither speaking a word.
Chang Hai immediately felt uncomfortable—their auras were too overpowering.
He excused himself from Zhang Ju Lian, who amiably waved him off. Chang Hai then approached Third Master Chen and whispered, "What’s really going on here? Why did Ye Xian come? Could he really be here for your son’s Third-day celebration gift? Don’t joke with me!"
Zhang Ju Lian and Ye Xian drinking tea together... It was just too bizarre!
A wild thought struck Chang Hai. "What if Ye Xian brought the Iron Cavalry Battalion to raze this place and kill us all? Right now, he’s sitting across from Grand Secretary Zhang. The moment he makes a wrong move, soldiers will storm in..."
Chen Yanyun replied calmly, "You’re overthinking it."
Chang Hai pressed on, "I didn’t even know he was your new wife’s uncle... He doesn’t seem like the type to attend something like a Third-day celebration gift!"
Chen Yanyun’s expression darkened briefly before returning to normal.
He had long known that Ye Xian and Gu Jinzhao shared an unusual relationship. There was no way Ye Xian was here just for tea!
Chang Hai fell silent. The banquet and rest area gradually filled with chatter again, though people still kept glancing toward Zhang Ju Lian and Ye Xian.
...
By the time Gu Jinzhao woke up, the Third-day celebration gift ceremony had already passed. Caifu helped her sit up while Xiuqu fed her a bowl of tripe soup.
Just then, Yuzhu came skipping in, her face beaming with excitement.
Gu Jinzhao couldn’t help but smile. "What’s got you so happy?"
Yuzhu hurried to her bedside and grinned. "Madam, do you know who’s come to see you? Guess! You’ll be thrilled when you find out!"
Gu Jinzhao had no patience for guessing games. She tapped Yuzhu’s forehead lightly. "Silly girl, just tell me!"
"It’s the Old Madam!" Yuzhu said. Seeing Gu Jinzhao’s puzzled look, she quickly added, "Old Madam Ji! She’s already passed the inner gate and will be here any moment."
Her grandmother had come to see her?
Gu Jinzhao’s heart swelled with shock and joy. Tongzhou to Wanping was such a long journey—her grandmother had actually come all this way for her!
Ji Wu Shi arrived shortly, accompanied only by Third Sister-in-law Liu Shi, though the maids and servants behind them carried many gifts.
It had been so long since she’d last seen her grandmother. The sight of that familiar, stern yet dignified face, the silver strands at her temples, made Gu Jinzhao’s nose sting with emotion. She quickly tried to rise to greet her.
Ji Wu Shi smiled warmly. "Don’t move! I’ll come to you." In a few steps, she reached the bedside and pulled Gu Jinzhao into her arms.
Gu Jinzhao buried her face in her grandmother’s shoulder, breathing in the comforting scent of medicinal ointments, and stayed silent for a long while.Liu Shi sat smiling on the stool brought by the maid.
Ji Wu Shi sighed, "How can someone who's just given birth still be so thin? Most people gain a lot of weight, yet you remain just the same..."
Gu Jinzhao smiled faintly. She had indeed gained weight—she could feel the difference herself.
"Why did you come all this way in person? As your granddaughter, I should have brought the child to visit you. The journey from Wanping to Tongzhou is long, and with so many affairs at home, it must have been quite troublesome!"
Ji Wu Shi chuckled, "If I waited for you to visit me, I'd have to wait three more months! It's better for me to come see you in person—only then can I rest assured. Besides, Madam Chen and I go way back. It's been years since I last saw her. And with Ji Yao managing things at home now, he’s quite capable of handling matters on his own..."
At the mention of Ji Yao, Ji Wu Shi recalled his past with Gu Jinzhao and quickly changed the subject. "By the way, where’s the baby?"
"The baby was taken for the third-day celebration gift. She’ll be brought back soon," Gu Jinzhao replied.
Ji Yao... It had been a long time since she last heard his name.
After a brief silence, Gu Jinzhao asked, "Cousin Ji Yao... hasn’t he been betrothed yet?"
He was already past twenty. If he didn’t marry soon, it would be too late.
Ji Wu Shi shook her head. "He’s started the process now. Ironically, it was the Earl of Yongyang’s wife who once proposed a match for you—though it didn’t work out in the end. This time, it’s the Earl’s fifth daughter."
Fifth daughter? Shouldn’t it have been the fourth?
Gu Jinzhao was taken aback. The Earl of Yongyang’s fourth daughter was the legitimate one, while the fifth was born of a concubine...
His fate seemed to have been altered.
Though it wasn’t entirely because of her, she still bore some responsibility. If he hadn’t waited for her back then, Ji Yao wouldn’t have remained unmarried at eighteen.
Gu Jinzhao didn’t recall anything about this fifth daughter—likely an obscure figure—so she asked, "What is this fifth daughter like?"
"Everything is fine," Ji Wu Shi replied with a faint smile. She didn’t want to say anything that might make Gu Jinzhao feel guilty. If anyone should feel remorse, it was her, the old woman. Why should others? Ji Yao was older now, and with an unclear child in his past, what respectable family would willingly marry their legitimate daughter to him?
The fifth daughter of the Earl of Yongyang’s household was acceptable, but as a concubine-born child, she lacked the refinement of a legitimate daughter—timid and hesitant in speech and action.
Ji Wu Shi steered the conversation away from Ji Yao. "By the way, your chief steward Luo Yongping wrote before about the Ever Prosperous Trading Company. Do you remember?"
Of course, Gu Jinzhao remembered. Luo Yongping had mentioned that the Ji family had yet to respond, so she hadn’t pressed the matter.
Ji Wu Shi continued, "It wasn’t convenient to discuss in the letter, so I wanted to speak to you in person. The Ji family’s trading house is one of the largest in the Northern Zhili region, with fabric trade being a significant part of the business. Because of the Ever Prosperous Trading Company, our family has suffered considerable losses... This company has immense influence, and it undoubtedly has powerful officials backing it. Even the canal shipping rights have been partially taken over by them. The Ji family is, after all, a merchant household, and merchants do not contend with officials—that’s an age-old principle. So we dare not compete... If you ever encounter this Ever Prosperous Trading Company, be sure to steer clear."
Even her grandmother was being this cautious.Gu Jinzhao was afraid her grandmother might overthink, so she explained, "Last time, Luo Yongping told me that the Ever Prosperous Trading Company's silk prices were much cheaper than other firms... Several of our silk shops have been operating at a loss, yet I'd barely heard of this company before. That's why I wanted to ask—it's not that we're competing with them."
Ji Wu Shi laughed. "Luo Yongping is quite something. The Ever Prosperous Trading Company is extremely secretive. Most merchants haven't even heard its name, yet he managed to uncover some leads! Don't worry, silk price fluctuations are normal. They can't keep suppressing prices forever."
What Gu Jinzhao truly worried about wasn't the silk prices, but it was difficult to explain.
PS: Every time I write about the heir, I do so with an inner monologue of sarcasm...
Does everyone think Changsuo sounds terrible? Actually, it's not so bad—childhood nicknames usually aren't pretty. What matters most is that they're auspicious, easy to say, and believed to help the child thrive!
Today's the last day. I just checked, and to my surprise, we're actually in fourth place for pink votes. Touching—I've never ranked this high before, haha. I don't like asking for pink votes because I feel my updates are too lacking to deserve them, not that I don't want them. No matter what, I'm deeply grateful for everyone's support and kindness!
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