Chapter 310: Origins
After the great-grandson was brought over, Ji Wu Shi held and coaxed him for a while, her face beaming with joy. "He looks so much like you when you were little, especially the brows and eyes. When you were just born and I went to see you, you clung to your grandmother's sleeve and wouldn't let go."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "Really, that similar?" She leaned in to look. Little Changsuo was sleeping soundly in his bright red swaddling clothes, but she couldn't see any resemblance to herself.
Ji Wu Shi chuckled. "You went with me to Tongzhou when you were just three months old! Even your mother might not know you as well as I do. This child will surely grow up handsome..." After chatting for a while, the baby woke up. Ji Wu Shi expertly cradled him, but Changsuo kept crying. The old lady immediately realized he had wet himself and personally changed his diaper before wrapping him up again.
The child was then taken by the wet nurse to be fed. After exchanging a few more words with Gu Jinzhao, Ji Wu Shi went to see Madam Chen.
The two elderly women hadn't seen each other in years, so they naturally had much to catch up on.
In the evening, after Third Master Chen finished entertaining the guests, he returned and, upon hearing of Ji Wu Shi's arrival, personally went to pay his respects to Madam Chen.
Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhao reclined against a large pillow, listening as Granny Sun read out the gifts Changsuo had received for his Third-day celebration. Granny Sun held a ledger bound in bright red silk, and as she read each item, a maid would bring it over for Gu Jinzhao to inspect.
Zhang Ju Lian had sent a two-foot-tall red coral, its hue as vivid as jade—undoubtedly a top-tier treasure. The base was intricately carved from high-quality rosewood with cloud patterns. Granny Sun couldn't help but marvel as she held it. "Lord Zhang certainly has extravagant tastes..."
When the red coral was handed to Gu Jinzhao, she examined it carefully for a moment and even sniffed it.
She was deeply wary of Zhang Ju Lian.
Having grown up surrounded by jewelry, Gu Jinzhao could instantly discern the coral's quality. It was likely worth ten times its weight in gold.
She instructed Xiuqu to store the red coral away. "This is far too precious. Don't display it casually."
Xiuqu carried the coral off to the storeroom.
With Zhang Ju Lian's extravagant gift setting the standard, the other presents, though exquisite and valuable, seemed ordinary in comparison.
Gu Jinzhao grew drowsy as she listened—until Granny Sun mentioned Ye Xian's name, jolting her awake.
"You just said the heir of Marquis Changxing also sent a gift... What was it?"
Granny Sun checked the ledger again and replied, "It wasn't anything particularly valuable—just a budgerigar."
Why would Ye Xian send a gift?
Gu Jinzhao's sleepiness vanished instantly. Rubbing her temples, she felt a headache coming on. She truly didn't know how to handle Ye Xian. After what he had said about her to Third Master Chen last time, her husband had already grown wary... She asked Granny Sun, "Where is that budgerigar now?"
Granny Sun didn't know either. The maids searched everywhere but couldn't find it. Then Yuzhu spoke up. "No birdcage was delivered. But since the outer courtyard guests were received by Third Master and Fourth Master, perhaps you could ask Third Master when he returns."
Gu Jinzhao didn’t want to trouble Third Master Chen over this. If it couldn’t be found, so be it.
By the time everything was properly sorted, the sky had darkened.
Third Master Chen returned.
He saw Gu Jinzhao lying on the Arhat bed, writing by the dim light of a small lamp.
Without a word, he quietly approached and took the brush from her hand. "Don’t strain your eyes... What are you writing?"By the candlelight, she wore a lilac-colored jacket with white trimmings, her skin glowing with a delicate rosy hue. Her serene and gentle demeanor made her look exceptionally lovely. Gu Jinzhao didn’t glance at him either, holding up the ledger herself as she examined it. "These are gifts from social exchanges. I must record them personally so that when other households have celebrations in the future, we won’t return less than what we received..." She sighed softly. "Don’t be fooled by how much Changsuo received today. We’ll have to give away even more in the future!"
Third Master Chen chuckled. "He’s still so little!"
Gu Jinzhao replied earnestly, "Children grow up in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, he’ll be talking and running around."
Third Master Chen sat down and pulled her into his embrace, reaching for the ledger she had written. She had learned regular script, her handwriting neat and elegant. Recently, she had also been practicing clerical script under his guidance, her strokes carrying a dignified, classical charm—surpassing even the calligraphy of most scholars.
Sitting in his arms, Gu Jinzhao shifted slightly to the side and asked, "Lord Zhang gifted a red coral over two feet tall. It looks incredibly valuable. If it’s just for the child’s third-day celebration gift, it seems far too extravagant..."
Third Master Chen replied, "I know, but since it’s already given, we’ll accept it. My mentor has served as an official for years and has ample savings. This is nothing to him."
In her past life, Gu Jinzhao had heard that Zhang Ju Lian was a man of integrity, never involved in corruption.
Curious, she asked Third Master Chen, "They say Lord Zhang is honest and devoted to public service, but his annual salary couldn’t possibly afford a red coral. Where does his wealth come from?"
Third Master Chen merely smiled before explaining, "It doesn’t matter if he isn’t corrupt himself. The Zhang family has so many members—they can’t all rely on him alone for sustenance. From what I know, a distant uncle of his extorts salt farms, earning tens of thousands of taels annually. My mentor has many followers; he can’t possibly deny them benefits. With his influence, ensuring his family’s prosperity is effortless."
"The Zhang family was originally a declining clan in Jingzhou Prefecture, lacking the heritage of the great noble houses. So, as my mentor rose step by step, he inserted many relatives into the court to consolidate his power. With so many protégés, his influence is now deeply entrenched—even the Emperor treads carefully around him."
That was why, in her past life, the Zhang family flourished to its peak. After Zhang Ju Lian’s death, the Emperor personally bestowed upon him the posthumous title "Wenzhong." The officials he promoted rose swiftly in the court, and his family held imperial honors for four generations. It wasn’t until the thirteenth year of the Wanli era—the year before Gu Jinzhao’s death—that the Zhang family was gradually dismantled. But after Zhang Ju Lian’s passing, the family became a festering tumor he left behind, one that lingered untreatable for years...
Gu Jinzhao fell silent for a moment.
She recalled the matter of the Ever Prosperous Trading Company. If such a business had the backing of a powerful faction, the Zhang family was a likely candidate. She might as well ask Third Master Chen—her grandmother wouldn’t reveal anything, but he might know something!
She turned to him and said, "Earlier, while speaking with Grandmother, I heard about this Ever Prosperous Trading Company that’s incredibly influential and impervious to scrutiny. Could it belong to some high-ranking official in the court?"
Third Master Chen ruffled her hair affectionately. "What made you think of asking that?"Gu Jinzhao dodged his large hand—it had been a while since she last washed her hair. She brushed it off, saying, "...It just sounded familiar, so I wanted to ask!"
Third Master Chen chuckled. "Of course it should sound familiar to you. It's the Chen Family's trading company."
Gu Jinzhao froze... She had thought it was the Zhang family's. Who would have guessed this company actually belonged to the Chen Family!
"Old Fourth started it a few years ago, and it's developed quite well," Third Master Chen mused. "He handles these business ventures on his own—Second Brother and I rarely interfere. I’ve heard you own quite a few shops yourself. If you ever need his company’s assistance, just say the word."
Gu Jinzhao shook her head with a smile. "I was just asking casually. If I asked for your help, how could I still call it my own private savings?"
Dropping the subject of the Ever Prosperous Trading Company, Gu Jinzhao showed Third Master Chen some of the other fine gifts from the third-day celebration.
Neither of them brought up Ye Xian.
Gu Jinzhao had her maid help her to the washroom, where she freshened up with warm water. By the time she returned, Third Master Chen was already lying in bed reading, waiting for her.
Knowing he had to rise early for court the next day, Gu Jinzhao didn’t linger. She quickly settled beside him.
Seeing her lie down, tuck herself in, and close her eyes, Third Master Chen set his book on the side table, had the maid extinguish the lantern and draw the bed curtains, then reached out to hold her as they slept.
Gu Jinzhao wasn’t sure if Third Master Chen had fallen asleep, but she was still wide awake.
She finally remembered why the Ever Prosperous Trading Company had sounded familiar. In her past life, after her grandmother’s death, the largest trading house in the Northern Metropolitan Region hadn’t been the Ji family—it was Ever Prosperous...
By then, Third Master Chen was already gone, and the Chen Family had divided. Could Fourth Master Chen really have been so capable as to expand Ever Prosperous to such heights? Recalling the enmity between Chen Xuanqing and Fourth Master Chen, Gu Jinzhao grew even more uneasy.
Even if the family division had been bitter, it shouldn’t have escalated to such hatred... unless Fourth Master Chen had done something unforgivable to Third Master Chen’s branch—something that might have even concerned Third Master Chen’s life. In other words, during the critical campaign against bandits in Sichuan, he might have betrayed Third Master Chen and colluded with those who wanted him dead. No matter how formidable Third Master Chen was, he couldn’t withstand attacks from both sides.
Gu Jinzhao opened her eyes, suddenly weighed down by a heavy heart.
She didn’t know how to voice this suspicion to Third Master Chen. After all, Fourth Master Chen was his own blood brother! What if she was wrong and ended up sowing discord between them? And if it were true—how would Third Master Chen feel, knowing his own brother had betrayed him?
She studied his profile—the straight bridge of his nose, his soft lips... Reaching out to touch his face, her heart ached inexplicably.
These were just conjectures. Without proof, it was better not to mention it yet.
Just as she closed her eyes, the sound of a child’s crying came from the greenhouse, followed by the wet nurse’s attempts to soothe it. The fussing went on for a long time without settling.
Gu Jinzhao grew even more restless. Hearing the child still crying, she grew anxious, itching to go and comfort it herself.
But it would surely disturb Third Master Chen...
"Have the wet nurse bring the child here," Third Master Chen suddenly said.
Gu Jinzhao was startled—he hadn’t been asleep after all. Did that mean he’d noticed her earlier actions? "But... don’t you have court tomorrow?"
Third Master Chen had already sat up. "It’s fine," he said calmly. "You won’t rest easy with the child crying."She called for a maid to give instructions, and soon the wet nurse brought little Changsuo over.
Third Master Chen picked him up and walked around the bed to soothe him. After a while, little Changsuo gradually stopped crying and lay quietly in his father's arms with wide-open eyes. Third Master Chen placed the child beside Gu Jinzhao's pillow and tucked him in. "Let the wet nurse stay in the green gauze cabinet. He still needs to be fed three times at night."
Gu Jinzhao cradled the child in her arms, patting his back until he fell asleep before placing him by the pillow.
When she turned around, she noticed Third Master Chen had already fallen asleep. He hadn't been sleeping well these past few days, with dark circles under his eyes.
The child hardly cried at all that night.
PS: Thank you to Wenzi Nuli for the fairy blossom, mwah!
Many readers have mentioned issues with duplicate chapters recently, but the author hasn't reposted anything—it's just the system acting up. Try checking again after a day or viewing on a computer; it should be fine. Give it a try! r655
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