Chapter 328: The Past Life
Gu Jinzhao had gone to bed with the child.
It wasn’t until midnight that she heard voices outside the room.
She got up quietly, lit the candle holder, and tucked the child in properly.
Third Master Chen was speaking with someone in the study in the front courtyard, and occasional laughter could be heard. When he heard that Gu Jinzhao had come over, Third Master Chen seemed surprised. "...Why aren’t you asleep?"
In the study, Jiang Yan bowed in greeting to Gu Jinzhao before excusing himself and leaving.
Gu Jinzhao untied her cloak and asked, "There was a fire at Marquis Changxing’s residence—did something happen to Xie Sixing?"
Third Master Chen took a sip of tea and motioned for her to sit down. "We searched until dawn before finding him. He’s fine—he’s been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon now. With so many lives taken, he won’t escape death."
Gu Jinzhao relaxed slightly upon hearing that he had been captured.
But what had he been doing afterward? Why had he only returned now?
As if sensing her confusion, Third Master Chen smiled faintly and said, "My teacher summoned me for a talk. After all, the commotion was too great."
He stood and walked to the window. The courtyard was pitch black, with only a few lotus-shaped stone lanterns glowing faintly.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling the chill of the wind.
The times were indeed about to change.
The last look Zhang Julian had given him—that profound, meaningful expression—was one he had seen many times before. It was enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
Yuan Zhongru had once been his classmate and colleague. When had Zhang Julian ever shown him mercy?
Seeing him lost in thought, Gu Jinzhao stood and walked up behind him, calling softly, "Third Master, what’s wrong?"
Only then did Third Master Chen speak. "Do you remember I once said I had something to ask you?"
He turned to face Gu Jinzhao directly, his expression solemn.
Gu Jinzhao nodded. "I know." She paused briefly. "As it happens, I also have something I wish to tell you."
Seeing her suddenly composed demeanor, Third Master Chen sighed inwardly.
He shouldn’t just regard her as his wife anymore. Gu Jinzhao had many secrets—some she had never spoken of.
He motioned for her to sit across from him, then personally brought over the teapot and set out white porcelain teacups.
Jinchao preferred white porcelain cups. He had never seen her use polychrome or blue-and-white porcelain. He himself had no particular preference, so he had always indulged her.
"On the day of Marquis Changxing’s palace coup, Prince Rui was slain by Marquis Changxing’s blade. At the time, I found it strange—who had tipped off Ye Xian?" He paused before continuing. "I once suspected Xiao You. He and Ye Xian had been master and disciple for years—there must have been some sentiment between them. But later, I dismissed the idea. If Xiao You had truly betrayed us, he would never have allowed Marquis Changxing to enter the forbidden palace. So it couldn’t have been him."
His knuckles were distinct as he held the teacup, passing it to Gu Jinzhao.
Gu Jinzhao was startled, then her heart tightened.
She had always believed that Third Master Chen would find out one day. But she had helped Ye Xian—she didn’t know how Chen Yanyun would react... Perhaps now was the time to lay everything bare. Because he was about to face a great calamity.
Though Xie Sixing was dead, Zhang Julian was still alive. One day, Third Master Chen would stand against him.
Steadying herself, she said softly, "It wasn’t Xiao You..."
"Indeed, it wasn’t Xiao You. And Xiao You is already dead."
Chen Yanyun watched as the tea leaves unfurled in the cup."So I believe there is someone else behind Ye Xian. Someone who has been aiding him. And I've been trying to uncover this person... Unfortunately, I never imagined this person would be right by my side all along." He raised his head and spoke calmly.
"Jinchao, how could it be you?"
So the person he had been searching for was Gu Jinzhao all along. She slept beside him every night, yet he had been scouring the world for this very person.
No wonder Ye Xian had looked so surprised and strange when he questioned him that day.
It was truly laughable.
"I know some things," Jinchao sighed. "But not much. That time I helped him, it was purely by chance at my grandmother's place. I overheard Prince Rui and the others discussing the shipment of weapons." Gu Jinzhao knew she couldn't brush off Chen Yanyun with a few vague words—she wanted to explain everything clearly.
She should trust Third Master Chen.
"What I'm about to say might be hard to believe, but it's all true," Gu Jinzhao said.
If he didn't believe her, she wouldn't even be sitting here so calmly.
Gu Jinzhao understood this well.
"Zhuangzi dreamed of being a butterfly, and the butterfly dreamed of being Zhuangzi. I know... some things that might happen, meaning I can foresee certain events, but I'm not entirely certain. When you were injured last time, I pretended it was a revelation from the Buddha. Though perhaps it wasn't entirely false—maybe the Buddha was involved in some way." Gu Jinzhao smiled faintly. "But as a woman confined to the inner chambers, I don't understand fate or court politics. Even if I know these things, what use are they to me?"
This was even more shocking than he had imagined.
Jinchao could foresee events?
Third Master Chen frowned deeply. "Have you told anyone else about this?"
Gu Jinzhao shook her head. "I hesitated even before telling you. I wouldn't breathe a word to anyone else."
Chen Yanyun fell into deep thought after hearing this.
He tentatively asked, "If... I were to ask how long the Chen Family will prosper, would you know?"
Gu Jinzhao shook her head again. "I don't know. I only know things that might happen. And these things can change. For example, I knew Second Cousin Ji might marry the fourth daughter of the Earl of Yongyang, but in the end, he married the fifth daughter instead. That was something I couldn't predict. And I saw that my mother would die—I tried my best to change it, but she still passed away. These things aren't set in stone..."
Chen Yanyun pondered for a long time before asking, "So what you're saying is, you only know things that might happen, and even then, not completely. But it's enough for you to warn others. Like last time when you said I might get injured—is that right?"
Jinchao nodded. She felt this was the best way to explain it.
He ruffled her hair. "Then I can rest easy. This isn't as serious as I thought. If you truly knew everything past and present, that would be troublesome!"
Third Master Chen's reaction caught her off guard. Gu Jinzhao was momentarily stunned.
She shook his hand. "I thought... you'd want me to know more things!"
But Chen Yanyun decisively shook his head. "Too much wisdom brings harm."
Just like those fortune-tellers on the streets—the more they divine, the more their lifespans shorten. He couldn't help but worry whether Jinchao's ability might also shorten her life.
Thinking of this, he couldn't resist warning her: "If it's not necessary, don't say anything. Things like your cousin's marriage—that's someone else's fate. There's no need for you to look into it. Surely you've heard of Fang Zhongyong!"
Gu Jinzhao finally laughed and tugged at his hand again. "If you ever need anything in the future, you can discuss it with me. Who knows—maybe I'll have some insight!"Chen Yanyun paused in thought.
“When you were held captive by the bandits, you told Yuzhu to warn me to be wary of Fourth Master and Lord Zhang. Was that also based on what you foresaw?”
Gu Jinzhao shook her head again. “Not at all! If I had known from the start, I would have warned you directly. I was piecing things together bit by bit because…” She avoided mentioning Third Master Chen’s death for now. “The Chen Family’s Ever Prosperous Trading Company—my grandmother noticed something amiss… She told me. There were irregularities in the company’s dealings. Fourth Master colluded with the textile eunuchs to exploit the people’s wealth. The silk from Ever Prosperous Trading Company was sourced from the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, using taxed silk and conscripted laborers, which is why the prices were so low.”
“At the time, I thought—the textile eunuchs were dispatched by the Directorate of Ceremonial. And Lord Zhang has close ties with Feng Chengshan, the Writing Brush Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial… If Fourth Master’s wrongdoing fell into Lord Zhang’s hands, he would surely use it to threaten you!”
Embezzlement, exploitation of the people, and tampering with taxed silk—these were grave crimes.
Third Master Chen’s expression turned stern. “Is this true?”
Gu Jinzhao nodded.
It was likely Third Master Chen never imagined that Fourth Master would stab him in the back. Betrayal by one’s own flesh and blood—who could have foreseen it?
“He resents me,” Third Master Chen murmured, staring at the candle flame for a long while before speaking again.
“Do you know why I refused to let him pursue an official career?”
He had mentioned it before. Gu Jinzhao replied, “You said it was because of Fourth Master’s temperament…”
Chen Yanyun smiled faintly. “That was only part of the reason. It was because of something he once did.”
Gu Jinzhao listened quietly.
“He killed Fifth Brother—” Chen Yanyun’s voice was barely above a whisper. “He thought no one knew, but I did. Back then, when Fifth Brother drowned, he claimed he was writing in the study. But I went to look for him there—he wasn’t inside. When he returned from the lotus pond, there were still traces of mud on his sleeves. Fifth Brother’s birth mother, Concubine Li, was still alive then. She wept bitterly, and he even comforted her.”
“When I looked at Fourth Brother, I hardly recognized him.”
“At the time, Fifth Brother and I were very close, and Mother doted on him. Fourth Brother harbored deep resentment… but I never imagined he would go so far as to kill. And then pretend as if nothing had happened, even offering condolences.”
Chen Yanyun gave a bitter laugh. “I also had my own selfish reasons. What would a man so cold-hearted and ruthless do to us if he ever achieved power and fame?” He gently brushed his fingers along Gu Jinzhao’s cheek. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want you to know what kind of person I am.”
Gu Jinzhao covered his cold hand with hers, her heart heavy.
In truth, it wasn’t that Fourth Master had killed Fifth Brother—he had merely stood by and done nothing. But was there any real difference between that and murder?
Gu Jinzhao truly didn’t know.
If she saw Gu Lan flailing in a pond, she might not save her either. She’d probably turn and walk away without a second thought. Whether Gu Lan drowned or not would be none of her concern. Of course, her hatred for Gu Lan ran too deep—she’d sooner push her into the pond herself.
“No one knows about this yet. If you speak with Fourth Master, you can surely resolve the issue,” Gu Jinzhao reassured him. “It’s late now—you should rest. You haven’t slept well these past few nights…”
She rose to call for a maid to bring hot water, but Third Master Chen caught her hand."Jinchao, my future must be quite miserable," Chen Yanyun said softly, gazing at the candle burning to its end. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be paying such close attention to these matters. What will become of me? Will I be disgraced? Or will I be harmed by someone? You can tell me."
Gu Jinzhao thought of his death and still felt a pang in her heart.
"Everything will be fine... I'm here, aren't I?" She forced a smile.
But Chen Yanyun only chuckled. "You once said that when you foresaw your mother might die, you exhausted every means but still couldn't save her." He closed his eyes briefly, his voice growing hoarse. "If I'm truly going to die, you must tell me."
His grip on Gu Jinzhao's hand tightened.
In the prime of his life, with power at his fingertips, yet he was already contemplating death.
Gu Jinzhao argued, "But... the Marquis of Changxing was also supposed to die, yet he didn't! Don't overthink it—there's always room for change." Though most of what she knew had followed its destined course.
She wouldn't tell Third Master Chen that last part.
He hummed in acknowledgment and pulled her into a tight embrace.
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