Chapter 332: The Stewardship
"You intend to strip Old Fourth of his stewardship?"
Madam Chen's expression turned grave upon hearing this. "Has he done something wrong?"
Third Master Chen sipped his tea before replying, "His trading firm isn't entirely clean. It could cause complications if investigated later."
Madam Chen pondered for a long while, her lips trembling slightly. "Then... what will he do if not this? To whom will you entrust the stewardship? Surely not Old Sixth? He could never bear such responsibility!"
Third Master Chen reassured her, "Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll naturally appoint someone to manage it."
Still uneasy, Madam Chen rose and paced slowly back and forth before stopping to address him again. "Yanyun, you know your fourth brother’s temperament—petty and vindictive. He was already displeased when you didn’t let him continue his official career back then... Now, with this, he’ll surely resent it even more! You two are full brothers, closer than Second or Sixth Brother. Do you understand?"
Third Master Chen already knew what she would say and listened in silence.
Though Madam Chen was broad-minded and treated her stepson as kindly as her own, only she knew the truth: her kindness to her stepson was indulgence, while her care for her own son was discipline. To outsiders, there seemed no difference—some even believed she favored her stepson. But Madam Chen knew better. What mother isn’t selfish?
Chen Yanwen must have done something else, or else Third Master wouldn’t treat him this way!
With a stern expression, Madam Chen pressed, "Yanyun, tell me honestly—what exactly has Old Fourth done? Has he harmed you?"
Third Master Chen had initially hesitated to tell her, knowing it would grieve her.
But since she asked, he wouldn’t deliberately conceal it.
He sighed. "Old Fourth colluded with the Directorate of Ceremonial to fabricate evidence against me. If these materials were exploited, the consequences would be dire."
Madam Chen paled, murmuring, "How could this be? How could he do such a thing?"
The intricacies of court politics were beyond her grasp, but she understood the gravity of the matter.
"What will you do then?" she asked. "Have you questioned him about his motives?"
"There’s nothing to ask," Chen Yanyun replied simply.
Madam Chen sat down. "He’s truly lost his senses! No matter what, he shouldn’t have conspired with outsiders..."
After saying this, she noticed her son’s silence.
A pang of worry struck her.
Chen Yanyun was merciless in such matters—she knew her son’s temperament best. Yet fraternal strife was the last thing she wished to see. Taking his hand, she sighed, "How do you intend to deal with him...? Third Son, Yanwen is still your blood brother... He’s just too narrow-minded. Scold him, reason with him properly—he’ll listen eventually. Yanwen is already in his thirties; he should know better by now."
Third Master Chen’s expression remained calm, his voice indifferent. "Mother, don’t worry. Even if I disregard him as my brother, I’ll still consider him your son. I’ll only strip him of his stewardship and have him closely monitored hereafter. I won’t do anything further to him."Madam Chen added, "Mother understands your difficulties, but fraternal strife is never good. Let me admonish him a few words—he'll still listen to his mother. His actions have indeed gone too far, and it's right for you to strip him of his steward authority!"
Third Master Chen merely sipped his tea.
Madam Chen looked weary. "One of the few commendable things in my life was raising you brothers... and you've all done well. Especially you and Second Brother—you've never given me cause for worry. It's my failure that Fourth has turned out this way."
Chen Yanyun sighed. "Mother, I understand. That's why I've shown Fourth some leniency. I don't believe he's beyond redemption yet."
Madam Chen tightly grasped Chen Yanyun's hand, her heart heavy.
The news of Fourth Master Chen losing his steward position soon spread throughout the household.
Even the way people treated Wang Shi became noticeably different.
Fourth Master Chen was frequently summoned by Madam Chen for talks, after which he would return to practice calligraphy or admire flowers, truly living in idle retirement for a time.
As winter approached, the year's end drew near.
With Fourth Master Chen no longer managing business affairs, the inner household's miscellaneous tasks increased, keeping Gu Jinzhao even busier.
She carried Changsuo in the courtyard, admiring the newly bloomed wintersweet. The child wore a little jacket lined with fox fur, looking like a fluffy ball.
After holding him awhile, Gu Jinzhao could no longer manage and tried passing him to the wet nurse. But the boy immediately twisted toward the gate.
Third Master Chen had returned.
Taking his son into his arms, Chen Yanyun listened to the baby's babbling with amusement. "What are you trying to say?" he asked.
Changsuo simply stared blankly at his father, unable to comprehend the words but fascinated nonetheless, reaching for the beads on the Six-Tiered Crown.
Gu Jinzhao smiled and moved toward the house. The western chamber's underfloor heating system made it comfortably warm inside.
She helped him remove his cloak and handed it to a maid.
"...So Zhou Husheng ultimately faced no consequences?"
Chen Yanyun let the child play with his crown. "He's fine," he explained the resolution process to Gu Jinzhao. "...My teacher grows increasingly muddled. He personally summoned the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and Censorate officials to suppress the matter. The servant recanted his testimony on the spot, exonerating Zhou Husheng."
"You had already gathered all the evidence?"
"Of course," Chen Yanyun replied. "The case was truly such a perversion of justice that many at court were shocked."
Gu Jinzhao breathed a sigh of relief.
The Zhou Husheng case was something she remembered as particularly significant.
Because by shielding this man, Third Master Chen's conduct had once drawn considerable criticism.
Gu Jinzhao clearly recalled: In the third year of Wanli, Zhang Ju Lian's nephew Zhou Husheng had forcibly taken Liu Xin Yun's second daughter as a concubine, beating to death the young lady's wet nurse and personal maid. When Liu Xin Yun submitted a memorial, before it could reach the Grand Secretariat, the Censorate had fabricated corruption charges against him.
Third Master Chen suppressed all memorials supporting Liu Xin Yun and demoted or exiled several deeply involved officials, silencing all who might plead Liu's innocence. The family was subsequently exiled to Ningguta, while Zhou Husheng received nothing more than a month's house arrest from Zhang Ju Lian.Only now did Gu Jinzhao realize that Third Master Chen had likely been coerced by Zhang Julian into doing those things back then. Zhang had held evidence of his dealings with eunuch manufacturers, forcing him to comply. Even his service to Zhang was probably part of Zhang's scheme to thoroughly tarnish his reputation.
Now that these matters could no longer threaten Chen Yanyun, naturally this wrongful case wouldn't implicate Third Master Chen either.
"He's really lively, takes after you. I was never this mischievous as a child," Third Master Chen chuckled as he caught Changsuo's fingers. "If you break your father's toy, it'll be quite troublesome!" He tried to take the object from the child's grasp.
Changsuo only giggled, revealing his two front teeth.
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "Of course he takes after me—he came from my belly!"
"It's good that he takes after you," Third Master Chen suddenly said softly, gazing at her intently.
Gu Jinzhao had been retrieving winter socks she'd made for Changsuo from her sewing basket. At his words, she paused and looked up at him.
But Third Master Chen was already lifting Changsuo to play. The father's strong arms held the boy high and steady, much to the child's delight.
Watching the light snowfall outside the window, Gu Jinzhao's lips curved into a smile.
She hoped these peaceful, warm days would continue just like this, unchanging forever.
The day after tomorrow was Gu Yi's wedding, and Gu Jinzhao needed to return to the Gu family a day early.
When she mentioned this to Third Master Chen, he thought for a moment before summoning the steward. He prepared numerous gifts for her to take back as additional dowry for her sister.
After the Ever Prosperous Trading Company was shut down, Third Master Chen had entrusted the Chen family's affairs to these stewards. Gu Jinzhao often saw them—they were first-rate business managers who sometimes even helped oversee her shops, increasing this year's profits by several percent.
Still, major decisions inevitably required Third Master Chen's input, leaving him busier than before and noticeably thinner.
Now that Gu Jinzhao was managing the outer courtyard again, she couldn't assist him much.
Soon the steward from the Affairs Office would come to report. After lunch, Gu Jinzhao waited to receive him in the study.
When the steward arrived, Third Master Chen was reading under the corridor eaves. Seeing him there, the steward immediately bowed respectfully in greeting.
Third Master Chen waved off the formalities, closing his book slowly. "...Originally from Wuhu?"
The steward smiled in confirmation.
Third Master Chen nodded. "A good place. I know the prefect of Taiping Prefecture... Who promoted you to the Affairs Office?"
"Originally it was Second Madam who assigned me to assist Steward Liu... After Steward Liu left, Tai Furen granted me the steward position," the man answered carefully, adding, "Now that Third Madam employs me, I serve with utmost diligence."
"That's good." Third Master Chen smiled faintly. "Third Madam is still young. If she struggles to manage you all, I'll have to step in and speak for her."
"Absolutely not necessary!" The steward nearly panicked. "Though young, Third Madam handles matters with great competence..."
By the time he entered Gu Jinzhao's study, his forehead was beaded with cold sweat.
Unaware of this exchange, Gu Jinzhao only noticed the steward's unusual deference and complete lack of presumption.
She had only recently taken over management of the outer courtyard. Though Madam Qin was resentful, she could do nothing—her own shop affairs kept her fully occupied.As long as no one secretly tripped her up, Gu Jinzhao found managing things quite smooth.
Gu Jinzhao gave the steward a puzzled look, sensing something off about him.
Tomorrow, she would set off for Daxing. After finishing her talk with the steward, she went to bid farewell to Madam Chen.
Madam Chen held her hand and spoke at length. Finally, she had someone open a chest and took out a pair of gold bracelets inlaid with carved white jade for Jinchao, instructing her to give them to Gu Yi as a wedding gift. "...I can't treat your sister poorly. Just bring me back some wedding sweets when you return!"
Gu Jinzhao smiled and agreed, "Of course, I won’t forget yours."
Who knew what kind of scene Gu Yi’s wedding would be!
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