Chapter 337: House Arrest
Fourth Master Chen remained silent.
Chen Yanyun walked over to him with his hands clasped behind his back. Earlier, Fourth Master Chen had ignored his words, provoking his anger to the point where he swept everything off his desk in a fit of rage. His hand was cut by the jagged edge of a brush rest, the wound deep enough that blood slowly seeped out.
Jiang Yan noticed but dared not speak up or attempt to stop the bleeding.
All he saw was Third Master Chen’s blood dripping onto the floor.
"Do you know how this was discovered?" Chen Yanyun asked. "Mother is ill. Don’t you want to see her?"
"Given my current state, what difference does it make whether I see her or not?" Fourth Master Chen lifted his head impatiently. "What else do you want to say?"
Chen Yanyun smiled.
"Fourth Brother, back then when you gave me this string of Buddhist beads, I thought it was out of brotherly affection. Believing they had been blessed by Master Juewu, I passed them on to Mother." He sighed. "Yet I never imagined they would nearly cost her life! Since these beads were originally meant for me, I suppose you had it all calculated. Mother’s constitution is too weak to withstand the poison’s erosion. If it had been me, I could have endured it for five or six years without issue. Isn’t that right?"
Fourth Master Chen froze.
"You… gave them to Mother?"
He closed his eyes briefly. "No wonder Mother’s illness was so baffling… Truly, Third Brother, even Mother could suffer in your stead!"
Chen Yanyun fell silent for a long moment before asking softly, "Is that really what you think?"
Fourth Master Chen replied indifferently, "I never intended to harm her. No matter what, I am still her child. Only when one raises children does one understand a parent’s love. Though I had grievances against her, I never harbored such thoughts… Isn’t this partly your fault too? If you hadn’t given the beads to Mother—"
Before he could finish, Third Master Chen struck him across the face with a resounding slap, sending his head snapping to the side.
The blow was so fierce that half his face went numb.
Fourth Master Chen tasted blood in his mouth. His gaze turned icy and venomous as he glared at Chen Yanyun, his heart roiling with humiliation, fury, and resentment.
"Who do you think you are to hit me?!" he hissed through gritted teeth, breathing heavily. "Do you take me for your subordinate or your son? You may be the master of this household, but am I not one as well? Since when do I need your discipline?"
"An elder brother is like a father. I am disciplining you in Father’s stead," Chen Yanyun said coldly. "Besides, you’re worse than an animal—"
Fourth Master Chen stood up, a slow smile spreading across his face.
He touched his cheek and found blood.
"You wanted to know whose idea this was? Fine, I’ll tell you—it was Lord Zhang’s. Honestly, Third Brother, there was no need for you to react like this. You’ve trained in martial arts for years. This slow-acting poison wouldn’t have killed you. Lord Zhang never intended your death, and I couldn’t bear to watch you die either… See? Lord Zhang accounted for everything."
"Truthfully, Lord Zhang has wanted to suppress you ever since you joined the Grand Secretariat. Grand Secretary Zhang Ju Lian seized his position from Zeng Anhui—he fears nothing more than history repeating itself! He promised me a place… Of course, I know Zhang Ju Lian is using me. His promises may never come to pass. But even if it’s just exploitation, I no longer care." Fourth Master Chen shot back, "Third Brother, when you ruined my future, did you ever imagine this day would come? That the younger brother you looked down on could one day be your undoing?"
"I truly didn’t expect it," Chen Yanyun admitted with a faint smile. "Suppose you’ve won, then. But do you know the consequences of winning?""I knew there'd be no good outcome once you found out. Third Brother, if you want to kill me, then do it." Fourth Master Chen was surprisingly forthright now—the victor takes all. He didn't value his life in the slightest. "Kill me and be done with it. Once word spreads of your fratricide, who would dare cross you then?"
"I won't kill you." Chen Yanyun looked up at Fourth Master Chen.
"—You'll never step out of this room again for the rest of your life!"
He wouldn't kill him, nor did he intend to. There were far worse things than death—Chen Yanwen had tasted none of them, yet he dared speak of wanting to die? After half a lifetime of toiling to protect this entire family, what had his younger brother before him become?
He thought everything was simple, dissatisfied with all. Little did he know that without his protection, Chen Yanwen would be nothing!
Then let him experience such a life.
Chen Yanyun took the handkerchief Jiang Yan handed him to wipe the blood from his hands and ordered, "From now on, no one is to attend to Fourth Master Chen. Deliver three meals a day and keep him confined here—not a step outside, nor any visitors unless I permit it."
...Which was effectively house arrest.
Fourth Master Chen's eyes widened, but Third Master Chen no longer wished to engage with him. Even a glance felt superfluous.
He left the study. Guards immediately entered, removing all porcelain, metalware, and anything that could cause harm. Even the Curio Cabinets were cleared out, leaving the room barren save for the kang bed and a long table.
Jiang Yan personally carried in a sandalwood Buddha statue and placed it on the table. With a smile, he cupped his hands and said, "Third Master suggests you pass the time by chanting sutras and praying to Buddha!"
Fourth Master Chen merely glared coldly.
Jiang Yan left after speaking, the door creaking shut behind him.
Fourth Master Chen's courtyard was connected to Wang Shi's by a narrow passageway, usually bustling with servants.
Soon, the courtyard servants were cleared out, and guards posted in the passageway. The abnormality was quickly noticed, but by then, passage was already barred.
Wang Shi reported to Madam Chen, who dismissed it, aware of the brothers' discord. She told Wang Shi to keep an eye on Fourth Master Chen and not fuss over trivial matters. Returning to find the passage heavily guarded—even she couldn't pass—Wang Shi grew frantic. Wringing her handkerchief, she stood briefly before rushing back to Madam Chen.
Only then did Madam Chen grasp the severity. Initially just a quarrel... how had it escalated to house arrest! With Madam Qin's help, she sat up, gesturing urgently, "Quick... summon Third Master!"
Her haste triggered a coughing fit.
Third Master Chen had only just reached the front courtyard, not yet having relayed orders about Fourth Master Chen, when Madam Chen's summons came.
He tied his wounded hand with a handkerchief, leaving it untreated as he hurried to Madam Chen.
If she learned her son had harmed her, she'd be devastated. Frail as she was, what if the shock worsened her condition? Third Master Chen planned to explain gradually. The summons likely meant someone had already informed her.
A few words with his mother first—she ought to understand.When Third Master Chen arrived at Half Bamboo Bank, Madam Chen was reclining halfway. A maid was feeding her pear soup stewed with rock sugar.
He sat beside her and took the bowl from the maid’s hand, motioning for her to leave.
Madam Chen sipped the soup spoon by spoon, but the rock sugar made it unbearably sweet. When only half remained, she shook her head to indicate she had enough.
Third Master Chen stood up to adjust her bedding. “If you’re tired, rest first. I’ll stay here with you.”
Madam Chen nodded but refused to sleep. Instead, she tugged at his sleeve. “Third Son, tell me honestly… what do you intend to do with Yanwen?”
Third Master Chen paused before replying, “Let’s talk about it after you’ve recovered. His matter isn’t urgent right now.”
Madam Chen let out a bitter laugh.
“Third Son, ever since you were little, I’ve known you to be decisive—knowing exactly what you want and how to get it. You’ve always had your own principles and never wavered just because someone tried to dissuade you. I thought that was admirable and never interfered…”
She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “But why… must you apply this to your own brother! Even if Yanwen made mistakes—colluding with the Directorate of Ceremonial for embezzlement—stripping him of his steward’s authority was punishment enough. Why must you also keep him under house arrest?”
The smile faded from Third Master Chen’s face.
“I do feel somewhat guilty toward Fourth Son…” Madam Chen felt the soup she had just swallowed turn bitter in her stomach. “You and your second brother are both good men. But this child has been stubborn and extreme since childhood—my failure in teaching him… But he’s still your brother! Even if he has wronged you, haven’t you also wronged him? Haven’t I wronged him? Our Chen Family is one household. For an aristocratic family to prosper, its members must stand united… As your mother, I have no right to lecture you, but I must say a few words.”
Chen Yanyun stood tall, looking down at Madam Chen’s unnervingly pale face. He neither spoke nor denied her words.
But Madam Chen clung to him, her voice hoarse. “Just let him go! Yanwen is your brother…”
Chen Yanyun felt his stance grow rigid.
He lowered his voice. “Do you think I’m the kind of cold-blooded, merciless person who shows no leniency even to family? Or someone capricious—letting others go on a whim, only to torment them again when the mood strikes?” He smiled faintly. “Is that how you see me?”
Madam Chen didn’t understand.
She had only thought of Fourth Master Chen’s situation after hearing Wang Shi’s words earlier. She hadn’t expected Third Master Chen had further plans for him!
From the sound of it, was there more to the story? “What… Third Son, what exactly are you trying to say?”
But Third Master Chen said no more.
“As for Fourth Son, I will not release him,” he declared. “I’ll visit you tomorrow. Once you’ve recovered, you may see him as well. Even under house arrest, he lacks neither food nor drink. Don’t worry about him, and don’t try to persuade me. Now that I lead the Chen Family, everything must be done as I say.”
Madam Chen could only watch helplessly as her son left.
The words she had meant to say died in her throat. A vague understanding dawned on her—Chen Yanwen must have done something else to provoke Third Master Chen’s wrath.Third Master Chen had his reasons for keeping her in the dark.
But just what had Fourth Master done?
Madam Chen felt a pang of regret. She shouldn’t have spoken to Third Master Chen without first understanding the situation. If she had truly misunderstood him, how deeply hurtful that must have been.
Gu Jinzhao was playing with Changsuo, teaching him to speak. The child sat in her lap, babbling as he fiddled with his tiny fingers. After a while, he grew tired, so Gu Jinzhao fed him half a bowl of goat’s milk, patted his back, and lulled him to sleep.
She kissed his rosy little cheeks and carried him back to the warm chamber. The maids had already lit the brazier, and the wet nurse stayed by his side as he slept.
When Gu Jinzhao stepped out, she saw that Third Master Chen had returned.
He looked weary, leaning against the pillow with his eyes closed. His unfastened cloak lay beside him, and he had dismissed all the maids, leaving the room empty. Only the glowing embers in the brazier remained.
Gu Jinzhao had also heard about the commotion in Fourth Master’s household. She walked over to him but hadn’t yet spoken when she noticed the handkerchief wrapped around his hand, stained with a dark red blotch of blood.
"Your hand—how did you get hurt?" Gu Jinzhao hurried to his side, sitting down and carefully unwrapping the handkerchief. The cut was deep! Why hadn’t it been bandaged? The flesh around it had already turned pale.
She called for Caifu at once, demanding gauze and ointment to dress the wound.
He watched her quietly as she fretted, her voice tinged with reproach. "Do you really think you’re so strong that a little blood doesn’t matter? Just letting it bleed like this… What if the wound festers?"
"Don’t call anyone in," Third Master Chen said softly. With his uninjured hand, he cupped her face, making her look at him.
Gu Jinzhao felt his gaze was too deep—once she fell into it, she wouldn’t be able to escape.
Something seemed off about him. Beneath the usual calm, there was a trace of sorrow.
Yet his eyes remained gentle and serene.
He kissed her forehead. "I just want to stay like this with you. Gu Jinzhao…" He called her by her full name, slowly, with unmistakable gravity.
She didn’t know why he suddenly addressed her like that, but she thought of Fourth Master Chen’s situation. She smiled faintly, about to offer some words of comfort, but he kissed her lips instead. Everything was unhurried, yet his arms held her so tightly she couldn’t pull away—not that she tried. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him in return.
She didn’t know why she felt this way, but she was certain Third Master Chen was suffering.
She understood him.
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