Chapter 349: Alliance
His tone remained calm, without much fluctuation.
As if it were the most ordinary matter.
Gu Jinzhao stared straight at him—she knew exactly what kind of person Chen Yanyun was!
"So what exactly is happening now?" Gu Jinzhao asked, then added, "You have to tell me."
Third Master Chen sighed. "Zhou Husheng's case is a breakthrough, but if Zhang Ju Lian wants to suppress it, it would still be easy for him. So this alone can't shake him. We have further plans—don't worry."
"Zhang Ju Lian won't just sit and wait for defeat. How will he retaliate... Are you in danger?"
Third Master Chen merely smiled. "Knowing it was my doing, he’ll naturally try to suppress me. My faction will suffer heavy losses next... In court matters, he still has the final say. If he wants to act covertly, the easiest targets would be me or those around me... My death would solve everything for him. But I have skilled guards—it won’t be easy for him to kill me."
Hearing his composed tone, Gu Jinzhao felt her chest tighten.
What did he mean by "not easy"!
She grasped his hand. "Zhang Ju Lian must have skilled guards too, right?"
Third Master Chen nodded, then said, "He and I are different. His family is important to him, but they wouldn’t hinder his plans. I’m not like that—if you, Mother, or the children were threatened, I’d hesitate. So I have weaknesses."
Suddenly, she met his deep, abyss-like gaze.
"That’s why I sent people to protect you and arranged an escape route for you. It’s also to compensate for my shortcomings," Third Master Chen said. "Only when I know you’re safe can I act without worry. Do you still blame me for not telling you earlier?"
Now it sounded like it was her fault.
Gu Jinzhao fell silent for a moment before murmuring softly, "I’m just afraid something might happen to you..."
In her past life, his death hadn’t affected her at all—why would she care about someone unrelated to her?
But now, the thought of never seeing Chen Yanyun again, never watching him quietly read on the Arhat bed, never hearing his gentle voice, never seeing his sleeping figure beside her... made her chest ache unbearably.
"Everyone dies eventually," Third Master Chen comforted her. "Even if nothing happens this time, I’m so much older than you—I’ll still go before you."
Gu Jinzhao stared at him without speaking.
If only life were free of such calamities, if they could live peacefully together—everything would be perfect.
She simply wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, too disheartened to speak.
Third Master Chen held her too. Though he comforted her, his smile faded, his expression gradually darkening.
Despite their tight security, Li Ying had still been assassinated...
He had summoned imperial physicians to treat her, but he didn’t know if she would survive. They had underestimated Zhang Ju Lian—they hadn’t realized he had reached the point where he no longer cared about public opinion restraining him.Zhang Ju Lian had mentored him for many years, and he had once greatly admired this man. Perhaps as people age, their hearts grow increasingly narrow, and their methods become more ruthless. This might actually be advantageous—dealing with him would be less troublesome—but his tactics would also become harder to predict.
Gu Jinzhao's concerns were well-founded, as he himself harbored similar worries.
Chen Yanyun closed his eyes.
The next day was a day of rest. Third Master Chen did not go to the Grand Secretariat, but he was still very busy. After paying his respects to Madam Chen, he spent the entire morning in his study discussing matters with Jiang Yan and the others. Soon, Chang Hai also arrived.
Gu Jinzhao took Changsuo with her to Madam Ge's quarters to avoid the commotion.
Sixth Master Chen had just finished breakfast and was leaving Madam Ge's room when he spotted her. With a smile, he called her "Third Sister-in-Law" and reached out to play with Changsuo.
Gu Jinzhao taught Changsuo to call him "Sixth Uncle," and the child obediently did so. Sixth Master Chen was delighted. "Linge is so clever! Come, Sixth Uncle will take you to eat some treats." He adored children and had a playful, childlike personality himself.
Madam Ge came out to greet her, laughing. "You don’t know how to hold a child properly—what if you hurt Linge?"
Sixth Master Chen grew impatient. "He’s my own nephew. I know what I’m doing."
Gu Jinzhao didn’t stop him either. Changsuo loved being taken around to play, so she let the maids and wet nurse assigned to him follow Sixth Master Chen.
Madam Ge accompanied her into the western chamber and had a servant bring over a compartmented box filled with preserved fruits—plums and apricots—to suit Gu Jinzhao’s taste.
Since returning from his year-long stay at the temple, Sixth Master Chen had become much more subdued, and Madam Ge’s spirits had visibly improved. She spoke softly about the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. Gu Jinzhao asked about her younger sister: "...Last time, you mentioned she was coming to the Northern Metropolitan Region. Is she still planning to?"
Madam Ge shook her head. "Originally, I wanted her to come here so I could arrange a good marriage for her. But recently, Mother fell ill, and I had to attend to her, so it wasn’t convenient. I didn’t have her come after all. My father has already settled her betrothal back home..."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "That’s just as well."
Madam Ge seemed puzzled. What did Gu Jinzhao mean by "just as well"?
In the end, Madam Ge had turned misfortune into fortune. If her sister had come to the Northern Metropolitan Region, there would have been no end to the drama.
Gu Jinzhao simply said, "Everyone has their own destiny. Some things can’t be forced."
Madam Ge nodded, a smile gracing her face. "My youngest sister, the legitimate one, was spoiled since childhood. Though the family she’s marrying into isn’t wealthy, her husband is a young scholar who passed the provincial examination! This is for the best. If she had come here to marry into a prominent family, she might not have found someone with such talent..."
Gu Jinzhao nodded with a smile and picked up her teacup to take a sip. Just as she did, Yuzhu’s voice came from outside the curtain.
A maid lifted the curtain to let her in. Yuzhu walked in quickly, saying she had urgent news for Gu Jinzhao.
As soon as Gu Jinzhao stepped out of the main hall, Yuzhu whispered in her ear, "The heir has arrived!"
Gu Jinzhao asked in shock, "Are you certain?"
Yuzhu nodded, her forehead dotted with fine sweat. "This servant saw him enter Osmanthus Hall—into Third Master’s study. I don’t know why he’s here... Surely he isn’t looking for you?"
Gu Jinzhao wasn’t sure either. This man’s actions were always unpredictable.She bid farewell to Madam Ge and hurried back with her maids and servants, just in time to see Ye Xian speaking with Third Master Chen in the courtyard of the previous section.
The two stood beside a large vat under a metasequoia tree, where several seabass swam.
Ye Xian had his back to her, so Gu Jinzhao could only see Third Master Chen listening intently with a faint smile on his lips. Third Master Chen wore a straight robe of fine ramie cloth, his figure tall and slender. Ye Xian was dressed in a pale green round-collared robe with right lapels, and the two appeared quite at ease together.
Jiang Yan, standing nearby, was the first to notice Gu Jinzhao. He cupped his hands in greeting.
Only then did Third Master Chen smile and look at her: "You're back so soon? I thought you'd chat longer with Sixth Sister-in-law."
Gu Jinzhao twitched her lips, unsure how to respond. Ye Xian turned to look at her and said with a smile, "Ah, it's Third Madam Chen. My apologies for the discourtesy." He also cupped his hands in greeting.
Third Master Chen's smile remained as he took a teacup from the servant beside him and sipped quietly.
Ye Xian's expression was utterly calm. Gu Jinzhao, in turn, felt her tension ease. She curtsied slightly and addressed him, "Young Marquis."
"Let me ease Third Madam's concerns—there's no need to worry," Ye Xian nodded, still smiling. "I came to see Third Master Chen, but this matter requires discretion, hence our meeting in the inner courtyard. I hope Third Madam will also keep it confidential."
"She won't say anything," Third Master Chen glanced at her. "Jinchao, you should go inside first."
What could Ye Xian want with Third Master Chen...? A sudden suspicion struck Gu Jinzhao. Could they be forming an alliance?
The thought startled her.
Otherwise, why meet secretly in the inner courtyard? It must be to avoid detection.
She murmured an acknowledgment and quickened her steps toward the moon gate.
Ye Xian called out to her again: "Third Madam Chen, I have another question."
He pointed at the large vat. "Why are there seabass in here? A few koi would be much prettier. If not koi, a vat of water lilies would do. In summer, they'd bloom in clusters, filling the vat with flowers."
Gu Jinzhao replied, "...Third Master tends to them. He enjoys watching them and releases them into the pond once they're grown."
Third Master Chen added with a faint smile, "We originally kept flowers. But my wife enjoys eating seabass, so we switched to fish."
Ye Xian pursed his lips in a slight smile and asked no more. Gu Jinzhao felt it awkward to linger and soon retreated through the covered corridor.
Third Master Chen actually had private dealings with Ye Xian!
Gu Jinzhao thought this was a good thing. With shared enemies, it was only natural they should stand on the same side. She just wondered who had approached whom first. Given their personalities, neither seemed the type to initiate contact...
Seeing them standing together so casually, chatting at ease, she felt something was off. It seemed more fitting for them to maintain their usual cold indifference.
Still, the thought of Ye Xian eased her mind. She knew all too well how skilled he was in these matters. With his help, Third Master's chances of success would surely improve!
...
After Gu Jinzhao left, Ye Xian reached out and stirred the water. The small fish, startled, darted to the bottom of the vat, no longer daring to surface for food. Ye Xian watched them silently.
Third Master Chen knew the Marquis Changxing's heir was an eccentric man and paid no mind to his odd behavior.Ye Xian raised her head and said calmly, "Li Ying isn't dead yet, is he?"
This matter was still being kept secret, yet Ye Xian already knew about it so quickly... Third Master Chen maintained his composure. "Lord Li is merely investigating a case."
"I've already formed an alliance with you," Ye Xian countered. "There's no need to be wary of me."
"It's not that I'm wary of you," Chen Yanyun replied. "It's just that this person is crucial, so I must be cautious. Tomorrow in court, I'll bring up this matter. At the same time, a few of my subordinates will likely be impeached, and I'll face reprimands... If the heir decides to act now, it would be the most opportune moment."
He made a slashing motion with his hand.
Ye Xian understood immediately, a faint smile curling at her lips. "Rest assured, if I say he'll die by the third watch, he won't live to see the fifth."
This was something she was quite confident about.
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