When her monthly cycle began, Gu Jin Chao didn’t feel like moving around much. After returning from paying her morning respects to Old Madam Chen, she sat on the luohan bed embroidering a cloak for the Third Master. Xiu Qu entered through the curtain to inform her that the three concubines had come to visit.

The three concubines entered, each accompanied by their maids, and paid their respects to her in succession.

Concubine Xue bowed and smiled, “Last night when I came to pay my respects, Third Master said you had already retired. I thought I would come early today to make up for it.”

The maids brought over stools for the concubines to sit on. The maid behind Concubine Lu carried a red-lacquered food box. She took it, opened it, and placed a purple clay pot on the kang table. “Third Master mentioned that Madam was unwell, so I’ve prepared cordyceps duck soup. Please taste it, Madam.”

Qing Pu came forward to serve a bowl to Jin Chao. Jin Chao didn’t care for tonic soups; she took one sip and set it aside.

When she looked up, she noticed Concubine Lu’s expression was quite fearful.

Jin Chao then said, “That’s thoughtful of you, Concubine Lu. Please sit down.” Concubine Lu’s expression relaxed, and she sat down with a slight bow.

Jin Chao thought to herself that when she had established the rule for the three concubines to pay respects on the first and fifteenth of each month, it was to avoid trouble. Now when the time came, they competed to curry favor, only because they feared not being valued by her. For concubines of such low status, their life or death was merely a matter of her say-so.

Concubine Xue glanced at the cloak she was embroidering and smiled again, “Madam’s needlework is truly excellent, so lifelike in design. I’ve always considered my embroidery skills to stand out among my sisters, but now I see I’m far inferior to Madam.” Gu Jin Chao had been married into the Chen family for less than half a month and had always maintained a calm demeanor, never acknowledging their existence. This made Concubine Xue uneasy. So young… yet so composed—no ordinary person.

It couldn’t hurt to ingratiate herself more. She was already aging and fading; if not for the Madam’s support, who else could she rely on?

Yu Xian Yin had remained silent all this time. She wore a light purple padded jacket embroidered with dendrobium orchids, her skin flawlessly fair. Hearing this, she finally spoke, “Madam must be making this for Third Master, as the color and pattern are suitable for a man. It truly looks wonderful…”

These words were somewhat inappropriate for her status. After speaking, she noticed no one responded. Her heart tightened, and she quickly added, “If only I had even a thousandth of Madam’s skill.”

After saying this, she felt her words were even less appropriate. She could only drink her tea and say no more.

Gu Jin Chao didn’t mind. Yu Xian Yin had never been good with words in her previous life. Those who didn’t know her might think she was narrow-minded, but she was simply thoughtless.

Jin Chao considered for a moment and said, “Xian Yu Pavilion is quite distant, and it’s not easy for you concubines to come and go. If you need anything, please send someone to tell me. When you have nothing to do, spend more time on needlework. When I last visited Xian Yu Pavilion, I noticed Concubine Xue’s embroidered screen was quite good…” She gave them something to do, also preventing them from getting bored at Xian Yu Pavilion and creating trouble.

Concubine Xue’s face broke into a smile.

Shortly after, Cai Fu brought in brown sugar longan water. Concubine Xue took it and served it to her.

After the three concubines left, Mama Wang bowed and said, “Madam, you needn’t be so pleasant with them. Concubines should be kept in check. When the previous Madam was here, the concubines took turns serving, standing for half the day…”

Jin Chao glanced at Mama Wang and said, “I prefer to have people I’m close to serve me. Keeping them in check doesn’t matter. Better not to make myself unhappy.”

Mama Wang smiled, “Naturally, Madam’s preferences come first. Last night… it seems Madam’s monthly cycle began?”

Gu Jin Chao remained silent, lowering her head to drink her tea.

Mama Wang continued, “Third Master originally observed three years of mourning for the Old Master, then two more years for the previous Madam. He has had no bed-servant all this time… Now that Madam is in her monthly cycle and cannot fully serve him, perhaps you should arrange for a bed-servant.” She hesitated before adding, “This servant notices that Concubine Yu has not yet served…”

At these words, the maids standing in the room grew visibly uncomfortable.

Jin Chao was startled, suddenly recalling Third Master Chen’s words in her ear last night. He had been so good to her… Most men, besides concubines, naturally had bed servants for convenience during such times. Third Master Chen wasn’t a man who heavily favored women. In his previous life, he had lived alone, with such self-discipline that he abstained from women altogether. He had never mentioned concubines or bed-servants to her… What would he think?

Mama Wang bringing up the matter of bed servants was likely because she feared that continuing this way would lead to early pregnancy, which might not bode well for the children left by Jiang Shi. Jin Chao replied indifferently, “This is certainly not your concern. You mentioned having the estate and shop stewards come to report—have you found them yet?”

Mama Wang said, “This servant spoke out of turn! I have already sent someone with the message; they should arrive within two days.”

Thinking that the Third Master might be this kind to another woman made her uncomfortable. She took a deep breath, thinking that habits were indeed frightening things. Female jealousy was one of the seven grounds for divorce; this wasn’t something she could refuse, and she should ask for the Third Master’s opinion.

Shortly after, Chen Xi arrived, accompanied by her maid Qiu Tang.

Qiu Tang was fourteen years old and quite delicate-looking. She wore a blue-purple sleeveless jacket and carefully stood behind Chen Xi, bowing to pay respects to Jin Chao.

Mama Wang was delighted to see Chen Xi and called out, “Fourth Young Miss!”

Chen Xi, however, stepped forward quickly and asked in a small voice, eyes wide, “Mother… are you alright from yesterday?”

Jin Chao had her sit beside her, thinking that coming over in this heat might have made her uncomfortably warm. She instructed Qing Pu to bring some iced sugarcane juice and smiled, shaking her head, “I’m fine.”

Chen Xi sighed in relief and said to her, “Grandmother told me to thank you.” She was still young and didn’t fully understand these matters. After thinking for a moment, she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve. “…I embroidered this handkerchief a few days ago. It’s for you.”

On it was embroidered a red dragonfly with large eyes, somewhat resembling Chen Xi.

Jin Chao smiled and stroked her head, “Mm, our Miss Xi’s embroidery is very beautiful.” She would certainly not view a child’s work with critical eyes.

Chen Xi became happy and smiled slightly, “Then I’ll embroider more for you.”

Qing Pu brought over the sugarcane juice, and Chen Xi sipped it slowly, her eyes constantly wandering around the room.

Jin Chao remembered the lotus pond screen she had mentioned and instructed a servant to bring it from the storeroom. Chen Xi got down from the luohan bed and circled the screen several times, staring at it intently. She pointed at the lotus flowers and said to her, “Nanny An can’t embroider such beautiful lotus flowers. They look just like real flowers growing in a lotus pond… Did you embroider this?”

Jin Chao nodded and smiled, saying, “I’ll have someone carry it to your room this afternoon, alright?”

Chen Xi made a sound of agreement, but approached somewhat shyly, “…Could I learn from you?”

…

Jin Chao had people set up a large embroidery frame under the shade of a tree in the courtyard. Maids brought out a long table, bamboo baskets, and embroidery stools. Jin Chao had learned Su-style and Shu-style embroidery; the silk threads were arranged by color on the embroidery frame, looking very beautiful.

“Use the couching stitch for lotus petals, and the slant satin stitch for stems…” Jin Chao had Chen Xi bring a stool to sit beside her as she demonstrated the embroidery.

A maid came to report that the Seventh Young Master had arrived.

Gu Jin Chao frowned slightly. What was he coming for?

Chen Xi, however, was very pleased and sat up straight to look around, “Is Seventh Brother here?”

Jin Chao had Xiang Ye invite Chen Xuan Qing to the flower hall and serve him a cup of jasmine tea.

Chen Xuan Qing wore a cloud-patterned straight robe, with an upright posture and refined, handsome features. Chen Xi tugged at his hand, “Seventh Brother, Mother is teaching me embroidery… She embroiders so beautifully, and she has a screen with a lotus pond.”

Chen Xuan Qing, his hand held by his young sister, looked somewhat helpless. Having just come from the courtyard, he had already seen the large embroidery frame set up there… A lifelike pale pink lotus flower, seemingly stirred by a gentle breeze, with fresh lotus leaves.

When had her embroidery skills become so good? Wasn’t it quite crude when she made him that sachet?

Qing Pu took Chen Xi to the side room to eat freshly made pea pastries.

When they returned to the flower hall and Jin Chao invited him to sit down, Chen Xuan Qing fell silent for a moment.

“I’ve come to apologize…” he said coolly, “I was the one who put that cup of tea on the tall table.”

Jin Chao smiled slightly, “Miss Xi was sitting next to the tall table. Even if you wanted to hurt me, you probably wouldn’t have involved Miss Xi.” It was just an inadvertent mistake; she didn’t want to hold it against Chen Xuan Qing.

“I… didn’t intend to hurt you,” Chen Xuan Qing said without looking at her, his gaze falling on the privet planted outside the pavilion.

Gu Jin Chao recalled how in her previous life, he had stood before her, looking down with cold, indifferent eyes. She hadn’t known then that someone usually so gentle could be so ruthless. What happened to chivalry toward women? He had treated her like a venomous scorpion, never showing any mercy.

“I understand. If Seventh Young Master has no other business, I’ll take my leave now.” Why should she be warm when others show her no kindness? Jin Chao nodded, stood up, and headed toward the side room.

Chen Xuan Qing had ignored her countless times like this, but this was the first time he had seen Jin Chao treat him this way.

Chen Xuan Qing pressed his lips together and walked to the side room, where he heard Chen Xi speaking softly with Jin Chao. He realized he had been small-minded in judging her character; Jin Chao was truly good to Chen Xi.

That was good, Chen Xuan Qing sighed with relief. He slipped his left hand into his sleeve, where the bite mark had left a scar. Every time he saw his left hand, Chen Xuan Qing felt very uncomfortable. How could a woman be so improper… But how could someone change so dramatically? Jin Chao truly didn’t like him anymore; Chen Xuan Qing could sense it. It felt strange that someone who had always clung to him chased after him, and tried to please him had changed.

For the evening meal, Jin Chao took Chen Xi to pay respects to Old Madam Chen.

Old Madam Chen wanted to offer her iced plum soup, but Jin Chao smiled and declined, explaining softly that her monthly cycle had begun. Old Madam Chen looked somewhat disappointed but invited her to sit down for dinner, though she didn’t mention anything about bed-servants or concubines.

When Jin Chao returned, Chen Yan Yun had just changed out of his official robes and was wearing a navy blue straight robe.

“Did you eat at Mother’s?” Chen Yan Yun asked her.

Jin Chao had the maids set up the evening meal on the kang table in the western side room and served him a bowl of soup, “Yes, I did.”

Chen Yan Yun smiled, “Good, as long as you don’t go hungry. I’ve had the kitchen prepare red date black chicken soup for you to drink later as a night snack.”

Another tonic soup… Jin Chao could only nod, “I have something to ask you.”

Chen Yan Yun was in a good mood and made a sound of acknowledgment, “What do you want to ask?”