Today was the sixth day of court sessions. Ye Xian wore a round-collared right-lapelled blue robe, a silver-patterned waist belt, and a three-ridged official cap. He stood in the second-to-last row of civil officials, behind the sixth-rank officials from the Court of Judicature, Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Court of State Ceremonial.
He was handsome with a nonchalant expression. Being the heir of Marquis Changxing, officials to his left and right frequently glanced at him.
Ye Xian gazed forward without a word. He had been the object of attention countless times in his life and had long grown accustomed to it.
If someone stared too long, he would languidly turn and coldly meet their gaze for a moment, and they would naturally shift their gaze away.
The next time he encountered such people, he would mock them until they learned to keep their eyes straight ahead during court.
Zhu Jun’an sat upright on the throne. Below him stood Vice Minister of Rites Peng Yousong, reporting on the completion of the imperial mausoleum repairs.
Besides such matters, there was little else to report to Zhu Jun’an. Real power had long been controlled by those calculating old foxes in the Grand Secretariat… Ye Xian’s gaze unconsciously fell upon Chen Yan Yun, dressed in crimson official robes in the second row.
After the Court Ceremonial Department eunuch announced the end of the session, Zhu Jun’an left first, followed by civil and military officials exiting through the side doors.
Ye Xian fell far behind the crowd, thinking it wouldn’t be bad to enjoy some sunshine.
Just as he descended a few steps of the white marble staircase, he heard someone call from behind: “Heir, please wait.”
Ye Xian stopped and turned to see Chen Yan Yun standing on the steps, hands behind his back, with a scholarly smile on his face.
Ye Xian smiled, “What business does Grand Secretary Chen have with this humble official? The weather is quite hot, not convenient for conversation.”
Chen Yan Yun responded calmly, “Since the Heir feels the heat, may I invite you for a cup of tea? There’s a teahouse in Jiuchun District where the jasmine tea is excellent.”
Ye Xian observed Chen Yan Yun impassively. Calculating people always revealed their intentions somewhere. Inviting him for tea? Chen Yan Yun wasn’t that idle. A man like him wouldn’t approach Ye Xian without wanting something.
He understood the principle of self-preservation well, having seen how many officials who rose with Chen had fallen, how tragically Yuan Zhongru had died, while Chen still stood high.
…Moreover, he had married Gu Jin Chao.
Ye Xian smiled, “Since Grand Secretary Chen is treating me, how could I refuse?”
In the Jiuchun District teahouse, a pot of jasmine tea was served.
The teahouse was tranquil, with opened windows offering a view of the Translation Bureau and the Foreign Scriptures Factory across the river. Ye Xian glanced outside.
Chen Yan Yun unhurriedly poured him tea, gesturing for him to drink, and explained, “Don’t worry, no one followed us. I’ve come to see the Heir about the case of the Fuzhou Prefecture Magistrate embezzling treasury silver. I’ve already spoken with Court of Judicature Minister Zheng.”
Ye Xian pulled the teacup toward himself and said lightly, “The Grand Secretary misunderstands. I trust you quite well.”
Chen Yan Yun shook his head with a smile, “Trust or distrust doesn’t matter. We stand in opposing camps, so distrust would be appropriate.”
Ye Xian’s expression cooled. Such a man… Gu Jin Chao married him, could she outmaneuver him?
He continued, “The Grand Secretary exaggerates. I attended your wedding banquet. If we consider our relationship, you should even call me Uncle.”
Chen Yan Yun didn’t respond to this, only smiling, “That would be quite a coincidence.”
Ye Xian wouldn’t make the Grand Secretary call him Uncle. He changed his sitting position and continued, “Regarding the Fuzhou Prefecture Magistrate’s embezzlement case, it has already been transferred to the Censorate. I only handled it briefly. I’m not familiar with the details, so the Grand Secretary may be disappointed…”
The Third Master Chen said, “The Heir is mistaken. Back then, you only glanced at the river bandit case files, yet you remembered everything, even using that to bring down Zhang Ling. Even if you only briefly looked at the treasury case… you should remember it.”
He raised his teacup and drank.
Ye Xian thought for a moment, then smiled, “Grand Secretary Chen isn’t here for the treasury case, is he?”
For someone as intelligent as Ye Xian, no further explanation was needed.
The Third Master Chen leaned back in his chair and continued, “No more idle talk. The Heir understands that in this world, the more friends one has, the better. I wish to become friends with the Heir through this.” With a gesture of his hand, Jiang Yan presented a letter.
Ye Xian enjoyed talking with people who spoke in circles, but he preferred making others’ heads spin rather than being made a fool of.
His elegant eyebrows furrowed. “What is this?”
Chen Yan Yun said, “The Heir can decide after reading it.” He stood up, adjusted his sleeves, “I must return to the Grand Secretariat, so I won’t disturb the Heir further.”
But Ye Xian said calmly, “Grand Secretary, please wait.”
Chen Yan Yun stopped but didn’t turn around.
Ye Xian asked, “Has my niece caused the Grand Secretary any trouble?”
Chen Yan Yun’s smile faded.
“That’s good,” Ye Xian smiled, “If the Grand Secretary has official business, please go ahead. This humble official will stay and enjoy the tea a while longer.”
By the time Gu Jin Chao arrived at the Gu family residence, it was already past noon.
Madam Feng, along with the Gu family women, waited for her at the spirit screen. Seeing her alight, Madam Feng came forward, took her hand, and said with a smile, “…Grandmother has been thinking of you daily. I’ve had your favorites prepared—steamed four-gilled perch and braised mutton. Are you hungry?”
Gu Jin Chao found Madam Feng overly enthusiastic.
She first curtseyed to Madam Feng, then to Xu Jingyi and the Fifth Madam. Not only were the women waiting, but even Gu Jin Xiao and Gu Jin Xian, who normally wouldn’t leave the Imperial Academy, were present. Gu Jin Xian smiled at her, while Gu Jin Xiao, who had never liked her, stiffly pulled at the corners of his mouth.
Madam Feng noticed another carriage arriving, from which a tall guard in official clothing descended. Several guards came forward to unload items from the carriage, and Gu Jin Chao explained, “Mother asked me to bring many things back. Besides the usual dried fruits and pastries, there’s also the bone abalone snails that Grandmother likes…”
The guards, well-trained, quickly unloaded everything. Chen Yi approached Gu Jin Chao, cupping his hands, “Madam, everything has been placed as instructed.”
Madam Feng nodded casually, “You are guards from the Chen household? Thank you for your trouble.” She called over a servant woman, “Quickly show them to the back quarters to rest, and prepare wine and food. Don’t treat them poorly.” Though she said this, her tone was dismissive—they were just guards, after all.
Guards were the lowest rank of servants. Why hadn’t they sent some servant women to accompany Gu Jin Chao back…
Could it be that the Chen family’s Old Madam didn’t value Gu Jin Chao much?
Jin Chao still needed to clarify their status, so she said with a smile, “Guard Chen is the Third Master’s guard, merely borrowed for a few days. I must ask Grandmother to treat them well. If anything happens to them, I couldn’t face the Third Master.”
Chen Yi seemed a bit embarrassed, “Madam, you flatter me! We’re just rough men who can eat simple food and sleep under eaves. How could we be particular!”
When Madam Feng heard Gu Jin Chao say “personal guard,” she was shocked. Such guards in a high official’s household were different from ordinary guards… their status was no lower than advisors. Why would the Third Master Chen send his guard with Gu Jin Chao? She quickly smiled, “I nearly offended you.” She called over a steward, “Take Guard Chen to the side rooms, and bring a few jars of autumn dew white wine from the storehouse.”
Chen Yi hastily declined, “The Old Madam is too kind! But we cannot drink alcohol. Hot water is sufficient.”
Madam Feng knew that the guards of such officials followed strict rules and didn’t insist, “…Pardon our inadequate hospitality. Please make yourselves comfortable.”
A group escorted her and Madam Feng to the eastern courtyard. Jin Chao distributed gifts to each household and chatted with Madam Feng. Thinking of the guards who had accompanied her back, Madam Feng was very considerate of Gu Jin Chao, “…You must be tired from the journey. Go rest for a while. Your things are still in Yanxiu Hall; Grandmother has had it cleaned daily.”
Gu Jin Chao was indeed tired… she hadn’t slept well the night before.
Yanxiu Hall indeed still held her belongings, kept neat and clean. On the kang table in the western side room was a blue-and-white glazed fish-and-lotus gourd vase with freshly bloomed gardenia flowers. Cai Fu smiled and told her, “Gardenias are rare… I remember the ancestral home’s greenhouse only cultivated a few plants.”
Jin Chao saw that the camphor tree she had planted in the courtyard had grown to the height of a person. Her hand-embroidered sachets still hung on the curtains.
She smiled faintly, “Neither arrogant nor impatient is good, the rest can be as it may.”
Previously in the Gu family, the Second Young Lady had harmed her, and the Eldest Young Master didn’t trust her, yet Jin Chao maintained this same expression.
Cai Fu felt inexplicably reassured.
Gu Jin Chao slept for a while but woke up in less than half an hour, feeling that something was missing.
She lay in bed, thinking pensively for a moment before realizing that Third Master Chen wasn’t beside her. When sleeping with the Third Master, if she tossed and turned unable to sleep, he would always pull her into his embrace. Smelling his scent, she could sleep well. When he woke up while she was still asleep, he would kiss her forehead before leaving. Or he would say something by her ear that she couldn’t quite hear, but his tone was gentle.
Gu Jin Chao originally didn’t sleep well and was prone to nightmares. After marrying the Third Master, her sleep improved.
She couldn’t help burying her face in the brocade quilt. Having left him for only half a day, how was she already missing him…
Someone like the Third Master was too easy to fall for. Without her previous life experiences… she would probably have already fallen deeply.
Gu Jin Chao called Qing Pu in to fetch water for her to wash her face.
Xiu Qu entered to announce, “…The Fourth Madam has come.”
Jin Chao nodded, “Please invite her in.” She also asked Qing Pu to brew a cup of candied orange peel tea.
Xu Jingyi wore a honey-colored jacket with the Eight Auspicious Symbols pattern, her hair in a neat, smooth bun, looking fresh and clean. Jin Chao invited her to sit, and Qing Pu quickly brought the candied orange peel tea. Xu Jingyi drank the tea and said with a smile, “How strange… every time I come to your place for tea, you always serve me sweet tea, whether it’s candied orange peel, walnuts, and pine nuts, or sour plum soup, hawthorn water… you never properly serve me an expensive tea. Now that you’re a Grand Secretary’s wife, you’re still so frugal.”
Gu Jin Chao smiled slightly, “I thought you liked sweet tea.”
In her previous life, whenever she visited the Luo family, Xu Jingyi would serve her sweet tea. When she asked why, Xu Jingyi told her, “Life is already so bitter, one must sweeten oneself sometimes. What’s the point of drinking bitter tea?”
Xu Jingyi was just teasing her and continued, “I like expensive tea, the more expensive the better. Wanchun Silver Leaf, Da Hong Pao would be best…” She smiled, “Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. I want to tell you about Gu Lan… you’ll never guess what she’s done.”