After receiving Jin Chao’s letter, Cao Zi Heng came to see her the next day.

Gu Jin Chao invited him to sit in the flower hall and first asked about the accounts. Cao Zi Heng wore a gray straight robe and a scholar’s headband like an ordinary old Confucian, yet he appeared vigorous and spirited. He also brought a box of fine Bamboo Leaf Green tea as a gift for Gu Jin Chao.

He then mentioned Zhang Ju Lian’s matter: “After receiving Madam’s letter, this old man thought all night about how to tell you about this person.” His expression was hesitant. “Official Zhang is the only person in this dynasty who has achieved the Three Yuan consecutively…” The so-called Three Yuan meant he had consecutively won the titles of Provincial Examination First Place, Metropolitan Examination First Place, and Palace Examination First Place. Zhang Ju Lian was quite a genius in his youth.

“You probably know some of this already. Official Zhang was originally from Jiangling in Jingzhou Prefecture. His family was poor in his childhood, and he studied extremely hard. Later, after achieving the Three Yuan, he went to the Hanlin Academy for observation. The then Hanlin Academy Reader Scholar Official Yuan You was his teacher. At that time, Official Yuan strongly advocated for reforms, which were opposed by the Grand Secretary High Official. After the failure to implement reforms, he was demoted, and Official Zhang returned to his hometown in Jiangling, during which time he fell into poverty. Later, he became acquainted with Huguang Governor Official Gu, and only then did he rise step by step to enter the Cabinet. Official Zhang is skilled in power balancing and strategy. The current orderly state of the country can be attributed partly to Official Zhang’s merit…”

Cao Zi Heng hesitated for a moment: “According to this old man’s observation, Official Zhang experienced hardships in his early years and craved power control extremely. Official Zhang himself is also sufficiently shrewd, so in the sixth year of Longqing, he joined forces with Feng Cheng Shan to become Grand Secretary, which was entirely expected. It’s just that Official Zhang places too much importance on holding power and is truly cold-blooded and ruthless. The once-loyal Official Zhang Mo died in the Ministry of Revenue prison because of him, and Official Zhang didn’t even go to pay his respects at the funeral…”

In her previous life, Gu Jin Chao had heard of Zhang Ju Lian. Speaking of cruelty, few officials in the political arena were clean. Even for Third Master Chen, Gu Jin Chao believed that when she wasn’t aware, Chen San Ye had certainly done many things contrary to moral principles.

It’s just that Zhang Ju Lian’s desire for power control was indeed stronger than most people’s.

Cao Zi Heng didn’t know why Gu Jin Chao suddenly asked about Zhang Ju Lian.

When she previously inquired about Official Song, it was somewhat related to her, but Official Zhang was Third Master Chen’s teacher, so there should be no need for such an inquiry.

Cao Zi Heng thought of the major case that had occurred recently and felt that these two matters should be subtly connected.

He then continued: “…Madam, this old man has one more thing to say. Do you know about the case of illegally selling official salt?”

Gu Jin Chao shook her head and smiled, “Women in the inner chambers mostly talk about trivial matters.” If things hadn’t become too serious, they were the last to hear any news.

Cao Zi Heng lowered his voice somewhat: “This matter hasn’t spread yet; this old man also heard it from colleagues. Officials and merchants in Yuqing colluded to sell official salt for huge profits. From the county magistrate and salt transport commissioner up to the provincial governor, all are involved. I fear that this time, more than a dozen officials will be dismissed. Official Wang Xuan Fan is the salt transport commissioner’s teacher and has been a good friend of the Southern Zhili Provincial Governor for many years, so he’s also implicated.”

Gu Jin Chao thought of how Third Master Chen had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, sometimes so busy that he hadn’t returned even after she had gone to bed.

Illegally selling official salt… Southern Zhili Provincial Governor… These matters sounded very familiar.

Gu Jin Chao’s heart sank. She remembered that the assassination attempt on Third Master Chen happened at this time!

Feeling some tension in her heart, she thought for a moment before asking, “Is Third Master Chen the main investigator of this case?”

Cao Zi Heng shook his head and said, “I heard it was a secretary from the Ministry of Justice who discovered it. The former Deputy Chief of the Court of Judicature Zhang Ling, who was dismissed during the river pirate case, privately fled to Yuqing and was caught and brought back to the capital. This secretary was originally investigating his escape but unexpectedly uncovered such a major matter. After this came to light, it first shocked the Minister of Justice, who memorialized to the Cabinet. Official Zhang was very surprised and specifically entrusted Official Chen to assist the Ministry of Justice in reinvestigating the river pirate case…”

Gu Jin Chao’s hand twitched. Official Chen should indeed be assassinated at this time… But who exactly would try to assassinate him?

Third Master Chen never told her about court matters; he didn’t want her to manage these affairs. If she spoke up to warn him, what would Third Master Chen think?

Gu Jin Chao pondered for a long time before asking Qing Pu to escort Cao Zi Heng out of the residence, instructing him: “Mr. Cao, if you learn of such matters in the future, you can always come to tell me. If others ask, just say you came to check the accounts.” Sending messages was not reliable.

The Chen residence was Third Master Chen’s territory. Daily correspondence and carriages entering and leaving the residence were all scrutinized. The back courtyard of the Chen family appeared leisurely, but even casual guards had martial arts skills. The outer courtyard was even more heavily guarded, with the guards at He Yan Tower all being exceptionally skilled.

Cao Zi Heng assented and withdrew.

The collusion between officials and merchants was a serious crime that damaged the court. This matter had already spread in official circles, causing momentary panic, with everyone slightly involved fearing for themselves. Third Master Chen had already been ordered to arrest Court of Judicature Chief Zheng Ci, Salt Transport Commissioner Wu Xin Huai, and many other implicated ministers. He had then interrogated them for several consecutive days, and they had all confessed. However, what he most wanted to know—how deeply Wang Xuan Fan was involved in this—was answered very ambiguously by several people.

The one most deeply involved with Wang Xuan Fan should be Provincial Governor Liu Han Zhang, but officials at the provincial governor level couldn’t be arrested casually; it still required Cabinet approval.

But Zhang Ju Lian didn’t show enough enthusiasm in this matter; it wasn’t good if it involved too many people. Especially since he vaguely knew this matter was related to Wang Xuan Fan.

Third Master Chen returned from the Ministry of Justice to the Cabinet and showed the interrogation files to Zhang Ju Lian.

“This official feels that although these few people are crucial, they are not the most important. After all, the transportation of official salt involves many links. If there weren’t people protecting them, this matter couldn’t have gone undiscovered for so many years. From the interrogations of these people, it seems that Liu Han Zhang is likely not clean either…”

Zhang Ju Lian looked through them carefully, picked up his teacup to drink, and said, “Too much turmoil and the evidence is not clear. Let’s investigate for a few more days.”

Chen Yan Yun assented and put away the files: “This official needs to go to the Court of Judicature once more to check the files of Zheng Ci’s interrogation of Zhang Ling. Since the two have an unusual relationship, there should be some suspicious aspects.”

Zhang Ju Lian nodded, his fingers lightly tapping on the table, and looked up at Wang Xuan Fan before saying to Chen Yan Yun: “Take a close look.”

Wang Xuan Fan’s face turned pale.

After Chen Yan Yun left the Cabinet, Wang Xuan Fan hurriedly followed and called out to him: “Official Chen, please wait.”

Chen Yan Yun handed the files to Jiang Yan beside him, turned to look at Wang Xuan Fan, and said with a smile: “Official Wang, is there something?”

Wang Xuan Fan said coldly: “Don’t push too far. You should stop after getting what you want. What exactly are you trying to do by continuing like this? Do you think I, Wang Xuan Fan, will just wait for death? Don’t force me to desperate measures.”

Chen Yan Yun looked at him very calmly: “Official Wang, you understand the principle that the victor becomes the king and the loser becomes the outlaw. Feel free to retaliate as you wish, but don’t seek sympathy from me. Do you think I would sympathize with you?”

Wang Xuan Fan choked with anger: “Chen Yan Yun, did I ever try to destroy you before?”

Third Master Chen smiled kindly: “Then I thank Official Wang for the mercy of not killing me.”

If there had been any opportunity to ruin him, would Wang Xuan Fan have let it go? It was just that he couldn’t find any leverage against him. Now that he had found leverage against Wang Xuan Fan, how could he show mercy? Let him do whatever he wanted; what was feared was his silent, low-profile approach.

By the time he returned from the Court of Judicature, it was completely dark.

Heavy rain poured from the sky, with thunder and lightning.

Gu Jin Chao sat on the arhat bed making shoes and socks for Third Master Chen to wear in autumn. Seeing the torrential rain outside, the rain curtain separated the corridor from the courtyard, making everything dark and unclear. Cai Fu hurriedly walked from the courtyard with an umbrella, wringing out her soaked skirt hem under the corridor.

A little maid called her ‘Sister Cai Fu’ and lifted the curtain for her to enter.

Cai Fu bowed to Gu Jin Chao and said: “There’s no leakage in Fourth Young Miss’s room… but she’s afraid of thunder and is hiding under the quilt, refusing to sleep. Before, Nanny An would attend to her, but Nanny An hasn’t returned yet…”

Was Chen Xi afraid of thunder? Gu Jin Chao put down her needle and thread and sighed, “Bring an oil umbrella; I’ll go check on her.”

Cai Fu brought out an oil umbrella and accompanied Jin Chao to the back courtyard.

In Chen Xi’s room, a lily incense was still burning on the desk to repel mosquitoes, and a tiger-patterned pillow was placed on the canopy bed. She was curled up in the bedding, and the maids didn’t dare approach, anxiously pacing around.

Gu Jin Chao saw that the window was still open and instructed them: “First close the window, then wait outside.”

The maids complied, closed the window, and filed out.

Chen Xi heard her voice and peeked out with a pair of eyes from under the quilt.

Thunder rumbled loudly, and she hurriedly tucked her head back, her voice tearful: “Mother, I’m scared…”

Gu Jin Chao remembered that she was also afraid of thunder when she was young, and her heart softened. She sat on the edge of the bed and gently consoled her, “Don’t be afraid; Mother is here with you…”

Chen Xi moved closer to her, reaching out with her small hands to hold hers: “Mother, will you sleep with me?”

Gu Jin Chao thought about Third Master Chen not yet having returned and that she had important matters to tell him. She hesitated for a moment: “Xi, how about Mother stays until you fall asleep? I won’t leave until you’re asleep, and then let Sister Cai Fu keep you company, alright?”

Chen Xi didn’t speak but retracted her hand with some disappointment. After another thunderclap, she trembled even more violently.

Gu Jin Chao felt somewhat helpless and could only take off her satin shoes and get onto Xi’s bed, holding her in her arms. Xi’s small body immediately nestled close, pressing tightly against her. Jin Chao felt that she was sweating profusely under the covers, and the room was very stuffy. She asked Cai Fu to bring a palm-leaf fan to cool Xi down. Xi didn’t speak but kept trembling.

If it were an ordinary child, wouldn’t they cry and act coquettishly with their mother? Just like when she pretended to be a little mouse biting her grandmother’s hand.

Gu Jin Chao handed the fan to Cai Fu and patted Xi’s back to comfort her.

After a while, there was finally no more thunder, and Chen Xi was no longer afraid, but she still held onto her and fell asleep in her arms.

The rain had gradually lessened. At this time, Xiu Qu came with an umbrella to report that Third Master Chen had returned.

Gu Jin Chao carefully moved Chen Xi aside, letting Cai Fu watch over her sleep. She would come back after meeting with Third Master Chen.