By the time they arrived at Old Madam Chen’s quarters, the people from the second branch had already arrived.

Old Madam Chen was inquiring about Chen Xuan An and Chen Xuan Ping’s studies. “Are you accustomed to Master Yu’s lessons?”

The two had previously studied in a separate courtyard, but after their tutor returned home for a funeral, they began studying with Chen Xuan Xin. Chen Xuan Xin’s teacher was a retired Scholar from the Imperial Academy.

Chen Xuan An answered with a smile: “Master Yu is only teaching Eleventh Brother ‘The Great Learning,’ so keeping up is not a problem.”

Third Master Chen and Gu Jin Chao entered and paid their respects to Old Madam Chen, and the younger generation then paid respects to them.

Fourth Master Chen was also present, which was rare for Gu Jin Chao to see in the inner courtyard. He wore a sapphire blue Hangzhou silk straight robe. Though approaching middle age, he did not appear old, but rather somewhat refined. He was telling Third Master Chen about his visit to Sixth Master Chen at Baoxiang Temple the day before.

“Sixth Brother now listens to Master Jianming recite sutras daily, abstains from meat, and looks much more spirited. I think he has calmed down significantly. Why not bring him back earlier? After all, winter is approaching, and it will be even more austere in the mountains then.”

Third Master Chen shook his head: “I know his temperament won’t change, but I want him to experience some hardship so that in the future, he’ll think thrice before acting. Let’s allow him to return during the New Year, but the one-year term cannot be changed.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Chen instructed Fourth Master Chen, “Send more cotton clothes and silver frost charcoal over there, don’t let him freeze.”

Third Master Chen reassured her: “Don’t worry, I have plenty of people at Baoxiang Temple; he won’t freeze.”

Chen Xuan Qing and Chen Xuan Xin came to pay their respects.

Seeing that Gu Jin Chao and Third Master Chen were also present, Chen Xuan Qing hesitated for a moment. Since becoming pregnant, Gu Jin Chao rarely came so early to pay respects to Old Madam Chen.

Old Madam Chen had Chen Xuan Qing sit beside her and asked with a smile: “In half a month, you’ll be married. Are you happy about it?”

Chen Xuan Qing didn’t know how to respond.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Gu Jin Chao looking at him. Everyone was watching him, making his answer even more ambiguous: “…I suppose so.”

Madam Wang said with a smile: “If you keep asking, Seventh Young Master will blush.”

Old Madam Chen looked him over and said: “He is blushing a bit!”

Chen Xuan Qing pressed his lips together tightly, thinking to himself that he wasn’t blushing at all.

Seeing his discomfort, Third Master Chen asked about Chen Xuan Xin’s studies: “…How are you progressing with teaching your brother? Which part of ‘The Great Learning’ have you reached?”

Chen Xuan Qing replied: “We’ve reached the fifth chapter, which is about the essentials of cultivating goodness. I’ve had him study it carefully.”

Third Master Chen beckoned Chen Xuan Xin over: “Come here, Father will test how well you’ve learned.”

In front of his father, Chen Xuan Xin dared not overstep any boundaries and stood up straight to answer: “…The fifth chapter of the right commentary explains the meaning of investigating things to extend knowledge, but it is now lost. I have privately borrowed Master Cheng’s ideas to supplement it: ‘What is meant by extending one’s knowledge through the investigation of things is that if one wishes to extend one’s knowledge, one must investigate the principles of all things. The human mind is naturally intelligent and knows, and all things have their principles. Only when the principles are not fully investigated does knowledge remain incomplete.'”

“‘What is meant by extending one’s knowledge through the investigation of things is that if one wishes to extend one’s knowledge, one must investigate the principles of all things.’ How do you interpret this?” Third Master Chen casually asked.

Chen Xuan Xin looked at Third Master Chen nervously and replied: “‘Investigating things to exhaustively understand principles.’ ‘Ge wu’ means to ‘approach’ things, to directly engage with things and exhaustively study their principles. The goal of ‘ge wu’ is to understand principles. Faced with countless things in the world, one must see that from a single blade of grass to a tree, from the smallest insect, ‘each has its principle,’ and understanding principles necessarily involves a stage of ‘accumulated practice.'”

Third Master Chen smiled: “No need to be nervous, your answer is acceptable. Go back and carefully read ‘Annotations to the Four Books,’ and note down the essential points made by Master Zhu.”

Old Madam Chen then pulled Chen Xuan An: “Rarely, your Third Uncle is here, quickly let him guide you as well.” She then said to Third Master Chen, “Xuan An has completed ‘The Great Learning.’ Please ask him how well he has learned it.”

Having Third Uncle’s guidance was a rare opportunity. It was said that when he was at the Jianshi Palace, he had participated in setting questions for the provincial examinations.

Chen Xuan An, who had been standing nearby, didn’t understand why Chen Xuan Xin was so nervous facing his father. But when he approached Third Master Chen, he felt his throat tighten. Third Uncle was always gentle with people, but just looking into his eyes made one’s heart race.

Since his mother had requested it, Chen Yan Yun couldn’t refuse. He selected a passage from the sixth chapter: “‘What is meant by making the thoughts sincere is allowing no self-deception, as when one hates a bad smell or loves a beautiful appearance. This is called satisfying oneself.’ You should have read ‘Annotations to the Four Books,’ how would you explain this?”

Chen Xuan An stammered through the general meaning but couldn’t articulate it clearly. He had never read ‘Annotations to the Four Books,’ and his face turned bright red. Just moments ago, he had boasted to his grandmother that he could keep up with Master Yu’s lectures, but now he couldn’t even answer one of Third Uncle’s questions…

Chen Xuan An knew that the sixth chapter, which discussed the foundation of sincerity, was much simpler compared to the question Third Master Chen had asked Chen Xuan Xin.

Seeing that he couldn’t answer, Fourth Master Chen’s expression darkened.

Chen Yan Yun said: “Perhaps you’ve forgotten after learning it so long ago. Just review it when you go back.”

Chen Xuan An saw that both his brothers were looking at him, and he felt deeply embarrassed, his face and ears burning as he retreated to Madam Wang’s side.

At this moment, the maids brought in several plates of snacks, and Old Madam Chen invited everyone to eat.

Chen Xuan Xin tugged at Chen Xuan Qing’s sleeve, whispering something to him. A plate of sour jujube cakes was placed beside Chen Xuan Qing, and Old Madam Chen said to him: “Pass the sour jujube cakes to your mother; she likes sour things now.”

Chen Xuan Qing had not looked in Gu Jin Chao’s direction at all. Upon hearing this, he sighed inwardly and reluctantly picked up the plate of sour jujube cakes to pass to her. Seeing Gu Jin Chao smile and thank him, her face illuminated by the sunlight, white as luminous jade… he quickly turned away. He said to Chen Xuan Xin: “I’ll go with you to see it, otherwise we might miss it later.”

Chen Xuan Xin was delighted: “That’s fine, let’s go now!” He pulled Chen Xuan Qing along as they excused themselves and left.

Gu Jin Chao found Chen Xuan Qing’s behavior strange, thinking he was still angry, and didn’t pay him any attention.

In fact, since becoming pregnant, her taste hadn’t changed much; she still didn’t like sour things. But afraid of disrespecting Old Madam Chen, she ate a small amount.

Third Master Chen noticed and said quietly to her: “If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself…” He put the sour jujube cakes aside and handed her some freshly peeled walnuts, still warm from his palm.

No one touched the plate of sour jujube cakes after that.

…

After returning from Old Madam Chen’s quarters, Fourth Master Chen’s face turned cold.

Madam Wang asked him what was wrong, and Fourth Master Chen couldn’t help but start berating her, saying she hadn’t educated Chen Xuan An properly.

At first, Madam Wang just listened to his criticism, but eventually, she couldn’t bear it anymore and retorted: “How can you blame me for this! I said long ago that he should study at the Imperial Academy with his second brother, but you refused. I suggested he study with the tutor hired by the third branch, but you refused again! You insisted on finding a teacher for him in a separate courtyard. I barely see him all year; how would I know how he’s studying!”

Fourth Master Chen sneered: “He’s your son, how could you not know? It’s bad enough that he doesn’t study well, but he also made me lose face in front of Third Brother. Don’t you even know what dishes I ate at Concubine You’s place?”

Madam Wang refused to back down: “You send her bear paws and deer antlers; how could I not know? You’re also a distinguished double jinshi graduate. Second Brother and Third Brother are both officials at court, yet you insist on this tainted business. If you’re so capable, why don’t you become an official!”

Hearing this, Fourth Master Chen frowned severely and rebuked her: “Shut your mouth! If this gets out, what will Second Brother and Third Brother think!”

…The argument made Madam Wang’s maids so uncomfortable that they hurriedly withdrew, signaling those guarding nearby to stay away.

Madam Wang was so angry that her eyes turned red: “I keep secrets; I help you keep everything secret. When your maid and servant were having an affair, you thought it was shameful, and wasn’t it me who removed them from the household? I’m aggrieved, yet I can’t say a word to anyone…”

Chen Yan Wen didn’t want to say more and looked at her coldly: “As a wife, you should know the three obediences and four virtues. Do you understand? Family scandals should not be exposed. Look at you, eager to let the whole world know every issue. I had Chen Xuan An study in a separate courtyard because I wanted him to achieve good results in the examinations. I’m busy outside all day; you’re the only one watching over things at home. If he doesn’t study well, don’t you bear any responsibility? Think it through!” After speaking, he ignored Madam Wang and went out to instruct a maid to summon Chen Xuan An.

Madam Wang buried her face in the pillow and began to sob.

After a while, she called Shiliu in to prepare water for washing her face. Shiliu was very concerned and comforted her: “Madam, don’t mind that maid’s affair anymore; after all, she’s dead. No matter how angry you are with the Fourth Master, you should still appease him… When Fourth Master is this angry, he’ll probably ignore you for several months.”

Madam Wang felt her vision blur and experienced a sensation of heaviness in her head and lightness in her feet, fearing she had caught a cold.

Covering with a handkerchief, she sneezed, then turned to ask Shiliu: “Did you say… Baoyue is dead?”

Shiliu nodded: “She hanged herself. I don’t understand this person. At first, she was crying and begging to live, but once she left, she hanged herself…”

Madam Wang’s brows furrowed tightly, and she felt a chill run through her heart for some reason.

Shiliu whispered: “You know Fourth Master holds grudges the longest… If someone says one bad thing about him, he remembers it for years. It’s better not to anger Fourth Master.”

Madam Wang nodded unconsciously, her mind involuntarily conjuring Chen Yan Wen’s slightly effeminate face.

…

Gu Jin Chao had received the letter from Daxing in the morning and had informed Old Madam Chen. However, Second Madam and Gu Lian arrived in Wanping only the next day.

It was Gu Lian’s first visit to the Chen family, and she hadn’t expected the Chen estate to be so grand. The men guarding the entrance weren’t ordinary guards but attendants wearing formal uniforms. Weren’t those members of the Imperial Guard who were supposed to serve the Emperor… How could they be serving at the Chen household?

Gu Lian wanted to ask Madam Sun, who had come to receive them, but fearing it would reveal her lack of worldliness, she held her tongue.

The carriage passed through the hanging flower gate but did not stop. Madam Sun explained with a smile: “…The path to the inner courtyard is too long, and I wouldn’t want to make it difficult for you two to walk.”

The carriage continued along the wide, flat bluestone path, first passing artificial mountains piled with Taihu rocks, where spring water flowed from above into a small pond. After crossing a white marble arch bridge over the pond, a three-section courtyard came into view in the distance. As they drove along the pink walls, the scenery was extremely elegant, unlike the traditional architectural layout of the Northern Zhili region. Gu Lian looked at it all with a somewhat discontented feeling.