A servant boy came to report that the Seventh Madam had arrived. Chen Xuan Qing slightly lowered his eyes and said softly, “Please invite her in.”

He placed his wolf-hair brush on the brush rest and took a hot towel wrung by the maid to wipe his hands.

When Yu Wan Xue entered, she saw her husband standing with his back to her behind the window panel, his posture straight as a pine tree. Outside the window, snow was falling heavily. Several lanterns hung along the corridor, casting a hazy red glow into the room, creating a gentle atmosphere on a snowy night.

She walked over quietly and encircled Chen Xuan Qing’s waist with her arms, burying her head against his broad back.

Chen Xuan Qing’s entire body tensed, but he didn’t push her away.

After quite a while, he finally asked flatly, “With such heavy snow outside, why have you come?”

Yu Wan Xue said, “This concubine has brought you soup. My pork hock soup is made very well; others make it salty, but mine is sweet. I had intended for you to try it when you returned. But seeing the heavy snowfall, I thought you might not come back, so I came over myself.”

Chen Xuan Qing noticed that her hands embracing his waist had turned blue from the cold.

He removed her hands and turned around, seeing that Yu Wan Xue’s cloak was covered in snow.

“Didn’t you use an umbrella when you came?”

Yu Wan Xue smiled and said, “I did, but the wind was too strong, so the umbrella wasn’t much help.”

She was delicately beautiful, different from Gu Jin Chao’s alluring beauty—more like a secluded orchid in a mountain valley, pure and elegant. Due to the cold, her lips had turned somewhat pale… Chen Xuan Qing couldn’t help but take her hands, leading her to the fireplace to warm them.

Yu Wan Xue felt the warmth of his hands, and her heart finally calmed.

“Seventh Young Master, don’t worry about me, drink the soup first. It will get cold soon…” Yu Wan Xue said softly.

“Don’t speak,” Chen Xuan Qing suddenly said.

Yu Wan Xue smiled slightly and said nothing more, carefully observing his hands. They were long and fair, with remarkably delicate fingertips, pointed like a girl’s. Even more beautiful than her own hands, yet he completely enveloped hers.

After a while, Chen Xuan Qing’s page boy lifted the curtain and entered, telling Chen Xuan Qing, “Seventh Young Master, the snow outside has accumulated a foot deep, enough to cover boots. The lake has frozen over as well. The old women sweeping snow tomorrow morning will have a difficult time…”

“You stay and rest here,” Chen Xuan Qing sighed.

He had been feeling irritable and wanted to avoid Yu Wan Xue for a while.

But she was innocent, had done nothing wrong, and served him wholeheartedly… He was a man after all, and naturally felt pity for her. But this pity conflicted with the discomfort in his heart, and he couldn’t explain it properly.

He shouldn’t let anyone down. Each of them was right, only he was in the wrong position.

A maid brought in hot water for Yu Wan Xue to wash her face and lit the floor heating system. Yu Wan Xue finally began to feel warm.

“Seventh Young Master, this concubine has something to ask you,” she said softly. “Are you angry with me? You’ve barely acknowledged me these past few days. If I’ve done something wrong, you must tell me. We are husband and wife, there shouldn’t be any distance between us…”

Chen Xuan Qing shook his head and said, “Don’t overthink. Go to sleep now.” As he spoke, he was about to stand up and leave.

Yu Wan Xue panicked and quickly grabbed him, “Won’t you sleep here?”

“This room has floor heating, so you’ll sleep warmer. I’ll just sleep in the side room…” Chen Xuan Qing allowed her to hold onto his sleeve as he spoke dispassionately.

Upon hearing this, Yu Wan Xue felt a lump in her throat. Could it be… he was now unwilling to share a bed with her?

He despised her, which was why he wouldn’t return to Shu Ya Pavilion to rest.

No matter how understanding Yu Wan Xue was, she was still young. She couldn’t help but tear up. Despite her accommodating nature, why wouldn’t he appreciate her efforts? Women were taught to follow the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, but if her husband demanded nothing of her, what was she to follow?

Somewhat resentfully, she said, “Since the first month has already passed… if you don’t like this concubine, then I shall find a concubine for you. Which of my maids do you like? Feel free to elevate her to a concubine!”

She had never spoken to Chen Xuan Qing this way before. He had always been distant, and she had always been excessively respectful. Such petulant words rarely came from her mouth. She hoped Chen Xuan Qing would comfort her, saying how could he not like her.

Chen Xuan Qing frowned slightly, suddenly recalling what Chen Xuan Rang had said.

Instead, he calmly replied, “If you want to take a concubine, then choose one from among your maids, and let me know once you’ve decided.”

Yu Wan Xue looked up at him, seemingly shocked by his response. How could he agree?

Yu Wan Xue became confused… Didn’t he dislike taking concubines? Even his two bedchamber attendants hadn’t had their “faces opened”!

But Chen Xuan Qing left the study after finishing his words.

Yu Wan Xue couldn’t hold him back even if she tried. Should she tell him that her previous statement was just a joke, that she didn’t want him to take a concubine at all?

Yu Wan Xue sat up anxiously and called after him, “Seventh Young Master…”

He didn’t respond to her call, so she hurriedly got out of bed and slipped on her satin shoes. Walking out of the study, she felt extremely anxious. The side room… which side room had he gone to? Outside, only her two personal maids were on duty, looking at her with confusion.

Cong Shuang and Cong Yue were both beautiful with graceful figures, specially chosen by her mother. They had originally been considered as potential concubines for Chen Xuan Qing. If he were truly to take a concubine, her maids would naturally be suitable. Both maids were aware of this and always seemed somewhat unnatural when serving Chen Xuan Qing.

Yu Wan Xue felt even more regretful—why had she said such a thing? Now what? Would she have to find a concubine for Chen Xuan Qing?

She wished she could slap herself!

She instructed Cong Shuang and Cong Yue to wake her early the next morning, then returned to the study to sleep, where the floor heating system made it quite warm.

The next morning, she woke up but didn’t see Chen Xuan Qing. Feeling anxious, Yu Wan Xue thought for a moment and decided to return to the inner courtyard first.

That day, the sixth day of the New Year, Elder Madam Chen had arranged to play mahjong with Elder Madam Chang and Elder Madam Wu.

Gu Jin Chao was decent at playing cards but not very good at mahjong. After playing for a while, she kept losing money. Elder Madam Chang teased her, “…You played the Nine of Bamboo first, how can you continue the game now?”

Gu Jin Chao had already lost seven taels of silver, while her elders were smiling as they won, hoping she would continue as the banker for a while longer.

Although Gu Jin Chao was quite wealthy, she didn’t dare continue losing like this. She repeatedly declined the banker position with a bitter smile, and Madam Qin took over.

Gu Jin Chao sat on the side, drinking tea and chatting with Second Madam Wu.

Second Madam Wu had recently acquired a snow-white Persian cat and spoke about the amusing aspects of raising cats: “…They’re just lazy and don’t like getting close to people. When you ignore them, they lazily curl up in your lap to nap. If you scold them, they show no reaction, maintaining their haughty appearance.”

Madam Ge smiled and said, “Raising Pekingese dogs is the opposite—they’re very clingy! And they get dog hair all over you. I used to have one, but the Sixth Master took it away… He didn’t take good care of it, and eventually, the dog died of illness.”

With her husband and son having returned, Madam Ge was much more spirited than before.

Second Madam Wu asked about the Sixth Master Chen: “Haven’t seen the Sixth Elder Master for a long time. I heard he was practicing at Baoxiang Temple?”

Madam Ge shook her head, “He doesn’t believe in Buddhism. He returned recently and went to Xiangye Mountain for an excursion with several gentlemen…”

The children were sitting on the large kang bed by the window, playing string games. Young Master Zheng was trying to grab the colorful strings from Chen Zhao’s hand, making the room extremely lively.

Yu Wan Xue arrived and addressed Gu Jin Chao as “Mother,” saying “There’s something I’d like you to return for.”

Gu Jin Chao noticed her hesitant manner and was quite puzzled.

Since they were just chatting at Elder Madam Chen’s place, Gu Jin Chao followed Yu Wan Xue back to Muxi Hall. When they reached the west side room, Yu Zhu served wolfberry and red date tea. Having been promoted to head maid, she was now very careful in her duties, setting down the tea and standing attentively at Gu Jin Chao’s side with her hands lowered.

Yu Wan Xue said softly, “Mother, this matter is difficult for me to bring up…”

Yu Zhu’s eyes widened, and seeing Gu Jin Chao look at her, she uttered an “Oh” and led the two younger maids out.

She still needs more training, Gu Jin Chao thought. She smiled at Yu Wan Xue and said, “Whatever you want to say, just say it directly!”

Yu Wan Xue couldn’t help but grip her handkerchief tightly, her eyes reddening slightly: “Daughter-in-law isn’t sure whether I should tell you this. The Seventh Young Master has been… rather cold toward your daughter-in-law. It’s been like this for a long time. I thought perhaps I had done something wrong and wanted to ask him about it. I’m not an unreasonable person! Isn’t it better to solve problems by discussing them openly?… But… I misspoke and mentioned helping him take a concubine, and the Seventh Young Master agreed.”

Hearing this, Gu Jin Chao was quite stunned.

Chen Xuan Qing… wasn’t he supposed to love Yu Wan Xue in her previous life? How could he bear to be cold toward her?

She still remembered witnessing the intimacy between the two on that snowy night, and Chen Xuan Qing’s concern for Yu Wan Xue. When Yu Wan Xue had no children, he attended to her without rest. In his rage, he almost strangled Gu Jin Chao to death! It was only when Yu Wan Xue called out to him that his hands loosened.

That poor child from her previous life, though not intentionally harmed by her, was lost because of her.

Even if Chen Xuan Qing were cold toward her, Yu Wan Xue shouldn’t have suggested helping him take a concubine.

Gu Jin Chao frowned slightly, “Tell me exactly what happened, from beginning to end.”

Yu Wan Xue then explained everything from start to finish, also feeling annoyed with herself. “…It was just said in anger, not what daughter-in-law truly wants.”

Gu Jin Chao pondered. Even if Yu Wan Xue had said such things and Chen Xuan Qing had agreed, it was still their private matter. Couldn’t Yu Wan Xue just apologize and admit her mistake? Why come to her? Her relationship with Chen Xuan Qing was also somewhat difficult to navigate.

“So what do you plan to do?”

Yu Wan Xue continued, “I shouldn’t have disturbed Mother… regarding taking a concubine, I’ll explain to him later. Daughter-in-law was just thinking, if there’s something on his mind that he doesn’t want to tell me, perhaps he might be willing to tell you. Could you help me ask him?” Without waiting for Gu Jin Chao’s response, she quickly added, “If the Seventh Young Master doesn’t say anything, then let it be!”

Gu Jin Chao smiled bitterly to herself—Chen Xuan Qing was probably even less willing to speak with her!

“I can hardly speak with him either. Why don’t you ask your grandmother instead…”

Yu Wan Xue shook her head with a bitter smile: “I’ve barely spoken with Grandmother, and such matters aren’t appropriate to tell her…” Elder Madam Chen had always believed they were a deeply loving couple and had given Chen Xuan Qing many instructions. Telling Elder Madam Chen would be like reporting Chen Xuan Qing’s misconduct…

Seeing Yu Wan Xue looking at her, Gu Jin Chao sighed. “Then I’ll help you ask him tomorrow.” In her heart, she already felt certain that she wouldn’t learn anything from him.