The news of Yanqing Temple being sealed by the authorities came the next day.

Ye Xian drank a cup of tea in his room. The hot steam gave his jade-like face a hazy glow. Outside the window, autumn rain drizzled continuously. He gazed at the open file and fell into deep thought.

Lady Gao’s senior maid Yu Qin, who had come to report, couldn’t help being mesmerized by the Young Master. Who else could possess such divine, painting-like beauty as the Young Master?

She suddenly remembered the second-class maid Qiu Shui who had been thrown out of the Young Master’s room. That maid had always served in Ye Xian’s study, but on that day, possessed by some folly, she had climbed into the Young Master’s bed. The Young Master discovered her while retiring and threw her out immediately. Lady Gao subsequently had the maid beaten to death, and since then, no one dared to question her.

Yu Qin had seen Qiu Shui before—she was extremely charming, with eyes that seemed to speak and entice. Was the Young Master truly able to remain unmoved by temptation?

Could any man truly remain unmoved by temptation?

Ye Xian looked up to see Yu Qin staring blankly. He lowered his head and said, “Did Mother specially send you to check on me?”

Yu Qin finally came to her senses, her face flushing red, “This servant was disrespectful! The Lady has asked the Young Master to see her.”

Lady Gao had no particular reason for summoning Ye Xian. She had made a new robe for him, of water-blue fine cloth with dark patterns, which was very soft and comfortable to wear. Ye Xian picked it up, measured it against himself, and then handed it to Zhi Shu beside him. He asked Lady Gao, “What exactly does Mother want to see me about?”

He understood Lady Gao—if she only wanted to give him a new robe, she wouldn’t have asked him to come personally to collect it.

Lady Gao wore a light brown padded jacket with four lucky motifs and a dignified, dark fragrant-wood colored skirt. Her hair was arranged in a round bun. Ye Xian resembled her by about fifty percent. She smiled faintly and asked Ye Xian to sit down: “It’s been a long time since Mother has seen you, I’ve been thinking of you.”

Ye Xian rested his chin on his hand, looking at his mother, and shook his head saying, “You weren’t thinking of me!”

Lady Gao didn’t mind her son’s small objection. She had the maid bring over durian pastries: “…Your aunt rewarded these, saying they were tribute from Jiangnan.”

Ye Xian took one and sniffed it before deciding to take a bite. Lady Gao smiled as she watched her son. When eating something he didn’t like, he was always so hesitant and delicate, like a young girl. But since she had asked him to eat it, he wouldn’t refuse.

“I heard that the day before yesterday, you took guards to Imperial Physician Gu’s home in Shi’an,” Lady Gao asked him as he finished a piece of durian pastry and took out a silk handkerchief to wipe his fingers.

Ye Xian made a sound of agreement: “…The murderer who harmed Prince Yanping’s eldest son was hiding at the Gu residence. I went to arrest him.”

Lady Gao smiled with pursed lips: “It was just a Daoist priest. You could have sent anyone to arrest him, yet you went personally. I remember you invited Master Xiao back to treat the Gu family’s former Lady, right?”

Hearing his mother mention Xiao Qishan, Ye Xian felt even more uncomfortable. He wouldn’t tell anyone about Xiao Qishan’s matter until it was clarified.

“What does Mother want to say?” Ye Xian asked.

Lady Gao said leisurely, “The Gu family in Shi’an has two daughters. The eldest, Gu Jinchao, is exquisitely beautiful but has a notorious reputation. The second daughter, Gu Lan, has a pretty appearance but is born of a concubine. You must have seen them at the Gu residence, haven’t you? Which of them do you think is better?”

Ye Xian finally understood Lady Gao’s meaning. Regarding Gu Jinchao, initially, he had been somewhat kinder to her than to others, only because he found her strange, quite different from the rumors. Later, he felt her personality was comfortable and it was easy to be around her. That’s why he had shown her more care. As for Gu Lan, he had only seen her once or twice, never even spoken to her, and was certainly not familiar with her.

Ye Xian frowned and said, “Mother, please don’t overthink. Helping the Gu family was merely a small gesture on my part.”

Lady Gao found this even more amusing: “When you were young, you saw your maternal grandfather’s bird fall into a water vat, flapping its wings and nearly drowning, and you wouldn’t even save it. Now you’ve become so kind-hearted? You even know how to help others with small gestures?”

Ye Xian had never thought about this question, and he didn’t want to think about it now.

Just then, his father sent someone to find him, so he bid farewell to his mother. Lady Gao’s final words were: “…Anyway, remember, you are nominally the elder cousin of the Gu family’s daughters, and besides, one has a bad reputation, and the other is born of a concubine—neither is suitable even to be your concubine.”

Ye Xian left Lady Gao’s western chamber without a word, though in his heart he disagreed with her. Gu Jinchao… was much better than ordinary noble ladies!

The Marquis of Changxing was waiting for Ye Xian in his study, his expression extremely displeased.

Seeing his father’s appearance, Ye Xian knew it must be something serious.

“You’ve come at just the right time,” the Marquis of Changxing said through gritted teeth. “…Guess what Prince Yanping has done!”

Without waiting for Ye Xian to speak, the Marquis of Changxing continued, “After his eldest son’s incident, our Marquis of Changxing household helped him so much. But in the end, he turned things around and accused us of administering the poison, and is planning to submit a memorial to the censorate!”

Ye Xian was shocked. What exactly was going on?

After listening to his father’s words, he felt his heart turn cold, and for a long time, he couldn’t gather his thoughts.

The Marquis of Changxing instructed him to first stabilize matters within the household, while he took two advisors out to find a censor to handle this matter.

Ye Xian thought for a moment, then immediately went out and had his guards saddle a horse for him. He needed to go to Shi’an.

Jin Chao had also heard the news about Yanqing Temple being sealed. She sighed, realizing that the thousand taels were likely unrecoverable.

She went to Cuixuan Courtyard to discuss the relocation with Gu Lan, who was somewhat distracted. She wanted to ask about what would happen to Concubine Song, and whether she would also move with them.

Jin Chao knew what she was thinking and said, “Concubine Song will stay in Shi’an. She’s not in a condition to move right now.”

Gu Lan was somewhat surprised in her heart—Gu Jinchao was too perceptive of people’s thoughts.

Since she said they were moving, was she supposed to be afraid of her? Gu Lan smiled gently and said, “Whatever elder sister says is fine. I will follow your lead.”

After speaking, she called over Mujin and had her bring a red glass bottle: “…I made osmanthus honey for elder sister. Please don’t think poorly of my skills.”

Jin Chao glanced at the bottle of osmanthus honey and smiled, saying, “Of course I won’t.”

She naturally didn’t think Gu Lan was trying to poison her, but she wouldn’t eat it anyway.

Jin Chao also spoke with Gu Jinrong, Gu Yi, and Gu Xi, none of whom had any objections.

After returning to Qingtong Courtyard, Jin Chao thought for a long time.

Regarding the move, Jin Chao was the most opposed in her heart. She knew Madam Feng’s temperament all too well. No one could handle the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, noble and humble better than the old lady. If there were some benefits involved, it would be fine. Like in her previous life when she married the Third Master Chen, Madam Feng’s attitude toward her improved greatly. But if not, their situation at the Gu’s ancestral home would probably not be better than in Shi’an, and she would be restricted in many ways.

Her father was now implicated in the case of Prince Yanping’s eldest son’s death. Although Prince Yanping hadn’t pursued the matter, it didn’t mean he would let her father off. Her father was also Lin Xianzhong’s man… his position in the Ministry of Revenue was truly precarious! Without the backing of some power, it would be very difficult.

Just as Jin Chao was thinking, Qing Pu came in to announce that Gu Dezhao had asked her to go to Jiu Liu Pavilion.

In the flower hall of Jiu Liu Pavilion, not only was Gu Dezhao present but Ye Xian was also seated there. Gu Dezhao’s expression was unpleasant, while Ye Xian’s emotions were unreadable.

Jin Chao’s heart skipped a beat. She understood people like Ye Xian—if nothing serious was happening, he would be lazy and relaxed. It was only when something significant occurred that he would appear more composed than anyone else, which meant things had already deteriorated to a certain extent.

Ye Xian said to Gu Dezhao, “I would like to ask my niece about orchid cultivation. Would Master Gu mind?”

Gu Dezhao glanced at Jin Chao and left the flower hall.

Ye Xian asked Jin Chao to sit down but didn’t say anything. He stared at a cluster of tree shadows in the distance, his gaze unwavering.

As he didn’t speak, Jin Chao naturally remained silent as well. After who knows how long, Ye Xian finally said, “This morning, my father told me that Prince Yanping found arsenic again in the medicinal herbs we sent, which was the real thing that killed the prince’s eldest son.”

He appeared extraordinarily calm as he withdrew his gaze to look at Jin Chao: “The medicinal herbs were prepared by Xiao Qishan, and he was the one who examined them. Now Prince Yanping and our Marquis of Changxing household have severed ties, yet neither my father nor grandfather suspects Master Xiao. Instead, they suspect that Prince Yanping himself is plotting something…”

“I now believe what you said. Can you tell me everything you know, without omitting a single word?”

Jin Chao didn’t know how to explain to Ye Xian. After thinking, she said, “I only heard about the weapons, and that Master Xiao seems to communicate with the Wise Prince through bandits. If you want to investigate, you can look into the whereabouts of this group of bandits from Guizhou. I only know that Master Xiao cannot be trusted… but I don’t know anything else.”

Ye Xian was much calmer than she had expected, which relieved Jin Chao. She believed that with just a slight hint, Ye Xian would understand.

Ye Xian softly said “Thank you” and stood up to leave. But he paused and finally told her: “Previously, I suppressed the matter of Prince Yanping not pursuing your father. Now that the Marquis of Changxing household and Prince Yanping have severed ties, he will certainly create some disturbance. You should be careful…”

He must have been discussing this with his father just now!

Jin Chao nodded. After Ye Xian left, she went to find her father.

Gu Dezhao had just returned from consulting with his advisors. “I was also looking for you,” he said with a serious expression. In a low voice, he continued, “…Prince Yanping will likely submit a memorial against me. Currently, Minister Zhang controls the Cabinet. If I give him any leverage, he will certainly exploit it… If no one protects me, I may lose my official position!”

Jin Chao understood clearly. Although she knew the outcome of court matters, she couldn’t influence their development. The complexity and intricacy of political struggles were such that even many experienced and calculating individuals might not fully comprehend them.

Seeing that his eldest daughter remained silent, Gu Dezhao sighed and said, “Father knows that you probably don’t like the idea of returning to the Gu family this way… But your grandmother is your grandmother after all, and she won’t mistreat you too much.”

Jin Chao smiled and said, “What are you saying, Father? Daughter understands the importance of the bigger picture.”

Gu Dezhao was very gratified and said, “Tomorrow I’ll go see your grandmother and first contact your Second Uncle… Once we’ve agreed, we’ll start moving. You should prepare.”

Her father’s matter couldn’t wait.

After returning to Qingtong Courtyard, Jin Chao called Madam Xu over and asked her to compile a list of all the servants in the household, both indentured and non-indentured. If they were to move, not all servants could be relocated. She also sent people to inform her sisters and the concubines, so they could prepare in advance.

Fortunately, her mother’s shops that needed to be rented out had already been rented, and the rental agreements were in her hands. The deeds to the fields and shops were also with her. As long as she held these things, the annual income of more than ten thousand taels of silver wouldn’t be something anyone could take away.

In the future, she would simply have more morning and evening duties. Jin Chao thought that moving wasn’t entirely disadvantageous. At least with her grandmother in charge, her father wouldn’t get into trouble. After all, she was the younger generation and couldn’t say much to her father. Both her Second Aunt and Fifth Aunt were very good-natured. These clan matriarchs of large families were all easy to get along with as long as you didn’t infringe upon their interests.

She wondered if the Marquis of Changxing’s household could escape this calamity. If they could, her Fifth Aunt wouldn’t end up in her later predicament, and Gu Jinxian probably wouldn’t sever ties with the Gu family.