Jin Chao understood the key point, and her expression changed! Ye Xian also noticed this, confirming in his heart that Gu Jin Chao had something she wasn’t telling him.
She stood up and saw that the West Courtyard crabapple blossoms had already begun shedding their leaves. In this troublesome autumn, she couldn’t remain uninvolved. After thinking for a moment, Jin Chao finally said to Ye Xian: “Mr. Xiao must have secretly pledged allegiance to Prince Rui. His suggestions mostly serve Prince Rui’s interests. I believe Prince Rui may not be plotting rebellion at all, but instead setting a trap for you to fall into… Young Master, heed my words: don’t act rashly in anything, and don’t believe talk of treason! As for Mr. Xiao’s words… you cannot trust a single one!”
Ye Xian fell silent. Gu Jin Chao didn’t want to speak plainly, surely for her reasons. But what she had said was clear enough. Whether Prince Rui truly intended to rebel remained to be seen. To understand what game Xiao Qishan was playing, he would need to observe Prince Rui’s actions.
After a long while, he finally said softly: “…When I was little, I didn’t like to talk or go outside. My master caught wildcat and rabbit kits from the mountains to keep me company. He would weave grasshoppers and dragonflies, pick hawthorns from the mountain in summer to make candied fruit skewers for me, and take me fishing in the river. The river crabs he found under stones were only the size of copper coins, but delicious when fried. Once when I was bitten by a snake, he was so anxious—I’d never seen him so worried… He sucked out the poison for me, nearly dying himself.”
Jin Chao listened to Ye Xian without interrupting.
Xiao Qishan had raised him… how could such a bond be shallow?
A gentle light illuminated Ye Xian’s profile, his jade-like elegance. Lowering his eyes, he continued: “I always lived with my master in Guizhou. He taught me to read and write. I always thought he was a rare good person, and even mocked his charitable deeds… Why would such a person insist on revenge? I never realized he could be so ruthless!”
Jin Chao said softly: “…A person’s heart is hidden behind their ribs!” This seemed the only comfort she could offer.
Ye Xian stood up and smiled at Jin Chao: “Let’s pretend I never said these things, and Miss Gu never heard them.”
His trusted attendant quickly lifted the curtain for him and personally draped a cloak over his shoulders. Both soon disappeared from Yan Xiu Hall.
Jin Chao let out a sigh of relief, then felt a sense of loss. Ye Xian’s last words… meant to distance himself from her. Perhaps for the best—now that she would be living at her ancestral home if Ye Xian continued to visit her frequently as before, it might invite criticism.
After a while, Gu De Zhao came to find her. Looking at the layout of Yan Xiu Hall, he was quite satisfied: “…You see, your grandmother doesn’t treat you poorly.” Gu Jin Chao nodded with a smile, “Father, why did you leave the banquet? Did you drink the chrysanthemum wine?”
Gu De Zhao smiled faintly: “Your Fifth Uncle has that personality—always pestering others to drink! If I weren’t in mourning, I could drink him under the table… I heard you left the banquet and thought you might be unwell, so I came to check. This afternoon, your grandmother wants to take everyone to East Shao Mountain where Baoxiang Temple is located to enjoy the autumn views from the heights. If you’re not feeling well, I can tell your grandmother, and you needn’t go.”
Jin Chao thought that Madam Feng did one thing very well—she treated her legitimate and illegitimate sons equally, and the brothers were respectful to each other.
Father was indeed better off at the ancestral home than in Shi’an. At least here, people could accompany him in drinking, chess, and discussions of poetry and state affairs. Gradually, he could free himself from the death of her mother and the matter with Concubine Song. At least he wouldn’t seek comfort in religion.
Jin Chao said: “Daughter is not unwell… Having just arrived at the ancestral home, I shouldn’t act willfully. What does Father think?”
Gu De Zhao laughed heartily: “Fine, Father won’t let daughter Jin act willfully. Come join Father for a drink!”
He took her back to the outer courtyard to meet the Second Master and Fifth Master of the Gu family. Looking up, Jin Chao saw that Second Master Gu De Yuan resembled her father but appeared more steady, with coldness between his brows. Fifth Master Gu De Xiu smiled pleasantly, appearing extraordinarily handsome and elegant.
…No wonder Madam Ye had married him!
At the banquet, Gu Jin Xiao was talking with Gu Jin Xian without sparing her a glance, while Gu Jin Xian looked up and winked at her. The Second Master also had a pair of twin illegitimate sons, only about five or six years old, dressed in identical fu-lu-shou padded jackets, looking chubby. Seeing his two illegitimate sons, Gu De Yuan said to Jin Chao: “…It’s inconvenient for the children to be here. Please trouble my niece to take them to the ladies’ banquet area.” The ladies’ banquet area was where the women ate.
Jin Chao nodded in agreement. The nursemaids looking after Hui-ge and Rui-ge picked them up and followed Jin Chao to the ladies’ banquet area.
“…I was drinking at Father’s table and brought my two younger cousins over.” Jin Chao explained to everyone with a smile. After setting the children down, they both approached Madam Feng to pay their respects first, then greeted the Second Mistress.
The Second Mistress smiled and took Hui-ge in her arms, saying to Madam Feng: “Look, Hui-ge has gotten plumper!”
Madam Feng responded with a noncommittal “mm,” but beckoned Hui-ge and Rui-ge over, smiling as she asked them questions. Both children answered obediently and politely. Seeing their new padded jackets, Madam Feng asked: “…These jackets are truly beautiful. Did your mother make them for you?”
Rui-ge, being more sensible, quickly replied: “Mother said the weather is getting cold, so she made us new clothes, afraid we might catch cold!”
It wasn’t yet cold enough to warrant such clothing—they were eager to please. Seeing how cautiously they spoke, Jin Chao sighed that being illegitimate sons wasn’t easy either. At such a young age, they spoke even more properly than Gu Lian.
The Gu family women were divided between two tables. The Second Master and Fifth Master’s three illegitimate daughters—Gu Lan, Gu Yi, and Gu Xi—sat at one table. Madam Feng, the mistresses, and legitimate daughters sat at one another. Madam Feng invited the two boys to dine at her table and asked about the Fifth Mistress’s pregnancy: “…Having given birth once before, this should go smoothly. Give this old woman another grandchild—whether boy or girl, both are good!”
The Fifth Mistress smiled gracefully, while the Second Mistress’s face momentarily stiffened. She had deliberately tried to please Madam Feng, but Madam Feng paid her no attention. The Fifth Mistress didn’t need to do anything for Madam Feng to eagerly approach her—clearly because of the Chanxing Marquis family behind her!
Jin Chao glanced briefly, then lowered her head to continue eating. Madam Feng was most precise in manipulating people—she had manipulated the Second Mistress quite often. As her gaze swept across, she noticed Gu Lian’s hand reaching back slightly, grasping Gu Lan’s hand, seemingly passing something to her.
The two moved quickly, resuming their meal normally after the exchange.
Jin Chao turned her head discreetly.
After returning to Yuliu Hutong, Ye Xian sat silently in his study. Resting his chin on the chair back, he expressionlessly watched a turtle in the porcelain tank, slowly extending its head, then gradually withdrawing it. Sunlight filtered through the latticed windows bit by bit, then gradually retreated. As the stars shifted, night had fallen.
Lady Gao’s maid Yuqin arrived, saying Lady Gao summoned Ye Xian.
Ye Xian went by night, but before he could bow and greet Lady Gao, she coldly ordered him to kneel: “…Your grandfather said you weren’t to go out, yet you had Li Xianhuai take you to the Gu family! Tell me, did you meet that Gu family’s eldest daughter!”
Ye Xian paused, then said: “Mother overthinks… Son only went to see Elder Sister.”
Lady Gao was so angry her hands trembled: “You think I don’t know? I had Guard Xu secretly follow you! Gu Jin Chao just moved from Shi’an to Daxing, and you eagerly went to see her, even hiding in her boudoir. Tell me, did you intend to ruin her reputation or your own!”
Lady Gao came from a scholarly family and valued reputation and moral integrity above all.
Ye Xian looked up at Lady Gao, inwardly startled. At the time, he and Li Xianhuai had sensed someone following them but assumed it was Xiao Qishan’s people and ignored it. He never expected Lady Gao to have sent someone to follow him… she truly didn’t trust him!
Lady Gao laughed once: “I was wrong. How could you ruin the Gu family’s young lady’s reputation? Someone like her… someone…” Lady Gao couldn’t think of how to continue, “Arrogant and overbearing, ignorant of proper conduct. You’re ruining your reputation… Your elder sister is her aunt by marriage. Behaving this way, are you trying to make your elder sister unable to hold her head up before the Gu family?”
“I originally thought you willful and reckless but never imagined you would insist on associating with Gu Jin Chao… Will you not heed Mother’s words? Are you determined to anger me?” Lady Gao thought of how her son always remained unmoved by persuasion, making her even more furious. His father and grandfather were so busy these days, and here he was, sneaking into a young lady’s boudoir! What if someone had seen them?
Ye Xian still said nothing. He had indeed gone to see Gu Jin Chao—there was nothing to dispute. Nor could he tell his mother about those complicated matters. These habits he had learned from his father; the Chanxing Marquis never troubled Lady Gao with matters of officialdom.
After fuming for a while, seeing Ye Xian as silent as a stoppered gourd, Lady Gao pointed to the blue bricks outside the main hall: “…Kneel there for two hours, then go to the study to copy ‘The Rules for Students.’ Unless I say otherwise, don’t think of leaving here these next few days!”
Ye Xian frowned slightly. This was a critical time. If he were confined at Lady Gao’s place… what about Xiao Qishan’s matter? Lady Gao’s residence was unlike his Ju Feng Hall, where he could come and go as he pleased. “Mother… Son doesn’t mind copying, but Son has urgent matters to attend to and cannot stay here…”
Lady Gao snorted: “The Ye family doesn’t yet need you to manage it. Stay here properly!”
After briefly considering, Ye Xian said: “…If that’s the case, so be it. Son is accustomed to writing with that ink bamboo wolf-hair brush. Would Mother please have Zhishu bring it to me!” He walked outside the main hall, smoothly knelt with a sweep of his robe, and remained silent.
Lady Gao looked at him with even more irritation. Ye Xian’s temperament… who could control him? She waved for Yuqin to find Zhishu and fetch the brush. What else could she do? Even if she couldn’t control him completely, she had to maintain some discipline. She couldn’t let Ye Xian run wild.