Jinchao entered the western side room, where a stove was burning, making it wonderfully warm. The maids of Gu Yi and Gu Xi were inside, helping to measure and cut fabric.

Gu Xi pulled Jinchao to sit on the large kang bed and had a maid serve her a bowl of hot cinnamon sweet soup, whispering to her: “Eldest Sister, you weren’t here earlier—I was so frightened… I’ve never seen Second Aunt so angry before!”

Gu Yi, whose temperament had grown increasingly steady, took Gu Xi’s hand upon hearing this and said, “Don’t exaggerate; it was merely disciplining maids! If word gets out and Second Aunt hears it, how would she feel?”

Gu Xi just smiled: “How would Second Aunt hear about it?” She tucked her feet onto the kang bed and whispered to Jinchao, “…Around the Shen hour this afternoon, Second Aunt brought a group of maids and elderly servants to Yixiang Court, carrying quilts and cotton clothes. Second Aunt said they were for Second Sister, who was quite pleased… Who knew Second Aunt would suddenly change her expression and punish all the maids in Second Sister’s room, saying they failed in their service by not reporting that Second Sister lacked anything? They must kneel until dark before being allowed to rise. When Second Sister heard this, she was so angry her hands trembled…”

Gu Yi could only helplessly wave her hand, sending all the maids in the room to the western wing. Although the servants had always followed them, it wasn’t good for them to hear such talk.

Gu Xi didn’t notice at all and continued with her flushed face: “That’s not all! Second Aunt docked their monthly allowances. Second Sister was already tight on funds, and she was very particular about food and drink, often having people buy things privately from outside. Now she’ll be strapped for money!”

Jinchao hadn’t known about Gu Lan buying things from outside. Gu Yi, who knew best, added: “This started after we came to Daxing. Second Sister was always particular about what she ate and wore back at home, but at that time our monthly allowance was fifteen taels each, and Father never lacked anything. Her extra spending wasn’t noticeable… Now that we’ve come to Daxing, the monthly allowance is only five taels, but Second Sister still wants to spend like before—naturally, she can’t sustain it.”

Jinchao had never paid attention to the monthly allowance, and only now realized how low the Gu family’s allowance was.

She asked Gu Yi and Gu Xi if their allowances were sufficient. Gu Yi smiled: “We don’t need much; the household distributes plenty of things. There’s hardly anything we need to spend our allowance on… Eldest Sister, please don’t worry!”

Jinchao nodded with a smile but secretly thought she should tell Madam Xu to check if they needed anything when she returned.

Second Aunt’s exaggerated response wasn’t really about disciplining the maids but clearly about manipulating Gu Lan. After this, the maids in Gu Lan’s room would realize that Gu Lan could be easily pressured and might not be as obedient as before.

There was no sound from the main room where Gu Lan stayed; only the sound of small maids sobbing could be heard in the courtyard.

…

The Marquis of Changxing’s mansion was heavily guarded, with everyone entering or leaving being thoroughly checked.

Lady Gao and Lady Ye attended to the Marquis of Changxing without rest, while Ye Xian began interrogating Liu Zhou and others.

Liu Zhou and the others were detained by the Ministry of Justice. Deputy Minister Guo Anda, who was on good terms with the Marquis of Changxing’s family, zealously extracted confessions. They tortured out information that Prince Rui and Zhang Julian had secret collusion, and Zhang Julian had certainly played a significant role in the plot to harm the Marquis of Changxing. But these were only verbal testimonies. Zhang Julian was a cunning person who wouldn’t have left Prince Rui any evidence that could threaten him, and they couldn’t deal with Zhang Julian based solely on a few statements.

In the end, Liu Zhou and the others were all convicted of treason.

The old marquis had been summoned by the empress to enter the palace. With the Marquis of Changxing severely injured, only the old Marquis of Changxing could temporarily lead the Iron Cavalry. The Iron Cavalry was practically half-owned by the Ye family, with many officers and soldiers having been subordinates of the old marquis. The empress had been frightened by Prince Rui and needed to grasp a lifeline to feel secure.

Upon returning, the old marquis called Ye Xian to the study to talk, his expression grave: “…Zhang Julian now controls the Cabinet with Chen Yan’yun and others. The court trembles at their slightest movement. Chen Yan’yun was formerly the Director of the Princes’ Household, and the crown prince has always listened to him. I’m afraid we can’t move against them…”

Ye Xian thought for a long time before saying: “After the three days of mourning are over, the crown prince will begin cooperating with the Cabinet. The Imperial Astronomers have selected an auspicious day for the new emperor’s accession… If we don’t hold real power by then, I fear the Marquis of Changxing’s household will face great difficulties.” He paused, then said with determination, “…Grandfather, I want to enter official service.”

The old marquis remained silent for a long time. Ye Xian left the study to check on his father, who was still unconscious.

Leaving his father, Ye Xian walked along the corridor and saw a light mist floating over the late autumn lake.

Suddenly, he wanted to see Gu Jinchao, to tell her something, no matter what. After all, Gu Jinchao had helped him tremendously.

Li Xianhuai followed beside the young master, looking at his increasingly thin and pale face with a pang of sympathy.

The young master had always been in poor health… how could he endure all this?

When Ye Xian told him to prepare a horse, he was momentarily stunned. By the time he wanted to say something, he saw the young master already heading toward the screen wall.

He could only silently curse himself and go to prepare the horse for his master.

Jinchao had just returned from having dinner with Second Madam.

Second Aunt had invited her to the western courtyard to dine together, partly as an apology for Gu Lian’s words. However, Gu Lian had been sulking all evening, occasionally glancing at Jinchao. Jinchao secretly thought that Gu Lan was first-rate at bewitching others—previously it was Gu Jinrong, and now it was Gu Lian.

She seemed quite skilled at choosing her targets.

Shortly after her return, the dried fruits from Second Madam arrived—a round wooden box with six compartments, beautifully decorated in red and black. It contained dried longan, dried lychee, sunflower seeds, ginkgo nuts, almonds, and candied plums—a full box of rare delicacies.

Jinchao asked Madam Xu to select a few items from each compartment to send to Gu Xi and Gu Yi.

Madam Tong then came in to show Jinchao the satin jackets her father had made for her, all with simple patterns, using plain satin and fine cloth. Among them was a k’o-ssu silk handwarmer cover, which Jinchao felt was too valuable and stored in her private repository.

Afterward, Jinchao washed up, removed her hairpins, and nestled on the kang bed, intending to finish the book she had started in the morning.

The large kang bed by the window was very warm. Jinchao curled up on it, reading a book on critiques of inscriptions and calligraphy by the light of a pine oil lamp placed on the kang table.

Since dinner had been at Second Aunt’s place, Jinchao hadn’t eaten much. Soon, Caifu brought up a plate of red date and osmanthus sponge cakes. The cakes were cut into small pieces, decorated with osmanthus flowers and red dates on the surface, with glistening meat and walnut filling inside. They were very soft to eat, both sweet and savory.

Caifu whispered: “…This servant saw you go to the western courtyard, so prepared these for you, keeping them warm in the steamer.”

Jinchao smiled and praised her: “Your skills have improved.”

After eating just two pieces, Madam Tong entered with a somewhat strange expression.

Madam Tong curtseyed and said: “Miss, the heir of the Marquis of Changxing has come to see you…” She paused, then continued, “He came quietly and is waiting for you in the flower hall… Will you go see him?”

Is Ye Xian coming to find her at this time? Jinchao found it strange. The last time he thanked her, she had thought the heir was drawing a clear boundary.

If others saw this, she couldn’t clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Seeing that she didn’t speak, Madam Tong softly said: “This servant dares to suggest that it’s already half dark; perhaps you should retire.”

The heir of the Marquis of Changxing secretly visiting a young lady in the middle of the night was truly inappropriate.

However, after deep thought, Jinchao still decided to meet Ye Xian.

He wouldn’t have come to find her for no reason at this hour; he must have something urgent to say.

She put on a plain satin padded jacket, arranged a simple hairstyle, and had Caifu accompany her to the flower hall.

Ye Xian stood with his hands behind his back in the pavilion of the flower hall. The cold moonlight fell on the corridor pillars, making his figure appear somewhat solitary, yet he stood straight and tall.

The flower hall had only a row of holly trees and just bare wintersweet trees, with Ye Xian’s guards standing in the shadows.

Hearing Jinchao’s slow, measured footsteps, Ye Xian turned his head and gestured slightly, inviting her to sit on the embroidered stool placed in the flower hall.

Jinchao saw that Ye Xian’s beautiful, delicate face looked somewhat haggard, his complexion even paler, with faint blue shadows under his eyes—he probably hadn’t slept well for days. Ye Xian didn’t speak, and neither did Jinchao. After a while, he finally said: “I left the capital at the Wei hour… I didn’t expect it to be so late by the time I arrived here.” He paused, “I hadn’t intended to come so late.”

Jinchao made a sound of acknowledgment. Inwardly, she wondered if he couldn’t calculate the time properly, using “I didn’t expect it to be so late” as an excuse… Wasn’t he supposed to be extremely intelligent?

Ye Xian lowered his eyelids and said nothing more.

Jinchao wore neither hairpins nor ornaments, appearing plain and casual, giving him the impression that she had washed away all artifice.

Even her spring-crabapple-like complexion appeared more subdued, making her seem somehow different from usual—more approachable.

But her respectful and peaceful expression remained unchanged.

After a long time, Ye Xian finally said: “…Prince Rui colluded with Xiao You, scheming to frame my family for treason… We turned the tables on them, planting the treason charge on Prince Rui, who was killed on the spot by my father.” He stated these few sentences plainly, yet Jinchao could feel the overwhelming bloodiness of it all.

“I thought everything was settled, but someone secretly shot an arrow, severely wounding my father.” Ye Xian smiled slightly, “Using an arrowhead I specially designed. They wanted to pin my father’s injury on me. Guess who this person was…” He placed the arrow hidden in his sleeve onto the stone table. The arrow shaft was engraved with a small seal-script character “Ye,” and the arrowhead, compared to ordinary arrows, was sharper but dull and unremarkable in color.

Was this the arrow that wounded the Marquis of Changxing? Jinchao didn’t know why he was showing her this arrow. But Ye Xian’s words were easy to guess—the entire affair had been planned in secret by Xiao You. Who else could have thought of such a scheme to kill two birds with one stone and easily access Ye Xian’s personal belongings except him? Jinchao suddenly recalled Ye Xian telling her about living with Xiao You in Guizhou years ago.

With such a ruthless and calculating master, Ye Xian must feel extremely hurt, though his face showed nothing of the sort.

Jinchao thought for a moment, then said softly: “Since the young master has put away the arrow, it means everything has been handled completely. Past affections naturally need not be considered; just treat it as passing clouds.”

Ye Xian sighed: “That’s all it can be…” He looked toward Gu Jinchao. She sat on the embroidered stool, her plain embroidered skirt appearing especially hazy in the moonlight, with Jinchao’s face bearing a faint glow… “I just wanted to express my thanks. If you ever need my help in the future, feel free to ask; I won’t refuse.”

Jinchao smiled: “Rest assured, young master.” Her help to Ye Xian was perhaps motivated by similar thoughts. Like others, she wanted to curry favor with this person—the difference being that others knew his status, while she knew his future.

Since everything had been said, Jinchao rose and curtseyed: “The young master surely knows that these things will all pass… The night is deep and the dew cold; perhaps the young master should find an inn to stay for the night before returning to the capital.” She tactfully expressed her intention to leave first.

Ye Xian put the arrow from the stone table back into his sleeve.

Jinchao waited for him to speak, and after a long time, she heard a faint voice: “…I killed him with my own hands… You may go first.”

Jinchao’s heart shook, though she showed no reaction outwardly. She curtseyed and left the flower hall with Caifu.