Outside the mutton shop, a large pot of mutton soup was boiling, with steam drifting in through the latticed windows.
From the distance came faint cries of vendors, and a peddler walking along the road tapped out a “ding-ding-ding” sound with his small stick.
Gu Jin Chao lowered her head to look at the honey-colored fragrance pouch embroidered with orchids hanging at her waist, many thoughts running through her mind.
Surely Third Master Chen wouldn’t kill her to silence her…
Seeing that she had stopped speaking, Third Master Chen felt she was somewhat afraid of him and couldn’t help but smile: “You’re only now feeling afraid? With such boldness—a secluded young lady daring to go out alone, having someone intercept a second-rank official’s carriage, inviting me for mutton soup… I thought you feared nothing.”
Gu Jin Chao felt that Third Master Chen’s tone was like scolding a child but without malice.
Indeed, she was only sixteen years old. To Third Master Chen, what was she? Probably not even worth the effort to deal with.
Jin Chao instead became calm and said softly: “It’s only natural that I fear Master Chen’s immense power… I came to find you because I truly had nowhere else to turn. I originally thought you wanted to help the Gu family for your reasons. I was thinking too much…”
Third Master Chen gently waved his hand, indicating she should stop speaking: “Although I don’t know where you heard about Minister Wang’s affairs, you shouldn’t make wild speculations. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear those words, and you shouldn’t speak of them to others. Be careful not to bring disaster upon yourself.”
He leaned back in his chair and unhurriedly said: “Your father and I passed the imperial examination just one session apart. When your father first entered the Ministry of Revenue as an observer, he worked under Director Wen, who was my good friend despite our age difference. Out of regard for your father’s talent, he took special care of him. Later, Director Wen retired to his hometown in Wuhu, Anhui. Last year, he corresponded with me, asking me to look after your father.”
Gu Jin Chao remembered this matter. Director Wen was an old scholar whom she had met when she was young. After Director Wen retired, her father transferred to serve under Lin Xian Zhong.
Was it really because of this Director Wen?
Gu Jin Chao met Chen Yan Yun’s gaze and accidentally fell into his unfathomable eyes. She suddenly stepped back.
But Chen Yan Yun hadn’t finished speaking, his voice very slow: “Based on such a relationship, helping your father survive is already enough… asking me to do more would place me in an unjust position.”
Gu Jin Chao’s expression changed slightly. Third Master Chen was unwilling to help… She said softly: “Master Chen, I shouldn’t say more, but this disaster relief grain involves not only my father but also hundreds of thousands of people in Shanxi. In times of famine, everyone fears for themselves; selling children is not uncommon… You are the Minister of Revenue, and if you use your position to harm the people, how will history judge your merits and faults…”
Gu Jin Chao felt these words were indeed quite bold. She truly didn’t understand Chen Yan Yun. To call him a sycophantic official wasn’t right—as Minister of Revenue for several years, he had reduced labor services and taxes, bringing peace and prosperity to the country, never engaging in corruption. To call him a virtuous official wasn’t accurate either—being the accomplice of a tiger for so many years, he had indeed done many unconscionable things for Zhang Ju Lian.
Gu Jin Chao didn’t wait for Third Master Chen to reply before curtseying to take her leave.
The smile on Third Master Chen’s face finally faded.
Although he felt there was no need to explain these matters, seeing Gu Jin Chao looking so downcast, he still couldn’t bear it.
He tightly gripped his string of agarwood beads and said lightly: “How young are you, how could you understand these things… Ordinary people only see the surface of matters—good is good, bad is bad. But some matters are inherently complex.”
He could not act as he pleased; he too was constrained by many things. Political struggles were complex affairs, fickle and changeable. If he took one wrong step, he might implicate the century-old foundation of the Chen family.
Gu Jin Chao hadn’t expected Chen Yan Yun to say such words to her. After a moment of silence, she said: “In any case, this young lady must thank you for the kindness of sending that message. It’s getting late, I must take my leave.”
She turned to walk toward the door.
Chen Yan Yun sighed: “…Do you have paper and brush?”
Gu Jin Chao’s footsteps halted.
Qing Pu went outside to buy writing materials and brought them in.
Jiang Yan helped Third Master Chen spread out the paper, feeling as if he were in a dream. Why was Third Master Chen so accommodating today?
He secretly glanced at Gu Jin Chao sitting nearby. This young lady was quite unfamiliar, yet appeared extraordinarily beautiful. He had never seen a young lady so strikingly beautiful. It was the time when spring was deep and warm, with crab apple blossoms in full bloom—truly like a painting.
The Third Master’s attitude toward that note was also somewhat strange… He must have met this young lady before.
The daughter of Secretary Gu from the Gu family.
The Third Master had just asked him about Secretary Gu.
Regardless of who this woman was, Jiang Yan did not agree with the Third Master’s actions. Tonight, Second Master Chen was to return from Shaanxi to report his duties, and if the Third Master delayed any longer here, they would reach Wanping after dark. Moreover, this young lady immediately mentioned the Shanxi disaster relief matter—she was no ordinary secluded young lady.
Jiang Yan felt this situation was somewhat troublesome.
Gu Jin Chao watched as Third Master Chen unhurriedly ground the ink and dipped his brush.
“Have your father take this letter to Tongzhou tonight to find Ding Yong Mo, the Director of Tongzhou Granary. They will know what to do.”
Third Master Chen intended to use grain from the Tongzhou Granary to fill the shortage in Daxing. But what if this was discovered?
Third Master Chen put down his brush and said: “The Tongzhou Granary has reserves of over 700,000 piculs. Unless there’s war or large-scale famine, it’s rarely used.” The grain in the Tongzhou Granary was a national foundation, strictly guarded, and would not be released unless the country’s foundation was at risk. He paused, then continued: “Currently, except for occasional Japanese pirate troubles along the southeastern coast, the country is at peace, so there’s no need to use the Tongzhou Granary’s grain. This year’s snow has been heavy. Next year, after the new harvest enters the Tongzhou Granary, the old grain will be cleared and enter various grain merchants in the capital. If the accounts are done properly, no one will know.”
He noticed something strange in Gu Jin Chao’s gaze and explained further: “…Ding Yong Mo is my student. But you must remind your father to be careful. After reading this letter, if he doesn’t destroy it immediately, he must come and tell me. Understand?”
Gu Jin Chao nodded and suddenly asked: “…Do you write with your left hand?”
Third Master Chen smiled: “What, you find it curious?”
She didn’t find it curious; she felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.
In her previous life, she had been married to Third Master Chen for years, yet had never noticed he was habitually left-handed.
And he used it very naturally.
After Third Master Chen finished writing and put down the brush, Jiang Yan immediately took out a seal wrapped in red silk from his sleeve and handed it over. He stamped his seal on the letter, then put it in an envelope and gave it to Gu Jin Chao.
Gu Jin Chao felt as if the envelope weighed a thousand pounds, yet had a sense of unreality. Third Master Chen was truly willing to help them? And had even written a letter for her? What exactly was in this letter? He wouldn’t have written something else, would he?
Gu Jin Chao examined the envelope suspiciously.
Third Master Chen found it amusing and drank some tea before saying: “Don’t be curious and try to open it. If you open this letter, it will be invalid. Ding Yong Mo will be able to tell.” Although he trusted Gu Jin Chao, he didn’t trust the Gu family behind her. They had special methods to treat envelopes and could tell at a glance if one had been opened.
Gu Jin Chao nodded and curtsied again: “Rest assured, sir, this matter will not implicate you. For such a great favor, words of thanks are inadequate. You don’t need this young lady’s help… but if ever needed, both my father and I would do everything in our power to help you.”
Chen Yan Yun said: “In helping you, I also help myself. There’s no need for thanks.” If Wang Xuan Fan didn’t handle the disaster relief grain properly, delaying the Shanxi relief would be out of the question, which was not without benefit to him. He could also count this as helping the common people once.
“You don’t need to guarantee anything. If you implicate me, I won’t say whether the Chen family will suffer consequences, but the Gu family will certainly face complete disaster.”
He added with a smile.
Jiang Yan helped him put on his cloak. He gently bade farewell to Gu Jin Chao, but paused at the door, turned back to look at her, and asked: “…You truly don’t remember?”
The sun was setting, and outside was a bluestone street covered with remnant snow. The sunlight was exceptionally bright, and Third Master Chen’s silhouette was against the light, making his expression unclear to her.
Gu Jin Chao doubted she had heard correctly and asked: “What did you say?”
Third Master Chen smiled, waved his hand without saying anything more, and finally turned and disappeared.
Gu Jin Chao held the letter in her hand, feeling completely confused.
But her father’s matter couldn’t wait; she should hurry back.
She then took Qing Pu and left Lanxi Ward by carriage.