Gu Jinchao nearly spat out her mouthful of tea when she heard Shuiying’s message.

After forcefully swallowing it, she choked and coughed several times before stopping. She took the embroidered handkerchief that Caifu handed her and asked Shuiying: “Did you hear correctly? Minister Chen has come to our mansion, and Father wants me to help arrange the evening meal?”

Shuiying wore a plain tea-green winter jacket with twining branch patterns. Her hair was adorned with a double-stranded silver lotus hairpin. She had a very fair complexion, with watery bright eyes, and could be considered somewhat attractive. After acknowledging it, she said: “The Master asked you to quickly go to the outer courtyard kitchen. The sedan chair has already stopped at the screen wall… This servant still needs to inform the Old Madam, so I must take my leave now.”

Qingpu was adding silver frost charcoal to the stove and placing Jinchao’s shoes and socks that she would wear tomorrow by the stove to warm them. Hearing this, she whispered to Gu Jinchao: “Miss, why has Minister Chen come to our place…” Others might not know about Gu Jinchao’s connection to the Third Master Chen, but she was fully aware.

Gu Jinchao was also puzzled. The Gu family was considered aligned with the Marquis of Changxing. Even if the Third Master Chen had a sudden whim, he wouldn’t normally come to the Gu residence.

Perhaps it was about the selection for the Vice Minister of Revenue position…

Gu Jinchao changed into an eggplant-colored satin jacket, wore a lake-colored xiang qun, and put on a cape to go to the front courtyard kitchen.

The kitchen manager had just been summoned. All households had already had their evening meals, so now they had to prepare again, bustling about. They stoked the stove fires and simmered high-quality broth. He supervised the cooks as they selected two tender lamb chops, eight round-bellied crabs, and several four-gilled basses.

Everyone in the kitchen—cooks, elderly female servants, and young maids and servants assisting—was moving quickly without pause.

Seeing her arrive, the kitchen manager hurriedly bowed to pay his respects and said: “…Does the Second Miss have any instructions? Would you like to check if the dishes are suitable? This humble one was also about to ask the First Miss whether Autumn Dew White or Bamboo Leaf Green wine would be better to serve.”

By this time, the ladies of the Second and Fifth Houses had already retired. The manager couldn’t make decisions, so naturally asked several questions when he saw a family member arrive.

Gu Jinchao had initially come to offer advice. In her previous life, she had been a member of the Chen family, so she should know something about the Third Master Chen’s dietary preferences. But now, seeing the outer courtyard kitchen, she felt overwhelmed.

What did Chen Yanyu like to eat… how would she know? She had only recently learned that he didn’t like sweets!

Behind her, Madam Feng arrived after hearing the news.

Madam Feng was supported by two elderly female servants, with several stewards following behind, instantly making the kitchen so crowded that not even water could trickle through. All the kitchen staff bowed to pay their respects. The manager was especially surprised—Madam Feng disliked the kitchen, finding it unclean, yet today she had come personally.

Madam Feng frowned and said to the kitchen manager: “…Why do I see you still dawdling? The lamb chops are just beginning to marinate? How will this be ready in time!” She then instructed several women skilled in cooking who were behind her to help.

“Go to the west wing and tell the Second Master to quickly go to Fourth Brother’s place. The Fifth Master need not go…” Madam Feng arranged everything one by one, fearing any oversight. When she finally had the evening meal properly arranged, she saw Gu Jinchao still standing in the kitchen and said to her, “Chao, my girl, keep an eye on things here. I’ll go to your father’s place first.”

Gu Jinchao was dazed for a moment before acknowledging. Madam Feng tidied her smooth temples and took several elderly female servants to her father’s residence.

Gu Jinchao looked at the clear crescent moon outside the window, took a deep breath, and said to the kitchen manager: “Don’t serve alcohol. The lamb chops aren’t necessary either. Steam the four-gilled bass… and add several vegetable dishes.”

She didn’t know about other preferences, but she remembered that the Third Master Chen didn’t like to drink.

Unless necessary, he wouldn’t touch alcohol at feasts.

Gu Jinchao suddenly recalled that shortly after she married into the Chen family, Chen Xuanqing passed the imperial examination and was subsequently appointed by the Emperor as the third-ranked candidate. She sat at the banquet watching Chen Xuanqing surrounded by admirers. A young scholar, full of vigor and vitality. His delicate face bore a slight smile, and those distant, transcendent eyes had become gentler.

She stared intently for a while until Chen Xuanqing left his seat to find Yu Wanxue in the flower hall.

He smiled faintly and said something to Yu Wanxue, raising his hand to wipe the corner of her mouth. Yu Wanxue looked up at him and blushed.

Gu Jinchao found it unbearably glaring. She decided to irritate Yu Wanxue, calling a maid to bring a bowl of sobering soup to Chen Xuanqing. After a while, still feeling unsatisfied, she had Liuxiang call Yu Wanxue over, saying she wanted to eat fish and needed Yu Wanxue to pick out the bones for her.

That night after returning to her room, the Third Master Chen was reclining on the luohan bed, counting prayer beads with his eyes closed while waiting for her.

There wasn’t even a maid in the room. Gu Jinchao smelled the strong scent of alcohol.

She frowned and called for a maid to come in and help him change.

But the Third Master Chen opened his eyes, looking coldly at her, and asked softly: “Aren’t you going to make me sobering soup?”

Gu Jinchao bowed and said: “Third Master is joking. If you want to drink it, this concubine will call someone to make it right away.”

Chen Yanyu was silent for a long time and finally said faintly: “…You are the Third Lady of the Chen family. Remember your identity.” He no longer looked at Gu Jinchao, but his brow revealed signs of fatigue. He was very drunk, and when he stood up, he momentarily lost his balance and steadied himself on a high table. He then called for a servant to bring his cape and left without looking back. After this departure, he never again set foot in her chamber.

Gu Jinchao remembered watching coldly from the side, not even thinking of reaching out to help him.

…This was probably the time when Chen Yanyu showed the most emotion toward her.

Now as Gu Jinchao thought about it, she naturally felt that her behavior then was absurd. But upon further reflection, she suddenly understood. At that time, the Third Master Chen must have discovered her thoughts, no wonder he was so cold to her afterward.

Gu Jinchao sighed. She owed the Third Master Chen far too much.

Shortly after, Gu Dezhao sent a young servant over to tell Gu Jinchao: “…The Fourth Master says, please make a few pastries to bring up first.”

Gu Jinchao then had the kitchen manager clear a space. She made several not-too-sweet pastries including cloud hemp leaf cakes, red bean paste dumplings, and crispy fried cashews. After some thought, she brought them to her father’s place with her maids.

Gu Dezhao had returned to the Gu residence by carriage first. As soon as he arrived, he instructed a maid to relay a message to Madam Feng. Then he hurriedly went to the screen wall to welcome the Third Master Chen, leading him to the reception room to sit. He smiled and said to him: “Minister Chen, please be seated… This official has already arranged the evening meal.”

The Third Master Chen paused upon hearing this and said: “Master Gu, there’s no need to rush. I didn’t come here for the evening meal. I just wanted to chat with you for a while.”

Hearing this, Gu Dezhao felt his scalp tighten.

What could the Third Master Chen have to chat with him about…

A young servant brought tea. The Third Master Chen took it first, unhurriedly poured himself a cup, and then poured one for Gu Dezhao. He slowly asked him: “Master Gu has served in the Ministry of Revenue for eight years now. The Director of the Bureau of Currency oversees measurements and quantities, managing market transactions in both capital and palace markets. Do you know how many taels of silver the Director of the Bureau of Currency handles in a month?”

Gu Dezhao thought for a moment before answering: “This official does not know.” He did his job and did not inquire into the affairs of the Bureau of Currency. If he inquired too much, it would create suspicion among colleagues, which wouldn’t be good.

What did the Third Master Chen mean by this question? Could it be that the meal was just a pretext, and the real purpose was to assess whether he could be promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue?

The more Gu Dezhao thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and he couldn’t help feeling some regret. He had answered too quickly just now…

The Third Master Chen took a sip of tea, the finest Wanchun Silver Leaf.

He set down the teacup impassively and continued: “The Director of Transport manages the amount of rent and taxes throughout the land and the benefits of water and land transportation routes. Each year, they calculate what is produced and estimate what is used. The transfer, collection, and delivery all follow schedules with regulated timing… What does Master Gu think of Wang Yu as the Director of Transport?”

Gu Dezhao was more cautious this time, considering before saying: “Minister Wang is dedicated to his duties. This official often comes and goes with him and finds him to be a rare, honest person. Officials of all ranks in the Department of Transport also greatly respect Minister Wang.”

The Third Master Chen looked at the teacup thoughtfully for a moment, then stopped questioning Gu Dezhao. Instead, he turned to the topic of tea: “…Master Gu likes to drink tea, but I find Wanchun Silver Leaf too cold. Since Master Gu has internal stagnation, with a weak constitution and cold stomach, it would be better to drink boiled water.”

Gu Dezhao breathed a sigh of relief and started conversing with the Third Master Chen.

After a while, Madam Feng arrived but saw the Third Master Chen’s guards standing outside the reception room. A guard with a purple tong complexion, wearing a cheng garment, came forward, cupped his hands, and said to her: “Old Madam, please forgive us. Our Third Master said no one was allowed inside. Perhaps you could wait outside for a moment?”

Madam Feng frowned: “This is really…” This was the Gu residence, yet she wasn’t allowed to enter? How could this be?

Gu Deyuan, wearing the official uniform of the proper fourth rank, was also standing to the side. He quickly pulled Madam Feng and said softly: “Mother, let’s go to the side hall to talk.” After leading her through the corridor, he whispered, “That man is Minister Chen’s most capable guard. We absolutely cannot offend him. If he tells us to wait, we must wait. Please don’t cause any offense.”

Madam Feng said in a low voice: “I know… Isn’t it that Fourth Brother has connected with the Third Master Chen? You should also go say a few words, wouldn’t that help you make an appearance…”

Gu Deyuan sighed and said: “It’s not that simple.”

After all, Madam Feng was just a woman. What did she know about court affairs?