Ye Xian stood waiting for her in the flower hall, with his guard Li Xianhuai standing protectively at a distance.

Seeing her approach, Ye Xian opened his palm to show her something.

“This is for you,” he said succinctly.

Jinchao invited him to sit and asked Qingpu to bring several refreshments: lotus root powder pastries, dried peanuts, and salted crispy pastries. She saw a leaf lying in Ye Xian’s palm, reddish and tender, with a distinctive appearance.

“What is this?” Jinchao asked, wondering why he would randomly give her a leaf.

Ye Xian replied, “Don’t bother with tea. Last time I drank at your place, the Wanchun Silver Leaf was stale… I just passed by the Small Pond Pavilion in the west wing and saw this strange leaf. None of the others had this color.” It was bright red and delicate, some unknown new leaf. Ye Xian thought Gu Jinchao quite liked these peculiar things.

Jinchao was both amused and exasperated: “Thank you for your kindness, Young Master.”

He had specifically gone to the Small Pond Pavilion to pick this leaf… He said indifferently, “I came to tell you something. This June, I will be promoted to Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

Only then did Jinchao smile and offer her congratulations.

Ye Xian glanced at her with a smile; Gu Jinchao didn’t seem surprised at all.

Of course she wasn’t surprised. Ye Xian would be promoted to Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review this year, and four years later would become the Minister. The speed of his promotion was astounding, but he later committed the outrageous act of implementing the lingchi execution. Several years after that, he would serve in the Ministry of War, becoming a favorite of the Emperor.

When she died, Ye Xian was still the immensely powerful Minister of War. Fortunately, the Gu family later produced an exceptionally outstanding figure; otherwise, Chen Xuanqing alone could not have suppressed him. She remembered what Chen’s Old Madam had once said about Ye Xian: “…Perverse skills and cunning, extremely intelligent, but unfortunately, a scoundrel!”

Smart people aren’t frightening; what’s frightening is when intelligence isn’t directed toward proper ends.

She looked seriously at Ye Xian and said, “Young Master will soon be working for the welfare of all people under heaven.”

Ye Xian lowered his gaze to look at her, his tone languid: “…If I consider the common people in everything, how exhausted I would be.” He paused, then added very seriously, “Besides, the common people have nothing to do with me.”

Before Jinchao could respond, he pointed to the leaf on the table: “…Keep it safe. In the future, you can use it to ask me for one favor. I will grant whatever you ask.”

He pulled up the hood of his cape and said softly, “…Let’s go.” The guards who had been waiting in the shadows escorted him out of Yanxiu Hall.

Gu Jinchao exhaled softly. A person like Ye Xian could so easily go astray. In this life, his father hadn’t died, and the Marquis Changxing household hadn’t declined, so perhaps he wouldn’t follow the same path as in her previous life.

Spring had just begun to warm when Third Master Chen wore only a white gauze middle garment with a crimson embroidered official robe on the outside. He had just boarded his carriage and closed his eyes to rest when Jiang Yan spoke softly beside him: “…The Chief Minister was furious this time. Minister Wang, who previously served in the Court of Judicial Review, claimed it was the most incorruptible institution, yet his subordinate Zhang Ling was found colluding with salt smugglers and fabricating evidence to shield these people… The Chief Minister didn’t give Zhang Ling any chance to defend himself, and Minister Guo Annda from the Ministry of Justice immediately had him arrested. You saw how Minister Wang didn’t dare say a word…”

Third Master Chen replied calmly, “Guo Annda is from the Marquis Changxing household; it would be strange if the Chief Minister didn’t lose his temper. Now the position of Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is vacant. Who do you think is most likely to be promoted… Wang Xuanfan couldn’t even contend with Ye Xian, despite his many years in the Court of Judicial Review.”

Jiang Yan looked at Third Master Chen, somewhat puzzled: “Then you think…”

Third Master Chen continued, “Minister Zhang would like to see me struggle against Wang Xuanfan. Minister Zhang supported me in previous years and now wants to use Wang Xuanfan as a counterbalance… but I find it a waste of energy.” He frowned and said, “Wang Xuanfan’s vision is too narrow… Have you found out about his recent private discussions with Yao Ping?”

Jiang Yan chuckled a couple of times.

Third Master Chen opened his eyes to look at him, finding Jiang Yan’s behavior strange.

Jiang Yan cupped his hands and said, “This matter is truly amusing, and it’s related to you! When you went to Daxing to drink with Minister Wang last time… didn’t you see two young ladies from the Gu family? And that time at Baoxiang Temple, when you received something from the Gu family. These events reached Minister Wang’s ears, and he became convinced that you had taken a fancy to that Gu lady… the one engaged to Yao Ping’s legitimate son, Gu Lian. Minister Wang was delighted, thinking he had caught you in an impropriety. He went to inform Yao Ping, saying you had designs on his future daughter-in-law. How could Yao Ping dare offend you? Anyone you fancy, he wouldn’t dare touch even if it cost him his life. But he was still half-believing and half-doubtful, so he sent someone to the Gu family to postpone the wedding…”

Third Master Chen smiled and shook his head. Wang Xuanfan’s romantic imagination had even been directed at him!

“Because of this, Minister Yao has grown closer to Minister Wang. He even went to the Ministry of Justice to put in a good word for Zhang Ling…” Jiang Yan added.

Third Master Chen listened thoughtfully.

The carriage arrived at the Chen family residence in Wanping. Shortly after Third Master Chen reached his quarters, a young maid came to relay a message that the Old Madam Chen wished to see him.

Third Master Chen changed into a slate blue straight robe and went to the rear chamber where Old Madam Chen resided. The Old Madam preferred tranquility; her rear chamber connected to the Chen family’s small Buddhist shrine and was planted with many Western Capital crabapple trees, blooming in patches of pink and white. Beyond was a blue stone path, winding through secluded scenery, connecting to large lotus ponds.

Old Madam Chen sat on a lacquered luohan bed. She wore a brown jacket with continuous longevity characters, her hair in a round bun, adorned only with a turquoise hairpin. The Old Madam was advanced in years and no longer enjoyed moving about much. Fortunately, her daughters-in-law were all very sensible. The Second Madam Qin was the family matriarch and managed all the Chen family affairs, great and small, with perfect competence.

Old Madam Chen lived a relaxed and comfortable life. Her sons all brought honor to the family name, allowing her to hold her head high before the Chen family ancestors. She should have been enjoying her twilight years, yet she still worried about the son she cherished most.

In fact, Third Master Chen was the legitimate eldest son of the Chen family, while Second Master Chen was born to Old Madam Chen’s personal maid.

Old Madam Chen had been married into the Chen family for several years without any sign of pregnancy. Although Old Master Chen never mentioned it and treated her just as well, she felt guilty. She voluntarily offered her personal maid to Old Master Chen as a concubine. This maid soon became pregnant and gave birth to twins, but suffered a difficult labor and later hemorrhaged, passing away within a month. The elder of the twins had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck at birth, fell ill, and didn’t live to see his first birthday.

Second Master Chen was raised by Old Madam Chen as her own, and she provided him with an excellent upbringing. When Second Master Chen was six years old, she finally conceived Third Master Chen.

Third Master Chen was intelligent and sensible from a young age and showed great respect for his brother. However, he was almost too understanding, which made Old Madam Chen uneasy.

Later, she happened to overhear Chen Yanxun asking his wet nurse: “…You say I am Mother’s own child, but I see that Mother treats Second Brother best. If Second Brother has the slightest headache or fever, she becomes extremely anxious, and if he eats a little less, she inquires about it. I do everything well, yet Mother particularly dislikes paying attention to me. Last time Second Brother’s essay was praised by the teacher, she made him a cape. When I received the teacher’s praise, Mother said nothing…”

Hearing this made her heart ache; this child kept all his thoughts buried inside, suffering alone.

Afterward, she made a point to show more affection to Chen Yanxun.

But Chen Yanxun’s distant nature couldn’t be changed; he was very independent and never wanted her to worry.

Chen Yanxun had a gift for scholarship and became a provincial graduate at fourteen. She arranged his marriage to the eldest daughter of the Jiang family from Hangzhou. He never expressed whether he liked her or not, and after the marriage, the couple maintained a respectful relationship. Madam Jiang passed away two years ago, and he kept vigil for several days without changing his clothes. Before her death, Madam Jiang had said to him: “Don’t feel guilty, I know everything… I don’t blame you, we all must go… you have treated me very well…”

It was the first time she had seen Chen Yanxun cry, holding Madam Jiang’s skeletal hand without speaking.

After completing Madam Jiang’s funeral arrangements, Chen Yanxun came to speak with her. He would observe two years of mourning for Madam Jiang.

Old Madam Chen had wanted to dissuade him but said nothing.

Seeing Third Master Chen enter, Old Madam Chen smiled and pointed to a stool for him to sit: “…I rarely see you, now I can have a good talk with you.”

Third Master Chen greeted Old Madam Chen respectfully, then said, “Don’t several nieces from Sixth Brother’s family visit you every day? If you still feel bored, why not have Second Sister-in-law accompany you to offer incense and get some fresh air?”

Old Madam Chen shook her head with a smile: “I want to talk with you; why bring up others!”

She sighed deeply, her gaze falling on the crabapple blossoms outside the lattice window: “Look how beautifully the flowers bloom, without us noticing…” She watched Chen Yanxun fiddle with his teacup in silence, then continued, “Your household should add someone to serve you. I see that Shumu and Shuyan, those two young servants, are still your closest attendants, but how can they serve you properly? If you bring a new wife home, this old woman would also have someone to talk to.”

“…Why don’t you look for someone suitable, and when you’ve found the right person, we’ll send someone to propose.” Old Madam Chen thought for a moment, then asked tentatively, “What do you think of the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wuding?”

Third Master Chen remained silent.

Old Madam Chen tried another approach: “If you don’t like these aristocratic nobles, we can look elsewhere…”

With her son’s current position and power, who couldn’t he marry?

Third Master Chen smiled slightly, “Mother, you needn’t worry about this matter. I have my own measure.”

He said nothing more. As he rose, his attendant Shumu draped a cape over him, and he took his leave from Old Madam Chen’s residence.

Jiang Yan quickly caught up and asked softly, “Third Master, how do you plan to handle the matter with Yao Ping and Minister Wang?”

Third Master Chen didn’t even look at him, saying as he walked, “Turn their scheme to our advantage.”

Turn their scheme to our advantage? What did that mean?

Jiang Yan was completely bewildered.

Third Master Chen stopped, closed his eyes briefly, and said softly, “…This matter is truly unfortunate.”

Jiang Yan doubted he had heard correctly. What matter did Third Master Chen find unfortunate?

Looking at Third Master Chen again, trying to fathom his thoughts, Jiang Yan saw a hint of a resigned smile at the corner of his mouth, but his tone suddenly became clear, as if he had made a firm decision.

“Go summon Chen Yi.”