Jiang Yan returned to Heyan Tower in the outer courtyard, which was specifically for advisors. Walking through the first-floor corridor brought him to a pavilion where an eight-immortals table with long stools had been set up. Several people rose to bow to him: “…Mr. Jiang has returned, we’re just having a meal.” Jiang Yan looked over to see a waxed goose on the table, along with a plate of sliced braised beef and several plates of peanuts and broad beans.
Feng Juan raised his wine cup with a smile: “Sit down and have a few drinks!”
Jiang Yan waved his hand: “Never mind, I still need to find Chen Yi at Ninghui Hall. I think you shouldn’t drink either—Third Master might have instructions for us later…”
Everyone put down their wine cups and asked what was happening.
Jiang Yan couldn’t say for certain, but thinking of Third Master Chen’s ambiguous words made him uneasy.
Something significant was definitely about to happen.
He didn’t say much more to Feng Juan and the others, hurrying off toward Ninghui Hall.
Chen Yi promptly led a group of guards to the Third Master’s residence.
Third Master Chen was practicing calligraphy in his study. The servants in the study dared not make the slightest sound as he concentrated intensely, his brush moving like a flying dragon, not even raising his eyes. Jiang Yan watched with trepidation; Third Master Chen only had this habit of practicing calligraphy when facing difficult decisions. And he wouldn’t allow anyone to make noise.
Shortly after, Feng Juan arrived with others, and they all stood outside waiting. Everyone knew Third Master Chen’s habits, and no one dared speak first. By the time the sun had set in the west, their foreheads were covered in fine beads of sweat.
Finally, Third Master Chen put down his brush and had Shuyan put away his calligraphy. He lifted his teacup for a drink and instructed: “Chen Yi, spread the news of my affection for the Gu family’s young lady to Wang Xuanfan’s ears, and say that I intend to marry her.” He pointed to the calligraphy on his desk and continued, “To ensure he fully believes it, deliver this calligraphy to Gu Jinchao, but allow Wang Xuanfan’s people to ‘accidentally’ discover this. Let him think I sent it to Fourth Miss Gu.”
Chen Yi looked puzzled—what was Master Chen’s purpose in doing this? Last time, Master Chen had also sent an ink bamboo painting to the Gu family.
Jiang Yan cautiously asked in a low voice: “Is the Third Master planning to turn their scheme to your advantage, using a marriage alliance with the Gu family to drive a wedge between Minister Yao and Minister Wang?”
Chen Yanxun made a sound of affirmation.
Feng Juan then said: “…When Wang Xuanfan learns of this, he’ll certainly tell Yao Ping. Moreover, he’ll report this to Minister Zhang, claiming you’re trying to take a colleague’s daughter-in-law—an outrageous mistake he can use against you. Then he’ll be the one who fails and suffers for it…”
Hearing this, Jiang Yan fell silent. If Third Master Chen wanted to remove Minister Wang, he wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.
He must have other plans!
Third Master Chen continued: “Once you’ve completed this, return and report to me, and I’ll tell you what to do next.”
Jiang Yan and Chen Yi exchanged glances, both seeing astonishment in each other’s eyes. Though the Third Master typically didn’t explain himself fully when taking action, he wouldn’t usually leave people so completely in the dark. What else did he intend to do?
After everyone had withdrawn, Jiang Yan remained standing with his head lowered, saying through gritted teeth: “I truly cannot understand, and request that you speak plainly, sir. Since Minister Wang has already mentioned this to Minister Zhang, even if you refute this matter, you cannot destroy Minister Wang completely. You wouldn’t undertake something so elaborate yet so ineffective. I must ask, what is your true intention, lest I misunderstand and make a mistake…”
Not hearing Third Master Chen respond, Jiang Yan grew more anxious. Even without looking up, he could feel Third Master Chen’s cold gaze upon him. His legs felt weak, but he stubbornly refused to back down.
He continued: “All these actions relate to the Gu family—to that young lady of the Gu family! Last year when the granary incident occurred, you stepped in to save the father of the Gu young lady. Previously at the Reception Hall, you made an exception to invite the Gu young lady to shelter from the snow, and now this…”
He hadn’t finished speaking. During the Revenue Minister assessment, Third Master Chen had met with several revenue department officials but had specifically gone to the Gu family.
For someone of his position, this was entirely unnecessary.
Third Master Chen’s tone was even: “You now dare to question my affairs.”
Jiang Yan knew he was being audacious, but felt compelled to ask.
He was about to say more when he heard Third Master Chen’s slightly weary words: “…You may go now.”
Jiang Yan was momentarily stunned. When he raised his head to meet Third Master Chen’s gaze—it was utterly cold and emotionless. Only then did he realize with a mental jolt what a serious transgression he had committed—he had dared to question Third Master Chen’s personal affairs! By the time he left, he was drenched in sweat, thinking that if the Third Master became displeased, his official career would be completely ruined…
Third Master Chen indeed had a good temperament and rarely lost his temper. But that was precisely what made him most fearsome—he did everything silently. Once, an advisor had secretly contacted people from Prince Rui’s residence, selling information about Third Master Chen. After finding out, he said nothing, merely turned his teacup upside down on the table and sent the advisor out of the residence. Later, this advisor died in a foreign land, having been poisoned after being severely beaten for theft.
Chen Yi was waiting outside and hurried to meet Jiang Yan when he emerged. Jiang Yan shook his head wordlessly.
After Jiang Yan left, Third Master Chen leaned back in his dongpo chair.
He felt that his behavior was somewhat absurd.
It was truly inappropriate.
He was somewhat self-mocking, never to have imagined he could be someone who would choose beauty to overpower—the very type of person he most despised.
He had always loved power and thought that no matter how gentle his outward appearance, he should be cold and ruthless at his core.
Gu Jinchao would likely agree with this assessment; she seemed somewhat afraid whenever she saw him, and not merely because of his power. Her reaction to him was strange, unexpectedly tolerant.
Chen Yanxun had only met her twice before and had merely felt pity for her. But the more he interacted with this young girl, the more he found himself liking her. Despite her stunningly beautiful face, she seemed to disregard it as if it were a burden. Her temperament was composed yet fascinating.
Thinking of her gazing at him with an expression of both surprise and reproach, Chen Yanxun couldn’t help but smile.
He wanted to protect her, bring her under his wing, or at least see her often.
She must like him too, having specifically sent him sweets. Among the many chambers in the Gu family’s outer courtyard, she had specifically entered his room… Third Master Chen was willing to believe these things, feeling this young girl must have some special feelings for him.
His actions were instinctively aimed at protecting her. Even after doing these things, he found them incredible, yet had no thoughts of regret. Now, thinking of the Gu family and his situation, he had a strange yet wonderful idea.
Why not marry Gu Jinchao? She would be under his protection, and no one would dare bully her. He liked her very much, and it was quite amusing to tease her occasionally, as long as he didn’t go too far. With him as her support in the future, Gu Jinchao could certainly walk boldly through the Gu household without anyone daring to stop her. Jinchao’s temperament was too quiet; at her age, she should be more lively—like when he first met her, boldly reaching out to pick lotus pods and threatening her maid, saying she would sell her to a mountain village as a child bride.
Chen Yanxun was quite willing to do this—he wanted to marry her!
But this was not a simple matter. Gu Jinchao’s family background was too different from his. Even with his persuasion and Old Madam Chen being reasonable and not looking down on Gu Jinchao, Second Master Chen would be a problem, and the Gu family’s background was also problematic.
Originally, if he were to marry, it should be to a woman of the highest family background, to avoid any negative impact on his official career. And since the Gu family was connected to the Marquis Changxing’s power, if he wanted to marry Gu Jinchao, he would need to plan carefully to avoid endless troubles.
No one understood better than he how to dispel Zhang Julin’s wariness. After he had planned everything properly, he would tell Gu Jinchao about it. She shouldn’t refuse, should she…
At this thought, Chen Yanxun felt some hesitation—he was no longer young, after all.
What if Gu Jinchao objected to his age?
He found himself worrying needlessly.
Third Master Chen leaned back and closed his eyes, but his lips curled into a smile. What a shock Jinchao would have when she heard about his proposal!
Gu Jinchao knew nothing of these plans. The next day, she received a piece of calligraphy that was unmistakably in Third Master Chen’s handwriting—a poem about bamboo. Seeing that the scroll bore Third Master Chen’s “Nine Yokes” seal, she read it carefully several times. She found it stunning; Third Master Chen wrote of bamboo groves, saying “wind stirs bamboo sounds, the noisier the more serene.” She liked it very much, thinking it was beautifully written. She mounted these characters in her study.
After the crabapple flowers had bloomed, it was time to end the mourning period. The Fourth House completed their mourning period together, and the household held a ceremony to end the mourning, setting up spirit tablets for worship at home. They were originally supposed to go to Mount Xicui in Shi’an to pay respects, but Madam Feng thought it improper and said to Gu Jinchao: “Since this isn’t the deepest mourning, there’s no need for such formality. Moreover, the household will soon celebrate a joyous event—Miss Lian will soon marry into the Yao family. It would be inauspicious to offend the spirits. Let Grandmother make the arrangements…” She prepared vegetarian meals to send to each household.
Gu Jinchao said nothing, only reciting sutras for her mother in the small shrine for a day.
Yao Ping soon learned from Wang Xuanfan about Third Master Chen’s intention to marry Gu Lian, which greatly shocked him.
“…Why has he set his eyes on her!” Yao Ping felt that Gu Lian would be marrying above her station with Third Master Chen. He paced back and forth in his study, wondering how to handle this. Third Master Chen was not someone he could afford to offend—he was currently Zhang Julin’s favored official. His power had been subtly undermined. After several moments of thought, he concluded that it was just a matter of a young woman after all—better to withdraw from the engagement first! To avoid giving offense.
He immediately summoned Madam Yao.
Upon hearing the news, Madam Yao was greatly shocked: “Fourth Miss Gu was originally chosen by our Wenxiu, and we all thought the Gu family was marrying above their station. How could Master Chen have set his eyes on her…”
Yao Ping impatiently said: “First break off the engagement! Be respectful and courteous to them. Avoid letting the Gu family become arrogant and embarrass us later. Be sure to subtly imply there’s a better match elsewhere.”
Madam Yao understood all this; she was concerned for her son. She returned to find Yao Wenxiu to discuss the matter, telling him this engagement might not proceed.
Yao Wenxiu merely uttered an “Oh,” without showing much disappointment, and seemed somewhat distracted.
Madam Yao paid little attention to this and hurried to the Gu family.