As the night deepened, Elder Lady Chen sent Lü Luo to deliver a message, saying that she had also been tired all day and would excuse Jin Chao from the morning and evening greetings tomorrow. Jin Chao thanked Lü Luo and rewarded her with a first-class red envelope. Lü Luo smiled and said, “Third Madam is too kind. I’m merely delivering a message.”

She curtseyed and left. After a while, Madam Wang came in and asked Jin Chao where she would like to have dinner.

Jin Chao asked her, “Has the Third Master returned?”

Madam Wang replied, “Not yet, but the Third Master’s daily necessities have all been moved over.”

Didn’t he say he would come see her? She hadn’t seen him all afternoon. Jin Chao thought to herself, then said, “Don’t rush to prepare dinner yet. Wait until the Third Master returns.”

Jin Chao then got up and let Qing Pu help her wash up. She changed into a plain bean-green long jacket and a white embroidered skirt. She styled her hair in a small bun, adorned with two bluish-gray crepe silk flowers the size of wine cups, and a pair of white jade earrings. Qing Pu had just opened the box of fragrant cream to apply on her when they heard a young maid announcing visitors outside.

Madam Wang came in again and said, “The three concubines have come… to pay their respects to you.” She added, “Just deal with them briefly.”

Jin Chao recalled these three concubines and smiled slightly, saying, “Let them in!”

Chen Yan’yun’s three concubines had all been elevated by Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang was a kind woman who thought that since her husband was indifferent in these matters, she might as well bring in several new people to liven things up. Besides, her health was poor, and she feared she couldn’t provide descendants for him… This was all told to her later by Elder Lady Chen.

These three concubines were not of high birth and knew their place. They never directly challenged the true mistress, though they often squabbled among themselves behind the scenes.

When the three entered, they curtseyed to her in sequence.

The oldest was Concubine Xue Rong, Chen Xuan’xin’s birth mother, who had previously been Elder Lady Chen’s second-class maid and was even a year older than Third Master Chen. She wore a begonia-red jacket and had a smiling face. Next was Concubine Lu Han’yan, the daughter of a rice shop family in Baodi, who had no children. The youngest was Concubine Yu Xian’yin, who had been elevated a year before Madam Jiang fell ill. She was originally the daughter of a secretary in Wanping County’s government office and was only twenty years old this year.

All three were shocked when they saw her, but Concubine Xue was the first to recover, smiling and saying, “Madam is truly beautiful. I was so entranced I lost my composure. Please excuse me.” Concubine Lu glanced at her and said, “Concubine Xue is still so glib!” Then she curtseyed to Jin Chao and said, “I am Lu, paying respects to Madam. I’m not as eloquent as Concubine Xue, but she has indeed spoken the truth.”

Concubine Yu stood behind the two, lowering her head with a cold smile. When she came before Jin Chao, she curtseyed indifferently, “I am Yu, paying respects to Madam.”

Jin Chao had the maids bring first-class red envelopes for the three and also gave each a gold lotus-patterned hairpin.

Concubine Xue thanked her first, saying, “I felt a closeness to Madam at first sight. I will come to pay my respects every morning and evening from now on. I hope you won’t find me annoying.”

If she came to pay respects, the other two would certainly come daily as well. Jin Chao didn’t know how ‘lively’ her place would become.

Jin Chao smiled without speaking, took a sip of tea, and called Madam Wang over to ask, “Where are the three concubines living now, and do they have enough maids serving them?”

Madam Wang respectfully answered, “The three concubines live together in Envy Fish Pavilion. Concubine Xue lives on the first floor, while Concubines Yu and Lu share the second floor. Concubine Xue has five maids serving her, and Concubine Yu and Lu each have four, not counting the menial servants.”

The Chen family was wealthy, so even the concubines had many maids.

Jin Chao put down her teacup but didn’t speak.

The three concubines didn’t dare to speak either. Concubine Xue regretted speaking up earlier. The new madam was formidable indeed. The three of them were standing right there, yet she didn’t ask them directly, instead calling over Madam Wang to inquire—clearly showing she didn’t consider them worth her attention. She had heard that Third Master Chen had married a young girl, which had pleased her for several days, thinking she would be easier to deal with than Madam Jiang. Unexpectedly, though young, the new madam was an expert at controlling people…

Since Concubine Xue had given birth to a son, her treatment was better than the other two concubines. If she could be managed, the other two would be easier to handle. Jin Chao had navigated such situations with ease in her previous life, and now even more so. She said to Concubine Xue, “This afternoon, Mother took me to tour the garden, and I caught a glimpse of Envy Fish Pavilion from afar. Since you live so far away, you need not come to pay respects daily. Coming on festivals, the first, and the fifteenth of each month will suffice. If you need anything, send someone to tell Madam Wang.”

The three thanked her again with a curtsey.

Outside, a young maid announced through the curtain that the Third Master had arrived.

Chen Yan’yun lifted the curtain and entered, seeing so many people in the room, he couldn’t help but frown.

First, Elder Master Chen died, and Chen Yan’yun had to observe the mourning period. As soon as the three-year period ended, Madam Jiang fell ill. Among them, Concubine Xue had given birth to a son, Concubine Lu had served him a few times, but Concubine Yu had never served Chen Yan’yun at all… The three were all fearful in his presence, curtseying and calling him ‘Third Master.’

Chen Yan’yun responded lightly and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Jin Chao smiled and said, “They came to pay their respects to me.”

Concubine Yu’s gaze lingered on Chen Yan’yun for a moment before she quickly lowered her head. Chen Yan’yun noticed this and disliked it even more. Back when he took concubines… it was Madam Jiang who had approached Elder Lady Chen to persuade him together. Chen Yan’yun was never one who enjoyed such arrangements. Moreover, he disliked the temperaments of all three concubines and was aware of the little games they played among themselves. But at that time, he did have to consider the clan’s interests.

Chen Yan’yun saw that Jin Chao had changed into plain clothes, but the kang table was empty. He asked her, “You haven’t eaten yet?”

Jin Chao shook her head, “Have you eaten?”

Of course not.

Chen Yan’yun explained, “I escorted Duke Zheng to the main gate, and by the time I returned, it was already this hour. If you’re hungry, eat first. Don’t wait for me.”

The three concubines exchanged awkward glances. Jin Chao didn’t want to keep them to serve the meal, so she said, “If you have nothing else, you may withdraw.”

The three hesitated briefly before curtseying and departing.

Chen Yan’yun beckoned Madam Wang over: “Tell the small kitchen to serve the food quickly.”

Soon the dishes were served—mixed vegetable soup, steamed mandarin fish, pickled goose feet, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables were laid out on the kang table. Third Master Chen silently took bowls and chopsticks from the maid’s red lacquer tray and first ladled a bowl of soup for her.

Jin Chao was startled. She was now a married woman; how could she let him serve her? She took the soup bowl and set it down, then went to his side and curtseyed, “Let me serve the dishes for you instead.”

Third Master Chen looked up at her.

Jin Chao looked back at him, thinking this was perfectly normal… Isn’t it expected for a wife to serve her husband?

Third Master Chen seemed a bit displeased and pointed to the spot across from him, saying flatly, “Sit down and eat.”

Jin Chao hesitated again and asked, “Or shall I have the maid serve dishes for you?”

Though he didn’t say anything, Jin Chao could feel his expression darken. His gaze fell on her, silent yet calm, but it felt like he was scolding a child who had made a mistake, making her heart tighten involuntarily.

He gently put down his chopsticks and instructed the maids around them, “All of you withdraw.” The maids exchanged glances, then put everything down and left. Only then did Chen Yan’yun extend his hand to Jin Chao: “Come here.”

What is he doing… Jin Chao suddenly felt the panic of a child about to be punished by a teacher.

Chen Yan’yun’s stern, serious expression did resemble a strict teacher. Jin Chao remembered when she stayed at her maternal grandmother’s house, there was a teacher who was very harsh with her. When she was lazy and didn’t study properly, she was often punished. Her grandmother never indulged her in this matter. It was thanks to this teacher’s strictness that she later became more learned than most women in the inner chambers.

Just as Jin Chao moved a step, Third Master Chen suddenly took her hand and pulled her onto his lap. Jin Chao was caught off guard and wrapped her arms around his neck, afraid of falling. She stared at him in surprise…

With another firm pull from Third Master Chen, Jin Chao was pressed tightly against his chest, feeling the warmth transmitted through the thin fabric.

She widened her eyes, her face turning red as she stammered, “What… what are you doing? Please let me down!” No wonder he had asked the maids to leave.

Third Master Chen slowly asked her, “What should you call me?”

Gu Jin Chao felt his arm around her waist was incredibly strong. She bit her lip and said, “What would you like me to call you?”

Third Master Chen said, “You guess first. If you guess correctly, you can get down and eat.”

Gu Jin Chao was silent for a moment. What could she call him? If possible, she would quite like to call him Third Master Chen like everyone else. But she felt this answer probably wasn’t correct, so she said softly, “Your courtesy name is Jiu Heng, and you go by the pseudonym Bamboo Mountain Recluse. How about I address you by your courtesy name from now on?”

Chen Yan’yun thought for a moment and accepted, “That will do.” He held her with one arm while picking up his chopsticks with the other hand and began eating.

Jin Chao took a deep breath, trying her best to ignore the fact that she was still in his arms, and asked with a smile, “Didn’t you say that if I guessed correctly, I could get down and eat?”

Chen Yan’yun made an affirmative sound and said calmly, “But you didn’t guess correctly.”

Jin Chao’s face fell, “Third Master, I’m a bit hungry. Can we continue guessing another day? What do you think?”

Chen Yan’yun finally smiled and stopped teasing her, releasing her. Jin Chao immediately sat across from him and picked up her bowl, no longer mentioning helping him with his food. She could roughly sense that… Third Master Chen was unhappy with her behavior, though she didn’t understand why.

After a while, the maids came in to clear the dishes.

Jin Chao was attended by Qing Pu as she washed up and went to bed. After the maids had all withdrawn, she stared at the ceiling and the red curtains, suddenly recalling the scene from last night. Third Master Chen had just entered the bathing room… She couldn’t help feeling anxious. Just now he had held her so close.

In the end, she didn’t worry for long. The afternoon garden tour had tired her so much that she fell asleep before Third Master Chen came out.

After a tiring day and retiring early, she slept very comfortably.

Chen Yan’yun changed into a straight robe and came out of the bathing room, only to find that she was already asleep. He stood by the bed watching her for a long while before gently blowing out the lantern and walking outside. Chen Yi was waiting outside and presented him with a stack of letters with both hands, saying softly, “Third Master, these are confidential letters from Yunnan.”

Chen Yan’yun took them and said quietly, “The ancestral temple that Jiang Yan was supervising should be completed by now. Tell him to return from Baoding.”

Chen Yi’s face lit up with joy. Master Jiang was finally coming back!

He hurriedly acknowledged the order and withdrew, eager to saddle a horse in the stable.