Jin Chao woke up just after the Mao hour (5-7 AM).
In the early summer season, daylight had already brightened outside the latticed window, with light filtering through the bed curtains in a warm, reddish glow.
Jin Chao was still thinking she should get up to pay respects to Madam Feng, but after a moment realized she was already married… She instinctively turned her head and found the bedding beside her disheveled, yet no one was there.
She called for Qing Pu, but it was Xiu Qu who came to lift the curtains. Now a second-class maid, Xiu Qu wore a plain satin jacket and smiled as she curtseyed to her: “Madam is awake. Sister Qing Pu has gone to check on your breakfast.” After hanging up the bed curtains, she came to help Jin Chao dress.
Jin Chao asked her, “Did the Third Master leave early?”
Xiu Qu replied, “The Third Master specifically mentioned that he went for his morning exercise and said you should have breakfast first.”
Madam Wang led Cai Fu and others in with red lacquered square trays holding clothes. Jin Chao glanced at Cai Fu, who smiled and said, “Madam Wang has selected a bright red wide-sleeved jacket for you.” Madam Wang smiled and said, “Miss Cai Fu selected a lilac-colored jacket for you, but I thought it was too plain. You’re a new bride, it’s better to wear bright red.”
Jin Chao smiled slightly. Madam Wang had led the first-class maids in and even selected her jacket… positioning herself as Jin Chao’s attendant. Though she was a new bride, she was still a second wife and had to be cautious in all matters. Wearing bright red for one day was enough.
Jin Chao recalled that in her previous life when she first married, she knew nothing, with only Liu Xiang being somewhat clever, and the two nannies assigned to her by Concubine Song didn’t understand household management. At that time, she had no choice but to follow Madam Wang’s arrangements. Madam Wang had been Madam Jiang’s servant and remained loyal to her. Jin Chao had been kind to all who had served Madam Jiang. Gradually, she established authority among the servants. Once, when Jin Chao wanted to investigate the theft of a coral bracelet from Chen Xi’s room, all the servants lowered their heads in silence until Madam Wang spoke harshly, frightening them all to kneel.
Only then did Gu Jin Chao become wary of Madam Wang.
The woman was formidable, fearing that Jin Chao would take Chen Xi’s dowry, secretly keeping track of the daily expenses in Jin Chao’s quarters. Although Jin Chao had married for other reasons, she hadn’t treated Chen Xi poorly, thinking that as Chen Xuan’qing’s sister, she should occasionally show concern.
Madam Wang was afraid that Chen Xi, being young, would forget Madam Jiang and become close to her stepmother. She frequently mentioned to Chen Xi how virtuous and gracious Madam Jiang had been, reminding her to remember her birth mother and not to trust others easily. Yet she never mentioned a word about what Gu Jin Chao had done for Chen Xi. Gu Jin Chao noticed Chen Xi becoming increasingly unfriendly and eventually stopped bothering her. Under Madam Wang’s guidance, Chen Xi became increasingly petty. Once, she argued with the Sixth Miss Wu over a flower hairpin, and when she couldn’t win the argument, she came back crying and refused to eat for several days.
Since Jin Chao wanted to manage things well in this life, she wouldn’t let Madam Wang gain too much power or let her mislead Chen Xi again—the poor child.
Jin Chao smiled and said, “Madam Wang, as you were left by the former mistress, your experience is naturally valuable. There are many things about the Third Branch that I don’t know, and I’ll need your guidance. Mother sent you to serve me, surely with deep intention. Since you’ll be serving me from now on, Xiu Qu.” She called out, and Xiu Qu curtseyed in acknowledgment. “Share my daily preferences with Madam Wang in detail later.”
Madam Wang curtseyed and said, “Madam is so thoughtful. I will certainly note down everything Miss Xiu Qu tells me.”
Jin Chao nodded, “That’s good. I’ve always preferred plain clothes. Cai Fu, please bring the lilac-colored one instead.” Cai Fu immediately acknowledged and went to fetch it.
Only then did Madam Wang understand that Jin Chao had been diplomatically saying she had chosen the wrong attire. Her heart tightened, and she hurriedly said, “I’ve been presumptuous!”
Jin Chao said slowly, “You didn’t know my preferences, how could I blame you for that?”
Madam Wang smiled and withdrew to arrange breakfast.
After washing up and having breakfast, Jin Chao took a complete tour of Osmanthus Hall. Yesterday, Third Master Chen had only shown her around briefly, and she wasn’t clear about the purpose of each room. Now seeing everything, she understood: at the front was a reversed-seat building now used as her storehouse. The first courtyard was the hall, with the front yard planted with many tall pine, cypress, and locust trees, creating dense shade in summer and making it very cool. The second courtyard housed the five main rooms where she lived. The third courtyard had a garden with a small pond brought in, white stone steps, and flowerbeds planted only with tung trees. The rear rooms were the maids’ quarters.
The garden wasn’t extensively decorated. Jin Chao looked at the pond and thought that planting some water lilies would be nice.
At this moment, a maid came to report that the Third Master had returned.
Jin Chao returned to the main room. Third Master Chen was eating noodles in the eastern side room. A bowl of noodles topped with meat slices—he ate slowly and methodically but finished quickly. Jin Chao handed him a handkerchief. The Third Master took it to wipe his mouth and gestured for her to sit across from him.
“Yesterday you toured the garden with Mother. Have you seen the entire mansion?”
Jin Chao nodded.
“Was it enjoyable?” he asked her again.
Walking around could hardly be called enjoyable. Jin Chao thought for a moment and said, “I just learned that you learned to swim in the lotus pond behind Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard.”
The Third Master smiled, his eyes showing some nostalgia: “I was mischievous as a child. Playing hide-and-seek with Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother, I hid there where no one could find me.”
Fifth Brother… meaning the Fifth Master Chen? Jin Chao had never heard anyone mention this Fifth Master Chen. She only remembered elderly nannies saying something about a son born to a concubine who died in his youth.
This story was told to her by Elder Lady Chen, saying that although Chen Yan’yun was now a second-rank high official, he had his mischievous moments as a child. His brothers dragged him to play hide-and-seek, and though he was serious and didn’t want to play, when they searched, no one could find him. Later they discovered he had hidden in the lotus pond, using a thin bamboo stick to breathe…
“They searched for half an hour without finding him. His nanny was extremely anxious. Then they saw his clothes floating on the lake’s surface, and the old nanny nearly fainted. They hurriedly called people to retrieve him, only to discover he hadn’t drowned but was hiding underwater playing hide-and-seek…” Elder Lady Chen had said with a smile.
Jin Chao had asked with interest, “What happened afterward?”
Elder Lady Chen said, “What else could happen? He came back with a high fever, delirious. Everyone was running around in circles. When he finally woke up, he insisted on finding his Fourth Brother to tell him that next time it would be his Fourth Brother’s turn to seek. He looked so serious… everyone didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
Jin Chao smiled at the memory.
The Third Master glanced at her, and Jin Chao immediately lowered her head, though her smile remained.
Chen Yan’yun said, “It’s not good to hold it in. If you want to laugh, just laugh.”
Jin Chao said, “How could I… No wonder you’re such a good swimmer…” She said the last part softly, remembering that it was Third Master Chen who had rescued her when she fell into the water at the Ji family’s place.
She thought for a moment and asked, “Do you exercise every morning?” Chen Yan’yun should tell her about his daily routine so she could prepare accordingly.
Third Master Chen drummed his fingers on the table edge, considering before answering, “In my early years, I learned swordsmanship from my father. I practice swords every morning. There’s a training ground at Crane Extension Tower, where I keep my guards and loyal soldiers.” He hesitated before slowly saying, “Jin Chao, with my current position, life won’t be very peaceful. Even if there’s a day without bodyguards, I must be able to defend myself. When you go out in the future, you must also be accompanied by guards I assign…”
It was the first time Gu Jin Chao had heard Chen Yan’yun call her name so gently.
Yet his words were very solemn, and he looked up at her after speaking.
Gu Jin Chao smiled and nodded, “Mm, I understand.” She remembered that in her previous life, Third Master Chen had been assassinated while investigating some provincial governor’s corruption case. He had been injured then, alarming the entire household. Chen Yi and others had knelt outside his door to beg forgiveness. She had only heard a vague account and couldn’t remember which provincial governor it was…
Jin Chao blamed herself for her inattentiveness in her previous life. She placed her hand on Chen Yan’yun’s shoulder and said very seriously, “Then you must be extra careful…”
Chen Yan’yun smiled, took her hand from his shoulder, and held it in his own. He kissed her delicate, light pink fingertips and said, “I will.”
Jin Chao felt her fingertips burn and quickly withdrew her hand, saying, “I also wanted to ask about your morning court duties…”
Chen Yan’yun shifted his gaze from her hand—her fingers slender and delicate like jade. He made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, “What do you want to know?”
Jin Chao asked many questions, and Chen Yan’yun answered them all. Gradually, Jin Chao understood his routine: he would exercise in the morning, have breakfast, and then go to his official duties. Morning court was held every six days, with rest days on the first and fifteenth of each month. On morning court days, he would rise early, dress formally in court attire, and attend. If cabinet affairs were few, he would return in the afternoon during the Shen hour (3-5 PM). If there were many matters to attend to, he might not make it back, as the cabinet had designated resting places. Occasionally, he would go horseback riding with Duke Zheng or socialize with various officials, and in his leisure time, he would read.
After she finished asking, Third Master Chen told her, “…I see your maids are arranging the furnishings. Please leave the side room of the front hall in Osmanthus Hall for me. My study is in the front courtyard, which isn’t convenient. I’ll move some books I frequently read over here. You can also borrow them if you wish.”
Jin Chao had also brought some books over, but her study hadn’t been set up yet. Generally, a married woman wouldn’t have a study, but she deeply desired a quiet place for contemplation. Her heart stirred at his words, and she asked softly, “Third Master, could I have a study?”
Third Master Chen thought for a moment and told her, “Why don’t we share one room then? I can have more display cabinets made. We’ll add a screen, and your desk can be placed behind it, near the window for air. What do you think?”
Jin Chao thought to herself that she didn’t want to keep her leisure books alongside the Grand Secretary’s collection… Besides her books on art appreciation and stone inscriptions, she also read miscellaneous records and unofficial histories. What if Third Master Chen saw them? His scholarship was so advanced, what if he laughed at her?
Chen Yan’yun noticed her silence and thought she was unwilling. He sighed but still said gently, “Then let’s forget it. How about setting up in the eastern end room? It has floor heating, so you can stay warm in winter.”
Jin Chao thought this arrangement was better. Reading was a quiet activity, and she also practiced the zither occasionally, which might disturb the Third Master.