Following custom, the couple stayed at the Gu family for a few days. By the time they returned to Wanping, it was nearly time for the six-day court session.

Jin Chao inventoried everything she had brought from the Gu family, including a carriage full of various camellia flowers, recording them all in a ledger and entrusting it to Tong Mama for safekeeping. Third Master Chen was in the hall, discussing the arrangement of his study with the steward. She took the opportunity to call over Qing Pu and instructed her to wake her at dawn tomorrow. While it was acceptable not to attend to the Third Master’s rising on ordinary days, she had to be diligent when he was going to court. She couldn’t allow rumors of her laziness to reach Lady Chen’s ears.

The next day, when Qing Pu came to wake her at dawn, Third Master Chen had just risen. Qing Pu whispered to her: “The Third Master is washing up in the bath chamber…”

He always seemed to rise without waking her, which troubled Jin Chao. She had always been a light sleeper and didn’t know if she was sleeping too soundly since marrying into the Chen family, or if Third Master Chen moved too quietly when getting up. Qing Pu helped her dress in a lotus-pink robe, her black hair arranged in a simple small bun, adorned with a pair of pearl earrings the size of lotus seeds. Only then did Cai Fu and Xiu Qu bring in Third Master Chen’s court robes and place them on the long table.

When Chen Yan Yun emerged from the bath chamber, he saw his wife—who should have been sound asleep—standing and waiting for him.

Jin Chao smiled brightly as she curtseyed: “Let me help you dress.”

The Third Master was momentarily stunned, feeling that her smile was particularly radiant. He regained his composure and asked in his characteristically gentle tone: “Why didn’t you sleep longer?”

“I am your wife,” Jin Chao said with a smile. In her heart, she understood that Third Master Chen had been extremely good to her since marrying her, thinking of everything for her, big and small, practically spoiling her. Apart from her maternal grandmother, no one had ever treated her so well.

Cast me a peach, and I shall return a precious jade.

Perhaps Jin Chao had pleased him in some way; Third Master Chen looked at her for a long time before smiling and nodding: “Good.”

Green-rimmed white gauze undergarment, crimson silk robe, green-trimmed crimson silk skirt, rhino-patterned leather belt. After helping him with these, Jin Chao knelt to help him fasten the official pendant. Third Master Chen bent his head and saw her slender fingers wrapped around the pendant’s cord. Her lotus-pink collar was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of her jade-white neck, with her collarbone disappearing into her collar, and below that, an enticing shadow…

Jin Chao didn’t know how to fasten the pendant properly, having never done it before. After several unsuccessful attempts, still in this position, she could feel Third Master Chen silently gazing down at her. Her face grew warm as she thought to herself that Third Master Chen could at least give her some guidance instead of just watching her struggle in silence…

The pendant’s cord was tangled around the leather belt. Jin Chao tried to loosen it, but the more she hurried, the tighter it became.

Jin Chao leaned in closer to see exactly how it had become entangled when Third Master Chen suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace. Before she could say anything, she felt his breath draw near as he sealed her lips with his own in a passionate kiss. Even when she tried to retreat, he pursued her, holding her waist firmly to prevent her escape.

When he finally released her, Jin Chao felt a tingling throughout her body, her face flushed as she caught her breath.

Third Master Chen gazed at her intently, his voice very husky: “If you don’t know how to fasten the pendant… why not just ask me?”

She was quite stubborn; whenever she faced something she didn’t know or encountered a problem, she would typically wrestle with it herself for a long time until she truly couldn’t figure it out, only then coming to ask him. It was too troublesome; Third Master Chen wished that when she encountered difficulties, he would be the first person she thought of.

After all, they were one entity, sharing both glory and hardship.

“Here, fasten it like this.” Third Master Chen took her hand and taught her how to fasten the pendant. His long fingers wrapped around the cord, deftly creating a loop, with the seal hanging at the back.

After being released, Jin Chao took a while to regain her composure, softly murmuring “Thank you, Third Master.” She picked up the ridged official hat to place it on his head but realized he was a head taller than her and she couldn’t reach… Chen Yan Yun took the hat and put it on himself, saying tenderly: “I’ll return tonight.”

Long after Third Master Chen had left, Jin Chao remembered she had asked for breakfast to be prepared the night before… but by now he would have already passed the screen wall. Jin Chao sat for a while until Cai Fu pushed open the door, smiling as she said: “Why is Madam’s face red… It’s still early, would you like to sleep a bit longer?” Jin Chao looked up at Cai Fu’s question, not sure what she had been thinking, only that she wasn’t accustomed to this feeling.

It was like when she was first awakening to love, her heart pounding whenever she saw Chen Xuan Qing.

“No, help me wash and dress,” Jin Chao decided not to lie in bed anymore. She wanted to plant all the camellia flowers she had brought in the small garden at the back. She also needed to pay respects to Lady Chen, and later Madam Qin would discuss the affairs of the Third House with her. Since Madam Jiang’s death, the Third House had been managed by Madam Qin, but now it was Jin Chao’s responsibility.

When she arrived at Lady Chen’s quarters, Madam Qin, Madam Wang, Madam Ge, and other women had already gathered. Madam Wang smiled as she pulled her over to sit: “Our new sister-in-law is here! Come, sit by me.” Compared to Madam Wang’s forthright manner, Madam Ge moved slightly to the side, offering a faint smile.

Lady Chen smiled at her: “My third son has court today, so you inevitably had to rise early to attend to him. After he left, you should have slept longer; there was no need to come to pay respects.” She handed her a small gold-trimmed dish of walnut kernels, saying, “…These were brought back from Shaanxi by my second son. Try some. They’re more fragrant than those from other places.”

Jin Chao took a handful and offered some to her sisters-in-law. Madam Qin waved her hand: “I can’t eat dried fruits.” She then spoke to Lady Chen about her third daughter-in-law, Madam Sun: “…She’s quite thoughtless too. Despite being with child, she still went to Second Madam Wu’s place to watch opera and almost slipped on the steps!” Jin Chao paused as she was extending the dish, then placed it on the side table.

Madam Sun, sitting nearby, flushed red: “Mother, I didn’t know I was pregnant then…”

Madam Qin scolded her again: “You don’t even remember when your monthly cycle stopped?” Madam Sun had always been prone to talking back, which Madam Qin greatly disliked.

Madam Sun pouted angrily but dared not say anything more.

Lady Chen, however, was delighted: “You should have told me sooner about your pregnancy! When your eldest sister-in-law was expecting, I assigned two more kitchen servants to attend to her, and your eldest nephew was born plump and healthy, not falling ill even once by the age of two.”

She immediately called in Servant Woman Zheng and ordered that Du Zhong’s wife, who served in her kitchen, be reassigned to Madam Sun.

Madam Qin smiled: “There’s no need to trouble Mother with such matters. I’ve already arranged the kitchen staff. I’ve also assigned two more maids to serve her. This is Xuan Rang’s first child, and I plan to visit Baoxiang Temple tomorrow to offer incense and obtain a protection charm for the child.”

Lady Chen said: “Take your sixth sister-in-law along to worship Buddha as well.”

Just as she said this, a young maid came to announce: “…The Seventh Young Master has returned and wishes to pay respects to the Old Madam.”

Lady Chen’s spirits rose instantly, and she smiled: “Quickly let him in so he can see his mother too. He’s been busy at the Hanlin Academy for nearly two months, and I wonder if he’s grown thin…”

Chen Xuan Qing had returned! Gu Jin Chao clutched her handkerchief tightly, then relaxed it a moment later. She had known she would encounter him again after marrying into the Chen family, so why bother avoiding him? From now on, she would treat him as her stepson and deal with him accordingly. Having clarified this in her mind, a faint smile appeared on her face.

From outside came a child’s soft voice: “Seventh Brother, you’re back!”

This was followed by a gentle male voice responding with an “Mm,” and then the maid lifted the curtain to reveal a slender young man in a blue silk cross-collared robe entering, carrying an exquisitely beautiful child—it was Chen Xi coming to pay respects.

Chen Xi obediently hugged her brother’s neck, her black grape-like eyes bright and gentle.

Upon reaching Lady Chen, she descended from her brother’s arms to pay respects to Lady Chen. Chen Xuan Qing knelt and performed a formal greeting. Lady Chen quickly rose to help her grandson up, and Chen Xuan Qing said: “I’ve been away from Grandmother’s side for over two months and have been thinking of you constantly. How have you been?”

Lady Chen held his arm and looked him over repeatedly, smiling through tears: “I’m well. But you’ve grown thinner, and taller too.” Chen Xuan Qing was the most handsome one in the family, with refined and elegant features, his eyebrows and eyes like those drawn with ink and water. He resembled a young bamboo growing in the misty mountains, serene and otherworldly. He had also been raised by Lady Chen, who cherished him above all.

Chen Xi tugged at Chen Xuan Qing’s sleeve, whispering: “Seventh Brother, you said you’d bring me candied figurines…”

Chen Xuan Qing smiled and said: “How could Seventh Brother forget? I’ll give them to you when we return.”

Chen Xuan Qing had been named the Third Scholar, and with his father, Third Master Chen, paving the way for him, he would undoubtedly become the most outstanding grandson of the Chen family. Madam Qin’s earlier mention of Madam Sun’s pregnancy suddenly seemed less important. Madam Sun began whispering to her maid, but Madam Qin gave her a cold look, and Madam Sun immediately fell silent and sat upright. Madam Qin felt that her greatest mistake was choosing such an indiscreet daughter-in-law; if not for her pregnancy, she would have punished her by making her copy Buddhist scriptures upon their return.

Lady Chen used the excuse of inviting the women to drink tea in the east side room, then beckoned Jin Chao over and said to Chen Xuan Qing: “Your father married half a month ago, taking the second daughter of the Gu family as his wife. She is now your stepmother; come and pay your respects to her.”

Chen Xuan Qing first performed the greeting ritual. When he raised his head and saw Gu Jin Chao’s face, he was visibly shocked.

Jin Chao calmly returned the greeting. Lady Chen had them both sit down and holding Chen Xuan Qing’s hand, she began to speak: “Now that you’re back, stay at home for a while. Your tenth brother’s tutor is teaching him the ‘Great Learning,’ and I cannot test whether he’s learning well or not. You can examine his scholarship…”

Chen Xuan Qing’s face quickly regained its composure. “If Grandmother wishes to test him, why not call Xuan Xin over now?”

Chen Xuan Xin was practicing calligraphy in the study in the front courtyard. Lady Chen sent someone to call him, and he came running over. He was very happy to see Chen Xuan Qing, and after greeting his “Seventh Brother,” stood properly at attention. Chen Xuan Qing asked what he had been learning, and Chen Xuan Xin said he had just studied the third chapter: “Look at the shores of the Qi river, where the green bamboo sway gently. There stands a refined gentleman as if being cut and polished as if being carved and ground.”

Chen Xuan Qing asked him to explain this passage, and after thinking, he answered: “It speaks of the respectful and proper attitude one should have toward learning.”

Chen Xuan Qing nodded: “The next line is ‘There stands a refined gentleman, never to be loud and vulgar.’ Taken together, it describes the qualities of a gentleman. You should read it thoroughly to gain a deeper understanding.”

Having received guidance from the Third Scholar, Chen Xuan Xin hurriedly bowed respectfully and said: “Thank you for your instruction, Hanlin Scholar.”

Lady Chen smiled, “See, now that you’re the Third Scholar, doesn’t he listen to you more?”

Chen Xuan Qing, however, couldn’t smile at all. He slightly pursed his lips, keeping his gaze straight ahead.

Jin Chao noticed his constraint and saw that Chen Xuan Qing’s back was ramrod straight, his posture somewhat stiff… This was understandable.