Jin Chao was speaking with Mother Wang, recording Madam Jiang’s dowry items into the ledger.

The dowry left by Madam Jiang wasn’t particularly extensive.

Madam Jiang’s maiden name was Wan Qing, originally a daughter of the Jiang family from Baoding. The Jiang family had for generations been farmers and scholars, producing one Assistant Minister of Rites. Jiang’s grandfather had once been the Imperial Tutor, posthumously awarded the title of Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, and granted a ceremonial archway. Although the family was prosperous, they couldn’t be considered truly wealthy.

“The jade items and jewelry are stored in the western side of the back quarters. Keep the key on your person. As for these three shops and two estates, are there stewards overseeing them?” Jin Chao asked Mother Wang.

Mother Wang smiled and replied, “The former Third Madam had three stewards. If you wish to meet them, I can summon them for you.”

Jin Chao frowned slightly. As the new madam, they should have come to pay their respects to her of their own accord. They weren’t taking her seriously. In her previous life, it had been the same… although in her previous life, she hadn’t managed Madam Jiang’s dowry at all. Old Madam Chen had thought her unreliable then and had personally managed the dowry herself.

Jin Chao took a sip of water and said with a smile, “Thank you for your trouble, Mother Wang. Please invite these people over for me.”

Mother Wang acknowledged her request and continued, “The former Third Madam’s possessions together are worth at least five thousand taels… The two estates included in her dowry—one with a thousand mu of mountain land and the other with six hundred mu of farmland—are both in Baoding County. The three shops all sell spices, mainly Sichuan pepper from Sichuan, star anise from Guangxi, and black pepper from Gansu… They generate nearly a thousand taels of silver in annual income.” Mother Wang deliberately spoke slowly. “These accounts are quite complex, and the amounts involved are substantial. If you don’t understand them clearly, I can find the shopkeepers to explain things to you.”

In her view, Gu Jin Chao came from a humble background and had never seen business dealings involving such large sums.

On the day the dowry was brought in, she had gone to look. The ninety loads of dowry were arranged in a splendid display. Generally, the visible dowry items were generous, but estates and properties were few, especially since the Gu family wasn’t wealthy, and it had already been difficult to put together such an impressive appearance.

Jin Chao was partly amused and partly exasperated. She currently had nearly thirty thousand taels in assets, with monthly income exceeding a thousand taels. Yet Mother Wang spoke to her as if she had never seen silver before, which was truly amusing. Mother Wang, having spent many years in the inner quarters, inevitably had a limited perspective. In her previous life, when Jin Chao later learned about her dowry, she was shocked as well. She could only say to Mother Wang, “In that case, please have them all come to report.”

Mother Wang’s face brightened with delight as she bowed and took her leave.

Jin Chao had been married for nearly half a month, and North Zhili had entered the height of summer.

Outside, a strong wind began to blow, shaking the towering trees in Muxi Hall. The sky quickly darkened, and soon heavy rain began to fall.

The western side room suddenly grew dark, and Rain Bamboo immediately brought over and lit a candle.

Jin Chao sat on the lohan bed, having just picked up the cloak she was making for the Third Master. She had only started it yesterday, and had just finished the patterned border this morning, but hadn’t had time to finish the edges before Mother Wang came to report. Hearing the heavy rain and wind outside, she thought she probably wouldn’t be able to go pay her respects to Old Madam Chen. Jin Chao called over Cai Fu: “Tell the small kitchen to set up lunch in the eastern side room, and make it a bit lighter.”

Today was the first day of the seventh month, and Chen Third Master had the day off, so she would also eat lightly. Jin Chao had a preference for rich flavors, like Madam Ji Wu. Chen Third Master, like Old Madam Chen, preferred lighter tastes, favoring steamed and boiled dishes. In recent years, he had begun to practice Buddhism and was even more strict about his diet.

Cai Fu acknowledged and left.

Rain Bamboo had grown taller, her baby-fat face had become more defined, and she had turned into a bright little beauty. She carefully held the candle to illuminate Jin Chao.

Gu Jin Chao couldn’t help but smile at her: “Just put it on the kang table.”

Rain Bamboo smiled and said, “I’ll hold it closer so you can see more clearly.”

Jin Chao, however, gazed at the heavy rain outside, feeling somewhat worried. Chen Third Master was in the study in the front courtyard, meeting with Chen Sixth Master… She wondered if there were umbrellas in the study. Even if he came through the covered corridor, he would inevitably get wet in the rain.

Jin Chao put the cloak into the bamboo basket and instructed Xiang Fei, who stood nearby, to fetch an oil-paper umbrella. She took the umbrella and headed toward the covered corridor. Xiu Qu hurriedly followed behind her: “Madam, let me go instead!”

Jin Chao waved her hand, gesturing for her to go back. She hadn’t brought an umbrella, and Jin Chao didn’t want her to get wet.

After walking through the covered corridor and across a small bluestone path, she saw the hall. The large trees outside the hall blocked much of the rain, making the hall appear quite serene. From the side room came the faint sound of conversation. Standing guard at the door was one of Chen Third Master’s servants, named Shu Yan. Upon seeing her, he quickly paid his respects and said, “In such heavy rain, how did Madam come over… Let me announce you.”

Jin Chao glanced around the hall, which was furnished with six armchairs and incense burners, with a plaque reading “Spring Harmony and Bright Scenery” hanging on the wall above… She wondered when he had moved these here; weren’t they not here the last time she visited?

Shu Yan returned and invited her in.

Chen Third Master was standing behind the desk, with two people standing in front of him. Chen Third Master beckoned her over and asked softly, “Why did you come over in such heavy rain?”

Seeing his calm expression, Jin Chao suddenly felt she had worried for nothing. She explained, “I was afraid you didn’t have an umbrella here.”

Chen Third Master smiled, “A little rain won’t hurt.”

Only after she walked over did she see the two people opposite Chen Third Master. One wore a bamboo-patterned Hangzhou silk robe and resembled Old Madam Chen somewhat, but his masculine features had a feminine quality, with thin eyebrows thin lips, and a clean face. He glanced at her without speaking. The other wore a gold-threaded brocade robe with floral patterns, had handsome features, and a face full of smiles. They were Chen Fourth Master and Chen Sixth Master.

Chen Sixth Master smiled and called out, “Third Sister-in-law.” He looked at her again and complimented, “Third Sister-in-law’s hair is done beautifully…”

Chen Third Master’s smile disappeared as he quietly told her to go sit inside and wait. When Chen Sixth Master looked up and saw his stern gaze, he quickly explained, “Third Sister-in-law’s maid is skilled; her hair is done beautifully.” Seeing that Chen Yan Yun still hadn’t spoken, he grew nervous and hurriedly said with a flattering smile, “Third Brother, you know I speak without thinking…”

Chen Third Master finally grunted in acknowledgment, knowing he was habitually thoughtless and spoke without consideration. Then he asked, “What do you plan to do about Lady Cui?”

“What can I do…” Chen Sixth Master mumbled, “Just let it pass! The person is already dead…”

Chen Yan Yun smiled slightly, “Just let it pass? Pregnant with your child, dying with the unborn? You still want to just let it pass?”

Chen Sixth Master retorted, “You… you may be a minister, but you can’t drag your brother to see officials, can you!”

“See officials?” Chen Yan Yun coldly berated him, “You think I wouldn’t? The Chen family’s reputation, built over many years, has been ruined by you. Now you dare threaten me with official involvement? If I say one word, you’ll be beheaded. Do you think a prefecture governor would dare merely sentence you to exile?”

Jin Chao, listening from inside, was startled. She had never seen Chen Yan Yun so angry!

Chen Sixth Master was naturally flirtatious, and no one could control him. Jin Chao remembered Old Madam Chen telling her that when he visited those lowly places and returned, Old Master Chen would beat him until he couldn’t get up, leaving him bruised and crying, “…Second Brother and Third Brother like to read, but I don’t like anything. This is my only pleasure. For the sake of me being your son, please spare my life…” Old Master Chen was so angry that he nearly beat him to death, and it took three months for him to recover.

But once his injuries healed, Chen Sixth Master continued to frequent brothels. He was born with a romantic nature.

As for the Lady Cui that Chen Third Master mentioned… Jin Chao remembered her. This matter eventually became a big scandal. Chen Sixth Master had kept a mistress outside, apparently the daughter of a widow. The entire Chen family opposed him taking Lady Cui as a concubine, and Chen Sixth Master also lost interest, gradually ceasing to visit Lady Cui. Lady Cui had someone deliver a message to him, saying she was carrying his child and wanted him to come see her. If he didn’t come, she would kill herself by bashing her head against a wall, rather than living in dishonor.

Chen Sixth Master had reportedly sneered, “Let her die. Who’s stopping her!”

He had seen too many instances of women crying, making scenes, and threatening suicide, and found nothing novel about it.

Unexpectedly, Lady Cui did die… Her death was extremely tragic, and the four-month-old child in her womb also perished with its mother.

The incident became widely known, inevitably damaging the Chen family’s reputation. Later, Chen Sixth Master had to stay at a temple for half a year as atonement for the mother and child.

She continued listening to the conversation in the study. After Chen Yan Yun’s outburst, Chen Sixth Master dared not speak.

Chen Fourth Master then spoke up, “Third Brother, it’s Old Six’s fault… but now the person is gone…”

After a long while, Chen Yan Yun finally said, “When the rain stops, take him to apologize to Lady Cui’s family, and prepare generous gifts. Lady Cui died violently, so invited someone from Baoxiang Temple to perform rituals for her soul’s passage. We’ll discuss the rest after these things are done.” Chen Fourth Master agreed and left the study with Chen Sixth Master.

Jin Chao then emerged from the inner room. Chen Yan Yun was gazing at the heavy rain outside the window, silent. Hearing her approach, he sighed and asked, “Did you hear just now?”

Jin Chao nodded in response. Chen Third Master then picked up the oil-paper umbrella she had brought, “Let’s have lunch first.”

Chen Third Master held the umbrella, his arm around her shoulder to shield her from the rain. The bluestone path was covered with fallen branches and leaves. Jin Chao looked down and saw his black boots, his steps steady and elegant. Once they reached the covered corridor and closed the umbrella, Jin Chao noticed that half his shoulder was wet…

Chen Third Master naturally held her hand as they walked toward the main room. She glanced sideways at his tall figure, suddenly feeling as though someone was sheltering her from wind and rain.

She couldn’t help asking, “How do you plan to handle this matter?”

Chen Third Master didn’t want her to concern herself with these affairs, shaking his head and saying, “We’ll see when he returns… Don’t worry about these things.” His anger wasn’t entirely because Chen Sixth Master had driven Lady Cui to her death. Rather, it was that not only had he done wrong, but he maintained a rascal attitude, knowing his family wouldn’t leave him to face the consequences alone, showing no sign of remorse, waiting for others to clean up after him… Who had spoiled him into developing such a temperament?

When they reached the main room, the meal had already been set up in the eastern side room, consisting of light dishes as expected.

Outside, the rain grew heavier, and thunder and lightning began.