When she awoke the next day, it was already bright outside. Third Master Chen had already gone to court.

Jin Chao felt her body was sore and weak. Last night, they had only retired at the hour of Zi (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), both of them drenched in sweat. Third Master Chen had held her for quite a while before calling for an old woman to bring in hot water for her bath. When she woke up, she already felt unwell.

Cai Fu helped her comb her hair, but she was still drowsy.

Madam Sun came in to tell her about Madam Wang’s matter: “…This servant has already sent her to Baoding overnight, according to your instructions. We prepared her luggage and also gave her twenty taels of silver for travel expenses. We dispatched a cart to take her to Baoding.” She then spoke about Wan Shi’s wife’s matter, “She was negligent in her duties, so this servant fined her one tael of silver, and Wan Shi’s wife accepted without reluctance.”

Jin Chao nodded and said, “That’s good. But since Miss Xi has already moved over here, she should also have her three meals in the small kitchen. Tell Wan Shi’s wife to check how Miss Xi’s menu is arranged and follow it accordingly.”

Madam Sun assented and withdrew.

Yu Zhu brought in a glass bowl with several white camellia flowers. She smiled and said to Jin Chao, “Madam, I saw the camellias you’re growing in the flower garden are blooming beautifully. Why not use them as hairpins?”

Jin Chao smiled slightly, “Only young girls wear fresh flowers. Just put them on the desk; they smell nice too.”

She was unwilling to do anything unusual or attract others’ attention with her appearance.

Perhaps it was a flaw left from her previous life.

Yu Zhu placed the glass bowl on the desk, and sure enough, the room was filled with a subtle fragrance.

The maids brought in breakfast one after another.

Outside, a little maid announced through the curtain that the young Miss from her family had come to visit.

Gu Jin Chao was surprised—how did Zhou Yi Xuan end up at her place?

Zhou Yi Xuan walked in with two maids. She was taller than most women but had a pretty, delicate face full of smiles. “I’ve just caught Third Aunt eating breakfast. I heard that Third Aunt and I live close by, so I thought we could go pay our respects to Grandmother together.”

From Half Bamboo Bank to Osmanthus Hall was at least an incense stick’s burn time away, almost as far as going to the Drooping Flower Gate…

Gu Jin Chao smiled and welcomed her to sit down, asking the maids to add another set of bowls and chopsticks. “There’s nothing special, I hope you don’t mind!”

Zhou Yi Xuan smiled, “Everything at Third Aunt’s place is good, even if it doesn’t seem good!”

Gu Jin Chao smelled a faint scent of rose water on her and looked at her more carefully. Her hair was neatly arranged, adorned with ruby jewel knots and lotus bud gold hairpins. Her fingernails were also dyed well, the color still fresh, probably newly applied.

Zhou Yi Xuan took a few sips of porridge, looking around distractedly.

Gu Jin Chao had already guessed that Zhou Yi Xuan wasn’t here to see her but wanted to see someone else…

She asked, “Is the plain porridge not to your taste? Let me get you a salted duck egg to go with it.”

Zhou Yi Xuan quickly said it wasn’t necessary, but Jin Chao had already called someone to bring it. “These are the ones Third Master brought back a few days ago, said to be from Gaoyou County. These salted duck eggs are red with plenty of oil, and very fragrant to eat. Try and see if they’re good.”

Zhou Yi Xuan thanked her and then asked, “Third Aunt, doesn’t… Seventh Cousin come to pay his respects to you in the morning?”

So she finally couldn’t resist asking.

“He lives in the outer courtyard, which makes coming and going inconvenient. Besides, he’s already an adult, so there’s no need for him to come and pay respects every day,” said Gu Jin Chao.

Zhou Yi Xuan made an “oh” sound but didn’t seem as happy anymore.

After a while, Miss Xi came over, and the three of them went together to Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard to pay respects to Old Madam Chen.

They happened to meet Chen Xuan Qing who had come to pay respects to Old Madam Chen.

Chen Xuan Qing bowed to Old Madam Chen and was pulled to sit down to talk: “Now your Second Uncle is in Shaanxi, and your father is so busy that he can’t be seen morning or night. You still have to run to the Hanlin Academy every day. Since you have free time today, don’t go back to reading books, stay and chat with this old woman for a while.”

Chen Xuan Qing was somewhat helpless. He couldn’t refuse but still had things to do. He could only tuck the dough figurine in his sleeve further, planning to accompany his grandmother for a while first.

Outside, a little maid announced that the Third Madam, the young Miss from the family, and the Fourth Young Miss had come to pay their respects.

After the bamboo curtain was lifted, Gu Jin Chao entered first, followed closely by Zhou Yi Xuan and Chen Xi.

Gu Jin Chao first paid her respects to Old Madam Chen. Chen Xuan Qing stood up when he saw her and nodded, calling her ‘Mother.’ Zhou Yi Xuan’s eyes brightened when she saw Chen Xuan Qing, and she became shy, softly calling him ‘Seventh Cousin.’ Chen Xi obediently bowed to her grandmother and followed Nanny An to the study room at the back to practice calligraphy. She now practiced two sheets every day.

Old Madam Chen smiled and said to Chen Xuan Qing, “Just in time, your cousin Xuan has come. You haven’t seen each other for several years, right?”

Chen Xuan Qing nodded, “It should be about four years.”

“I remember back then, Seventh Cousin was only twelve years old, a head taller than me. You used to play with me and help me pick golden tangerines from the back mountain to eat,” Zhou Yi Xuan said with a smile. “Later, I heard that Seventh Cousin achieved the top marks in the imperial examination, becoming the third-ranked scholar, and was appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy. I’ve always wanted to see Seventh Cousin. My two brothers passed the provincial examination several years ago but still haven’t passed the metropolitan examination. Is there some secret to it? If Seventh Cousin tells me, I’ll also tell my two brothers.”

After hearing this, Chen Xuan Qing inwardly laughed bitterly, not knowing how to answer.

Most ladies from secluded chambers were like this—they hadn’t read many books. They thought the provincial examination and the metropolitan examination were just different titles and believed there was some secret to it. What secret could there be in the eight-legged essay? It was just about studying. Those with high comprehension, like his father, went from provincial graduate to second place in a year; those with poor comprehension might never pass in their entire lives.

Gu Jin Chao, fearing that Chen Xuan Qing might inadvertently hurt Zhou Yi Xuan’s feelings, said, “Miss Xuan is asking the wrong person. If you ask him how to write poetry and calligraphy, he might be able to answer, but asking for secrets, I’m afraid even the Seventh Young Master himself would be troubled.”

If there were secrets, there wouldn’t be so many scholars failing the examinations.

Zhou Yi Xuan seemed a bit intoxicated when she saw Chen Xuan Qing. Hearing Gu Jin Chao, she couldn’t help but blush, feeling that her question showed a lack of knowledge. She changed the subject, saying, “Then I’d like to ask Seventh Cousin what kind of calligraphy looks good for girls. My aunt used to write beautiful plum blossom seal script, and I’d like to learn it too.”

Chen Xuan Qing glanced at Gu Jin Chao before saying gently, “Miss Xi has also practiced plum blossom seal script for two years, but it’s really difficult to learn. But the official script used by scholars isn’t suitable for you either. I have a copy of Zhao Mengfu’s ‘Songxue Studio Collection’ calligraphy copybook, which would be quite suitable for Cousin. I’ll find it when I go back and have someone send it to you.”

His tone was mild, and his words were appropriate.

Gu Jin Chao almost forgot that Chen Xuan Qing was only impatient with her. He was very polite to other women—how could he say anything to hurt Zhou Yi Xuan’s face?

She smiled slightly and lowered her head to drink tea without saying anything.

“Then I thank Seventh Cousin in advance,” Zhou Yi Xuan was very happy. She had liked her seventh cousin since she was young. Not only was he handsome, but his temperament was also clear and transcendent. Other men simply couldn’t compare to him. She admired knowledgeable people the most, feeling that most young masters from aristocratic families were empty-headed, but her seventh cousin was different. Perhaps this was what people meant by ‘having poetry and books in one’s belly gives one natural elegance’!

Old Madam Chen felt something was off about Zhou Yi Xuan and looked at her a few more times.

Chen Xuan Qing raised his hand to pick up the teacup, but something accidentally slid out of his sleeve. He immediately wanted to bend down to pick it up, but Zhou Yi Xuan exclaimed, “Seventh Cousin, what is this?”

She quickly picked it up and found it was a dough figurine with double buns, wearing a red short robe, made very delicately.

Old Madam Chen was also curious about why such a thing, used to coax children, was on Chen Xuan Qing’s person.

Gu Jin Chao’s fingers twitched slightly. Could this be the dough figurine Chen Xuan Qing said he wanted to give her? Why was he still hiding it from him?

Chen Xuan Qing didn’t know why he lied, instinctively feeling that such a matter was inappropriate to speak about, and said calmly, “I was planning to buy it for Miss Xi, and was waiting for her to come out to give it to her.”

The dough figurine was soft but wasn’t damaged at all in his sleeve. Moreover, since it was bought by Chen Xuan Qing, Jin Chao would cherish it no matter how cheap it was… Zhou Yi Xuan held it lovingly, reluctant to return it to Chen Xuan Qing. But fighting with Chen Xi for something didn’t seem right; Xi was her little cousin after all…

She looked pitifully at Old Madam Chen and said coquettishly, “Grandmother, I also like such dough figurines.”

Her grandmother doted on her and usually tried to fulfill her requests. Such a small matter should be granted, right?

To her surprise, Old Madam Chen just smiled and said, “You’re so grown up now, how can you take something meant for your cousin? Later, Grandmother will find someone to make one for you, bigger and more beautiful. Let’s leave what Xuan Qing bought for Xi to her.”

Old Madam Chen felt that Zhou Yi Xuan’s feelings for Chen Xuan Qing were a bit different, which couldn’t be allowed! Chen Xuan Qing was already engaged to Yu Wan Xue, and in a few months, the two families would discuss the marriage. What if Zhou Yi Xuan liked Chen Xuan Qing? They couldn’t break off the engagement with the Yu family; the Yu family was also a prestigious household. Such girlish feelings were better nipped in the bud.

Gu Jin Chao thought that Old Madam Chen had noticed Zhou Yi Xuan’s feelings.

But Zhou Yi Xuan’s feelings were so easy to guess, displayed clearly on her face.

Zhou Yi Xuan could only return the dough figurine to Chen Xuan Qing, appearing unwilling.

After Chen Xuan Qing took it back, he put it back in his sleeve and continued drinking tea.

They had lunch at Old Madam Chen’s place. Jin Chao told Old Madam Chen about Madam Wang’s matter and then accompanied Miss Xi back to take her medicine. Although she was better now, her body was still weak and needed care. Only after Miss Xi’s afternoon nap did she return to Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard. Old Madam Chen had invited her to play cards in the afternoon.

Halfway there, she saw Chen Xuan Qing walking towards her, with no one behind him.

Chen Xuan Qing called her Mother and smiled, saying, “May I have a word with you?” He walked straight ahead.

Gu Jin Chao still had Qing Pu, Cai Fu, and others with her. Not understanding what he wanted to do, she hesitated for a moment before following.

By the side where Taihu rocks were piled, under the dense shade of the locust trees, Chen Xuan Qing finally stopped. He took out the dough figurine from his sleeve and handed it to her. “This is what I promised earlier. Lest Xi says again I don’t treat you well, take it.”

Gu Jin Chao was silent for a moment, then said softly, “Seventh Young Master, you already said at Mother’s place that this was for Miss Xi, so it should be hers. It wouldn’t be good for me to take it now, do you understand?”

Chen Xuan Qing was stunned. After a while, he realized… He had inexplicably lied earlier, saying it was for Miss Xi. If this thing appeared at Gu Jin Chao’s place in the end… he and Gu Jin Chao would have a hard time explaining it!

But he had chosen this dough figurine for a long time, feeling it resembled Gu Jin Chao. When he saw it, his heart had even felt a bit happy.

He remained silent for a long time, withdrawing his hand with a sigh, “Then forget it.”

Gu Jin Chao nodded, without paying him any further attention, and left with Qing Pu and Cai Fu.

Chen Xuan Qing stood there for a long time, holding the chubby dough figurine in his hand. He didn’t know what he was thinking about.