Master Chen lay on the bed, still unconscious, covered with thick quilts. He usually only used thin bedding, but after losing so much blood, it wouldn’t be enough to keep his body warm. Besides his pale complexion, he appeared to have no other serious issues.
Shu Yan brought over a stool for Jin Chao, who sat by the bedside holding his hand.
His hands, usually warm, were now ice-cold—hands that held brushes, with calluses on the pads of his index and middle fingers. His fingers were long with distinct knuckles.
Jin Chao carefully examined his hand for the first time and softly instructed Shu Yan, “Go heat a warming pan.”
Shu Yan was stunned—how would a warming pan be needed in this hot weather?
Jiang Yan said, “What are you standing there for? Just go heat one.” Madam probably felt Master Chen’s hands were too cold.
Shu Yan quickly returned with the warming pan. Gu Jin Chao tucked it under the bedding and discovered his feet were equally cold. After positioning the warming pan properly, she showed no intention of leaving. She gazed at Master Chen for a long time… Whenever Master Chen had days off, Gu Jin Chao would wake to find him watching her, not knowing for how long. What was so interesting about watching someone sleep? She had never quite understood.
Gu Jin Chao even felt somewhat guilty, thinking perhaps she should have spoken clearly about the assassination attempt rather than relaying it through Buddha’s words. Maybe then he would have truly been vigilant and wouldn’t have been harmed by others.
When there had been no one to rely on, perhaps there was no fear. Only when one truly cares does fear arise.
Jin Chao was terrified that something might happen to Master Chen… that there would be no one to comfort her when she was in pain, to embrace her, to treat her with gentle kindness. Or when Master Chen was reading, she would keep him company. Whenever she called him, he would respond quickly, always composed and peaceful.
Gu Jin Chao buried her face in his hand, and the tears she had been holding back finally fell, wetting his palm.
She had always been a proud person who disliked others seeing her cry.
Chen Xuan Qing noticed her shoulders trembling slightly.
Was she crying? When Gu Jin Chao used to cry in front of him, it often had an element of performance, to attract his attention. Since marrying into the Chen family, Chen Xuan Qing hadn’t seen her cry; it seemed this type of crying was no longer for him, so it became more restrained—perhaps she truly couldn’t hold back anymore.
Did she care so much for his father now?
Chen Xuan Qing lowered his eyes without speaking.
Gu Jin Chao suddenly felt Master Chen’s hand move slightly. Before she could react, she heard his gentle voice: “…Why are you crying?”
Jin Chao looked up to find Master Chen gazing at her, a faint smile lifting the corner of his mouth. “I told you I would be fine… please stop crying…” His voice was still strained, but he struggled to sit up. Seeing her staring blankly at him, he attempted to wipe her tears with his sleeve.
Jin Chao didn’t know why, but seeing him awake only made her want to cry more. She stared at him as tears continued to fall.
Master Chen sighed, pulling her into his embrace, and gently patting her back. “There now, everything’s fine. Don’t cry.”
Master Chen signaled to Jiang Yan, who led the surrounding guards out. Chen Xuan Qing also withdrew and closed the door.
Master Chen felt her body trembling uncontrollably, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist, as if completely dependent on him. His heart softened immeasurably as he quietly asked, “How did you come here… Didn’t I tell Chen Yi… not to let you come?”
His planned strategy was set before her pregnancy; had he known she was pregnant, he wouldn’t have risked using such methods. But there was no alternative now. Originally, he had wanted Chen Yi to downplay the situation to prevent Jin Chao from worrying. Yet unexpectedly, she had stood by his side, watching over him…
Normally, Jin Chao would have found such an embrace embarrassing, but now she felt nothing was more important than Master Chen’s well-being. She explained, “I insisted on coming… I was afraid something might happen to you. I initially thought it might be bad for the baby and was planning to return…”
“What exactly did Chen Yi tell you?” He continued soothing her back, suspecting Chen Yi’s explanation had been problematic.
Jin Chao shook her head, unwilling to elaborate. Considering he had just regained consciousness, she asked, “Should we call the imperial physician to examine you? Are you hungry? I can make you some red date and wolfberry porridge.” Having lost so much blood, he should eat something to replenish it.
Master Chen shook his head.
He could still judge what was serious and what wasn’t; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared take such risks. The injury appeared severe but hadn’t damaged his heart or lungs.
His voice was slightly hoarse: “Actually… I’m quite pleased. Jin Chao, if I were to truly die someday, knowing you would grieve for me like this would be enough. You still remember me…”
Jin Chao couldn’t help feeling her nose sting with tears again. Chen Yan Yun was wrong—when he died in her previous life, not only did she not grieve, but in the decades that followed, including after her rebirth, she rarely thought of him. She reached out to cover his mouth, “Let’s not talk about death. Look at you, you’re fine.”
Master Chen removed her hand, smiling as he said, “I’m fifteen years older than you—how could I not die before you?”
Jin Chao considered this and replied very seriously, “Then you must try to live ten or more years longer.”
Chen Yan Yun nodded; for Jin Chao’s sake, he should indeed cherish his life. He cradled her face, drawing closer to kiss her lips. His hand slid to her abdomen, gently circling it. “Will you take care of it today?”
Having lost too much blood, Jin Chao felt his lips were cold as ice. Remembering her earlier warning, she couldn’t help asking, “Master Chen, I cautioned you just the other day to be careful, yet you still got injured?” For someone as cautious as him, even the slightest suspicion should have made him extremely vigilant.
Chen Yan Yun had no intention of revealing the truth to her. Seeing how upset she was now if she knew the reality, she might become angry and stop speaking to him.
Even if Wang Xuan Fan was bold enough to attempt to assassinate him, his guards weren’t raised for nothing. He had deliberately exposed a weakness for Wang to take the bait. Wang Xuan Fan probably didn’t expect him to be injured—likely he only intended to frighten him. Now with a second-rank official of the imperial court suffering an attack, given Zhang Ju Lian’s temperament, he certainly wouldn’t hold back any longer.
“Man proposes, Heaven disposes,” Chen Yan Yun said. “Your husband is not Heaven; I too have oversights.”
Jin Chao studied him for a long time. The more Master Chen spoke this way, the more she suspected something unusual about the incident. Yet that face maintained a constant smile, revealing nothing. Indeed, how could she possibly see through him? Jin Chao sighed helplessly, “I’ll call Jiang Yan to check on you, and Mother too—she’s been extremely worried about you.”
Soon Jiang Yan and Chen Yi entered first.
Master Chen calmly asked Chen Yi, “Didn’t I tell you… not to make my injuries sound too serious? What did you say?”
Chen Yi scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly, “I did follow your instructions… but perhaps I overacted… I thought the Third Madam was too clever to be fooled by ordinary tricks, so I specifically took some time to compose myself before reporting to her.”
Master Chen looked up at him. Chen Yi, aware of his fault, said quietly, “This subordinate will accept twenty strokes of punishment tomorrow.”
Master Chen then instructed Jiang Yan, “Tomorrow Lord Zhang will certainly come to visit. At that time, remove the guards from Heyanlou outside.”
Jiang Yan acknowledged the order and went to arrange it.
To eliminate Wang Xuan Fan, he needed to leave himself an escape route. Feigning weakness through injury was an excellent method.
Sure enough, Zhang Ju Lian came to the Chen residence the next day.
Though already the First Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Zhang Ju Lian was not concerned with pomp. He arrived in a simple blue-curtained carriage, though his four personal guards breathed so softly they were barely audible—top-tier experts. Zhang Ju Lian entered the study, and as Chen Yan Yun attempted to rise and greet him, Zhang waved dismissively: “No need, you’re ill.”
With a sweep of his robes, he sat beside him, and servants immediately brought up Shifeng Longjing tea. Zhang Ju Lian inquired, “I heard from Imperial Physician Wang that the arrow penetrated deeply. Had it been a fraction off, your life might have been in danger… How are you now?”
Chen Yan Yun smiled bitterly, “Thanks to Imperial Physician Wang’s divine skills, my life was saved, though several months of recovery seem inevitable.”
Zhang Ju Lian said, “Then rest well. We’ll leave Liu Han Zhang’s matter to Lord Liang to investigate. These people dare to harm imperial officials—truly outrageous. We initially didn’t want to create too much disturbance, sparing their dog lives, but perhaps we were too merciful.”
His gaze fell on the Longjing tea. “One flag, one spear—truly premium quality. Jiu Heng, you have always been attentive to your teacher, and you are the one I trust most. As long as you stand by my side, we remain closest of all.”
Chen Yan Yun replied, “Naturally.”
Zhang Ju Lian left the tonics he had brought, and Chen Yan Yun called Jiang Yan to escort Zhang Ju Lian out.
Gu Jin Chao was bringing fish soup to Master Chen when she saw someone approaching surrounded by admirers. She quickly stepped aside. Glancing up, her eyes met directly with the central figure—a man of medium height with bright, slender eyes, thick eyebrows, and extraordinary bearing.
Jin Chao was startled to realize it was the current First Grand Secretary Zhang Ju Lian… In her previous life, she had only seen Zhang Ju Lian once at Master Chen’s funeral. Had he come to visit Master Chen?
Zhang Ju Lian, however, didn’t look at her again and was quickly surrounded by his entourage as he boarded his carriage.