The maid came over to say that Madam Chen San would arrive shortly. Madam Zhou again instructed Gu Lian a few more words: “Try not to speak. I’ll do the talking…”

Gu Lian didn’t understand her mother’s intention and asked, “Didn’t Grandmother say I should help persuade her too?”

“Every time you speak, you offend people.” Madam Zhou looked at Gu Lian and recalled the incident with Yao Wen Xiu, feeling irritated.

Her maid quickly entered, sounding somewhat nervous: “Madam, I saw a tall man accompanying Second Miss… it might be Master Chen San.”

By reason, she was an elder, so when Master Chen San came to see Gu Jin Chao, she should meet him. But this was Master Chen San—even if he completely ignored them from beginning to end, Madam Zhou wouldn’t dare complain. She had heard that Master Chen San had been injured recently and had been recuperating at home, and was probably accompanying Gu Jin Chao on this visit.

Wouldn’t it be even better to say those words in front of Master Chen San…

Gu Lian, however, was very pleased: “Mother, since Master Chen San has come, can’t we just ask him directly? That would save us from having to look at Gu Jin Chao’s face.”

Madam Zhou said: “What do you know! Cry when you should cry, and don’t interrupt otherwise.”

Just as she finished instructing Gu Lian, the maid lifted the curtain.

Since Master Chen San had come, they certainly couldn’t talk around the kang bed. Madam Zhou sat in a small hall nearby, where six large armchairs were arranged, and a portrait of Confucius hung on the wall opposite the latticed windows, with a gilded incense burner placed as an offering.

Gu Jin Chao entered first, followed indeed by a tall man.

This was the third time Gu Lian had seen Master Chen San—once when he came to the Gu family to propose marriage, and once when he came to the mansion to take Gu Jin Chao home. But both times she had only seen him from afar, never up close. Looking at him now, she couldn’t help but be stunned. At first glance, the man didn’t strike one as particularly handsome, but the longer one looked, the more one felt he was extraordinarily good-looking. Refined and elegant, he exuded the quality of a scholar. This made him impossible for anyone to ignore.

Madam Zhou hurriedly pulled Gu Lian to her feet to greet Master Chen San.

Master Chen San gestured for them to sit: “Aunt, please don’t stand on ceremony. It’s just that Jin Chao is now pregnant, not yet four months along. I was worried about her, which is why I came along. The doctor said she didn’t rest well in the first few months and needs to recuperate for a while.”

This was indeed true. Though Gu Jin Chao didn’t experience morning sickness during this pregnancy, she couldn’t eat much, and it wasn’t until October that she began to show improvement.

Madam Zhou forced a smile, thinking to herself that this man was indeed shrewd, blocking her words without the slightest show of effort. She pulled Jin Chao to sit down and said: “Rest assured, I just wanted to chat with Chao about family matters. She hasn’t been home for several months.”

Master Chen San smiled: “Go ahead and talk, I’ll wait for her.” He pulled up an armchair and sat down, beginning to drink tea.

Gu Jin Chao noticed that Gu Lian was unconsciously wringing her handkerchief, not knowing what she was thinking.

She took the initiative to ask about family matters: “Was Yi’er’s coming-of-age ceremony well organized? It’s a pity that I had just found out about my pregnancy then and couldn’t attend. I sent the gift with Nanny Sun.”

Madam Zhou said: “Your mother invited Madam Cao from Huaixiang Hutong to perform the hairpin ceremony for her. The Du family from Wuqing sent a complete set of red gold headdresses. It went quite well. Now the two families are discussing the wedding date. Once it’s set, we’ll send you an invitation.”

Gu Jin Chao then asked about Gu Jin Rong: “…He didn’t pass the autumn imperial examination last time, and he wrote to tell me. Is he studying diligently now?”

Madam Zhou smiled: “On the day the results were announced, he packed his things and went to the Imperial Academy. Your mother says he studies hard, even burning the midnight oil.”

The mention of the autumn examination made her feel a bit uncomfortable. Not only had Gu Jin Xian failed to pass, but even Yao Wen Xiu, whom everyone thought was a sure thing, had failed the autumn examination… Gu Jin Rong’s failure was understandable, given his young age. But Yao Wen Xiu was already eighteen and the eldest son of the Yao family. Having failed to become a Juren, how would he go on to take the Jinshi examination? It was said that on the day the results were announced, Master Yao was furious with him, saying he ‘excelled through diligence but failed through frivolity’—it was his laziness that caused him to fail.

Hearing about the autumn examination, Gu Lian couldn’t help but want to say something: “It’s normal for Brother Rong not to pass, after all, even Wen Xiu didn’t pass! Wen Xiu said the topics this year were too obscure and difficult to write about…”

As Madam Zhou listened, the veins on her forehead began to throb. She pushed a plate of peach cookies toward Gu Lian: “Didn’t you say you were hungry earlier? Have some refreshments.”

Gu Lian felt she hadn’t said anything wrong, so why wasn’t she allowed to speak? She turned her head away in anger.

Gu Jin Chao continued to smile. Since Madam Zhou said they were just chatting about family matters, she would chat with her. After talking in circles with Gu Jin Chao for quite some time, Madam Zhou became a bit anxious. How had Gu Jin Chao managed to lead the entire conversation without touching on the main issue at all?

With Master Chen San right here, now was the best time to say certain things!

Gu Jin Chao asked about the eleventh young miss, Gu Jin Tang: “…Can she talk now? I remember the last time I saw her, she could already sit up.”

Madam Zhou felt that continuing in this vein would be too abrupt, but she couldn’t wait any longer. If they kept chatting like this, it would be dark and dinnertime before they got to the point.

With a sigh, Madam Zhou’s eyes reddened slightly. She quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe her eyes: “Look at me, we were talking so pleasantly, and then I thought of your Second Uncle’s situation, thinking of him in the Court of Judicial Review, not getting enough to eat or wear, my heart aches!”

Gu Jin Chao’s lips twitched. Madam Zhou was being too obvious.

Madam Zhou took Gu Jin Chao’s hand and continued: “When you were getting married, your Second Uncle insisted that I make your dowry as generous as possible, fearing you might suffer hardship. He specifically asked me to add several more loads to your dowry. When you all returned to the ancestral home from Shi’an, your Second Uncle took great pains to look after you. And when your father got into trouble last time and almost lost his position—wasn’t it your Second Uncle who helped him avoid that fate… Jin Chao, now that your Second Uncle is in trouble, for the sake of gratitude and reason, you can’t refuse to help!”

Bringing up past favors to pressure her—if she didn’t agree, she would become an ungrateful person.

Especially in front of Master Chen San.

Madam Zhou continued: “Your Grandmother… instructed me to make sure the message was delivered. If you don’t agree, she will come personally. She’s elderly now, and you wouldn’t want to see her troubled, would you? You know your Grandmother’s temperament… Alas, the whole family is busy trying to save your Second Uncle, but our efforts are in vain! If things continue like this and your Grandmother falls ill from anger, our family will be in even more chaos…”

Gu Lian couldn’t help wanting to interject, but Madam Zhou’s foot firmly pressed down on hers under the table. She could only lower her head reluctantly, biting her lip as she waited for Madam Zhou to finish.

Seeing that Gu Jin Chao remained silent, Madam Zhou felt relieved. Could Gu Jin Chao refuse? Refusal would mean being unfilial and disloyal, and with Master Chen San sitting right there, she wouldn’t be so direct. Even if Master Chen San heard this, he couldn’t comfortably refuse!

Gu Jin Chao wanted to laugh inside. How dare Madam Zhou bring up these matters? Take the dowry issue—when her father’s family property was confiscated, the annual income of nearly ten thousand taels of silver belonged to the Gu family. Her dowry was insignificant in comparison. Moreover, if she hadn’t been married into the Chen family, would Madam Feng have given her such a generous dowry? During her year in the Gu family, Madam Feng wanted to control her, Gu Lian disliked her, and they had done many unkind things to her. Madam Feng had wanted to assign Qing Pu to Xu Hou Cai, and Gu Lian had wanted her to take the blame… Now these people were all coming to her, claiming she owed them gratitude!

True, her Second Uncle had helped her father when he was in trouble before. But one matter was separate from another, and she would not drag Master Chen San into this. Besides, her father’s exoneration back then wasn’t due to her Second Uncle’s help, but rather Master Chen San’s secret assistance. Madam Zhou was twisting the facts—she probably hadn’t even gotten the story straight!

If her Second Uncle had been framed, Gu Jin Chao wouldn’t truly refuse to help. But he wasn’t, so there was nothing more to say.

“I understand Second Uncle’s difficulties, but Second Aunt also knows how serious it is to knowingly break the law. It’s impossible for Second Uncle to completely keep his position… Besides, I’m just a woman of the inner chambers. Even if I wanted to help, I wouldn’t know how,” said Gu Jin Chao.

Madam Zhou’s throat tightened. She doesn’t know how to help. She doesn’t know that Master Chen San knows!

Glancing sideways, she noticed that Master Chen San had his eyes closed as if he hadn’t heard their conversation at all… This Master Chen San wasn’t following the expected script!

She wiped her tears: “Chao, your heart isn’t sincere! With your hand on your heart, tell me if you should help your Second Uncle or not…”

“Jin Chao.” Master Chen San suddenly called her name.

Gu Jin Chao turned to look at him. Master Chen San was caressing the lid of his teacup. “You have medicine to take this afternoon. We should go back.” Then he looked at Madam Zhou with a smile and said, “She’s delicate now and can’t get too tired. Please understand, Aunt.”

With that, he stood up and took Gu Jin Chao’s hand to help her up.

Madam Zhou panicked and hurriedly said: “Master Chen San… aren’t you going to say something?”

Master Chen San didn’t like her veiled threats toward Gu Jin Chao, which he had patiently listened to from the side.

He turned to look directly at Madam Zhou: “Second Uncle is an official of the Censorate. I’ve already spoken with Feng Xian Lun, who will ensure that Second Uncle doesn’t lose his position entirely. If Second Aunt wants Second Uncle restored to his original post, she should ask the families of those who were beaten to death by Luo Tai, or ask the An Si Tong family whom he harmed, to see if they agree. Asking Jin Chao won’t get you anywhere.”

Madam Zhou was dumbfounded. Feng Xian Lun was the Left Censor-in-Chief, Gu De Yuan’s direct superior. Master Chen San had already spoken with him?

Master Chen San led Gu Jin Chao to the door, then turned back and said coolly: “By the way, it was I who saved Father-in-law that time, not Second Uncle. He seems to have done nothing. At the time, he was afraid of being implicated and had already prepared a petition, ready to extricate himself as soon as the matter came to light. Second Aunt should go back and get the facts straight. It would be good to tell Father-in-law as well, so he doesn’t busy himself without receiving even a word of thanks in return.”

Gu Jin Chao was stunned. How did Master Chen San know all this?

“Let’s go,” he said softly to Jin Chao, then led her out of the west wing room.

Only then did Gu Jin Chao pull her hand away and ask him: “Master Chen, when my father was framed that time… how did you know Second Uncle’s plans?”

Master Chen San stroked her head and said with a smile: “What doesn’t your husband know? At the time, I wanted to help you, so I naturally had to investigate thoroughly. Your Second Uncle has too many faults. I simply thought knowing would only cause you distress, so I didn’t say anything.”

He walked ahead.

Gu Jin Chao gazed at Master Chen San’s back, feeling somewhat worried. He knew everything; nothing escaped his eyes. He had probably investigated the Gu family’s affairs before…

What about her relationship with Chen Xuan Qing?

Did he know that she had once… had feelings for his eldest son?

If he knew, what should she do?

Gu Jin Chao bit her lower lip, her nails digging into her flesh.