In her previous life, Gu Jin Chao rarely saw Chen Er Ye, as he spent years stationed in Shaanxi.

Old Madam Chen hadn’t seen her second son for a long time. With tears in her eyes, she held his hand. Chen Er Ye smiled along with her, comforting his mother.

He had austere features—thick eyebrows and bright eyes—but being over forty, he inevitably showed signs of age, with a weathered appearance. Perhaps due to his long journey, his gray patterned straight robe looked travel-worn, and he still wore a gray squirrel fur cloak.

“Your son is doing well in all respects, thank you for your concern. It’s just that Zhang Ma Ma, who serves me, had a stroke and cannot get out of bed now. I’ve left someone to take care of her…”

Chen Er Ye spoke with authority, his words resonant and forceful.

Qin Shi watched her husband from the side, unable to hold back her reddening eyes. In her heart, no matter how strong a woman was, she still regarded her husband as her heaven and needed to rely on him. So, seeing her husband made her heart involuntarily relax.

Old Madam Chen first introduced Gu Jin Chao to him: “…Old Third’s wife, who entered our family in May and will soon give me another grandson.”

Gu Jin Chao bent her body in greeting, and Chen Er Ye immediately returned the courtesy with a nod: “Third Sister-in-law.”

Gu Jin Chao had Chen Xi pay her respects to him, and he smiled: “Second Uncle has brought Sanyuan licorice candy for Sister Xi. I’ll have someone send it to you later.”

Chen San Ye’s only legitimate daughter was cherished by everyone.

Old Madam Chen hurriedly shook her head with a smile: “Her front teeth have just grown in. She can’t eat sweets!”

Chen Xi showed a regretful expression, unconsciously pressing her lips together. Before her front teeth grew in, she didn’t dare smile much.

Soon the children of the second branch arrived one after another. Chen Xuan Ran resembled Chen Er Ye and was very handsome. Chen Xuan Feng and Chen Xuan Rang had ordinary appearances. Three daughters-in-law, one young daughter, two grandsons… everyone from the second branch had come, making the side room inevitably crowded.

Chen Er Ye had brought gifts for all the children, either food or small toys. Xian’er and Zheng’er each received Fengxiang painted tiger hangings and parrot clay figurines.

Chen Xuan Yue was just being brought over by Song Ma Ma.

The side room was too crowded, and he seemed a bit frightened. He came to see Chen Er Ye, but even when Song Ma Ma told him to pay his respects, he wouldn’t speak, his small hands tightly gripping the corner of his clothes.

Chen Er Ye frowned slightly. “Take him away to rest first.”

Gu Jin Chao sighed inwardly. Even distant nephews and nieces received gifts, yet Chen Xuan Yue got nothing… Although he was simple-minded, he was still his son.

Old Madam Chen told him about moving Chen Xuan Yue to the outer courtyard, but Chen Er Ye showed no reaction.

Qin Shi didn’t even glance at Chen Xuan Yue once, and Chen Xuan Yue was quickly led away.

Chen San Ye had received the message earlier and came directly to Tanshan Courtyard after returning.

When brothers meet, they naturally have things to discuss. The women retreated to the east side room, leaving Chen Er Ye, Chen San Ye, and Chen Si Ye to talk in the west side room.

“At least you were willing to marry again. Back then, when Jiang Shi died, you mourned her for two years. I thought you were determined not to remarry,” Chen Er Ye said to him.

Chen San Ye smiled and shook his head, then after a while said: “She’s quite foolish. Without my protection, who knows what would have become of her by now.”

Chen Er Ye sighed: “I’ve encountered a clever one…”

Chen Si Ye was surprised and couldn’t help lowering his voice to ask: “Second Brother, what do you mean?”

Chen Er Ye coughed once, “Nothing, just someone bought from Yangzhou and given to me. She’s being kept in Shaanxi now.”

Chen Si Ye paused: “A Yangzhou thin horse?”

Chen San Ye then said: “Second Brother, why did you accept such a gift from others? Who sent her?” Chen Er Ye wouldn’t dare accept money or property as gifts, but now he dared to accept a Yangzhou thin horse? This didn’t align with his usually steady conduct.

It was always the Third Brother who was most suspicious, and Chen Er Ye knew this well. He said: “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” He fingered the thumb ring, silent for a moment. “She was from my former student Song Ze Duan, who is now a county magistrate in Shaanxi. I’ve checked her background, and there are no issues.”

Chen Si Ye smiled faintly: “I used to think only Sixth Brother would do such romantic things. I never expected Second Brother to have such moments. People say Yangzhou thin horses excel at playing the qin, composing poetry, painting, playing double sixes, and handling dominoes. They’re even specially trained in bedroom manners and pillow talk.”

Chen Er Ye regained his composure and merely smiled: “She’s just ordinary but obedient.”

Chen Si Ye asked Chen San Ye: “Third Brother, didn’t you go to Yangzhou with First Uncle before? Haven’t you seen Yangzhou thin horses?”

Chen Er Ye said: “He was only nine years old then. What could he understand?”

Chen San Ye smiled slightly without speaking.

Being in officialdom, one inevitably encountered such groups of people. How could he not know?

He still remembered the scene from when he was nine. Once high officials or noble sons arrived at Yangzhou Pass and slightly hinted at wanting to take a concubine, matchmakers, and brokers would immediately flock to their doors, each with their catalog in mind, noting what each girl was like. The thin horses were brought for viewing by matchmakers, either playing the qin or painting. If the visitor took a liking to one, he would insert a hairpin in the girl’s bun, called “pinning.” To select a first-class talented thin horse, one had to pay between five hundred to a thousand taels to take her away. The girl’s birth parents would only receive twenty taels or so as the selling price, with the rest going to the family that raised the girl, counted as the cost of her training.

It was a kind of human flesh trade. Children from poor families who had beautiful daughters would send them to wealthy families for fostering at seven or eight years old. Thin horses were classified into several grades: first-class learned elegant arts, second-class could manage households and keep accounts, and third-class could pick fluff, lay threads, and do needlework. Some also learned kitchen cooking, frying, steaming, and pastry-making. Such practices were common and unregulated, flourishing in Yangzhou.

“Speaking of Yangzhou, Fourth Brother, didn’t you recently open a spinning mill in Yangzhou? How is it doing?” Chen Er Ye asked.

Chen Si Ye smiled slightly: “Now the weaving bureau collects heavy silk taxes, and the labor service for craftsmen is burdensome. All kinds of spinning mills are difficult to operate…”

Chen Er Ye looked toward Chen San Ye, finding it somewhat strange: “Silk taxes fall under your management. The Emperor is still young—how many annual silk pieces could he use? Why are taxes so heavy?”

Chen San Ye took a sip of tea to moisten his throat: “Each place is different, and I can’t possibly inquire about every place. Besides, the weaving and dyeing bureau falls under the Ministry of Works, and the eunuch supervisors of the weaving bureau are appointed by the Ministry of Personnel. Although silk tax is a form of taxation, it has little to do with the Ministry of Revenue.”

At this point, Chen San Ye paused again: “I have something to discuss with you…”

Chen Er Ye glanced at Chen Si Ye: “Old Four, go check on Mother first. Third Brother and I will come over shortly.”

Chen Si Ye smiled: “Don’t talk for too long. Second Sister-in-law is waiting.” Chen Er Ye nodded with a slight smile. Only then did Chen Si Ye slowly leave the west side room, but once outside the door, his face was overcast. In the Chen family, it was always Chen Er Ye and Chen San Ye who made the decisions. Even if he could earn more money for the Chen family, what was the use? When it came to topics like this, Second Brother still didn’t want him present.

He was also a double-list imperial scholar, no different from Chen Yan Zhang and Chen Yan Yun. Chen Yan Yun wouldn’t let him serve as an official, cutting off his future. Did they still need to distinguish between them at this point? What did all his contributions to the Chen family amount to?

Chen Si Ye smiled coldly and walked toward the fourth branch’s courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Chen San Ye and Chen Er Ye talked intimately until late in the night. Chen San Ye first sent someone back to inform Gu Jin Chao. She naturally went to bed first.

The kang fire was burning hot, making her sleep very comfortably.

When Chen San Ye returned, he didn’t wake her, quietly lying down beside her, thinking about issues with his eyes closed.

Minister of War Zhao Yin Chi was going to retire.

Throughout history, what was most important? Nothing more than military power. The Ministry of War had the power to deploy troops, while the Five Armies Command had the power to command troops. Zhang Ju Lian controlled the Five Armies Command, but without deployment power, he had nothing… Zhao Yin Chi was originally a subordinate of the old Marquis of Changxing, but he was very upright and didn’t lean toward any power faction. This successor to the Minister of War position was crucial… even crucial to Zhang Ju Lian’s success or failure if he harbored ulterior motives.

He felt it was too hot under the covers and involuntarily opened his eyes.

Originally in winter, forget about heating the kang—he wouldn’t even use thick cotton quilts. Now, to accommodate Gu Jin Chao, he naturally couldn’t do this.

He lifted the covers off himself and turned to look at Gu Jin Chao. Gradually, he fell asleep like this.

When Gu Jin Chao woke up, she saw that Chen San Ye wasn’t covered by the quilt and was startled. Touching his arm, her hand’s temperature was high, so she naturally felt his arm was ice-cold. This man always slept properly—how could he not cover himself with the quilt?

Could it be that he felt the heated kang was too hot? She had heard Chen San Ye mention before that he never used a heated kang…

He must be accommodating her.

Gu Jin Chao put her quilt over him, which startled Chen San Ye awake. In his drowsy state, he pulled her into his embrace, and she felt quite warm. Chen San Ye held her even tighter, resting his chin in the hollow of her neck. Gu Jin Chao felt he was a bit heavy on top of her, but smelling his familiar scent, she still restrained herself and buried her face in his chest.

When she woke again, Chen San Ye was already awake, as if he had been watching her for a long time.

Gu Jin Chao struggled to sit up from his embrace: “Third Master, last night… was sleeping on the heated kang too hot?”

Seeing the quilt on him when he woke up, he knew Gu Jin Chao had awakened before. Chen San Ye shook his head: “It’s fine.”

It was just too hot, and she was in his arms. His body couldn’t help but become somewhat excited… It had been a long time since they had been intimate.

His hands loosened a bit, and he lowered his head to kiss her.

Gu Jin Chao wanted to avoid him, but he pursued her, his warm kisses falling on her neck.

As she resisted, her hand touched his clearly defined chest, and her face immediately flushed red. His inner garment was open…

His lower abdomen was tense, feeling he couldn’t wait any longer. Slowly but irresistibly, he pressed her hands to her sides, his entire body flipping over to cover her.

Gu Jin Chao wanted to remind him to get up, but Chen San Ye had already anticipated what she was going to say and whispered in her ear: “The cabinet has no business today.”

He was resting today… He deserved a rest. The previous two times he was supposed to have time off, he didn’t rest, being busy all day.

But Chen Er Ye had just returned, and today they still needed to pay respects to Old Madam Chen…

His fingers had already unfastened her inner garment, gripping her chest through her undershirt, and he lowered his head, saying huskily: “They seem to have grown…”

Gu Jin Chao was so angry she wanted to push him away. He smiled and lowered his head to take her in his mouth through the clothing.

…

After they finished once, he withdrew from her. Gu Jin Chao was still catching her breath. They were both trapped under the covers, with Gu Jin Chao again shrouded beneath him—the space narrow and intimate. They could feel each other’s slightest sounds. His body began to tense again, but thinking of Gu Jin Chao’s pregnancy, he didn’t continue.

Outside the lattice window, heavy snow began to fall. Winter had truly arrived.