Third Master Chen took a step toward the west side room. Xiu Qu hurriedly called out, “Third Master…”

She wanted to stop him, but that would only make Third Master Chen more suspicious! She could only follow behind Third Master Chen as he entered, seeing that the door to the west side room was open, which finally eased her mind.

Third Master Chen stepped through the doorway and smiled, “What’s this, were you two just talking?”

As soon as Gu Jin Chao saw Third Master Chen, she knew he was angry, furiously so. His eyes held no trace of mirth, cold and piercing. Yet his smile remained as cultured as ever, his expression utterly unchanged. He sat down beside Gu Jin Chao, causing her body to stiffen, cold sweat breaking out across her back. Third Master Chen poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and asked, “What were you discussing?”

Chen Xuan Qing’s lips were pale as he softly called out, “Father.” Then added, “…Nothing much, just about Miss Xi’s zither practice.”

“Hmm.” He lowered his head with a smile and asked Gu Jin Chao, “Is that so?”

Gu Jin Chao’s hands hidden in her sleeves dug into her palms, allowing her to maintain her smile as she nodded.

“Are you finished then?” he said indifferently, “If you’re done, you may leave now.”

Chen Xuan Qing, with just one look from his father, felt his entire body turn cold. He excused himself and left the west side room.

Cai Fu saw that Third Master Chen’s teacup was empty and wanted to pour him more tea. Just as she stepped forward, she heard Third Master Chen’s icy voice: “Get out!”

She turned pale with fright and quickly pulled Yu Zhu out with her, closing the latticed door of the west side room.

Third Master Chen poured himself tea and drank it.

The west side room was completely silent.

Gu Jin Chao’s body was rigid. She hadn’t expected Chen Xuan Qing would… Before, she had sought his attention without success, but now when she no longer wanted it, why was this happening? Previously, she had used every method to gain his notice, but in this life, she believed she hadn’t done anything at all.

No wonder Chen Xuan Qing’s behavior had been so strange.

Third Master Chen must have known about her past with Chen Xuan Qing for some time.

Gu Jin Chao had sensed this, but she had only been guessing before. No one had come to tear down this paper window, but she could feel Third Master Chen’s suspicion and distrust. Whenever Chen Xuan Qing was present, Third Master Chen was always there too. He had suddenly questioned her whereabouts, telling her not to go to the outer courtyard…

He was quite a suspicious person; Gu Jin Chao recognized this deeply from her previous life.

What was Third Master Chen suspicious about? Suspicious that she had married him with ulterior motives, suspicious that she still had an affair with Chen Xuan Qing?

But before, he had only been suspicious, without having made up his mind.

Gu Jin Chao looked up at him, but Chen Yan Yun remained silent, drinking his tea.

She felt her entire body growing cold.

Had he made up his mind today?

Gu Jin Chao felt her throat turn dry. She couldn’t speak.

She had never considered herself a decisive person, but she felt that what had happened between her and Chen Xuan Qing was in the past, with no need to bring it up again. There was no purpose in mentioning such things as it wouldn’t benefit anyone. She just hadn’t expected that Third Master Chen would one day become suspicious, or that Chen Xuan Qing would do this, forcing her into her current predicament.

Although she hadn’t done anything wrong, she had to take responsibility for her past mistakes.

Gu Jin Chao’s heart quickly steadied.

She stood up and walked in front of Third Master Chen, saying, “Third Master, your concubine has something to tell you.”

But Chen Yan Yun noticed her hand hidden in her sleeve, trembling unconsciously.

He didn’t speak, only reached out to take her hand, seeing the red marks on Gu Jin Chao’s wrist. Her skin was delicate; often even slight pressure from him would leave marks. Who had left these marks? Her maids certainly wouldn’t dare.

Gu Jin Chao saw the marks on her wrist, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly tried to pull her hand back, but he gripped it firmly.

Gu Jin Chao instinctively looked up at him. She had never seen Third Master Chen with such an expression before—not angry, just completely expressionless.

“How did this happen?” Third Master Chen’s voice tightened, “Don’t tell me it was from the zither strings.”

Gu Jin Chao took a deep breath: “I argued with the Seventh Young Master…”

“Weren’t you discussing Miss Xi’s zither practice? How did an argument arise?” A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Third Master Chen’s mouth, though his words carried mockery, “Was the dispute about whether to use paulownia or cedar wood for the zither?”

Gu Jin Chao’s face went pale. Chen Xuan Qing’s feelings for her—she had originally wanted to conceal them for him… But telling Third Master Chen about their past grievances could also explain why they always seemed at odds.

But how could she hide anything from Third Master Chen?

Third Master Chen observed Gu Jin Chao’s hesitation. His feelings were incredibly complex, and his smile grew increasingly sarcastic.

He wanted to mock himself.

When he went to marry Jin Chao, Gu Jin Chao had been unwilling. He had used his methods, half-demanding and half-coercing her into agreeing. Now he understood why Gu Jin Chao had hesitated… Marrying the father of the man she loved—her heart must have been incredibly conflicted!

He could never have imagined such a ridiculous situation happening to him.

The renowned Master Chen married someone who had feelings for his son. Showering her with love and tolerance.

Had he ultimately lost to his eldest son, or Gu Jin Chao?

Chen Yan Yun suddenly didn’t want to know anymore. Being with Gu Jin Chao had always meant him accommodating her more. Even now, he wasn’t sure if Gu Jin Chao actually liked him, or had merely grown accustomed to him.

Chen Yan Yun released his grip on her hand, stood up, and said softly, “I probably won’t be back tonight. Don’t wait up for me.”

Gu Jin Chao looked at Chen Yan Yun; his face showed great weariness.

He had never been so distant from her before.

Gu Jin Chao couldn’t help feeling a tightness in her nose; she truly couldn’t bear his distance.

“Third Master, when you came to the Gu family to propose, I once said that I had done some foolish things in the past, but that no matter what, you should trust me. If you trust me, please sit down and listen to me. I want to explain everything clearly.” She held his hand tightly as if fearing that if he left now, she would never get him back.

Chen Yan Yun still remembered those words.

It seemed that even back then, she had been warning him.

Chen Yan Yun let out a soft sigh, “Perhaps I was too arrogant before,” seemingly self-mocking, then quietly added, “Gu Jin Chao, don’t provoke me now, and don’t talk to me. No matter what it is… just consider me untrustworthy.”

He turned to leave, but Gu Jin Chao gripped his hand tightly. “Don’t go…”

Her voice was choked with emotion. She could only hold onto him desperately.

Chen Yan Yun had never seen her so panicked before.

He slowly, finger by finger, pried open her hand, firmly and irrefutably.

No matter how hard Gu Jin Chao tried, she was no match for him. He withdrew his hand and left without looking back.

From outside came the sounds of the guards departing.

Gu Jin Chao bit her lip hard, afraid that tears would flow. She had often been misunderstood before—by her father, brother, even her mother. But she had never felt as awful as she did now. Gu Jin Chao had long known what kind of person Gu Jin Rong was. So when Gu Jin Rong misunderstood her, she felt only disappointment and indifference. But Third Master Chen was different… Perhaps she had become too dependent on him and couldn’t bear his sudden coldness.

In her previous life, when Third Master Chen discovered her affair with Chen Xuan Qing, he distanced himself from her from then on.

Gu Jin Chao sat there numbly for a while before regaining her composure. She called Cai Fu and the others to come in and talk.

Xiu Qu recounted what had happened when Third Master Chen entered earlier, though Gu Jin Chao already knew most of it.

Xiu Qu was very anxious: “Madam, did this servant say something wrong?”

Gu Jin Chao shook her head. Third Master Chen’s ability to read people’s emotions was extremely strong; few could lie to him with a straight face. She instructed her maids: “…You are all my maids, we share the same fortune. The events of today, the words Seventh Young Master spoke, must not be leaked outside.” She turned to Xiu Qu and asked, “You were guarding outside earlier, did any servants pass by who might have overheard?”

Xiu Qu shook her head: “…The middle courtyard was empty today. The kitchen sent down two packages of rice cakes, and the maids went to have tea together.”

Gu Jin Chao sighed in relief. If other maids had heard, it would have been difficult to handle.

“Madam, what should we do now…” Yu Zhu asked softly.

Gu Jin Chao said gently: “Bring me a fresh cup of tea. I’ll wait for Third Master to return.”

People often say that fate is cruel, something she had been unwilling to believe. Now it seemed fate truly was cruel. When she had liked Chen Xuan Qing before, he had discarded her like worn-out shoes. Now when she only wanted to live peacefully, she was being troubled by him…

She also needed to wait for Third Master Chen to think things through.

By evening, Gu Jin Chao went to pay her respects to Old Madam Chen.

Old Madam Chen was talking with Chen Xuan Ran and Chen Xuan Feng, asking Chen Xuan Ran about interesting events during his official duties. The side room was filled with laughter.

Madam Qin sat nearby watching her son speak, feeling quite proud.

“The Finance Secretary is also surnamed Chen, a local from Gaochun County. Once when he invited me to drink at the county tavern, after chatting we realized we were distant relatives. His grandfather was originally from Baoding, and happened to be cousins with our great-grandfather…”

Old Madam Chen smiled: “How wonderful to meet a relative in a distant place! Which branch of the family are they from? If you tell me, I might even remember.”

Just then Gu Jin Chao arrived. Old Madam Chen invited her to sit beside her and smiled, “Usually Third Son is almost always with you. What brings you here alone today?”

Gu Jin Chao felt a pang in her heart but managed a smile: “He said he had matters to attend to and told me to come pay my respects to you first.”

Old Madam Chen invited her to stay for the evening meal, but Gu Jin Chao politely declined.