Jiang Yan and others waited outside the study, bringing in a charcoal brazier to warm themselves.

Shortly after, snow began falling in flurries. The men moved the brazier to the covered corridor and spoke in hushed tones.

This was Feng Jun’s first time seeing Gu Jin Chao, and he found it curious: “That’s our Third Madam?”

In recent years, Master Chen has been practicing Buddhism and maintaining good health, not getting close to women. Any woman who could approach him must be Third Madam. Yet Master Chen, who was gentle and courteous to everyone, seemed cold-faced toward his wife…

Jiang Yan nodded in response. Another young man wearing a sandalwood-colored headscarf said: “Master Feng went to Guizhou recently, so you probably haven’t met Third Madam yet… Speaking of which, when Master Chen sent you to Guizhou to investigate Xiao You’s whereabouts. Did you find where Xiao You was hiding? That cunning old fox surely had plenty of valuable things in his hideout.”

Feng Jun warmed his hands over the fire brazier and smiled: “You already know he’s a cunning old fox, so how could it be easy to find him? I took some elders from the local Miao village to search the mountains with me. We looked from Miaoling to Loushan Pass at the Sichuan-Guizhou border, but only caught a few rare golden pheasants. Later, I led a troop of soldiers into Wuling Mountains and finally found his dwelling. There wasn’t even a shack there—the old fellow was living in a cave.”

Shu Yan brought some taro roots from the kitchen for everyone to roast and ward off the cold.

Jiang Yan buried the taro in the charcoal brazier while saying: “Someone like Xiao You is always cautious. Since he was preparing to act against Marquis Chang Xing, his cave would certainly be empty. Did you return disappointed?”

Feng Jun shook his head: “It was indeed empty inside, with only some children’s toys left behind. But he left in a hurry and couldn’t destroy everything, so he buried many things under a pine tree. If not for the Miao elder bringing a dog to sniff around, we wouldn’t have found it… What about things on your end?”

“Zhao Yin Chi is about to retire from office—a significant matter. Last night, Master Chen and Official Zhang talked all night about who would be best to recommend,” Jiang Yan continued. “Although the Minister of War is a civil position, someone without military experience cannot serve. Most scholars passing the imperial exams wouldn’t be suitable. Official Zhang has several talented subordinates, but they lack military experience and cannot handle such responsibility.”

The taro roots in the brazier were now roasted. Everyone took the roasted taro and began peeling and eating them. Just then, Master Chen came out of the study wearing his straight robe.

Jiang Yan and Feng Jun put down what they were doing and followed him into the second room.

Master Chen sat down and took a sip of hot tea, then asked Feng Jun to report: “What did you discover in the Wuling Mountains?”

Feng Jun respectfully clasped his hands: “…Poetry, calligraphy, paintings, current examination essays, and some correspondence with others. There were few letters from Prince Rui and the old Marquis Chang Xing, but many more from Official Zhang and the heir of Marquis Chang Xing.” He had someone bring up a box.

“I’ve selected some important ones, but the letters he left had already been processed. You suspected something unusual about Prince Rui’s palace coup, but nothing shows in the letters. Most of his exchanges with the heir of Marquis Chang Xing discussed weapons or crossbows. His correspondence with Official Zhang was strange, discussing poetry and paintings…” Feng Jun paused, lowering his voice, “Your poetry and paintings. Those materials he didn’t destroy were your early writings.”

Chen Yan Yun’s expression stiffened. “Bring them to me.”

Xiao You wouldn’t read his writings without reason. Even if he discussed poetry and essays with Zhang Ju Lian, they shouldn’t have focused on him.

Years ago, Xiao You had colluded with Prince Rui to secretly harm Marquis Chang Xing, serving as their hidden piece. In planning the Marquis’s treason case, Zhang Ju Lian had expended great effort, while he had just become Minister of Revenue and could only occasionally help with strategy. Yet this palace coup not only failed inexplicably but Xiao You’s death was equally mysterious. How did Ye Xian discover Xiao You’s betrayal? No matter how clever he was, he was still just a youth.

Master Chen had always wanted to find the key to this mystery.

When Prince Rui died, Zhang Ju Lian was greatly alarmed. He sought him out to discuss the matter overnight, and Wang Xuan Fan was still around then. They first suspected that Xiao You might have been the problem—Xiao You had been Ye Xian’s teacher for many years; could he have had no compassion? If he had a change of heart at the last moment, he might have explained everything to Ye Xian.

But Xiao You ultimately died, which didn’t make sense. If Xiao You had explained everything, Ye Xian shouldn’t have killed him. However, no one had seen his corpse, so no one knew if he was truly dead.

If Xiao You wasn’t the problem, then there was only one possibility: Ye Xian had another formidable person behind him, helping him strategize. This person must be supremely intelligent, thoroughly familiar with court affairs, and a master strategist. They would also pose an extreme threat to them. Who could this person be?

For this reason, Master Chen sent Feng Jun to find Xiao You’s former residence, hoping to discover the true cause.

He carefully examined all the letters between Xiao You and others.

Xiao You’s letters to the old Marquis Chang Xing and Ye Xian mostly discussed trivial matters. His correspondence with Prince Rui was scarce, mainly about weapon exchanges or military deployment judgments. His letters to Zhang Ju Lian analyzed his poetry and also mentioned warfare strategies.

Master Chen finished reading the letters, leaned back in his chair, and maintained a calm expression.

“This Xiao You—he was a heaven-sent talent in those days. If not for Marquis Chang Xing’s bravery in battle, Prince Cheng could have succeeded in usurping the throne with his assistance. Do you know how extraordinary he was? He could tell the number of copper coins just by glancing at a pile. When planning military movements to finish by the fifth watch, it would never extend even a quarter watch longer. By observing the brush strokes in a painting, he could identify the artist.”

The study was very quiet; when Master Chen spoke, they naturally only listened.

Although Xiao You was a significant figure, his legend faded with time. Who knew he had been so formidable?

The two men exchanged glances, not understanding Master Chen’s meaning.

“When Zhang Ju Lian had him examine my poetry, calligraphy, and paintings, what do you think he was looking for?” Master Chen asked.

It certainly wouldn’t be to evaluate his writing skills…

Feng Jun seemed to grasp something, feeling a tightness in his chest.

Master Chen instead smiled: “Though I was wary of him, I never suspected to this extent… No wonder they used Wang Xuan Fan to restrain me.” In Xiao You’s letter to Zhang Ju Lian, he mentioned that Chen Yan Yun’s intent was ‘to stand atop the highest peak and look down upon all mountains below.’ Zhang Ju Lian wanted Xiao You to assess his ambition and temperament, and Xiao You considered him a person with a significant threat. Zhang Ju Lian wasn’t just cautious of him; he had been suspicious of him for a long time.

Instead of discovering the person behind Marquis Chang Xing’s palace coup, they uncovered this pile of materials.

The study fell silent for a moment. After a while, Jiang Yan asked: “What do you plan to do?”

Master Chen stood up, walked to the window, looked at the lanterns hanging under the corridor outside, and remained silent for a moment.

He disliked having threats hanging over his head. However, Zhang Ju Lian was his teacher after all, and had helped him considerably in the past. Besides, Zhang Ju Lian only harbored suspicions about him and hadn’t done anything. His current approach to officialdom had been taught by Zhang Ju Lian…

“Destroy these things first, don’t let Zhang Ju Lian know I’ve investigated,” Master Chen said softly.

…The discussion didn’t end until late at night.

Master Chen returned to the study, where Gu Jin Chao was already asleep.

Master Chen stood watching her for a while before reaching out to touch her face, the auspicious knot on his Buddhist beads brushing against her cheek. She might have felt it ticklish, as she turned over to sleep facing inward. Master Chen couldn’t help but smile, sitting on the edge of the bed with no trace of sleepiness.

Gu Jin Chao felt the bedding was too cold and woke up hazily. Seeing him sitting on the edge of the bed still awake, she was startled. The candles in the room had long been extinguished, and suddenly seeing a dark figure sitting there, Jin Chao was so frightened she almost cried out!

Master Chen turned and pressed down on her, comforting her: “Don’t be afraid, it’s me.”

Only then did Jin Chao smell the sandalwood fragrance on Master Chen. She couldn’t help saying, “Why aren’t you sleeping yet? I thought it was some ghost or monster.”

Master Chen asked her: “Why did you wake up? Did I disturb you?”

He hadn’t made any sound at all, how could he have disturbed her? Gu Jin Chao shook her head, “I just felt a bit cold…” There was no floor heating in this room, and once the brazier went out, it became cold.

Was he not sleeping earlier because he couldn’t fall asleep? Was he still thinking about her and Chen Xuan Qing?

Gu Jin Chao couldn’t help but think this way. Even if Master Chen knew she had no illicit relationship with Chen Xuan Qing and believed her, Chen Xuan Qing was still his eldest legitimate son. He couldn’t possibly ignore such outrageous behavior from his eldest legitimate son.

Master Chen reached into the quilt and found it wasn’t as warm as his hand. He sighed, took off his outer garment, and got into bed.

Gu Jin Chao had been awakened by the cold, as she was naturally sensitive to cold. She stared blankly at Master Chen… had he come to a decision?

“Weren’t you cold?” Chen Yan Yun asked her.

Gu Jin Chao usually seemed quite intelligent, but when just awakened from sleep, she could be a bit slow. When speaking to her at such times, her reactions were always delayed.

Gu Jin Chao finally understood his meaning and let out a soft “Oh.” He wanted to warm her!

Her hands and feet quickly entangled with his; Chen Yan Yun was indeed very warm.

Gu Jin Chao obediently nestled into his embrace. Chen Yan Yun also put his arm around her; she was indeed quite cold. If he had known earlier, he should have let her go back to sleep. He had matters to attend to and had forgotten that the study had no floor heating. Chen Yan Yun lowered his head and spoke to her: “Jin Chao if you anger me again, stay far away. Understand?” He didn’t get angry often, but when he truly became furious, it could be quite frightening.

It seemed that usually, restrained people became more terrifying when they erupted.

Gu Jin Chao, with her face buried in his chest, smiled but felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Even when angry with her, he feared hurting her… what should he do?

What if she hadn’t come to find him today?

Gu Jin Chao was very grateful that she had come over. She raised her head and lightly kissed his chin: “Please sleep now.”

Chen Yan Yun said nothing more. Feeling her ice-cold hand, he took it and placed it on his waist. Sleeping this way was neither too cold nor too hot. Gu Jin Chao slept very comfortably, thinking that floor heating or a heated kang wasn’t necessary after all—she could just use Master Chen as a heater.

No matter how many concerns were on his mind, Master Chen, holding Gu Jin Chao, gradually fell asleep.