Third Master Chen frowned.

Who had arrived?

He said to Zhang Julian, “I’ll be back shortly.”

Third Master Chen walked out of the banquet hall.

When he reached the corner, Jiang Yan finally whispered behind him, “It’s the heir of Marquis Changxing, Ye Xian!”

As Third Master Chen walked past the screen door, he indeed saw Ye Xian standing by the screen wall. He wore a light cyan brocade robe with a black cloak. His figure was handsome and straight, his skin as white as jade, his demeanor elegant.

“Official Chen, your family’s screen wall is too modest,” Ye Xian didn’t turn around, examining the patterns on the screen wall earnestly. “I think you should use glazed tiles and white marble carvings of carp leaping through the dragon gate. Or perhaps like the one at Marquis Xingyang’s mansion, a mountain-shaped screen wall would look better.”

Chen Yanyun quietly looked at him: “Thank you for your concern, Young Master. I’ll mention it to the household staff.”

Only then did Ye Xian turn around, smiling: “I’ve disturbed you without reason. I wonder if Senior Official Chen welcomes me… I’m only here to attend the third-day celebration for my niece’s son.” He had Li Xianhuai hand over a cage covered with blue velvet.

“This is my gift for my grandnephew’s third-day celebration. I taught it for a long time to recite the ‘Standards for Students.’ Ordinary parrots definitely couldn’t memorize so much. It’s to amuse my grandnephew. Senior Official Chen, please don’t think it is too humble. The gift may be modest, but the sentiment is sincere.”

He spoke with a half-smile.

“How could I?” Chen Yanyun naturally wouldn’t quibble with Ye Xian and smiled, “Since you’ve come for the third-day celebration, would Young Master like to come in and sit? Coincidentally, Senior Official Zhang and other officials are inside. It’s quite lively in there.”

Jiang Yan, listening to their conversation, felt cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

He took the initiative to receive the birdcage and retreated behind Third Master Chen.

Ye Xian raised his eyebrows. Chen Yanyun wanted him to leave, right? Otherwise, why mention old Zhang Julian?

They were opposing factions; normally they wouldn’t exchange a single word. Moreover, although Zhang Julian was wary of him, he didn’t take him seriously. He wouldn’t approach him only to be snubbed. Compared to Chen Yanyun’s equal warmth to everyone, Ye Xian and Zhang Julian’s relationship was much more strained.

Doesn’t want him to enter? Then he had to go in and see.

Besides, he’d never been to the Chen residence before and didn’t know what kind of place Gu Jinchao lived in.

“Since there are so many people…” he paused, “then I’ll go in and see! Senior Official Chen’s hospitality is truly hard to decline.”

Without waiting for Chen Yanyun to speak, he walked straight through the screen door.

Li Xianhuai stood dumbfounded, scratching his head in confusion. Was the Young Master being shameless? Senior Official Chen didn’t seem to welcome them at all. Hadn’t he parted on bad terms with Senior Official Chen last time?

Li Xianhuai simply couldn’t understand his Young Master anymore.

Chen Yanyun seemed about to speak but then stopped, smiling and shaking his head as he followed Ye Xian inside. For someone as unpredictable as Ye Xian, he had no strategy left but to follow along and see what he intended.

Seeing Chen Yanyun bringing in Ye Xian, the expressions of the noble families in the banquet hall were quite strange.

Chang Hai nearly jumped up, then choked on his wine and coughed twice. Thinking that most people here were from Zhang Julian’s faction and that he was one of the few who had some dealings with Marquis Changxing’s family, he nodded and smiled at Ye Xian.

To his surprise, Ye Xian completely ignored him, scanning everyone from head to toe with an indifferent expression.

Chang Hai’s smile froze on his lips.

No one had ever shown him such disrespect…

To cover his embarrassment, he smiled again and asked Chen Yanyun: “Third Master, if the Young Master was coming, why didn’t you mention it beforehand!”

Having inherited his title, which was one rank higher than Ye Xian’s, he naturally didn’t need to address Ye Xian as “Young Master.”

Chen Yanyun smiled: “I was also surprised.”

Zhang Julian slowly swirled his purple clay teacup, smiling slightly at Ye Xian: “I’ve heard that the Young Master is Lady Jiuheng’s cousin, so there is a connection. Would the Young Master care to sit down for some tea?”

Ye Xian also smiled faintly: “Then I’ll respectfully comply.”

The two sat at the same table, both drinking tea impassively without speaking to each other.

Chang Hai immediately felt uncomfortable; these two had overwhelmingly strong presences.

He excused himself to Zhang Julian, who waved his hand amiably to signal his departure. Chang Hai walked to Third Master Chen’s side and whispered: “What scene is playing out here… Why did Ye Xian come? Is he here for your son’s third-day celebration? You must be joking!”

Zhang Julian and Ye Xian drinking tea together… It looked utterly bizarre no matter how you viewed it!

Chang Hai had a sudden thought: “Could it be that Ye Xian brought Iron Cavalry troops to raze this place and kill us all? Now he sits opposite Zhang, and if he makes one wrong move, a large contingent of soldiers will rush in…”

Chen Yanyun calmly said: “You’re overthinking.”

Chang Hai continued: “I didn’t know he was your new wife’s cousin… He doesn’t seem like the type to attend third-day celebrations, does he?”

Chen Yanyun’s expression momentarily turned cold but quickly returned to normal.

He’d long known that the relationship between Ye Xian and Gu Jinchao was unusual. Ye Xian certainly hadn’t come just to drink tea!

Chang Hai stopped talking, and the people in the banquet hall resumed their conversations, though they frequently glanced toward Zhang Julian and Ye Xian.

…

By the time Gu Jinchao woke up, the third-day celebration was over. She was helped up by Cai Fu, and Xiu Qu fed her a bowl of tripe soup.

At that moment, Yu Zhu bounced in from outside, looking extremely excited.

Gu Jinchao couldn’t help but smile: “What are you doing, looking so happy!”

Yu Zhu hurried to her bedside, grinning: “Madam, do you know who’s come to see you? Guess! You’ll be happy when you know!”

Gu Jinchao was too lazy to guess; she wasn’t in the mood. She tapped Yu Zhu’s head: “You silly girl, just tell me!”

“It’s the Old Madam!” Yu Zhu said, and seeing Gu Jinchao’s confused look, she quickly added, “Old Madam Ji! She’s already past the entrance gate and will be here soon.”

Her grandmother had come to see her.

Gu Jinchao realized, both surprised and delighted. From Tongzhou to Wanping was so far, yet her grandmother had come to see her!

Ji Wu quickly arrived, bringing only her third daughter-in-law, Madam Liu. Behind her, maids and elderly servants carried many things.

It had been a long time since she’d seen her grandmother. Upon seeing that familiar stern and proper face, her grandmother’s graying temples, Gu Jinchao’s nose stung with emotion. She hurriedly tried to rise and welcome her.

Ji Wu smiled: “Don’t move! I’ll come to you.” In a few steps, she sat at the bedside and took Gu Jinchao into her arms.

Gu Jinchao rested on her grandmother’s shoulder, smelling the medicinal scent mixed with her familiar smell, feeling deeply comforted, and remained silent for a long while.

Madam Liu smiled and sat on the stool brought by a maid.

Ji Wu sighed: “How is it that someone who’s been pregnant and given birth is still so thin? I see others all getting plumper, yet you remain the same…”

Gu Jinchao smiled. How had she not gained weight? She felt considerably heavier herself.

“Why did you come personally? As your granddaughter, I should be the one bringing my child to pay respects to you. The journey from Wanping to Tongzhou is long, and with so many affairs at home, it’s too much trouble!”

Ji Wu smiled: “If I waited for you to visit me, I’d have to wait three months! Better for me to come see for myself, so I can be at ease. I’ve also known Old Madam Chen for years. It’s good to see her after so long. Besides, Ji Yao is watching over things at home. He can handle matters independently now…” Mentioning Ji Yao, Ji Wu recalled his past with Gu Jinchao and changed the subject, “By the way, where’s the child?”

“The child was taken for the third-day celebration. He’ll be brought back soon,” Gu Jinchao said.

Ji Yao… It had been a long time since she’d heard that name.

Gu Jinchao was silent for a moment before asking, “Cousin Ji Yao, is he still not betrothed?”

He was already twenty years old; if he didn’t get engaged soon, it would be too late.

Ji Wu shook her head: “He’s started discussing marriage. Coincidentally, it was Baron Yongyang’s wife who once proposed a match for you, though it didn’t work out in the end… Now they’re discussing his fifth daughter.”

Fifth daughter? Shouldn’t it be the fourth daughter?

Gu Jinchao was startled. Baron Yongyang’s fourth daughter was from the main wife, while the fifth was from a concubine…

His marriage prospects seemed to have been compromised.

Although it wasn’t because of her, she was still somehow involved. If he hadn’t waited for her, Ji Yao wouldn’t have remained unmarried at eighteen.

Gu Jinchao didn’t remember anything about this fifth daughter, thinking she must be an unremarkable person, and asked, “What is this fifth daughter like?”

“Everything is fine,” Ji Wu merely smiled. She didn’t want to say anything that would make Gu Jinchao feel guilty. If anyone should feel guilty, it was herself, this old woman. What did others have to feel guilty about? Ji Yao was older now and had an ambiguous child. Which good legitimate daughter would want to marry into their family?

Baron Yongyang’s fifth daughter was fine, but being born of a concubine, her upbringing wasn’t as refined as a legitimate daughter’s; she spoke and behaved timidly.

Ji Wu stopped talking about Ji Yao and instead said: “By the way, your head steward Luo Yongping wrote last time asking about Yongchang Trading Company. Do you remember?”

Gu Jinchao naturally remembered. Luo Yongping had said the Ji family hadn’t responded, so she hadn’t pressed the matter.

Ji Wu continued: “The letter mentioned it wasn’t convenient to discuss, so I wanted to tell you in person. The Ji family business is perhaps the largest in North Zhili, and cloth trading has always been an important part. Because of Yongchang Trading Company, our Ji family has suffered considerable losses… This Yongchang Trading Company is extremely powerful and must have the backing of high officials. Now they’ve even taken a share of the canal transport rights. The Ji family is ultimately merchants, and the ancient principle is that merchants don’t fight officials, so we dare not compete… If you encounter this Yongchang Trading Company, you must retreat far away from them.”

Even her grandmother was so cautious.

Afraid her grandmother might overthink, Gu Jinchao explained: “Last time Luo Yongping told me that Yongchang Trading Company’s silk prices were much cheaper than other merchants… Our silk shops have all been losing money, yet I haven’t heard much about this company, so I wanted to ask. We haven’t confronted them directly.”

Ji Wu smiled: “Luo Yongping is indeed capable. Yongchang Trading Company is very mysterious. Ordinary merchants can’t even hear their names, yet he’s managed to discover some information! Don’t worry, fluctuations in silk prices are normal. They can’t keep prices suppressed forever.”

What truly concerned Gu Jinchao wasn’t the silk prices, but it wasn’t easy to explain.