At the Chen family residence in Wanping, news had yet to be received.

After arriving, Gu Jinchao was helped down from the carriage. She glanced at the black lacquered doors of Muxi Hall, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.

Upon entering, she saw Yuzhu, Caifu, and others waiting for her, their eyes brimming with tears at her return. Caifu, being the most restrained, took a deep breath before stepping forward and saying softly: “Madam, please bathe first. Your servant has already had hot water prepared!”

Mama Tong continuously wiped her tears—it was wonderful that Madam had returned!

Gu Jinchao hadn’t changed her clothes for several days and felt uncomfortable in them.

She nodded, and Caifu went to instruct the young maids to bring hot water.

Gu Jinchao was worried about her child. After entering the western side room and not seeing Changsuo, she already missed him. She called Xiuqu over to ask: “How has the young master been these past days? Where is he now?”

Xiuqu, having heard from Yuzhu about the dangerous events, had been worried for them too. With red, swollen eyes, she replied: “The young master has been restless these past few days, crying at night, with even the wet nurse unable to console him. He just fell asleep after being fed and is in the warm room now.”

Gu Jinchao went to the warm room to see him and found him indeed asleep. She carefully kissed his cheek before quietly retreating.

Caifu had already prepared a paulownia wood bathtub, rose water, and washcloths, waiting for her to bathe.

She thoroughly washed her entire body and changed into a blue brocade padded jacket with a Buddhist vajra pattern and a light-colored pleated skirt. Resting against the luohan bed, Caifu combed her hair stroke by stroke. She then dabbed some floral essence from a nearby glass bowl onto her hair.

These everyday actions made her feel as if she had truly returned to normal life.

As if the abduction had never happened.

After her hair was combed, Gu Jinchao called Mama Tong over and asked what had happened during her absence.

Mama Tong explained in detail: “…When the Third Master learned of your predicament, he immediately brought people to rescue you. He instructed your servant to take good care of Muxi Hall. The news of Yuzhu bringing the young master back couldn’t be hidden—the young master is still young and cried all night without you. Third Master instructed your servant to tell others that the young master was sent back early from Baodi because he wasn’t accustomed to living there and didn’t adjust well to the environment. Only a few of us know about what happened to you…”

Hearing that Changsuo had cried all night, Gu Jinchao couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.

She then asked Mama Tong: “Has Mother inquired about anything?”

Mama Tong replied: “She had your servant bring the young master to see her once and fed him some lamb milk porridge, but didn’t say much else.”

“Did Second Madam say anything?” Gu Jinchao asked.

Mama Tong hesitated: “Not really, she just came to see the young master once. Your servant claimed that the young master was sleeping, so didn’t bring him out, only served her a bowl of tea.”

Gu Jinchao breathed a sigh of relief and asked Caifu to find her usual accessories to wear.

Having just returned, she should pay her respects to the Elder Madam Chen.

When she arrived, Elder Madam Chen was being supported by Mama Zheng, walking along the covered corridor. She knew nothing of Gu Jinchao’s ordeal and appeared to be in good spirits. She smiled, invited Gu Jinchao to sit, and offered her a cup of lotus leaf tea.

“I’ve been drinking this lotus leaf tea lately. They say it clears lung heat. The taste is acceptable, just milder than regular tea.”

Gu Jinchao took a sip and asked about Elder Madam Chen’s health.

The usual greetings.

Elder Madam Chen smiled: “With age comes more ailments. Ah, sometimes better, sometimes worse, don’t worry about it!… How was your trip to Baodi? You even sent Changsuo back first. Ji Wushi has always been an amusing person, I feel quite comfortable in her company.”

Having grown up in the Ji family since childhood, she was as familiar as could be—what could be interesting about it?

Unfortunately, the gifts she had brought back for Elder Madam Chen were all left at the Baodi post station.

Gu Jinchao smiled and said: “Changsuo was sent back because he didn’t adjust well to the environment. Xuan’er is doing fine though, I heard she’s with child.”

Elder Madam Chen was delighted, nodding repeatedly saying: “That’s wonderful!”

Soon after, Madam Wang and Madam Ge came to pay their morning respects. Seeing Gu Jinchao’s return, both were pleased and chatted for quite some time.

Elder Madam Chen asked Madam Ge: “Sixth Son didn’t come to pay his respects this morning again. Where has he gone?”

Madam Ge replied timidly: “Mother, as you know, he never tells me when he goes out… If I ask too much, he gets angry. But he did promise Third Master that he wouldn’t go to those unsavory places…”

Gu Jinchao looked steadily at Madam Ge.

She suddenly asked: “Sister-in-law, last time I heard you mention your younger sister. Has she been betrothed yet?”

Hearing Gu Jinchao change the subject, Madam Ge thought she was helping her out of an awkward situation and gave her a grateful look: “Not yet! There aren’t many prestigious families in Shunde. In her last letter to me, she mentioned wanting to visit me in the capital, though I don’t know if she’ll be able to come.”

Elder Madam Chen looked helplessly at Gu Jinchao, silently shaking her head.

But Gu Jinchao wasn’t speaking up for Madam Ge; she had her reasons for asking.

Madam Ge’s eventual downfall had much to do with this sister of hers.

Madam Ge’s family wasn’t particularly distinguished. Her father had served as a prefectural assistant magistrate in Shunde, but in her generation, the family had produced only two juren scholars. It couldn’t compare to Madam Qin’s family, and while Madam Wang’s family was involved in trade, they were still quite wealthy. Madam Ge had a younger sister.

This sister was her full-blooded sibling, the youngest girl in the family, just sixteen years old this year. Her father had this daughter in his later years, and since Madam Ge only had this one sister, she was pampered to the extreme. Whatever good things Madam Ge had, she would give to her sister first.

A girl raised this way was naturally innocent, lovely, and charming.

Later, when she came to Wanping, she stayed in the Sixth Household. At that time, Madam Ge was still very concerned about her marriage, thinking that while there weren’t many prestigious families in Shunde, there were plenty around the capital. She had hoped to arrange a marriage for her sister with the legitimate son of a well-established family, so she wouldn’t have to return to Shunde and could marry perhaps a xiucai or juren scholar’s son.

But later, her full-blooded sister ended up in bed with Sixth Master Chen.

Originally, Sixth Master Chen hadn’t taken concubines for the sake of his son, but this time he was determined to take Madam Ge’s sister as a concubine.

Madam Ge couldn’t stop it. She both cried and reasoned with her sister, but could never bring herself to hate her.

That time, Elder Madam Chen nearly fainted from anger. Third Master Chen almost beat Sixth Master Chen to death, but as always, once Sixth Master Chen made up his mind, he was extremely stubborn, and no one could prevent him from taking a concubine.

The matter grew increasingly unpleasant. Madam Ge finally relented, saying she would allow Sixth Master Chen to take a concubine.

It was her sister who had disgraced herself—what else could she do but be accommodating? Could she send her sister to drown in a pig cage?

After this incident, Madam Ge’s entire spirit weakened. She simply didn’t have the energy to compete for affection with the sister she had cherished since childhood.

At the time, Gu Jinchao found Madam Ge both pitiful and hateful, and couldn’t sympathize with her.

Now, however, she wanted to help her.

Gu Jinchao smiled and said: “When your sister is about to visit, please be sure to let me know.”

Madam Ge agreed with a smile, fine wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes.

Gu Jinchao was also tired and soon took her leave, returning to Muxi Hall.

As soon as she returned to Muxi Hall, she heard the sound of a child crying, crying until his voice sounded wrong.

She hurriedly walked into the warm room and saw the wet nurse holding the child, trying to comfort him. But the child refused to be consoled, twisting his body, not wanting to be held by her. His small body was dressed in a short jacket, his melon-rind cap askew.

Before she could pick him up, the child seemed to hear her voice and turned, immediately trying to lunge toward her.

Gu Jinchao quickly took him in her arms, patting his back and gently comforting him.

But Changsuo seemed truly distressed and wailed even louder. When he had cried until he had no strength left, he clutched at her collar, continuously gasping for breath, looking utterly pitiful. Gu Jinchao wanted the wet nurse to take him for feeding, but he refused, clinging to Gu Jinchao’s arms, making “ya ya” sounds, and burrowing into her embrace.

He couldn’t speak and didn’t know how to express his fear.

He might have thought that once he saw her, she would disappear again.

Gu Jinchao said: “Never mind, bring a bowl of sheep’s milk!”

She carried the little one out and fed him warm sheep’s milk, spoonful by spoonful.

After each spoonful, he would look at Gu Jinchao’s face, as if trying to recognize her. He drank quickly, and the bowl of sheep’s milk was soon empty. In the past, feeding him hadn’t been so easy—he liked to squirm around and play, and it would take forever to get a single spoonful into him.

After Changsuo finished the sheep’s milk, Gu Jinchao patted his back to help him burp, then took out his hand rattle for him to play with, making him giggle. He was now willing to let the wet nurse hold and comfort him…

After Gu Jinchao had lulled Changsuo to sleep, she looked outside the latticed window and saw that the sky had darkened.

Nearly a whole day had passed, and still no sign of when Third Master Chen would return!