Could there be something strange about that string of prayer beads?

Gu Jinchao felt a wave of confusion.

A while later, Madam Qin arrived with several daughters-in-law.

Though Banzhu Pan had beautiful scenery, it was rather remote, and the furnishings inside were too luxurious for the Old Madam’s comfort. Madam Qin directed several elderly maids to replace the room’s screens, ivory inlaid decorations, and gold-embroidered Hangzhou silk cushions. They set up the sandalwood Buddha statue that the Old Madam usually displayed.

Once everyone was seated, Madam Qin spoke to Gu Jinchao: “Third Sister-in-law, the year-end is approaching, and when the Second Master and the others return, the household will become busy again. Now that Mother is ill, perhaps I should take care of her, while you manage the outer courtyard affairs alone… what do you think?”

Gu Jinchao nodded: “I’m naturally at ease with my Second Sister-in-law caring for Mother. I only fear there might be aspects I don’t manage well, so please point them out.”

The Old Madam smiled and said: “I think you manage things very well. I’m old now and enjoy liveliness, so I’m looking forward to their return.” She sighed slowly, “If my health deteriorates, I fear they might not even see me for the last time.”

Madam Shen quickly said: “Grandmother has Buddha’s blessing, naturally heaven protects those with good fortune!”

The Old Madam just shook her head and smiled, “And Fourth Son has been so gloomy these few months. Even with my illness like this, he hasn’t come to see me…”

Madam Shen smiled and said: “Fourth Uncle must be too busy.” Everyone knew what had happened to Fourth Master Chen, but no one dared mention it.

Gu Jinchao felt that Chen Yanwen was indeed excessive—the Old Madam had given birth to him after all, yet he hadn’t even come to visit.

The Old Madam asked Madam Shen: “Didn’t young master Xian come with you?”

“Young master Xian went to play with his eighth brother yesterday. Today he insisted on going with his eighth brother to Taofeng Pavilion to study. I thought it would be good for him to listen in, so I sent a governess to take him there,” Madam Shen replied.

After the New Year, young master Xian would also be going to Taofeng Pavilion.

The Old Madam nodded: “It’s good he didn’t come. I was worried about passing my illness to them.”

Hearing the Old Madam’s words, Madam Qin’s smile seemed somewhat forced.

Gu Jinchao helped the Old Madam take her medicine, and thinking of matters she needed to attend to, and with Madam Qin here to serve, she wouldn’t need to worry. She first bid farewell to the Old Madam and left.

When Gu Jinchao returned to Muxi Hall, she happened to see Mr. Song, the medicine expert, arriving. He smiled and bowed to her in greeting, then entered the study in the front courtyard. Gu Jinchao thought for a moment, first sent the elderly maids back, and headed toward the study with only Caifu.

Outside the study stood Third Master Chen’s guards, whose leader politely stopped her, saying that Third Master Chen was inside discussing matters with someone.

Gu Jinchao could only wait outside for a while, drinking tea while looking at the “Spring Harmony and Bright Scenery” plaque in the main hall.

After Mr. Song came out, his expression was solemn, and he quickly left the study.

Only then did the guard invite her in.

Gu Jinchao saw Third Master Chen sitting at his desk, with something like an account book open before him. He leaned back in his grand chair with closed eyes, playing with that slightly blackened string of prayer beads in his hand.

Gu Jinchao walked quietly to his side and took the prayer beads from his hand to examine them: “The material seems like old mountain sandalwood…”

Chen Yanyun took the item from her hands: “Don’t touch this.”

“How did you…” Gu Jinchao paused briefly, immediately realizing: “Could it be…”

Was there something wrong with these prayer beads?

“You just said these prayer beads were given by you to Mother. But there’s something wrong with them?” Gu Jinchao was confused. Since they had passed through Third Master Chen’s hands, there shouldn’t be any problem!

Third Master Chen sighed with a smile: “This thing was given to me by someone else… can you guess who?”

His hand slowly stopped playing with the prayer beads, his gaze cold.

Gu Jinchao felt she might have guessed. Things given to Third Master Chen by others, he would naturally be wary of. But Third Master Chen was also someone who valued family greatly; he wouldn’t be suspicious of his relatives…

Could these prayer beads have been given by Fourth Master Chen?

“Two years ago, Chen Yanwen went to Mount Wutai in Shanxi and brought me this string of beads. He said they were consecrated by Master Juewu of Lingyan Temple, making them quite precious Buddhist artifacts.” Chen Yanyun said slowly, “But at that time… I had just met you, and later married you. I didn’t use this thing, so I passed it on to Mother…”

He might have been furious to the extreme, but Gu Jinchao couldn’t feel his anger at all.

She looked up at Third Master Chen. His face clearly wore a smile, but his eyes were dark, and his hands trembled slightly.

Her heart felt ice-cold, not know what to say. No one would feel good about being harmed by their blood brother. Even someone as shrewd as him, how could he withstand this backstabbing from his brother?

“I’ve implicated mother as well!” Third Master Chen sighed, “I originally thought that although he was dissatisfied, he wouldn’t go so far as to harm his own family… Now thinking about it, I underestimated him.”

Gu Jinchao remained silent for a long time before asking: “Was it because of me… that you didn’t use it?”

Third Master Chen nodded: “I was never really a devotee anyway.”

It was just that the Old Madam found peace in Buddhist scriptures, and being influenced by this environment, he had followed her in believing in Buddhism.

This was a slow-acting poison, not meant to take a life. But it could make one’s health deteriorate gradually… Gu Jinchao felt she might understand many things now. Why did Third Master Chen’s health later worsen, and why did he eventually die at the hands of Xie Sixing?

When he finally left, Gu Jinchao didn’t go to see him off.

But as he passed by the courtyard where she lived, Gu Jinchao saw his thin silhouette.

At that time, he indeed seemed very frail. Fortunately, his large frame still supported that cloak…

Gu Jinchao momentarily lost herself in thought.

Chen Yanyun lowered his eyes, looking at this string of prayer beads. The bead carved with Buddha’s golden body, still bearing the Buddha’s name, he slowly caressed with his finger.

Being by his side was truly so terrifying. Even blood brothers could harbor murderous intentions, let alone teachers and students. The hand that smiles at you could stab you the next moment. Today you might drink and chat happily, tomorrow you could be facing each other with swords drawn.

Cruel without any room for mercy.

“Jinchao, go back and rest first.” Third Master Chen put away the prayer beads, “I have some business with Chen Four.”

Gu Jinchao made a sound of acknowledgment. She said nothing, only taking the gray squirrel fur cloak from the rack and fastening it for him.

Third Master Chen left the study, with Chen Yi leading people waiting for him outside.

She stood outside the main hall, watching him disappear into the dusk with his men, the surrounding guards standing so solemnly. Not a sound could be heard in Muxi Hall.

The last bit of light vanished at the horizon, leaving only the afterglow on the eaves.

…

Madam Wang had been lying in bed for half a day, feeling dizzy.

During her monthly period, she always felt weak and lethargic, not wanting to move. Concubine You had come to attend to her, keeping her company while doing some needlework.

Madam Wang, assisted by a small maid, drank a bowl of brown sugar water and called for Matron Jiang to ask: “Where is Fourth Master?”

Matron Jiang replied: “He seems to be in the study. If you need anything, this servant can go inform him?”

Madam Wang just shook her head; she was just asking casually.

She leaned against the Lu silk pillow interwoven with gold thread, seeing Concubine You’s profile in the lamplight. Delicate and enchanting.

Madam Wang vaguely thought of Gu Jinchao’s appearance and felt these two faces somehow overlapped. She closed her eyes, feeling that if she continued lying down, her spirits would worsen. She reached out her hand to Concubine You and said: “Help me get up to walk a bit.”

Concubine You hurriedly put down her needlework. Though surprised, she still reached out to help Madam Wang up.

Fourth Master Chen had four concubines, with her being the most favored, and she had also given birth to a son. But even so, while she dared to act coquettishly before Fourth Master Chen, she didn’t dare to be presumptuous before the principal wife.

Madam Wang had never particularly liked her, and her attending to Madam Wang was merely a formality. She hadn’t expected Madam Wang to want her service.

She asked Madam Wang softly: “Where does Madam wish to walk?”

Madam Wang pointed to the corridor outside. Following the corridor past the passageway would lead to Fourth Master Chen’s study.

Concubine You supported Madam Wang as they went out. Behind them followed maids carrying a stool and handkerchiefs. Many brown bamboos were planted on both sides of the corridor, and Madam Wang paused to look for a while. Suddenly, she heard a commotion from the direction of the study.

Matron Jiang leaned forward to take a look: “It seems to be guards from Heyanlou…”

Madam Wang frowned, letting Concubine You support her as she took a few more steps toward the study. She happened to see a tall figure enter the study. It was Chen Yanyun! His adviser Jiang Yan also went in… and the guards took positions outside the door.

What was happening?

Madam Wang felt a chill in her heart. It was one thing for Chen Yanyun to personally seek out Fourth Master Chen, but he had brought so many people with him.

Hadn’t there been talk recently about stripping Fourth Master Chen of his stewardship? What did Third Master Chen want to do now? What had Fourth Master Chen done to provoke him?

She pushed away Concubine You’s hand and walked forward a few steps herself when suddenly she heard the sound of something heavy falling in the study. Then came an angry shout: “What exactly are you trying to do?!” It sounded like Third Master Chen’s voice.

Madam Wang was so frightened that her hands and feet went weak. She quickly leaned against a pillar, not daring to step any closer.

Matron Jiang came to support her, and after taking a breath, she said: “Quickly, let’s go to the Old Madam!”

This matter needed the Old Madam’s intervention; otherwise, how could Fourth Master Chen contend with Chen Yanyun?

Matron Jiang hurriedly supported her to Banzhu Pan.

…

Everything on the desk had been swept to the floor. The ice-crackle celadon brush holder shattered to pieces.

Fourth Master Chen was stunned, then raised his head to look at Third Master Chen. “What can I do… I’m already under your house arrest, what more do you want?” A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, “I know things aren’t going well for you at court. Are you trying to vent your anger on me?”

He had never seen his third brother so angry with him. There wasn’t a trace of a smile on his face as he stared at him expressionlessly. Chen Yanwen felt somewhat afraid inside, but he tightened his trembling hands and continued to smile: “I should be the one asking you!”

Third Master Chen said nothing, but with a “pa” sound, threw that string of beads onto the desk.

Upon seeing these prayer beads, Fourth Master Chen’s face changed color.

“Although it hardly matters now, I still want to ask you, whose idea was this? Yours or Zhang Julian’s?” Third Master Chen asked indifferently.