Chen Xuan Qing lived in the county magistrate’s office in Suning. When he went there, he had only brought a few servants and attendants. If Yu Wan Xue were to follow him, she would inevitably need to bring many belongings, and couldn’t do without a proper complement of maids.

Chen Xuan Qing had originally planned to leave after the New Year, but now it seemed not so simple. He would have to wait for Yu Wan Xue to prepare everything.

The two of them took their leave after lunch.

Gu Jin Chao accompanied Chen Xi to practice her newly learned melody when a maid from Old Madam Chen came with a message, saying Old Madam Chen wanted to see her to discuss something.

Gu Jin Chao changed into a satin jacket with white fox fur trim and went to Old Madam Chen’s quarters.

Half Bamboo Court was situated in a secluded location, with many clusters of green bamboo planted along the path. Matron Zheng was leading young maids to collect snow from bamboo leaves; the earthen jar was already half full. Seeing her approach, Matron Zheng bowed in greeting and led her into the warm room.

Inside, the floor heating was comfortably warm, but only two personal maids were in attendance, with no sign of Madam Qin or others. Old Madam Chen’s face rarely lacked a smile, but now she pointed to a stool for her to sit on and dismissed all the attending maids and servants.

It seemed there truly was a serious matter!

“…I’ve called you here regarding Second Master’s affairs,” Old Madam Chen began.

Gu Jin Chao was puzzled. Why would Old Madam Chen discuss Second Master Chen’s affairs with her rather than with Madam Qin? As both from another branch of the family and a junior, how could she properly comment?

But she quickly realized this must be something that couldn’t be shared with Madam Qin.

“Second Master has truly behaved inappropriately!” Old Madam Chen said in a low voice. When Chen Yan Zhang had told her about this last night, he had been vague and evasive, which angered her though she couldn’t properly scold him. At over forty years old and holding the rank of a second-grade official, he was beyond her authority to reprimand. In the end, she could only chastise him briefly before sending him away, knowing she would have to clean up his mess later.

She naturally wouldn’t share these thoughts with Gu Jin Chao, as it concerned the Second Master’s dignity.

Old Madam Chen warmed her hands on a hand warmer and slowly said: “Second Master told me he has brought a woman back… She was originally kept in Shaanxi, and he hadn’t planned to bring her back. It was only after she had a child that he thought of sending her here. After all, in a few months, he’ll be reassigned to Huguang. Currently, they’re staying in one of the Chen family properties in Wanping County… You know Second Master’s wife’s temperament. If this woman and child were to return, she certainly wouldn’t be pleased… He feared something might go wrong, which is why he hasn’t brought them home.”

Second Master Chen was keeping a woman outside?

Gu Jin Chao was somewhat surprised.

After thinking about it, she realized this was normal. Second Master Chen was stationed in Shaanxi; he couldn’t be without someone to serve his bed.

In her previous life, she hadn’t paid much attention to Second Master Chen’s affairs. In any case, Madam Qin had plenty of strategies and wouldn’t allow such matters to become public.

Gu Jin Chao asked: “…Is it a boy or a girl?”

Old Madam Chen replied: “It’s a boy, already three months old, and still without a name.”

This was indeed troublesome. If it had been a girl, it wouldn’t matter much, but a boy couldn’t be raised outside indefinitely. This was Second Master Chen’s legitimate bloodline and would need to be properly acknowledged. Moreover, in a few years, he would need to begin his education.

“What do you think we should do?” Gu Jin Chao asked her. “I shouldn’t interfere in Second Sister-in-law’s affairs. If she discovers this later, she might resent me…” Not to mention it was Second Master Chen’s illegitimate son.

“I understand,” Old Madam Chen nodded. “But keeping the child outside indefinitely isn’t a solution either! My health isn’t good now, so I can’t manage these matters. The child can’t accompany him to his new post… Since you oversee the outer courtyard now, it would be convenient for you to allocate some silver to send to them monthly. I’ll also send two suitable matrons over. Let’s look after them for now!”

Speaking this, Old Madam Chen sighed: “I thought only Sixth Master would get involved in such matters… When the Second Master told me, I was extremely angry. If he wanted someone to serve him, that would be fine. But how could he let that creature bear a child!”

Gu Jin Chao keenly perceived that the child’s mother was in an unusual situation.

If she were from an ordinary family, why would Old Madam Chen speak of her in such a manner?

Gu Jin Chao asked: “Mother, what exactly is this woman’s background?”

Old Madam Chen hesitated, feeling uncomfortable discussing it, but after a moment, she said softly: “…A Yangzhou songbird.”

So she was a Yangzhou songbird!

Gu Jin Chao immediately understood. Girls raised as songbirds were trained in numerous arts of pleasing men, and were typically obedient and gentle. But their status was extremely low, even below servants sold into service as children. No matter how much Second Master Chen might like her, such a woman could never be publicly acknowledged.

Moreover, allowing these songbirds to bear children meant that both mother and child would have very low status.

Seeing Gu Jin Chao’s silence, Old Madam Chen thought she couldn’t bear to hear such unsavory matters and stopped discussing the songbird: “…Whatever kind of woman she is, we can’t let the child remain outside indefinitely. I still want to bring this child back, even if I have to raise him here myself. After all, Xuan Xin has moved to the outer courtyard. Even if your Second Sister-in-law doesn’t like it, there’s nothing to be done. Just look after the mother and child for a month or two. Once I recover, I’ll take over.”

Gu Jin Chao couldn’t refuse and agreed.

After all, it was just a matter of sending silver and food.

Having discussed Second Master Chen’s affair, she then consulted with Old Madam Chen about Yu Wan Xue accompanying Chen Xuan Qing to his post.

Hearing it was Third Master Chen’s idea, Old Madam Chen nodded in agreement: “…Let’s follow his suggestion; he’s rarely wrong.”

With all her daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law here, she didn’t need Wan Xue to stay and serve her. Instead, Yu Wan Xue should focus on building a good relationship with Xuan Qing. The two showed none of the intimacy typical of reunited couples.

“These days, Third Master…” Old Madam Chen hesitated.

Since that time Third Master Chen had left her quarters, he had become somewhat cold. He still came to see her but wasn’t as cheerful and talkative as before. Old Madam Chen had tried several times to speak with him privately, but he had always avoided it. She didn’t dare bring up Fourth Master Chen’s situation, fearing it would anger Third Master Chen further.

“Has he mentioned anything about Fourth Master? Or has he seemed unhappy in any way?” Old Madam Chen asked. “Since he placed Fourth Master under house arrest, he always seems displeased.”

Third Master Chen was keeping Fourth Master Chen’s situation very secret. Everyone knew Fourth Master Chen was confined to his study but didn’t know why.

Of course, such matters of brotherly betrayal couldn’t be made public.

Third Master Chen had probably kept Old Madam Chen in the dark as well, likely concerned about her poor health and not wanting to distress her.

After all, they were born to the same mother. How could Third Master Chen tell her that Fourth Master had tried to harm him but failed, harming her instead?

Gu Jin Chao thought for a moment, then said: “The Third Master values loyalty and has always been good to the Fourth Master. Confining Fourth Master now may be something he had no choice but to do. He doesn’t want others to say he’s cold and heartless… Please don’t worry. Third Master knows what he’s doing.”

After hearing Gu Jin Chao, Old Madam Chen’s face revealed a bitter smile.

“I raised him for nothing. We’ve been together for over thirty years, yet you understand him better than I do. No wonder he resents me.”

Third Master Chen hadn’t told her about that night’s events, and Gu Jin Chao didn’t understand what Old Madam Chen meant.

Old Madam Chen didn’t intend to say more and waved her hand, dismissing Gu Jin Chao.

That evening, Gu Jin Chao told Third Master Chen about her conversation with Old Madam Chen.

Third Master Chen had just returned from the Cabinet, had just changed out of his official robes, and was sitting on the luohan bed drinking tea while listening to Jin Chao.

“I know about the songbird matter. It’s not a big issue; let him be,” Third Master Chen wasn’t concerned about such affairs.

Many men indulged in such practices. Officials secretly taking concubines or buying courtesans wasn’t uncommon. Though it didn’t sound good for one’s reputation, it wasn’t a significant matter. Yesterday, Second Master Chen mentioned it to him. Although Third Master Chen thought he had been careless, Chen Yan Zhang was still his elder brother, so he didn’t feel it was his place to say much.

Gu Jin Chao thought he wouldn’t care, and besides, it wasn’t something easily managed.

If he could manage Sixth Master Chen’s affairs, he certainly wouldn’t interfere with Second Master Chen…

Leaning against the kang table, she was mending the edge of a sock in the candlelight when she asked: “So you and Second Master discussed this yesterday?”

Third Master Chen shook his head: “I discussed Zhang Ju Lian’s matter with him. He has connections with Zhao Huai in Shaanxi. If we truly come to blows with Zhang Ju Lian… I have no military authority, so we need to plan carefully.”

“You already have a plan?” Gu Jin Chao was curious.

Third Master Chen smiled: “If I told you I’ve been thinking about this for a year, would you believe me?”

Of course, she would.

Gu Jin Chao thought that perhaps from the day he entered the Cabinet, Third Master Chen had already envisioned today’s scenario.

Third Master Chen noticed the needlework in her hands and took it from her: “Doing this at night strains your eyes. Haven’t I told you this before?”

Gu Jin Chao was busy during the day and only had time for needlework in the evening. She naturally wanted to make the child’s undergarments herself. Gu Jin Chao reached out to grab it back, but Third Master Chen held it behind his back. When she reached behind him, he moved it to the other side. Third Master Chen watched her teasingly and said: “Do you still want to snatch it?”

He was taller than her, more agile, and stronger. How could she possibly take it from him?

Gu Jin Chao felt helpless, feeling as though he was toying with her, so calm and composed.

“If you don’t give it back to me, I won’t finish it tonight…” Gu Jin Chao said. “I have to meet with the steward tomorrow.”

Third Master Chen said: “You’re already tired during the day. How can you do these things at night? I’ve noticed that your dowry maids, Cai Fu, and Xiu Qu, are quite skilled at needlework. They can certainly make a few pairs of shoes and socks for the child. Don’t exhaust yourself.” His message was clear: she wasn’t getting the sock back today.

Gu Jin Chao thought to herself that he didn’t understand—how could something made by others be the same as something made by her own hands?

When he wasn’t paying attention, she tried to snatch it back. However, she lost her balance and fell on top of him. To protect her, Third Master Chen didn’t dodge, allowing himself to be pressed onto the bed, serving as a cushion for her. He let out a muffled groan of pain. Gu Jin Chao felt a bit embarrassed and asked: “Did I press against something?”

Third Master Chen sighed: “You are…”

Seeing her flushed face, he slowly said, “It’s fine. Let me check after you get up.”

It was Chang Suo’s Lu Ban puzzle; he must have been playing with it earlier, and the servants hadn’t cleaned up properly.

Gu Jin Chao felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing he wasn’t hurt, she said: “Um… I didn’t mean to…”

Third Master Chen rubbed his sore back and said: “Even if you had meant to, I wouldn’t blame you.” He calmly added, “It counts as throwing yourself into my arms, doesn’t it?”

Gu Jin Chao felt even more embarrassed—what kind of throwing herself into his arms was that? She took the sock and placed it in the basket. He gave her a look, and she quickly said: “I’ll continue working on it tomorrow afternoon.”

Third Master Chen nodded and sat up straight, saying: “Next time this happens, I won’t let you off so easily.” He picked up a book from the table and began reading.

What more would he do?

Gu Jin Chao looked at his tall yet scholarly figure, focused attention on the book, and felt a warm breeze pass through her heart.

Her heart was filled with tenderness.