When Chen Yan’yun truly made up his mind about something, he would act immediately.

Gu Jinchao married into the family three months later.

It was autumn, and clusters of chrysanthemums in the courtyard were blooming beautifully. The mansion was decorated with lanterns and ornaments, extraordinarily lively.

He entertained guests in the front courtyard, where someone offered him a toast. He accepted with a smile and drank it in one gulp.

After everyone had left, he finally went to her courtyard.

She was still sitting on the stepped bed, in her elaborate wedding attire. Her dowry maid dozed at the doorway. The room was quiet and cold, with only the red candles burning.

The bridal veil had already been lifted. She now looked somewhat tired, with her eyes lowered coldly.

Seeing this, Chen Yan’yun felt a chill in his heart. She seemed… unhappy.

Indeed, Chen Yan’yun had not guessed wrong. She didn’t like this marriage at all and even felt some aversion to it.

The warmth in his heart gradually cooled.

It continued like this for days. Even when Chen Yan’yun was considerate toward her, she accepted it silently, rarely speaking to him except to ask what he wanted to eat or do. Most of the time, she just read her books. When paying respects to the Old Madam, she was absent-minded and even accidentally dropped a teacup.

Chen Yan’yun learned of this incident only when he returned from court.

She had been scolded by Old Madam Chen and was now sitting on the couch, brooding.

He sat down in front of her and asked calmly: “What did you do wrong?”

She glared at him with reddened eyes, looking both pitiful and stubborn: “It wasn’t my fault. The tea was too hot!”

He asked again: “So you think you’re right, and that’s how you answered when Mother asked you?”

Gu Jinchao said: “That’s exactly what I said, and it’s the truth!” She tightly gripped her scalded fingers and said in a low voice, “If you’ve come to reproach me too, don’t bother. I did nothing wrong.”

Chen Yan’yun noticed her hand and reached out to take a look: “Is the burn serious?”

She avoided his touch, shaking her head without speaking.

Chen Yan’yun stood up with a sigh and went to his mother.

Old Madam Chen was also displeased and had him sit down to talk: “…Although she’s still young, she’s too inconsiderate! Your eldest sister-in-law and Lady Jiang were about her age when they married into the family, but I’ve never seen anyone so impetuous! Scold her a little and she acts like the sky is falling.”

Chen Yan’yun could only defend her: “She’s still young. Please teach her patiently. I’ve spoken to her already. She knows she was wrong but is just too stubborn to admit it.”

With her Grand Secretary son speaking up for her, how could Old Madam Chen say more? She sighed: “Fine, fine. I’m getting on in years and am not trying to find fault with her. I just worry for you. Can such a person take good care of you?”

Chen Yan’yun smiled and told his mother: “I have hands and feet. Why do I need others to care for me?”

He wanted to be tolerant of her. Gu Jinchao was just too young and didn’t know better.

Yet since Gu Jinchao disliked his presence, he didn’t want to bother her and gradually stopped visiting her quarters.

Winter came quickly.

Soon, North Zhili was blanketed in heavy snow.

He had just finished reading memorials and was resting in his Dongpo chair. The charcoal fire in the stove burned warmly. Chen Yan’yun suddenly wanted to check on her. He put on a cloak and slowly walked along the corridor toward the inner courtyard.

Gu Jinchao stood alone under the porch, watching the snow.

Chen Yan’yun saw her and stopped at a distance. She wore a red fox fur cloak. Her hair was neatly combed, though she wore only a single gold hairpin with flower buds. She must have just finished washing up before coming out. Her gaze was fixed straight ahead. Chen Xuanqing was picking plum blossoms with Yu Wanxue.

The couple had picked a large bundle of winter plum branches and walked away hand in hand.

She seemed to lose all strength, leaning against the corridor pillar, perhaps crying.

Chen Yan’yun watched silently for a long time until she slowly stood up and walked back. Only then did he turn to leave.

He stood silently in his study for a long time but finally smiled.

Chen Yan’yun called Chen Yi in and asked him to investigate Gu Jinchao’s past.

When the results were delivered to him, they were as he expected. He glanced at them, tossed them aside, and paid no more attention.

The New Year was always festive.

Chen Yan’yun went to sit with Gu Jinchao for a while and noticed that the edges of her couch were somewhat damaged. Several concubines were accompanying Gu Jinchao as she did needlework. Her needlework was very poor, though she seemed unaware of it. The concubines didn’t dare say anything, each with a strange expression. He read for a while and then left on his own, without saying a word to Gu Jinchao. He only heard an old servant woman quietly saying behind him: “…the master didn’t stay.”

After returning, he summoned someone from the household affairs office and had them replace the couch with a new one.

The next day, Gu Jinchao came to his study to find him.

She brought him a pair of winter socks she had made herself.

“This concubine didn’t make them well…” she said hesitantly. “Mother said you didn’t have winter socks.”

Chen Yan’yun held up the socks she had made. The edges were not sewn evenly; they were indeed poorly made.

“You’re not being modest,” he said softly.

Faced with Chen Yan’yun’s casual mockery, Gu Jinchao felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Anyway, I’ve delivered them,” she said, her face slightly flushed but her tone composed. “If you find them ugly, you don’t have to wear them.”

Chen Yan’yun held the socks and smiled, looking at her for a long time. Then he said: “Thank you.”

Gu Jinchao made a sound of acknowledgment. She felt uncomfortable standing in the Third Master’s study and said: “…I’ll be going back now.”

Chen Yan’yun nodded, watching her walk quickly out of Ninghui Hall.

Still like a child.

Perhaps he could change her?

If they continued like this, it seemed quite good. Being with her wasn’t tiring at all.

She always looked unhappy. He should do something to make her happy.

Chen Yan’yun thought for a moment, then summoned the Chen family’s steward to give instructions. The Chen family would cover most of the expenses for the Wanping Lantern Festival; it should be livelier here. Might as well have the Chen family organize everything. Children always liked festive occasions.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, the entire Huaixiang Hutong and the front courtyard of the Chen residence were filled with lanterns. The smaller ones included toad lanterns, hibiscus lanterns, and embroidered ball lanterns. The larger ones featured lanterns of the sorceress defeating evil spirits with a feather fan, Liu Hai playing with a golden toad to swallow treasures, and a blue lion carrying priceless treasures. The garden was brilliant with lantern light.

He specifically had an old servant woman inform her that the lantern festival was very good.

Gu Jinchao came out with the Second Young Madam.

When she arrived, she was holding a hand warmer. She seemed quite afraid of the cold, dressing thickly wherever she went. The trim of her cloak was rabbit fur, snow white, making her face appear rosy.

Chen Yan’yun walked toward her. People around saw the Third Master approaching and all bowed to him. Gu Jinchao was startled, then curtsied and addressed him as “Third Master.” Chen Yan’yun waved his hand, asking everyone to withdraw. He then asked her: “Are the lanterns beautiful?”

Gu Jinchao nodded, about to say something, when she heard exclamations ahead as people gathered in one place.

She somewhat wanted to go see the excitement and looked at him expectantly.

Chen Yan’yun smiled and said: “Go ahead and take a look.”

She smiled with pursed lips and went with her maid.

Chen Yan’yun stood for a while before having a servant boy come over to ask: “What’s happening up there?”

The servant boy replied: “It’s the Seventh Young Master… he made a pond of lotus lanterns floating in from the lake in the back courtyard. They’re beautiful! Our Seventh Young Mistress is extremely happy! Third Master, won’t you go see?”

Chen Yan’yun said indifferently: “I’ll pass.” Young people liked to join in the excitement, but he preferred quietude, so he wouldn’t go.

A few days later, he went to Gu Jinchao’s quarters, but she had already gone to Old Madam Chen’s.

With nothing to do, he entered her study, wanting to see what books she usually read.

Her study was arranged very simply, with just one calligraphy piece hanging and one pot of asparagus fern. An old porcelain jar held many scrolls of calligraphy and painting.

On the desk sat a lotus lantern.

The edges had been soaked and the colors had bled, no longer looking good. She had placed it on the desk and carefully retouched it with a brush.

Chen Yan’yun silently picked up this lotus lantern, thinking of the lantern festival when Chen Xuanqing had given Yu Wanxue a pond of lotus lanterns. In truth, with just a slight pressure from his hand, this little trinket would be nothing but a pile of waste paper.

But what difference would that make? To Gu Jinchao, all the splendor in the courtyard couldn’t compare to a single lotus lantern.

He smiled self-mockingly and put the lantern back in its place.

From then on, he rarely went to see her again.

Chen Yan’yun was not in the habit of trying to please others; once or twice was enough.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help her, but that he was powerless. He could do many things, but he couldn’t change someone’s heart.

The following spring, Chen Xuanqing placed third in the imperial examinations.

The way she looked at Chen Xuanqing showed a vicarious pride.

She seemed overly eager, not knowing how to restrain herself. She even had her maid bring sobering soup to Chen Xuanqing.

Who did she think she was?

Chen Yan’yun waited for her for a long time. When she returned, he only admonished her with one sentence: “…Remember your position.”

She probably didn’t understand, looking at him indifferently.

Chen Yan’yun stood up and left, never looking back again.