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.