In the study of Qianqing Palace, Zhu Jun’an quietly bent over, tracing characters in red to practice calligraphy. Chen Yan Yun sat nearby in a grand chair, drinking tea. Shortly after, a eunuch entered carrying a small box, smiling as he said: “Lord Chen, we couldn’t find seeds for this type of water lily, but these are rhizomes just dug from the lotus pond as you requested. Please keep them safe.”
Chen Yan Yun smiled as he accepted the box and handed it to Jiang Yan at his side.
Zhu Jun’an looked up curiously and asked: “Beloved Minister Chen, why are you growing water lilies? Mother Empress says they’re difficult to cultivate and are typically tended by specialized craftsmen. Why don’t I send two craftsmen to your mansion to grow water lilies for you!”
That would be presuming on imperial favor. Chen Yan Yun rose to reply: “I thank Your Majesty, but it’s my wife who wishes to grow them for amusement. There’s no need to trouble Your Majesty with such a gift.”
Only then did Zhu Jun’an smile and say: “Oh, very well.” He showed his traced calligraphy to Chen Yan Yun and said: “When you were still the Director of the Chancellery, you wrote out ‘Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng’ for me to trace. What do you think of my writing now?”
The young Emperor handed him the Chengxin Hall paper, his gaze expectant. At that moment, a eunuch entered carrying a plate of chestnut cakes and a plate of osmanthus-flavored lotus root, smiling as he said: “Your Majesty ate little at lunch, so this servant had the Imperial Kitchen prepare some snacks…”
Zhu Jun’an frowned slightly, somewhat impatiently pointing at the long table: “I’ll eat sooner or later anyway. Just put them there!”
He was still young and couldn’t truly participate in state affairs. All he could do each day was eat and drink, and at most, practice calligraphy. Chen Yan Yun recalled Zhang Julian’s instructions: “Humor him more. The Emperor is young and needs others to accommodate him.”
Chen Yan Yun nodded and said: “Your calligraphy is already excellent. You no longer need to trace the models this humble minister wrote for you.”
Zhu Jun’an brightened at this and pulled him to his writing desk: “Not just yours. I also have models from Minister Zhang and Minister Wang. I heard that Ye Xian’s seal script is exceptional. When he came to see the Imperial Consort last time, I specifically requested seal script models from him. But my favorite is still ‘Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng.’ Wang Bo wrote ‘The sunset glow and lone bird soar together; the autumn waters and vast sky share the same hue’ when he was only fourteen. Do you think my scholarship will be that good when I’m fourteen?”
Chen Yan Yun glanced at the disorderly spread of calligraphy models and suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
He replied: “Your Majesty possesses strategic wisdom; scholarship isn’t so important.”
Zhu Jun’an nodded earnestly: “Minister, you’re right. Mother Empress teaches me the same, telling me not to be obsessed with calligraphy practice… But Feng Chengshan brings memorials approved by the Cabinet for me to mark in red every day. I want my writing to look better.” Without waiting for Chen Yan Yun to speak, he continued, “I’m still young and fear I won’t do well. Mother Empress says that although Father Emperor reigned for only a few years, he was diligent in governance. I want to be like Father Emperor.”
Chen Yan Yun lowered his eyes. Feng Chengshan did indeed present memorials to the Emperor daily, but they weren’t drafted by the Cabinet at all—they were discarded as useless memorials. No matter how carefully Zhu Jun’an marked them in red, it was pointless; no one would ever see them.
Zhu Jun’an sighed slightly: “Why am I telling you all this? I see the sun has already set. Let me arrange a resting chamber for you.” Previously, when Chen Yan Yun stayed late tutoring him, he wouldn’t return to Wanping.
Chen Yan Yun declined, citing household matters. Zhu Jun’an didn’t insist, changing his clothes and going to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
Once Chen Yan Yun came out, Chen Yi, who had been waiting outside, immediately draped a cloak over his shoulders.
Having descended the steps of Qianqing Palace, Jiang Yan noticed Chen Yan Yun’s heavy expression and couldn’t help asking: “Third Master, is something amiss?”
Chen Yan Yun replied coolly: “Nothing’s wrong. I merely thought the Emperor’s calligraphy was good.”
He could imitate the handwriting of every Cabinet minister. Yet no one had ever noticed his collection of calligraphy models; even Zhang Julian dismissed him like a child. Though young, Emperor Zhu Jun’an was certainly not as timid as he appeared…
He and the Empress Dowager, widow, and orphan, faced a court divided by factions. Surviving in such circumstances wasn’t easy, despite holding the title of Emperor.
Chen Yan Yun pondered the meaning behind Zhu Jun’an’s actions, closing his eyes as he reclined in his sedan chair.
Morning court, handling Cabinet affairs, accompanying the Emperor in calligraphy practice… he was exhausted and wondered how Jin Chao was doing at home. Previously, when tutoring Zhu Jun’an, he wouldn’t return home if it got late. But now, with Jin Chao waiting for him at home, he felt he must return. Besides, when he left that morning, he had told her he would return at night…
Seeing Chen Xuan Qing’s discomfort, Jin Chao had originally wanted to excuse herself. Unexpectedly, Lady Chen insisted she stay for dinner, saying: “You haven’t had much contact with my third son’s children; it’s better to become better acquainted.” Jin Chao could only remain and continue keeping Lady Chen company.
Chen Xi seemed very dependent on Chen Xuan Qing, quietly staying by his side. Chen Xuan Qing never spoke to Gu Jin Chao from beginning to end. Seeing his restraint, Lady Chen assumed he felt awkward having a stepmother close to his age and smiled, saying to Jin Chao: “I hear Jin Chao’s needlework is excellent. Xi has never learned needlework; why not let her learn from you?”
Chen Xuan Qing said coldly: “If she must learn, why not hire a professional embroiderer to teach her? Why should she teach her?” Gu Jin Chao had once given him a sachet embroidered with a crooked pair of mandarin ducks. He had taken one look and, disgusted, thrown it into the fire basin to burn.
Chen Xi looked up at her brother.
Jin Chao smiled: “I fear my skills aren’t good enough. The Seventh Young Master worries I might teach Miss Xi poorly.”
Lady Chen frowned. Chen Xuan Qing had always known propriety in speech; how could he now speak so inappropriately? Since his arrival, Gu Jin Chao hadn’t done anything wrong and had spoken courteously. What was he being difficult about?
“You now hold a seventh-rank position,” Lady Chen said to him, suppressing her anger, “yet you speak without consideration! Your father, at your age, always showed proper conduct. No one could find fault with how he treated others.”
Chen Xuan Qing’s hands tightened within his sleeves as he said softly: “Yes, Grandson understands.” What could he say? That this woman had shamelessly pursued him, been jealous because of him, and had once publicly slapped a maid?
For two full months, he had been at the Hanlin Academy compiling the late Emperor’s biography, working alongside the Academy’s Director and several senior scholars. Being the most junior, he dared not relax and was extremely busy. When he heard his father had remarried, he hadn’t even asked who the bride was, only to discover it was Gu Jin Chao…
How could it be Gu Jin Chao?
Jin Chao took a sip of tea and smiled: “If Miss Xi doesn’t mind, she’s welcome to come to me anytime.”
Chen Xi tugged at Chen Xuan Qing’s sleeve and glanced at her brother again. Seeing he no longer objected, she revealed a small smile.
By the time dinner was served, it was completely dark. Lady Chen had Lü Luo bring two ram’s horn glass lanterns. Chen Xuan Qing walked ahead, and Jin Chao followed at a distance. Halfway along, she saw him standing by a pavilion, holding a warm yellow lamp, tall and graceful, his expression serene.
Jin Chao remembered that in her previous life, she had most loved the warm, gentle quality he possessed, something she had never seen in anyone else.
Unfortunately, that warmth and gentleness had never been directed at her.
But thinking about it now, there was nothing unfortunate about it.
She thought to walk past pretending not to see him, but Chen Xuan Qing spoke: “What exactly are you trying to do?”
Jin Chao sighed, stopping to say: “The Seventh Young Master overthinks. You and I have long been strangers. Past events are like smoke and clouds; I don’t remember them… I hope you don’t either.”
Chen Xuan Qing said coldly: “That’s exactly what I want. I don’t care what plans you have, just don’t do anything harmful to the Chen family or Xi.”
Jin Chao could still sense the contempt in his words but merely smiled without responding.
She passed by Chen Xuan Qing.
Beyond the bamboo grove was a blue brick pathway with pine oil lamps lit on both sides. From a distance, she could see a blue-curtained carriage stopped at the entrance of Mu Xi Hall.
Third Master Chen had returned.
Jin Chao entered the west side room to find him lying on a lohan bed by the window, eyes closed in rest. He hadn’t changed out of his court robes, having only removed his ridged hat.
…Had he fallen asleep waiting for her?
Jin Chao dismissed the attendants and carefully walked to the lohan bed, initially intending to wake him to wash up. But she changed her mind… she hadn’t looked at him carefully before. Jin Chao sat on the other side of the lohan bed, resting her elbow on the small table as she quietly observed him. His eyebrows were thick but curved gently. He had deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and finely shaped lips that looked particularly scholarly when he smiled.
The candlelight illuminated his face, casting half in shadow.