“At the mao hour… Daughter-in-law has always risen at this time at home. Mother would prepare medicine for Grandmother at this hour, and I would help watch the fire. I’m accustomed to it,” Yu Wanxue explained, fearing misunderstanding.
Gu Jinchao had no intention of changing her routine. In her previous life, Yu Wanxue had also risen very early, seemingly always maintaining this habit.
Seeing that Yu Wanxue still appeared tense, she realized the girl was uncomfortable and said nothing more.
After a while, Chen Xi arrived.
She had met Yu Wanxue on the day of the family introductions, but with so many people present, they hadn’t spoken much.
Chen Xi softly addressed Yu Wanxue as “Seventh Sister-in-law” and sat behind Jinchao. Though somewhat shy, she couldn’t help peering out to observe this new sister-in-law.
Yu Wanxue smiled and greeted her: “Xi’s hairband is very pretty. I loved such things when I was young.”
“I have two more pairs. If Seventh Sister-in-law likes them, I can give you a pair…” Chen Xi said softly.
She loved hairbands and had three pairs inlaid with pearls. Nurse An liked to use them when styling her hair into various buns.
Jinchao teased her: “Your Seventh Sister-in-law no longer needs hairbands. You might give her something else instead. I think your golden cicada headdress is quite beautiful…”
Chen Xi treasured a golden cicada headdress where the cicadas looked lifelike, with wings so thin they were transparent.
Chen Xi looked at Gu Jinchao with a pitiful expression, her small hands clutching her clothes: “Or… I have a pair of gold bracelets…”
Both Jinchao and Yu Wanxue laughed, and Yu Wanxue quickly assured her: “Don’t worry, little Xi. Seventh Sister-in-law doesn’t want your golden cicadas.”
After chatting for a while, Gu Jinchao led them toward Tanshan Court.
Yu Wanxue couldn’t help looking around. The Chen estate was so vast that in her several trips to and from Tanshan Court, she had only glimpsed it briefly. She had heard there were many more scenic spots—the tall bamboo groves at Half Bamboo Slope, the extensive plum tree groves on the back hillside…
Gu Jinchao noticed her looking around and said: “If you want to see more, I can accompany you for a tour afterward…”
Yu Wanxue quickly shook her head: “You’re with child. How could I let you accompany me… I’m just looking casually.” She pointed to a pavilion shaded by phoenix trees. “That pavilion looks unusual. The flying eaves are beautifully painted, and they use yellow, green, and purple glazed tiles…”
Jinchao explained: “That’s the Eight Trigrams Pavilion. It has geomantic significance. Its construction was quite elaborate…”
Looking more carefully, she noticed someone outside the pavilion.
It was too far to see, just a slender silhouette that appeared to be a child, hiding in the flower beds outside the pavilion.
Chen Xi saw this too and tugged at Jinchao’s sleeve. Gu Jinchao signaled her to remain quiet and called Sun Mama over, saying softly: “Go see who’s there.” Who would be out in the cold morning without any maids or servants accompanying them?
Yu Wanxue was puzzled but said nothing.
Sun Mama approached quietly, but the person quickly sensed her presence. Immediately, they darted away, running toward the Taihu rocks.
Gu Jinchao watched as a figure quickly disappeared into the Taihu rocks as if through a hole, hiding and not emerging again.
But she had seen enough—it was a child.