After some consideration, Ye Xian specially changed into a sapphire blue Hangzhou silk straight robe and draped a feathered crepe cape before going to meet Chen Yan Yun.
Chen Yan Yun’s carriage was parked at the end of Academy Lane, with his guard Chen Yi standing watch outside.
Jiang Yan lifted the curtain and invited him in.
The carriage was spacious, with a copper stove inside. The Third Master Chen was pouring water from a teapot.
“Please sit, Young Master,” he set down the teapot and pushed a blue porcelain teacup with twining branches pattern toward him, smiling, “My skills are poor, Young Master will have to make do.”
Ye Xian glanced at Chen Yan Yun, who maintained his cultured smile, revealing nothing.
He slowly picked up the teacup: “If Lord Chen were to poison me now, that would be quite effective. Your guard could then kill my guard, leaving no witnesses. Tell me, should I drink this tea?”
Chen Yan Yun smiled faintly: “Since the Young Master dared to come, you must have made thorough preparations. Your Iron Cavalry Camp has many skilled fighters; I couldn’t easily succeed in an ambush. Besides, if I wanted to kill the Young Master, it certainly wouldn’t be at this time.”
Only then did Ye Xian drink the tea. He also smiled, “Lord Chen is not being modest at all.”
He looked at Chen Yan Yun: “Since Lord Chen’s skills are poor, you probably didn’t invite me especially for tea. Whatever your business is, please speak plainly.”
Chen Yan Yun fingered his prayer beads and dropped his smile: “The Young Master’s recent actions have been rather risky. Framing Zuo He De, making Fan Hui show his hand in front of Lord Zhang… to attempt such a two-pronged strategy must involve significant risk.”
Ye Xian maintained a calm exterior, but internally he was in turmoil.
How did Chen Yan Yun know about his actions?
Knowing this, why didn’t he tell Zhang Ju Lian and secretly eliminate Fan Hui? Why come to him instead?
What was Chen Yan Yun trying to do?
Chen Yan Yun continued unconcerned: “During the Rui Prince’s palace coup, the Young Master had the assistance of an expert, which is how you outmaneuvered Xiao You and outplotted the Rui Prince. How is it that this expert is no longer by the Young Master’s side offering guidance? The Young Master’s current actions are rather conspicuous.”
“Expert?” Ye Xian frowned slightly, not understanding what Chen Yan Yun meant.
Chen Yan Yun was a master at reading people’s expressions and could easily tell that Ye Xian’s surprise was genuine.
Could it be that this expert didn’t exist, and Xiao You wasn’t dead?
That didn’t make sense either. If Xiao You were still by Ye Xian’s side, he certainly wouldn’t let Ye Xian make such rash moves.
Ye Xian was very intelligent, but he was too young and didn’t truly understand Zhang Ju Lian.
Even Chen Yan Yun, who had followed him for several years and whom he had personally promoted, was viewed with suspicion by Zhang Ju Lian. How would he trust the sudden appearance of Fan Hui? Hence, Fan Hui’s unexpected show of goodwill would only make Zhang Ju Lian wary of him.
Chen Yan Yun continued slowly: “This person warned the Young Master about problems with Master Xiao, the Young Master surely hasn’t forgotten…”
Only then did Ye Xian realize that the expert Chen Yan Yun mentioned… was none other than Gu Jin Chao. He looked at Chen Yan Yun with a peculiar expression. “Chen Yan Yun, what do you mean by this?”
He didn’t even bother with the title “Lord Chen” anymore.
Chen Yan Yun spoke in a gentle tone: “I am merely having a casual conversation with the Young Master.”
Ye Xian thought for a good while before coming to his senses.
He smiled: “This expert… I should be asking Lord Chen about that. Why are you asking me? Aren’t you just trying to mock me?”
Suddenly, Ye Xian had no interest in continuing the conversation. He put down his teacup and said coldly: “I have other matters to attend to and won’t accompany Lord Chen in idle chat any longer. Please enjoy your tea.” He exited the carriage, while Li Xian Huai, who was waiting for him, seemed confused about what had happened.
Ye Xian had already walked ahead with a gloomy expression before Li Xian Huai caught up with him.
Li Xian Huai was puzzled: “Young Master, what’s wrong?”
Ye Xian didn’t respond.
Li Xian Huai couldn’t make sense of it: “What did the Third Master Chen say to you? Your servant heard from outside… it seems he knows about our affairs!”
But Ye Xian suddenly stood still, realizing something was amiss… he might have overthought the situation.
The Third Master came to question him, probably to probe him. He truly didn’t know who that person was… and by speaking as he did, he might have aroused Chen Yan Yun’s suspicions instead.
After Ye Xian left, Jiang Yan was speaking with the Third Master.
“Third Master, your servant couldn’t understand the Young Master’s words. Does he mean… that we know this expert?”
Chen Yan Yun also wasn’t sure what Ye Xian meant by his statement.
However, based on Ye Xian’s words, this person must have existed and somehow had a connection to him.
Who could it possibly be?
When Chen Yan Yun returned to the Chen household, Gu Jin Chao was still asleep. He lifted the bed curtain to look at her. She was curled up in the bedding, breathing steadily.
Hearing the movement, Gu Jin Chao awoke.
Seeing that it was already dark outside the latticed window, Gu Jin Chao sat up, surprised that she had unknowingly slept for so long…
Noticing Chen Yan Yun wearing a gray straight robe, Gu Jin Chao realized he had gone out. She smiled at him: “When did you go out? You didn’t even wake me when you returned…” She should have been preparing the evening meal.
“I was just about to wake you, it’s time for dinner,” the Third Master reached out to carry her.
Gu Jin Chao felt somewhat embarrassed and avoided his hands, reaching for her shoes herself. “I haven’t instructed the kitchen to prepare dinner yet… Fortunately, the main kitchen sent over some four-gilled perch that we can steam.”
“Let me carry you up, so you don’t have to put on shoes,” the Third Master smiled and suddenly bent down to lift her.
Gu Jin Chao quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, hearing his low chuckle in her ear: “Are you still shy? You’re about to become a mother.”
She was only concerned that her pregnancy might make her too heavy for the Third Master to carry. Besides, being carried just to go eat seemed too pampered, something Gu Jin Chao couldn’t bring herself to do. “I am with child, it must be tiring for you to carry me.”
He said softly: “It’s fine, your husband can still carry you.”