The old woman moved the kang table from the large heated bed by the window in the east side room and warmed up the kang.
Gu Jin Chao was in the inner chamber grooming and washing, applying fragrant cream.
Chen San Ye came back especially late today, likely because there were too many matters in the cabinet. Jin Chao, now pregnant, grew tired early, curling up on the couch with a hot water bottle while reading, intending to wait for Chen San Ye to return. She yawned several times, so tired that tears came to her eyes.
Cai Fu urged her: “Why don’t you go to sleep first? The kang is already nice and warm. If Third Master comes back and sees you waited so long for him, he might scold you…” While speaking, she had already begun quietly collecting the books Jin Chao was reading.
Gu Jin Chao was too tired to notice and simply nodded. Cai Fu immediately summoned two second-tier maids to help Gu Jin Chao prepare for bed.
Gu Jin Chao had just reached the east side room and removed her outer satin jacket when Chen San Ye returned.
Seeing only Cai Fu in the west side room, Chen San Ye asked her: “Has the Madam gone to bed already?”
Cai Fu answered: “…Madam waited for you for a while, but has just gone to sleep now.”
Chen San Ye’s expression softened somewhat. He waved his hand dismissing her and tiptoed toward the inner chamber, afraid of waking her. He was very quiet even while washing in the bathroom. After washing, he walked to the bed, intending to check if she was sleeping well, but didn’t see anyone there!
Where had she gone?
Chen San Ye called Cai Fu in to ask, and only then learned that Gu Jin Chao had gone to sleep in the east side room. His face darkened as he strode toward the east side room.
Hadn’t he told Gu Jin Chao yesterday that they couldn’t sleep separately? What was she thinking?
Gu Jin Chao had just arranged herself comfortably under the covers when she saw Chen San Ye enter.
He seemed somewhat angry, his face expressionless. The two maids in the east side room quickly paid their respects to him, but Chen San Ye gestured for them to leave first.
“Third Master… what’s the—”
Chen San Ye walked quickly over and without hesitation grabbed her wrist: “Gu Jin Chao.”
Gu Jin Chao was startled. He looked at her expressionlessly, and once he wasn’t smiling, his appearance was truly severe, instilling fear.
“Where did you go today?” he asked.
Gu Jin Chao frowned slightly—his grip was too tight, causing waves of pain in her wrist. She twisted a little. “Today I kept Mother company for a while, then saw Qing Pu out of the mansion… Third Master, what’s wrong?”
But he didn’t loosen his grip at all, just stared at her and demanded: “Why did you move to the east side room by yourself?”
Could it be that he was so angry because she moved out of the inner chamber? Gu Jin Chao thought that unlikely—even if he were angry, he would at most question her a few times, certainly not like this! She rarely saw Chen San Ye like this. “I told you last night… I was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I wanted to sleep in the east side room! Third Master, my hand hurts, please let go first!”
Chen San Ye loosened his grip slightly and took a deep breath inwardly. She had indeed mentioned it yesterday, but he had too many troubling matters on his mind lately. Besides affairs at court, there was also her relationship with Chen Xuan Qing… Just now he instinctively felt…
He sat on the edge of the bed and saw that her wrist had turned red.
“I didn’t agree, yet you dared to move over here on your own. You’re truly bold.” Chen San Ye helped massage her wrist.
Though he said this, Gu Jin Chao knew that Chen San Ye’s inexplicable anger from moments ago had disappeared, and she relaxed. “I originally thought sleeping separately would be better for both of us… Look how late you’re sleeping now. How could I justify disturbing you further?”
Chen San Ye said calmly: “There are already many matters to handle; adding you isn’t much more. You’re not allowed to come here again, otherwise I’ll carry you back every day.”
He picked her up horizontally, bedding and all. Gu Jin Chao was wrapped like a silkworm cocoon, with only her eyes exposed, looking at him.
Chen San Ye carried her back to the inner chamber, and soon he too got into bed. They embraced as they slept.
After a while, Gu Jin Chao said: “Third Master, did something happen today? If your mood isn’t good, you can tell me…”
Chen San Ye closed his eyes. She thought he was directing anger at her because of other matters.
She didn’t blame him, but instead wanted him to confide in her.
What should he say?
Tell her that he suspected his eldest son had feelings for her. That he even suspected she and Chen Xuan Qing still had lingering attachments?
Ever since learning about her previous relationship with Chen Xuan Qing, he had started paying attention, and the more he noticed, the more things seemed wrong. Suspicion, endurance—he feared there would come a day when he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Just some court matters,” Chen San Ye said softly. “I’m sorry, I lost control for a moment. It’s nothing… go to sleep now.”
What could make him so angry? Gu Jin Chao knew clearly that Chen San Ye was not the type to misdirect his anger, especially not at her. This matter must be related to her and had nothing to do with court affairs…
The two remained silent. Jin Chao lay in Chen San Ye’s arms, but could still feel his heavy thoughts. Because of what just happened, there was an inexplicable barrier between them. After a long while, Gu Jin Chao finally heard Chen San Ye say: “The outer courtyard has a mix of people coming and going. Try to go there less often in the future.”
Gu Jin Chao made a sound of agreement. He lowered his head and kissed her lightly.
She didn’t go to the outer courtyard much, to begin with, so why did Chen San Ye say this?
Gu Jin Chao considered many possibilities in her mind but gradually fell into sleep.
The first snow of the season fell on the second day of the eleventh month.
When Gu Jin Chao woke the next day, everything outside was a blanket of white. Fluffy snow had settled on grass clumps and tree branches. The maids and old women were all happy, collecting snow in pottery jars to use for brewing tea.
When Chen Xuan Yue came to pay his respects, his six-panel winter hat and cloak were covered in snow.
A maid helped him take off his cloak, and only then did Song Ma Ma catch up, panting and smiling: “The Ninth Young Master runs too fast, this servant couldn’t keep up.” She put away the umbrella outside the door.
Chen Xuan Yue had been recovering for half a month and could now speak with people. He pointed at the paper in Jin Chao’s hand and asked unclearly: “Aunt, what’s that?”
He only spoke half sentences, but Gu Jin Chao could understand his meaning.
“This is a letter from home.” Gu Jin Chao tucked the letter into her sleeve and had a maid bring him hot osmanthus branch tea to drink.
This letter came from the Gu family in Daxing. It had been sent half a month ago but only reached her hands now.
The letter was written by her father, briefly mentioning trivial family matters before finally telling her: that Gu Lan had died. She died in the Yao family home. After being discovered for secretly poisoning the mistress of the house, she feared punishment and hanged herself out of guilt.
Gu Jin Chao couldn’t believe it when she first read it. Gu Lan died just like that?