Chapter 8
The ailing Madam Ji leaned against a round-backed chair, her breath weak and her face as pale as a sheet. She was Gu Jinchao's only support, but now she was barely able to take care of herself, even having to suppress a cough to speak. Chen Xuanqing looked at Gu Jinchao holding her mother's cold hand, her fingertips white, and felt even more heartache.
"Young Master Chen, would you like to eat?" Gu Dezhao's voice interrupted Chen Xuanqing's thoughts.
Chen Xuanqing ignored Gu Dezhao and instead got up and walked to Ji Shi, his gaze falling on her pale face.
He spoke slowly, “If Madam is not feeling well, she may sit and rest for a while. Lord Gu said he wanted to host a welcome dinner for me. Now that you are here, we can have some light food together, so that Jinzhao can rest assured.”
Gu Dezhao's face stiffened for a moment, but he finally nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, please have Madam sit down and bring two more sets of bowls and chopsticks."
Ji leaned back in her chair, gave Chen Xuanqing a grateful look, and was about to speak when a tickling sensation rose in her throat. This time, she held back and coughed lightly twice.
The candlelight flickered on the bronze candlesticks, casting long and short shadows of everyone in the hall, yet it couldn't warm the stiff atmosphere.
After Chen Xuanqing sat back down, he didn't say another word. He simply turned his cold, hard profile toward Gu Dezhao and Aunt Song, his dark eyelashes drooping to conceal the turbulent emotions in his eyes.
The wine glass in front of him remained untouched, while Gu Jinchao's bowl would occasionally be filled with a bite of light food.
Whether it's freshly peeled shrimp or stewed yam until soft, these are things she loves to eat and that suit her taste now that she's ill.
Gu Jinchao paused, her hand holding the chopsticks still. When she looked up at Chen Xuanqing, she saw him picking up food. He held the bamboo chopsticks with such gentle movements that it was unlike the usually sharp-tongued seventh young master of the Chen family. It was as if he was afraid of disturbing the food in the bowl, and even more afraid of disturbing her.
Noticing her gaze, Chen Xuanqing simply turned his head slightly, the coldness in his eyes lessening a bit, and the corners of his eyes curving upwards.
That comforting look warmed Gu Jinchao's heart. The grievances she had just suppressed seemed to be soothed by each bite of food. She quietly curved the corners of her lips, lowered her head and ate her food in small bites, but her eyes inadvertently glanced at Gu Lan across from her.
Gu Lan's hand gripped the chopsticks so tightly her knuckles turned white, her cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish that had been punctured but was still trying to hold on. Chen Xuanqing had completely ignored her, not even giving her a glance, instead frequently putting food on Gu Jinchao's plate. That biased attitude had filled Gu Lan with resentment, but she dared not vent it in front of Chen Xuanqing; the resentment in her eyes was almost overflowing.
Upon seeing this, Gu Jinchao felt a surge of indescribable joy.
The banquet arranged by Aunt Song was probably intended to help Gu Lan rise in status and climb the social ladder by attaching herself to the Chen family.
Now, Chen Xuanqing's attitude was crystal clear; his silent protection, like a soft sword, gently shattered Gu Lan's delusions. Thinking this, Gu Jinchao's movements as she picked up food became lighter, and even the yam in her mouth tasted sweeter than usual.
Seeing the stalemate, Gu Dezhao wanted to break the silence several times, but when he met Chen Xuanqing's icy face, he swallowed his words. Aunt Song also lost her earlier "concern" for Madam Ji, and just kept wiping her fingers with a handkerchief.
Ji Shi leaned back in her armchair, her breath weak, but she saw everything. She quietly raised her eyes and looked at Chen Xuanqing with gratitude and relief in her gaze—with such a person protecting Jinzhao, perhaps Jinzhao's life would be better in the future.
"Cough...cough..." Madam Ji suddenly coughed lightly twice. Gu Jinchao immediately put down his chopsticks and reached out to help his mother catch her breath. "Mother, are you feeling uncomfortable from sitting for too long?"
Chen Xuanqing also stood up instantly, his gaze falling on Madam Ji's pale face: "If Madam is tired, I will escort you and Jinchao back to the courtyard to rest."
Ji shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her face.
That faint smile was like the thin snow that had just melted in spring, gentle and with a touch of elder's loving kindness. She first raised her hand to tuck the stray hairs that had fallen beside Jinchao's ear. When her fingertips touched her daughter's slightly cool earlobe, she could clearly feel the girl's body tremble slightly—this child, so easily embarrassed.
As she withdrew her hand, Madam Ji's gaze returned to Chen Xuanqing, her tone becoming more formal with added seriousness: "Seventh Young Master Chen, it was an inconvenience for Jinchao to return home this time. I am deeply grateful for your care and assistance during this journey. However..."
She paused briefly, her fingertips lightly tracing the hem of her plain dress, as if carefully choosing her words. "There is something I wish to ask Young Master Chen. Would you be so kind as to tell me the truth?"
The moment those words were spoken, the air in the room seemed to quiet down.
Jin Chao lowered her head, burying her face even deeper, wrapping the handkerchief around her palm again and again, and even her breathing became careful, as if afraid of missing a single word.
Chen Xuanqing, who had been leaning slightly forward, sat up straighter. He could clearly see that although Madam Ji was smiling, there was a hint of seriousness hidden in her eyes, indicating that this question was definitely not just ordinary small talk.
Before Ji could even finish speaking, he put down his chopsticks and replied, "Of course."
The two words were spoken very quickly, with a crisp and decisive tone, without the slightest hesitation, showing both politeness and respect for elders.
"I wonder if Young Master Chen is engaged?"
The moment the words fell, the room fell silent as if a thin veil had been draped over it. Jin Chao held her breath, her lowered eyelashes trembling even more violently, and even her legs, which were resting on her knees, swayed slightly. She was filled with anticipation for an answer, yet afraid of hearing something she didn't want to hear, so she buried her face even deeper, only daring to steal glances at Chen Xuanqing's clothes out of the corner of her eye.
Chen Xuanqing was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Madam Ji to ask about marriage so directly. He subconsciously looked at Jin Chao, just in time to see her secretly raising her eyes.
The copper bells on the eaves jingled softly in the wind, but the delicate sound, falling into Chen Xuanqing's ears, felt like a heavy hammer blow to his heart. His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning pale. His previously composed expression was now replaced by regret and panic.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
"Why was I in such a hurry?" He cursed himself inwardly, his brows furrowing deeply.
Previously, he had only thought about seeing her one last time before leaving, and had completely forgotten about the engagement with the Yu family that was not yet completely settled—he should have waited until he returned to the capital to submit the letter of annulment, cleared up all the entanglements, and then come to propose marriage in a grand manner, but now…
His fingertips unconsciously caressed the jade pendant at his waist, the cool jade unable to suppress the anxiety in his heart. Now that Madam Ji had already asked the question, he was in a difficult position.
Admitting to the engagement would surely break Gu Jinchao's heart; concealing it would not only be disrespectful to the Ji family, but would also compound the mistake if the truth were to be revealed later.
A silence descended upon the room like a tide. The smile on Madam Ji's face had long since faded. Looking at Chen Xuanqing's pale face, the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in her heart instantly sank to the bottom. She gently patted Jinchao's hand, only to see her daughter's eyes lowered, her face pale, and her hand holding the handkerchief trembling slightly.
yes.
Madam Ji sighed silently in her heart, her gaze sweeping over Chen Xuanqing's tall and upright figure and gentle features. How could such a handsome and virtuous man not have women of similar social standing who were attracted to him? The engagement was expected, but she and Jinzhao had been blinded by those subtle feelings and had even entertained unrealistic fantasies.
Jin Chao buried her face even deeper, the stray hairs falling down her forehead to cover the rapidly gathering moisture in her eyes. The stinging sensation in her nose grew stronger, as if tiny needles were gently pricking it, and she could only bite her lower lip tightly to keep from letting out a sob.
In the brief moment of Chen Xuanqing's silence, warm memories of how he had taken such good care of her along the way uncontrollably flooded into her mind.
Those subtle acts of care made her blush countless times, and she would secretly sketch his image when no one was around, harboring some unrealistic expectations.
But at this moment, his downcast and silent demeanor was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, carrying a chilling coldness that extinguished all the carefully guarded joy and the expectations hidden in his heart.
She gripped the handkerchief tightly with her fingertips, and the twin lotus flowers embroidered on it were crumpled and deformed.
Yes, how could she have forgotten? Young Master Chen is the most valued legitimate son of the Chen family, with a distinguished family background and outstanding looks. Countless noble ladies in the capital yearn to marry him. How could someone like him not have a suitable marriage agreement? All those previous feelings of attraction and anticipation were nothing but wishful thinking on her part.
Tears finally streamed down her face, dripping onto the hem of her skirt above her knees, leaving a small, dark stain. She dared not look up, afraid that Gu Lan would see her disheveled state, and even more afraid of meeting Chen Xuanqing's gaze—whether it was guilt or apology, it was all a reminder to her at this moment: there was an insurmountable gap between her and him.
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