Gu Lan sat in her room, deep in thought. Ever since she had noticed Gu Jin Chao’s unusual behavior, she had felt uneasy. Yesterday she spoke with her mother, who merely told her to make the best of the situation. After all, the advantage was still in her hands. If used properly, what was there to fear from one Gu Jin Chao?

With her mother’s reassurance, she felt more relaxed. As long as she maintained her hold over Gu Jin Rong, once Madam Ji died, wouldn’t the Gu household belong to her and her mother?

She had invited him to stay up with her for New Year’s Eve, and he had initially agreed but then sent word that he wouldn’t come. He had always valued her as his second sister. When she mentioned liking ivory carvings, he had spent half his time learning the craft for her! Why had he broken his promise?

Gu Lan knew Gu Jin Rong responded to gentleness, not force. Since he had broken his promise, she would wait. She didn’t believe that the brother she had influenced since childhood wouldn’t soften his heart.

When she heard Gu Jin Rong had arrived, she secretly thought that he still cared for his sister after all. She hurried to welcome him, inviting him in for tea and snacks.

After the siblings chatted for a while, Gu Jin Rong suddenly asked, “Second Sister, if you heard the line ‘Chang’e must regret stealing the elixir; night after night, her heart turns to the blue sea and azure sky,’ how would you feel?”

Gu Lan smiled and said, “Chang’e stole the elixir, so naturally it’s her punishment. It’s exactly what she deserved.”

Gu Jin Rong felt that Gu Lan didn’t truly understand the verse. Soon after, Zi Ling entered with a plate of small flower-shaped pastries. Gu Jin Rong noticed her face seemed injured, with clearly visible swollen palm marks, a shocking sight. He asked what had happened to her.

Gu Lan sighed softly: “I didn’t want to tell you, brother… Zi Ling offended Elder Sister, who had someone slap her face. I watched helplessly, unable to stop it. Well, please don’t go questioning Elder Sister as you did last time. It would be terrible if it caused unpleasantness between you siblings!” She had specifically instructed Zi Ling not to apply any medicine to reduce the bruising and swelling, waiting for Gu Jin Rong to see it.

Gu Jin Rong frowned: “…Elder Sister shouldn’t have done that, beating her face into such a state.” For some reason, he suddenly recalled Jin Chao’s expression when reciting that poem earlier, feeling that she shouldn’t be that kind of person. But thinking of her previous temperament—how she would shout, curse, and punish all the maids and servants in the household at the slightest provocation—it wasn’t incomprehensible. He added, “Elder Sister has a bad temper. Just don’t offend her.”

Gu Lan smiled as she picked up food for him. Hearing his words, her smile faltered momentarily before she resumed smiling.

“I understand that, but did you know about how she punished her maid the other day?”

Gu Jin Rong naturally nodded. It was a significant matter, and he had heard something about it, but since it involved only a maid being punished, he hadn’t paid much attention.

“That maid had served her for many years. Her brother fell seriously ill and had no money for treatment, so she asked Elder Sister to lend her some silver. Elder Sister refused, saying the maid ate her food and used her things, so why should she also be responsible for her brother’s illness? The maid had no choice. Concerned for her brother, she stole a jade thumb ring that Elder Sister no longer wore to save her brother, but was caught on the spot…”

At this point, her voice lowered. Gu Jin Rong unconsciously raised his voice: “What happened then?”

Gu Lan said, “She was bound tightly and beaten beyond recognition! The girl went mad!” She sighed slowly, “When I heard about this, I thought that maid was always a gentle and honest person. This time she only acted out of desperation for her sick brother. Surely she didn’t deserve to be beaten to death… so I tried to intervene.” She smiled bitterly, “But I overestimated myself. Not only did I fail to stop it, but I also caused Zi Ling to be beaten. It’s my fault for being useless…”

Zi Ling interjected: “Miss, please don’t say that. If you hadn’t stopped the First Young Miss and begged her to spare Miss Liu Xiang’s life, she might have been beaten to death! Being expelled from the household and handed over to the authorities is at least a better outcome.”

After hearing Gu Lan’s account, Gu Jin Rong felt half his body turn cold.

“She… is truly so vicious and heartless?”

Gu Lan took his hand and said softly: “Please don’t go questioning her this time. Last time when you asked about that maid, she suspected I had told you, and has been treating me coldly in private. She probably resents me, which is why she beat Zi Ling…” Her eyes filled with tears, “I just feel sorry for Miss Liu Xiang. If she hadn’t been trying to save her critically ill brother, how would she have ended up in such a state…”

Gu Jin Rong immediately stood up and paced the room twice, not knowing what to say, so angry that his hands shook: “Truly a heart like a venomous snake or scorpion…” Seeing Gu Lan looking at him with concern, he reassured her, “Don’t worry, Second Sister. I won’t go questioning her again!”

He only resented having such a legitimate elder sister! And having to pretend to be on good terms with her every day, unable to openly oppose her in front of their mother! Perhaps he should tell Mother about this and have her discipline Gu Jin Chao… No, Mother was seriously ill. How could he let her know about Gu Jin Chao’s misdeeds? Wouldn’t that aggravate her illness? Even he was this angry upon hearing the story.

Gu Jin Rong hurriedly returned to Jing Fang Study, unable to sleep despite his best efforts. He thought about how today was New Year’s Eve, a critical holiday time, yet Gu Jin Chao had nearly beaten her maid to death! Just because the girl wanted to save her brother! He sat up again. Last time he had misunderstood Gu Jin Chao, but what about this time? He should find out the truth. So before dawn, he sent Qing Xiu to find a maid from near Qing Tong Courtyard.

The maid was a sweeper from the stables. Learning that the Young Master wanted to see her, she was terrified, trembling from head to toe.

Gu Jin Rong asked her directly: “…Do you know what happened with Liu Xiang being beaten and expelled from the household?”

The little maid’s voice quivered: “I’m not very clear… I heard from the stable matron that Miss Liu Xiang’s brother was sick, so she came to steal… steal the Young Miss’s gold, and was caught…”

Gu Jin Rong’s heart grew colder as he continued asking: “And then?”

The little maid was almost in tears: “I… I don’t know. Miss Liu Xiang was delirious, unable to speak clearly… Anyway, she was driven out.”

Gu Jin Rong persisted: “How did Liu Xiang go mad? Was she beaten into madness?”

The little maid knew even less about this. As a mere sweeper, it was a great favor that the matron would even speak a few words to her. Wait… sausages! The little maid vaguely remembered eating a slice of very fragrant sausage and recalled the matron’s boasts, so she repeated them: “She was beaten… Miss Qing Pu is terrifying when she beats people! The stable matron helped too, and the Young Miss rewarded them with sausages and soy sauce goose!”

Hearing this, Gu Jin Rong understood everything. His heart turned completely cold. She was indeed that kind of person… He had even thought that Gu Jin Chao might not be like that, which was truly laughable!

He had Qing Xiu reward the little maid with several large coins. The little maid happily took the money and left. He stood at the window of his study, looking at the bright lanterns, his heart filled with disappointment and hatred.

Jin Chao returned to Qing Tong Courtyard at dawn and woke up after sleeping for half a watch. It was now the first day of the lunar year. The longevity lamp under her eaves was still brightly lit. Cai Fu said: “…I watched it all night. It stayed bright.” Her cheeks were flushed red, probably from the cold wind.

It must have been difficult to keep watch over the longevity lamp for her. Jin Chao praised her with a smile and rewarded her with a pair of pure gold earrings. Cai Fu, praised by Jin Chao, became tongue-tied: “I… I just want the Young Miss to be safe and sound, to live a long life…” The longevity lamp was lit to pray for blessings.

In recent days, observing how the Young Miss handled matters, she found herself increasingly fond of the First Young Miss, who was very kind to them, calm, and resourceful when facing problems. Keeping watch over the longevity lamp all night without closing her eyes felt like a labor of love.

It was now the sixth year of Longqing.

Since it was the first day of the lunar year, she naturally dressed more festively. Qing Pu found her a light red satin jacket with crane patterns and used a gold lotus hairpin inlaid with jewels that she didn’t often wear. Looking at her mistress’s face in the mirror, Qing Pu marveled at how even with casual attire and no rouge, her lips remained vividly red, her skin like jade, her green-flecked eyes glistening with moisture-like flowing light. The sight was mesmerizing.

Noticing that Qing Pu had delayed putting on her earrings, Jin Chao smiled and asked: “Why are you in a daze?”

Qing Pu came back to her senses, inevitably blushing: “The Young Miss is so beautiful. I was momentarily entranced.”

Jin Chao just smiled without speaking, as she no longer cared much about her appearance.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), cooked sacrificial offerings were placed before the ancestral tablets, while fruits and vegetarian dishes were set before the deity statues, along with paper money and gold foil ingots. Father led the entire family in paying respects. After honoring the ancestors, the children knelt before their father and mother. When all the ceremonies were completed, Gu Xi pulled Gu Yi to find Jin Chao, wanting to make “noisy ornaments” together.

Father smiled at them: “You’ve never been fond of seeking out Chao’er for such activities.”

Gu Xi said softly: “Elder Sister is skilled with her hands. She’ll surely make beautiful ones!”

Gu Lan was standing beside Father, wearing a blue brocade jacket with gold flower patterns that made her small face appear as pure as the bright moon. Seeing Gu Xi tugging at Jin Chao’s sleeve, she found it strange.

Gu Xi was timid and, apart from Gu Yi, never dared to approach anyone. Now she was bold enough to tug at Gu Jin Chao’s sleeve.

Gu Lan smiled and asked Gu Xi: “Second Sister hasn’t made noisy ornaments in a long time. Would Xi’er like Second Sister to join in the fun too?”

Gu Xi was the youngest, with a shy personality, so everyone liked to tease her.

“Second Sister can certainly come…” After saying this, she noticed Gu Lan’s expression seemed off, and even Father’s smile had disappeared. She grew nervous again, wondering if she had said something wrong.

Jin Chao reassuringly patted her hand and smiled: “If Second Sister wants to come, she should hurry. Otherwise, we won’t wait for her!” She then excused herself to Father, and the three returned to Qing Tong Courtyard to make noisy ornaments. They used black gold paper to create butterflies, moths, and grasshoppers, some as large as a fist, others as small as copper coins, which looked very festive when inserted into their hair. Jin Chao filled Gu Xi’s hair with noisy ornaments, making her laugh with clear, crisp delight.

Gu Yi, with her quiet nature, also watched them with curved lips. The three made many more ornaments to distribute to the maids and servants of the various courtyards. After playing for a while, Gu Xi tugged at Jin Chao’s sleeve and asked: “Second Sister said she would come. Why hasn’t she arrived yet? Did I say something wrong earlier…”

Jin Chao shook her head: “She probably has other matters to attend to… you shouldn’t overthink it.”