The Chen family home was bustling with activity on the first day of the New Year, but on the second day, it was time for Gu Jin Chao to return to her maiden home.

Although relations with Madam Feng and the Second Branch were now rather strained, Gu Jin Chao still needed to return to Daxing, since the Fourth Branch was still living in the Gu household.

She discussed this matter with Chen San Ye, who agreed after brief consideration and accompanied her back to Daxing.

Gu Jin Chao selected some gifts and medicinal herbs to bring along, and by evening, their carriage arrived in Daxing.

Madam Xu was waiting to welcome her by the screen wall. When she saw Chen San Ye also disembark from the carriage, she was somewhat surprised. Though he was dressed casually, his distinguished bearing was unmistakable. As Madam Xu hesitated over the proper greeting ritual, Chen San Ye had already smiled and given her a slight nod.

Gu De Zhao was delighted to see his daughter and son-in-law and invited them to sit for a while in the flower hall.

Seeing several strands of snow-white hair at her father’s temples, Gu Jin Chao felt momentarily melancholic—her father was approaching forty.

On the way, Xu Jing Yi had told her: “…After being demoted, Second Master Gu became the magistrate of Dong’an County, and will take up his post after the New Year. Your grandmother became angry over this matter, and her health has deteriorated. I’ll take you to see her later.”

Remembering the letter she had received, Gu Jin Chao said: “I received a letter saying that Gu Lan died. It seemed quite strange—what exactly happened?”

Xu Jing Yi smiled faintly: “Who knows! Your father wanted to go see for himself, but your grandmother wouldn’t allow him to go…”

Hearing Xu Jing Yi’s words, Gu Jin Chao thought for a moment and understood.

Since Madam Feng wouldn’t let her father go to investigate, this matter must have something to do with Gu Lian. Gu Lian had wanted to eliminate Gu Lan for quite some time; whether or not she arranged it, she would find an opportunity to have her killed. Gu Lan’s sudden death might well be connected to Gu Lian…

“Let her death be the end of it. Gu Lian has also had one of her maids’ faces opened up. You’ve seen her often before—it’s that Lan Zhi…” Xu Jing Yi covered her mouth with her embroidered handkerchief, speaking in a low voice.

When Gu Jin Chao heard it was Lan Zhi, she was briefly startled. Then she smiled—history had an astonishing way of repeating itself; in the end, it was still Lan Zhi who would contend with her.

“When Miss Lan first died, your father was grief-stricken for several days. Gu Lian returned saying the corpse had been thrown at Luanfeng Ridge, without even leaving behind a complete body. Your father became angry, which frightened your grandmother…” Xu Jing Yi sighed. “Seeing you both have improved things somewhat.”

“She grew up under his care. No matter how excessive Miss Lan’s behavior, the father would still care for her in his heart,” Gu Jin Chao sighed.

Gu De Zhao was discussing the tax silver incident in Zhejiang with Chen San Ye, a rather significant affair that was now being widely debated.

Chen San Ye responded to his father-in-law’s questions, saying: “It wasn’t the Financial Commissioner embezzling funds; rather, the Jiaxing Prefect concealed the matter and failed to report it…”

Gu Jin Chao and Xu Jing Yi approached from behind, and Gu De Zhao smiled, asking his daughter: “Chao’er, what were you discussing with your mother?”

Gu Jin Chao replied: “…We were just talking about Grandmother’s illness.”

Gu De Zhao nodded and beckoned Xu Jing Yi over to tell her something. Chen San Ye, noticing his wife’s somber expression, asked: “What’s the matter?”

This concerned internal Gu family affairs and Gu Jin Chao wasn’t sure how to explain it to him. She simply said softly: “…Gu Lan is gone.”

Chen San Ye’s expression remained calm as he responded with a faint “Hmm.” “She was your half-sister, wasn’t she? How did she suddenly pass away?”

Gu Jin Chao smiled bitterly and shook her head. There were too many grievances between her and Gu Lan.

The person was already gone; there was no point in discussing it now.

Subsequently, Chen San Ye accompanied Gu De Zhao to the study in the front courtyard, while Gu Jin Chao followed Xu Jing Yi to the eastern wing.

Although it was the New Year, the Gu family, having just experienced a catastrophe, showed little festive spirit. Only red crepe silk lanterns hung under the eaves, and the maids and servants weren’t dressed particularly festively. Plain collar jackets and water-blue padded coats were common, and everyone spoke in hushed tones.

Madam Feng’s health had deteriorated, so she rarely left her bed. Her daughters-in-law took turns attending to her, and today happened to be Madam Zhou’s turn.

She lay on the luohan bed, her once-black hair now significantly whitened, and she had grown so thin that her cheekbones protruded. A small bed had been set up nearby to facilitate caring for her.

Both women felt uncomfortable upon seeing Gu Jin Chao.

Gu Jin Chao calmly paid her respects, and a maid brought over a stool for her to sit on.

Madam Feng held her hand, trembling, and took a good while to compose herself. Her lips quivered as she spoke: “Lan’er is gone.”

Gu Jin Chao nodded: “I already know.”

Madam Feng looked at Gu Jin Chao’s smoothly combed hair, the red-jeweled gold crown on her head, and the placid expression on her face—neither disgusted nor sympathetic. She suddenly closed her eyes and said: “Chao’er, you must be pleased now… The Second Branch will never surpass the Fourth Branch. Those who harmed you have met with bad ends. Your Second Uncle can only serve as a mere county magistrate, while you enjoy wealth and honor…”

She spoke with difficulty, yet her gaze remained fixed intently on Gu Jin Chao.

She had once hoped to gain wealth and honor through Gu Jin Chao, never expecting her to be so self-serving.

Even at this point, Madam Feng was still fixated on the fact that Gu De Yuan could only become a county magistrate.

Gu Jin Chao spoke softly: “Grandmother is mistaken. This is merely the natural cycle of karma. Chao’er doesn’t harm others, nor will she passively wait to be harmed or used. As for wealth, honor, fame, or fortune—these were never the most important things. Besides, during the New Year, why does Grandmother speak of such matters? I’ve come to see you… and brought many things for you.”

She instructed the servants to bring up the gifts. “…Among them is an eighty-year-old ginseng root, dug from deep in the mountains. It’s extremely precious.”

Madam Feng suddenly laughed: “Good! You, Chao’er, are truly the most formidable!”

Madam Zhou looked at Madam Feng with confusion, not understanding her meaning.

Gu Jin Chao merely smiled without speaking.

Shortly after, Gu Lian also returned home with Yao Wen Xiu. Gu Lian came to see Madam Feng, bringing several boxes of fashionable pastries.

Seeing Gu Jin Chao present, she couldn’t help but frown. She also recalled how Gu Jin Chao had embarrassed her at the Chen residence…

Then, inadvertently glancing at her slightly swollen waistline, Gu Lian’s emotions became even more complex.

Why didn’t she have Gu Jin Chao’s good fortune? Four months had passed since her marriage to Yao Wen Xiu, yet there was no movement in her belly. Combined with her father’s demotion… Madam Yao now looked at her with daggers in her eyes!

As Gu Lian wanted to speak with Madam Feng, Gu Jin Chao excused herself.

She took the opportunity to visit her younger brothers and sisters, distributing the gifts she had brought for them.

Gu Jin Rong had grown taller, and his features had lost their delicateness. Having failed the autumn provincial examination, he felt somewhat ashamed upon seeing Gu Jin Chao, despite his happiness. “I studied very diligently. At the Imperial Academy, the rule is to rise at the fifth watch, but I began studying at the end of the fourth watch. Unfortunately, I still didn’t pass…”

His natural aptitude was average; in her previous life, he had only passed the examinations at thirty years of age.

Gu Jin Chao didn’t expect him to achieve great wealth or status; his current efforts were already commendable. She smiled reassuringly: “Failing once is common. Keep working hard, and you’ll eventually succeed.” She also chatted with Gu Yi and Gu Xi for a while, giving each of them a red envelope and additionally presenting her two younger sisters with gold hairpins set with white Hetian jade cloud patterns.

Before leaving, Gu Jin Chao said to Xu Jing Yi: “Please send someone to Shi’an to inform Concubine Song about Miss Lan’s death.”

Xu Jing Yi nodded in agreement.

…

The residences in Shi’an had been uninhabited for a long time, and some areas had begun to rot.

The two old women who guarded Concubine Song filled hot water hand warmers and sat outside the room, warming their hands while doing needlework.

In her earlier years of madness, Concubine Song would scream and fight, but she had grown increasingly quiet. The two old women had become more relaxed, often doing needlework to sell. After a while, sudden “ah, ah” speaking sounds came from inside, along with Concubine Song’s terrified screams.

Both women were accustomed to this and shook their heads helplessly: “She’s probably claiming to see the ghost of the original Madam again… This Concubine Song is truly pitiful. She’s been mad for several years and doesn’t even know her daughter is gone.”

Urgent thumping sounds came from the room, and finally one of the women stood up to check.

Concubine Song was curled up in her bedding, trembling violently, and a thumping sound was coming from the bedboard.

As the woman went to lift it, Concubine Song immediately fled to a corner in fear. She had grown far too thin, making her eyes appear eerily large.

After a while, she began muttering again but grew calmer. She took a blue and white porcelain vase and began smashing it against the bedboard: “Beat you to death, beat you to death… You come back for revenge, beat you to death…”

The old woman sighed resignedly, “Concubine if you break this, there won’t be any more porcelain vases.”

Concubine Song ignored her; though frighteningly thin, her strength was considerable.

The woman didn’t want to deal with her anymore and turned to leave, but suddenly seemed to remember something and turned back to say: “By the way, Concubine, the new Madam sent someone with a message. Your daughter is dead… She was supposed to be a concubine in the Yao family. She committed suicide by hanging herself after being caught harming the mistress.”

Concubine Song’s hand paused for a moment, then immediately resumed her chanting: “Beat you to death, beat you to death…”

The old woman sighed softly, feeling she was truly beyond redemption in her madness. She closed the door and went out. Just as she sat down and picked up her hand warmer, she heard a loud “bang” as porcelain shattered inside the room. The woman started, about to say something, when the other woman picked up her embroidery frame and spoke to her.

The two then began discussing embroidery patterns.

The New Year festivities gradually subsided.

“Madam, it’s snowing heavily outside again,” Cong Shuang entered with a charcoal basin, softly telling Yu Wan Xue. “It’s coming down heavily. This servant believes the Seventh Young Master will stay in the outer courtyard tonight. You should retire to bed now.”

Yu Wan Xue leaned against her pillow, her black hair gathered in a single knot. Her hair was exceptionally beautiful, particularly thick and lustrous, truly like silk when let down. She lifted her eyelids to glance at Cong Shuang, then pushed open the window to look outside—indeed, goose-feather-like snow was blowing everywhere.

She took iron tongs to add charcoal to the brazier, listening to the crackling sound of the burning fuel.

“Bring me my cloak,” Yu Wan Xue said calmly. “Also serve the pork hock soup that was simmered tonight. We’ll take it to the Seventh Young Master.”

Cong Shuang was startled and cautiously said: “Madam, it’s already very late, and it’s snowing…”

Yu Wan Xue’s expression was gentle yet stubborn; once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t change it.

Cong Shuang could only prepare everything. Yu Wan Xue, accompanied by her maids and servants—with a servant carrying a lantern—headed toward the outer courtyard.

On the fifth day of the New Year, she was braving the snow to find her husband in the outer courtyard. Yu Wan Xue smiled bitterly in her heart.

The lights of the East Wind Pavilion were already faintly visible ahead.

Without hesitation, she led her maids inside—someone had to take the initiative.