“What about when you bullied me back then? When did you order me around like a maid? When you bestowed your unwanted hairpins on me as if giving alms to a beggar! Just because you’re the legitimate daughter, all the good things belong to you, and everyone has to endure you, yield to you, pamper you—why should it be so?”
Gu Lan coldly stared at Jin Chao. “In terms of birth, your mother was the legitimate daughter of the Ji family, but my mother was the legitimate daughter of the Assistant Minister of Ritual! Just because your mother is the principal wife, I became the child of a concubine. In terms of talent and virtue, you’re inferior to me in every way, yet you shamelessly pine after a man who’s already betrothed, desperately throwing yourself at him. You’ve completely disgraced the Gu family!”
“Was anything I said wrong? Liang Xiang went mad because of you, Father took a concubine because of you, and my mother became more withdrawn because of this Concubine Luo. Have I wrongly accused you in any of these matters? You say I’ve sown discord between you and Gu Jin Rong. Let me tell you, even if I truly did drive a wedge between you, though he’s annoyed with me today, we have over ten years of feelings between us—he still won’t have the heart to hate me! You know what kind of person he is!”
Jin Chao quietly looked at Gu Lan. In her previous life, even until death, she had never truly understood why Gu Lan hated her. Why wasn’t she satisfied with just harming her? Why did she also have to make Gu Jin Rong fall into destitution and be driven out of the Gu family? Now she finally understood.
Gu Lan was resentful.
Jin Chao said calmly: “If you fear I might harm you, then simply don’t give me the opportunity. Walk the night path often enough and you’re bound to meet a ghost someday—you can’t blame me for that. As for the things I’ve done, you know better than anyone why I did them… Do you still want to curry favor with Gu Jin Rong? Go ahead, but even if he truly won’t hate you, will you two ever be as close as before?”
“Second Sister is concerned about my affairs, but you’d better think about how to handle your coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow. Why not ask Madam Li to replace Madam Wen for your hairpin ceremony? As for the sponsor, forgive your elder sister for being unable to fulfill the role. Your ambition reaches the sky—how could someone like me be worthy of being your sponsor?” Jin Chao smiled slightly and said, “Elder Sister will take her leave now. Second Sister should discuss matters well with Madam Li.”
Madam Li stood to the side listening to the two sisters’ exchange, and had thoroughly grasped the entire drama. She had thought Gu Lan was a self-disciplined and courteous young lady, but who would have guessed she was so fond of spreading gossip and creating strife, competitiveness, and trying to stand out? She even tried to drive a wedge between her and Madam Wen. If she still wanted to help Gu Lan with her hairpin ceremony, she would have to be out of her mind.
Gu Lan knew Madam Li would not help with her hairpin ceremony. Seeing Madam Li leave without saying a word, she didn’t try to detain her.
Gu Lan took a deep breath. After venting her anger, fear surged toward her like a tide.
The matter had become so serious. Madam Wen had left in anger, and Gu Jin Chao said she wouldn’t be her sponsor anymore. This would surely spread throughout the Gu household within an hour, and Father would know immediately… Father had always been very fond of her; surely he wouldn’t bear to reprimand her?
But what about tomorrow’s coming-of-age ceremony?
Gu Lan was anxious and uneasy as she headed toward Concubine Song’s quarters with Zi Ling, who had been guarding the entrance to the chambers.
…
Concubine Song smashed a blue-white glazed painted teacup!
“This must have been Gu Jin Chao’s scheme!” She was so angry her teeth were clenched. “She knows how to cause trouble, and deliberately at the time of your coming-of-age ceremony! If there’s no suitable person to perform your hairpin ceremony tomorrow, you’ll become a laughingstock!”
Gu Lan held Concubine Song’s hand, somewhat urgently: “Then what should we do?”
Qiao Wei whispered from the side: “This incident happened so coincidentally, it must be unusual. I think someone in our household must have been informing on us…”
Concubine Song closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “First, stabilize the situation at the chambers, have people keep watch, and don’t let the two madams leave. Summon all the maids and matrons from the chambers and instruct them thoroughly—what happened in the chambers absolutely must not be spread! Anyone who dares to talk carelessly will be beaten and driven out of the mansion! Let’s stabilize the situation first, then I’ll personally go speak with Madam Wen.”
Qiao Wei complied and went to handle the matter with several matrons.
Gu Lan thought for a moment, then her face changed drastically: “Mother, Madam Wen earlier declared she was leaving, and I didn’t stop her. By now she’s probably already left through the main gate!”
Concubine Song was startled and reprimanded Gu Lan: “You’re so foolish! You should have told me immediately when you arrived, so I could have sent people to stop her!”
Gu Lan didn’t understand: “Mother, even if Madam Wen stayed, she couldn’t possibly be of use to us anymore. Why not let her leave?”
Concubine Song laughed coldly: “After suffering such a great humiliation here, being played for a fool by us, she will certainly hold a grudge! If she goes back and spreads this matter among the circles of the ministers’ wives, your reputation will be ruined! Then, when your reputation is in tatters like Gu Jin Chao’s, your father might agree to the marriage with the Mu family, and you’ll have cause for regret!”
Gu Lan raised her head to stare at Concubine Song, not realizing the matter was so serious.
After a quarter of an hour, Qiao Wei returned to report: “Concubine, Madam Wen has already left the Gu residence. I’m afraid it’s too late to chase after her now!”
Concubine Song stood up and paced around the room several times.
After careful consideration, she finally made up her mind and had Qiao Wei help her change clothes to see Gu De Zhao.
“This matter certainly can’t be concealed… I’ll go speak with the master first, and ask him to invite the Second Madam of the Gu family to perform your hairpin ceremony. Out of consideration for your father, the Second Madam won’t refuse. As for the sponsor… you get along well with Gu Lian, go to the west wing immediately to discuss it with her.”
Gu Lan agreed, then thought for a moment and asked: “What about Madam Wen? Madam Li hasn’t left yet. Should we go talk to her?”
Concubine Song shook her head and said: “You needn’t worry about Song Miao Ying. She strictly observes propriety and won’t carelessly speak of these matters. As for Madam Wen…” She took a deep breath, “I don’t know what to do either. We can only deal with each situation as it arises, and respond when she makes her move.”
While Concubine Song was bustling about, Jin Chao returned to her quarters, closed her doors to visitors, and peacefully embroidered a screen with an antique pattern in her room.
Several young maids gathered around, asking about what had happened in the chambers, laughing together.
“She’s always framing our young miss, and now she’s got her comeuppance…” Yu Zhu said with a laugh, adding proudly, “It was I who got the news!”
“Yes, yes, didn’t the young miss reward you with lots of candies? Can you even hide them all under your pillow?” Yu Tong teased her.
Qing Pu, seeing their happy expressions, also had the corners of her mouth slightly raised. She walked to Jin Chao’s side and said softly: “Things must be chaotic outside by now. Are you not going to manage it? What about the madam’s side? Should we go and report to her?”
Jin Chao smiled faintly and said: “Having suffered such a great ‘injustice,’ I naturally need to hide for a few days to show my deep feelings for Gu Lan. Don’t worry about chaos outside. With Concubine Song there, no matter how much of a mess Gu Lan makes, she can clean it up. And there’s even less need to worry about Mother. She has managed the inner chambers for over a decade and surely has many informants throughout the household. There’s no need for us to say anything…”
“As for Father, Concubine Song will have a headache to deal with. After Gu Lan’s coming-of-age ceremony, Father will make her come to apologize to me. During this time, it will be enough for me to finish embroidering this screen with antique patterns…” After Jin Chao finished speaking, she gestured for Qing Pu to hand her the brown silk thread for a change.
Though things outside weren’t truly chaotic, they weren’t peaceful either.
When Concubine Song emerged from Gu De Zhao’s quarters, she not only looked dejected but also had swollen eyes.
She hadn’t told Gu De Zhao exactly what had happened, only that the two madams were unwilling to perform Gu Lan’s hairpin ceremony, and that Gu Jin Chao was angry with Gu Lan and probably unwilling to be her sponsor. She asked him to persuade the Second Madam.
Gu De Zhao’s face immediately clouded over. He already didn’t want to associate with the Zu family, let alone ask them for favors! He coldly stared at Concubine Song for a long time, until she tearfully pleaded: “If you won’t consider it for my sake, at least think of Lan’er’s coming-of-age ceremony!” Only then did Gu De Zhao silently agree to this matter.
Upon hearing Gu De Zhao’s request, although the Second Madam was surprised, out of propriety, she agreed.
After returning, Gu De Zhao immediately summoned a matron from the chambers to inquire about what had transpired. Upon learning the sequence of events, he was so angry that his whole body trembled. He picked up a blue porcelain brush washer from his desk and smashed it to the ground, where it shattered into pieces!
He then had Shui Ying find Gu Lan to come and answer for her actions.
As soon as Gu Lan entered Gu De Zhao’s study, she sensed that her father was far angrier than she had anticipated. He looked at her coldly without saying a word.
Gu Lan pinched the corner of her clothes. Concubine Song had instructed her earlier that her father valued face, and with her coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow, he wouldn’t make a big scene. But a scolding was inevitable. She didn’t need to conceal too much in her response—though her father might not know exactly what had happened, he would surely understand the general situation!
“Kneel before me!” Gu De Zhao shouted, pointing at her.
Gu Lan’s heart tightened. She fell to her knees with a thud, looking at Gu De Zhao and pleading: “Father, please listen to me…”
“Silence! What do you want to say? How did you drive Madam Wen away? How do you try to sow discord in their relationship? Or how you slandered Jin Chao to others!” Gu Jin Chao was so angry he cursed her repeatedly. “You don’t need to say anything. The day after tomorrow, you will go and apologize to each of them!”
“I even persuaded your elder sister to treat you better, to be your sponsor, to prepare for your coming-of-age ceremony. Is this how you repay her? Who are Madam Wen and Madam Li to you? No matter what, Gu Jin Chao is still your sister. How could you slander your sister in front of outsiders!”
Gu De Zhao looked at Gu Lan, his gaze filled not only with anger but also disappointment.
He had always thought that his second daughter, raised under his knee, might not excel in poetry, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but at least she was gentle, obedient, and kind to others. Yet she dared to do such a thing! It was a hard slap to his face!
No wonder Jin Chao was never close to Gu Lan. He had always thought it was Jin Chao who disliked Gu Lan, that Jin Chao was bullying Gu Lan!
What kind of person had his gentle and kind daughter turned out to be?
Gu Lan quickly grabbed his robe, sobbing: “Father, I didn’t mean to slander Elder Sister. I’ve always been good to her! Those things I said about Elder Sister, I only heard from servants… I was just thoughtless, unable to discern right from wrong, which is why I told these things to Madam Li… But, but I am your daughter! If you don’t forgive me, Elder Sister will never forgive me either…”
Gu De Zhao closed his eyes. Gu Lan had never cried and begged him like this before.
But thinking of Gu Jin Chao, who had always remained silent and endured grievances without complaint, he felt he could indeed be harsh this time.
“After your coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow, you will practice calligraphy at home, writing ‘Instructions for Women’ and ‘Admonitions for Women.’ You are not allowed to do anything else! Also, go and apologize to your elder sister! If such things happen again, don’t consider me your father!”
After speaking, Gu De Zhao left the study. Gu Lan collapsed on the ground and only slowly stood up after a long while.