The night was as dark as spilled ink, without a trace of moonlight. Soon the wind picked up, and a light rain began to fall.

Madam Xu closed the latticed door, and the room immediately fell silent.

She walked to the bed and helped Lady Ji tuck in the corners of her blanket, saying softly, “You see how skillfully our Young Miss struck two birds with one arrow. Our Young Miss is usually so quiet, who would have thought she could cause such a commotion with a single move… She’s someone who can keep her composure. I’m afraid Concubine Song will have quite the headache now! Miss Lan has committed one of the seven grounds for divorce—malicious speech. As the person who raised Miss Lan, she bears responsibility for Miss Lan’s poor character. The Master will likely distance himself from her now…”

Lady Ji’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Zhao’er is doing well. I don’t need to worry too much anymore… When I’m gone, she’ll be able to take care of herself.” She covered her mouth and coughed several times, with heavy phlegm and labored breathing that seemed to struggle for air.

Madam Xu quickly helped Lady Ji catch her breath, her eyes growing moist. “Don’t say such unlucky things! You will certainly get better.”

The latticed door was pushed open, and the sound of rain became clearer. Through the curtains came Moyu’s voice: “Madam, the Master has come.”

Madam Xu whispered to Lady Ji, “It’s so late now, do you want to see the Master?”

Lady Ji shook her head and said, “…Tell him I’ve already gone to bed.” She then instructed Madam Xu, “Blow out the lamp.”

Madam Xu walked to the tall table, removed the lampshade, and extinguished the light. The room immediately darkened.

Whether Gu Dezhao had come to apologize to Jin Chao on behalf of Gu Lan to apologize himself, or simply because he was concerned and wanted to check on her—she didn’t want to see him regardless. It wasn’t that she no longer liked him, but that she no longer cared.

She had been ill for so long, yet Gu Dezhao had only entered her inner chamber twice, both times when her illness had worsened.

Moyu withdrew from the inner chamber and walked to the corridor, where she bowed and said, “Master, the Madam has already retired. If you have urgent matters, would you like this servant to wake the Madam?”

Gu Dezhao stood in the corridor while his attendant waited beside him, holding an oiled paper umbrella. The rain was blown sideways by the wind onto his body, feeling rather cold.

He remained silent for a long time, gazing at the now-darkened inner chamber with its clear fish and water plant carvings on the latticed door.

“Never mind then. When she wakes up, just tell her I was here.”

Gu Dezhao sighed and waved his hand, leaving with his attendant.

Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a rumbling thunder, and the rain poured down even harder.

Summer was approaching.

Qing Pu pushed open the window, letting in the moist air after the rain. Outside, grape vines had already covered the trellis and sprouted leaves. Dawn had broken not long ago. Last night’s wind and rain had scattered withered leaves and broken branches all over the courtyard, and two newly arrived ten-year-old maids were sweeping.

Jin Chao had just risen. Her hair had only been combed with a wooden comb, not yet put up, with her black tresses cascading down her back. She wore a light purple padded jacket with eggplant flower patterns—an outfit not meant for receiving guests.

Qing Pu came over to report: “Several housekeepers came to invite you before dawn, and Madam Xu personally came once. Following your instructions, I told them you were ill and couldn’t attend the Second Young Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony. After hearing this, they all left without insisting.”

Cai Fu brought in two maids carrying several plates of tea snacks, placing them on a small table.

Jin Chao took a sip of tea and said thoughtfully, “After the coming-of-age ceremony, news of the discord between us sisters will quickly spread… Go attend the ceremony in my place, and see who is replacing Lady Wen as the principal guest.”

If she hadn’t misjudged, Concubine Song would have begged her father to let the Second Madam perform the hairpin ceremony for Gu Lan. The assistants could be any two young ladies of appropriate age; that wouldn’t require much thought.

Qing Pu then took Cai Fu and went to Cuixuan Court.

Jin Chao had Bai Yun bring out her unfinished embroidery frame with the antique design and continued embroidering a blue-glazed, square-shaped vase with two handles.

…

Gu Lan had risen at dawn. With a heavy heart, she hadn’t rested well, and there were bloodshot streaks in her eyes.

Concubine Song arrived a quarter of an hour later, personally helping her comb her hair and apply powder. Looking at her daughter’s delicate and gentle lotus-like features, she softly advised, “Don’t think about anything else. Just know that today is your coming-of-age ceremony. Don’t admit defeat before the battle; if you surrender in your heart first, how will you face the future?”

Gu Lan looked at herself in the bronze mirror, still worried: “But, Mother, how can I ever be at ease in front of Father and Jin Rong… I, I have already committed one of the seven grounds for divorce…” She had always appeared gentle and commendable in front of others.

Concubine Song said calmly, “In this respect, you are not as good as Gu Jin Chao. Since these things cannot be undone, you must act as if nothing has happened. You were previously a filial daughter before your father and a caring sister before your brother; you should continue to be so… Gu Jin Chao has also made mistakes before, and what she did previously was a hundred or thousand times worse than what you did. Have you ever seen her feel ashamed?”

Gu Lan thought silently for a long while before nodding slightly.

At this moment, Concubine Du and Concubine Guo also arrived.

These two women had always been cautious in the Gu household. Given their humble status and having only daughters, their position in the household was not high. They had heard about yesterday’s incident in the side chamber but didn’t dare to slight Concubine Song and Gu Lan, so they came early to help.

After preparations were complete, they headed to the main hall. Gu Dezhao and the Second Madam of the Gu ancestral family were already waiting in the hall. Lady Ji was absent due to her health, and the Fifth Madam of the Gu family and several other ladies were seated in the audience.

When the auspicious hour arrived, Gu Dezhao rose to begin the ceremony. Gu Lan then entered and knelt on her mat. The hair attendant combed her hair, and the Second Madam, dressed in the attire of a fourth-rank official’s wife, took a sandalwood hairpin and a gold butterfly hairpin inlaid with rubies from a lacquer tray. With the assistance of the ceremony attendant, she put up Gu Lan’s hair and inserted the hairpins, followed by the ritual of three additions and three bows. After the ceremony concluded, Gu Lan looked toward the audience seats but didn’t see Gu Jin Rong.

With Lady Ji gravely ill, Concubine Song took her place in hosting the guests at the ceremony.

After a moment’s thought, Gu Lan took Zi Ling to Gu Jin Rong’s temporary side chamber. He was practicing calligraphy in the adjacent study.

Gu Lan lifted the bamboo curtain and entered the study. Seeing Jin Rong silently writing, she asked Qing An to step aside while she ground ink for Gu Jin Rong.

Jin Rong had been ignoring her, but when he saw her touching his inkstone, annoyance suddenly welled up. He threw his writing brush onto the desk with a smack, and the half-written character became soaked with ink. “What are you doing here? Get out now!”

“You didn’t attend the coming-of-age ceremony, so your sister just came to check on you,” said Gu Lan with a slight smile.

Gu Jin Rong glared at her angrily: “I didn’t go precisely because I didn’t want to see you! Why must you come and make yourself unwelcome!”

Jin Rong had never spoken to her so harshly before!

Gu Lan’s face paled, but remembering that she couldn’t afford to be on bad terms with Gu Jin Rong, she quickly put on an apologetic smile: “I just wanted to see you. Since you don’t want to see me, I have nothing more to say…” Her voice suddenly dropped, and soon she began sobbing quietly, her voice deeply suppressed.

When she lifted her head again, Gu Lan’s face was full of smiles, though forced, and her voice choked with sobs: “Sister only came to apologize… I don’t expect forgiveness, but after more than ten years of affection between us, even if you don’t want to acknowledge me, I still acknowledge you. No one is a saint; who can be without fault? Your sister makes mistakes too. I… I…” Tears fell uncontrollably, and she couldn’t speak anymore.

Jin Rong was momentarily startled by her reaction, and his heart softened a bit: “Why are you crying? Did I hurt your feelings?”

“I’m not hurt; I’m just remorseful! I hate myself for not being able to distinguish right from wrong, and for spreading rumors about Elder Sister and damaging her reputation… But, Rong’er, think carefully—your sister has been with you since childhood. Is that the kind of person I am?” Gu Lan’s voice was sorrowful. “Isn’t your sister also just trying to live a better life, having to follow others’ arrangements and strive for certain things…”

“…I’m not a daughter of the main wife, I don’t have Elder Sister’s honor, and no one will prepare everything for me. I have no choice in the matter!”

Her words implied that someone had instructed her to do these things.

Jin Rong frowned as he looked at her: “If you didn’t want to do it, who could force you?”

Gu Lan took another deep breath and said: “Father scolded me yesterday, and Elder Sister no longer wants to be my hair attendant. Lady Wen has left. My life is difficult too… but I’ve never said these things because, after all, it was my Concubine who raised me. I don’t care about others, but I do care about our more than ten years of sibling affection, which is why I had to come explain to you…”

Jin Rong thought for a long time before he understood, his eyes widening in shock.

Could it be… Gu Lan was saying that Concubine Song had instructed her to do these things.

If Concubine Song had instructed her, how could she explain to Father? With Gu Lan’s gentle nature, she would never implicate her birth mother! And Concubine Song’s actions were understandable. If Jin Chao’s reputation was damaged, who would benefit besides Gu Lan? Concubine Song as well!

He had found it strange that Gu Lan would change like this… If it was Concubine Song’s instruction, then it made sense!

Jin Rong asked Gu Lan in a low voice: “Is what you’re saying true? Was it… was it Concubine Song who instructed you to do these things?”

Gu Lan bit her lip and remained silent, only sobbing slightly, which was as good as an admission.

Jin Rong drew in a sharp breath. So it was true!

“She instructed you to do these things, and she’s supposed to be your birth mother!” Jin Rong was somewhat angry. After a while, he said to Gu Lan, “Second Sister, if she asks you to do such things again, you should tell Mother or Elder Sister. You shouldn’t have to suffer. As for Elder Sister… you should also go apologize to her. Even if you can’t explain clearly, at least let Elder Sister know that you didn’t do it intentionally. Elder Sister has a kind nature and won’t blame you!”

Gu Lan agreed repeatedly: “I feel very guilty in my heart!”

After these events, Jin Rong trusted Jin Chao more, and Gu Lan thought silently.

By shifting Jin Rong’s anger to her mother, he might still blame her, but would also sympathize with her. And since her mother had no direct interests with Jin Rong, his trust wasn’t important to her.

In the future, she would just need to appear somewhat distant from her mother in front of Jin Rong.