Zi Ling looked at Cai Fu, her expression very calm, but her eyes showed a hint of desperation.

“Miss Cai Fu, over these years, the Second Young Miss has done many things to wrong the Young Miss… I, I have mostly been involved in those matters. Who would have thought that at this critical moment, it would be you who came to see me.” She smiled self-mockingly. “I suppose my bond of loyalty with the Second Young Miss has come to an end. So let me do one final good deed—you must tell the Young Miss to stop concerning herself with Chen Xuan Qing’s matter. Chen Xuan Qing doesn’t care for the Young Miss at all. Everything the Second Young Miss said was to deceive her…”

Cai Fu sighed, appreciating that Zi Ling was still willing to speak of these things. However, regarding Chen Xuan Qing, she hadn’t heard the Young Miss mention him for a long time. The current Young Miss was no longer the same person she had been before; what she cared about was different from before.

Outside, the men had drunk some water and were now loudly pounding on the door of the main room, laughing and making a commotion. Bai Yun saw a burly man in his forties wearing a bright red Hangzhou silk robe, walking proudly toward the main room, his narrowed eyes giving Bai Yun a feeling of disgust.

She couldn’t help but sigh: “What a pity for Miss Zi Ling… to marry such a man!”

The clamor outside grew louder. Zi Ling walked to the latticed window and looked out, her face turning pale. She pressed her lips together, her eyes darting around several times. Suddenly, she turned to Cai Fu and said: “One last thing, Concubine Song and the Second Young Miss want Madam to die! You must relay this to the Young Miss.”

Cai Fu was startled, nearly jumping off her stool: “Miss Zi Ling, what did you say?”

Zi Ling shook her head, the corner of her mouth lifting in a slight smile. The door was being pounded with increasing force, the sound growing louder and louder. The two servant women couldn’t stop them. The forty-something man shouted in a coarse voice: “What’s there to be shy about! You’ll be mine sooner or later, open the door now!”

Bai Yun was about to pull Zi Ling aside to ask what exactly she meant by her final words. But the door was pushed open by a group of people, and the two servant women quickly moved to protect Zi Ling, apologizing with forced smiles: “Look, this isn’t proper, after all, it’s a wedding procession…”

The man paid no attention, coming forward to pull at Zi Ling, forcing her to leave. Zi Ling merely gave a cold smile and didn’t look at Cai Fu and Bai Yun again.

When the two returned to Qing Tong Courtyard, Jin Chao was practicing calligraphy in her study. Cai Fu recounted everything about the residence in Chen Huai Alley and Zi Ling’s words, without omitting a single detail. After listening, Jin Chao fell into silent contemplation.

She hadn’t expected Zi Ling to tell Cai Fu and Bai Yun these things.

Regarding Chen Xuan Qing, there was nothing to say. If she still had feelings for Chen Xuan Qing in this lifetime, she would truly be pitifully foolish.

But what did Zi Ling mean by her final words?

She certainly knew that Song Miao Hua and Gu Lan were incompatible with her and her mother, but she didn’t know they had reached the point of wanting to kill her mother! What would drive them to such thoughts? This was no simple matter like beating a maid to death!

Jin Chao considered several possibilities in her mind. No matter how jealous Concubine Song was of her mother, she wouldn’t go so far as to want her mother dead. Unless her mother’s existence threatened what she valued most… and what could that be but Gu Lan?

In her previous life, Concubine Song had been pregnant, which had made it easy for her to be elevated to the position of official wife half a year after her mother’s death. Now, there was no sign of pregnancy, and since her father hadn’t seen her for over a month due to Gu Lan’s matter, it would be difficult for her to become pregnant. If her mother died, it would be almost impossible for her to be elevated. Perhaps instead of being elevated, her father might take another concubine, and she would lose more than she gained.

If it wasn’t for Gu Lan’s status as a legitimate daughter…

Jin Chao suddenly recalled Gu Lan’s expression of deep disgust and contempt when mentioning Young Master Mu. She also remembered what Gu Lan had said when she came to see her that night… Gu Lan felt that marrying Mu Zhi Zhai would ruin her, and for that, she harbored a bone-deep resentment toward Jin Chao.

A rather absurd idea suddenly formed in Jin Chao’s mind. Even she thought it impossible. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, only to realize the tea had long gone cold. She set down the cup and slowly paced around the study.

Bai Yun and Cai Fu stood to the side, exchanging bewildered glances, not knowing what Gu Jin Chao was thinking and not daring to interrupt the Young Miss’s thoughts.

The more Jin Chao thought about it, the more plausible it seemed! Though the idea was quite absurd, it was exactly the sort of thing Gu Lan would do!

She stopped pacing and murmured to herself, then looked up at the window, where the sunlight was at its brightest.

That must be it! Gu Lan didn’t want to marry Mu Zhi Zhai, so she wanted Jin Chao’s mother to die. If her mother died, she would have an excuse not to marry! When parents die, one observes mourning for three years, and marriage is inappropriate during the first year. Gu Lan would certainly use this as an excuse to refuse marriage to Mu Zhi Zhai!

Although it was just her speculation, it was the most likely explanation!

Cai Fu noticed the Young Miss frowning in silence and glanced at the now-cold tea. She quietly picked up the teacup and went to change the tea.

“Miss, I’ve brewed you some apricot tea,” Cai Fu said, placing the teacup on the desk.

Jin Chao gazed at the light brown tea, her fingers lightly tapping on the desk.

Whatever reason Gu Lan and Concubine Song had for wanting her mother dead was secondary. The most important question was… what exactly were they planning to do?

Jin Chao asked Cai Fu: “Has Zi Ling already left Shuntian Prefecture?”

Cai Fu replied: “Calculating the travel time, she should have left by now. If the Miss wants to get clear answers, we could send someone on horseback to pursue them…”

Jin Chao shook her head: “There are three post roads to Baoding Prefecture, not counting shortcuts. It would be difficult to find them…”

Besides, even if they found Zi Ling, she probably wouldn’t say more.

Bai Yun hesitated for a moment, then said softly: “I feel that Miss Zi Ling’s words may not be entirely trustworthy. After all, she’s just a maid, and she’s lost the Second Young Miss’s trust. If the Second Young Miss and Concubine Song had such intentions, how would they let her overhear…”

Jin Chao sighed: “That’s precisely why it’s credible. If Zi Ling were still Gu Lan’s loyal servant, I wouldn’t dare trust her words.” Zi Ling had never been particularly clever; if not for her loyalty, she wouldn’t have remained by Gu Lan’s side for so long. Perhaps it was because she had overheard Gu Lan and Concubine Song discussing this that they decided to marry her off to Baoding, ensuring she could never return to Yanjing…

After some thought, Jin Chao asked Cai Fu to call Yu Zhu in. Xiu Qu’s wounds had mostly healed, and the little maid had become lively again.

She came in and paid her respects. Jin Chao asked about Xiu Qu’s injuries, and Yu Zhu nodded: “These days she’s been eating and drinking well, and her wounds have all healed. Although her spirits are still not great, she’s no longer in serious condition.”

She tilted her head thoughtfully, then smiled and moved closer to Jin Chao, saying: “Miss, I’m with her every day, always telling her how good you are. Why don’t we keep her? I think she’s not foolish and is honest and loyal… she could be helpful!”

Jin Chao smiled: “It depends on whether she’s willing.” She didn’t say more about Xiu Qu but instead talked to Yu Zhu about Concubine Song. “…I want you to take Yu Tong and frequently visit Lin Yan Pavilion, observing if there’s anything unusual about who comes and goes. Be careful, don’t let them discover you.” Yu Zhu and Yu Tong were petite, which made it easier for them to hide in the lush vegetation and remain unseen.

Yu Zhu’s eyes darted around as she asked Jin Chao in a low voice: “Miss, what do you want me to monitor? Are they planning something bad recently?”

Bai Yun smiled and patted her head: “When the Young Miss tells you to watch, just watch. Why so many questions!”

Yu Zhu rubbed her head and huffed: “…If Sister Bai Yun keeps patting me, my brain won’t work well anymore, and I won’t be able to help the Miss!”

Everyone laughed, and Bai Yun blushed, glaring at her.

Jin Chao, however, felt somewhat heavy-hearted. Although she knew Concubine Song and Gu Lan harbored murderous intentions toward her mother, she couldn’t be certain what they planned to do. Having Yu Zhu watch Lin Yan Pavilion meant that if they did try something, she would have some awareness of it.

A while later, Boudoir Mother Tong arrived, leading Luo Yong Ping and another elderly man wearing a blue cloth Daoist robe.

Jin Chao met them in the reception hall.

The third day of the fifth month was her father’s thirty-eighth birthday. Although not a major celebration, the household would still hold a banquet and invite her father’s colleagues and close friends to drink. Jin Chao wanted to prepare a birthday gift for her father and had asked Luo Yong Ping to come for consultation.

Luo Yong Ping first bowed to Jin Chao with clasped hands, introducing the elderly man in the blue cloth Daoist robe beside him: “…This is the accountant I invited, named Cao Zi Heng.”

Jin Chao smiled and nodded to him. This Cao Zi Heng was the poor scholar Boudoir Mother Tong had mentioned, a distant relative of the Cao family in Huai Xiang Alley. Boudoir Mother Tong had said he was no more than fifty, but looking at him now, he had a full head of white hair and appeared to be over sixty.

Cao Zi Heng bowed to Jin Chao: “Thanks to Manager Luo for providing meals, otherwise this old man would have starved in the streets…”

Luo Yong Ping smiled and said: “Master Cao is simply a talent who hasn’t met his opportunity. Regarding the birthday gift, this servant hasn’t read many books and isn’t as knowledgeable as Master Cao, so I thought to bring him to advise the Young Miss.”

Jin Chao said: “No need for formalities, Master. I was thinking that since my father likes pine and cypress trees, perhaps I could find an ancient painting of pines and cypresses as a birthday gift. Does the Master have any insights?” Boudoir Mother Tong had mentioned Cao Zi Heng before, saying he had been hindered by the eight-legged essay examinations but was a very learned man. Jin Chao already had several reputable pine painters in mind and wondered what Cao Zi Heng would suggest.

After a brief reflection, Cao Zi Heng bowed and said: “Among famous pine painters, this old man thinks Li Xian Xi, Ma Qin Shan, and Cao You Xuan are excellent, with Cao You Xuan’s pines and cypresses being the most vigorous.”

Jin Chao was somewhat puzzled: “Why doesn’t Master think Wu Zhong Gui’s pine paintings are good? His achievements in this area are also remarkable.”

Cao Zi Heng smiled: “Since it’s a birthday gift for Secretary Gu, naturally Cao You Xuan would be best. The Young Miss may not be familiar with these aspects, but Wu Zhong Gui’s pines are too gaunt. He is a man of solitary integrity, a recluse, which is not very suitable.”

Jin Chao smiled immediately. This Master Cao spoke directly and plainly. If he encountered someone argumentative who insisted on debating with him, he would likely suffer losses. She glanced at Cao Zi Heng’s shoes, a pair of black cloth shoes that, though worn, were very clean.

“Then I’ll trouble the Master to select a painting of pines and cypresses for me.” Jin Chao treated him with greater courtesy. Cao Zi Heng bowed solemnly and left with Luo Yong Ping. Jin Chao turned to Boudoir Mother Tong and said, “Cao Zi Heng is useful. Privately tell Manager Luo to give him some more silver.”

Scholars were proud, so bestowing favors had to be done subtly.