Gu Jinchao coldly smiled: “Concubine Song knows perfectly well what she has done. If it weren’t for accidentally consuming rhubarb, would Mother’s illness have recurred so frequently? You’ve done plenty of things over the years, none of which can bear scrutiny. Let’s speak plainly—do you think you can escape responsibility? Gu Lan is still young, and the things she did were mostly at your instruction.”
Concubine Song looked at Gu Jinchao but said nothing.
Gu Jinchao spoke flatly: “I also understand what Concubine is thinking. Even if you caused Mother’s death, you’d still find it difficult to be elevated to primary wife. You’re doing this for Sister Lan, aren’t you?” The corner of her mouth lifted in a faint smile. “…if Mother died, she wouldn’t have to marry.”
Song Miaohua’s expression finally changed slightly, her hands hidden in her sleeves clenched tightly.
Jinchao glanced at her hands and continued: “I’m only here to warn you, don’t continue with these underhanded tricks. This time I have no evidence so I’ll let it go, but next time if you fall into my hands, you’d better be careful.”
Song Miaohua finally laughed coldly: “You should blame yourself for ruining Sister Lan’s reputation. Otherwise, why would I treat Madam this way!”
Jinchao looked at her and said: “You’ve been giving Mother rhubarb for nearly half a year. To say it’s because of me—isn’t that too ridiculous? Now you may be concerned about Sister Lan’s reputation, but originally it was for the position of primary wife, wasn’t it? After all, you’ve wanted it for so many years.”
“Concubine, take care of yourself. If you still harbor thoughts of harming my mother, I certainly won’t spare you.”
After speaking, Jinchao smiled faintly, bid farewell, and left Linyan Pavilion with her maid.
Qiaowei, finally released by Qingpu, rubbed her wrist as she walked up to Concubine Song and said softly: “Concubine, what do you plan to do? The eldest miss barging into our courtyard and throwing her weight around—should we mention it to the master?”
Song Miaohua suddenly smiled gently. “Tell him? Of course, we should. Go fetch the cloak with cranes and deer symbolizing longevity that I embroidered for the master. We’ll have to deliver his birthday gift early.”
Qiaowei smiled and agreed.
Gu Dezhao was at Concubine Luo’s Jingan Residence listening to her play the pipa. Concubine Luo was skilled at the pipa, which complemented her gentle demeanor well.
After listening to her play “Hanging Curtain,” he smiled and said to her: “The poet from Mount Xiang once described Jiaren’s pipa playing: ‘Large strings rumbling like pouring rain, small strings murmuring like private whispers. Playing intermittently in confused harmony, large pearls and small pearls falling onto jade plates.’ I think this is truly the case…”
Under the soft candlelight in the study, Luo Su looked at the handsome and steady Gu Dezhao. He gazed at her with smiling eyes, appearing deeply affectionate. Her heart suddenly fluttered, and under Gu Dezhao’s gaze, she blushed slightly and turned to look at the moonlight outside the window.
She spoke softly again: “I’ve heard the master is skilled at playing the zither. I wonder if it’s true?”
Gu Dezhao smiled: “Although I studied with famous teachers for several years, I’m not as good as Jinchao. Pinshou once said my zither playing was clumsy and not worth listening to. She’s very straightforward—if you heard me play, you’d probably think it’s not good either…”
Luo Su didn’t know what to say. Gu Dezhao’s fingers tapped on the desk a few times. Although Luo Su was gentle and pretty with an excellent personality, she couldn’t compare to Concubine Song’s eloquence and witty conversation. When he was burdened with official duties and feeling depressed, it was Pinshou who comforted him.
He hadn’t seen Concubine Song for so long, it felt like something was missing.
Just then, Shuiying entered and said: “Master, Concubine Song has gone to Juliuge Pavilion to see you and has been waiting for two hours. Would you like to return and see her?”
Gu Dezhao frowned: “Why would she suddenly come?”
Shuiying shook her head: “This servant doesn’t know, but Concubine Song has been waiting under the veranda and refuses to leave. The night is deep and the dew heavy—I thought it wasn’t good for her to stand there for so long. If she falls ill, who will arrange for your birthday celebration…”
Gu Dezhao remained silent for a moment.
Luo Su, feeling uneasy, took his hand and said softly: “Master, are you going to see her? Concubine Song has displeased you for so long, and you still want to see her? It’s already so late…”
Gu Dezhao sighed: “Yes, it is very late.”
He stood up, and Shuiying immediately came over to drape a tan-colored Lu silk cloak over his shoulders.
Gu Dezhao gently comforted Luo Su: “I’ll come see you tomorrow.” Then he walked out first.
Shuiying looked back at Luo Su, politely bowed, and said with a smile: “Concubine, this servant takes her leave.”
Luo Su watched Shuiying follow Gu Dezhao out, her hands clenched tightly.
Qingyi whispered in her ear: “Concubine, I think Miss Shuiying is truly excessive. She frequently finds excuses to lure the master away. She’s just a personal maid, yet she puts on the airs of a concubine. Perhaps you should speak to the eldest miss about this…”
Luo Su felt very dejected. She shook her head and said: “I have the eldest miss’s protection only because I can deal with Concubine Song. Let’s forget about these matters and not bother her…”
After speaking, she asked Qingyi to bring water for washing up. Gu Dezhao definitely wouldn’t return.
Gu Dezhao reached the door but ignored Song Miaohua, walking straight inside.
Song Miaohua followed him into the western side room and helped him remove his cloak. While Gu Dezhao remained silent, Song Miaohua stroked the cloak and said: “Master, I made this cloak for you. It’s worn out now, yet you’re still wearing it.”
Gu Dezhao saw the new cloak she had brought placed on the tall table, looking very delicate. He finally asked: “…You made a new one?”
Song Miaohua had Qiaowei bring it over to show Gu Dezhao: “A pattern of cranes and deer symbolizing longevity. I remember you never liked plain cloaks…”
Gu Dezhao looked at the delicate embroidery and sighed: “You’re always so attentive.”
Song Miaohua had Biyi bring water and personally attended to Gu Dezhao’s washing. Then she mentioned Madam Ji’s matter: “…Today the eldest miss took some medicine to Dr. Liu to inquire, and found rhubarb in Madam’s medicine. This herb is cold, and Madam absolutely cannot take it. Dr. Liu said that his medicines were all packaged and sent directly to Madam’s place, and no one would tamper with them. It’s strange how the rhubarb got mixed in, and no one knows.”
“Somehow, the eldest miss came to find me, saying I put it there. I truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry… The medicine has always been kept by Madam’s maid, who wouldn’t let me touch it. How could I have switched it? I’ve always been most diligent in serving Madam and couldn’t possibly do such a thing. Besides, Madam has always protected me—how could I harm her…”
“So this concubine thought to come to tell the master. It doesn’t matter if the eldest miss says I did it. I’m afraid we need to clean up the household, as there might be someone with ill intentions trying to harm Madam…”
Gu Dezhao remained silent for a long time before slowly saying: “The medicine was brought from Dr. Liu, directly from the reception to Xiexiao Court. Unless someone from Xiexiao Court wanted to switch the medicine, who else could have done it… You don’t need to investigate further. Ji is always making a fuss. Seeing that I don’t want to pay attention to her, she creates all sorts of incidents, even involving Jinchao. Her illness flares up several times—what does she want if not to create a scene? She doesn’t just want sympathy?”
He disliked Ji’s temperament—never speaking directly, always creating situations for others to witness, acting pitifully to gain sympathy.
Concubine Song showed confusion, and then quickly acquiesced with great compliance.
Gu Dezhao was very pleased with her obedience and discussed Gu Lan’s marriage with her: “…The Mu family again sent Mr. Xu, the Court Academician and Ministry of Rites official, to propose marriage. I listened to Mr. Xu’s reasoning—while Mu Zhidai has a poor reputation, he’s at least honest. Now that he’s studying with Mr. Mu, he’s learning very quickly. This marriage isn’t impossible. After all, Mr. Mu is the Deputy Director of the Imperial Household, and Director Chen currently holds great power. Mu Nian’an isn’t someone we can afford to offend. When you return, talk properly with Sister Lan. If she agrees, I’ll finalize this marriage.”
Concubine Song quickly said: “That Mu Zhidai has such a bad reputation. I heard last time with…” She wanted to mention the horse urine incident that everyone was laughing about.
But Gu Dezhao interrupted her: “His reputation may be bad, but what about Sister Lan’s? Those things she did have spread throughout Si’an. I doubt even good suitors would propose now. She’s already of marriageable age—how long can we delay!”
Song Miaohua could only smile and say: “I was just worried for master, afraid that if he marries Sister Lan, it might affect the Gu family’s reputation… Let me help you change your clothes.”
Gu Dezhao made a sound of agreement, considering the matter settled. Biyi tactfully withdrew and went to Xiexiao Court.
Meanwhile, Madam Xu had just returned from Gu Jinchao’s place.
Jinchao had told her that from now on, she must personally collect the medicine from Dr. Liu, and after use, lock it in the cabinet where no other maids could access it. Madam Xu understood the gravity of the matter and knelt before Madam Ji upon her return.
This startled Madam Ji: “…What are you doing? You’ve served me for decades—we don’t need to observe such formalities between master and servant… Why are you suddenly kneeling!”
Madam Xu was somewhat choked up: “This servant has failed in her duties, allowing others to take advantage. This servant… feels she has let down both you and the Old Madam…”
Madam Ji lacked the strength to help her up and could only sigh: “It’s just one life… Get up quickly.”
Madam Xu wiped her tears and rose to help Madam Ji sit halfway up, supported by large pillows. Madam Ji held her hand and spoke to her: “Tonight Song Miaohua went to find the master… She gave him a cloak embroidered with cranes and deer symbolizing longevity, and told him about how our daughter went to see her today, explaining the whole incident…”
Madam Xu was somewhat stunned: “Miss Biyi came to tell you?”
Madam Ji closed her eyes, nodded, and exhaled deeply: “Guess what the master said? He said, ‘Ji is always making a fuss. Seeing that I don’t want to pay attention to her, she creates all sorts of incidents, even involving Jinchao…'”
Madam Xu comforted her: “Such words coming from the concubine’s mouth must have been twisted to make it sound like we’re deliberately causing her trouble. Understandably, the master misunderstood. Please don’t take it to heart, Madam. Everything changes flavor when it comes from the concubine’s mouth. Wasn’t our eldest miss also slandered by her…”
Madam Ji smiled bitterly, appearing very strained: “These were Gu Dezhao’s own words. Tell me, what kind of man have I been married to for twenty years… How could he… how could he be so…”
She closed her eyes, as if suddenly unable to breathe, her voice breaking off. Then she slowly exhaled but said nothing more. She just held Madam Xu’s hand tightly.
Since Concubine Yun’s death, the master had grown increasingly distant from his wife, to the point of such coldness now.
Thinking of how Gu Dezhao faced Madam with such an icy expression, Madam Xu felt her nose tingle with emotion, and she gripped Madam Ji’s hand even tighter.