Gu Lan was startled and dropped the bowl of sweet mung bean soup in her hand.

Song Miaohua stared at Old Woman Chen and asked: “What exactly did she say? Tell me everything, word for word, without omission.”

Old Woman Chen repeatedly agreed, thought for a moment, and then said: “Those two maids were both given to Concubine Yun by Madam to serve her. Both were devoted to Concubine Yun, especially Cuiping who died—she was extremely loyal to Concubine Yun. That old woman said the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine and the labor-inducing medicine were stored separately in two wooden cabinets in the small kitchen. If someone hadn’t switched the medicines, it would have been impossible to take the wrong one. After Concubine Yun became pregnant, Madam often visited her and would also go to the small kitchen to check on Concubine Yun’s food…”

“Besides Madam and the two maids, usually no one else would enter this small kitchen. The maids were loyal to Concubine Yun, so naturally they wouldn’t harm her. There was only one possibility—Madam switched the medicine. Concubine Yun took the wrong medicinal soup, which led to premature labor and death…”

After hearing this, Song Miaohua remained silent for a while. She had long known that Concubine Yun was murdered.

But Concubine Yun was not killed by Ji, of this she was certain. Though Ji appeared gentle, she was very proud. She would never do something she considered beneath her, even with a knife at her throat. Compared to Yun Xiang, who grew up with her like a sister, Ji might have disliked her more. But since she had remained safe until now, how could Concubine Yun have been killed by Ji?

Concubine Yun’s death was not an accident, but it wasn’t Ji’s fault either…

Song Miaohua recalled that when Concubine Yun died, she had secretly gone to her inner chamber and saw someone sneaking out of the courtyard. At that time, her position wasn’t secure, so she never told Ji. Later, when her position became secure, she no longer wanted to speak of it.

But if she didn’t say anything, who would know it wasn’t Ji who did it…

Actually, at the time, some people had suspected Ji. Both maids were given to Concubine Yun by Ji, and what they did might have been instructed by Ji… At least that’s what Gu Dezhao suspected at the time. However, he still had feelings for Ji then, so although he had suspicions, he never spoke of them, but the two grew increasingly distant. Now Gu Dezhao never set foot in Xiexiao Court except when Ji had an attack.

But if this maid’s account were true, Ji would be confirmed as the one who killed Concubine Yun, and Gu Dezhao would break with her.

…Gu Jinchao had caused her Lan’er such misery; if she didn’t retaliate, it would be too unfair.

However, Old Woman Chen’s story was too convenient, and she wasn’t sure if it was a trap set by Gu Jinchao. This eldest miss was not to be underestimated.

After making up her mind, she asked Old Woman Chen: “That old woman was released from the mansion at around sixty, and must be nearly seventy now. How can she remember so clearly?”

Old Woman Chen said: “You don’t know, she helped Yuping collect Cuiping’s body, so she remembered this particularly well. She told her family members and gossiped about it to other women in the neighborhood. Many women in that area know something about it…”

Seeing Old Woman Chen’s expression, Song Miaohua knew that this was quite credible. She thought for a moment and asked: “The one who didn’t die… the maid called Yuping, why didn’t she tell the master at the time?”

Old Woman Chen sighed: “Yuping was originally Madam’s maid, always serving the young master. She had deep feelings for Madam, and besides, how would she dare expose Madam? She could only watch helplessly as Cuiping was beaten to death… This servant was thinking, if we could find this Yuping and offer her some benefits, she might reveal what happened back then…”

Song Miaohua’s brow twitched.

After thinking for a while, she had a plan in her mind. She said to the old woman: “I understand this matter. Don’t spread it after you leave.”

Old Woman Chen immediately felt uncomfortable. She had been very excited when she heard this story, thinking her opportunity had come. If she pleased Concubine Song with this information, she might become a housekeeper in the future. She hadn’t expected Concubine Song to tell her not to get involved, which made her feel that rushing over without even washing up had been in vain…

Seeing her hesitant expression, Song Miaohua nodded to Qiaowei and said: “Give Old Woman Chen fifty taels of silver and send it to her place.”

So much silver! Old Woman Chen’s heart leaped with joy, and she repeatedly thanked Concubine Song.

She might not become a housekeeper, but having silver was also good! With this thought, Old Woman Li was satisfied, bowed, and took her leave.

After Old Woman Chen left, Gu Lan immediately grabbed Song Miaohua’s hand: “Mother, this is an excellent opportunity… If we could expose Concubine Yun’s death, Father would despise Ji even more!”

Song Miaohua thought for a moment but decided not to tell Gu Lan the inside story. Instead, she sighed slightly and said: “That’s true, but if we can’t find this maid, how can we tell the master?”

Gu Lan knew her mother was very tempted, otherwise she wouldn’t have rewarded Old Woman Chen with so much silver to keep quiet.

Recalling Old Woman Chen’s words, she suddenly had an idea: “Mother, what do you think this maid could have done after leaving the mansion?”

Song Miaohua looked at her and said: “If her parents were still alive, she would have returned home to get married through a matchmaker. Having been a maid in a wealthy family meant she had more knowledge and experience, so others would be willing to marry her. Some with no family might make a living somehow, or get married through a matchmaker.”

Gu Lan smiled and said: “This maid was once Gu Jinrong’s maid… Do you think Gu Jinrong might remember where her hometown is?”

Song Miaohua was stunned for a moment.

She hadn’t thought of this angle. After pondering, Song Miaohua said softly: “At that time, Gu Jinrong was only four or five years old. Could he remember?”

Gu Lan smiled: “I don’t know, but I haven’t replied to his recent letter yet. I’ll ask him and find out.”

She didn’t want to marry Mu Zhidai, and for this reason, she would do anything.

Gu Lan returned to Cuixuan Court.

Concubine Song walked out of the room and stood under the corridor, looking at the water lilies in contemplation. Then she said to Qiaowei: “Prepare some pastries. We’ll go visit Concubine Du. Gu Yi is engaged, and we should congratulate her regardless.”

Qiaowei quickly prepared a large six-compartment box of various dried fruits and several plates of pastries. She followed behind Song Miaohua toward Tongruo Tower. Tongruo Tower was next to Cuixuan Court, a two-story wooden building with a pavilion on one side and side rooms on the other. It had no east or west wing rooms, only a back house on the south side. Concubine Guo lived upstairs; she liked quietness. Several paulownia trees had been planted beside Tongruo Tower, and their flowers had just bloomed not long ago, their shade like a canopy.

There were many tall trees around Tongruo Tower, and cicadas were already making noise.

Hearing that Concubine Song was coming, Concubine Du invited her to talk in the side pavilion and had her maid bring up tea with candied oranges.

“…I don’t like those bitter, astringent teas. I prefer something sweet and sour. If I hadn’t just finished the freshly made sour plum soup, I would have offered some to Concubine Song.” Du Jingqiu smiled and invited her to sit on a stone stool.

Concubine Song found the cicada sounds around them too noisy and couldn’t help but frown.

Du Jingqiu hurriedly explained with a smile: “Please don’t mind, this is still quiet. In midsummer, when cicadas on more than a dozen large trees chirp together, it’s really loud, enough to make one’s ears hurt! Amazingly, Concubine Guo can stand it… I’ve mentioned to the master many times about moving these big trees elsewhere, but not only did he refuse, he also said I don’t understand refinement. I barely know a few characters, how would I understand refinement? I just find the cicada noise annoying.”

Song Miaohua smiled slightly. This Du Jingqiu was quite eloquent. But she was getting older; although one could still see traces of her youthful beauty, there were fine lines around her eyes. Otherwise, she might still be able to win Gu Dezhao’s favor.

Song Miaohua had Qiaowei bring over the gifts: “…I heard that Miss Yi is engaged to the young master from the Du family in Wuqing, so I came to congratulate you. Miss Yi has grown up so fast. I still remember when she was little and cried for you to hold her…”

Du Jingqiu smiled awkwardly, knowing such words couldn’t be said in front of Madam. Even though Miss Yi was engaged, what did that have to do with her?

As Gu Yi grew older, she looked less and less like her, and her temperament had become very quiet. Looking at Gu Yi from a distance, she felt as if she hadn’t given birth to her. They barely spoke once every ten or fifteen days. Sometimes when she missed Gu Yi, she would secretly go to Yizhu Tower to see her.

“When I see Miss Yi, I think of Concubine Yun from back then. It’s strange how Miss Yi’s personality resembles Concubine Yun’s—similarly gentle and quiet…” Song Miaohua said while watching Du Jingqiu’s eyes.

Du Jingqiu smiled and lowered her eyes to look at the dried fruits Song Miaohua had brought. She finger-picked through them, selecting an almond to put in her mouth.

“You should remember, many years ago, how tragically Concubine Yun died. The child couldn’t be delivered for a day and a night. Finally, when the child was born, it had already been strangled by the umbilical cord, and Concubine Yun died from hemorrhaging. The master has been heartbroken for so many years and still hasn’t forgotten. Our Concubine Luo—if she didn’t look so much like Concubine Yun, how would the master have taken her in?”

Du Jingqiu smiled apologetically: “Of course, I remember, how could I forget?”

“You indeed shouldn’t forget,” Song Miaohua said indifferently. “If you forgot, I don’t know who else would remember. I know you feel very guilty. It’s been almost eight years, and you’ve been living in constant fear, not even daring to compete with me for favor…”

Du Jingqiu’s face turned pale as she stared at Song Miaohua.

“You’re very clever. Back then, your beauty was not inferior to mine. Besides Concubine Yun, weren’t you the one the master favored most?” Song Miaohua sighed. “So many years have passed, and you’re trapped in Tongruo Tower with no way out, no qualification or energy to compete for favor.”

Du Jingqiu clenched her hands, her lips trembling. After a long while, she finally said: “Concubine, why are you bringing this up…”

Song Miaohua looked at her sideways, then smiled and took her hand: “Don’t be nervous. I’m here to help you. Now that Gu Yi is engaged, and you’re thirty-four this year, just listen to me well, and I’ll ensure that you and Gu Yi can live peacefully in the Gu family. But if you don’t listen, then it’s hard to say what might happen.”

Du Jingqiu took a breath, the bitter taste of the almond gradually spreading.

“…What do you want me to do?”

Song Miaohua shook her head with a smile: “On the contrary, I just want you to do nothing. Leave everything to me.”