Jin Chao clenched her fists in anger!

Song Miaohua was truly going too far, trying to use this opportunity to frame her mother. How bold of her!

It was also her fault. She shouldn’t have hesitated due to insufficient evidence and should have confronted her father directly, to see if Song Miaohua could have gotten away with it!

Jin Chao was filled with both anger and self-reproach. She had underestimated Song Miaohua. Of course, her father’s misunderstanding of her mother was also unexpected. She knew her father had always been cold toward her mother, but she didn’t realize there was such deep resentment between them.

“That matter has passed, Young Miss need not be angry. I didn’t come for that reason,” Bi Yi paused, then continued, “Tonight, Concubine Song brought a woman in her thirties or forties to Ju Liu Pavilion. I found it suspicious at first glance. So I eavesdropped outside the door… You don’t know this, but that girl used to serve Concubine Yun…”

She recounted how Yu Ping had exposed Lady Ji.

After listening, Gu Jin Chao calmed down, but her heart grew increasingly cold.

“What was Father’s reaction after Yu Ping finished speaking?” Jin Chao asked Bi Yi.

Bi Yi thought for a moment before replying: “I couldn’t hear clearly, but it seemed the Master knocked over a tea set, smashing it on the floor. It startled me!”

Qing Pu, seeing Jin Chao’s terrible expression, asked softly: “Young Miss… what do you think about this matter…”

Jin Chao murmured: “…Father believed it.”

He believed it, which was why he was so angry. Jin Chao sat on the kang bed, her thoughts racing. Bi Yi said her father would confront her mother tomorrow. She could tell her mother about this first. If she waited for her father to question her directly, her mother would likely be even more upset.

But who was this maid called Yu Ping? Where had Song Miaohua found her? Why was she willing to expose her mother? And… according to Yu Ping’s account, Concubine Yun’s death wasn’t an accident—someone had deliberately caused it, and that person certainly couldn’t be her mother.

Jin Chao understood Lady Ji very well. How could she possibly harm a maid who had grown up with her?

If it wasn’t her mother, then who was it?

Who would have wanted to kill Concubine Yun at that time?

Regardless, she needed to find this maid called Yu Ping.

These matters were too much for her to handle alone, and she didn’t know the details of Concubine Yun’s situation back then. She needed to consult with Madam Xu!

Having made up her mind, Jin Chao first sent Bi Yi back to Ju Liu Pavilion so as not to alarm anyone. She then had Cai Fu and Bai Yun guard the side gate to prevent Concubine Song from sending anyone out during the night. Afterward, she took Qing Pu and went to her mother’s quarters.

Her mother had already retired for the night. Madam Xu was sleeping on a small couch behind the inner chamber screen, keeping a night watch. Hearing the knock, she got dressed and opened the door, only to find Gu Jin Chao standing outside, fully dressed. She lowered her voice and asked, “Young Miss, it’s so late…”

“Madam Xu, it is late indeed, and I wouldn’t come if it weren’t urgent,” Jin Chao said calmly. “Please find Xue Shiliu now and guard the side gate. If anyone tries to leave, stop them. If you discover a strange woman in her thirties or forties, bring her here immediately!” She feared Cai Fu and Bai Yun might not be able to stop them. If Yu Ping was problematic, Song Miaohua would certainly try to send her away first to avoid being exposed during a confrontation the next day.

Madam Xu was stunned. What was the Young Miss saying?

Having estate guards block their side gate to capture someone—was this something a young lady of the inner chambers should be doing?

“Young Miss, what are you…” Madam Xu wanted clarity.

Jin Chao nodded to Qing Pu: “Go with Madam Xu to find the guards and explain everything on the way. Please hurry, I fear the person might already be leaving.”

Seeing Jin Chao’s seriousness, Madam Xu quickly put on her clothes and left with Qing Pu to find Xue Shiliu.

Jin Chao took a deep breath, pushed open the latticed door, and entered the inner chamber.

Lady Ji was asleep, her emaciated face resting on a brocade pillow filled with cassia seeds. Her sleep was very restless, constantly murmuring, though Jin Chao couldn’t make out what she was saying. Her mother rarely got a good night’s sleep.

Jin Chao didn’t want to wake Lady Ji.

But her mother needed to know about this matter; she needed to think about how to respond to her father’s questioning tomorrow.

She still woke Lady Ji up. She had barely tapped Lady Ji’s shoulder when her eyes opened. Her eyeballs rolled for a moment before she saw Jin Chao and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she pulled Jin Chao into her arms: “Why has my Chao girl come to me in my dreams…”

Gu Jin Chao smelled the faint scent of medicine on her mother’s body and couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart.

“Mother, it’s me coming to find you. Let me help you sit up; I have important matters to discuss with you.” Jin Chao brought over a large pillow, helped her mother lean back comfortably, tucked in the big red gold-patterned silk quilt, and sat on the edge of the bed, speaking slowly, “Listen to me but don’t get upset. There’s nothing worth getting upset about.”

Lady Ji nodded with a smile: “You’re talking to me as if I were a child…”

Jin Chao couldn’t smile at all. Holding her mother’s hand, she said: “Today… it should be past midnight now, so it was yesterday’s matter. Concubine Song found Concubine Yun’s former maid, the one called Yu Ping. Do you remember her?”

Lady Ji sighed: “I remember. At that time, Concubine Yun died in childbirth, and the medicine-brewing maid Cui Ping was beaten to death, while Yu Ping was released from the household. I felt sorry for Cui Ping then and wanted to plead for her, but your father refused to forgive her. How is Yu Ping doing now?”

Jin Chao nodded: “She’s fine, but she came this time to talk about Concubine Yun’s death… Concubine Yun died from early labor and difficult childbirth after mistakenly consuming labor-inducing medicine. But Yu Ping says the medicine couldn’t have been mixed up; someone deliberately switched it. Not many people entered Concubine Yun’s small kitchen at that time, and she suspects that you switched the medicine. Father seems to have believed her and will come to question you tomorrow. Mother, think carefully—besides you, did anyone else go to Concubine Yun’s small kitchen? Could someone else have switched the medicine?”

Lady Ji was stunned for a long time after hearing this. She seemed unable to react or perhaps was lost in thought.

Jin Chao couldn’t help but squeeze her hand. Lady Ji then shook her head: “That small kitchen was beside the back room of Concubine Yun’s courtyard. Apart from me and two maids, not even the rough-work women could enter.”

Jin Chao continued: “What Yu Ping says may not be trustworthy. She might have switched the medicine herself and is now trying to blame you. When Father comes to question you tomorrow, can you say this? The main thing is not to admit to anything. This matter is strange and suspicious. Even how Concubine Song found Yu Ping is worth pondering, but I can’t find any clues for now. You must stay calm when talking to Father tomorrow and not get upset… What do you think?”

Lady Ji nodded, then smiled: “I understand. You’re so young, yet you’re teaching your mother. Your mother knows what to do.”

If Mother could think this way, that was good. Jin Chao felt somewhat relieved.

Outside came a commotion. Jin Chao got up and walked toward the door, only to see Qing Pu grabbing a woman’s collar, while Xue Shiliu and another guard twisted the arms of two maids as they approached. Madam Xu stood nearby with an ashen face and said quietly: “…Young Miss, it’s exactly as you predicted.”

It turned out that Concubine Song, fearing delays, wanted to quickly send Yu Ping away. Two rough-work maids from Concubine Song’s quarters were escorting this woman out of the estate when they encountered Cai Fu and Bai Yun blocking the side gate. These two maids were strong, and Cai Fu and Bai Yun were struggling when Madam Xu and Qing Pu arrived with Xue Shiliu.

How could the two maids overpower Guard Xue? They were immediately twisted and brought over.

“Young Miss, what should we do with these people?” Xue Shiliu asked Jin Chao, now having some respect for her.

Jin Chao smiled: “Bind these two maids and throw them in the earroom. Bring Yu Ping to the east side room; I’ll question her.” She then turned to Madam Xu and said, “Mother is awake. She probably won’t sleep tonight. Please comfort her well.”

Madam Xu nodded: “Young Miss, please rest assured, I understand!”

Having heard about this matter, she was also extremely angry and shocked. Who would have thought… Concubine Song would dare to frame the Madam like this! As a mere concubine, she was too arrogant!

Yu Ping sobbed as Qing Pu pushed her into the east side room. Her hair was disheveled, and she knelt on the oak floor, trembling all over.

Qing Pu stood beside Yu Ping, her fingers twitching slightly. If Yu Ping dared to turn and run, she would immediately press her to the ground!

Jin Chao sat in the master’s chair, silently examining Yu Ping for a long time without speaking.

Based on her age, she should only be thirty, yet she looked so aged. She cowered before her, not even daring to raise her head. Her life must have been very difficult in recent years. Jin Chao softened her voice and said: “You needn’t be afraid. I should have met you when I was little. I am the Eldest Young Miss of the Gu family. Were you truly a maid who served Concubine Yun?”

Yu Ping was extremely fearful. What she had told Gu De Zhao was true; at most, Concubine Song had only instructed her to sound more certain. Concubine Song feared she might contradict herself when confronted with others the next day, so she wanted to send her away that night. When Cai Fu and Bai Yun intercepted her, she was already terrified.

Then she was escorted here by a maid with an extremely strong grip. She only heard the people around talking but didn’t dare to look.

The Eldest Young Miss of the Gu family? That would be the girl the Madam had taken to Tongzhou! Yu Ping raised her head to look and discovered a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl sitting before her. She wore a dark red embroidered jacket with an eight-panel moonlight-white skirt, her hair in a simple hanging bun and small bun style, with only red coral beads in her earlobes. Though not elaborately dressed, her beauty was striking, and she exuded nobility.

Yu Ping said softly: “Greetings, Young Miss. Yes… I used to serve Concubine Yun.”

Jin Chao paused, then said: “I heard that you exposed Concubine Yun’s death, saying my mother poisoned her. Is that true, or… was it a lie Concubine Song instructed you to tell?”

Yu Ping hurriedly shook her head: “I’m telling the truth! It wasn’t Concubine Song’s instruction. I just felt this matter might not be entirely certain… but it was very likely the Madam who switched the medicine!”

Gu Jin Chao’s voice grew cold: “If you’re not telling the truth, the maid beside you won’t let you off easily.”

Yu Ping was so frightened that she kept kowtowing: “No matter how miserable my life is, I would never falsely accuse someone!”

Seeing Yu Ping’s stubbornness, Qing Pu walked to Jin Chao’s side and said: “I think we should torture her a bit. She looks weak, but who knew she would be so stubborn? Such people won’t talk unless they suffer…”

Qing Pu’s words were deliberately spoken for Yu Ping to hear.