In the evening, Madam Xu brought the mourning letter to the Gu family in Daxing.
After meeting with Madam Xu, the Second Mistress went to find the Old Madam.
The Old Madam was on her arhat bed, being served a bowl of gastrodia and duck soup by a matron.
After hearing the Second Mistress’s words, she sighed: “Back then, Fourth Brother insisted on marrying her, even willing to break ties with us. Now she has already passed away… Who sent someone to invite you?”
Back then, the Ji family’s wealth and influence were far less than today’s, and they were merchants. The Gu family had been scholars for generations—how could they possibly agree to a marriage with the Ji family? Even now, when no one in Yanjing dared to look down on the Ji family, these scholarly families still disdained them.
The Second Mistress respectfully answered: “It was Miss Zhao. She asked me to oversee the funeral arrangements.”
The Old Madam asked: “Why would they ask you to go? Don’t they have a legitimate daughter of the Minor Court Official from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices serving as a concubine there?”
The Second Mistress thought for a moment before saying: “Daughter-in-law suspects that Lady Ji’s death is related to this concubine, who probably cannot take charge now…”
The Old Madam pondered for a long time before saying: “It’s not convenient for me to go, so it’s good that you’re going. Go tell Fifth Brother and his wife as well, and have them pay their respects too… After so many years of grievances, it’s time to resolve them.”
The Second Mistress agreed and went to the Fifth Mistress’s courtyard. After hearing the news, the Fifth Mistress thought for a moment, then went to find the Fifth Master in his study.
Ye Xian was sitting in Fifth Master Gu’s study watching him carve walnuts with a small half-pointed knife that Fifth Master Gu wielded with skill and ease.
Ye Xian sat at the desk watching for a long while before suddenly saying: “Brother-in-law, that knife isn’t very good to use like that.”
Fifth Master Gu’s walnut carving was exceptional—he could carve scenes like Su Dongpo boating, with the couplet “Mountains high, moon small; water recedes, rocks emerge” clearly visible on the boat. This knife was his favorite. He raised his eyebrows and asked: “If it’s not good this way, how would you change it?”
Ye Xian extended two pale fingers and measured a length: “The blade should have an arc like this, making it easier to apply force. It would be best for killing people—if the tip were a bit longer, once it enters the bone, the momentum can’t be stopped, and it could cut a person in half.”
Fifth Master Gu’s hair stood on end as he listened: “How do you know this?”
Ye Xian answered: “One of the instructors who taught me had a friend who enjoyed weapons. He’s now a Commander of a Thousand in Sichuan.”
Fifth Master Gu knew that Ye Xian had some subordinates who were inexplicably mysterious.
For example, one of the guards who followed Ye Xian always carried a strange crossbow at his waist. Once, when he wanted to take a look at it, the man laughed roughly and said to him: “Fifth Master, please don’t touch it. You don’t know how to use it—be careful or it might turn you into a sieve.”
Fifth Master Gu couldn’t help but think to himself: you carry it every day, yet I’ve never seen it turn you into a sieve.
Later, he once saw Ye Xian disassembling the thing. Inside were countless steel needles, about four inches long, arranged in rows and gleaming coldly. Ye Xian was repairing it and shot through an elm tree as thick as a bowl in front of his main hall… After that, he never touched anything belonging to Ye Xian or his subordinates again.
Ye Xian seemed to have a special talent for these things. But then again, he was extraordinarily intelligent in everything he did—so intelligent it was almost frightening.
Just as Fifth Master Gu didn’t know what to say, he saw his wife approaching with her maid. He quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and went to meet her, saying: “Be careful with your health!”
Fifth Master Gu’s eldest son, Gu Jinxian, was already fifteen now. In recent years, the Fifth Mistress had shown no signs of pregnancy, making him anxious. Only two months ago, the Fifth Mistress was diagnosed with a pregnancy, bringing great joy to the entire Gu family. The Gu family was large and prosperous but had few descendants, so adding one or two grandchildren would naturally be good.
Ye Xian, however, disapproved. His sister was now over thirty and had always been delicate—how could she still be suitable for childbearing?
He looked at his sister’s unborn nephew with furrowed brows, appearing quite displeased.
Ye Shi didn’t mind; this was just Ye Xian’s temperament. He used to dislike Gu Jinxian too!
Ignoring Ye Xian, Ye Shi took Fifth Master Gu’s hand and told him: “…This evening, someone from the Gu family in Shian County came to say that Fourth Sister-in-law has passed away. Mother heard this and instructed us all to pay our respects, except for the Second Brother who was busy with official duties. Everyone else must go. Let’s tell Xian and bring him along. Fourth Brother’s family needs a nephew to help with the funeral arrangements…”
Fifth Master Gu’s expression became solemn: “She had been ill for half a year. When Second Sister-in-law returned last time, didn’t she say everything was fine and the illness hadn’t worsened? How did she suddenly pass away…”
The Fifth Mistress said softly: “…It seems she hanged herself. The entire Gu household is shocked.”
As the couple was talking, they heard Ye Xian’s voice: “Gu Jinchao’s mother… died?”
Ye Shi noticed that his expression was strange and patted his head: “What do you mean by Gu Jinchao… don’t you know about taboos? How dare you directly call a young lady by her name? You should call her niece!”
Ye Xian twisted his mouth: “What’s the big deal? She doesn’t call me Uncle either.”
Ye Shi turned away, not bothering with him anymore. She continued discussing with her husband about traveling to Shian County—how many carriages they would need and who would go.
Ye Xian, listening on the side, said: “I want to go too. Reserve a seat for me.”
The Fifth Mistress was truly annoyed with him: “What are you going for?!”
But Ye Xian didn’t explain to her, only saying: “Just reserve a seat for me. I still have a few characters to copy, so I’m going back first.” His maternal grandfather now wanted to train his patience by having him practice ten sheets of small seal script on jade-white paper daily. Once he started writing, he couldn’t stop—he needed to concentrate fully, otherwise the ink would easily blur.
The Fifth Mistress nodded in agreement. After finalizing arrangements with her husband and discussing overnight with the Second Mistress, they set off for Shian County with the ancestral family members.
……
Gu Jinrong knelt before Lady Ji’s coffin, burning paper offerings for her. He had been silently crying for an hour, his eyes swollen like walnuts. Yet he made no sound at all. The mourning hall was so quiet that he was trembling from suppressing his emotions.
The flickering flames in the fire basin, the floating ashes of the burnt paper money—the entire room filled with the heavy scent of sandalwood.
Jinchao felt somewhat tired. She stood up, intending to go outside for a walk.
Seeing Jinchao rise, Gu Jinrong immediately grabbed her hand, but noticing Jinchao’s indifferent gaze, he feared his elder sister’s contempt. He withdrew his hand slightly but still clutched tightly at Jinchao’s sleeve, murmuring: “Elder Sister…”
Jinchao looked at him expressionlessly: “…Let go.”
At her words, Gu Jinrong quickly released his grip. Jinchao then walked outside, where plain white paper lanterns hung from the eaves. The sky was pitch black, and as she stood alone under the covered walkway, she didn’t know where to go.
Gu Jinrong quickly followed her out. Jinchao didn’t want to see him at all and turned to walk toward the winding corridor. Gu Jinrong kept following behind her like a tail that couldn’t be shaken off. Jinchao finally stopped, and Gu Jinrong hurriedly approached, his gaze both sorrowful and pitiful.
“Elder Sister, I… I know you hate me, and I hate myself too! I hate how I so easily believed Gu Lan’s words, and I hate that I caused Mother’s death!” Gu Jinrong said, starting to cry again. “I blame myself so much that I wish I could strangle myself! But… Elder Sister, from now on I only have you left. Mother is gone. Could you… could you hate me a little less… I want to make amends properly, I…”
He felt he should make some promise, or express how much he now resented Gu Lan. But his incoherent words couldn’t articulate anything clearly. He felt very alone now—without Gu Lan and his mother. At the same time, he blamed himself so much that he wished he could die… He thought about what he could do to regain his elder sister’s trust and atone for his mother’s death.
Jinchao looked at her brother and sighed. If only he had awakened sooner.
“What’s the use of hating you? I only pity your misfortune and am angry at your weakness. Brother Rong, if you truly understand my meaning, you’ll know what to do,” Jinchao told him. “You don’t need to say anything to me; you know it all in your heart.”
Gu Jinrong was stunned, standing motionless. Jinchao continued walking along the corridor until she reached the main entrance of Xiexiao Courtyard, where Qingpu was already waiting for her. Qingpu informed her that the Gu family from Daxing had sent people overnight. Besides the Second Mistress, the Fifth Mistress and Fifth Master Gu had also come, along with Gu Jinxian, Gu Jinxiao, and the heir of the Marquis of Changxing.
However, Gu Dezhao had already met them in the reception hall, expressed his gratitude, and the Second Mistress had begun preparing for Lady Ji’s funeral arrangements. Besides the initial preparation of the body, there was still the formal encoffining, burial, and other matters to attend to. Someone was also sent to the Taoist temple to invite Taoist Chen. The others had all gone to pay respects at Lady Ji’s coffin.
Jinchao thought for a moment, then went to the funeral arrangement room to assist the Second Mistress.
After arranging everything, dawn had broken, and Gu Dezhao was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open, yet he refused to leave Xiexiao Courtyard. When he stood up, he nearly stumbled and fell to the ground. The steward Li tried to persuade him to rest, but he wouldn’t listen, so Li hurriedly sent a maid to find Gu Jinchao, who was talking with the Second Mistress.
Jinchao was quite annoyed and came over, saying to Steward Li on the side: “If he’s unwilling, knock him out and drag him back!”
Gu Dezhao sat on a wooden stool, his spirit nearly exhausted: “Daughter Zhao, you don’t need to worry about me…”
Jinchao smiled and said: “I’m not worried about you. You just feel too guilty about Mother’s death and want to atone this way. In my view, this is extremely self-indulgent and irresponsible. Who do you want to see you fall ill? Me? Mother? Or the guests who have come?”
After hearing this, Gu Dezhao remained silent for a long time, unable to say anything. After a while, he finally got up and returned to Juliu Pavilion.
Jinchao breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the funeral arrangement room to discuss with the Second Mistress how to handle her mother’s coffin. It was difficult to find a suitable coffin on such short notice; they could only buy a pre-made one from the paper-offerings shop, but the quality would inevitably be less than ideal. The Second Mistress then said: “…When we left, your grandmother instructed that if there was no suitable coffin, her own could be borrowed.”
Grandmother had finally put aside her grudge against Mother, after all, the person was gone. Thinking of this, Jinchao couldn’t help but sigh.
The Second Mistress saw that Gu Jinchao hadn’t closed her eyes for a day and a night, yet showed no sign of fatigue. Apart from her eyes being red and swollen from crying, she appeared extraordinarily strong. She was even helping to manage these complicated matters, showing considerable proficiency.
She then thought of Gu Jinrong crying at Lady Ji’s coffin, and her gaze toward Jinchao couldn’t help but contain some sympathy and admiration.
Who was superior and who was inferior—it was clear at a glance.