Gu Lan carried the welcoming pillow to see Concubine Song.

Concubine Song was lying on a red-lacquered ornately carved bed in the inner chamber, with a maid feeding her medicine with preserved fruits. Hearing that Gu Lan had arrived, Concubine Song was so delighted that she hurriedly had her maid welcome her in. She then had her sit on the edge of the bed, nestling intimately against her.

Gu Lan looked at Concubine Song for a long time, unable to hold back the warmth in her eyes: “I see that Stepmother has grown much thinner. Have you not been eating well? When I heard about your mysterious abdominal pain that day, I wanted to come to see you, but the courtyard guards wouldn’t let me in. Today I finally dared to come after receiving father’s letter…”

With Cao Ying and Huang Li nearby, Gu Lan naturally didn’t dare call Concubine Song “Mother.”

Concubine Song glanced at the two maids standing by the bed and instructed them lightly: “You two go watch outside first. I want to say a few words to Second Miss.”

Cao Ying and Huang Li exchanged glances. Madam Xu had instructed them not to leave Concubine Song’s side!

Gu Lan sneered: “You don’t even listen to Stepmother’s words? Are you asking for a beating?”

Huang Li quickly smiled: “Second Miss, please don’t be angry. We’ll go out now.” She put down the medicine bowl, pulled Cao Ying out of the inner chamber, and closed the door.

Cao Ying stared at the closed elm wood door, stomping her foot in frustration: “Doing this will get us scolded by Madam Xu. What will you do then?”

Huang Li pulled her hand: “…Don’t worry, there’s a small window in the inner chamber facing the western wing. It’s blocked by the ornate bed! Let’s go there to eavesdrop. They won’t discover us!” She led Cao Ying to the western wing. Parting the densely grown yellow locust shrubs, Cao Ying exclaimed in surprise.

“Huang Li, come look, there’s a small vat here. It’s placed so discreetly!”

Huang Li came over to look. It was a blue and white porcelain vat with twining branches, used for keeping fish, not the kind old women used for water. Inside was some dark brown liquid of unknown nature. Cao Ying leaned in to smell it and told Huang Li: “It’s medicine… The medicine we brew for her, I guess she doesn’t drink it and pours it all in here…”

Huang Li also looked and muttered: “These are all pregnancy-stabilizing medicines. Why doesn’t she drink them and secretly pour them out?”

Cao Ying remembered what Madam Xu had instructed her to do. Madam Xu had told her this was something no one should know about. She said to Huang Li: “Who knows? The stepmother was just pretending to be ill. Maybe she finds the medicine too bitter…” The two maids stopped talking and carefully opened the window, faintly seeing Second Miss sitting sideways on a brocade stool.

Gu Lan first had Mu Jin bring the welcoming pillow to Concubine Song and told her: “…Daughter got this from the supply office. Since you haven’t been sleeping well lately, this welcoming pillow is filled with many gentle sleep-inducing herbs that will help you sleep well.”

Ever since Lady Ji had hanged herself, Concubine Song hadn’t been sleeping soundly. After Lady Ji’s death, her life had been turned upside down, leaving her unable to cope.

Concubine Song held Gu Lan’s hand and said softly: “…It’s rare that you still remember these things. Mother also wants to tell you something… Mother isn’t ill at all. I just pretended to have abdominal pain so I could see you.”

Gu Lan was very surprised and was about to say something when Concubine Song quickly pressed down her hand and continued: “Those two maids are Gu Jin Chao’s people. Listen to me first. I’m afraid they might burst in later… Mother is trapped in Lin Yan Pavilion and can’t do anything. In a few days, you should visit the Song family under the pretext of offering incense to Buddha… Seek help from your maternal grandfather! Gu Jin Chao must have done something outside. I’m worried that after the child in my belly is born, I might truly be sent to a nunnery by Gu Jin Chao! If you find your maternal grandfather to support you, you won’t have to fear them…”

Gu Lan felt extremely distressed listening to this. She held Concubine Song’s hand and said: “Mother’s guess is correct. Gu Jin Chao found Yu Xiang, who used to serve you, and she revealed what you and I did before. That’s why it’s so difficult for me to see you now! Don’t worry, I’ll go find Grandfather soon.”

Only then did Concubine Song understand why Gu Dezhao was so cold toward her! Yu Xiang had betrayed her! After hearing this, Concubine Song’s expression changed slightly, and she murmured: “No… In that case, when you go find your grandfather, don’t mention my situation!”

Gu Lan was very confused: “What do you mean? Isn’t… isn’t the point to have him save you?”

Concubine Song’s hand trembled slightly as she told Gu Lan: “You don’t understand. Your grandfather is about to be promoted. If I got into trouble, he would negotiate with the Gu family to keep things quiet to protect me. But since Yu Xiang has revealed what we did before, the result might be the extreme opposite. He might force me to hang myself to protect his reputation…”

Hearing this, Gu Lan was also frightened. She wanted to ask Concubine Song if that was possible, how could her grandfather do such a thing. But then she thought, her grandfather had risen to the position of Deputy Director of the Imperial Sacrifices—how could he be indecisive! Not everyone had the Gu family, Ji family, and an honored teacher as backing as her father did.

She held her mother’s cold hand, comforting her: “Don’t worry, don’t overthink it. I’ll go speak with Grandfather, but I won’t mention your confinement. I’ll only talk about Lady Ji’s death and your pregnancy… When the time comes for you to give birth, we’ll invite Grandmother to see you, letting others know we have support. I’ll send her a string of one hundred and eight bodhi beads; she’ll surely be pleased! Once your child is born, things will turn around for us!”

After being comforted by her daughter, Concubine Song gradually calmed down.

The life in her belly was her only chance. As long as she could give birth, she was confident she could turn the tables.

What could Gu Jin Chao do then? She was just a daughter in mourning clothes!

She nodded and gave her daughter one final instruction: “…If you need help in the future, you can ask Concubine Du for assistance.”

Gu Lan was puzzled by this: “Concubine Du? She has always minded her own business. Why would you suggest she help us…”

Concubine Song smiled: “She has something to hide, and I know what it is. You just need to tell her that for Concubine Yun’s sake, she should help me, and she’ll understand… Although she’s only a concubine, she’s still half a mistress and can speak up for us.”

When Gu Lan heard Concubine Yun’s name, something stirred in her mind. Concubine Du’s secret involved Concubine Yun… What could it be? She had a vague guess but didn’t continue questioning her mother. Since her mother didn’t want her to know, she must have felt that knowing these things wouldn’t be good for her. She would simply not ask.

She removed the green and gold welcoming pillow from behind her mother and replaced it with the royal blue gold-threaded medicinal pillow. After tucking in the corners of her mother’s quilt, she picked up the medicine bowl placed to the side: “…The medicine has gone cold. Let me feed it to you, Mother.”

But Concubine Song turned her mouth away and explained to Gu Lan: “…Gu Jin Chao brought many doctors here, but none could diagnose any illness. The other day, someone from the Marquis of Chang Xing’s household came, someone who had treated the young master. He collided with Gu Jin Chao, claiming I was ill, and prescribed a bitter, astringent formula that I couldn’t swallow even with preserved fruits!”

When Gu Lan heard the Marquis of Chang Xing’s name, something stirred in her heart. “Mother, do you know about this Marquis of Chang Xing? He’s one of the most illustrious hereditary nobles. I’ve heard the Marquis’s sister is the Imperial Noble Consort to the current Emperor. The Marquis has fought on battlefields with brilliant military achievements. The heir of the Marquis of Chang Xing was granted his title early, receiving the Emperor’s special favor… How did Elder Sister manage to invite him over?”

Concubine Song shook her head: “Who knows how she connected with people from the Marquis of Chang Xing’s household… Speaking of which, isn’t the Fifth Madam of the Gu family the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Chang Xing? Perhaps Gu Jin Chao knows this person through the Fifth Madam. You must be careful not to let her establish connections with the Marquis of Chang Xing’s household!”

Gu Lan felt a pang of discomfort. She had only seen the heir of the Marquis of Chang Xing three times, and each time he had ignored her. With his noble status, everyone subtly tried to please him, and no one dared speak a word against him.

He had also come to pay respects when Lady Ji died. After offering incense, he stood to the side, his posture straight as a pine. He looked different from them—he didn’t need to exchange pleasantries with anyone; instead, others had to respectfully address him as “Young Master.”

Recalling this scene, Gu Lan felt something unusual in her heart. Such a figure… who could be worthy of him!

Concubine Song asked her to pour away the medicine: “…I’ve never dared drink the medicine they send. Go behind the bed; there’s a small window there. Pour it outside.”

Gu Lan came back to her senses, carrying the medicine bowl behind the bed to pour out the medicine. Cao Ying hurriedly pulled Huang Li to hide in the bushes. After hearing the medicine being poured out, the two maids emerged.

Exchanging a glance without speaking, Cao Ying and Huang Li quickly ran to find the Young Miss and related everything the two had said to Jin Chao.

After hearing this, Jin Chao was also somewhat surprised.

Concubine Du had something to hide that Concubine Song knew about—what could it be?

She had Qing Pu give each of the two maids a small package of amber candy. The maids accepted them joyfully and went back.

Madam Xu said quietly: “The concubine indeed doesn’t take her medicine. Young Miss should add the medicine to the white fungus soup. With the effect of the medicinal pillow, I’m afraid within half a month, that child won’t survive. But they plan to invite Madam Song to support them. I wonder what the Young Miss thinks…”

Jin Chao put down her brush and stared at the copied Buddhist scripture on her desk for a long time, then asked Madam Xu to put it away, to complete ninety-nine scrolls to burn for her mother. She didn’t address the matter of Madam Song first, but instead asked Madam Xu: “Has she worshipped the Guanyin statue that was placed in the main hall a few days ago?”

Madam Xu smiled: “She’s busy pretending to be ill and scolding maids all day. How would she have time to worship Buddha? The kneeling mat has gathered dust.”

Jin Chao sighed and continued: “Let’s not talk about Madam Song yet. If Gu Lan dares to invite Madam Song over, we also have our methods to deal with it. If she dares to have Madam Song back her, then we dare to make Madam Song lose face! If word gets out about what Concubine Song has done, the Song family wouldn’t dare protect her anymore. Even if she truly gives birth to an illegitimate son, it would be the same.”

Madam Xu was somewhat confused: “If you’re not concerned about Madam Song, what is Young Miss thinking about?”

Jin Chao frowned and said: “…This matter is complicated. Let me think about it.”