Jin Chao instructed Cai Fu to light a pot of mint incense. As the cool fragrance gradually spread, her fingers lightly tapped on her desk.
Madam Xu dismissed the other maids. She helped Jin Chao light another lamp and opened the brocade box containing the sutras Jin Chao had copied, arranging them one by one.
Jin Chao’s gaze fell on those sutras she had transcribed, and she suddenly asked, “Madam Xu, was Concubine Du originally a Buddhist believer?”
Madam Xu put down the brocade box and answered her, “This servant doesn’t remember clearly, but although Concubine Du wore gold and silver ornaments, her left hand always carried a string of old sandalwood prayer beads. In her early years, she was the master’s maid who followed him from the ancestral home. She was illiterate. As a personal maid, she certainly wouldn’t have been a believer…”
Jin Chao thought for a moment, then asked, “I remember returning to the Gu family when I was five years old. At that time, Concubine Song hadn’t yet gained favor. It seemed Concubine Du was father’s favorite, and mother even rewarded her with a carved Hetian jade pomegranate, symbolizing many children and blessings.”
Madam Xu nodded and said, “Concubine Du was originally the most favored, but after Concubine Yun’s death, she seemed to gradually lose interest in competing for favor.”
Jin Chao became even more certain in her heart. Concubine Song said she had leverage over Concubine Du, and this leverage involved Concubine Yun. If she could use this to threaten Concubine Du, it must not be anything good. Concubine Yun had been dead for so long, what could it possibly be?
…It could only be related to Concubine Yun’s death!
She had considered this question before. If her mother wasn’t the one who harmed Concubine Yun, and Concubine Yun didn’t die accidentally, then the most likely culprits were the other concubines! She had previously suspected Concubine Song, after all, she only gained favor after Concubine Yun’s death… but she hadn’t considered the sycophantic Concubine Du.
Jin Chao suddenly remembered that during her mother’s seventh-day memorial, Concubine Du had fainted several times while mourning. She wasn’t usually like that—could it be that her extreme emotion was due to guilt? She had harmed someone, yet the blame had been placed on the Madam! She must have felt guilty.
But why would Concubine Du harm Concubine Yun?
Jin Chao thought for a moment, then asked Madam Xu, “…Did Concubine Du and Concubine Yun have any grudges before?”
Madam Xu was taken aback, wondering why the Young Miss was suddenly so interested in Concubine Du’s affairs. She suddenly recalled what the maid had relayed earlier: “…Concubine Song said she had leverage over Concubine Du, something related to Concubine Yun, and told the Second Miss she could seek help from Concubine Du if needed.”
Could it be that the Young Miss was thinking…
Her heart trembled, and she hurriedly tried to recall: “…Among the three original concubines, Concubine Du was the most favored. Later, the Madam brought in Concubine Yun for the Master. To say Concubine Du wasn’t upset would be impossible, but even so, she couldn’t have done anything outrageous… However, now that you mention it, I do recall something.”
Jin Chao looked at Madam Xu, gesturing for her to continue.
Madam Xu said, “Though the Third Miss now has a gentle and cold temperament, she was quite lively as a child. She liked to climb around in the Madam’s room. One day, she hid in a cabinet while playing and almost suffocated. At that time, you weren’t by the Madam’s side, and the Madam treated the Third Miss as well as she treated you… When Concubine Yun was six months pregnant, she came to chat with the Madam one day. The Third Miss was playing kickball with a maid in the room and accidentally kicked Concubine Yun’s belly…”
“…Concubine Yun immediately felt extreme pain. When the Master heard, he quickly found a doctor to examine her. The child in her womb was fine. However, the Master punished the Third Miss by confining her in the side room for two days. The side room was very dark, and the Third Miss was terrified, crying constantly. Even though the Madam was anxious, she didn’t dare defy the Master’s order to release the Third Miss. When they finally carried the Third Miss out, she had developed a high fever from fear, and after she recovered, she rarely spoke…”
So there was such an incident!
Jin Chao pondered this for a long time after hearing it.
No mother doesn’t love her child. Because of what happened to Gu Yi, it was possible that Concubine Du would want to harm Concubine Yun.
Concubine Song knew that Concubine Du had harmed Concubine Yun and even used this as leverage to threaten her. Yet she knowingly found Yu Ping to falsely accuse the Madam, leading to her suicide. She was truly malicious to the extreme!
Jin Chao wanted to clear her mother’s name. Her mother was already dead; she shouldn’t continue to bear the reputation of being jealous.
Jin Chao remained silent for a long time. But all this was just speculation—she had no evidence to prove it.
Would Concubine Du admit to this? She wasn’t stupid; admitting to such a thing would be self-destructive.
…She needed to find a way to make Concubine Du confess.
After thinking for a long time, Jin Chao finally told Madam Xu, “…Go to the Jade Stone Residence and have them carve a Hetian jade pomegranate, one with exposed seeds, about the size of a fist would be best.”
Madam Xu knew this matter was important and personally left the estate to arrange it.
Jin Chao spent her days in Qing Tong Court, either doing needlework or writing. Not only did she make pillow cores, but she also made a lake-green plain satin hand warmer cover and a pale yellow persimmon-patterned skirt for herself. She hadn’t visited the Lin Yan Pavilion at all. Concubine Song was now pregnant, so it was better to avoid her.
After inviting Physician Xiao to treat her, Concubine Song calmed down considerably and no longer complained of stomach pain. Perhaps she feared Jin Chao might think of other ways to deal with her, or maybe she was waiting for Madam Song to come and support them, mother and daughter.
Two days later, Gu Lan indeed told her father that she wanted to visit Guang Ci Temple. She said she not only wanted to mourn for Madam Ji but was also concerned about the child in Concubine Song’s womb. The concubine’s pregnancy hadn’t been smooth, and she wanted to pray to the Buddha for blessings. Gu De Zhao naturally agreed and sent a group of maids and servants to accompany her.
After Gu Lan had been out for half a day, a servant secretly reported that they hadn’t taken the road to Guang Ci Temple but had gone along the official road toward Daxing County.
Jin Chao nodded to show that she understood and said, “…Just keep watching.”
When Madam Xu returned with a dark sandalwood brocade box, news had just arrived from Lin Yan Pavilion.
Madam Xu opened the brocade box, and Jin Chao picked up the jade pomegranate to examine it. The jade was smooth and warm, with exquisite craftsmanship—a rare and excellent piece. After putting down the jade pomegranate, she told Madam Xu, “Today, Cao Ying came to report that the Concubine has been sleeping restlessly lately, waking up startled in the middle of the night. Her appetite has also decreased, and she feels tired all day.” Jin Chao knew that the medicine was taking effect. After a pause, she continued indifferently, “Please see that the Concubine’s health is properly supplemented. Add more to whatever she eats daily. We can’t let the Concubine complain of any discomfort again…”
Madam Xu naturally understood Jin Chao’s meaning and agreed to go.
Jin Chao took the jade pomegranate to Tong Ruo Tower to see Concubine Du.
Jin Chao’s guess wasn’t wrong. After Ji’s death, Concubine Du had been feeling very guilty. Knowing that Ji had committed suicide because she was wrongfully accused, she had been deeply shocked at the time… She hadn’t expected Ji to be so resolute! After Ji’s burial, she remained unsettled, reciting scriptures daily and offering incense to Buddha every day, which made her feel somewhat better.
With this burden on her mind, in just a month, she had lost a lot of weight.
When the maid came to announce that the Young Miss had arrived, she was still reciting Buddhist prayers, hoping that Ji would achieve rebirth soon… after all, Ji had died because of her.
She asked to meet Jin Chao in the west side room and had a maid serve a cup of tea with preserved oranges.
Jin Chao glanced at Concubine Du, whose prayer beads in her left hand were hidden under her sleeve, and her pale fingers unconsciously curled. Concubine Du wasn’t wearing gold or silver ornaments, nor was her face powdered or rouged, which made her look more delicate.
…Even in old age, she had such beauty; no wonder she had been favored in those years.
Jin Chao smiled and asked Qing Pu to hand her the brocade box, which she opened to show Concubine Du: “…A few days ago while sorting through mother’s private storehouse, I found a lifelike jade pomegranate and brought it for Concubine. I remember when I was young, my mother also gave me a jade pomegranate. I wonder if they’re a matching pair.”
After hearing this, Concubine Du smiled and hesitated before taking the brocade box from Jin Chao’s hand. After looking at it, she said, “It’s indeed beautifully carved. Whether it’s a matching pair, I dare not say, but it’s certainly very similar. It’s thoughtful of the Young Miss. The Madam treated me very well in those years. The jade pomegranate she gave me had a warm, smooth texture. Even after all these years, I still keep it in my room…”
Jin Chao took a sip of the preserved orange tea but found the sweetness unbearable. After putting it down, she continued with a smile, “I remember Mother was also particularly good to Sister Yi. When I returned from the Ji family as a child, I was envious! Before Mother died, she arranged a marriage for Sister Yi and asked me to look after her, saying that Sister Yi should help manage the inner courtyard… Her treatment was no less than what she showed me.”
Concubine Du smiled. She was indeed grateful that Ji had arranged a marriage for Gu Yi with the Wu Qing Gu family.
Jin Chao continued, “…I was thinking of giving her some items from my mother’s dowry when Sister Yi gets married. Although all the concubines’ daughters appear to be treated similarly, you know that father favors Sister Lan the most, so Sister Yi and Sister Xi inevitably receive less… I’ll help Sister Yi add to her trousseau so that others won’t mistreat her when she goes to the Du family. What does Concubine think?”
Having Jin Chao add to Gu Yi’s trousseau would certainly include valuable items! Concubine Du was very happy for Gu Yi, but she didn’t understand why the Young Miss was telling her all this. If she wanted to establish a good relationship with her, why would the Young Miss bother with a concubine who had lost favor?
She thought for a moment and said, “The Third Miss is blessed to have the Young Miss helping her!”
Jin Chao smiled slightly, “Speaking of which, I also feel sorry for Sister Yi. I heard from Madam Xu that when Sister Yi was young, their father confined her, and when she was released, she developed a high fever. Since then, she hasn’t been as lively as before. It seems she had accidentally kicked Concubine Yun’s belly, almost harming her child… Does the Concubine still remember?”
Jin Chao watched Concubine Du carefully. After hearing these words, Concubine Du’s expression tensed, and her face grew paler.
“I don’t remember too clearly…” she forced a smile.
Jin Chao withdrew her gaze and softly asked, “If you can’t remember such an important matter, then surely you wouldn’t remember switching Concubine Yun’s medicine…”
Upon hearing Jin Chao’s last sentence, Concubine Du was so shocked that she nearly jumped up from her embroidered stool!