Concubine Du’s hands trembled slightly. After a long while, she finally asked with difficulty, “What does the Young Miss mean by this…”

Jin Chao took out the jade pomegranate from the brocade box, caressing its smooth jade texture as she said, “If Mother knew from the underworld that all these things were done by you, she certainly wouldn’t feel at ease. She treated you well for so many years and took care of Sister Yi wholeheartedly. Who would have thought that in the end, she would be framed by you and Concubine Song? Even in death, she couldn’t imagine that you would place the blame on her. I truly grieve for my mother.”

Concubine Du remained silent, tightly biting her lip, but her eyes had already reddened.

Jin Chao didn’t even look at her and continued, “I often heard mother say that one should harbor kind thoughts. Not only did she teach me this, but she also taught Sister Yi the same. Who would have known that such kindheartedness would lead to this outcome… Sister Yi has such a good nature. If she knew that you had done these things, she would certainly never acknowledge you again.” Jin Chao sighed as if regretful.

Concubine Du’s mind was in chaos. How did the Young Miss know about this? There was no need to investigate now!

She didn’t want Jin Chao to tell Yi about this. Yi already didn’t like her, and if she knew that she had harmed the Madam, Yi would certainly hate her. She only had this one daughter… Although she never called her “mother,” she was still her daughter!

If Jin Chao came to her about this matter instead of going directly to Gu De Zhao, it meant she probably didn’t have any evidence. She just wanted her to admit to this to clear the Madam’s name. But… could she admit to this?

She was caught in a dilemma!

Concubine Du looked at Jin Chao, her voice barely audible: “Young Miss, what exactly do you want to do…”

Jin Chao knew that Concubine Du had many concerns. If she didn’t give Concubine Du some assurance, how would she admit to this?

She exhaled deeply: “To be honest, yesterday a young maid came to tell me that Concubine Song had told Sister Lan about your matter, asking her to threaten you into helping her. Otherwise, how would I know? Does the Concubine want to be threatened by Concubine Song and Gu Lan for the rest of her life?”

Concubine Du’s face turned pale. Song Miao Hua had told Sister Lan about this!

“If she just threatens you to do some small favors, that’s one thing, but what if Concubine Song does something wrong and wants you to take the blame? What will you do then? Concubine is a wise person; I don’t need to say much.” Jin Chao paused, then continued, “If the Concubine admits to it, I will protect you before Father, and when Sister Yi gets married, I’ll give her two shops in Baodi. That way, when she goes to the Du family, she can speak and act with more confidence.”

Hearing this, Concubine Du was already wavering.

Just as Jin Chao said, she didn’t want to be threatened by Concubine Song at all! Moreover, her current day and night guilt was because of Ji’s matter…

After all, Ji had treated her well over the years, and this was how she repaid her.

Seeing that she remained silent, Jin Chao finally sighed: “Concubine, even if you don’t speak out, can you live well carrying the burden of three lives?”

Concubine Yun, the child in her womb, and Ji’s death—how could she not be carrying the burden of three lives?

Concubine Du collapsed onto the embroidered stool as if she had lost all strength and said in a low voice: “Actually… things weren’t like that back then…”

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, and she cried uncontrollably: “I never imagined that I would become the one who harmed others… I didn’t intend to harm Yun Xiang. At that time, she took away my favor, and though I didn’t like her in my heart, I didn’t harm her…”

“…That day, because of Concubine Yun, the master punished the Third Miss with confinement. When the Third Miss was released, she had become silent. I felt sorry for the Third Miss and began to hate Concubine Yun… One day when the maid wasn’t there, I went to the kitchen to see if her pregnancy soup medicine was ready… I saw two boxes of medicine. At that moment, I was bewitched… But I only switched one portion of the medicine! I never expected it to coincidentally result in the maid taking the wrong medicine… Yun Xiang took the medicine and went into premature labor, and unfortunately encountered a difficult delivery. The child was never born…”

Concubine Du continued: “Actually… I’ve been blaming myself all these years, and I often see Concubine Yun returning with her child to find me…”

She gazed vacantly at the sunlight outside the window as tears flowed, “I’ve been consoling myself that it wasn’t my fault, that Yun Xiang herself wasn’t fortunate enough!… But I still feel extremely guilty in my heart, and even when I see the master, I feel remorse… After all, she died because of me…”

Jin Chao listened silently. This matter was certainly not an accident. But Concubine Du was also pitiable. A usually cautious person suddenly made a small mistake, not expecting it to cause such a disaster, and she was completely changed because of it…

Concubine Du wiped her tears and said with a bitter smile: “Young Miss, I’m not truly evil. After doing these things, I’ve hated myself, and I haven’t slept well for over ten years… It’s good to be able to speak out. I’m willing to admit it, as long as you can protect the Third Miss in the future. I’ll be content with that.”

Jin Chao remained silent for a long time, then nodded: “Rest assured, I will protect Sister Yi. But there’s one more thing I want to ask Concubine Du… How did Concubine Song know about this?”

Concubine Du shook her head in bewilderment: “…I don’t know either… Before she falsely accused the Madam, she came to talk to me, telling me not to speak carelessly, or she would ruin the Third Miss’s marriage arrangement. I naturally didn’t dare to go against her…”

“You don’t know, Concubine Song is a person with an extremely vicious heart! She feels that she is a legitimate daughter, yet had to stoop to become a concubine. She has been suppressing these feelings for years… If you want to deal with her, make sure she can never rise again!…”

Jin Chao nodded and said: “…Rest assured, Concubine, I understand. When the time is right, I will tell you.”

Now wasn’t the time for the final blow… But it would be soon.

Jin Chao walked back to Qing Tong Court along a stone path covered with moss, with the shade of distant parasol trees like a canopy overhead. The sunlight was gentle, and the breeze quiet.

She looked at the nearby lake with willow branches drooping to the water’s surface. Her heart suddenly felt very peaceful.

Although her mother was dead, she still needed to avenge her. After all, she had been reborn, and being reborn meant living well. Heaven had given her this opportunity, and she wouldn’t waste it.

Two days later, when Gu Lan returned from offering incense, just as the carriage arrived at the entrance gate, a young maid ran to Qing Tong Court to report.

“…The Second Miss has brought Madam Song back and is now taking her to Lin Yan Pavilion.” After thinking for a moment, she continued, “As soon as Madam Song got off the carriage, she rewarded the drivers with two taels of silver, which made them all extremely happy!”

Qing Pu gave the young maid a box of pea pastries, and she went back happily.

Madam Tong smiled after hearing this and said to Jin Chao: “…Madam Song was originally the legitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant from Nanjing. Scholar Song came from a declining family and married Madam Song to avoid being hindered by wealth in his scholarly pursuits. After Madam Song entered the family, she gave birth to two daughters… Madam Song’s mother-in-law couldn’t stand it and stopped the personal maid’s medicine, which is how they had their eldest son. Later, when Madam Song became pregnant again, she gave birth to Concubine Song.”

“…Having never given birth to a son, her position was naturally unstable. Over the years, Scholar Song’s concubines were brought into the Song family one after another, and Madam Song didn’t dare say anything. Such a person fears being looked down upon the most. With no confidence inside, she puts on airs for everything she does…”

Jin Chao nodded and smiled. The carriage drivers were originally servants of the Gu family; Madam Song’s behavior was merely because she feared being looked down upon.

She then said: “…Go and find out how father is reacting.”

With Madam Song arriving at the Gu family so conspicuously, the father must know about it.

Madam Tong quickly returned and told Jin Chao: “…The master knows but didn’t say anything, only instructing that Madam Song be well taken care of.”

Jin Chao knew her father’s temperament. He didn’t want to publicize these family matters and didn’t want to discuss Ji’s affair with Madam Song, preferring to maintain appearances. Gu Lan truly understood her father, knowing he wouldn’t intervene, and specifically invited Madam Song over to show off.

Madam Tong continued: “…Just now, the young maid came to say that as soon as Madam Song went to Lin Yan Pavilion, she scolded all the maids and insisted that Cao Ying kneel outside for three hours. She complained that the screen in the Concubine’s room wasn’t good and had the attending servant woman change it. She’s causing quite a commotion!”

Jin Chao smiled and said: “I suppose Gu Lan hasn’t told her anything. She still thinks Concubine Song is the same as before and dares to be so imperious.”

Madam Tong hesitated for a moment, then asked softly: “Then what do you plan to do?”

Madam Song was only Concubine Song’s mother and didn’t hold any position in the Gu family. Acting this way in the Gu household was indeed too arrogant.

Moreover, when Madam Song came to visit the Gu family, regardless of anything else, she shouldn’t have gone to see Concubine Song first. What status did Concubine Song have? When female relatives came to visit, it wasn’t appropriate for Gu De Zhao to receive them, but she should have come to see Jin Chao first. However, Madam Song didn’t care at all.

If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain.

If she didn’t go to meet Madam Song and show her who was really in charge of the Gu family, it would seem too unreasonable.

“She has come from afar as a guest, so naturally, I should go pay my respects to the elder,” Jin Chao said with a smile.

It was already night, and with the cold dew of the evening, Cai Fu feared Jin Chao might catch a cold and helped her change into an autumn-colored plain satin cape.

Qing Pu selected a ram’s horn glass lantern. Cai Fu, Bai Yun, and Madam Xu followed behind Jin Chao as they headed to Lin Yan Pavilion.

Madam Xu said: “…Madam Song said she would stay in the east side room for the night and even had this servant change the bedding and pillows for new ones. She said she wasn’t used to the Hangzhou silk covers and had this servant find Lake Green Luzhou silk covers to replace them.”

Jin Chao found this even more amusing. Could it be that Madam Song truly believed that with Madam’s death, there was no one in charge of the Gu family?

She smiled and said: “So as not to appear stingy, if she makes any more such requests, just let her go to the storehouse herself! Whatever she can find there is what she gets. Let’s see if she has the nerve to use it.”

Madam Xu agreed, and the maids who heard this all smiled with pursed lips.