Gu Dezhao was confused. The death of Lady Ji… could there be some inside story?

Jin Chao sighed and said: “I originally didn’t know about this matter either. It was only yesterday that Concubine Du came to find me and told me personally. The concubine has had a difficult life these years, feeling regretful and guilty for so many years. When Father hears what Concubine Du has to say, please don’t solely blame her…”

What exactly had Concubine Du done that required his sister to ask for his forgiveness before speaking?

Gu Dezhao nodded and said: “What exactly is this about? Tell me first. Since it’s something from many years ago, it can be forgiven.”

Gu Jinchao smiled slightly, “That’s good then. Concubine Du is waiting outside. It would be best if she tells you herself.”

She walked out of the study and saw Concubine Du standing by the corridor pillar, her fingers twisted together, head lowered as she stared at the candlelight spilling onto the ground.

Seeing Gu Jinchao come out, she looked up blankly. After a while, she finally smiled and said: “Young Miss, should I go in now…”

Jinchao nodded silently. Concubine Du took a deep breath and stepped into the study.

Gu Jinchao had Qingpu close the study door, while a young maid brought over a stool. She sat in the corridor looking at the night sky. The study was quiet; no sound could be heard as if everything was peaceful.

…After a long time, Gu Dezhao finally heard himself ask hoarsely: “…You killed Yunxiang?”

Du Jingqiu knelt straight on the ground, her expression very calm. Having confessed everything, her heart felt lighter. She looked at the brush resting on the brush holder and said word by word: “Yes. If the master hates me and wants to give me death now, I have no complaints.”

Gu Dezhao said coldly: “Jinchao has already pleaded for you, would I let you die?” He drew in a sharp breath of anger, “You harmed Yunxiang, you harmed her, watched with your own eyes as she miscarried and died, saw the maid beaten to death… Ji was wrongly accused, and you didn’t say a word. Xiangjun treated you so well…”

His voice trembled slightly: “It’s not just that you did wrong, do you know how many mistakes your silence caused me to make? Several people died innocently because of you—I forced them to die, but if it weren’t for you… would they have died?”

He hated Concubine Du, not only because she harmed Yunxiang, but because she had made him carry so many years of wrongdoing! Because of Concubine Yun’s death, he had indirectly caused Lady Ji’s death. If Concubine Du had spoken up at the time, Lady Ji wouldn’t have died like that…

Du Jingqiu smiled sadly: “Does the master truly think I am such an ungrateful person? You don’t know that Concubine Song came to find me before falsely accusing the mistress. She knew I was the one who killed Concubine Yun and told me not to say anything… otherwise, she would ruin Miss Yi’s marriage! Master, how could I dare to stand against Concubine Song?”

Gu Dezhao looked at Du Jingqiu in disbelief: “…Are you saying… Concubine Song knew you harmed Yunxiang, and still found Yuping to falsely accuse Xiangjun?”

Du Jingqiu nodded and said: “Master, you don’t know that Concubine Song entered our household as a concubine despite her status as a legitimate daughter. How could her heart be at peace? She wanted to do everything possible to become the main wife. One thing after another… Master, think carefully, doesn’t Concubine Song deserve death!”

When she said the last sentence, her voice suddenly lowered, but it seemed to come through clenched teeth.

Gu Dezhao was stunned for a long time.

Lady Song had come to him today saying that although Concubine Song was wrong, it would be unreasonable to blame her entirely. Gu Dezhao knew he was at fault; Lady Ji’s death was mostly his mistake. But now looking at it, it was just as his daughter Lan had said. Concubine Song was truly a venomous woman! She would do anything for the position of main wife, and she even called Lady Song over to persuade him, wanting him to take all the blame. Did she think he was a fool?

Gu Dezhao was furious. He took a deep breath, not even looking at Concubine Du, opened the study door, and loudly called for Manager Li to come.

Gu Jinchao stood up and saw Manager Li running over from the other end of the corridor. Gu Dezhao’s face was as cold as ice as he said to Manager Li: “Take some servants right now to Lingyan Pavilion and ask Lady Song to leave! If she doesn’t go, throw her out! Also, tell Concubine Song to take good care of her pregnancy. Her accounts will be settled slowly after the child is born!”

Manager Li was shocked. How did the master suddenly become so angry?

But he didn’t ask anything, quickly bowed, and followed Gu Dezhao’s instructions, taking servants to Lingyan Pavilion.

Gu Dezhao said to Jinchao: “Take Concubine Du back. Let her recite Buddhist scriptures from now on, and don’t come to see me again.”

He paused as if wanting to say something more. But he just turned and silently walked toward the main hall.

Gu Jinchao saw Concubine Du come out. She held Gu Jinchao’s hand and sighed: “I’ve never felt so relieved… I’ve said what needed to be said. Concubine Song won’t have an easy time now. Young Miss, go watch the excitement.”

Jinchao said calmly: “…No rush.” She could go see when there was some commotion.

Concubine Song was sleeping hazily in the night when she felt a dull pain in her belly. She pressed her hand against her side, gently massaging it, when suddenly she heard voices and the sound of things being moved in the night. She frowned, wondering who would be making noise in Lingyan Pavilion.

She tried to prop herself up but found her arms weak. She watched helplessly as the door opened a crack, and what seemed like a white figure suddenly passed by.

What was that… Concubine Song lay back on the bed, feeling thirsty.

A celadon porcelain cup with a lotus petal design was placed upside down on the table, but she couldn’t reach it.

Song Miaohua hoarsely called out: “Someone… come quickly…”

Her voice was faint; she couldn’t muster any strength.

She stretched out her hand trying to reach the cup, but unexpectedly slid off the bed. This disturbance finally alerted Caoing who had been watching the commotion outside. She and Banlian rushed into the room, saw the concubine with half her body dragging on the floor, and hurried to help her up.

Concubine Song licked her lips and said softly: “Thirsty… Banlian, pour water…”

Banlian went to pour water while Caoing supported Concubine Song as she sat.

Song Miaohua heard the commotion outside growing louder and couldn’t help asking: “What’s going on… in the middle of the night… so noisy…”

Caoing smiled and said: “Oh, Concubine doesn’t know yet! The master ordered Manager Li to drive Lady Song out overnight, and said if she doesn’t leave, to throw her out directly! The lady is anxious and arguing with the servants!”

Song Miaohua struggled to raise her head to look outside, extremely surprised. Why would Gu Dezhao drive Lady Song away? She took a breath and asked again: “Tell me clearly… what exactly happened?”

Caoing seemed to just remember: “Oh, right! The master also had Manager Li bring you a message! Said for you to take good care of your pregnancy and your accounts will be settled later.”

Concubine Song murmured: “My accounts? What accounts…”

Caoing continued smiling: “Young Miss took Concubine Du to see the master overnight. Concubine Du told the master that she was the one who killed Concubine Yun. You knew about this, yet still falsely accused the mistress. When the master heard this, he was furious! Manager Li was terrified.”

After listening, Song Miaohua stared in disbelief, grabbing Caoing’s hand: “Impossible… you’re lying!”

How could Gu Jinchao know about this?

Caoing continued, “Concubine, listen to the commotion outside. I’m not lying…”

Concubine Song’s face turned ashen.

No, how could Gu Jinchao know, and even persuade Concubine Du to confess to the master? Wasn’t she finished now… Lady Song is being driven away, and this matter is being exposed! What would she do in the future, what would happen to Miss Lan… This crime of plotting against the legitimate wife, she definitely couldn’t escape it!

Would Gu Dezhao wait until she gave birth to her child, then send white silk for her to hang herself?

Concubine Du wouldn’t have gone to confess on her own. Could it be… could it be Lady Ji? Song Miaohua’s eyes widened. She thought of the white figure that had floated by earlier… Lady Ji was secretly helping Gu Jinchao, her ghost had returned for revenge!

The more Song Miaohua thought, the more confused she became. Her expression changed constantly, her forehead covered in cold sweat, frightening both maids.

Banlian carefully shook Song Miaohua’s shoulder and whispered: “Concubine, what’s wrong?”

Song Miaohua’s eyes darted around but suddenly fixed on a spot in the room, screaming in terror. “Ah! Banlian, it’s Ji coming back for revenge! It’s Ji coming for revenge! All this is her doing… she’s coming for my life, don’t you see her there!”

Song Miaohua pointed at an empty corner of the room, terrified and crying: “Banlian, quickly drive away Lady Ji’s ghost, she’s come to take my life…”

Banlian didn’t understand why Song Miaohua suddenly went mad. There was nothing there, how could Lady Ji’s spirit be there? Concubine Song was hallucinating.

She comforted Song Miaohua: “You’re mistaken, the mistress died long ago. There’s nothing there…”

Song Miaohua’s neurotic ally clutched her belly and began to sob: “Ji Han, don’t touch my child! Go away… Ah! My child!”

She suddenly pressed her belly and wailed loudly: “My stomach hurts so much! Mistress, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have harmed you… don’t touch my child…”

Song Miaohua was rolling on the bed in pain. Banlian watched in terror: “Concubine… Concubine has gone mad!”

Caoing saw the bedsheet where Song Miaohua had rolled, soaked with a distinct bloodstain, and grabbed Banlian in fright: “…Look at the blood under the concubine! Quick… quickly inform Manager Li, that he’s outside! Hurry, if it’s too late the concubine’s child can’t be saved…”

Banlian hurriedly rushed out of the inner room. Seeing Banlian leave, Caoing quickly took out a small pouch from her sleeve. She poured out a small black pill, pried open Song Miaohua’s mouth, and pushed it in. Song Miaohua was in so much pain, cold sweat pouring, thinking Lady Ji had grabbed her, unable to speak coherently.

A gush of water washed it down, and she swallowed the pill. After a while, Song Miaohua felt excruciating pain in her abdomen, like a cold dagger circling and scraping her flesh! Song Miaohua was beyond awareness now, continuously whimpering: “Mistress, it was all my fault… spare my child…”

Banlian found Manager Li just outside the wing room and quickly told him about Concubine Song’s situation.

Manager Li had spent considerable effort getting Lady Song to leave; he couldn’t throw her out as the master had said.

Hearing that Concubine Song’s child might be lost, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly had the guard hitch a horse to rush to Qinglian Lane to invite Doctor Liu. He also sent someone to inform Gu Dezhao and Gu Jinchao. Gu Jinchao had Madam Xu bring two experienced midwives, while she changed into a plain satin jacket and followed them to Lingyan Pavilion.

Gu Lan, however, ran to Lingyan Pavilion. Madam Xu, with two midwives holding Concubine Song from both sides, was feeding her medicine to stabilize the pregnancy.

Gu Lan saw the large pool of blood staining Concubine Song’s sandalwood-colored bedding with its auspicious pattern, and her mind went blank instantly.