Several midwives carried Concubine Song back to the inner chamber. Gu Dezhao then called Gu Lan and Jinchao over, saying: “Concubine Song harmed the mistress of the house. I had planned to send her to Jingmiao Temple to live out her remaining days. Accompanying the ancient Buddha under an oil lamp would help her atone for some of her sins…”
Before Gu Dezhao could finish, Gu Lan was already crying like rain: “Father, the Concubine is already in such a state, how could she survive in Jingmiao Temple!”
Gu Dezhao sighed: “Lan, you must let me finish… Looking at Concubine Song’s current condition, she cannot go to Jingmiao Temple. Behind Tongruo Tower, there is a Tingtao Pavilion built among the Huashan pines. Though small, it’s peaceful. Jinchao, select two or three steady midwives and maids to serve Concubine Song at Tingtao Pavilion. After her confinement period, move her there… This can also be considered a form of retreat.”
Gu Lan still felt discontent, but seeing Gu Dezhao’s expression, she knew there was no room for negotiation.
…Better to endure for now and speak of it later. After all, Father was still angry. Thinking this, Gu Lan said no more.
Jinchao hadn’t expected Concubine Song to suddenly go mad; she had also been thinking of sending Concubine Song to Jingmiao Temple. She glanced toward the inner chamber, with some doubt in her heart, wondering if Song Miaohua was truly mad or just pretending… If truly mad, that was one thing, but if she was pretending, she was incredibly clever. With all her misdeeds exposed by Jinchao, if not for feigning madness, she couldn’t have gotten away so easily.
Jinchao agreed, and Gu Dezhao nodded before leaving with his servants.
Jinchao rose and walked to the main hall, kneeling on a cushion, murmuring a few words, and offering incense to the Buddha.
Gu Lan followed her out and stood behind her, asking coldly: “Are you telling Lady Ji that you’ve avenged her?”
Jinchao shook her head, sighed, and said, “I’m merely offering incense to Buddha. Since this Buddha was brought in, Concubine has never worshipped it. Buddha knows whether one’s heart is sincere or not.” She turned around and found Gu Lan looking at her with unprecedented hatred.
This was to be expected—she knew that Concubine Song’s child had been killed by Gu Jinchao.
“You harmed my unborn sibling and drove my mother mad… Gu Jinchao, your heart is truly vicious.” Gu Lan said softly, “Don’t forget, I still have leverage against you. No one knows more about your affairs with Chen Xuanqing than I do…”
Jinchao said: “You only see your suffering, but not how Concubine Song harmed my mother, or how you treated me and Jinrong! When you frame others, you think it’s justified. When others retaliate, you feel like an innocent victim and want to bite back? There is no such reasoning, Gu Lan.”
Gu Lan bit her lip, staring coldly at Gu Jinchao. After a long while, she finally asked in a low voice, “What… exactly did you do?”
Jinchao ignored her and turned to walk out the door.
If Gu Lan knew that the medicinal pillow that harmed her concubine was delivered by her own hands, and had just been taken away for destruction right in front of her, that would surely be quite a scene.
But it was better to let it be.
By early the next morning, news of the concubine’s miscarriage had spread throughout the entire household. However, no one dared to visit her. Gu Dezhao’s intention to move her to Tingtao Pavilion was clear—he had no plans to see her again, so who would risk bad luck? Gu Yi and Gu Xi did come to speak with Jinchao; Concubine Song truly had no chance of recovery now, and they were happy for their elder sister.
After Gu Jinchao treated them to lunch, Madam Xu came with several midwives to see her: “…These are those who previously served the mistress, most suitable for watching over Concubine Song.”
Gu Jinchao looked over each one; all three midwives were very steady. She instructed them to watch Song Miaohua carefully. Whether Song Miaohua was truly mad or pretending, no one knew, but if she could continue “pretending” like this, it didn’t matter to her.
Madam Xu told Jinchao about Gu Lan: “…She requested permission from the master and has set up a Buddha in her courtyard. She doesn’t like going out now, spending all day practicing calligraphy, copying scriptures, or doing needlework—very quiet.” Gu Lan still couldn’t visit Concubine Song, so she had shut herself away to recuperate.
Jinchao nodded to show she understood. Shortly after, Manager Li came to find Gu Jinchao, saying that Gu Dezhao wanted to discuss Gu Jinrong’s studies with her.
He was observing mourning and couldn’t attend school at Qifang Hutong.
Gu Dezhao had also called for Gu Jinrong, asking his opinion, and saying: “…Why not invite a tutor to teach you? After all, you will be taking the provincial examination in three years, and your studies cannot be neglected.”
Gu Jinrong replied: “Son understands, but I feel that tutors are not easy to find. Those with good scholarship may not teach well, and those who teach well are mostly from the Imperial Academy or the Hanlin Academy…” They wouldn’t come just to tutor him alone.
Gu Jinchao, listening nearby, said to Gu Dezhao: “…I’ve heard that the Yu family’s clan school is excellent. During the last spring examination in Beizhili, they produced two successful candidates. Why not let Brother Rong attend the Yu family’s clan school? The Yu family is also in Sili Hutong, allowing daily commute, and it wouldn’t be considered breaking mourning.”
Gu Jinchao remembered the Yu family because, during the official upheaval several months later, they were one of the rare great families that completely protected themselves. It wouldn’t hurt to build a relationship now; there would surely be benefits in the future.
The Yu family’s old master had been a Hanlin Academy Reader-in-waiting, having once been Emperor Taizu’s teacher, thus sheltering his descendants. Although the old master’s sons didn’t hold high positions, they all had good reputations in the Hanlin Academy, and their household rules were impeccably maintained. All the grandsons were promising, with none having the bad reputation of the Third Young Master of the Marquis of Yongyang.
They exchanged visits with the Yu family during festivals and maintained neighborly harmony. As long as Gu Dezhao proposed it, the Yu family’s old master wouldn’t object; scholarly families naturally had their breadth of mind.
Thinking about it, it seemed good for Gu Jinrong to attend the Yu family’s clan school. The only concern was that Gu Dezhao might need to pay a personal visit.
Gu Dezhao listened and thought for a long time. The next day, he took tea leaves and dried fruits to visit the Yu family’s old master, tentatively arranging for Gu Jinrong’s studies. Next month, Jinrong will be able to attend the Yu family’s clan school. The Yu family’s master specially sent Gu Jinrong several name cards, wanting him to study them.
A few days later, Madam Xu came to tell Jinchao: “…Concubine Song now completely fails to recognize people, and often goes mad, crying for her child. The midwives can’t detect any pretense; she seems to have truly gone mad.”
After hearing this, Jinchao went to Lingyan Pavilion to see for herself. Half a month after the miscarriage, they gradually stopped giving Concubine Song medicine, and her complexion was finally improving a little. However, she clutched a pillow to her chest, refusing to let go, calling it “Young Master Xiu.” She spoke intimately to her “Young Master Xiu.”
If her madness was an act, it was terrifying indeed.
The serving midwife Dou said: “The name the concubine gave to that child was Young Master Xiu… She holds that pillow and won’t let anyone touch it. The concubine is still in her confinement period and should be resting well, but she won’t let this servant bathe her or feed her. She fears anyone who comes near…”
Concubine Song was still in her confinement period. After another half month, she would be moved to Tingtao Pavilion.
Jinchao said indifferently: “Let her be.” She had spared Concubine Song’s life and sent midwives to care for her—she had already shown the utmost kindness.
Gu Jinchao returned to Qingtong Court and never set foot in Lingyan Pavilion again.
Concubine Song’s miscarriage occurred at the end of the sixth month, and soon it was the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the Zhongyuan Festival.
The family was in recent mourning. According to custom, they should visit the new grave and pay respects to their ancestors. The Taoist temple would also hold a grand blessing ceremony to help departed souls transcend. A few days before the Zhongyuan Festival, Shi’an County began selling paper offerings, lotus leaf lanterns, and various cakes and pastries. Now Madam Xu handled these matters, sending people early to buy paper clothes and offerings, to avoid being rushed and unprepared. On the day before the Zhongyuan Festival, with wine and food prepared, Gu Dezhao led Jinchao and others to visit Lady Ji’s new grave.
Lady Ji was buried in the Gu family cemetery, near three boxwood trees arranged in a triangular pattern.
Gu Dezhao paid his respects first, then Gu Jinchao knelt to honor her mother. She then stood beside the boxwood trees, looking westward toward Xiancui Mountain, with its undulating hills lush in the late summer season.
Gu Lan, Gu Jinrong, and others knelt in turn to pay respects. After visiting the new grave, Gu Dezhao told Jinchao and the others to return first. “…I have some business in Pingxing, I’ll be back in the afternoon. Jinchao, prepare for the ancestral ceremony at home first.”
Jinchao agreed but felt her father was acting somewhat strange. The next day, one of Gu Dezhao’s servants came to report: “…The master went to Yanqing Taoist Temple in Pingxing. The temple was holding a Taoist assembly, and the master attended a session.” After a pause, the servant added quietly, “The master has invited Taoist Master Qingxu back with him.”
Gu Jinchao finally understood why her father hadn’t explained clearly. This Taoist Master Qingxu from Yanqing Temple was the same one who had once said she would disrupt Gu Dezhao’s official career. After she returned to the Gu family, her father seemed to have gradually reduced his association with this Taoist master.
…She wondered why he had now invited this Taoist master to their home.
Jinchao thought for a moment and sent Caifu to find Biyi.
Biyi, who served in Gu Dezhao’s study and attended to his meals, told Jinchao: “…The Taoist master was preaching to the master, who found it very beneficial. In the evening, they had a long, intimate conversation that went on for quite some time. This servant couldn’t understand much, but vaguely heard the Taoist master mention something about the ‘five colors and five flavors’…”
Five colors and five flavors… As soon as Jinchao heard this, she remembered a passage from the “Dao De Jing”:
“The five colors blind one’s eyes, the five tones deafen one’s ears, the five flavors dull one’s taste. Racing and hunting drive one’s mind wild. Goods hard to obtain hinder one’s conduct. Therefore, the sage attends to the belly, not the eyes. Hence, he rejects the latter and chooses the former.”
The general meaning of this passage was that people should not indulge in pleasures.
Thinking carefully, Gu Jinchao couldn’t help but gasp! How had she not considered this aspect?
The death of her mother and Concubine Song’s affair had been too great a shock for her father. Now he wasn’t visiting any concubines, instead seeking solace in faith. If it had been any other Taoist master, Jinchao wouldn’t have thought much of it. As long as her father could find comfort and feel better, why should she interfere? But thinking that it was this Taoist Master Qingxu, Jinchao felt somewhat uneasy.
This man had, after all, with just one sentence, caused her to stay with the Ji family for nine years before returning home.