DBB – Chapter 039: Departure

Tong Mama let out a quiet sigh. Young Master’s words had been far too harsh.

She stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Young Master, may I say something? I used to serve Ji Shi—do you still remember me?”

Gu Jinrong looked at her, recognizing her immediately. This was the same Tong Mama who had once managed his mother’s estates, later reassigned to serve Jinchao.

He nodded. “I remember.”

Tong Mama smiled gently. “Our Eldest Miss has never been one to soften her words just to please others. Her temperament takes after your grandmother the most. But just because she does not speak sweetly does not mean she does not care… It is simply that she is strong-willed.”

Gu Jinrong hesitated. Jinchao’s tears had shaken him far more than any argument could have.

For the first time, he felt a strange twinge of pain—perhaps it was the bond of blood between them. His voice was calmer when he finally said, “Tong Mama, I never intended to upset her. But… some of the things she has done have truly been excessive. That maid Liuxiang—”

Tong Mama cut in, “You must have heard about this from Second Miss. Allow me to tell you what I witnessed.”

“Liuxiang repeatedly stole from Eldest Miss. She was given chance after chance, yet never repented. Not only that, but she conspired with others and revealed matters regarding the gold-thread hairpin to Second Miss—who then used it to speak ill of Ji Shi, nearly making her ill from anger. Eldest Miss had endured long enough and only then decided to expel her. But Liuxiang drove herself mad from fear—Miss never ordered anyone to beat her.”

Gu Jinrong’s eyes widened. “She conspired with Second Sister?”

Tong Mama chuckled. “Your Second Sister is far more calculating than she appears. You are a bright young master. If you think carefully, you will see the truth.”

Gu Jinrong’s mind was a mess.

Had he wronged Jinchao and helped Gu Lan harm their own mother?

That couldn’t be. Second Sister was always kind to their mother, constantly visiting her and attending to her needs.

He clenched his fists. “Then… the concubine issue—she really did separate an engaged couple and force Father’s hand, didn’t she?”

Tong Mama shook her head. “Concubine Luo’s family is from Taihe County. Her grandfather was a county magistrate. When he heard that our Eldest Miss was seeking a young woman to enter the Gu household, he personally broke off Luo Yiniang’s previous engagement and sent her here. Luo Yiniang had never even met her supposed fiancé.

And besides… if the Master truly did not want to take a concubine, could anyone really have forced him? Young Master, you should not hold a grudge against Eldest Miss for this—she did it for your sake as well.”

Gu Jinrong frowned. “For my sake? Isn’t she only trying to get back at Second Sister?”

Tong Mama sighed. “Young Master, if she simply wanted to bring in a concubine, why would she go all the way to Taihe County? If her only goal was to provoke Second Miss, why would she openly oppose Song Yiniang?”

She took a step closer.

“Tell me, Young Master… if something were to happen to Ji Shi, and Song Yiniang bore a son, wouldn’t she be elevated to become the official wife? And if that happened… wouldn’t you suddenly have a legitimate younger brother?

If she had a son, do you truly believe she wouldn’t turn against you?”

Gu Jinrong’s face drastically changed.

He was still young, still too naïve to see the bigger picture—but Tong Mama’s words made sense.

He hesitated. “But… Concubine Song and Second Sister have always treated me well. Even if she became Father’s wife, she would still treat me the same—”

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his own foolishness.

Of course Concubine Song treated him well now.

He was the only legitimate son of the Gu family.

But if she gave birth to a legitimate son of her own, things would not be the same.

“I… Tong Mama, call Gu Jinchao here. I want to ask her myself if this is true.”

Tong Mama shook her head with a smile. “After what you just said to her, do you think she would want to see you?”

She walked to the heated brick bed, picked up the knee warmers Jinchao had just finished sewing, and handed them to him.

“Take this. Miss made it for you. She was worried about the lingering cold of early spring—she didn’t want you to freeze in Daxing while studying.”

Gu Jinrong took the soft knee warmers, his fingers unconsciously tightening around them.

She had embroidered magpies and gold ingots into the fabric, symbols of good fortune and success. The needlework was meticulous, the magpies almost lifelike.

She had been making this for him even as he had been speaking so cruelly to her.

A shiver ran down his spine. The cold seemed to seep into his bones.

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Then, without another word, he turned and left Qingtong Courtyard with heavy steps.

Tong Mama returned to the inner chamber.

“Miss, I have explained everything to Young Master. And… you cried beautifully just now.”

Jinchao let out a tired sigh. “I expected him to come and make a scene, so I planned to take the opportunity to explain everything clearly. But after hearing what he said… I truly felt disappointed. If the Gu family is left in his hands, its future is bleak.”

She wasn’t sure how much of her words had actually reached him.

Gu Jinrong and Gu Lan had shared a bond for over a decade. Her reasoning might have shaken him a little, but he wouldn’t completely turn away from Gu Lan so easily.

To truly wake him up, he would need a rude awakening—something that struck him hard.

Tong Mama nodded. “It’s better to explain these things to him now, rather than letting him blindly believe Second Miss. But what about his request to study at home? Should we let him stay and have a private tutor?”

Jinchao’s expression remained calm. “If he believed even a little of what I said, he will no longer want to stay.

Let’s wait until tomorrow, when he greets Father—then we’ll see how he reacts.”

The next morning,  Jinchao woke early and went to greet Gu Deshao, deliberately bringing up the topic of Jinrong’s education.

Her father listened attentively, nodding in approval. His daughter may be headstrong, but when it came to academics, she was far more knowledgeable than most noble daughters.

Their discussion lasted a while.

Then, just as Jinchao was about to leave, Gu Jinrong entered the hall to greet their father.

For a moment, he froze in place upon seeing her.

Jinchao, however, acted as though she hadn’t noticed him at all.

She merely finished speaking with Father, excused herself, and walked out of Juyliu Pavilion.

Not once did she acknowledge his presence.

Not even a glance.

A strange heaviness settled in Gu Jinrong’s chest.

She was truly heartbroken.

She wasn’t angry at him.

She wasn’t scolding him.

She wasn’t even willing to look at him anymore.

She had completely given up on him.

A tightness settled in Gu Jinrong’s chest.

She was truly heartbroken.

Not only did she refuse to look at him, but she also refused to speak to him—as if he was no longer worth her time.

His mind flashed back to the previous day—her pale face streaked with tears, her eyes filled with unshakable disappointment.

In that moment, he felt as if he had made an unforgivable mistake.

Meanwhile, Gu Deshao was speaking to him about his studies.

“Your elder sister suggested that if you don’t want to go too far from home, there is still Helu Academy in Shian. While it is not as renowned as Qifang Hutong, the lecturer there, Master Fan, is a retired scholar from the Imperial Academy…”

Before his father could finish, Gu Jinrong interrupted him firmly.

“Father, I think Qifang Hutong is still the best choice. I will not attend Helu Academy.”

Back at Qingtong Courtyard, Jinchao had just returned when Tong Mama arrived to report the news.

“Miss, you were right—Young Master is packing his things. He is preparing to leave for Daxing.”

Jinchao let out a breath of relief.

So, he had finally agreed to study at Qifang Hutong. That meant that her words from the previous day had not been in vain.

She instructed Tong Mama, “Send a few boxes of pastries and a couple of inkstones to Qingtong Courtyard as a farewell gift.”

Tong Mama hesitated. “Miss, you’re not going to see him off yourself?”

Jinchao shook her head. “No need. If I go, it will only make things worse.”

Gu Jinrong left the Gu family on the fifth day of the second lunar month.  After several consecutive days of rain, Shian finally welcomed a clear sky. A group of servants had already prepared the carriage and horses, waiting near the inner screen wall. Gu Lan, Gu Xi, Gu Yi, and Concubine Song all came to see him off, bidding their farewells at the Chuihua Gate. However, Gu Lan made a special effort—walking with him all the way to the inner screen wall.

Gu Jinrong was dressed in a newly tailored bamboo-green Hangzhou silk scholar’s robe. His eyes subtly scanned the surroundings. But… he did not see Gu Jinchao. Standing in front of his carriage, he hesitated.

“Jinrong, are you waiting for Eldest Sister?”

Gu Lan’s voice was gentle. “It’s already quite late. I doubt she’s coming.”

Almost instinctively, he responded, “She’s probably just busy with something.”

Gu Lan paused for a moment, then smiled. Something about Gu Jinrong’s behavior in recent days felt off—but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what had changed. Had he grown distant? That day when he had stormed off to confront Gu Jinchao, she had heard he caused a scene. But now…

Qingtong Courtyard was airtight. From the higher-ranking maids to the lowest servant women, no one leaked a single word about what had happened. And Gu Jinrong—he had never come to ask her about it. What exactly had they talked about that day? Softening her tone, she spoke again.

“If you don’t leave soon, you won’t arrive in Daxing before midday. Did you take the brushes, ink, and paper I prepared for you?”

Gu Jinrong nodded absentmindedly, then looked at Gu Lan again. She smiled gently, appearing as warm and kind as she always had. 

Had she really tried to turn him against Jinchao?

Had she truly wanted to lead him astray, turning him into a useless noble son?

He still wasn’t sure.

But in front of Gu Lan, he couldn’t help but soften his tone.

“I’m leaving now, Second Sister. Take care of yourself.”

Gu Lan nodded. “You too.”