The night was drenched in ink-dark shadows, without a trace of moonlight.
Before long, the wind picked up, and a light rain began to fall, pattering softly against the ground.
Xu Mama closed the folding lattice doors, and the room fell into silence.
She walked over to the bed and carefully tucked the quilt around Ji Shi, speaking warmly:
“You see, Eldest Miss has played this to perfection—killing two birds with one stone. Our Eldest Miss is usually so quiet and unassuming, who would have thought that when she acted, it would cause such a commotion… She knows how to bide her time. I fear Song Yiniang has much to worry about now! Laner committed the ‘Seven Evils’ offense through her sharp tongue, and since Song Yiniang raised her, she cannot escape blame for Laner’s poor conduct. The Master will surely begin to distance himself from her…”
A faint smile curved Ji Shi’s lips.
“Chao’er has done very well. I no longer need to worry too much… Even after I am gone, she will be able to take care of herself.”
She coughed heavily, pressing a hand to her mouth, her breathing labored and thick with phlegm.
Xu Mama hurriedly helped smooth her breathing, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Please, don’t speak such unlucky words! You will recover, surely you will!”
At that moment, the lattice doors were pushed open again, letting the sound of the rain grow louder.
From behind the bed curtains came Moyu’s voice:
“Madam, the Master has come.”
Xu Mama whispered, “It’s so late. Do you wish to see him?”
Ji Shi shook her head weakly. “…Tell him I have already gone to sleep,” she said. Then she added, “Blow out the lamp.”
Xu Mama walked to the tall stand, removed the lamp cover, and extinguished the flame.
The room was plunged into darkness.
Whether Gu Deshao had come to apologize on Gu Lan’s behalf, or for himself, or merely out of concern for her— she no longer wished to see him. It was not that she disliked him. It was that she no longer cared.
All these years of illness, Gu Deshao had only entered her bedchamber twice—both times because her condition had turned critical.
Moyu withdrew from the inner room and went to the covered corridor, curtsying deeply.
“Master, Madam has already retired for the night. If there is anything urgent, shall I wake her?”
Gu Deshao stood silently beneath the covered eaves.
His servant nearby collected the oiled paper umbrella, waiting quietly.
The rain, carried by the wind, blew into the corridor, cold and damp against his skin.
For a long time, Gu Deshao said nothing.
He gazed at the darkened room, at the delicate fish and algae carvings on the closed lattice doors.
“…No need,” he said at last. “When she wakes, tell her I was here.”
With a sigh, he turned and left with his servant.
A flash of lightning split the sky, followed by a deafening crash of thunder. The rain grew heavier, pouring down in sheets.
Summer was fast approaching.
Qingpu pushed open the window lattice, letting the damp, rain-scented air rush into the room.
Outside, the grapevines had already climbed the trellis, thick with new leaves.
Dawn was barely breaking. After last night’s storm, the courtyard was littered with fallen leaves and broken branches.
Two newly arrived ten-year-old maids were busy sweeping.
Jinchao had just risen. Her hair was combed but not pinned up, falling in smooth black waves down her back.
She wore a pale lavender jacket patterned with eggplant flowers—an informal outfit, clearly not intended for receiving guests.
Qingpu approached to report:
“Before dawn, several stewardesses came by to ask for you. Even Xu Mama personally came. I followed your instructions and told them you were ill and could not attend Second Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony. They left without pressing further.”
Caifu entered with two maids, setting several dishes of tea and pastries on the small table.
Jinchao sipped her tea thoughtfully.
“After the ceremony, news that we sisters are estranged will spread quickly… Go attend the ceremony in my place. See who has been chosen to replace Madam Wen as the principal sponsor.”
If she was not mistaken, Song Yiniang would have sought out Father, asking Second Madam Gu to officiate. As for the patronesses and attendants, they could simply select two suitable young ladies; no particular effort was needed.
Qingpu took Caifu and departed for Cuixuan Courtyard.
Jinchao had Baiyun bring her the unfinished embroidery frame. She continued working on a depiction of a square blue-glazed vase with twin handles.
Gu Lan had risen at the hour of the rabbit.
Her mind was heavy with anxiety, and she had slept poorly; bloodshot veins marred her eyes.
After a short while, Song Yiniang arrived personally to help her dress and apply her makeup.
Looking at her daughter’s delicate, lotus-like face in the bronze mirror, she spoke softly:
“Forget everything else. Today is your coming-of-age ceremony—nothing more. Hold your head high. Even if you have lost ground, never lose face. If you give up now, how will you stand tall in the future?”
Gu Lan stared into the mirror, still worried.
“But Mother… how will I ever face Father and Jinrong again… I have already committed the Seven Evils…” She had always maintained a reputation for sweetness and virtue before others.
Song Yiniang said coolly,
“This is where you differ from Gu Jinchao. What cannot be undone must be forgotten. Since these things are irreversible, you can only pretend that nothing happened. Before your father, you were the dutiful daughter; before your brother, the gentle sister. Continue to play your part. Gu Jinchao committed far graver offenses than yours— did you ever see her show a shred of shame?”
Gu Lan thought for a long time before finally nodding silently.
At that moment, Du Yiniang and Guo Yiniang arrived.
These two women, always cautious and self-protective due to their low status and daughters of little significance, had heard rumors of yesterday’s events but dared not slight Song Yiniang and Gu Lan.
They arrived early to help with preparations.
Once ready, the group made their way to the main hall.
Gu Deshao and Second Madam Gu from the ancestral household were already waiting. Madam Ji, due to her illness, was absent.
In the observation seats were Fifth Madam Gu and several ladies invited to witness the ceremony.
At the appointed hour, Gu Deshao rose to commence the rites.
Gu Lan entered and knelt upon the ceremonial mat.
The patroness combed her hair.
Second Madam Gu, clad in the robes of a fourth-rank titled lady, lifted a lacquered tray bearing a sandalwood hairpin and a gold butterfly hairpin set with rubies. With the help of the attendant, she bound Gu Lan’s hair and inserted the hairpins, completing the ritual with three bows.
When the ceremony ended, Gu Lan glanced toward the observation seats but did not see Gu Jinrong among them.
Because Madam Ji was ill, Song Yiniang took charge of hosting the guests.
After a moment’s thought, Gu Lan, accompanied by Ziling, went to the wing where Gu Jinrong was temporarily staying.
He was practicing calligraphy in the nearby study.
Gu Lan lifted the bamboo curtain and stepped inside.
Seeing Jinrong silently writing, she dismissed Qing’an and personally began grinding ink for him.
Gu Jinrong completely ignored her.
But when he saw her touching his inkstone, irritation flared within him.
With a loud snap, he threw down his brush, splattering ink over half-finished characters.
“What are you doing here? Get out!” he snapped.
“I only came to see you, since you didn’t attend the ceremony,” Gu Lan said with a soft smile.
Gu Jinrong glared at her, full of anger. “I didn’t go because I didn’t want to see you! Why must you insist on making yourself a nuisance!”
Gu Jinrong had never spoken to her so harshly before.
Gu Lan’s face went pale, but she quickly forced herself to smile apologetically.
“I only wanted to check on you. If you don’t wish to see me, I have nothing more to say…”
Her voice grew lower, and soon she was quietly sobbing, the sound small and stifled.
Gu Lan, when she finally lifted her head, wore a smile once again—yet it was a strained, trembling smile, her voice choked with emotion.
“Elder Sister only came to apologize… I do not dare hope for your forgiveness. But for the sake of the bond we have shared for over ten years—
even if you refuse to acknowledge me, I will always acknowledge you. No one is without fault; even I… I…”
Tears streamed down uncontrollably, cutting off her words.
Gu Jinrong was startled by the sight and, despite himself, his heart softened a little.
“Why are you crying? Did I wrong you somehow?”
“I am not crying out of grievance. I am crying out of regret! Regret that I could not discern right from wrong, that I spread false tales about Elder Sister, harming her reputation… But, Rong-ge’er, think carefully— Elder Sister has accompanied you since childhood. Is she truly the kind of person others have claimed?”
Gu Lan’s voice was filled with sorrow. “Did she not also have to follow others’ arrangements, fighting for whatever little she could, just to survive a bit better? I am not a legitimate daughter like her. No one placed everything ready-made before me. I had no choice…”
Her words, though carefully phrased, subtly hinted that someone else had been behind her actions.
Gu Jinrong frowned.
“If you truly did not wish to act thus, who could have forced you?”
Gu Lan drew a deep breath.
“Yesterday, Father scolded me harshly. Elder Sister no longer wishes to be my patroness.
Madam Wen has already left. I have lived through hardships too… Yet I never spoke of it, because after all, it was Yiniang who raised me.
I care nothing for others’ opinions—but the bond between us siblings, that I cannot disregard. That is why I insisted on coming to explain myself to you.”
Gu Jinrong thought deeply, his eyes widening in sudden realization.
Could it be… Gu Lan was implying that Song Yiniang had instructed her to act thus?
If Song Yiniang had orchestrated this, how could Gu Lan have explained herself to Father? Given Gu Lan’s naturally gentle temperament, she would never willingly implicate her own mother. And if it was indeed Song Yiniang—then it made sense. If Gu Jinchao’s reputation was ruined, the ones who would benefit were Gu Lan and Song Yiniang both.
He had found it strange from the beginning—how Gu Lan could have changed so much.
Now, if Song Yiniang was behind it all, everything fell into place.
In a low voice, Gu Jinrong asked, “Is it true? Was it… Song Yiniang who made you do these things?”
Gu Lan bit her lip and said nothing. But her silent sobs gave tacit confirmation.
Gu Jinrong drew in a sharp breath. So it was true!
“To think she would command you to do such things—shameful, for one’s own mother!” he muttered, anger flashing in his eyes.
After a moment, he softened slightly and said to Gu Lan, “Second Sister, if she tries to make you do such things again, tell Mother or Elder Sister immediately. You should not have to suffer such injustice. And as for Elder Sister—you should apologize to her as well. Even if you cannot explain everything, let her know that you did not mean it maliciously. Elder Sister is kind-hearted. She will not hold it against you.”
Gu Lan hurriedly agreed. “I feel deeply guilty in my heart too!”
By pushing Gu Jinrong’s anger onto her mother, Gu Lan thought to herself, he may still blame me, but at least he will also pity me. And since Song Yiniang held little direct influence over Gu Jinrong, her fall from favor mattered little compared to regaining Jinrong’s trust.
In the future, she only needed to show a little distance from her mother in front of him, and all would be well.