After Madam Wen returned to her residence, she immediately invited a few ladies she often socialized with to come for tea and idle chatter.
They drank tea for several hours, and as the conversation grew livelier, she even sent someone to invite performers from the Deyin Troupe to entertain them with an opera.
During the gathering, Madam Song, whose husband served as a Reader at the Hanlin Academy, asked,
“Not long ago, you mentioned you were going to the Gu residence to assist in their Second Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony. I heard that although the Second Miss’s mother was a concubine, she was considered a noble concubine. How grand was the ceremony? Which noble families attended?”
Since the Gu family had split into two branches, people generally distinguished them by official rank.
Moreover, the Gu ancestral house was connected to the Marquis of Changxing, and the Marquis’s heir’s maternal grandfather was the head of the Hanlin Academy and concurrently Minister of Rites.
Thus, Madam Song was particularly curious about the Gu family’s events.
At this, Madam Wen gave a heavy sigh. “I didn’t even stay long enough to see the ceremony. I returned before it began!”
Naturally, the ladies became even more curious. Among them, Madam Cao, third wife of the Cao family, whose elder sister was the wife of Assistant Director Mu of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, couldn’t help but inquire further: “Did the Gu family slight you somehow?”
Madam Wen sneered. “You have no idea—there truly are such two-faced, backstabbing people in this world!”
She proceeded to vividly recount everything she had witnessed at the Gu residence, with generous embellishments. At the end, she concluded,
“We’ve all heard the rumors about Gu Eldest Miss, calling her arrogant and willful. But in truth, without such a scheming and slanderous younger sister whispering behind her back, would Gu Eldest Miss’s reputation have become so poor? What I personally saw was a young lady who knew when to advance and when to retreat, who was well-read and courteous— only too reserved for her own good…”
Madam Cao was visibly surprised and, after a moment’s thought, said, “This is rather interesting! My elder sister told me that Assistant Director Mu was preparing to propose a marriage between Eldest Young Master Mu and Gu Second Miss. The Gu family initially seemed reluctant. If Gu Second Miss truly is as malicious and petty as you say, how could Gu Langzhong have had the confidence to refuse?”
It turned out that it was that foolish and slow-witted Eldest Young Master Mu who sought to marry Gu Second Miss! All the ladies were quite astonished.
Madam Wen quickly realized the opportunity. Originally, she had intended to spread the news herself. But now that Madam Cao had a personal connection, she would surely help amplify it.
“Gu Second Miss has always been praised for her gentle and virtuous demeanor. Perhaps Gu Langzhong merely wished to secure a better marriage match for her. I wonder if Madam Mu is truly keen on accepting Gu Second Miss as her daughter-in-law?”
Madam Cao waved her hand dismissively. “Mu Zhizhai’s mother passed away early. He was raised by a wet nurse. My elder sister merely wishes to settle the matter quickly— find a suitable girl and be done with it. After all, he’s already eighteen, and he is still attended only by old servants and wet nurses, without even a personal maid. Assistant Director Mu has been pressing her for some time now. But truly—who in Yanjing would want their daughter to marry Mu Zhizhai?”
Madam Wen nodded. “It is indeed difficult for Madam Mu. If Gu Second Miss’s reputation worsens, and no other families dare to approach, then perhaps Eldest Young Master Mu might have a real chance.”
Madam Cao’s brows twitched slightly at those words. After enjoying the opera, the gathering dispersed.
Madam Wen, yawning, lazily sipped her tea and told a nearby maid, “Go find a few old women and spread news about Gu Second Miss’s disgraceful conduct. We must lend Madam Cao and Madam Mu a helping hand…” Then she added, “And be sure to say that Gu Eldest Miss’s poor reputation was entirely due to Gu Lan’s slander. Make that clear too.”
The maid accepted the order but hesitated slightly, then said, “Madam, I cannot help but feel this matter is rather strange. Was it not too much of a coincidence that you overheard Gu Second Miss speaking ill in the side courtyard? And then Eldest Miss inviting you to drink tea, and leading you precisely to the bamboo grove behind the wing?”
Madam Wen laughed. “Of course I know! Gu Eldest Miss has excellent scheming!”
She lifted an eyebrow and added, “But even if she used me, she did not deceive or harm me. What I hate most is being played for a fool! Gu Lan deserves to be taught a lesson. And since we’re teaching her a lesson, why not help Gu Eldest Miss a little while we’re at it? Besides—seeing the plight of Gu Eldest Miss, with her mother gravely ill, no support from her maternal family, a younger brother too young and naive to help— if she doesn’t use a little cunning, she would have been devoured by Song Miaohua and Gu Lan by now, bones and all.”
The maid finally understood and nodded.
Madam Wen stood up, intending to go check on her eldest son’s studies.
…
Two days later, once all the guests from the coming-of-age ceremony had departed, Gu Jinrong packed his belongings and returned to Qifang Hutong.
Meanwhile, Jinchao remained secluded, claiming illness. Several concubines and two younger sisters came to visit her. They found her lively and spirited, calmly embroidering a screen depicting ancient treasures. Even Luo Yiniang came daily, bringing her homemade pastries.
Tong Mama lifted the curtain and entered, standing silently beside Jinchao as she watched her embroider, stitch by careful stitch.
The weather was growing warmer. Jinchao wore a plain silk short jacket, a pair of vivid green jade bracelets adorning her pale wrists like frost. The window was half-open, letting in a cool breeze.
Only after Jinchao finished a section did Tong Mama speak softly: “Eldest Miss, I heard some rumors have begun to circulate outside.”
Jinchao looked up and asked calmly, “What are they saying?”
Tong Mama replied, “The gossip started from Huaihua Hutong. I investigated, and it’s unclear whether it originated from the Wen family or the Cao family. They say Second Miss was caught stirring up trouble behind the scenes and was punished for committing the Seven Evils offense. They also speak of you— saying that Second Miss often slandered you in secret, and that you suffered silently because of your naturally reserved nature. That most of the rumors about you were false accusations. The story has been told so vividly, as if the speakers witnessed it themselves. Now it’s spread throughout the inner circles around Huaihua Hutong…”
Huaihua Hutong was where the Wen family lived. It was clear Madam Wen had leaked the news after being angered at the Gu residence, seeking to damage Gu Lan’s reputation.
Still, for a little inner courtyard squabble to spread so swiftly was somewhat unusual.
And the rumors, surprisingly, were helping to restore her own reputation.
Jinchao found it all somewhat amusing. Could it be that Madam Wen, out of pity, had decided to help her while taking revenge on Gu Lan? Whether intentionally or not, it had suppressed Gu Lan while lifting her up.
Jinchao smiled faintly and shook her head. “The rumors about me outside were ten parts true to begin with.
Gu Lan merely added fuel to the fire. This time, they are truly wronging her.”
Tong Mama also smiled. “Our young lady is someone who sees things clearly. What happened in the past is already in the past—there’s no need to dwell on it further. But what shall we do about these rumors? Should we fan the flames, or try to clear Second Miss’s name? After all, the lady is also the mother of the second young lady.”
Jinchao thought for a moment, then asked, “Why did you say the rumors might have come from the Cao family?”
Tong Mama continued, “After I heard the gossip, I went to inquire through Manager Luo. One of his clerks, Cao Ziheng, is a distant relative of the Cao family. He sat for the provincial examinations over ten times without passing and only found a bookkeeping job late in life. He told me that the Third Madam of the Cao family is the blood sister of Madam Mu. When I had him ask a nephew who works at the Cao residence, I learned that it was indeed the Third Madam Cao who spread the rumors…”
The Cao family had never had much interaction with the Gu family, nor any particular enmity. For them to assist Madam Wen in spreading such gossip—there had to be a reason.
Third Madam Cao and Madam Mu were full-blooded sisters… Which meant these rumors were likely tied to Madam Mu!
Father had refused the marriage proposal from the Mu family because he looked down on Eldest Young Master Mu.
But if Gu Lan’s reputation were damaged, that proposal might become unavoidable.
Eldest Young Master Mu was already eighteen and still unmarried; the Mu family must be desperate. It seemed highly likely they had a hand in this. They wanted Father to bow under the pressure of public opinion and agree to the marriage!
Jinchao laughed aloud, drawing curious looks from Tong Mama and Qingpu. It was rare to see their young lady laugh so freely.
She waved her hand, smiling brightly.
“This Mu family is truly desperate! They can’t wait to marry off someone, anyone they can snatch! If Gu Lan ends up married into such a family… how amusing it would be.”
At least now she wouldn’t have to trouble herself with plotting to make the marriage happen.
If Gu Lan married Eldest Young Master Mu, it would be a fine thing. Eldest Young Master Mu might not be brilliant, but he had a good temperament and a steady nature. His future prospects might yet improve. And more importantly, with Gu Lan married off, there would be no more scheming behind her back, and Song Yiniang would be forced to behave herself. Her mother could finally recuperate in peace.
She calculated silently— it had already been about a month. From Guizhou to Yanjing, even at a full gallop, it would take at least a month; if the journey was slowed by mountain roads, a month and a half or even two or three months was possible. Still, there was hope now for her mother’s recovery.
Finally, Jinchao instructed Tong Mama, “The innocent need not explain themselves, and the guilty will reveal themselves. Since we were not the ones who spread the rumors, we shall leave them alone.”
Tong Mama bowed and withdrew.
Meanwhile, Song Yiniang only heard of the spreading rumors three days later. When Qiaowei reported that the matter had become impossible to suppress, she closed her eyes tightly, forcing herself to stay calm.
She then ordered, “Send for Gu Lan.”
Qiaowei whispered, “Mistress, the young lady is currently confined by the Master to the study, practicing calligraphy.”
Song Yiniang’s voice turned cold. “Tell them she is going to visit her ‘gravely ill and bedridden’ elder sister!
I refuse to believe anyone would dare stop her.”
Her hands clenched into fists. It was all because of Gu Jinchao! All because of her!
If not for her, how could Lan’er’s reputation have been ruined? And now, with Lan’er’s coming-of-age ceremony concluded but no formal engagement secured— and such rumors flying everywhere— what respectable family would dare propose marriage?
The speed at which these rumors spread was almost uncanny. If someone told her Gu Jinchao wasn’t fanning the flames behind the scenes, she wouldn’t believe it even if she were beaten to death!
Gu Jinchao—since you were so ruthless… then don’t blame me for being heartless in return!