Gu Jinchao gave a cold laugh.
“Yiniang, you of all people should know whether you’ve done it or not. If Mother hadn’t ingested rhubarb by mistake, would her illness have persisted for so long? Over the years, you’ve done no shortage of underhanded things—none of them fit for daylight. Let’s lay it all bare: do you really believe you’ll walk away unscathed? Gu Lan is still young, after all. Most of the things she’s done were carried out under your instructions.”
Song Yiniang stared at Gu Jinchao but said nothing.
Jinchao continued coolly,
“I know exactly what you’re thinking. Even if Mother were to die, you still wouldn’t be promoted to principal wife. You’re doing this… for Sister Lan, aren’t you?”
Her lips curled into a faint smile.
“If Mother were dead, she wouldn’t need to marry.”
At last, a flicker of emotion crossed Song Miaohua’s expression. Her hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, clenched tightly.
Jinchao glanced at that hand and went on,
“I came only to warn you—stop playing your little games. I’ll let this go, since I have no solid evidence this time. But if you ever fall into my hands again, you’d best be careful.”
Song Miaohua finally gave a cold laugh.
“Then blame yourself! You’re the one who ruined Lan’er reputation. If not for that, would I have gone so far as to harm Madam?”
Jinchao looked directly at her.
“You’ve been adding rhubarb to her medicine for over half a year now—and you claim it’s all because of me? Don’t you find that laughable? Perhaps now you’re acting for Sister Lan’s sake, but in the beginning, wasn’t it for the position of principal wife? Haven’t you dreamed of that for years?”
“Yiniang, take care. If you dare to harbor thoughts of harming my mother again, I will never let you off.”
With that, Jinchao offered a faint smile, took her leave, and departed Linyan Pavilion with her maids in tow.
Only then did Qiaowei feel Qingpu release her wrist. She rubbed the sore spot and approached Song Yiniang, speaking softly,
“Yiniang, what will you do now? The young miss barged in here and lorded over us—should we report this to the master?”
Suddenly, Song Miaohua smiled gently.
“Of course we’ll report it. Go fetch the He and Deer in Spring cloak I embroidered for the master. We’re going to deliver his birthday gift a little early.”
Qiaowei smiled in agreement and went off.
At that moment, Gu Deshao was at Jing’an Pavilion, listening to Concubine Luo play the pipa. She was known for her musical skill, and the instrument’s mellow tone suited her gentle temperament.
After she finished a piece titled Falling Curtain in Reverse, Gu Deshao smiled and said,
“Xiangshan Jushi once described the pipa of a merchant’s wife: ‘The thick strings clatter like sudden rain; the fine ones whisper like secret talk. Clattering and murmuring intertwined, like pearls, big and small, falling onto a jade plate.’ I must say, that’s quite fitting…”
In the soft candlelight of the study, Luo Su looked upon the handsome, composed Gu Deshao. He smiled at her gently, eyes filled with apparent tenderness. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and blushing, she turned to gaze at the moonlit window.
In a soft voice, she asked,
“I heard the master plays the qin as well. Is that true?”
Gu Deshao chuckled.
“I did study under a great teacher for a few years, but I’m nowhere near as good as Jinchao. Pinxiu once told me my playing was clumsy and unworthy of being heard. She was always blunt like that—you’d probably think so too if you heard me.”
Luo Su was momentarily at a loss for words. Gu Deshao tapped the desk with his fingers.
Though Luo Su was gentle and delicate in appearance, and her temperament beyond reproach, she couldn’t match Song Yiniang in eloquence and wit. When his official duties weighed heavily on his heart, it was Pinxiu who had always comforted him.
He hadn’t seen Song Yiniang for quite some time now, and it truly felt like something was missing.
Just then, Shuiying entered and reported,
“Master, Song Yiniang is waiting for you at Juyliu Pavilion. She’s already been there for two hours. Would you like to see her?”
Gu Deshao frowned.
“Why did she suddenly come?”
Shuiying shook her head.
“I don’t know, but she’s been standing under the eaves this whole time, refusing to leave. The night air is damp and cold—it wouldn’t do for her to fall ill. After all, there’s still no one else handling the preparations for your birthday…”
Gu Deshao said nothing for a while.
Luo Su grew uneasy and gently tugged at his hand.
“Master, will you go? Yiniang has upset you for so long… and it’s already so late…”
Gu Deshao sighed.
“Yes, it is late.”
He stood. Shuiying immediately stepped forward and draped a sandal-colored lu silk cloak over his shoulders.
Gu Deshao offered Luo Su a soft reassurance,
“I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”
And with that, he turned and left.
Shuiying looked back and offered Luo Su a polite bow.
“Yiniang, I take my leave.”
Luo Su watched as Shuiying followed Gu Deshao out the door, her hands clenched into fists.
Qingyi whispered beside her,
“Yiniang, that Shuiying is truly overstepping. Always finding excuses to lure the master away. She’s just a chambermaid, yet she acts like a concubine. You should mention this to the young miss…”
But Luo Su only felt a deep sense of desolation. She shook her head and said,
“I only have the young miss’s protection because I’m useful against Song Yiniang. Let it be. Don’t trouble her with this.”
She sent Qingyi off to draw water for washing. She knew full well—Gu Deshao would not be returning tonight.
When Gu Deshao arrived, he said nothing to Song Miaohua at the entrance and walked directly inside.
She followed him into the west side room and helped him out of his cloak. He still hadn’t spoken a word.
Song Miaohua gently caressed the cloak and said,
“This cloak was one I made for you. It’s old now, yet you’re still wearing it.”
Gu Deshao noticed the new cloak she had brought, carefully laid on the tall side table. At last, he asked,
“…You made a new one?”
Song Miaohua signaled Qiaowei to bring it over.
“It’s embroidered with the He and Deer in Spring pattern. I remember you never liked cloaks that were too plain…”
Looking at the exquisite embroidery, Gu Deshao sighed.
“You’re still the most attentive.”
Song Miaohua had Biyi bring water for washing, and she personally assisted him. Then she spoke of Ji Shi’s illness:
“…Today, the young miss went to Doctor Liu with the medicine, and found rhubarb in Madam’s decoction. That herb is cold in nature—she mustn’t consume it. But Doctor Liu said his prescriptions were sealed and sent straight to Madam, untouched by anyone else. So how it ended up in the medicine is a mystery.”
“I don’t know how, but the young miss came to me, saying I was the one who added it. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry… Madam’s personal maids are the ones who handle her medicine. I’ve never touched it. I’ve always served her with utmost care—why would I try to harm her?”
“So I thought I’d tell you, Master. If the young miss accuses me, so be it. But perhaps there are people in the household who aren’t so clean—maybe someone is trying to harm Madam in secret…”
Gu Deshao fell silent for a long time before finally saying,
“The medicine is taken from Doctor Liu, then passed through the Affairs Office to Xiexiao Courtyard. Unless someone at Xiexiao tried to tamper with it, who else could have done it? …Don’t investigate any further. Ji Shi is always looking for a fuss. She sees I no longer pay her any mind, so she stirs up trouble, even dragging Jinchao into it. Her relapses—what else could they be, if not her attempts to cause a scene?”
He had always disliked Ji Shi’s temperament—always silent, keeping things bottled up until some incident exploded into view, painting her as the pitiful one and eliciting others’ sympathy.
Song Yiniang looked briefly puzzled, but then nodded obediently.
Gu Deshao was pleased by her compliance and shifted the conversation to Gu Lan’s marriage.
“…The Mu family has once again sent a proposal through Assistant Academician Xu of the Hanlin Academy, who also serves as a Langzhong in the Ministry of Rites. What he said made sense. Mu Zhizhai may have a poor reputation, but at least he’s honest. He’s now studying under Lord Mu and making great progress. The match isn’t without merit. After all, Lord Mu holds the post of Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Director Chen now wields great influence. Mu Nian’an is not someone to offend. When you return, speak with Lan. If she agrees, I’ll settle the betrothal.”
Song Yiniang quickly said,
“But Mu Zhizhai’s reputation is dreadful. I heard that last time he…”
She meant to mention the scandalous incident involving horse urine that had become the capital’s laughingstock.
But Gu Deshao cut her off sharply.
“His reputation is bad? And what about Lan? That mess she caused is already the talk of Shian. Even if better families came knocking, it’d be difficult now. She’s already of age—how long are we going to delay this?”
Song Yiniang could only smile weakly.
“I only worry for you, Master. I fear that if he marries Lan, it might bring shame to the Gu family’s name… Let me help you change clothes.”
Gu Deshao gave a noncommittal “Mm.” With that, the matter was considered settled.
Biyi, ever perceptive, quietly withdrew and made her way to Xiexiao Courtyard.
Meanwhile, Xu Mama had just returned from seeing Jinchao.
Jinchao had instructed her that from now on, every batch of medicine delivered by Doctor Liu must be received personally by Xu Mama and locked in the cabinet immediately—no other maid was to touch it. Understanding the gravity of the matter, Xu Mama returned and immediately knelt before Madam Ji.
Ji Shi was startled.
“…What are you doing! After all these decades of service, why act so formally now? Don’t be bound by these master-servant rituals… How could you just kneel like that?”
Xu Mama’s voice quivered.
“It was my negligence that gave others the chance to interfere. I… I feel I’ve let you and the Old Madam down…”
Ji Shi was too weak to pull her up and could only sigh.
“It’s just a life, after all… Get up.”
Xu Mama wiped her tears and rose, helping Ji Shi to sit up against the large embroidered pillow. Ji Shi held her hand tightly and said softly,
“Tonight, Song Miaohua went to see the master… She brought a new cloak embroidered with He and Deer in Spring, and also told him about Chao’er visiting her today. She recounted the whole event…”
Xu Mama was stunned.
“Was it Miss Biyi who told you this?”
Ji Shi nodded with her eyes closed, exhaling a deep breath.
“Can you guess what the master said? He said, ‘Ji Shi is always making a fuss. She knows I ignore her, so she stirs up trouble, even involving Chao’er…’”
Xu Mama tried to comfort her.
“Those words must’ve come from that concubine’s lips. She’s clearly framing us, so it’s no wonder the master misunderstood. Don’t take it to heart, Madam. Everything sounds twisted when it comes from that woman’s mouth—just like how our young miss has been maligned…”
Ji Shi gave a bitter smile. It seemed to cost her great effort.
“These were Gu Deshao’s own words. Tell me… what kind of man have I been married to these past twenty years? That he could… he could say something like that…”
She closed her eyes. For a moment, it was as if she couldn’t catch her breath. Then she slowly exhaled again, but said no more. She merely tightened her grip on Xu Mama’s hand.
Ever since Concubine Yun had died, the master had grown increasingly distant from Madam. And now… they were practically strangers.
Xu Mama thought of Gu Deshao’s cold, detached face toward the woman who had been his wife for decades. Her nose stung with emotion, and she gripped Ji Shi’s hand all the more tightly.