Gu Deshao had just finished seeing off his guests.
Even Lord Mu had come to his birthday celebration. After several rounds of wine, he insisted on calling Gu Deshao his in-law. Gu Deshao was anything but pleased. If it weren’t for his daughter’s ruined reputation, he’d never have considered marrying her into Mu Zhizhai’s household.
But he also feared no one else would come to propose, and so he perfunctorily replied, “…Let’s talk again in a few months.”
Mu Nian’an gave a loud hiccup and leaned in to whisper, “…You don’t know this, but Third Master Chen recently followed Lord Zhang to a private audience with His Majesty. After they returned, he summoned the Crown Prince and spoke with him for a long while. When he came out, his face was stiff as a board. I suspect… the Emperor doesn’t have long left. And once he passes, Lord Zhang is sure to bring Third Master Chen into the Inner Council. That’ll make me the Chief of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. You see? There’s real benefit in this marriage alliance!”
Startled, Gu Deshao quickly clamped his hand over Lord Mu’s mouth. There were still guests about! How could he blurt out such treasonous things in public? The man was clearly drunk beyond sense.
He immediately called over a servant to escort Lord Mu home.
If he wants to ramble drunkenly, he can do it in his own house. If someone hears it here, I’ll be the one to pay the price!
By the time the final guests departed, dusk had already settled.
Gu Deshao rubbed his brow. He’d had far too much to drink and felt unwell. A cool breeze sobered him slightly as a servant helped him back to the inner courtyard. Mu Nian’an’s careless words were heavy with implication. For fifth-rank officials like them, who seldom had access to court, news from within the palace was always late and uncertain. But if what he said was true, it could be critical.
If the Emperor really dies… then Lin Xianzhong, my mentor, may never ascend—and my own career would be in jeopardy.
With a sigh, Gu Deshao made his way to Juyliu Pavilion.
Concubine Song had been waiting for him for some time. When she saw him arrive, she helped him wash his face and brought him a cup of tea to sober up.
Settling into the high-backed armchair, he finally felt some measure of ease, when Concubine Song spoke gently: “Master, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Without opening his eyes, Gu Deshao replied, “Tell me tomorrow. I’m exhausted.”
She smiled faintly and began to knead his temples.
“Then allow me to speak of something more domestic. Second Young Miss’s maid, Ziling, has recently married. It just so happened that while she was awaiting her wedding outside, she ran into a maid who used to serve Lady Yun. Do you recall a girl named Yuping? When she heard Ziling was from the Gu household, she spoke at length with her…”
Gu Deshao finally opened his eyes. “Why bring this up now?”
Concubine Song took a step back and knelt on the ground.
“Master, what I’m about to say may offend Madam. I beg your forgiveness first.”
Gu Deshao studied her for a moment. Only then did he notice that she hadn’t brought Qiao Wei with her today, but instead a woman around forty years of age, who now knelt as well and bowed deeply.
“Master Gu, this humble woman is Yuping, once a maid at Lady Yun’s side.”
His brows furrowed. Concubine Song was never careless. To bring someone like this into his presence, it could only mean something serious. A former maid of Yun Xiang? What is she trying to say?
“Speak,” he said at last.
Encouraged, Concubine Song continued: “This is Yuping, who once served Lady Yun. She mentioned the truth behind Lady Yun’s death while speaking with Ziling. The matron who accompanied Ziling on her wedding heard it and was deeply shocked—she brought it to me. I thought on it long and hard and didn’t know whether to share it with you. But in the end, something this serious must not be kept from you. That’s why I had the matron find Yuping and bring her here.”
At the words truth behind Lady Yun’s death, Gu Deshao sat up abruptly and stepped forward.
After a long silence, he asked, “Lady Yun died from complications during childbirth. What truth could there be?”
Concubine Song quickly replied, “I dare not speak for myself. Let Yuping tell it—she saw it with her own eyes.”
Already shaken by Gu Deshao’s presence, Yuping stammered: “Lady Yun’s early labor… it was because of a decoction to induce birth. Master, you knew that much. But—but the medicine to stabilize the fetus and the one to induce labor were stored in two separate cabinets. How could Cuiping have confused them?”
“…Back then, aside from Cuiping and myself, Madam often visited Lady Yun’s small kitchen as well. She… she said it was out of concern for Lady Yun’s meals and would frequently go check what she was eating. Sometimes, she would stay inside for a very long time…”
Yuping glanced up cautiously—Gu Deshao’s face was already a thundercloud. His hand, clenched into a fist, rested stiffly at his side.
Her heart pounded with even greater fear, but she continued just as Concubine Song had instructed: “Since the medicine couldn’t have been confused, and Cuiping wasn’t the one who made the mistake, then… then the only possibility is that it was Madam who swapped them. When Cuiping died, she cried out for justice—loudly—but no one listened. She truly didn’t give the wrong medicine… it was someone who switched the contents of the two cabinets…”
Gu Deshao’s mind went blank.
The two maids who served Lady Yun had both been assigned by Ji Shi. He had suspected Ji Shi at the time—but only vaguely. He had eventually dismissed the thought, believing that, with her nature, she couldn’t possibly have done such a thing.
Back then, he had cherished Yun Xiang to a degree that eclipsed all others. She had even urged him to spend more time with his wife. And although he sat by Ji Shi’s side, his heart had long belonged to Yun Xiang.
Ji Shi had seen it. She said nothing, but he could tell—she was deeply unhappy.
He had once loved Ji Shi, loved her sincerely. When he proposed marriage, it had been wholehearted. But she had brought a maid with her—Yun Xiang—and the more time he spent with Yun Xiang, the more he came to admire her gentleness and grace. It was a quiet warmth, unlike Ji Shi’s—whose calm demeanor always carried a trace of pride.
Yun Xiang had once served Ji Shi with great care. When Ji Shi was pregnant and gave birth to Jinchao, it was Yun Xiang who rushed to soothe the baby’s cries in the middle of the night. Any time Ji Shi felt unwell, Yun Xiang was the most anxious of all. And when little Jinchao was sent away to Tongzhou, it was Yun Xiang who wept the hardest.
In the end, she died in his arms—her face deathly pale, her blood soaking through the patterned silk quilt beneath her.
He had known Ji Shi disliked his closeness with Yun Xiang… but never imagined she would go so far as to harm her.
As the memories came flooding back, fury surged through him. His hands trembled.
Drawing a deep breath, he asked, “You… why didn’t you speak up back then?”
Yuping’s voice trembled as her mind returned to that horrifying time. No matter how she cried, no matter how she begged, the rod continued to fall on Cuiping—merciless, relentless. Cuiping had curled into herself, trembling, trying to lessen the pain, but it was useless.
“Madam treated us kindly back then. We… we didn’t want to bring harm upon her.”
When she finished, Gu Deshao slowly closed his eyes.
Silence fell over Juyliu Pavilion. It was deep into the night. Outside, the bamboo rustled quietly in the wind.
Suddenly, he swept a set of blue-and-white porcelain tea ware off the table. It crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
Even Concubine Song jumped at the sound. But in her heart, she understood—she had struck Gu Deshao’s deepest wound.
“Good… good…” he muttered twice, a fierce smile curling his lips. “I had no idea she was truly capable of such a thing!”
Concubine Song whispered, “Master… then… what should we do? Perhaps… perhaps it’s best to let it go. Madam is in poor health now, and Lady Yun’s death… it’s long past. Besides… today is your birthday…”
Gu Deshao laughed coldly. “I thought she hadn’t prepared me a birthday gift this year. Turns out this was it.”
He grieved for Lady Yun, yes—but even more, he grieved for Ji Shi.
How had she come to this? How had she become the very thing I once despised?
Where had that soft-spoken girl gone—the one who blushed when she smiled at me the day I proposed?
“Let it go? How could I possibly let this go!”
He exhaled and closed his eyes. “It’s late. Take Yuping and go. I’ll speak with her myself tomorrow.”
This matter… only he could resolve it.
Yuping and Concubine Song were no longer involved.
Meanwhile, Jinchao had just returned from her mother’s quarters. Madam Ji’s appetite had grown worse of late, and only the food Jinchao made in the small kitchen could tempt her to eat. Tonight, at least, she had eaten a bit more.
Back in Qingtong Courtyard, after washing up, Jinchao sat down to make a pair of shoes and socks for her mother—embroidered with a delicate orchid motif.
Qingpu lit two lamps for her. Holding a small embroidery hoop, Jinchao slowly stitched the orchids. Outside, Yuzhu and Xiuqu whispered quietly to one another.
Qingpu chuckled. “…The grapes are almost ripe. Yuzhu has Xiuqu checking them every day.”
Moments later, Xiuqu lifted the curtain and entered, bowing. “Miss, Biyi from Juyliu Pavilion would like to see you.”
Jinchao remembered Biyi as one of her mother’s maids and nodded with a smile. “Let her in.”
Biyi entered quickly, bowed, and said, “Young Miss, I serve in Juyliu Pavilion—Madam personally appointed me. I should have gone to her with this first, but the last time I reported something, it only upset her. I hesitated for a long time… but in the end, the matter was urgent, and I came straight to you.”
Jinchao frowned. “Last time? What did you say that upset my mother?”
Biyi explained, “A few days ago, Concubine Song came to deliver a cloak to the Master. She accused you of discovering rhubarb in Madam’s medicine and assumed it was her doing—so she confronted her directly. She wept bitterly. After hearing her side, the Master blamed Madam instead… said she was being troublesome and stirring up unrest…”
Jinchao stood in shock. She set the embroidery hoop on the high table and her voice turned cold.
“She said that?”
I didn’t even go to Father about the rhubarb, because I lacked solid proof. And yet Concubine Song took the opportunity to cause trouble?
And Father… he blamed Mother instead?
Juju’s Note:
Oops, I’m late! 😅
I’m sorry for the late update on DBB. To make it up to you, I’ve released two chapters instead of just one. Thank you for your patience and continued support!