Jinchao clenched her fists in fury.
Concubine Song had truly crossed the line—trying to use this moment to frame her mother? Her audacity knew no bounds.
It was her own fault as well. She should never have hesitated due to lack of evidence. She ought to have torn the pretense away and brought it straight to her father’s attention. Let’s see if Concubine Song would still have had the upper hand then!
A surge of anger and guilt welled up at once. Jinchao realized now—she had underestimated Concubine Song far too much. Of course, she had always known her father was cold toward her mother… but she hadn’t expected such deep resentment to linger between them.
“This matter has already passed, Young Miss. Please don’t upset yourself,” Biyi said, after a brief pause. “That’s not the reason I came to you tonight.”
She hesitated a moment before continuing, “Earlier this evening, Concubine Song brought a woman in her thirties or forties into Juyliu Pavilion. I thought it strange right away, so I lingered near the entrance and eavesdropped… You wouldn’t believe it—turns out that woman used to be one of Concubine Yun’s maids…”
She went on to recount how this maid, Yuping, had accused Ji Shi of deliberately causing Concubine Yun’s death.
As Jinchao listened, her mind grew colder with every word.
“What did Father do after she said all this?” she asked calmly.
Biyi thought for a moment before answering, “I couldn’t hear everything clearly… but I believe Master swept a tea set to the floor in anger. It gave me quite a fright.”
Seeing Jinchao’s grim expression, Qingpu whispered, “Miss… what do you plan to do?”
“…Father believed her,” Jinchao murmured.
That kind of fury could only come from belief. She sat motionless on the kang bed, her mind racing. Since Biyi had said her father would visit her mother tomorrow, she still had time to warn her. If he confronted her directly with no warning, her mother might be too shocked and upset to respond clearly.
But… where had this Yuping come from? Where had Concubine Song found her? And why was she willing to accuse her mother?
Moreover… if what Yuping said was true, then Concubine Yun’s death hadn’t been an accident. Someone had deliberately tampered with her medicine. And that person… could not have been her mother.
Jinchao knew Ji Shi better than anyone. How could she possibly harm a maid who had grown up with her?
If it wasn’t her mother… then who was it?
Who, back then, would have wanted to kill Concubine Yun?
Regardless, she had to find this maid named Yuping.
But she couldn’t act alone. She hadn’t known the details of what had happened all those years ago. She needed to speak with Xu Mama first.
Having made up her mind, Jinchao told Biyi to return to Juyliu Pavilion and act as if nothing had happened. She then instructed Caifu and Baiyun to guard the Chuihua Gate, in case Concubine Song tried to sneak the woman out in the night. Then, taking Qingpu with her, she headed straight to her mother’s residence.
Her mother had already gone to bed. Xu Mama was keeping night watch on a small couch behind the screen in the inner chamber. Hearing the knock at the door, she rose, put on a robe, and opened it—only to see Gu Jinchao, fully dressed, standing outside.
She lowered her voice, startled. “Young Miss… at this hour…”
“Xu Mama, it’s already late—if it weren’t urgent, I wouldn’t have come.” Jinchao spoke with composure. “Go and find Xue Sixteen. Have him guard the Chuihua Gate. If anyone tries to leave, stop them. And if you see a woman in her thirties or forties you don’t recognize, bring her here at once.”
She feared that Caifu and Baiyun might not be able to stop someone alone. If this Yuping posed a threat, Concubine Song would surely try to get rid of her before morning to avoid exposure.
Xu Mama was momentarily stunned. Was the Young Miss asking the guards to lock down the inner gate and seize someone? Since when was that something a girl from the inner residence would dare to do?
“Young Miss, what is going on…” Xu Mama asked cautiously.
Jinchao gave Qingpu a slight nod. “Go with Xu Mama and explain everything to her on the way. Hurry, before they have time to slip away.”
Seeing how serious she was, Xu Mama quickly threw on her cloak and left with Qingpu to find Xue Sixteen.
Jinchao took a deep breath, then gently pushed open the lattice screen and stepped inside the inner chamber.
Ji Shi was asleep. Her frail face rested upon a silk pillow filled with cassia seed husks. Even in sleep, she looked uneasy, murmuring as she dreamed, though Jinchao couldn’t make out the words. Her mother rarely slept peacefully at night.
But this was something she had to be told. Her mother needed time to prepare before her father came.
Jinchao decided to wake her. She only touched her shoulder lightly, and Ji Shi opened her eyes at once. Her gaze shifted, and when she saw her daughter, she smiled and pulled her into her arms.
“My little Chao’er… have you wandered into my dreams?”
Jinchao caught the faint scent of medicine on her mother’s body and felt her nose prickle with emotion.
“Mother, it’s really me. Let me help you sit up—there’s something important I must tell you.” She fetched a large pillow and settled her mother against it, tucking the embroidered quilt carefully around her. Sitting at the bedside, she began quietly, “Please don’t get upset. It’s not worth the anger.”
Ji Shi smiled gently. “You sound like you’re scolding a child…”
But Jinchao couldn’t return the smile. Holding her mother’s hand, she said softly, “Earlier today… or rather, yesterday now—it’s past midnight—Concubine Song brought back one of Concubine Yun’s old maids. Her name is Yuping. Do you remember her?”
Ji Shi let out a long sigh. “Yes… I remember. At the time, Concubine Yun died in childbirth, and Cuiping, who had prepared the medicine, was beaten to death with sticks. Yuping was dismissed from the household. I felt sorry for Cuiping and wanted to plead for her, but your father refused to grant her mercy. Is Yuping… doing well now?”
Jinchao nodded. “She’s doing all right. But this time, she came back to speak about Concubine Yun’s death. She claims Concubine Yun went into early labor because she accidentally consumed a decoction meant to induce childbirth—and then died from complications. But according to Yuping, there was no way the medicines could’ve been mixed up. She believes someone deliberately switched them. There weren’t many people entering Concubine Yun’s kitchen back then, and so… she suspects it was you. Father seems to have believed her—he’s planning to come question you tomorrow. Mother, please think carefully. Was there anyone else, besides you, who had access to that kitchen? Could someone else have switched the medicine?”
Ji Shi fell silent for a long time. She seemed not to have processed what she’d heard—or perhaps she was deep in thought, swept away by old memories.
Jinchao gently squeezed her hand, and at last, Ji Shi shook her head. “That small kitchen was located near the covered laundry behind Concubine Yun’s quarters. Besides me and the two maids, not even the rough-hand servants were allowed inside.”
Jinchao pressed further, “Then that’s exactly why she dares to accuse you. But what she says might not be trustworthy. For all we know, she could be the one who switched the medicine and is trying to shift the blame onto you. When Father comes to question you tomorrow, can you say this? Whatever you do, don’t admit to anything. This whole situation is strange and full of holes. The fact that Concubine Song somehow found Yuping again is suspicious enough. I haven’t figured out how she did it yet, but tomorrow, you must handle this carefully—and most importantly, do not get upset. Do you understand?”
Ji Shi nodded, then gave a faint smile. “Look at you… giving lessons to your own mother, even though you’re still so young. But I understand. I truly do.”
Hearing that brought Jinchao a measure of relief.
But suddenly, voices rose outside—hurried, chaotic.
Jinchao stood and went to the door. There she saw Qingpu gripping a woman tightly by the collar, while Xue Sixteen and another guard had two servant girls in tow, their arms twisted behind their backs. Xu Mama stood to the side, her face stormy.
“…Just as you suspected, Young Miss,” Xu Mama said in a low voice.
As it turned out, Concubine Song had grown nervous and impatient. Fearing something might go wrong if they waited until morning, she’d tried to send Yuping away during the night. Two strong maids from her quarters had been ordered to escort the woman out. But when they reached the Chuihua Gate, they were stopped by Caifu and Baiyun. The maids were brute laborers with heavy hands, and Caifu and Baiyun had been struggling—until Xu Mama and Qingpu arrived with Xue Sixteen.
How could mere maids resist a trained guard? They were easily subdued and brought over.
“Young Miss, what shall we do with them?” asked Xue Sixteen. By now, he had developed a measure of genuine respect for Gu Jinchao.
Jinchao replied with poise, “Bind those two and lock them in the tool shed. Bring Yuping to the eastern side room—I’ll question her myself.” Then, turning to Xu Mama, she added, “My mother is awake. She likely won’t be able to sleep again tonight. Please stay with her and keep her company.”
Xu Mama nodded firmly. “Leave it to me, Young Miss. I understand.”
She, too, was full of shock and anger. To think… that Concubine Song would dare go so far as to frame Ji Shi. A concubine, acting with such audacity—it was intolerable!
Yuping whimpered through her tears as she was dragged into the eastern side room by Qingpu. Her hair was in disarray, her entire body trembling as she knelt shakily on the polished oak floor.
Qingpu stood at her side, fingers twitching slightly. If Yuping so much as thought about turning to run, she’d have her pinned to the ground in an instant.
Jinchao sat down in the grand armchair and observed her in silence for a long time.
Judging by her age, the woman couldn’t be older than thirty, yet she looked worn and withered. She cowered so low she didn’t even dare raise her head—clearly, the years had not been kind to her. Jinchao softened her tone.
“There’s no need to be afraid. I must have seen you when I was very young. I’m the eldest daughter of the Gu family. Were you truly a maid who served Concubine Yun?”
Yuping was utterly terrified. Everything she had told Gu Deshao was true—at most, Concubine Song had only told her to speak with more certainty. Fearing a confrontation the next day, Concubine Song had tried to smuggle her out during the night. When Caifu and Baiyun caught her, she’d been scared out of her wits.
Then she’d been hauled in by a strong maid with no chance to resist. Voices swirled around her, but she hadn’t dared look at anyone.
The eldest daughter of the Gu family? Then this must be the child Ji Shi had taken to Tongzhou.
Yuping looked up—and saw a young girl of fifteen or sixteen seated before her, dressed in a deep crimson brocade jacket with elegant floral patterns, and a skirt of moonlit white silk in eight panels. Her hair was arranged in a simple style, parted and looped behind her ears, adorned only with red coral beads at the lobes. There was nothing ostentatious in her appearance, yet her beauty was striking, and she exuded the air of nobility.
“Greetings, Young Miss… yes,” Yuping murmured, “I once served Concubine Yun.”
Jinchao paused, then asked, “I heard you accused my mother of poisoning Concubine Yun. Is that truly what you believe—or is it a lie Concubine Song told you to say?”
Yuping waved her hands frantically. “I swear it’s the truth! Concubine Song didn’t make me say anything. I… I just feel like… it couldn’t have been anyone else… there’s an eight or nine chance it was Madam who switched the medicine!”
Jinchao’s tone turned icy. “If you’re not telling the truth, the maid beside you won’t go easy on you.”
Yuping dropped to the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. “No matter how miserable my life has been, I would never falsely accuse another!”
Seeing how stubborn she remained, Qingpu stepped up beside Jinchao and said coldly, “Young Miss, perhaps we ought to apply a little pain. She acts weak, but her mouth is hard. People like her won’t speak the truth unless they suffer first…”
Of course, Qingpu had said it loudly—just for Yuping to hear.