Concubine Du’s hands trembled. Only after a long while did she manage to ask, with difficulty, “Miss… what do you mean by this…?” Jinchao drew out the jade pomegranate from the brocade box, her fingers brushing over the warm, polished…
Jinchao told Caifu to light a censer of mint incense. The cool fragrance slowly uncurled through the room as her fingers tapped lightly upon the desk. Xu Mama dismissed the other maids. She set another lamp alight, opened the brocade…
Gu Lan carried in the herb pillow and went to see Concubine Song. Concubine Song was lying in the inner room upon a red-lacquered qian-gong bed, its lattice carved with a thousand delicate cuts. A maid fed her medicine, sweetened…
After serving tea, Jinchao led Mr. Xiao to the Linyan Pavilion. Concubine Song lay on the heated brick bed by the window, leaning against a once-elegant, now slightly worn, green brocade pillow. Her complexion was pale, and beside her, Caoying…
Concubine Song was beset by a strange abdominal pain. Two of the most renowned physicians in the capital had been summoned to the residence, yet neither could determine the cause of her illness. All day long, Concubine Song wailed and…
Song Miaohua’s gaze drifted to her belly and softened. She stroked the still-flat curve and murmured, “It’s all your mother’s fault—your mother is useless. Child, bear with me… your mother has no other way…” Her eyes reddened at once; her…
When Gu Lan stepped out, Tong Mama hurriedly slipped into the main hall to avoid her. Only after Gu Lan had gone did she emerge again. She had witnessed the scene just now and could not help but sigh. No…
Before long, the heavy rain finally ceased. Jinchao instructed Tong Mama to go to Jingfang Pavilion and recount to Gu Jinrong all that had transpired yesterday regarding Steward Sun and Yuxiang. Jinchao herself had begun to reflect on her past…
After Nanny Xu left, Gu Deshao remained silent for a long time. The anger had passed, leaving behind only exhaustion—his eyes vacant, as if all the light had drained from him. In truth, what Concubine Song had once said was…
Steward Sun’s expression changed drastically. Impossible. Wasn’t Concubine Song only recently confirmed to be pregnant? How could she have been confined under guard, with no one even tending to her? Jinchao said coolly,“Perhaps Steward Sun is unaware—my mother’s death was…