After speaking, Madam Wen took a sip of tea, a flicker of doubt in her heart.

Jinchao had invited her to view the flowers—yet here they were, seated in the west side room drinking tea. And now they were simply chatting. Time was short… She was just about to excuse herself when a tall maid lifted the curtain and entered.

“Miss, the camellias you asked Yuzhu to move to the greenhouse have all been relocated. Only the ones in the flower hall remain.”

Jinchao glanced at Qingpu, who immediately understood.

She had instructed Yuzhu to keep watch outside Madam Li’s quarters and report back immediately if Gu Lan went to visit. Gu Lan’s personality was always to flatter upward and trample downward—if raising herself meant pushing Jinchao down, she would never hesitate. Jinchao was quite curious to hear how she would go about appeasing Madam Li. She also wanted Madam Wen to witness it herself.

“Since the flowers are ready,” Jinchao said with a bright smile, “why not accompany me to the greenhouse?”

Madam Wen, finally reassured, smiled in return. “Then I’m in for a treat.” She turned to Gu Jinrong and asked, “Will the Young Master be joining us?”

Though Jinrong still couldn’t quite bring himself to be friendly with Jinchao, and stood awkwardly off to the side, he wasn’t about to appear aloof either. “I didn’t know Eldest Sister grew camellias. I suppose I ought to take a look.”

Jinchao led them to the greenhouse.

Though the camellias had already bloomed and withered, other flowers were at their peak. The Jianlan and Huilan orchids filled the air with delicate fragrance, and a single Baoyu jasmine plant stood resplendent, its densely layered blossoms like clusters of silk pompons.

Madam Wen was visibly surprised. “Say what you will—that Baoyu jasmine is blooming beautifully.”

Jinchao smiled. “It thrives in warmth and humidity—not easy to raise in Yanjing. I had three pots originally, but despite all my care, only this one survived. Otherwise, I would’ve happily gifted one to you. But if we’re speaking of fine blossoms, the white magnolia behind your quarters and Madam Li’s is quite something. Its fragrance is light and elegant—you can smell it from far away.”

Madam Wen paused. “That’s strange. I haven’t seen a white magnolia there.”

Jinchao laughed. “Ah—I forgot. It’s tucked behind the side hall, just past the lattice wall. Perhaps you didn’t look that way. Shall I show you?”

Madam Wen truly loved white magnolia. It was rarely seen and delicate. She agreed, eager to see it.

Jinchao turned to Jinrong. “If you’re not busy, why not join us?”

Gu Jinrong pressed his lips together. He had only exchanged a few words with Second Sister earlier—he still wanted to speak with her more.

Seeing his hesitation, Jinchao gave a soft laugh. “But if you’d rather not, that’s fine too…”

“…I suppose I might as well,” he said, caught off guard by her expression—so reminiscent of the time she had stood before him in tears, full of quiet despair. The words tumbled from his lips before he could stop them.

Jinchao went ahead with her maids. Madam Wen followed, accompanied by her own. Gu Jinrong walked slightly ahead of them, alone.

“Behind the side quarters, we planted groves of Xiangfei bamboo. Mother always loved the noble virtue of bamboo and thought that if she couldn’t have real mountains for company, then a proper rock garden would suffice. So Father had craftsmen stack Taihu stones into a tall artificial mountain, with a spring drawn through the top to mimic the sound of water cascading down.”

Jinchao pointed to the rocky structure as she spoke. “Later, Father personally inscribed the characters ‘Jiuyi’ onto the stone. They had them carved and polished—meant to pair with the bamboo grove.”

She added with a smile, “They say Emperor Shun’s two consorts, Ehuang and Nüying, searched for him across a thousand miles. When they reached Mount Jiuyi and learned of his death, they wept by the bamboo, their bloodstained tears leaving marks on the stalks. Hence the name Tear Bamboo—or Xiangfei Bamboo.”

Madam Wen marveled at the rockery. “It’s beautifully done.”

A path led from the rock garden to the bamboo grove. Beyond that was the side courtyard, and a narrow trail curved toward the flower hall. A low wall, fitted with carved lattice windows, framed the area, offering glimpses of banana trees and drooping willows beyond—a landscape both secluded and poetic.

Yet no sign of the white magnolia was in sight.

Madam Wen asked curiously, “Was it moved elsewhere?”

Jinchao thought for a moment, then clapped her hands lightly. “Ah! I remember—it’s behind the flower hall, right by the lattice window!”

They passed through a thicket of Xiangfei bamboo and rounded the flower hall. There it stood: the white magnolia tree, its pale green buds nestled between glossy leaves. It had yet to bloom.

Madam Wen sighed in disappointment. “Still not in flower…”

But Gu Jinrong whispered, “I think I hear voices.”

Madam Wen gave him a surprised glance, then strained to listen. Sure enough, muffled voices carried clearly through the thin wall.

“…Aunt, you needn’t be offended. That’s just how Madam Wen is. She adores lively gatherings and glittering things—always talking about silver and whatnot. Don’t mind her fawning over Old Madam Ji. Frankly, when she said those things about me, I wasn’t too pleased either…”

Madam Wen’s lips pressed into a hard line.

She motioned for Jinchao to step aside and pushed back the magnolia leaves to peer through the lattice window.

There sat Gu Lan and Madam Li, facing each other. Gu Lan’s back was turned, but Madam Li’s expression was clearly visible.

“I know your worth, Aunt. Everyone in Yanjing praises my two elder cousins as virtuous and graceful. I’ve always preferred you. After all, Uncle holds higher rank than Second Aunt’s husband. If you were to insert my hairpin, I’d feel truly honored. But Madam Wen got to my mother first, so it seemed more tactful to let her take the role… My mother had no choice.”

Madam Li sneered. “She’s always scrambling for attention… Always pushing herself into the spotlight.”

Madam Wen could barely breathe. Her chest tightened as if a stone had lodged in her throat.

And when it dawned on her what exactly had been said—that tightness flared into a surge of white-hot rage.

Oh, Gu Lan, Madam Wen seethed inwardly. Was it I who insisted on going to your mother and offering to be your hairpin inserter? Was it not you and your mother who stood before me lamenting your hardships—how you suffered under Eldest Miss Gu’s oppression? It was out of sympathy that I agreed to help. I even said I’d find you a good marriage!

And now this? Smiling to my face while slandering me behind my back? Whispering to that wretched Song Miaoying, speaking ill of me in secret?

Jinchao, standing quietly beside her, thought: Just as I suspected. Gu Lan really was trying to drive a wedge between Madam Wen and Madam Li.

She leaned in and whispered, “Lan’er’s words… how can she speak of you like that? This is too much—should I go in and say something to her?”

Gu Jinrong, who had been listening too, looked stunned. He didn’t know all the details and couldn’t judge who was right or wrong—but from Madam Wen’s clenched jaw and sharp glare, it was clear Gu Lan’s words had crossed a line.

But Madam Wen was no naïve woman—she had weathered over a decade in the inner court. She pressed down on Jinchao’s hand and said coldly, “Not yet. I want to hear what else she dares say about me.”

Inside, Gu Lan continued in a voice soft and calm:

“Aunt, you mustn’t blame Madam Wen too harshly. She is what she is—fond of drama and drawn to gossip. It’s her nature. She fawns over Old Madam Ji, constantly trying to impress her. To be honest, when she made those remarks about me, I was quite upset…”

At this point, Madam Li’s face had gone rigid.

“She really said that?” Madam Li’s voice trembled with fury. People could tolerate many things—but not when someone touched a sore spot. That kind of pain made people lash out like a cat with its tail stepped on.

Gu Lan’s voice remained serene. “Aunt, my mother did try to persuade her not to repeat idle rumors. She told her not to believe what the streets were saying—that you and Uncle have always been respectful and dignified. But you know what Madam Wen is like. She thrives on these inner-court tales, always meddling in matters that aren’t hers. And once she gets a hold of something, she won’t keep it to herself…”

Madam Li gritted her teeth. “I knew it. That woman would absolutely do such a thing.” Madam Wen’s tendency to chat about others’ family affairs was well-known. Most ignored it—but Madam Li had never approved. Now, her disgust boiled over. “Shameless gossipmonger!”

Gu Lan quickly grasped her hand. “Please don’t be angry. My mother really tried to reason with her. It’s not worth upsetting yourself over someone like her.”

Outside the lattice window, Madam Wen’s temples pulsed with fury.

What a two-faced viper! Such a calm, composed little creature—and yet so vicious beneath the surface. Just yesterday she looked at me with those pitiful eyes, and I, fool that I was, even defended her to Eldest Miss Gu. Believing she had truly been wronged! I even said I’d find her a good match…

What blindness. What utter blindness.

Though burning with rage, Madam Wen remained silent, still listening.

Gu Lan continued comforting Madam Li until her mood finally began to ease.

Madam Li sipped her tea and sighed, “It’s not worth my anger. Knowing the kind of woman she is, why should I waste my energy? But one thing still troubles me—why did your father choose Gu Jinchao to be your ceremonial sponsor? With her character, her conduct—how is she fit for such a role?”

At this, Gu Lan sighed deeply. “Do you think I chose her willingly? It was Father’s decision. Of course I know what kind of person Gu Jinchao is. She’s nearly a year past the age for her own hairpin ceremony, and still no respectable family dares propose. She’s become the laughingstock of the Gu family. So what if she’s pretty? What use is that?”

Madam Li asked, “I’ve only heard rumors—what exactly has she done?”

Gu Lan gave a pained expression. “There are things I’d rather not repeat. She bullies me all the time—fine, I’ve grown used to that. But she once beat her maid so badly the poor girl went mad and was cast out of the household. She forced our father to take a concubine. When my younger brother wanted to stay home to care for his ailing mother instead of going off to study in Qifang Hutong, she couldn’t stand it and forced him away from his mother’s sickbed…”