DBB – Chapter 034: Hidden Manipulations

Jinchao did not continue questioning her mother. Instead, after returning to Qingtong Courtyard, she summoned Tong Mama for an inquiry. Tong Mama had accompanied her mother to the Gu family many years ago and was well-versed in the household affairs.

After pondering for a moment, Tong Mama finally said, “Strictly speaking, Concubine Yun did not exactly die from childbirth…”

“Not exactly?” Jinchao frowned. “What do you mean?”

Tong Mama nodded. “When Concubine Yun was eight months pregnant, she mistakenly ingested a decoction meant to induce labor. Normally, she only drank tonics to stabilize the pregnancy, so no one understood how a careless maid could have made such a grave error. In theory, as long as Concubine Yun delivered smoothly, she would have been fine, requiring only some postpartum recuperation. But misfortune compounded misfortune—she suffered a difficult labor and hemorrhaged severely. In the end, neither mother nor child survived. That is why I said it was not exactly just a case of death in childbirth.”

Jinchao thought for a moment and found it suspicious. “Why would there be labor-inducing medicine in the residence at all?”

Tong Mama continued, “Concubine Yun and her two sisters were from Jiangnan. At the time, a renowned physician from Hangzhou, Su Qi, was invited to oversee her pregnancy. The master believed that since the bodies of northerners and southerners differed, it would be better for Su Qi to tend to her rather than a physician from Northern Zhili. Since it was inconvenient for Su Qi to travel back and forth, he not only left behind the stabilizing tonics but also pre-prepared the labor-inducing medicine, fearing that he might not make it in time when Concubine Yun went into labor.”

Jinchao tapped her fingers on the desk thoughtfully before asking, “What happened to the maid who made the mistake?”

Tong Mama’s voice lowered. “The master ordered her to be beaten to death with wooden rods, and her body was later discarded at the mass grave. Another maid who was close to her secretly planned to bury her properly, but when she arrived at the mass grave, she found that wild dogs had already torn the corpse apart… That maid was later released from the household upon reaching marriageable age, and from then on, no other servants in the Gu household knew of this incident.”

Jinchao dismissed Tong Mama and sat on the heated brick bed, cradling a hand warmer in thought.

Seeing her silence, Qingpu hesitated before asking, “Miss suspects that Concubine Yun’s death was not natural?”

Jinchao slowly shook her head. “Not necessarily. This may very well have been a coincidence.” She was merely accustomed to suspicion. In her past life, after marrying Third Master Chen, his three concubines had been anything but passive, constantly scheming and fighting for favor. The inner courtyard of the Chen family was even more treacherous, with First Master and Second Master’s households filled with endless power struggles. She had seen it all.

Jinchao decided to let the matter rest and instead smiled at Qingpu. “Aren’t you going to the banquet? I saw that Baiyun and Caifu have already left.”

Qingpu shook her head. “I would rather not join the commotion… Besides, someone must stay by your side.”

Jinchao lazily leaned against the large embroidered pillow. “You should go and have a look. Whether I have someone with me or not doesn’t matter. Besides, Yuzhu and Yutong are still outside. You have never had close friends among the maids here… Take this opportunity to socialize.”

Qingpu was naturally reserved and did not enjoy mingling.

After some thought, she did not wish to refuse Jinchao’s kindness, so she smiled and said, “Then I shall go and see. If I get any wedding sweets, I will bring some back for you.”

Jinchao nodded and called for Yuzhu to tend to the fire.

The banquet was set by the lakeside pavilion. As Qingpu left Qingtong Courtyard and followed the cobblestone path toward the pavilion, she passed by Jingfang Pavilion and saw Gu Jinrong stepping out with Qingxiu. Just as she was about to step forward to greet and pay respects to the young master, she noticed that Gu Lan’s maid, Ziling, was approaching from the opposite side at the same time, coincidentally meeting Gu Jinrong.

Qingpu hesitated mid-step.

Ziling seemed to be speaking to Gu Jinrong…

Beside them stood a rock garden made of Taihu stones.

Qingpu had once trained her footwork, wearing twenty-pound iron sandbags while practicing light and silent movements. Over time, she had become as light as a swallow, able to leap three feet higher than ordinary people.

Curious about what Ziling and the young master were discussing, she swiftly scaled the rock garden with ease and crouched behind it to listen.

“…Sister Ziling, why are you coming from the lakeside pavilion? Did Second Sister send you to deliver a message?” It was the young master’s voice.

Qingpu’s lips twitched slightly—Young Master was never this polite to the maids.

Ziling replied with a smile, “Young Master hasn’t heard? The master has taken a new concubine, and they are holding a banquet by the lake. All the reputable maids and senior servants were invited.”

Gu Jinrong frowned. “A concubine? I haven’t heard anything about this.”

Ziling chuckled. “None of us knew either! According to Mama Zhao, this concubine was brought from Taihe County by the Eldest Miss. She was originally engaged, deeply in love with her betrothed, and on the verge of marriage. But Eldest Miss forcibly took her away, breaking them apart and bringing her to the Gu residence.”

Gu Jinrong was unaware of what Jinchao had done in Tongzhou—he had been too occupied discussing academic essays with his cousins.

His brows furrowed deeply. “Breaking up an engagement? Why would she do that?”

Ziling shook her head. “I do not know. I only overheard Mama Zhao mention it… Song Yiniang has been unable to sleep well for several nights because of this. I suspect that the Eldest Miss, unhappy with Song Yiniang’s growing favor, deliberately stirred up trouble for her. You know how she has been at odds with Second Miss lately… Eldest Miss has always been arrogant. Initially, the master refused, but in the end, how could he go against her wishes…”

Qingpu, hidden behind the rock garden, was left utterly speechless—this Ziling was outright slandering the young lady!

Gu Jinrong was even more shocked. “She, a young lady of the inner chambers… actually helped Father take a concubine!”

He had studied the classics and believed that women should observe proper conduct—obedient to their fathers, husbands, and sons. He had never encountered a noblewoman as unruly as Gu Jinchao. This was excessive. Just because she disliked someone, was she really capable of forcing her father to take a concubine? And to break apart an engaged couple? He had never seen such a domineering lady from a prestigious family!

Ziling, having said enough, did not continue. She bowed and said, “I am merely speculating, Young Master. Please do not take it as truth, nor mention that I told you this, or I will be in trouble… I still have errands to run for Second Miss, so I shall take my leave.”

Gu Jinrong nodded, allowing her to go, before letting out a heavy sigh. “My elder sister… truly disgraces me! Sometimes… I almost wish I didn’t have such a sister!”

Qingxiu echoed, “Please don’t take it to heart… The Eldest Miss has always been like this!”

With that, master and servant walked off toward Juyliu Pavilion.

Qingpu waited behind the rock garden until they had left, her fists clenched tightly. Normally, she was not one to let emotions sway her easily, but today, both Ziling and the young master had thoroughly infuriated her. No one understood better than she did how difficult things had been for her mistress lately—Jinchao had been carefully considering everything for both Madam Ji and Young Master Jinrong, yet she still had to endure such slander. And to think that Young Master Jinrong, her own younger brother, believed Ziling’s words without a hint of doubt! Even saying things like ‘I wish I didn’t have such a sister’…

She no longer felt like attending the banquet. Instead, she turned and headed back to Qingtong Courtyard.

Jinchao was surprised to see her return so soon. “Why are you back so early…?”

Qingpu took a deep breath and recounted everything she had just witnessed. “Ziling came from the lakeside pavilion near Jingan Courtyard. If she was heading back to Cuixuan Courtyard, she would have never passed by Jingfang Pavilion. That means she must have been waiting there on purpose for Young Master.”

Jinchao listened, then simply chuckled. “Ziling isn’t that clever. Gu Lan must have coached her on what to say. I did find it odd—Jinrong may not have spent much time with me, and he may have heard plenty of rumors, but I didn’t think he’d develop such deep resentment toward me on his own. So this is how it is—someone has been fueling the fire behind his back. Today, you happened to overhear it. But imagine how many times they’ve said such things when no one was listening? For all I know, they’ve probably painted me as some heartless villain already.”

Qingpu hesitated. “Do you… want to explain things to Young Master?”

Jinchao sighed. “Explain what? That I wanted to take Song Yiniang’s favor away, so I arranged for Father to take another concubine? That I feared he wouldn’t agree, so I personally traveled to Taihe County to bring Luo Su back, forcibly breaking off her engagement? What Ziling said was true—I did all these things. And I was wrong… What is there to explain?”

Qingpu knew that was the case… But still, she couldn’t help but feel that her mistress had done nothing wrong! Yet she lacked the eloquence to put her thoughts into words.

Yuzhu, who had been tending the fire nearby, had been listening closely. She blinked and suddenly spoke up. “Because Sister Qingpu follows Miss.”

Jinchao glanced at Yuzhu. This young girl might be small, but she was sharp-witted. She smiled wryly and said, “You think I didn’t do anything wrong because you’re with me. Gu Jinrong, on the other hand, thinks I’m in the wrong at every turn because his heart is with Gu Lan and Song Yiniang. Do you understand now?”

Everything she had done was simply to protect herself and her mother. There was no other motive.

Qingpu, who had been by her side every day, understood her difficulties well. If she hadn’t brought Luo Su back, and if Song Yiniang continued to be favored, things would become much harder once she bore a son. Gu Jinrong, however, was entirely devoted to Gu Lan and Song Yiniang—he believed that Gu Jinchao was constantly making trouble for them, that she was malicious and scheming.

If someone already dislikes you, then no matter what you do, it will always be wrong.

It was as simple as that.

Jinchao thought back to her past life. She had once made pastries for Chen Xuanqing, but when she gave them to him, he berated her for being shameless. Yet if another young lady did the same, he would only offer a warm compliment, praising her kindness. The other noblemen around him would even laugh and tease him playfully.

Qingpu quietly watched Jinchao. She gazed out the window, her expression calm, yet there was an unmistakable loneliness about her—one that was difficult to describe.

Jinchao said, “Once he sees Gu Lan for what she truly is, I won’t need to explain anything. He will understand on his own.”

“What if Second Miss and the others continue speaking ill of you in front of Young Master?” Qingpu asked.

Jinchao shook her head. “The academy reopens after the ninth of the second month. Gu Jinrong will surely leave before then. It’s better to wait until he’s gone—he’s just an obstacle in the inner courtyard anyway.”