Yuping trembled even harder at those words and kowtowed anxiously. “Young Miss, you are merciful and kind—please don’t punish me! Everything I said is true. Concubine Song… she merely told me to speak more firmly! I’ve already confessed everything. Please—you must believe me!”
Jinchao glanced at Qingpu. If this maid, despite all the intimidation, still sticks to her story—then perhaps she truly is telling the truth.
She drew in a breath and asked, “How did Concubine Song find you?”
Yuping hesitated. Instantly, Qingpu reached out and clamped a hand around her neck, ready to tighten her grip.
Yuping burst into tears. “Please, don’t! I’ll talk—I’ll talk…” She then explained how Concubine Song had found her.
As Jinchao listened, a cold smile curled on her lips. Song Miaohua really went to great lengths to dig this woman up. In all of Shuntian Prefecture—five provinces, nineteen counties, and countless people—how had she managed to find Yuping of all people?
“Be clear,” Jinchao pressed. “What clue did she use to track you down?”
Yuping thought for a moment before answering, “I… I was following Miss Qiao Wei. She had a letter in her hand. I happened to see my name written in it. I think… I think it was written by the eldest young master of the Gu family…”
In that moment, Jinchao recalled that Gu Jinrong had recently been corresponding with Gu Lan.
Yuping had served Gu Jinrong when he was a child—he might remember her. So he just handed that information over to Gu Lan?
Rage flooded her chest. When Gu Jinrong returned, she would scold him thoroughly—whether or not he understood what he’d done!
Suppressing her anger, Jinchao considered whether she should take Yuping to see her mother. But after all the threats and pressure, the woman still hadn’t changed her story. If she were to face Madam Ji now, it would only bring her grief.
In the end, Jinchao instructed Xue Sixteen to assign guards to keep a close eye on the maid. Then she returned to the inner chamber to explain everything to her mother—so she would be prepared when her father came to question her.
Meanwhile, back in Concubine Song’s quarters, she had begun to grow uneasy. When her two maids failed to return, Qiao Wei sent someone to check the Chuihua Gate—only to find Caifu and Baiyun standing guard.
Frightened, the maid rushed back with the news. Qiao Wei immediately entered the inner chamber to wake her mistress.
Cold sweat drenched Concubine Song.
She dressed quickly, while Qiao Wei told her it was already one quarter past the Hour of the Tiger (3:15 a.m.). Dawn was not far off.
No one had slept well that night.
Concubine Song finally calmed herself. “So what if I used tricks to find Yuping? I never made her lie. What do I have to be afraid of? My only worry is Gu Jinchao and whatever schemes she’s plotting.” But how had Gu Jinchao known? How did she discover that Yuping was being sent away in the middle of the night?
Could it be someone in Juyliu Pavilion? The last time, one of Madam Ji’s maids had overheard something and passed it along—exposing the issue with the rhubarb in the medicine. Had that same maid gone running back to warn Madam Ji again?
No… that’s unlikely. Madam Ji is far too soft-hearted. She’d sooner suffer in silence than bother Gu Jinchao. That’s how I’ve managed to thrive all these years.
Unless… the maid went to tell Gu Jinchao directly? And she, upon hearing it, gave the order to intercept Yuping?
Once she made sense of it all, Concubine Song quickly had Qiao Wei pin the gold-plated plum blossom hairpin into her hair. Then she took Qiao Wei and two strong servant women and made for Qingtong Courtyard—only to find it utterly deserted. Not a single maid remained.
A chill ran through her. Gu Jinchao must have gone to Madam Ji’s quarters!
She hurried toward Xiexiao Courtyard.
Inside, the lights were still burning. Several guards stood along the covered corridor, speaking in low voices.
Concubine Song composed her expression, adjusted her disheveled robes, and walked forward with a faint smile. “So lively for such an hour,” she said lightly. “Even the guards are gathered in Madam’s courtyard—surely that’s a breach of propriety?”
Inside, Jinchao was speaking with her mother. Xu Mama stood beneath the eaves. Seeing Concubine Song approach, she clenched her teeth in fury—but smiled all the more brightly.
“Concubine,” she said sweetly, “and isn’t it a bit improper for you to be wandering about at this hour, when you ought to be in bed?”
Concubine Song arched a brow and stepped forward along the stone path, stopping under the awning. Several of Madam Ji’s maids stood before the main hall. Neither Gu Jinchao nor Qingpu were visible—likely still inside speaking with Madam Ji.
Her voice grew louder: “I’m looking for my two maids! Your people here in Xiexiao Courtyard colluded with the guards to seize them by force. I’ve come to retrieve them!”
Xu Mama replied with a laugh, “Why jump to such conclusions? Rhubarb in the medicine—Madam did it. Lady Yun’s death—Madam switched the medicine. Now your maids are missing, and you want to blame Madam for hiding them? Maybe the girls just ran off to meet some servants in the dark of night!”
Her words, though phrased lightly, were full of biting innuendo. Concubine Song’s face darkened.
“You’re just a servant—how dare you speak to me this way!”
At that moment, Gu Jinchao stepped out of the main hall. She crossed the threshold and smiled faintly. “She may not have the right, but I certainly do.”
Then she gestured to Xu Mama to return inside and tend to her mother.
When Concubine Song saw Gu Jinchao, a composed smile returned to her face. “Young Miss, you wound me. I’ve only come to reclaim my two maids. If you return them to me, I’ll—”
Before she could finish, Jinchao raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face.
Concubine Song’s head jerked to the side, a red mark blooming on her cheek.
Shame and fury surged within her. She raised a hand to her face in disbelief. No one had ever dared slap her before—especially not a fifteen-year-old girl from the inner residence!
Jinchao casually flicked her hand as if brushing off dust. “This is the first time I’ve slapped you. Do you feel wronged? Angry? Then go. Tell my father. Let’s see if he comes to question me.”
The two older servant women behind Concubine Song stirred, but she closed her eyes and held back her rage.
Gu Jinchao had always been arrogant and willful—yet Gu Deshao never once reproached her. And me? Who am I to him? If I go to him now, will he even take my side?
Lowering her gaze, she gave a stiff curtsy. “I don’t know what offense I’ve committed, Young Miss, to deserve a slap to the face. Might I ask you to explain it plainly?”
Jinchao stared coldly at her and said quietly, “You’ve slandered my mother… accusing her of putting rhubarb in her own medicine, claiming she caused Lady Yun’s death. Song Miaohua, how dare you twist my words to hurt my mother?”
Song Miaohua’s face turned pale. How did Gu Jinchao know about the rhubarb? Was it Biyi who told her?
She clenched her teeth. “I know you took Yuping. I’ll say this plainly: I never told her to lie. Everything she said is true… whether Madam did it or not, you only need to ask her directly! I may have my own faults in how I’ve treated her over the years, but I would never exploit Lady Yun’s death for that!”
Jinchao gave a short laugh. “So it was Gu Jinrong who told you where to find Yuping, wasn’t it?”
Song Miaohua remained silent, staring at her.
“There’s no need to cover for him, he is still close to Gu Lan, isn’t he?” Jinchao didn’t even know whether she was truly smiling—her fury had already consumed everything. “When Jinrong returns, I’ll have a proper talk with him. As for your maids, you won’t be getting them back. If there’s nothing else, you’d best return now.”
Just then, Xu Mama came out from the main hall and spoke softly to Jinchao. “Young Miss, Madam wishes to speak with Concubine Song…”
Dawn had already broken. Jinchao hadn’t slept a wink all night.
Bathed in the pale light of morning, she nodded. “Stay close. If Concubine Song dares speak out of turn, come straight to me.”
Song Miaohua said nothing more and followed Xu Mama into the inner chamber.
Madam Ji lay against a large bolster, her eyes fixed steadily on the woman before her. She gestured to Xu Mama to close the door.
She looked exhausted and slowly closed her eyes. “Song Miaohua… I have never treated you unjustly.”
Song Miaohua was silent for a long moment before she gave a faint laugh. “Of course not, Madam. And haven’t I repaid you well these past years? With your health declining, I’ve managed the inner household, educated Gu Jinrong, even tended to you at your sickbed. What more could you possibly ask of me?”
Madam Ji replied in a low, measured voice, “What I’d like to ask is what you still find lacking. Was it really necessary to drive me to death, and harm Jinchao as well? If I had truly been jealous, you would’ve been the first to die—not Yun Xiang. I understand what Yuping said… but what you’ve done—I simply can’t make sense of it.”
Song Miaohua bowed respectfully. “With all due respect, Madam, you misunderstand me. Master’s favor for me—at best, it was a passing infatuation. But his love for Yun Xiang, that was genuine. You must have seen that. I have no complaints. But I have my own difficulties to contend with. Think about it—when the Young Miss ruined Lan’s prospects, forcing her to marry that First Young Master Mu, how could I not be desperate?”
Madam Ji gave a small laugh. “Gu Lan brought that upon herself… Tell me the truth—have you been aiming for the position of principal wife?”
Song Miaohua froze. Then she smiled. “Madam, how can you say such things? I’ve always been loyal to you. I’ve never coveted the position of principal wife.”
But Madam Ji’s voice dropped a note colder as she replied, “You can rest assured… you will never become the principal wife. Not in this lifetime.”
Song Miaohua bowed once again. “It’s almost time for Master to rise. I’ll go tend to him. Once he comes to Xiexiao Courtyard, you can save these words to tell him directly.”
With that, she left the inner chamber.
Jinchao stood beneath the covered walkway, watching as Song Miaohua exited. She paused briefly at Jinchao’s side and curtsied.
“Young Miss, you can scold me if it pleases you. But when Master arrives later, you’d best consider carefully how you plan to handle things.”
Jinchao smiled faintly. “I’ve already asked plenty of questions of Yuping. You needn’t trouble yourself.”
Song Miaohua frowned. She hadn’t spoken to Yuping herself—so she couldn’t be sure what the maid had revealed to Jinchao.
Once Gu Deshao speaks with Madam Ji… then she would know everything.
She forced a smile. “Young Miss, you’ve gone to great lengths,” she said, and left with her maids and servants.
Jinchao exhaled deeply. I’ve done all I can. What happens when Mother faces Father… that’s up to her.
After a moment’s thought, she leaned toward Qingpu and whispered, “…Have Caifu return from the Chuihua Gate. Take Yuzhu and go keep an eye on Concubine Song and Gu Lan. If anything seems unusual, report to me immediately. We can’t afford to let our guard down.”