Xianglan walked to the back gate and saw the carriage already prepared. Lifting the curtain, she noticed a red-lacquered camphorwood chest inside the compartment. Without hesitation, she climbed onto the carriage herself, untied the ropes binding the chest, and was about to lift the lid. The gatekeeper woman panicked and asked, "Miss, what are you doing?"
Xianglan replied, "Don’t stop me. This is the Master’s order, and I have my reasons." She opened the chest and found coarse cloth garments on the top layer. Digging deeper, she indeed uncovered precious curios like jade gall bottles. Shaking out a padded jacket, a cloth bundle fell out. Unwrapping it, she discovered a trove of gold, silver, and jade jewelry—a phoenix-facing-the-sun hairpin, a red-gold Ying Luo necklace—clearly items only the masters of the house could wear.
Xianglan gave a faint, cold smile and called Ludou over, saying, "Quickly go fetch the eldest young lady. Tell her something extraordinary has happened back here." Ludou, being sharp, dashed off at once.
Before long, Song Tanchai arrived, leaning on Junxi’s arm. The attendants and servants quickly withdrew to avoid them. Xianglan pointed at the items retrieved from Guo Mama’s chest and said, "Young lady, take a look at what she’s hidden away, ready to take out."
Junxi stuck out her tongue and exclaimed, "Good heavens, there’s so much!"
Song Tanchai trembled with rage, gritting her teeth. "This is outrageous! Such a treacherous servant deserves to be beaten to death with rods and thrown out! Where is she now?"
Xianglan replied, "She’s in Taitai’s room, kowtowing."
Song Tanchai turned to leave immediately. Junxi said, "Young lady, don’t rush. Let’s have someone move the confiscated items back first."
Song Tanchai thought for a moment. "But if some of these were gifts from Mother, taking them all might be—"
Xianglan sneered. "Don’t worry, young lady. The most incriminating items are probably hidden on her person. Earlier, I saw her kowtowing to Taitai, her chest and waist bulging unnaturally. How could summer clothes look so bulky?"
Hearing this, Song Tanchai’s willow-leaf eyebrows shot up again. Xianglan whispered something to her, and Song Tanchai nodded repeatedly.
Meanwhile, in the main room, Guo Mama wept bitterly. "This old servant had hoped to stay by Taitai’s side in her later years, but who knew such a thing would happen? That wretched child of mine has caused Taitai distress. This old servant deserves death ten thousand times over..." She kowtowed repeatedly without stopping.
Song Yima quickly stood and helped Guo Mama up by the arm. "Get up, get up. The floor is cold. Stand and speak."
Juanhua also stepped forward to assist. Guo Mama stood but refused to sit despite Song Yima’s urging. Eventually, she perched sideways on a small stool at Song Yima’s feet. Seeing Guo Mama’s hunched back and graying hair, Song Yima felt a pang of sorrow, thinking to herself, "She used to be so lively and cheerful. Now, not only has she lost her daughter, but she’s also grown distant from me..." Aloud, she said, "You must take heart. The eldest young master has promised that the Song family will care for you in your old age. Tomorrow, pick any maid or servant you like to be your godchild, and they’ll honor you as a mother for life."
Guo Mama shook her head, tears streaming down. Song Yima shed a few tears as well. Guo Mama wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and said, "This old servant has long kept something hidden in my heart, unsure whether to speak of it. But now that I must leave, I’ll take the risk. If Taitai doesn’t believe me, so be it. But if you do, please be cautious."Song Yima asked, "What is it?"
Guo Mama gave her a meaningful look. Understanding, Song Yima turned to Juanhua and said, "You go ahead first. Tell the kitchen to prepare an extra soup for the eldest young lady at noon."
After Juanhua left, Guo Mama said, "This old servant has always felt that Xianglan doesn't seem like a well-behaved one. Since she came to our household, not only has the family spent money to treat her illness, but she's also bewitched the young master's heart. I heard from some of the elder sisters in the servants' quarters that Master has freed Xianglan's parents from their servitude. Originally, her family was just a humble household, but lately, it's as if they've struck gold—spending lavishly, eating meat with every meal, and even buying new furniture. I heard they're also looking to buy a house! The gatekeeper said Xianglan frequently returns home through the back gate. I suspect she's scheming to funnel money from the Song family to her own! Taitai, think about it—how else could her family have gotten so rich so quickly?"
Song Yima was somewhat convinced but still hesitated. "The young master lives frugally. How much money could there be in his quarters? The large sums are all accounted for in the ledgers. Though I don't manage them, I know every penny is recorded. How could a mere maid tamper with the accounts? If it's just about extravagant food and clothing, perhaps she's pocketed some silver here and there. But buying a house—that's a huge expense. I doubt she could manage that."
Guo Mama pressed urgently, "Taitai is too kind-hearted! Have you considered that while there may not be much silver in the young master's quarters, there are still several valuable items—like the white jade vase and the lion-shaped tripod, left behind by the late master. What if that maid has stolen and sold them...?"
Only then did Song Yima's expression turn serious. She patted the kang table and said, "I understand. Tomorrow, I'll have Tanchai secretly check to see if anything is missing from the young master's quarters."
Guo Mama added, "Not just that. I also noticed Xianglan's facial features are inauspicious—not the kind that brings fortune, longevity, or many sons."
Knowing Guo Mama had some skill in physiognomy, Song Yima quickly asked, "How so? I always thought she looked kind, with delicate features, a slender waist, and rounded hips—a good sign for bearing sons."
Guo Mama said mysteriously, "Taitai doesn't realize that women with overly striking looks are actually ill-suited for marriage. Look at her peach-blossom complexion. The 'Mayi Xiangfa' says, 'A face like peach blossoms is surely demonic.' That means a woman with such delicate, rosy features is bound to be licentious, likely to delay childbirth, and brings no fortune. She might even drain a family's wealth, ruin their livelihood, and bring death upon others!"
At the mention of "bringing death," Song Yima gasped in alarm. "What should we do? Could she harm our young master?" She clutched Guo Mama's hand and said, "Thank goodness for you. I had no idea about such things. Ah, if not for the young master saying you’re always reminded of how Fang Si died here and fearing it would grieve you, I truly wouldn’t have the heart to let you go like this..."
Guo Mama's heart leaped with joy. She was about to say, "It's no trouble. I’d gladly stay here with Taitai," when the door creaked open. Song Tanchai entered, leaning on Xianglan's arm. Seeing Guo Mama, she smiled and said, "Mama, still clinging to Taitai? The carriage at the gate has been ready for a while. Just now, Ludou was sent to ask when Guo Mama would depart."
Guo Mama's heart tightened. "Taitai can't bear to part with me, I..."Xianglan took a small step forward and said, "Mama, you should go check quickly. The trunk you just packed fell off the carriage and shattered on the ground, scattering things everywhere. The servants wanted to clean up, but I feared they might steal your belongings in the chaos, so I ordered them to stay back and not touch anything."
Guo Mama's face turned pale with shock, while Song Tanchai smirked and said, "Mama, after you've kowtowed to Taitai, you'd better go take a look."
Song Yima hurried out to the back gate and saw the trunk wide open. Aside from the hairpins and jewelry she and Fang Si usually wore, along with some trinkets given by their mistress, all the hidden valuables and ornaments were gone—only the silver notes at the bottom remained untouched. Her limbs turned cold, and she wailed, "Oh heavens! Those damned thieves!"
Then a cold voice spoke behind her: "Who exactly are you cursing, Mama?" Song Tanchai approached, ordering the maids beside her, "Hold her arms." She then said to Yuexi and Junxi, "Search her." The two stepped forward and rummaged through Song Yima's clothes, finding over a dozen pieces of expensive jewelry hidden on her.
Song Tanchai's expression darkened as she pointed at a gemstone ring. "This is clearly from Taitai's dowry. I’ll go ask her if she gifted it to you."
Guo Mama's legs gave way, and she wept bitterly. "Miss, spare me! At least grant me some dignity!"
Song Tanchai shot her a disgusted look and commanded, "Tie her up and throw her into the carriage."
Guo Mama continued wailing, "Miss, have mercy on me!"
Song Tanchai raised her voice. "Hurry up and gag her!"
Someone stuffed a rag into Guo Mama's mouth, and she was swiftly bound into a bundle.
Xianglan asked, "Miss, are you still planning to send her to the capital?"
Song Tanchai frowned slightly. "Even sending her to the old estate wouldn’t be safe. I’d rather sell her, but I fear Mother wouldn’t agree."
Xianglan sighed inwardly. Though Guo Mama was despicable, she was now alone after losing her daughter, which was pitiable. Since she was already being sent away, as long as they never crossed paths again, there was no need to be ruthless. She said, "I heard that when the master passed away, Guo Mama stayed faithfully by Taitai’s side. After all these years, she’s had some hardships. Selling her would tarnish the Song family’s reputation for kindness. Master once mentioned she has a nephew in Yangzhou—perhaps we could send her there instead."
Song Tanchai nodded and told the coachman, "Don’t take her to the capital. Deliver her directly to Guo Mama’s nephew in Yangzhou. Tell him to keep her under strict watch and never let her return to the Song household. If he manages it, the Song family will pay him five taels yearly. If not, he’ll have to answer for it."
As the two stood by the carriage, Guo Mama, upon hearing Song Tanchai’s words about selling her, had seethed with rage, her eyes bulging as she struggled violently against her bonds. But when Xianglan suggested sending her to her nephew in Yangzhou, she froze. Never had she imagined that, even at this point, Xianglan would speak up for her. All strength drained from her body, and she collapsed lifelessly onto the carriage floor.Deep down, she vaguely understood that Fang Si's suicide couldn't be blamed on Xianglan. But she needed someone to hate to make herself feel better. If Xianglan hadn't come to the Song household, she and her daughter would still be living well as second-tier mistresses, enjoying fine food and elegant clothes. Though the Master had never fancied Fang Si, he had always been kind to her. With another year or two of persistence and Taitai's approval, he would have eventually taken Fang Si as his concubine. But now?
Fang Si had been laid alone in a coffin and buried in the cold ground. The Song family had even replaced the beam from which she had hanged herself. Everyone now gathered around Xianglan, just as they had once gathered around Fang Si...
Guo Mama closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face.
Thank you rk_owl and cbbca for the Peace Talismans~ It's the end of the month, everyone please cast your pink votes for me Thank you ^_^
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