Xianglan walked to the back gate and saw the carriage already prepared. Lifting the curtain, she noticed a camphorwood chest painted in red inside the compartment. Without hesitation, she climbed into the carriage herself, untied the ropes securing the chest, and prepared to open it. The gatekeeper woman panicked and said, "Miss, what are you doing?"
Xianglan replied, "Don't stop me. This is by Eldest Master's order, and I have my reasons." She opened the lid of the chest and saw that the top layer contained only coarse cloth garments. She dug through the layers one by one and indeed found precious items like jade gallbladder vases hidden inside. Shaking out a cotton-padded jacket, a cloth bundle fell from it. When she opened it, she discovered it was filled with gold, silver, and jade jewelry—a phoenix-facing-the-sun hairpin and a red gold Yingluo necklace—clearly items only meant for the masters and mistresses to wear.
Xianglan gave a faint, cold smile and called Ludou over, saying, "Quickly go and fetch the eldest young lady. Tell her something serious has happened at the back." Ludou, being clever, dashed off at once.
Before long, Song Yanchai arrived, supporting Junxi by the hand. The crowd of young servants and attendants quickly made themselves scarce. Xianglan pointed to the items she had uncovered from Guo Mama's chest and said, "Young lady, take a look. These are what she hid and planned to take away."
Junxi stuck out her tongue and exclaimed, "Good heavens, there's so much!"
Song Yanchai trembled with rage, gritting her teeth as she said, "How dare she! Such a wicked servant deserves to be beaten to death with clubs and thrown out! Where is she now?"
Xianglan replied, "She's in Madam's room, kowtowing."
Song Yanchai turned to leave immediately, but Junxi stopped her, saying, "Young lady, don't rush. Let's have someone move the uncovered items back first."
Song Yanchai thought for a moment and said, "But if some of these were gifts from Mother, and we take them all..."
Xianglan sneered, "Don't worry, young lady. The most unspeakable items are probably hidden on her person. Earlier, when I saw her going to kowtow to Madam, her chest and waist were bulging. How could summer clothes appear so bulky?"
Upon hearing this, Song Yanchai's willow-leaf eyebrows shot up again. Xianglan whispered to her for a while, and Song Yanchai nodded repeatedly.
Meanwhile, in the main room, Guo Mama wept bitterly, saying, "This old servant had hoped to stay with Madam in the future, no matter what. Who would have thought such a thing would happen? That wretched son of mine has caused Madam trouble. This old servant deserves to die ten thousand times and still wouldn't dare face Madam..." She kowtowed repeatedly without stopping.
Song Yima quickly stood up and supported Guo Mama's arm, saying, "Get up, get up. The floor is cold. We can talk after you rise."
Juanhua also stepped forward to help her up. Guo Mama stood, and though Song Yima urged her to sit, she stubbornly refused. Eventually, she sat sideways on a small stool at Song Yima's feet. Song Yima looked at Guo Mama's stooped figure and graying hair, feeling a pang of sorrow. She thought to herself, "She used to be so robust and cheerful, and now she's come to this. Not only has she lost her daughter, but she's also grown distant from me..." Aloud, she said, "You must try to accept this. The eldest young master has said that the Song family will surely provide for you in your old age and arrange your funeral. Tomorrow, see which maid or servant you like and have them acknowledge you as their godmother. They'll care for you like their own mother for life."
Guo Mama shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Song Yima shed a few tears as well. Guo Mama wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and said to Song Yima, "This old servant has actually been keeping something in my heart, hesitating whether to speak of it. But since I'm leaving now, I have no choice but to risk saying it. If Madam doesn't believe me, so be it. But if you do, please keep your wits about you.""What is it?" asked Song Yima.
Guo Mama threw her a meaningful glance. Understanding, Song Yima said to Juanhua, "You may go now. Tell the kitchen to prepare an extra soup for the Eldest Young Miss 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 coming to our household, not only has the family spent money on her medical treatment, but she's also bewitched the Eldest Young Master. I've heard some of the older sisters in the servants' quarters discussing how the Eldest Master granted manumission to Xianglan's parents. Originally her family was just from a humble background, but lately they've been spending lavishly as if they've struck it rich—they have meat with every meal, have bought new furniture, and I've heard they're even looking to buy a house! The gatekeeper said Xianglan frequently returns home through the back gate. I suspect she's finding ways to funnel money from the Song family to her own! Madam, just think—how else could her family have become so wealthy so quickly?"
Song Yima was partly convinced but still hesitated. "The Eldest Young Master lives frugally; how much money could he have in his quarters? The large sums are all accounted for in the ledgers. Although I don't manage them, I know every cent is recorded. How could a maid tamper with the accounts? If it's just about daily extravagance in food and clothing, perhaps she's pilfered some silver. But such grand gestures like buying a house—that seems unlikely, doesn't it?"
Guo Mama pressed urgently, "Madam is too kind-hearted! Have you considered that although there might not be much silver in the Eldest Young Master's quarters, there are several valuable items—like the white jade vessel and the lion censer, left by the old master. If that maid has stolen and sold them..."
At this, Song Yima's expression turned serious. She tapped the kang table and said, "I understand. I'll have Tanzhai secretly check tomorrow to see if anything is missing from the Eldest Young Master's room."
"Not only that," Guo Mama added, "but I've also observed that Xianglan's facial features are unfavorable—not the face of someone blessed with fortune, longevity, or many sons."
Knowing that Guo Mama had some skill in physiognomy, Song Yima quickly asked, "How are they unfavorable? I originally thought she looked kind, with clear, delicate features, a slender waist, and rounded hips—a shape conducive to bearing sons."
Guo Mama mysteriously declared, "Madam, you may not know this, but women with such striking beauty are actually unsuitable for marriage. Look at her peach-blossom complexion—the 'Mayi Physiognomy' says, 'A face like peach blossoms is surely seductive.' That means someone with such delicate, rosy cheeks is bound to be licentious. She might delay having children and isn't a fortunate presence. She could even lead to financial ruin, family breakdown, and bring harm to others' lives!"
Upon hearing "bring harm to others' lives," Song Yima was greatly alarmed. "What should we do? Will she harm our Eldest Young Master?" She took Guo Mama's hand and said, "Thank goodness for you. I had no idea about such matters. Ah, if the Eldest Young Master hadn't said that being here makes you think of how Fangsi died all the time, fearing it would sadden you, I truly wouldn't have the heart to let you go like this..."
Guo Mama felt a surge of delight and was about to say, "It's no trouble, I'm willing to stay here with Madam," when the door creaked open. Song Tanzhai, leaning on Xianglan's arm, pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Guo Mama, she smiled and said, "Mama, are you still here, reluctant to part with Madam? The carriage at the gate has been ready for quite some time. They even sent Ludou to ask when Guo Mama will depart."
Guo Mama's heart tightened, and she hurriedly said, "Madam 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 hit the ground, scattering things everywhere. The young servants wanted to tidy up, but I was afraid that with so many hands around, someone might steal your belongings, so I ordered them to step back and not touch anything."
Guo Mama's face turned pale with shock, but Song Tanchai said with a mocking smile, "Mama, after kowtowing to Madam, 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 ornaments she and Fangsi usually wore, along with some trinkets given by their masters, all the hidden playthings and jewelry were gone—only the silver notes at the bottom remained untouched. Her hands and feet turned icy cold, and she wailed, "Oh! Those damned beasts!"
Just then, a cold voice came from behind: "Who are you cursing, Mama?" Song Tanchai approached, ordering the matrons beside her, "Restrain her arms." Then, she said to Yuexi and Junxi, "Search her." The two stepped forward and rummaged through Song Yima's clothes, feeling something hard. They pulled out over a dozen pieces of valuable jewelry from her person.
Song Tanchai's face darkened as she pointed to a gemstone ring. "This is clearly part of Madam's dowry. I’ll go ask her if she gifted it to you."
Guo Mama’s legs gave way, and she wept bitterly, "Please spare me, Miss! 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 to wail, "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 hastily bound into a bundle.
Xianglan asked, "Miss, are you still planning to send her to the capital?"
Song Tanchai frowned slightly. "I don’t trust someone like her even at the old estate. I’d prefer to sell her, but I’m afraid Mother wouldn’t agree."
Xianglan sighed inwardly. Though Guo Mama was detestable, having lost her daughter and now being alone, she was truly 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 late master passed away, Guo Mama stayed by Madam’s side all along. Over the years, she has put in some hard work. If she’s sold off, it would spread word that the Song family is unkind. I recall Eldest Master mentioning he has a nephew in Yangzhou. Why not send her there instead?"
Song Tanchai nodded and instructed the coachman, "Don’t head to the capital. Take her directly to Guo Mama’s nephew’s residence in Yangzhou. Tell him to keep a close watch on her and not let her return to the Song family! If he manages it, the Song family will pay him five taels of silver annually. If he fails, he’ll have to face the consequences."
As the two stood by the carriage, Guo Mama, who had heard Song Tanchai’s words about "selling her," was so enraged her eyes nearly bulged out. She struggled fiercely, grunting through the gag. But when she later heard Xianglan suggest sending her to relatives in Yangzhou, she froze. It had never occurred to her that, even at this point, Xianglan would speak up for her. Suddenly, all her strength drained away, and she collapsed in the carriage as if lifeless.In truth, she vaguely understood in her own heart that Fangsi’s suicide could not be blamed on Xianglan. Yet, she needed someone to hate in order to feel a little better. If Xianglan had not come to the Song family, she and her daughter would still be living well, acting as second-tier mistresses, eating, drinking, and dressing with elegance and dignity. Although the Eldest Master had never fancied Fangsi, he had always been polite and gentle. Given another year or two, they could have asked Madam to decide, and the Eldest Master would eventually have taken her as a concubine. But now?
Fangsi had been laid in a coffin, buried alone and desolate beneath the earth. 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 Fangsi...
Guo Mama closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face.
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