Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 124: The Revelation

Jinchao entered the western chamber where the room was warmed by a stove, cozy and comfortable. The maids of Gu Xi and Gu Yi were inside, busy measuring and cutting fabric.

Gu Xi pulled Jinchao to sit on the heated kang and had a maid serve her a bowl of steaming sweet osmanthus soup. She whispered, "Eldest Sister, you weren’t here earlier—it was terrifying! I’ve never seen Second Aunt so furious before!"

Gu Yi, growing increasingly composed, squeezed Gu Xi’s hand and said, "Don’t exaggerate. It was just disciplining some maids. If word gets out and Second Aunt hears it, she might take offense."

Gu Xi chuckled. "How would Second Aunt hear about it?" She tucked her feet up onto the kang and continued in a hushed tone, "Around mid-afternoon, Second Aunt arrived at Yixiang Courtyard with a group of maids and matrons, carrying quilts and cotton-padded clothes. She said they were for Second Sister, who was delighted at first… But then Second Aunt’s expression darkened. She punished all of Second Sister’s maids, saying they had neglected their duties by failing to report her shortages. They were ordered to kneel until nightfall. When Second Sister heard, her hands were trembling with anger…"

Gu Yi sighed helplessly and waved for the maids in the room to retreat to the western side chamber. Though these servants were loyal, such talk was still inappropriate for their ears.

Unfazed, Gu Xi, her cheeks flushed with excitement, went on, "And that’s not all! Second Aunt docked their monthly allowances. Second Sister’s already tight on funds—she’s always been particular about food and clothing, often secretly buying things from outside. Now she’ll be even more strapped!"

Jinchao hadn’t known about Gu Lan’s outside purchases. Gu Yi, who was most familiar with the matter, added, "This started after we came to Daxing. Back at the mansion, Second Sister’s extravagant tastes weren’t as noticeable since our monthly allowance was fifteen taels, and Father never withheld anything. But now, with only five taels here in Daxing, she can’t sustain her old habits."

Jinchao had never paid much attention to allowances and only now realized how meager the Gu family’s stipends were.

She asked Gu Yi and Gu Xi if their allowances were sufficient. Gu Yi smiled. "We don’t need much. The household provides more than enough. There’s hardly any need to spend our allowances… Eldest Sister, don’t worry about us!"

Jinchao nodded with a smile but privately resolved to check with Mama Xu later to ensure they lacked nothing.

Second Aunt’s actions weren’t truly about disciplining maids—she was targeting Gu Lan. With her maids now aware of her vulnerability, they might grow less obedient.

The main chamber where Gu Lan resided was eerily silent, the courtyard disturbed only by the muffled sobs of a young maid.

...

At the Marquis Changxing’s residence, armed guards stood watch, scrutinizing everyone who entered or left.

Gao Shi and Ye Shi tended to the marquis without rest, while Ye Xian began interrogating Liu Zhou and the others.

Liu Zhou and his accomplices were held in the Ministry of Justice. The Vice Minister, Guo Anda, a close ally of the Changxing household, resorted to extreme measures to extract confessions. Under torture, they revealed that Prince Rui and Zhang Ju Lian had secretly colluded, and Zhang Ju Lian had played a significant role in the plot against the marquis. However, these were merely verbal testimonies. Zhang Ju Lian was far too cunning to leave behind any evidence that could incriminate him. Without concrete proof, they couldn’t touch him based on mere words.In the end, Liu Zhou and others were all convicted of treason.

The old Marquis was summoned by the Empress to the palace. With the current Marquis Changxing severely injured, the temporary leadership of the Iron Cavalry Battalion fell to the old Marquis Changxing. The battalion was practically half the private army of the Ye family, with many of its soldiers and squad leaders having once served under the old Marquis. The Empress, frightened by Prince Rui, sought any lifeline to grasp for comfort.

Upon his return, the old Marquis called Ye Xian into his study for a serious discussion: "...Zhang Ju Lian, along with Chen Yanyun and others, now controls the Grand Secretariat. Even the slightest movement from them sends tremors through the court. Chen Yanyun was formerly the Grand Tutor, and the Crown Prince has always heeded his advice. I fear we cannot touch them..."

After a long silence, Ye Xian finally spoke: "Once the three days of mourning are over, the Crown Prince will begin co-governing with the Grand Secretariat. The Imperial Astronomers have already selected an auspicious date for the new emperor's enthronement... If we don’t secure real power by then, the Changxing Marquis household will find it difficult to survive." He paused, then resolutely added, "...Grandfather, I wish to enter officialdom."

The old Marquis remained silent for a long time. Ye Xian then left the study to visit his father, who was still unconscious.

Emerging from his father’s quarters, Ye Xian walked along the corridor, gazing at the faint mist drifting over the lake in the late autumn air.

Suddenly, he felt an urge to see Gu Jinzhao. No matter what, he wanted to speak with her. After all, she had helped him tremendously.

Li Xianhuai walked beside the young master, observing his increasingly gaunt and pale face, his heart aching with concern.

The young master had always been frail... How could he endure such strain?

When Ye Xian ordered him to prepare a horse, Li Xianhuai was momentarily stunned. By the time he thought to say something, the young master had already headed toward the screen wall.

Muttering a silent curse at himself, Li Xianhuai hurried off to ready the horse.

Jinzhao had just returned from dining with Second Madam.

Her second aunt had invited her to the western courtyard for dinner, ostensibly to make amends for Gu Lian’s earlier words. Yet Gu Lian had spent the entire evening sulking, casting resentful glances at Jinzhao. Jinzhao mused silently that Gu Lan truly excelled at manipulating others—first Gu Jinrong, now Gu Lian.

She certainly knew how to pick her targets.

Shortly after her return, the dried fruits sent by Second Madam arrived—a delicately painted hexagonal wooden box filled with dried longan, dried lychee, sunflower seeds, torreya nuts, almonds, and sugar-preserved plums. It was a rare and generous gift.

Jinzhao instructed Mama Xu to select portions to send to Gu Xi and Gu Yi.

Mama Tong then came in to show Jinzhao the satin jackets her father had commissioned for her, all in subdued patterns made from plain satin and fine cloth. Among them was a hand-warmer cover woven with kesi silk, which Jinzhao deemed too luxurious and stored away in her private collection.

After completing her evening routine, Jinzhao removed her hairpins and curled up on the heated bed, intending to finish the book she had been reading earlier that morning.

The large heated bed by the window was warm and cozy. Jinzhao nestled there, reading a book on epigraphy by the light of a pine-oil lamp placed on the heated bed table.

Having eaten lightly at her second aunt’s, Jinzhao soon found herself hungry. Before long, Caifu brought in a plate of red date and osmanthus sponge cake, cut into small pieces and adorned with osmanthus flowers and red dates, its filling a glistening mix of minced meat and walnuts. The cake was soft and fluffy, with a sweet yet savory taste.

Caifu whispered, "...I prepared this for you when you went to the western courtyard. It’s been kept warm in the steamer."Jinchao smiled and praised her: "Your skills are getting better and better."

She had just eaten two pieces when Mama Tong came in, her expression somewhat odd.

Mama Tong curtsied and said, "Miss, Changxing Marquis's Heir has come to see you..." She paused, then added, "He came quietly and is now waiting for you in the flower hall... Will you go to meet him?"

Ye Xian coming to see her at this time? Jinchao found it strange. Last time he thanked her, she thought the heir was trying to draw a clear line between them.

If others saw this, she wouldn't be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Seeing Jinchao silent, Mama Tong whispered cautiously, "This servant dares to say, it's already half-dark. Perhaps you should rest instead. For Changxing Marquis's Heir to visit the Eldest Miss secretly in the middle of the night is truly improper."

However, after some thought, Jinchao decided to meet Ye Xian.

He wouldn't come to see her without reason at this hour—there must be something urgent.

She put on a plain satin beizi, tied her hair in a simple bun, and had Caifu accompany her to the flower hall.

Ye Xian stood with his hands behind his back in the pavilion of the flower hall. The cold moonlight fell on the pillars, casting his solitary yet straight and upright figure.

The flower hall only had a row of holly trees and recently defoliated wintersweet trees, with Ye Xian's guards standing in the shadows.

Hearing Jinchao's slow footsteps, Ye Xian turned around and gestured slightly for her to sit on the embroidered stool placed in the flower hall.

Only then did Jinchao notice that Ye Xian's exquisitely handsome face looked somewhat haggard, his complexion pale with faint shadows under his eyes. He must not have slept well these past few nights. Ye Xian remained silent, so Jinchao didn't speak either. After a while, he finally said, "I left the capital at the hour of the Sheep... I didn't expect it to be so late by the time I arrived here." He paused. "I hadn't planned to come this late."

Jinchao made a noncommittal sound. Internally, she scoffed—couldn't he have calculated the timing better? Using "didn't expect it to be so late" as an excuse... Wasn't he supposed to be extremely intelligent?

Ye Xian lowered his eyelashes and fell silent again.

Jinchao wasn't wearing any hairpins or floral ornaments, her plain and casual attire giving him the impression of her stripped of all adornments.

Even her spring-like beauty, reminiscent of crabapple blossoms, seemed more subdued than usual, appearing different—somehow closer.

Yet her respectful and composed expression remained unchanged.

After a long while, Ye Xian spoke: "...Prince Rui colluded with Xiao You, plotting to frame my Changxing Marquis household for treason... We turned the tables and pinned the treason charge on Prince Rui instead. My father executed him on the spot." His brief account was delivered flatly, but Jinchao could sense the overwhelming stench of blood.

"I thought the situation was settled, but someone fired a hidden arrow, gravely wounding my father." Ye Xian smiled faintly. "They used specially crafted arrowheads of my design. Trying to pin my father's injury on me. Guess who it was..." He placed an arrow from his sleeve on the stone table. The shaft bore a small clerical script character "Ye," and the arrowhead, though sharper than usual, appeared dull and unremarkable.Is this the arrow that wounded Marquis Changxing? Jinchao didn’t understand why he was showing her this arrow. But Ye Xian’s words were easy to decipher—the entire incident had been orchestrated by Xiao You in secret. Who else could devise such a two-birds-with-one-stone scheme and easily access Ye Xian’s personal belongings? Jinchao suddenly recalled what Ye Xian had told her about his past life in Guizhou with Xiao You.

With such a ruthlessly scheming master, Ye Xian must have suffered greatly. Yet, not a trace of it showed on his face.

After a moment’s thought, Jinchao said softly, “Since the Young Master has kept the arrow, it means the matter has been settled. The past bonds need not be dwelled upon—consider them fleeting as passing clouds.”

Ye Xian sighed. “It can only be so…” He looked at Gu Jinzhao, who sat on an embroidered stool, her plain embroidered skirt appearing ethereal under the moonlight, her face faintly aglow. “I just wanted to thank you. If you ever need my help in the future, do not hesitate to ask. I will not refuse.”

Jinchao smiled. “Rest assured, Young Master.” Had she helped Ye Xian with such intentions as well? Like others, she sought to gain his favor—only, while others did so knowing his status, she knew his future.

Having said what needed to be said, Jinchao rose and bowed. “The Young Master knows well that such matters must pass with time… The night is cold and damp. Perhaps you should find an inn before returning to the capital.” She tactfully hinted at her intention to leave first.

Ye Xian tucked the arrow from the stone table into his sleeve.

Jinchao waited for his response, but only after a long silence did she hear his faint voice. “...I killed him with my own hands… You may go first.”

Her heart trembled, but she betrayed no reaction. With a slight bow, she took her leave with Caifu, departing the pavilion.