Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 125: Provocation

Ye Xian watched as Gu Jinzhao left the flower hall.

His complexion was far from good. In truth, he was barely holding himself together. On the night Prince Rui framed his father, he had been drenched in rain all night, utterly exhausted in both body and mind. The following days had offered little rest, and now, after traveling a hundred miles to see Jinzhao, his thoughts were muddled, his body swaying unsteadily.

He could no longer endure it. Leaning against a corridor pillar, he slowly retrieved a slender-necked blue-and-white porcelain bottle from his sleeve and swallowed two bright red pills. Liu Zhou had once told him that the pills he took regularly contained a certain amount of cinnabar. Ancient alchemists often used it to refine elixirs, but the Compendium of Materia Medica had long noted that cinnabar was toxic. Short-term use posed no major harm, but prolonged consumption was disastrous.

No wonder his illness had never improved over the years.

Seeing his distress, a guard hurried forward. "Young Master, your complexion is poor. Could it be—"

Ye Xian waved his hand dismissively. "It’s nothing. We’ll return to the capital now. Tomorrow, go to Dongjiaomin Lane and summon Wu Delian from the Imperial Pharmacy..." Wu Delian was skilled in identifying medicines—he could discern most ingredients by scent alone. These pills of his could no longer be taken.

The group used their Three-Claw Hooks to scale the walls once more, vanishing soundlessly into the night within the Gu family’s inner courtyard.

Jinzhao returned to the Beautiful Embroidery Hall but slept poorly the entire night. Resting against the black-lacquered, gold-traced canopy bed, she stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. Ye Xian had come to see her today with guards in tow. This could only mean the situation in the Marquis Changxing’s household remained dire. The events of this life differed too greatly from her past one—just Ye Xian alone could completely overturn the circumstances.

By aiding the Marquis Changxing’s family, she was also helping herself. At the very least, her father’s official position would now be secure, and Zhang Ju Lian’s faction wouldn’t run rampant enough to monopolize court affairs. Yet one matter still weighed on her mind...

In her past life, the Marquis Changxing had died accused of treason, his family branded as traitors. How had Ye Xian cleared their name? She remembered that Ye Xian had eventually entered officialdom as a Dali Temple official, gradually taking control of the entire institution. It was then that he had carried out that absurd act of death by a thousand cuts. At the time, the emperor was only fifteen and had been so amused by Ye Xian’s words that he paid no heed to the cruelty of the act. The entire court, however, had turned pale, believing the young marquis intended to make an example of the condemned. True enough, afterward, people avoided him at all costs...

Jinzhao still recalled the account Shiye had relayed to her, though she wasn’t sure how much of it was true. The noble circles of the capital were small, and with Ye Xian deliberately establishing his authority, news spread quickly. At the time, she had marveled at how someone so young could wield such ruthless methods...

What exactly Ye Xian had done, she didn’t know. But judging by his decisive killing of Xiao You, his temperament likely hadn’t changed.

Having grown familiar with Ye Xian, Jinzhao found him not to be a bad person. However, those who were clever often thought more deeply than others, achieving their goals with greater ease, leaving little for worldly constraints to bind them. With his disposition, Ye Xian might very well become the same as he was in her past life...

After a while, her head began to ache. What did Ye Xian’s future have to do with her? Would he even listen to her words?

Jinzhao sighed almost imperceptibly. She had Qingpu extinguish the lamp before finally drifting into sleep.

The next day, Madam Feng had yet to return, so her second aunt, as usual, invited her for lunch.Second Madam’s courtyard was located in the Graceful Hall on the eastern side of the western annex, adjacent to the Everpeace Pavilion where several of Second Master Gu’s concubines resided. Gu Lian was reluctant to leave her mother, and Madam Feng, who doted on her, allowed her to live with Second Madam.

From the Beautiful Embroidery Hall to the Graceful Hall, one only needed to pass through a covered corridor and a grove of cotton roses, then walk through a narrow passage to see the gate of Second Madam’s courtyard. Outside the gate, a fish tank held finger-length fish, and fallen cotton rose petals drifted on the water, creating an elegant scene.

To say the least, the ancestral Gu family’s courtyards were exquisitely designed in every detail.

A matron from Second Madam’s household came to invite Jinchao inside, smiling as she said, “...Young Miss has come at just the right time. Several concubines are still inside chatting.”

A maid in a blue-green sleeveless jacket lifted the curtain for Jinchao at the entrance of the main hall. Upon entering, Jinchao indeed saw several concubines present, along with Hui Ge and Rui Ge. Gu Lian was speaking to her maid, Lan Zhi: “The goose-yellow silk flowers would pair better with that gold hairpin inlaid with sapphires and engraved with children at play. The red ones are too tacky. You’re not even as good at dressing up as Lan Er...” She pushed Lan Zhi aside and styled the flowers herself before showing them to Second Madam, asking with a smile, “Mother, how does this look?”

But Second Madam had already noticed Gu Jinchao’s arrival and warmly invited her to sit. “I was just hoping you’d come.”

The concubines, who had no standing to speak here, bowed and excused themselves one after another.

When her mother didn’t respond, Gu Lian felt a little aggrieved. Jinchao noticed several jewelry boxes placed on the red-lacquered, gold-traced arhat bed, filled with silk flowers, hairpins, floral appliqués, earrings, and more. The designs were so intricate that even Jinchao had rarely seen their like.

...The Gu family truly doted on Gu Lian.

“Lian jie er’s accessories are truly lovely, especially those floral appliqués—I’ve never seen such delicate ones before...” Jinchao sat on an embroidered stool and offered a few compliments with a smile.

Gu Lian remained silent, slowly tidying her things, but inwardly, she felt a bit smug. Gu Lan had told her that Gu Jinchao owned many fine things, and the treasures in her private storeroom were dazzling.

If Jinchao was praising her like this, didn’t that mean her own things were even better?

Second Madam chuckled. “Those trinkets of hers are just for showing off! I heard the second young master of the Yao family will be visiting in a few days. He sent a visiting card to seek your second uncle’s guidance on the eight-legged essay, so she’s busy picking out jewelry now...”

Hearing this, Jinchao immediately understood the implication. Yao Wenxiu was, after all, the son of the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Glory, and Yao Daren had risen through the Hanlin Academy—why would he need Second Master Gu’s advice on eight-legged essays? Clearly, he was using this as a pretext to see Gu Lian.

Even if they were engaged, it was uncommon for men and women to meet. It was somewhat improper, but Second Madam didn’t seem to mind, likely treating it as a normal occurrence.

Jinchao smiled. “I’ve long heard that the second young master of the Grand Secretary’s household is both handsome and well-mannered. My dear cousin has secured a fine match. But then, with her lovely looks and pure-hearted nature, it’s only natural they make a perfect pair.”

Who wouldn’t enjoy hearing such praise? Gu Lian’s tense expression softened considerably.

If one were to ask why she disliked Gu Jinchao, aside from Lan Er’s claims that she was ruthless and bullied the daughters of concubines, there was also her own resentment. After the eldest sister married, Gu Lian had been the only legitimate daughter left in the Gu household, and everyone had doted on and praised her.Now that Gu Jinzhao had arrived, Grandmother was being attended by her, and even Mother couldn't stop praising her. Last night, Mother had urged her to drink a bowl of pig's trotter soup with gastrodia elata, but she refused, finding it too greasy. In her frustration, Mother scolded her: "Your cousin Jinzhao has lost her mother, yet she's so sensible and obedient in every way... And then there's you, about to marry into the Yao family, still acting so willful, making me worry for nothing!"

Gu Lian felt deeply wronged. What did it matter to her that Gu Jinzhao had no mother? Just because Mother said she was sensible and obedient, did that mean she wasn't?

The more she thought about it, the more she pitied herself, so she ran to Gu Lan to vent. Gu Lan comforted her: "...Second Madam cares about you. Actually, my elder sister has lost her mother, and life isn't easy for her either. Don't take it to heart—she just likes to please the elders."

"Look at how she treats me. After I moved to the Gu household, she replaced all the maids in my room. She has plenty of warm bedding in her room, but she'd rather give it to the maids than to me... I don’t want to argue with her either. If I had to pick a fight over everything, I’d be exhausted..."

Gu Lian found this reasoning sound and now, when Jinzhao made polite remarks, she could respond with, "Cousin, you're too kind."

After some conversation, Second Madam took a sip of tea and said, "Soon, the important maids and matrons will be arriving. How can I receive them with this mess here?" She ordered Gu Lian to tidy up and move her things to the western side room where she stayed.

The maids helped clean up, and everyone went to the western side room.

Before long, the senior maids and stewards from the inner courtyard arrived one after another, and Gu Lan came along as well. She wore a newly made pale pink satin jacket with diamond patterns, layered with hemp clothing. There were faint shadows under her eyes, but her hair was neatly styled in a Round Bun, adorned with two pearl flowers the size of fingernails.

Unexpectedly, Gu Jinzhao was also there, and Gu Lan looked momentarily startled. But she quickly smiled and gracefully curtsied to Second Madam and Jinzhao in turn.

Second Madam set down her teacup without a word. Gu Lan bit her lip slightly and repeated, "Second Madam, I hope you are well."

Only then did Second Madam lift her eyelids and sneer, "How long have you been serving me, and already you’ve learned to slack off? It’s past Chenshi, and you’re only just arriving. It must be my fault... Lan Er is too delicate for the likes of me. Perhaps I should report to Tai Furen and admit I’m unworthy of your service."

Gu Lan paled—Zhou Shi was going too far!

Her maids had been kneeling all afternoon and could barely move. Even fetching water took forever—how could she not be late?

Zhou Shi had set up a trap, waiting for her to fall into it! Gu Lan glanced around and noticed Gu Lian wasn’t here... Usually, she was present when Gu Lan visited, and Zhou Shi wouldn’t dare mistreat her then. She must truly be angry—and it was Gu Lian’s fault. She had only emphasized how miserable her life was, and Gu Lian had rushed off to beg for things on her behalf. It had backfired!

Hastily, she said, "Second Madam misunderstands. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I woke late. I’m devoted to serving you—how could I slack off?"Second Madam snorted, but after a moment, her gaze fell on Gu Lan's satin winter coat, and she smiled again: "The Emperor has just passed away... At a time when the whole nation is in white silk mourning, you actually dare to wear a winter coat with such colors and patterns. Our Gu family is a scholarly household—your second uncle and your father are both Scholars of the Two Boards. If word of your disregard for propriety spreads, others might even impeach us! You may flaunt your beauty all you like, but what about the rest of us?"

Jinchao listened quietly, inwardly marveling at how this Second Aunt had managed to pin every possible accusation on Gu Lan in one breath. Truly formidable! No wonder she had Second Master Gu and all his concubines firmly under her thumb. Jinchao was more than happy to watch the drama unfold.

P.S.

Thank you to reader Yanguo QQ for the reward! There will be a second update later, mwah~