Chapter 14: Illness Flares Up
Aunt Gu tried to mediate: "You're sisters—there's no need to be so formal about these things..."
But Gu Jinrong interjected, "Eldest Sister has plenty of nice things in her room, while Second Sister barely has any. Why don't you take the loss, Eldest Sister, and give it to Second Sister?" He glanced at Gu Jinzhao, who remained silent, her gaze somewhat cold.
Every month, the Ji family sent Eldest Sister countless gifts—her room was filled with gold and silver jewelry. All Second Sister wanted was a set of gold filigree hair ornaments, yet Eldest Sister seemed reluctant to part with them, as if she’d rather let them gather dust in a corner than give them to Second Sister!
In such a scene, Concubine Du and Concubine Guo naturally didn’t dare to speak. Gu Xi held Gu Yi’s hand, her eyes reddening.
Gu Dezhao looked at Jinzhao, then at Gu Lan. Gu Lan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her expression fearful, while Jinzhao pressed her lips tightly together, appearing stubborn. He said, "Chaojie, you’re the elder sister. Why don’t you let Lan Er have this? What do you think?"
Gu Jinzhao felt a sting in her heart.
She smiled and replied, "Father, what kind of talk is that? Since Second Sister has already taken a liking to it—and it just so happens to be mine—of course I’ll give it to her. Lan Er saying it was made for Eldest Sister is too formal." She paused. "Originally, these two gold filigree hair ornaments were meant for me to wear during the New Year celebrations and the Lantern Festival, but now that I think about it, Second Sister is about to come of age—she’ll surely look even more beautiful wearing them."
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Lan’s expression stiffened.
Gu Jinzhao’s words carried deeper implications. But so what if she had deliberately set her sights on her things? With Father and younger brother supporting her, and her mother managing the household, she didn’t believe Gu Jinzhao could refuse!
Aunt Gu, being kind-hearted, noticed the tension between them and quickly changed the subject: "Mother mentioned that on the eighth day of the new year, everyone should return to the ancestral home for a gathering. It’s been years since the family split, and with so little interaction, the bonds between siblings have weakened..."
After tea and snacks, the gathering dispersed.
Once everyone had left, Aunt Gu spoke to Gu Dezhao about Madam Ji’s condition: "...I’ve visited your wife. She’s gravely ill and frail—though not in immediate danger, I’m afraid she won’t recover."
Gu Dezhao sighed. "We’ve been married for twenty years. Though the passion has faded, the affection remains. She’s been ill for over half a year, and I can’t bear to see her—I’m afraid of finding the once-vibrant Xiangjun now withered beyond recognition..."
Aunt Gu nodded. "I know you’re a man of deep sentiment. Mother sent me this time because you’ve always listened to me, hoping I could advise you... You must think carefully. If anything happens to your wife, you’ll need to prepare for a remarriage. After all, your career is flourishing, and the household can’t be without a proper mistress."
She worried Gu Dezhao might cling to old sentiments and refuse to remarry.
Seeing his silence, Aunt Gu continued, "Don’t blame me for speaking bluntly. Though the Ji family can support you financially, they offer no advantage to your career. Back then, you insisted on marrying her, even at the cost of severing ties with the Gu family. But times are different now."Gu Dezhao understood his mother and sister's intentions. Back when he passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi, he had been determined to marry Xiangjun. At that time, the Ji family was far less prosperous than it is today, while the Gu family was a scholarly household with strict family traditions—how could they possibly allow him to marry Madam Ji? He broke ties with the Gu family, but over the years as an official, with the Ji family's financial support and the Gu family's covert assistance, his career had soared smoothly to a fifth-rank position.
Gu Dezhao's gaze fell on the folding screen. The warm glow of red lanterns outside filtered through its intricate carvings, creating an exceptionally serene and gentle atmosphere.
"I'm aware of that too... What does elder sister think of Concubine Song?"
The elder aunt nodded: "Concubine Song is acceptable, and Lan Er is quite charming and adorable, very endearing. But as for Chaojie..."
Gu Dezhao frowned: "Does elder sister think poorly of Chaojie?"
The elder aunt shook her head with a smile: "Not exactly. It's just that I've heard so many rumors outside about Chaojie being a spoiled, unruly, and ill-mannered young lady. But upon meeting her, I found her temperament quite composed, her speech more measured than Lan Er's, and her appearance and bearing exceptionally outstanding. It's just surprising how different she is from the rumors."
Mentioning his eldest daughter, Gu Dezhao's expression softened slightly: "Since her mother fell ill, Chaojie has become much more steady in character, increasingly sensible and obedient lately. Knowing I like orchids, she even gifted me several pots of rare winter cymbidium a few days ago..."
His eldest daughter hadn't grown up under his care and wasn't usually close to him. To be honest, Lan Er and Rong Ge were closer to him. He also felt somewhat indebted to his eldest daughter and tended to indulge her as long as she didn't make major mistakes.
...
Night fell, and lanterns were lit in Slanting Cloud Garden.
Moyu was helping Madam Ji drink ginseng soup. After finishing a bowl, Madam Ji leaned back against a large pillow to rest when a young maid, brought in by Mama Xu, entered. The girl was neat and clean, with her hair in twin buns, looking about thirteen or fourteen years old.
Madam Ji half-opened her eyes as the maid knelt with a thud: "...Madam, when this servant went to fetch Eldest Miss's gold filigree hair ornaments, the steward told me that both sets of gold filigree hair ornaments, along with the gold grass-and-insect hairpieces, had been taken by people from Second Miss's quarters."
Madam Ji frowned: "What happened? Why did the steward let Second Miss take them?"
The maid replied: "The steward said it was with the master's permission, so he gave them to Second Miss."
Madam Ji's expression darkened considerably. She nodded to Mama Xu: "...Call Qingyi from Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion here."
Qingyi arrived promptly. Madam Ji asked her: "When the elder aunt visited today, what exactly happened at Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion? Tell me everything in detail."
Qingyi knelt and said: "This servant was attending in the reception hall when Eldest Miss arrived..." She recounted the events clearly, noticing Madam Ji's expression growing increasingly stormy, her voice becoming more restrained. Finally, she added: "The master also had a private conversation with the elder aunt afterward, but this servant doesn't know what was said."
Madam Ji pressed further: "What did Eldest Miss say at the time?"
Qingyi whispered: "Eldest Miss didn't voice any objections and simply yielded the items."
Madam Ji's face turned livid with anger. She waved the maid away and began coughing violently, her body curling up. Mama Xu hurried forward to support her, saying worriedly: "Madam, please don't upset yourself. Your health is what matters most!"Madam Ji's hand struck the small table, her voice hoarse as if choked: "I'm not dead yet, and they're already bullying Chaojie like this! If I were to die, they'd devour her alive!... Gu Dezhao actually lets them bully my Chaojie. Back during the Wu case, when he was hitting walls everywhere with no one to turn to, wasn't it the Ji family who paved the way with money? And now he treats us mother and daughter like this..."
Mama Xu, seeing blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, was startled and hurriedly patted her back: "Madam, please stop talking! This servant will fetch a physician for you!"
Madam Ji clutched her collar tightly: "Don't call a physician, summon the master..."
The commotion grew louder, and Moyu along with several other maids rushed in. Some went to fetch the physician, while others went to call the Eldest Miss. Madam Ji's eyes were wide open, as if she had exerted all her strength, only to suddenly collapse, her body going limp and her eyes closing.
Mama Xu quickly pinched Madam Ji's philtrum, calling out "Madam" in tears, frantic with worry.
Meanwhile, Jinchao was sitting on the large kang by the window with her two younger sisters.
After leaving the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion, Gu Yi and Gu Xi had come to her place for a short visit. They had dinner, and then Gu Xi suggested playing with paper cuttings.
Gu Yi handed over her paper cutting: "Eldest Sister, look, the pattern of flowing clouds and a hundred bats—perfect for pasting on the window." The flowing clouds resembled ruyi, symbolizing endless continuity. The hundred bats represented endless blessings. It was a common window design, but Gu Yi had cut it beautifully.
Jinchao noticed how steady Gu Yi's hands were while cutting, thinking how rare it was for someone so young to possess such calmness. Though only thirteen, her composure seemed innate—nothing like her birth mother, Concubine Du...
She praised Gu Yi a few times.
Gu Xi, however, was struggling with her red paper, having ruined several cuttings. Frowning, she unfolded her attempt at a begonia flower. The shape was decent, but a corner was missing, lost somewhere in the cutting.
"I wanted to give this to Eldest Sister..." Her voice was soft and dejected.
Jinchao smiled and patted her head: "I like it just like this. Since it's meant for me, you can't take it back now."
Gu Xi said earnestly, "I'll cut a big Bodhisattva for Eldest Sister later... just like the one in your room."
Gu Yi glanced at Gu Xi with a smile, then turned her gaze to Jinchao's hands: "...I wonder what Eldest Sister has cut."
"Blessings from Heaven." Jinchao unfolded her paper cutting, revealing a chubby child holding a flying bat.
Gu Xi's eyes widened, and she poked the round-faced child with her little finger: "He's so cute, with such chubby cheeks."
Jinchao gave the cutting to Gu Xi, who hugged it happily. Not long after, the two sisters took their leave, and Jinchao, charmed by Gu Xi's childlike innocence, found her mood much improved.
Qingpu thought the Eldest Miss still had a playful side, spending half the day cutting paper with her younger sisters, a smile lingering on her lips.
But then the curtain was lifted abruptly as Liu Xiang hurried in: "Miss... something has happened at Slanting Cloud Garden."
Jinchao's heart skipped a beat: "What happened?"
"Madam had a sudden episode and fainted... she still hasn't woken up," Liu Xiang said.
Jinchao clenched her sleeves and stood up from the kang: "...Qingpu, fetch my cloak. We're going to Slanting Cloud Garden at once."
Wasn't Mother perfectly fine this morning?Jinchao was burning with anxiety. If anything happened to her mother, she truly wouldn't know what to do.
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