Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 17: Eliminating the Traitor

Liu Xiang's hands trembled uncontrollably. Inside the young mistress's dressing case were golden hair ornaments, and in the cabinet to the left were several golden candlesticks. If she took just one, the young mistress wouldn’t notice. She could stash it away first.

She crept into the western chamber and, seeing no maids or matrons on guard, felt a surge of secret delight. They must have all gone out with the young mistress—they must have! No one would see her. No one would catch her!

Her hands plunged into the dressing case, grabbing a handful of items she had never dared to touch before. Without even looking at what she had taken, she stuffed them all into her bundle. Then she pushed at the cabinet, only to find it locked. Panicked, she clawed and scratched at it, but the gold inside remained out of reach.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Caifu’s voice rang out: "Liu Xiang, you’re back so soon—what are you doing?!" Caifu’s eyes widened as she spotted a strand of green agate beads peeking out from the bundle. "You’re stealing from the young mistress! Someone, quick—she’s stealing!"

Liu Xiang leaped up, her heart pounding wildly. She wanted to rush over and clamp a hand over Caifu’s mouth to silence her. But before she could move, two burly matrons barged in, pinned her to the ground, and bound her with ropes before stuffing foul-smelling socks into her mouth.

"Caught red-handed. Have anything to say for yourself?" one of the matrons sneered. Liu Xiang suddenly recognized them—they weren’t from Paulownia Courtyard. These were the horse grooms, the strongest and most ruthless of the servants.

Why were the horse grooms here? She couldn’t make sense of it.

Meanwhile, Jinchao was playing chess with her mother, whose health had improved enough for her to sit up halfway.

"Caught?" Jinchao smiled at Mama Tong’s report. "First, spread the news throughout the household. Then we’ll interrogate her. Once we’ve recovered the stolen goods, we’ll hand her over to the authorities. Let them deal with her as they see fit."

Madam Ji watched her daughter’s calm demeanor with relief. "Take your time. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve—let her at least see the new year."

Jinchao chuckled. "Oh, she’ll live. Death would be too easy for her."

She returned with Qingpu to interrogate Liu Xiang. Qingpu pinched Liu Xiang’s philtrum to wake her, then dragged her forward. Seated in the warm chamber, Jinchao watched as the other maids and matrons glared at the disoriented girl.

"When did you start stealing from the young mistress?" Mama Tong demanded.

Liu Xiang jolted, shaking her head frantically. "No, no! I’ve never stolen anything! Young Mistress, you must believe me! It’s the truth!"

Mama Tong turned to Jinchao. "…She seems to have lost her mind."

Jinchao arched a brow. "Already?"

Mama Tong smirked. "She’s been on edge these past days, terrified you’d catch her out. Add to that her brother’s provocations—no wonder she’s gone mad."

Jinchao’s tone was indifferent. "What a waste of effort. I should’ve just had someone scare her from the start. Keep questioning her."

Mama Tong turned back to Liu Xiang. "Were you conspiring with Second Miss to harm Eldest Miss?"

Liu Xiang tilted her head, thinking hard, then shook it again. "No, no! I wouldn’t harm Eldest Miss! But Second Miss gave me gold! So did Du Yiniang! I didn’t want to hurt Eldest Miss, but I wanted the gold!"

Mama Tong spat in disgust. "Filthy creature. Sold your soul for money."Jinchao, however, recalled the coral earrings and jasper thumb ring among her jewelry and asked, "Does Second Miss... interact much with Concubine Du?"

Liu Xiang giggled, "...I don’t know. I only saw Second Miss’s maid talking to Concubine Du—just the maid talking!" Then she suddenly panicked, "Eldest Miss, don’t kill me! I didn’t steal your things—it was Caifu and Baiyun who stole them! I never stole anything!"

She shouted loudly. Caifu remained expressionless, but Baiyun looked somewhat embarrassed.

Just then, Gu Lan arrived. Accompanied by Ziling, she stepped into the warm pavilion with a bright smile.

"Eldest Sister, what’s wrong with Miss Liu Xiang?"

Jinchao smiled inwardly. As expected, after spreading the news throughout the household, someone had taken the bait.

Mama Tong answered, "She stole from our Eldest Miss. We’re interrogating her now."

Gu Lan pressed a hand to her chest, her voice soft. "Eldest Sister, you frightened me... Normally, Miss Liu Xiang serves you the best. If she stole some small things, just punish her lightly. Why make such a big fuss? Besides, it’s the New Year—shouldn’t we show leniency for the occasion?"

Jinchao suddenly found her delicate act irritating. She smiled and said, "This wretch has grown too bold—I can’t tolerate it anymore! If you want her, why not take her back? After all, you love taking people from me."

Gu Lan was momentarily speechless. In that pause, Liu Xiang scrambled up from the floor and lunged at her. Gu Lan tried to step back but couldn’t avoid her grip. "Second Miss, I have no gold left! Give me some gold, won’t you? I’ll tell you everything about Eldest Miss! Listen—Eldest Miss loves gold too! If you give her gold, she’ll be so happy she might even give up her position as the legitimate daughter to you!"

Her words made everyone’s expressions change.

Though Gu Lan had secretly targeted Gu Jinzhao, she had always maintained the facade of sisterly affection. Now, even she couldn’t keep up the act. "Miss Liu Xiang, what are you saying...? Don’t speak nonsense."

Jinchao had only intended to scare the monkey by threatening the tree, but she hadn’t expected Liu Xiang to directly implicate Gu Lan!

Liu Xiang continued giggling. "I’m not speaking nonsense. I told you about the gold filigree hairpiece... You wanted to find fault with Madam, so you went after the hairpiece. Madam nearly died of anger! You’d be thrilled if she really died, wouldn’t you? Give me gold!"

Jinchao hadn’t expected Liu Xiang to expose everything so cleanly.

But Liu Xiang wasn’t finished. "You told me to talk to Eldest Miss about Chen Xuanqing every day, to persuade her to like him... Bet you didn’t expect this—I was wary of you too! I never told you, but Eldest Miss already—"

Jinchao suddenly cut in, "Quick, restrain her! She’s spouting madness!"

Qingpu twisted Liu Xiang’s arm with one hand and stuffed the shoe and sock back into her mouth, silencing the rest of her words.

Gu Lan’s face paled. It took her a moment to regain her composure before she forced a smile. "Eldest Sister, your people are poorly disciplined. If they bite randomly, they might bite the wrong person."

Jinchao also smiled. "How strange. She didn’t bite anyone else—just lunged straight for you, Second Sister. Did you bring some meat bones with you? Otherwise, why would she be so eager to pounce on you?"

Ziling, standing beside Gu Lan, retorted defiantly, "Maybe Eldest Miss instructed that maid to slander our Miss!"Jinchao looked at her coldly: "Who gave you the right to speak here? You just barged in without a proper greeting or address, and now you dare to talk back? If I don’t punish you, every maid and servant in this household will think they can follow your example! Qingpu, slap her mouth!"

Although the maid’s quick tongue had given Jinchao an excuse to reprimand her, Gu Lan knew the girl was only trying to protect her mistress. Naturally, she had to shield her own maid. She stepped forward and said, "Eldest Sister! Out of respect for your status, I’ve been tolerating you, but don’t push me too far. If need be, I’ll take this to Father and let him judge who’s in the right!"

Jinchao stared at Gu Lan’s delicate, beautiful face, recalling how in her past life, her father had favored this girl, how even her own brother had sided with her. They had ignored her, their own flesh and blood. Old grievances and fresh resentment surged within her, and she gave Qingpu a slight nod.

Qingpu easily seized Ziling, who screamed and struggled, cursing all the while, but there was no escaping Qingpu’s grip. The crisp sound of slaps rang out, and after a few strikes, Ziling’s delicate face was swollen and red.

"Our Qingpu has rough hands—it must hurt terribly when she hits someone," Jinchao said leisurely. Gu Lan continued to smile, but her hands were clenched so tightly they trembled. The sharp sound of the slaps seemed to strike her own face.

"I think Miss Ziling has learned her lesson now. Qingpu, stop." Jinchao rose and walked up to Gu Lan, staring at her as she spoke slowly, "Second Sister, let me make myself clear today. Whatever you want from this household, I, as your elder sister, won’t begrudge you. Material things have never mattered to me—as long as you don’t touch Mother or upset her. I’ll indulge you in everything else. But if anything happens to Mother, I’ll make sure those responsible pay with their lives! Gu Lan, mark my words—when Gu Jinzhao says something, she means it!"

Gu Lan kept her smile intact, though no one could tell how wildly her heart was racing. She couldn’t understand—was this cold-eyed, resolute woman really the same spoiled, ignorant Gu Jinzhao she had always manipulated? This person before her was sharp and imposing, her presence so overwhelming that Gu Lan couldn’t stop her hands from shaking.

Forcing another smile, she said, "I don’t understand what you’re saying, Eldest Sister. What exactly do you think I want from this household? You’d better explain, or others might think you’re deliberately slandering me... Since you’ve already decided Liu Xiang’s fate, I won’t try to persuade you otherwise. I’ll take my leave now."

Staying any longer would only humiliate her further—she had suffered enough indignity here.

Gu Lan turned and left. Ziling scrambled up from the floor, shooting Qingpu a glare before scurrying after her mistress.

Once they were gone, Mama Tong grinned from ear to ear, praising Qingpu, "...You’ve got quite the skill, young lady!"

Qingpu flushed modestly. "It’s nothing special—just enough to handle ordinary people."

Jinchao laughed. "Don’t be so modest. Back at Grandmother’s house, you took on four guards all by yourself!"

"Eldest Miss, should we send Liu Xiang away now?" asked the two matrons holding her.

Jinchao replied, "Do as you see fit—just make sure I never lay eyes on her again... And don’t let her die."The two maidservants smiled and said, "We understand!" Having just witnessed such a scene, they felt somewhat aligned with the Eldest Miss's faction, and their backs straightened a little more as they walked.

Jinchao then instructed Mama Tong to send the two maidservants fifty large coins, two braised geese, and a string of cured sausages so they could celebrate the New Year properly.

Qingpu supported Jinchao as they returned to the western side chamber, saying, "Miss, you must be tired. Rest well—tomorrow is New Year's Eve after all."

Jinchao gazed at the lanterns hanging from the eaves and sighed softly, "Yes, New Year's Eve..." Her first New Year's Eve since being reborn.

Meanwhile, Ziling walked alongside Gu Lan, noticing that her Second Miss's hands were trembling uncontrollably, her face pale with distress.

She asked quietly, "Miss, what's wrong?"

Gu Lan stared at the snow-covered rooftops in the distance, her voice urgent. "We must hurry to find Mother! Quickly!"

Ziling was puzzled. "Miss, why do you need to find the madam? She's likely still asleep at this hour..."

"You fool! We need to find Concubine Song! Don’t you see? That Gu Jinzhao—is she even Gu Jinzhao anymore?" Gu Lan snapped, unable to contain her frustration. As she watched the heavy snow begin to fall again, her steps grew even more hurried.

Ziling didn’t understand—what did she mean by Gu Jinzhao not being Gu Jinzhao? But knowing her mistress was in a rage, she dared not say another word.

========Recommended reading: "The Noble Lady of the General's House" by Kan Hai De Yu Er, a masterpiece by a dear friend! Check it out if you're interested!