Xu Jingyi smiled faintly and said softly, "...Truly clever."
Jinchao asked, "Didn't you say she had contracted seasonal plague and was confined to her courtyard by Grandmother? How is her health now?"
Xu Jingyi nodded. "After you married, Mother said Lan Er was unwell and moved her out of Yixiang Courtyard, settling her in the back rooms of the eastern side courtyard. She even ordered Gu Lan to attend to her daily." She paused. "It was just a covert way to torment her—forbidding windows to be opened in midsummer, forcing thick cotton quilts on her, claiming she feared cold and couldn't bear drafts. Lan Er developed a rash from the heat..."
"At that time, Mother didn't yet know about Lan Er's pregnancy. Lan Er's meals were specially prepared by Mother's private kitchen. Lan Er must have suspected something was added to the food, because after one meal, she refused to eat it again. She took ten taels of fine silver from her private savings and bribed a young maid to switch meals with her. With good food to eat and money to pocket, the maid naturally kept quiet... Until one day, Lan Er suddenly began retching uncontrollably. When Mother called a physician, the truth came out... Only then did she interrogate all the maids in Lan Er's quarters and uncover the meal-switching scheme."
Xu Jingyi's words carried profound implications.
How had Madam Feng discovered Gu Lan's pregnancy... and why had she thought to inspect Gu Lan's meals?
Xu Jingyi smiled faintly. "Your grandmother is no ordinary woman! She likely tampered with Gu Lan's food long ago. When things didn't proceed as expected, she naturally grew suspicious. After the physician left, your grandmother told us Lan Er had contracted seasonal plague... Who ever heard of seasonal plague presenting like that? I knew immediately she was pregnant. Yet your grandmother confined her to the courtyard, posting several matrons to guard her. She forbade any of us from visiting..."
"...No one knows what happened during those days Gu Lan was locked away. Then two nights ago, she actually escaped, running toward the outer courtyard—probably seeking the Fourth Master, knowing he might be her only hope. But she was caught before reaching the Chuihua Gate and dragged back. Your grandmother was furious. The commotion... exposed to the entire Gu family that Lan Er wasn't ill at all, merely imprisoned."
Gu Jinzhao pondered for a moment before asking Xu Jingyi, "...With matrons guarding her, how did Gu Lan escape?"
Xu Jingyi explained, "Only one matron stood watch at night, bedding down in the corridor. Lan Er took her own cloud-patterned silk pillow and, before the matron could react, covered the woman's nose and mouth. Though the matron struggled desperately—her nails leaving scratches on Gu Lan's neck—Lan Er never loosened her grip... until the matron suffocated. That's how she escaped... Even your Second Uncle and father were horrified when they saw the corpse."
Truly driven to extremes—she'd resorted to murder.
"Does Father know about this?"
Xu Jingyi nodded. "A death can't be hidden, especially with such a scene. When Gu Lan rushed the Chuihua Gate, everyone thought burglars had broken in—they came with torches to catch thieves. After Mother seized Gu Lan and locked her back in the rear chamber, your father and Second Uncle investigated and learned the truth. But Lian Jie Er and Yao Wenxiu's marriage is already settled. Neither family can afford to openly break relations now..."When Xu Jingyi mentioned Gu Lian, Gu Jinzhao realized she hadn’t seen her all day.
“With such a big commotion, Lian jie er must know by now. It seems I haven’t caught a glimpse of her today.”
Xu Jingyi chuckled. “Speaking of Lian jie er, that’s the most amusing part. Your grandmother kept Gu Lan’s affairs completely hidden from her to ensure she married without worry. When Lian jie er heard Gu Lan had been confined, she even went to confront your grandmother, demanding her release…”
In truth, Gu Lian’s exact words had been: “Are you targeting Lan Er to please Gu Jinzhao now that she’s married into the Chen Family and gained status? Or did Gu Jinzhao tell you to punish Lan Er to vent her hatred, and you just obeyed? Did she also ask you to deal with me next?”
Madam Feng was so furious she slapped her.
Gu Lian, who had never been struck like this in her life, froze on the spot before covering her face and bursting into tears.
“…Later, when she learned about Gu Lan and Yao Wenxiu’s affair, she still refused to believe it. She insisted on confronting Gu Lan herself, so your grandmother snapped: ‘Do you need to wait until the child is born and a blood test confirms it before you believe it?’ …After such a blow, Lian jie er has shut herself away these past two days, crying nonstop.”
Gu Jinzhao sighed. Gu Lian was the type of woman who appeared strong but was fragile inside, having never weathered real storms. She couldn’t possibly endure something like this.
She squeezed Xu Jingyi’s hand. “You’ve had your hands full managing the fourth branch. So much has happened.”
Xu Jingyi smiled faintly. “It’s nothing, really. After all, Lan Er is no longer the fourth branch’s concern now…”
With that in her belly, it was the second branch’s problem. Gu Jinzhao wouldn’t intervene, nor did Xu Jingyi wish to. It was up to the second branch to resolve. Gu Lan had gone to such lengths to protect the child—what a pity. No matter what, for the sake of both families’ reputations, the child could never be allowed to live. Either Madam Feng would quietly dispose of it, or the Yao family would pressure her into an abortion. Gu Lan still didn’t understand.
After chatting a while longer, a maid arrived from Madam Feng, summoning Gu Jinzhao to the eastern courtyard.
Xu Jingyi teased, “See? Now that you’re the Cabinet Elder’s wife, even your grandmother invites you personally.”
Gu Jinzhao laughed and walked with her toward the eastern courtyard.
Madam Feng sat on the inlaid lacquer Arhat bed, with Second Madam and Fifth Madam perched on stools beside her. She motioned for Jinzhao to join her. Soon, tea was served, and after some idle talk, a young maid announced the arrival of the fourth young miss.
Gu Lian entered, dressed in a pale purple ling-patterned beizi, her hair styled in a parted chignon with pearl ornaments. Though her face was powdered, it couldn’t conceal the dark circles under her eyes. Her gaze settled on Gu Jinzhao, and her hands clenched involuntarily. Jinzhao wore a misty-rose brocade beizi with a white crane-orchid embroidered skirt, her hair adorned only with a phoenix-pearl hairpin, its tail inlaid with tiny rubies—exquisite and undeniably luxurious.
She must be living well in the Chen Family…
Madam Feng said nothing upon seeing Gu Lian.
But Gu Lian smiled, stepping forward to greet everyone before sitting beside Madam Feng. Humbly, she said, “I’ve been unwell these past two days and couldn’t pay my respects. Grandmother, please forgive me.”Madam Feng sighed. After all, this was a child she had raised under her own care, so she had to be especially lenient with her.
"It's good that you came to pay your respects. Your second sister rarely returns home, and she came back this time specifically for your marriage. You must speak properly with her."
Gu Lian smiled unnaturally. "That's only right..." She paused for a moment before saying to Madam Feng, "Grandmother, I want to see Gu Lan. Just to talk to her for a bit—there are some things I need to ask her..."
Madam Feng replied, "There's no need to see her. Things have already come to this—what more could you possibly ask?"
Gu Lian looked at Madam Feng, tears welling up in her eyes.
Second Madam stood up and said to Jinchao with a smile, "Your eleventh sister can already sit up now. She’s plump and rosy-cheeked, absolutely adorable. Why don’t we go to your Fifth Aunt’s place to see the child?"
...She likely wanted to leave Madam Feng and Gu Lian alone to talk. Gu Jinzhao obliged without hesitation. Fifth Madam chuckled. "She’s even more mischievous than her brother was at her age—takes after her uncle, really. She wants to taste everything she sees... And she loves crowds—she’ll be thrilled to see you all."
Xu Jingyi also stood up, and the group took their leave from Madam Feng before exiting the western side chamber.
Fuling closed the lattice window of the side chamber, and only then did Gu Lian burst into tears. "Grandmother, what should I do... Yao Wenxiu... He said he liked me... I was about to marry him, and then he and Gu Lan did such a shameless thing..."
Madam Feng pulled her into her embrace and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
"Haven’t you cried enough these past two days? What’s the use of crying in front of me? You should cry in front of Yao Wenxiu instead."
Gu Lian looked at Madam Feng blankly. "I... I don’t know."
Madam Feng then asked, "Do you still want to marry Yao Wenxiu?"
Gu Lian murmured, "I thought marrying him would mean a good life—at least better than Gu Jinzhao’s." She lifted her head to look at Madam Feng. "Grandmother, tell me, would a man like that treat me well...? If he took Gu Lan, wouldn’t there be others in the future—Bed Warming Maids, concubines..."
Madam Feng shook her head and smiled. "You’re still so naive. Look at your father—he has two Bed Warming Maids and several concubines. You might see Gu Jinzhao living in splendor now, seemingly favored by Chen Ge Lao, but Chen Ge Lao has three concubines. A high-ranking official like him—people are always scrambling to send him women. Bed Warming Maids and concubines are as plentiful as he wants them to be. For men, this is just the way of things..."
Without waiting for Gu Lian to respond, Madam Feng continued, "Someone like Gu Lan is despicable, but think about it—if it weren’t her, it would be someone else. You can’t expect him to remain devoted only to you... If you handle the situation with Gu Lan wisely, you might even tighten your grip on Yao Wenxiu."
Gu Lian gritted her teeth and whispered, "Once she falls into my hands, I’ll make sure she suffers... And the child in her belly—it can’t stay either!"
This granddaughter truly wasn’t very bright—Madam Feng suddenly realized this for the first time.
Before, she had only thought Gu Lian was merely naive.She held Gu Lian's hand and said slowly, "The child in Gu Lan's belly must not be allowed to stay. Even if I don't take action, the Yao family won't let this child exist... After you marry into their family, you must treat Gu Lan even better, especially in front of Yao Wenxiu. You must appear more tolerant. After what happened between him and Gu Lan, he will surely feel guilty toward you... If you show yourself to be virtuous and kind, he will respect you even more."
Gu Lian remained silent for a while. Though she still liked Yao Wenxiu and wanted to marry him, after what happened with Gu Lan, she felt lost... Was her grandmother still urging her to marry into the Yao family? But what about Gu Lan's situation?
Gu Lian looked at Madam Feng and asked softly, "Grandmother, will Gu Lan marry with me?"
Madam Feng smiled again. "Silly child, you will be the principal wife when you marry over, while Gu Lan will have to perform the concubine's rites to you. How you handle her will be entirely up to you. Gu Lan has no status whatsoever in the fourth branch, while you are the legitimate daughter of the Gu family. There's no need to even regard her as a concern."
Gu Lian fell into deep thought.
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