Chapter 52: Fear and Apprehension (Second Update Seeking Subscriptions)
"What about when you bullied me back then? When you treated me like a servant? When you tossed me hairpins you disliked as if throwing scraps to a beggar! Just because you're the legitimate daughter, all the good things go to you, everyone has to endure, yield, and dote on you—why should it be this way!"
Gu Lan stared coldly at Jinchao. "In terms of birth, your mother was the legitimate daughter of the Ji family, but mine was the legitimate daughter of the Assistant Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Just because your mother was the principal wife, I became the illegitimate one. In talent and virtue, you fall short in every way. Yet you shamelessly clung to a man already betrothed, disgracing the Gu family beyond measure!"
"Was anything I said wrong? Liu Xiang went mad because of you, Father took concubines because of you, and my mother grew despondent because of that Concubine Luo. Did I falsely accuse you? You claim I drove a wedge between you and Gu Jinrong. Let me tell you—even if I did, even if he's angry with me today, we share over a decade of affection. He still wouldn't bear to hate me! You know exactly what kind of person he is."
Jinchao watched Gu Lan quietly. In her past life, she had never understood why Gu Lan hated her so—why, after ruining her, she had to reduce Jinrong to destitution and expulsion from the Gu family. Now she finally saw clearly.
Gu Lan was simply unwilling to accept her fate.
Jinchao said calmly, "If you fear I'll harm you, then simply don't give me the chance. Walk the night path too often, and you'll meet ghosts—don't blame me for that. As for my actions, you understand my reasons better than anyone... If you wish to curry favor with Jinrong, go ahead. Even if he never hates you, will you two ever be as close as before?"
"Second Sister, instead of worrying about me, perhaps you should consider how to handle your hair-pinning ceremony tomorrow. Shall we ask Madam Li to replace Madam Wen as your hairpin ceremony assistant? As for being your ceremonial attendant, this elder sister must decline. With ambitions as high as yours, how could someone like me ever qualify?" Jinchao smiled faintly. "This elder sister will take her leave now. Second Sister should discuss matters thoroughly with Madam Li."
Madam Li, standing nearby, had grasped the full drama from the sisters' exchange. She had thought Gu Lan a restrained and proper young lady. Who knew she'd be such a troublemaker, so eager to stir conflict and win at all costs? And now trying to drive a wedge between her and Madam Wen? If she still helped Gu Lan with the ceremony after this, she'd have to question her own sanity.
Gu Lan knew Madam Li wouldn't assist her now. Seeing Madam Li turn to leave without a word, she didn't attempt to stop her.
Taking a deep breath, Gu Lan felt fear surge over her like a tide once her anger had subsided.
With things escalating like this—Madam Wen storming off, Jinchao refusing to be her attendant—word would spread throughout the Gu household within hours. Father would know immediately... He had always doted on her. Surely he wouldn't scold her too harshly?
But what should she do about tomorrow's ceremony?
Anxiety gnawing at her, Gu Lan headed toward Concubine Song's quarters with Ziling, who had been waiting at the chamber entrance.
...
Concubine Song smashed a blue-and-white glazed painted teacup!"This must have been orchestrated by Gu Jinzhao!" She gnashed her teeth in anger. "She really knows how to stir up trouble, and right before your hair pinning ceremony too! If we can't find a suitable hairpin ceremony assistant for you tomorrow, you'll become the laughingstock of everyone!"
Gu Lan clutched Concubine Song's hand anxiously, "What should we do then?"
Qiaowei whispered nearby, "This happened so coincidentally. It's definitely not normal. I suspect there's a spy in our courtyard..."
Concubine Song closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "First, stabilize the situation in the side chambers. Send people to watch and ensure neither madam leaves. Gather all the maids and matrons from the side chambers and warn them—what happened there must not be spread! Anyone who dares to gossip will be beaten and thrown out of the estate! Regardless of anything else, we must stabilize the situation first. Then I'll personally speak with Madam Wen."
Qiaowei acknowledged the orders and left with several matrons to handle the matter.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Lan's expression suddenly changed. "Mother, Madam Wen threatened to leave earlier, and I didn't stop her. She might have already left through the main gate by now!"
Concubine Song was startled and scolded Gu Lan, "How foolish! You should have told me as soon as you came back so I could send someone to stop her!"
Gu Lan was puzzled. "Mother, even if Madam Wen stayed, she wouldn't be of any use to us. Why shouldn't she leave?"
Concubine Song sneered. "She suffered such a humiliation here, being treated like a fool. She'll surely hold a grudge! If she spreads this among the circles of noblewomen and officials, your reputation will be ruined! By then, your reputation will be as tarnished as Gu Jinzhao's, and your father might even agree to the Mu family's marriage proposal. You'll regret it!"
Gu Lan looked up at Concubine Song, realizing the severity of the situation for the first time.
Half a quarter-hour later, Qiaowei returned to report, "Concubine, Madam Wen has already left the Gu residence. It's probably too late to catch up with her now!"
Concubine Song stood up and paced around the room several times.
After much deliberation, she finally made up her mind and had Qiaowei help her change into formal attire to see Gu Dezhao.
"There's no hiding this... I'll go inform the master first and have him ask Second Madam to assist with your hair pinning ceremony. Out of respect for your father, Second Madam won't refuse. As for the ceremonial assistant... you're close with Gu Lian. Go to the western courtyard immediately and discuss it with her."
Gu Lan nodded but then asked, "What about Madam Wen? Madam Li hasn't left yet. Should we talk to her?"
Concubine Song shook her head. "Song Miaoying isn't a concern. She's strict about propriety and won't gossip about such matters. As for Madam Wen..." She took a deep breath. "I don't know what to do yet. We'll have to deal with it as it comes and see what she does next."
While Concubine Song was busy dealing with the chaos, Jinchao returned to her quarters and closed her doors to visitors, quietly embroidering an antique-themed screen inside.
Several young maids gathered around, asking about what had happened in the side chambers, laughing merrily.
"She's always scheming against our young miss, and now she's gotten her comeuppance..." Yuzhu said with a chuckle, then added proudly, "And it was my information that made it happen!"
"Yes, yes, didn't Eldest Miss reward you with lots of candies? Can you even fit them all under your pillow now?" Yutong teased her.Qingpu watched their joyful expressions with a slight smile curling her lips. She approached Jinchao and whispered, "It's probably chaos outside now. Are you really not going to intervene? What about Madam? Should we inform her?"
Jinchao smiled faintly. "After suffering such 'injustice,' I naturally need to hide away for a few days to show how deeply I care for Gu Lan. Don’t worry about the chaos outside. With Concubine Song around, no matter how big a mess Gu Lan makes, she’ll clean it up. As for Mother, there’s even less to worry about. She’s managed the inner household for over a decade and surely has eyes everywhere. No need for us to say anything..."
"But Father—now that’s where Concubine Song will have a headache. Once Gu Lan’s hair-pinning ceremony is over, Father will definitely make her come and apologize to me. In the meantime, all I need to do is finish embroidering this antique-themed screen..." Jinchao finished, gesturing for Qingpu to hand her the brown silk thread to switch colors.
Outside, while it wasn’t truly chaotic, neither was it peaceful.
When Concubine Song emerged from Gu Dezhao’s quarters, she looked utterly drained, her eyes red and swollen.
She hadn’t told Gu Dezhao the exact details of what had happened, only that the two madams had refused to assist Lan Er with her hairpin ceremony, and that Gu Jinzhao was angry with Lan Er and likely unwilling to act as her assistant. She pleaded with him to persuade Second Madam to help.
Gu Dezhao’s face darkened immediately. He had never wanted anything to do with the ancestral family, let alone ask them for favors! He glared coldly at Concubine Song for a long moment until she burst into tears, sobbing, "If not for my sake, at least think of Lan Er’s hair-pinning ceremony!" Only then did Gu Dezhao silently agree to the matter.
Though surprised by Gu Dezhao’s request, Second Madam consented out of courtesy.
As soon as Gu Dezhao returned, he summoned the maids from the side rooms to question them. Upon learning the full story, he trembled with rage, grabbing a celadon brush washer from his desk and smashing it to the ground, where it shattered into pieces.
He then sent Shui Ying to summon Gu Lan for an explanation.
The moment Gu Lan stepped into Gu Dezhao’s study, she sensed her father’s fury was far greater than she had anticipated. He stared at her coldly, not uttering a word.
Gu Lan clenched the hem of her robe. Concubine Song had already warned her: Father valued face above all. With her hair-pinning ceremony tomorrow, he wouldn’t make a scene—but a scolding was inevitable. She shouldn’t hide too much in her answers; even if Father didn’t know everything, he surely had a rough idea.
"Kneel!" Gu Dezhao pointed at her and roared.
Gu Lan’s heart clenched. She dropped to her knees with a thud and pleaded desperately, "Father, please listen to me—"
"Silence! What could you possibly say? How you drove away Madam Wen? How you tried to sow discord? Or how you slandered Jinchao to others?" Gu Dezhao berated her furiously. "Don’t bother speaking. The day after tomorrow, you will apologize to each of them!"
"After I pleaded with your elder sister to treat you kindly, to be your assistant and prepare for your ceremony—this is how you repay her? Whether it’s Madam Wen or Madam Li, who are they to you? No matter what, Gu Jinchao is your sister! How could you vilify your own flesh and blood in front of outsiders!"
Gu Dezhao’s gaze bore into Gu Lan, filled not just with anger, but deep disappointment.He had always believed that his second daughter, raised under his own care, might not be proficient in every art like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but was at least gentle, obedient, and kind to others. Yet she dared to do such a thing! It was like a slap to his face!
No wonder Jinchao had always been distant from Gu Lan. He had thought it was because Gu Jinchao disliked Gu Lan, even suspected that Gu Jinchao bullied her!
What kind of face did his supposedly gentle and kind daughter truly have?
Gu Lan quickly grabbed his sleeve, sobbing, "Father, I never meant to slander my elder sister. I’ve always treated her well! The things I said about her were just what I heard from the servants… I was ignorant and couldn’t tell right from wrong, so I repeated them to Madam Li… But—but I’m your daughter. If you don’t forgive me, my elder sister will never forgive me either…"
Gu Dezhao closed his eyes. Gu Lan had never begged him like this before.
But when he thought of Gu Jinchao, who had always remained silent and endured grievances in silence, he felt he could harden his heart.
"After the hair-pinning ceremony tomorrow, you will stay at home practicing calligraphy, copying the Admonitions for Women and Lessons for Women . You are not allowed to do anything else! And you must apologize to your elder sister! If anything like this happens again, don’t call me your father!"
After saying this, Gu Dezhao left the study. Gu Lan collapsed to the floor and only slowly stood up after a long while.
P.S.
Second update, still asking for pink votes~~ If you have extras, please cast one! Ten votes for an extra update, kneeling in gratitude~~
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