Chapter 53: Hair Pinning Ceremony
The night was as dark as spilled ink, without a trace of moonlight. Soon, the wind picked up, and a light drizzle began to patter down.
Mama Xu closed the lattice window, and the room immediately fell silent.
She walked to the bed and gently tucked Madam Ji's quilt, speaking softly, "You see, Eldest Miss executed this one-stone-two-birds move brilliantly. Our Eldest Miss is usually so quiet, who would have guessed she could stir up such a storm the moment she acted? She’s truly composed. Concubine Song must have a headache now! Lan Er committed the offense of gossip, one of the seven grounds for divorce. As the one who raised Lan Er, Concubine Song can hardly escape blame for her poor conduct. The master will likely distance himself from her from now on..."
Madam Ji curled her lips into a faint smile. "Chaojie is doing well. I don’t have to worry too much now... Even after I’m gone, she’ll be able to take care of herself." She then covered her mouth and coughed a few times, her phlegm-heavy breaths labored, as if she could barely draw air.
Mama Xu hurriedly patted Madam Ji’s back to ease her breathing, her eyes moist. "Don’t say such unlucky things! You’ll surely recover."
Just then, the lattice window was pushed open, and the sound of rain grew clearer. From behind the bed curtains, Moyu’s voice came, "Madam, the master is here."
Mama Xu whispered to Madam Ji, "It’s so late. Do you wish to see him?"
Madam Ji shook her head. "...Tell him I’ve already gone to bed." She then instructed Mama Xu, "Put out the lamp."
Mama Xu walked to the side table, removed the lampshade, and blew out the flame. The room instantly darkened.
Whether Gu Dezhao had come to apologize to Jinchao on behalf of Gu Lan, or to apologize himself, or simply out of concern for her—she didn’t want to see him. It wasn’t that she disliked him anymore, but that she no longer cared.
She had been ill for so long, yet Gu Dezhao had only stepped into her inner chamber twice—both times when she had fallen severely ill.
Moyu retreated from the inner chamber and stepped onto the veranda, bowing as she said, "Master, Madam has already retired. If the matter is urgent, shall I wake her?"
Gu Dezhao stood under the veranda, his attendant beside him holding a folded oiled paper umbrella. The slanting rain, blown by the wind, dampened his robes, chilling him.
He remained silent for a long while, staring at the darkened inner chamber and the intricate carvings of fish and algae on the lattice window.
"Then forget it. Just tell her I came by when she wakes up."
Gu Dezhao sighed and waved for his attendant to leave with him.
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap. The rain poured down harder, like a deluge.
Summer was approaching.
Qingpu pushed open the window, letting in the damp, rain-fresh air. Outside, grapevines had climbed the trellis, covering it with leaves. Dawn had just broken, and the courtyard was littered with fallen leaves and broken branches from last night’s storm. Two new ten-year-old maids were sweeping the debris.
Jinchao had just risen. Her hair had been combed but left loose, cascading down her back. She wore a pale purple gown embroidered with eggplant flowers—an outfit clearly not meant for receiving guests.
Qingpu came in to report, "Before dawn, several stewardesses came to request your presence. Even Mama Xu came personally. As you instructed, I told them you were ill and couldn’t attend Second Miss’s hair pinning ceremony. They all left without pressing further."
Caifu entered with two maids, placing several plates of pastries and tea on the small table.Jinchao took a sip of tea and pondered before saying, "After the hair-pinning ceremony, news of our sisterly discord will spread quickly... You shall attend the ceremony on my behalf. Observe who replaces Madam Wen as the principal officiant."
If her estimation was correct, Concubine Song would likely plead with their father to have Second Madam assist Gu Lan with the hairpin. Any two suitable young ladies could serve as the hairpin ceremony assistant and ceremony officiant—no need for elaborate arrangements.
Qingpu then took Caifu with her to Cui Xuan Yuan.
Jinchao instructed Baiyun to bring her unfinished antique-pattern embroidery frame and continued stitching a blue-glazed vase with double handles and square corners.
...
Gu Lan had risen at mao hour (5-7 AM), her heart heavy with unrest. Dark circles shadowed her bloodshot eyes.
Concubine Song arrived a quarter-hour later to personally comb her hair and apply powder. Gazing at her daughter's delicate, lotus-like features, she murmured, "Set aside all other thoughts. Just remember today is your hair-pinning ceremony. Even if you lose face, never surrender your dignity in spirit. If you admit defeat now, what future will remain?"
Studying her reflection in the bronze mirror, Gu Lan fretted, "But Mother, how can I face Father and Jinrong naturally hereafter? I've... I've already violated the Seven Grounds for Divorce..." Her gentle reputation now hung by a thread.
Concubine Song replied coolly, "In this, you pale beside Gu Jinzhao. What's done cannot be undone—you must proceed as if nothing occurred. You were ever the filial daughter before your father, the kind elder sister to your brother. Continue thus... Has Gu Jinzhao ever shown shame for misdeeds far worse than yours?"
After long silence, Gu Lan gave a slight nod.
Then arrived Concubines Du and Guo.
These two had always prioritized self-preservation in the Gu household—their lowly status as childless concubines afforded little influence. Though privy to yesterday's incident, they dared not slight Concubine Song or Gu Lan, arriving early to assist.
Once prepared, the procession moved to the main hall where Gu Dezhao and the ancestral family's Second Madam awaited. Madam Ji, citing poor health, was absent from the observation seats occupied by Fifth Madam and several other matrons.
At the auspicious hour, Gu Dezhao commenced the rites. Gu Lan entered and knelt as the assistant combed her hair. Second Madam, robed in fourth-rank official attire, lifted from the lacquer tray a sandalwood hairpin and a gold butterfly-among-flowers pin studded with rubies. With the officiant's aid, she coiled Gu Lan's tresses and secured the pins through three additions and three bows. When the ceremony concluded, Gu Lan scanned the observers—Gu Jinrong was conspicuously absent.
With Madam Ji indisposed, Concubine Song hosted the guests.
Pensive, Gu Lan took Ziling to Jinrong's temporary quarters, finding him practicing calligraphy in the adjoining study.
Parting the bamboo curtain, she dismissed Qing An and began grinding ink herself. Jinrong ignored her until she touched his inkstone. Irritation flaring, he slammed his brush down, ruining half-written characters with a blot. "Why are you here? Get out!"
"I only came to see why you missed my ceremony," Gu Lan replied with a soft smile.Gu Jinrong glared at her furiously: "I didn't go because I didn't want to see you! Why must you come and make yourself unwelcome!"
He had never spoken to her so harshly before!
Gu Lan's face paled, but remembering she couldn't afford to alienate Gu Jinrong, she quickly forced an apologetic smile: "I just wanted to see you. Since you don't want to see me, then I have nothing more to say..." Her voice suddenly dropped, soon replaced by quiet, restrained sobs.
When she lifted her head again, Gu Lan wore another smile—strained and tearful: "I only came to apologize... I don't expect your forgiveness. But after over ten years of affection between us, even if you refuse to acknowledge me, I'll always acknowledge you. To err is human, and I... I..." Tears streamed uncontrollably, choking her words.
Gu Jinrong was momentarily stunned, his heart softening despite himself: "Why are you crying? Did I wrong you?"
"It's not that—it's regret! I hate myself for failing to distinguish right from wrong, for spreading rumors about Eldest Sister and damaging her reputation... But Jinrong, think carefully. Have I ever been that kind of person, growing up with you all these years?" Gu Lan's voice was mournful. "I only did what I had to for survival, following others' arrangements to secure my future..."
"...I'm not the legitimate daughter. I don't have Eldest Sister's privileges, nor does anyone prepare everything for me. I had no choice!"
Her words implicitly pointed to someone manipulating her actions.
Gu Jinrong frowned. "If you didn't want to do it, who could force you?"
Gu Lan took a deep breath. "Father scolded me harshly yesterday. Eldest Sister no longer wants me as her bridesmaid, and Madam Wen has left. My life is difficult... yet I've never spoken of this before, because after all, it was Concubine Song who raised me. Others don't matter to me. But our decade-long sibling bond does, which is why I had to come and explain..."
It took Gu Jinrong a long moment to understand, his eyes widening in shock.
Could Gu Lan be implying... that Concubine Song was behind this?
If Concubine Song had instructed her, how could she explain it to Father? With Gu Lan's kind nature, she'd never implicate her own birth mother! And Concubine Song had every reason to do this—if Jinchao's reputation suffered, both Gu Lan and Concubine Song stood to benefit!
He'd found it strange too, how Gu Lan could have changed so much... But if Concubine Song was behind it, everything made sense!
Gu Jinrong lowered his voice: "Is this true? Did... did Concubine Song make you do it?"
Gu Lan bit her lip, silent except for faint sobs—tacit confirmation.
Gu Jinrong drew a sharp breath. So it was true!"She actually made you do such things, and she's your own birth mother!" Gu Jinrong was visibly angry. After a moment, he turned to Gu Lan and said, "Second sister, if she asks you to do such things again, you should tell mother or eldest sister. You shouldn't have to endure this injustice. But regarding eldest sister... you... you should still apologize to her. Even if you can't explain everything fully, let eldest sister know you didn't mean it intentionally. Eldest sister is kind-hearted and won't blame you!"
Gu Lan quickly responded, "I feel deeply remorseful about this too!"
Through these events, Gu Jinrong had clearly grown to trust Gu Jinzhao even more, Gu Lan thought to herself.
By redirecting Gu Jinrong's anger toward their mother, while he still blamed her somewhat, he would also sympathize with her. And since their mother had no direct conflicts of interest with Gu Jinrong, his trust wasn't particularly important to her.
From now on, she just needed to maintain some distance from their mother in front of Gu Jinrong.
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