Chapter 54: Rumors
Upon returning to her residence, Madam Wen immediately invited several ladies who often kept her company for tea and idle chatter. After several hours of tea and lively conversation, she sent for performers from the Deyin Troupe to entertain them with opera.
During the gathering, Second Madam Song, whose husband served as a Reader in the Imperial Academy, asked, "...Not long ago, you mentioned going to Physician Gu's residence to assist with their Second Miss's hairpin ceremony. I heard that although her birth mother is a concubine, she is a noble one. How was the banquet? Which noble families attended?"
The Gu family was divided into two branches, generally distinguished by their official positions.
The ancestral Gu family was related by marriage to Marquis Changxing. The grandfather of the Changxing Marquis's Heir was the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and concurrently the Minister of Rites, overseeing all officials in the Imperial Academy. Thus, Second Madam Song was more concerned about this matter than others.
At this, Madam Wen sighed heavily. "I returned before even attending the hair pinning ceremony—how could I have seen any of that?"
The ladies were naturally curious. Among them was Third Madam Cao, whose elder sister was the wife of Junior Supervisor Mu—the legal mother of Eldest Young Master Mu. Having heard from her sister that Supervisor Mu intended to seek a marriage alliance between his illegitimate eldest son and Second Miss Gu, Third Madam Cao asked curiously, "...What happened? Did the Gu family treat you poorly?"
Madam Wen sneered. "...You wouldn't believe it, but there truly are such two-faced people in this world!"
She then recounted her experiences at the Gu residence in exaggerated detail. Finally, she added, "...We’ve all heard rumors about Eldest Miss Gu being spoiled and domineering. But in my opinion, if it weren’t for such a scheming, gossip-loving younger half-sister who delights in plotting against others, Eldest Miss Gu’s reputation wouldn’t be so tarnished! I saw her with my own eyes—she was dignified, well-mannered, and cultured. She’s simply suffered from being too reserved..."
Third Madam Cao couldn’t hide her surprise. After a moment’s thought, she said, "What a coincidence! My elder sister told me that Supervisor Mu is preparing to propose a marriage between Eldest Young Master Mu and Second Miss Gu, but the Gu family wasn’t very willing. If Second Miss Gu is truly so malicious and fond of stirring up trouble, how could Physician Gu have the audacity to refuse Supervisor Mu..."
So it was that foolish, simple-minded Eldest Young Master Mu who wanted to marry Second Miss Gu! The ladies were astonished. Madam Wen quickly realized that she wouldn’t need to exert much effort to spread the word—with this connection, Third Madam Cao would surely help.
"Second Miss Gu has always been praised as gentle and virtuous. I suspect Physician Gu doesn’t want this match and hopes to find her a better husband based on her reputation... Does Madam Mu favor Second Miss Gu as her daughter-in-law?"
Third Madam Cao waved her hand dismissively. "Mu Zhizhai’s birth mother died early. He was raised by his wet nurse. My elder sister just wants to settle the matter quickly and find him a suitable wife—after all, he’s already eighteen, and the only attendants around him are either young servants or old maids—not even a bed warming maid! Supervisor Mu has been pressing her about this for a long time... But really, who in all of Yanjing would want to marry their daughter to Mu Zhizhai?"
Madam Wen nodded sympathetically. "Poor Madam Mu... If Second Miss Gu’s reputation worsens further and no one else dares to propose, Eldest Young Master Mu might actually stand a chance!"
Hearing this, Third Madam Cao’s brow twitched slightly.After the opera, the ladies dispersed.
Madam Wen yawned lazily and picked up her teacup, instructing the maid beside her, "Go, find a few matrons and spread the word about Second Miss Gu's poor conduct. We must lend a hand to Madam Cao and Madam Mu..." After a pause, she added, "Remember, also mention that Eldest Miss Gu was framed by Gu Lan, which is why her reputation suffered..."
The maid acknowledged the order but hesitated. "Madam, something about this feels off. It seems too coincidental that you and Eldest Miss Gu just happened to overhear Second Miss Gu's words. Eldest Miss Gu invited you for tea and then led you to the bamboo grove behind the side chamber. This whole matter..."
Madam Wen chuckled. "Of course I know! Eldest Miss Gu is quite cunning!" She raised an eyebrow. "But though she used me, she didn’t deceive or manipulate me. What I hate most is being treated like a fool! Gu Lan must be taught a lesson. Since we’re already doing that, why not help Eldest Miss Gu a little more? Besides, I can see she’s in a difficult position—her mother is gravely ill, her maternal family can’t support her, and her younger brother is still too young and inexperienced. If she doesn’t play her cards right, Song Miaohua and Gu Lan will chew her up and spit her out..."
The maid nodded in understanding, and Madam Wen stood up to check on her eldest son’s studies.
...
Two days later, the last of the hair-pinning ceremony guests finally departed. Gu Jinrong had long since packed her belongings and returned to Qifang Alley.
Meanwhile, Jinchao claimed to be ill, and all the concubines and her two younger sisters came to visit. They found her energetically embroidering an antique-themed pattern and merely smiled. Concubine Luo even brought homemade tea snacks daily.
Mama Tong lifted the curtain and entered, standing beside Jinchao as she watched her stitch unhurriedly. The weather was growing warmer, and Jinchao wore only a plain silk short jacket, her fair wrists adorned with a pair of emerald-green jade bracelets that accentuated her snow-white skin. The window was half-open, letting in a cool breeze that made the room refreshing.
Only when Jinchao set down her needle did Mama Tong speak softly. "Eldest Miss, I’ve heard some rumors about our Second Miss circulating outside."
Jinchao looked up indifferently. "What are they saying?"
Mama Tong replied, "The news came from Huaihua Alley. I investigated carefully, but it’s unclear whether the Wen or Cao family started it first. They say our Second Miss was caught stirring up trouble behind others' backs, earning her the reputation of violating the 'Seven Grounds for Divorce.' They also mentioned you, saying that Second Miss often slandered and defamed you in private, while you merely suffered because of your quiet nature. Most of the rumors about you were fabricated by others. The storytellers made it sound so vivid, as if they’d witnessed it themselves. By now, it’s probably spread throughout the inner circles of Huaihua Alley..."
The Wen family of Huaihua Alley was Madam Wen’s household. Clearly, after returning home, Madam Wen couldn’t swallow the slight she’d suffered at the Gu residence and had spread these rumors to tarnish Gu Lan’s reputation. However, Jinchao found it odd that such trivial gossip could spread so quickly.
What was even stranger was that these rumors were helping to clear her name. Could it be that Madam Wen pitied her and decided to lend a hand? If so, aiding her also indirectly undermined Gu Lan.Jinchao smiled and shook her head. "Most of those rumors about me out there are actually true. Gu Lan merely added fuel to the fire. This time, they've truly wronged her."
Mama Tong also chuckled. "Our young miss sees things so clearly. What's past is past—why dwell on it further? But I wonder how we should handle these rumors. Should we fan the flames or clear Second Miss's name? After all, Madam is also Second Miss's mother."
After pondering for a moment, Jinchao asked, "Why do you say it might have come from the Cao family?"
Mama Tong continued, "After hearing about this matter, I went to inquire with Shopkeeper Luo. He has an accountant named Cao Ziheng, a distant relative of the Cao family, who failed the provincial exams over ten times in his youth and only secured an accountant position in his fifties. He told me that the third wife of the Cao family is the full sister of Madam Mu. I then asked his nephew, who works for the Cao family, and learned that it was Cao's third wife who spread this..."
The Cao and Gu families had little interaction, let alone any enmity. There must be a reason for helping Madam Wen spread such things.
If Cao's third wife and Madam Mu are full sisters... then the source of these rumors might be connected to Madam Mu! Father rejected the marriage proposal with the Mu family because he disapproved of the eldest Mu son. But if Gu Lan's reputation is also tarnished, the marriage prospects would become uncertain!
The eldest Mu son was already eighteen and still unmarried—the Mu family must be desperate.
The Mu family is likely involved! They want Father to yield to the rumors and agree to the marriage!
Jinchao burst into laughter, drawing puzzled looks from Mama Tong and Qingpu. The young miss rarely laughed so heartily...
She waved her hand dismissively. "The Mu family is truly in a hurry! They'd snatch up any bride they can get. Gu Lan landing such in-laws is quite amusing." She wouldn’t even need to scheme to push this marriage forward!
If Gu Lan married the eldest Mu son, it wouldn’t be a bad match. At least the eldest Mu son had a good temperament and patience—his future prospects were limitless. Moreover, it would spare Jinchao from Gu Lan’s constant underhanded schemes, and Concubine Song would also behave. That way, Mother could recuperate in peace.
Counting the days, it had been a month. From Guizhou to Yanjing, even with urgent travel, it would take at least a month. Adding the difficulty of mountain roads, Mr. Xiao could arrive in a month and a half at the earliest, or two to three months at the latest.
But at least there was hope for Mother’s recovery now.
Jinchao finally instructed Mama Tong, "Truth will out. Since we didn’t spread the rumors, there’s no need to intervene."
Mama Tong bowed and withdrew.
Concubine Song only learned of this news three days later. When Qiaowei told her the rumors had spiraled out of control, she closed her eyes to steady her breath and ordered Qiaowei to summon Gu Lan.
Qiaowei whispered, "Concubine, the young miss is being kept in the study by the master to practice calligraphy."
Concubine Song said coldly, "Tell them she’s visiting her 'gravely ill, bedridden' sister! I doubt anyone would dare stop her."
Her hands clenched tightly. It was all because of Gu Jinzhao! All because of her! If not for her, Lan Er’s reputation wouldn’t be ruined. Now, with Lan Er having her hair-pinning ceremony before any betrothal, it was already a rush to marry her off. With these rumors spreading, what respectable family would dare propose?The rumors spread so quickly, it was almost eerie. If someone said Gu Jinzhao wasn't fanning the flames behind the scenes, she'd never believe it even if beaten to death!
Gu Jinzhao, since you've shown no mercy... don't blame me for being ruthless!
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