Chapter 65 Reconciliation
Gu Jinzhao sneered, "Concubine Song knows perfectly well whether she's done it or not. If not for the accidental ingestion of rhubarb, would Mother's illness have relapsed so frequently? Over the years, you've done many things, each one too shameful to be spoken of openly. Let's lay it all out—do you really think you can absolve yourself of responsibility? Gu Lan is still young after all. Many of the things she's done were instigated by you."
Song Yiniang stared at Gu Jinzhao without speaking.
Gu Jinzhao continued calmly, "I also understand what's on your mind. Even if Mother were to die, it would be difficult for you to be elevated to the main wife. You're actually doing this for Lan Er, aren't you?" The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile. "...If Mother dies, she won’t have to marry."
Song Miaohua's expression finally shifted slightly, her hands hidden beneath her sleeves tightening into fists.
Jinzhao glanced at her hands and went on, "I’m only here to warn you—don’t try any more tricks. This time, I’ll let it pass since I have no evidence. But if you cross me again, you’d better be careful."
Song Miaohua finally let out a cold laugh. "Blame yourself for ruining Lan Er’s reputation. Otherwise, why would I have to go this far against Madam?"
Jinzhao met her gaze. "You’ve been feeding Mother rhubarb for over half a year. To claim it’s because of me—isn’t that utterly ridiculous? Right now, you might be doing it for Lan Er’s reputation, but originally, it was for the position of the main wife, wasn’t it? After all, you’ve coveted it for so many years."
"Concubine Song, tread carefully. If you still harbor any ill intentions toward my mother, I won’t let you off."
With that, Jinzhao smiled faintly, took her leave, and left the Waterside Pavilion with her maidservant in tow.
Qiaowei, finally released by Qingpu, rubbed her wrist and approached Song Yiniang, whispering, "Madam, what should we do? The Eldest Miss barged into our courtyard and threw her weight around like this. Should we inform the master?"
Song Miaohua suddenly smiled gently. "Of course we should. Go fetch the crane-and-deer embroidered cloak I made for the master. We’ll deliver his birthday gift ahead of time."
Qiaowei nodded with a smile.
Meanwhile, Gu Dezhao was at Concubine Luo’s Tranquil Residence, listening to her play the pipa. Concubine Luo was skilled with the instrument, and its melodies suited her gentle and refined demeanor.
After she finished playing "The Dropped Curtain," he smiled and said, "The poet Bai Juyi once praised a merchant’s wife’s pipa playing—'The thick strings loudly thrummed like the pelting rain; the fine strings softly tinkled in a murmuring strain. When mingling loud and soft notes were together played, you heard large and small pearls cascade on plate of jade.' Truly, it is just as he described..."
Under the soft glow of the study’s candlelight, Luo Su gazed at the handsome and composed Gu Dezhao. His eyes, filled with warmth as he looked at her, seemed to carry deep affection. Her heart skipped a beat, and she blushed under his gaze, turning her eyes toward the moonlight outside the window.
She then asked softly, "I’ve heard the master is skilled at playing the qin. Is it true?"
Gu Dezhao chuckled. "Though I studied under a renowned master for several years, I’m still not as good as Chaojie. Pinxiu once said my playing was clumsy and hardly worth listening to. She was always blunt—you’d probably think the same if you heard me..."
Luo Su didn’t know how to respond. Gu Dezhao tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. Though Luo Su was gentle and refined in both appearance and temperament, she lacked Concubine Song’s eloquence and quick wit. When he was weighed down by official duties and in low spirits, it was always Pinxiu who comforted him.
It had been so long since he last saw Concubine Song—it truly felt like something was missing.Just then, Shui Ying entered and said, "Master, Concubine Song has come to the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion to see you and has been waiting for two hours. Would you like to go meet her?"
Gu Dezhao frowned. "Why would she come so suddenly?"
Shui Ying shook her head. "This servant doesn’t know either, but Concubine Song has been waiting under the corridor and refuses to leave. With the late hour and the heavy dew, it’s not good for her to stand there for so long. If she falls ill, there’ll be no one to arrange your birthday celebration..."
Gu Dezhao remained silent for a moment.
Luo Su grew uneasy and gently tugged his hand. "Master, are you going? Concubine Song has displeased you for so long, yet you still want to see her at this late hour..."
Gu Dezhao sighed. "Yes, it is quite late."
He stood up, and Shui Ying immediately stepped forward to drape a sandalwood-colored Luzhou silk cloak over his shoulders.
Gu Dezhao comforted Luo Su softly, "I’ll come see you tomorrow." Then he walked out first.
Shui Ying glanced back at Luo Su, curtsied politely, and said with a smile, "Concubine, this servant takes her leave."
Luo Su watched as Shui Ying followed Gu Dezhao out, her hands clenched tightly.
Qing Yi whispered in her ear, "Concubine, I find Shui Ying truly excessive. She often finds excuses to lure the master away. She’s just a bedroom servant girl, yet she acts as if she’s a concubine. Why not mention this to the Eldest Miss..."
Luo Su felt deeply despondent. She shook her head and said, "The only reason I have the Eldest Miss’s protection is because I can deal with Concubine Song. Let’s not trouble her with such matters..."
With that, she asked Qing Yi to fetch water for washing. Gu Dezhao would certainly not return tonight.
When Gu Dezhao reached the entrance, he ignored Song Miaohua and walked straight inside.
Song Miaohua followed him into the western chamber and helped him remove his cloak. Gu Dezhao remained silent, but Song Miaohua stroked the cloak and said, "This cloak was made by me, Master. It’s old now, yet you still wear it."
Gu Dezhao noticed the new cloak she had brought, placed neatly on the side table, exquisitely crafted. Finally, he asked, "...Did you make a new one?"
Song Miaohua had Qiaowei bring it over for him to see. "The pattern is 'Crane and Deer in Spring.' I remember you’ve always disliked cloaks that are too plain..."
Gu Dezhao gazed at the fine embroidery and sighed. "You’re as thoughtful as ever."
Song Miaohua had Bi Yi bring water and personally attended to Gu Dezhao’s washing. Then she spoke of Madam Ji’s affairs: "...Today, the Eldest Miss brought medicine to consult Liu Daifu and discovered rhubarb in Madam’s prescription. It’s cold in nature and unsuitable for her. Liu Daifu insisted his medicines were properly packaged and delivered to Madam, untouched by anyone. No one knows how the rhubarb got mixed in—it’s quite strange."
"Somehow, the Eldest Miss came to accuse me of tampering with the medicine. I was at a loss... Madam’s personal maids always handle the medicine; they don’t even let me touch it. How could I have switched it? I’ve always served Madam diligently—why would I harm her? Besides, she has always protected me..."
"So I thought to seek your counsel, Master. If the Eldest Miss insists it was me, so be it. But I fear someone in the household may be up to mischief, trying to harm Madam..."Gu Dezhao remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly, "The medicine was obtained from Liu Daifu and delivered directly to Xiexiao Courtyard through the Affairs Office. Unless someone from Xiexiao Courtyard wanted to switch the medicine, who else could have done it... There's no need for you to investigate further. Madam Ji has always been prone to making a fuss. Seeing that I don’t pay her attention, she stirs up trouble, even dragging Chaojie into it. Her illness flares up repeatedly—what else could it be but an attempt to cause a scene?"
He simply disliked Madam Ji’s temperament—never speaking her mind directly, always creating some spectacle to draw attention, playing the victim to gain sympathy.
Concubine Song looked puzzled for a moment but quickly complied obediently.
Pleased by her submission, Gu Dezhao brought up Gu Lan’s marriage prospects: "...The Mu family has again invited Lord Xu, the Lecturer of the Imperial Academy and a Ministry of Rites official, to propose a match. From what Lord Xu said, it makes sense. Although Mu Zhizhai has a poor reputation, he is at least honest and has been studying diligently under Lord Mu, making rapid progress. This marriage isn’t entirely unsuitable. After all, Lord Mu is the Junior Supervisor of the Office of the Directorate of Instruction, and with Lord Chen, the Supervisor, currently holding great power, we can’t afford to offend Mu Nian'an. When you return, speak properly with Lan Er. If she agrees, I’ll finalize this match."
Concubine Song hurriedly said, "But Mu Zhizhai’s reputation is so terrible. I heard last time he..." She wanted to mention the infamous incident involving horse urine, which had become a laughingstock.
But Gu Dezhao cut her off sharply, "His reputation is bad, but what about Lan Er’s? What she did has spread throughout Shi’an. I doubt any decent suitors will come forward now. She’s already of marriageable age—how much longer can we delay?"
Concubine Song could only force a smile and say, "I’m just worried for you, Master, that marrying Lan Er might harm the Gu family’s reputation... Let me help you change your clothes."
Gu Dezhao gave a noncommittal hum, considering the matter settled. Bi Yi, standing nearby, tactfully withdrew and headed to Xiexiao Courtyard.
Meanwhile, Mama Xu had just returned from Gu Jinzhao’s quarters.
Jinchao had instructed her that from now on, she must personally retrieve any medicine from Liu Daifu, lock it in a cabinet after use, and not let any other maids touch it. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Mama Xu knelt before Madam Ji as soon as she returned.
Madam Ji was startled. "...What are you doing? You’ve served me for decades—we’re beyond such formalities between mistress and servant... Why kneel so suddenly?"
Mama Xu choked up. "It’s my negligence in serving you that allowed others to take advantage. I... I feel ashamed before you and Tai Furen..."
Too weak to help her up, Madam Ji sighed. "It’s just a life... Get up quickly."
Wiping her tears, Mama Xu rose and helped Madam Ji sit up against a large bolster. Madam Ji held her hand and spoke softly, "Tonight, Song Miaohua went to see the Master... She presented him with a crane-and-deer patterned cloak and told him about Jinchao’s visit today, recounting everything that happened..."
Mama Xu was stunned. "Did Bi Yi tell you this?"
Madam Ji closed her eyes and nodded, exhaling deeply. "Guess what the Master said? He said, 'Madam Ji has always been prone to making a fuss. Seeing that I don’t pay her attention, she stirs up trouble, even dragging Chaojie into it...'"Mama Xu comforted her: "When such words come from Concubine's mouth, she’s bound to say we deliberately made trouble for her. It’s no wonder the master misunderstood. Please don’t take it to heart, madam. Anything that comes from Concubine’s lips gets twisted—didn’t she slander our Eldest Miss too..."
Madam Ji gave a bitter smile, looking utterly strained: "This was all said by Gu Dezhao himself. Tell me, what kind of man have I married these twenty years... How could he... How could he be so..."
She closed her eyes, as if suddenly unable to catch her breath, cutting off her words. Then she slowly exhaled but said nothing more, only gripping Mama Xu’s hand tightly.
Ever since Yun Yiniang’s death, the master had grown increasingly distant from his wife, to the point where they were now so estranged.
Thinking of Gu Dezhao’s icy expression toward Madam Ji, Mama Xu felt her nose sting with emotion and clasped Madam Ji’s hand even tighter.
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