Chapter 69: Yu Ping
Concubine Song clasped her hands lightly before tucking them into her sleeves, approaching with a smile.
Jinchao stood up and curtsied, saying, "Of course. Not just me, but Xi Jie'er and Yi Jie'er have also prepared birthday gifts for you. You must take a good look."
As they were speaking, Shui Ying announced from outside, "Master, the Second Miss has arrived."
Gu Lan entered, followed by servants carrying a screen draped in gray cloth, obscuring its contents.
She greeted everyone with a smile and said to Jinchao, "Elder Sister and our younger sisters arrived so early, while I overslept."
Jinchao merely smiled without responding. Seeing that Jinchao remained silent, Gu Yi and Gu Xi simply curtsied without speaking.
Gu Dezhao sat down and said, "Chaojie has brought a birthday gift—I must take a look." He made no effort to acknowledge Gu Lan.
Gu Jinchao instructed Qingpu to hand her the scroll, which she then unfurled for her father to see. Cao Ziheng had selected Mr. Cao You Xuan's painting "Ancient Pines on Cold Mountain." Gu Dezhao praised it highly, "…Cao You Xuan's pine paintings embody lofty ideals, and his later works are even more refined and understated, exuding a serene elegance."
Cao You Xuan, alongside Ni Zan of Wuxi and Gu Ying of Kunshan, was revered as one of the three great scholars of Jiangnan. Though he pursued an official career and amassed great wealth, he was inherently drawn to tranquility and self-cultivation, disdaining noise and revelry, and held a deep fondness for Daoist philosophy. This resonated with Gu Dezhao, who greatly admired Cao You Xuan's paintings.
Gu Jinchao knew her father was deliberately trying to please her and simply smiled. While the choice of painting suited his taste—thanks to Cao Ziheng's selection—in terms of effort, she was arguably the least diligent among her sisters.
When it was Gu Lan's turn to present her gift, she removed the gray cloth, revealing a screen embroidered with characters. After reading a few lines, Jinchao realized Gu Lan had embroidered the first twenty passages of the "Dao De Jing." Gu Yi also noticed and felt a pang of relief—had her elder sister not suggested the "Ode to the Peng Bird," how could her handwritten "Dao De Jing" compare to Gu Lan's meticulously embroidered version?
Gu Dezhao was visibly moved. Regardless of anything else, the thoughtfulness alone was rare. Moreover, she had chosen the "Dao De Jing" to embroider, clearly aiming to appeal to his preferences.
"You've embroidered it with great care. You've gone to much trouble," Gu Dezhao said with a nod and a smile.
Gu Lan exhaled subtly in relief and discreetly winked at Song Miaohua.
Since Gu Yi was newly betrothed, Gu Dezhao had been seeing her more often lately. He turned to her with a smile and asked, "And what have you prepared for your father, Yi Jie'er?"
Gu Yi replied softly, "I cannot compare to Elder Sister or Second Sister. I merely copied a rhapsody for Father." She unfurled the calligraphy scroll, revealing neat and elegant small seal script with a touch of classical charm. "It's the 'Ode to the Peng Bird.' I found it deeply moving."
Gu Dezhao was pleasantly surprised and couldn't help praising her repeatedly. "Our thoughts align, Father and daughter. I, too, admire this 'Ode to the Peng Bird.' Your small seal script is excellent. I recall your Academy Style Calligraphy was only average—it must have taken great effort to practice this script…"
This was his favorite rhapsody. Though at first glance, a handwritten gift might seem less heartfelt than an embroidered one, Gu Yi had never excelled in calligraphy. Mastering small seal script for this purpose showed genuine dedication. Moreover, while the "Dao De Jing" was a Daoist classic, embroidering it as a feminine craft bordered on irreverence—though he couldn't say so outright since it was his daughter's work. Only something as solemn and meticulous as this calligraphy could be proudly displayed.From her father's expression, it was clear he was genuinely pleased. Seeing him praise Gu Yi's calligraphy effusively, Gu Lan felt a slight sinking in her heart.
She was the one who had put in the most effort, so why was Gu Yi receiving more admiration?
Father then accepted Gu Xi's gift and offered a few words of praise before taking his attendants to the outer courtyard to receive guests. Concubine Song could tell at a glance that Gu Lan had failed to truly cater to Gu Dezhao's preferences and mend their strained relationship. Instead, a faint trace of dislike had been added, leaving her deeply resentful.
She glanced at Gu Yi's calligraphy—some "Ode to the Roc." Gu Yi had only been taught by a basic tutor for a few years and barely knew a few characters. And now she was fond of the "Ode to the Roc"? Could she even understand it?
If no one had told her about it, would she have even thought of it?
Her gaze shifted to Gu Jinzhao, who was leisurely sipping tea. Their eyes met, and Jinzhao smiled faintly. "Concubine, why do you look at me as if you want to devour me? I'm quite frightened."
Gu Lan suddenly understood and withdrew her smile, eyeing Gu Yi. "Third Sister, did Eldest Sister choose this ode for you? I quite like it too."
Jinzhao set down her teacup, gently pressing Gu Yi's hand, and said softly to Gu Lan, "Embroidering the 'Tao Te Ching' would only tarnish its sacred name. Of course, you'd prefer Yi'er's writing." She was clearly defending Gu Yi.
Gu Yi felt a stir in her heart and unconsciously tightened her grip on Jinzhao's hand.
"Second Madam is visiting Mother right now, so I must take my leave first," Jinzhao said before leading Gu Yi and Gu Xi out of the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion.
It was Father's birthday, and Gu Wuye from the ancestral family had come for drinks. Second Madam had also dropped by to see Mother. When Jinzhao arrived at Xiexiao Courtyard, Second Madam was chatting with Mother. Upon seeing her and her two younger sisters, Mother quickly called them over to pay their respects.
Second Madam smiled and bade them rise, presenting each with a gift in a sandalwood box. "Last time you visited Tai Furen, I didn’t have any gifts prepared. Now I must make up for it."
Jinzhao accepted hers with thanks, as did Gu Yi and Gu Xi. Second Madam pulled Gu Yi closer. "I heard you're betrothed to the sixth young master of the Wuqing Du family. He's handsome, studious, and surely has a bright future ahead..."
Madam Ji also smiled. "I think it's wonderful. Yi'er is already betrothed, but who knows when our Lan Er will be..." She held Jinzhao's hand, her smile tinged with melancholy.
Jinzhao's heart tightened slightly as she squeezed her mother's hand in return. Since stopping the rhubarb treatment, her coughing had lessened, but her health hadn't improved significantly.
"Chaojie is as lovely as a flower—there’s no need to worry about her," Second Madam reassured Madam Ji. "I’ll also keep an eye out for a suitable match for our Chaojie."
Jinzhao laughed lightly. "I’d rather stay with Mother forever and never marry."
At the mention of marriage, for some reason, she recalled Chen Xuanqing's cold, indifferent face.
Madam Ji sighed. "You still talk like a child."
Concubine Song returned to the Waterside Pavilion with a dark expression. Qiaowei was waiting for her under the corridor. Seeing her approach, she curtsied and said, "Concubine... we’ve found her."
Concubine Song looked up in shock—they had actually found her! She had only asked Qiaowei to search on a whim, thinking the girl might have died, married far away, or changed her name. Yet, against all odds, she had been located.
Taking a deep breath to suppress her excitement, she said, "Come inside and tell me."Entering the inner chamber, Qiaowei closed the door and explained to Concubine Song how she had found Yu Ping.
"There are only three Li Family Sugar-Fried Chestnut shops in Shuntian Prefecture. I made sure to inquire—all are long-established, operating for over ten years. I followed the trail and found her near one of them. Maids' names are usually given by their masters, and most revert to their original names when returning home. But Yu Ping was different. Her parents died early, and after going back, her elder brother sold her again—this time to an elderly widower as a wife, still under the name Yu Ping."
"That widower used to be a peddler selling fermented glutinous rice, known to everyone as he roamed the streets. Later, he befriended the son of the local county registrar and made some money, buying Yu Ping as his wife. After she bore him a daughter, he bought a fourteen-year-old girl as a concubine. The man had a terrible temper, frequently beating and scolding Yu Ping and the young girl. So Yu Ping was well-known in the area—just a few questions led me to her. When I arrived, she was being beaten over some trivial matter. I gave him twenty taels of silver before he agreed to let Yu Ping come with me."
Concubine Song nodded repeatedly. "You did well... Where is she now?"
Qiaowei smiled. "I had her freshen up. Yu Xiang is bringing her to see you—she should be here soon."
Indeed, Yu Xiang soon arrived with Yu Ping. Though not yet thirty, Yu Ping looked worn, as if she were forty. Upon seeing Concubine Song, she immediately knelt in deep gratitude, her words stumbling with emotion.
Concubine Song set down her teacup and stood to examine her closely. She did look familiar, though Concubine Song couldn’t quite recall her face clearly. She asked, "You served Concubine Yun back then—do you remember what she liked to eat?"
Yu Ping hastily nodded, wiping her tears. "I remember... Concubine Yun loved osmanthus sugar crisps and milk with Fuling cake."
Hearing this, Song Miaohua was certain—this woman had indeed served Concubine Yun!
She continued, "Qiaowei must have explained everything to you on the way. Are you willing to step forward and expose Madam Ji?"
Yu Ping hesitated slightly.
Song Miaohua frowned.
Noticing this, Qiaowei interjected, "We agreed on the way here. If you expose Madam, we’ll help you get a letter of divorce from your husband. You can take your daughter back to your family and escape his abuse."
Yu Ping tucked back a loose strand of hair and whispered, "Will... will he really give it? He knows the county registrar’s son..."
Qiaowei laughed. "This is the Gu household—Physician Gu’s family. Your husband merely knows the son of a minor county registrar. How could he dare refuse us? We’ll even give you a few dozen taels of silver and some land in your hometown. You’ll manage just fine."
Yu Ping murmured again, "But the truth is... back then, it was just speculation. Besides Madam, others could have slipped in unnoticed. When I told Granny Zhang, I only spoke of it as a guess. Who knew her words would pin it all on Madam..."Song Miaohua sat down again and said with a smile, "That's not how you should see it. Think about it this way. You were originally Concubine Yun's maid—you should clear her name. Otherwise, wouldn't her death and that of the child in her womb be too tragic? Haven’t you dreamed of Concubine Yun holding the child and coming back to find you in the dead of night?"
Yu Ping shivered, and Song Miaohua fell silent, picking up her teacup to continue drinking.
She would come around eventually.
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