Chapter 70: The Informant
Gu Dezhao had just seen his colleagues off.
Mu Nian'an had also come for the birthday celebration and insisted on drinking with him. After getting drunk, Mu kept calling him "in-law." Gu Dezhao was full of reluctance—if Lan Er's reputation hadn't been tarnished, who would want to marry her off to Mu Zhizhai?
But he was also afraid that no one would propose to Lan Er in the future, so he could only reply perfunctorily, "...Let's wait a few more months before discussing this."
Mu Nian'an let out a drunken hiccup and whispered to him, "...You don't know this, but after Third Master Chen accompanied Lord Zhang to visit the Emperor, he called the Crown Prince aside for a long talk. When I saw him afterward, his expression was grim—I suspect the Emperor doesn’t have many months left... Once the Emperor passes, Third Master Chen will surely be brought into the Grand Secretariat by Lord Zhang, and I’ll be promoted to Zhan Shi. See what I’m telling you? Our families joining in marriage would be beneficial!"
Gu Dezhao hurriedly covered his mouth. The guests hadn’t even all left yet—how could he dare spout such treasonous words? He was truly drunk!
He immediately called over a servant to help their master home.
If he had drunken nonsense to spout, he should do it at home—not here where others might overhear and implicate him!
By the time all the guests had departed, the sky had already darkened.
Gu Dezhao rubbed his temples. The excessive drinking had left him feeling unwell. Only when a servant helped him into the inner courtyard and the cool breeze hit him did he regain some clarity. Mu Nian'an’s careless words were crucial. Officials of their rank—mere fifth-grade bureaucrats—merely went to the Six Ministries to perform their duties, often going months without an audience with the Emperor. News from the palace rarely reached them. A single remark from Mu Nian'an might reveal vital information.
If the Emperor died, his mentor Lin Xianzong’s promotion would likely be stalled, and his own career would suffer greatly.
With a sigh, Gu Dezhao made his way to the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion.
Song Miaohua had been waiting for him for some time. Seeing him enter, she quickly brought water for him to wash his face and handed him tea to sober up.
Seated in the Grand Preceptor's Chair, Gu Dezhao finally felt somewhat comfortable when Song Miaohua spoke up: "Master, this concubine has something to tell you."
Without opening his eyes, Gu Dezhao replied indifferently, "Tell me tomorrow. I’m exhausted."
Song Miaohua smiled faintly and began massaging his forehead. Softly, she continued, "Then let this concubine share some household matters. Second Miss’s maid Ziling has married. Coincidentally, while she was preparing for the wedding outside, she happened to meet a maid who once served Concubine Yun. Does the master remember her? Her name was Yu Ping. When she learned Ziling was a maid from the Gu household, she spoke at length with her..."
Gu Dezhao finally opened his eyes. "Why bring this up?"
But Song Miaohua took a step back and knelt on the floor. "Master, what this concubine wishes to say may offend Madam. I beg for your forgiveness before I speak."
Gu Dezhao studied her for a long moment. Only then did he notice that Concubine Song hadn’t brought Qiaowei today but a woman around forty years old. The woman also dropped to her knees with a thud and bowed. "Greetings, Lord Gu. This humble woman is Yu Ping, who once served Concubine Yun."
He frowned. Concubine Song was never this reckless—bringing a stranger to see him like this. There must be something significant she wanted to say. This woman had been Yun Xiang’s maid... What exactly was she trying to reveal?Gu Dezhao finally said, "Speak if you must."
Only after receiving this permission did Song Miaohua continue, "This is Yu Ping, who once served Concubine Yun. While speaking with Ziling, she mentioned the truth behind Concubine Yun's death. The matron who accompanied Ziling to her wedding was so shocked upon hearing this that she came back to tell me. I deliberated for a long time, unsure whether to inform you, Master. But considering the gravity of the matter, I felt it would be wrong to keep it from you, so I had the matron bring Yu Ping here."
At the mention of the truth behind Concubine Yun's death, Gu Dezhao could no longer remain seated. He stood up and walked over to Song Miaohua.
After a long silence, he asked, "Concubine Yun died from a difficult childbirth. What truth could there be?"
Song Miaohua quickly replied, "My words alone may not be credible, but Yu Ping witnessed it firsthand. Let her speak, Master."
Yu Ping, already intimidated by Gu Dezhao's imposing presence, stammered, "Back then, Concubine Yun went into premature labor... You knew it was because she had taken a labor-inducing decoction. But... but the miscarriage-preventing medicine and the labor-inducing decoction were stored in separate cabinets. How could Cui Ping have mixed them up?"
"Back then, apart from Cui Ping and me, Madam Ji often visited Concubine Yun's kitchen. She... she was concerned about Concubine Yun's diet and would frequently check on what she ate. Sometimes she would stay inside for a long time... Cui Ping's elder brother fell seriously ill, and it was Concubine Yun who paid for his treatment. Cui Ping was utterly loyal to Concubine Yun and would never harm her..."
At this point, Yu Ping cautiously glanced up and saw Gu Dezhao's face darken, his fists clenched at his sides.
Terrified, she continued as instructed by Concubine Song, "If the medicine couldn't have been mistaken, and Cui Ping didn't mix it up intentionally, then... then it must have been Madam who switched them... When Cui Ping died, she cried out her innocence, but no one listened. She truly didn't take the wrong medicine... It was... someone who swapped the medicines in the two cabinets..."
Gu Dezhao's mind went blank.
Both maids serving Concubine Yun had been assigned by Madam Ji. When the maid mixed up the medicine, he had suspected Madam Ji. But it was only a suspicion, and he couldn't imagine her capable of such a thing, so he hadn't pursued it further.
Back then, he had doted on Yun Xiang so much that he wanted no one else. Yun Xiang had urged him to spend more time with Madam Ji, but even when he did, his heart remained with Yun Xiang. Madam Ji could tell—she never said anything, but he could see she was deeply unhappy.
He had once loved Madam Ji wholeheartedly. But after she married into the family, she brought along a maid, Yun Xiang. The more time Gu Dezhao spent with Yun Xiang, the more he grew to love her gentle and serene nature—different from Madam Ji's calm demeanor, for Madam Ji's temperament was actually quite haughty.
Yun Xiang had served Madam Ji with utmost devotion. When Madam Ji was pregnant and gave birth to Jinchao, it was Yun Xiang who rushed to soothe the crying child in the middle of the night. If Madam Ji showed the slightest discomfort, Yun Xiang was the most anxious of all. And when little Jinchao was sent to Tongzhou, Yun Xiang grieved more than anyone.
And then came the scene of her dying slowly in his arms. Her face was terrifyingly pale, the embroidered silk quilt beneath her soaked in blood.
...He knew Madam Ji disliked his closeness with Yun Xiang, but he never imagined she would go so far as to harm her!Gu Dezhao thought of these things, and a surge of anger made his hands tremble.
He took a deep breath and continued to ask Yu Ping, "Why... why didn't you speak up back then?"
Yu Ping recalled how no matter how much she wailed or pleaded, the rod had kept striking Cui Ping relentlessly. She had struggled so helplessly, trembling and curling into a ball, trying to lessen the pain, but it had been utterly futile.
"Madam was very kind to us back then, and we... we didn’t want to implicate her."
After hearing this, Gu Dezhao closed his eyes.
Everything fell into silence. The Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion was utterly quiet. It was already late at night, and only the rustling of bamboo leaves outside could be heard as the wind passed through them.
Suddenly, he swept a set of blue-and-white porcelain tea set off the table, sending it crashing to the floor in pieces.
Even Song Miaohua was startled. But at the same time, she understood—she had struck Gu Dezhao’s sore spot.
"Good, good..." he repeated twice, a sharp smile appearing on his face. "I had no idea she was truly capable of such things!"
Concubine Song asked softly, "Master, then... what should we do? Perhaps it’s best to let it go, considering Madam’s poor health now, and Concubine Yun’s death is all in the past... Besides, today is your birthday."
"For my birthday this year, I thought she hadn’t given me a gift," Gu Dezhao said with a bitter laugh. "Turns out, this is my birthday gift."
Beyond mourning Concubine Yun’s death, he also grieved for Madam Ji. How had she become like this? How had she turned into the very person he despised the most?
Where was the gentle Xiangjun who had smiled warmly at him when he went to propose marriage, the one who had even made him blush?
"Let it go? How could I possibly let it go!"
Gu Dezhao exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. "It’s late. Take Yu Ping and go back first. I’ll go see her myself tomorrow."
This matter could only be resolved by him personally.
Neither Yu Ping nor Concubine Song had anything to do with it.
Meanwhile, Jinchao had just returned from Madam Ji’s quarters. Her mother’s appetite had been worsening lately, so she had been cooking for her in the small kitchen, which helped her eat a little more. After returning to Paulownia Courtyard and freshening up, she began making a pair of shoes and socks for her mother, embroidering them with orchid patterns.
Qingpu lit two lamps for her, and Jinchao slowly worked on the embroidery with a small hoop. Outside, the soft murmurs of Yuzhu and Xiuqu could be heard.
Qingpu smiled and said, "...The grapes are almost ripe, and Yuzhu has been dragging Xiuqu to check on them every day."
But moments later, Xiuqu lifted the curtain and entered, bowing before saying, "Miss, Bi Yi from the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion wishes to see you."
Jinchao recalled that Bi Yi was her mother’s maid and nodded with a smile. "Let her in quickly!"
Bi Yi entered in a hurry, bowed, and said, "Eldest Miss, I serve in the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion, having been promoted by Madam. Normally, this matter should be reported to Madam first, but considering how upset she became last time because of what I said, I hesitated for a long time... and ultimately decided to come to you. It’s urgent, which is why I’ve come so late at night..."
Jinchao frowned. "Last time? What happened last time that upset Mother?"Bi Yi explained, "A few days ago, Concubine Song came to deliver a cloak to the master. She mentioned that you had found rhubarb in the mistress's medicine and assumed it was her doing, so you went to confront her. She spoke with great grievance, and after hearing her out, the master said it was the mistress's fault, claiming the mistress was being troublesome and restless..."
Jinchao stood up in shock, immediately placing her embroidery frame on the side table, her voice turning cold. "She actually said that?"
Last time, regarding the rhubarb incident, she hadn't had solid evidence and thus didn't dare to bring it up to her father. Yet Song Miaohua seized the opportunity to stir up trouble!
And her father actually said it was her mother's fault?
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