Chapter 72: Interrogation
Yu Ping grew even more terrified upon hearing this and kowtowed frantically. "Eldest Miss is kind-hearted—please don't punish me! I've told the truth! Concubine Song... Concubine Song only wanted me to make my words more certain! I've confessed everything—you must believe me!"
Jinzhao glanced at Qingpu. Even after being frightened so severely, this maid still hadn't changed her story—it seemed she really was telling the truth.
She took a deep breath and asked again, "How did Concubine Song find you?"
Yu Ping hesitated. Seeing this, Qingpu immediately gripped her neck, ready to squeeze.
Terrified, Yu Ping burst into tears. "There's no need for this, Miss... I... I'll tell you..." She then explained how Concubine Song had found her.
Jinzhao couldn't help but sneer. Song Miaohua had truly gone to great lengths! To go through so much trouble just to track down Yu Ping. Shuntian Prefecture governed five districts and nineteen counties, with countless people—how had she managed to find Yu Ping?
"Explain clearly—how did she trace the clues to you?"
After thinking for a moment, Yu Ping replied, "I... I followed Qiaowei. She was holding a letter, and I saw that it mentioned me. It seemed to have been written by the Eldest Young Master of the Gu family..."
Gu Jinzhao suddenly remembered—Jinrong had recently been exchanging letters with Gu Lan!
Yu Ping had served Jinrong when he was young—he must have remembered some things about her! And he had just casually told Gu Lan? Jinzhao was so furious she couldn't speak. When Jinrong returned, she would give him a thorough scolding!
Suppressing her anger, Jinzhao considered whether to bring Yu Ping to see her mother. But even under such threats, Yu Ping hadn't changed her story—it seemed she was confirming the truth. Taking her to Madam Ji would only upset her further. After some thought, Jinzhao instructed Xue Sixteen to have guards keep watch over the maid. She then went to the inner chamber, intending to explain the matter to her mother so she could defend herself when speaking with her father.
Meanwhile, when Concubine Song noticed that the two maids hadn't returned for a long time, Qiaowei sent someone to check the Moon Gate—only to find Caifu and Baiyun, Jinzhao's maids, standing guard. Terrified, the messenger hurried back to report.
Upon hearing this, Qiaowei rushed into the inner chamber and woke Concubine Song.
Concubine Song broke out in a cold sweat! As she dressed and fixed her hair, Qiaowei informed her that it was already 3:15 a.m.—dawn would break soon.
No one had slept well that night.
After a while, Concubine Song calmed down. "Though I used some means to find Yu Ping... I didn't make her lie. Why should I panic? I'm only worried that Gu Jinzhao might play tricks!" But how had Jinzhao learned of this? How had she known that Yu Ping would be sent out of the manor at midnight?
Was there someone from Madam Ji's side in the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion? Last time, she had used a maid to leak the matter of the rhubarb to Madam Ji, hoping to provoke her. Had that same maid gone to Madam Ji again? That seemed unlikely—Madam Ji was too soft-hearted, preferring to swallow her bitterness rather than disturb Jinzhao. Otherwise, how could Concubine Song have thrived for so many years?
Could it be that the maid had gone to Jinzhao herself? If so, Jinzhao must have ordered the interception of Yu Ping after hearing the news.After realizing what was happening, she quickly had Qiaowei pin the gilded plum blossom hairpin for her. Then, accompanied by Qiaowei and two maids, she hurried to Paulownia Courtyard, only to find it deserted—not a single servant in sight. Concubine Song’s heart sank. Gu Jinzhao must have taken people to Madam Ji’s place!
She immediately rushed to Xiaxiao Courtyard with her entourage.
Xiaxiao Courtyard was brightly lit, with several guards standing on the covered walkway, seemingly whispering among themselves.
A faint smile appeared on Song Miaohua’s face as she straightened her disheveled collar. “What’s all this commotion in the middle of the night? Guards entering the madam’s courtyard—isn’t that a bit against the rules?”
Inside the inner chamber, Gu Jinzhao was speaking with her mother, while Mama Xu stood under the veranda. Seeing Song Miaohua approach, Mama Xu gritted her teeth in hatred but forced an even brighter smile. “Concubine Song, isn’t it also against the rules for you to wander around sleeplessly at this hour?”
Song Miaohua raised an eyebrow and walked along the stone path to the veranda. Outside the main hall stood several of Madam Ji’s maids. Gu Jinzhao and her trusted maid Qingpu were nowhere to be seen—likely still inside with Madam Ji.
She raised her voice further. “I’m here to look for my two maids! Your Xiaxiao Courtyard, relying on these guards, forcibly took them. I’ve come to retrieve them!”
Mama Xu replied with a smile, “How could you think that way? The rhubarb in the medicine—Madam put it there herself. Concubine Yun died, and Madam switched the medicine. Now that your maids are missing, are you blaming our madam for hiding them? Maids have legs—who knows, maybe they ran off with some servant boys for a secret rendezvous!”
Her words were dripping with sarcasm, and Song Miaohua’s expression darkened.
“You’re just a servant! How dare you speak to me like this!”
Gu Jinzhao, having just stepped out of the main hall, heard this and smiled at Song Miaohua. “She doesn’t have the right? Surely I do?” She then signaled Mama Xu to return to the inner chamber to watch over her mother.
Seeing Gu Jinzhao emerge, Song Miaohua forced a faint smile. “Eldest Miss, what’s the meaning of this? I’ve come for my two maids… Just hand them over, and I’ll—” Before she could finish, Gu Jinzhao raised her hand and slapped her across the face, causing her head to jerk to the side as a red mark quickly bloomed on her cheek.
Rage and humiliation surged in Song Miaohua’s heart. She touched her face. No one had ever dared to slap her before—how could Gu Jinzhao, a mere fifteen-year-old girl, have the audacity?
Gu Jinzhao casually shook her hand as if nothing had happened. “This is the first time I’ve slapped you. Do you feel wronged? Indignant? Go ahead and complain to my father—see if he’ll come question me about it.”
The two maids behind Song Miaohua stirred, but she closed her eyes and suppressed her fury. Gu Jinzhao had always been this arrogant, and Gu Dezhao had never reprimanded her. What was she compared to that? Even if she reported this, Gu Dezhao wouldn’t take her side!
She bowed slightly and said, “I don’t know what offense I’ve committed to deserve this slap from Eldest Miss. Please enlighten me!”
Jinchao stared at her coldly and spoke softly, “You slandered my mother… accused her of putting rhubarb in her own medicine, claimed she harmed Concubine Yun. Song Miaohua, how dare you use my words to hurt my mother…?”
Song Miaohua paled. How did Gu Jinzhao know about the rhubarb? Did Bi Yi tell her?She gritted her teeth and said, "I know Yu Ping was taken by you. I can tell you that I didn’t teach Yu Ping to lie—those things are all true... Whether Madam did them or not, you can ask her and find out! Even if I’ve wronged Madam in the past, I wouldn’t use Concubine Yun’s death to make false accusations!"
Gu Jinzhao smiled faintly. "Was it Gu Jinrong who told you where Yu Ping is?"
Song Miaohua remained silent, watching her.
"There’s no need to cover for him. He’s still close with Gu Lan, isn’t he?" Gu Jinzhao wasn’t even sure if she was still smiling—her fury had drowned out everything else. "When Gu Jinrong returns, I’ll have a proper talk with him about this. You won’t be getting your maid back. If there’s nothing else, you should leave now."
Just then, Mama Xu emerged from the main hall and whispered to Jinzhao, "Eldest Miss, Madam wishes to speak with Concubine Song..."
The sky had already brightened. Gu Jinzhao hadn’t slept all night.
She gazed at the pale light of dawn and nodded. "Keep an eye on her. If Concubine Song dares to speak out of turn, come find me immediately."
Song Miaohua pressed her lips together and followed Mama Xu into the inner chamber.
Madam Ji lay against a large pillow, her gaze fixed directly on Song Miaohua before signaling Mama Xu to close the door.
Madam Ji seemed exhausted and closed her eyes. "Song Miaohua, I’ve never mistreated you..."
After a long silence, Song Miaohua let out a soft laugh. "Madam, of course you haven’t mistreated me. Haven’t I repaid you all these years? You were in poor health, so I managed the inner household for you, helped raise Gu Jinrong, and even tended to you at your sickbed. What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"
Madam Ji replied coolly, "I should be the one asking you—what more could you possibly be dissatisfied with? You insist on killing me and harming Jinzhao. You know very well that if I were truly jealous, you would have died long ago—how could Yun Xiang have taken your place? I understand what Yu Ping said... But your actions are beyond my comprehension."
Song Miaohua bowed respectfully. "Madam, you misunderstand. The master’s fondness for me was merely a fleeting fancy—his true affection was for Yun Xiang. Surely you could see that. I have no dissatisfaction of my own, but we each have our own struggles. Think about it—Eldest Miss forced Lan Er into marrying the eldest son of the Mu family. How could I not be desperate?"
Madam Ji smiled faintly. "That was Gu Lan’s own doing... You want the position of the principal wife, don’t you?"
Song Miaohua stiffened momentarily before laughing. "Madam, what do you mean? I’ve always been devoted to you—I’ve never coveted the principal wife’s position."
Madam Ji’s voice lowered as she said bluntly, "...Don’t worry. You’ll never become the principal wife in this lifetime."
Song Miaohua bowed again. "The master will be rising soon—this concubine must attend to him. When he comes to Xiexiao Courtyard, you can save those words for him."
With that, Song Miaohua left the inner chamber.
Gu Jinzhao stood beneath the corridor, watching as Song Miaohua emerged. When she passed by, Song Miaohua paused and curtsied. "Eldest Miss, you may vent your anger at me all you like, but when the master comes today, you’d best think carefully about what to do."
Gu Jinzhao smiled. "I’ve learned quite a bit from Yu Ping. There’s no need for you to concern yourself."
Song Miaohua frowned. She hadn’t seen Yu Ping and had no idea what she had told Gu Jinzhao.
Once Gu Dezhao arrived and spoke with Madam Ji, she would surely understand.Song Miaohua smiled and said, "The Eldest Miss is too considerate." Then she left with her maids and servants.
Gu Jinzhao sighed. She had only done what she could. How her mother would discuss it with her father was her mother's business.
After a moment's thought, she quietly instructed Qingpu, "...Have Caifu return from the Chuihua Gate and take Yuzhu to keep an eye on Concubine Song and Gu Lan. If there’s any unusual movement, report it to me immediately. We must stay vigilant against them."
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