Chapter 77: Awakening
Gu Lan looked up to see Gu Jinrong returning in complete mourning attire. He brushed aside the maid’s hand and strode toward the main hall. Gu Lan hurried forward to meet him, grasping Jinrong’s sleeve as she choked back sobs. “Rong-ge… you’ve finally returned! Mother… she passed suddenly last night…”
Jinrong’s entire body was ice-cold, his voice thick with disbelief. “Second Sister, how did Mother die? How could it be so sudden? I… I didn’t even get to see her one last time…”
Gu Lan whispered softly, “It was her illness… you know how she’s been…”
But Gu Jinzhao cut in coldly, “Gu Lan, shut your mouth!”
Gu Lan’s tears fell like rain as she wept, “Eldest Sister, I know you dislike me, but at a time like this, with Mother’s body still warm—”
Jinrong didn’t understand why Jinzhao had silenced Gu Lan, but seeing her cry so bitterly, his own grief surged uncontrollably. “Eldest Sister, at a time like this, you shouldn’t—”
Jinzhao closed her eyes and laughed bitterly. Mother, you should see this—this is your own flesh and blood, your own son!
She stood up and glared coldly at Gu Jinrong. “I silenced her because she’s spouting nonsense. Mother didn’t die of illness—she hanged herself!” She grabbed Jinrong by the collar and yanked him forward. “Take a good look! Look closely!”
At Jinzhao’s words, Gu Lan’s face drained of color. None of her people were here—no one had told her how Madam Ji had died. She had assumed it was illness. She had been too busy mourning to even look at the body!
Everything here felt eerie. Why was her own mother missing? Why would Madam Ji hang herself?
A deep unease settled in her heart.
After what had happened last time, Jinrong didn’t dare resist Jinzhao. He stumbled to the side of the bed where the corpse lay, staring at Madam Ji’s tragic state for a long moment before grief overwhelmed him. With a broken cry of “Mother!”, he threw himself onto her body and wailed.
Jinzhao ordered the maids to pull him away—tears from the living must not touch the dead.
Only after being dragged back did Jinrong regain some composure. He wiped his tears with his sleeve, then immediately seized Jinzhao’s sleeve, his voice trembling with fury. “Eldest Sister, who killed Mother? You have to tell me… I’ll avenge her!”
Jinzhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She murmured, “Avenge her? Then you should die yourself.”
Jinrong froze.
Jinzhao stared at him icily. “You always trusted Gu Lan. Even when I warned you she was scheming, you still believed her! It was your trust that killed Mother! You wrote to Gu Lan about Yu Ping, and Concubine Song used that to track her down and frame Mother for the murder of the late Concubine Yun! Mother took her own life out of shame! Tell me—if this isn’t your fault, whose is it?”
Jinrong was stunned. “But… I didn’t know where Yu Ping was. How could they have found her?”
Slowly, Jinzhao uttered a few words. “Do you remember… Li’s Sugar-Roasted Chestnuts?”
Jinrong’s face turned deathly pale. That chestnut shop—he had mentioned it in his letters to Gu Lan!
His rigid gaze shifted to Gu Lan, his hands clenching into trembling fists.Jinchao could see that he was already somewhat convinced, but she wasn't finished yet. She continued in a low voice, "Mother was so ill she couldn't even hang herself properly. She tied the belt to the bedpost, wrapped it around her neck, then rolled over and... Not long before she died, she entrusted me with your care... Seeing how you've behaved, I think even her spirit in heaven would be heartbroken!"
Gu Jinrong's mind reeled as he listened to Jinchao's words.
He had been four or five years old when Concubine Yun died—old enough to remember. He knew there had been something suspicious about her death, though the servants had always been evasive when questioned. But he had never suspected his own mother of killing Concubine Yun. Yu Ping, who now served him, had previously attended Concubine Yun... Had Gu Lan found Yu Ping and used her to frame their mother?
So that was it! His mother had died because of him!
Because he had revealed Yu Ping's whereabouts, allowing Gu Lan to use her against their mother!
"Elder Sister, is this truly what happened?" Jinrong grasped Jinchao's sleeve, his eyes brimming with tears.
Jinchao had no desire to touch him. She removed his hand and said quietly, "Don't believe me? Then go ahead and accuse me of slandering Gu Lan again. Go make a scene before Father—see how pitiful your Second Sister looks when she cries. Won't you help her?"
Overwhelmed by grief and remorse, Jinrong watched as his elder sister withdrew from his touch, the pain unbearable.
Would she never forgive him?
He had caused his mother's death—it was all his fault. If only he had listened to his elder sister, if only he had stopped trusting Gu Lan, perhaps his mother would still be alive. To think she had been driven to hang herself after being humiliated... and to die in such misery!
Gu Lan listened in panic. How did Jinchao know all this so clearly? How did she know about the correspondence between her and Jinrong?
Her mind in turmoil, Gu Lan saw that Jinrong wouldn't even look at her. Desperate, she stepped forward and grabbed his arm. "Rong'er, you must believe me! I've always been good to Mother... How could I possibly harm her?"
Jinrong stared coldly at Gu Lan, his voice hoarse. "You killed my mother."
Seeing the unprecedented fury in Jinrong's eyes—as if he wanted to tear her flesh and drink her blood—Gu Lan sobbed, "I don't understand how Mother died either... I know nothing about it! Rong'er, we've been siblings for so many years..."
Jinrong clenched his teeth, deaf to her pleas.
"You killed my mother," he repeated, each word deliberate. A crushing wave of rage and guilt consumed him, making him tremble with suppressed emotion, yet his tone remained eerily calm. "Gu Lan, you used me to kill my mother. She was already gravely ill, and you used me to destroy her."
Gu Lan took a step back, half-expecting Jinrong to lunge at her. But he didn't—he just kept staring at her, motionless, terrifying. Her lips, pale and dry, quivered as she whispered, "Rong'er, listen to your sister—"
"Who are you to call yourself my sister? Shut up! I have only one elder sister!" he suddenly roared.
Jinrong had never shown such thunderous anger before. Jinchao, kneeling before the spirit tablet to burn paper offerings, noticed even the maids standing behind Jinrong shrinking back in fear. She sighed inwardly, then glanced sideways to see tears streaming down Jinrong's face.
Was it fury or sorrow that overwhelmed him?
Gu Lan fled Xiexiao Courtyard.Her heart filled with trepidation, she rushed toward Concubine Song's Waterside Pavilion.
Concubine Song and her maids were all being watched by the old women from outside; none were allowed to leave... Gu Lan's heart pounded even more fiercely when she saw this. These old women were all from the outer courtyard—why had they come to keep an eye on her mother? No wonder no one had come to inform her about Madam Ji's affairs.
The old women didn't give her any trouble, however. They bowed and let her in.
Song Miaohua was leaning against the large heated bed, her gaze vacant as she stared at the incense burner before her.
The lingering scent of incense wafted faintly as she watched expressionlessly.
Gu Lan stepped into the western side chamber. Song Miaohua had just returned from Slanting Cloud Garden and had freshened up. Her hair was neatly combed, but her face was swollen and bruised—Gu Lan noticed it immediately. She hurried over and asked, "Concubine, what happened to your face? Where is Qiaowei? Why isn't she here attending to you?"
Concubine Song looked up at Gu Lan, who was still oblivious, and suddenly felt a surge of sorrow. If she had fallen to this state, what would become of Lan Er?
She murmured, "Qiaowei, Yu Xiang, and the others have all been sent to the outer courtyard's kitchen. The ones taking care of me now are two young maids who've just started growing their hair out. They're playing with ropes in the back."
Gu Lan couldn't believe it. "How is that possible? Qiaowei is your most trusted maid—who would dare punish her?"
Concubine Song gazed at the plants outside the window and said softly, "From now on, I no longer hold power over household affairs. I'm even beneath Concubine Du and Concubine Guo. I must copy scriptures here every day and can't have too many servants... Lan Er, you must take good care of yourself from now on. You'll have to rely on yourself."
Gu Lan was stunned. She quickly sat beside Concubine Song, took her hand, and asked, "What do you mean? Why would Father strip you of your authority over the household... Could it be because of Madam Ji? I was just about to ask you—why weren't you keeping vigil at the mourning hall..." As she spoke, she recalled Gu Jinrong's furious expression and couldn't help but shudder. "Does Gu Jinzhao know everything? Did she tell Father, and that's why..."
At this possibility, Gu Lan's face paled dramatically.
No wonder everything had felt so off! Madam Ji had hanged herself because of their slander. If Father realized her mother had played a part in fueling the rumors, he would never let them off lightly. And if he found out her mother had added rhubarb to Madam Ji's medicinal cuisine... How could her mother possibly escape unscathed?
Song Miaohua looked at her daughter, opened her mouth as if to say something, then suddenly burst into tears, clutching Gu Lan without uttering a word.
Seeing her mother like this, Gu Lan's heart turned to ice. If her mother was this despondent, then the worst-case scenario must be true.
After crying for a while, Song Miaohua finally composed herself. She pulled Gu Lan close and said through gritted teeth, "Even so, my Lan Er must not let Gu Jinzhao bully you. Remember—marry into an excellent family as the rightful wife. Then, see who dares to act as a bully in front of you!"
Gu Lan also began to cry. Without her mother's support, and with Gu Jinrong surely turning against her now, how difficult her life would be alone!
After sitting with Concubine Song for a while, Gu Lan forced herself to regain her composure. She couldn't afford to stay away from Madam Ji's mourning hall for long—if Gu Jinzhao used this to accuse her of being unfilial, she would truly be in trouble!
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