Chapter 86: Pleading
After a while, the heavy rain finally stopped. Jinchao instructed Mama Tong to go to the Tranquil Fragrance Study and inform Gu Jinrong about the incident involving Steward Sun and Yu Xiang from the previous day.
Jinchao also began reflecting on her previous approach. She had always pitied Gu Jinrong for his misfortunes and been frustrated by his lack of ambition. When guidance failed, she had simply left him to his own devices. But after her mother's death, she had pondered deeply—Gu Jinrong was, after all, still an immature child who needed guidance. By telling him about the actions of Concubine Song and Gu Lan, he might come to understand and avoid repeating such mistakes in the future.
After hearing Mama Xu's words, Gu Jinrong was filled with anger and fury, but most of all, regret. He bit his lip, unable to speak, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
Though he had long known of Gu Lan's sinister ambitions, he had never felt it so keenly as now! Colluding with Steward Sun to harm their mother? Driving a wedge between him and his Eldest Miss? What was most detestable was not the actions of Concubine Song and Gu Lan—it was the fact that he had believed them for so long, unwittingly harming his Eldest Miss and mother for so long!
His mother was already gone—how could he ever make amends?
Now, his Eldest Miss didn’t even want to see him. What was he to do?
Mama Tong glanced up and said, "Young Master, you must pull yourself together. It’s been nearly half a month since Madam passed. If you continue like this, you’ll only bring pain to those who care for you and joy to those who wish you ill. The Eldest Miss is busy handling Madam’s affairs, and though you may not be able to assist directly, there are other matters you could help with. The Eldest Miss mentioned that you should consider returning to Qifang Alley to resume your studies. You shouldn’t wallow in grief like this..."
Gu Jinrong was stunned. In the days following his mother’s death, he had been utterly despondent, consumed by guilt.
Most of the funeral arrangements had been handled by his Eldest Miss and Second Aunt. As the legitimate eldest son, apart from attending the necessary rites, he had done nothing. He had simply shut himself away in the Tranquil Fragrance Study, drowning in sorrow. But wasn’t his Eldest Miss grieving too? Yet she had never indulged in despair as he had.
Now that he thought about it, he ought to shoulder the responsibilities of the eldest son and not remain so dispirited.
Mama Tong continued, "...It’s good that you understand. The Eldest Miss does care for you. But you know her temperament—she doesn’t speak her mind easily."
Gu Jinrong nodded and personally escorted Mama Tong out.
As Mama Tong stepped out of the Tranquil Fragrance Study’s courtyard gate, she spotted Gu Lan approaching from a distance with her maids.
What was Gu Lan doing here to see the Young Master? Hadn’t she fallen out with him?
Watching Gu Lan draw nearer, Mama Tong grew suspicious and quietly retreated back into the Tranquil Fragrance Study. A young maid, startled to see her return, was about to speak when Mama Tong quickly signaled for silence. The maid, clever enough, immediately obeyed and stayed quiet. Mama Tong then hid behind a Taihu rock.
Gu Lan entered the courtyard carrying a box. Once inside the Tranquil Fragrance Study, a maid went to inform Gu Jinrong, and soon after, she was led to the study. Mama Tong emerged from behind the rock and stealthily made her way to the study’s exterior, peering inside through the bamboo curtain.
Qing An and Qing Xiu, seeing Mama Tong eavesdropping, couldn’t help but tense. Inside were their Young Master and Second Miss—and Mama Tong was the Eldest Miss’s confidante! The Second Miss had always been at odds with the Eldest Miss!Fortunately, Mama Tong spotted them first and gave them a cold glare. She whispered sternly, "No talking, or I'll report to the Eldest Miss and have you sent to the stables..."
The two book attendants, with their delicate skin and pampered upbringing from serving Gu Jinrong, could never endure life in the stables. They hurriedly stepped aside, pretending not to see, but resentment simmered in their hearts.
Though she was just a head servant, they were still the young master's book attendants! They might even become stewards someday. How dare Mama Tong treat them so rudely.
Mama Tong couldn't be bothered with their petty grievances. Inside, Gu Lan was speaking with Gu Jinrong.
"...I know you must hate me deeply. But... but Rong'er, your sister grew up with you. When I asked about Yu Ping in that letter, I had no idea Concubine Song would do those things later! Even if I made mistakes... you must remember your childhood. How good I was to you. When you had a high fever and craved fresh lotus seeds, even though it was already autumn, I searched everywhere for them... When you fell from the rockery and hurt your leg, I stayed by your side for over a month. To keep you from boredom, I even cut paper figures to amuse you..."
Gu Jinrong watched Gu Lan silently, her face filled with innocence and tenderness.
In the past, he would have been deeply moved. But now, hearing her words, all he could see was his mother's death and Eldest Miss's pained, disappointed gaze. He stared coldly at Gu Lan, his hands clenched tightly in his sleeves.
Mama Tong had said that Gu Lan had been secretly driving a wedge between him and Eldest Miss—this was Yu Xiang's own testimony. Moreover, all these things were orchestrated by Concubine Song, who believed that driving the siblings apart would make it easier to seize the position of the main wife later.
...What utter nonsense! Was she really good to him? What she truly coveted was the status of the legitimate daughter and all the privileges that came with it!
Was she as innocent as she claimed? Now she was still trying to deceive him! That gentle, delicate face now seemed utterly detestable.
Seeing Gu Jinzhao remain silent, Gu Lan grew anxious. Why wasn't he reacting at all?
She opened the box she had brought, revealing an ivory carving of the Eighteen Arhats, exquisitely crafted and lifelike.
Pleading, she said, "...This was a gift you once gave me. I've kept it all this time, knowing you respected me. I only ask for your help now. Concubine Song is at the Waterside Pavilion, pregnant and in desperate need of proper care. Those two maids torment her endlessly—she can't endure it any longer..."
"When Concubine Song brought Yu Ping to speak with Father that day, it was only to reveal the truth, not to harm Mother. But Eldest Miss took it the wrong way and has been merciless ever since, sending those spiteful maids to 'serve' her... Concubine Song is carrying the Gu family's child—you must help her. If you refuse, I'll have to kneel before you!"
Her eyes brimmed with tears, her weeping pitiful and heartrending, as if she bore the greatest injustice.
Yet as Gu Jinrong looked at the ivory carving in her hands, instead of stirring old warmth, it only fueled his fury further!He had truly treated her as his elder sister with such sincerity. When she said she liked ivory carvings, he went to study it diligently himself, even at the cost of neglecting his studies. Yet the gift he brought for his eldest sister was just any random Auspicious Wealth, Prosperity, Longevity, and Fortune jade pendant from Jade and Stone Residence! When the Eldest Miss saw the gift he gave to his second sister and then her own, she would surely feel heartbroken.
Gu Jinrong felt a chill run through his entire body—what absurd things had he done!
He coldly said to Gu Lan, "When I was sick with a high fever, my mother stayed by my side day and night, neglecting sleep and meals to care for me. When I injured my leg, she sought doctors and medicine everywhere for me. Compared to my mother, what you’ve done is nothing!"
"Now you’re pretending to be innocent, pushing all the blame onto Concubine Song? In the end, you’re just selfish and self-serving! Don’t think I don’t know anything. The matter with the rhubarb, the incident with your maid Ziling, your dealings with Madam Wen—dare you say you knew nothing, that it was all Concubine Song’s doing? You play the innocent and pitiful act so well!"
Gu Jinrong sneered and continued, "Heaven watches, and people see. Sooner or later, someone will speak up! Yu Xiang, the maid by your concubine’s side, has confessed everything—how you conspired with your concubine, every single scheme. Listening to it all, I feel nothing but shame for you! How dare you still cry innocence in front of me?"
Gu Lan was stunned. Yu Xiang… Yu Xiang… No wonder the stewards had ignored her these past few days, no wonder she couldn’t see her mother—Yu Xiang had betrayed them! Had she revealed everything they’d done?
Gu Lan grew afraid. She feared her mother might never recover from this. Frantically, she grabbed Jinrong’s sleeve and pleaded, "That maid is no longer my mother’s servant—the Eldest Miss must have forced her to lie! Jinrong, you can’t abandon me now…"
Jinrong suddenly shook her off, furious. "You still have the nerve to ask for my help? To help Concubine Song, who harmed my mother? And now you slander the Eldest Miss, blaming her for everything—can’t you reflect on yourself? Have you no shame at all?"
He snatched the ivory carving from Gu Lan’s brocade box and hurled it at her. "Take this and get out! Pretend I never gave it to you! Get out now!"
The ivory grazed Gu Lan’s forehead, its sharp edge leaving a cut that immediately bled. Stunned, she clutched the wound, unable to react. Gu Jinrong had actually dared to treat her like this—to throw something at her!
How had she forgotten? Jinrong was the most easily provoked, the most impulsive! She had once used this against Gu Jinzhao, and now Jinzhao was using it against her.
Wiping the blood from her face, Gu Lan burned with humiliation and rage. She had come to beg him, and even if he refused to help, how could he humiliate her like this?
Jinrong was truly heartless. Even if she had harmed his mother, she had never harmed him! If she had been crueler, she would have acted against him long ago!
After all these years as siblings, was Jinrong really going to sever ties with her completely?
After a long silence, Gu Lan suddenly laughed. Tears still streaked her face, but her laughter was eerie and hollow. "Jinrong, by doing this… you truly no longer see me as your sister."She sighed with regret, then nodded and said, "Do you know why you're so angry? Deep down, you understand—can you really blame me entirely for your mother's death? You're feeling guilty, blaming yourself. You know your elder sister will never forgive you. Doesn't that weigh heavily on your heart?"
Gu Jinrong stared at Gu Lan without speaking.
Gu Lan sneered coldly. "Actually, your mother always knew about your conflict with your elder sister. It pained her, and I imagine she was still thinking of you before she died. You're the one who killed her, not me. Do you understand?"
Gu Jinrong clenched his fists. Deep down, he did feel this way—Gu Lan was right. He was projecting his anger, when in truth, he blamed himself. He pressed his lips together. "This is my business. It has nothing to do with you!"
Blood trickled down Gu Lan's forehead, tear stains marked her face, yet she smiled brilliantly as she said to Gu Jinrong, "...I'm telling you, everything you and Gu Jinzhao have taken from me—I'll reclaim it one by one. Just wait, this isn't over yet."
With that, she straightened her back and walked away gracefully, not even glancing at the ivory carving lying on the ground.
P.S.
Posting consecutively might cause skipped subscriptions, so I'll stagger releases from now on~~ Second update.
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