Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 90: The Struggle

After serving tea to Mr. Xiao, Jinchao accompanied him to the Waterside Pavilion.

Concubine Song reclined on the large kang by the window, leaning against a faded large green and gold brocade bolster, her face pale. Beside her, Cao Ying was helping her drink mung bean congee to relieve the summer heat.

Jinchao first addressed her as "Concubine," then said, "This is the physician I've invited for you—Mr. Xiao from the Marquis Changxing's household. He previously treated the Marquis's Heir."

Concubine Song was momentarily stunned. How had she managed to secure someone from the Marquis Changxing's estate?

Earlier, she had feigned illness for a few days, merely intending to discipline the maids in her quarters and ensure they served her more attentively. It was also a way to spite Gu Jinzhao—since she was now managing the inner household, she’d have to deal with Concubine Song’s affairs! Later, Mama Xu had called in several physicians, all of whom she had driven away in frustration. But today, to her surprise, Jinchao had brought in a physician who had treated the Marquis's Heir.

Now, if this Mr. Xiao couldn’t diagnose any illness, she couldn’t very well stubbornly claim his skills were lacking! If she angered the Marquis's Heir and brought trouble upon the Gu family, the master would surely dislike her even more.

Truthfully, Concubine Song now wanted nothing more than for Mr. Xiao to leave…

But she suppressed the urge and forced a smile instead. "The Eldest Miss has gone to such trouble for me…"

Jinchao replied, "No trouble at all. Why stand on ceremony with me?" She then had someone fetch a small pillow so Mr. Xiao could carefully take her pulse.

Concubine Song was indifferent—she wasn’t actually ill, after all. This was all just a farce.

Mr. Xiao naturally noticed this, a faint smile flickering across his lips before he closed his eyes to concentrate.

After a while, he withdrew his hand, his expression grave. "Concubine, your condition is quite serious!"

Concubine Song was taken aback. How had Mr. Xiao actually diagnosed an illness? She knew perfectly well she was in good health. She hurriedly asked, "Sir, what exactly is wrong with me?"

Xiao Qishan frowned. "It’s difficult to say. This illness is peculiar—in over a decade of practice, I’ve only encountered two cases like it… But rest assured, Concubine, once you take the medicine I prescribe, you’ll be cured without fail." With that, he motioned for his attendant to pack up his things.

Concubine Song glanced at Xiao Qishan, suspicion gnawing at her. He spoke with such certainty—was he here on Gu Jinzhao’s behalf to make a fool of her?

Gu Jinzhao, however, looked delighted. "Now that the illness has been diagnosed, you needn’t worry, Concubine. Once you take Mr. Xiao’s medicine, you’ll surely recover. Your stomach pains should cease… Please rest now. I’ll see Mr. Xiao out."

A young maid lifted the curtain for her as she stepped out. Jinchao quickly caught up to Mr. Xiao and said softly, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Xiao! With Concubine making such a fuss, I had no choice but to ensure she feels secure for the sake of her pregnancy. But the medicine you prescribed—it won’t harm someone who isn’t actually ill, will it?"

Xiao Qishan smiled. "All medicine carries some toxicity, but what I’ve prescribed for her is mild and restorative. It shouldn’t cause any major issues."

Jinchao pressed further, "I’ve heard certain foods must be avoided while taking medicine. Are there any restrictions with yours? Just in case Concubine accidentally consumes something harmful to the child without realizing…"Xiao Qishan thought to himself, he hadn't expected this Eldest Miss to be so kind-hearted, going out of her way for the child of a mere concubine. Her temperament was completely unlike Ye Xian's—if someone harmed Ye Xian even slightly, she would retaliate a hundredfold!

Originally just an ordinary young lady of the inner chambers, though her virtue was commendable, apart from her looks, nothing else about her stood out particularly.

Xiao Qishan continued, "In the prescription, I'll include some ginseng and coptis. Be sure to avoid herbs like veratrum and mirabilite, and steer clear of spicy, heating foods in the diet. That should suffice..."

Jinchao escorted Mr. Xiao to the Chuihua Gate and had Mama Xu prepare a box of tribute Yangxian tea for him. Seeing it wasn't gold or silver, Xiao Qishan accepted it. Upon returning, he went straight to find Ye Xian to tell him about this Eldest Miss Gu.

"...She seems quite decent to me, with good virtue and appearance. But her temperament is too gentle—rather uninteresting!..."

Ye Xian was half-crouched on a tree testing his crossbow, the arrow tip aimed at Xiao Qishan, revealing a row of fine white teeth as he grinned: "You must have mistaken her for someone else. In all of Yanjing, who has worse virtue than her? Gentle is the last word I'd use! But weren't you supposed to be seeing her for medical treatment? How did you end up assessing her character?"

Xiao Qishan stared at the arrow tip pointed at him, his heart suddenly skipping a beat. Raising his eyebrows, he retorted, "You dare aim a crossbow at your master now!"

Rolling up his sleeves, he climbed the tree in a few swift moves to teach him a lesson.

Gao Shi arrived surrounded by attendants, displeased to see Ye Xian perched in a tree from afar. Did Ye Xian have no regard for his status as the heir? Even if he didn't care about propriety, he should at least think of his illness! She sent a maid to summon him down and personally reprimanded him.

No matter how unruly Ye Xian was, he listened obediently to his mother's scolding. After being berated, he was confined to his study to practice calligraphy.

Gao Shi smilingly invited Xiao Qishan to the main hall, as the old Marquis Changxing wished to speak with him.

Night deepened.

Jinchao was still sewing a pillowcase.

Recently, Gu Dezhao had been staying either at the Chrysanthemum Willow Pavilion or with Concubine Guo. Luo Su often came to Jinchao's quarters. Privately, Mama Tong told Jinchao, "...Concubine Luo is uneasy." Jinchao understood. She had brought Luo Su back originally to divert Song Miaohua's favor. Now that there was no need to compete with Song Miaohua, and Gu Dezhao hadn't visited her in a long time, Luo Su naturally felt insecure and clung tightly to Gu Jinzhao.

Baopu curled up beside Jinchao to sleep. The plump cat, frequently bathed by Yuzhu and Xiuqu, had grown even lazier, dozing off whenever it nestled close to someone.

Luo Su held a cup of chilled tea, watching Baopu with a smile. "The Eldest Miss's cat is so well cared for, and it's not afraid of people."

Jinchao chuckled, "I hardly take care of it. Just the other day, it sneaked into the kitchen and stole a yellow croaker, pampering itself."

Luo Su was taken aback.

The butter lamp suddenly dimmed. Jinchao removed the gilded lotus hairpin from her hair to adjust the wick, and the flame flared up brightly again. Just then, Mama Xu entered with a package.

"Eldest Miss, I've prepared everything you asked for."

Mama Xu unwrapped the package to show her. Luo Su saw some tuber-like objects inside. Jinchao merely picked at them with her fingers before saying, "This will do."Mama Xu put away the items, and Jinchao turned her gaze to Luo Su. She was still as delicate and charming as a flower, her beauty now more alluring compared to her previous simple elegance. Jinchao said indifferently, "Go to the Affairs Office tomorrow and exchange for a new bolster pillow. I heard Father had the stewards make several new ones, and among them is a medicinal pillow that ensures deep sleep. Go and request it—you’ll sleep better from now on."

Luo Su was surprised but quickly complied obediently, curtsying before withdrawing.

Only after Luo Su had left did Mama Xu reopen the paper packet, pulling out a slender-necked blue porcelain bottle from her sleeve and emptying its powdered contents into the packet.

Jinchao took the packet from Mama Xu and carefully stitched its contents into the pillow’s inner lining. She then instructed, "Find a pillowcase for it and send it to the Affairs Office later. Also, send someone to inform Gu Lan. By the way, Concubine Song took Banlian back—is she still drinking the tremella soup Banlian prepares daily?"

Mama Xu smiled. "Rest assured, she drinks it every day."

Jinchao gave a faint smile. "Good medicine tastes bitter—she’d likely refuse it otherwise. Best to mix it into the tremella soup. Banlian is someone she trusts, so she won’t suspect anything."

Mama Xu agreed and added, "Cao Ying slips in through the side gate to add the medicine each time, and Banlian remains unaware. But what about Cao Ying’s future arrangements?"

Jinchao replied, "Better keep her under close watch. She’s clever—let her serve as a second-tier maid in Paulownia Courtyard."

Early the next morning, Gu Lan went to the Affairs Office and asked the newly appointed Steward Xu to bring out the recently delivered large bolster pillows for her inspection.

"...I’m short one at my place. I heard the manor just sent over a medicinal pillow that aids sleep—do you know where it is?"

Steward Xu had a servant bring out the pillows. Gu Lan detected a faint medicinal scent from one of them and confirmed it was the right one. The pillowcase, adorned with gold-threaded cloud patterns on sapphire-blue fabric, was particularly exquisite. Yet as she held it, she hesitated.

Previously, when she visited her mother, she noticed her bolster pillow was worn and had intended to replace it. Coincidentally, her own sleep had been restless lately, and this pillow might help her rest better. But now, with her heightened wariness—especially since the Affairs Office was under Gu Jinzhao’s control—what if there was something amiss with this pillow?

A servant’s voice came from outside: "...Concubine Luo, what a rare visit!"

Luo Su? What was she doing here?

Luo Su’s voice was calm. "I heard new bolster pillows arrived. I’ve been struggling to sleep lately and wanted to request the medicinal one."

The servant ushered Concubine Luo inside. Upon seeing Gu Lan already there, Luo Su was momentarily startled but quickly curtsied in greeting.

Gu Lan glanced at her, then picked up the pillow and asked leisurely, "You want this too?"

After a brief hesitation, Luo Su replied softly, "Second Miss, Eldest Miss mentioned a medicinal pillow had been delivered. Knowing I’ve been sleeping poorly, she instructed me to come and take it..." Surely Gu Lan wouldn’t refuse something Gu Jinzhao had explicitly allowed?

Gu Lan felt deeply displeased. How dare Gu Jinzhao interfere even in this? She stared coldly at Luo Su but kept her tone gentle as she said, "A concubine... is little more than half a servant. Such things are beyond your station—what use could you possibly have for it?"Luo Su bit her lip. This was something the Eldest Miss had instructed her to do! If she couldn’t even accomplish this, what use was she? She pleaded again, "Second Miss, this truly is the Eldest Miss’s order. I beg you to yield it to me!"

Seeing how desperately she wanted the medicinal pillow, Gu Lan became even more unwilling to let go.

Gu Lan smiled and said, "...Go back and have Eldest Sister properly teach you the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children! Daring to take what I want—you truly have no sense of propriety."

Remembering that Luo Su was also someone who had caused her mother grief, Gu Lan’s expression darkened further.

With a meaningful glance, Gu Lan signaled her maid to take the medicinal pillow and leave.

Steward Xu stood to the side, not daring to say a word—this was not a matter he could interfere with.

Luo Su stood there for a moment, thinking, then went to Paulownia Courtyard to report to Jinchao.

Upon hearing this, Jinchao laughed for a long time. Indeed, only things that were fought over were worth having. If it was something snatched away, Gu Lan wouldn’t suspect a thing. Noticing Luo Su’s puzzled look, Jinchao reassured her, "It’s fine if you didn’t get it. I’ll make one for you later."

She then had a maid bring Luo Su a plate of freshly picked tangerines to eat and calm her nerves.