Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 95: Miscarriage

Gu Dezhao was somewhat puzzled. Could there be more to Madam Ji’s death than he knew?

Jinchao sighed and said, “I didn’t know about this matter either until Concubine Du came to me yesterday and confessed it herself. She has suffered all these years, burdened with regret and guilt. Father, after hearing what Concubine Du has to say, please don’t blame her outright…”

What exactly had Concubine Du done that Chaojie would plead for his forgiveness before even revealing it?

Gu Dezhao nodded. “What is it? Speak plainly. If it’s a matter from years ago, it can surely be forgiven.”

Gu Jinzhao smiled faintly. “That’s good. Concubine Du is waiting outside. It’s best if she tells you herself.”

She stepped out of the study and saw Concubine Du standing by the corridor pillar, her fingers twisted together, her head bowed as she stared at the candlelight spilling onto the ground.

When she noticed Gu Jinzhao approaching, she looked up blankly. After a long pause, she forced a smile. “Eldest Miss… should I go in now…?”

Jinchao nodded silently. Concubine Du took a deep breath and entered the study.

Gu Jinzhao instructed Qingpu to close the study door, while a maid brought over a stool. She sat in the corridor, gazing at the night sky. The study was eerily quiet, as if nothing tumultuous was happening inside.

…After what felt like an eternity, Gu Dezhao finally managed to ask hoarsely, “…Did you kill Yun Xiang?”

Du Jingqiu knelt straight on the floor, her expression eerily calm. Having confessed everything, she felt an odd sense of relief. Her eyes fixed on the brush resting on the brush stand as she spoke deliberately, “Yes. If the master hates me, he may take my life now. I will not resent it.”

Gu Dezhao’s voice was icy. “Chaojie pleaded for you first. Would I kill you now?” He sucked in a sharp breath, trembling with rage. “You killed Yun Xiang. You killed her—watched her die from a miscarriage, watched her maid beaten to death… Madam Ji was framed, and you said nothing. Xiangjun treated you so kindly…”

His voice shook. “Not only did you commit a sin, but do you realize how many wrongs your silence made me commit? Innocent people died because of me—because I forced them to their deaths. But if not for you… would they have died?”

He hated Concubine Du—not just for killing Yun Xiang, but for making him bear the weight of these mistakes for years. Because of Concubine Yun’s death, he had indirectly caused Madam Ji’s demise. If Concubine Du had spoken up back then, Madam Ji might not have died like that…

Du Jingqiu let out a bitter laugh. “Does the master truly believe I am so ungrateful? You don’t know—before Concubine Song framed Madam Ji, she came to me. She knew I had killed Concubine Yun and threatened me into silence… or else she would ruin Yijie’s marriage! Master, how could I have dared to defy Concubine Song?”

Gu Dezhao stared at her in disbelief. “…Are you saying… Concubine Song knew you killed Yun Xiang and still used Yu Ping to frame Xiangjun?”

Du Jingqiu nodded. “Master, you may not realize it, but Concubine Song entered our household as a concubine despite her noble birth—how could she ever be content? She schemed relentlessly to become the mistress. Think carefully, master—hasn’t Concubine Song committed countless unforgivable acts?”

Her voice dropped to a whisper by the end, as though the words were forced through clenched teeth.Gu Dezhao stood frozen for a long time.

Madam Song had come to him today, saying that while Concubine Song was indeed at fault, it would be too unreasonable to place all the blame on her. Gu Dezhao knew he was in the wrong—Madam Ji's death was mostly his fault. But now, seeing things clearly, it was just as Lan Er had said. Concubine Song was truly a venomous-hearted woman! She would do anything to secure the position of the primary wife. She even called Madam Song over to persuade him, hoping he would take all the blame? Did she think him a fool?

Furious, Gu Dezhao took a deep breath. Without even glancing at Concubine Du, he flung open the study door and loudly summoned Li Guanshi.

Gu Jinzhao stood up and saw Li Guanshi jogging over from the other end of the corridor. Gu Dezhao's face was icy as he ordered, "Take some servants to the Waterside Pavilion immediately and escort Madam Song out! If she refuses to leave, throw her out! And tell Concubine Song to focus on her pregnancy—her reckoning will come after the child is born!"

Li Guanshi was stunned. Why was the master suddenly so enraged?

But he didn’t dare ask. He quickly bowed and hurried off with the servants to the Waterside Pavilion as instructed.

Gu Dezhao turned to Jinzhao. "Take Concubine Du back. From now on, she should devote herself to prayer and fasting. There’s no need for her to see me again."

He paused, as if wanting to say more, but then silently turned and headed toward the main hall.

Gu Jinzhao watched as Concubine Du stepped out. The woman took her hand and sighed. "I’ve never felt so relieved... I’ve said what needed to be said. Concubine Song won’t have an easy time now. Eldest Miss, why not go and enjoy the spectacle?"

Jinzhao replied coolly, "...No rush." She could wait until things escalated before going to see for herself.

Concubine Song was half-asleep in the middle of the night when she felt a dull ache in her belly. She pressed a hand to her side, massaging gently, when suddenly she heard voices and the sound of objects being moved outside. Frowning, she wondered—who would be making such a commotion in the Waterside Pavilion at this hour?

She tried to prop herself up, but her arms felt weak. Her eyes fixed on the door, which was slightly ajar, and she thought she saw something white flash past.

What was that...?

She lay back on the wormwood -stuffed pillow, suddenly feeling parched.

A celadon cup with a rhombus floral pattern sat upside-down on the table, but it was just out of reach.

Song Miaohua rasped, "Someone... come here..."

Her voice was weak, her strength nearly gone.

She stretched her hand toward the cup but accidentally slipped off the bed. The noise finally caught the attention of Cao Ying, who had been watching the commotion outside with Banlian. The two rushed into the room and hurried to help Concubine Song up from where she lay half on the floor.

Concubine Song licked her lips and whispered, "Thirsty... Banlian, water..."

Banlian went to pour water while Cao Ying helped Concubine Song sit up.

Song Miaohua could hear the noise outside growing louder. Unable to ignore it, she asked, "What’s going on...? Such a disturbance in the middle of the night..."

Cao Ying chuckled. "Ah, you don’t know yet, Concubine! The master ordered Li Guanshi to drive Madam Song out tonight—said if she refused, they should throw her out! Madam is frantic now, arguing with the servants!"

Song Miaohua struggled to lift her head, shocked. Why would Gu Dezhao expel Madam Song? Gasping for breath, she pressed, "Explain... what exactly happened?"Cao Ying seemed to remember something just then. "Oh, right! The master also had Li Guanshi bring you a message! He said you should focus on resting well for the pregnancy. As for your accounts... they’ll be settled later."

Concubine Song murmured, "My accounts? What accounts..."

Cao Ying continued with a smile, "The Eldest Miss took Concubine Du to see the master overnight. Concubine Du told him she was the one who caused Concubine Yun’s death. You knew about this but still framed Madam Ji. The master was furious when he heard. Even Li Guanshi was terrified."

Song Miaohua’s eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing this. She grabbed Cao Ying’s hand tightly. "Impossible... You’re lying!"

How... how could Gu Jinzhao know about this?!

Cao Ying added, "Concubine, listen to the commotion outside. This servant isn’t lying..."

Concubine Song’s face turned deathly pale.

No, how could Gu Jinzhao know—and even convince Concubine Du to confess to the master?! Then she was truly finished... Song Furen had already been driven away, and now this was exposed! What would she do from now on? What would happen to Lan Er? The crime of plotting against the legal wife... There was no way she could escape this!

Would Gu Dezhao wait until she gave birth before sending a white silk cord to force her to hang herself?

Concubine Du wouldn’t have confessed on her own. Was it... was it Madam Ji?! Song Miaohua’s eyes bulged as she recalled the fleeting white shadow she had seen earlier... Madam Ji was secretly helping Gu Jinzhao. Her vengeful spirit had returned for revenge!

The more Song Miaohua thought about it, the more chaotic her mind became. Her expression shifted erratically, her forehead beading with cold sweat, frightening the two maidservants.

Banlian cautiously shook Song Miaohua’s shoulder and whispered, "Concubine, what’s wrong with you?"

Song Miaohua’s eyes darted around wildly before suddenly fixing on an empty corner of the room. She screamed in terror. "Ah! Banlian, it’s Madam Ji coming back for revenge! It’s her! She’s behind all this... She’s here to take my life. Don’t you see her? She’s right there!"

Pointing at the empty corner, she sobbed in fear, "Banlian, chase Madam Ji’s ghost away! She’s here to kill me..."

Banlian had no idea why Song Miaohua had suddenly gone mad. There was nothing there. No trace of Madam Ji’s spirit! The concubine must be hallucinating.

She tried to comfort her, "You’re mistaken. Madam has been dead for a long time. There’s nothing there..."

Song Miaohua clutched her belly hysterically and burst into tears. "Ji Han, don’t touch my child! Stay away... Ah! My baby!"

She suddenly pressed her stomach and wailed loudly, "My stomach hurts so much! Madam, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have harmed you... Don’t hurt my child..."

Rolling in agony on the wormwood bedding, Song Miaohua writhed in pain. Banlian watched in horror. "Concubine... the concubine has gone mad!"

Cao Ying noticed the bloodstain spreading beneath Song Miaohua and gasped, pulling Banlian close. "...Look at the blood under the concubine! Hurry... go notify Li Guanshi—he’s right outside! Go quickly, or it’ll be too late to save the child..."

Banlian rushed out of the inner chamber in a panic. Once she was gone, Cao Ying swiftly untied a small pouch from her sleeve. She poured out a tiny black pill and forced it into Concubine Song’s mouth. The concubine, drenched in cold sweat from the pain, thought Madam Ji had seized her and could only let out incoherent cries.A gush of water rushed in, and she swallowed it. After a while, Concubine Song was seized by excruciating pain in her abdomen, as if a cold dagger were twisting and scraping inside her flesh! Song Miaohua could no longer perceive anything around her, whimpering incessantly, "Madam, it's all this concubine's fault... spare my child..."

Banlian found Steward Li outside the side chamber and quickly informed him about Concubine Song's condition.

It took Steward Li considerable effort to finally escort Song Furen out—after all, he couldn’t actually throw her out as the master had instructed.

Upon hearing that Concubine Song might lose the child, he wiped the sweat from his brow and hurriedly ordered the guards to harness a horse and rush to Green Lotus Lane to fetch Physician Liu. He also sent someone to inform Gu Dezhao and Gu Jinzhao. Gu Jinzhao instructed Mama Xu to quickly bring two experienced midwives while she changed into a Plain Silk Back Robe and followed them to the Waterside Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Gu Lan had already sprinted all the way to the Waterside Pavilion. Mama Xu and the two midwives were holding Concubine Song down on either side as Mama Xu fed her a medicinal decoction to stabilize the pregnancy.

When Gu Lan saw the mahogany bedding beneath Concubine Song, embroidered with the Four Auspicious Ruyi pattern, now soaked in a large pool of blood, her mind went blank instantly.

P.S.:

Thank you to Xi Mengying, Qianyu Qianyu, and Liubuzhudemeili for your generous rewards! Also, thanks to book friends 140519123843421 and Xiaocao Youyou for your pink votes. ╭(╯3╰)╮

Keep those votes coming, everyone! Pink votes, recommendation votes—bring them all! I’ll keep working on the second update!