As Gu Jiu had expected, the death of the Twelfth Brother was swept under the rug by Gu daren with a mix of half-hearted effort.
Gu Jiu teased, “Ever since we returned to the capital, Father’s skill at sweeping things under the rug seems to have improved even further.”
Qing Mei said, “I suppose, perhaps laoye really had no choice.”
Gu Jiu blew on her steaming tea and said, “It’s not that he had no choice; it’s that he didn’t want to waste time on this sort of thing.
“Father and taitai privately tore at each other’s faces, but because of Xie Mao’s death, Father was willing to grant taitai a fraction of courtesy, so their relationship softened slightly. Yet deep in his heart, he still detests her.
“As for Bai yiniang, since giving birth, her beauty has faded. Father is a man who values appearance above all; to him, Bai yiniang, without her former charm, is only a nominal concubine.
“To go to great lengths for these two, wasting time and energy, of course Father wouldn’t bother. And he had no real affection for twelfth brother, so there was no need to make a fuss in investigating his death.”
Qing Mei paled. “Hearing it from you, it feels like laoye is heartless. He’s so cold, both toward Madam and Bai yiniang.”
Gu Jiu pinched Qing Mei’s cheek. “This is a common flaw in men. So don’t set your expectations too high for them. Lower your expectations, and you won’t be so disappointed or hurt.”
Qing Mei looked at Gu Jiu. “And for Gongzi Zhao… do you have no expectations either?”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “I certainly have expectations. But if he can’t meet them, it doesn’t matter. I never had high hopes to begin with.”
“I hope you and Gongzi Zhao can get along, and live in harmony, full of love.”
Gu Jiu shook her head slowly. “Impossible!”
At that moment, Xiao Cui came in. “Guniang, Bai yiniang is here, right at the courtyard gate.”
Qing Mei hesitated. “Bai yiniang just lost her child, and she’s coming to see you? What does she want? Should I turn her away?”
“No need. Let her in.”
Gu Jiu stopped Qing Mei. “If she comes at a time like this and I don’t see her, she won’t let it go. Let her in. Let’s hear what she has to say.”
Qing Mei muttered, “Bai yiniang is ill-fated.”
Ill-fated or not, she had to see her.
Bai yiniang was invited into the study.
Gu Jiu sat upright, her tone cold and measured. “Bai yiniang, please sit. Tea.”
The tea was brought, but Bai yiniang did not move.
She sat on one side of the chair, staring at Gu Jiu. “Er guniang is very clever. You must have guessed why I came.”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “I don’t know your purpose. You might as well speak plainly with me.”
Thinking of the twelfth brother’s death, Bai yiniang’s sorrow boiled over.
She ground her teeth and said, “It was taitai who caused my son’s death, yet laoye won’t investigate thoroughly. My heart aches. I hate taitai, this matter will not end so easily.”
Gu Jiu looked at her with a faint, almost mocking smile. “I understand a mother’s concern. But are you certain it was taitai who killed Twelfth Brother?”
“Who else could it be? When I was pregnant, she constantly schemed against me. If I hadn’t been careful, the child would have been lost long ago.
“When I gave birth, taitai even came to the delivery room to threaten me. As a result, the child had a difficult birth and has been frail ever since. In the end, my son’s death is all thanks to taitai.”
By the time she finished speaking, her face was twisted with rage, teeth gritted.
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow. “I’ve heard that twelfth brother’s death was due to an allergic reaction that worsened his condition. Don’t you want to say something about that?”
Bai yiniang began to cry. “It’s my fault for not taking care of him. It’s all my fault. Let Heaven punish me, but why punish my son instead?”
Gu Jiu rolled her eyes discreetly. “Enough, enough. What’s the point of saying this in front of me?”
Bai yiniang wiped her tears and said timidly, “I beg er guniang’s pardon.”
Gu Jiu curved her fingers and tapped the table lightly, again and again, like a hammer striking Bai yiniang’s heart.
Her heart raced wildly, filled with unease and guilt.
Finally, Gu Jiu broke the silence. “Early this morning, you put on makeup, didn’t you? I remember Bai yiniang loved rose-scented rouge the most.”
Bai yiniang paled.
Gu Jiu ignored her reaction and continued. “Yesterday, Father went to Xiangsi Yuan but left within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. You, being perceptive, realised what the issue was.
“Anxious to restore your former beauty, you carefully applied your favourite rose-scented rouge. At that precise moment, your son’s condition worsened, and you, worried, picked him up to comfort him. Who would have thought… the rouge on your face…”
“No, no, that’s not true!”
Bai yiniang interrupted sharply, muttering, “It’s not true. I didn’t wear makeup. All of this is er guniang’s speculation. It cannot be taken as fact.”
Gu Jiu smiled mockingly. “The truth… I think you know better than anyone. But I must admit, you are clever. I greatly admire that. One moment, your son dies, the next you think of using taitai’s visit to Xiangsi Yuan as an excuse to craft a fine story.
“You accounted for everything… except for Father’s current attitude toward you. If you still had your lovely looks, today you might have succeeded. Taitai would likely have been sent to the ancestral hall to reflect.
“But alas, no matter how carefully one plans, you yourself were overlooked, and laoye’s moral restraint overestimated.”
Bai yiniang’s face turned deathly pale, her whole body trembling like a leaf.
Plop!
She suddenly dropped to her knees before Gu Jiu.
“Please, er guniang, spare me! I beg you, er guniang!”
Gu Jiu kept a stern face. “Stand up. Twelfth brother was your own child. You didn’t care for him yourself, and when he died, you still had the heart to use him. What can an outsider like me say?
“Strictly speaking, his death was an accident. But you clearly didn’t expect that just applying the makeup would cost the child his life. As for the conflict between you and taitai, that’s between you two. I won’t interfere.”
“No, it’s not like that!”
Bai yiniang hurriedly said, “Er guniang, you’re getting married at the end of the year, right? I’m sure you’re worried about san shaoye. Taitai has been plotting, wanting to interfere with san shaoye’s marriage, to ruin him.
“While you’re at the wang fu, busy with affairs, you can’t always keep an eye on the household. But I can. I will watch taitai constantly. Whenever there’s news, I’ll find a way to report to you. I won’t let taitai have a chance to harm san shaoye.”
Gu Jiu’s eyes flickered as she stared at Bai yiniang. “You mean… you want to cooperate with me?”
Bai yiniang nodded repeatedly. “I beg er guniang to give me a chance. Even if you won’t, please give Lin’er a chance. Lin’er is still young; she won’t marry for several years. This time, I’ve completely offended taitai, and in the future, I won’t have any more children.
“When it comes time for Lin’er to be betrothed, I dare not imagine what taitai would do to her. Er guniang, I beg you, please be merciful. You’ll be the wife of the Imperial Grandson; if you give the word, even the master must obey. Please give Lin’er a chance. I’ll kowtow to you.”
Having said that, Bai yiniang indeed went down and kowtowed.
Gu Jiu frowned, displeased.
Qing Mei and Qing Zhu together helped Bai yiniang rise.
“Yiniang, could you stop with the kowtowing act? Look how you’ve scared our guniang. Speak properly.”
The two maids forcibly pulled Bai yiniang to a chair and held her there, not allowing her to move.
Bai yiniang looked timidly at Gu Jiu, waiting for her response.
Gu Jiu picked up a teacup lid and gently stirred the surface of the tea.
Tea leaves rolled up, floated, then slowly sank.
She said, “Wu meimei’s marriage, if I can help in the future, I will. After all, we’re sisters, and I won’t watch her trust the wrong person. As for you, yiniang, keep yourself in line. Don’t set your sights on my brother. If you dare touch him, I will cut off your hand. You know I have the ability, and I guarantee I’ll follow through.”
Bai yiniang shivered all over. “Er guniang, rest assured, I would never touch san shaoye. I will also guard him against taitai. You don’t know, but secretly, taitai had Gao Sanfu look out for tender young maidservants, planning to make them dowry attendants for you.”
Qing Mei, furious, said, “Bai yiniang, don’t talk nonsense. You think sowing discord will help?”
Bai yiniang defended herself, “I’m not sowing discord, nor am I making things up. Er guniang, if you don’t believe me, have someone watch Gao Sanfu recently, see what he’s been up to, then you’ll know I speak the truth.”
Arranging dowry maids, Xie shi could indeed do that.
Gu Jiu said to Bai yiniang, “Thank you for the warning, yiniang. I’ll keep an eye on it. If you have nothing else, you may leave.”
Bai yiniang hesitated, still hoping for Gu Jiu’s promise, to stand by her against Xie shi.
But obviously, Gu Jiu would not make such a promise. It was all wishful thinking on Bai yiniang’s part.
Unwilling to leave quietly, Bai yiniang said, “Er guniang, your mother’s death might have been suspicious.”
Gu Jiu’s gaze immediately turned icy, eyes like knives, cutting at Bai yiniang.
With a cold face, she said, “Yiniang, watch your words. When my mother passed, you weren’t even in the house. How could you know more than Gui mama? You’d better stop, don’t push me to act.”
Bai yiniang hurriedly said, “I lost my mind, speaking recklessly. Please, er guniang, have mercy and don’t take it to heart.”
Gu Jiu sneered. “You indeed lost your mind, and badly. To get me to help you against taitai, you even dared use my mother’s death as leverage. Are you courting death?”
“Not… not at all, never!”
Gu Jiu’s face remained cold as she served tea and dismissed her. “Qing Mei, escort Bai yiniang out.”
“Yes, Bai yiniang, please.”
Bai had no choice but to leave Zhilan Yuan.
Qing Mei fumed, “Bai yiniang is outrageous. Guniang, do you want to tell laoye and taitai the truth about the child’s death?”
Gu Jiu shook her head slightly. “Not yet. Laoye is still in a rage; if he learns the truth, he might kill Bai yiniang in a fit of anger. If Bai yiniang dies, who will oppose taitai? Hu yiniang and Wei yiniang are low-profile and won’t stir trouble. Only Bai yiniang is willing to fight taitai.
“Keeping her around benefits us. Of course, when necessary, Bai yiniang will get a lesson. Otherwise, she’ll think she can take whatever she wants from me.”
Qing Zhu looked very interested. “Guniang, how do you plan to teach Bai yiniang a lesson?”
Gu Jiu thought for a moment and said, “It wouldn’t be proper for us to intervene ourselves. Someone from the Furong Yuan needs to handle it. It would be best if Chun He took the lead. She has orders from taitai and can make Bai yiniang suffer so that she learns some respect.”
Qing Mei quickly added, “If you want Chun He to go all out against Bai yiniang, I might have a way.”
Gu Jiu perked up. “Tell me quickly, what’s your plan?”
Qing Mei lowered her voice. “I’ve heard that when Bai yiniang was favoured in the past, she often badmouthed Chun He and the others in front of laoye. She feared that taitai might promote Chun He and the others to concubines, so whenever she got the chance, she would say a few words against them.
“A few years ago in the Northwest, Chun He actually had a chance to be promoted to concubine, but Bai yiniang sabotaged it. Chun He may not know about this; I only heard it whispered by a sister who had married out.”
Gu Jiu nodded quietly. “Find a way to tell Chun He about this, and let her deal with Bai yiniang thoroughly.”
Qing Mei replied, “Understood. Tomorrow at the hou fu banquet, I’ll find a chance to speak with Chun He.”
The plan was settled.
Bai yiniang regretted leaving Zhilan Yuan almost immediately.
She shouldn’t have mentioned the late taitai Su shi; it clearly struck at Gu Jiu’s bottom line.
How could she remedy the situation? Bai yiniang thought of Gu Lin.
Back at Xiangsi Yuan, she summoned Gu Lin.
Gu Lin’s eyes were red and swollen. “Yiniang, are you alright?”
Bai yiniang spoke with a heavy heart, “I’m fine, don’t be too sad. Tomorrow at the hou fu banquet, remember to be cheerful. On such a joyful day, you cannot wear a mourning face. Try to get close to er guniang as much as you can. Once she marries the Imperial Grandson, your own marriage may depend on her help in the future.”
Gu Lin bit her lip, sadness in her expression. “If my brother hadn’t died, how wonderful it would have been…”
Those words pierced Bai yiniang’s heart like a knife.
She looked away and said, “Don’t mention your brother anymore. Let him leave peacefully.”
“Yiniang, don’t be sad. I won’t bring him up again. You have to think positively. Without my brother, you still have me.”
Bai yiniang nodded heavily and smoothed Gu Lin’s hair. “Exactly. You must strive to do well and get closer to er jiejie. If she’s willing to help you, your marriage prospects won’t be a problem.”
“Does er jiejie really have that ability?”
Bai yiniang nodded. “She is more capable than you imagine. Remember, by the end of the year, she will be the Imperial Grandson’s wife. Her words will carry more weight than taitai’s.”
“Understood. I’ve always had a good relationship with er jiejie. I’m sure she won’t refuse my closeness.”
Bai yiniang exhaled in relief. Her daughter might be a little slow sometimes, but at least she knew to cultivate a closer relationship with Gu Jiu.
After Gu daren finished handling household affairs, he was full of frustration.
With nowhere to go and unwilling to return to the office, he decided to go drinking with a few colleagues.
Xie shi, upon hearing that Gu daren went drinking again, was furious.
Chun He tried to calm her. “Taitai, please don’t worry. It’s temporary. In a few days, he surely won’t go again.”
Xie shi’s face darkened. “I’m not worried about him drinking; I’m worried that his heart will be captured by that fox spirit.”
Chun He was momentarily at a loss, unsure of what to say.
Xie shi looked at her and thought, “You’ve been by my side for ten years, haven’t you?”
Chun He said, “Nubi has served in the upper house since nubi was eight. Later, taitai valued nubi and promoted me to first-class maid, attending to you personally.”
“It’s been hard on you all these years.”
Chun He replied, “It’s not hard. Serving taitai brings me more joy than nubi can express.”
Xie shi nodded. “You’ve sacrificed your youth for me. You girls aren’t young anymore, and I should think about your futures.”
Chun He felt a pang of unease and confusion.
She cautiously said, “I am willing to serve taitai my entire life.”
Xie shi smiled. “A face as beautiful as yours shouldn’t be wasted here. Don’t worry; I will find a good match for you.”
“Thank you, taitai. I leave it all to you.”
Though Chun He spoke politely, her mind was elsewhere, nearly making a mistake in her duties. Fortunately, she recovered before taitai noticed.
Her thoughts were chaotic and directionless.
That night, back in her room, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Was taitai really planning to marry her off? To a servant? To the steward? To a merchant?
No matter whom she married, it would never compare to the wealth and status of the Gu household.
She had grown up in luxury; though a maid, she was more respectable than many di daughters elsewhere.
To marry a servant, steward, or merchant, and endure daily toil, how could she accept that?
Had taitai really never considered promoting her to concubine?
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