Gu Qingzhao was startled when she heard the imperial decree. She had thought that even if Gu Qingjin were pregnant, she would at least be granted the position of a secondary consort. She never imagined the edict would name Gu Qingjin merely a concubine in Prince Cheng’s household, to be brought into the residence in ten days.
By rights, with her pregnancy and her family background, Gu Qingjin should never have been reduced to such a status.
“This is impossible! Eunuch, did you read it wrong?” Gu Qingjin rose and hurried to the side of the eunuch delivering the decree.
The messenger today was Guan Shihai, the chief eunuch serving at the emperor’s side, respectfully known in the palace as Eunuch Hai.
Eunuch Hai gave a faint smile. “Fourth Miss jests. No matter what, I am not so ignorant as to misread a single word. This is the emperor’s own command—it cannot be mistaken.”
Gu Yuande stepped forward quickly and discreetly pressed a silver note into the eunuch’s hand. “She is young and speaks rashly; please don’t take offense. But… how could she be a concubine? The Gu family has never had a daughter enter as a concubine. This… is the emperor humiliating us…” He stopped short of saying the words aloud.
Eunuch Hai sighed. “My lord Duke, His Majesty bade me remind you: governing one’s household is the foundation. Perhaps you should appeal to Lord Song. There may yet be a way.”
After sending Eunuch Hai off with due courtesy, Gu Yuande tried to soothe Gu Qingjin. “Don’t worry. I’ll make inquiries, find out what’s truly behind this.”
But how could Gu Qingjin not worry? A concubine did not even receive the imperial jade butterfly seal—she was nothing more than a servant to be used. Even the title of secondary consort was beneath her ambitions. To be made a concubine was unbearable.
Gu Qingzhao glanced at her sister’s dazed, broken expression, then turned away. Today’s events had been utterly unexpected—but deeply satisfying.
On her way back, a maid from Cihui Hall, Lüyun, suddenly approached.
“Third Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence.”
Gu Qingzhao changed direction at once and followed Lüyun toward Cihui Hall. When she entered, the Old Madam was leafing through a scroll of Buddhist scripture.
Gu Qingzhao’s mind stirred—whenever her grandmother read scripture, it usually meant the Empress Dowager had summoned her to discuss the texts.
Though the Old Madam had no dedicated Buddha hall and did not observe vegetarian fasts on the first and fifteenth days, she had unique insights into the scriptures. For this reason, she had long been the Empress Dowager’s spiritual companion.
Hearing footsteps, the Old Madam said, “Sit down and speak.” She set aside the scroll and told Gu Qingzhao, “Today the Empress Dowager sent word that in three days I am to accompany her to Huguo Temple. She specifically instructed that you should come along.”
Gu Qingzhao showed neither delight at the honor nor fear at being summoned. She simply nodded and asked, “Grandmother, why do you think the Empress Dowager wishes to see me?”
The Old Madam pondered briefly. “It should be because of the donation you made to the Cien Treasury two days ago. The Empress Dowager wishes to meet you. She often invites the ladies of noble families to accompany her to Huguo Temple—it is no great matter.”
“I have already ordered the seamstresses to prepare clothes for you. In the meantime, copy a few scrolls of scripture to show your devotion.”
Gu Qingzhao answered obediently, “Yes.” In her past life, she had often copied scriptures for the Empress Dowager; this was second nature to her.
The Old Madam added, “There is fine Xuande paper in the storeroom. I’ll have it sent to you. When you meet the Empress Dowager, mind your words and conduct.”
Gu Qingzhao replied sweetly, “Yes, Grandmother. I understand. I will not disgrace the family.”
The Old Madam looked pleased. “Good. And remember—you have just broken off your betrothal with Prince Cheng. Do not be too ostentatious when you go out. If the Empress Dowager asks, answer with care.”
Gu Qingzhao nodded again. “Yes, I will remember your instructions.”
Leaving Cihui Hall, she did not return to her own Xiyun Pavilion; instead, she went straight to the main courtyard. Half an hour later, servants from the storeroom delivered the paper for scripture copying.
Gu Qingzhao stayed in the small study of the main courtyard and began writing at once.
On the rattan recliner beneath the window, Gu Yannian’s small body was swallowed by the oversized chair. He held a medical text in his hands, reading with great interest. He clung to Gu Qingzhao, yet did not demand her attention. Simply being near her was enough; he could quietly do as he pleased.
After a while, Gu Yannian climbed down from the recliner and came to the desk, watching as Gu Qingzhao wrote. Watching closely, he leaned in to sniff the freshly written characters.
“What’s that smell?” Gu Yannian muttered.
Gu Qingzhao explained, “It must be the ink. Pine soot ink has a distinctive fragrance—clear, with a faint hint of char.”
Last year, when her grandmother’s nephew visited, he had brought plenty of pine soot ink. All the young ladies of the Gu family had received some and enjoyed using it.
But Gu Yannian shook his head. “No… this scent feels familiar.”
Gu Qingzhao laughed. “Of course it does. Last year you came back with pine soot ink yourself.”
Still frowning, Gu Yannian tilted his head and thought hard. After a couple of breaths, he suddenly stomped his foot and slapped his thigh. “I know! It’s alum. Sister, someone smeared alum on this paper. In less than three days, all the writing will vanish. You’ll have copied everything for nothing! Who’s so malicious, trying to harm you?”
“Last time my senior did this to me—tricked me into wasting fifty characters. I was heartbroken. He knew I was using pine soot ink, so he coated my paper with alum.”
Gu Yannian grew anxious. He disliked writing, so the memory of losing fifty painstakingly written characters was vivid. Now, putting himself in his sister’s place, he felt as though her world was collapsing.
Gu Qingzhao froze for a moment, then quickly understood. The alum reacted with the plant ash in the pine soot ink; once the moisture in the strokes evaporated, the writing would disappear.
She had returned from her grandmother’s only half an hour ago, and the storeroom paper had already been tampered with. Clearly, someone wanted her to commit a grave mistake before the Empress Dowager. The scheme was meticulous.
She cupped Gu Yannian’s cheeks and gave them a gentle tug. “It’s thanks to you, little brother.”
At once, she ordered the paper wiped with turmeric water. The sheets changed color immediately, proving they had indeed been tampered with.
She did not make a fuss, nor even tell her mother. Instead, she quietly instructed Chunlan to buy fresh Xuande paper in secret.
Meanwhile, in the inner chamber of Tangliwu, Gu Qingjin asked her maid Qingguo, “No one noticed anything over there, did they?”