Chapter 58: The Final Act
She cast a gaze filled with hatred, sweeping past Zuo Li and Su Jin before barely resting on Shen Quanyi. Only now did she realize that enmity had already taken root deep within the inner courtyard, yet she dared not accuse anyone directly of harming her.
Forcing herself to remain composed, she spoke sharply, “Su, surely you harbor resentment over what happened to Sister Ping that day—how she hurt my eldest sister! Is that why you resorted to such poison? Isn’t that so?”
Faced with Gu Tan’s accusation, Su Jin’s face was full of shock. She hurriedly shook her head, tears streaming as she explained to Li Qian, “I am also a mother; I understand the pain of a concubine’s injured child deeply. But I have never done such a thing—how could I confess to it?”
Hearing Su Jin’s defense, Gu Tan sneered, a faint glint flickering in her ink-black eyes. She glared fiercely at Su Jin, then suddenly turned her ire toward Shen Quanyi, her voice frenzied, “Shen, are you not involved as well? I once tried to deal with you, and I only regret not ending you then, leaving you alive to come and harm me today!”
Shen Quanyi lowered her head but replied softly, “Your Majesty, I dare not contest your words. I am willing to bear the pain of the concubine’s anger. Yet words spoken in passing must also be borne, for careless speech wounds both others and oneself.”
Li Qian’s patience seemed to reach its limit. His brows furrowed deeply into a small crease. He grabbed the quilt and forcefully covered Gu Tan, who staggered under the sudden weight.
Suddenly rising, Li Qian’s voice turned cold, “Enough. As if today isn’t chaotic enough. Gu, don’t lose your head. It was that beast who charged at you. Now, instead of facing it, you blame others at will!”
His words struck Gu Tan’s heart like a thousand-pound hammer, tearing a hole in her blood-red heart. A chilling wave washed over her. She looked up at Li Qian’s stern face, startled—he was her husband, after all.
How could he not stand with her?
Where had all those moments of tenderness gone?
Except for Gu Tan and Li Qian, everyone else wore expressions of disbelief and shock. Su Jin covered her mouth and muttered, “Those beasts truly cannot be tamed.”
Yet Gu Tan refused to believe it. Her pure white teeth clenched tightly against her pale, bloodless lips. Unwilling to accept defeat, she crawled to the edge of the bed and grabbed the jade belt tied to Li Qian’s robe.
“This beast is not new; I have raised it for a long time. It’s usually obedient and well-behaved. How could it have lost control and charged at me? Someone must have interfered…”
Hearing this familiar excuse, Li Qian no longer wished to listen. He pulled the jade belt from her grasp and said coldly, “After everything that happened in front of so many people today, you still make excuses for a beast?”
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Zuo Li stepped forward, bending down to gently draw together Gu Tan’s slightly loosened robe with slender fingers. She sighed softly, “Concubine, you truly have lost your mind. I heard that a few days ago, when Mistress Shen and Mistress Yang came to meet you, that beast almost harmed Mistress Yang. It clearly cannot be controlled.”
Gu Tan looked up at Zuo Li’s calm demeanor, while the man nearby wore an icy expression. Anger surged within her; ignoring the pain in her abdomen, she pushed forward. Zuo Li retreated a step with the force.
“You are utterly unreasonable,” Li Qian said instinctively, reaching out to steady Zuo Li’s arm. His face darkened with anger as he turned away and ordered Zhang Desheng outside, “Put that beast to death.”
Then he turned back to look at Gu Tan lying on the bed, her face filled with despair, her lips trembling with broken sobs. For a moment, he felt a pang of pity, but then he hardened his voice, “Sister Ping was a good girl, yet you raised her to be wild and unruly, lawless and disrespectful—disrespectful to her legitimate mother above and disharmonious with her siblings below. Now she mingles with beasts. Do you have even a shred of what it means to be a mother?”
“If you hadn’t spoiled her so utterly, letting her run wild and releasing those beasts, would she have suffered this calamity?”
Li Qian’s rapid-fire words sounded both like a reprimand and a question, leaving Gu Tan speechless, her earlier protests silenced.
Her whole body trembled with panic, but her mind involuntarily replayed the scenes of that dog charging at her earlier—was this truly the cause of her downfall?
Yet she refused to believe it.
“Now, you must rest and recover properly. Qianhuai is in the front courtyard, and Sister Ping will stay in the inner chambers for education.”
Li Qian finished speaking and withdrew his gaze, unwilling to look at her any longer.
At his words, Gu Tan suddenly pulled back the quilt and tried to rise from the bed, cold sweat covering her brow. Seeing this, Zhu Lian, kneeling nearby, hurried over and embraced her, crying, “Your Majesty, this is Master’s concern for you. You are weak now; how could you have the strength to care for both young ladies?”
Gu Tan’s sobs softened, and the proud tilt of her neck drooped slightly. She murmured words of thanks.
Seeing her yield, Li Qian sighed and relaxed his tone, “Take good care of yourself. If you need anything, just inform the inner courtyard. Everything in the storeroom is yours to use.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Tan continued to thank him.
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Yet inexplicably, Li Qian’s anger flared again. He swept his sleeve, “Rest well. I am busy with official duties. I will come see you again another day.”
With that, he strode out swiftly, leaving the room to fall into a deep silence. Zuo Li glanced down at Gu Tan and said, “Since Master has spoken, use the storeroom’s supplies as you wish. If you need anything, have Zhu Lian notify the front and fetch it herself—it will save trouble.”
“Concubine, take care to rest well. Do not let anyone disturb you.”
Zuo Li’s words prompted Su Jin and Shen Quanyi to nod obediently. They all left together, the sound of the closing door echoing outside.
Gu Tan sat on the bed, unable to return to herself for a long time.
Apart from Zhu Lian’s crying and the crackling sound from the charcoal brazier, footsteps gradually faded away without a trace. She was left alone, carrying endless sorrow, abandoned in the cold silence.
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Li Qian’s footsteps were swift as he awaited Shen Quanyi’s glance. She looked back to see his blurred figure receding.
A gentle warmth brushed her face like a light snowflake. She lifted her head to the gray-white sky. Heavy, dark clouds seemed ambitiously intent on obscuring everything, yet golden light still spilled through the gaps.
She bowed her head slightly, unaware when the wind began to blow, sending waves of coolness down the nape of her neck.
“Auntie, it’s cold. We should return soon,” Liu quietly appeared, her low voice pulling Shen Quanyi from her thoughts.
Shen Quanyi nodded and instinctively wrapped her cloak tighter. The two walked down the long corridor and gradually disappeared into the distance. Liu quickened her pace silently, her tone grave, “The orchids are blooming beautifully, their fragrance so pure and pleasant—truly delightful.”