Chapter 58: A Hint Appears
It was almost lunchtime when Gong Changan returned to Lingyue Pavilion.
Wen Mingqian asked him, “Where did you go? Zhang Ma couldn’t find you.”
“Concubine Song tricked me into her courtyard,” Gong Changan said with a smile. “She gave me food and drink, trying to pry information out of me.”
“She’s still worried?” Zhang Ma pouted. “Isn’t she afraid of losing the baby?”
Wen Mingqian didn’t ask further. She knew Gong Changan wouldn’t let Concubine Song get any information.
“Alright, wash your hands and eat. We’ve stewed golden and silver trotters. Don’t eat too much,” Zhang Ma said.
After Gong Changan washed his hands, he sat at the table and suddenly frowned. “When I was playing with Bao An, I took the opportunity to peek into Concubine Song’s room. It looked like something was hidden under her pillow.”
“What was it?” Zhang Ma asked as she brought dishes to the table.
“I didn’t get a very clear look,” Gong Changan’s expression tensed slightly. “But it looked a bit creepy, like a doll stained with blood, a very small one, probably not even as big as my palm.”
Wen Mingqian frowned upon hearing this. “Isn’t this a curse doll? She’s pregnant, why would she have something like this?”
“Could she be using this to frame us?” Zhang Ma immediately became alert. “That one surnamed Song is so desperate to be the matriarch, she’d do anything shameless.”
Wen Mingqian thought for a moment and shook her head. “No, if she wanted to frame us, she wouldn’t put it under her own pillow. It would be too easy to discover. I mean, too easy for the person sleeping on it to discover.”
“Yes, it’s not easy for others to notice, but wouldn’t the person lying on it notice? Besides, who doesn’t shift their pillow while sleeping?” Zhang Ma said. “So Concubine Song put it there herself? But why would she put such a disgusting thing under her own pillow? There must be something going on!”
“I’ll find a way to probe further,” Gong Changan said. “I’m just a child, she won’t be too wary.”
“Then you must be careful. You know she’s always harbored ill intentions towards you,” Wen Mingqian warned. “I don’t agree with you going there alone. Concubine Song’s pregnancy is unstable; if she blames you, it will be terrible.”
“Then I’ll find a way to get some information from Gong Bao’an. I’m sure he must have heard something,” Gong Changan said, shrinking his head. “I’d better stay away from Concubine Song! Lest one day she accuses me of pushing her, and that muddled person kicks us out of the house again.”
“Eat, eat, it’ll all get cold,” Zhang Ma urged. “Now that Gong Er is back, they can’t kick us out anymore. At least the Old Madam and the First Master won’t agree.”
Consort Song’s sister-in-law came, naturally to inquire if Gong Changan would be sent away as a substitute.
Consort Song was also helpless and told her that the Old Madam said Gong Xu would return in two days.
“How is that possible? That one surnamed Wen isn’t the King of Heaven,” Ge Shi didn’t believe it at all. “I think it’s just an excuse. She’s using this excuse to delay further. If your master is truly fine, she’ll have gotten away with it.”
“That’s what you say, but the Old Madam has already spoken, and I can’t go against her.” Consort Song was just a concubine; even if Gong Xu favored her, she was still insignificant in the Old Madam’s eyes.
“There’s nothing that can be done. I’ll head back then. We’ll see in two days!” Ge Shi sighed, no longer in the mood to say more, and took her leave.
“Little Madam, why did Aunt-in-law leave? Lunch has already been prepared,” Granny Yang hurried over to ask.
“Sister-in-law isn’t in the mood to eat, let her go back,” Consort Song said listlessly. “What a shame about this good plan.”
“It might not be useless yet,” Granny Yang said in a low voice. “As long as the Master hasn’t returned, we still have hope.”
“Perhaps I’ve been sitting for too long, my back is quite sore,” Consort Song’s complexion wasn’t good. “Help me back to lie down.”
“Are you tired again? Little Madam,” Granny Yang said worriedly. “You lie down, and I’ll go make medicine.”
“Have Liuyun go. You stay by my side,” Consort Song said. “I want to sleep for a while, but I’m afraid I won’t sleep soundly.”
“Don’t be afraid, Little Madam, I’m right here!” Granny Yang said quickly.
“I’m thinking, if all else fails, I’ll go to the temple to burn incense!” Consort Song said, very tired yet very worried. “Now, whenever I fall asleep, I dream of him. It’s quite frightening.”
“Dreams are what the heart thinks about. With so many worries lately, it’s inevitable that your mind is unsettled,” Granny Yang comforted her. “Besides, women often dream when they are pregnant. And haven’t we already done as Granny Xue taught us?
She said it would be fine after sleeping on it for seven days. Let’s just wait and see.
Moreover, you are so weak now, going to the temple might tire you out. It’s better to rest first.”
Consort Song sighed helplessly and closed her eyes on the pillow.
Gong Bao’an hadn’t finished playing with Gong Changan, but he knew he couldn’t be willful.
So when Gong Changan left, he didn’t try to hold him back forcefully.
But he was a child after all, and he felt bored when no one played with him.
After playing by himself in the courtyard for a while and feeling bored, he walked into the room to find Consort Song.
At this moment, Consort Song was already asleep, and Granny Yang, sitting beside her, had also dozed off.
Gong Bao’an walked to Consort Song’s side as usual and called out, “Mother, I’m hungry.”
Consort Song, already disoriented and sleeping restlessly, only heard someone call her Mother in her half-awake state and was startled awake.
Gong Bao’an was startled and stared blankly at Consort Song. He felt that his Mother looked unusually strange, unlike any appearance he had ever seen. After a long while, he tremblingly asked, “Mother… what’s wrong?”
Consort Song hadn’t recovered yet, her face contorted with a ferocious expression. Her mood was extremely bad, and her tone was not as gentle as usual. “What are you doing? You scared me!”
Gong Bao’an felt wronged and whispered in defense, “I… I’m hungry…”
“Where are the people watching you? Are they all dead!” Consort Song directed her anger at the servants. “All day long, they only know how to slack off and be lazy! Did I buy you to worship you?!”
At this moment, Granny Yang also woke up and quickly said, “Oh my, Fifth Young Master, so you’re hungry! I’ll take you to eat now.”
She then turned back to Consort Song and said, “Little Madam, you should take your medicine first, and eat later!”
The two servants accompanying Gong Bao’an also hurried in, standing by the door with flushed faces, not daring to look up.
Consort Song also felt she had lost her composure, so she softened her tone. “You all go down! Let me have some quiet.”
Granny Yang then took Gong Bao’an and the two servants away. Gong Bao’an secretly wiped his tears. He didn’t understand why his Mother had become like this; she had never scolded him so harshly since he was little.
Moreover, he hadn’t done anything wrong.
Could it be that, as Brother Changan said, Mother no longer loved him as much because she had another child?
