Remembering his late father, Gu Tingye didn't act out that night. He simply lay flat on his back, embracing Minglan. The two spoke in silence until midnight. Minglan, exhausted from the day's work, unexpectedly fell asleep in his warm embrace. Gu Tingye gently stroked Minglan's soft, dark hair. A hint of fatigue appeared on her delicate, jade-like face, and his heart ached. Thinking of Rong Jie'er, who was due the next day, and Chang Ge'er, who was far away, these two children he never wanted, he couldn't help but sigh—indeed, he wasn't a good father either.
His hand moved down and touched Minglan's soft belly, and he suddenly felt a surge of hope.
The next day, before dawn, Gu Tingye got up to wash and dress. When he came out, he saw Minglan struggling to get out of the bed. He couldn't help but smile and said, "Sleep a little longer. You've been exhausted lately."
Minglan shook her head firmly and said, "Since you're going, you might as well follow the rules. Chen Zheng is here to pay his respects."
Gu Tingye glanced at the clepsydra and frowned, "But it's only the ugly hour now?"
Minglan looked at the pillow with longing, gritted her teeth, turned her head and got up, saying, "It's rare for me to get up early, so it won't make much difference. I might as well do more things; I can sleep in late on weekdays."
These other things were: having breakfast with Gu Tingye, and then sending him out in a gentle and virtuous manner. This action caused Gu Tingye to roll his eyes in ridicule, but Minglan pretended not to see it and continued to smile virtuously - even if she couldn't scare Gu Tingye, she could scare the servants in the mansion, at least to establish a good reputation.
Then he inspected the servants and called the roll, supervising the affairs of the mansion and the performance of the various managers. During this surprise inspection, some loyal and diligent people were praised, while others were punished for being cunning and sly. The effect was quite good. At 2:00 am, Minglan got into her sedan chair and left for the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion.
Chengyuan and the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion belonged to two families living side by side on the same street, separated by half of the Imperial Household Department's woods (the other half lay within Chengyuan). From a bird's-eye view, the distance between Chengyuan's inner courtyard and the Marquis's inner courtyard resembled the two ends of a bow and arrow. If Minglan had followed the bowstring, taking the path through the woods, she would have reached the Marquis's Mansion in just ten minutes. Unfortunately, for some reason, Minglan was forced to follow the curve of the bow, exiting the inner and outer courtyards to the main gate, taking a sedan chair to the Marquis's main gate, and then continuing through the outer and inner courtyards.
When Minglan stepped into Xuanzhi Residence, which had two halls and three rows of houses, at exactly noon, Xiang Mama, who was standing at the door, came to greet her with a smile. However, she did not invite her inside. Instead, she said in the courtyard, "The Second Madam said she would come yesterday, and the Madam Tai has been waiting for her since early this morning."
Minglan paused, a look of embarrassment on her face as she apologized, "It's all my fault. I've kept the Madam awake. Madam, I'm new here and I'm not very sensible. Please tell me when the Madam usually gets up so I can come at the right time."
— Damn it! If she doesn't come, your master doesn't have to get up? Don't Madam Shao and Mrs. Zhu have to pay their respects every day? You're just fooling the foreigners!
Xiang Mama was stunned for a moment, then reacted very quickly and said, "Look at what Second Madam said. It's all because of this old servant's talk. The Madam is old now. She gets up early and stays up late, and she doesn't have a regular bedtime..."
"That's fine," Minglan interrupted softly, "If I come early next time, I'll just wait in the side rooms. Once the Madam is well, I'll go in and pay my respects."
Humph, it's best to make her wait. If you're brave, make her wait in the yard for an hour or so, like standing in punishment! This trick is Madam Yuan's favorite, and it has caused Hua Lan a lot of trouble. However, this trick works well on biological mothers, but not stepmothers. Just use it once, and you can't help but see rumors flying everywhere! How will the Madam, whose reputation is known throughout the Gu Mansion, continue to "win people over with virtue"?
Thinking of this, Minglan couldn't help but secretly look forward to it - it was over, she found herself becoming more and more twisted.
He forced a smile to his mother, not daring to underestimate her anymore, and quickly invited Minglan into the house.
When Minglan entered, she saw Madam Shao and Madam Zhu already there, sitting by the kang, talking to the Dowager. Madam Shao's complexion was sallow, and her expression was worried. The Dowager kept trying to comfort her: "...Brother Yu is blessed with a long life. He has lived like this since he was a child. This time, he will surely turn danger into safety."
"Second sister-in-law is here." Zhu Shi saw Minglan enter the room, stood up and greeted her, and said with a smile, "Originally, the eldest sister-in-law was going to go back to look after the eldest brother after paying her respects to mother, but she ended up waiting for the second sister-in-law."
Minglan couldn't help but glance at Xiang Mama beside her, expressing confusion with a very innocent look: One of you said she came early, and the other said she came late, what's going on?
Xiang's mother looked embarrassed and lowered her head.
Zhu was very smart. When she saw that her mother's face was not right, she knew that what she said might be inappropriate. Without waiting for Minglan to answer, she quickly pulled Minglan to the front with a smile. Minglan didn't say much, but just respectfully bowed to the lady and Mrs. Shao. Then the lady showed her a seat and served her tea. After a few greetings, the four old and young women, who were just enough to play mahjong together, started talking.
"...We were just discussing your eldest brother's illness." The Madam's expression was kind. She pointed to a plate of fresh fruit on the table and asked the maid to pass it to Minglan. "They say that those who are ill live longer. I was just trying to persuade your sister-in-law."
Minglan also offered some words of comfort, adding, "I still have a few pieces of top-quality old mountain ginseng in my storeroom. I'll send them to you later. If you need any other herbs, just let me know."
Mrs. Shao saw Minglan's sincerity and smiled bitterly, "Thank you, sister-in-law. Your brother's illness is just a matter of delaying it for a day."
The Lady Dowager sighed softly, her face full of pity, and said to Minglan, "Your sister-in-law and I have no other options. I have a favor to ask of you today. Go back and tell Tingye that he has connections and a lot of connections. His brother has become so bad now. Tell him to think of a way. He must find a good doctor."
At these words, Mrs. Shao's lifeless eyes immediately brightened, and she looked at Minglan with a pleading expression. Minglan's heart skipped a beat; she had been on full alert since entering the room. After a moment's reflection, Minglan said gently, "That's natural. However, sister-in-law, why don't you tell me which doctors my eldest brother has seen before, so that the second master won't be too worried and end up making things worse."
Mrs. Shao thought about it and counted them one by one. As she spoke, she became depressed - from several famous medical families in Beijing, to famous medical clinics in Zhili, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan and Hebei, from the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau to the barefoot doctors in the countryside who were offered a reward, in the past twenty or thirty years, almost all the doctors who should be invited had been invited.
After she finished speaking, she saw Minglan opposite her looking embarrassed, and she knew that she was forcing the other person to do something.
"Of course we have to look for one, but..." Minglan thought for a moment and said carefully, "As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Most of the people Second Master knows outside are brothers in the army. If he really goes to find a doctor, I'm afraid it will be for treating bruises and injuries. The Madam has eaten more salt than we have eaten rice. Third brother's wife's family has lived in the capital for a long time, as well as uncles and aunts. Why don't we all think about if there are any good doctors, and then Second Master can invite them. It's better for our whole family to think of a solution together than to grope in the dark alone." Gu Tingye may not know any great doctor, but once he knows, he can probably use his power to pressure others.
Mrs. Shao understood what he meant and agreed, nodding silently: "That's the only way."
The lady's eyes flickered as she glanced at Minglan, then sighed, "They are three brothers in total. I just hope that when Tingye is free, he will come and visit his eldest brother more often. Maybe he will feel better."
Minglan smiled shyly: "I'll tell Second Master when I get back."
Seeing her so happy, the others had nothing to say. Zhu couldn't help but look at the new sister-in-law carefully. She saw Minglan sitting quietly, mostly listening to others talk, and only making a joke from time to time. She didn't say much, only said what had to be said, and always kept three points in mind for each sentence, never saying anything for sure. It seemed that she agreed to everything, but in fact she didn't agree to anything.
Zhu smiled bitterly, feeling that her mother-in-law's intention might fail.
At this moment, a maid outside announced loudly: "Rong Jie'er is here." Everyone turned around and saw Gong Hongxiao and Qiu Niang coming in, one on each side. In front was Rong Jie'er, wearing a light yellow silk jacket embroidered with chrysanthemums. She still looked thin, with her head lowered and said nothing.
"Why don't you pay your respects to your mother?" Zhu said with a smile.
Rong Jie'er bowed her head and saluted, squatting awkwardly and awkwardly. Then she said in a very low voice, "Greetings to the Madam."
Seeing her so stubborn, Qiu Niang beside her sighed almost imperceptibly and bowed softly, while Gong Hongxiao took a step forward smartly, bowed attentively, and said in a charming voice, "Greetings to the Madam."
Minglan nodded with a smile: "I heard from the Third Madam that most of you have already packed up your large boxes and boxes. We will sort them out later. We are going back to Chengyuan today."
Qiu Niang was overjoyed, her eyes full of joy. Gong Hongxiao looked up at Minglan, biting her lip, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Minglan was too bothersome and tried to pretend not to see it, but the lady said kindly: "Second Madam is a kind person, just say whatever you want to say."
Gong Hongxiao bowed repeatedly and said in a humble tone: "I want to take two maids with me, Jin Xi and Wu'er... They came with me as a dowry, I, I can't bear to leave them..." Her voice became lower and lower.
Minglan was very keen to notice that Rong Jie'er tilted her head slightly, glanced quickly at Gong Hongxiao, and then immediately lowered her head and remained silent.
The Madam smiled and looked at Minglan, her eyes signaling for inquiry. Minglan smiled and said, "As long as the Madam and the eldest sister-in-law agree, I will certainly agree."
The Madam nodded in satisfaction, pointing at the two of them and saying softly to Minglan, "These two haven't had it easy. Tingye's been gone for so many years, and there's been no news from us. We all know nothing, but they're so stubborn and insist on waiting. Alas... people are all made of flesh and blood. In consideration of their kindness, please bear with them if they do anything inappropriate in the future."
The words were full of compassion and kindness. Hongxiao and Qiuniang were grateful for the moment and looked at the lady with red eyes.
Gu Tingye had been away for over three years, and the difference in treatment between the two of them in the first two years and the last year was at least two stars. Now, the Madam could actually speak so fluently and naturally. Minglan was deeply impressed and determined to learn from her example. She imitated the Madam's sincere tone, adding a touch of gentle anger, her eyebrows and eyes beautiful, and smiled, "Look at what you said. Even if you didn't order me to do so, how could I treat them badly?"
The lady took Minglan's hand, with a kind smile in her eyes: "You child!"
Zhu smiled, Mrs. Shao looked relieved, Hongxiao and Qiuniang expressed their gratitude respectfully, and Hongxiao even pressed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief to increase the sentimentality. The maids on both sides chuckled to join in the fun, as if everyone believed it was real. It was true that life is like a play, and life is like a play - Minglan felt that she had lived a very harmonious day today.
Chapter 129: Solutions to the housing problem of concubines, maids and illegitimate daughters. Because she had to wait for Gong Hongxiao and Qiu Niang to pack their bags, Minglan could only continue talking with the lady-in-waiting. Mrs. Shao, worried about her husband, went back first, so she brought Xianjie out to see Minglan as a substitute. Zhu also asked the wet nurse to bring Xiange'er out.
Minglan looked at the brother and sister carefully, and couldn't help but sigh: The landlord's children are the best looking ones.
Xian'er still couldn't speak clearly, moaning in his nurse's arms, looking plump, white, and adorable. Xian'er, though only five or six years old, was about the same height as Rong'er. Despite her young age, she possessed a graceful and elegant demeanor, her words and gestures very measured. In contrast to Rong'er's timidity, Minglan couldn't help but ask, "Is Rong'er taking any medicine?"
Mrs. Zhu also knew that Rong Jie'er looked very miserable, so she sighed, "She hasn't eaten yet. She's been to the doctor, and he said she's fine. She just needs to calm down and take good care of herself."
Minglan lowered her head and pondered silently. Seeing her expression, Xianjieer beside her said in a baby voice, "Don't worry, Second Aunt. Sister Rong is just picky about food and she's been daydreaming all day, but she's fine. Last month, the seasons changed, and it was sometimes cold, sometimes hot. Xiange'er and I both caught colds, but she's fine."
Minglan was pleased with her tactful manner and innocent demeanor, so she smiled and said, "Our Xianjie is so sensible! When your father is well again, I'll take you to play with Rongjie. There's a newly built little swing in the garden."
A budding smile blossomed on Xianjie'er's small face. She nodded vigorously and responded loudly: "Yes!"
The Madam looked at Xian Jie'er kindly and sighed softly, "It's hard to believe this child is so filial. Ever since her father fell ill, she hasn't left the house much, not even to her own garden."
Minglan suddenly felt pity. According to the long list of famous doctors that Mrs. Shao had just listed, there was probably not much hope for Gu Tingyu. Even in modern times, there were incurable diseases, let alone in this era.
Xian Ge'er couldn't stay with his grandmother and twisted on the kang to rush to Minglan. Minglan took the child with a smile. Zhu was shocked at the time, but saw that Minglan skillfully supported Xian Ge'er's ribs and let the child sit on her legs. She kissed his armpits and rubbed his chubby belly. Xian Ge'er laughed with joy and rolled on the kang.
The lady laughed and said, "I didn't realize you were so good at holding a baby."
"My nephew from my mother's side is about the same age as Xian'er, and my eldest sister's son is also about the same age." Minglan returned Xian'er to the wet nurse with difficulty, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. Zhu took her son in her arms and coaxed him to play with her with a smile on her face: "Tell those little brothers to get together later, I think they will have a lot of fun."
At this time, a maid came in from outside, pushing aside the curtain. Seeing the lady looking a little timid, she whispered, "The young lady said that she suddenly felt inspired to write a few poems this morning, so she won't be coming to see the Second Madam. I apologize for this."
The lady's face immediately darkened and she scolded, "It's a rare visit from her second sister-in-law, how could she be so ignorant?!"
None of the maids in the room dared to answer. After a moment, she turned to Minglan and smiled apologetically, saying, "Don't be offended. Your sister Tingcan has been taught by the old man since she was little. She's always been fond of poetry, calligraphy, and painting. And your father-in-law has spoiled her. She has a bit of the sour air of a scholar. When she gets excited, she won't give anyone face."
Minglan smiled and waved her hand gently, saying: "I have heard that my sister is talented and well-educated, and is praised by the boudoirs in the capital. What's more, we are our relatives, so we can see each other all the time. It's no big deal." Minglan, who could only write doggerel, admired this classic excuse when she met such a stylish female intellectual.
The lady did not want to talk much about this topic. After all, she was still unmarried at her age, so no matter how she talked about it, it would not be worth anything. It would be unreasonable for her to refuse to see her own sister-in-law just to write two poems. However, judging from this incident, this Miss Can Qi should be very favored by the old Marquis Gu.
After letting Xianjie return to her room, Zhu began to tell all sorts of anecdotes about Xiange'er, which made everyone laugh. The old lady would occasionally mention the childhood antics of Gu Tingye and Gu Tingwei, with a loving expression on her face, and Minglan listened with great interest. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law seemed to want Minglan to talk more about Gu Tingye, but unfortunately, Comrade Yao Yiyi, an excellent judicial talent who had been tested by confidentiality regulations for a long time, was well versed in the art of perfunctory talk and steered the conversation off-topic, veering off to the topic of Flower-Fruit Mountain.
"...I don't notice it when I eat it everyday, but I didn't expect there were so many ways to prepare it." Zhu didn't know what was going on, but she and Minglan were chatting about the seven varieties of river shrimp and the sixteen ways to cook them. She stroked her face and exclaimed, "Stir-frying it with loofah can actually improve your complexion?"
"Remember, be sure to remove the thread from the shrimp's back, and batter it before frying." Minglan always felt sorry for her body in her previous life, having neglected it and even let it get caught in a mudslide. She might never even be able to dig up her body. Since returning to the ancient world, her biggest passion has been health preservation. Being nice to a man might lead to a mistress; being nice to a maid might lead to her having sex with her; being nice to a sister might lead to betrayal. After all, she's come to the conclusion that being nice to one's own body is the best and most secure way to achieve success.
Zhu looked at Minglan's delicate and bright face, which was as smooth as porcelain white with a hint of lotus pink. Her plump and tender skin seemed to be squeezed out of water, her eyebrows and eyes were hazy and shining. Regardless of her appearance, just looking at her skin and complexion, she was more than one or two points better than her own sister-in-law of the same age. She felt that Minglan was more convincing and could not help but ask for her advice in detail.
"My grandmother said that a woman's life is too tiring. Raising children, managing the household, worrying about everything." Minglan sighed softly. "Every time I give birth to a child, it hurts my body. After the birth, I have to worry about raising the child safely, raising him/her to study and make progress... Sigh, they say women age faster than men. How can I not age with all this?"
"Who says it's not?" Zhu immediately felt worried. Men fear poverty, women fear old age. She was only twenty, but she felt like an older woman in front of Minglan. Women in ancient times had a very miserable life. They had children in their twenties, but after thirty, life was pretty much over. By the time they were forty, they'd even had grandchildren, and they'd essentially have to rely on Buddhist rituals and self-cultivation to get by.
The Taifu, watching them veer further and further off the rails, had nearly forgotten what she was supposed to say. She couldn't help but frown, but remembering it was only the first day, she suppressed her thoughts and simply listened with a smile, occasionally offering a few laughs and scolds like an elder, which brought a sense of peace and harmony to the room. By the time Hongxiao and Qiuniang had finished packing the boxes, it was almost three quarters past four in the morning. The Taifu said with a smile, "It's already this late. If I don't let you eat before leaving, people will think I'm a mean mother-in-law."
Minglan thought about it and agreed happily, but she couldn't help feeling worried while eating - is there any poison in the food?
After dinner and a cup of tea, Minglan felt that she was almost done, so she stood up and excused herself. A carriage had already been harnessed outside, and everyone, including their luggage, loaded onto it. It rumbled towards Chengyuan, arriving in a moment. After disembarking, Minglan asked Liao Yong's wife to help unload the luggage. She then led Rong Jie'er and the other two into a couple of green-topped sedan chairs and headed to the inner courtyard, disembarking only when they reached the Neiyi Gate.
As they walked inside, Hong Xiao felt the garden's scenery was truly beautiful, filled with flowers, birds, pavilions, and flowing water. While it lacked opulence, it was still more elegant and refined, a sentiment she found deeply envious. Qiu Niang noticed that the maids and servants along the way were all whispering softly, stepping aside and standing respectfully when their mistress passed. Once they entered the side hall of Jiaxi Residence, while serving tea to guests, she noticed the maids entering and exiting in an orderly and respectful manner, with no one even glancing at them.
She couldn't help but be secretly surprised: everyone said that the new wife was young, but she didn't expect her to be so good at managing the household. She was somewhat happy for Gu Tingye, after all, the new wife was much better than the previous one in every way; thinking of this, she felt a little more resentful, fearing that Gu Tingye could no longer use her.
After Minglan sat down at the top, she took a sip of tea and felt that the workload today was too heavy. Such hard work was not conducive to a harmonious life. She decided to make a quick decision and finish the work quickly so that she could go back to take a nap.
She put down the teacup and turned to ask, "Cuiwei, is the room tidy?"
"Madam, you've given me instructions so many times." Cuiwei, who was standing by, stepped forward and said with a smile, "The room and the staff are all ready. Even the hot water is ready. We just need the young lady, Madam Gong, and Miss Qiu to come over. Then we can wash up and rest."
Qiu Niang quickly stood up to express her gratitude. Hong Xiao was a little slow to respond, but she also stood up and said with a smile, "Thank you for your help, sister."
Qiu Niang glanced at Ming Lan and said in panic, "I am just a servant. I have so much trouble serving the Master and the Madam. How can you be so kind! Madam, you are so magnanimous. It really makes me feel bad! I am content to serve the Master and the Madam."
Minglan waved her hand gently: "You are an elder in front of the master, but it is nothing to ask a few little maids to serve you. Besides, it is also a respect for the mansion." Her tone was gentle but refutable. Qiu Niang sat down with many thanks.
Minglan paused and smiled at Rong Jie'er who was sitting below her, saying, "You are all tired today, so I will make it short. Our family is very simple, and it will be more lively with you here. Rong Jie'er, I originally planned to give you Kouxiangyuan, but let me ask you first, do you think it is better to have your own courtyard, or would you like to live with me?" After all, she was still young, and Minglan herself didn't live in a separate courtyard until she was ten years old.
Rong Jie'er still kept her head down, her frail body motionless and silent. After a long time, she still didn't speak. Qiu Niang became anxious and went over to gently pull her: "Hurry up and answer, the lady is asking you." Rong Jie'er suddenly looked up and glanced at Minglan quickly, her eyes full of vigilance and hostility, then she lowered her head again and said nothing.
Seeing the awkward situation, Hong Xiao hurriedly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Don't be surprised, Madam. Rong Jie'er has been like this since she came into the mansion. She doesn't talk much to us on weekdays, but she understands everything in her heart."
"So what do you mean?" Minglan looked at Hongxiao and raised the corner of her lips slightly.
"How dare I make decisions for Madam? But…" Gong Hongxiao had already made a plan in mind and immediately said with a smile, "Jie'er is young and naive. Living alone in a courtyard is a bit lonely. Besides, she hasn't seen the master for many years. Father and daughter are closely connected, and family is like flesh and blood. I think it's safer to let Jie'er stay with Madam."
Minglan thought for a moment, her face expressionless as she nodded slightly. Seeing this, Hongxiao's face suddenly lit up with joy. Before Minglan could speak, she hurriedly said, "...There is one more thing. Madam, please forgive my rudeness. Rong Jie'er was entrusted to me by the Madam. Hongxiao dare not betray her trust, so it is not appropriate for me to separate from Rong Jie'er..."
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Minglan's expression; Cuiwei, who was standing beside her, had stopped smiling and looked at Hongxiao with a somewhat cold gaze.
Hearing this, Minglan couldn't help but chuckle, "So you want to live with me too? But you're already a concubine, and Chengyuan is spacious, so there's plenty of room. I was planning to give you a separate courtyard."
Hong Xiao looked timid. "How could I not know Madam's good intentions? However, it would be bad to let my own comfort and enjoyment ruin important things."
Minglan was impressed by her clear logic, having thought about it countless times beforehand. However, she wasn't afraid. Reasons in this world are determined by people, especially in household matters, where each has his own reasons. Gong Hongxiao certainly had a lot of reasons for wanting to move in, but she also had a lot of arguments, and as the mistress, her authority was paramount.
She just couldn't believe it. Even though she gave her concubine a separate courtyard to live in, how could anyone find fault with her?
——"That's not right."
Just as Minglan was about to speak, a deep male voice suddenly sounded from the side. All the women in the side hall turned their heads and saw Gu Tingye walking slowly in from the side door, still wearing a scarlet court robe.
"Master is back." Minglan stood up gently, her movements very graceful and standard, causing Gu Tingye to look at her with a slight smile. After he sat down beside her, Minglan personally poured him a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Sister Rong is back. I was discussing accommodation with Concubine Gong."
Gong Hongxiao, Qiu Niang and Rong Jie'er also stood up from their seats and saluted Gu Tingye together. After the ceremony, Rong Jie'er raised her head and looked at her father in a daze. Qiu Niang's eyes were red with tears in them. She looked at Gu Tingye excitedly, her eyes full of concern, and she refused to look away. Hongxiao was surprised at first, then looked at Gu Tingye tenderly, with a faint smile on her beautiful face.
Gu Tingye seemed to have long been accustomed to this kind of gaze and didn't care. He just looked at Rong Jie'er quietly. Rong Jie'er shrank her neck and lowered her head again. Gu Tingye's face became more and more gloomy, but he didn't say anything.
Minglan pouted secretly: Why don’t you say something!
"Second Young Master... Second Master." Qiu Niang wept for a while, but finally couldn't hold back her tears. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Are you well? You haven't had anyone to take care of you these years. Are you doing well out there?"
Gu Tingye was thinking about something and was about to answer a few words when he suddenly remembered Minglan sitting next to him. He raised his eyes and looked at her, only to see that she did not look unhappy at all, just holding the tea bowl with a slightly frown. He immediately felt that Qiu Niang was a little rude, and then he looked at Qiu Niang unexpectedly. Qiu Niang felt a chill in her heart when she saw that Gu Tingye not only did not answer, but also had a cold look in his eyes.
Minglan didn't react, but Cuiwei, who was standing by, saw it clearly. She stepped forward and said respectfully, "Miss Qiu, please forgive me for saying so much. The master and the mistress are here. How can you speak so freely?" She was polite on the surface, but she was very angry in her heart - what a bitch! She just said she was a servant. How could a servant speak so freely in front of her master?
Qiu Niang was trembling with fear and looked at Gu Tingye helplessly, but she saw him staring at the new wife. She felt bitter in her heart and kept saying, "It's all my fault. I haven't seen the master for many years and I lost my composure."
"What did the master mean when he said it was inappropriate just now?" Minglan tried her best to suppress her sleepiness and said with a dignified smile.
Gu Tingye glanced at the people standing with their heads bowed below him. After hearing what Qiu Niang said, he became more determined in his decision. He said calmly, "I've thought about it carefully, and it's better to ask all three of them to live in Kou Xiang Yuan."
This sentence was like a stone thrown into the lake, which immediately startled the three women below. Hong Xiao's face turned pale, and she couldn't help but speak first. Gu Tingye raised his long arm slightly, his eyes were cold, and a sense of majesty rose silently. No one dared to speak.
He said in a deep voice: "You don't have to say anything, I have made up my mind. If anyone doesn't want to, you can go and ask the lady's opinion." He spoke to everyone, but his eyes were directed only to Gong Hongxiao, with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
Hong Xiao was suddenly startled, thinking of the past, and immediately lowered her head and stood still, no longer arguing.
Qiu Niang's figure was like a leaf in the wind, tears welling up in her eyes. She murmured in a trembling voice, "This is not good... How can I live somewhere else? How can I serve the master and his wife, fetch water, do needlework, and keep watch..."
Hearing the last two words, Minglan's forehead was covered with black lines - Ms. Qiu, you are too straight to the point!
Facing Qiu Niang, Gu Tingye's eyes were a little more gentle: "You have always been thoughtful and considerate, and you are very good at taking care of people..." He glanced at Rong Jie'er and said, "I will feel relieved if you go over and take care of Rong Jie'er."
As soon as these words were spoken, Hong Xiao's shoulders stiffened and her head drooped even lower. Qiu Niang's pale face flushed. She looked at Gu Tingye shyly, her eyes full of affection, and then quietly accepted the arrangement.
Minglan couldn't help but glance at Gu Tingye: I didn't know this guy was so good at talking. In this way, even if Qiu Niang doesn't accept it, she can't say, "She can only serve men but not children."
The matter was settled. Cuiwei lowered her head, suppressing her joy as she went to help the three of them arrange their move. Gu Tingye watched them leave and, without waiting for Minglan to speak, turned around and said, "He's gone to the outer study to look for Mr. Gongsun," and hurried away.
Minglan decided to put her doubts aside, went back to her room to wash up, and then threw herself into bed to meet Zhou Gong. She had been busy since getting up in the early morning and had been busy until the afternoon. She was exhausted and fell asleep quickly. When she woke up, it was almost the end of the afternoon. She was surprised to find that she had slept for three hours.
Danju cheerfully helped Minglan dress and comb her hair, saying, "Sister Cuiwei just came to report that the three people from Kouxiangyuan are all ready, with their boxes and gifts in place. Sister Cuiwei has arranged for someone to help them and they'll go to bed first. She told Madam not to worry, everything is fine."
Minglan tapped Danju's forehead and said, "Silly girl, you should call me He Youchang's family. I can never teach you!"
Danju was in a very good mood and didn't say anything back, just continued to laugh foolishly. Minglan sighed inwardly, knowing that she had been worried about this matter for the past few days, worried that the concubine would be troublesome and that Minglan would be wronged. At least now she didn't have to attract attention in front of her.
After tidying up, Minglan drank a cup of light tea, which left a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth. While she was in a good mood, she felt that today had not been easy. She put aside the account book and asked Danju to get paper and pen, intending to draw a new pattern.
Danju glanced at the sewing basket beside her, which contained several white satin undergarments for Gu Tingye. She couldn't help but say, "Madam, you should finish those tasks first. You've been putting them off for so long."
Minglan tapped Danju's nose with an ink pen and said with a smile, "Silly girl, you don't understand." She suddenly had an inspiration just now.
"Madam is becoming more and more noisy!" Danju yelled, stamped her feet in shame and anger, covered her nose, turned around and went to wash her face.
When Gu Tingye came in, he saw Minglan lying at the table intently. He walked closer with deliberate light steps and saw a detailed depiction of two local dogs fighting over a bone on a white paper. The bone was particularly plump and fleshy.
"What does this mean?"
Minglan was so frightened that she almost jumped up. She turned around and saw the man asking with a slightly raised brow. She covered the drawing paper guiltily and said with a wry smile, "I'm just drawing for fun. It's not interesting."
Gu Tingye looked at Minglan's expression and became suspicious. He raised his hand to open the drawing paper and looked at it carefully. His face was thoughtful and his eyes gradually became angry as he stared at Minglan.
Minglan's scalp tingled under the gaze. She laughed foolishly and moved closer to him. Gu Tingye refused to sit down, so Minglan had to stand on tiptoe to help him change his robes and loosen his headband. Gu Tingye glared at her, leaned sideways on the bed, and said to Minglan with a sidelong glance, "Go on with your painting."
Minglan didn't have the courage to do that. She sat down at the table and picked up the account book to check the expenses of yesterday's banquet. Gu Tingye looked at her quietly and suddenly said, "How about staying at the Marquis' Mansion today?"
Minglan understood what he meant and smiled, "It's only my first time there, how could anything happen? But... I had a meal there." She looked worried, "It should be okay, right?"
Gu Tingye was stunned for a moment, then laughed and scolded: "You're only worrying now, even if there's something wrong, you haven't treated it yet!"
Seeing that he was in a better mood, Minglan came over with the account book in her arms, grinning foolishly, and asked carefully, "Rong Jie'er and the others have moved in already. Cuiwei will take care of everything. I think I'll ask Hua Mama to look after them from now on. What do you think?" After observing her for a few days, she found Hua Mama to be quite useful. The key point was that she was sent by the eldest son of the family.
"You make the decision." Gu Tingye looked cold.
Minglan knew it was best not to ask, but unable to bear the discomfort of a cat's claw in her heart, she finally couldn't help but say, "You..." After saying only one word, she paused, not knowing how to ask.
She was feeling rather bewildered when Gu Tingye suddenly spoke. He stared at the sandalwood bedside ceiling, which was carved with hundreds of pomegranate seeds, and seemed to be muttering to himself, "Sister Rong is stubborn. She once smashed a large water jar with a stone. She was four, maybe? Or five?"
Minglan was shocked: All the Sima jars were smashed?!
"If she has to watch our child in the future, it will be even more painful." Gu Tingye's eyes were deep. "I will love your son more than her. This is for sure. Why bother pretending?"
Minglan looked at Gu Tingye in surprise: Brother, you are too honest.
"In the future...find her a good marriage." Gu Tingye sighed softly, "She should be well-educated and capable of managing the household. Teach her what you can, but if you can't, forget it. She only needs to learn Qiuniang's skills, such as needlework and accounting, and she will be able to cope with her husband's family in the future."
Ming Lanton sat at the head of the bed, his eyes wide open, staring at the man's handsome profile for a long time.
Gu Tingye was indeed a clever man. Rong Jie'er's origins were unclear, she wasn't the legitimate daughter, the eldest, or the favorite. Such a daughter posed no threat to her mother. As long as her mother was clear-headed and not particularly mean, she wouldn't make things difficult for her. She could simply give her a dowry when she came of age; it would both earn her a good reputation and save her trouble.
If Gu Tingye insisted on protecting and caring for Yu Rongjie'er, it would instead make his stepmother unhappy. And if his stepmother deliberately wanted to make things difficult for a child, most men would not be able to protect her - this was something Gu Tingye had a deep understanding of.
As the head maid in the Marquis's eldest son's room, Qiu Niang's personal qualities are absolutely up to standard. To be honest, she is probably better than the young ladies of ordinary families. As long as Rong Jie can learn these things and be influenced by the style of a noble family, she will be very presentable.
Moreover, if her vision is too high, it might actually harm her.
But all this must be based on one premise. Minglan squinted at the man - how could he be sure that she was clear-headed and had a good heart? What if she was a bad person?
Minglan gritted her teeth secretly, and suddenly she had a bad idea. She really wanted to be a vicious stepmother and let him see it.
"...In this way, Qiu Niang has someone to rely on." Gu Tingye added the other half of the sentence softly. He never mentioned Gong Hongxiao from beginning to end.
Could it be that he wanted to register Rong Jie'er under Qiu Niang's name? In that case, why didn't he just promote Qiu Niang to concubine? And what about Hong Xiao? Minglan thought about it for a long time before she realized there was another side to this matter. As she slowly chewed on Gu Tingye's words again, she suddenly understood something and felt inexplicably happy. Then she happily lowered her head and continued to check the accounts.
Gu Tingye vaguely sensed Minglan's joy and glared at her fiercely. He pinched her cheek lightly and tried to put on a stern face and scolded her, "What are you so proud of?! Tell me, are you not happy that Qiu Niang is here?"
Minglan quickly covered her face and dodged, saying righteously, "That's right, I don't want people who haven't met me many times to see me naked." The uses of a concubine are too wide.
"Just that?" Gu Tingye raised his eyebrows in displeasure.
"Of course." Minglan said as a matter of course, pointing at Gu Tingye's nose and teasingly saying, "My husband has been calling her to look at him since he was a child, but I haven't."
A suspicious blush crept across Gu Tingye's face. He couldn't tell if it was anger or rage. Was being seen naked abominable, or was his wife more abominable? He simply turned his back to Minglan in a sullen manner. Minglan, seeing how irritated he was, didn't dare tease him any further. She curled up behind him, twisting and turning like a little fish to fawn over him. After coaxing him for a while, Gu Tingye finally turned over with a sullen expression and lay down.
Minglan quickly led him to speak: "Have you discussed all the matters concerning the court with Mr. Gongsun?"
"Hmm." The man groaned half-deadly.
"No trouble, is it?"
Gu Tingye paused for a moment before slowly saying, "...Today, someone in the court reported Old Geng. They said he was wantonly making friends with the powerful and corrupting discipline for personal gain. The emperor reprimanded Old Geng on the spot." He paused, "Years ago in the northern border, Old Geng led the charge, and his injuries haven't fully healed yet." He added with a sigh, "Of course I know the emperor has good intentions, he just wants to give Old Geng a warning...as well!"
"Oh." Minglan was several beats late.
She had also heard about this matter.
Frankly speaking, it's not surprising at all. Comrade Lao Geng's mistakes were common during the founding of our Party. He had been diligent, loyal, and honest his entire life, but in the glamorous world, he couldn't withstand the temptation of sugar-coated bullets. Gu Tingye was born into an aristocratic family, with many relatives and friends, which was unavoidable, but he still dodged and tried to keep a low profile. You, a military commander from a humble family in Shu, actually made it look like a fan club at a vegetable market, with crowds of people all day long. Isn't this deliberately enriching the writing material of the censors?
"We can't blame Old Geng entirely." Gu Tingye couldn't help but want to say a few words for the unfortunate comrade, "He didn't want to make friends with the powerful and wealthy. Most of the people who came to visit were relatives of his brothers in the army. How could he withstand that?" Unfortunately, almost all the powerful and wealthy in Beijing have children from either the direct or side branches in the army.
"What do you think?" After defending himself for a few sentences, Gu Tingye asked Minglan out of habit.
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