A nap in the car was not enough, so she took care of some household chores after returning home, and slept for almost an hour after lunch. Only then did Minglan wake up and go to Shao's house to tell her everything.
"...I heard that it was the Xue family who was teaching, and thinking it was rare, I thought of Sister Xian. What do you think, sister-in-law?"
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Shao was stunned at first, but Xian Jie'er, who was accompanying her, was the first to light up, her little face beaming with joy. Seeing her daughter's expression, Mrs. Shao's heart softened. Since her husband's death, the fourth and fifth wives had moved out one after another. Aside from the wild-tempered Rong Jie'er, there were no other sisters in the mansion. Her daughter usually had only herself for company, feeling lonely and isolated, which was not good for her over time.
After thinking for a moment, she said doubtfully, "It's a blessing to have the guidance of the Xue family. I'm sorry to trouble her aunt to think about us all the time. But..."
Xian Jie'er was worried and stared at Shao, only to hear her mother continue, "Let's not talk about the inconveniences it will cause to other people's houses. They are both girls, and every time they go out, they need strict care, carriages, servants, and many other things. It will trouble so many mothers and stewards, and it's not right to mobilize so many people..." Without the extra reward, there was no way they could afford it.
Before she finished speaking, Minglan understood what she meant and smiled, "Sister-in-law, it's all right. The girls aren't taking the imperial examinations, and the girls' studies aren't as good as regular private schools, with only five days of study each ten days. When the time comes, have Xianjie come to my place, and she and Rongjie can ride out together in the carriage. All the guards, servants, and maids who will accompany them are already there. Sister-in-law, all you need to do is ask them to bring the two maids' mothers along. It won't involve a large army, and it's convenient and easy, isn't it? Very good."
Shao was reserved: "This..." Xian Jie'er's face was full of pleading, and she called softly: "Mother."
Her mother turned to look at her daughter and said, "This is very good, Xian'er, thank you aunt."
Sister Xian'er relaxed her brows, smiled widely, and jumped for joy like a little rabbit. She happily bowed to Minglan and expressed her gratitude.
"I'm sorry to have troubled my sister-in-law." Shao thanked her again.
Minglan waved her hand calmly, "What trouble? It's Sister Rong who's causing trouble. If she were as well-behaved and polite as Sister Xian, there wouldn't be any need to look for a female tutor outside. Sister Rong has a wild temper, so to be honest, Sister Xian will have to keep an eye on her."
Shao smiled and said, "It's natural for little sisters to take care of each other."
The two sisters-in-law exchanged a few more words, then went hand in hand to the daylily garden. They crossed the main hall and entered the inner room, where they saw the Taifu and the Third Madam, Zhu, chatting happily about something. When they saw Minglan and Shao arrive, they stopped chatting, and Minglan's heart moved.
After greeting the Madam, Minglan casually asked, "I wonder what the Madam and my sister-in-law were talking about? They seem so happy."
"It's nothing serious. The weather is nice today, so your sister-in-law told me a joke to cheer me up." The old lady looked cheerful. Zhu smiled with her big belly but said nothing, and Minglan didn't ask any more questions.
The lady said kindly, "You two look happy, is there any good news?"
Shao was delighted and told the story. The Taifu frowned slightly, glanced at Minglan, and didn't say whether it was a good idea or not. Shao's joy faded and she lowered her head slightly. Third Madam Zhu, on the other hand, didn't express any opinion from beginning to end, but simply listened to everyone's talk with a smile and amicable manner.
The Madam gently opened and closed the enamel snuff box in her hand and said calmly, "The second son's wife is truly capable. She's only been married for a short time, but she's already so influential that she can even persuade General Zheng's wife."
Minglan pretended not to understand anything and smiled gently, "You are praising my wife. This is all for our family's honor."
"But..." The Madam frowned. She was used to Minglan playing dumb, so she had to make her words clearer. "After all, this is the Zhongjing Marquis's own private school. It's not right for us outsiders to interfere."
"Madam, you don't know." Minglan explained with a smile, "There are four young ladies from the Zheng family, three or four from relatives and friends, and two from our family. The General's Madam said this is just the right amount. Not only can we pursue academic studies, but it would also be good to make friends with some distinguished ladies. Those families are all well-educated and respectable, and the girls are well-educated and well-mannered. If we become close friends from a young age, we'll have a sisterly bond when we grow up."
The lady felt as if a needle was pricking her heart, and she said in a calm voice: "I'm afraid that the child is ignorant. It's okay at home, but what should we do if he embarrasses others outside?" When she said the word "embarrassing", Shao clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Minglan saw it with her sharp eyes and turned around with a smile: "It's okay for others, but as your aunt, I can guarantee that our sister Xian has a first-class personality and character. She will only bring honor to the family. As for sister Rong..." She smiled and covered her mouth, "After all, she is still young. It's okay if she learns well as soon as possible. But..."
Shao's brows relaxed.
As Minglan spoke, she suddenly felt a pang of stubbornness in her heart, and continued: "If the Madam feels that it is inappropriate, I will go and refuse the Zheng family." After saying this, she stared at the other party, looking forward to it with malicious intent...
The lady's frown deepened. As a legitimate mother, she had toiled to find help for her concubine's daughter and her late father's niece, and now her step-grandmother was preventing her from pursuing education. She couldn't believe how disgraceful it would be if word got out. Thinking of this, she could only say, "It's all done. Let's just leave it at that."
Minglan curled her lips. She hadn't come to seek advice in the first place. If Shao hadn't come, she would have made up her mind about Rong Jie'er long ago. Seeing that the situation had settled, Third Madam Zhu stood up and congratulated her two sisters-in-law, "...Second sister-in-law is so enthusiastic and respectable. Mother should be happy."
Not knowing what the deep meaning of this sentence was, the lady suddenly smiled after hearing it, as if she was happy from the bottom of her heart; Minglan's heart skipped a beat, she didn't like this feeling.
After everyone went back, Shao walked into the inner room with a frown on her face. A daughter-in-law, about thirty years old, came to greet her. She helped Shao sit down on the kang bed and helped her take off her shoes. She kept muttering, "...Our daughter is so happy. She has been packing her brush, ink, paper and inkstone for a while and is practicing calligraphy now." As she spoke, she noticed that Shao looked uneasy and whispered, "Madam, what's wrong?"
Shao whispered, "You should give Xian'er more advice. When you go to study outside, don't just focus on yourself. Take care of Sister Rong more."
The daughter-in-law was stunned for a moment, but still responded.
As she thought about it, Shao suddenly became overwhelmed with grief. She collapsed on the kang and wept softly, "My poor child, a legitimate daughter of a marquis's family, and now she has to please a wild girl of unknown origin!"
The daughter-in-law was horrified and hurried forward to ask, "What's wrong, Madam? Did the Second Madam give you a hard time?"
Mrs. Shao shook her head. "Not really. She's quite polite to me..." She seemed to have a lump in her throat. "She may look childish, but she's no ordinary person. The Madam is such a person, you can't get the slightest advantage from her. How have I ever offended her?"
"Then why is that, ma'am? This is a good thing." The daughter-in-law was confused.
"When my master was alive, I couldn't go out for social events because I had to take care of him. Now that I'm a widow, it's even more inconvenient for me to go out for social events. I can only blame myself for being useless. I have no face and no connections." Shao Shi held back her tears.
The daughter-in-law consoled him, "You're overthinking it. With your status as a lady, even if you don't go out to socialize, can others still look down on you?"
Mrs. Shao shook her head, turned over and sat up, muttering, "...Sister Tingcan is now at home waiting to be married, but she has been so glorious since she was a child. There are flower viewing parties in spring and poetry gatherings in autumn. They invite the best young ladies from all the mansions. Every year there is a lively atmosphere."
The daughter-in-law fell silent. As the eldest daughter of the Gu family's eldest son, Xian Jie'er was far inferior to Gu Tingcan.
"But my Xian'er... Xian'er, you can only accompany me through these lonely days." Shao choked up, "Even to find a husband, you have to rely on the second wife's help! I don't know what will happen in the future."
Tears welled up in the corners of the daughter-in-law's eyes. She forced a smile and advised, "Madam, don't keep thinking like that. We widows and widowers have to rely on one or the other. The Madam is kind and gentle, and now it seems that the Second Madam is also a good person. Madam and the young lady will definitely not have a hard time in the future."
She persuaded her carefully, and Shao gradually stopped crying.
"Our young lady is very bright and clear-minded. Every time she goes to Cheng Garden to play, she is always smiling. Have you noticed that she is unhappy at all? From the look on Second Madam's face, she seems to like our young lady very much. Although Miss Rong is a little wild, she is also sincere. In the final analysis, it is our young lady who is liked by everyone."
These words touched Shao's heart. She burst into laughter and felt much relieved.
…
That night, when Gu Tingye returned home, Minglan helped him undress while saying, "...Now that's it, Sister Xian can finally go."
Gu Tingye frowned and said nothing, his face as black as a coal ball. Minglan glanced at his expression from the side and guessed that this guy was probably complaining in his heart. He thought that he had been bullied by Gu Tingyu for so many years, and now he had to take care of his daughter. He really didn't know where to start.
Minglan quickly ended the topic and continued to talk about her doubts today: "...In the days since I came into the family, the Madam has always been dignified. I have never seen her so happy. I don't know what's going on."
Gu Tingye raised one of his thick eyebrows slightly, sneered silently, and then said, "That's not hard to guess. She has two children, so it's just two things."
"What about those two?" Minglan picked up the Tremella soup, took a sip, and tried the cold boil.
"Either I die and my third brother inherits the title of marquis." The man leaned his tall body into the armchair.
Minglan nearly choked, her hand holding the teacup frozen, her wrist suspended in mid-air. She stared at the man, looking him up and down, and said slowly, "You don't look like you'll be dead anytime soon."
Gu Tingye smiled lazily and said, "The rest is Tingcan's marriage."
Minglan put the bowl of boiling white fungus soup on the table to cool down. She changed her mind and said admiringly, "It seems that Seventh Sister's marriage is in sight." It is always a good thing for a leftover woman to get married. I wonder which family is lucky enough to marry such a cold, arrogant and noble woman. There is no need to use ice in such hot weather. Ammi tofu.
In a blink of an eye, she saw Gu Tingye's noncommittal look, and couldn't help but laugh and said, "You are also a brother, how come you don't care about your sister's marriage at all."
Gu Tingye laughed back, "You are also a sister-in-law, but you don't seem to care much."
Minglan smiled bitterly as she walked up to Gu Tingye and sighed, "I haven't even had a complete conversation with her yet. I really don't know where to start."
Gu Tingye raised his arm and pulled Minglan to sit on his lap, saying with a smile, "This is wonderful. I haven't even had a complete conversation with this girl."
"How is this possible?" Minglan was shocked and confused. After all, they were brother and sister for more than ten years.
Gu Tingye put his arm around her soft waist and rubbed the soft flesh under her chin, his expression indifferent: "She has always been a noble and pure person, so she naturally hates to see a notorious playboy like me."
Minglan was silent, not knowing what to say. The two siblings were almost ten years apart in age. When Gu Tingcan was sensible, Gu Tingye was young, impulsive, and unruly. He must have heard and witnessed many heated scenes.
Gu Tingye looked up into the void, a strange look suddenly appeared on his face, and he muttered to himself softly: "Alright, alright..."
"It's okay." Minglan murmured. She felt so comfortable when he rubbed her. She put her arms around the man's strong waist and back and pressed them against his chest. She felt warm and sleepy.
Gu Tingye lowered his head and saw Minglan curled up like a soft-fur kitten, squinting her slender eyes, her rosy cheeks emitting a fragrance, as if she was about to fall asleep, but the chubby ball in his arms felt very nice to touch.
He weighed the weight on his arm and sighed softly, "I've really become a fat wife..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
