Gu Tingye was tall and long, and Minglan was held high in the air. She was so frightened that she clung to his neck, her delicate fingers tugging at his collar. Over his shoulders, she reached the ground a few feet above the ground. From her vantage point, she could see the thick velvet carpet and a few vibrant, rich peonies swaying before her eyes. She nearly screamed, but her voice was choked by fear, and she could only manage a dry, "Put me down!"—You XXX!
The man laughed out loud, so loud that even the eardrums of the maids serving outside the room rang. His laughter was filled with joy and happiness. Luzhi and the others looked at each other in surprise, their eyes filled with surprise.
After turning his feet three or four times, Gu Tingye heard Minglan's scream. He saw the girl in his arms was as frightened as a little squirrel, with her eyes wide open and her slender claws stretched out to cling to him tightly. He immediately felt that something was wrong, and immediately stretched out his strong arms, hugged the girl in his arms flat, and carefully placed her on the couch.
"...Are you feeling unwell? I just got carried away. Are you dizzy?...Want to eat something...Do you want to sleep for a while?...Come on, lie down..." The man began to speak incoherently, his hands constantly stuffing cushions behind Minglan's back, almost forcing her from a side-lying position directly into the final position of a sit-up. Minglan was first dizzy from being turned around, and then being tossed around a lot. She couldn't help but say in a bad tone: "I'm fine. I'm not dizzy. I want to eat. Why should I sleep if I haven't eaten dinner yet? How can I lie down with so many cushions?"
Gu Tingye quickly got up and asked Minglan to lie down properly, but he didn't know what to do at the moment. He just put his hands behind his back and kept walking around in circles in the room. After walking around seven or eight circles, he came to his senses and hit his palm with his fist: "Yes, quickly call the imperial physician!" Then he stood up and hurriedly ordered someone to get the visiting card.
Minglan hugged her plump cushion, tilting her neck upwards, gazed at the high ceiling beams, intricately carved with colorful gold and silver. Beside the pomegranate tree, symbolizing fertility and prosperity, stood a host of bats, symbols of good fortune. A large, seemingly silly bat proudly led a group of smaller, round-headed bats, followed by a helpless mother bat. Hmm, a very auspicious and festive family.
When the imperial physician arrived, Minglan had just finished dinner.
After a meal, Gu, who had lost all taste and seemed to be in a trance, had barely taken a few bites when he frightened everyone around him. From time to time, he would lower his head and smile silently at his dishes, glance at Minglan, overjoyed, then look at her again, his brows suddenly furrowed. In an instant, his expression changed with unusual activity, and the scene was extremely terrifying.
Minglan was very calm and ate by herself. Perhaps because she had been running outside all afternoon, she had a very good appetite. She added two more bowls of soup and one bowl of rice. She wiped the corners of her mouth, washed her hands, and rinsed her mouth. Then the imperial physician arrived.
The imperial physician who arrived was named Zhuo. He had a fair, square complexion and was highly trusted by the Duke of Ying and had been recommended to the Shen family. He was now at the peak of his experience and energy. Gu Tingye stood aside with a sullen expression. It looked more like his wife had a terminal illness than a pregnancy. He had originally intended to call in the head physician, Dr. Zhang, but he happened to be on duty at the palace that night, so he couldn't afford to go and smash the palace gates.
Behind the curtains, with a handkerchief draped over her, Doctor Zhuo felt Minglan's pulse for a moment, then smiled and bowed to Gu Tingye, saying, "Congratulations, my Lord! Congratulations, my Lord! Your Madam is pregnant, and it's been nearly two months."
Gu Tingye raised his hand slightly and thanked him in a deep voice: "Thank you for your help, sir." His short-lived debt collector elder brother passed away in June, followed by a period of reluctant mourning. They had a pure married life for three months, and now it was the middle of winter. It was very good, very good, it was indeed God's blessing on people.
He looked calm on the surface, but was actually very happy in his heart. After Doctor Zhuo finished the consultation, he invited him to the study and asked him questions for a whole cup of tea. He asked so many questions that Doctor Zhuo almost laughed out loud before letting him go and gave him a thick consultation fee.
That night, Gu Tingye didn't go to the outer study to discuss matters. He washed up early and went to bed. He was known for his sharp words, good at attacking and arguing, but not so good at persuading. At this moment, he didn't know what to say, so he just hugged Minglan tightly. The warm masculine scent moistened the back of her neck. Her back was pressed against his thick chest. A large hand unconsciously covered her lower abdomen. Although they were silent, Minglan could feel the joy in his heart.
In this peaceful and beautiful atmosphere, Minglan gradually fell asleep. Half asleep and half awake, she heard a soft sigh behind her, as if there was a strong emotion that could not be dissolved. She was very surprised and turned to face him: "Why are you sighing?"
The night was deep and the clock was ringing. The room was as quiet as water. After a while, Gu Tingye said softly, "I suddenly thought of Chang Ge'er."
In the dim light, Minglan suddenly opened her eyes, and her head, which was about to fall asleep, quickly woke up. God knows how long she has been curious about this topic, but Gu Tingye always kept it secret, so she had to endure it and not talk about it. She didn't expect that he would bring it up himself tonight.
"...Rong Jie'er has been with me for quite some time. Although she never mentions her, I know she is thinking about her in her heart. By the way, how are Chang Ge'er and his mother doing now?" She asked softly, feeling like a cat's claws were scratching her heart.
There was another long silence. Gu Tingye lay down slightly and said, "I have no worries about food and clothing. I live a peaceful life in the farm. That's all." His voice was full of melancholy.
"My Lord...are you regretting this?" Minglan moved closer to his chest. In the cold night, his warm and solid body was so nostalgic.
"No regrets." The two-word answer was unexpectedly calm.
Gu Tingye spread his arms and let Minglan rest her head on them. "I've known Man Niang since I was sixteen, and it's been over ten years now. I know her very well." He paused, snorted softly, and then gave a wry smile. "Although she's a woman, she's stronger than any ordinary man. If she wants to accomplish something, she'll get twice the result with half the effort. But if she wants to ruin something, it's hard to guard against. I... can't let you, our child, and the rest of our lives take that risk."
This time it was Minglan's turn to remain silent. After a moment, she said softly, "This is the second time I've heard you praise her. Is she... just that capable?"
A large hand gently caressed her face. The calloused palm was slightly rough, and the slight prickling of sand on her tender skin numbed her. In the cold night, Gu Tingye's voice was particularly indifferent: "She is extremely courageous and has a quick wit. She can endure the unbearable. She can pretend to be anything and convince others that she is. Even the brothers in the Cao Gang praise her endlessly. She has been with me for nearly ten years and has rarely revealed any flaws. If I hadn't deliberately investigated, I'm afraid I would still not know her true character."
Minglan felt as if her heart was in turmoil, with mixed emotions. She could only say gloomily, "Every profession has its specialties." As a top student majoring in performing arts, of course she has some skills.
Gu Tingye heard the depression in her tone and laughed. He bent his arms and hugged her tightly, rubbing her for a long time and said affectionately, "You silly girl!"
Minglan asked him to rub his cheeks so hard that they were deformed and he could not speak clearly. She raised her hands to stop him, but she did not have enough strength to succeed. She stretched out her claws to tickle his waist. Gu Tingye could not help laughing and quickly slapped her hand to suppress the dishonest fat claw.
The two laughed and joked for a long time before they stopped, hugging each other and lying quietly for a while. Gu Tingye looked at the dark tent above the bed, which reflected the faint light coming through the window paper, swaying slightly, floating like ripples on the water in the river in March.
He suddenly recalled the year when he first met her.
That day, right after the play, someone instigated a commotion, but a group of frivolous young men in splendid attire flocked backstage, hoping to find the then-popular actress Chun Xueyu, to see how enchanting she looked without her makeup. Then, he met Man Niang.
A pretty girl in her teens was waiting for her brother in the corner of the courtyard. She was dressed in coarse cloth and old shoes, without any makeup. She was playing by herself with wide sleeves, dancing gracefully and singing in a clear and slow voice, "I am like cattail, hanging down by the river, following the flow of water, floating without roots, I hope you will have pity on me", which was melodious and lingering.
This scene attracted a group of young nobles to stop and take a few more looks. Some of them even said something frivolous. He couldn't help but speak up and urged everyone to hurry up, lest Chun Xueyu let others get there first. He invited them to go first.
The group of young men who were stunned by the drama were indeed anxious and rushed inside. The crowd dispersed in a moment.
The girl looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. As their eyes met, she blushed crimson, lowered her head, and dared not utter a word. He could not help but feel a fondness for her. The girl wasn't particularly pretty, not even as pretty as the two new maids his stepmother had given him, but she possessed a natural shyness, as fresh and graceful as a willow by the river, delicate and charming.
He was not a fan of opera, but that line of lyrics made him remember it deeply. Many years later, he realized that Man Niang had actually made it clear at the beginning. She was like cattail, seemingly weak, but actually tough and indomitable.
"She's good at everything, biased and crooked, and she doesn't care about anything. I've said everything I should say to her, and given her everything I could." Gu Tingye said sadly, "But Chang'er..."
Minglan listened quietly, and suddenly felt a wave of anxiety in her heart: "Not bringing Chang'er here, is it... for me?"
"No. Don't take it upon yourself; it's Man Niang who doesn't want to." Gu Tingye hugged her tightly and comforted her gently, "She kept saying that she didn't want to get married and begged me to leave her with someone to rely on." After all, he was not hard-hearted enough.
This is truly a classic multiple-choice question.
A wealthy father offers impoverished Cinderella a deal: the child, not the mother. If she gives up the child, it will enjoy a life of wealth and prosperity; if she keeps the child, she and her mother will share poverty. Dramas with a touch of melodrama often feature two brothers or sisters following very different paths, creating countless tearjerker moments that resonate with the world years later.
"Now that it's decided, it won't change." Gu Tingye said calmly and firmly, "I'm not just giving up. I will protect him and have someone educate him; but he can't be included in the family tree, and the Gu family won't have such a descendant." Having said that, Minglan couldn't help but look up from his arms, but it was too dark in the room, and she couldn't see the expression on his face, so she had to lie down again.
He still had a trick up his sleeve after all.
There are only a few self-taught geniuses in the world. Even the astonishing likes of Mozart were often raised in musical families. Even without special education, they were influenced by their surroundings. Imagine Mozart being born into a family of butchers. He'd see blood and flesh flying every day. By the time he grew up, he'd probably find the chopping block more familiar than musical notation. Even Gu Tingye himself was trained by the old marquis year after year, day after day, year after year, with every punch, kick, sword, and blade.
Chang Ge'er grew up in the countryside, surrounded by children of farmers and peddlers. He had no capable master to lay the foundation for him, no outstanding teacher to guide him. He was only taught some ordinary economic knowledge. When he grew up, he would most likely become a happy and wealthy small landlord.
If only he didn't instill hatred in me every day.
This was a society defined by distinct classes, and the best educational resources were limited. Because the Sheng family wasn't a prominent family, Sheng Hong had gone to great lengths to invite Mr. Zhuang to his home to teach. Ask Mr. Zhuang if he'd be willing to teach the illegitimate son of an actor in the countryside. Even if Gu Tingye personally stepped in, and Chang Ge'er's performance was breathtaking and horrific, there was no guarantee he'd walk out in anger, believing you were deliberately humiliating a scholar.
Minglan finally understood why Gu Tingye sighed; he was feeling guilty. To ensure his legitimate children would never face future trouble, he had taken the first step to eliminate the threat, from the title of illegitimate eldest son in the family tree to Chang'er's potential development.
A big hand covered her lower abdomen, and the scorching body temperature penetrated through the clothes and seeped into her skin. Minglan suddenly felt that the little boy in her belly was very lucky. Long before he came into this world, his father had unconsciously made plans for him.
"I once imagined that if Chang'er had a conflict with the child you gave birth to, I would definitely protect 'him' and would never let anyone bully 'him'. Now that I think about it, old man, he..." In the quiet dark night, Gu Tingye's voice trembled slightly.
When he was young, he had heard the maids gossiping about how 'the Marquis is really too partial', how he always favored the eldest young master, and so on. Now that the situation had come to an end, he hadn't expected him to be the same! Come to think of it, he was even worse than his father, who at least had raised him carefully.
"Human hearts are indeed biased..."
Nonsense, of course people's hearts are biased. How many people have their hearts right?
Minglan's heart pounded violently, and she keenly sensed the guilt in Gu Tingye's tone. Right now, his love for his legitimate wife and son prevailed, but the future was uncertain. Some things, unspoken now, could become disastrous consequences later. Thinking of this, she immediately asked, "My Lord, do you feel that you resembled Chang'er in your childhood?"
Gu Tingye was stunned for a moment and said in astonishment: "How can they be the same?" He is the legal and legitimate legitimate son, while the other one is not even a legitimate illegitimate son.
Minglan hurried after him, her tone gentle and deliberately playful, "Then... Lord, do you think Manniang's experience is somewhat similar to that of my mother-in-law?"
Gu Tingye's tone was so urgent that he jumped up and responded instantly: "How can Man Niang be compared with my mother!"
Bai was originally from a wealthy family, living a life of luxury, and married into the Gu family with money to save her life. She was one of those people who made great contributions to her husband's family but was treated unequally; and Man Niang... not to mention anything else, she had made his father so angry that he collapsed several times, and the whole family was in turmoil.
Thinking of this, Gu Tingye couldn't help but pinch Minglan hard, and said with a half smile and half teaching: "What nonsense are you talking about! When the child is born, I will teach you a lesson!" His tone was bright, without the melancholy in his previous expression.
This was exactly the effect Minglan wanted. She laughed cutely, apologized honestly, and promised that she would never do it again. After talking for a long time, the two of them fell asleep peacefully.
Before falling asleep, Minglan suddenly smiled bitterly. The prodigal son, Gu, made a deeply moving emotional confession, but it was a pity that he met a worldly person like her, who only cared about creating a better living environment for his children.
Before dawn, everyone in the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion knew that the imperial physician had come last night.
"She's pregnant?" The old lady had just gotten up and was sitting on the bed having breakfast. Upon hearing this, she put down her chopsticks and politely wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. "What a coincidence! Her aunt just said a few words yesterday, and she's pregnant right away. Maybe it's just a coincidence. We should ask the imperial physician to take a good look and not just be angry."
Shao, who was eating with him, smiled cautiously, "They said it was confirmed, and it's been two months."
The lady blew gently on the bird's nest in the bowl, her voice soft and gentle, "Then it's true. Sad to say, since she knew it so long ago, why would she hide it from everyone? What are you afraid of? If she had told her yesterday, it would have made her aunt happy."
Shao smiled and said, "She said she just found out last night." The lady snorted twice and said no more.
Zhu, who was dining at the round table below, smiled and said, "After mother has finished her meal, let's go visit my second sister-in-law. I just heard that the housekeeper is on her way to offer her congratulations."
Gu Tingcan, who was standing beside her, had an unhappy look on his face and was quickly picking at the food in his bowl with his chopsticks: "Hmph, what a grand ceremony. Mother and sisters-in-law can go, I won't go." His tone was reserved, noble and indifferent.
"You ignorant girl!" the old lady scolded. "Your eldest sister-in-law is not available, and your third sister-in-law is very pregnant. I was counting on your second sister-in-law to arrange your marriage, and now you dare to refuse!"
Gu Tingcan acted coquettishly towards his mother: "Mom, please don't blame me first. Can my second sister-in-law still take care of things for me now?"
…
"Of course I can't." Minglan smiled as she lay on the kang bed, then she stood up slowly and lazily and sat down properly.
The lady was angry. She also knew that it was not right to let a pregnant woman take care of it, but when she heard Minglan's excuse so smoothly, she was also displeased: "Your sister is the same. She finally found a good marriage, but no one helped. Alas, I have three daughters-in-law, but I can't rely on any of them when it matters." Shao lowered her head and said nothing. At this moment, Zhu didn't come, so she became a concubine's son.
"How could there be no one to help? Don't worry." Minglan pretended to be surprised and smiled, "I've thought about this a long time ago. Don't we have several sisters-in-law? Sister-in-law Xuan is the most enthusiastic one, not to mention others. If you give the order, which of the four uncles and the five uncles' families would not come to help? I'm afraid they'll be scrambling to come when the time comes."
"Well... after all, the family was divided." The lady hesitated.
"Even though the family has been divided, we're still one family." Minglan had already prepared her words. "You know how thorough Sister-in-law Xuan is. When the time comes, Sister-in-law Xuan will take care of things, and I and the sisters-in-law will chat with the guests in the back. And with you in charge, there's nothing we can't handle. Let others see that our three branches are still harmonious and lively. Isn't that wonderful?"
The Lady Dowager thought about it carefully, and it was indeed so. She was a clever woman, always interested in what was beneficial to her, never engaging in whimsical arguments. She immediately agreed with a smile. The room was once again filled with harmony, and Shao could only sigh inwardly. She was a dull person, unable to discern either the Lady Dowager's true colors or Minglan's depths.
Since Gu Tingyu passed away, the lady-in-waiting never mentioned anything about the housekeeper and the family fortune. Gu Tingye and his wife are the younger generation, so it is not easy for them to bring it up. Now that Gu Tingcan is about to get married, they still don’t know... Alas, Gu Tingye and his wife don’t seem to be worried at all.
After the messenger returned, Minglan's family was the first to offer their congratulations. She had assumed it would be just a gift, with Wang Shi coming to visit and offer a few words of advice: "Take good care of the baby," fulfilling her duty as a legitimate mother. But who knew, in the second half of the day...
"Grandma?!" Minglan looked at the dignified and noble old woman in front of her in astonishment, and hurriedly wanted to jump off the kang bed. "Why are you here? You are so old."
"Don't move, don't move!" Old Madam Sheng was so frightened when she saw Minglan's quick hand that she almost broke out in a sweat. She hurriedly shouted, "Lie down properly and don't move too fast or too hastily!"
Danju hurried forward to hold Minglan down, while Xiaotao cleverly dragged a chair to the side of the kang and asked Fang Mama to help the old lady sit next to Minglan. Wang had to sit at the back with grievance.
"You monkey, have you never seen me? It's too early for Yama Palace to take me in." As soon as Old Lady Sheng sat down, she couldn't help but scold, "The first three months are the most important, why are you moving? Watch out or I'll beat you!"
Minglan's face was beaming with joy. She twisted her body like a little monkey, rubbing against the old lady, and said in a sweet voice, "It's been a long time since you last saw me. Grandma must have missed me so much that she found an excuse to come and see me."
Old Madam Sheng hugged her little granddaughter, scolding her and patting her shoulder. "You're almost going to be a mother, and you're still so rude! Stand up straight and sit properly. What a disgrace! Without you, a monkey, around, I'm actually doing better. I could probably live a few more years!"
But Minglan was a stickler, never afraid of her. She'd been missing her grandmother to begin with, and now that they finally saw each other, she became even more eager to cling to her, spouting nonsense like, "Look, grandmother has become thinner and has more wrinkles on her face; she must be missing her so much," and "One day without seeing you feels like three years, and longing makes you grow old," etc. This made her both angry and amused, wishing she could drag her over and give her a beating, but also wishing she could kiss her like she did when they were little.
The grandfather and grandson were laughing and joking among themselves, and only when Wang, who was standing beside them, turned pale with indifference, did they start to speak seriously.
"You probably know the things you should be careful of better than I do. In short, be careful these days. Be careful with everything you eat, everything you pass around, even the incense burners, the silver charcoal, and the flowers and plants in the garden. Especially the people around you. At this point, it's better to wrongly accuse someone than to let them go. If you're worried about hurting people, then take them to the farm first and we can investigate and make the final decision later..."
"Grandma, I saved it."
She said this countless times. The old lady kept reminding her, and Minglan had to repeat it over and over again to reassure her.
The old lady gave her earnest instructions, then turned to Mother Cui and said, "You've been doing this for a long time, and I won't send anyone else away. I'll leave this child to you."
Mother Cui bowed quickly and said, "I've taken note of what the old lady said. I've served Madam since she was a child. I swear on my life, even if the sky falls, I will protect Madam and the young master."
The old lady nodded with satisfaction.
Minglan was touched, but her ears were also numbed by the nagging. She quickly changed the subject: "Hey, why didn't Brother Quan come? I wonder if he still remembers my aunt?"
Wang finally got the chance to speak and said hurriedly, "This child has been very naughty lately. I didn't bring him here because I was afraid he would bother you."
"What about Sister Hui? Is she okay?"
Speaking of her granddaughter, Wang's face was also full of smiles: "Speaking of this little girl, she is ten times better than her brother. She doesn't cry or make a fuss, she is well-behaved and gentle, and she smiles whenever she sees anyone. Your father and the old lady like her very much."
"How does it compare to the eldest sister and the fifth sister?" Minglan deliberately joked.
Wang rolled her eyes at her and said loudly, "If I were to be compared to them, I would be a hundred times stronger!"
Mingbai laughed happily, pointed at Wang, and said playfully, "Grandma, listen, listen, the madam has changed her mind and forgotten her daughter after having a granddaughter. I'll tell my eldest and fifth sisters later, and you have to be my witness. The madam has changed her mind and doesn't love them anymore!"
Everyone in the room burst into laughter. The maids and servants giggled from the side. The old lady hugged Minglan tightly, cursing "monkey, monkey" with a smile. Wang Shi laughed so hard that her face turned red. She covered her eyes with a handkerchief, and the slight displeasure she had just felt disappeared.
"It's nothing special. It's just that Feng'er's wedding is scheduled for the beginning of next spring, so you can't come." The old lady looked at Minglan lovingly, "Just ask your son-in-law to come for a drink later."
Minglan smiled and nodded. Wang Shi remembered something and said, "Your elder sister wanted to come, but she's been held up lately. She said she'll come see you in person when she's free."
"If you are busy, don't come. We are sisters, no need to be polite." Minglan was worried that Hualan would not be able to go out, so that she would not have to deal with that extremely bad mother-in-law again.
"It's okay. She said she could come," Wang said with a smile. "She feels she's experienced now, so she'll probably come and give you some advice, so she can show off her abilities."
Everyone laughed again. No one mentioned Molan.
…
What's life like for a pregnant woman? During the first three months of pregnancy, even walking and other exercise are not possible. All you have to do is eat and sleep, living like a pig. In fact, there is no need to think at all, relying entirely on instinct. Minglan is no different from a pig now. She feels sleepy after eating, hungry when she wakes up, and grunts when she sees people.
In addition, he would eat all kinds of food, sometimes sweet, sometimes salty, sometimes spicy, sometimes bland. Sometimes he would even feel that clear water had an odor, and sometimes he could not stand the smell of rice.
At this time, the ability of the former dandy Gu Tingye was revealed. There was nothing that Minglan could not think of that he could not get. Whether it was the food from the stalls, restaurants, or private dishes hidden in the corners of the city, or the cuisines of Sichuan, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Zhejiang, he could just point out the way and get it in a moment.
Sitting opposite him, he glanced at Minglan who was eating and drinking hard, then glanced at her still flat belly, and began to daydream, with endless wonderful fantasies. His heart felt like it was filled with a jar of honey.
After three or five days, Minglan was still as happy as a pig. But something happened over there.
Xiao Tao ran over excitedly to announce, "Old Madam Yang is here!" Minglan slumped down on the kang, angrily saying, "What's the big deal? Why are you acting like this? Go tell her I'm not feeling well, so I won't be going to pay my respects."
"No, ma'am." Xiao Tao's face flushed, and sweat broke out on her forehead in the cold weather. "The old lady didn't call anyone. She only closed the door and talked to the lady. It was as if she was angry with the lady!"
…
"How much dowry have you prepared for Tingcan?" Old Lady Yanggu came like a whirlwind, losing all her composure, and slammed the kang table to question.
The lady-in-waiting was unhappy, but she still put on a smile: "Oh, as an aunt, you are already asking about your niece's dowry? Don't worry, I will make the princess and her husband satisfied and bring you honor! I can't say it's a ten-mile red dowry, but it is one of the best in the capital."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Old Lady Yang wiped the sweat from her forehead. It was cold sweat. "You've been married for decades. You know the Gu family's custom of marrying off daughters. The dowry you prepared for Can'er this time is much more than that."
The lady lowered her eyelids, slowly raised her hand to pick up the tea bowl, and said nothing.
Old Lady Yang was furious and said, "I'm not here to complain about my injustice! Nor am I here to settle accounts! How much dowry you want to prepare for Can'er is up to you, but why haven't you handed over the family property to Tingye and his wife yet?"
The old lady's mouth curled up, and she laughed sarcastically: "What? They finally couldn't help it and went outside to make a fuss. I really thought they disdained this little family fortune, but they are so arrogant all the time."
Seeing her like this, Old Lady Yang took a deep breath, calmed her breath, and said, "I'm not joking with you. If this isn't done well, Tingcan's marriage will probably be ruined!"
"What! Where did this come from?" The lady was anxious and immediately stood up by supporting herself on the table.
"It all started this morning when I went to the Prince Consort's residence to ask for the engagement letter!"
The lady sat down trembling slightly, looking confused.
Old Madam Yang Gu calmed down and said slowly, "A few days ago, someone from the Prince Consort's Mansion came to talk about the engagement letter. I deliberately delayed it for a few days to let Can'er show off. Only today did I go to the Prince Consort's Mansion with the wife of the Huang family's eldest son. I originally planned to take the engagement letter from the Han family's third son first and then exchange it for Can'er's. Who knew... Humph, I got into such bad luck!"
"What? Did the Han family change their mind?" The lady was so frightened that her voice trembled.
"Not really." Old Lady Yanggu recalled her embarrassment in front of the princess this morning, her teeth itching with anger. "Speaking of which, Princess Qingchang was also furious. ... Yesterday, the palace held a banquet, and all the royal family members attended. Before the banquet began, the family members gathered for tea and jokes, and someone mentioned that the Han and Gu families were discussing a marriage. Everyone started congratulating each other, and some praised Sister Can's talent. Although Princess Qingchang didn't say anything, she was happy in her heart. Everything was going well, but who knew...!"
"Just tell me quickly!" the lady said anxiously.
Old Lady Yanggu angrily said, "Who would have thought that Princess Linxiang would suddenly bring up the matter of dowry? She said that Commander Gu has inherited the title for over half a year, and hasn't even touched the Gu family's ancestral property. As for the control of the entire family, the meritorious officials' fields, and the blessing fields, they are firmly in the hands of your wife. The Ningyuan Marquis and his wife are just sitting on an empty title! Well, as you know, Princess Linxiang and Princess Qingchang have always been at odds."
Both were born out of wedlock. Princess Qingning was raised by Empress Jing'an, so she had some status. Princess Linxiang's mother was in Baolin, but in the end, she was not as glorious as Princess Qingchang, who was born to a palace maid. Therefore, the two sisters loved to stand out from the crowd since they were young.
The old lady clutched the tea bowl tightly, so tightly it practically sunk into her palm. Old Lady Yang continued, "You're quite popular, and some at the table spoke up for you, saying you were worried about the couple's youth and wanted to explain everything clearly before entrusting them. But then someone started gossiping and sneering to your face, saying, 'If a mother worried about her son and daughter-in-law, it's understandable, but how can you, a stepmother, hold onto the family fortune?! You're not afraid of the melon field and plum blossoms!'"
Old Lady Yanggu spoke furiously, taking a sip of tea to moisten her throat. "At that time, Princess Qingchang was fine. She simply said you would hand it over immediately, and outsiders had no reason to comment. But then Princess Linxiang sarcastically said, 'Are you going to wait until your daughter is married off before handing it over? That's great! You are so lucky to have such considerate in-laws!' Everyone could tell what she meant. Princess Qingchang was so angry that she wanted to smash the teacup!"
The lady was so angry that her whole body was shaking, her lips quivering violently, but she couldn't make a sound.
"That's fine. Everyone knows Princess Linxiang has a sharp tongue; she's incredibly merciless, and few take it seriously. But when the feast started, Princess Qingning arrived, accompanied by the two Empress Dowagers and the Empress."
Old Lady Yanggu swallowed hard, "The Queen casually asked, 'What are you talking about just now?' Princess Linxiang quickly told her what happened. Fearing that things would get awkward, the princesses, princesses, and princesses all tried to smooth things over with a smile. The two Empress Dowagers made a few jokes, and the matter was essentially over. But... Princess Qingning jokingly said, 'People are from the same family. No wonder my sister became the wife of the Marquis of Zhennan.' Princess Qingchang had to hold back to avoid fainting."
The lady's body was half cold and she had nothing to say.
The Marquis of Zhennan was known for his extravagant and unskillful management. His mansion was penniless, and his wife, a shrewd and overbearing woman with considerable cunning, had taken advantage of her daughters-in-law's dowries. Each of the three daughters-in-law he had married into the family had brought immense wealth, so naturally, their families were not particularly distinguished. Princess Qingchang had always detested her eldest sister-in-law's philistine and vulgar behavior, wishing she could slug them into the river to draw a clear line between them. Now that they were being compared, she was furious.
After saying this, the two sisters-in-law were silent for a long time. After a long while, the lady said in a hateful voice: "It is common sense to give a daughter a larger dowry when she marries off. How could they be so irritating!"
Old Lady Yang Gu, perhaps out of anger, calmed down. "Sister-in-law, please stop fooling me. According to the customary share of the Gu family's daughters' marriages, adding your dowry to it, it's quite a lot. I know how much your dowry was originally. If you want to marry off your daughter generously, fine! Just give it from your own pocket, don't take the Gu family's ancestral inheritance."
"Can'er is the only legitimate daughter of the old marquis. What's wrong with giving her a generous dowry? Even if she gives some ancestral property as a dowry, so what? When Marquis Xuanmen married his daughter a few years ago, he almost gave away half of the family property! Not to mention how much Marquis Xiangyang gave as a dowry when Princess Pingning got married that year!" The lady-in-waiting became stubborn.
Old Lady Yanggu was also a little angry and shouted, "I am indeed not the only legitimate daughter of the old man. I only know that it is okay to give the ancestral property to the old man, but the head of the family has to give the order! Are you the head of the Gu family now? The second boy Tingye is! You secretly used the Gu family's ancestral property as a dowry without the consent of the head of the family, how can you be so unreasonable! In the future, rumors will spread that the stepmother has taken control of the family property and gave half of the ancestral property to her daughter as a dowry. Do you still want to save your face for half a lifetime, and do you still want your daughter's reputation?"
"Alright! Let the head of the household give the order!" The old lady, like a trapped beast, refused to yield. "How can outsiders know that the old marquis hasn't given the order?"
Old Lady Yang sneered, "I don't know whether my elder brother said anything or not. But I do know about the two files that Tingyu produced after gathering the clan members before his death. Not only did my family know about it, but many outsiders also knew about it. Why couldn't a terminally ill person rest in peace before his death and had to go through all this trouble? Do you think outsiders are stupid and can't think about it?"
Why else? Because he was afraid that his younger brother didn't know the details of the family property and that his stepmother would embezzle it.
After arguing for several sentences, both of them were exhausted and there was silence for a while.
Old Lady Yang sighed deeply and said, "I also have a daughter. I don't understand your intention to marry her off generously. But a good family needs a good reputation. The princess can do this, which shows that she is upright. The Han family is indeed a good match. But if you insist on this, then I dare not arrange this marriage for the princess. Please seek other people."
The lady's thoughts turned over a thousand times, and she collapsed in her chair, unable to help crying, "My poor child, seeing that her father and brother can't be relied upon, I wanted to give her more to support herself, but I didn't expect that someone would plot against her again!"
Old Lady Yang waved her hand, looking weary. "Think about it carefully. I can't get the engagement letter right away, but hurry up. After the New Year, Can'er will be old... Well, what's more important? Think about it yourself."
For someone of her age, having spent the first half of the day being teased and the second half arguing with others, Old Lady Yang was also very tired. She was too lazy to say anything more. She drank another half cup of tea and then said goodbye. She was familiar with her own mansion and walked out quickly and smoothly.
The more she thought about it, the more her headache grew. She didn't even bother to talk along the way. She stepped on a small birchwood stool with two planks, supported by the porter's arm, and hurried into the carriage. She had barely settled herself at the entrance and was about to move her aged body inside when she suddenly saw someone already inside, a dark figure sitting upright in the main seat.
She was almost frightened to death. She took a closer look and exclaimed, "Why is it you?!"
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