It’s clearer now. It would have been better if Dad had children earlier.”
The expression on the lady's face froze.
In agricultural societies, a large family is considered a blessing. During festive occasions, the tables and floors must be filled with children and grandchildren to be considered prosperous. The three older brothers of the Gu family have all married young, and the eldest grandchildren of the fourth and fifth branches are now eligible for marriage. The eldest branch of the family is in a more difficult position. Currently, the only adult males are the brothers Gu Tingye and Gu Tingwei, and the only underage male is Xian Ge'er, who is being served by his wet nurse and dining with his two sisters at a small round table nearby.
This situation stemmed from the serious dereliction of duty by the old Marquis Gu. Deeply attached to the barren saline-alkali land, no matter how much he fertilized or watered it, it yielded no harvest for nearly a decade. By the time Gu Tingyu was born, Gu Tingxuan and Gu Tingyang were both old enough to help with household chores. Two years later, Gu Tingye was born, and another five or six years later, Gu Tingwei was born. Just as Gu Tingwei was weaned, Gu Tingxuan was already arranging marriages.
The eldest generation will lose at the starting line. The root cause is that the land is not good. They are occupying something that is not good enough. Unfortunately, the barren land belongs to the sister of the lady who is currently sitting above.
Since there were so few people, it would have been even more dismal to sit separately. So, at the suggestion of the Dowager, the Gu family's eldest daughter-in-law, who were supposed to sit at separate tables for men and women, sat together for the New Year's Eve dinner. Normally, the three daughters-in-law should have served at the table, offering a few chopsticks of food to their mother-in-law as a token of respect, but with Zhu and Minglan pregnant, and Shao a widow, they simply did so.
After Gu Tingye finished speaking, the Madam's face turned sour. Everyone lowered their heads to eat in silence, and the maids and servants serving at the table fell silent. The New Year's Eve dinner had taken on a prison-like atmosphere. It was quite flavorful, Minglan thought with interest.
In fact, the lady's face has been looking bad these days.
On the day the Dowager returned the Gu family estate, Minglan had initially been reluctant to join in the fun, but at Gu Tingye's insistence, she quietly sat behind a screen and listened. In front of everyone, the Dowager ordered Xiang Mama to lay out the fish scale book and other paperwork, one by one. Her face was mournful, aggrieved, yet she uttered no words of displeasure. Instead, she forced a smile and softly greeted the family members. Recalling her years of compassion for the elderly and young, her frequent acts of kindness, and the generous treatment she had shown the family, several of her older cousins felt a little guilty.
Minglan was tugging at her handkerchief in confusion. In fact, a real actress doesn't need to cry loudly or flare her nostrils to achieve the effect of wanting to speak but still crying. She felt very sympathetic towards Gu Tingye in front of her, who looked like an evil and vicious villain.
The situation was already like this, but who would have thought that the villain was still unaware and decided to go all out. He actually called in the two clerks who followed him and counted the family property in front of him without any reservation. The faces of the elders became more and more ugly, and Minglan also felt very embarrassed in the back. In this awkward and tangled atmosphere, Gu Tingye actually leisurely added another cup of tea.
"We've talked things out in front of our family today, and we can live in harmony from now on."
The lady looked pale and shaky; fortunately, the two lawyers were quick and checked everything out before she fell. After checking, investigating and asking questions, Gu Tingye waved his hand and asked the two lawyers questions on the spot.
"Weren't these three shops originally located on Yongming Street (a bustling commercial district in Beijing)? How come they've now moved to Xiangzi Hutong (a secluded area)?"
"These three hundred acres were originally paddy fields, with springs and forests nearby. How come they've become sandy fields now?"
"Why are you selling your share of the Ancheng Golden Tower and the manor in the southern suburbs?"
…
The old lady was embarrassed and wanted to get angry, but the two clerks were polite and respectful, and Gu Tingye was indifferent. She knew that if she didn't say something, people would make a fuss, so she didn't care about pretending to be weak and aggrieved. The explanation was as follows: At that time, she had to use connections to intercede, which cost a lot of money. As a result, much of the family property had to be sold, but she didn't dare tell Gu Tingyu because he was weak.
Gu Tingye smiled without saying anything. The relatives beside him shifted their gazes and looked at each other with strange expressions.
Everyone more or less knew that the financial situation of the Marquisate had been good since Bai married in. In addition, after the old Marquis Gu had suffered a lot from being bitten by a snake, he had been carefully managing the family business.
Now, with a single, careless remark, the Dowager had wiped out the Marquisate's years of savings, and even lost some of their ancestral wealth. In reality, the Dowager's connections hadn't yielded any results. Ultimately, it was thanks to Gu Tingye that the Ningyuan Marquisate was spared the calamity of losing their title. It would have been more plausible to say that they were transferring their wealth to avoid being wiped out.
But where did it go to... Regardless of whether this matter is true or false, is there a better excuse than this? Everyone's eyes fell vaguely on the lady's body.
Gu Tingye smiled and didn't ask any further questions. He simply announced to the clan members that he was willing to set aside one hundred acres of fertile land as sacrificial fields, a clan asset for ancestral worship. The atmosphere in the room changed again. The so-called clan asset was, of course, shared by all the clan members. Currently, all the sacrificial fields combined could yield approximately three to four hundred taels of rice per year. Besides providing for the ancestral temple and tombs, the yield from the sacrificial fields would also provide some financial support to the clan members, young and old, poor and needy. It was truly a case of whoever saw it got a share.
The clan members looked around with uncertain expressions. To be honest, it was not uncommon for step-sons and step-mothers to not get along, and it seemed that this step-mother might not be as clean as rice paper.
After returning to the house, Gu Tingye advised Minglan: "Don't be careless with this person." Connecting the previous and next plots and translating it into Martian, the general meaning is: This old woman will not give up even if she crosses the Yellow River. She will not admit defeat easily, and even if she admits defeat, it is just pretending.
That night, the old lady groaned and lay down on the bed, wanting to leave all the housework to Minglan. However, Minglan groaned even louder than her, begging in a trembling voice, "Please consider my inconvenience and at least let me spend the first month of the lunar year." The old lady knew that Minglan was up to something, but she could not speak out and could only grit her teeth in secret.
Minglan murmured in gratitude—they had surely already done what needed to be done with the accounts, so there was no rush to check now. The first three months of pregnancy were crucial; she couldn't stress herself or tire herself out, and everything else had to be put aside.
In this way, Minglan at the banquet looked particularly fair, plump and tender. Not to mention the widowed Shao and the soon-to-be-born Zhu, even Tingcan, who was about to get married, did not have such a moist and beautiful complexion as her. She could not pretend to be weak even if she wanted to.
Gu Tingye looked at his brother beside him and said, "I have already made an agreement with the chief clerk of the Ministry of War. You can take office after the first month of the year." Tingwei was overjoyed. He was tired of being bored at home all day: "Thank you, second brother!" Gu Tingye said, "Do your job well. The Wucheng Bingmasi is not as idle as the Yingwei Department. There are a lot of troubles. You have to pay attention to it." Tingwei smiled and said, "Don't worry, second brother." Gu Tingye nodded slightly.
After returning to the room that night, Danju brought a small lacquered red sandalwood box covered with bright yellow brocade and placed it on the round table in the room. Then they all took their leave. Minglan smiled and said to Gu Tingye, "This is the reward from the palace today. I have kept the others, but these are very exquisite and precious. My Lord, please take a look and decide what to do with them."
Gu Tingye lay on Minglan's Xiangfei couch with his eyes slightly closed: "You decide." It was the New Year, and there were many things to do in the court, which kept him very busy. He hadn't even sat down to eat a proper meal in the past few days. In a while, he would go to stay up to celebrate the New Year, so he took a rest first.
Minglan secretly expressed her sympathy, believing that if one paid, there would be a reward. During this period, she had a deeper understanding of what it meant to be a privileged class.
During festivals and holidays, the palace frequently gave out gifts, even during non-festive times, as a token of its favor. These included colorful brocades, Hu satin, Japanese satin, Sichuan brocade, a wide variety of shark-beaded silks, precious silks, soft smoke gauze, cicada-wing gauze… There were also sets and boxes of gold, pearls, and precious stones. That would have been fine, but if you ordered clothes outside, you didn't even have to wait in line; the shop's craftsmen would come directly to your door.
New Year's Day was a major occasion, so naturally, the rewards were even more generous. Minglan unearthed the items from the box one by one: a pristine white jade bowl, two pairs of emerald chopsticks carved with openwork and inlaid with red gold, a yellow jade ruyi (a type of ruyi) with white clouds inlaid with gold, and a bright red object. Taking it in her hands, Minglan discovered a red jade heart lock: a clasp and a lock head. Together, they formed a ruyi ribbon, and apart, they formed their own shapes. Not only was it exquisitely polished, but the jade color was also exceptional. Since her marriage, Minglan had seen many fine things, but red jade of this quality was truly rare. Its vibrant red was dazzling, and as smooth as a hot spring. Resting in her delicate white palm, it felt like a drop of heart's blood.
Gu Tingye had opened his eyes at some point and spotted the heart-shaped lock. His eyes, cold and detached all night, seemed to be tinged with a warm glow from the red jade lock. He pulled Minglan to sit beside him, then took the red jade and gently stroked it between his fingers. After a moment, he whispered, "Can you weave silk?" Minglan nodded. "Of course I can; it's a required course."
"You braid it and we each take half." He whispered more and more.
Minglan's heart softened, and she slowly leaned against his chest, whispering, "I always carry it with me."
"Yeah. You should make it more concise."
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Tingye and his wife went to the palace early in the morning to express their gratitude and wish the Empress a happy new year. Minglan, having been pregnant, had sent word to Xiao Shenshi early on, and the Empress had excused her from entering the palace, granting her baby's satin and nourishing medicine. Xiao Shenshi's eyes flickered with envy. She had married earlier than Minglan, yet she still hadn't conceived. Fortunately, her eldest brother, General Zheng Jun, already had numerous children, both legitimate and illegitimate, so the continued supply of cigarettes to the General's Mansion was assured, alleviating some of her stress.
"There's no rush for this," Minglan tried to comfort her. "There's a wonderful aunt on my side of the family. She gave birth to my cousin almost four years after she got married. Perhaps the Goddess of Childbearing is carefully searching for a child for you right now. Would you rather give me a little general or a little champion? Oh, how about both?"
Little Shen's worries disappeared and she burst out laughing: "You are the only one who knows how to coax people!" Minglan was gentle and humorous, and very easy to get along with. As time went by, she loved to find her to complain and talk more and more.
Minglan held her hand and whispered, "I know what you are worried about. But you have been married for a short time and it is far from that stage. Just relax. The more comfortable you feel, the sooner you may get pregnant." There are no new hospitals these days, so this is the only way.
Xiao Shen was not someone who liked to be entangled and depressed, so she immediately thanked Minglan and her expression became bright again.
After Gu Tingye returned from the palace, Minglan ordered the maid to carry out several baskets of copper coins.
During the New Year's greetings, all the stewards, maids, daughters-in-law, and servants in Cheng Garden received red envelopes as gifts. These copper coins, strung together on red strings, were meant for the children. The wall between the former Marquis's residence and Cheng Garden had long been demolished, and work would resume after the New Year: filling in the soil, laying bricks, and building the garden. Everyone in the former Marquis's residence knew that the power of the mansion would eventually return to the Marquis and his wife, and many stewards were eager to show their respect. Cheng Garden, however, was like an iron fence, with everyone holding a responsibility and no one daring to neglect or slack off. It was impenetrable, and impenetrable. The new wife looked gentle, but her true nature was unknown, leaving the stewards feeling apprehensive.
Gu Tingye stole half a day of leisure and watched Minglan with a smile as she distributed the copper coins, snacks and fruits one by one. The garden was covered in snow, and many little girls and children were running and playing, rolling up snowballs and throwing them to each other, with bursts of laughter.
Rong Jie'er walked along, dressed in a brand new winter coat, the gold collar around her neck gleaming in the snow. She had been feeling somewhat unhappy lately. She remembered how, when she first entered the Marquis's residence, she missed her biological mother and brother almost every day, often waking up in tears at night. Since when, however, this yearning had gradually faded. This year, with her stepmother's pregnancy, she suddenly remembered her long-lost brother. However, she could no longer remember what he or her mother looked like. Would her stepmother give birth to a younger brother or a younger sister?
She knew her stepmother treated her well. The other illegitimate daughters at school envied her good fortune, with fine clothes and good things to do. Sometimes her stepmother would even pick her up from school. But what about the future? If her stepmother had her own children, would she, as some people say, regard her illegitimate daughter as a thorn in her side? Suddenly, she was startled, remembering Mr. Xue's teachings: When faced with a situation, one must keep a straight mind and not prejudge things. A righteous heart leads to a broad mind, a clear vision, and a clear heart.
She was secretly ashamed. She had actually forgotten what her teacher had said! She had already made up her mind: from now on, she would study hard, be a man as upright and honest as Mr. Xue, and hold her head high and not... not be like her biological mother.
Rong Jie'er looked up. Her father was smiling gently at her stepmother, one hand holding a hand warmer for her. A sadness welled up in her heart. In reality, having brothers and sisters wouldn't make much difference to her. Whether her stepmother treated her well sincerely, or did it for reputational reasons, out of pity, or to impress her father, the master had said that good is good. Those who receive good should be grateful, sincerely cherish their blessings, act humbly, and be kind. Only in this way can blessings last long, and God will bless and help them.
"...Rong Jie'er." Her stepmother called her. Rong Jie'er quickly looked up, her eyes wide open. The young and beautiful lady in gorgeous clothes and brocade had a soft glow on her cheeks: "Here, this is your New Year's money."
Danju held a small plate and handed the red envelope over, and Rong Jieer took it blankly.
"The teachers all say that you are a good student and are willing to work hard, making great progress." The stepmother's eyes were kind and she spoke softly, "Your father and I are very happy to hear this. It's best that you continue to do this when the new year begins."
Rong Jie'er lowered her head, feeling both proud and touched, but unable to express herself. She could never learn to act like a spoiled child with her stepmother, especially with her father present.
Gu Tingye looked at her and suddenly said, "You're going to be a big sister." Rong Jie'er looked up in surprise, but heard her father's majestic voice, "The younger brothers and sisters behind you are all looking up to you, you have to set a good example."
Rong Jie'er's heart felt as if a floodgate had suddenly burst open, a sense of clarity and peace. She bowed respectfully, swaying gently and gracefully. She looked up at the head of the table and said aloud, "Thank you, father, for your teachings and mother's care. I will remember this, my daughter."
Minglan felt relieved and thought that the tuition was worth it. She would prepare a generous New Year gift after school started.
Gu Tingye on the side looked at her intently.
Last year during the first month of the lunar year, Minglan was still busy visiting her elders, brothers, and sisters-in-law to wish her a happy new year. Back then, no one came to wish her a happy new year. This year, however, things were completely reversed. She stayed home to nurse her baby, and even asked Old Madam Sheng to skip the New Year's greetings from her parents. She only sent Gu Tingye to visit and have a drink. Otherwise, she didn't have to go anywhere. But now that Gu Tingye was on a roll, there was a constant stream of people coming to wish her a happy new year.
First, it was the relatives in the clan. Those who were far away were fine as they would not attract many people to ask for money, but the fourth and fifth rooms were his real uncles. Gu Tingye prepared New Year gifts of appropriate thickness without any resistance and went to pay New Year's greetings. I don't know what he said to those two uncles who were his enemies, but he came back in a very good mood.
Minglan was very curious, so she asked someone. The families had separated not long ago, and their servants were very familiar with each other. While Gu Tingye was paying New Year's greetings inside, the servants found out a lot about the situation in the two mansions.
Gu Shun followed the Fourth Old Master's residence and said, "...someone came to the house to find the debt owed by Second Master Bing, threatening to beat or kill him if he didn't pay. Fourth Old Master was so angry that he fell ill and wanted to entrust the entire household to Master Xuan. Aunt Liu and Second Master Bing refused, crying and making a fuss. When we got there, the place was in chaos, and it took a long time before we could even have a sip of hot tea."
Gu Quan, who had accompanied the Fifth Elder's residence, had Xiao Tao stuffed her arms with fruit and pastries. Her two little canine teeth flashed as she spoke eloquently, "Second Madam Di is in charge now. The Fifth Elder has strictly ordered Second Madam Di to be careful and impartial, and not to let anyone mess around. Second Madam Di was quite understanding, and she wouldn't let Master Yang spend money freely. But the Fifth Elder was upset, accusing Second Madam Di of being unfilial and immoral. Second Madam Di cried in grievance, and Master Bing Er had argued with the Fifth Elder several times. Oh, a few days ago, someone came to collect a debt, but Second Madam Di said it was blackmail and wouldn't let them in. The debt collector then stood at the door for a while and refused to pay. It happened that the Fifth Elder had just returned from appreciating poetry, and the two of them bumped into each other, unable to hide the truth. The Fifth Elder was furious and had Master Yang tied up and severely beaten on the spot. When we got there, Master Yang hadn't even gotten up yet..."
Minglan went back to the room silently and looked at Gu Tingye who was sitting behind the desk. He sat upright with a steady look in his eyes, and only the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, like the brisk crescent moon on a summer night - she touched her belly and said, "Don't learn from your father to gloat over other people's misfortunes."
The next day, the fourth and fifth wives came together to pay New Year's greetings.
The Madam finally pulled herself together and ordered several tables of wine to be served: one for the men outside and two for the women inside. She also asked her daughter-in-law to sing a few songs to liven up the atmosphere. She engaged the two older sisters-in-law in conversation and laughter, while Zhu and Tingying joined in the fun, creating quite a lively atmosphere. Tingcan had barely taken a bite when he called Tingling into his room to talk, leaving the remaining children to play with the maids.
Mrs. Yang looked even more haggard. She was only about thirty years old, but there were a few strands of silver hair on her temples. On one side, her husband was beaten and had a bad temper, and she had to take care of him day and night. On the other side, she had a strict mother-in-law who always scolded her for being unvirtuous and causing her husband to be a failure.
Minglan felt sympathy: "Sister-in-law, you have worked hard these days. Brother Xun and the others are still young. You should take care of your health." Mrs. Yang carefully glanced at the fifth old lady who was laughing over there, and without saying a word, she looked at Minglan gratefully.
Mrs. Di Er came from a wealthy family. Bensu looked down on her own sister-in-law, and upon hearing this, she sighed, "My eldest sister-in-law is a blessed woman. Xun'er studies hard day and night and strives to improve himself. This time, the teacher said it's almost time for my nephew to try his luck. Father is so happy. Don't worry, my eldest sister-in-law, Xun'er will earn you a good name sooner or later."
Speaking of her son, Madam Yang's tired and aged face flashed with a smile of satisfaction and pride, like the rising sun breaking through the darkness of the night. However, she still said humbly, "Their master only asked them to try it out. How could a child be so capable?"
"That gentleman was my father's classmate and had even been a schoolmaster in his early years. What he said might be true. Alas, for the children of our generation, we'll have to rely on Brother Xun in the future." It was truly a case of bad things bringing forth good things. Madam Di Er couldn't help but sigh, feeling sorry for her husband, who at his age was still being forced by his father-in-law to study and take the imperial examinations. Seeing her nephew, Gu Shixun, becoming more and more successful, she gradually stopped looking down on Madam Yang. As for being a good wife and mother, she at least did half of her job well, didn't she?
Mrs. Yang smiled at her gently, with a touch of flattery as usual. Mrs. Di smiled back calmly, patted her hand affectionately, and poured her a glass of wine personally.
After the division of the mansion, the two sisters-in-law of the fifth room showed a trend of harmony and understanding, but the two sisters-in-law of the fourth room became increasingly incompatible. At the banquet, Mrs. Xuan resolutely turned her head away, only focusing on talking to Minglan, and ignored the sisters-in-law beside her. Mrs. Bing sneered repeatedly: "The eldest sister-in-law has been getting more and more irritable recently. Now that the whole family is under the control of her sister-in-law, it's really different!"
Madam Xuan turned back angrily: "Whoever wants to be the housekeeper can do it! It's like I've been begging for this position for so long, working so hard and exhausting myself, and not only does they not say a single good word, but they also blame me for everything!"
"Oh, you have mountains of gold and silver at your disposal, you can move wherever you want, and you don't even let anyone say a word!" Mrs. Bing said sarcastically, and Mrs. Xuan was so angry that she couldn't speak, and her sleeves were shaking.
As she spoke, Mrs. Bing Er rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief, and with a face like Xianglin Sao, she sniffled and sobbed the same old story: "Alas, now we are despised by others. Your brother is out there, whether he is alive or dead, and we, an orphan and a widow, are being bullied by others! ... I only hope that you, sister-in-law, will have pity on your nephews and nieces and at least leave a few sips of soup for them! We..."
"Pah." Minglan slammed her chopsticks down on the table, her face icy. Mrs. Bing stopped talking. Everyone looked at Minglan in surprise, even the three elderly ladies sitting near the front listening to the music.
"If you want to cry, go back and cry. It's New Year's Day, how can you seek bad luck like this?" Minglan's voice was not loud, but her tone was stern.
Mrs. Bing Er was stunned for a moment, then she started crying again, "I'm not..."
"Everyone in the family knows about Brother Bing's affairs, and everyone is worried about you. But you don't even consider the place and the time, crying whenever you feel like crying." Minglan snorted coldly, glancing at the restless Madam over there. "When Sister Can gets married, you'll do the same thing, talking about it whenever you think of it, and crying whenever you talk about it. If you bring bad luck to such a happy day, I, your sister-in-law, will be the first to tear your mouth off!"
The lady lowered her straight shoulders, her eyes flickered, and she said nothing.
Mrs. Bing dared not cry anymore, her eyes open in a daze. Minglan looked at her and said word by word, "When Brother Bing was in prison, Brother Xuan went through wind and rain to negotiate for him, running for hours a day, waiting outside the government office for half a day, smiling and saying nice things to people, not even taking time to eat a hot meal. We all saw it. No matter how distressed Sister-in-law Xuan was, she never stopped him. I'm young and haven't been married long, but I'm also very moved. I think I've really married into a good family, with such a strong brotherly love and a harmonious family. But even so, Sister-in-law is still not satisfied? Even though we are brothers, you can't just not say thank you."
As Mrs. Xuan listened, her eyes became red. Tingying saw it and hurried over to take her eldest sister-in-law's arm, and the two of them leaned against each other head to head.
Mrs. Bing was speechless, her face turning pale. Seeing this, the Fourth Old Lady was particularly pleased. The Fifth Old Lady looked at Minglan unhappily and said, "Although what my niece-in-law said is not wrong, your cousin is older than you after all. How can you scold her so harshly? It's disrespectful and disrespectful..."
Before she could finish her words, the Fourth Old Lady interrupted her, saying, "Hey, sister-in-law, what you said is not right. I think what my niece-in-law said is absolutely right. It's New Year's Day, everyone is drinking and laughing. Sister Can has found such a good marriage, and the Gu family is about to have another child. It's such a good day, but my second daughter-in-law is so ignorant! Even if she is heartbroken, she should cry when she goes home. She has to cry now in front of the elders and the younger ones. It's really...! Alas, my niece-in-law said this because she doesn't treat us as outsiders."
The fifth old lady was a little stunned, staring blankly at the fourth old lady who never refuted her in the past.
Minglan smiled, turned to Bing Er's wife and said, "It was my fault just now. I spoke too harshly. I hope my second sister-in-law will not take it personally. I just treat you as one of my own family, and I can tell you whatever I think." Bing Er's wife answered yes and no, and then no and no, with an awkward smile. Xuan Da's wife saw that it was almost done, sighed, and patted Bing Er's wife's hand: "Don't worry. His eldest brother has already taken care of the post office. Brother Bing writes every two or three months to let them know he's safe, and there are people waiting on him. I think everything will be fine. After these two years, won't the family be reunited again?"
Mrs. Bing II sniffed and lowered her head, but she stopped making a fuss; Mrs. Xuan Da raised her head, looked over Mrs. Bing II's head, and looked deeply at Minglan. Minglan smiled and turned to listen to the music.
Mrs. Di Er looked at the scene carefully, and remembered that day when she heard that Tingxuan's eldest son was still young but had already found a good job. She sighed in her heart that she usually thought she was smart, but she was not as quick to see the opportunity and act decisively as the loud-mouthed and noisy Mrs. Xuan Da. It turned out that the other party had already taken advantage of her. Alas, you can't judge a person by his appearance.
Minglan had spent a fortune on this New Year's visit. She had to give New Year's money to several unmarried cousins and half the nieces and nephews in the house. Even if she gave birth to a child next year and could get some money back, she would still be outnumbered. Even if she tried her best to have children, even if she gave birth to many, by the time she had many children, the boys and girls who were now asking her for money would have already had their own children, and she (or her children) would have to continue giving money to her nieces and nephews (if they still kept in touch). Oh my god, this hatred was endless, and the money would never be paid off - this deal was clearly a loss, and it would be difficult to recoup the investment for a long time.
Back home that night, Minglan clutched her bleeding heart and, with a scowl on her face, recounted this tragic prospect to her husband. In this tragic ancient world, was childbearing truly the primary productive force? After hearing this, Gu Tingye collapsed on his bed, half sobering up. He glanced at Minglan's belly and returned to his study to read some literature. After reading two, he suddenly remembered someone who had often whispered in his ear, "The land of gentleness is the grave of heroes." He then ordered the servants to drag Gongsun's old bones out of the covers.
Six or seven days into the first lunar month, Gu Tingye's colleagues and friends began to visit him.
Fortunately, Mr. Gongsun reminded him early, so Gu Tingye didn't dare to have too many people at home, which would have been too ostentatious and attracted the censors' nagging. However, there were still many people who came to give New Year gifts. Gu Tingye received the guests in the outer courtyard and ordered the doorman to only let in those who were easy to make friends with or familiar with him. Minglan put on a dignified and gentle smile in the inner courtyard, and kept saying to the female relatives she didn't know, "Why be so polite?", and kept saying to the children, "Get up quickly, the ground is cold", and then praised them with words like "This child is so good-looking" or "So well-behaved".
Fortunately, she had prepared for such a grand occasion and had asked the gold shop to make many gold and silver ingots engraved with auspicious words and auspicious cloud patterns. And because it was the Year of the Monkey, she also made dozens of thumb-sized golden monkey cubs. Although they were not heavy, they were vivid and very interesting, and were just right to give to children as New Year's money.
Whether she met the eloquent or the silent and honest, Minglan treated them with warmth and courtesy, showing no favoritism. Old Madam Sheng's rigorous training since childhood was now paying off. Minglan's graceful, elegant demeanor, while still serene, was quite captivating. She spoke little, but was affable and engaging. Within days, everyone outside praised Minglan for her good nature and kindness.
Minglan felt very proud of herself, after all, the public had sharp eyes.
Apart from these tedious social interactions, receiving gifts is a very pleasant experience. Most officials are very shrewd. Except for truly reliable confidants, they will not carry a whole box of silver to maintain a good relationship, nor will they wrap silver notes with stamps to express admiration.
There were large South China Pearls from southern Fujian, boxes filled with round, white pearls; half-foot-tall jadeite Guanyin statues, warm to the touch; bonsai of peaches crafted from agate, jade, and gold and silver branches, almost indistinguishable from the real thing; black foxes, purple lambs, and lynxes from the north, as well as whole sable furs that felt incredibly soft and rich; and precious snow ginseng made from bear bile and tiger bones...
"Really? Is it okay?" Minglan had a bit of a country bumpkin mentality, feeling surprised and scared at the same time - is this legal?
Old Man Gongsun said calmly, "If you don't accept any of them, it will only lead to bad things."
If Minglan had gone to Uncle Shen's mansion to take a look, she might not have been so agitated. Bureaucrats who had been stationed in remote areas for years, without the emperor's ear and unaware of the court's direction, could only work hard now. Besides, these things had been sifted through several times, and most of them had explanations.
The situation did not improve until after the tenth day.
Compared to the bustling business in Chengyuan, where even the gatekeeper's little boy is making a lot of money, the old marquis's mansion is much quieter. In comparison, everyone from the housekeeper to the servants there is eager to ask Minglan to take charge of the housework so that their treatment can be improved.
Because Minglan was busy and worried that Rongjie'er would fall behind in her studies, she bluntly asked Shao Shi to help Xianjie'er with her needlework, and while she was there, she also took a liking to Rongjie'er. Strangely enough, Minglan's constant requests for Shao Shi's help made her feel comfortable. Although she spent more time with the Dowager Zhu Shi, she also liked Minglan.
Looking at the two little girls making snowmen in the garden, running around, and a group of maids laughing and making noises, their little faces all flushed from playing, the sadness in her heart seemed to fade away a lot.
"Go, call the two maids back. They have been crazy for half an hour." Shao ordered the people beside her.
A maidservant with sharp eyes saw a familiar Jinxiang sedan chair from a distance and said with a smile, "It must be the Second Madam."
The sedan stopped at the door, and Danju carefully helped Minglan down. Shao Shi had the heater in the house heated up. After pulling Minglan down to sit, she said, "It's freezing cold, and you're not feeling well. Why are you out here? Just call me if you need anything."
Minglan took off her cloak and said, "I'm just bored. Besides, I'm sitting in a sedan chair, so I don't have to move." She turned around and waved her hand, asking someone to bring in some things. "Yesterday I got two pieces of carved silk brocade. I saw that the color was fresh and the material was good, so I gave it to my eldest sister-in-law to make two new dresses for Xianjie."
Shao saw that the material was bright and lustrous, the patterns were elegant and noble, yet the color was plain. She thought it was perfect for a girl in mourning for her father. She was delighted, but she modestly declined, saying, "She's just a child, still growing up. Why spend so much money on it?"
Minglan smiled and said, "Our sister Rong is doing it too. They are both good children, studying hard and being filial to their elders. Sister Xian is especially well-behaved and sensible, she deserves a reward."
Shao was pleased and accepted the material. The two sisters-in-law talked for a while before Minglan brought up the purpose of their visit today: "Sister Can is getting married soon, and as her sister-in-law, we should also add to the joyous occasion. I just don't know if there are any rules in the Gu family. Please advise me so that I don't make any mistakes."
Thinking of Tingcan, Shao hesitated for a moment before saying, "When I came here, the sister Tingyan in front was already married. Seeing the sisters of my two uncles' rooms getting married, there didn't seem to be any special rules. It's just that..." She glanced at Minglan's face, "Sister Tingcan has a noble character. I'm afraid she wouldn't look down on some things."
When a brother and his wife give their younger sister-in-law a dowry, it's essentially a gift to her. Wealthy individuals might gift her with farms and shops, while considerate individuals might buy a bed frame, clothing, or jewelry set. However, since they are only brothers and their wives, gifts are usually just tokens of appreciation; a hairpin, a pair of bracelets, or a mirror and dressing table are acceptable.
Minglan had anticipated this and said, "I heard the princess has come to discuss the wedding date, and it seems she's hoping to get married soon. Why don't you go ask me if there's anything I like or dislike so I can make preparations early."
Shao heaved a sigh of relief. She couldn't afford to offend either side, so she smiled and agreed, "That's great. My sister's room is only two steps away from here. I'll go with you."
Just looking at Gu Tingcan's residence, one could tell she had been favored since childhood. Her room had the best sunlight and the best orientation in the entire garden. Before even entering, the ground outside was covered in precious plants. While the entire mansion seemed deserted and desolate, only the maids at Seventh Miss's residence remained neatly dressed.
"What a coincidence, my two sisters-in-law came together." Gu Tingcan sat quietly in front of the piano stand, with a nonchalant tone in his voice.
She was very beautiful, but her expression was one of contempt and melancholy, as if she was always distant as if there was a layer of gauze between them. In ancient times, women were required to be gentle, shy, dignified and kind, which did not conform to the normal requirements of women's education, but the deceased old marquis liked this the most.
The furnishings in the room were naturally elegant and unique, neither lavishly decorated nor overly plain, perfectly showcasing her fine taste and proud upbringing. A beautiful scroll hung simply, its swaying veil faintly revealing a hint of jade and gold. A book, laid so plainly, revealed at first glance to be a rare, one-of-a-kind copy. On the desk, a cluster of vibrant red plum blossoms, seemingly freshly picked, nestled in a priceless white Ru kiln porcelain vase from the previous dynasty.
The decoration was very outstanding. Compared with hers, Hualan's boudoir was too luxurious and Molan's was too ostentatious.
Minglan followed Shao around and after sitting down, she smiled. The most interesting thing about this room was that the three or four paintings and calligraphy hanging on the wall and the copybooks in the corner were all works of Miss Gu Qi. Even the several poetry collections on the desk were all poems written by Miss Gu since she was a child, and then compiled into books with soft silk and fine paper.
Shao was the eldest sister-in-law, so she naturally spoke first and explained her purpose. She smiled and said, "Sister, just speak up and see if the sisters-in-law can do it."
Tingcan tilted his head back out of habit, smiling only to the corners of his lips. "That's great. My sister said, 'I want to go back to the old days, when our family lived in harmony.' I wonder if my second sister-in-law can do that?" She looked at Minglan. Shao was embarrassed for a moment.
Minglan was too lazy to waste words on such an ignorant little girl. She said calmly, "Even if we could go back to the old days, could you still live here forever? For us women, our husband's family is where we will settle down for the rest of our lives. Could it be that Seventh Sister wants to take the whole family to the Princess's Mansion?"
When it comes to sharp tongues, how can a reclusive, artistic young woman keep up with a court clerk accustomed to quarrels? Tingcan kept his mouth shut and turned his head away angrily. Minglan continued, "If you can't think of something you like, just say what you dislike. Otherwise, you might send me something you don't like."
Tingcan almost said, "I hate everything you give me," but remembering his mother's advice, he swallowed his words. With a roll of his eyes, he said, "I don't like flowers or pollen. I already have all kinds of jewelry and headwear. I wouldn't dare take any land or shops. I have all the clothes, fabrics, beds, cabinets, tables, and stools. I choose the poems, calligraphy, and paintings myself. Other than that, you can give whatever you like."
After saying that, she sat down proudly and looked at Minglan leisurely to see what she could give.
"Sister, what you said is clear, and we all understand. How about this, let us go back and think about it, so that it won't hinder your studies." Minglan smiled and pulled Shao up, and walked out slowly. Staying with this fairy for a moment longer would not be conducive to prenatal education.
Tingcan gracefully raised the scroll in his hand and said, "Goodbye, sister-in-law. I won't see you off."
Minglan walked out, sorting out her thoughts. Because Rongjie'er and Xianjie'er were close friends, often going out together, over time, the maids and servants at Chengyuan and the Shao family became familiar with each other. Most of the people around Gu Tingyu were his biological mother's old friends, and they knew the past very well. They said: "The Seventh Miss looks very much like the first Madam Qin."
Unlike the Bai family, the Daqin family was not a taboo in the mansion. Even the dowager herself often mentioned her sister's various merits in front of the old marquis. By asking the veteran Xiaotao to come forward and with the help of a few old women and maids, as well as some wine, food, tea and fruits, she could learn a lot about the past.
As the beginning of everything, what kind of person is Daqin? Minglan has been curious for a long time.
While Xiaotao was trying to get a good idea out of him, Bisi asked, "Is she pretty?" Ruomei asked, "How talented is she?"
The old servants said that the eldest daughter of the Qin family was as beautiful as an autumn lotus, with a quiet beauty. She was good at poetry, music, calligraphy and painting.
At that time, the Dongchang Marquis's mansion was awash with flowers and festivities, and she was the eldest daughter of the Dongchang Marquis, his beloved daughter. Yet, such a beautiful and talented woman remained unmarried at the age of eighteen. The reason was simple: she was seriously ill and frail, a fact known to everyone in the capital.
Her parents were reluctant to let their daughter marry down, but who would be willing to marry such a sickly girl? A virtuous wife is not just for show; she should be there to take care of the family and take care of the household. Daqin couldn't do any of these.
At this time, the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion came to propose marriage on behalf of their eldest son. This was truly a match made in heaven, and Qin's parents were ecstatic.
According to the vague accounts of the old servants, Lord Gu had met Da Qin before their marriage, and it was unknown when or where, but a fleeting glimpse had sparked a secret love affair. It was truly a strange fate, a warrior who had spent years wielding swords on the battlefield, to be drawn to such an extremely fragile beauty. Minglan was baffled.
Then he begged his parents to propose marriage, but the old marquis and his wife were unwilling to do so. They thought that such a daughter-in-law would not only have an unknown lifespan, but would also have difficulty in having children.
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