If one's eyesight wasn't tempered by poisonous fire, then one would naturally be able to see it."
Minglan said shamelessly: "Of course, I have only been to the palace twice, and people still praised me for being honest and kind." These were Xiao Shen's exact words.
"Is that so? I guess it's because my money has paid off." Gu Tingye said calmly. He has been in a bad mood recently. There are many things going on in the court. Facing a group of professional bureaucrats whose expressions can never tell the whole story, he has to suppress his fiery temper and speak in an official tone.
"Then why did you marry me!" Minglan was also angry. She had been in a bad mood recently. She was busy with account books and the complicated interpersonal relationships in the Marquis' Mansion every day. When she looked in the mirror, she felt that her face looked sinister.
Seeing that she was really angry, with her long double eyelids raised, eyes wide open, cheeks flushed, and a sense of charm and fieryness that came out of her for no reason, Gu Tingye finally couldn't hold it anymore. He hugged her tightly, and without caring whether there was anyone in the room, he kissed her hard on the face and laughed out loud. His boredom of the past few days subsided a lot.
Minglan despised the practice of basing one's happiness on the failure of others. However, it wasn't long before she met the legendary "virtuous wife." On the ninth day of the third lunar month, Tingcan got married.
Madam Xuan had simply stayed at the Marquis's residence for the past two days, bustling about, delivering dowries, arranging staff, welcoming guests, giving orders, and everywhere she went, servants and maids would come to her asking for instructions. However, the preparations were quite successful, with the comings and goings occurring without a single chaotic scene, and the lively and festive atmosphere remaining orderly. The Madam Dowager was very satisfied, and Minglan praised her cousin's wife for her competence and enthusiasm, both in public and in private. The Lantern Festival gift she had sent specifically to Gu Tingxuan's family was both generous and respectable.
Mrs. Xuan was very happy despite being busy and tired.
The morning was filled with activity. No matter how noble Miss Gu Qi had once been, she was now painted in the same attire as a steamed bun, the room ablaze with red and festive cheer. Minglan, trailing behind Shao, earnestly offered auspicious words to her soon-to-be-married sister-in-law. Miss Tingcan, clearly dizzy, miraculously perked up at the sound of Minglan's voice, rolling her eyes at her second sister-in-law. Minglan pretended not to notice—the day before, she had sent someone over with a gleaming box of newly minted snowflake silver to top off her attire. The total value was 1,999 taels, 9 cents, and 9 fen, plus nine large copper coins, representing a lifetime of eternity.
The meaning was good, and the silver was enough, but the talented lady Gu almost choked at the sight of this pile of stuff, and the lady was also a little unhappy - couldn't you just exchange it for silver notes, why did you have to make such a big fuss.
However, when Tingcan left the house, she couldn't help but burst into tears and asked someone to help her back to Mingtang.
The lady's beloved daughter was getting married, so she invited many relatives and friends. There were eighteen tables for the ladies alone, and the inner hall was almost full. She invited the popular Qingxi Troupe in the capital to perform in the hall. Before the banquet started, the ladies gathered in the inner hall to chat.
Zhu had not yet left the confinement room after giving birth and could not go out. Minglan held a handkerchief in her hand and pretended to be weak from beginning to end. Madam Xuan was so busy that she was nowhere to be seen. It was funny to say that Shao had been married into the Gu family for so long, but this was the first time she had to take on such a big responsibility. She sat with the Madam and greeted the guests respectfully. She also had to check on her brother and sister-in-law from time to time to see if they were okay.
Mrs. Di looked around, then came over and said with a smile, "It's really lively today. You should take care of yourself and don't get too tired." Minglan leaned back in a soft chair, her expression both grateful and fragile. "Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. It's nothing serious. Thanks to Sister-in-law Xuan's busy running around lately, I feel relieved."
The Dowager, who was speaking to someone nearby, glanced over at the words, secretly resenting Minglan for acting like this. Everyone she had seen today had said she was gentle and kind, not someone who would engage in a fight. Then, following her gaze, the noble lady turned back and said, "Your second son's wife is honest and docile, never saying a word. She's timid and endearing, but I'm afraid she can't control the people below her." The Dowager gritted her teeth. She thought that speaking ill of someone should be done in a quiet, dark room, with few people around. Now, with so much noise, how could she elaborate on Minglan's pretense of playing the pig to eat the tiger, appearing like a little white rabbit, but actually a big bad wolf.
Another lady beside her also looked at Minglan for a moment and whispered, "Don't worry about his wife." Then she turned to the old lady and said, "Everyone says that your second son has calmed down now. He is capable in his work and is highly appreciated by the emperor. He loves his wife very much. My sister-in-law is regretting it so much now. If she had known that the prodigal son would return so easily, she should have promised my niece to her. It would be better than her going back to her parents' home every few days to cry and make trouble for her son-in-law..."
The Madam was too lazy to even complain in her heart this time. She could only pretend to smile and whisper, "You can't say that now. I like your niece too, and our two families are well-matched, but... well, it's just fate for everyone."
When the two ladies heard the words "equally matched," they exchanged a glance. The latter smiled and said, "Although he's a concubine's son, I think his overall appearance is quite impressive. However... he's from a small family and lacks authority. I'm not sure if he can control his servants."
The former lady frowned slightly, thinking, "Your niece is quite powerful. She relies on her family's power to fight and bully others in her husband's family all day long. And yet she keeps it a secret from her sisters, telling them how dignified and virtuous her niece is." Then she looked back and saw Minglan talking to someone, her smile gentle and shy. Although a little weak, it seemed kind and pure. She was mindful of her long acquaintance with the Dowager, so she said nothing and turned a few steps to talk to the Fourth and Fifth Madams.
There were quite a few people gathered here. Shao was talking to Princess Pingning when she drifted over to Minglan. She couldn't help but praise Minglan, which made Princess Pingning feel a little jealous. The little concubine she once looked down upon had now transformed into a woman of both wealth and status. The Fifth Elder's household was a mess lately. The Fifth Elder's master constantly berated Gu Tingyang, blaming himself for being a spoiled child. Now he didn't have the energy to complain about Minglan. The Fourth Elder was not so bad; her daughter Tingying's marriage was starting to look promising.
Mrs. Bing, who came with her, was much more obedient this time. She did not dare to provoke trouble with her sisters-in-law, nor did she dare to speak much. She just stayed in a corner of the inner hall, sitting next to Minglan and drinking tea quietly. When she raised her eyes, she saw a young and beautiful woman walking towards her. It was the daughter-in-law of Princess Pingning who had just greeted her.
She smiled warmly and bowed to Minglan when she saw her: "Greetings to my two aunts." Mrs. Bing Er turned around and was surprised to find that her second cousin's wife looked a little strange. She heard her voice weakly: "Don't be polite. We are not much different in age. Why should we be so formal?" Mrs. Bing Er felt quite strange. Could it be that she was not feeling well?
Shen Shi wasn't particularly beautiful, but she had a delicate face, a refined demeanor, and a refined demeanor. Her entire person was as elegant as the misty rain of the south of the Yangtze River. She smiled respectfully, "Etiquette must not be abandoned, otherwise my mother and husband will definitely criticize me later."
Minglan felt a cold sweat on her back: "Although you and I are related by birth, we are already five generations apart. Why bother with this..." Mrs. Bing had learned her lesson and had become more understanding recently. Seeing Minglan's expression, she quickly chimed in: "Sister, I'm fine with it, but you're a year or two older than my sister-in-law. This..."
Shen smiled and said to Mrs. Binger, "Your elders are being polite. How can we, as juniors, really overstep our bounds? Oh, by the way, I just saw a maid looking for you." Mrs. Binger was about to say something more when a little maid in a gray-blue jacket came cautiously around with a worried look on her face. Sweat still dripped from her nose as she came over and whispered, "Mrs. Binger, Mrs. Xuanda is tied up there and asked me to ask you to come over and help."
Mrs. Bing Er was not willing to do so, but thinking that she had to rely on her brother and sister-in-law for her livelihood, she had to force a smile and leave.
There were only the two of them left in the room, and Minglan didn't know what to say, so she could only say, "Stop standing and come sit down." Shen Shi followed Minglan's instructions and sat down beside her, smiling brightly, "Thank you, aunt. I've always heard mother say you're the kindest person at home, and seeing you today is indeed true." Minglan was afraid she would bring up the past, and her heart felt strangely uneasy. She laughed dryly and said, "My princess, you're too kind."
The maidservant beside her was very perceptive and quickly served tea to Shen. Minglan felt that she should find something to say, so she said, "Look at how well the princess looks. She looks younger than before. Perhaps it's because your daughter-in-law takes good care of her."
Shen smiled elegantly, pulling her sleeves together. "That's not true. I'm just a bit dull, and it's all thanks to my mother's careful teaching."
The two of them kept complimenting each other. Although the atmosphere was harmonious, they didn't get to the point for a long time. Normally, Minglan would be annoyed by this kind of meaningless chat, but today she hoped that the other party would not bring up the actual topic.
Shen refused to comply with Minglan's wishes and changed the subject, smiling broadly: "Come to think of it, I've heard a lot about my aunt a long time ago."
Minglan's throat sank, but she didn't show it. She half-jokingly said, "When I was young, I studied with my brothers and sisters. Heng'er was there too. Unfortunately, Mr. Zhuang was more focused on teaching young people who would become pillars of society, so he expelled us three useless sisters."
Shen's eyebrows were rather light, unlike Minglan's naturally curved, slender eyebrows. She used a simple brush of black ink to draw a pair of straight brows, and her smile was also faint: "If we talk about pillars of talent, my aunt's eldest brother is the one who can do it." She spoke slowly, with a sense of style. "I often heard that my aunt loved to joke since she was a child. It made people feel like being bathed in spring breeze and full of joy."
"Where did you hear that?" These last eight words were like a heavy iron weight in her stomach. Minglan could only continue to laugh dryly. "I've often heard people say that since you returned to the Qi family, you've been filial to your elders, and your sisters-in-law have been harmonious. Everyone praises you."
Shen frowned slightly, a look of worry forming on her face. "I'm useless. My husband is always unhappy. I'm stupid and don't know how to help him. I often cause my mother worry and distress. I'm truly unfilial."
Minglan's throat was dry, and she swallowed hard. No way, no matter how foolish Qi Heng was, he wouldn't be so foolish as to reveal his past love affairs to his wife. Minglan leaned slightly, her eyes flicking to the laughing Princess Pingning over there—could it be that the mother-in-law had let her clueless daughter-in-law know about the secrets?! She was in a state of mixed emotions, feeling the awkwardness of a former girlfriend who had heartlessly abandoned her boyfriend and now met his legitimate wife. She felt strangely at a low point in her morals.
Minglan secretly thought that this was not good. She gritted her teeth, suppressed her smile, straightened her elder's posture, and said in the tone of an experienced person: "A real man has ambitions. It is time for Heng'er to serve the country and make progress. Although I am a woman, I know that the court is very busy nowadays. Heng'er is worried about the affairs of the court, which is a progressive act. Do you have to fight with butterflies and draw eyebrows every day to be considered harmonious with your husband and wife? You and your husband should respect and love each other, and your family should be prosperous. This is the most righteous way." After all, she did nothing wrong. Why should she feel guilty for no reason!
Shen was slightly stunned, not expecting such a long sermon, but she adjusted herself quickly, then covered her mouth and chuckled, "Aunt is right, it's me who is narrow-minded." Minglan became secretly alert, as the person in front of her was of high level.
"During the Chinese New Year this year, the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion sent us a huge jade screen, carved with exactly the rich and noble peony that mother loved the most." Shen gently turned over the tea bowl and changed the subject, "I later learned that it was my aunt's fourth sister who came up with the idea. That screen, whether it was the material, the pattern, or the carving, was exactly what mother wanted." These words were spoken neither lightly nor heavily, neither slowly nor hurriedly, without a beginning nor an end, but they made Minglan feel as if thunder was ringing in her ears.
Minglan stared at Shen, who met her gaze calmly, unmoved. After a moment's reflection, Minglan lowered her voice and spoke slowly, "Let's not mince words in public. The Princess has probably told you everything about my family. Seven or eight ladies have already praised me for my good fortune this past afternoon, and it's like I've fallen into a honey shop. But in my backyard, there's a concubine brought in by the previous lady, a maid who's been with the Marquis since childhood, and a beautiful and talented young woman sent from behind. There's a seven or eight-year-old girl inside, and outside, there's a illegitimate son and his biological mother whose fate remains unknown. If I can't let go of all this, I'll be terribly worried."
Shen's expression changed slightly. She bowed slightly, lowered her head and said softly, "...Mother also said that my aunt is not idle."
Minglan laughed self-deprecatingly and continued, "From childhood till adulthood, I've always felt that being born a woman is truly a hardship. Only women themselves know the bitterness of it." Shen's expression darkened, and she said softly, "...Who says it's not true?"
"If that's the case, then don't be so hard on yourself." Minglan said bluntly, "Even if there are nine complements in heaven, there must be one flaw. Nothing in the world is perfect. Only by being open-minded can you live a good life."
Shen's life is better than many women in the world. She was born into a prominent family and was loved since childhood. She didn't need to engage in intrigue in the boudoir. After she grew up, she married a man of equal status. Her husband was young, handsome, talented, motivated, and not unfaithful. What's more rare is that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law get along well. Shen has not been pregnant yet, and the princess has never blamed her (after the training of the previous daughter-in-law, the princess's requirements for her daughter-in-law are no longer high). In addition, the family is wealthy. After the old Duke of Qi passes away in the future, there will be no problem with sisters-in-law when the family is divided.
Even though everything is going smoothly, she is still feeling 45 degrees of sadness because she cannot get 100% love. She is just bored. How can she bear the feelings of more than 90% of the women in the world, such as Old Lady Sheng, the eldest old lady, Wang, Hualan, etc.
Shen was a clever woman, so how could she not understand the implication? She gave an awkward smile, "My aunt is right." She was unaware of the past, only that her husband had someone in his heart. Although Qi Heng treated her well, she felt something was off, and her curiosity grew stronger. Her husband had only been around a few women since childhood, and looking around, she saw that Minglan was the most outstanding in both appearance and character, so... She smiled wryly. Princess Pingning had once let slip that she was "too dignified and self-respecting, lacking in interest. It might be better to be more cheerful and lazy." Was that "her"?
She stared at Minglan's slightly dazed face, her expression alternating between joy and anger. She had never seen such lively eyes in a woman confined to the boudoir. They seemed to embrace the vastness of the sea and the height of the sky, their heart clear and untainted by dust. A faint melancholy welled up in her heart. It was she who would be spending decades with Qi Heng, so what was the point in dwelling on these mundane matters?
At this time, the lady laughed loudly and asked everyone to start the banquet. Minglan saw Shen's expression gradually change, and finally couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She quickly took Shen's hand to sit at the table, and joked with her like a kind elder - it was a close call, she almost couldn't pretend anymore.
But, what exactly was she feeling guilty about? She had never regretted her decision.
Walking out of the inner hall, it was spring outside. The peach blossom branches that stretched out from the low wall had just begun to bloom with buds, and some of the buds were half open. In order to get a good omen, the lady moved a lot of blooming peach blossoms into the garden, and the whole garden was a bright pink.
Minglan's heart moved, and she suddenly remembered that spring day when the young man Su Jin gave her a cookbook of the Dian family. She went back to the house and opened it. A peach blossom pressed into a bookmark fell out from the pages. The petals were light pink and only the size of a thumb. There were eight words written on it in tiny calligraphy - like being bathed in the spring breeze, overwhelmed with joy.
Minglan held a cup of fragrant tea and stared at a beauty lamp in a daze. The most beautiful things are often the most fragile. This is the law of nature and no one can avoid it.
After washing up, Gu Tingye came out of the bathroom with wet hair. Seeing his wife in this state, he immediately put his arm around her and said with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?" Minglan shook her head. Tingye touched her forehead and asked, "There are many guests today. Are you tired?" Minglan shook her head again.
"But something is wrong at home." Tingye frowned and spoke in a deep voice.
"Not really." Minglan continued to shake her head, still feeling melancholy.
"What happened?" Tingye held her face and asked. Minglan moved his hand from her face to her belly. Gu Tingye was just wondering when he felt a tremor in his palm. It was Minglan's belly that was moving - the long-awaited fetal movement finally came.
"It's been kicking me." Minglan frowned. "It's been kicking me since after dinner, on and off, until now."
You little bastard! I went through so much hardship carrying you for ten months, but I just missed my ex a little bit. You don't have to work so hard to vent your anger on me!
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