Gu Tingye was shocked and at a loss as he could clearly feel a small but powerful impact under his palm. Minglan quickly told him that this was just a normal fetal movement reaction. The man was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up and walked out, knocking over two small stools without realizing it.
When the old doctor was called in to take the pulse at night, he thought that something serious happened to Mrs. Gu. However, he found that Minglan's pulse was healthy and calm, and both mother and child were safe. Only then did he realize that this was the case. In addition, Gu Tingye kept asking questions, which made him feel overwhelmed.
"Why is it kicking? Is it feeling uncomfortable?"
"It's a human being, after all. If it were a human being, it would move, twist its waist, turn over, move its hands and feet, and so on."
"Don't you feel unhappy?"
The old doctor was embarrassed. How could the fetus in the womb be unhappy? He could only vaguely say, "When it's happy, well-rested, and well-fed, it likes to punch and kick."
Gu Tingye finally regained some composure. After a few questions, he stopped and calmly clasped his fists in thanks. Minglan, beside him, repeatedly apologized to the old doctor. Knowing that the old doctor loved Maojian tea, she offered him two pounds of newly acquired premium Shitoushan Maojian tea in addition to a generous thank-you gift. The old doctor, also a man of the world, knew that Marquis Gu was eager to have a child, so he could only smile wryly, shook his head, and left.
When the lady over there heard this, she was naturally furious again. Why did you invite the imperial physician for no reason on the day of her daughter's wedding?
There were no prenatal checkups back then, and although the imperial physician frequently visited to check her pulse, she was still somewhat apprehensive. Minglan could only caress her belly daily, silently praying for the Buddha's blessing. From that day on, the little bastard inside her belly seemed to be moving more and more. Minglan followed the old imperial physician's instructions and recorded the frequency of fetal movements daily. Finding them to be very regular and vigorous, she felt more reassured. On the third day of recording the movements, Tingcan returned home after three days of court visits. The old lady, already worried about her daughter, had the mansion newly decorated in anticipation of her arrival.
"My son, come and let your mother see you!" The lady's eyes were red. She held her daughter and looked left and right, but it was not enough. The man who was accompanying her also stepped forward and saluted her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law.
The new son-in-law's surname was Han, and his given name was Cheng. Although he wasn't as handsome as Qi Heng or as refined as Sheng Changfeng, he was still a handsome and elegant young man. Standing beside him was the cool and beautiful Gu Tingcan, making them a perfect match. The return gifts from the princess's mansion for the three days were also quite generous and respectable. The dowager's eyes narrowed into lines with a smile. When Shao saw the newcomer, she couldn't help but think of her own widowhood, and a hint of sadness could be avoided in her smile.
Gu Tingcan on this side was not too happy either. She came here with full of airs, wanting her family to see how well she married. It would be even better if Minglan would be jealous and envious with a long face. But she happened to meet such a sister-in-law who was not picky about food, smiling happily and prosperously, and even holding her belly and saying in a condescending manner, "In the future, you and your husband should live in harmony and have many children."
Tingcan's attack failed, and he felt embarrassed and angry.
Han Cheng said little, only smiling reservedly. Even the Madam wouldn't dare start a lecture on such a noble son-in-law. Minglan's polite words were perfectly timely. Han Cheng lowered his head to listen for a few words, then said respectfully, "I've heard that my second sister-in-law's family is a family of poetry and literature, and that my master often praises Senior Brother Changbai in front of us."
Minglan quickly put away her distracted thoughts, pondered for a moment, and wondered, "Could it be that my brother-in-law is now studying under Mr. Wang Can?" Didn't that old man always say that he wanted to retire and visit famous rivers and mountains?
"That's right." Han Cheng bowed and said, "Most of the old Master Hai's disciples have gone out to serve in various official positions. Only Mr. Wang is willing to teach a few disciples."
Minglan was thinking in her mind, but she smiled: "Mr. Wang is very knowledgeable, but unfortunately he has a minor illness, so he has to stay away from official career. However, this way, his knowledge will become more advanced and mature. My brother-in-law is lucky, and he will surely be on the list of successful candidates in the imperial examination." This old man has a weird temper. Sheng Changbai was able to catch his eye because of the Hai family's influence. Changfeng didn't have this qualification.
Han Cheng listened to Minglan's detailed account and knew she was an expert. Although he was extremely happy, he became even more respectful. "Thank you for your kind words, Second Sister-in-law." After a pause, he continued, "I heard that your second sister-in-law's second brother, Brother Changfeng, is quite famous in Taiwan. I have been away from the capital for a long time. I was hoping to make friends with Brother Changfeng and other students in the capital so that we could exchange our strengths and weaknesses."
Although he spoke respectfully, he could not hide his youthful arrogance. But think about it, among the royal children, there are not many who are as young and ambitious as him. Minglan smiled unusually 'kindly', and Tingcan was blinded by her.
"Brother-in-law, you are too polite. Why be so formal?" Minglan said with a smile, "My third brother is getting married the day after tomorrow. I believe all his friends will come to watch the ceremony. After a big wedding banquet, maybe they will immediately become brothers with you." Go back and send a letter to your parents' home. Don't forget to send wedding invitations to the princess's mansion. Well, it's best to tell Father Sheng directly, otherwise Wang will definitely hope that as few distinguished guests as possible will come.
Han Cheng had loved literature since childhood and loved to associate with scholars and other elegant people. Unfortunately, most of the relatives and friends on both sides of his parents' side were idle and idle. He was naturally pleased to hear Minglan's words. He listened to their conversation from the side. Shao Shi just smiled in amusement, while the lady-in-waiting was quite pleased and looked appreciative. Tingcan turned slightly away, facing the window in silence.
Minglan glanced at the mother and daughter, a thought crossing her mind: the elder was probably thinking, "Such a motivated and progressive man, a true son-in-law," while the younger was probably fretting, "Why is my husband so mercenary? He keeps talking about careers and finances, not at all refined and noble?" What a pity, a mismatch between the two. If the Dowager had been decades younger and married Han Cheng, they would probably have been a more harmonious couple, a perfect match.
Two days later, Changfeng got married. The wedding banquet was unusually quiet, not because of deliberate neglect, but because of something else. Old Gongsun had been growing increasingly bald, and Gu Tingye's complexion was as dark as the bottom of a pot. Perhaps things weren't going well at court, so Minglan, worried her husband wouldn't be able to attend, went ahead and asked, "My third brother is getting married. Will the Marquis be attending the wedding?"
Gu Tingye frowned, clutching the file in his hand, and muttered, "It finally touched a sore spot, and now it's starting to stir."
"If the Marquis is really unable to spare the time, I will simply go and tell my parents."
"The disease is very serious and it will not be cured overnight."
"It doesn't matter. My parents are both sensible people." If he didn't go, Wang would definitely be happy, and Sheng Hong would probably understand.
"It seems that it is not easy to beat the slow one with the fast one..."
The two of them exchanged some irrelevant words, and Minglan went up to shake his arm. Gu Tingye looked up with a bewildered look on his face. Minglan had no choice but to repeat what she had said. Tingye laughed and said, "I'm an official, not a prostitute. I can sneak off to my father-in-law's house for a drink."
Minglan was touched, but jokingly said, "I see the Marquis has sold not only his body, but also his heart, ears, and eyes. He even snores and grinds his teeth when he sleeps at night."
Gu Tingye was stunned for a moment, touched Minglan's face, and said worriedly: "I'm sorry to bother you, why don't I go to the study and sleep."
Minglan held her belly and struggled to move to sit on his lap. "It's okay. Your voice isn't too loud. A push will probably keep you awake for half the night, and a kick will keep you quiet for the whole night." She put her arms around the man's neck and acted like a spoiled child. "Don't go to the study to sleep. I'm not afraid of anything when you're by my side."
She had just eaten egg custard, and her breath was sweet and she spoke in a baby voice. Gu Tingye felt very happy and enjoyed it very much, but he patted her buttocks lightly and said with a stern face: "You are trying to coax me with sweet words again, what are you afraid of?" He remembered that last summer, this little rascal felt too hot and shook off his arm several times when she slept.
Minglan blinked her big eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering up and down, her rosy face was very innocent, and one of her little hands was timidly covering her chest: "It's dark, it's so scary, what if a monster comes to catch me and eat me~~~~"
Even though Gu Tingye was experienced and knew that this statement was 80% unreliable, he was still mesmerized. Even after Minglan left, he was still clutching the wrinkled file in his hand, his mind wandering, and he couldn't concentrate for a long time. He had been hanging out in the playboy circles since his youth and had seen the world. After that, he spent every day in the military camp, surrounded by men, and he had heard countless dirty jokes. His mind wandered, and he actually counted on his fingers seriously. This month, it should be okay.
Minglan was hugging her pillow, trying to fall asleep, when someone came caressing her on the bed. She was wearing soft underwear, and her damp, coarse hair had a familiar soapy scent. In the dim light from the corner lamp, Minglan asked vaguely, "Why are you here so early today?"
"I, your husband, will help you fight the monster."
…
A strange, lingering sound gradually emanated from the house. Danju, who was on night watch outside, shuddered as she realized what was happening. Her face flushed purple, a mixture of embarrassment and shock. This... is even possible?! She looked across at Xiaotao, stammering, not knowing what to say. She saw Xiaotao, her cheek resting on her hand as she gazed at the moon. She turned and said with a naive smile, "Sister, what do you think Auntie Ge will make for us tonight? I'm craving mooncakes." Danju stared blankly, unable to utter a single word. Forget it, she decided to go and be the informant.
The next morning, the couple woke up face to face, their faces flushed and coy, like young men and women having an affair under the rice trellis. Minglan was overwhelmed with shame, but she felt relaxed and at ease. Gu Tingye was also very satisfied. As he hugged her, he found his wife's round belly very cute. Their brows were full of affection, and they comforted each other tenderly for a long time, their hearts filled with sweetness.
After Gu Tingye was dressed, he kissed Minglan hard on the cheek and strode out of the house feeling refreshed. The gloomy look on his face of the past few days was gone. The servants were greatly surprised. They breathed a sigh of relief and secretly prayed that this would happen every day.
Mother Cui had received the news early and hurried over. With a stern face, she helped Minglan wash and dress, her emotions were very complicated. According to professional knowledge, sex during pregnancy is not impossible, but there are still some... For safety, it is best not to be involved. However, it is extremely rare for a husband to not even take a concubine while his wife is pregnant. This has been a long time since the last six months, and the Marquis is in the prime of his life, so he has to find a way out - it really is a dilemma.
She was too lazy to scold Minglan, as she had never won anyway. She just waited until after breakfast and asked the imperial physician to take her pulse.
Minglan had always been in good health, her pregnancy was well-proportioned, and she ate, dressed, and exercised in moderation, making her the type of pregnant woman doctors favored. The imperial physician examined her and confirmed that everything was fine. Mother Cui, suppressing her embarrassment, tactfully recounted the events of the previous night to the imperial physician. The experienced physician, after a brief pause, repeatedly reassured her that it was nothing to worry about. Seeing Mother Cui's wrinkled face, he no longer hesitated and approached her to discuss the precautions for intercourse during pregnancy. Only then did Mother Cui's mood clear up.
On Changfeng's wedding day, Shao was newly widowed, Minglan was pregnant, and Zhu was expecting her baby. None of the three wives of the Gu family could attend, fearing it would tarnish their reputations. Only the Grand Madam went in person. Tingwei, always a fan of festivities, went with great enthusiasm. Minglan couldn't go herself, so she sent for gifts to offer congratulations and, well, invite Xiaotao along to stay close to them. Xiaotao, a warm-hearted and kind girl, saw the Sheng family bustling with activity, and volunteered to help. She returned with a belly full of gossip and three large packages of food. The food was shared among the other sisters in the courtyard, and the gossip was presented to the bored pregnant Lady Minglan.
The wedding was a lively affair, with guests thronging the city. Even if they weren't looking at the Sheng family, they'd definitely look at the Liu family. Furthermore, the Sheng family's sons-in-law were all present, looking incredibly respectable. At the banquet, Wang spoke with a touch of bitterness, but unfortunately, her mannerisms were lacking. Everyone could tell she wasn't as happy as she pretended. The old lady, however, was genuinely happy, sincerely wishing her children and grandchildren to prosper and her family to be safe.
Molan was particularly high-profile, and she wanted to let everyone know that the glorious groom in front was her brother, and that the eldest daughter of the Liu family would be her sister-in-law in the future. Her words and actions were quite rude and frivolous. Wang was angry and wanted to stop her, but she couldn't scold her in front of outsiders. It was the master Hualan who made a move and delivered a fatal blow.
"Huh? There are two girls in your family. The sons-in-law are here, so why aren't they here?" asked a nosy woman.
Hua Lan was graceful and generous, with a sweet smile: "My fifth sister just gave birth to a fat girl, and she's still in confinement. My sixth sister is also pregnant, and it's not convenient for her to move around." After saying this, she turned to Mo Lan, with the care of an elder sister, "I say, fourth sister, you should also persuade your brother-in-law. He is busy with official duties all day. No matter what, he must have a child first."
Molan's pretty face turned pale and she almost bit her teeth off, but she finally calmed down.
As birds of a feather flock together, the Lady Dowager miraculously struck up a conversation with Aunt Kang, seemingly a long-overdue acquaintance. Minglan suspected they had something in common when it came to badmouthing her. Meanwhile, at the men's table outside, Tingwei quickly befriended Liang Han, their conversation growing increasingly sympathetic. They held hands and decided to go to the stables to admire the horses, and arranged to meet for a bird-watching and chicken-tasting dinner another day. Han Cheng also struck up a friendship with a talented and romantic figure, and after just two drinks, they agreed to a poetry competition the following day.
Everyone got what they wanted, and it was indeed a very harmonious wedding banquet—except for Sheng Changfeng. After the newlyweds bowed in the hall and were escorted to the bridal chamber, Changfeng had to pick up the bride's veil before coming out to entertain the guests. Xiaotao, who hadn't been able to squeeze into the bridal chamber, witnessed Changfeng's steps staggering as he left the bridal chamber, his expression heavy. It was said that when Concubine Lin was driven out of the Sheng Mansion that year, his expression was not as sad as this.
Minglan was so jolly that she flipped through the account books with a much quicker pace. The maids standing below were a little puzzled and stole a glance at their master, but they didn't notice Minglan's glance.
"According to mother and several stewards, our family's expenses were so heavy in the past few years because of the fourth and fifth families, right?"
Peng Shoujia's face was full of smiles. "My Madam, this is not easy to say. It would seem that we disdain the two old masters. But..." She smiled so hard that her face could be wrinkled like a chrysanthemum. "The old marquis is a very kind and compassionate person. There is nothing we can do."
Minglan nodded, picked up the pen and started sketching, her voice clear and bright: "In that case, starting from the New Year, these expenses can be written off... Add the expenses for the eldest brother's funeral, and then add the expenses for the seventh girl's marriage... That's it. Now there is the new wet nurse and maid in the third brother's wife's room... Rongjie'er and Xianjie'er are growing up, so we need more considerate and smart people in the room, this is another item..." When she said one item, the maids below responded.
Peng Shou's wife listened for a while, and then asked softly with a secret thought in her mind: "Madam, the two old masters have moved away, and we have enough manpower. I don't think it is necessary to spend so much money on the work of demolishing and building the wall over there. It would be better to divide the work into several sections and let the people in the mansion take on some of them. On the one hand, it can save some money, and on the other hand, it can provide a livelihood for those who are idle in the mansion." Only when there is a job can there be income and money. If you do nothing, you will be idle, but you will be starving.
Minglan raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, is there anyone in the mansion who has learned the craft of bricklaying?"
Peng Shoujia was embarrassed: "This, this... not really. But it's not that difficult to do, isn't it..."
"Nonsense!" Minglan scolded. "Breaking ground is no small matter. If you don't do it, forget it. But if you do, you must do it well. Moreover, it's a serious undertaking, it must be solid and thick. This bricklaying team is already one of the best in the capital, and yet the Marquis is still worried. You've been doing this for a long time, how could you say such a rude thing!"
The man from Peng Shou's family was so exhausted that his face was covered with dirt. He kept mispronouncing the words and dared not speak anymore.
Another square-faced maid glanced at Peng Shou's wife, a hint of sarcasm on her lips as she stepped forward and said, "Madam, I have an idea. Since the beginning of spring, the masons have been working in three shifts, with three meals a day plus tea and snacks, all for the elderly and young. I see that the older women in Chengyuan are too busy to handle it, so why not..."
Minglan said nothing, but frowned slightly, as if thinking about the possibility of this matter.
The old woman secretly observed Minglan's expression and quickly added, "We were originally in the kitchen. In the past, there were many masters, so there were many people in the kitchen. Although the two old masters took some cooks with them when they moved away, there are still many people left vacant. We are uneasy about receiving monthly wages for nothing."
Minglan nodded without comment. In fact, there was indeed a shortage of staff in Chengyuan. It was just enough to serve the master, but as soon as there was any other activity, they would be stretched to the limit. This problem had always troubled her.
"But now someone is in charge of this matter..." Purchasing food is a lucrative job.
Seeing that things were getting a bit slack, the old woman quickly struck while the iron was hot: "Don't bother, madam. We'll just go and help the old sisters, and we won't get involved in anything else."
Minglan looked at her intently for a moment, "Isn't this too much trouble for you? The foremen have to eat before dawn, and you'll have to walk a long way here in the middle of the night. Is there... any other way?"
The old woman heard the hint in Minglan's words and looked up in surprise. "Well...if Madam trusts you, we'll collect a sum of money every three days and prepare meals in the empty kitchen, just like the old ladies in Chengyuan, and deliver them on time. After all, two of the construction sites are not far from us, so all the pots and pans are ready. Madam, take a look..."
Minglan nodded and waved her hand gently: "Okay. Let's do it."
The old woman immediately knelt down to express her gratitude, speaking with great appreciation, praising the lady as "kind and capable". The other old women watching nearby were filled with envy and jealousy.
"You're from Fan An's family, right? Go find Liao Yong's family and ask her to take you to the bank to withdraw the money. We'll do it this afternoon and start work tomorrow, so you'll still have time. Okay, that's it."
Fan An's wife kowtowed relentlessly. Minglan smiled and said, "But let me be frank. Since you've accepted my assignment, you must follow my rules. If the food isn't good or you're late, I won't forgive you."
Fan Anjia raised his head and said loudly, "If you can't do it well, Madam, just use me as a snack!"
Minglan couldn't help but burst out laughing, and the maids in the room also laughed.
A few kitchen maids, plus some wives and maids who did odd jobs. They weren't taken with them when the fourth and fifth wives left, and Madam Tai and Mrs. Zhu didn't want them either, just letting them sit idle and cutting off their jobs later. This group of people, previously underutilized and with no chance of advancement, should be put to the test. I'll dig up their information later to see for sure.
"Madam..." another maid from the accounting office asked, "So, what about the accounts?"
"The construction isn't finished yet, so let's stick to the old ways. Each side will be in charge of their own affairs. You, the accountant, will only be responsible for the three heads of the household, the Madam, the eldest sister-in-law, and the younger sister-in-law. You'll also need to report the monthly wages to me, but you'll have to report to me. My accounting rules here are that you'll go to Manager Hao every month to collect the money, then compile a ledger and enter it... I don't need to teach you that. The past was the past, and the present is the present. Our ancestors have established rules for spending. The master does what the servants do, and we'll just follow them."
The old woman was secretly shocked when she heard this. She thought, "You've blocked the incoming money. My account office is just a formality from now on. You can fill it up if you want, and empty it if you want." "Then...what if there's something urgent? My account isn't full enough. What should I do?"
Minglan burst into laughter: "You are such a funny mother. You have so much silver in total. What can you do if you can't take it out? No one will kill you. If anyone needs silver urgently, just point to my accountant here and tell him to come here to withdraw the silver! The silver in your hand is for special purposes only. Don't use the money for buying cakes and pastries to buy cosmetics!" The old woman understood and thought to herself that Minglan was very capable.
Shao was sensible, Zhu was concerned about her reputation, and as for the Taifu mother and son… they'd come all this way to ask for money; I imagine they wouldn't be too embarrassed to buy an antique vase today and a jeweled headpiece tomorrow. Gu Tingwei's mother and wife were both well-off, so I don't think he'd touch the account book to buy anything fancy. Even if the mother and son made a lavish purchase, Minglan had a plan. She'd have the accountant carefully record the amount of money, and on the day of the division, list the items one by one. Purchases made with public funds naturally didn't count as private property, so they would be included in the division items.
"What if the master gets angry..." The old woman was still worried.
Minglan interrupted her swiftly and said slowly, "I'm the one who asked you to be in charge of the accounts now. It's okay if I don't get angry."
The old woman suddenly understood what was going on. First, the new wife seemed quite amiable and probably wouldn't hold her accountable to the past, only asking her to do her job well. Second, she would be her master from now on. If she didn't satisfy her, her job would be over.
Minglan held the white fungus soup and blew it slowly, slowly scanning the faces of the maids below.
Because the old lady could not have anticipated that Gu Tingye would come back, she had been paving the way for her son for the past few decades and had been managing the mansion carefully. From personnel management to expenditure regulations, she was basically clear about divorce and there was not much corruption. Even the maids in front of her were capable and active, but they were very picky and loved to judge people by their behavior.
"Now that the Seventh Miss is married, and the eldest brother hasn't been married for three years, I don't think our family will have any grand banquets. At most, we'll just invite relatives and friends over for a simple meal during the holidays." Minglan put down the cup, clasped her slender fingers, and said slowly, "The Madam has said that we spent a lot of money before, and now the family is not well off. You all know this. I hope everyone will work hard."
In fact, as long as she lives according to her budget, she will definitely not spend more than she earns. She can also save some money to buy dowries for Rong Jieer and Xian Jieer in the future, oh, and this little bastard in her belly.
A well-dressed maid came up from below, smiling and saying flatteringly, "Look at what Madam said. Our Marquis is currently highly valued by the Emperor. How could he be so poor as to stay in our house? Even if we servants were to go out, we would still be in great glory."
Minglan looked at her quietly, and she stopped laughing awkwardly.
"...Last year, I was reorganizing the farmland bestowed upon me by the Emperor. There was a steward there who, despite being a servitor of the Gu family, continued to oppress and oppress the kind tenants, even to the point of causing a death. The Marquis broke the steward's limbs and sent him to the yamen for sentencing. He was ultimately executed. The Marquis then sold the steward's entire family of seven to Kilipaki."
The maids' faces turned pale, and the room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
"Also, last August, a few troublemakers in Chengyuan conspired to commit illegal acts. When the Marquis discovered this, he immediately sent those families to the northwest to do hard labor."
Peng Shoujia's heart was shaken. She had only vaguely heard of this matter. At that time, Gu Tingyu had just passed away, and Lai Mama had been busy traveling between the two mansions under the pretext of handling the funeral. Then, for some unknown reason, Lai's son had someone report him for favoritism and corruption, and he was exiled. Lai Mama's family of eight disappeared without a trace, and many people in Chengyuan were also missing. No one knew where it was sold.
Since then, Chengyuan has become increasingly strict, like an iron fence.
"You are the elders of the Gu Mansion. You have watched the Marquis grow up, which is much longer than I have been married into the family." Minglan did not intend to intimidate at all, but simply stated calmly, "I think you know the Marquis's personality better than I do."
What kind of personality does Gu Tingye have? The maids lowered their heads and looked at each other in confusion.
At the age of ten, he dared to ride a wild horse and rush around in the market, injuring more than a dozen people along the way, and the old marquis had to pay countless compensation and apologies; at the age of twelve, he dared to grab his cousin Gu Tingyang's collar and push him into the cesspool, almost drowning him (but he was also fainted by the smoke when he was dragged out); at the age of thirteen, everyone rescued Gu Tingbing from the roof after he had been hanging in the middle of the night, he was half frozen and scared to death; at the age of fourteen, he dared to tie the grandson of Duke Ling to the back of a horse, and dragged him around the parade ground three times, and Duke Ling almost took the case to the emperor; at the age of sixteen, he challenged my father every day, dared to talk back, dared to fight, and kicked many blind servants until they vomited blood.
Seeing such a fierce reputation, the old women couldn't help but shrink their necks.
Minglan wanted this effect. She said coldly, "Let me be clear here. Even if you take advantage of my youth and shyness and don't want to punish an old man, you still have to consider the Marquis. Anyway, if I run out of options one day, I'll have to ask the Marquis for instructions."
This threat was very effective and the women retreated obediently.
Holding her belly, Minglan looked up at the ceiling, afraid to do too much needlework or reading for fear of damaging her eyes. Evening entertainment was available, but she was still bored. At this time, the most suitable activity was mahjong. It didn't overwork the body, but it also exercised the brain. Unfortunately, to maintain her good image, Minglan endured it.
The most despicable thing was Xiao Shen, who, under the pretext of wanting a child, wanted to visit ten temples to pray for blessings, even goading her mother-in-law. It was springtime, the weather growing warmer, and Old Lady Zheng, recuperating at home for a long time, felt an urge to go out and have a child. General Zheng and his wife were both deeply filial, and seeing their usually quiet and undemanding mother express a desire to go on an outing, they were determined to fulfill her wish, no matter what. So, Xiao Shen, under the pretext of accompanying her mother-in-law, happily went out for a trip.
You said she went out on her own, which would be fine, but knowing that Minglan was bored, you deliberately sent letters to tempt her from time to time. One moment it was, "The water in the mountain stream is wonderful. I'll bring you a basket of sour fruits later. They are crisp and fragrant." The next moment it was, "The scenery here is so beautiful. Standing on the top of the mountain, I almost want to climb to the top." - This person who doesn't like to read even made a typo! It should be "wind", okay?
Minglan became increasingly frustrated and began to seriously consider whether or not to break up with this semi-illiterate man!
It can be said that her family loved her very much. About seven or eight days later, Wang came with her new daughter-in-law Liu and Hualan. Minglan greeted them with unprecedented enthusiasm, but unexpectedly saw that Wang's face was very dark.
After Minglan invited her to take a seat, she looked at the young woman standing beside her. She was wearing a light red satin jacket with hundreds of butterflies and silver mice patterns, and a light peony red pleated skirt with a two-finger-wide black velvet edge with the word "Wanfu" (blessing) in it. Her jet-black hair was neatly combed into a bun, and she wore a large red gold five-phoenix rising sun hairpin on her head, and a pair of large pearl pendants on her ears.
How should I put it? She was dressed very formally, impeccable from head to toe. A very formal person, from the way she stood to the angle of her gaze, everything was perfect, as if she had come straight from a textbook. But her looks... Minglan had seen her before, and now, taking a closer look, she knew Xiaotao's observation was correct. While she had a somewhat formal and refined air, she did look quite... well, quite peaceful and harmonious.
"This must be my new sister-in-law. It's my turn to visit her, but I've made her tired." Minglan paid her respects to Wang and quickly asked Liu to sit down. Hualan had already sat down without any hesitation.
"Sixth sister, please stop talking like that." Liu's voice was pleasant, calm and gentle. "We are all family, why are you talking about being tired? You are in a heavy body now, so this is what you should do."
Danju couldn't bear to see Minglan so active while clutching her belly, so she hurried to help her sit down. Minglan had already noticed something was wrong with Wang Shi. She couldn't just call her "looking good" or offer polite words. She thought for a moment and said quickly, "Madam, you seem thinner. I think you've been tired lately. Madam, you need to take good care of yourself. Your elder brother and sister-in-law are away, and they must be worried sick." She knitted her brows slightly, appropriately conveying concern and care.
Hualan secretly praised Minglan for her eloquence, and Liu couldn't help but look at her again. Wang's expression really brightened up, and she calmed down: "You are a sensible child. These days... Oh, let's not talk about it. Everything is not going well." After saying that, she glared at Liu coldly.
Liu was as still as a statue of clay or stone. Minglan quickly took over, trying to join in the conversation with Wang. Hualan seemed somewhat helpless, only joining in a few words, while Liu remained silent. The atmosphere had been pleasant, but Wang's every word was filled with resentment, and she brought up Liu with subtle sarcasm, "Other families have daughters-in-law who are as docile as a cat, but there's this unlucky family who caught a stray cat, ignorant of the rules and so stubborn..."
Seeing Wang Shi coming again, Hua Lan hurriedly said, "Mother, please don't be like this. My niece is already busy enough for you. Look at her growing up day by day. Don't bother with those trivial things. My brother has entrusted my daughter to you. Please at least teach her to recognize a few words and recite a few lines of poetry. Look at how sensible and well-behaved Quan Ge is in front of the old lady. He can even hold a pen and trace red characters now. You should learn from him too!"
It would have been fine if Hualan hadn't said anything. Wang grew even more furious and slammed the table. "Okay, okay! So you're all right, and I'm the only one being unreasonable! Come on, I've been here today, Minglan, you should take good care of her. Don't be like your unlucky fifth sister who gave birth to a little girl and now suffers abuse all day long! I won't go to your mother-in-law either. Just go and tell her, and we're leaving."
Minglan hurriedly stood up to persuade her to stay, but Wang Shi insisted on leaving. Hualan couldn't help but say, "How about mother and sister-in-law go back first, I'll stay a while." Wang Shi glared at her and said, "Why stay? Your sister still needs to be taken care of."
Hua Lan sighed and said, "Mother, I'm going back to the Yuan Mansion, and it's not on your way. Besides, my sixth sister and I haven't seen each other for a long time, and you don't allow us sisters to say a few words. I'll go to the lady later to pay my respects, so that no one will say anything bad about us."
After all, she was her daughter. Although Wang's tone was very harsh, she agreed and left immediately. Liu followed silently behind. Minglan was stunned. She was so hot-tempered, could she be going through menopause?
Only after everyone had left did Minglan quickly pull Hualan into the inner room, sit her comfortably, and serve her tea and snacks.
Hualan looked at Minglan's belly and said with a smile, "Seeing you look so rosy, I'm relieved. Old Madam was always worried that you were too skinny." Minglan rubbed her belly worriedly, "I hope you don't get too fat, or you won't be able to get it back." Hualan laughed and scolded, "You conceited thing, you're still thinking about looking good now."
The sisters came to ask each other a few questions, and Minglan couldn't contain her curiosity and asked, "What's going on? Why is the lady so angry?"
Hua Lan took a sip of tea and sighed, "Don't mention it. Mother has been facing setbacks everywhere lately. First, my fifth sister gave birth to a daughter. She was always worried that my fifth sister would be wronged in her husband's family, and she would go to the Wen family every now and then to complain. If the first two times were good, the old lady of the Wen family actually said that a girl was not so precious that she needed two wet nurses to serve her, and she didn't pay her money, so she had to complain!"
Minglan nodded repeatedly, very flattering. Hualan added, "Alas... after all, Fifth Sister is going to live with the Wen family. Just say a few words. Mother is too..." She struggled to choose a word, "She's been there too many times, and every time she scolds Old Lady Wen..." Minglan frowned slightly. "That's not good. After a long time, even if Fifth Brother-in-law has a good temper, he's bound to be unhappy."
"Who said it wasn't?!" Hualan took a big bite of the fragrant and warm millet cake. "The old lady felt something was wrong, so she quickly called mother over and scolded her. Mother seemed to be very aggrieved. Alas, then my third brother got married, and father always felt that mother didn't put her heart into it. He embarrassed mother several times in front of the manager." Minglan hurriedly said, "Father is too suspicious. How could Madam be like this!" Even if it was true, she couldn't say it in front of someone's own daughter.
Unexpectedly, Hualan was completely fair: "Dad didn't just make it up. Mom was in a bad mood, so it's inevitable that she would take her anger out on other things."
Minglan remained silent, not responding. Hualan continued, "Then our new sister-in-law arrived. She's quite good, too. From the second day after her wedding, she's been behaving well for Mother. Mother has a bad temper, and sometimes her words are harsh, but she's endured it without a word of retort. For two days in a row, she was told to stand at the door with a basin of water, and she obeyed without a word. The wind was cold in the yard, but she stood and kneeled whenever she was told. Alas... Mother is truly such a person. Everyone here, inside and outside, only praises her for being virtuous and filial, while it's Mother, the mother-in-law, who's so mean and ungrateful, and devoid of any compassion."
Minglan didn't need to think about what happened next. Someone must have taken action. "Dad, or the old lady?"
"Yes, Dad." Hua Lan pursed her lips. "Dad and Lord Liu have always been good friends. He promised that he would never mistreat his daughter-in-law. Now Mom is torturing her like this... Isn't this a slap in Dad's face? Dad has been patient for several days. Mom has been just like my mother-in-law lately. She's been furious. They had a big fight and even brought out other things. Mom even withheld food, clothing, and other expenses from my brother and sister-in-law and the people in the courtyard. Sigh... I rushed to persuade her, but it was no use."
Minglan was speechless for a while, then sighed softly, "So what happened next?"
"Dad and the old lady have discussed it. From now on, my sister-in-law will have the final say in matters at the courtyard. She can pay her food, clothing, and other expenses directly to the general ledger without having to go through mother. We wanted to even waive the standing rules, but my sister-in-law insisted on going to mother's place every morning to serve her."
Hua Lan's tone was bitter, and it was unclear whether she felt sympathy for her biological mother or anger at her lack of resistance. "Because mother has been angry these past few days, she originally refused to bring my younger brother and sister-in-law to see you, so I volunteered to take on this task. But the old lady got angry and said that it's not normal to ask a married woman to take her new bride out. It's not like the Sheng family is completely deserted, so mother has to come. Look, she's angry with the old lady again!"
Minglan didn't even need to sigh this time. The biggest tragedy in Ms. Wang's life was that both her enemies and friends were at a higher level than her. The enemies were at a higher level, which often allowed them to win easily, while the friends were too strong, which led to them often looking down on her and being unwilling to communicate with her.
"Here are some Qingxin pills..."
Unexpectedly, Hualan waved her hands and said, "It's useless. Didn't you, the father, ask mother to take the medicine? Mother has taken it three or five times a day, but it won't work for a while." As a biological mother and daughter, she couldn't stand Wang's temper now. It was really scary and irritable.
"What should we do then?" Minglan was worried about the old lady, hoping she wouldn't get angry.
Hua Lan sighed helplessly, "What can I do? I've asked the doctor. I just hope this period passes quickly. I can take my medicine well and talk to my mother about happy things. I think I'll get better."
"What can there be to be happy about?" Minglan said worriedly.
"What else could it be? Isn't it just that Aunt Lin has been tossing and turning on the farm again and again, and after suffering so much, she's finally tired. Now she's a vegetarian and a Buddhist, and she looks so old. And also, Fourth Sister hasn't gotten pregnant yet."
Minglan's gossip heart was suddenly ignited. She now has a different social circle and has not heard from Molan for a long time. Not to mention her mother's bad temper, Hualan also cheered up and started talking.
"...My aunt is close friends with the wife of the Marquis of Yongchang. Wenying thought she was my sister, so she often told me about it."
Molan still hasn't gotten pregnant, but it's not entirely her fault, there are reasons for it.
Wan Chun Ge was quite resourceful. Although she gave birth to a daughter that year, Liang Han still doted on her and she became pregnant again a few months later. Mo Lan had no choice but to use the same old tricks and intensify her efforts, putting on a virtuous face and giving Chun Ge all kinds of nourishing ingredients as if they were free. On the day Chun Ge was due to give birth, because the nourishment was too good and the fetus was too large, she screamed in pain for two days and two nights, but she didn't give birth. By the time the baby was born, she had already suffocated to death. The eldest lady of the Liang family suspected that Mo Lan was behind it, so she made a big fuss. However, no matter how she checked, she could find nothing wrong. All the nourishing ingredients were of high quality, and even the imperial physician said there was nothing wrong with the food.
The eldest wife had no choice but to give up, but this gave Liang's second wife a handle. The Liang family's concubine's eldest wife and the legitimate second wife had been fighting for a long time. Molan was quick-witted and seized the opportunity. She cried in front of Liang Han and asked for a divorce letter, saying that she was sincere to Chun Ge concubine.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
