At the end of April, the emperor urgently transferred Gu Tingye to be the governor of Lianghuai and in charge of local military affairs, and ordered him to set off immediately.
The luggage had been packed long ago. Minglan was in a low mood and stuffed a lot of Xuejindan and Shenrongwan into Gu Tingye's purse. Gu Tingye looked at them sideways. These two things, one to reduce internal heat and the other to increase it, made him feel amused and touched. He took Minglan's hand and said gently, "If you feel bored, go back to your parents' home for a while. Don't be afraid of what others say."
He had made a special trip to the Sheng Mansion before, and he didn't know what he said to the two middle-aged women. Wang immediately asked Liu Kun's wife to pass on a message, which roughly meant that Caihuan, that little bitch, could be dealt with as she pleased, and that Minglan was always welcome to return to her parents' home to take care of her pregnancy. The old lady only wrote a letter with a concise and to the point sentence - 'Be careful and don't be stubborn.'
Minglan reached back to shake his hand, but only grasped three large, rough fingers. She tried to soothe him, "Don't worry about me. Master Tu and his men are here to protect me. I have more than enough to rob a few banks, let alone the servants at home." She recalled the danger she had encountered the last time the censor went south, and worry washed over her. She whispered, "You, on the other hand, must be careful on the road. Bring enough guards, and don't try to be a hero. I've already told Xie Ang not to get within three feet of you."
Gu Tingye knew what she was thinking and smiled, "My husband leads half of the cavalry battalion." Not to mention that there are many soldiers who can be mobilized in Lianghuai.
"When you go out, you must take care of yourself. Don't drink raw water, don't eat uncooked game, and don't open your collar to get in the wind. When the weather gets cold, you should wear that soft deerskin jacket inside. I pierced several fingers before I kicked you out, so you must not treat it as a decoration..." Minglan showed her ten white and tender fingers. In fact, she felt very nervous and could only keep giving warnings. Now she was enjoying being a wife and had no intention of changing her career to become a widow.
Gu Tingye said nothing, just hugged Minglan quietly with a heavy look in his eyes.
The next morning, Gu Tingye dressed up in sturdy leather armor, military boots, and a scarlet cloak. Before leaving, he stroked Minglan's belly and pretended to joke, "Boy, your father is leaving, so listen to your mother." Minglan was full of sorrow and couldn't help but laugh at his words. Before she could say anything, the little bastard in her belly actually moved twice, and it was unclear whether it was twisting its buttocks or stomping its feet. The man was overjoyed and kissed Minglan hard. He bent down and kissed her belly again, laughing and said, "Wait for me to come back!"
Minglan clung to the door of Jiaxi Residence, waving her handkerchief as she fought back tears: "Be careful along the way, and go home early."
The river stretches three thousand miles, and the letter from home is fifteen lines long; each line carries no other words, only the message of returning home early... For days, she felt a deep sense of loneliness and resentment. Food tasted bland, water tasted sweet. Lying in bed, staring at the carved and painted ceiling, she counted on her fingers how far he had come. Could the ferry be crossed? Were the horses and the men safe? The weather was getting warmer, but she hoped she wouldn't catch the plague. Had the "bandits" come back? And so on. After a few days, the resentment faded, and Minglan began to wonder if the bastard was having an affair. A few more days passed, and Minglan returned to her laziness, sleeping until she woke naturally. In an era without email, phones, or even telegraphs, Minglan experienced the full emotional vicissitudes of life as a wife whose husband was away on a long journey.
By the time Mrs. Duan came to her house to cry and apologize, Minglan was able to calmly smile and comfort her.
"Sister, I'm so sorry." Madam Duan's face was pale, and her eyelids were red and swollen. "His eldest brother is now in Miaojiang and there's no news from him. And now that my second brother has gotten into this kind of trouble, there's no one at home to discuss it with. I've caused trouble for Governor Gu."
Minglan suppressed her complaints. In fact, she had no news at the moment. Gu Tingye's mission was very complicated. His methods had to be half open and half covert, half true and half false. In the vast Lianghuai area, there were nearly ten military camps and nearly half a hundred government offices. He could start wherever he wanted and didn't even want to let anyone know which route he was taking. It would be best if he could strike his opponent by surprise.
Minglan's depression was understandable after encountering such a situation, but for now, she could only put on a smile and said, "Sister, what are you talking about? General Duan Er wasn't out sightseeing, he was doing errands for the Emperor, and that's why he fell into the trap of this villain. The Marquis was ordered to go, not only for the sake of brotherhood, but also for the important matters of the court."
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Madam Duan said with gratitude, "Sister, please don't try to comfort me. Even as a woman, I understand the governor's good intentions. If someone else were to do this job, perhaps it would be successful, but my second brother's future and reputation might not be taken seriously. Only we, the old brothers, would consider our friendship and lend a hand."
Minglan thought to herself that Madam Duan was indeed from a prominent family and could see things so clearly, so her smile became even more amiable. Madam Duan, who had just sent off the bitter wind and rain, suddenly saw Danju coming in with a gloomy expression, lifting the red gauze curtain: "Madam, Aunt Kang is here. She is with the Madam Dowager. Please come over and have a chat." Minglan was stunned.
Given the Madam's many hidden agendas, she struggled to find like-minded chat partners. She wanted to complain about Gu Tingye, but her motives were too obvious. She wanted to criticize Ming Lan, but she was so repulsive, pretending to be gentle and frail. When teased, she blushed, acting like a submissive, gentle little girl, quickly earning the unanimous praise of the middle-aged and elderly ladies. They called her cunning and shrewd, trusting no more than the handful of people she could hold, and they were all Madam's close friends and relatives.
So, after getting to know Aunt Kang, the two of them got along better and better, and their friendship quickly heated up, becoming like old friends. Apart from the fact that the target of their bad words was herself, which was a little unpleasant, Minglan personally thought that their evaluation of herself was relatively accurate compared to that of the outside crowd who did not know the truth.
"Madam, you're not feeling well. I'll go and tell her now." Danju lowered her voice. While at the Sheng Mansion, she had witnessed more than once Aunt Kang taking advantage of her position to let Minglan eat first. Minglan shook her head. "This is Aunt Kang's first time here. I have to go." After a moment's thought, she instructed Danju, "It's the same old routine." Danju finally smiled. "I know. As soon as Madam puts the lid on the table, I'll start."
Minglan smiled with satisfaction.
Six months later, when I saw Aunt Kang again, she was wearing a bright new royal blue silk jacket with silver-embroidered patterns and carved silk patterns. Her hair was tied into a bun, with a pair of gold and jade brocade ties tied together. A string of vermilion beads hung on her wrist. It was obvious that she had dressed up deliberately, but she still looked much older. When she saw Minglan, she immediately smiled with her nose but not her mouth. She turned to the lady and said, "Everyone says my niece is lucky to have such a kind mother-in-law like you. It's true. Look at her complexion, she looks so pale that you can squeeze water out of her."
The Madam was so relieved that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes lifted into the shape of a fairy. Minglan smiled, pretending to be struggling to move, bowed to the two of them with her big belly, and then sat down. Before the Madam could say anything, Aunt Kang got angry again. Her face darkened and she scolded, "The elders haven't said anything yet, and you're just sitting down like this?"
Minglan adjusted her sitting position on the armchair and pretended to be surprised: "Didn't my aunt ask me to sit down?" Then she rubbed her belly again.
Aunt Kang choked and shouted, "You have to wait until the elders say so before you can sit down." She looked at Minglan with disdain, "What kind of rules are these? Is this how your grandmother raised you? You've only been married for a few days, and you've already forgotten everything my sister taught you?!"
At this point, Minglan no longer felt the need to tolerate this psychopath, and her face darkened as she said, "Aunt, please be careful with your words. I'm a junior, so it's fine for you to lecture me, but my grandmother is your wife's mother-in-law, and therefore your elder. How can you, Aunt, talk about your elders like this in front of the juniors and relatives?!"
Aunt Kang was shocked. This was the first time Minglan had contradicted her so sharply. How could the submissive concubine dare to treat her like this? She sneered, "It's really different from the past. Now that she's climbed up the social ladder, her tone has changed. She even dares to contradict her elders."
Minglan frowned and said proudly, "No matter who is high or low, as long as I am still alive, I will not tolerate others slandering my grandmother like this. If aunt is unhappy, let's go to the lady and talk it out." She wanted to see which side Wang was on.
Aunt Kang's knuckles were white from pinching her handkerchief, and her face was purple with anger. Minglan remained calm, minding her own business, stirring the tea leaves in her teacup. Seeing the situation was getting bad, the Madam Dowager quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Alright, alright. You two, aunt and niece, just keep your mouths shut. Minglan, too, your aunt has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Don't you know that? Why are you so angry?"
Minglan looked at her and said slowly, "I really don't know."
"You!" Aunt Kang almost stood up, but the Madam hurried over to hold her down, saying to Minglan, "Come on, stop talking. Your aunt is the elder after all." Minglan sat steadily, a forced smile on her face: "Even elders are divided into close and distant relatives. I was raised by my grandmother since I was a child. If I let others talk about her like this and keep silent, I would be unworthy of being a human being."
This time even the lady was surprised. In the past year, no matter how Minglan calculated secretly, she had always been harmonious and gentle in her words. It was rare that she was so sharp today.
This meeting was destined to end on a sour note. Minglan didn't even bother to say anything more. She just sneered and placed the tea bowl upside down on the small crabapple wood table. Danju understood what she meant and winked at the little girl beside her. The girl turned and quietly went out. Xiaotao came in from outside and reported in time: "Madame Chang is here. She wants to ask Madam to come over."
Minglan was surprised and turned to look at Danju: "That's not the code. When did it change?" Danju was even more surprised than her. Before she could react, the lady-in-waiting was diligently explaining to Aunt Kang: "This Chang Ma is my sister Bai's wet nurse."
Aunt Kang snorted coldly upon hearing this. "She's just a wet nurse, and you're putting on such a big show. Sister, you're being too generous. How could you ask a servant to be so arrogant? And you even asked the Madam to leave her elders behind to go see her."
The lady had an embarrassed smile on her face and said nothing, and the effect was very good.
Minglan looked calm and said lightly, "Aunt, you don't know. Nanny Chang is from a good family. Her father was a scholar, but she became a wet nurse in the Bai family because her family fell into poverty. She has never been a slave, so how can she be called a servant? The Marquis said that since there are not many people visiting the Bai family now, he treats this Nanny as his own family elder. How dare I disobey?" At this moment, she sincerely thanked Gu Tingye for his foresight, which raised Nanny Chang's status early on, so that everything could be discussed easily.
"The Marquis often said that when he was in the most difficult time outside, this Nanny Chang helped him a lot and took good care of him. Now that I think about it, she is like a family member. Compared with those relatives who are not in harmony with him and only know how to take advantage of him, this Nanny Chang is much more respectable. The Marquis told me not to neglect her." Minglan spoke more and more fluently, paying attention to the expressions of the two people as she spoke.
The lady still had a forced smile on her face, while Aunt Kang's face turned blue and red.
"In that case, I will take my leave."
Minglan stood up gracefully, holding her belly, supporting Danju, and left happily. After leaving, Minglan asked and found out that it was not Xiaotao who made up the secret code, but that Nanny Chang had really come. Minglan smiled immediately. Recently, Nanny Chang often came to talk to Minglan to relieve her boredom, telling her some interesting stories from the city and the countryside, which made her life not boring.
"By this time next year, the young master will definitely be crawling all over the floor." Nanny Chang looked at Minglan's belly with a smile.
"Madam, how did you know it was a son?" Minglan rubbed her lower back. Since Gu Tingye left, her belly had grown very fast. It wasn't noticeable before because she wore loose clothes, but now she was a typical pregnant woman.
"Madam, you have the appearance of a boy. Look at your pointed belly and round pelvis. It's 99% likely to be a boy."
Minglan laughed and asked doubtfully, "Can Mammy see?"
Nanny Chang picked up the needles and thread in the basket and said proudly, "I have been observing people for decades and have a sharp eye." She tilted her head slightly, as if recalling the past, and said half-boastfully and half-melancholy, "Back then, our family was in a difficult situation. We had no food to eat, and the first few people couldn't even make it. I even worked as a midwife. It wasn't until I moved into the Bai Mansion and nursed the eldest sister that the old man became generous, and life at home became better. Speaking of which, Nian'er's father and the eldest sister died only three months apart. Alas, in the blink of an eye, both of them..." When she mentioned these things, she couldn't help feeling sad.
Minglan went to shake Nanny Chang's hand and said gently, "It's hard for you, Nanny. You've been through so many ups and downs over the years. God will have a good time. After all the hardship, there will be happiness. Nanny will enjoy endless blessings." Nanny Chang was a carefree person to begin with, and her mood suddenly brightened up when she heard this. Minglan added, "Nanny, you're old, but you still come to see me so often. You've worked so hard."
Nanny Chang waved her hand and said, "That's not the problem. Not to mention what Ye'er told me before he left, even if he hadn't, I would still come here often. Besides, Yan Zi is married now, and Nian'er is busy studying, so there's not much time left at home. I can even have a meal with him."
"Is Nian'er doing well in his studies?"
"Good, good, all good." Nanny Chang smiled. "The teacher is good, very knowledgeable, and the classmates are also good. Especially the young master Changdong from my wife's family, he treats people very well. Such a noble man, but he has no airs at all. He even came to my house for dinner once."
Minglan smiled and said, "My two brothers have both started their own families and careers, and my fourth brother is lonely at home. It's great to have a good friend like Nian'er who is of the same age as me, and we can study and make progress together." As she spoke, the two of them laughed together.
Nanny Chang had been through the world for decades, and had seen the ups and downs of life. She had been praised and looked down upon, and she was the most shrewd and understanding. Talking to her was very refreshing. Because the situation was calm now, Nanny Chang always had a friendly demeanor, which made Minglan almost forget her glorious achievements. Soon, the opportunity to see her come.
As Aunt Kang frequently visited the house to maintain a close relationship with the Dowager, Nanny Chang gradually caught wind of the situation. Xia He even privately confided in her, "That Madam Kang is so annoying. She always asks our Madam to accompany her. After our Madam declined several times, the Dowager started to speak harshly." Nanny Chang, upon hearing this, became wary. That day, just as Aunt Kang arrived, Nanny Chang arrived in a hurry.
Minglan had just sent Xiang Mama away. She lingered in Jiaxiju for half an hour, and her words were full of threats. Minglan ignored her completely. The so-called reputation of being virtuous was not worth a penny compared to her own health.
When Nanny Chang found out, she went straight to Xuanzhi Garden without saying a word.
When Aunt Kang saw Nanny Chang, she immediately started to speak coldly. Nanny Chang didn't get angry, but said politely, "I'm sorry, old woman, for taking advantage of your age. The truth is, the lady is heavy and it's not easy for her to move around. I think you two, as elders, wouldn't be so inconsiderate." Aunt Kang sneered, "It seems that she is the only one in the world who gave birth to a child. She's so arrogant and disrespectful to her elders because she's pregnant..."
Before she could finish her words, Nanny Chang swept the fruit plate on the coffee table to the ground, raised her eyebrows, and looked at Aunt Kang with a face full of flesh, her voice as loud as a copper bell, shaking the roof.
"Ha, elders, what kind of elders are you? I respect you as my wife's family, so I call you concubine. You really think you are a dish! Open your eyes and look carefully. This family's surname is Gu! The surname of the in-laws is Sheng! Your Kang family is the Sheng family's brother-in-law, and they are even more related to our Gu family through a circle of relatives! Why are you pretending to be an elder here?"
The lady was stunned and wanted to stop her, but Nanny Chang's words came like a torrential rain, leaving her unable to get a word in.
Nanny Chang suddenly threw a tantrum, shocking the maids and servants on either side. She stood at the entrance to the hall, hands on her hips, cursing, "There are three unfilial acts: not having a successor is the worst. Everyone in the family knows your wife is pregnant, and even the madam and the mistress of the family rarely bother her during her pregnancy. And now, here comes this shameless aunt, acting like she's the boss for the past three days! Pah! If anything happens to our Marquis's flesh and blood, can you afford to pay with your three-ounce bones?"
Aunt Kang had never been insulted like this since she was born. She was so angry that she was shaking all over and almost collapsed in her chair. The lady finally stood up and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about! You are all dead, why don't you drag him out now!"
After Madam Chang finished her scolding, she didn't wait for anyone to come and pull her out. She walked out the door and stood in the courtyard outside. She used the same voice she used to shout at the pork stall, and shouted: "...What a jerk! Someone in your family died, and you're not even this diligent in attending the funeral. You don't act like a lady from a wealthy family. You keep coming to this family every few days. I wonder how close a relative you are? Or are you here to extort money?"
She walked out with a swagger. The servants on both sides did not dare to push Nanny Chang seriously because they had not received the instructions from the lady in advance and were hindered by Gu Tingye's prestige. They just let her walk and curse all the way, and the more she cursed, the more she hit the nail on the head.
"... Ask around. Which respectable family would let a woman seven or eight months pregnant run back and forth all day? Some are even taking advantage of it, while others are even playing dumb. What's going on?! Are they just wondering who would benefit if the Marquis had no offspring?"
After leaving Xuanzhi Garden, the nosy crowds of onlookers pointed, gossiped, and even murmured sarcasm. Seeing the large crowd, Nanny Chang became even more furious. She jumped up and down, pointing in the direction of Xuanzhi Garden, spitting and cursing, "...I'll tell those wicked bastards that my brother Ye didn't fulfill your wishes. Now that he's survived this disaster, he'll surely have good fortune in the future!" She was a sensible person. Minglan managed Chengyuan perfectly, so she didn't interfere at all. This time, she knew Gu Tingye's concerns when he went out, so she only acted crazy and foolishly when Minglan was not in a position to intervene, relying on her seniority.
The sound came from far away. Zhu was gently coaxing her little daughter to sleep in the room. The maids and old women in the room were all silent and dared not say a word. Shao was anxious and restless in the room, pacing back and forth. Xianjie came in and signaled the maid to close the door.
"Mom, let's play a game of chess." The girl pulled her mother to sit down and said softly, "What happens outside has nothing to do with us."
Aunt Kang was so angry that she almost collapsed and needed to be helped out. She had never been so embarrassed in public in her life. There was a lot of chaos and commotion. Nanny Chang was still strong and full of energy. She roared from Xuanzhi Garden to Chengyuan, attracting countless onlookers along the way, and even attracted the masons who were busy with the repair work.
Rao Minglan had heard of this before, and this time she was also stunned by such fighting power.
She swallowed her surprise and her saliva. That night, after eating and drinking, she took a leisurely walk to apologize to the Dowager Lady, repeatedly saying, "Madame Chang has a bad temper, please bear with me. When the Marquis comes back, I will ask him to blame her" (implying that it is not easy to blame her now), and said sincerely, "Madame Chang is old and confused. Everyone in the mansion knows that you are the most generous and kind-hearted person. Please don't take those dirty words to heart."
In less than half a day, the mansion was awash with rumors. Many things were better left unexposed than exposed, but once exposed, it was a complete loss of face. The Madam was furious. She had only intended to catch a couple of small fish for fun, but instead attracted a great white shark. She had been scolded for nothing; she had never been so depressed in her life!
As if it weren't bad enough, two days later, Tingcan returned to her parents' home crying. She threw herself into the arms of her husband, crying and scolding him.
"...At first he was just pretending. I ignored the ones in the room and put up with it. But now he's gotten even worse, even touching the maid next to me. When I caught him, he said he was just teaching her how to write and draw!" Tingcan started crying and stamping his feet, completely losing his former dignity. "I scolded him a few times, but he tried to flatter me with some 'famous scholars are naturally romantic' thing. Bah, what kind of famous scholar is he? He's only half-read, and his poems aren't even as neat as mine! He can't pretend to be a scholar in front of me, so he teaches the little maids to write obscene poems and songs. Humph! Even if this kind of bastard becomes an official in the court, he'll still be jealous of talented people!"
The lady's chest ached, as if it was about to burst. She scolded loudly, "Little girl, don't make trouble at this time! I told you long ago that after you get married, stop playing with your knowledge, poetry and lyrics. If your husband is interested, just join in the fun and add some joy to the boudoir. But you are showing off! What man doesn't care about his face, and you are cutting his face! You, you...what do you want me to do? You act like you are still a girl and you can do whatever you want. It's no big deal for a man to touch a few maids!"
"The quarrels between my wife and I are just matters at home. Who knew that my mother-in-law, out of boredom, sent two maids here? Now, now..." Tingcan cried loudly, clasping at the lady's sleeves and shaking them, "I won't give in, I won't give in. Mother, please think of a solution for me. Mother, please go and speak for me, speak for me!"
Everything has its pros and cons. Although she no longer has to rely on Gu Tingye for support after marrying into the princess's mansion, she can no longer support her daughter. The old lady couldn't help but sigh, "Your mother-in-law is a princess, a member of the royal family. She is the only one who speaks of others, no one speaks of her own!"
Seeing her daughter crying pitifully, she felt dizzy and blurted out, "I told you long ago that men need to be coaxed. Look at your second sister-in-law, she coaxed your second brother's wild horse temperament into being as gentle as silk. If you can just cage your son-in-law, and see that you and your wife are in harmony, the princess won't be in any trouble."
After much persuasion and nagging, offering countless suggestions, she watched her daughter's shoulders slump as she walked out the door, looking pitifully delicate. The old lady sat down on the bed in a daze, speechless for a long time. After a long while, Xiang's mother finally came up with a cup of hot tea and whispered soothingly, "Don't worry, young couples always quarrel. They quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of the bed. They'll be fine in the end."
The room was dimly lit. The Madam stared at the dimly lit lamp. Her expression suddenly hardened. She said sternly, "You've seen it too. If this continues, my son and daughter will be left to fend for themselves. At this point, I have no choice but to take action."
Xiang sighed softly to her mother, "You've got to think it through. If it works, it's fine. But if it doesn't, your reputation, your face, will be ruined."
The lady smiled bitterly and coldly: "Reputation, face, they are all empty. Besides, how good can my reputation be now? If I do nothing, I know what will happen to me in the future. I will just be begging for food under someone else's roof and living according to Sheng Minglan's mood. But I can't swallow this breath. I can't live in vain for most of my life."
Chapter 168 The east wind blows, the war drums beat: You are ignorant of the hardships of life and squander your opportunities in life willfully. You deserve it!
By the sixth month, her belly had grown large enough that Minglan could lie flat on the couch and read a book by resting it against her belly. The little bastard inside her belly began to behave unruly, sometimes remaining silent for long periods of time or suddenly moving violently. The imperial physician took her pulse and repeatedly examined her, only to smile and say everything was normal. Faced with this, Minglan only wished she hadn't studied obstetrics and gynecology in her previous life.
As the delivery date approached, Mother Cui became more and more alert. Her eyes were green and scary. She looked at everyone in the yard and thought they didn't look like good people. She carefully checked every soup, meal and tea that Minglan took, and her eyes were bruised. Xiaotao told Minglan privately that the unit where Mother Cui worked when she was a child was a large family with extremely brutal struggles between wives and concubines, and she was permanently frightened because of it.
Unexpectedly, when Xiao Tao was biting her ear, Mother Cui happened to see her. She grabbed her ear and took her out to sweep the floor as punishment. Perhaps thinking that she was too suspicious, Mother Cui couldn't help but sigh: "The old lady always said that everyone has their own destiny. Back then, your son was born safely, a fat boy weighing 7.6 jin. But later, he died because of such a trivial matter..."
Minglan lowered her head and touched her belly. She had done everything she could, and now all she had to do was rely on her character.
The past month or so, the Marquis's Mansion has been relatively peaceful. During this period, Tingcan came to cry twice. The first time was when the princess loudly gave the son-in-law of the Han family a concubine, and the lady-in-law comforted her daughter and sent her away in a gentle manner. The second time was when the son-in-law of the Han family visited the concubine's bed for five consecutive days. This time, the lady-in-law finally hardened her heart and scolded her daughter and kicked her out. After Tingcan left, she cried bitterly in front of her three daughters-in-law, saying, "Now I regret that I didn't discipline her well. I let this child know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is!" She also pulled Minglan's hand from time to time, saying over and over again, "I only hope that my brother and sister-in-law will have mercy on her and support her more. Otherwise, otherwise..."
After Minglan returned to her room, she was puzzled for a long time. Danju, knowing her thoughts well, whispered to her when no one was around, "What's so confusing, Madam? Seventh Aunt's behavior is just karma, isn't it?" She had served the young lady since she was a child, and had been ingrained with the manners and upbringing of a lady from a noble family. Not to mention Minglan, even the refined and elegant Molan and the arrogant Rulan were all devoted to the duties of a daughter: needlework, accounting, disciplining servants, cooking and teasing... everything. Unlike Seventh Miss Gu, who spent her days dabbling in poetry, writing and painting, she was not doing her job properly, her words and expressions were half-hearted, and she boasted of her aloofness, wishing everyone would flatter and pamper her.
"You're asking for trouble if you act like a girl in your husband's house. The lady will surely cry now."
Minglan shook her head, gently stroking a mutton-fat jade bracelet on her wrist. "This isn't right. She should be crying, but not in front of me." Danju smiled and said, "Perhaps she wants to ask the Madam to help Seventh Aunt."
"Will I help her just because she begs me?"
Danju was speechless for a moment.
Minglan's expression darkened as she gazed thoughtfully at the colorful glass bead curtain hanging at the door. "She's quite clever. Knowing my character, she wouldn't do such a useless thing. Instead, she showed weakness."
If Gu Tingcan's misfortunes outside the family ever tarnished the reputation of the Gu family (for example, he was divorced), then even without the Madam Dowager's intervention, Minglan would have to intervene on behalf of this unwelcome sister-in-law. But if he only suffered minor injustices within her husband's family, she could just accept it as a form of self-cultivation. So, knowing there was nothing to be done, why did the Madam Dowager come?
"Is it just to play pitiful and gain fame?" Minglan pondered.
This wasn't the only thing that puzzled her. Ever since she was severely scolded by Nanny Chang that day, Aunt Kang hadn't appeared for quite some time. She'd assumed that given the Wang family's eldest daughter's temperament, she'd never visit the Gu family again. She didn't know how the Dowager had managed to persuade her, but just two weeks later, Aunt Kang was back. This time, however, she was much gentler, neither making unreasonable demands nor putting on airs. Because she felt bad for the situation, she actually sent her own concubine to lead the charge and apologize to Minglan at Jiaxi Residence.
"The madam asked me to come and apologize, saying that she is getting old and confused. Please don't take it to heart, cousin." Kang Zhaoer stood timidly in the middle, her face full of fragility and panic, but she couldn't hide her natural beauty and graceful appearance.
"If you are still angry, just hit me a few times to vent your anger." Zhao'er's voice was as soft as a mosquito's cry. She was so scared that she almost shed tears. Her fingers kept pulling at the brand new peach-red brocade jacket with hanging hems and winding branches on her body. She was only two years younger than her elder sister Yuan'er. She had been wearing Yuan'er's old clothes since she was a child. Now, this new dress made her uncomfortable.
Minglan couldn't help but sigh as she looked at the girl. Before she got married, she had met Zhao'er a few times and knew that her biological mother was Aunt Kang's maid. She had been Yuan'er's little follower since she was a child, and she was a little girl who depended on her mistress's mood.
"What's there to be angry about? It's just that Madam Chang has a bad temper and offended my aunt. It's my fault." Minglan smiled and asked Danju to take the newly arrived agate grapes and send them over, and then lightly let the matter go.
The next day, Aunt Kang, the Dowager, Zhao'er, and their maids and servants arrived at Jiaxi Residence in a grand procession. They spent a long time asking about the pregnant woman's well-being. Aunt Kang's smile was warm and thoughtful, but her overly friendly tone actually made Minglan break out in a cold sweat. Knowing that something was out of the ordinary, Minglan became wary and refused to join the family gathering, remaining indifferent.
Aunt Kang perfunctorily tried to get Minglan to cooperate, so she forced a smile and left. From then on, she often brought Zhao'er to visit the Gu family. Even if she didn't come to Jiaxiju herself, she would ask Zhao'er to come and say hello to Minglan.
The days that followed were as normal as ever. Aunt Kang seemed to be on good terms with the Madam Dowager, visiting her frequently without any unnecessary or inappropriate behavior. However, Minglan grew increasingly irritated. Aunt Kang was the type who would always come to see her for something, but she hadn't asked for anything. And if she had nothing to ask for, why did she insist on reconciling with her?
It couldn't be that she suddenly put down her butcher knife and became a Buddha.
The pregnancy is coming to an end, and it is the laziest time. Minglan feels sleepy facing the pillow every day, and just wants to eat and sleep until the day of delivery. It is so hateful that she still has to rack her brains to think whether someone is plotting against her.
There were no quarrels among the maids or servants, no bullying from the stewards. The Madam Dowager worried only about Miss Tingcan's marriage. Mrs. Shao was busy disciplining her daughter, and Mrs. Zhu was busy supporting her husband and raising her children. The whole house was in perfect harmony, with no signs of trouble. Perhaps it was nothing? Perhaps I was overthinking it. Since no matter how I thought about it, I couldn't make any sense. Could it be that I was just worrying about nothing?
A gentle, warm breeze blew into the room, knocking a half-read volume from the desk onto a chair. Minglan walked over, clutching her stomach, yawning profusely. She thought, "I'm going to take a nap, and it would be nice to have the volume with me." As she lifted the volume, she glanced at it, only to see the first sentence on the page: "It seems all quiet, but in reality, there are hidden dangers everywhere."
Minglan stared blankly for a while, and for some reason, cold sweat suddenly broke out on her back.
"Go to the outer hall and invite Mr. Tu." Her voice suddenly lost its laziness and tiredness and became unusually clear.
Tu Hu was born with a rather menacing appearance, complete with a hideous scar running from his left forehead across the bridge of his nose to his jaw, a true example of the legendary "earth-shattering disfigurement" that people either feared or loathed. However, the Tu brothers possessed a remarkable skill, specializing in intelligence and information systems, and were particularly adept at espionage and assassination.
"Madam, just tell me what you want me to do." Tu Hu had been bored to death these days. Before his elder brother left, he repeatedly told him to keep his wife safe. He had no choice but to wait, hoping that some opportunity to show his skills would come from heaven.
Across the screen, Minglan slowly put down her teacup and said, "Second Master Tu, I'm afraid this is a bit difficult."
Tu Hu became excited when he heard it. He stood in the middle and clasped his fists and said, "My Lord, we have a life-and-death friendship. You saved my life. Madam, just ask." It was not a difficult task, but he was afraid that he could not show his skills.
Moreover, the Marquis' wife was incredibly generous. Besides her regular salary, she also provided her with a steady supply of clothing for all seasons, annual bonuses, the finest tiger bones and leopard tendons, and imperially bestowed plasters. She even had the audacious idea of matchmaking for her and his brother years ago. He and his brother, tired of the bloody life of the underworld, found their lives with Marquis Gu quite satisfying. Therefore, how could he not devote his whole heart to this cause?
Minglan thought about it again and again, and said carefully: "I can't say what I want Tu Ye to do. It's just..." She found it difficult to speak because she had no idea. Tu Hu outside stretched his neck and waited for a long time. Minglan gritted her teeth and simply told him about her recent doubts.
"I can't really say what's wrong, but something is definitely wrong."
Minglan lowered her voice, gently hammered the armrest, and said word by word, "When I was studying, my teacher once told me that it was because of negligence that I didn't realize it. And negligence is due to laziness. As long as you look carefully and diligently, you will always find the crack in the egg."
Tu Hu's expression grew solemn, as he listened quietly. Ming Lan paused, then said, "Now, I ask Master Tu to investigate these matters. My aunt and the Dowager, and everything related to them, from the Kang family, the Qin family, even the Zhu family, the Sheng family, and all the other branches and leaves, even the temples and nunneries where they worship, and the monks and nuns they often associate with. Tell me everything you can find out. No matter how big or small, I want to know everything."
Tu Hu couldn't help but glance over the screen, thinking, "How could this woman, so tucked away in the inner chambers, speak like an insider?" As an expert, he naturally knew that the most difficult things to uncover weren't the grand mansions or the imperial palaces of the Six Dynasties, but the seemingly untraceable calm. He clasped his fists and said, "Madam, I understand what you mean. Just wait."
After receiving these instructions, Minglan felt somewhat relieved. Madam Cui managed her diet, Tu Hu watched outside, and every four or five days Danju or Xiaotao would go to listen to the letter. Nanny Chang kept the unruly ones in check. Hong Xiao had her stabbing her three times, and Qiu Niang was almost stricken with her, almost becoming a nun. As for Miss Fengxian, who was wallowing in her own reflection in Lingding Pavilion, she didn't even dare to leave the house. Aside from the annoying frequent urination, everything was normal—she should be fine.
A month later, the weather grew increasingly hot. With her delivery imminent, everything was already prepared. Even the scissors, cotton cloth, copper basin, and bedding needed for delivery were carefully checked by Cui Mama. She even chopped the firewood for boiling water into fine strands. Minglan, on the other hand, gradually calmed down. She ate well and slept well every day, and continued to walk and exercise, hoping for a smooth delivery.
"It will probably be the end of the month, but it could be earlier. If it's late, maybe next month." The old doctor took Minglan's pulse, counted on his fingers for a long time, and asked the nurse to feel her belly. "Don't worry, madam, your pregnancy is very good. The baby is the perfect size, but..." For the sake of his own safety, he added, "After all, this is a dangerous matter, please be very careful."
Minglan couldn't help but glare at these doctors. They had said all sorts of good and bad things about me.
Since she didn't know when the baby would be born, she just kept everything as it was. One day, she was talking to Nanny Chang, and Rong Jie'er happened to be on vacation from school. She sat on a small stool, holding a plate of rose-scented melon seeds and listening in, when Chang Nian arrived.
"Is school over? How much homework did you have today? Did you understand everything the teacher said?" Nanny Chang devoted her life to this grandson. She herself was illiterate, but she supervised him with extreme strictness. Changnian answered all the questions. Not long after entering the Hai family private school, he became a good student and a promising young man in the eyes of the teachers, and everything went smoothly for him.
"Brother Nian has grown quite a bit." Minglan looked at Changnian with a smile.
Having grown up in the countryside, exposed to the sun and rain, he was, in fact, more sturdy and robust than the average official's son. At only twelve years old, he was already half a head taller than Changdong. He was also beginning to have the awareness of a young man. He hardly dared to look at Minglan, but bowed politely, his dark face flushed. "My teeth are growing too long. I'll only trouble my grandmother and mother to make clothes for me day and night."
Minglan smiled at the sound of the duck-like voice changing with puberty. Little Changnian had always been outspoken and generous, but lately he had been reluctant to speak, and even when he did, it was only in a low, hesitant voice. Perhaps this was the reason. Nanny Chang looked at her grandson lovingly, seeing that he was dressed in a half-worn dark blue scholar's robe. The young boy had the air of a gentleman, and she couldn't help but feel proud.
"Sister Rong is here too, hello," Changnian said with a smile upon seeing Sister Rong. Sister Rong held her head stubbornly, bowed in a standard manner, and said softly, "Greetings, Brother Nian." Nanny Chang, noticing this, chuckled softly and shook her head.
"My lady, I brought a copy of Mr. Yulin's annotated copy of Changshuiji for Sister Rong. Can I..." Changnian bowed his hands. Before Minglan could say anything, Sister Rong's eyes lit up and he went up to her.
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