Doctor Lin's inherited skills specialized in external injuries and internal dryness, stopping bleeding, first aid, and strengthening bones and muscles. He was the most frequently visited doctor by the military commanders. Danju went out with the steward of the outer courtyard, invited Doctor Lin, and went directly to the Chang family. Danju did not return until dusk when the lights came on.
"Don't worry, Madam. Nian'er looks dangerous, but he's fine."
Nian Ge'er was not an ordinary student who could not lift his hands or carry anything on his shoulders. When the carriage overturned, he immediately supported himself by the wall and jumped out. Fortunately, he only suffered some minor injuries, and his head, chest, abdomen and other vital parts were not injured.
Minglan remembered something and asked anxiously, "What about my hands and feet?" Ancient officialdom had no regulations protecting the disabled; if one's appearance was damaged, they would be ostracized for the rest of their lives. Danju gave a wry smile, "My legs and feet are fine, but my arms... Doctor Lin says my right humerus is fractured, and my left wrist is also slightly broken." Minglan's heart sank. How could a scholar have injured his hands?
She hurriedly asked, "Is it possible to cure it?" Danju stepped forward and said, "Madam, don't worry. I watched Doctor Lin straighten Nian'er's bones, apply medicine, and put on a splint. Doctor Lin said that Nian'er is young, his stature is not yet full, and his bones are not yet strong. As long as he is well cared for and carefully treated, he will be well again and there will be no harm left."
Minglan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately sent the outer courtyard's steward with a two-hundred-liang silver envelope to the Lin residence, offering numerous flattering words and entreaties, explaining that the patient was the only remaining elderly member of Marquis Gu's mother's family and asking for her continued care. Imperial Physician Lin declined for a long time before accepting the money, promising to visit regularly. Minglan also had the accountant allocate five hundred liang of silver to Nanny Chang, so that she would have more money to spend on medicine and consultations.
"Tell Mammy not to worry and to come get whatever you need. If there's not enough silver, send someone to let us know. We're family, so don't be polite," Minglan instructed the messenger earnestly. "Tell Mammy not to worry about me and to take good care of Nian Ge'er."
After everyone left, Minglan sat on the brocade couch in a daze. She woke up at some point and found her lips numb and painful. It turned out that she had bitten them too hard. She couldn't help but feel angry. It would be better not to let her know that this accident had anything to do with them, otherwise she would definitely get back at them! Teach them what the "Minor Protection Law" means.
The next morning, Minglan ordered people to kill chickens, make liquor and set off firecrackers. Since Gu Tingye was not there, she had to ask Tingwei to offer sacrifices on his behalf.
After a brief ceremony, the feast began. Two tables for the men were set up in the outer hall, while the women sat in the small flower room inside. Two more tables were set up for the younger children. Since their separation, the men of the Gu family had reunited after a long absence, and each had his own thoughts.
The Fifth Elder's brow furrowed, the fine wine in his glass tasting bitter. He'd spent most of his life under his brothers' protection, only once he left that protection did he realize the hardships of life. He'd assumed that his eldest son, Tingyang, though untalented, was at least honest and a gentleman. He'd turned out to be a womanizer, a corrupted scoundrel, slaving away every maidservant in his courtyard. He spent money like water, and brothels all over the capital flocked to him to be his "father of the volcano," a true disgrace to society and a scoundrel. His eldest brother had covered it all, his eldest sister-in-law had kept it a secret, his wife had protected him, and he'd known nothing. But now… He glared at them. Fearing his father, Gu Tingyang's hand trembled, and a chopstick of shredded lettuce with vinegar fell onto the table. Tingdi, beside him, remained oblivious, still toasting Tingwei.
Speaking of this incident, the Fifth Old Master felt a wave of sadness. He had thought Tingdi was smart and capable, a pillar of the family, but behind closed doors, he realized he was a calculating idiot. He ignored everything that didn't concern him, but when it came to the family's interests, he became a tyrant. He'd been fussy about his brother's prostitution and extravagance, but now he was even cutting into his father's refined pastimes.
The second son and his wife took the account book and analyzed it in detail - how much the family's total income was, how much money was spent, and how much would be spent in the future, so they needed to live within their means... His scalp tingled when he heard it, but since he knew the truth, he had to reluctantly dismiss most of his guests. As for purchasing ancient books, famous inkstones, and precious inks, he had to consider reducing the amount.
The fifth old master sighed and raised his glass to toast the fourth brother beside him. The wine made him feel sad, and the fourth old master also sighed.
The eldest son, needless to say, was honest and obedient to his wife. He had some rather unconventional hobbies, and unlike the younger son, he wasn't as cooperative, making him somewhat uncontrollable. Even when he wanted to get tickets to a play, his son would frown and show his displeasure. But who else could he rely on besides him? The youngest son, on the other hand, shared his ambitions, but unfortunately, despite being destined to be a prodigal, he insisted on becoming a business genius, leaving him with a mountain of debts that his father had to cover! From last year to this year, there were still countless unresolved issues to be settled.
The wine was drunk in the cold wind and rain, but Tingwei was still relaxed and cheerful, and no one else cared.
In contrast, the women's table inside was much busier. As soon as she sat down, Minglan was stunned; it was clearly a family dinner, but she saw the Dowager approaching with Aunt Kang, and then told Zhao'er, who had come with her, to go to the table with Miss Gu for a drink.
The lady-in-law calmly introduced Aunt Kang to the younger sisters-in-law and said, "She is Minglan's aunt. I happened to have nothing to do today, so I invited her. It would be more fun with more people." Aunt Kang smiled gracefully and said, "I am sorry for being rude." The fourth old lady glanced at Minglan who was silent, and soon echoed the fifth old lady and expressed their warm welcome.
Since the mansion had been divided, the fourth and fifth chambers were considered guests. As usual, Zhu and Shao were supposed to serve and serve the dishes, but they asked the Dowager to excuse them. The other female relatives, respecting age and status, sat at separate tables: the Dowager, her two sisters-in-law, and Aunt Kang at one, Minglan and the other daughters-in-law at another, and the newlyweds at another. Several ice basins were set up in the far corners of the room, each attended by a small maid, who gently blew a cool breeze with a large palm-leaf fan. A female entertainer sang music in front of the hall, and the dishes were light and elegant, making it quite a place to entertain guests.
After three rounds of drinks and the end of the song, the girls went off to play hand in hand. Only Kang Zhaoer was called to the table by the lady-in-waiting to talk. The other female relatives started talking in a rather sloppy manner.
"Today, I offer a toast to Sister-in-law Xuan!" Madam Di Er pulled Madam Yang to raise her glass together, "I heard that our nephew Zheng is doing a great job, even General Fu praised him." She drank it all in one gulp, and Madam Yang also drank the wine with her sleeves covered. After Madam Di Er sat down, she smiled and winked, "If good things happen to our nephew in the future, don't hide it!"
Mrs. Xuan said nothing, but her smile and laughter couldn't help but reveal her pride. Seeing this, Mrs. Shao couldn't help but feel puzzled. Mrs. Di Er helped her husband manage the Fifth House's assets outside, and she was very perceptive. She thought there must be some rumors. She smiled kindly and said, "Could it be that she was right? My eldest nephew's marriage has been settled?" Mrs. Xuan smiled but didn't answer. Mrs. Di Er picked up a piece of cherry pork tenderloin with chopsticks and said with a smile, "I've said too much. I can't say anymore, I can't say anymore..."
Shao was still confused, but Zhu was more alert. She changed her mind and said with a smile, "Could it be General Fu's daughter?"
Mrs. Xuan couldn't contain her joy. Mrs. Bing, who was standing by, felt a pang of jealousy, but she had to please her eldest sister-in-law, so she said quickly, "Don't say that. It's not even a possibility yet. The girl's reputation is precious!" Mrs. Xuan laughed heartily, glanced at Minglan, and said, "My sister-in-law is right. Everyone, eat the food, eat the food!"
The sisters-in-law at the table had different expressions. Minglan smiled with her head down. Others didn't know, but she had received the news long ago.
The old lady at the table heard it and raised her eyebrows slightly at Aunt Kang. Aunt Kang glanced back. After the two understood, the old lady suddenly sighed to the fourth and fifth old ladies, "Ah, you two are so lucky. You have so many children and grandchildren. Now you are about to have great-grandchildren, and our house is still so cold and deserted."
The fourth old lady's heart moved, but she just smiled but said nothing. The fifth old lady didn't know why and took over the conversation, saying with a smile: "Just be patient, Tingye and Tingwei are still young, and they will give birth to a big litter for you in the future."
Mrs. Di Er hurried to see Shao, only to see that she was indeed looking down with a sad face, secretly hating her mother-in-law for not being able to speak.
The Madam lowered her brows slightly and said worriedly, "It would be fine for others, but Tingye is the pillar of our Gu family. How could he not have more offspring? Every time I think of this, I feel ashamed to see the old marquis."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Even the smart ones were fine, but even the fifth old lady sensed something was amiss. She glanced around at everyone's faces and said nothing more.
Aunt Kang, however, was completely oblivious to the unusual atmosphere. She even smiled and took the old lady's arm, saying, "We get along really well. I really want to take your troubles with me." The old lady took her arm in return and said affectionately, "If you truly feel sorry for my predicament, please help me."
"Let's not talk about just one thing, even if it's a hundred or a thousand things, how could I not agree with you?"
The lady turned her head and glanced at Kang Zhaoer, then said, "I like your daughter very much. Why don't you give her to our Gu family? I will make the decision and marry her to my son Tingye as his second wife. If she can give birth to more children for our family, I will cherish her like my dearest daughter!"
Aunt Kang deliberately glanced at Minglan and said with a smile, "Of course. It's a blessing for my Zhao'er that you like her!"
Kang Zhaoer, who was standing by, wished she could lower her head to her chest, her whole face flushed with shame like a red cloth.
Everyone looked at the two of them talking back and forth like a play, and couldn't help but look at each other. Finally, their eyes inevitably fell on Minglan. Minglan looked normal, and slowly picked up a piece of pickled cabbage and ate it.
Aunt Kang looked at Minglan and raised her voice, "I'm perfectly willing, but I'm afraid my niece won't agree!" Without even turning her head, the Madam smiled and said, "How could that be? My daughter-in-law has the best temper. How could she be so jealous?!"
"That's right," Aunt Kang continued. "The He family of Baishitan knows that the old lady there loves my niece the most and wants to take her home to be her daughter-in-law. Before Minglan's marriage was decided, Old Lady He would often visit my sister's house."
As she spoke, she looked at Minglan intently, with a hint of threat in her eyes.
At noon, the sun was setting and a dark cloud covered the sky. The world seemed to have suddenly become much cooler. A cool breeze could be heard blowing in from the window. Everyone was silent, only Mrs. Xuan and Mrs. Shao looked at Minglan worriedly.
Minglan finally finished her slice of pickled cabbage. Three delicate fingers steadily placed her chopsticks down and she leisurely wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin. Aunt Kang, a little impatient, said to Minglan, "Niece, tell me something. Do you agree or not?"
Minglan slowly put down her napkin and spread it flat on the table, a smile on her face. "Actually, I have something to say today. I wanted to say it privately, but since everyone here is family, and the Madam is so close to my aunt, I don't need to hide."
The lady's eyes flickered for a moment, and then the sharp look disappeared immediately.
Minglan said slowly, "One day before the New Year, the Ma family, the former Marquis of Jinxiang, came to ask for a meeting. I didn't want to see such a convicted family, so I just asked the steward to go and deal with it. Unexpectedly, they said that they hoped my family would give them some money because of the good relationship between our two families. They also said that before they were convicted, several young masters and young ladies of the Ma family were frequent guests of the Dowager Dowager, especially the former prince Ma Yu, who had played together with sister Tingcan since childhood. The Dowager Dowager liked him so much that she wanted to take him as her son-in-law..." It was pure nonsense that the Ma family came to the door. They didn't come at all. How many poor families would have the courage to come and cause trouble? Everything was found out by Tu Hu.
At this point, everyone present understood. The Madam's face turned pale, her fingers tightly gripping the tablecloth. Minglan observed her expression, smiled softly, and continued, "There are so many people who ask for money these days, who would trust them? I just sent someone to pass on the message that it's common to associate with the children of good families. If you say it with empty promises without proof, isn't it extortion? At that time, Sister Tingcan was proposing marriage to the Princess's mansion, and I thought it was better to avoid trouble than to cause trouble, so I took some silver and sent the person away."
The lady let out a hard breath and forced a smile, "You did the right thing." She knew the Ma family hadn't come to visit, but since Minglan already knew about it, she could use it as leverage. She could only say, "If the adults are on good terms, the children and grandchildren will inevitably play together, but marriages shouldn't be discussed lightly, so as to avoid gossip." As she spoke, she gave Aunt Kang a meaningful look.
Aunt Kang understood and smiled at Minglan, "Who says it's not true? Marriage is indeed a matter of great caution. Auntie was too frivolous just now. Your cousin Zhao'er isn't after status. Being a concubine and being able to serve you and your nephew's husband is great."
Minglan still shook her head and said in a voice that everyone could hear: "It still doesn't work. It doesn't work as a second wife, and it doesn't work as a concubine."
Aunt Kang stood up in anger and shouted, "How could my sister raise such a jealous woman like you!"
Minglan smiled slowly and said word by word: "Aunt, you don't know. In the Gu family, if you don't allow your husband to take a concubine, you will be considered a jealous woman. My niece would never dare to take on this honor." She looked at the lady with her smiling eyes.
"When I first came into the family, I also found it strange. My father-in-law is the eldest son and married early, so why is it that now, the children of the eldest wife are the youngest?"
"How dare you talk nonsense about your elders!" the lady said in a deep voice.
"How dare Minglan?!" Minglan clutched her chest in shock. "I was praising Daddy. Ask around the capital, and there's no other man as affectionate and devoted as Daddy. Out of marital love, he waited nearly ten years for a big brother."
Since they were going to break up, she wasn't afraid of trouble. She usually gave in to them, but now they were really getting ahead of her!
The Madam's face turned purple, and she was extremely angry. Minglan turned around and asked with a smile, "Fifth Aunt, you know this matter best. Why didn't father-in-law want to take a concubine?" The Fifth Old Lady looked embarrassed. Of course she knew the inside story. She had used this matter to control the Fifth Old Master and forbade him to take a concubine. Now, she could only stammer, "It was my eldest brother who didn't want to."
Minglan immediately turned around and looked directly at the Madam Dowager: "Could it be that the Marquis has come down to tell you privately that he wants to take a concubine?"
The lady was furious and almost burst into curses, but suddenly she remembered her original plan, suppressed her anger, and said in a slow voice, "Look at how anxious you are! A decent man is either busy studying for fame or doing official work. How could he ask for a concubine on his own? Find a few more people to serve you, and it's still the virtuous lady who makes the decision. I know what's on your mind. You're worried about other people coming in, but Zhao'er is your own cousin, what's there to worry about? Listen to your mother's advice, for the sake of your reputation, just agree."
To say she wasn't angry would be a lie. Minglan felt her chest swelling and she felt uncomfortable holding her breath. But the more times like this, the more she needed to stay calm. Minglan shook her head and said firmly, "Just because she's my aunt's daughter, I absolutely won't do that."
In fact, she had already prepared for taking a concubine. She could even choose one herself. If the man wanted to change his mind, she couldn't stop him. But the choice must not be difficult or uncontrollable. The girl from the Kang family was both a relative and Wang's family, so she would never give in.
"What do you mean?" Aunt Kang screamed. The lady was also surprised and tremblingly said, "This, this is your aunt!"
"She is a guest you invited, not me." Minglan continued to shake her head, "If it weren't for you, I would never invite my aunt to my house. The less often the better." Let's break up now!
"You, you..." Aunt Kang was like an old dog with its fur standing on end, pointing at Minglan and unable to speak. This time, even the women from the fourth and fifth rooms were a little dissatisfied. How could she talk like that?
Minglan raised her head, glanced at the people around her who were looking at her with accusatory eyes, and said in an orderly manner, "Haven't you always wondered why I always don't want to see my aunt? You also blame me for not being respectful enough to my aunt. Actually, there is a reason. If you ask carefully, you will know that Aunt Kang rarely paid her respects to my grandmother when she visited my mother's family. Especially since the second year of Chongde, Aunt Kang has not paid her respects to my old lady again."
Everyone was confused and turned their eyes to look at Aunt Kang.
"Because my grandmother has instructed that Aunt Kang is not allowed to come to our house anymore. Even if she comes, she won't see her." Minglan added an explanation.
The hall erupted in uproar, with everyone showing a variety of surprised expressions. The Madam Dowager and Aunt Kang were in a daze. Aunt Kang, in particular, stared at Minglan as if she didn't recognize her. How could that gentle and patient concubine be like this today?!
"They say that family disgrace should not be made public, but now that the Madam has gone so far, I no longer care about being embarrassed. Please give me your judgment, aunts and sisters-in-law." Minglan pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the corners of her eyes.
"My grandmother is a bit strict, but she wouldn't say anything that would offend relatives. It's really...sigh." Minglan looked embarrassed. "Grandmother said that Aunt Kang has a vicious temper and no mercy. She only schemes to harm others. She is not a gentleman. It's hard to tell how many lives Aunt Kang has taken. My grandmother knows of four for sure. Five years ago, one was poisoned to death, two years ago, another was beaten to death by provoking a quarrel, and just before the New Year, there was a concubine in the Kang Mansion who had to be carried out with two dead bodies."
The hall was chilly and all the women were surprised. The fifth old lady could not hide her surprise the most and was stunned with her mouth wide open. No matter how unreasonable she was, she had never done such a heinous thing.
"You, you are slandering me!" Aunt Kang screamed extremely sharply.
Minglan said calmly, "My aunt asked my wife for help. Sometimes she needed to cover up something, sometimes she needed to deal with an emergency. Although the old lady didn't ask, she knew everything. If we really want to theorize, she can tell me." In fact, these were all fabricated, and they were still clues that Tu Hu had found out.
Aunt Kang glared at Minglan fiercely, her eyes seemed to be shooting out like sharp swords, but she could not refute because every word she said hit upon her hidden dangers.
Minglan didn't look at her, but continued to act, half crying, "Grandma said that my wife and my aunt are sisters, and that's a family relationship that can't be shaken off. There's no way I can't help but help them. But I'm separated from them by a layer, so can't I let the Gu family get involved too?!"
With this conclusion in mind, the other women, led by the five elderly ladies, all looked at the Dowager with disdain. Everyone was thinking, "How could you be such a vicious woman, and yet you're such a close friend? Birds of a feather flock together, so you must be no good either." Even legitimate mothers-in-law rarely interfere in their daughters-in-law's affairs, but you, a stepmother, are so attentive, using both soft and hard tactics. You definitely have bad intentions.
There were also those who were quick-witted, such as Madam Xuan and Madam Di. They looked at each other and thought to themselves: The Madam always played her best, but now she has even disregarded her dignity and is so stubborn. I'm afraid she will do something big.
The Madam and Aunt Kang's faces turned purple. They had calculated many scenarios beforehand, but they had never expected Minglan to resort to such a trick of "publicizing the family's dirty laundry" and ruining Aunt Kang's reputation. They were at a loss as to how to respond.
The fifth old lady said bluntly: "Whether to take a concubine or not is your own business. We are not in a position to interfere." As she said this, she was about to leave. The lady-in-waiting saw that the situation was not right and quickly gave Aunt Kang a look.
Aunt Kang gritted her teeth, no longer caring about her face, and could only use her last trick. After all, she was only giving up a concubine's daughter. Before the Fifth Old Lady could stand up, she suddenly stood up and shouted, "What a sharp-tongued niece! As your aunt, I dare not argue with you anymore." Then, facing the Lady Dowager, she pretended to be annoyed and said, "How about your nice words to me before? Now, everyone in the Kang family knows that Zhao'er is going to be your Marquis's concubine. I don't have the face to take her back. Whether you want to live or die, you, the Gu family, give me a word!"
With that, he flicked his sleeves and walked away, striding out of the hall. No one could stop him, and he actually left Zhao'er at the Gu Mansion.
The Fifth Old Lady froze in mid-sentence, looking from Minglan to Zhao'er, who was huddled aside, her hands covering her face and weeping. The Lady Dowager sobbed, "What can I do? This is all my fault. Isn't this pushing a good girl to death?"
Madam Xuan glanced at Minglan, then at Zhu, and moved her lips as if she wanted to say something. The lady-in-waiting continued, "The Kang family is also a well-known and prestigious family, and the girls in their family are not ordinary concubines. Only our Tingye is more or less worthy of them!"
Mrs. Xuan sighed and stopped talking.
"A good dinner and drinks are ruined."
Minglan stood up, holding her lower back, and said calmly, "You invited the person here, so you decide. I'm tired."
…
After returning to Jiaxiju, Minglan finally couldn't suppress her anger. She smashed a cup fiercely, stroked her chest which was heaving violently, and slowly lay down on the couch. Danju, who had just been serving her in the hall, was also very angry. She gently wiped away Minglan's cold sweat and helped her to rest.
Because of the excessive force, Minglan fell asleep in a daze. She didn't know how long it had been, when Luzhi suddenly came in and whispered, "That little bitch from the Kang family is kneeling outside!"
Upon hearing this, even the usually good-tempered Danju's hair almost stood on end: "Are these guys going to stop?"
The two were about to quietly leave when Minglan suddenly woke up, sat up, and said in a cold voice, "Help me out to take a look."
"Madam, please don't go out. Just make her kneel down! You are using a self-torture trick. Who would believe it?" Luzhi said angrily.
"Hmph, if she is someone in the mansion, I am not afraid even if she dies. I am just afraid that if something happens to her, the Kang family will take revenge on her." Minglan's face was as cold as ice. She supported Danju and slowly walked to the door.
Mother Cui was standing at the door, glaring at the man kneeling in the yard.
The midday heat was scorching, the clouds heavy and oppressive, making it almost suffocating. Kang Zhao'er, fragile and pitiful, knelt alone in the courtyard. Seeing Minglan come out, she cried, "Please have pity on me, cousin, and save my life!"
Minglan sneered in her heart, very good, very good, a life was actually placed on her head.
She wasn't afraid of the Dowager giving her a concubine. Given her relationship with Gu Tingye, he could probably just give her one and then discard her, keeping her quiet. But the girl in front of her was from the Kang family, and a relative of her mother-in-law, Wang. It was hard for Gu Tingye to act. What a vicious plan!
Could it be that this woman just wanted to get a concubine to disgust him? She was betting that Gu Tingye would immediately faint upon seeing this woman, and that this would drive the couple apart. Was it that simple?!
Minglan's heart suddenly moved. She glanced at Mother Cui and said, "Come here, search me!"
Kang Zhao'er was crying, but unexpectedly, at Minglan's command, two sturdy old women and several maids rushed over, held her down and searched her up and down, and finally took out a pair of scissors from her sleeve.
"Madam, this is it." Luzhi held up the small pair of scissors, her expression fierce, "Don't try to assassinate me, Madam!"
Minglan suddenly wanted to laugh. This girl must have listened to too many storytellings.
Kang Zhaoer was so scared that he was shaking all over and crying, "No, no, even if you give me a hundred courages, I wouldn't dare to have such an idea!" He begged for mercy again and again.
"Now that you've searched it thoroughly, bring it in." Minglan turned around with a smile.
Two maids carried the limp Kang Zhao'er into the house and put her down heavily five steps away from Minglan, watching them hungrily from both sides. Mother Cui and Danju and others also watched from the side, waiting for Kang Zhao'er to make any violent movements so that they could kick her to death.
Minglan sat upright in the middle, stroking the hem of her skirt slowly, "My Madam Cui is extremely cautious. She never likes to let outsiders into this courtyard, fearing they might bring in something bad. Ever since you first came, she's wanted to search you, and now she's finally got her wish. It's truly a cause for celebration."
Seeing her joking at this time, Mother Cui's nerves were so tense that they almost broke, and she couldn't help but glare at her fiercely.
"Okay, let's talk it over."
Minglan's joking expression gradually faded, and her tone became chilling.
Chapter 170: The East Wind Blows, the War Drums Beat Part 3: Wives, Concubines, Mothers-in-law and Daughters-in-law, Sisters, Mothers and Sons, and the Fire from Under the Cauldron Danju quietly rolled up the two large, six-paneled windows facing south, leaving only the two east-west air vents for ventilation. Then, holding a large fan, he stood behind Minglan, fanning her gently. Xiaotao tested the water temperature and found it was just right. Minglan took a sip, put down the teacup, glanced at Kang Zhaoer, who stood shivering, and said, "Your biological mother's surname was Zhou. She was originally bought from outside. When she was fourteen or fifteen, she came to serve my aunt. A few years later, my aunt decided to raise my concubine, and then she gave birth to you. Am I right?"
Kang Zhaoer raised his head slowly, and it was unclear whether the liquid on his face was sweat or tears, or shock or fear.
Minglan smiled slightly: "My uncle Kang has many concubines, but only one concubine named Su is somewhat respectable. She has a son and a daughter, who are your fifteenth sister and eleventh brother. Isn't that good?" Uncle Kang is very powerful. A house full of concubines must also have a house full of children. Tu Hucha was confused and just numbered the children, too lazy to ask for their names.
Kang Zhaoer cried out, "...How did you know, cousin?" She then realized that she was being rude and quickly lowered her head again.
"You have many sisters, and there are three who are eligible for marriage now. One is you, one is your fourteenth sister, whose biological mother is a concubine brought from Kang's hometown, and the other is the daughter of this concubine Su." When Minglan was in the Sheng family, she had seen Kang Fifteen once. She was stunned at first sight. She was really a charming and beautiful woman with affectionate eyes and eyebrows, and she was born to seduce men with her beauty.
"Then why did my aunt choose you to be the concubine of the Gu family?" Minglan smiled lazily.
Kang Zhaoer's face showed an expression of humiliation and anger, and his lips were almost bitten to bleed.
"My uncle has many illegitimate children. Aside from a few who are lucky, the lives and futures of most of them are in my aunt's hands. Your aunt has no family outside, no support inside, and is not favored by your uncle. How can she be tamed without anyone else's help? What I say is neither right nor wrong."
Kang Zhaoer raised her dry eyes, as if all the tears had dried up, and said woodenly, "Every word my cousin said is true."
"I believe you're not carrying these scissors to harm me. So what exactly are you planning to do?" Minglan lifted the teacup with her wrist and took a sip. "Tell me. What did your aunt tell you?"
Kang Zhao'er was flustered and utterly embarrassed, trying to contain herself, unable to conceal her conflict. After all, she was only sixteen, confined to the inner chambers since childhood, and had never experienced anything like this. Her biological mother was cowardly and inexperienced, so how could she teach her properly? Her mind was in a turmoil, and her fingers nearly tore the corners of her clothes apart.
Minglan smiled faintly and said, "Even if you don't tell me, I can find out. Why don't you be nice to me?"
Kang Zhaoer opened his mouth and closed it again. After hesitating for a while, the panic on his face was still there, and he seemed not to know where to start.
Minglan was not in a hurry and tried to persuade her sentence by sentence: "What did my aunt say to you about me? I'm afraid it wasn't anything good." Kang Zhaoer stammered: "... Madam said, that cousin... you love to please and please people the most. Seeing that you have a great reputation, I... dare not appear to be overly jealous..." She carefully watched Minglan's face, fearing that she would suddenly lose her temper.
Minglan surprisingly showed no anger at all, and continued to smile gently: "And then? What's with the scissors? Did you want to bring them yourself, or was it Auntie's idea?" Kang Zhao'er whispered: "... Madam ordered... She said that if my cousin kept me, I would find an opportunity to stab myself, and then she would come to my house to take charge and severely intimidate my cousin. With this fear, my life in the Gu family will be easier in the future." Minglan couldn't help but nod again, smiling: "But now I won't let you in no matter what?"
Kang Zhao'er bit his lip, his face pale and bloodless. "... Madam said that if my cousin refused to accept... I would kneel down and not get up. My cousin would be afraid of damaging her reputation and would either take me in or lock me up. If I still find an opportunity to stab myself, Madam would come to seek justice, saying that my cousin forced me to do this. Then, you would have no choice but to accept me."
Everyone in the room was furious when they heard this. Mother Cui, who was naturally taciturn, was especially furious, shaking all over. Minglan stood up, walked over to her, patted her gently, and walked around the room twice. Suddenly, she turned back and said gently to Zhao'er, "You've seen your aunt act like this since you were a child. Do you really believe this trick can give you a good life in the Gu Mansion?"
Kang Zhao'er lowered her head, her body suddenly trembling violently. Thinking of her biological mother's humble and fawning face, she raised her head sadly, looked at Minglan with tearful eyes, and said intermittently: "I have to believe it even if I don't want to. My aunt, is there..."
Aunt Kang was even more domineering than her younger sister. She had no elders to suppress her, so sometimes she even ignored the rules of propriety. She ignored even the concubines and illegitimate children who had fallen out of favor and the housekeepers.
Minglan smiled bitterly and shook her head. He used both threats and inducements, which really took a lot of effort.
Zhao'er carefully observed Minglan's expression—a habit she had developed since childhood. Seeing Minglan's face was gentle and indifferent, with no sign of joy or anger, she became anxious. Her knees softened and she knelt down, crying, "Please have mercy on me, cousin!"
Luzhi was so angry that she wanted to go up and slap her twice, but Minglan was very strict with the rules. Without her permission, she could not say a word in front of outsiders. So she had to endure it.
Minglan rested one hand on the armrest of the chair, tapping it lightly with her index and middle fingers. Her face was solemn, as if she were lost in thought. After a moment, she suddenly regained her composure, looked at Zhao'er with pity, and said softly, "You know, I wasn't born in Madam's womb either. I lost my concubine when I was young. I often think that if it weren't for my grandmother's kindness, my life would have been just like floating duckweed..."
Her voice was soft and mournful. Kang Zhaoer burst into tears again and lowered his head to sob softly.
"You and I are both illegitimate children, and I can't bear to see you like this. Well, I'll give you two options." Minglan's eyes were soft and her voice was full of compassion. "Or, you can come into the mansion, and from now on, you and I will serve the Marquis together. I think your aunt's life will no longer be difficult."
When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked and looked at Minglan in disbelief; Kang Zhaoer was also stunned and forgot to cry for a moment.
"If you don't want this, then there's another way." Minglan frowned slightly, her face full of concern. "Our Sheng family has some reputation in Yuyang. I'll ask Grandmother to send you there, and let your aunt and uncle find you a marriage. With your sister and brother-in-law supporting you, I don't think many people in Yuyang would dare to bully you. But if you need to go to a wealthy family, I'm afraid it won't be possible."
Everyone in the room was even more surprised than before, and continued to stare at Minglan blankly; Kang Zhaoer's eyes were dry, and his eyes were as big as copper bells.
"Then...where is my aunt?" She was a little slow to react.
Minglan smiled and tried to appease him, "Aunt Kang thought you were asking me to forcibly send her over, so she wouldn't necessarily embarrass your mother. Then my second cousin and Sister Yun'er would speak to my uncle and finalize the marriage. Even if the matter is brought to light by your father, your aunt will be fine."
Kang Zhaoer's expression changed in an instant, sometimes confused, sometimes hesitant, and sometimes at a loss.
"Well, why don't you give me some advice?" Minglan said with a smile, casually but also seriously, "A woman's life doesn't allow her to choose much. You can do whatever you want."
The only sound in the room was Kang Zhaoer's irregular breathing, sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes rapid, sometimes intermittent. Minglan waited patiently.
"——No, I don't want to!" After a long while, a loud and sharp cry was heard in the room. Kang Zhaoer raised her head, her pupils widened, and her face was pale and almost transparent, "I don't want to be a concubine!"
She rolled and crawled in front of Minglan, screaming, "My mother said, even if it means simple food and drink, I would rather not be a concubine! No one is born lowly, marry a good man and be a legitimate wife!" She tugged at Minglan's clothes and cried heartbreakingly, as if all the grievances of a lifetime burst out, repeating these two sentences over and over in her mouth.
Xiao Taodong, who was standing by, blinked her eyes, thinking that the young lady from the Kang family must have been frightened by the concubine. If she had seen the glory of Concubine Lin in her youth, she would know that being a concubine could also be a successful, glorious and enjoyable job.
After hearing this, Minglan's expression turned cold. She stood up solemnly, staring at Kang Zhaoer and asked, "Are you serious?"
Kang Zhaoer was extremely excited at this moment, muttering in a trance: "Yes..."
Minglan slowly pushed her away, holding her belly as she took two slow steps inside the room. Finally, she stopped beside Kang Zhaoer and gently placed her palm on her sweaty forehead. Minglan said calmly, "Well, I'll just say this. I'll give you some extra dowry, and from now on, you can live a good life. If your aunt is lucky, who knows, we can be reunited in the future."
After saying this, he asked Luzhi to lead two maids to help Zhao'er, who was still in a daze, out.
As soon as the person left, Mother Cui couldn't help but say, "Madam, you..."
Minglan gently waved her hand, silencing her. She smiled bitterly, "I'm not afraid of fighting them, and I have ways. If I didn't care whether Kang Zhao'er lived or died, that would be easy; but... after all, God is merciful, so I'll just let her choose for herself."
Mother Cui seemed to understand a little and whispered, "So, Madam was testing her just now."
"If she's counting on marrying into a marquis's family one day and living a life of wealth and comfort, then I'm being unfair. I'll just throw her to my second cousin and say, 'In ancient times, there was the beautiful story of Ehuang and Nvying. Since your aunt has such plans, why not make her your second wife? From now on, the sisters will share the same husband. Isn't that a beautiful story?' Then I'll let her do whatever she wants. If she wants to commit suicide or live, it's up to her."
Minglan sat down slowly, moving her body clumsily, a look of deep fatigue on her face. "If it were this way, I'd have no more worries, but she's such a good person. I can't bear to see her go back to the Kang family and continue to be abused by Aunt Kang."
Mother Cui was kindhearted and couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, what a poor child! It's all the Kang family's fault."
"Grandma always said that a little kindness can save a life, and a little kindness can rebuild a life. Consider it a way to accumulate virtue for your child."
Minglan slowly stroked her bulging belly, her face full of kindness; Kang Zhaoer's dowry would be paid from her own private money, and she would be frugal and careful in managing the household. She hoped that the first money she saved could be used in a meaningful way to help a self-loving and self-respecting girl start a new life.
After a moment of daze, Minglan came to her senses and said solemnly to Madam Cui and Danju, "Orders are passed down that no one is allowed to say a word about Zhao'er's affairs. Change her into a maid's clothes tonight and send her out of the mansion as if she were still here. We can discuss the details carefully later. The most important thing is to keep a tight lid on everyone in this courtyard."
Danju and Cui's mother agreed seriously.
Outside Jiaxi Residence, several little maids were peeking inside from the trees, flowers and rocks until it got dark. One of the maids ran away quickly and soon arrived at Xuanzhi Courtyard. She walked quickly into the house, whispered something in her mother's ear, and then asked her mother to take her in to report.
"How is it?" The lady stood up from the couch with a sharp look in her eyes.
The little girl whispered, "The security there is very tight. We only got some news since dinner. They said Miss Kang was making a big fuss. But they found a pair of scissors. She's locked up now, under guard."
The lady smiled a creepy smile. "It doesn't just have to be scissors. It can also be hitting the pillar or banging your head. What's wrong?"
Xiang Mama sent the little girl out. When she came back, she heard the Madam lying on her back on the Luohan bed, laughing to herself: "We should thank Madam Chang. If she hadn't been so rude and irritated everyone, and Master Kang wanted to save face, then Wang Shi might not have been willing to risk it."
"Madam, you must be tired these days. Now just relax and take a few days' rest." He smiled at his mother while straightening the cushion for the old lady.
The old lady had just loosened her outer skirt when she suddenly asked, "Miss Kang is making such a fuss, but the second son's wife has nothing to do?" Xiang Ma thought for a moment and said, "Nothing else. The doorman just hired a carriage and went straight to the Sheng Mansion." The old lady immediately laughed out loud.
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