The morning passed with smoke rising from the sky. Minglan, chopsticks in hand, faced the table overflowing with delicious food. For the first time, she knew what it meant to eat tastelessly. She figured it was better to eat less than indigestion. Putting down her chopsticks, Minglan paced around the room, clumsy and slow, her belly full of worry, like a fat kitten with a nail stuck in its paw.
Mother Cui was so disgusted by this that she could not help but push Minglan onto the couch. She said with a stern face, "What's more important than giving birth to a child? Madam, just take good care of yourself. If you really can't make it, we can hide in the manor and see who can find you."
Minglan was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and suddenly felt that it was a great idea. She would take the midwife and all the other staff and quietly hide in the hot spring villa. By the time the old witch and the Yu family found her, she would probably have already given birth. Thinking of the wonderful thing, Minglan felt relieved and followed Madam Cui's advice and went to bed. People who didn't sleep well at night always have a particularly sweet nap. Even more wonderful was that when she opened her eyes, she saw Madam Chang sitting at the table in the living room, talking quietly with Madam Cui through the glass bead curtain.
"Madam Chang, why are you here? How's Nian?" Thinking of little Changnian, who was still recovering from his arm injury, Minglan felt a pang of guilt and raised her hand to ask Madam Cui to help her get dressed. Madam Chang's face was solemn, but her words were full of black humor. "What are you talking about, Madam? I'm not a magic pill. I can't just look at Nian as medicine and take him away for a moment." Madam Cui immediately laughed.
After changing into a fresh, dry, clean summer dress, Minglan dismissed her attendants and asked Xiaotao and Danju to watch at the door. Madam Cui took a seat in the middle, leaving Madam Chang alone in her room. She then spoke softly, "Danju just told me what the Madam meant."
Minglan suppressed her anxiety and had to explain herself first: "It's not that I'm ignorant and like to ask questions, but now they have come to my door, and I have some affection for the Yu family. I don't want to kill the mouse and break the bottle, so I have no choice but to speak..."
Nanny Chang's hands, wrinkled and old, rested firmly on Minglan's small hands. She whispered, "Don't I know what kind of person Madam is? In all these days, Madam has never asked the Marquis about his past."
In fact, she had been troubled. If Minglan asked about Manniang, she would say no; if Gu Tingye didn't signal her, she would tell him without authorization, but she was afraid Minglan would be displeased if she didn't. Fortunately, Minglan never asked any more questions, which made her feel relieved and respectful.
"As for Madam Yu's story..." Nanny Chang pondered. Minglan clenched her fists, feeling her heart tremble. "I really don't know. The Marquis never mentioned how Madam Yu died."
Minglan felt a pang of disappointment, her eyes wide with disappointment. "The Marquis didn't even tell Madam?"
Nanny Chang slowly raised her head, her expression solemn. "...At that time, Ye'er had a falling out with the old Marquis. He couldn't swallow his anger and left immediately. I couldn't persuade him to leave. But just a month later, he hurried back from the south. I asked him what happened, but he refused to tell me. Not long after, the Marquis's Mansion sounded the alarm, saying that Yu had passed away."
So soon? Minglan was puzzled and asked softly, "What was the Marquis like at that time?" Nanny Chang shook her head slowly and said, "It's hard to say, it's not quite right." Minglan encouraged her, "Nanny, please tell me what you think."
Nanny Chang nodded, reminiscing. "At first, I thought Ye'er had returned so hastily because he had received a letter from the Marquis's Mansion about Madam Yu's serious illness. But now it seems that's not the case. I was worried that Ye'er was being bullied inside, so I often paid people to go outside the Marquis's Mansion to get news. Madam Yu was so ill, but the Marquis's Mansion had never hired a royal physician. I became suspicious at the time."
Minglan admired Nanny Chang very much. She held her hand and encouraged her to continue speaking with her eyes.
"There's another one." Nanny Chang spoke even more slowly. "I remember that the day after Ye'er came back, he got very drunk and refused to go home, so he came to my place. I helped him to sleep, but he clenched his teeth tightly and didn't say a word. I was very surprised at that time. How could a man drink so much when his wife was dying? Although my brother has a bad temper, he is not a heartless bastard. No matter how bad Yu was, they were still husband and wife. My brother would not be like this..."
"Maybe the Marquis felt guilty and got drunk." Minglan speculated sourly.
Nanny Chang's old eyes grew increasingly like inverted triangles as she continued to shake her head, "It doesn't look like it. I know my brother's character. He's not the kind of person who just says nice things. If he truly feels he's wronged someone, he'll definitely pay it back with all his heart. He looks like he's filled with grievances and anger that he can't express, and he's so angry that he's drowning his sorrows in alcohol."
This assessment resonated deeply with Minglan. Gu Tingye was a down-to-earth man, willing to demonstrate his understanding of grudges through concrete actions. Because Duan Chengqian had shown him kindness, he abandoned his pregnant wife to rescue his brother (Minglan couldn't help but silently curse what a jerk he was). And because he felt he'd let Yu Yanran down by forcing her to marry far away in Yunnan, he quietly procured tea permits for the Duan family for three years. When Minglan discovered this, he ordered her not to tell anyone. Only after Minglan repeatedly demonstrated, with Yanran's letters, that she was truly, truly, truly doing well did he consider interfering less in the market economy of the southwestern tea industry.
Therefore, if he really felt guilty towards Yu Yanhong, according to his behavior pattern, he should stay by the bedside day and night to comfort the patient, or take weapons to rob two top imperial doctors, or even go to the palace to steal some thousand-year-old ginseng and ten-thousand-year-old turtles, which would be more reliable.
"Later, Mrs. Yu passed away, and Ye'er left without even waiting for the funeral. He was gone for many years." Thinking of the past, Nanny Chang sighed. "It was only about ten days in total. Only a few days after Mrs. Yu's death did Ye'er say something about being blind and mistaking Man Niang. After that, he never said another word."
Logically speaking, the death of a wife is a serious matter, let alone a newlywed wife, and her death was so sudden. Which normal widower would not want to say a few words to others? I am afraid that even Changbai would write a few more five-character poems to lament that the couple were destined not to be together.
"Then, according to Madam's opinion..." Minglan's eyes lit up when she heard this.
Nanny Chang lowered her head and thought over and over again.
She had suspected something at first, hinting twice, "How could someone so young just get sick and disappear so suddenly?" But Gu Tingye always avoided the subject. Still, she sensed something was amiss. Though Gu Tingye didn't show it on his face, she could sense a hint of annoyance in his demeanor and words. He didn't want to talk about it, as if it were best if it didn't happen at all. And Gu Tingye wasn't one to shy away from it.
"The death of Mrs. Yu has nothing to do with Ye'er." Nanny Chang said word by word with a serious expression, "Not only is it unrelated, but Mrs. Yu must have made a big mistake." As for whether it was related to the Gu family, she didn't dare to make a conclusion.
Minglan let out a deep breath, feeling somewhat relieved. In hindsight, she'd actually felt the same way.
If that were the case, the Yu family's reaction would make sense. They felt guilty, so they didn't pursue Yu Yanhong's death, nor did they dare ask Gu Tingye to marry another Yu family member as a concubine. They certainly didn't dare to act like Yue family members and frequent their visits. Before this morning, the behavior of both the Gu and Yu families was consistent with this theory. But what gave Madam Yu the audacity to come and provoke them?!
Minglan was deeply puzzled and pondered over it again and again. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to her mind. During the argument this morning, when Mrs. Yu mentioned Gu Tingye, the unnatural flickering and evasive look in her eyes suddenly reminded Minglan of it.
"... Before and after Yu passed away, did the Marquis have any dealings with the Yu family?" Minglan suddenly asked.
Nanny Chang was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "It shouldn't have happened. My brother is very upset. He hasn't even finished the funeral yet, and he's already left in such a hurry."
Like a crack, tearing through the long-lasting darkness, Minglan finally found the most reasonable explanation for her doubts. She slowly exhaled, slowly stood up, supported her lower back, and took a few steps before suddenly turning back and smiling.
"Let's not discuss how the Yu family's sister died. She was to blame for her own death, and the Yu family is guilty. This is something that is definitely difficult to talk about, so very few people know about it. In the Gu family, probably only the old Marquis, the Dowager, and the Marquis knew about it. In the Yu family, only Master Yu and Madam Yu knew about it. The rest of the Yu family was in Dengzhou at the time and probably didn't know."
"Then why does Madam Yu dare to..." Nanny Chang was confused. How could people who did something wrong get the courage these days?
"Because someone interfered."
Minglan stood in the middle, smiling faintly. "For a long time, the Yu family's eldest wife has always believed that they were in the wrong, swallowing their bitterness and daring not to speak out, let alone cause trouble. But recently, someone suddenly came to the door and told Madam Yu that the Marquis was unaware of the incident."
Nanny Chang's squinting eyes suddenly opened, and her expression was shocked.
"The Marquis knew he knew, we knew he knew, and the Dowager knew even better, but the Yu family was unaware. When the incident happened, both families were caught off guard. The funeral and the aftermath must have been handled by the Dowager." Minglan carefully considered the circumstances, and the more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. "When the incident happened, the Yu family felt guilty and ashamed, so they wouldn't dare to ask any further questions."
Nanny Chang gradually grasped the key point and, following Minglan's train of thought, continued slowly, "However, recently someone told the Yu family that Ye-ge'er actually didn't know about this matter. If they cover it up well, they might be able to get away with it."
As for who that person was, they both knew it.
Minglan slowly sat down in front of Nanny Chang and said with a smile, "Not only that, that man also promised all kinds of benefits. Lord Yu's career is not going well, and Lord Yu doesn't have much time left. If we can adopt a son under the Yu name, the child will definitely recognize the Yu family as their maternal ancestors, and there may be opportunities to benefit from our family in the future." The rest of the Yu family was unaware of all this.
"...Isn't this just a scam?" After a while, Nanny Chang came to her senses. "You can fool people for a while, but you can't fool them forever. When my brother comes back, won't everything be exposed?"
"The Yu family is just a pawn." Minglan's smile was a little cold. "Once I give in, I'll let them go and argue outside, saying they've got the Gu family's agreement. The ceremony will be held later. First, we'll just celebrate for Lord Yu. The Yu family will prepare a few tables of wine and ask Chang'er to pay him a visit in front of everyone. Then, we'll make it a done deal. The only ones who will suffer are the Yu family and the Marquis."
By then, one can imagine how embarrass Gu Tingye would be. Not only would his youthful frivolity be brought up again to humiliate him (and maybe even the censors would join in the fun), but there would also be the problem of succession. Unless he made up his mind to get rid of the child, there would be endless troubles.
As for the Yu couple, just like Aunt Kang, once they have been used up, why would anyone care about their life or death?
Nanny Chang gasped and said in a lost voice, "What a vicious plan!"
She was stunned for a while, and was about to ask Minglan what to do, but she saw her looking up in a daze, and she couldn't help but ask.
"I think Madam Gong also knows about this matter." Minglan looked up in thought.
The women who had been part of the Yu family's dowry had long since been driven away, sold, or returned to the Yu family; only Hong Xiao remained. Having been with Yu Shi since childhood, she must have known everything. Only now did Minglan finally understand why Gu Tingye always looked so disgusted with such a pitiful woman; it was always unpleasant to be around someone who knew one's secrets, hidden from the public eye.
"She must have been planning this for a long time. I don't think Sister Yanran's father would be so gullible if she just said it. We need a witness." Minglan's thoughts wandered away, and she muttered, "Back when the family split up with the fourth and fifth houses, Concubine Gong always liked to go there. I was too busy at the time to bother with her. Now that I think about it, that person must have found an opportunity to take Concubine Gong away, using her to prove that the Marquis was indeed ignorant. Only then did Master Yu have the courage to act so rashly!"
No wonder the old witch had to choose this time to attack, no wonder Gong Hongxiao became so obedient after that, she thought she had intimidated people with her domineering aura.
Nanny Chang gnashed her teeth as she listened. "This bitch! This bitch!" She was cursing two different people. "Madam, we can't care about the others. Let's tie up this bitch surnamed Gong first!"
Minglan smiled bitterly: "She has done everything she wanted to do, why tie her up? Well, never mind, it's not too late to mend the fold." Then she called out to Mother Cui and whispered to someone to keep Hong Xiao under guard. Mother Cui then left.
"Madam, what should we do now?" This time, Nanny Chang was really at a loss.
Minglan, on the other hand, calmed down. The greatest fear in the world is not knowing. Now that she had some idea of what was going on, she wasn't afraid anymore. She smiled and said, "What else can we do? We can fight back. Let's use some tricks too."
Nanny Chang understood what she meant and asked in surprise, "What if the Yu family doesn't accept the offer? And what if we are all wrong?"
Minglan tilted her head, thought for a moment, then spread her hands. "I've gathered the guards. If we really have no other options, I'll take my valuables, Madam, take Nian'er, and we'll take refuge at the hot spring resort in the mountains. It's easy to defend there, but difficult to attack. Let's see who can make it!"
Nanny Chang was speechless, staring blankly and venting her anger.
Minglan sighed. Unless it was really unstoppable, it would be safer to give birth in the mansion. After all, they had been preparing for several months and had all the necessary supplies and personnel. If they really went to the mountains and needed something, even if they urgently went to find a doctor, it would probably be too late.
…
After a good sleep, Minglan stretched herself out of bed and ate two bowls of rice in a row. She wiped her mouth and waited all morning with great enthusiasm. By lunchtime, no one had come to challenge her, so she had to go back to sleep. When she opened her eyes again, she was unsurprisingly told by Luzhi, accompanied by the sound of gnashing teeth: "Someone from the Yu family has come again, and they're in the small hall!"
Minglan felt quite excited as if she had been 'longing for a fight', and waved her hand domineeringly: "Change clothes and meet the guests." In fact, what she wanted to shout more was "Close the door and let the dogs out."
Seeing Madam Yu again, Minglan had ample time to examine her from head to toe, wondering how she could be so bold and shameless as to come and cause such a scene (assuming her suspicions were correct). Madam Yu's presence made her feel numb, yet she still managed to give her a commanding glance and then said sternly, "What do you say? Do you agree or not?"
It was like a gangster negotiation. Minglan looked around and said with a smile, "I wish I could see Old Madam Yu today."
Mrs. Yu Si's face was rather weary. "Mother wanted to come, but she wasn't feeling well. We had a hard time convincing her not to."
"Fourth Aunt is so filial. I'm sorry for your concern." Minglan smiled gently, then turned to the Taifu and Mrs. Yu, who were watching the show like fighting cocks, and said, "If the old lady listened to us, she might have to lie down too."
Mrs. Yu's expression was stern: "What do you mean?"
"It's nothing. I just want to ask, what will my aunt do if I refuse?" Minglan said slowly.
Mrs. Yu was filled with rage. She sneered and shouted, "My poor child died less than a year after marrying into your Gu family. At least give me an explanation! If you think I'm not worthy enough, I'll ask my mother-in-law and other elders to come!"
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Mrs. Yu hurriedly said, "Minglan, don't worry. This is all for my father-in-law. It's just a formality to celebrate and make the old man happy."
"Oh, my poor daughter, it's a pity that you died early in the Gu family, and you didn't even have someone to hold a clay pot..." Mrs. Yu felt it and started to cry, but unfortunately she had no tears.
"Aunt, please don't cry yet. Listen to what I have to say." Minglan waved her hand quickly and said, "After you left yesterday, someone happened to come to see me. It was a nanny whom the Marquis had trusted since childhood. Even during the years he was away, it was this nanny who took care of him."
Minglan smiled and spoke, pleased to see that Madam Yu had stopped pretending to cry. She listened with confusion and continued, "Madam Yu saw my face full of lawsuits and asked me why. I told her about the adoption. She was shocked and slammed the table, yelling, 'How unreasonable! How shameless!' Aunt Yu, why do you say that?"
Mrs. Yu's face gradually changed. She instinctively looked at the Taifu. The Taifu smiled at her and made a gesture with her eyes. Mrs. Yu turned around and stared at Minglan fiercely: "I really don't know!"
Minglan sneered inwardly and began to place bets, but her smile grew increasingly warm and gentle: "After hearing what Madam said, I still don't believe it. Sister Yanran is so gentle and kind, how could Sister Yanhong be like this?!"
Mrs. Yu's face began to turn blue, but she bit her lips hard to hold on.
"So, I brought Madam Gong here for questioning. Speaking of which, she's also a member of the Yu family. Has Auntie seen her recently?" Minglan said this lightly, carefully observing Madam Yu's expression. She noticed she paused for breath. Minglan smiled and continued, "She told me a lot of things. Now I understand why the Marquis never wants to mention Sister Yanhong."
Mrs. Yu couldn't hold on any longer and began to sway. Mrs. Yu Si was confused and just stared at her sister-in-law in a daze. At this moment, the lady sitting at the other end suddenly chuckled and said leisurely, "Hong Xiao is not a talkative person. Could it be that someone scared her or hit her?"
Without even turning her head, Minglan stared at Madam Yu with a smile. "I heard that Concubine Gong grew up in your presence. You know her personality best. She's a smart person and knows that's all she can do in the mansion. The rest is all about her future. If anyone can promise her anything, I'll double it. What do you think she'll do?"
Mrs. Yu's breathing became heavier. She looked at the old lady again in a daze. This time, even the old lady's expression changed. She only knew that Gong Hongxiao had been under surveillance since last night and it was difficult for her to pass on any news to the outside world. She had no idea what was going on in detail.
"Mrs. Gong is still here. I promise her a reunion with her, a lifetime of money, a good family name, and land. I can then find a son-in-law and give birth to a son. What's better than that? Aunt, what do you think?"
Minglan deliberately lowered her voice, her expression gentle and indifferent. She approached Mrs. Yu and spoke slowly. Mrs. Yu swallowed hard and looked at Minglan with a face full of doubt and uncertainty. She didn't even realize that her voice was trembling: "...You, you mean, the Marquis...he had already..."
"Mother-in-law!" The lady shouted loudly and stood up.
Mrs. Yu suddenly stopped talking.
Minglan snorted in disdain, "These days, I used to think the Marquis's indifference to the Yu family wasn't good. Now that I know the truth, you asked me to say something..." Her expression suddenly turned cold, full of sarcasm. "Hmph! He's still doing his best to let Sister Yanhong lie in the Gu family's tomb, receiving incense and offerings from the Gu family's descendants. He's doing his best to preserve the dignity of both families! It's a pity that people are still not satisfied and actually come to humiliate us. Do they think the Gu family is easy to bully?!"
Mrs. Yu's first wife seemed to have turned pale even to her fingertips, and she sat there swaying. Mrs. Yu's fourth wife gradually began to understand what was going on. Judging from what had happened today, it seemed that her niece had committed a serious mistake at the Gu family's house, perhaps even a scandal. She thought that her family had actually dared to come and cause trouble. Hadn't they truly offended Marquis Gu?! She was immediately frightened and broke into a cold sweat, looking at Minglan in panic.
Minglan turned and sat towards her, saying softly, "Fourth Aunt, I guess you don't know either."
Mrs. Yu nodded repeatedly and said bitterly, "Because your father-in-law's illness has gradually worsened, your fourth uncle and I only rushed here from Dengzhou two months ago. How could we know?"
Minglan tilted her eyes slightly, and said pointedly, "Fourth Aunt, you are a sensible person. Don't do something foolish like your aunt, letting others use you as a pawn and causing great disaster for the Yu family."
Mrs. Yu Si followed Minglan's gaze, glanced at the lady-in-law, then looked at her own exhausted sister-in-law. After thinking for a moment, her mind gradually became clear, and she understood about 50% of the matter.
Minglan squinted at Madam Yu and spoke clearly, "I cannot possibly obey your order regarding the adoption. If Aunt Yu still refuses to forgive me, then please use some means. I am in poor health now. When the Marquis returns, I will personally go to the Yu Mansion and have a thorough discussion with Master Yu and the rest of the Yu family about Sister Yanhong's past. Let's get to the bottom of it!"
Mrs. Yu groaned and half fainted, not knowing whether it was true or not.
Mrs. Yu Si took a deep breath, knowing that this was a huge joke. The sooner it ended, the better. She helped her sister-in-law up and said, "Minglan, my family has been rude and disrespectful these past two days. We will go back now. If the Marquis is angry..." She found it difficult to speak, so she could only look at Minglan deeply and say, "I hope you will bear with me for the sake of our old friendship."
Minglan sighed and said gently, "Fourth Aunt, let alone the brotherly love between me and Sister Yanran, even the love you have for me, the love between the old lady and my grandmother, is also there."
Mrs. Yu Si breathed a sigh of relief and quickly called the maid to help support Mrs. Yu Da. Without saying a word to the lady, she bowed her head and hurriedly said goodbye.
"If Madam has no other instructions, I will go and rest now." Minglan watched them leave and slowly stood up.
"Wait."
The old lady witnessed the whole process and sighed that she had finally met her match. Her original plan to delay for many days was exposed early. Fortunately, she was well prepared.
Minglan turned slowly and raised her eyebrows. "Madam, do you have any other advice?"
The lady didn't say anything, but just waved to the maid next to her.
The three-fold purple bamboo curtain on the side was gently rolled up, and a mother and son walked in with their heads lowered, standing respectfully in the middle, bowing to Minglan and the lady dowager. The woman's crisp voice sounded like the singing and responding on the stage.
"Manniang has met the Madam and Madam."
Minglan sat down slowly again and waited leisurely, but Danju and Luzhi beside her were almost furious.
The Madam smiled confidently, still speaking in her leisurely tone, "As for the adoption, since the Yu family isn't arguing, I won't say much. However," she pointed at Chang'er, "this child is the Marquis's own flesh and blood, and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to be living outside forever, so..."
"So, as his legitimate mother, I should be magnanimous and bring this child into the mansion to recognize his ancestors, right?" Minglan was impatient. She felt a slight pain in her stomach, and the feeling of falling suddenly became more obvious. She interrupted the old witch and finished her words for her, "But didn't the Marquis not let Chang'er into the mansion? Oh, it was the Marquis who was confused and couldn't let go of his pride. As his mistress, I should be virtuous and persuade the Marquis kindly, right?"
Listening to this barrage of sarcasm, the Madam's face twitched a few times. Minglan found it amusing and continued, "Also, if Chang'er comes to live with us, then Man Niang can't be left behind. Leaving the child behind is too unjust and against human harmony. How can we separate mother and child who depend on each other for survival? So, Man Niang should also come with us, right?"
Seeing that her master was repeatedly interrupted, Xiang Mama shouted in a deep voice, "Please be careful with your words. Where is the courtesy of respecting elders, Madam?" Minglan smiled shamelessly, "It was out of respect. I was afraid that the elders would be tired, so I said everything for her." Xiang Mama was furious. The lady had a gloomy face. At her age, it was not appropriate for her to argue with the young wife. It was too embarrassing.
"There's only one thing I really don't understand," Minglan said with a smile, "Back then, the old marquis was adamant about not letting Man Niang in. We can't just ignore his words because he's passed away."
The Madam's face was expressionless, but she seemed to be angry. "The old Marquis meant that Man Niang shouldn't be allowed to come to the mansion before the wife of the principal house arrives, so as not to embarrass her in-laws. It's also because Yan Hong is young, impatient, and unwilling to tolerate others, otherwise she would have been allowed in long ago."
Minglan was deeply impressed and didn't hold back. She laughed and said, "Yesterday in front of the Yu family, you praised Sister Yanhong like a flower. Now you're being so intolerant? You've let me say everything. I'm really impressed."
The old lady was furious and slammed the table to curse, but Minglan raised her hand to stop her with a playful smile, "It's my fault, I was wrong, I spoke without restraint. You are famous for your good temper, I don't think you will bother with a junior!" The old lady's breath fluctuated for several rounds, and she suppressed it. Suddenly she remembered that Minglan had snatched all her lines. What should she say next?
Seeing her expression change, Minglan said with a smile, "Since you want to invite them mother and son in, at least let me ask a few questions."
The lady held her breath and nodded.
Minglan looked down at Manniang, only to find her looking back at her. She looked rather surprised, as if struck by her own behavior. She looked disdainful, perhaps wondering how such an uneducated girl could possibly coax Gu Tingye. Minglan wanted to defend herself; she was, in fact, a truly gentle, respectful, frugal, and modest young person.
"Madam," Man Niang lowered her head, her voice as mournful as the solitary orchid in the valley, echoing in the house, "Man Niang comes from a humble background, and I didn't dare to have any extravagant hopes. My young son is pitiful, helpless and without a father. Please have mercy on me, madam, and give us mother and son a way out!" As she spoke, she knelt down, kowtowed repeatedly, and pulled Chang Ge'er to kneel as well.
After so many years of running around, her appearance has long lost its luster, but her good voice remains.
Minglan looked around and felt that there were too few audiences around. It was a pity for such a big star. Man Niang was just giving a blind look. She was not moved at all. Instead, her stomach began to ache slightly.
"When I met Madam in Dengzhou that year, Man Niang was blind and offended Madam. Please don't blame me!" She kowtowed more vigorously, "I heard Madam speak up for the eldest daughter of the Yu family that day, but I didn't know that Madam would marry into the Gu family in the future..." The implication was that Ming Lan acted improperly and her words and deeds were inconsistent.
Minglan wasn't angry at all. She simply said, "I'm not as smart as you. I only listen to my elders when it comes to marriage. When they tell me to marry, I marry. I don't know how to think so much of this. You think too highly of me, young lady."
Man Niang choked and stopped crying for a moment.
"You have a nice voice when you speak," Minglan said suddenly. This was a completely unrelated statement that caught Manniang off guard. She was stunned for a moment, then quickly responded with a sob, "My life has been miserable. I've been begging for a living since I was a child."
"Your singing skills and figure are both superb, but it's a pity that you're a woman and can't perform on stage." Minglan didn't listen to her performance, but just smiled. "I heard that your favorite song is 'The Story of Liu Yunqiao'? Even after you followed the Marquis and had no worries about food and clothing, you still often sang this song at home? You sang it section by section, especially the section 'The third place winner pursues the beautiful woman on a snowy night, and the Liuli girl sheds blood to express her feelings.' When no one was around, you sang it word for word over and over again."
Man Niang was completely stunned, and her palms felt slightly cold. This was the secret in her heart.
"We are both women, so tell me the truth." Minglan smiled and spoke in a familiar tone, "Do you envy Madam Liuli?" Man Niang opened her mouth, not knowing how to respond.
Minglan answered for her, smiling at the Madam, "I'm being ridiculous. I'm just envious. Otherwise, why would she continue to sing this song day and night after she escaped from her lowly status, afraid that people wouldn't know what she was originally doing?"
Man Niang's face turned pale and she bit her lower lip fiercely.
Mao's Art of War states that one must fight one's own battle and not let the enemy lead one by the nose. If the enemy wants to fight on the plains, force them into a mountainous battle. If the enemy wants a direct confrontation, conduct guerrilla warfare to harass them. Therefore, when Manniang wants to discuss her miserable life, Minglan discusses her artistic pursuits. When Manniang wants to discuss her son, she avoids the topic.
"Master Gao gave up his luxurious life, the expectations of his mentor and parents, and even faced the wrath of his friends and family to marry Madam Liuli. He truly makes us ordinary women envious." Minglan looked at Manniang with amusement. "Judging from your actions, you don't seem like someone who seeks comfort and ease. Traveling thousands of miles with your son to follow the Marquis, you must have great ambitions. Could it be..." she smiled, "Could it be that you want to emulate Madam Liuli and ask the Marquis to marry you openly, regardless of public opinion?"
"No!" Man Niang instinctively rejected the thought, even though she had been thinking about it day and night. She was about to say, "I am of humble origin, how dare I have such a thought?" but was interrupted by Ming Lan, who jokingly said, "You have to be careful. If you say the same thing too many times, be careful that the Bodhisattva hears it and takes it seriously."
Man Niang bit her lip, unable to speak. The lady beside her was stunned. She wanted to help, but she didn't know where to interrupt.
"That's nothing." Minglan endured the pain in her abdomen and said half-jokingly, "It's a good thing for people to have ambition. You don't want to enter the Marquis's Mansion, you don't want a comfortable life, you only want the Marquis himself. This shows that you have a good eye for people, knowing that the Marquis is a needle in a pouch, and one day he will be able to break out of the pouch. You are far better than those who look down on others!"
As he spoke, he glanced at the lady intentionally or unintentionally, which made her so angry that she fell backwards.
Man Niang stopped talking and put away her pitiful look. She just stared at Minglan with a stern look.
"But now, you still haven't become the second Lady Liuli." Minglan was not afraid of her gaze. The angrier she got, the better. She just said, "You've schemed so hard, but you still don't have the status. Not only can you not enter our family, but even your son can't recognize his ancestors!"
"You--!" A cry of anger and grievance came out of Man Niang's throat.
"Do you know why?" Minglan asked.
Man Niang stared at Minglan with a pair of angry eyes, like a dormant female beast, ready to pounce.
"Let me tell you." Minglan stopped laughing and looked serious. "Your biggest mistake is that you don't understand that if you really like someone, you should think about him or her."
"The Marquis deeply admires my father. No matter how harsh his words are, he still wants harmony between father and son. If Madam Liuli were you, she would have left the Marquis long ago and would never have let them quarrel over you. The Marquis wants to marry a virtuous lady from a noble family. If Madam Liuli were you, she would have turned around and left long ago, never hindering the Marquis's future, instead of going to Dengzhou to disrupt the marriage like you did. The Marquis wants his two children to be safe and healthy. If Madam Liuli were you, she would have raised them well and let them grow up to be independent and strong, instead of abandoning her young daughter and dragging her three or four-year-old son away to the ends of the earth. Let me ask you, how many words does Chang'er know now, and how much education has he received?"
Minglan's tone was calm, but every word she said was like a needle piercing her heart.
Man Niang panted heavily. All her life's planning had gone to waste. How could she not feel resentful? Yet, no words escaped her lips. She had admired Madam Liuli since childhood and wanted to emulate her in every way. She could say that Minglan came from a wealthy family and that it was easy for her to talk, but Madam Liuli's situation was only more difficult than hers.
"From the beginning to the end, you've only thought about yourself. Regardless of the Marquis's wishes or your children's feelings, you only act according to your own whims. How can you be compared to Madam Liuli?" Minglan deliberately showed disdain. "If you hadn't been so persistent, she would have already been helping the elderly, the weak, and the poor, and building her own family!"
She was a remarkable woman, and her many talents are beyond description. Every time Minglan reads the notes about Lady Liuli, she feels like she's reading "Arabian Nights," and can't help but seriously suspect it's a myth embellished by later generations. In fact, having reached Lady Liuli's level, whether or not she had the ardent love of that great scholar Gao was no longer crucial. To paraphrase a political science lesson, she had found her own purpose in life and lived happily.
Man Niang's eyes were red, her fingers almost dug holes in the carpet, and she glared at Ming Lan with resentment.
"Of course," Minglan added, her tone gentle again, even tinged with pity. "The most important thing is that the Marquis has never loved you the way that Grand Secretary Gao loves Madam Liuli. That's all that matters..."
This sentence was the final straw that broke Man Niang's back. In that moment, Man Niang had no idea what she was doing and was about to pounce on him like a madman, but the maids Dan Ju had brought with her held him down tightly. The little boy next to her was terrified and trembled. Man Niang was still cursing under her breath, "You bitch..."
Minglan turned to look at the Dowager and said coldly, "Are you still going to let her in?" The Dowager, watching from the sidelines, was utterly shocked. Her lips moved a few times, but she said nothing. Minglan turned again and saw that Manniang had gradually regained her breath. "Let her go," she said.
Man Niang raised her head indifferently, her face covered with tears. This time Minglan believed that she was not pretending.
Minglan looked at the thin little boy, feeling deeply sad. Suddenly, she spoke softly, "If you still have feelings for him, you should make good plans for him. Don't let him suffer with the adults. I heard he's not in good health. Ask yourself, a man marries a wife to take care of his wife and children. If you can't even raise a child properly, which man would respect and love you?"
Man Niang lowered her head, breathing heavily, and roared like a female beast.
The third wave of pain hit Minglan, and she felt something was wrong. She stood up trembling, a look of pain on her face. Danju panicked and asked repeatedly, but Minglan whispered in her ear, "This pain is wrong. I think I'm going to give birth."
Danju suppressed her panic and shouted, "Someone, bring the sedan chair over here." A nearby maid immediately responded and went out to fetch help, while Danju supported Minglan and carefully walked over. Minglan held back a sigh and said, "It's okay, I can walk." She was in good physical condition and wouldn't be so fragile. Even in modern society, giving birth still required a ride to the hospital.
Seeing Minglan like this, the lady became slightly suspicious, not knowing whether it was a replay of yesterday's "The Wolf Cried" plot, or whether the day of delivery had really come. She exchanged glances with her mother, still hesitant.
Man Niang, lying on the ground, gritted her teeth. Suddenly, a fierce determination seized her. She grabbed her son and carried him up, seemingly rushing towards the pillar beside Minglan, as if to bang her head against it. She kept shouting, "If you don't let us live, then none of us will live!"
Everyone in the room was in a panic. Danju and Luzhi both stood in front of Minglan, but Xiaotao was clever and agile. She rushed sideways with all her strength and bumped into Manniang, knocking her to the ground.
"Someone come here! Arrest this guy with ulterior motives!" he said to my mother first.
Minglan glanced at her. Her stomach was now aching, and she had no time to bother with it, so she could only go back. However, today was a complete victory, which was still very enjoyable. As for Man Niang and Chang Ge'er, it wasn't her job to deal with them. She would wait for Gu Tingye.
…
Once inside, Mother Cui had already prepared everything, and the two midwives were anxiously waiting. Minglan's consciousness was fading, and she felt like she was lying on a cloud, enduring waves of labor pains. Honestly, this feeling was strange. It didn't seem to hurt much, just a sharp soreness below her waist and abdomen that almost made her want to cry. Oh my god, why is it so sore? It's so sore it hurts!
I don't know how many hours passed, my clothes were soaked with sweat, even my eyelashes seemed wet, the sky was getting dark outside, and the voices next to my ears were still shouting loudly. The old women headed by Mother Cui were like a cheerleading team, just repeating "breathe", "bear the pain", "save your energy and don't shout", "try hard", "it will be fine" over and over again, just like a broken old tape recorder with a cassette.
The lights in the room lit up, and the stars, like the night sky, complemented the already full eyes of Venus, creating a beautiful contrast. The pain accumulated to a critical point, and Minglan felt that she was about to die, when suddenly there was a frantic shouting outside. Huh? It didn't sound like her cheerleading team.
She mustered her strength and left, opening her eyes a little to look, only to see a strange red light outside the window that illuminated the entire sky.
"There's a fire! There's a fire!" The people outside shouted in confusion.
Minglan suddenly clear
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