The first thing Minglan did after her confinement period was to wash herself from head to toe three times, then twice a day, over and over again. Thinking about how she hadn't bathed in such hot weather for so many days, her scalp immediately tingled. She asked Xiaotao to rub harder, leaving patches of her skin red. Mother Cui felt distressed. Actually, during her confinement period, she would wipe Minglan's body several times a day with warm water and a soft towel. How could she have gotten so smelly? She had to do this, rubbing herself off a layer of skin to feel happy.
The half-person-high tub, steaming hot, was made of cedar wood shipped from the southwest and finely woven with copper wire. Minglan sat comfortably inside, the essences in the water, evaporated by the scalding steam, instantly filling the room with fragrance. She still had a lot of the fragrant milk and flower dew given by the palace last time. She was pregnant at the time, so she didn't dare use it for fear of the effects, so she saved it. Unsure of its expiration date, she simply poured it into the water. Mother Cui's mouth twitched again at the sight.
No beasts or venomous snakes slumbered beside her bed. Minglan felt more relaxed than ever. No longer had to pay respects every few days, rethinking every word before uttering it, fearing a treachery. Every morning, she had to contemplate both defense and counterattack. On closer inspection, she had no grudge against the Dowager, and there was no need for such a life-or-death struggle. But the old woman, unable to reach her formidable opponent, Comrade Gu, had no choice but to target her fellow man, instantly becoming the hardest hit, a pure collateral damage.
This job is really hard to do - Minglan couldn't help but pour two more bottles of imperial perfume into the bathtub. It was so popular that there was no demand for it. It was really enjoyable.
Amidst the fragrant air, Mother Cui felt both helpless and amused as she wiped Minglan with a clean, fine cotton towel. Her own face was visibly thinner, its wrinkles winding like the grain of cypress wood on the edge of a bathtub. Minglan felt a pang of sadness. Mother Cui was not young anymore, and she had been so exhausted lately that she looked ten years older. She was told to go home and rest, but she refused, constantly watching over Tuan'er, as if a jackal or wolf would snatch the child away if she wasn't careful.
After much persuasion from Danju and Xiaotao, Minglan resorted to one more trick and coaxed her by saying that she would have seventeen or eighteen children in the future and they all depended on Mother Cui to take care of them. Only then did Mother Cui give in.
After taking a bath, Minglan put on a snow-white satin inner dress and turned back and forth three times in front of the mirror that was more than half a person's height. She had big eyes, curved eyebrows, a fair and rosy face, and her skin was pink and plump. Thanks to the careful planning of the lady, she didn't eat well or sleep well, so she didn't look plump. The problem of postpartum obesity was quickly solved. Very good, very good. Minglan was very satisfied.
After putting on her clothes, she walked to the bedside and picked up the child. Looking at Tuan Ge'er's short and fat neck full of wrinkles, she kissed him hard with joy. The little meat ball was very capable. All the flesh grew on his own body, leaving no flesh for his mother.
"Madam, Manager Hao sent someone to say that Master Lao Ding has arrived." Luzhi came in from outside and reported softly.
"Tell Manager Hao to take the craftsmen to check out the house. You and Liao Yong's wife should also go with them." Minglan didn't even look up. The little meatball in her arms kicked and clucked. "Those burned-out rooms shouldn't be repaired right away. The most important thing is to clean up the courtyard where my eldest sister-in-law will live. If I find out that you've skimped on wood, I won't forgive you."
Originally, with the Dowager's departure, the main hall of the main house was vacated, and it was Gu Tingye and his wife who should have moved in. However, the Dowager had been in power for decades, and every brick and stone in the house bore the marks of the previous owner. Not only did Minglan not want to live in the cold and gloomy old house, but even Gu Tingye was wary of it. The couple decided to relocate the center of the mansion and renovate the main house of the former Marquisate to serve as a separate courtyard.
As a result, the mother and daughter of the Shao family, who lived in the secluded main house, had to move out as well. Perhaps because she felt guilty for not coming to help during the previous fire, or perhaps because Xianjie had gained half of her wealth for no reason, the Shao family was particularly easy to talk to this time. Minglan only mentioned it once, and she considered it overnight and agreed the next day.
The new house is located in the southwest of Chengyuan, facing the lotus pond to the east and the bamboo forest to the west. It has a great view and feng shui. Shao was still a little reluctant to leave her late husband, but when her daughter saw the new house, she was as happy as a bird out of a cage. Sometimes she pointed out how to decorate this place and how to arrange that place like a little adult, and sometimes she went to see the new neighbor Rong Jie'er excitedly. Her sadness subsided.
In fact, in the eyes of the child, although the old house was magnificent and noble, it was dark and gloomy everywhere. She had been exposed to the shadow of death since she was a child. The new house was sunny and bright. As soon as the windows and doors were opened, the room was filled with fresh air and the fragrance of birds and flowers.
The mother and son played and laughed for a while. Tuan'er began to feel sleepy. Minglan rocked him gently and continued to instruct, "Send the tortoise-shell embroidered screen that the Fu family sent last time. If Rongjie has one, Xianjie must have one too. Danju, go back and tell the servants who serve my sister-in-law that if she needs any decorations, just go to the storeroom and get them."
Every time she spoke, Danju responded. Luzhi couldn't help laughing: "Look at what Madam said. Sister Danju had already said it a long time ago, but Madam was cautious. Just saying that was enough."
Shao Shi was relatively easy to get along with, the type who didn't help but rarely caused trouble either. She'd occasionally show some self-pity and grumble, but she rarely showed it in a way that was offensive. But she was a widow, so how could she be so cheerful all day without any grumbling? Minglan had no intention of being a good sister to her anyway, so they just had to be polite to each other and do their best to save face.
"Also, tell Master Lao Ding that there are fewer people in this mansion now, and there's more land than there is land. It's getting deserted with empty spaces, so we should enclose the forest plot a little bigger. Plant some bamboo groves and grow some bamboo shoots and mushrooms, and then clear out another plot where I'll build a greenhouse. My sister-in-law will definitely like it. Also, enclose the garden behind the mansion and raise some deer, rabbits, pheasants, and so on. It'll look more lively."
This was something Minglan had just thought of last night. Gu Tingye found it quite fresh and agreed with it. In fact, according to Minglan, with such a big mansion, so much open space and so many idle people, even if they marked out fields to grow vegetables, it would be enough for the whole mansion to eat. Unfortunately, this was too unsightly, so they could only grow some wild mushrooms and game to enrich the food basket and save some unnecessary expenses.
"There are so many woods and gardens in the mansion, so the fences and inner walls must be built solidly. Tell Master Ding not to spare any effort. If he does a good job, I will always reward him."
Luzhi responded with a smile, but still didn't dare to speak loudly for fear of startling Tuan Ge'er. She turned around and gently lifted the curtain to go out.
With her formidable opponent gone, Minglan relaxed completely. Seeing the chubby boy in her arms already snoring unconsciously, she yawned too. She had just woken up and hadn't taken care of much, yet she was already thinking about her pillow. Minglan was always tolerant of others, and even more so of herself. She immediately stopped struggling and took her son to a nap.
When Gu Tingye returned to his room after court, he saw his beloved wife and child sleeping head to head. Looking at their two equally fair faces, his heart was filled with tenderness. Tuan Ge'er had grown up a bit these days and was particularly noisy. Minglan was worried about the child and couldn't sleep well at night. Now he was sleeping soundly, but the little meatball beside him had slept enough and had woken up without knowing when. He looked around with his big round eyes, but when he saw his father, he fixed his eyes and babbled softly.
The wet nurse beside him said in a happy voice: "My brother can recognize people now."
Gu Tingye was also happy. He bent over and carefully picked up the swaddling clothes. He felt that his son was the most handsome baby in the world. He couldn't look at him enough and kissed Tuan Ge'er's little face again and again.
"Stinky brat!" Gu Tingye scolded with a smile. Although Tuan Ge'er hadn't grown up yet, he was quite strong. He actually kicked his legs twice in his swaddling clothes. "This kid is really strong." He applied a little force with his hands and gently lifted the child twice. Tuan Ge'er suddenly laughed happily and giggled. The movement woke Minglan. She rubbed her eyes, still confused, "The Marquis is back. Why are you here so early today?"
Gu Tingye smiled and said, "I didn't want to disturb you, but it's time for lunch, you should get up first."
Minglan glanced out the window, noticing that the sun was nearing noon. Her face flushed, and she felt rather embarrassed. She'd been acting like a lazy woman lately, never getting enough sleep. Gu Tingye paid no attention to any of this. He only frowned at the red ropes tied around his son's arms and legs. He sat on the edge of the bed and asked Minglan, "Why are you tying him up?" It wasn't like we were catching a bad guy.
In fact, Minglan was not very clear about it, so she had to explain: "It was Mama Cui who said that all us brothers and sisters were like this when we were young. This is just a small bundle. When we grow up, we will have a bigger bundle. My eldest brother was taken care of by Mama Cui when he was young." According to her guess, it was probably to prevent bow legs or to prevent the little hands from being tucked into the sleeves.
Gu Tingye thought of Sheng Changbai's upright and upright character like a pine tree, and immediately gained more confidence in Mother Cui. Looking at Tuan Ge'er, his features and temperament were very similar to his own. Although he liked him in his heart, he couldn't help but worry: "It is said that nephews resemble their uncles. It would be perfect if he could be like your eldest brother." He has always admired the eldest brother-in-law of the Sheng family, even the slightly weak Changfeng and the honest and hardworking Changdong. At least they are well-behaved and motivated, and are willing to listen to their father. Unlike himself, he has been able to fly and hide since he could walk, and he has been able to get into trouble.
Tuan'er's tender little mouth moved slightly like an animal, as if sucking. His parents were talking and didn't see him at all. He immediately whimpered and cried hard. The wet nurse beside him had been waiting for him. She came forward with a smile and held him in her arms: "My brother must be hungry at this hour. Let me serve you."
She said she was crying, but in reality, she had no tears. Her little face was red and she was sulking. Gu Tingye found it amusing and handed the child over with a smile. As the stout, round wet nurse turned and left, Minglan sighed slightly, "This kid is such a glutton! He needs two wet nurses to wait on him. If he was born in an ordinary family, he would probably go broke."
Gu Tingye loosened the collar of his court robes and said with a smile, "Being able to eat and sleep is a great blessing, but you complain about it. When Brother Zhong's son was born, he vomited everything he ate. Even now that he's grown up, he's still sickly. Brother Zhong is worried sick."
Speaking of this topic, he remembered something and said in a deep voice, "That witch is so cruel that she doesn't even let the little children go. Fortunately, the old lady is alert, otherwise, wouldn't it be so bad?"
Minglan got out of bed, draped in her undergarment, and stood up to help Gu Tingye undress and remove his jade belt, saying, "It's all in the past. Don't think about this dirty thing anymore. Aren't we all doing well now?"
Months earlier, Minglan had begun searching for a wet nurse. As usual, Madam Cui had gone to the rescue. When Old Lady Sheng learned of this, she felt a sudden sense of unease and instructed Madam Fang to secretly search for candidates. Several of the Shengs' villages had recently given birth to women, two of whom had ample breast milk, good personalities, and a steady demeanor. After the selection was made, the old lady kept it a secret, simply asking Minglan to continue selecting wet nurses to create a false alarm. Two days after Minglan gave birth, she would send the two wet nurses, along with their contracts, over. The previously selected candidates were dismissed with a small reward.
At that time, Minglan thought that the old lady was too suspicious, and she agreed to her wishes out of filial piety. But later, after a thorough investigation, Gu Tingye discovered that there were some unclear issues with the two wet nurses he had originally chosen.
A wet nurse was the daughter-in-law of a slave appointed by the palace. She had no relationship with the lady-in-law at all. However, after digging deep into the ground, she discovered that her former husband and son, with whom she had lost contact, had reappeared and were settled in the countryside. The shadowy figure of this "kind-hearted" person pointed to the lady-in-law's companion, Chen, the steward.
The other was from a decent family outside. Madam Cui and Madam Chang checked and checked, and everything seemed fine. The family was also very honest and dutiful. After receiving the deposit, they were determined to do their job well and often prepared milk-stimulating foods for their daughter-in-law. Meanwhile, a neighboring family suddenly moved in nearby and was very welcoming. They raised a large number of chickens and ducks, and relatives had fish ponds. They often provided the wet nurse's family with carp, silver carp, chickens, ducks, and other items at a low price. It was both nourishing and economical, so the wet nurse's family naturally agreed.
By the time Minglan gave birth, the wet nurse had been feasting on chicken, duck, fish, and meat from the neighbors for nearly two months. A few days earlier, Nanny Chang had suddenly arrived with news that the wet nurse and her mother-in-law had fallen gravely ill, suffering from a persistent high fever and convulsions. Minglan asked Tu Er to examine them, and he found nothing amiss except the food provided by the neighbors.
Of course, the neighbor had already moved out by then.
After hearing this, Minglan felt a chill run down her spine. It must be a slow-acting poison, invisible at first, but only when it accumulates to a certain level will it take effect. If this happened to adults, what would happen if a newborn baby drank the milk of a poisoned person?
The old witch was indeed well-planned and vicious. She had no intention of letting the child go, regardless of whether she could be killed or not.
Fortunately, the wet nurse's family was very filial and provided good food. Only the wet nurse and her frail mother were taken care of, while the children and men in the family were not affected. Minglan felt deeply sorry and sent for a doctor, sending a large sum of money, hoping that the patient would recover.
Gu Tingye still harbored deep hatred, and said in a cold voice: "The law of nature is clear, there will be retribution!"
He now wanted to tear the old lady apart, and he regretted that he was too lenient when dividing the family property. "Fortunately, the old lady was a smart one, otherwise..." He simply couldn't bear to imagine Tuan Ge'er's little body twitching with a high fever.
Minglan lowered her head and untied her belt. It would be a lie to say she wasn't angry, but she was more grateful. She was grateful to God for giving her such a good grandmother, grateful that God didn't let the old witch succeed, and grateful that her little meatball was now so healthy and lively, able to eat and sleep well.
Old Madam Sheng had even threatened the two wet nurses she had sent over: if they served well, she would give them their families' indentures and allow them to live in the Marquis's mansion and enjoy a comfortable life; if anything happened to them, she would immediately sell their families off, no matter how hard-pressed they were, leaving no one alive! How could they possibly be anything other than honest and dedicated?
Thinking that the old lady's tragic past had made her so cautious and thorough today, Minglan felt bitter and sad. She whispered, "Let's open two more soup kitchens later. I hope good deeds will be rewarded."
Minglan handed the court dress to Xia Zhu who was standing beside her and said, "My lord, go wash your face first, then we can have dinner." Gu Tingye nodded and went straight to the bathroom. When he came out after washing off the sweat and dust, he saw that the dining table had been set up in the room and an ice basin was placed in the corner far away. The couple sat down to eat.
"The cicadas haven't chirped yet, so why is it still so hot?" Minglan always suffered from summer heat. After just two sips of soup, a thin layer of sweat began to form on her forehead, and her cheeks were flushed and moist. Gu Tingye remained motionless, his pale brown face calm. "It's been really hot this year. I hope we don't miss the agricultural tax."
Minglan was stunned for a moment, then quickly asked, "Should we reduce the rent for some of the tenants?" Gu Tingye shook his head and said in a deep voice, "That's not necessary yet. Let's see how things go in Lianghuai. If the rectification is effective and we can collect more salt tax before the end of the year, then everything will be easy to discuss."
Now everyone in the court is focused on the Lianghuai region, and the competition is fierce, both openly and covertly. Shen Congxing has finally completed his reflection and returned to the court. Gu Tingye is relieved, and the pressure has been greatly reduced. He doesn't want to offend all the meritorious nobles in one go. The emperor is the male protagonist, but at least give the first male supporting role more screen time.
This topic was a bit heavy, so Gu Tingye changed the subject and said, "Is everything going well in the mansion these days? If there's anything bothering you, tell me and I'll take care of it. Just take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself."
Minglan put down her chopsticks, scooped him a bowl of soup, and said with a smile: "The Buddha has been moved, so why would the monks still chant in the empty temple? Don't worry, my lord. The old people in the mansion are much more obedient now."
When the family was divided, the Madam took many of the servants with her. They were either her trusted confidants or reliable and useful ones. Most of those left were ignorant and elderly servants who not only took advantage of their seniority but also sought to exploit their wealth. This is when Minglan came up with the idea of completely clearing out the former Marquis's mansion, renovating what needed to be done, and cleaning up what needed to be done, leaving only a few honest servants to look after the house.
At this point, all those who were used to being bossy were left with nothing. Without a master, how could they get any job? If they had no job, how could they show off their power outside and get any benefits?
"If only... there were an amnesty soon..." Minglan muttered to herself while biting her chopsticks.
Gu Tingye's eyes flashed, and he raised his eyebrows and said, "We don't have to wait for amnesty. Releasing a few of the most disobedient ones first may help." Minglan said embarrassedly, "How do you know..." She wanted to let some people go, but was afraid that people would say she was cold-hearted. She was just hoping that there would be some happy events in the royal family or the court so that she could take advantage of the situation and give them some "mercy".
"For a family like ours, it's inevitable that some family members have followed the master to the battlefield and served him. They've risked their lives. There are a few families who are used to showing off, which is really annoying." Gu Tingye smiled slightly, "Find some excuse, whether it's a show of favor or a punishment, and punish one or two families first, and the rest will behave themselves."
Minglan understood the principle of taking things slow and steady, and nodded, saying, "Then we'll see if anyone else shows up. Otherwise, we'll wait for the right opportunity and release them all." Even the task of developing gardens and forests, growing flowers, growing grass, and raising animals in the future, Minglan didn't want to hand it over to anyone casually. Maybe the beloved lady had left a lot of rice dumplings for these old servants.
After dinner, Minglan, as usual, helped Gu Tingye take a nap. She had just woken up and felt too embarrassed to lie down again. She was about to get up and leave when Gu Tingye stopped her. His pillow was covered with thick black hair. The man, looking lazy, hooked his fingers around the hem of Minglan's skirt, earnestly inviting her to take a nap with him. Minglan righteously refused: "You treat me like your precious son, who eats and then goes to sleep."
Gu Tingye half-smiled, "That's good. Grow some meat quickly." What kind of words were they? They sounded like a slogan for a pig farm. Minglan scoffed, "Why don't you raise pigs? Your business will surely be booming." The man buried his face in the pillow, dragging one of Minglan's hands against his cheek, chuckling, "I have two. They're both fat and growing well." Minglan struggled to break free from the man's grip, saying sternly, "I'll go see Brother Tuan. I won't interfere with the Marquis's pig farming!"
Gu Tingye held onto Minglan tightly, then suddenly raised his head and stopped smiling. "Do you feel wronged by marrying me?" Minglan was puzzled by the question. "What do you feel wronged about?" Gu Tingye said, "This mess almost got you into trouble."
Minglan immediately laughed: "Men are in charge of the outside affairs, and women are in charge of the inside affairs. The affairs of this mansion are my responsibility. There is nothing wrong with that." It's not like I'm marrying a Phoenix man, where I have to pay money for a car and a house, and be bullied by my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and take care of my husband's family.
"In families with a large population, the daughter-in-law has to deal with parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncles, nephews, and grandchildren. They have to live with four or five levels of relatives. They have to calculate and haggle all day long, which is never comfortable. God has his rewards. Since God has made me feel relieved in this area, he will naturally make up for it somewhere else." Well, Madam Tai's fighting power can indeed offset a large number of relatives.
"You're quite open-minded." Gu Tingye laughed and said hesitantly, "You... don't blame me?" Minglan sat on the edge of the bed, slowly moved closer, and said softly: "I understand what you mean." It was he who brought her many life and death disasters.
"But I understand better how well you treat me." To be honest, if she had to choose between a bunch of concubines and illegitimate children and a witch stepmother, she would rather choose Dragon Quest.
Gu Tingye looked at her steadily for a while, then suddenly buried his head in the pillow again, like a child throwing a tantrum. A muffled voice came from under the pillow: "Please sleep with me for a while, otherwise I can't sleep." His hands were still holding her tightly.
Minglan was in a dilemma, but suddenly an idea struck her: "I'm afraid Tuan'er might be asleep again. How about I bring him over so you two can take a nap together?" With a piglet beside the man, both problems, big and small, would be solved at once. Perhaps she could then check the accounts peacefully at noon. Gu Tingye laughed again, looking up at her, his lips curled up: "Alright."
Little Routuanzi was a wonderful sleeping companion. Once he fell asleep, he wouldn't even be roasted or eaten. He wasn't picky about who he slept with, so he'd sleep with whomever he chose. Sometimes, when Gu Tingye returned home at night, he'd go to the lattice room and bring his son over. Often, Minglan would drift off to find a soft, fragrant, little Routuan by her side. If Routuan woke up to pee, his father would get out of bed and have his diaper changed. If he woke up hungry, his mother's meager supply of food would be just enough for Routuan's midnight snack.
Time flies, raising a child is tedious, but it has its own joy.
As Tuan'er began to lift his head, Minglan, drawing on her memories from her past life, had him do tummy time several times a day, each time for about a minute. Gu Tingye, startled by the sight of his son sprawled out like a puppy on the mattress, quickly picked Tuan'er up and berated the wet nurse and the maid. Minglan quickly explained the benefits of tummy time, saying it would strengthen the neck muscles, improve brain development, and enhance limb coordination, ultimately bolstering his academic and martial arts skills.
The father was skeptical, but seeing that his son was lying there quietly, not making a fuss or crying, he had no choice but to let Minglan do whatever she wanted. Once, Minglan was in a playful mood and saw Gu Tingye lying on the couch reading a book, so she positioned Tuan Ge'er and asked him to lie on top of his father.
Gu Tingye had broad shoulders and arms, and a strong chest. The little boy lay there quite steady. One of them didn't dare to move for fear of dropping his son, eyes wide open and nervous. The other one, with a tense face, lay there trying hard to keep his forehead from touching the ground. The father and son just stared at each other, eyes wide open. Minglan was overjoyed.
After a while, the little meat ball sensed the movement, and moved up and down slightly with the rise and fall of his father's chest and abdomen. He immediately giggled; the little soft body lay on him so dependently, and looking at the similar eyebrows and eyes, Gu Tingye was extremely happy in his heart. He put his arms around his son and laughed out loud.
Minglan suddenly felt a little sad. Deep down, Gu Tingye had always had complicated feelings towards his deceased father.
On the day the old lady moved out, Gu Tingye carried his son to the ancestral hall, dismissed everyone, and stood alone in front of the old marquis's tablet for a long time, until Tuan Ge'er in his arms started crying, and then the father and son came out. The decades of grievances between the Gu father and son had long since vanished, and now that the old friend was gone, any words would be superfluous.
However, thinking back to the time when Gu Tingye was just born, Gu Yankai was already nearly forty years old. On one side was his eldest son Tingyu, who was sick and half-dead, and on the other side was a big fat boy who looked like himself, healthy and lively. How would he feel?
He should be happy too.
Perhaps, he had hugged and kissed Gu Tingye before, and had been extremely happy and proud, just like how Gu Tingye treated Tuan Ge'er now. Only when you have a child do you understand the kindness of your parents. Life has come full circle and returned to its starting point.
…
That morning, Minglan was lazily lying on the head of the bed, playing with Tuanzi. Someone outside reported that Xiao Shen had arrived. Minglan quickly brushed her hair and stood up to greet the guest.
Little Shen had been a regular visitor lately. She was fascinated by the child's prowess, especially since the little chubby boy had a round head and was incredibly adorable. Ever since the full-moon banquet, she'd been coming every few days, both to relax and to share in the good cheer, and she never came empty-handed.
Last time she brought two large fresh lotus roots, the time before that a small basket of sweet cherries, and the time before that a baby hat with a tiger head, the Chinese character "王" embroidered on it was crooked and the stitching wasn't very fine. Little Shen hesitated for a long time before taking it out, feeling very embarrassed, but Minglan was very grateful, knowing that she was truly sincere.
But this time, little Shen looked strange. Not only were her hands empty, but her eyes were red and swollen, and her expression was painful. She sat down without saying a word, looked at the chubby Tuan Ge'er, walked over and picked him up, and then burst into tears. Tuan Ge'er's forehead was wet, and he raised his head blankly, looking at little Shen, not knowing what was going on.
Minglan was shocked and quickly asked the wet nurse and Danju to take the child away. She hurriedly took a handkerchief to help wipe away her tears: "What's wrong with you? Oh, don't just cry."
"But is there something wrong with the Queen?" This was Minglan's first thought, but little Shen cried and shook her head.
"Did your sister-in-law scold you?" - Mrs. Shen still shook her head.
"So... you had an argument with General Zheng... and he hit you?" Minglan immediately thought of domestic violence.
Little Shen burst into laughter through her tears, "What nonsense are you talking about? How dare they!" Seeing that she had stopped crying, Minglan hurriedly asked, "Then tell me, what's the point of just crying? I'm so nervous."
Little Shen sighed softly, tears glistening in her eyes as she choked and said, "My sister-in-law...she's pregnant..."
"Your sister-in-law is pregnant?" Minglan was puzzled, yet also envious. "General Zheng and your sister-in-law are so good. Hey, why are you so sad?"
Little Shen was at a loss for words. She poked Minglan's hand with her finger and said sadly, "She's my sister-in-law from my mother's family!"
"Is it the wife of the Marquis of Weibei?" Minglan was startled, then asked doubtfully, "Even if it was your sister-in-law, there's no need for you to cry."
"What do you know!" Little Shen couldn't hold back her tears and cried out, "She and my brother have such a weak relationship, yet she can still get pregnant; and me and..., but we haven't had any yet... God is really blind!"
Minglan was yelled at and sat back in a daze.
Little Shen threw herself on the table and sobbed for a long time. Minglan was not good at trying to persuade her and could only stroke her back gently. She must have been feeling very aggrieved. Shen Zhang was pregnant and she could not be angry or upset. She had to pretend to be happy in front of others. Her only sister was in the imperial palace and she could not see her easily. So she could only come to Minglan to vent her anger.
Minglan sighed softly and said, "There are so many people you can compare yourself to, but you insist on comparing yourself to the wife of the Marquis of Weibei. I just want to ask you one thing: would you be willing to trade places with her?"
Little Shen gradually stopped crying, her shoulders still heaving. Minglan continued to counsel, "Everyone out there praises you for being blessed. The Emperor ascended the throne just after you came of age, your sister is the Empress, your brother is a Marquis, your parents-in-law are kind, and General Zheng is deeply in love with you. Your sister-in-law is a bit strict, but she's a decent person. But your sister-in-law from your mother's family, well... you know..."
The long-term discord between the Marquis of Weibei and his wife was not uncommon in the capital. It was rumored that Uncle Shen could not see Zhang more than twice a month, and instead doted on his concubine Zou.
This unconventional persuasion was indeed effective. Little Shen slowly raised her head, still sobbing, but her face was filled with indignation. Like a child in anger, she spoke rapidly, "It's not that I'm petty and can't stand seeing her succeed. It's just... humph, she's too arrogant! I know she looks down on our Shen family! Her family, the Duke of Yingguo, Zhang, is a prestigious and noble family, the founding pillars of the country. For her to be my brother's concubine is a huge injustice!"
Little Shen's throat was dry from crying. She took a big sip of tea and continued, "Humph, but she doesn't think about it. This marriage wasn't forced by my brother. It was also the emperor's good intention! Her Zhang family dared not disobey the emperor's will, so she took it out on our Shen family! She has a deadpan expression all day long. Who is she trying to show off to?!"
"I know she doesn't like the Zou family's sister. She thinks my brother is doing her a disservice by giving her such a noble concubine! But she's just a concubine after all. How can she be more powerful than him? For the past two years, my brother has been acting like he hasn't even married. She won't even open the door, and she won't even leave. She wants everyone in the world to know that she's been wronged!"
Minglan disagreed with this and couldn't help but interrupt, "That... that's not right. What if General Zheng had taken a concubine before his marriage? What would you have done?"
Xiao Shen was choked by her breath and said stubbornly: "That's different, my brother has his own difficulties."
Minglan teased, "Every family has its own difficulties. Well, let me think about it. Oh, by the way, if a great benefactor of the Zheng family came to you and insisted on marrying the girl, your parents-in-law would be unable to refuse. What would you do then?"
Xiao Shen's face flushed red, she choked for a long time, and said loudly: "Then I won't get married!"
"But the wife of the Marquis of Weibei must get married." Minglan said lightly.
Little Shen suddenly collapsed into a chair like a popped balloon. After a long pause, she whispered, "Actually... my eldest brother also felt sorry for the Zhang family at first. When they first got married, he wanted to treat his new sister-in-law well, but she was always cold and indifferent. No matter how much he tried to please her, she wouldn't respond. Last year, my nephew nearly fell into the water, and while protecting her, the Zou family's sister suffered a miscarriage. My eldest brother felt deeply sorry, but she remained cold and indifferent..."
Minglan remained silent, guessing that Xiao Shen had been treated coldly by Mrs. Zhang. For the past two years, Mrs. Zhang had been like a nun, minding her own business, worshipping Buddha and not caring about the affairs of the Weibei Marquisate, nor bothering to entertain relatives and friends. Even when invited to social events, she often declined, citing illness, and rarely even visited her parents' home.
She didn't come to Tuan Ge'er's full moon banquet. It seems that Zhang must be a proud and arrogant lady from a noble family, doted on by her parents since childhood, so it's possible that she couldn't adapt to the new environment in a short time.
The two chatted for a long time. Minglan thought it was enough, so she asked someone to bring in a basin of water, put a handkerchief in it herself, and asked Xiao Shenshi to wash her face. She also asked Xiao Tao to take out her mirror box and help Xiao Shenshi apply rouge and draw her eyebrows.
"Your Hu powder is excellent. It sticks to your skin and has a pleasant fragrance. It's on par with the ones in the palace." Little Shen looked at herself in the mirror again and again. Minglan smiled and said, "This isn't Hu powder. It's made from Yunnan camellia powder, mixed with rice flour, pearl powder, and a lot of spices. My former sister's husband made this when he had nothing better to do."
Seeing that Xiao Shen liked it, she asked Xiao Tao to pack a small box for her to take back, since she didn't usually wear makeup anyway.
"You are only a few years old. Don't put on powder for no reason. You are dressing up like a fairy. Your sister-in-law will definitely not be happy with me later." Minglan saw little Shen holding the powder box with a very enthusiastic look and couldn't help complaining.
Little Shen rolled her eyes and said, "You're afraid of my sister-in-law!"
"Your sister-in-law is such a nice person! I've been jealous of you for a long time!" Minglan teased deliberately, "I'm just asking you, has your sister-in-law ever mentioned having children to you?"
Little Shen whispered, "Never. She even told me to take good care of it, and that it would eventually come."
The eldest son of General Zheng's family was a prosperous one, with four legitimate sons and one daughter, and one illegitimate son and two daughters. Therefore, from the Zheng elders to General Zheng and his wife, no one ever urged them to do anything. It was just that Xiao Shen herself, feeling deeply sorry for her husband because of their loving relationship, felt pressured.
"That's true." Minglan sat down next to Xiao Shen and advised gently, "You've only been married for two years. Relax and don't worry about your health." As she spoke, she couldn't help but complain, "Think about it, everything is going so smoothly for you. If you have two children in three years and eight in ten years, will it be difficult for us to survive? God is too partial. Think about it, the day I gave birth to Tuan Ge'er, I was almost roasted alive."
Little Shen couldn't help laughing. She pointed at Minglan and said bitterly, "Serves you right! You're so talkative, and now you're suffering."
Then, he looked Minglan up and down, deliberately not blinking. "Don't act so pathetic. Do you think I can't see it? Tell me, why do you look so tired so early in the morning?"
Minglan instinctively touched her face and smiled awkwardly, "There's nothing I can do. Tuan Ge has been making trouble all night, so I..." Actually, it wasn't.
"Are you pretending to be stupid again?!" Little Shen slammed the table and scolded with a smile, "Do you think I'm blind? I can't see why you are so tired? You really didn't sleep well last night. How can you look so charming? Tsk tsk, you're almost wet. I'm afraid you've been tossing and turning all night..." As she spoke, her face turned red. Even though she was used to being unrestrained in the mountains since she was a child, she couldn't continue.
Minglan was extremely embarrassed. Her fair and plump cheeks flushed red, and even her ears felt hot.
Breastfeeding is a dangerous job. With clothes half undressed, couples inevitably get physical and get angry. Often, after feeding one child, they have to feed the other. Doing two jobs overnight is incredibly tiring.
"You shameless bastard, you dare to say anything!" Minglan was furious and said hatefully, "I'll tell your sister-in-law!"
Little Shen was delighted and teased, "Go ahead and sue me! Go ahead and sue me! I'll see who you dare to tell."
"You, you..." Minglan was furious and embarrassed. Her usual dignified demeanor was completely gone. She turned her face away childishly and angrily said, "I'm done with you. I won't talk to you anymore!"
Her cheeks were as red as fire, but her skin was extremely white, like the crimson wine of the Western Regions, spreading across the snow-white satin. Her big, watery eyes glared at people angrily, just like the glass lamps given by the Empress the day before, with only the luster of a firefly, but crystal clear. The color of the glass was very bright, and when each lamp was lit, it was a gorgeous splendor like peach and plum blossoms.
Seeing Minglan like this, Xiao Shen was quite amazed and thought to herself, no wonder Marquis Gu liked her. Seeing that Minglan was really angry, she did not dare to act rashly and apologized in a gentle voice, saying that she had clearly come to seek comfort.
"By the way, I have some white tea and some miscellaneous local rituals here. Can you bring them back for me?" Minglan said unhappily.
Little Shen smiled and said, "You are too polite. I only like Longjing tea."
Minglan was very helpless: "It's not for you, it's for your sister-in-law. I want to thank the team of bricklayers she recommended."
"Didn't you thank me last time?"
Minglan sighed and said softly: "You don't know. I thanked your sister-in-law at the beginning, but it was just for the sake of face. This time, I really thank you. Your sister-in-law recommended that group of masters. It is indeed good." Although he is not famous, he is low-key and practical.
She considered her words, "During the fire, most of the surrounding buildings were burned, but the newly built fence and a few townhouses were still intact. My Lord personally inspected them. They were built with layers of bricks and wood, and the mortar was mixed with plenty of rice paste—high-quality glutinous rice. That's why it's both sturdy and fireproof. It's truly made of genuine materials. Alas, these days, there aren't many such reliable ones."
"Oh, so you are taking care of them for this business." Little Shen has sharp eyes.
Minglan nodded, her face full of admiration. Thinking of her own sister-in-law, Xiao Shen felt completely powerless and could only sigh in admiration: "My sister-in-law is a person who means what she says. She is very steady and reliable. My sister often praises my sister-in-law and tells me to learn from her and stop being naughty all day long."
Minglan praised: "The Queen is very insightful."
"But my sister-in-law told me to worship Buddha and do more good deeds, so that Buddha will bless me." Xiao Shen said sullenly.
Minglan asked curiously, "Don't you often worship Buddha?"
"My sister-in-law said I don't pray regularly, but only ask for help at the last minute. I'm so utilitarian with the intention of asking for help." Little Shen lowered her head and said, "We should always do good deeds, be compassionate to the elderly and children, and accumulate virtue and do good deeds. Whether we ask for help or not, we should always have a kind heart."
Minglan blushed at what she said. It seemed like she was like that, too. Modern people's realm really wasn't high.
After some reflection, when Gu Tingye returned to the room, Minglan was about to speak, saying that she should do more good deeds in the future so that she could have many children, get promoted and make money (still very utilitarian), but Gu Tingye spoke first.
"Lord Yu is almost well now."
Minglan was stunned and instinctively said, "Did you ask Doctor Lin?"
Gu Tingye nodded, his hands resting on the armrests of the armchair, his face gloomy: "Let's take advantage of this opportunity to clean up everything so that it won't be endless."
Lord Yu regained consciousness half a month ago and has been receiving medical treatment and taking medicine to recuperate. He has been obviously feeling much better in recent days.
Minglan was silent and sat next to the man: "Don't... go too far, Yu Ge
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