Yu Ge Lao was born into a poor family, but he was gifted and intelligent. He was recognized by his mentor at a young age, who promised him his daughter and provided him with constant support. From then on, he rose rapidly to prominence. Although he had experienced ups and downs, he ultimately emerged unscathed and retired with honor. However, despite his rich experience, when Gong Hongxiao, who had been sent back from the Marquis's Mansion, revealed her past, he was shocked and shaken in disbelief.
How could someone like Yu actually have such a stupid son and daughter-in-law?!
"Old Master, please understand! The Madam of the Gu family is in the Marquis' Mansion, and she has absolute power! My life is in her hands. How dare I disobey her if she tells me to say anything?" Hong Xiao knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face. "I failed to tell the truth, causing the Madam to suffer injustice. It's all because of my cowardice and fear of death. I hope Old Master will have mercy on me and forgive me!"
In front of his parents and sister-in-law, his daughter's infidelity was exposed. Lord Yu's face flushed red and blue, and he couldn't even lift his head. Madam Yu, standing by, glared at the red silk on the ground, her eyes blazing with anger, but she didn't dare act recklessly because her parents-in-law were there. Lord Yu stole a glance at his father's face, seeing his chest rise and fall violently. He then said carefully, "It's all my fault for being unfilial and causing you so much worry. No matter how wrong you are, it's all my fault. Please calm down, father, and take care of yourself!"
Elder Yu glanced at his son and sneered, "Now you've shown yourself filial piety! You even bribed a Taoist priest, turning black into white. You and your wife have completely disgraced my reputation. You'd better be kind enough to give me a bowl of arsenic so I can close my eyes early and avoid witnessing all the dirty work going on in your house!" As Gu Tingye had expected, the old man of the Yu family had been in the political arena for decades, and had become as cunning as an old fox. Aside from treason and property confiscation, which had brought disaster to the entire family, few things could make him panic, and his anger was not harmful to his health. Now, when he scolded people, he was even more full of energy.
Lord Yu blushed, not daring to argue. He knelt down with a thud. Seeing this, Madam Yu gritted her teeth and knelt down as well. Seeing her elder brother and sister-in-law act like this, the third and fourth wives didn't dare to stand still and knelt down together. Lord Yu's face remained calm. He said to Gong Hongxiao, who was still shaking like a sieve, "The letter from the Gu family said they've delayed you all these years. Now you're being returned and arranged to marry someone off." He turned to Madam Yu and said, "Fourth wife, when you return to Dengzhou, you'll take care of this matter."
Mrs. Yu Si glanced at her eldest sister-in-law who was kneeling in front of her and said hesitantly, "Father, this..." Before she could finish her words, Mrs. Yu Da had already raised her head with a face full of resentment, glared at Gong Hongxiao, and cursed, "How can there be such a cheap thing in the world! This little bitch has evil intentions and has caused us great harm. Even beheading her would be too light a punishment! How could she..."
Lord Yu slammed his palm on the table and looked down coldly. Lord Yu quickly pulled his wife's sleeve hard. Mrs. Yu turned her head and shuddered when she met her father-in-law's icy gaze, not daring to speak again.
Gong Hongxiao was so clever that upon seeing this, she immediately kowtowed repeatedly, weeping uncontrollably: "It's all my fault. Please don't be angry, old master. Your health is the most important thing! I know I can't be spared, but I'm worried about my mother who is old and frail. As a child, how can I abandon her and not care about her? I only ask that you have mercy on me, give me a way out, and let me take care of my mother until the end of her life!"
Elder Yu slowly turned his head and said calmly, "Although you are the eldest in the mansion, you are a relative of the eldest wife's biological mother, neither a slave nor a servant. How could the Yu family dispose of you? However, since you have no place to go now, we are relying on our seniority to find a marriage for you." At this point, a strange and cold smile suddenly appeared on the corner of his mouth. "When we asked you to marry Yanhong as a concubine, it was already an injustice. It is the Yu family that has wronged you—that’s it."
The last two were emphasized deliberately, which was suggestive. Gong Hongxiao's heart skipped a beat and she raised her head in fear. The lights in the room were dim, and the old man's wrinkled face looked like the Judge of Hell, which was chilling. She lowered her head in a hurry, without any pretense, and trembled genuinely. She thought to herself, this old man is really amazing, he actually saw through it.
Yes, there were some things she did... on purpose.
When she first learned that Yu Yanhong was cheating on him, she knew it was inappropriate and would definitely ruin her reputation, but she didn't try to stop her. Later, when the Lady Gu asked her to help defraud Mrs. Yu, although there were threats and inducements involved, she also wanted to harm Mrs. Yu. But why did this happen?
Her father was a scholar from the countryside, his family owned a few acres of land, and they lived in comfortable comfort. As her father's only daughter, she was raised with his care. However, her father passed away, and her uncles attempted to seize the land and force her widowed mother to marry him. Fortunately, a loyal old servant was clever and helped her and her mother pack up their belongings and flee to seek refuge with relatives. After many twists and turns, they finally found refuge with Madam Yu. To make life easier, she desperately tried to please Madam Yu and Yanhong, acting in a humble and fawning manner.
But what was the outcome? When trouble arose, Madam Yu, worried that the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion was in trouble and her precious daughter wouldn't be able to handle it, unhesitatingly sent her as a concubine. It wasn't that she was aloof and didn't envy the mansion's wealth, but with Erlang of the Gu family already having such a reputation, what good would she expect? Besides… Hong Xiao glanced sideways, glancing at the Third Master and Third Madam kneeling in front of her right, then with a look of disappointment.
Deep down, she already had other expectations.
She was an orphan living under someone else's roof, and he was the unappreciated illegitimate son of the third wife. The young man and woman fell in love with each other.
That day, at dusk, he ran to see her, sweating profusely, so overjoyed that he didn't even notice his hair was disheveled. He told her with immense joy that the Third Wife had noticed their relationship and, while hinting at wanting to avoid suspicion, she wasn't unwilling. She was just afraid that a rash suggestion would cause the First Wife some worry. As long as the First Wife was willing to make the first move, the Third Wife would help them.
At that moment, she was filled with joy, as if in a dream; she loved the Yu family so much. Most of the men in the Yu family were of good character, without any bad habits. The women in the Yu family, from the old lady to the third and fourth wives, were all kind and tolerant, never looking down on her orphan. She made up her mind then and there that if she could get what she wanted, she would do her utmost to please the elders, take on some work in the future, bring her mother over, and live a good life as a family.
Unfortunately... she would never forget the look on Madam Yu's face at that moment, so self-absorbed and decisive, so self-righteous. She knew this woman all too well. When it came to her own interests, any affection was false, and her pleas were in vain. She said no more, only mechanically smiling, promising to "take good care" of Yu Yanhong, and taking a large sum of money from Madam Yu.
That year, when Yanhong's incident occurred, she hurried to the Yu residence for help and happened to hear about something. A close school friend of Lord Yu's, now over sixty, had only one granddaughter and was on the verge of extinction. Seeing the abundance of male grandchildren in the Yu family, he earnestly requested a son-in-law. After some discussion, the Yu father and son decided on the illegitimate son from the third wife. By the time she learned of this, he had already fled to Qiongzhou and married into another prominent family.
At that time, she suddenly felt hopeless. She didn't care about the Gu Mansion or the Yu Family anymore. She didn't care about them at all.
Perhaps, we will never meet again in this life; that’s fine, that’s fine too.
Hong Xiao was lost in a hazy recollection, oblivious to what Yu Ge Lao had said. She only knew that maids on either side of her helped her up and dragged her outside. Outside, the moon was dim and the stars were sparse, the night as bright as day. A breath of cool air seeped into her chest, and her mind suddenly cleared up. She felt under the hem of her skirt, where she found a secret pouch containing three or four small banknotes from her savings. The rest of her gold, silver, jewelry, and miscellaneous silver had already been secretly sent to her mother.
She reached out and pressed her chest again, where there was a silver note worth five hundred taels, which was given to her by Madam Gu Hou when she came out today.
"You're adaptable and capable. No matter what God has wronged you, you've never complained." The young and beautiful marquis's eyes held a strange compassion. "Take this silver. Even if I'm a hypocrite, I'm trying to curry favor with you after I've kicked you out. I only have one thing to say to you: whatever happened yesterday is as good as dead. Live your life well from now on."
Hong Xiao couldn't tell whether she was sad or happy, and she stumbled out in a daze.
After she left, the old nanny guarding the door closed it again. Several servants and attendants stood at a distance, leaving only the Yu family inside. "You two should stand up first," Lord Yu pointed. His voice was not loud, but no one dared to disobey. The three daughters-in-law of the Yu family quietly stood up, leaving only the third son on the ground.
Yu Ge Lao said, "I leave Gong Shi, the daughter of the Fourth Master, in your care. Go to the countryside and find her a stable family. Let her live a peaceful life. Be sure to do things well." The Fourth Wife bowed her head and said respectfully, "I will obey my father's instructions and do my best."
Over the years, the daughters-in-law have become accustomed to their naive mother-in-law who is indifferent to worldly affairs and their strong and almighty father-in-law. From the day they got married, the fourth wife has been reporting directly to Lord Yu, so her replies are very smooth.
Mrs. Yu was indignant and could not help but object again, "We have provided her with food and drink for so many years, and she turned out to be an ungrateful person! Dad, this is too good for that bitch! Think about it..."
"Shut up!" Lord Yu shouted, instantly interrupting the eldest wife's words. "With Daddy here, you still have the right to speak! You don't know any rules at all, and you don't even look at your younger brothers and sisters. How can you be the eldest sister-in-law!"
The eldest wife's eardrums were buzzing and she looked at her husband in surprise. He had never been so mean to her before.
The Third Wife on the side curled her lips and said slowly, "Don't be angry, sister-in-law. Dad did this for a reason. What happened to niece Yanhong is embarrassing no matter where it happens. The Gu family is kind and honest, and it should have been cleared, but sister-in-law, you just did that."
She spoke politely, but each word was filled with sternness. "How can the Gu family not be on guard? If one day you get carried away again and insist that your niece's death was unjust, demanding compensation and this and that, wouldn't the Ningyuan Marquisate suffer in silence? We can't let Marquis Gu shout to the world that his wife is cheating on him. So, Hongxiao, this child, must be kept."
Before this incident came to light, everything was vague; but once it came to light, as the only remaining witness, Hong Xiao could not die.
First, she couldn't stay in the Gu family. Otherwise, in the future, it would be suspected that the Gu family had forced her to confess, which would not be credible. Therefore, the Yu family had to take her back. Now, for fear of being accused of denial, the Yu family could not let Hong Xiao die. On the contrary, to show their honesty, the Yu family had to let Hong Xiao live a good life, and everything would be natural and frank.
It's such a simple matter, but Mrs. Yu still hasn't figured it out and still has the nerve to get angry.
"Just now your elder brother praised your younger sister-in-law for her politeness, and you're talking to your elder sister-in-law like this?!"
In reality, Mrs. Yu didn't quite understand what was said, but that didn't stop her from getting mad. She raised her slanted eyes and immediately opened fire. Mrs. San was not intimidated at all, her expression unchanged. She simply said lightly, "Look at what you said, sister-in-law. I'm really worried. If there's even a little rumor about niece Yanhong's affairs, how can the girls of our Yu family still live like human beings?"
Mrs. Yu suddenly became silent, like a stalled engine.
The Third Madam's words were like needles piercing her flesh, clearly piercing her heart, yet not a drop of blood was shed. She continued in a soft voice, "Let alone Yanrong and Yanqing; even Yanran and Yanqiao, who are already married, how can they find a place in their in-laws' families? Sister-in-law, please don't take it lightly. Even though my niece Yanyu is still young, if people knew that her sister had such an act, how would she speak ill of her in-laws in the future?"
Mrs. Yu was speechless, and was suddenly terrified at the thought that this matter would implicate her beloved little daughter. As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. San respectfully stepped back, stood beside her husband, and said nothing more.
Yu Ge Lao sighed slightly. Marrying this eldest daughter-in-law was truly the biggest failure in his life. She was not only not a righteous person, but also a fool. When he first heard about this, he was speechless for a long time. He felt dizzy and dizzy. It was not so much anger as inconceivable.
He has been smart all his life, so how could there be such a credulous and arrogant fool in his family!
He and his wife had four sons. Except for the second son who died young, the other three sons grew up, got married and had children.
The fourth son was indifferent by nature and liked music, calligraphy and painting. For him, economic and official career was as far away as the journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Fortunately, the fourth daughter-in-law was able to manage the household. The third son was smart and talented, but he didn't know where he learned the habits of a celebrity. He looked down on those who were scheming for fame and fortune, and even the lice on his body were elegant and noble. Only the eldest son inherited the enterprising spirit in his blood, but he was ambitious but lacked talent and ability. He was not good at studying and was not necessarily a good official. He always hovered around the fifth or sixth rank.
Elder Yu, a Taoist who excelled at following fate, understood that being an official depended on talent. Some could be taught, while others, no matter how much he tried, would fail. Since none of his sons were cut out for it, he wouldn't force them. If, by some providence, two of his grandchildren emerged as talented, the Yu family would have a chance of prosperity. Otherwise, peace would remain a blessing. At least, with his legacy and his eldest son's official position, his children and grandchildren could enjoy a leisurely and prosperous life in their hometown.
"A thousand-mile riverbank can be destroyed by a single ant; the prosperity of a family depends on its descendants, and its roots lie within the family." Elder Yu, leaning back on his armchair, looked increasingly aged as he sighed, "If we had properly educated our children, shaped their character, and guided them in the right path, we wouldn't have suffered this disaster today. Fortunately, the old lady of the Sheng family and Marquis Gu's wife have some history. If the Ningyuan Marquisate bore a grudge, the two families would have been at odds. After I die, can you withstand the calamities that befall you?!"
Upon hearing their father's words, the three sons all kowtowed in response, especially Lord Yu, whose face was already covered in tears. He knelt before Lord Yu, hugged his father's legs, and sobbed, "Father, your teachings will be engraved in my heart. I will never do anything reckless again! I was unfilial. I failed to control my wife and listened to others' instigation, and then... I did something foolish. I also made my younger brothers bear the shame. I... I... I am too ashamed to be a big brother! I only ask that you take care of yourself and let me mend my ways and be filial to you!"
He kowtowed repeatedly, his foreheads banging against the blue bricks. Third and Fourth Master Yu followed suit, resting their heads on the ground. Seeing this, the three daughters-in-law knelt down again. Elder Yu caressed his son's shoulder, noticing that his forehead was bruised and red, with faint traces of blood. He couldn't bear it, and could only sigh.
Although Mrs. Yu was not very intelligent, she had a keen eye for what others said. She could hear that her father-in-law was implicitly blaming her. Although she knelt down honestly, she felt dissatisfied in her heart. She pulled out a handkerchief and covered her face with it in a pretentious manner, crying, "It's all the daughter-in-law's fault for being unfilial! She knew that the Gu family was a den of wolves, but she still forced Yanhong to marry. She was so young, but she ruined a life! Well, at least Yanran is living a good life now. This unfortunate child, let her take this disaster away from her sister..."
Lord Yu's face darkened upon hearing this. These words directly implied that he was biased, solely focused on Yanran's lifelong happiness, with no regard for Yanhong's life or death. Lord Yu could no longer endure this. He leaped up like a tiger, raised his hand, and struck the First Wife in the face with a resounding palm. He cursed, "You bitch! How dare you speak such nonsense?! The Gu family marriage was clearly arranged by me, blinded by greed. What does it have to do with my father? That evil creature has brought disgrace upon our family and deserves death! Even if he doesn't die in the Gu family, he should be executed upon his return!"
Mrs. Yu covered her face with her hands and was stunned on the spot, unable to speak.
Lord Yu continued to curse, "How dare you talk about Yanran! If it were her, how could she have betrayed her husbandly ways after being neglected for just a few months?! My daughter Yanran is so kind and virtuous, even if she suffered a temporary injustice, she would have been able to endure it. Only three or four years will pass, and when her son-in-law returns, wouldn't that be perfect? It's all your fault for not teaching your adopted daughter the right way, and yet you still don't repent?!"
In fact, what he was thinking was that if Yanhong did not make any mistakes, even if the couple did not get along, her position as the main wife would be secure because she had been alone in the empty room for several years; now that Gu Tingye was in power, he missed out on wealth and fame, and he was filled with regret!
No one knows a son better than his father. Looking at the veins on his eldest son's cheek, Yu Ge Lao knew what he was thinking. He smiled half sarcastically and half wryly, but he didn't bother to say anything more. He waved his hand and said, "Forget it, all of you go back. Everyone around you should keep a tight lid on what you say, lest you harm your daughter."
Seeing that the old man was very tired, everyone bowed and left together. When they stepped out of the threshold, Mr. Yu San and Mrs. Yu San looked at each other, glanced at Mrs. Yu Da in front of them, and then the couple pursed their lips at each other and walked away with their heads down.
Madam Yu, a concubine married during Master Yu's tenure, had only served his parents-in-law for a short time and was unaware of Lord Yu's power. However, both he and his wife were extremely intelligent and perceptive, and they knew their brother was simply beside himself with anger. They hadn't anticipated the situation. Seeing the Madam's misfortune, Lord Yu might have given her a severe reprimand. Instead, my father had been chastising her for most of the night without issuing any directives on how to deal with the Madam. ... The Madam's wife was in serious trouble.
After the children left, Yu Ge Lao wearily stood up and walked into the inner room. He saw Old Madam Yu sitting by the bed, silently weeping. He moved over and sat down, saying softly, "Don't worry about this. You're not in good health. Don't let me die before you do."
Old Mrs. Yu cried until her eyes were red and swollen: "It's all my fault that I'm not virtuous and don't know how to teach my children. I made you worry about them at your age."
Yu Gelao said jokingly, "Parents in this world can give birth to a child's body, but how can they give birth to a child's heart? When the child grows up, he will have his own plans. As parents, we should just do our duty."
Old Madam Yu choked up, "This matter... can be resolved peacefully? I heard that Marquis Gu is not a pushover."
Elder Yu patted his wife's back and tried his best to comfort her, "Don't worry. If Ning Yuan Gu Er intends to fall out with the Yu family, he won't be sent back to Gong." Old Madam Yu always trusted her husband, so she didn't doubt his words. She wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief and smiled, "That's right. Didn't you say that he was the one who arranged the tea voucher for In-law Duan? I think he's a smart guy."
"Hmph! Understand? How should I expect others to understand! It's already quite kind of them to let go of the past grudges after being cuckolded, yet they actually dare to come and rip him off!" Elder Yu stood up and slowly walked around the room, regretting that he was old and weak, otherwise he would have to personally enforce the family rules and give his eldest son a good beating. "At the beginning, when I knew that Marquis Gu was arranging tea tickets for the Duan family, I felt at ease, but now I'm terribly embarrassed! Look at how cleanly and efficiently they handled it. They did their best. Even if the truth is revealed in the future, no one can point out any fault! For every step we take, we must think three steps ahead. And then look at our good-for-nothing evildoer..."
The more Yu Ge Lao thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn't help but blame his wife: "You too, how could you believe what the old lady said and actually let her go to the Gu family to cause trouble!"
Old Madam Yu was at a loss, saying shamefacedly, "I was confused, but..." She whispered, "The Taoist priest insisted that a wedding ceremony was necessary to bring good luck. As long as you can get better, I wouldn't be afraid even if I had to face death in the palace of Hades."
Elder Yu couldn't bear to lose his temper with his wife. He stamped his feet at the table and cursed, "I know what the old lady is thinking. She just sees that the child's biological mother is an actress. If the child really inherits the title, he must recognize her as a relative to make things look good!"
Old Madam Yu was also surprised: "She is so foolish. How could she do such a thing? Is Marquis Gu so easy to fool? If she angers him, he will uproot her completely. How can she get away with it?"
Yu Ge Lao declared loudly that he was, and could not help but double his curses. "It's okay that the women in the inner court are confused, but our evil boy is even more of a fool, only knowing how to listen to his wives! I told you from the beginning that he's easily influenced, hesitant, weak-willed, and has no clear judgment. He's simply not cut out for being an official! He refused to accept it then, blaming me for not helping him. With his limited abilities, if he really gets a big job and takes on big responsibilities, he'll be eaten to pieces!"
Despite all his faults, the eldest son had never been reckless. The reason she trusted him with her post was that he was timid and submissive. With a well-educated and well-mannered wife, even if his political achievements were unremarkable, he wouldn't get into big trouble. Unfortunately, Yanran's biological mother was unlucky and passed away early, and the replacement daughter-in-law was a defective product, not only narrow-minded and stupid, but also prone to instigating her husband!
"Bring Yanyu to your room right away and educate her well." Lord Yu stopped and gave the order in a deep voice.
Old Madam Yu looked up, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "You...that old lady..." Even though she had been naive her entire life, she still knew her husband's sharp style. Lord Yu said calmly, "She's a nuisance. We can't keep her."
After the decision was made, the Yu family acted swiftly. First, Old Lady Yu chose a cool, sunny day, prepared a generous gift, and went to see Old Lady Sheng. She offered a sincere apology. Old Lady Sheng knew her temper well: she was soft-hearted and weak, having relied on her husband for her entire life. Blaming her would be pointless. After much weeping, the two sisters reconciled.
Two days later, the fourth wife prepared generous gifts and went to the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion. When she saw Minglan, she confessed her crimes.
The Fourth Wife was a refined and unpretentious person who never bothered to dwell on such matters. However, under Lord Yu's orders, she had no choice but to come and apologize, stuttering and almost crying with embarrassment. Minglan had no intention of resenting those who were unaware of the situation, so to stop the Fourth Wife from apologizing any further, she quickly ordered someone to bring Tuan Ge'er out to help.
Tuan'er had just finished his feeding, and his whole body was filled with the fragrance of milk. Having just been dug out of the quilt, he was staggering in his wet nurse's arms. Seeing this dazed, plump, white child, the Fourth Madam burst into laughter. She embraced him, kissed him, and coaxed him. She looked up at Minglan and said, "What a beautiful child! Good deeds are rewarded after all. You are a blessed child." After handing the child to the wet nurse, she untied a red gold Pixiu from under her skirt and said, "This was blessed by a high monk when your fourth uncle went to Yunxia Mountain to worship Buddha a few years ago. Let the child wear it for good luck."
Minglan took it and looked at it, smiling, "I'm never polite when it comes to Fourth Aunt's kindness." She asked Danju to get a brocade bag to hold the golden Pixiu, and then she said with a smile, "I still remember when I was a child, Fourth Aunt would melt her fine silk candy and make candied cherries for us to eat. Sister Yanran could never snatch it away from me." The Fourth Madam laughed, "You two! If you like it, you can take some back. But you two are so naughty, you just love to fight over it!" Minglan smiled and said, "Aunt, you don't know, it tastes better when you fight over it."
The atmosphere finally relaxed after this conversation. The Fourth Madam spoke of Yanran again, and Minglan smiled and said, "Last time Sister Yanran wrote to me, she talked about growing camellias in great detail, like an expert." The Fourth Madam chuckled, "That's a rare achievement. My father-in-law was afraid she'd learn from her Fourth Uncle and become incompetent at household chores and household management, so he never allowed her to indulge in flowers, birds, insects, and fish. Now her efforts have been wasted."
"Actually, Sister Yanran has the greatest respect for Fourth Uncle, but because the elder is watching, she doesn't dare to learn from him."
The two of them burst into laughter. When they talked about Lord Yu, the Fourth Madam remembered her mission for today. Her stomach started spinning and she gritted her teeth and said, "My sister-in-law told my father-in-law to go back to her parents' home the day before yesterday."
Minglan was startled, with a strange expression on her face, neither surprised nor shocked - no way, could it be that Tuanzi's father was right?
The fourth wife said in embarrassment, "The charges against him are unfilial, one of the seven grounds for divorce. He failed to provide adequate care during his illness and was disobedient to his elders."
This accusation was undeniable. Coming from the in-laws themselves, it was difficult to refute. Lady Tang Wan's marriage had died on this one. Minglan stammered, "How can this be... then Lord Yu... wouldn't that offend my in-laws?"
The fourth wife recounted the story quietly, "At first, my eldest brother refused, but my father-in-law was determined, so he had no choice but to comply. As for my in-laws, alas, after the father-in-law passed away, my eldest sister-in-law no longer interacted with her own family."
Mrs. Yu was born out of wedlock. Her father promised her to Mr. Yu because her biological mother was favored. But now her eldest brother is the head of her family, and the siblings have been at odds for a long time. Being divorced this time is really a disaster.
"My father-in-law is really furious this time. He has even written a memorial to accuse my eldest brother of being unfilial." The fourth wife whispered. The Yu family has been facing many risks and ups and downs in the past few days.
Yu Ge Lao was a man of unwavering resolve. For decades, he had controlled everything within the inner chambers, never skimping on his duties. The eldest wife, finally experiencing the same tactics her father-in-law had used against his political enemies, collapsed in fear, wailing and wailing loudly on the ground, begging for mercy and attempting suicide. Without batting an eyelid, Yu Ge Lao simply ordered the maid to tie up the eldest wife, carry her into a carriage, and send her away, telling her to die outside. Then, Yu Ge Lao summoned the eldest wife's children, smiling as if nothing had happened, and gently instructed them to stay in their grandparents' house from now on.
The son and daughter, fifteen and twelve, were about to plead for their mother when Lord Yu said indifferently, "Any descendants of the Yu family who disobey the family rules or disobey their elders will be expelled." Their maids quickly dragged them away. The Yu family had more than a dozen legitimate and illegitimate grandchildren, so they certainly didn't need the two of them. Lord Yu was already trembling with exhaustion.
"Right now, Dad is asking my third sister-in-law to sort out the list of my eldest sister-in-law's dowry and seal it up without missing anything. If my eldest sister-in-law comes to ask for it, she will send it back. Otherwise, she will give it to my nephews and nieces." If the dowry is sent back rashly, it will probably be swallowed up by the eldest wife's brother.
Thinking about how thoughtful Lord Yu was and how long he had been planning in his mind in advance, the Fourth Madam was still frightened. She didn't expect that the usually kind and gentle old man would do something so fatal.
Minglan was silent for a moment. Back in Dengzhou, Minglan had enviously praised Yanran's grandfather for his kindness. Mr. Zhuang had said with a smile, "The more one cultivates the Tao, the less noticeable one becomes." Come to think of it, how many officials who succeed in officialdom are vegetarians?
"...It's all my family's fault that the Yu family is so restless. I feel really sorry." In fact, she didn't feel sorry at all, but she had to say it.
The fourth wife hurriedly advised: "Don't make random guesses. It's only our Yu family that has let you down! Father said that the eldest sister-in-law is not virtuous, and he was afraid that the eldest brother would be instigated to do something that would harm the whole family. The eldest brother only said a few words in defense of the eldest sister-in-law, saying that the eldest sister-in-law was also doing it for his promotion. Father was so angry that he simply called out the family rules and severely..." She hurriedly stopped talking because she was afraid that Minglan would be suspicious, so she tried her best to argue. She couldn't stop her mouth at this moment, and even blurted out the fact that her eldest brother-in-law was beaten.
Minglan smiled and said, "The higher the official rank, the greater the fortune and the greater the connections. The lower the official rank, the less fortune and the smaller the connections. The Lord has a kind fatherly heart, and Lord Yu will understand it in the future." As the saying goes, don't take on a porcelain job if you don't have the diamond drill. Lord Yu is not even a bronze drill. At best, he is just a product of the Neolithic Age. If he really smashes a precious porcelain, his property will be confiscated and he will be beheaded. That is not fun.
"Yes, that's what Dad meant," the Fourth Madam said happily. "When Dad recovered from his illness a few days ago, he was furious when he heard that my sister-in-law had come to your place. He made her kneel all night and planned to come and apologize to Marquis Gu once he felt better. But when he found out the truth, he felt he couldn't forgive her anymore!"
The two chatted for a while about family matters, and the Fourth Madam said, "We'll be returning to Dengzhou soon. Father has entrusted Hongxiao's affairs to me, so don't worry." Minglan nodded slightly, "How could I be worried about Fourth Aunt's work? I just wonder if the Lord is feeling well? If not, he should recuperate in the capital."
The Fourth Wife was embarrassed. She really didn't want to talk about these things, but Elder Yu indicated that the Gu family must be informed. She could only cough and say, "Ahem, well... Dad and Mom won't be returning to Dengzhou. They said that they should be taken care of by the eldest son, and will follow the eldest brother to an external post. Uh, after a while, ahem, they will find another sister-in-law for the eldest brother."
Minglan twitched her lips and suddenly felt speechless.
After seeing the fourth wife off, she returned to her room and saw that Tuan'er had woken up. The wet nurse was holding a rattle to play with him. The little meatball stretched out his hands to try to grab it, laughing so hard that his mouth was drooling. His big black and white eyes turned, and when he saw his mother, he immediately babbled. The wet nurse stood up and saluted. Her round face looked very honest, and she smiled and said, "My brother has recognized people and knows that his mother is here."
Minglan sat at the head of the bed, holding the child. Smiling, she kissed the chubby little face, only to end up with a mouthful of saliva. Wiping it with a handkerchief, she sighed, feeling somewhat frustrated. Last night, Tuanzi's father had told her that Madam Yu's fate would likely be either death from illness or divorce, and that Master Yu would quickly remarry.
At that time, Minglan naturally sighed in admiration: "Mr. Gongsun is really amazing. He can see through this as clearly as seeing through fire."
Gu Tingye corrected him, "That's not what Mr. Gongsun said. That's what I expected."
Minglan put on a nasty face, one that only cared about the brand, not the quality, and said sternly, "Even if Madam Yu is not, she's been married for many years and has given birth to children for the Yu family. She shouldn't be favored by others, and Master Yu protects her very closely. When she plotted against Sister Yanran, the Lord wanted to divorce her, but in the end, it was all over. The Marquis is a talented general, but he doesn't know the ins and outs of this inner chamber."
Gu Tingye raised his eyebrows and made her laugh, "The art of war is to be focused; to plan and calculate, to anticipate the enemy's moves. Even things thousands of miles away must be calculated, let alone trivial matters."
The man has been in a very good mood recently. Minglan spoke freely and joked with a smile: "I will make a feather fan for the Marquis later, so that he will look more like Zhuge Liang." You think you can pretend to be Zhuge Liang just by saying a few words of literature?
Gu Tingye did not argue much, just smiled and said, "Madam, just wait and see."
Very good, now we see. Inferring the process from the results, Lord Yu initially tolerated his eldest daughter-in-law, severely punishing her and planning to personally apologize. However, when he learned of the scandal, and that his eldest daughter-in-law had dared to come to his house to commit fraud, he knew he couldn't speak to Gu Tingye face to face, and the women had to settle the matter privately. At this point, verbal apology alone was not enough; the Yu family had to pay a price.
Of course, judging by the culprit's actions, he couldn't be kept alive. Once Master Yu married a new wife, even if the two elders of the Yu family passed away, the first wife wouldn't be able to return. Besides, the first wife's charm wasn't always that long-lasting. A soft-hearted person would listen to anyone's words. Once the new wife came into the family, I doubt Master Yu would still be loyal to the first wife.
Gu Tingye is in his prime, while the Yu family is in a period of transition, so the Yu family either does not apologize, or if they do, they must satisfy the Gu family; as long as Minglan still remembers the previous friendship, after ten or eight years, the Gu and Yu families may still have a chance to become friends.
After Mr. Gongsun's professional training, Tuanzi's father was obviously getting better and better. Minglan hugged the little meat dumpling and threw herself on the pillow, leaning against his chubby face, and whispered softly, "Tuanzi, tell me, your father has already forgotten your mother's little mistake by now."
The meatball spit out two saliva bubbles to express his contempt.
That night, she specially prepared a table of delicious food, and diligently helped Gu Tingye take off his court robes and crown, and then took out his chubby son to cheer him up. Because he had eaten a lot and slept enough in the afternoon, Tuan Ge'er was in high spirits and twisted around in his father's arms. Gu Tingye's arms were strong and powerful, holding him firmly, not afraid of him moving around.
Gu Tingye looked at the guilty person calmly, with no smile or anger on his face. He calmly pulled out the chubby little hand that was almost in his mouth, and then took the little finger to touch his stubble. The short stubble felt prickly and numb, and Tuan Ge'er seemed to find it interesting and giggled. His little hands are now gradually flexible and his grip is not small. Minglan never dared to wear earrings when holding him, for fear that he would pull them off as soon as he touched them. When he pulled hard at his father's hair hanging on his shoulders, Minglan clearly caught the pain that flashed across Gu Tingye's face, but in order to maintain his dignity, he still put on a calm poker face.
Minglan lowered her head and chuckled. "I told you not to pretend!"
After the table was set, Minglan ordered the wet nurse, Tuan'er, to be brought down so Gu Tingye could eat. However, Tuan'er was in high spirits, tugging at Gu Tingye's hair with one hand and tugging at his shirt with the other, his face flushed red as he refused to leave. Normally, Minglan would have been responsible for the finger-bending, but she was now hunching her neck and pretending to be obedient. The wet nurse didn't have the courage and froze.
Tuan Ge'er was like an unweaned animal at this time, and recognized people better than smells. Gu Tingye's scent was strong, and Tuan Ge'er was particularly close to him. Seeing his son burrowing into his arms like a little puppy, Gu Tingye's heart suddenly overflowed with kindness. He decided to hold his son in one hand and chopsticks in the other, while Minglan smiled flatteringly and served the dishes and ladled the soup, showing her support.
After Gu Tingye took a sip of wine, he dipped two drops of it with chopsticks and gave it to Fatty to suck (Minglan twitched the corner of her mouth and tried to hold it back). After he took a bite of the food, he gave Fatty a small spoonful of soup. Minglan picked up some soft and easy-to-digest lotus tofu and tender fish meat, chewed them up and fed them to Fatty. Fatty actually ate with relish, and sometimes even smacked his lips to ask for food.
The wet nurse smiled and said, "My brother has grown up recently and can eat rice porridge. His appetite is getting better and better."
The meal took almost half an hour, thanks to the hot water added to the bottom of the dish to keep it warm. After finally finishing the meal, Tuan Ge'er, perhaps because he was tired from playing or drunk, began to yawn and feel sleepy, and the wet nurse finally took the child away successfully.
After washing his hands and face, washing and changing his clothes, Gu Tingye, wearing a light-colored middle-length coat made of loose-ink brocade cotton, sat at the desk reading a book, pretending to be indifferent: "I heard that someone from the Yu family came today?"
Minglan looked at the roof and stammered as she briefly repeated what Mrs. Yu had said today.
"Oh, really?" Gu Tingye held the book in an upright posture, with his hair hanging down, showing the elegance of a scholar with a sword in the pre-Qin period. Unfortunately, he read for a long time without turning a single page.
Minglan looked at the missed chapters and whispered, "It's time to rest. Is the Marquis still reading?"
"Even a rough soldier like me can recognize a few words. I'd better read more books so that my wife doesn't have to make a feather fan." Gu Tingye's eyebrows did not move, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and there was a hint of teasing in his voice.
Minglan pouted and strode over to Gu Tingye. She ripped the book from his hand, sat on his lap, bit his earlobe hard, narrowed her eyes coquettishly, and whispered breathlessly, "Is the book as good-looking as me?"
The collar of her snow-white silk lingerie was unbuttoned, revealing a bright green satin bodice with a dark green embroidered border running across it. The slightly trembling cleavage in the middle of her plump snow-white breasts added a touch of erotic charm.
It is always good to have many skills. The subsequent development fully proved that her ten Gs were not in vain... Harmony, turn on the lights.
"Madam, you haven't put on your feather fan yet." The man leaned on his pillow, his mouth full of affection, his brows relaxed. In fact, Minglan was already tired and her waist and legs ached, but she didn't want to lose face. She lay on his chest and said in a coquettish voice: "I'm afraid that if it gets stuck, you won't be able to shake it."
Gu Tingye didn't expect her to dare to provoke him. He turned over and pressed Minglan down, laughing softly: "Then let's shake it and see."
Fortunately, this big bed was made by the imperial craftsman, with small-leaf red sandalwood, four pillars and four rails, so it could withstand the test. After a while, it was dark and gloomy, and she had no idea what time it was outside. Minglan was extremely tired, and in a daze she was still thinking that this man was becoming more and more difficult to fool.
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