Gu Tingye sat in front of the bed, frowning slightly: "It is the emperor's great fortune... Sir, please take care of your health in the future. You are not young anymore. If something happens to you, we will regret it."
Gongsun Baishi covered his lips with his fist, laughing and coughing: "Zhong Huai has become increasingly boring since he became my father! Life is short, so let's drink and sing. When you marched to Anhui, the weather was scorching hot, and you took the lead in jumping into the Baimao River to take a bath. The young wives and girls in several villages along the river..." He stopped talking mid-sentence, glanced at Minglan who was filtering medicine at the table, and the old man stopped talking guiltily. Gu Tingye also coughed lightly, feeling a little uncomfortable.
Hundreds, even thousands, of young men bathing naked in the open air—what a spectacular sight! Minglan laughed to herself, but pretended not to understand. She blew gently on the medicine bowl and changed the subject: "The Emperor is truly blessed, but it's a pity for that Imperial Envoy. Even women like me have heard that everyone outside wants to report him now."
Gu Tingye said, "He was just a scholar with a bit of ambition. He turned the officialdom of Lianghuai upside down. He could arrest officials of third and fourth ranks at will, behead them, confiscate their property, and he was not afraid of anyone, not even the emperor. His methods were a bit excessive and incurred public outrage."
Gongsun Baishi narrowed his eyes and shook his head, saying, "During the reign of the late Emperor, he sent several groups of people to investigate the salt administration, but he did so gently, not wanting to offend anyone. But what was the outcome? The bureaucracy in Lianghuai is deeply entangled and rotten, and he needs to give the Emperor an explanation before the New Year. How can he break this corruption without drastic measures?"
Gu Tingye smiled bitterly: "How could I not know this? The last time I went to Lianghuai, some assassins dared to kill the imperial envoy in broad daylight. Alas, it's a pity for the loyal minister..." There was a hint of sigh in his words.
"You think he's Dong Anyu, but I think he's Zhufu Yan, perhaps even smarter." Gongsun Baishi stroked his beard and smiled. "He's just a minor censor, unremarkable in the imperial examinations, unremarkable in his scholarship, and without any connections in the court. Yet, he harbors such ambitions. How can he rise to prominence? He can only resort to risky tactics! He knows this mission is extremely risky, will offend many, and will undoubtedly lead to impeachment. He's gambling on the emperor's will!"
Gu Tingye thought carefully for a moment, then understood: "As long as the emperor remembers his grievances and remembers his loyalty, there is no need to worry about his hope of restoration." The current emperor has a strong temperament. Even if he has to stay quiet for a while, as long as his career goes smoothly, he may be promoted several levels.
Minglan was so absorbed in listening that she didn't even notice the medicine bowl in her hand was burning. She interrupted and said, "Excuse me, sir...what if that gentleman is truly loyal to his country and doesn't care about his personal honor, disgrace, life or death?" She felt that what she said was inappropriate, but unexpectedly it caused the old man to laugh.
There was a hint of self-mockery between Gu Tingye's brows, and he said gently: "So what if it is, and so what if it isn't." For people in officialdom, how can they be allowed to always think the best of others? That would be too naive.
Gongsun Baishi smiled and waved his hands repeatedly, coughing and laughing as he said, "Madam is upright and righteous, it is we who have misread the book and fallen behind."
Minglan blushed and slowly walked over with the medicine bowl in hand: "Sir, please stop making fun of me. Please take the medicine first."
"Thank you for your help, madam." The old man had a bitter face, as if he was going to die a heroic death. He tilted his head back and drank the medicine bowl dry, his face wrinkled like a walnut kernel. Gu Tingye treated the old man with courtesy as a nephew, stood up and held a bowl of water for him to rinse his mouth.
The three chatted for a while, and then urged Old Man Gongsun to lie down and rest. The couple then said goodbye. Outside, the snow was everywhere. The two walked slowly along the corridor. Gu Tingye was silent for a while, and suddenly said, "There's something I'm afraid I need you to do."
Minglan tilted her head to listen as Gu Tingye continued, "Mr. Gongsun is already over fifty years old, and unfortunately he still has no children. Let's pick out a maid who is attentive and fertile to be his concubine."
"Is this... something the Marquis thought of himself?" Minglan blinked. It didn't sound like that at all.
Gu Tingye sighed slightly and said, "Master is open-minded and never takes the issue of not having an heir to heart... It's a letter from Master's wife."
Gongsun Baishi and his wife had a son, but unfortunately he died young. Coincidentally, their eldest brother also died early, leaving behind a frail widowed sister-in-law and a bunch of young nephews and nieces. So Mrs. Gongsun had to take over the housework and take on multiple roles. She had to serve her parents-in-law, take care of her widowed sister-in-law, and raise her nephews and nieces. She was not allowed to leave home to be with her husband.
Madam Gongsun had suggested several times that her husband take a concubine to continue the family line, but Gongsun, who wasn't yet an old man, had already begun to travel extensively, rarely settling in one place for long, and certainly had no time for having children. Seeing that her husband had come to the capital with Gu Tingye and seemed to be planning to settle down, she was afraid that he would refuse and cause further problems, so she asked Gongsun Meng to take a letter directly to Gu Tingye, asking him to find a suitable candidate on her behalf.
"Even if she wants to take a concubine, it should be my master's wife who chooses her herself and sends her to the capital." Minglan said softly.
Gu Tingye shrugged slightly, "The letter only said that there aren't many outstanding talents in the countryside, and I'm afraid the master won't like them. I'll go ask the master later if there's any maidservant he likes among the current ones. She'll definitely have to be to his liking."
Minglan was embarrassed and felt like a pimp. She was so picky about an old man who loved to run naked to show his support for his idol!
The next day, Gu Tingye went to persuade the old man. Initially, he was reluctant, desiring to be a distinguished scholar with a plum blossom wife and crane children, and not the burden of family. However, Gu Tingye persisted, occasionally nagging him, from how pitiful his master's wife was to the three unfilial acts. Gradually, the old man was persuaded. Gu Tingye thought the little boy probably preferred martial arts to literature, so why not have a son of his own and teach him from the very beginning? Wouldn't that give him a greater sense of accomplishment? He reluctantly agreed.
It was already the middle of the twelfth lunar month, and Mr. Xue was preparing to return home for the New Year. Minglan went there in advance to deliver New Year gifts and asked the two girls to pay their New Year's greetings. After returning, Minglan announced that it was winter vacation and they could stop studying for a while. The two girls ran away cheering.
Qiu Niang was chasing nervously from behind, like a considerate hen protecting her chicks: "Run slower, slower, there's still snow outside, be careful not to fall!"
Minglan smiled slightly. She finally understood why Gu Tingye said that Qiu Niang was a good person. Miss Fengxian would occasionally use some tricks, such as singing in the middle of the night and pretending to be sick and dying, but Qiu Niang only had two tricks in total: needlework and blocking the road.
After repeated setbacks, she finally understood that Gu Tingye truly had lost interest in her. She resigned herself to her fate, gradually giving up her thoughts and turning to Rong Jie'er. When Qiu Niang truly treated others, she was genuinely attentive. She sewed clothes and shoes for Rong Jie'er, accompanied her with her writing, memorizing, and homework, taught her needlework, and even devised various ways to dress the little girl beautifully. She cared for her, loved her, and as human hearts are made of flesh and blood, over time, the two of them developed a genuine mother-daughter vibe.
This woman was clear-headed, so after Hongxiao left, Minglan took the initiative to make her her concubine and prepared several tables of wine, telling her to invite her close friends to celebrate. That noon, Rong Jieer rushed back just to toast Qiu Niang with three cups of wine. She also used her saved monthly allowance to make Qiu Niang a heavy gold hairpin and personally handed it to her. Qiu Niang's eyes immediately filled with tears.
Aunt Qiu, who was always close to Shao, put her arm around her shoulders and whispered, "Jie'er is a kind-hearted person who will remember your kindness. Don't worry, with her around, you'll have someone to rely on for the rest of your life."
When Minglan heard the news, she was naturally happy. If possible, she would be willing to treat these unfortunate women well.
But at the moment, she had other worries. She always felt that it was inhumane to let a young girl become a concubine of an old man. She was entangled for several days and still resisted in her heart. But when she told this to Mother Cui, she was laughed at three times.
"What are you thinking, Madam? It's not like you're forcing a good woman into prostitution, so why should you be so cruel? Mr. Gongsun is both knowledgeable and of good character, and he's not very old. The mistress is not around, so as long as he gives birth to a son, he will be considered the legitimate son in the future, and all the family property will be his. Isn't it better than marrying a servant? Just wait and see, once some rumors get out, you'll see how many girls are thinking of climbing this high branch." Mother Cui made a firm prediction.
Minglan was stunned for a moment, then she remembered that Gongsun Baishi was about the same age as her father, but his face full of wrinkles was far inferior to the handsome middle-aged man Sheng Hong who was still in good shape.
Following this suggestion, Minglan spread some news to the courtyard where Mr. Gongsun lived. According to Mother Cui, if someone did not want to be a concubine, they should try to avoid this opportunity, and if someone was willing, they would move forward twice as much.
The results were encouraging. Although not everyone was eager to join the party, a few were noticeably more attentive. It's worth mentioning that among them were two or three young wives whose husbands had died. They were particularly refined, plump but not greasy, and elegant but not coquettish.
The facts were before her, and Minglan had no choice but to admit that being a concubine was a perfectly legitimate profession these days, earning a living based on capital and being paid according to performance. Well, then, let's find someone who's willing and can make things happen. She just didn't know what Old Man Gongsun liked, and this pimping was a tough sell, and Minglan had no experience. She was already quite resentful of Old Man Gongsun's reserved behavior. If he was already in a relationship with some young maid, all she had to do was pay the bill. Wouldn't that be convenient?
After two or three days of debating, Minglan gradually came to a decision. The granddaughter of Pan Da Niang, the laundry lady, now served tea and water in Old Man Gongsun's courtyard. She was well-behaved, honest, and pretty. Jin Sao Zi, the forest keeper, had a fourth daughter who had a few days of schooling as a child and was the most considerate. And then there was Lian Mama's eldest niece, who was calm, thoughtful, and above average in appearance... That was all nonsense. The point was that Mama Cui had already inquired about the situation, and they were all willing.
Just as Minglan was biting her lip in deep thought, she heard a slight crisp sound. Danju, with a worried look on her face, knocked over the teacup on the kang table for the fourth time. The small enamel covered bowl with purple and gold thread rolled around and the tea spilled out.
"What happened to you today? You're so distracted. You won't tell me when I ask you." Minglan sighed, watching Danju frantically packing up. "Just tell me what's going on. You have nothing to hide in front of me."
Danju pulled a handkerchief from her waist and kept wiping the water off the kang. After hesitating for a long time, she finally stammered, "Then... Madam, are you... busy with Mr. Gongsun's concubine-taking?"
Minglan nodded and was about to make a joke, but she saw Danju's face flushed with shyness. A strange thought suddenly popped up in her mind, and she said in shock, "Are you trying to recommend yourself?"
Danju was stunned for a moment, and was about to ask what '毛遂自荐' meant when she heard a clear and calm voice from outside the door - "It's not her, it's me!" Then the curtain was lifted, and a slim and pretty girl stepped in. Who else could it be but Ruomei?!
Minglan frowned and said in a deep voice, "Have you forgotten the rules? Who told you to eavesdrop?" Danju knelt hurriedly, saying repeatedly, "It's all my fault. She...she...I asked her to come..." She was already upset, and now her words were even more incoherent. Ruomei, who was standing beside her, remained calm. She knelt gently and said loudly, "Madam, please blame me if you want to blame me. It was me who pestered Sister Danju and asked her to speak for me. Please just listen to me. I'll go and get the beating myself later."
Minglan narrowed her eyes and examined her. After a moment, she said, "Go ahead."
"Thank you, Madam." Ruomei bowed lightly and raised her head, saying, "It's just a matter of words. I... I..." She gritted her teeth and said, "I am willing to serve Mr. Gongsun!"
Minglan's expression gradually darkened, and she raised her hand slightly. Danju, who was standing beside her, had already blushed as red as pig liver, and she immediately slipped out, leaving only the two of them in the room.
"Why is that?" Minglan's tone was unusually serious. "I still remember that year you said with your own mouth that you would never be a concubine."
Ruomei knelt upright on the ground, her face pale and frightening, and her dark eyes seemed to be burning with fire. "I admire Mr. Gongsun's character and respect his knowledge. I am willing to serve him as a slave and servant for the rest of his life." As she spoke, she kowtowed again, "I hope Madam will grant my wish."
Minglan gripped the armrest of the chair and hesitated, "You know, I've already been planning your lifelong plans."
You have to know that the future of the maids brought as dowry by the mistress is completely different from that of ordinary maids. Ordinary maids, even those who serve Shao, can only marry an ambitious servant or the son of a manager at most.
Ruomei tried her best to suppress the trembling in her voice, "Madam, you treat us well, and I know it in my heart. I have broken my promise and am willing to shorten my life and accept the punishment from heaven, and I only ask for Madam's favor."
The room fell silent, with only the crackling of the charcoal fire in the purple-gold copper cauldron to be heard. After a long moment, Minglan said, "First, listen to me tell you two things, and then make your decision."
Ruomei looked up at her, her beautiful eyes filled with hope. Minglan glanced at her and continued, "Master's wife is virtuous and kind, and has worked hard for the Gongsun family. Unfortunately, she has been separated from her husband for half her life, and has no children. Therefore, once the candidate is chosen, first, I will send the new concubine's indenture to Master's hometown and hand it over to the wife."
Minglan could almost feel Ruomei pause for breath as she continued, "Secondly, I heard from Young Master Meng that his eldest brother is about to get married. In a few years, when the legitimate grandson's wife arrives, Madam might go to the capital to reunite with her husband and wife. When the child is born, the girl will be fine, but the boy will definitely be raised by Madam..."
If her eyebrows and forehead twitched and she felt waves of pain, how could she not understand since she had a clear mind and a transparent heart?
She was a maidservant who came with Marquis Gu's wife as a dowry. The first reason was probably because Minglan was afraid that she would rely on the power of the Marquis's Mansion and look down on the mistress from the countryside in the future; and the second reason was probably because Mr. Gongsun felt guilty towards his wife and was afraid that the child would disrespect his stepmother in the future.
She suddenly smiled bitterly. Compared with Danju and the others, she had helped Minglan the least and had the least affection for her. Minglan was the only one who had done her a favor, so how could she not know her place? Even though she had risked her life to beg for it, she had still held some hope. She thought that with Minglan's magnanimity, she might release her indenture and give her a proper and grand wedding. She was a little worried for a moment.
"Madam, I understand what you mean." Ruomei bit her lips until they bled, her expression stubborn. "I will respect your wife, sir, and will never dare to be disrespectful! If I overstep the bounds, may the heavens strike me with lightning!"
Hearing her tone, Minglan knew it was pointless to continue. "I know what you're thinking. You...go down first."
Ruomei kowtowed again and walked out the door backwards. After a while, Danju tiptoed into the room, her face full of shame, and she stammered, not knowing what to say.
Minglan glanced at her and said, "She refuses to tell me the truth. Tell me, is she sincere?"
Danju breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Don't worry, she really is willing! We all thought she had her eye on some scholar from the outer courtyard, but in fact, she doesn't even look down on them!"
"Mr. Gongsun is her father." Minglan laughed, "So she's interested?"
Danju looked confused: "Ruomei did say... said that Mr. Gongsun was like her deceased father, kind and warm-hearted..." In fact, she didn't understand at all.
Minglan understood somewhat and did not want to say anything more. Since Ruomei wanted to get married, then let her marry. Based on the messages he had delivered several times, it seemed that Mr. Gongsun had a high opinion of Ruomei. So, all right.
After Gu Tingye returned home, Minglan told him about this, and Gu Tingye found it interesting.
Although Mr. Gongsun is extremely talented and knowledgeable, he is not good-looking after all, with his sparse beard, half-bald forehead, and those faint age spots - true love can come just like that?
Minglan was also filled with regret, feeling that she was still inexperienced and not calm enough.
Because Mr. Gongsun hadn't recovered yet, he scheduled the ceremony of taking a concubine for the following spring. He thought, "A pear blossom overshadows a crabapple blossom. Don't let the wedding go by without a chance, and end up losing your life instead." Gu Tingye suggested sending Ruomei first. He'd feel more at ease with someone so caring and attentive to her medicine. Ruomei, like a happy little bird, blushed, flapped her wings, and flew away joyfully.
"What on earth does she like about Mr. Gongsun?" Xiao Tao was puzzled.
Minglan found it amusing and asked instead, "Forget Ruomei, tell me about yourself. What kind of person do you like? Have you ever thought about it?"
"I've thought about it." Xiao Tao nodded and spoke honestly, "My mother always said that the Yao butcher at the entrance of the village has a good family, and told me that I must marry a butcher in the future. Every time I kill a pig, I can earn half a pound of offal." Her tone was firm and full of ambition.
Minglan almost choked on her tea.
…
Amidst the clatter of firecrackers, the little boy welcomed his first New Year. Gu Tingye stood outside, holding his son. The deafening roar pierced the silence of the night, and the sky, ablaze with vibrant colors, illuminated it like day. Unfazed, Tuan'er danced with joy. This New Year, Gu Tingye intended a grand celebration. Not only was the mansion decked out in red and colorful decorations, but he also doubled the monthly wages of all the servants, and even doubled the rewards for those who had performed effectively over the previous year.
Minglan exchanged three or four baskets full of copper coins and gave them to the children in the mansion as New Year's money, giving each person a handful so that no one was left out.
Although there were fewer people celebrating the New Year this year than last year, Gu Tingye was obviously in a much better mood. Standing in the ancestral hall, he personally burned incense for dozens of tablets, put four large tables together into one, and placed a full meal of sixteen dishes on it for a grand sacrifice. After Shao left, he asked everyone to leave. He dragged Minglan in one hand and held Tuanzi in the other, and stood in front of the tablets of the old marquis and Bai for a long time before coming out.
On the first day of the new year, they paid respects to their parents, and on the second day, they paid respects to their parents-in-law. Shao's parents' home was far away, so it was inconvenient for her to go back. Minglan went to say goodbye to her early in the morning before leaving with her husband and children. Tuan'er was very excited in his wet nurse's arms, his round head eager to peek out the carriage curtains, while Rong'er's face turned pale. Every time at this moment, she always felt redundant. Minglan comforted her kindly: "Remember your aunt? She treated you very kindly and gave you a small gold bracelet last time. She also has a daughter, about the same age as Xian'er. You can play with her later."
Sister Rong nodded stiffly.
In fact, she was worrying too much.
As the best-married aunt, the concubine's daughter brought by Minglan, any maid or servant would dare to neglect her. The entire Sheng family might give Rong Jie'er a cold shoulder. Probably only Wang, but she has two daughters and many grandchildren to take care of today, so she has no time to pay attention to her.
Four sons-in-law came to pay New Year's greetings together. Sheng Hong felt very proud and kept stroking his beard and smiling, which showed that he was really happy. Old Lady Sheng at the head of the table also had a rosy face. Only Wang's eyes looked at Gu Tingye with a complicated look. How great would it be if this was her own son-in-law?
After the New Year's greetings, lucky money was distributed. The Hualan family got the most, receiving three portions. Little Tuanzi also received a generous portion this time. Minglan raised her two small fists and bowed to the elders like a puppy, which amused everyone and made them laugh.
Sheng Hong lectured her at length, and when he came to the topic of "maternal happiness and a prosperous family," Wang finally lost her temper and glared at Minglan: "You are the only one among the girls who doesn't have a mother-in-law by your side. Don't take advantage of your position as the head of the household and act recklessly without the supervision of your elders. If you break the rules of etiquette, I will scold you even if others don't say anything."
Minglan smiled bitterly inwardly, too lazy to argue. Wang, however, became even more excited: "Without an elder around to guide you, you appear to be at ease, but in reality, you are acting in an unruly manner. How old is Ming girl? What does she know? How can she manage such a big family? It would be a joke..."
She actually started scolding him in front of everyone. Gu Tingye's smile faded. Hua Lan noticed carefully and knew something was wrong. Just as she was about to interrupt, she heard a soft sound. It turned out that the old lady had placed her hand on the coffee table, and the Buddhist beads on her wrist tapped against the table. Sheng Hong turned around and saw that his stepmother looked unhappy. He quickly interrupted Wang Shi: "What nonsense are you talking about? When has Ming girl ever made a fool of herself?" He smiled and said to Gu Tingye: "Your mother-in-law is a worrywart. You are overthinking it."
Wang gritted her teeth in hatred. She glanced at Molan and feigned concern, saying with a smile, "Mo girl, you sisters have been married for so many years, and now you're the only one who hasn't had any children. I'm really worried."
Molan stood at the far side, raised her head silently, and smiled gently: "Mrs. Lao is worried, but I don't agree with what you said. As long as they are your husband's flesh and blood, they are all my children."
Sheng Hong felt that his daughter understood the righteousness of the matter and nodded repeatedly. Wang Shi was pushed back and said with a forced smile, "That being said, it is better to have a legitimate daughter. My dear son-in-law, please don't neglect my daughter."
Liang Han on the side could not stand it any longer, with a look of surprise on his face. Molan smiled calmly: "What are you talking about, madam? My husband treats my daughter very well. I am really lucky. As for the matter of children..." She looked at Liang Han with tears in her eyes and whispered, "Maybe my daughter is not blessed." Liang Han felt grateful and looked at his wife with pity.
Before Wang could say anything more, Sheng Hong slammed his hand on the table and said gravely, "Are you done yet? It's a good New Year's Day, and you have to make things unpleasant!" Wang's eyes reddened and she was about to retort, but Wen Yanjing, perceptive and discerning, knew that the feud between his father-in-law and his mother-in-law had been going on for a long time. He quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying with a smile, "Mother-in-law loves her daughter and always dislikes her son-in-law. Don't blame me, father-in-law. Even for a son-in-law as rare as me, she still criticizes me from time to time."
Rulan pursed her lips and smiled angrily, "How shameless! How can you be considered a good son-in-law? You're just bragging."
Everyone laughed, and Wang finally relaxed, and Sheng Hong breathed a sigh of relief. The old lady looked at them coldly, saying calmly, "I'm used to a quiet life. You've already kowtowed and paid your respects, so you can leave now."
Sheng Hong quickly stood up and apologized, repeatedly saying that he was unfilial. After everyone came out of Shou'an Hall, Sheng Hong led his four sons-in-law to the outer courtyard, while the female family members went to the inner hall to have tea.
As soon as Hua Lan sat down, she asked Zhuang Jie'er and Rong Jie'er to meet each other. The two girls bowed to each other and saluted. When they looked up, they saw that one was naturally delicate, dignified and sweet, while the other had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and was full of heroic spirit. They immediately felt a liking for each other and sat next to each other to talk.
Zhuang Jie'er, more mature than the average girl, was incredibly friendly and affable. She was captivated by Rong Jie'er's descriptions of Mr. Xue's class, listening with rapt interest. The two chatted, their conversation growing increasingly rapport-filled. Soon, they walked hand-in-hand to the courtyard. Liu Kun's wife took the remaining children to the side rooms to play.
Liu stood aside with her big belly, preparing tea and snacks for Wang and the four sisters-in-law. Minglan felt sorry for them and said, "Sister-in-law, please sit down quickly. You are pregnant."
Wang curled her lips and said, "Who hasn't given birth to a child? This precious thing, standing for a while longer won't necessarily be a big deal."
Minglan turned around and asked in surprise, "When Madam was pregnant, did you often stand and serve Grandmother?" Her eyes were sincere and full of respect.
Wang was choked and couldn't speak. Hualan sighed to the sky. Although this was her biological mother, she really didn't want to help her. Minglan didn't press her advantage, but just glanced at Molan with some surprise. She didn't help Liu either.
It was Liu who came out and smiled to save the situation: "The doctor said that standing and walking around is good, just don't overdo it. Oh, by the way, I was just about to thank Sixth Sister. The fish jerky you sent me last time was delicious. I could eat several bowls of rice with it."
Minglan bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Grandmother said that my sister-in-law wanted to eat some rich seafood, so I thought of this. People in the south dry it themselves, and the flavor is quite delicious. If my sister-in-law likes it, I still have some."
"Why don't you see me off?" Rulan tilted her head, a little displeased.
Minglan turned around and rolled her eyes at her. "Don't give me that! You couldn't stand the smell of anything back then. My poor brother-in-law didn't even dare grind ink in the house because of you. If I really sent you some dried fish, you would have to scrub the whole house!"
Rulan smiled sweetly and didn't say anything back.
After just a few words, Wang was furious. She wanted to scold Liu, but she was so skilled she ignored her. She wanted to scold Molan, but she was so skilled she couldn't get any advantage. She wanted to scold Minglan, but Hualan was so protective. She lost her temper and dragged Hualan and Rulan into the inner room for a private conversation.
After watching the mother and daughter leave, Liu turned back with a smile and said, "My two sisters, why don't you come to my place and have a seat? My parents sent some good tea. You can try it. If you like it, take some back."
Minglan smiled and said that obedience is worse than respect, then she stood up and followed him. Molan raised the corner of her mouth and followed him.
For some understandable reason, Minglan had often visited Changbai's place as a child, giving her a pair of shoes or a book, but she had never been to Changfeng's courtyard. Seeing it today, she felt it exuded elegance and grace, a grand view, and no affectation at all. She wondered if it was Changfeng's natural taste or if it was Liu's contribution. When the three of them went, they happened to run into Changfeng returning from an outing; because Liu was pregnant, he had gone to his father-in-law's house to pay New Year's greetings alone. After bowing and chatting for a while, he returned.
"Are your parents in good health?" Liu looked at her husband with a smile.
Chang Feng habitually went to help Liu Shi and helped her sit down. "Everything is fine. Mother's cold should be much better now. She chatted with me for two cups of tea without even a cough. Dad wanted to catch me playing chess, but thanks to your eldest brother-in-law's help, I was able to escape."
"Daddy is the same, a poor chess player who always likes to ask son-in-law for advice." Liu's voice suddenly changed, it became playful and gentle, making people feel comfortable like a spring breeze.
Minglan turned to look at Molan, her face did not look very good.
"If I hadn't promised you to come back early, it wouldn't hurt to accompany Dad to play a few games." Chang Feng was as gentle and considerate as ever, but something seemed to have changed, Minglan couldn't tell.
Chang Feng turned around and said, "Fourth sister, sixth sister, you are here."
Molan snorted softly: "You just saw it, and I thought you only had eyes for your wife."
"What are you talking about?" Chang Feng smiled and didn't take it as an offense.
"Since brother and sister-in-law are here, that's perfect. I have something to say." Molan suddenly became serious, staring at Changfeng, and said slowly, "Father is increasingly satisfied with brother, and the old lady also likes sister-in-law. If that's the case, why don't brother and sister-in-law think of a way to bring aunt back? Could it be that brother only cares about his own comfort and doesn't care about aunt's life or death?"
Chang Feng's face flushed to the point of being speechless. He looked towards his wife for help. Liu smiled calmly and said, "Look at what Fourth Sister said. It seems like your brother is a heartless and ungrateful person."
Molan snorted coldly and turned her head away: "I didn't say that. But my aunt gave birth to my brother and me, how could I forget? I'm a married woman, there's nothing I can do, but my brother is a man, why can't he do anything?!"
Every word was so aggressive that Chang Feng was speechless and could only go to see his wife.
"My husband is a man, but precisely because he is a man, he knows better what to do and what not to do! Fourth sister is well-read, how come you don't even understand this principle?" Liu stood up, holding her belly, with a sense of dignity.
"It's true that Auntie has given birth to my husband, but above Auntie are the old lady, the master, and the mistress. Could it be that just because of Auntie, I should ignore my filial piety to the old lady, the master, and the mistress?!" Liu spoke eloquently, retorting loudly, "Since I entered the Sheng family, I have sent clothes and food to the farm every season, and people have always returned the favor. Although Auntie's life has been a little lonely, she has not suffered! How can you say that I don't care whether Auntie lives or dies?"
Molan stood up angrily: "Sister-in-law, you are so eloquent! What's the difference between enduring such a dull life and being dead?!"
Liu smiled lightly and looked directly at Molan, "Auntie has done something wrong, so of course she must be punished."
Molan glared: "You——" Then she turned around and glared at Changfeng, "You!"
Chang Feng flinched slightly. Liu took a step forward and said softly, "My husband has already told me everything about what happened back then. Alas... to be disrespectful, Auntie was indeed inappropriate. Fourth sister, you are also a wife and a mother. Do you think Auntie did the right thing?"
She slowly stroked her belly. "A woman's husband is her heaven, and a daughter's father is hers at home. This is a truth that can be explained at any time. I'm not as well-educated as my fourth sister. I only know that my child and I must rely on and obey my husband for everything."
While addressing Molan, Liu's eyes were fixed on Changfeng. Minglan glanced sideways, sensing a gaze filled with trust and reliance. Even a Wu Dalang would have felt like a true hero if he'd received such a gaze, let alone Changfeng, who was so compassionate and gentle.
Molan's face was gloomy, and she glared at him angrily. After a moment, she suddenly felt sad, "Sister-in-law is very understanding. Even if Auntie was wrong, this punishment should have an end. It can't be that from now on, the three of us, mother and son, will never see each other again..." She couldn't help crying softly, "Brother, don't you remember how much Auntie loved you when you were a child? Brother, you have such a cruel heart! Even if she has a thousand faults and is not good in many ways, we are still her flesh and blood. How could you abandon her like this!"
Chang Feng felt distressed by her crying and said anxiously, "How could I ignore her? Your sister-in-law told me long ago that since the old lady, father and the mistress are all here, Auntie cannot come back. If the family is ever divided, your sister-in-law and I will be filial to her."
Molan's heart sank, and she immediately flew into a rage. Official families like the Sheng family had to wait until the father died before their descendants could divide the family fortune. But Sheng Hong had always been in good health, and after a few decades, who knew who would outlast the other.
She looked up at Liu, only to see her smiling slightly. Changfeng followed her closely, like a son obeying his mother. Molan was immediately furious. "Sister-in-law, you really know how to tame your husband. Now my brother listens to you in everything! I'm afraid he listens to you even more than he listens to his father!"
This was a bit too much, and Chang Feng's face suddenly darkened: "You also know that I am your brother. Is this what you should say to your brother?! It's rude! It's all your fault that Auntie doted on you and didn't teach you well!"
This was the first time in Molan's life that she was scolded by her brother. Her eyes turned red and she was about to cry again.
Liu slowly moved over and took her husband's hand. "Why are you angry with your fourth sister? She's worried about my aunt, so she was a little harsh. Okay, hurry up to the front. When we have a drink later, Daddy alone can't handle four sons-in-law. Your husband has to keep a distance."
"Then it doesn't matter if I get drunk?" Chang Feng said with a smile.
Liu said softly, "I'll make a hangover soup for my husband when we get back."
Chang Feng smiled gently, turned to Minglan and said, "Sixth sister, please sit for a while and talk to your sister-in-law." Finally, he glanced at Molan and said, "Your sister-in-law is pregnant. You should be sensible and not make her angry!" After saying this, he turned around and left.
Molan almost fainted from anger. Her slender hands, stained with Impatiens juice, tightly tugged at the handkerchief, wishing she could tear her brother and sister-in-law in front of her into pieces. She endured it for a while, and finally ran out in anger, no one knew where she went.
Minglan lowered her head to sip her tea, pretending she hadn't seen anything, and only exchanged a few trivial family words with Liu. Liu's words were quite witty and her mood was good, but she never mentioned Changfeng or Aunt Lin, and only chatted happily about trivial matters and anecdotes in life. After a while, Minglan excused herself and Liu didn't try to keep her, but stood up and saw her off with a smile.
The fine sandy gravel road under her feet was very familiar. Turning left and right, Minglan took three shortcuts to reach Shou'an Hall, and then walked in with a swagger. When she reached the inner room, she saw Old Lady Sheng sitting on the kang, looking at the sleeping baby kindly.
When she heard someone come in, she didn't even turn around, still staring at the child: "Look at this kid, he's sleeping so soundly... This is unlike you. When you were a child, even the wind blowing the curtains would wake you up."
Minglan smiled and walked over, nuzzling the old lady like a pug. "This kid is just like his father. As long as he sleeps peacefully, no one will know if he's carried away and thrown into the moat."
The old lady slowly turned around, looked at Minglan, and said with a smile, "Are you done?"
"I really want to fly over here." Minglan also sat down on the bed, resting her head on the old lady's arm, and sighed, "Grandma, I missed you." Then she looked around and said, "Where's Brother Quan? I brought him something."
The old lady put her arm around Minglan and gently stroked her temples. "I wanted to ask him to stay and wait for you, but Hualan's two little brothers were peeked out from the door, and he couldn't sit still. I wonder where those three boys have gone now."
"Is Quan obedient?" Minglan said, acting like an elder. "He's only half as obedient as I was when I was little."
The old lady's face couldn't help but smile. "My brother is not like a maid. When he first started running, Madam Fang had to lead three maids to catch him. But when he recites and writes, his stern little face is exactly like your elder brother's."
"I wonder how big brother is doing now?" Sheng Hong didn't say it, but seeing that the whole family was reunited today, it was a pity that only the eldest son and his wife were missing. Minglan remembered something, "My eldest sister-in-law said in her last letter that she was pregnant. Calculating the date, it's only been two months. Everything else is fine, but I'm afraid there's a shortage of doctors and medicine, which is inconvenient."
"I'm worried about that, too." The old lady frowned slightly. "Your father and I have discussed sending two capable maids over, but the road is difficult to travel on. It's remote and hard to find the way..."
Minglan clapped her hands and smiled, "I've thought of that, too. I discussed it with the Marquis a while ago. He said that after the New Year, the Ministry of War will be escorting a batch of military equipment and provisions over there. It'll pass by my brother's place, so why not have our convoy go with it? It's more secure and there's no risk of it getting lost. You can send as many herbs as you want to replenish the stock."
"I won't bother you anymore." The old lady said indifferently, but she was genuinely happy. "Your father had the same idea in his mind, but he just liked to pretend and didn't want to speak up."
"That's because Daddy is smart. He knows that Grandma is probably more worried about Big Brother than he is, so he's happy to save the trouble."
The old lady half scoffed and half laughed: "When did your father become less intelligent?"
The grandfather and grandson joked with the master of the Sheng family without any pressure.
"Third brother has married a good wife." As they chatted, Minglan talked about what she had just seen and heard. "Just now, Fourth sister mentioned Aunt Lin to Third brother again. She said something very harsh, but Third sister-in-law blocked her out, and Third brother even scolded Fourth sister."
The old lady's face was filled with joy or sorrow. She gently stroked Minglan and sighed, "Your third brother is not a bad person, but he lacks a backbone. He listened to Lin before, and now listens to his wife. Fortunately, your third sister-in-law is much better than Lin."
Minglan rested her head on her grandmother's legs like a cat, "Seeing Fourth Sister thinking so much about Aunt Lin, it must be difficult."
The old lady was silent for a moment before she said, "There's something..." She paused, "At the beginning of autumn, Miss Mo had a miscarriage."
Minglan was startled and half-raised herself to sit up in a daze. The old lady said, "Girl Mo was fighting with the concubines, scheming and scheming all day long, and she didn't even know she was pregnant... Alas, she must have thought too much." Minglan was silent for a long time and still said nothing, or rather, she didn't know what to say.
"A while ago, Miss Mo came to see the master, asking for help with her brother-in-law's career." The floor heating in the room was burning brightly, warm as spring. The old lady's voice was low and slow, like the incense curling from the agarwood burner. "The master was soft-hearted and was originally prepared to agree, but in the end it didn't happen."
Minglan leaned back on her pillow and said quietly, "Father has always loved Fourth Sister. He must have been unable to agree this time."
"It's like a mountain between two different trades. The master can't reach there." The old lady snorted softly, "He came to talk to me several times. I know what he was thinking. He wanted to see if he could ask Sixth Uncle for help, but I ignored him."
Minglan smiled bitterly: "Daddy is very concerned about his reputation." No matter how prominent his son-in-law is, he has to put on an air of dignity.
"Later, Aunt Ju blew some more wind, and
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
