For a long time, Old Man Gongsun's status within the Gu Mansion was awkward, the so-called "Western Master." This was because when the new emperor first ascended the throne, internal and external forces were turbulent. As a close official accompanying the new emperor to the capital, if he behaved well, others would simply pout. If he misbehaved slightly, the court officials would inevitably whisper, "Look at the kind of people the emperor trusts!" (Comrade Geng was the target of countless criticism for this).
Gongsun Baishi advised Gu Tingye not to immediately appoint so many aides and retainers, arguing that a mere military officer would be too ostentatious. Thus, despite the Governor's Office's declaration that he had no children, despite Gu Tingye's own lack of literary talent, and despite Old Man Gongsun having never met Sister Rong, the host and guest brazenly declared to the public: "This (I) am the teacher of the Gu Mansion."
After that, due to the endless busyness, no one thought about this matter anymore. When Tuan Ge'er was born, Gongsun Baishi's title of teacher was finally confirmed. Unfortunately, ever since the little meat ball was able to grab things, he showed interest in pulling the old man Gongsun's beard, which was obviously more than holding a pen. However, Gongsun Baishi's name cards to the outside world still read "Teacher Gu Hou".
Of course, this blatant deception could not deceive the sharp eyes of the general public. When Old Man Gongsun was about to take a concubine, the gifts piled up to fill three rooms: coral trees over a foot tall, dazzling pearl earrings, and rolls of precious brocade... Old Man Gongsun accepted them all and even teased Gu Tingye while stroking his beard and laughing to himself: "As expected, when one person succeeds, the whole family will prosper."
On the day of the ceremony, Ruomei wore a brand new pink spring coat, four golden dragon and phoenix bracelets on her wrists, and a three-winged, pearl-emblazoned hairpin. She was surrounded by congratulatory wives and servants, who kept saying, "Auntie Mei, you are so lucky!" and "Auntie Mei, may you have a son soon." She managed only a forced smile, her face pale. After Gongsun Baishi recovered from his illness, Gu Tingye proposed taking a concubine, a formal affair. The old man was drawn to the well-educated and well-mannered Ruomei, but he was naturally indifferent and eccentric, disliking conventional rituals, and was reluctant to arrange anything. It was only Minglan's insistence that he finally agreed to a few banquets and invited everyone in the mansion to celebrate.
Ruomei was inevitably unhappy. Every bride has some anticipation for her wedding, so she couldn't help but complain to her personal maid. She then asked some flattering wives to inquire about the matter and ask the men in her family to go to the shops outside to buy some gifts. As a result, word of Gongsun Baishi's concubine spread outside, attracting a stream of enthusiastic admirers who rushed to send gifts.
The old man was very unhappy and would have almost called off the marriage if it weren't for Minglan's face.
"I don't ask for your virtue, but I didn't expect that you can't even control your mouth. It's true that vines are not fit to be used as beams and pillars. You are not worthy of such heavy responsibility. When you have children in the future, let your wife raise them!" - Old man Gongsun was so perverse that he scolded her bluntly without any hesitation. Rumei couldn't help crying for several days and nights, feeling both regretful and ashamed.
After Minglan learned about it, she could do nothing but shake her head and sigh.
Gongsun Baishi, at best, was free and uninhibited; at worst, selfish and self-centered. If he were to live in modern times, he'd definitely be a die-hard bachelor. Unfortunately, in ancient times, he had to follow his parents' orders, so he had no choice but to marry and have children. He might have felt a certain amount of guilt and respect for his first wife, but as for Ruomei...
After that, Gongsun Baishi only asked Ruomei to serve him and didn't even let him enter the study. The news spread out in no time. When Minglan learned about it, she just said "oh" lightly and didn't ask any other questions, which surprised everyone in the mansion.
Originally, everyone saw that Mr. Gongsun was highly trusted by the Marquis, and Ruomei had risen to prominence, so they all tried to curry favor with her. But now, seeing their master's lukewarm attitude, they gradually stopped interacting with Ruomei.
The fickleness of human nature is just like that. Minglan sighed softly, leaning against the kang table to read quietly. Beside her lay Tuan'er, sound asleep like a piglet, his chubby face rosy and pale, even covered in fine down. The room was quiet, save for Danju, who sat on a small stool nearby. She seemed a little distracted, her hands making repeated mistakes, having already unraveled a simple piece of border twice.
"Put down your needle and thread," Minglan said softly. "You're almost making holes in your fingers."
Danju lowered his head in embarrassment and stammered, "I'll do it again later."
Minglan glanced at her and said, "He went again this morning. What's the matter this time?" Danju slowly put down her sewing stick and looked at Tuan'er hesitantly. Minglan said, "Speaking of which, this kid won't wake up yet."
Danju said embarrassedly, "It was the little boy next to Ruomei who came to see me and said she was not feeling well."
"Oh? If she's pregnant, that would be a good thing." Minglan continued reading without raising her head.
"No, she just changed clothes two days ago." Danju's voice became softer and softer. "She just felt a tightness in her chest and said she wanted to see her old sisters."
Minglan said nothing more, only smiling softly. Danju noticed a hint of mockery in her smile and couldn't help but whisper, "Ruomei hasn't had it easy either. She's only been married for a month, and the master doesn't pay much attention to her anymore. Even the maids in the courtyard are a bit disrespectful..."
Before she could finish, Minglan interrupted, "Did Ruomei ask you to tell her this?" She had left many spies in the Gongsun Courtyard, and those maids and servants did not treat Ruomei badly, but they were not as fawning on her as before.
Danju quickly waved her hands: "No, she always told me not to tell you."
Minglan nearly burst out laughing when she heard this. She quickly restrained herself and glanced at the little boy beside her. He was still snoring softly, sound asleep in his arms and legs, so adorable that she couldn't help but curl her lips. Then she put down her book and slowly moved to the edge of the kang. She took Danju's hand, sighing and whispering softly, "You and I have been together for over a decade, and I'm sure we know what's going on. Let me ask you something. Tell me the truth. What do you really think about this?"
Danju looked into Minglan's gaze, but dared not look directly into her eyes. She tilted her head and whispered, "She invited me to have some snacks, drink tea, and admire the plum blossoms. Every time she did, she talked to me for a long time. Although she kept telling me not to tell Madam, I knew what she meant. She was hoping Madam would say a few good words for her to Master."
Minglan nodded. This girl wasn't really stupid. "Should I go and speak for her?"
Danju looked embarrassed. She bit her lip for a long time and lowered her head, saying, "...I...I don't know." Thinking of Ruomei's sick face, she felt pity, but she didn't want to embarrass Minglan.
Minglan looked at her for a moment, then sighed, "I've already found a marriage for you."
The topic suddenly changed, and Danju was shocked and embarrassed, and was completely stunned.
Minglan continued, "He's your uncle's nephew, the one you call your cousin."
Danju's entire family was originally Mrs. Sheng's concubines. When Danju's uncle married his sister, his parents prayed for mercy and were hired as wives by a wealthy family outside. Over the past few decades, the family business has become more and more prosperous, and they have a son who is four years older than Danju.
Minglan looked at Danju's flushed face and continued, "Mother Fang said your cousin is very capable. He can manage the farm and the shop. His family is simple and they are related to each other. He is indeed a good family."
Danju blushed so much that even her neck grew thicker. After a long pause, she knelt straight down and said, "I won't marry someone else. I will stay with my wife for the rest of my life!"
Minglan smiled wryly. Danju didn't have the support of parents and siblings like Qinsang, nor was she as shrewd and domineering as Luzhi, nor was she as playful and aggressive as Xiaotao. Although she was meticulous and capable, she was still too soft-hearted. Mother Cui had searched for many families, but no matter how she looked at them, she felt uneasy. She worried about the honest ones being incompetent, the gentle ones being corrupt, and the smart ones being cunning and unsuitable. Finally, she found a good candidate, but the family was complicated and difficult to deal with.
After picking and choosing for a long time, she still couldn't make a decision. Every time Minglan thought about Danju's misfortune and tragedy in the future, she felt a heavy burden.
"From childhood to adulthood, whenever you little sisters played around and fought over cakes, clothes, and jewelry, you were always the one who gave in and kept the peace. Whenever you felt wronged, you never told anyone but just swallowed it yourself. With your personality... I originally wanted to keep you in the mansion and assign you a housekeeper, so that you would be close to me and I could keep an eye on you." Minglan sighed. When she was making a living under the Wang family, whenever she encountered a difficult housekeeper, it was Danju who would apologize and speak nicely to her.
Danju's face turned purple, and her eyes were full of determination and stubbornness: "I don't want to marry outside. I want to stay with my wife."
"It's easy to find a priceless treasure, but it's hard to find a true lover," Minglan said slowly. "Your cousin has waited for you for so many years, but he's refused to marry you. Even his parents can't persuade him. It's really not easy."
After hearing these words, Danjuzi's face, which was almost turning black, slowly returned to normal, which Minglan found quite amusing.
"You like him too, right?" Minglan said softly.
Danju blushed and stammered for a long time. Unable to bear Minglan's gaze, she finally said, "When I was a child, at my aunt's house... my eldest cousin came to visit... and treated me very well..."
Minglan understood. Her mother knew the details of this family intimately; they were all kindhearted people. In the ancient times, when information was often blocked, knowing them so intimately was not easy. In such a simple and kind family, Danju could be a little honest, so she nodded and said, "I think it's a good idea. Let's settle it."
Danju was still kneeling on the ground, a look of astonishment on her face. She remembered she'd come to discuss Ruomei's affairs, so how had it become a matter of deciding her own life?! Bewildered, she turned around to see the little girl sleeping soundly on the kang, her round belly rising and falling.
"Now that you have no parents, your aunt and uncle will take care of your marriage." Minglan put on a pair of soft-soled shoes and walked around the room, muttering to herself: "Asking for the name, accepting the marriage, and paying the betrothal gifts... Madam Fang said that your future father-in-law recently lost his uncle, so it's not appropriate to arrange the marriage too soon. We need to wait a while... Well, your uncle will have time to prepare a complete set of things for you, and I'll pay for it..."
"Madam..." Danju sobbed softly, "I don't..."
Minglan tilted her head: "What? You don't listen to me?"
Danju stopped sobbing, and Minglan said quietly, "I've said it before, as long as you don't let me down, I won't let you down. This time, I want you to marry off in style with three letters and six ceremonies, and a red dragon and phoenix robe!"
"Madam!" Danju's face was full of tears, and she bowed down. "I have had no luck with my parents since I was a child. Only when I got to be with you did I know what sincerity meant. The kindness you have shown me, I can never repay you even if I repay you with a favor in my next life..." She was already in tears when she finished speaking.
The little meatball moved a few times, smacking his lips, as if he was not sleeping soundly. Minglan walked over to the kang and sat down, patting him gently. "That's it, it's just you two. I'm afraid there will never be another one." The first love is always the most real and beautiful. "Go and call the wet nurse. Tuan Ge'er should wake up, otherwise he will make trouble again in the night."
Danju stood up silently, wiped the tears from her face, and was about to leave slowly when Minglan suddenly said, "If Mei comes to see you again in the future, please talk to her." Danju was stunned for a moment and said, "... Madam, please give me your instructions."
She was kind-hearted, and when she thought about her own destined life and the prospect of happiness, she felt even more sorry for Rumei.
"You go and tell her that after all, she and I are master and servant. From now on, no matter if they beat, scold, bully, or treat her poorly, I will stand up for her." Ruomei was by his side after all. This was related to the reputation of the Marquis's Mansion, so even if he beat a dog, he had to consider the owner.
Danju was a little confused and stammered, "Scolding? ...How could this...Sir..."
"Just say so." The little meat ball began to squint and twist her eyes. Minglan stopped explaining and waved her hand for her to go down.
Danju was confused and walked out of the house in a daze. She asked Xiao Cuixiu to call the wet nurse first, and then returned to her room with the sewing basket. She saw Luzhi ironing the diaper and kneading it slowly. She couldn't help but smile and said, "You are so thoughtful. You do this job yourself."
Luzhi slammed the fire bucket heavily on the small iron rack beside her: "These little rascals, what good food and clothes do they have? They just grease their soles; when we ask them to do something, they act stupid and ignorant!" The baby's diapers need to be dry and soft. It has rained a lot recently, so it's better to dry them in the sun.
As she was still muttering complaints, Luzhi looked up and saw Danju's face full of worries. She rolled her eyes and said jokingly, "I saw you were called away again this morning. Ruomei complained to you again, right?" Before Danju could nod, she smiled and said, "She should be content for now! I'm afraid her life will be even harder in the future!"
Danju was slightly surprised: "What do you mean?"
Green Branch used the tongs to add two pieces of charcoal to the fire bowl and said proudly, "Young Master Meng said that his eldest brother is getting married. He will be away from home for a few months and will go back to his hometown to attend the wedding banquet. Haha."
"What's the big deal..." Danju hadn't finished laughing when Luzhi interrupted her, "Young Master Meng said that once his eldest sister-in-law comes home, his aunt can be relieved of the responsibility of serving and caring for her. He also said that it's a pity that his aunt has worked so hard for decades. If everything goes well, Young Master Meng might bring her to the capital this time!"
Danju was startled: "Then Ruomei..."
Mr. Gongsun is a man after all. Even if he has some conflicts with Ruomei, it will not affect Ruomei's daily life. But once Madam Gongsun comes, it will be like having a direct boss. She will have to visit her every morning and evening, and serve her tea and water. It's really... Danju can't help but feel sorry for her.
Luzhi, however, had a cheerful expression on her face as she ironed the diaper with a smooth flow, mocking him as she went along: "She still has the nerve to complain? Did the master hit her or scold her? He just wasn't as considerate as they say in the opera, drawing eyebrows and reciting poems. She wants the mistress to stand up for her?! Bah! She's dreaming! She's here to be a concubine, not a patriarch. How can she expect to be so comfortable?"
Danju ignored her and just thought to herself: the Marquis treated Gongsun Baishi almost like a teacher, and Madam Gongsun was half a teacher's wife. The thought of Minglan shamelessly asking Gongsun Baishi for mercy was something she would never agree to.
Luzhi became happier as she spoke. She raised her fire bowl and pointed it at Danju, shouting, "Don't be such a pushover! Don't go to her place anymore. Be careful not to get into trouble!"
Danju frowned slightly: "I have never been a pushover, but you guys have been sisters for ten years after all."
Luzhi ironed vigorously, shaking the ironing board until it shook, and she kept saying, "In these ten years, has she ever looked down on us? I know she was born a lady, and we were servants! Now she thinks of us as sisters."
Danju sighed slightly, turned around and poured a cup of tea for Luzhi, took the fire bowl from her hand and said, "You take a rest, I'll do it."
Luzhi walked to the window with a tea bowl in her hand, looking very contented.
As Danju started working, he casually asked, "Where did you hear all this?"
"I went to inquire about it myself." Luzhi lowered her head and smiled at the tea bowl, feeling relieved. "I feel relieved to know that she is not doing well."
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