I led a group of cavalry back overnight, and Duke Zhang is still holding the line. We have prisoners, heads, and the Jienu Chanyu's golden tent with a tiger head!"
Minglan wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She stood there stupidly, looking like a primary school student who was suddenly called by the teacher.
Hu Zi hugged her and sat down on the porch. He stroked her dry, yellow, and cracked hair and said with pity, "...You are ugly."
Minglan immediately regained consciousness, punched his shoulder hard, and said harshly, "You still look like a demon!"
After more than half a year of sleeping in the open air, engaging in endless conquests and killings, and riding horses for days and nights, followed by a fierce battle, his beard was extremely thin and haggard, with high cheekbones, sunken eye sockets, and a dark skin. He looked ferocious and evil, somewhat similar to an evil ghost - and he was a good match for the skinny and yellow Minglan.
The husband and wife sat facing each other, with so much to say but unable to think of what to say.
Hu Zi inspected Minglan again and again, his eyes moving from her face, body, to her large belly. "...I was really afraid..." He was afraid something might happen to her, that she would get sick, that she would be worried... "I should have told you about the defeat earlier, so that you wouldn't worry."
It would be a lie to say she didn't mind, but what could she do? "You were right not to tell me." After a pause, she continued, "You heard about General Zheng, right? Old Master Zheng and the old lady were both gone within three days."
Hu Zi sighed, "What a pity. Brother Zheng is the most filial... He led his troops out of the city in mourning."
Minglan was silent for a moment before she said, "If a ruler is not discreet, he will lose his country; if a minister is not discreet, he will lose his chastity. I understand this principle."
If we talk about closeness, the Zheng family father and son are blood relatives, with decades of loving father and filial son; if we talk about loyalty, General Zheng is a man of unwavering courage and integrity; not to mention Madam Zheng's lifelong aloofness. Even so, it cannot be said, it simply cannot be said.
This is the rule of blood.
As a family, all we can do is trust and be strong.
"Besides, Madam Bo once said that for a military officer's wife, if the man really dies in battle, there is no point in seeking death. All you have to do is raise the child." Minglan said in a heavy tone.
Hu Zi nodded without hesitation, "That's true. But..." He couldn't help but say, "Don't imitate Madam Bo in everything."
"Why is this?" She deeply felt that Madam Bo was an extraordinary woman of her generation, and she could miraculously avoid every disaster.
"When Marshal Bo was young, he had no family to rely on. By chance, he met a scholarly family and received great favors. So when Marshal Bo asked to marry the daughter of that family, they couldn't refuse. But the girl was not happy and hoped to be widowed and remarried every day. Marshal Bo said that even for this breath, he would live longer than his wife!"
Minglan laughed when she heard this: "Nonsense! I heard that Marshal Bo was also from a prominent family, but his family just fell on hard times."
Hu Zi, with a look of 'Successful people always have all sorts of wonderful speculations about their backgrounds,' laughed and said, "Listen to that nonsense! Marshal Bo's hometown is in some mountain valley somewhere, and he didn't even have a real name when he was little. When he was promoted to primary school, he had a blind fortune teller change his name overnight."
"So, what was Marshal Bo's original name?"
Hu Zi said, "When I was little, I heard Grandpa say that it seemed to have the word 'dog' in it. I don't know if it was Ergou, Gousheng, or Goudan, or something like that..."
Minglan bent down with laughter, and Hu Zi let her lean on his arms. He held her hand tightly with one hand and gently stroked her hair with the other. The spacious and quiet courtyard suddenly became peaceful and lovely.
After a short silence, the sound of a baby crying rang out from the side room, bringing the couple back to their senses. Minglan stroked the golden tiger head on Hu Zi's shoulder and said with a smile, "Tuan'er knows his father is back. You should change your clothes first and then go see him."
"Don't change your clothes. Generals are not allowed to enter the capital without an imperial decree. I came into the city secretly. I want to hug my son first. I have to hurry back..."
Minglan didn't hear the rest of the words clearly, she only felt a buzzing in her ears. After a while, she screamed, "You entered the city without permission! You, you... are you crazy? If you care about your wife and children, why don't you just send someone to pass the message in? Why do you have to come here yourself! Do you know what the crime of entering the capital without a warrant is? Do you think those censors are just putting on a show? Your father-in-law is no longer with the Censorate, there's no one to protect you! You big fool! What are you still looking at? What are you looking at..."
Hu Zi laughed out loud. At this time, Mother Cui came out holding Tuan Ge'er. Hu Zi picked up the little fat boy, kissed him hard a few times, and then handed him back to Mother Cui. He turned around and left with big strides. Before leaving, he touched his wife's face.
Minglan was furious. She threw her fan hard, stamped her feet, and cursed, "You idiot! Go back and write me a letter of apology and ask for the emperor's forgiveness! I have no interest in serving prison food!"
The reply was a series of loud laughter, which echoed from far outside into the courtyard. The laughter was bright and cheerful, as if the quiet night had suddenly turned into spring with flowers blooming.
Minglan was angry for a long time, and suddenly she realized that she was just like a "teapot" with her hands on her hips, her belly protruding and yelling. The sleepy little fat boy stared at his mother blankly, as if in surprise - Minglan couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
…
The news that Hu Zi had returned at night spread throughout the mansion before dawn. The maids, servants, and even the managers seemed to have suddenly found a backbone. They were all full of energy and got up early to clean the courtyard and arrange the flowers and plants. The whole mansion was filled with a scene of diligence and enthusiasm.
Minglan felt a little lazy, her body felt heavy and she couldn't muster up any energy.
At noon, the Grand Secretary of Wuying Pavilion went outside the city to issue an edict, allowing the 500 light cavalrymen who were sent to suppress the rebellion to enter the city in order.
Because he had not shaved, even though he was riding in the front, the young girls and wives on the street ignored him. They just kept throwing purses and flowers to the handsome young men behind him.
Even Lao Geng got a few and was feeling very happy, but he suddenly caught a glimpse of his steward's sharp eyes in the crowd. He was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. He dismounted in front of the palace gate and hurriedly stuffed all the fruits in his purse to the deputy general beside him.
In the Golden Palace, routine commendations and exhortations were carried out with complicated rules, followed by political discussions... By the time Hu Zi returned home, it was already dark.
As soon as he dismounted, he saw Steward Liu waiting at the door, his neck in his hands. He ran up to him, "My Lord, please come in quickly! My wife is about to give birth!"
Hu Zi's heart tightened. He pulled back the reins and mounted the horse again. He reined in the horse, raised his front hooves, and kicked the main gate open. In front of everyone's astonishment, he galloped straight inside. He dismounted in front of Jiaxiju, threw away the reins, and ran inside in two steps at a time.
However, the main residence was surrounded by people, all craning their necks to wait for news; Cuiwei had cleared out the idlers inside, and only a few old women and maids were coming and going, carrying hot water, white cloth, etc., and everything was in order.
Hu Zi wanted to go inside to see what was going on, but was stopped in the courtyard by a group of nagging women. They kept telling him about the rules and taboos. Being a man who valued etiquette, he didn't force his way in. But he was feeling restless and anxious, and there was nothing he could do. Just as he was fuming, he suddenly saw a foolish young man cowering in the bushes. He went over and grabbed him, shouting, "What are you doing here, little brat? Um... what are you holding in your hand?"
Little Brother Shi was holding a stool in his arms, hiding himself, and was stunned for a moment: "Haha... haha, this... oh, I was afraid that the Marquis would be tired, so I brought you a stool to sit on!" Actually, it was not true; but he admired his quick wit very much.
Unexpectedly, Gu Quan, who was standing by, laughed and said, "Brother Shitou, stop bluffing. This is for Sister Xiaotao!"
Shi Qiang's face was burning, but fortunately, he was dark-skinned, so it wasn't noticeable. He had been tensing up, expecting a scolding, but unexpectedly, Hu Zi looked him up and down, suddenly patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "I know you care about your wife. Well, you'll have a great future!"
Before he could be happy, Hu Zi suddenly added, "From now on, if your wife gives birth within one hour, your wedding will be held this year. If it's within two hours, it will be next year. If it's within three hours, it will be the year after next. And so on, boy!"
Little Brother Shi was dumbfounded. He remembered that when his sister-in-law gave birth to his niece, it took a whole day and night. Just two hours had passed, and this, this... Woohoo, he didn't want to wait seven or eight years to get a wife!
Seeing the young man terrified, his face pale, and his beard lifted his hand away with satisfaction - well, I felt much better.
Intermittent low cries of pain could be heard from the house. Hu Zi put his hands behind his back and walked in circles in the courtyard, making Shi Xiaodi dizzy and the world spinning. After about two or three hundred circles, cheers finally came from the house, followed by the faint cry of a baby. Mother Cui came out, wiping her hands, with a smile on her face: "It's born! Madam, it's born! It's another boy!"
Shi Qiang hugged the bench tightly and almost cried with joy; Mother Cui looked at him strangely, thinking that this child was more excited than his family members.
The baby was pink and tender. He was not afraid when being held in the arms of his father who was like a robber. He glanced at his beard calmly a few times and fell asleep calmly with his head tilted. Because the family was reunited when he was born, he was given the nickname "Ayuan", so the two little brothers made a perfect match.
Hu Zi was extremely pleased. He would praise his son's long fingers and say that he would be a good student. Then he would say that he looked like his mother and would be very handsome in the future. When he grew up, he would be the most handsome man in the capital! Haha, haha...
Minglan was exhausted and sweating, and was lying down to rest. Upon hearing this, she rolled her eyes in annoyance and threw a pillow at him - Piers, the title of the most handsome man in the capital is still held by a married man named Qi.
Hu Zi took the pillow lightly, sat down at the head of the bed with a smile, kissed his wife, then kissed his son, his heart filled with satisfaction and joy. Suddenly he sighed, "If the emperor asked me to retire now, I would definitely agree."
In the following days, Hu Zi was so busy that he couldn't even see his wife and children when they were awake.
The expeditionary army was still outside, not to mention that the rebellion had just been quelled, and there were still many rebels and criminals fleeing in secret. How to deal with the Empress Dowager Shengde and Prince Rui and his son... Discussing the capture of the remaining rebels, the search of their homes, the joint trial of the three courts, the conviction and naming of the criminals, the deployment of defenses in the capital, and so on. It was a huge mess. Hu Zi went out at the crow of the rooster and came home at the meow of the cat every day. He didn't even have time to shave.
This went on for three or four days. On the fifth day, the emperor finally felt guilty and allowed General Zheng to go home to attend the funeral. Several other important officials also got half a day off each, taking turns.
After the Zheng family set up the mourning hall, unfortunately, neither of the two sons could stay by their deceased father and mother's side. Fortunately, the eldest son had many children, so he managed to hold up the scene. In fact, even if there were no children keeping vigil, the constant stream of people coming to pay their respects every day, as lively and prosperous as a vegetable market, and the imperial decree for a grand funeral, showed that the Zheng family was in a good situation.
After Mrs. Xuan arrived, she described the situation to Minglan in vivid detail to ease the boredom of the mother. At the end, she hesitantly told one thing - after the fierce battle on the sunset hillside that day, when the merits were being evaluated, Gu Tingwei's body was dug out from the pile of dead bodies. It was said that he died in the first round of arrows. When the body was sent back to the house, the lady fainted on the spot. After waking up, most of her body was unable to move.
Minglan didn't want to say much and said lightly: "Young General Bo Xi has a profound family background in archery, and the archery formation he leads is naturally fierce and unparalleled." As for the man who openly wanted to kill her and her son, let him die.
Madam Xuan smiled and said no more. In fact, in her opinion, the number of noble women who came to visit Minglan and her son was no less than those who went to the Zheng family to pay their respects to the spirits. This showed that Gu Tingye was currently in the emperor's favor. And that Gu Tingwei had the audacity to invite bandits to the Marquis' mansion to kill and burn people. He was not only audacious, but also crazy. Only a fool would speak up for his family!
The next day, it was finally Hu Zi's turn to rest. At noon, he and Minglan had lunch on the kang. On the kang table was a plate of stir-fried Chinese kale, a dish of honey-glazed goose breast, a delicious steamed sea bass, and a large bowl of lotus leaf and shiitake mushroom chicken soup.
Hu Zi ate like a madman, and put down his chopsticks only when he was eight-tenths full. He sighed slightly and said, "Come to think of it, this is the first meal I have had with you since I came back." He felt very sad and emotional.
Minglan stared at his face and said, "When are you going to shave?"
"You've been eating alone these days, right?" He continued to feel sad.
"Isn't there any soup on your beard? Do you want a towel?"
Hu Zi was displeased and glared at him, "Can't you just speak properly?"
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you... what should I say?" Minglan chewed her chopsticks and thought for a long time. "I'm pregnant. I can't go out for fun, I can't drink or watch a play. I'm even afraid of being in the temple because there's too many people to worship... Every day I eat, sleep, look after the accounts, and take care of the children. It's the same day after day. What can I say? You've been gone for half a year. What you've seen and heard during the marches and battles is not much more exciting than the trivialities at home. Why don't you tell me?"
Somehow, this sentence was like a switch that instantly turned off Hu Zi's interest in talking. Hu Zi was silent for a long time before he said calmly, "There's something I should have told you a long time ago, but I never had the time... Man Niang and her son..."
He paused, and Minglan was relieved. "They found our army."
Minglan swallowed the rice grains with difficulty and asked, "Well, what happened next?" This guy is so abominable. He only tells half the story and leaves the other half. He lacks the basic qualities of storytelling.
Hu Zi was about to speak when Gu Quan's respectful voice suddenly rang out from outside: "My Lord, Master Geng has arrived and is waiting for you at the gatehouse. Would you like to go over now, or would you like Master Geng to wait a while?"
The emperor's leave wasn't free; one of the most important things to do was visit the Zheng family to pay respects to the spirits. So, Gu and Geng, who were both on leave, agreed to go together. Hu Zi paused for a moment, then looked at Minglan and said, "It's not good to keep Old Geng waiting; he has a lot of things to do at home too. Let's go early and come back early. Call Rong over tonight so we can have dinner together."
"Oh, okay then..." Minglan drooped her ears and pouted reluctantly. Her appetite had been whetted, and it would be very uncomfortable to stop here.
Hu Zi got off the kang, straightened his clothes, turned around and saw her lost look, touched her ear with a smile: "It's nothing serious, it has little to do with our lives. If you can't wait to know, I'll ask Xie Ang to tell you."
Minglan hesitated for a moment, then nodded vigorously. Who knew when he would return? Was he going to keep her in suspense all afternoon? Since he dared to let an outsider talk about this, then she dared to listen!
After Hu Zi left, Xia Zhu and Xiao Tao worked together to clear the dining table and replaced it with a half-worn Ruyi-shaped small table with water chestnut edges. Xia He brought in a few hot cushions from outside and stuffed them behind Minglan, who immediately felt a warm and comfortable feeling behind her waist. She then instructed two maids to move a two-fold gauze screen with the pattern of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and place it in the middle of the room.
The girls had just finished packing when Luzhi came in with Gu Hou's personal guard, team leader Xie Ang.
Xie Ang had followed Gu Tingye for many years and had seen many life and death situations, but at this moment, his face was red and his hands were twisted, like a newly married young wife. He bowed to Minglan through the screen. Luzhi moved a stool for him to sit on. The tall young man turned sideways and only dared to sit halfway. His posture was so delicate and reserved.
"Xie Xiaobrother, don't be restrained. You have been with the Marquis for so many years, you are like a family relative." Minglan tried to soften her voice, trying to make him feel more at ease.
"No, I dare not... my dear... relative, how dare I?" Xie Ang didn't even dare to raise his head. He couldn't see anything through the screen, but he stared at his toes and dared not move.
Minglan continued, "The Marquis told me that he would find you a good family in two years so that you can start a family and build a career in the future."
"No, no, there's no need... My mother told me to stay with the Marquis for a few more years... It's fine now, that's all." While declining, Xie Ang secretly complained about why the Marquis had given him such a task. The mistress and the Marquis's former mistress - what an embarrassing topic.
Minglan spoke softly for a few more words, but seeing Xie Ang remained timid, she finally lost her temper and said, "The Marquis is very busy. If he asks you to talk to me, then go ahead."
Xie Ang looked blankly: "Talk about it? Ah! Oh... that thing..." His mind was in a mess, "This... where should I start..."
A calm voice came from behind the screen: "Let's start from the time you met Man Niang. The Marquis said that you were the first to discover them."
Xie Ang sighed: "It's not really a discovery, it's really..." He paused, as if thinking about how to put it.
"That was shortly after we recaptured Xiliao City. We'd been hiding in the meadows, pretending to be grandsons for the better part of a month. Finally, we managed to lure out the Chanyu army before our food ran out. After a bloody battle, we emerged victorious, though with heavy casualties. So, we retreated to Xiliao City to recuperate. That day, General Xiaobo of the Divine Arrow Battalion suddenly came looking for me. He said that while he was helping to distribute food to the starving people in the earthen kilns north of the city, he encountered a woman with a seriously ill child. She claimed to be our marquis's family, and her story was incredibly detailed..."
Xie Ang swallowed his saliva and tried to peek at his mistress's expression, but all he saw was Lü Dongbin on the screen, stroking his beard in a self-deprecating manner. He Xiangu looked at people with a flirtatious look, so he could only continue, "I was startled and hurried over to see, but it turned out to be Sister Man Niang... Uh, I knew her earlier when I was in Jianghuai..."
At that time, Man Niang always acted like Madam Gu, trying to make friends with people like Che Sanniang and her husband. She was also very proactive in asking about the well-being of the younger brothers and was very caring. He also joined others in calling her "sister-in-law" - thinking of the past, Xie Ang became even more uneasy and wanted to see his mistress's face again.
As a result, Lu Dongbin was still stroking his beard and He Xiangu continued to be coquettish.
"I didn't dare act on my own, so I hurried back to report to the Marquis. The Marquis ran over to take a look, said nothing, and took the mother and son back home. Poor Chang'er was already seriously ill and unconscious." He sighed slightly. He had even lifted the boy above his head before. "The military camp is a restricted area, and it's not safe for anyone to enter casually. The Marquis took them to a small courtyard and asked a doctor to see Chang'er first."
In fact, it is not that simple. He omitted some things that made him uncomfortable.
After arriving at the courtyard, Gu Tingye's face was extremely grim, and he asked immediately: "What are you doing here?!"
Man Niang, tears welling in her eyes, said, "Er Lang, I'll be with you through thick and thin! Even if we die, we'll die together!" She had no idea of the great victory the day before; she had only heard rumors and assumed that Zhang and Gu's army was holed up in the Western Liao city.
Fortunately, General Xiao Bo had already dismissed everyone, leaving only Xie Ang and a few close associates in the courtyard. After returning to the camp, the brothers chatted casually.
One said: "Life and death together?! It's just an opera! It's disgusting!" Brother, you guessed it right.
Another said, "Why are you dying? Brothers, put your heads on your belts. You're going to be rich and prosperous when you return. What nonsense is this unlucky star talking about! If it weren't for... I'd crush her to death! As for women, when men go out to fight, they should stay home to take care of the elderly and raise the children. Why are you coming here to cause trouble?!"
Someone who knew something said, "I heard our deputy commander was a gangster in his early years. He was a young man, very romantic, and he must have gotten involved with a woman he couldn't get rid of!"
Another person interrupted, "Look at that woman. She has no face, no figure, and she's as old as my mother. Our deputy commander is handsome, what's there to be interested in her?"
"Could it be that the couch is good? Old man, old man, only then can you calm down!"
——A dirty joke was told, and the whole room burst into laughter.
The only women in the army were washerwomen and camp prostitutes, and since they couldn't frequent them often, the men could only gossip about their superiors to relieve their boredom. Besides, no decent woman would behave so frivolously or speak so disrespectfully as Man Niang. While the brothers harbored no ill will, their tone was naturally tinged with disdain and contempt. Xie Ang felt uncomfortable listening to this, secretly embarrassed for Gu Tingye.
He shook his head and hurried on, "...Who knew that Chang'er was already seriously ill. Both the army doctor and the famous doctor in the city said there was no hope. Mr. Gongsun said that if it were in a prosperous city, it would be fine, but in a poor and remote place like Western Liao, where refugees have ravaged the country several times, there is a shortage of medical care and medicine, and even food is scarce... Alas..."
There was a soft "ah" from the other side of the screen, followed by the crisp sound of porcelain bowls colliding, and someone inside said, "Could it be that Chang Ge'er... is dead...?"
Xie Ang said softly, "Yes. The ashes have been reduced to ashes. Please ask Mr. Gongsun to bring them back and bury them later."
"What about Man Niang?" Minglan asked anxiously.
Chang Ge'er was the only connection between Gu Man and her. Now that he is dead, can Man Niang let it go?
Xie Ang was silent for a moment, then spoke in a stammering voice, "Ever since Man Niang was brought back, the Marquis separated her and her son... Until her death, he refused to let her see Chang Ge'er again..."
Although he had been mischievous as a child, he had generally lived a bright and honest life. Those few days had been like a nightmare to him, and he only hoped he would never have to remember them again, yet now he had to recount them in detail to his mistress.
Man Niang initially pestered the man, but the Marquis ignored her, ordering her locked up in a room with only food, clothing, and water. A few days later, a letter from Liu Zhengjie arrived from the capital. The Marquis read it and had the lock unlocked. Upon emerging, Man Niang eagerly expressed her deep love and the difficulties she faced. The Marquis listened in silence. Man Niang rambled on for a long time, her mouth dry and tears streaming, before finally stopping.
The Marquis finally spoke, very calmly: "Are you done? Then I'll tell you. I told you back then that if you dared to come to the capital again, if you dared to bother Minglan again, I would make sure you never see Chang Ge'er again in your life. Do you remember my words?"
Man Niang refused to give up, crying and saying, "You still mention her?! She's living a luxurious life in the capital, and doesn't care about Erlang's life or death at all! I'm the only one who cares about him. I've endured so much hardship and suffering just to see you..."
The Marquis ignored her and said, "I keep my word. From now on, you can't even think of seeing Chang Ge'er again." Then he turned and left.
Man Niang was locked up again, wailing for her son. A doctor was sent to tell her that Chang'er was being kept alive with ginseng tablets and would die in the next few days. Man Niang refused to believe him, claiming the Marquis was trying to trick her son away. She cursed and swore for days. When she grew tired of cursing, she began to wail and beg, weeping non-stop, day after day, until her throat bled, and everyone in the courtyard was nearly driven mad by her sobs.
Finally, the Marquis had time to come back and ordered Man Niang to be released to see him.
Xie Ang couldn't remember what Man Niang had said before. He only remembered the last part: her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was disheveled, and she looked like a madman: "Er Lang, do you really have no feelings for me at all?"
In fact, she had cried herself hoarse for a long time, but she still kept her shrill voice, as if she was singing on the stage, using a pretentious tone and gentle words. Her voice was as hoarse and rough as sand and stone, and she was as eerie as a ghost. At that time, the city of Western Liao was extremely hot, but when Xie Ang heard those words, he couldn't help but shudder.
For the first time, the Marquis showed an expression towards Man Niang, one filled with disgust, weariness, and even a hint of incomprehension: "How many times do you want me to tell you to get up very early? I already hate you."
He sighed, "I'm serious. I've lost all feelings for you. Why is it that no matter how many times I tell you, you just won't believe me?"
Xie Ang, who had been rough for most of his life, heard for the first time the deep helplessness behind these two sentences.
Man Niang was dumbfounded, as if drained of all her energy, a mere shell, and she stopped crying. A few days later, Chang Ge'er passed away. Before the cremation, the Marquis asked Man Niang to take a look.
Mr. Gongsun had also known Manniang for a long time. Unlike the others, he was immediately disgusted by her and sarcastically said, "This child was not very strong to begin with, and you forced him to travel thousands of miles with you, starving him. He also didn't receive timely medical treatment. He died in vain. It's all thanks to you, a good mother!"
Facing her son's corpse, Man Niang smiled foolishly, and suddenly she started talking nonsense, half talking, half singing, crying and laughing at the same time. Others could not hear clearly, but they knew that she was holding her son's corpse and kept saying that she wanted to go home.
Minglan's fingertips trembled slightly, and the warm afternoon sun seemed to suddenly turn cold, just like the stories she heard from Liao Zhai when she was a child, where strange and mysterious ghosts brewed a terrifying chill from the damp soil beneath the ground.
She trembled and said, "Man Niang, she...she's crazy...?"
Xie Ang nodded, then suddenly remembered that his mistress couldn't see through the screen, so he quickly said, "That's right. Mr. Gongsun and several doctors also said so."
Speaking of this, he also sighed.
He came from a respectable, respectable family with a modest fortune. After his father's early death, his widowed mother doted on him, allowing him to roam the streets and become a mischievous and unruly child. At fifteen, he got into a serious accident and nearly lost his life. After being rescued by Gu Tingye, he began to live an honest life, practicing horse stance, hanging bricks, practicing swords, spears, and clubs, as well as writing and reading. Gu Tingye was never polite, and he received many beatings during that time. Eventually, he grew up to be the Xie Ang he is today, a source of pride and joy to his widowed mother.
To him, Gu Tingye was half teacher and half master, and he was both afraid and respectful of him.
At first, he had secretly envied him, thinking that Brother Gu was lucky. Even though he was wandering around, he still had a confidante by his side. But as he watched along the way, he became more and more frightened - this was not a confidante at all, but a creditor who was demanding his life!
There was something he hadn't told anyone.
At that time, there was a shy girl next door who wore a bright red hairband and had a delicate appearance. She secretly admired Gu Tingye and often came to give him clothes, shoes and hats. Che Sanniang thought she was a good person. Since Gu Tingye didn't like Man Niang at all, she wanted to wait until she came back from that business trip and marry the girl to him as a concubine so that he could serve her on a daily basis.
When Man Niang learned of this, she didn't show any displeasure. Instead, she tried her best to treat the girl well, blaming herself for not pleasing Gu Tingye. The girl was so moved that she started treating Man Niang like her own sister. One night, for unknown reasons, the girl ran to a secluded alley and was bullied by three or five thugs.
The girl committed suicide by jumping into the lake the next day. Her red hairband floated on the water for a long time before disappearing.
After Gu Tingye came back, no one mentioned this matter.
It was a long time later that Xie Ang accidentally learned the truth - it was Man Niang who tricked the girl into going out late at night.
Although Gu Tingye also lived in the underworld, eating and sleeping with his brothers, without any airs, his aloofness and arrogance, his sarcasm and self-deprecation, and even some of his casual and meticulous habits always revealed his unique noble background.
The brothers never dared to joke with him casually or act rashly.
Xie Ang was even more afraid.
He thought, since Gu Tingye had already decided not to have Man Niang anymore, he should stop talking and only irritate the Marquis. He didn't know if others knew the truth, but after that, Che Sanniang refused to talk to Man Niang anymore.
He sighed and was about to continue when he heard a familiar steady footstep behind him. He quickly stood up and bowed, "The Marquis is back."
Hu Zi walked in with a smile and waved his hand to move the screen aside. "What's the point of putting this thing here?" Then he sat down next to Minglan, rested his chin on her shoulder, and asked affectionately, "Did you take a nap this afternoon? Don't let me leave you. Let's keep talking about it until now."
Minglan forced a smile and said, "Brother Xie is a great storyteller. I was completely captivated by him."
"Oh, really?" Hu Zi seemed not to care.
Xie Ang felt the sweat dripping down his forehead, as if he were back in his teenage years and about to get beaten up again.
Unexpectedly, Hu Zi actually smiled at Xie Ang and said, "Come on, go back and rest. We have to be busy tomorrow."
Xie Ang felt as if he had been pardoned and fled away as fast as a flash.
The weather was getting hotter. Hu Zi had just run outside and was sweating all over. He went to the bathroom and quickly washed himself with two buckets of warm water, then changed into a clean white silk undershirt.
He put his arm around Minglan and sat back down. "Old Geng's fear of his wife has gotten even worse. When we left the Zheng family, I asked him to come home for tea, but he refused. He rode his horse like a ghost was chasing him."
Minglan rubbed his wet hair and asked, "How are the two sisters from the Zheng family? I'm afraid they're exhausted."
Hu Zi pinched her and glared at her, saying, "How would I know about the women's affairs?!" He sighed, "But Brother Zheng...sigh...he's lost a lot of weight. I heard he even vomited blood."
Speaking of this, the couple sighed together about the Zheng family's bizarre fate.
Hu Zi looked around and asked, "Where are the two boys?"
"Tuan'er wouldn't sleep and wanted to play with his sister, so Mama Cui took him away. Yuan was hungry, so she asked the wet nurse to take her away."
Hu Zi frowned and said, "If he's hungry, why don't you feed him?" He still remembered that when his eldest son was born, Minglan fed him for the first two months.
Minglan twisted her handkerchief and said in frustration, "This time, I have nothing to eat for Yuan."
Hu Zi touched the ends of her slightly yellow hair and said guiltily, "It's all my fault. I caused you not to rest properly."
Minglan sighed, "Yes! Every family has troublesome relatives, but none is as powerful as our third brother. He's no less powerful than Rong Jie'er's mother." My husband is not bad, but it's a pity that he has to be bundled and sold to your two mortal enemies.
Hu Zi's expression turned cold, and he said softly, "Where were you talking about just now?"
Minglan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Speaking of Chang'er's death, Man Niang went crazy." Then she looked at his expression.
Hu Zi showed no trace of gloom or embarrassment. He calmly sat down opposite Minglan, poured tea from the pot, drank a cup himself, and then said, "Actually, at that point, there's nothing more to say. But..."
He pursed his lips and said, "I'd better talk about it."
Minglan straightened up to show that she was all ears.
"I've been away from home for a long time this time, and I can actually calm down and think about some things. Old Duke Zhang always laughs at me, saying that I used to think too little, but now I think too much. But I can't help but think. In the past, everything I did was wrong, and no one believed what I said. The only one who was willing to believe me and listen to me was Man Niang... Who knew that it was all an act." Hu Zi laughed at himself and put down the teacup he was playing with.
"Man Niang is an excellent actress. It's a pity that she can't perform on stage, otherwise she would have become a famous actress." Hu Zi seemed to be talking about a stranger, rather than a woman who had been entangled with him for nearly ten years.
"When I first met her, I thought she was a pool of clear, pure spring water, simple-minded and gentle. But when I learned about her deep intentions, her pitiful life story, her brother's flight, and even the Yu family... I felt she was a pool of muddy water, riddled with cobwebs and filthy. It wasn't until Yanhong passed away that I realized she was truly a poisonous water that could kill with a single drop of blood!"
Minglan secretly complained: If I hadn't made you drink it, you would still enjoy drinking it regardless of whether it was clear water, muddy water or poisonous water.
"Actually, when I first learned her true colors, I didn't blame her too much. Whether it was deceiving me for years, ruining the Yu family's marriage, or leading Yanhong into trouble... I felt it was all because of her deep affection for me. To be honest, although I was angry at Man Niang for lying to me, I was also secretly happy. After all, she wasn't doing it for the Marquis's Mansion, but she was attracted to me as a person and wanted to be our legitimate husband."
Minglan wanted to curl her lips, but held it back - the person she likes may not be you, but a man who can realize her dream, and it can be any capable and responsible young man from a wealthy family.
Who knew Hu Zi's next line would be: "Later I realized. It wasn't me she loved so deeply, but her own determination and her own delusion."
Minglan was silent.
"Although I didn't blame her too much at the time, I was clear on one thing. Manniang had been able to deceive me for years without revealing a single flaw, which showed how powerful she was. I knew then that she wouldn't be content to be inferior to anyone else. Unless I married her, or if she became a concubine, she would definitely not let my mistress go... But I never considered marrying her."
When I was young, my father praised me for everything, including the hope that I would marry a good wife. But what exactly makes a good wife? He couldn't explain it, constantly spouting four-word instructions: a clean family background, good character, kindness, virtue, generosity, and propriety—and even better, if the wife's family could provide some support.
The little boy didn't understand the deeper meaning of it, and kept it in his little heart.
Hu Zi stared at Minglan and smiled faintly. "You once said of me, 'I may appear unruly, but deep down I'm the most disciplined person.' I was so angry at the time that I wanted to throw you back into the river. But after returning home, I thought deeply about it and realized there was some truth to it."
Minglan reflexively shrank her neck and laughed foolishly.
"Her timid and delicate expression is endearing, but what kind of wife from a high-ranking family would look like this? Her humble origins are certainly true, but she lacks sufficient upbringing and is unable to treat others with grace and decorum. Man Niang is skilled in needlework, singing and dancing, and has some knowledge of economics, but her knowledge is shallow. After she finishes complaining, she is left with nothing to say to her."
Even when he regarded Man Niang as a clear spring, he did not think she could be his wife.
Man Niang couldn't even utter the words "I'm not discreet, I've lost my virginity." Even if she memorized them, she probably wouldn't understand their deeper meaning. But when he told Minglan about his court experiences and his interactions, she not only understood but also offered a coherent critique.
...He simply sympathized with her life, admired her backbone, and liked her gentleness and consolation. He wanted to take care of her and give her a comfortable life for the rest of her life. That was all. But in the end, all that life, backbone, and gentleness—it was all fake.
"You're different." Hu Zi looked at Minglan with a gentle and warm gaze. "We always have endless things to talk about."
Minglan met his gaze and smiled quietly: "...Yes, we always have endless things to talk about." Sister Bao is very good, everything about her is good, but Baoyu just happens to like Sister Lin. Fundamentally, it's just that they have similar tastes and have endless things to talk about.
"But no matter what, it's just that Gu Er, a young man from a noble family, looks down on Man Niang, who comes from a family of actors. Man Niang must have seen through it a long time ago, so she repeatedly urged me to abandon my family and become independent." Hu Zi laughed at himself.
"During the first days of my long journey away from home, I was depressed and discouraged. When I felt hopeless, I thought that since I had become the lowest class in the underworld, there was no reason for me to look down on others. I might as well live with Man Niang. After all, I have two children. But... who would have thought..." He rubbed his forehead gently, and dark blue veins appeared on the back of his hand.
"Who knew, Yanhong died." Minglan continued for him calmly.
Hu Zi lowered his hand, his eyes determined, "...Yes. Yan Hong is dead. That also ends my thoughts about Man Niang."
"I'm not the one Yanhong wants to marry, and neither is she the one I want to marry. In those few short months, she certainly didn't behave like a good wife, and I wasn't a good husband either. But after leaving home and traveling so far, I still feel I've let her down."
He reached out and pulled the thin blanket for Minglan. "I once thought that if she didn't want to live with me anymore, I would divorce her and ask her to remarry. I would bear all the blame and blame, as my reputation was already bad enough. But in the end, I no longer had any intention of avenging her."
"Even if I had been away for three or five years and she had done something wrong because she couldn't stand the loneliness, I could have forgiven her to some extent. But who would have thought that after just three months, she would have cheated on me and gotten pregnant. She really bullied me too much..."
He raised his eyebrows, a sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth, "The one who cheated on me was actually a bastard like Gu Tingbing. If Qin hadn't deliberately made things worse, Yanhong would have wanted to bribe the doctor to plant that bastard on me."
The Madam certainly didn't want Yanhong to give birth to a child, even if it was a bastard. Seeing that the eldest son was about to die without an heir, and the second son had left the family on his own, if the second son left behind a legitimate son, it would add another variable.
Hu Zi seemed to be still feeling the humiliation and couldn't help but add, "To be frank, if any brave man in the martial arts world knew their brother had been bullied like this, and if they killed the adulterer and the adulteress with a single blow, I'm afraid most would applaud and cheer."
Minglan moved her lips slightly, wanting to express some opinions on how to deal with unfaithful men and women in ancient times, but when she thought of the long-standing customs such as sinking into the pond, she kept her mouth shut.
"After all, we are a couple sworn brothers, even if we don't have love, we should at least have loyalty. At this point, Yu Yanhong and I are both heartless and unloyal. Whether she lives or dies, I don't care at all." Hu Zi sighed, "But it shouldn't be... it shouldn't be Man Niang..."
In this matter, Manniang showed her viciousness, evil, meticulousness, and cruelty, which far exceeded his imagination of ordinary women. He was just drunk and showed a little bit of his affection to his long-term servant.
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