After talking it out and thinking it through, the two suddenly felt more calm and open-minded than ever before, as if they had become an old couple who had been together for half their lives overnight, or like old friends who had met again after a long separation. They no longer had any scruples in what they said or did to each other. Minglan had never known that she could be so close to someone who was not related by blood, and that they could talk so freely about anything.
The days of delivery were leisurely and comfortable, and Gu Tingye took care of all the trivial matters.
The first thing was to reward Zhuang Yong and the servants who were guarding the Marquis' Mansion. Not only was each family rewarded with silver, but the families whose men had died had their status restored to good status and were given land. If the families had sons or nephews of marriageable age, they could even serve in the army. In this way, not only were those families grateful, but other families were also envious and all praised the master's kindness.
Generous rewards must be accompanied by severe punishments. Over the next few days, Gu Tingye used his actions to tell everyone two things: first, his wife had punished him, but the Marquis hadn't; second, the Marquis loved to use military law.
Because of the unrest outside, Bisi remained in the mansion, locked in a small room in the outer courtyard, weeping profusely. Three times a day, she pestered the maid who was guarding her to pass messages inside, begging Minglan to change her mind. Without a word, Gu Tingye had her dragged in and, in full view of everyone, spanked her forty times—"Don't you like to talk?"—with a beating that left Bisi's lips and face shattered, her pretty face swollen like a pig's head, and six or seven of her teeth knocked out. After she fainted, she was splashed with cold water and thrown into a rickety carriage, escorted home by several maids.
Now she no longer dared to cry and beg. In fact, she couldn't even speak.
On the other hand, although Aunt Ren had been sent away, none of the six maids who served her escaped.
In the past, Minglan, concerned about the Shao family's reputation, rarely inquired about the affairs of the people in the main house. But when you think about it, a concubine in the inner courtyard of the mansion, who was not allowed to even leave the main gate easily, how could she communicate with the Taifu Mansion several blocks away? How many times would she need to go in and out to communicate everything? How could anyone around her dare to say that they were completely unaware?! Gu Tingye didn't even bother to ask and just sent her off.
The two personal maids each had a pair of index fingers cut off and their ears cut off, and then were sold to the bitter and cold land in the north as slaves; the four third-class maids were each given twenty lashes of the cane, and if they were born in a family, they and their families were driven out to the farm to do rough labor and were never allowed to set foot in the marquis's mansion again.
Shao's faults were difficult to address openly, so Gu Tingye simply omitted them. Instead, he dragged out his mother, his longtime companion, and the housekeeper's wife. He gave them thirty lashes of the cane in front of Shao and fined them three years of confiscation of their silver and rice. The charge was vague: during the turmoil, they had failed to properly "serve" the eldest lady, causing her to "wander about" and nearly causing trouble.
When the first blow of the family law, as thick as a bowl, came whistling down, Shao screamed and fainted.
Gu Tingye didn't even raise his eyelids, only sneered inwardly. These first-class servants in the main house, who all knew about the old grudges between him and Gu Tingyu? They relied on Minglan's kindness to continue living a respectable life, and their family members outside the house could still use the power of the Marquis's mansion to do business. But when the chips were down, none of them had any conscience.
How secretive could Shao and Concubine Ren's unusual behavior be that night, leaving these elderly servants who had served for years completely unaware? If only one of them had reported it, Minglan would have been able to respond in advance. These cunning servants simply thought it was better to have less trouble than more, believing that their mistress was kind and wouldn't punish them excessively if something really happened.
A daughter-in-law had her legs broken on the spot, a maid was beaten until she vomited blood, and the other two were half dead and unconscious. After the incident, only a few pools of dark red fluid remained in the Shao family courtyard, mottled on the cold stone slabs.
All the maids and servants in the mansion were silent as a cicada, and they were trembling with fear when they went to Jiaxiju to answer. Shao Shi was so scared that she fell ill, Qiu Niang was so scared that she stayed indoors, Xian Jie'er could only cry silently, and Rong Jie'er hugged her cousin, quietly and patiently comforting her.
As for Han San's family who betrayed their master, no one knows what happened to them.
What Gu Tingye said was simply to tell everyone: What you eat, use and wear are all given by me, and it has nothing to do with Shao or Qin. No matter who you serve or where you work, you should only be loyal to my wife.
From beginning to end, Minglan hid in the house, holding her youngest son and her eldest son in her arms, without saying a word.
In fact, she knew very well that in ancient times, this was the right approach. A master who was too kind and reasonable could easily be bullied by cunning servants. Even a kind-hearted woman like Old Madam Sheng, when she returned to Jinling that year, had not hesitated to kill several servants and stewards who had stolen and sold the master's property.
At that time, the eldest aunt praised the old lady repeatedly and used this incident to teach her and Pinlan that "the servants who look after the mansion and farm for the master outside will become more cunning and cause greater harm." However, she could not help but wonder: how much property did those people steal and how much was its value? Did it reach the standard of being converted from civil responsibility to criminal responsibility? Was it enough to be sentenced to death?
——Okay, she knew it was silly and old-fashioned without anyone reminding her.
"...I'm sorry. You are so busy and so tired, and yet I still ask you to worry about the affairs of the inner house." She was full of guilt.
Gu Tingye touched her thin cheek and smoothed her frown. "You don't have to blame yourself. I know everything."
She could meticulously investigate the schemes and identify the crimes, but when it came to sentencing, she was always lenient. He truly couldn't understand it. As a master, whether to intimidate or establish authority, sometimes he had to be ruthless—even if it meant wrongfully accusing a few people or punishing them excessively. How could he truly impose a sentence commensurate with the crime in every case?
He was once annoyed at her for being soft-hearted and unwilling to live up to her expectations, but when he looked back, he admired her.
From childhood to adulthood, everyone around him, whether it was his late father Gu Yankai, his wife, Gu Tingyu, or even his cousins, all acted solely based on their own interests, never giving much thought to whether they were right or wrong, or whether it was right or wrong. Not to mention Man Niang, who, for her own selfish reasons, murdered and burned people, doing whatever she wanted.
As the scholar-officials in the book said, a gentleman has his share of things to do and his share of things not to do. He had never met many gentlemen in his life.
In comparison, although Minglan's self-righteousness is a bit silly, it is as pure as the breeze and bright moon.
…
Gu Tingye went on a killing spree in front of him without any psychological barriers. Minglan was worried. She thought that Shao Shi was the widow of her deceased brother. Would Gu Tingye's rudeness to her affect her reputation? "If I had known this would happen, I would have been the bad guy."
"If you are afraid of impeachment and act timidly, then there is no point in living like this. Don't worry, I know what I am doing." Gu Tingye tried to persuade her with a smile, but Minglan only rolled her eyes in return.
Bah, what a joke! The victorious general not only treated his widowed sister-in-law poorly but also disregarded the lives of his servants. This was perfect material for a report. When those idle censors heard about this, wouldn't their saliva secretion immediately speed up?
Minglan frowned in embarrassment, but the next day Zhang came to visit and dispelled her anxiety with a few words.
"Ha, do you think your man is a vegetarian? My father has long said that Marquis Gu may appear rough and rude, but he's actually very meticulous. He's done a lot of hard work before he even takes action." Zhang burst out laughing. "Now everyone outside is saying that your widowed sister-in-law is restless and is secretly colluding with your stepmother-in-law to murder you and your son."
"Ah, what do you mean?" Minglan asked in surprise.
"That night, besides the fierce fighting in the Imperial Palace and the Nine Gates, other households only attracted a few thieves at most. My family was the worst offender, and it was because there was a thief within..." Zhang pouted disdainfully. "You can ask around in the capital, and you'll find no one as dangerous as yours. They used frying pans, banging doors, ladders, and even set fires. Nearly half a hundred people died. It was like a siege in a storybook—how could such a scene have ever happened before under the feet of the Emperor? The Emperor was alarmed and said he would punish us severely."
Zhang seemed to be in a good mood, her face beaming with joy. Minglan silently handed her the teacup, and she took a sip, continuing, "Everyone was in chaos before, but now the situation has stabilized, and yet you're still asking around about this strange incident? And you're still in Yueli."
The implication was that the noble families could not ask Minglan directly, so they could only rely on hearsay.
Minglan smiled bitterly: "So what did you find out?"
"There's no need to inquire. Wasn't your haunted concubine taken to Lord Liu? During the first interrogation, it was vaguely revealed that your sister-in-law and your stepmother-in-law were colluding to harm you and your son."
Minglan was surprised, and after a while she said, "...But Aunt Ren said it was all her own fault and had nothing to do with my sister-in-law."
Zhang smiled meaningfully: "When the yamen is interrogating, we must get to the bottom of everything."
Minglan was silent. A minor offense was nothing. Achievement was to dig deep inside and uncover the true leader.
"Besides, how can a servant commit a crime without the master being responsible?" Zhang added, "Hasn't your sister-in-law always wanted to have an heir for her late husband?"
The more Minglan listened, the more surprised she became: "But that was my sister-in-law's earlier idea. She hasn't mentioned it again in the past few years." How come this was also involved?
Seeing her clumsy and dazed look, Zhang twisted her ear in amusement. "It's only been a few years, and so many people remember it. Before his death, the master of the Gu family said in front of everyone in the room that he would never have an heir, but your sister-in-law doesn't seem to agree. If that person makes a fuss about this, how can we be sure that she won't be tempted? Well, this incident just happened to coincide with the story, and it's spreading like wildfire now."
Minglan took a breath and said with difficulty: "It shouldn't be that serious. I know the situation here. My sister-in-law doesn't have the courage to do that..." She stopped talking when Zhang looked her up and down with a strange gaze.
Zhang, as if watching something extremely amusing, jokingly said, "Whether it's true or not, not only do I not know, but who can guarantee it? But how do you treat your niece? The Xue family, the Zheng family, and other relatives and friends all have eyes."
These words were profound—Minglan chewed them over for a moment, finally understanding the subtleties within. The Shao family's bad reputation was already well established. She was silent for a moment, then said sullenly, "I only pity Sister Xian. She's truly a good child."
Zhang understood everything. She stroked her nails casually, saying, "Firstly, the child is still young. It will be at least ten years before we can arrange a marriage. By then, perhaps no one will remember him. Secondly, ask the child to stay with you more often. Then you can say that he was raised by your aunt since he was a child. You can be whatever you want. Humph, if you can't even take care of your own wife and children, and still have time to think about other people, you can't be considered a real man..."
Minglan glanced sideways and saw the bright sunlight outside the window pouring in through the gauze screen and falling on Zhang, illuminating her slender fingers that were as fresh and tender as spring onions dyed with cardamom. She was as beautiful as a pool of autumn water and a famous sword, both heroic and sharp, and calm and composed.
Three armies had left the capital, and the fate of the other two was still uncertain. Only Zhang Gu's army was already a guaranteed victory. Duke Ying, not only masterfully planned and executed battles from afar, but also masterfully employed his men. He dispatched his light cavalry swiftly back to defend the emperor, while he himself maintained order in the central army, leaving him with ample resources to aid his son-in-law. In terms of merit and rewards, Duke Zhang, as the commander-in-chief, naturally took first place.
With such capable father and brother, Zhang Shi was resolute. As for how her husband Shen Congxing was doing now, she... really didn't care.
At this time, Mother Cui came in holding the swaddling clothes, with a smile on her face: "Brother Yuan is awake, bring him to Madam Shen to see."
Zhang immediately changed the subject and went to hug the child with a smile.
The baby's skin was delicate, its rosy cheeks tinged with sleep marks. He exuded a pleasant milky fragrance, and his features were delicate. Zhang was so delighted that she quickly pulled out the gold lock from her purse. Little A-Yuan had just finished her feeding, and she didn't cry or make a fuss. Her large, clear eyes gave her a polite smile, a dimple the size of a millet grain visible on her soft little mouth, a serene and beautiful sight.
Zhang's eyes widened as she smiled, "...No wonder my mother kept clamoring for marriage when she came back from your place the other day." She kissed the child hard on the cheek and smiled, "Luckily I gave birth to a boy, otherwise I would have pestered you to make him my son-in-law."
Minglan listened and laughed with her hands covering her mouth, "Alas, my son is handsome, but I have become ugly." She pressed her hands on her thin cheeks and pretended to sigh.
Zhang turned around and smiled, "When I gave birth, I was as fragile as a piece of paper. Some quack doctors even said I was dying. Take good care of me, and I'll be alive and kicking in no time."
She didn't die herself, but she caused many others to die.
Minglan suppressed her laughter and nodded repeatedly.
Zhang held little A-Yuan in her arms and patted him gently, unable to contain her fondness. "Tsk tsk, there will probably be so many people trying to find a husband for this child in the future... Oh, my good boy, come visit me at your house and play with me. We can study and write together..."
After coaxing the child for a long time, Zhang handed the child to Madam Cui. She turned to Minglan and smiled, "You too, everything is peaceful in the capital. Why didn't you send an invitation to the outside world for your brother's third day bath a few days ago? If you don't have the energy to arrange it, just ask me to come."
Minglan thanked him repeatedly before sighing, "It's not entirely because I'm out of energy. Think about it, my family has always been on good terms with the Zheng family, and now everyone is in mourning, while I'm celebrating the third day of a baby's birth and the full moon with such joy. Isn't that rather heartless?"
Speaking of the Zheng family, Zhang sighed, "What a sudden misfortune! The old man was so kind and respectable, but who could have known that at the end of his life..." She recalled the time she went to the Zheng family when she was young, shook her head and sighed, and stopped talking. She changed the subject and said, "When I went to pay my respects, Mrs. Zheng asked me to tell you to take good care of yourself. She knew that the friendship between our two families didn't need all that empty talk. She knew it well."
Minglan then asked about Little Shen and Madam Zheng's situation: "Funerals are the most exhausting thing. Don't exhaust yourself."
"That's right." Zhang shook her head and said, "The two sisters-in-law have lost a lot of weight and are almost unrecognizable. Why bother? Heaven and earth are spiritual, and filial piety knows it. If you torture a living person, the old man may not be happy in the underworld." Her words were open-minded and insightful, and quite Zen-like.
Speaking of which, Minglan couldn't help but jokingly said, "I heard you were quite grand when you went to the Zheng family to pay your respects."
Zhang did not take it as an offense, but laughed and said, "Thanks to the Zou family, I used to be laughed at by others, but now it's quiet." As soon as she stepped into the reception room of the Zheng Mansion, the ladies who were chattering suddenly fell silent, looking at her with respect and awe, and speaking to her inexplicably politely.
This is the difference in treatment between a powerful shrew and a female martial arts master. Just now, when Lvzhi and the others were serving in front of her, they were trembling with fear in front of Zhang and dared not even breathe.
Minglan looked into her eyes and asked softly, "Are you feeling uncomfortable?" After all, it was a strange look.
Zhang thought about it, shook her head, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "If it were you, would you rather people look at you with pity all the time, or would you rather it be like this?" As the only legitimate daughter of the Duke of England, she had been proud since childhood. Who would have thought that her marriage would be the most unsatisfactory? All kinds of pity looks, either well-intentioned or gloating, made her not even want to go out after she got married.
Minglan understood and nodded, changing the subject: "The Zou family has behaved themselves now, right? Well, how did you deal with that person who was talking nonsense outside?"
Zhang snorted disdainfully and said calmly, "What can I do? The country has its own laws. I will hand Zou Lao Si and the captured thieves over to Lord Liu. Let him endure the punishment first."
Great! Minglan smiled slightly and gave a thumbs up in her heart.
The two of them had an interesting chat, so she invited Zhang to have lunch.
The maids came in one after another carrying various bowls and dishes, including a plate of emerald green and tender pink Longjing shrimp, a bowl of milky white crucian carp soup, a bowl of braised pork with rich red sauce, and a large porcelain bowl with lotus petals and pastel folded edges, filled with hot lotus leaf chicken, two stir-fried seasonal vegetables and a refreshing cold dish... The table was fully filled, and there was also a pot of fruit wine brewed by the Gu family.
After three cups, Zhang began to grumble, "…Evildoers will be punished. Your evil-hearted wife didn't have a good life either. Not only did she lose her son, but I heard her grandchildren are also sick, as if they had contracted an epidemic…"
Minglan's heart moved, she lowered her head and drank the soup slowly without asking anything.
"...You've been through a lot this time. Look at you now, you look like a lantern that could be broken by the wind." Under the influence of alcohol, Zhang became inexplicably sad: "Women are destined to suffer. Giving birth to children, supporting husbands and raising children, it's all blood and tears."
Minglan sighed softly and picked up the pot to pour another cup for Zhang.
The wine was as clear as jade, like dewdrops on the tips of willow leaves, exuding a faint sweetness that seemed to drag out the last lingering echoes of summer. Zhang drank it all in one gulp, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I have four older brothers. We played together like monkeys since we were young, and life was so happy. But when I was ten, my mother said that girls who wield swords and knives would not be liked by their future husbands. So I gave up swords and bows and learned needlework, housekeeping, poetry, gentleness, courtesy, frugality, and soft speech... I learned things that would please my husband, but who knew..."
She pulled the wine jug over, poured herself a glass and drank it. When she lowered her head, a drop of crystal light flashed in the corner of her eye, and then passed by in an instant. She put down the wine cup and whispered, "What's the big deal..."
Seeing that she was about to pour herself another glass of wine, Minglan reached out and pressed the wine pot, saying softly, "Although this wine is light, it has some aftertaste. You... drink it slowly... be careful not to hurt yourself."
Zhang was drunk and stubborn. She snatched the wine jug and drank two more cups in a row. She giggled at Minglan, "...You didn't want to pay attention to me at first, did you? Alas, I didn't expect you to be so honest. My mother asked many people to help, but seeing how cold and ugly my face was, they only showed their appreciation once or twice. Alas... My dear sister, I appreciate your kindness..."
Minglan thought to herself, it wasn't that she was honest, but that every time she received Madam Zhang's care outside, she felt guilty and hurried to the Shen family to find the creditor's daughter to repay the favor.
Later on, Zhang seemed to be drunk. She pulled Minglan and kept repeating, "Silly girl, listen to me. Don't worry about men. The most important thing is to take good care of yourself. Men are very smart. They have many cunning advisers around them who calculate fame and fortune for them. It's only women who suffer..." As she spoke, her eyes became red and she lowered her head to wipe the corners of her eyes.
Minglan frowned slightly and said with a firm smile, "No matter what happens in the future, I am determined to trust him this time." After a pause, she couldn't help but add, "In addition to being your father, the old Duke is also the head of the Zhang family." She knew what Zhang meant.
Zhang looked up and stared at her for a long moment. She took a sip of wine and whispered bitterly, "At the beginning, the Empress hinted at the idea of marriage, but Mother cried and refused. The Zhang family is considered prosperous, and I have seven or eight direct cousins alone. Mother wanted to ask my uncles' daughters to go, but Dad said that I was the most honored of all the cousins since I was a child. Now that the family is in trouble, if I don't go, who will?!... I also complained, but... but I know that Dad did nothing wrong. In fact, he is more distressed than Mother..."
The wine made Zhang even more heartbroken. She couldn't help crying. Everything had gone smoothly for her since she was born, but she suffered a big setback in her marriage. She was born proud and arrogant. Even if she was wronged, she would rather face it with a stubborn and cold face than lower herself and beg for pity.
Minglan gently patted her back, letting her lean against him and cry for a while. Not knowing what to say, she could only mutter, "It's a pity I'm in labor, otherwise I could cry with you... Or, I'll pour you another drink. You're drunk anyway, and a few drinks won't make a difference..."
Zhang burst out laughing and spat, "Bah, you're the dead pig!"
Minglan finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her burst into laughter.
Zhang refused to allow the maid to come in and help. She went to the basin rack, wrung out a cold handkerchief, and sat down to gently wipe her face. Fortunately, she did not like to wear powder or makeup, so her face was slightly damp, but there was no trace of it. After crying and sobering up, Zhang knew that she had just lost her composure. Under the pretext of wiping her face, she glanced at Minglan subtly.
The woman sitting quietly on the kang with her knees hugged, looked pale and thin, with her long eyelashes drooping slightly. She did not look like a mother who had given birth to two sons. Her eyes were especially clear and warm, and they looked like they were smiling even when she was not smiling, which made people feel good about her at first sight.
Zhang couldn't help but sigh, "You and my sister-in-law have always been good friends. I know a little bit about what she says about me behind my back." She smacked her lips and said self-deprecatingly, "Of course, I've said a lot about her too. But in all these years, I've never heard you say a word. You always give us good advice... Well, I won't say anymore..."
She sighed, then suddenly smiled, tears still in her eyes. "I won't complain anymore. I don't want to sound like a nagging wife." She tilted her head to look out the window. The courtyard, illuminated by the early summer sunlight, looked even more beautiful. She looked dejected. "At least I have Wang Ge'er. From now on, I can live a quiet life with my son. It's not bad."
Minglan smiled leisurely: "As for me, when I was little, I always thought that as long as I had a small yard, enough food and clothing, and could sleep and daydream leisurely, I would be satisfied."
Zhang raised her wrist to hold up her glass, and said with a smile, "You're useless... Well, let's encourage each other."
Minglan held up the small soup bowl with both hands and smiled: "Let's encourage each other."
——A long time later, when the two were chatting in their twilight years, they realized that the two sentences they said at that time had fallen into emptiness.
Zhang gave birth to half a dozen children, and spent the rest of her life surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was busy and had no time to sigh about loneliness. However, Minglan stepped out of the inner courtyard and enjoyed life with green mountains and clear waters.
…
At night, Gu Tingye returned to his room and saw Minglan still awake. She was still lying by the window, lost in thought, her head tilted, her eyes growing larger on her thin face. It was unclear what she was thinking about. When he repeatedly questioned her, Minglan pursed her lips and smiled, "What else can I say to the wife of the emperor? It's naturally about the country and the people."
Gu Tingye expressed deep doubt: "Really?"
Minglan nodded vigorously: "We have agreed to go outside the city to donate silver and rice."
Gu Tingye narrowed his eyes.
"I ordered a kite called a general from the shop. The wind is strong and the sun is good these days. I'll ask someone to fly it for you to see later." Gu Tingye held her in his arms and sat her on his lap. He stroked her slightly dry hair with one hand and pretended to change the subject casually.
"I put it better than them, but it's a pity I can't move it right now."
"I'm almost done with this mess. I'll come back earlier to talk to you."
"Business is important. I'm not bored."
"The doctor said you should move around more. As soon as I have time, I will go to the mountains with you to burn incense."
"Oh... okay."
"This time I got a very handsome pony. When you are well again, you can ride it for fun."
"Um."
"What do you want to eat these days?"
"...My Lord, Sister Zhang didn't say anything bad about you."
The two looked at each other for a while, then laughed out loud at the same time.
Minglan put the back of her hand to her lips, chuckling softly, and said playfully, "The Marquis really doesn't like Sister Zhang."
Gu Tingye said with a straight face: "If she doesn't come to help other people get married, I will like her."
He had a general idea of the women Minglan interacted with.
Mrs. Zhong always boasted about the harmonious relationship between her wives and concubines, and the close bond between legitimate and illegitimate children—he didn't have that problem; Mrs. Geng constantly harped on guarding against "vice spirits"—he didn't have any; Mrs. Duan worried about when her brother-in-law, even more clueless than her own son, would get married—all his brothers were dead; and that old lady from the Liu family couldn't avoid honoring her parents-in-law—his parents were probably already in the netherworld. Even little Shen loved to gossip about other people's families.
Only Zhang had both the knowledge and experience to express her distrust of marriage and her pessimistic outlook on the future. In the past, whenever Minglan came back from the Shen Mansion, she would always be unhappy for a long time.
"Auntie is very good. You sisters should visit each other more often."
Not to mention that his wife's elder sister is intelligent and kind, and always likes to give people good advice. As the saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together." Yuan Wenshao and his wife are as sweet as honey and love each other very much. Minglan is influenced by them, which is better than listening to the miserable stories of the Shen family all the time.
As if she understood his thoughts, Minglan laughed so hard that she fell over and scratched the man's nose again. "Stingy guy! Stingy guy!" This astute man really guessed it right, but...
She leaned into his arms and whispered, "Don't worry, we have already agreed on this."
While there are certainly many unhappy couples in the world, there are also many loving couples who grow old together. Perhaps God was sorry for the mudslide that had swept them, or perhaps good times would come after bad times. Perhaps she too had the good fortune to find her true love and stay together forever. One must give it a try.
Gu Tingye felt indescribably warm in his heart.
There were two fat boys, one big and one small, lying on the kang inside. Tuan Ge'er was sleeping soundly with his arms and legs spread out, while A Yuan had a tense face and was sleeping very solemnly, holding his beloved wife in his arms. Perhaps this was home.
He suddenly jumped off the kang, stood upright in the room, laughed heartily, lifted Minglan up with his arms, and spun her around a few times. Minglan giggled like a child, desperately covering her mouth with one hand and hitting his shoulder with the other, "...You idiot, put me down quickly! You've woken up those two devils! What the hell are you doing?"
After spinning around for more than ten times, they both fell dizzy on the kang, lying face to face, smiling at each other foolishly.
Mother Cui endured it for a long time outside. Because she was afraid that Minglan would be tired, she wanted to go in and stop them several times. But after a while, she smiled and shook her head repeatedly - they were all naughty children.
Gu Tingye was delighted and was eager to tell Minglan what he had heard. "Do you know what hardships the women of the Duan, Zhong, and Geng families suffered after being tricked into the palace?"
Minglan's curiosity was aroused: "Tell me, tell me."
After the three women entered the palace, they were naturally threatened and bribed. However, because the situation was unclear and the palace had not yet been completely controlled, Empress Dowager Shotoku had no time to punish them. She simply locked the three of them up in a palace room and asked several deaf and dumb slaves to guard them.
This stage lasted two days and one night.
"What kind of hardship can one suffer if he is just locked up?" Minglan was puzzled.
Gu Tingye smiled and said, "They are locked up, but there is only one thing missing that makes them suffer. Guess what?"
Minglan guessed 'food and drink', 'clothes and bedding', 'cups, bowls, chopsticks and spoons'... Gu Tingye just shook his head: "We got these hostages with great difficulty, how can we let them starve and freeze?" Minglan guessed several times, but all of them were wrong. She couldn't help but get anxious and hit him, saying, "You tell me or not!"
Gu Tingye then said slowly: "What is missing is... a toilet."
Minglan's face suddenly turned green.
Because the palace had been abandoned for a long time, there were no toilets or bathtubs. People could go without food and water, but they couldn't control their excretion. When General Zheng led his men in to rescue them, the smell and scene in the room...
Minglan felt nauseous for a long time, but couldn't help asking: "They...all...all relieved themselves..." on the ground?
Gu Tingye nodded, suppressing a smile: "Where else could it be? The deaf and dumb guards only follow orders and ignore everything else."
Although it was in the corner, the room was empty and it was hard to miss that... uh, that pool... The three ladies were well-known figures in the capital, and their expressions at that time... the expressions of the officers and soldiers... Tsk tsk, General Zheng was kind enough to take such a long time to reveal the news.
Minglan was stunned for a moment, her mouth twitching: "...This is too cruel."
Gu Tingye raised his eyebrows: "That's all?"
Minglan turned her head and sighed softly, "The ladies have suffered so much. It's really hard to bear." Her tone was very sincere.
Gu Tingye pulled her ears and turned her face back, smiling and said, "Be good, tell the truth."
Minglan glared at him for a while, and finally threw herself on the mattress in frustration, with intermittent laughter coming from the brocade cotton cushion, "Hateful! Haha, haha, hahaha... I'm dying of laughter..." Well, she was really mean.
It would have been fine for others, but remembering Madam Duan's usual dignified and majestic demeanor, Gu Tingye also laughed unkindly, leaning over Minglan and laughing with her. Minglan was almost suffocated by the huge body. She struggled to turn over and looked at the man's smiling face, which was as bright as the autumn sun. She was moved, but in the end, she didn't ask anything.
She thought, she should learn to trust. No matter what happened on Xiao Qin's side, she should believe that he would do what he should do, and would not do what he shouldn't do.
Gu Tingye wanted her to rest and recuperate, and Minglan was happy to ignore all that, just eating, sleeping, and playing with her two sons in her spare time. Tuan Ge'er was very enthusiastic about his new little brother, but unfortunately, Yuan was very quiet. No matter how noisy her lively brother was, she would rather pretend to be asleep than open her eyes until it was time to wake up.
Tuan Ge'er remembered his mother's instructions that he was not allowed to touch A Yuan when he was sleeping. He could only hold the new doll, sit beside the cradle with his chubby legs crossed, and look at his brother who stubbornly closed his eyes in frustration, sighing in despair.
Despite the apparent dire situation, Mother Cui was moved and wishful thinking: "They say a child's character can be seen at the age of three. As the eldest brother, he should be so generous and warm-hearted. Yuan has a strong will and won't be easily manipulated. When he sets up his own family, he will be able to shoulder the responsibilities on his own."
Minglan really wanted to say: You have such a rich imagination.
After all, she was young and had a good foundation. She spent her days leisurely and felt relaxed. In just over ten days, Minglan quickly became plump and rosy again. Gu Tingye touched her plump flesh and was happier than Mother Cui.
Gu Tingwei's two children did not survive after all. Six or seven days before Yu Minglan was released from confinement, the news of her death came. Gu Tingye said nothing, but asked someone to prepare the funeral ceremony and send it over, saying that he was busy. Minglan was frightened during pregnancy and suffered a lot of damage. She needed to live for two full months before she could recover. The couple did not even go to see her.
But there is really no need to watch it, as the two sides have already torn their faces apart and have become mortal enemies.
The Imperial Prison and several other jails were bustling with activity lately. The Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate were busy conducting joint trials and subsequently convicting each of the suspects. As for the bandits who had taken advantage of the situation, Liu Zhengjie, under imperial decree, was only to be charged with robbery, theft, murder, and arson. Treason was not to be implicated, and his wife and children were not to be implicated—with the exception of Gu Tingwei.
The worst-hit residence of the Prince's Uncle was the one where only two wet nurses were stabbed in the chest, four stewards had their heads broken, six or seven servants and maids had fallen in the dark, a dozen others had minor injuries, and one concubine had fainted from fright. It was Zhang and her guards who were the more ruthless. After all, the thieves were only out for money; their goal was simple and clear.
But Gu Tingwei is not.
If he had nothing to do with the rebellion, then how did he know that Empress Dowager Shengde had tricked the generals' families into entering the palace? How many people present at the time heard them repeatedly claiming, "I have been ordered to summon Marquis Gu's wife to the palace." By what order? Which palace?
Even the captured accomplices confessed that there were several military officers in official uniforms who attacked the Marquis' Mansion together. After a brief interrogation, they found out that these were the traitors in the Five Cities Military Department and were Gu Tingwei's drinking buddies.
Even if someone wanted to defend Gu Tingwei, it would be difficult to explain clearly; moreover, even if they could explain it clearly, what could they say?
"Your Majesty, Gu Lao San is not trying to rebel. He just wants to get rid of his own sister-in-law and nephew." How could he even say that?
That night, fierce fighting ensued at the Ningyuan Marquisate, leaving over half the family dead or injured. The fire was second only to the fire in the Imperial City. The Emperor, enraged, disregarded the truth and first stripped Xiao Qinshi of her First Rank Imperial Edict. Following the Emperor's order, the Dali Temple convicted Gu Tingwei of treason. Recognizing the Gu family's long history of loyalty, they spared his wife and children from enslavement and spared him from hanging his body at the Meridian Gate along with Teng Anguo and his accomplices. However, they ordered the Gu clan ancestral hall to expel Gu Tingwei's lineage, and to ban his descendants from officialdom for three generations.
As soon as the decree of conviction was announced, everyone avoided the third branch of the Gu family as much as possible. Even the Qin family closed their doors and refused to help. Among the Gu family, only Gu Tingxuan and his wife went to visit a few times to fulfill their duties as relatives.
Two or three days later, the couple came to the house before dawn and blocked Gu Tingye before he left the house. They told him that the lady was in trouble and that Zhu would cry and make a fuss in the next two or three days, and that there was no one in charge of the house now. The servants were stealing the property and neglecting the seriously ill master, and the situation was really out of control. They were afraid that there would be a funeral next, and they didn't know what to do.
"What my cousin means is..." Gu Tingye bowed slightly and said in a friendly and respectful manner.
Gu Tingxuan was a kind person and not good at speaking: "I, I mean...that..." He was extremely embarrassed. He knew that what Gu Tingwei did was unacceptable, but he really couldn't say anything.
Mrs. Xuan took over her husband's words and said neatly, "Second brother, your cousin's point is that you can't write two Gu characters with one stroke. This is just a small piece of land in the capital. If they make a mess over there, it will be a disgrace to us, right? Don't be ridiculous. Your cousin is soft-hearted and can't stand their pitiful situation. But I'm doing this for my own family. Your eldest nephew's marriage to the Fu family has been finalized, and the wedding is about to take place. We can't let outsiders watch the show!"
Gu Tingye laughed heartily and bowed, saying, "Sister-in-law is a quick-witted person. The day before yesterday, Fu Laoliu told me that his old lady was very satisfied with this marriage. We are just waiting for the wedding banquet." He continued to congratulate her.
Mrs. Xuan was very proud. It was not easy to get this marriage, so she accepted the congratulations generously.
"If you have any ideas, just tell me," said Gu Tingye.
Mrs. Xuan said frankly: "I won't hide it anymore. There is a shortage of people to take charge over there. Others are afraid of upsetting you, brother, or want to avoid suspicion of treason, so they all make excuses. If you can trust me, brother, I will... Mao..."
Gu Tingxuan quickly added: "I recommend myself."
Mrs. Xuan glared at her husband with a smirk and said, "You are so nosy. How can the two brothers not understand?"
Gu Tingye smiled, pondered for a moment, and said, "My brother and sister-in-law are right. I was negligent before. I was only concerned with my anger and did not consider the dignity of my clan. How about this, I will find time to go there tomorrow, and my eldest cousin's wife will ask a few people in charge of the clan to go there as well. I will entrust this matter to you in front of everyone. What do you think?"
The revenge has been taken. After all, they are from the same family. Mrs. Xuan cannot act on her own without her consent.
It wasn't until that night that Minglan learned of this. She jokingly said, "Eldest cousin's wife is really smart. She knew I was busy growing fat, so she came to look for you early."
Gu Tingye held little A Yuan in his arms, with the fat ball rolling around on his back. He even had one hand free to caress her face. He said softly, "When you're well again, all the troubles outside will be gone."
The tone was calm, yet subtly solemn.
Sometimes he even regretted that if Minglan had married that boy named He, there would be some daily troubles between his wife and concubines, and at least it wouldn't be so thrilling and require him to fight for his life several times.
Minglan understood and smiled sweetly. Gu Tingye sighed softly and held her in his arms.
The next morning, shrouded in the morning mist, Gu Tingye rode out of the mansion alone, followed by Xie Ang and other guards, and headed west of the city towards Coral Alley. After walking for about half an hour, they arrived. Gu Tingxuan and his wife had already arrived, but the rest of the clansmen had not yet arrived.
After a little tidying up by Mrs. Xuan yesterday, the house was finally no longer in the mess of the past few days. The servants came in and out and received guests in an orderly manner. However, anyone who paid attention could see the desolate and dilapidated feeling at a glance.
Mrs. Xuan was very busy, so Gu Tingxuan had to accompany her. He was silent for a long time, and suddenly said, "Yesterday I took your letter to ask for a doctor, and several doctors said that your aunt is really dying. She was drowsy all day and couldn't even swallow medicine. But this morning she suddenly woke up and was able to speak and curse... I think something is wrong, it's like... like... a last burst of consciousness. Why don't you go in and take a look." This might be the last time they see each other.
Gu Tingye remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's right. I'll go in right away. Please lead the way, brother."
Gu Tingxuan breathed a sigh of relief, quickly stood up and led the way into the inner courtyard.
The road was deserted, and there was no woman sweeping the floor early in the morning. The flower and tree jars were overgrown with weeds, and it seemed they hadn't been tended to for ages. When they arrived in front of Xiao Qin's house, a strong smell of boiled medicine rushed out from inside. The doors and windows were tightly closed. Two lazy-looking daughters-in-law were guarding the door, yawning constantly. When they saw them coming, they hurriedly saluted.
As soon as he stepped into the inner hall, he heard a sharp quarrel from the inner room. Gu Tingxuan was stunned.
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