Minglan was disturbed by this incident and not only did she miss breakfast, she didn't even want to eat lunch. Mother Cui forced her to drink half a bowl of winter bamboo shoots, mushrooms and chicken soup to soak the glutinous rice, but it tasted like chewing wax.
Meanwhile, Shao Shi had heard of the palace arrivals and had assumed Minglan would accept the order. However, after waiting for half a day, she heard nothing. Instead, she heard about the commotion and the two angels' furious departure, threatening to confiscate her property and punish her. She was terrified. Since being forced to send the Dowager away last time, she had grown fearful of Minglan and only sent her trusted daughter-in-law to inquire.
Cuiwei patiently explained for a long time, saying, "It's just a misunderstanding," but the visitor was still hesitating, "To avoid upsetting the nobles in the palace, please bear with me and come to the palace." Cuiwei's face turned cold on the spot, and she said unhappily, "Our wife has her own opinions on what to do and what not to do. The eldest lady doesn't know what's going on outside, so just enjoy your life."
Seeing the daughter-in-law acting coyly, afraid of offending Minglan but also hoping that no harm would come to her, Cuiwei felt contempt for her and secretly thought that Shao was a cowardly, unrighteous and irresponsible person.
After hastily sending the person away, Cuiwei turned back. As she crossed the courtyard, she saw Luzhi standing in the corridor outside the main house, gnashing her teeth over a small red clay stove. A sweet fragrance rose from the slightly glowing charcoal. She smiled and said, "What are you roasting, girl? It's only been a short time since lunch, aren't you afraid of indigestion?"
Green Branch poked the charcoal with a pair of tiny purple-golden copper tongs and said bitterly, "I don't know where that damned Xiao Tao has gone! She treated a few hairy chestnuts like treasures, saying they were the last we'd see this year. She insisted I watch the fire, not even checking the weather. It's raining all the time, so how can we roast anything good?"
Cuiwei couldn't help but smile, and asked again, "Is Madam still resting?"
Luzhi shook her head. "Mother Cui told me to watch at the door and not to make any noise in the courtyard. She wanted Madam to take a nap, but I heard constant talking inside."
Cuiwei nodded and tiptoed into the inner room. Just as she lifted the curtain, she heard Madam Cui's soft and gentle voice, "...Nothing is certain right now. Madam, don't overthink it. You won't hurt yourself if you worry." After a moment, she heard no more sounds from inside, then she stepped inside. After kneeling and bowing, she replied, "The person sent by the eldest madam has already gone back."
Minglan was wearing a half-worn warm fur coat made of moon-white brocade with a cloud pattern, her dark hair loose around her shoulders. She lay leaning against the headboard. Seeing Cuiwei's expression of dismay when she mentioned Shao Shi, she said, "But what nonsense is this visitor talking about?"
Cuiwei raged, "I tried to persuade him, but he finally sent him away. I'm just angry that when the time came, he didn't even ask about Madam's health. He was just worried about getting her into trouble, and he even tried to persuade her to come back to the palace! Humph, even if it was a stubborn stone, it would warm up after two years of keeping it warm!"
Normally Minglan would not take this seriously, but at this moment she was preoccupied with her own affairs. She frowned and said, "Tell Liao Yong's family to send a few more maids to that end to watch for people coming in and out, and don't let anything happen." The trouble with being a fence-sitter!
This was exactly what Cuiwei wanted. She smiled and responded before leaving.
Minglan was upset, but also worried about her son, so she asked Mother Cui to look after Tuan Ge'er. She lay flat on her back, eyes open, her mind full of uncontrollable random thoughts. She hoped she was just overwhelmed by food, but at the same time, she felt vaguely that she was not wrong. She only hated the backward communication technology in ancient times. What could be done with a group text message in modern times was so troublesome here...
Tired of thinking, she drifted off to sleep, and then had a chaotic tangle of dreams. First, Manniang and the Gold Saints came to her house, threatening her to hand over the Dragon Balls. She stared blankly and asked, "Don't you want Athena?" Then the Jie slaves invaded the capital, captured her, and brought her back to the grasslands to perform the Eighteen Beats of the Hujia. Turning out she was tone-deaf, they immediately sent her to wash horses and sheep. While she was washing, a brigade suddenly descended from the sky, slaughtering the entire tribe, just to wash the flaming eyes of the Kuruta horse she had been washing. Before her partner's last breath, the shepherd tugged at her shoulder and trembled, "...So... you... really... will bring about a bloody storm..."
Hey, she's almost dying, why are you still pulling her shoulders and shaking them so vigorously?
Minglan was shaken awake slowly, and before her hazy eyes appeared the enlarged face of Luzhi. She said anxiously, "...Madam, Madam, please wake up. The person sent out by Manager Hao is back. Didn't you tell me to call you as soon as someone comes back..."
Minglan suddenly woke up, calmed herself down, and quickly asked Luzhi to help her get up and change her clothes.
The rain has stopped outside, and the sky is dim, with a lingering gray-blue tint on one side, and a few dim orange-reds in the distance, making the leaves in the courtyard look a little decadent. A few late chrysanthemums planted in autumn by the pond are swaying slightly in the wind, just like what is written in the poem: at dusk, the moonlight casts shadows on the withered chrysanthemums, and the evening breeze makes the autumn water clear and blue.
Minglan supported Cuiwei and walked steadily. The cool evening air made her feel refreshed. The side hall was not far away and she arrived in a few steps. She saw Manager Hao waiting in the corridor with his head bowed, followed by several sweaty servants. As soon as they sat down, Minglan hurriedly asked what was going on.
Hao Dacheng had dispatched a dozen servants, several of whom had returned. Minglan knew the weight of this matter was immense. If nothing happened, she would be suspected of instigating disobedience. So, without a handwritten note or other tokens, she simply instructed the servants to pass on a message: "If anyone from the palace comes to announce the decree, please be careful. My wife feels something is amiss."
After the servants knelt down and saluted, Minglan asked them to stand up and answer.
The first people to return were those who went to the Zhong and Duan families to report the news. It was not because the two families were close, but because when the messengers arrived, Madam Duan and Madam Zhong had already entered the palace with their mother-in-law and children. When the servants asked and found out that the masters had left, they rushed back like a flash.
——Minglan was shocked. Even these two families were spared. Could it be that her prediction was right?
Next came the Geng family. Because the Geng residence was far from home, a servant on a fast horse arrived just in time. By the time he'd breathlessly relayed his mistress's message, the procession ahead, carrying the imperial decree, had arrived. Though illiterate, Mrs. Geng was resourceful. She hesitated to believe Minglan's words, but also to disbelieve them. Fearing that disobeying the decree would implicate her husband, she gritted her teeth, sent her children out the back door, and, telling the angels, "I'm going to visit relatives out of town," she followed them into the palace.
——Minglan shook her head and sighed, but she was not to be blamed.
Finally, the servant said, "Madam Geng also said that Madam, for the sake of our friendship, please bear witness for her. If anything happens to her, you should ask Master Geng to marry the second daughter of her third uncle's fourth wife from her mother's family, and not to look for any other vixen."
Minglan: ...
In comparison, the news from the Zhang and Chen families was much more exciting.
During the Shenchen Rebellion, Madam Zhang had been one of the unfortunate hostages held captive in the palace. Having been bitten by a snake, she knew the situation in the capital was changing, so how could she not be vigilant? Upon hearing the decree, Madam Zhang immediately became suspicious. She didn't question them directly, but instead, relying on her noble status, she pestered the two angels with endless roundabout talk.
Her family, her husband's family, was from a prominent and prestigious family. She had been visiting the palace since she was a child, like visiting relatives. She was far more familiar with the rules and regulations of the imperial city than Minglan was. It didn't take long for the two people announcing the decree to reveal their flaws. Madam Zhang, who had been in charge of the Duke of Ying's mansion for decades and had the final say, immediately erupted and arrested the people who had announced the decree.
When the servant arrived, Madam Zhang was preparing to send the "thief who falsely conveyed the imperial edict" to the yamen for trial. She asked the servant to convey her gratitude to Minglan and also sent four elite archers.
"Mrs. Zhang only said 'to prepare for unexpected events' and refused to say anything else." The servant was puzzled and wondered if a war was about to break out.
Minglan grew increasingly anxious. Perhaps Madam Zhang had sensed something, but without proof, it was hard to say. She continued, "What about the Shen family?"
Another servant stepped forward and replied, "Madam Zhang has sent a letter to the Prince's Mansion. Originally, the Prince's Lady wanted to take her children and flee to her parents' home, but the mother next to the Prince's Lady said that Concubine Zou and her eldest brother and sister refused to leave, so Madam Shen was so tired that she had to stay as well. When I arrived, Madam Shen had already feigned illness and sent away the group who came to announce the decree, and was in the process of closing the palace and imposing martial law."
Minglan nodded and turned to ask, "Butler Hao, are these the only ones back?"
Hao Dacheng looked embarrassed and said, "Madam, these are the only families." He paused and continued, "I wanted to send someone to inquire, but at noon today, there was a fight at Chongyang Gate, and now Lord Liu has ordered martial law in the capital."
Minglan's heart skipped a beat. Seeing this, Hao Dacheng hurriedly added, "Don't worry, Madam. I took the initiative and sent someone to check on my in-laws. My third uncle's wife said everything is fine there, and asked my in-laws to come down from the yamen to see Madam if possible. Alas... I'm afraid my in-laws can't come now. I originally wanted to go to the Zhongqin Marquis's residence to tell the eldest concubine, but I ran into martial law as soon as I left, so I can't leave."
The civil officials were fine, but the military commanders' families were...? Why was the situation so different from last time?
Minglan frowned, unable to figure out what was going on. She could only repeatedly tell Manager Hao to be doubly vigilant at the gate and not to be careless. Hao Dacheng knew the situation was not good and that guarding the gate was of great importance, so he immediately responded and went down to do his job.
Just as she was about to return to Jiaxiju, she heard a commotion outside, mixed with a girl's screams. Before Minglan could say anything, she saw a chubby and clumsy girl crawling in and throwing herself in front of her.
Minglan couldn't help laughing and said, "Silly girl, where have you been all afternoon? Lvzhi was so tired that she watched the stove for half the day. Be careful and she will pinch you when she gets home!"
Xiao Tao raised her head and said in panic, "Madam, this is bad! Second Brother Shi just came back from outside and he said...said..."
"What did he say?" Minglan's face was solemn.
Xiao Tao said anxiously: "Liu Liu, Master Liu, he, he... was stabbed..."
"What...?!" Minglan's chest was beating rapidly.
"But it didn't hit." Xiao Tao swallowed and added.
Minglan almost screamed, "Just finish what you're saying!"
She was almost scared to death! ——"What the hell is going on! Where did you hear that?"
Xiao Tao quickly took a deep breath and began, "At noon today, Brother Shi asked me to go to the outer courtyard to eat squab. I said it was a pity there were no sweet and sour mulberries to go with it. He said he knew of a shop that sold excellent southern and northern fruits. I said it seemed like martial law was in effect outside, but he said it wasn't a big deal. Back then, during the Jianghuai Rebellion, he carried his little niece all over the streets..."
Looking at the silly girl's flushed face, Minglan closed her eyes and sighed, "Talk properly and take a breath first."
Xiao Tao gasped for breath and continued half-dead, "So Brother Shi changed into a servant's clothes and went out. I waited for a long time before he came back. He said that when he rushed there, the store was closed, but he remembered that there was a shop nearby that sold good preserved fruits, but the owner was always shortchanging me..."
"Don't mention your fruit!" Minglan felt her blood pressure rising sharply. "Let's pick up the important things!"
Xiao Tao felt very aggrieved. A story should have a whole story. "...Brother Shitou had just left Shanzi Hutong when he heard someone shouting 'there's an assassin!' Brother Shitou quickly ran out to the street, only to run into Brother Chen from Lord Liu's guard. Brother Chen said there was a disturbance at Chongyang Gate at noon, and Lord Liu had been searching for General Zheng Jun but couldn't find him. He was about to go to the Wucheng Military Headquarters to hold him accountable, but as he turned the corner, a large group of masked men suddenly appeared from the rooftops and all around, attempting to assassinate him. Lord Liu was injured, but luckily he survived."
Minglan let out a long breath and said sternly, "You idiot! It's such a mess outside, and you dare ask Brother Shi to go out? If something happens, how are you going to explain to his brother and sister-in-law? Where is he? Why don't you get over here, you little brat? I'll teach him a lesson!"
Xiao Tao stuttered, "He, he, he... suffered some minor injuries, and he's showing them to Master Tu."
Minglan suddenly raised her voice: "Didn't you say there was no assassination attempt?"
Xiao Tao lowered her head guiltily. "The shopkeeper of that shop saw that Shitou was wearing shabby and worn clothes, and was trying to bully people by passing off old goods as fresh. He asked Shitou to taste it and argued for a refund or exchange. But the shopkeeper suddenly got angry and called out a few guys with sticks to scare him. Shitou was so angry that he started a fight with them..."
Minglan's anger faded completely. She sighed, "Very good, very good. Did you buy the fruit?"
Xiao Tao raised her head and said, "Brother Shitou beat them all down, and the shopkeeper gave us several kilograms of the best preserved fruits for free!" Seeing the girls behind Minglan giggling, she said sheepishly, "I'll share some with the sisters later."
Minglan sighed to the heavens—the capital was in chaos, thieves and rebels were rampant outside, and countless powerful families were terrified. And yet these two funny guys were actually fighting over the quality of snacks? What strong nerves they had!
Seeing Cuiwei on the side almost hurting herself from trying to hold back her laughter, and the several little maids standing behind her all twisted their lips and made faces, Minglan waved her hand weakly and said, "Forget it, help me back to the house, change clothes, and then go see Brother Shi. If the Shi family knew about this, I wonder if they would still want you as their sister-in-law..."
The silly girl actually realized that her face was blushing, and she moved over shyly. She and Cuiwei each supported Minglan and they walked slowly out. Cuiwei kept teasing Xiaotao along the way, and Minglan found it funny that she was listening, and it relieved some of her boredom.
Suddenly, a little girl cried out, "Look, there's a flood over there!"
Everyone hurriedly turned around and looked in the direction of the little girl's arm. They saw thick smoke rising in the distance and billowing flames spreading far away.
The sky at nightfall was like a light-colored cloth stained with coal dust, inky black and thick and thin, with the remaining halo of the golden sun setting in the west, and the flames in the distance were dazzling and breathtaking.
"Husband, Madam, isn't that the direction..." Cuiwei was surprised and confused.
Minglan nodded silently. "With flames this high, it must be a fire in a building high up...it must be the Imperial Palace."
——It’s finally begun.
It was quiet all around, and the girls looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear.
Minglan stared quietly into the distance, half her face lost in the dim, ambiguous twilight, the other half shimmering and obscure in the blazing fire. Yet, she had never been so clear and understanding before.
At noon, when Mother Cui advised her to rest, she said, "Madam, you are overthinking it. Who were the nobles who were summoned to the palace during the last 'Shenchen Rebellion'? We are not royal relatives, so what's the point of arresting you?"
She didn't understand it then, but now she understands.
Times have changed. When the Fourth Prince rebelled, the late Emperor was still alive, and political and military power rested with the Emperor. What the Fourth Prince lacked was legitimate status and recognition from his clan. He had to trick the imperial family and noble wives of the emperor into entering the palace as hostages, forcing the cabinet ministers and the Grand Secretary to write an imperial edict. And now... Alas, Prince Rui, Prince Rui!
Minglan had seen the boy, who was about ten years old, from afar. He was delicate and pretty, intelligent, studious, gentle and polite. He was quite famous among the literati. Compared with the iron-fisted and tough current people, he was praised by the powerful families. Even the Empress Dowager Sheng'an and the Queen liked him very much - were they really going to make a fuss about this child?
Prince Rui was the successor of the Fourth Prince's lineage by the late Emperor's decree. The Third Prince was also the crown prince appointed by the late Emperor, and his rank is still before the current Emperor. The Emperor has only been on the throne for a few years, and his power is not stable. If he unfortunately 'dies suddenly in the palace', it would be better if several princes 'died' or disappeared together. Otherwise... then it would all depend on who has the stronger backbone.
The situation in the capital was unclear, as most of the troops were on the western expedition.
Putting aside Zhang and Gu, whose life and death are unknown, General Bo is seriously injured and bedridden, and General Fu may not be able to defeat the cunning General Gan. What's more, Empress Dowager Shengde's family has been entrenched in the northwest for many years, with complex networks and a lot of business. As for Shen Congxing's army, the people who actually control it are Duan Chengqian and others.
If the coup succeeds, let Prince Rui ascend the throne and become emperor first, and then use his family and children to threaten these generals, then he won't be afraid of the army returning to the capital to defend the king. The matter is already settled, and they will have to accept it even if they don't want to.
What a good plan!
"Madam, madam!"
The usually calm Chief Steward Hao came running in panic, flopping to his knees on the bluestone slabs. "It's chaos outside! The Five Cities Military Commission is rebellious. Not only are they refusing to obey Lord Liu's orders, they've sealed the city gates, preventing anyone from entering or leaving, and are even engaging in a fierce battle with Lord Liu's imperial guards!"
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at Minglan cautiously, "...Also... I heard that General Zheng has also rebelled. The servant who reported it said that he saw the imperial guards about to attack the palace..."
The girls around screamed and sobbed softly.
Minglan said quietly, "No wonder they dared to make such a fuss. It turns out they came prepared."
Hao Dacheng said anxiously: "Madam, would you like to hide for a while? We will escort you out of the house."
Minglan sneered, "Escape? Where to escape?"
She gently brushed her hair, which had been blown by the evening breeze, and said calmly, "Even if we leave the palace, with the city gates now closed, where can we hide? It's a blessing not a disaster, and if it is a disaster, it's inevitable. The emperor is wise and will surely put down the rebellion in one fell swoop."
It's a mess outside and it may not be safe to go out. I just hope that Gu Tingye is better at choosing bosses than women, otherwise, if the nest is destroyed, all the eggs will be broken!
Minglan ignored the various looks of the crowd and continued walking back to Jiaci Residence. Mother Cui had prepared the meal in the side room, and her brother Baotuan was waiting beside her. On the small octagonal table decorated with diamond patterns was a bowl of steamed egg custard stuffed with minced meat and diced shrimps, a plate of salted osmanthus duck with purple and red crispy radish flowers, a bowl of braised beef fillet with scallions in a red sauce, and another bowl of braised broccoli with mushrooms.
Minglan calmed down, picked up her chopsticks and started eating, teasing her son while eating; the little fat boy hadn't played with his mother for a long time, and he giggled and almost rolled under the table. The wet nurse finally fed him a bowl of egg and custard; Mother Cui secretly looked at Minglan while serving the dishes, opening and closing her mouth several times, wanting to ask something but not daring to.
After eating and drinking her fill, Minglan rinsed her mouth and hands and said, "Watch out for the Madam's courtyard. The two sisters are not allowed to run around. They should stay together. Move Ruomei and the child to the Madam's courtyard as well."
If he stayed away from his mother and child, perhaps they would be safer.
"As for Brother Tuan..."
Minglan whispered a few words into Mother Cui's ear, and Mother Cui suddenly understood, "Don't worry, Madam. I understand."
After everything was arranged, it was already time to light the lamps. Minglan sat at the desk in the main room, the door open, quietly reading. She turned to "Peach Blossom Spring" and read the passage "Fragrant grass is fresh and beautiful, fallen petals are colorful" when she saw Liao Yongjia rushing in from outside. Her face was as pale as a ghost. She didn't care about etiquette and knelt down, saying hurriedly: "Outside...outside, there are soldiers surrounding our mansion..."
Minglan slowly put down the scroll and asked, "What did the visitor say?"
Liao Yongjia swallowed her saliva and said, "They said that the lady disobeyed the imperial order and wanted to lock her up and convict her! Uncle Tu is blocking the way and refusing to open the door."
"I guess so." Minglan smiled slightly, "I want to go to the front."
A sedan chair had been prepared outside. Minglan swayed slightly along with the steps of the sedan chair bearer. The capital city was unexpectedly cold in early spring, as if it had returned to winter in an instant. The north wind blew quickly among the branches of the trees, like a poisonous snake lurking in the dark, spitting out its tongue.
Minglan looked up at the sky. The night was as black as ink, the moon was dim and the stars were sparse. Endless darkness enveloped the sky. The surroundings were full of servants, but it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The silence was as terrifying as the darkness, she thought.
——But my heart is as bright as the moon in the sky.
Like every beginning of life, like every bud moved to bloom, all dharmas are empty, neither destroyed nor born.
When they reached the front hall of the outer courtyard, they found it packed with sturdy guards, all holding torches, lighting up the night like day. The red lacquered gate, nearly three people tall, was slammed loudly, and a chaotic shouting could be heard from outside.
"Gu Sheng, surrender quickly!"
"Gu family traitor, why don't you open the door quickly!"
"We have been ordered to capture the traitor. Anyone who opens the door will be pardoned and given a promotion!"
Tu Da stood in front, blocking a straight passage. Minglan helped Xiao Tao walk over. There was a palm-sized window next to the side door. Minglan leaned over to take a closer look. A large group of people had gathered outside the door. Only the first few were wearing the official uniforms of the Bingmasi, while the dozens behind were dressed in various clothes. They looked like bandits, with fierce expressions on their faces and cursing.
Minglan turned and left the gate, standing high up on the steps of the main hall, and said loudly, "Please listen to me!"
There was a commotion inside and outside the door. Tu Long gathered his breath and yelled, "Listen up, everyone outside! Our wife is here. All of you listen carefully!"
The roar of the martial artist was so loud that it made Minglan's eardrums buzz, and it was indeed quiet outside.
A arrogant and ostentatious male voice rang out from outside the door: "Madam Gu, I have heard that you refused to obey orders to enter the palace last time, angering the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. We are here to arrest you! Surrender quickly, and I will spare the lives of your entire family!"
Minglan raised her eyebrows and said decisively, "Stop dreaming! I'm not going!" The high-pitched female voice was particularly clear in the darkness. The guards in the courtyard couldn't help but sneer.
The man outside roared, "How dare you, you wicked woman?!"
"No reason, it's just because you have a shifty look and you look like a loser who always loses!" Minglan spoke in a deliberately soft voice.
There was a burst of laughter all around, and even some laughter could be heard outside the door.
The other end started shouting furiously, spewing foul language, just as they were about to silence the surrounding noise, when Minglan suddenly interrupted, "I know exactly what kind of people you are! Don't pretend to be decent people. How dare you show up like a rebel!"
The four words "rebellion" were extremely intimidating, and the outside became quiet again.
Minglan raised her voice coldly, "Anyone can punish traitors. Everyone understands this principle, but there are some foolish people who, believing they're lucky, are willing to smack their necks against a blade, taking a gamble! Remember the Shenchen Rebellion a few years ago? How many nobles and powerful ministers assisted the Rebellious King? Humph, so what? The late Emperor quelled the rebellion in just seven days. Don't you even consider your own worth? How do you compare to the Rebellious King back then? I wonder if you can even last seven hours!"
She sneered and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense. If you have the guts, come in and don't try to fool people. I advise the heroes out there to get out of here before they show up. There are plenty of ways to make a fortune. Don't get involved in this mess. Rebellion isn't just about robbing a few rich people and getting your head taken away. Think more about your wives and children!"
Suddenly, silence fell outside. After a while, the arrogant man's voice shouted, "Don't be deceived by this woman. The mansion is overflowing with gold, silver, and jewelry. Tonight is the night to make a fortune!"
Tu Long also roared, "My Lord, you know all our names. If you fail to protect Madam, you will be severely punished! Madam promised a hundred taels of silver for each arm and a hundred and fifty taels for each leg. If you lose your life, your family will be taken care of by the Marquis's Mansion! Come on, brothers! If we can survive this, everyone will be rewarded handsomely, and we will all enjoy a good life from now on!"
With these two roars, the fight of the night officially began.
The sixteen vermilion latticed windows in the main hall were wide open. Luzhi moved a tall armchair and placed it in the middle of the hall. Minglan sat on it, watching the fierce battle in front of her, as if she was roaming the battlefield.
According to regulations, except for the Imperial Palace, the gates and walls of the marquis' mansions in the capital were only slightly inferior to those of the prince's palace. They were much taller and thicker than those of ordinary houses, as tall as two or three people. The red lacquered gates, nearly half a foot thick, could not be broken after being bolted. People from outside pounded on the door frantically, but it did not budge at all, and it was useless to chop and stab it with swords and guns.
The thief obviously did not expect Minglan to be so tough. He wanted to scare the woman, but he had no powerful tools to attack the door. He had no choice but to order people to find some thicker trees to chop down and use to break down the door, while urging his men to support each other and climb over the wall to jump in.
Unexpectedly, the Dragon Slayers had prepared numerous sharp wooden poles over two meters long. Two men in pairs held them from inside the wall. Whenever they saw a head pop up from the top, they would thrust it hard. Screams echoed, and with a few thuds, several thieves were pierced through the jaws or chests, falling back. Some brave thieves scaled the wall, brandishing swords, but the poles were coated in tar, making them impaled by ordinary weapons. Others, more nimble than the poles, were missed by the two archers watching from inside the gate, who quickly shot them down.
After a pause outside, they also started shooting arrows inside to cover their companions as they climbed in. Arrows flew everywhere, and in a moment, several strong men holding wooden poles were shot. Minglan quickly asked someone to carry the injured into the hall.
The guards turned around and saw the mistress, pregnant and calmly sitting in the back hall. They didn't dare to slack off, thinking, "Even a weak woman has such courage, let alone us men!"
The dragon slayer quickly brandished his ghost-headed knife, ordering someone to climb up a ladder placed against the wall, grab a small package of lime, and, dodging the rain of arrows, quickly raised his hand and scattered it. The lime flew everywhere, and outside there was a burst of screams of pain, mixed with curses and exclamations -
"Close your eyes! There's lime being poured in there!"
"How shameless! How dare you resort to such despicable tactics!"...
Boss Tu couldn't help but murmur a sigh, "If my fellow comrades knew about this, I, Old Tu, would be too ashamed to face anyone... What are you looking at, you bastard? Keep going!"
After nearly half an hour, the place gradually quieted down. Suddenly, they heard footsteps, as if many more thieves were coming. Tulong listened attentively, his face changed drastically, and he shouted, "Brother, be careful, the thieves are coming again."
Sure enough, within a few moments, the thieves covered their eyes with a thin piece of cloth and climbed the wall again. This time, the attackers were numerous and the wall was crowded with people, so it was too late to shoot arrows or poke poles.
At this time, the oil pan set up earlier in the yard was emitting creepy green smoke. Tulong shouted and asked people to pass buckets of boiling oil up the ladder, and then with a "swish", poured it down. Suddenly, outside, the screams of ghosts and wolves were heard, accompanied by the smell of burnt human flesh, which seemed particularly terrifying in the middle of the night.
Luzhi's face was pale, and her teeth chattered uncontrollably as she stared at the pools of blood on the ground. Xiaotao was much stronger and helped move the wailing wounded whenever she had time.
It was spring at the time, and the servants who were pouring oil were wearing cotton jackets and leather gloves, so they were not afraid. However, the thieves outside were all wearing thin spring clothes. Not to mention that those who were hit on the head would be half dead instantly, even those who were splashed around would jump and feel severe pain.
The boiling oil had a much wider impact than other spills, and the thieves suffered heavy casualties, and the situation outside was temporarily quiet.
Tu Long wiped his sweat, rushed into the hall, and said with a fist: "Madam, you can rest for a while."
Minglan's knuckles turned slightly white as she gripped the armrest. "They won't give up so easily."
"Don't worry, Madam. My brother and his men are guarding the back door. We have plenty of hot oil pipes and sharp stakes!"
Minglan nodded stiffly, reached out to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead, and put one hand on her belly, only to feel it beating violently. Perhaps the fetus also felt this fear. Minglan felt pity and gently stroked the child with tears in her eyes.
Less than an hour had passed since the silence began when a blood-stained servant came running over from a distance, shouting, "Master Tu, those thieves have gone to the back door. Master Tu, call for some help!"
Tu Long turned to look at Ming Lan with a questioning look in his eyes. Ming Lan laughed heartily and said, "Women don't understand matters of attack and defense. The people and weapons in the mansion are all at the disposal of Master Tu!"
Tu Long secretly cried out, "Yes," and respectfully clasped his fists. He immediately selected a group of strong men and ran to the back to help, while he and the rest of the men continued to guard the front gate. The thieves attacking the back gate had to circle the entire street, while those inside the mansion moved in a straight line. Therefore, they only needed to hold off for a while, and then they could smoothly transfer their forces.
In fact, the back door is easier to defend because its alley is narrow, barely enough for four or five people to walk side by side. Even banging the door with a large wooden stake is difficult. The thieves cannot disperse fully, and three or five people can only crowd together. Whether pouring boiling oil or spreading lime is more effective.
After about two or three quarters of an hour, the sounds of shouting and climbing were heard again from the wall in front of the gate - the thieves in the front had indeed not completely left, and they wanted to lure the tiger away from the mountain. When the fighting started in the back, the thieves in the front might relax their vigilance.
Unexpectedly, Tulong had been prepared for this move and ordered several servants to stand guard along the wall, watching closely without blinking. If anyone showed half a head, they would immediately poke it with a pole, and the opponent would fall off the wall without even a groan.
Seeing this scene, Minglan couldn't help but praise, "Master Tu is indeed worthy of his reputation! No wonder the Marquis always brags about it."
Tu Long turned around and grinned, saying proudly, "These are just some despicable tricks. Please forgive me for laughing at you. Madam, have you ever seen the Marquis's heroic appearance in battle? That is truly invincible and unbeatable!"
Minglan was about to offer another compliment when a sudden, sky-high flame erupted from the side. Everyone in the front yard turned their heads to see the old courtyard of the Marquis's Mansion on the east side a sea of fire. Pitiful screams could be heard from afar. Unlike the others, who were terrified, Minglan and Tulong remained calm.
Tulong looked at the fire in the east, his cheeks clenched in anger. "Those bastards really wanted to sneak in from that side! Oh, what a pity for that old house, it's been here for so many years!"
Minglan's face was expressionless as she said casually, "Don't feel sorry. The valuables have already been moved out, and the ancestral hall is in a corner, so the fire can't spread to it. It won't be a problem at all. After all, lives are more important, and the house can be rebuilt."
It was already early in the morning, and Mother Ge brought a group of maids to deliver food for supper. Minglan quickly ate half a bowl of rice porridge before putting down the bowl. She saw a firelight in the forest on the west side.
Minglan stopped what she was doing, and Luzhi looked out at the place from afar, saying with regret, "Alas, what a pity it is that there are no more cranes and deer on the mountain, and the cage of rabbits that the two girls just raised."
Not long after, reports came from the east and west sides, all saying that the bandits had been stopped and repelled. It seemed that five or six people were burned to death on the east side, while on the west side, as they were in the mountains and forests and could not see clearly, there must be at least four or five people killed.
Minglan stroked her chest gently, secretly thanking her luck.
The Ningyuan Marquisate, centered around Chengyuan Garden, was a vast, square mansion, with two gates at the front and back. To the east and west, the old mansion and a small forest stood between them. To prevent anyone from sneaking in from either side, Minglan, with a ruthless determination, ordered the deployment of flammable oil—the forests were dense in spring, and the Gu family mansion, with its dense timber, could easily burn overnight. A wide firebreak was then established between the mansion and Chengyuan Garden, and a fuse was set. Any intruder would be immediately set ablaze.
Seeing the old house in the mountains engulfed in flames, Minglan would be lying if she said she didn't feel sorry. She just hoped the thieves could be stopped.
At this time, Tu Long walked over with heavy steps and whispered beside Ming Lan, "Madam, this is not right."
He was very experienced and knew that every disturbance was often followed by thieves taking advantage of the situation to rob and steal. Therefore, he thought that with his arrangements, ordinary thieves would be no problem. However, after fighting for half the night, the two brothers were left with no choice but to fight back with difficulty.
"Now the bandits have suffered no less than thirty casualties, but they are still so stubborn... It seems that someone is instigating them from behind." After fighting for so long, he found that the other side had more than a hundred people. After the first two rounds of fierce fighting, many hangers-on ran away. He vaguely estimated that the core of the bandits was only fifty or sixty people. So far, more than half of the other side had been killed or injured, but they still refused to retreat. It was really strange.
Minglan, however, wanted to go deeper.
During this turmoil, there are only two types of people who will come to the Marquis' Mansion to kill. One is the bandits who take advantage of the situation to rob and loot, and they are also the focus of Boss Tu's original defense. The other is the rebels.
The former is seeking wealth. There are so many wealthy and powerful families in Beijing that it doesn't matter which one they rob. Why must he be so persistent and insist on taking on the hard bone of the Gu family?
The latter seeks power and wants to take Minglan as a hostage. If all the members of the Gu family are forced to death, what can they use to threaten him? It would be strange if Gu Tingye did not fight to the death for revenge; but the group of thieves in front of him are extremely vicious and are clearly here to take his life.
"you say……"
Minglan's face was solemn. She had just begun to speak when she heard a familiar cry outside. Xiao Cuixiu ran in with her hair disheveled, crying, "Madam, this is terrible! There are thieves inside!"
Minglan was struck by lightning and cried out, "How is this possible?!"
Cuixiu cried out, "They came from the forest. Several thieves rushed in from a small path with rage! Brother Shi is leading his men to stop them. Madam, please send someone quickly!"
Minglan was on the verge of collapse, but she forced herself to remain calm.
Tu Long said in a deep voice: "Madam, don't worry, I will take people there right away!" Then he pulled a big man next to him and said, "Brother, watch here for me!" The big man agreed, and Tu Long immediately led a team of guards to rush in.
Luzhi bit her lip tightly, while Xiaotao held Minglan tightly, whispering repeatedly, "Don't be afraid, Madam. Not many people know where Tuan'er and Madam Cui are! There are so many rooms in the mansion, it would take a lot of time to search them all."
Minglan calmed down a little, but as mother and daughter were closely connected, she was extremely worried and insisted on going to check the situation. Luzhi had no choice but to call a sedan chair. Because it was dark and the road was dim, the sedan chair bearers did not dare to go fast. Minglan was so anxious that she almost cried, but she finally arrived.
The inner courtyard was in a mess, with maids and servants either crying for help or seeking shelter. Minglan didn't dare get in the sedan chair, so she held onto Luzhi and walked inside. Xiaotao, with her sharp eyes, grabbed a figure running past and shouted, "Brother Shitou!"
The visitor was none other than the goofy Shi Xiaodi, covered in blood. Seeing Minglan and the others, he exclaimed joyfully, "Madam, I was just about to go look for you! Those seven or eight thieves were running around like headless flies. Two of them were killed by the guards outside just as they reached the Madam's courtyard gate. Now Master Tu is scouting the world to catch thieves!"
Minglan breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm glad everyone is okay..."
"Madam..." Little Brother Shi said anxiously, "When Master Tu and I arrived at the Madam's courtyard, we saw only Aunt Qiu, Aunt Mei and her son, and a few other mothers in the house."
"Ah! What's going on?" Minglan was stunned.
"Master Tu also asked." Little Brother Shi said in embarrassment, "A mother said privately that the eldest lady found out that Mother Cui and Tuan Ge'er were hiding somewhere else. She felt it was safer there, so she asked Miss Bisi about their whereabouts and took the two sisters to hide there as well..."
Minglan bit her lower lip—after all her calculations, she had missed this one! What a Bisi! What a Shao Shi!
"Master Butcher asked me to ask Madam where Brother Tuan is. Don't let the thieves get lucky. Oh..." Brother Shi thought the analogy was inappropriate and quickly shut up.
Minglan said anxiously, "It's in one of the rooms in Kouxiangyuan! Go, go find Master Tu!" She stamped her feet repeatedly. A secret hiding place must be known to as few people as possible. What was going on here?!
After watching Brother Shi leave, Minglan also hurried in that direction. However, Xiaotao remembered Mother Cui's instructions and held her arm tightly. The old woman behind her kept persuading Minglan not to walk even a step faster.
It took them nearly half a quarter of an hour to finally see their destination. Minglan felt as if it were two hours. On the way, she caught a little girl who looked like a headless fly and asked, "Is Kou Xiang Yuan good?"
The little girl had just run over from Kouxiang Garden and suddenly saw her mistress. She stammered, "Everything is fine. Ah... No, Madam Lu said that Miss Rong went to the eldest lady's place and told us not to stay here anymore..."
Minglan felt slightly relieved and was about to tell her to hide in the Shao family compound when the little girl suddenly said, "But, but... just now I saw Aunt Ren leading two or three dark figures to Kouxiang Garden... Oh, that's strange, isn't there anyone there?"
"Aunt Ren?!" Luzhi yelled loudly, holding the little girl's wrist tightly, "The one beside the eldest lady...?" Aunt Ren was originally Shao's maid, and was later given to Gu Tingyu by Shao as a concubine. Before Gu Tingyu passed away, she was promoted to a concubine.
The little girl felt pain and nodded quickly.
Minglan was so terrified that she couldn't speak. She could only force out one sentence: "Go over there quickly!" Everyone didn't dare to delay any longer and hurried over.
As soon as I stepped into Kouxiang Garden, I smelled a strong smell of blood. I looked down with the help of a lantern and saw that the ground was covered with blood. The bodies of two old women were lying at the door. They were the strong women who protected Mother Cui.
Minglan felt dizzy and nearly fainted, but Tulong and the others came over and bowed, saying, "Madam, we've killed two people and caught a thief."
The guards behind him slammed the two black-clad corpses to the ground, then pushed out a dishevelled woman. It was none other than Ren, the woman who often accompanied Shao. Minglan was furious and slapped the woman twice. Just as she was about to ask Tulong if he had found his son's room, she heard the screams of women and children from the west wing, followed by Shi Xiaodi's shouts: "You thief, how dare you...!"
Tulong and his companions rushed over with torches in hand, and a light came on in the dark room.
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