From then on, Minglan seemed to have taken a deep breath. No matter how vivid the news about Zhang and Gu's defeat and death was, she just slept well and ate well every day, and insisted on taking walks. About three or four days later, the Tu brothers came back from outside, and a dusty mother and son were escorted to their carriage.
Tu Long stood in the corridor and bowed, saying, "Madam, we have returned from Lord Liu. As Madam instructed, the brothers who captured the man were each given twenty taels of silver. Now the man has been brought here and has just been handed over to Madam Cui."
Minglan stood upright in the hall, one hand on her lower back, "Thank you, Master Tu."
The Tu brothers looked straight ahead, bowed, and said goodbye in unison.
Xiaotao helped Minglan out slowly, followed by Luzhi and others. They walked through the long corridor and passed through the hanging flower door on the side. The surroundings suddenly became quiet. There was no laughter or talking, only the rustling of insects and birds.
Arriving at a secluded room, Minglan stepped inside. It was bare except for a throne at the head and a few tables to the side. Madam Cui and several sturdy maids stood around, glaring angrily at the mother and son standing in the room.
Minglan sat down steadily, her arms resting lightly on the armrests, and smiled, "I wanted to say 'I hope you're all well,' but seeing you today, you've aged more than ten years. They say the land and water of Mianzhou nourish the people, but why are you becoming more and more out of shape?"
Man Niang slowly raised her head. Her hair was disheveled and her face was haggard. Her deliberately shabby clothes could not hide her age. She said softly, "We are lowly people. We are not as noble as Madam, and our youth and beauty are even greater than before."
Minglan raised her eyebrows and turned her head to the boy beside her and said, "Chang'er, do you know me?"
The boy looked to be about eight or nine years old. He had a fair complexion but a thin frame. He clung to his mother's sleeves with both hands and lowered his head. Upon hearing this, he quickly raised his head, his face full of vigilance and disgust. When he met Minglan's gaze, he quickly lowered his head again.
Minglan naturally didn't miss the look in his eyes. She just sighed softly and said, "Mother Cui, have someone send Chang'er to the west wing for some snacks, and ask Rong'er to come over as well. They haven't seen each other for years."
Before the boy could struggle or resist, four strong women on both sides pounced on him. Two of them held Man Niang and prevented her from moving, while the other two picked up Chang Ge'er and held him, then quickly walked out the door.
Minglan smiled at Manniang and said, "Don't worry. For my own sake, I won't let anything happen to my brother in the mansion. I sent the child away only because I wanted to have a good talk with you."
Man Niang was unwilling to give in, but she also knew that Minglan was telling the truth, so she stopped struggling. At this time, two torturers came in, one carrying a high chair and the other holding a bundle of cloth strips.
Minglan clapped her hands three times, and the two maids quickly took action. Several other strong women also joined in, either holding her legs and twisting her arms, or pressing her head against her abdomen. In a moment, Man Niang was tied tightly to the chair. Then the maids filed out, leaving only Mama Cui, Xiaotao, and Luzhi in the room.
Manniang's arms, back, and even her legs were fixed as if by iron welds, her toes three inches off the ground, and she couldn't move at all. She cried out, "When we came in just now, my mother and I were searched. We have nothing on us. What else do you want, Madam?"
Minglan said calmly, "Nothing. I'm just worried that you'll have mastered the Iron Head Kung Fu and start knocking your head back, breaking my floor tiles."
Man Niang knew Minglan was referring to the incident from that year. She paused for a moment and then sobbed, "...Madam, I was wrong last time. It's all my fault. I was foolish and believed the Madam's sweet words and dared to offend you. Now that I think about it, you were pregnant at the time. If anything had happened to you, I would have been blamed..."
She was so moved that tears streamed down her face. She wished she could kowtow a few times so that her forehead would bleed.
Minglan's face was expressionless as she interrupted her, "I'm telling you to save your energy. No matter how pitifully you cry, will I fall for it? We both know what happened in the past. The maids guarding outside are all ten steps away from this house, and there are only a few of us inside."
She pointed at Mama Cui and the others and said jokingly, "Even if I told them you were dancing naked in the room, they would tell me. So..." She smiled, "Let's talk it out. You can get away with it once you leave this room."
Man Niang wiped away her tears, slowly clearing the mist from her eyes. She said coldly, "Alright, let's be frank. As soon as my mother and I entered the Qilin Gate of the capital, they ordered us to be arrested. Madam is truly resourceful, even the police can be ordered around at will."
Minglan smiled faintly. "You've got two things wrong. First, that wasn't just an ordinary errand, but a city garrison. Second, I'm not a regular errand boy. That was something the Marquis specifically instructed Liu Zhengjie to do before he left."
Man Niang's expression suddenly changed, and she trembled as she said, "...You mean, Erlang, he ordered someone to arrest me...?"
"The Marquis once said that if you dare to make trouble again, he will be rude; but you refused to believe it." Minglan was very annoyed by her infatuated and unbelievable look.
"But you are also capable. It only took a few days for the news from the front to reach you, and you got the information, and then you rushed to the capital day and night... When you were sent back to Mianzhou by the Marquis that day, you must have left someone in the capital to inform the public." While being escorted away crying and wailing, he was still able to leave spies in advance. Minglan really admired his ability and courage.
Man Niang said coldly, "Madam, please stop praising me. I'm afraid there are many spies in the countryside."
Minglan smiled and said, "You're wrong again. It's true that someone often comes to report on you and your son's situation, but it wasn't my order to keep an eye on them, it was the Marquis's order. The person who brought the news arrived a few days before you, and then I reported it to Lord Liu according to the Marquis's instructions, and then..."
"After that, soldiers will be waiting for us at the city gate." Man Niang sneered, then immediately asked, "What does Madam plan to do with us now?"
Minglan raised an eyebrow. "You're wrong again. I should be the one asking you what brings you to the capital."
Man Niang threw back her neck and laughed so hard that the veins on her neck popped. Then she said coldly, "They're still husband and wife! Erlang's life or death is uncertain up there, and you're sitting here, all right? Erlang treats you so well, do you have any heart at all?"
Minglan thought carefully and said, "Then what should I do?"
Man Niang shouted, "Need I tell you this? Hurry and seek help from the officials to save Erlang's life. Or ask if there are any acquaintances in the northwest. And... go to the palace to see the emperor, barefoot and with your hair loose, and beg him to forgive Erlang's past achievements and let him be spared this defeat!"
Minglan couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, covering her mouth. She laughed so hard that she couldn't even straighten her back. "You took the opera seriously?! And you're wearing your hair and bare feet. Is Wen Ji saving her husband?!"
After a long while, she finally stopped talking. She smiled and panted, "First, the main army has already come out. Where are the other troops? Can you ask Lord Liu to take the garrison guarding the capital to the northwest? Second, the northwest is an important city. Even civil officials are not allowed to inquire about military and national affairs easily, let alone a woman like me. Don't make trouble for no reason! Third, so far, the emperor has not issued any decree. Even the censor has not spoken. What kind of favor am I asking for?"
Man Niang's face turned pale at her smile, and she bit her teeth, causing pain as she said sharply, "Madam has a heart of crystal and is extremely intelligent; but she is not as devoted to Erlang as I am. I am completely confused!"
"Foolish? Come on, what do you think the Marquis is going to do to you?"
Man Niang's expression suddenly changed: "He, he..."
Minglan said quietly, "Did the Marquis say that if you dared to bother me again, I would never let you see Chang'er again in this life?"
Man Niang screamed, "Don't even think about separating us mother and son!"
"It wasn't me. The Marquis had no intention of getting my hands dirty." Minglan shook her head slowly. "According to the Marquis's wishes, as soon as Lord Liu captured you, he would immediately send Chang'er away to a kind and well-off family to raise him. It was I who asked Lord Liu to send you here so that Rong'er could see her brother again."
"...then...what about me?" Man Niang was stunned.
Minglan said coldly, "Can't you see? If the Marquis wanted to, you and your son would never leave Mianzhou. But the Marquis only ordered people to take good care of Chang'er, and never stopped you. Why is that? The Marquis doesn't care what you do at all! After sending Chang'er away, you can go wherever you want to die!" Huh? Is this a sting operation?
Man Niang desperately shook her head, wailing loudly, repeatedly saying, "Erlang would never treat me like this! No! No..." Only then did she become afraid. After crying for a long time, she suddenly looked up and stared at Minglan, pleading in a pitiful voice, "Madam, it's all my fault for being confused and stupid. I don't know what's good for me. Please bring Chang'er into the mansion! Madam, you've treated Rong'er so well, you can also raise him well!"
"There's no need for me to teach him. Didn't you say you'd die without your son? Now you're willing to do it." Minglan looked at her calmly, a hint of ridicule on her lips, "It seems you've taught Chang'er very well over the years."
Teach him hatred, teach him revenge, teach him to mention his biological mother from time to time with Gu Tingye, and teach him how to "get along" with his legitimate brothers.
Man Niang's eyes shrank for a moment, and soon her face was filled with grief again: "Without my mother by my side, I have to be with my father! He is an honest child, and he will be filial to my wife in the future..."
"Chang'er is absolutely not allowed to enter the mansion and return to his clan," Minglan said. "These are the Marquis's exact words."
Man Niang's eyes were filled with resentment as she growled softly, "You vicious person, this is all nonsense! You must have been the one instigating this. How could Erlang be so cruel to us mother and son!"
Minglan looked at her for a moment, then slowly said, "Why do you think the Marquis wanted to bring Chang'er into the mansion? Because at that time, no one knew who the Marquis was going to marry, and Chang'er was still young, so you probably didn't have time to teach him anything. If you waited until the child came into the mansion and slowly educated him, maybe he could be saved—but you flatly denied it. Later, the Marquis told me that with a mother like you, other things wouldn't matter, and I thought you wouldn't harm your own son, but you absolutely couldn't trust Chang'er with my child. As the saying goes, you can never be too defensive; there are only thieves who have been around for a thousand years, but no one can guard against thieves for a thousand years."
Man Niang felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. Her face turned pale and she murmured, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it. You are here to make me angry. Erlang must still be thinking about us mother and son."
Minglan didn't laugh. She watched Manniang deceiving herself for a long moment before she spoke in a low voice, "Today, I've been too much of a fuss. I'm asking you to choose another path for Chang'er." She sighed, "If you only promise not to leave Mianzhou for the rest of your life and never bother me again, I'll go and ask the Marquis to send Chang'er to the Chang family for upbringing."
Man Niang raised her head in surprise: "...Madame Chang?"
Minglan nodded. "A few days ago, I spoke to Nanny Chang about this. She said that instead of asking a stranger to raise Chang'er, it would be better for her to do it. After all, Yan'er is married, and Nian'er is busy studying day and night. It would be perfect for her to have some free time in her old age."
What a kind-hearted old woman, she couldn't bear to see her child suffer. Minglan sighed softly in her heart and continued, "You know what Nanny Chang is like. She couldn't be more righteous. Look at how motivated the grandson she has raised is. Chang'er will definitely have a bright future."
Man Niang paused before saying, "What if I break my promise?"
Minglan blinked and smiled, "God is my witness. As long as you agree, I won't ask you to break your promise."
Man Niang's heart tightened, and looking at Minglan's gentle smile, she felt a chill for no reason - she knew what these words meant. Once she agreed, she would be immediately taken back to Mianzhou. With the power of Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, she only needed to say a few words to the local officials, and she would be like being imprisoned, unable to leave that mountain valley forever.
Seeing Man Niang's uncertain expression, as if she were in a fierce internal struggle, Minglan smiled and said, "Well, have you thought it through?"
Man Niang spat in disdain and snorted coldly, "You speak eloquently, but I don't believe you! I want to see Erlang. He will definitely not let us down!"
Minglan was slightly disappointed and sighed, "Chang'er... well, forget it. He's your son, so let's just follow the Marquis's wishes."
She slowly stood up, helped Xiaotao away, and never wanted to look at this selfish and cold woman again.
When I returned to the room, I saw Tuan Ge'er with his chubby little legs crossed, struggling to pull a pair of shiny brass nine-link rings. When he saw his mother coming back, he immediately dropped the rings, stood up from the kang, and opened his arms in a baby voice - "...Mom..."
This time she was right. Minglan's heart was filled with softness and warmth. She held her son in her arms for a long time. Seeing that the little fat boy was showing signs of climbing up on his mother, Mother Cui hurried over to hold him away.
Minglan lay on the kang, smiling as she watched the little fat boy rolling around on the soft cushion. When he got tired of playing around, he spread out his limbs and fell asleep with his belly sticking out.
Minglan gazed at her son's sweet sleeping face, feeling inexplicably sad. Actually, sending Chang'er to that unknown place, to be raised by a reliable family, might have been safer. Besides, raising a child was so exhausting, and she couldn't bear to have Nanny Chang clean up this mess for the Gu family. Alas, why bother with this unnecessary effort and bring trouble upon herself?
But... not all women in this world are qualified to be mothers.
After a short rest, Luzhi hurried in and reported in a low voice, "Madam, Chang'er... and his mother have been handed over to Master Liu." Mother Cui, who was listening, sighed, "Master Liu is really worried, but... this family scandal has been exposed."
Minglan couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to herself that with someone in Liu Zhengjie's line of work, he must know the private affairs of every civil and military official.
"Where's Sister Rong?"
Luzhi couldn't hide her excitement, but fearing Minglan's criticism, she tried to act composed. "Chang'er hadn't recognized Miss Rong for a long time, and our eldest daughter tried to coax her for a long time but to no avail. The brother and sister sat in silence, and then... that woman came... and the mother and daughter closed the door and talked, but then they started arguing, and Miss Rong ran back to her room crying. I heard she's still crying now."
Minglan was silent.
Luzhi could only continue to talk to herself, "According to the Marquis's orders, Chang'er was sent on one way, and the woman was driven out of the capital on another. The personal guard sent by Lord Liu let out a few words while drinking with Manager Hao, saying that if he saw the woman again, she would be immediately sent to serve in the desert."
Minglan remained silent. Gu Tingye had said that the few brothers who knew about the situation were generally magnanimous, but Liu Zhengjie often mocked him for being too soft-hearted, hesitant to make a decision, and causing endless trouble in the future. Others might have shown some mercy to Man Niang, but Liu Zhengjie was definitely not going to be polite—he had entrusted him with the task.
Just as she was feeling unhappy, someone outside suddenly announced that Tu Long wanted to see her. Minglan was slightly startled and hurriedly said, "Please come to the outer room to talk." There was only the sound of heavy footsteps. Tu Long stood outside and whispered, "Excuse me, Madam, for disturbing your rest. I have something to report to you."
Minglan waved gently, and Mother Cui carefully carried the little fat boy into the inner room. Luzhi stood by the door and said crisply through the curtain, "Master Tu, please speak. Madam is listening."
Tu Long said, "I've been investigating the market lately, and I feel something's amiss. There's no official announcement of important military and national events ahead, so how did it get out like this? The guy who reported the news to Mianzhou doesn't seem particularly well-informed, so how... did it spread so quickly...?"
He said it very tactfully, but Minglan understood immediately. Suddenly, her heart was shaken. She cried out, "Master Tu is right! I'm in this mountain, and I never thought of this!"
She had also wondered about the source of the news of the defeat, but she had never thought about it in reverse.
You have to remember that in ancient society, information was limited, and people were particularly wary of rumors spreading and stirring up unrest. Just like this time, even if there was a real defeat at the front, they would still whitewash it. But this time, how could such a small rumor spread so widely?!
"Mr. Tu, what do you mean..." Minglan hesitated.
Tulong said, "I can't tell. However, there seems to be some instability in the capital lately. Lord Liu also said this morning that many refugees have arrived, most of whom have unknown identities. I thought that since my wife's safety is the most important, why not transfer some skilled martial artists from the village to guard the house..."
Minglan pondered for a moment and nodded slowly.
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