Feeling humiliated and humiliated by the forced division of the house, the Fifth Old Master spent his days secluded in his study, refusing to see the smug expression of "that unworthy nephew," and only emerging on the day of the move after packing up. Yet, amidst his immense resentment, his artistic achievements soared. His bold, unrestrained calligraphy flowed with a vehemence that threatened to burst from the paper, and his impromptu poems were passionate, bold, and flowing with rhythm. This time, even without the flattery of courtiers, he could see the significant improvement.
"...Taibai spent half his life in despair, wandering the mountains and rivers. Huaisu lived a life of austerity, shunning the world and living in the grass and marshes. All sages and wise men of the past have been like this. Could it be that only by tormenting one's mind and body, and starving oneself, can one achieve great success..."
He murmured, wondering if his unsuccessful studies and careers were due to his comfortable life. Perhaps he, too, needed to endure some hardship before achieving success? (You finally revealed the truth.)
The Fifth Old Master was equally furious, but he could still devote himself to art. The Fourth Old Master was not so open-minded. He cursed and looked for trouble with people all day long, and beat and scolded them at every turn. The whole fourth room was like a layer of dark fog. One day, with Aunt Liu's reminder, the Fourth Old Master finally came to his senses and realized that if he had to leave, he had to get some benefits before leaving.
"Old Fifth..." the Fourth Old Master hesitated, "I'm afraid he won't be willing to fight with me for a few coins."
Aunt Liu was well-maintained. She was nearly fifty, but she looked only thirty. She smiled gracefully and leaned closer, saying, "Isn't there still the Fifth Old Lady? You know the Fifth Uncle's temper. Once he starts a fight, he'll be ready to fight, regardless of the cause."
Aunt Liu must have some skills to stand out in the competition among the girls in the inner house. As she expected, the Fifth Old Master was reluctant to go at first, but she couldn't stop the Fifth Old Lady from crying about the difficult family finances and muttering about how difficult it was to live independently, so she had no choice but to agree.
That day, Minglan personally escorted Xianjie back home. Shao Shi saw her daughter return beaming with joy, accompanied by a reluctant Rongjie. Her daughter's complexion was rosy and she had grown taller. She clung to her mother's sleeve, chattering like a young oriole, her heart and eyes filled with cheerfulness and health. Shao Shi had heard from the accompanying nanny that her daughter was enjoying herself in Chengyuan, and she was deeply grateful to Minglan. The two sisters-in-law held hands and talked for a while before rising.
Minglan left Miss Rong to chat for a while, and then went to sit with the old lady with Shao. She showed great concern for Zhu, who had a bulging belly. The old lady leaned against the pillow and said a few words to make fun of her, and the room was harmonious.
"...Your eldest sister-in-law is gradually getting better. Now I don't have to worry about anything except your sister's marriage." The lady sighed worriedly, "She's getting old, but she still hasn't found a husband."
Shao, who had just recovered from a serious illness, whispered softly, "Don't worry, mother. My sister's character and appearance are all there, and she is one of the best in the capital. It's just that the weather was not good, and she encountered one thing after another, which delayed her."
The lady was very pleased with the words and her expression softened a lot.
"What the elder sister-in-law said is true." Zhu turned sideways and said gently, "Don't worry, mother. The eldest daughter of the Zhongshan Marquis's family is almost eighteen years old. There are also several daughters of the Hanguo Duke, the family of Minister Yan... If you look closely, there are more than one noble ladies who have been delayed in the capital in the past two years." The lady's worried look faded away, and she chuckled lightly: "You all know how to talk to make me happy. I wish it were so. Alas... Minglan, what do you think?" She looked at Minglan.
The past two or three years have been full of changes. Sometimes there was national mourning, and sometimes there was war. The powerful families in Beijing have risen and fallen several times, and there are indeed many young ladies from noble families whose marriages have been delayed. Therefore, it is not particularly striking that Gu Tingcan is still unmarried at this age.
Minglan seemed a little embarrassed and smiled shyly, "I, I don't know. With your appearance and character, you'll definitely find a good match. No matter what... I'm just waiting to help you."
Seeing her silly look, Shao couldn't help laughing and said with a smile: "You child, why are you blushing when you are talking about marriage for our sister? After all, you are a new bride and you are still shy." Minglan wanted this effect. She lowered her head even more, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly.
The lady's eyes flickered, and she smiled calmly. It was customary for brothers and sisters-in-law to add to the dowry of their soon-to-be-married sisters. Minglan hadn't offered to help, nor had she specified how much to add, so it was as good as saying nothing.
Minglan had just breathed a sigh of relief after meeting the customs officer and wanted to escape quickly, but before she could say a few words, the Fourth Old Master and the Fifth Old Master arrived.
Leading the way was the Fourth Elder, flanked by his wife, Liu Yim, who was diligently supporting him. On the other side, followed by the Fourth Elder Madam, who looked rather glum. Behind them, the Fifth Elder and his wife, their heads held high, were the Grand Madam. Upon seeing this scene, her brows furrowed slightly, then she straightened her expression and sat up straight. Minglan's heart skipped a beat, and she, along with Mrs. Shao and Mrs. Zhu, stood respectfully.
Upon entering and seeing her there, the Fifth Old Lady coughed heavily, her voice filled with displeasure. Minglan ignored her, thinking she had a fishbone stuck in her throat. The Fourth Old Master glared at her with resentment, and Minglan turned her head away, thinking it was just an eyelid cramp from old age, and stood still. After exchanging pleasantries and wishing each other well, the Fourth Old Master got straight to the point about financial matters.
"Divide the family again?" Mrs. Rao had been prepared for this, but she couldn't help but be surprised by this fantastic proposal. "Where do you get that from, Fourth Uncle? Didn't our deceased parents-in-law already divide the family?"
The Fourth Old Master sighed pretentiously, "That being said, for decades, we three families have lived and ate together. It's been so long, and there's no way we can explain the financial disputes. If we insist on dividing everything up, it would hurt our relationship. So, let's just divide it up and take it home. I didn't want to bring it up originally, but now that our family is struggling, I have to be so shameless and talk about it."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu, who was well-versed in household affairs, immediately blushed with anger, and even Shao, who was not known for her peace of mind, was secretly angry; according to the rule that 'young wives shouldn't show up too often', Minglan stood behind Shao with her head down, thinking to herself 'it's finally here', and then waited with bated breath for the battle to break out: she had long been curious about the fighting power of the lady when she was at full power, and she didn't want to let her down.
Kang Muang, despicable!
The Madam's face was expressionless. One hand rested on the table, the other tightly clutching a handkerchief. A thin silver ring inlaid with white jade and kingfisher feathers gleamed faintly between her fingers. She pondered for a moment, then turned gently, "Minglan, tell me what we should do about this. Speaking seriously, you are the mistress of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion."
"I'm just a young man, what do I know?" The audience waiting to see the play were suddenly dragged onto the stage. Minglan blinked, bowed modestly, then gently raised her head and sighed, "Speaking of financial hardship, Chengyuan isn't easy either. Alas, I have to deal with social interactions, the farmhouse isn't collecting money right now, and in a few days I have to start construction and renovate the mansion. Money is flowing in like water. Fortunately, my fifth uncle and the lady-in-waiting returned the property left to me by the old marquis, so we can still make ends meet. Fourth uncle, look..."
The Fourth Old Master was afraid Minglan would bring this up. Back then, in front of the clan members, they all said they were keeping the property for Gu Tingye. Now it was even harder for him to be greedy and not give it back. He was speechless for a moment, but fortunately he reacted quickly and turned the tables immediately: "What are you saying, niece? Now your husband is the master of the Marquisate. Didn't Brother Yu make the property clear before he died? Isn't the silver enough? My dear sister-in-law, you're holding on too tightly."
The Madam glanced at Minglan thoughtfully and said slowly, "We'll talk about this later. Minglan, first tell us about what happened today."
Minglan raised an eyebrow. She didn't intend to go to their house to collect the debt. They had no shame, but she still had some. However, she wanted to keep the right to collect the debt forever, so that she could use it often in the future. That would be good.
She took two steps forward, stood still politely, and said with a smile, "I've been in the Gu family for less than a year, how could I know the inside story of the past? Fourth Uncle must have a reason for saying this... Could it be that my late father-in-law borrowed money from my two uncles?"
She first glanced at the fourth old master, then turned her head slightly to face the two sisters-in-law Shao and Zhu.
The fourth old master choked and refused to speak. Shao said coldly: "As far as I know, not yet."
Zhu was furious and said bluntly, "Not only that. From what I know, Dad has given Fourth Uncle three or four times, and each time it was no less than five thousand taels."
Minglan gasped, her expression and voice perfectly matched, and she said in surprise, "Really?!" Then she looked straight at the Fourth Old Master with an expression of disbelief.
The Fourth Old Master was so embarrassed by this that he turned into a rage and shouted at Zhu: "What business do you have with what the elders say?! The Gu family has been involved in decades of affairs, and there are so many entanglements! You have only been here for a few years, what do you know?!" Then he turned around and said, "Fifth Old Master, look at this, it's true that people are cold when they leave. It's only been a few years since my eldest brother left, and people don't take us brothers seriously anymore! You refused to come yesterday because of your pride. Look, if you don't teach us a lesson, we will have no place to stand."
The Fifth Old Master frowned, slapped the armrest, and scolded, "Nephew Wei's wife, you are from a big family too, why are you so rude! Didn't you see that none of your sisters-in-law are here? Do you think you youngsters have the right to interfere in this matter?"
Zhu's eyes turned red and she stood aside, holding her belly.
The fifth old lady touched the lid of the bowl with her pointed fingertips and said sarcastically, "My dear niece, don't blame your uncle for being so harsh. There are so many things going on in the Gu family. For the past twenty years, all three branches have been involved in the expenses of the family, including festivals, entertaining guests, weddings and funerals, not to mention the money that is transferred between the branches from time to time. You've only been here for a short time, what do you know?"
The lady tried hard to suppress her anger, but her eyes became more gloomy.
Seeing Zhu's pale face, Minglan felt sorry for her and said, "Your sister-in-law is pregnant and can't stand for a long time. It's better for you to go back to the room and rest for a while." As she said this, she wanted to help Zhu leave, so as to avoid being affected by the fighting. It would be best if they could get away and find a secluded place to watch the show.
Unexpectedly, the Madam added softly, "Su Xin, please accompany her to the back and sit down. You just listen. Ming Lan, come sit next to me. You two are now the masters of this mansion. Uncles, this is correct, isn't it?"
The fourth old master snorted coldly, the fifth old master turned his head away in haughtiness and said nothing. Minglan twisted her fingers and, thinking she was unlucky, moved to sit on the round stool next to the lady. Shao helped Zhu sit behind the screen.
The Madam turned her cold gaze towards the Fifth Old Lady: "I didn't come in earlier than the Fifth Sister-in-law. Based on what the Fifth Sister-in-law said just now, does that mean I have no right to speak?"
After all, she was the eldest sister-in-law for many years, and her prestige still lingered. The Fifth Old Lady forced a smile: "...What are you saying, sister-in-law? If you can't say it, who else can?"
"In that case, I'll tell you. Let's make it clear all at once to avoid endless entanglements later." The old lady hinted at something. The fifth old master had an embarrassed look on his face, and the fourth old master became even more angry. Minglan quickly pricked up her ears.
"The Gu family has been divided twice since our generation. The first time, before I even got married, my parents called in the elders of the clan to help with the division, with all the necessary paperwork. Because the old marquis was stationed at the border at the time, the first branch of the family's estate remained with my parents. That year, my father passed away, and my mother was on the verge of collapse. Fortunately, the emperor was merciful and summoned the old marquis back to the capital. After I followed him there, the first branch of the family personally took over the estate from my mother. Even now, the estate of our third branch is clearly listed. Is what I said wrong?"
The fourth old master remained silent in anger, and the fifth old master said softly, "What the eldest sister-in-law said is true."
The Madam sat up straight, her eyes solemn, and continued, "Later, before Mother passed away, she called us to her bedside and told us in person that after her death, Dad's share would be divided equally among the three wives, while her dowry and personal income would all go to the old marquis. We heard this with our own ears! But Fourth Uncle wouldn't accept it. He didn't say anything while Mother was alive, but after she passed away, he insisted that Mother was sick and confused at the time, and that her words shouldn't be taken seriously. He even called several married women to the mourning hall to argue with us! This is true, isn't it?"
The Fifth Old Master's face was filled with even greater shame, and he stopped talking. The Fourth Old Master, however, stiffened his neck and retorted, "My mother was so ill at the time that she couldn't even recognize me. You can't take her words seriously! We are both sons of the same mother, why are you being so partial to one another?"
The lady spoke sharply, "It doesn't matter if he's confused or not, or if he's biased or not, but your eldest brother, to keep things harmonious with his younger siblings, divided up what Mother left behind right away. You all got a share, while the eldest wife got nothing! I haven't lied in a single word!"
Minglan was astonished when she heard this. What brother could have such a magical brother? He must have accumulated a lot of good luck in his eight lifetimes.
Even the Fifth Old Lady lowered her head and remained silent. Only the Fourth Old Master, still thick-necked, shouted, "That was Big Brother's own idea. Big Sister-in-law was unhappy, so why didn't she say anything at the time? Besides, in the end, Big Brother Five and I weren't left behind much either!"
The lady laughed sarcastically, "A married woman must obey her husband. How could I disobey your eldest brother's wishes? Besides, those aunts and uncles were invited here by you, fourth uncle. You can't blame anyone."
The Fourth Old Master stood there frozen, speechless. Aunt Liu carefully tugged at his sleeve, and he sat down angrily.
After a while, the only sound in the room was the breathing sound coming out of the fourth old master's big nostrils.
A trace of sadness slowly emerged on the Madam's plain face as she spoke mournfully, "Although our Third House has separate private accounts, anyone who works in the mansion, sweeping, sewing, or keeping watch, regardless of which house their indentures belong to, comes to the First House to collect their monthly wages. Over the years, the clothes for all seasons, the carriages and servants, and even the food and drink, all have been paid for by the First House! For so many years, Fourth Uncle, you dined out while Fifth Uncle bought calligraphy and paintings, recorded the bills at restaurants and shops, and left, and it was your eldest brother who paid for them afterwards."
Minglan was so surprised that she could hardly close her mouth. Since she couldn't hide it anyway, she simply stopped trying to hide it. This time her surprise was real.
The Fourth Old Master's face was as red as if smeared with wine dregs, and it was unclear whether he was angry or embarrassed. The Fifth Old Master, on the other hand, looked as surprised as Minglan. He turned to look at the Fifth Old Lady and stood up in a daze: "I clearly explained everything to the calligraphy and painting shop, why are you...?"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the fifth old lady blushed and dared not look her husband in the eye. She just lowered her head and pulled her handkerchief.
The fifth old master seemed to understand, sighed, and sat down dejectedly on the chair.
"Just now my fifth brother's wife said that festivals, entertaining guests, weddings and funerals, and interpersonal relationships are all related. Would you like to ask you to take a look at the accounts to see which branch is at a disadvantage and which branch is at an advantage? Not to mention who paid for the jobs and favors for my nephews over the years!" The old lady became more and more courageous, her aura was so fierce and intimidating that she glared at the fifth branch and the couple never dared to look up again.
Even the Fourth Old Master didn't dare to respond. He was not as aloof as the Fifth Old Master and his wife. He knew a little about accounts and general affairs. He was afraid that the more he got involved, the more he would find that the Fourth and Fifth Houses were being unreasonable.
The lady's eyes were straight and dignified.
In this scene, she plays a bright and upright positive role, selfless, benevolent, generous, and does good deeds without leaving a name; while the group headed by the fourth old master plays a very disgraceful supporting role, who is greedy, mean-spirited, and shameless. Not only have they taken advantage of their kind brother and sister-in-law for decades, but they are also ungrateful.
Minglan almost clapped.
The Madam must have tolerated these guys for a long time, remembering every incident, but her patience was unmatched. To maintain a good image in front of her husband, the Holy Father, she suppressed all resentment and dissatisfaction. Minglan actually admired this kind of person. When the disadvantage cannot be changed, they will not stubbornly resist, but wait for the opportunity to make the most of it.
Since she couldn't get rid of this pair of funny brothers, she simply turned waste into treasure, tried her best to make use of this situation, took a long-term view, and used them to remove the real thorn in her side. As long as her biological son could inherit the title, then she would settle the accounts that needed to be settled and kick out those who needed to be kicked out. Anyway, she had accumulated enough evidence against these two funny guys, and if she really made it public, she would have enough reasons to say.
By this point in the battle, the outcome was clear. Only the Fourth Old Master was still holding out. He stood up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, and roared, "Today I finally realize that my eldest sister-in-law is such a heroine, and she's so well-spoken! I was so disrespectful before! Don't forget, when Mother was at her deathbed, she held our hands and said to us three brothers. My eldest brother personally promised to take good care of me and my fifth brother! What? Now that my eldest brother is gone, you've turned your back on me? You've shown your true colors!"
This time even Minglan wanted to laugh, and two clear sneers came from behind the screen. It seemed that Shao and Zhu couldn't help it either.
The Madam couldn't hide her sarcasm, her eyes revealing deep resentment and disdain. She said coldly, "Mother wanted to give the eldest wife more money, and Fourth Uncle said Mother was sick and confused. But Mother asked the eldest wife to look after the two younger brothers, and Fourth Uncle remembered it clearly. Mother said it before she died, so how come the first sentence was confused and the second sentence was not? Fourth Uncle really has a good memory and is quite capable."
Minglan sighed: This old grandmother of the Gu family is indeed a sensible person, but it's a pity that her motherly love has been thrown away by her unfilial descendants.
No matter how thick-skinned the Fourth Old Master was, he could no longer hold back. He was shaking with anger. He sat down and angrily pounded the coffee table beside him, almost knocking a tea bowl off the table.
Seeing the situation was getting awkward, the fourth old lady quickly spoke up, her voice full of apology, "I know how much my sister-in-law has suffered over the years, worrying so much about us useless people. His fourth uncle has been fretting over Bing'er's affairs these past few days, so his tone is a bit harsh, sister-in-law, please don't be offended. But then again, you can't write two words of care with one stroke. Now that we're separating, it's really a bit difficult. I'd appreciate some help from my eldest sister-in-law."
What a skill! Minglan praised and stole a glance at the Fourth Old Lady. This was also a master.
Unexpectedly, these words actually caused the Madam to feel sad. With red eyes, she said, "What Fourth Aunt said is ridiculous. My two uncles are both grown men, and the nephews are also in their prime. Over the years, the Fourth and Fifth Houses have only been coming to the First House and not leaving. Now they are trying to trouble us, an orphan and a widow. Do you think my life will be easy in the future?!"
This sentence was so profound. Gu Tingye and the old lady had always had a lukewarm relationship, and everyone knew it. Minglan's face was a little hot, but she could only resolutely not say anything, so as not to bring trouble.
Seeing that the situation was settled and the Madam was ready to call it a day, a sudden surprise appeared from the side. Aunt Liu saw that everyone was silent and felt anxious. She immediately jumped out and shouted, "I don't have the right to speak here, but after all, I have been working in this house for decades, so I have some dignity."
She was wearing a red double-breasted jacket with two finger-wide black velvet trimmings, and she was playing with a playful smile. "Every word the Madam said is reasonable. Our family and the Fifth Family have indeed benefited greatly from you, but doesn't the old Marquis know this? I think the old Marquis is a very generous man. He knows everything. It's just that the younger brother is taking advantage of the older brother. The old Marquis is clearly asking his two younger brothers to live a good life! Since the old Marquis means this, how can you, Madam, disobey?"
These words were both shameless and scoundrel, yet they also had a certain twisted logic. The Fourth Old Master immediately got the hint and jumped up, shouting, "That's right! That's what Big Brother meant! We're brothers, why should we be divided? Big Brother never argues with us, but you're calculating. You always say that a wife should obey her husband, but if you really still care about the kindness you have for Big Brother, you should still act the same way!"
Minglan was speechless. She now understood why Gu Tingye never said a word in front of them; against such a scoundrel, only fists and power were most effective. She sighed inwardly and secretly glanced at the Dowager's face: if a concubine from the next room dared to challenge the main wife, nine out of ten would righteously and harshly reprimand her.
Who knew...
The lady's face changed, her red eyes became moist, and the Iron Lady immediately turned into a watery old white flower.
She threw herself on the kang table in a mournful manner, then turned to the Fifth Old Master and choked with sobs, each word heartbreaking: "Fifth Uncle, you are the most educated and sensible person in the Gu family. Tell me, has your sister-in-law treated you badly over the years? After all, even if she has no merits, she has worked hard! Now, not only has she not received any favor, but she has even let such a shameless person step on my face! Ask around in the capital, there is no concubine from the next room who is so arrogant and domineering! I have been the eldest sister-in-law for decades in vain. It would be better for her to go with your eldest brother!"
The Fifth Old Master had been unable to sit still for a long time, and now he was even more embarrassed. He brushed his robe and stood up, glaring at Aunt Liu and the Fourth Old Master, "This is unbecoming! What kind of rules are these!"
After all, he was her brother, so she couldn't scold him too much. She waved her sleeves and strode away. The fifth old lady hurriedly followed.
Minglan watched them leave, then looked back at the lady and understood.
We must treat the enemies differently. The fifth old man is very concerned about his reputation, and the fifth old lady has something on him that makes them unable to speak with their heads held high. These people are the ones who can be won over, and the best strategy is to repel them with gentleness. However, the fourth family is both scoundrel and shameless, so they need to be defeated head-on.
Faced with such a changeable and tolerant opponent, Minglan was deeply ashamed of the simplicity and rigidity of her tactics.
The room was one-third empty, and the fourth old master stood there awkwardly, with Aunt Liu, who was called a "thing", standing next to him.
The lady wiped her tears, slowly straightened up, and said to him calmly, "If Fourth Uncle is dissatisfied, he can gather the elders of the clan and open the ancestral hall, invite everyone to discuss the matter, and settle the accounts clearly. If the Fourth House really suffered a loss, I will compensate Fourth Uncle double! Otherwise..."
She glanced at Minglan and said softly, "It's time to talk about the inheritance that Ye'er left with his fourth uncle."
Minglan lowered her head, she was being used as a gun.
The fourth old master choked, gritted his teeth and stared for a long time, finally gave in, turned his head and walked away in disgrace.
After everyone left, the room was silent. Slowly, Shao Shi came out, supporting Zhu Shi. They looked at the lady-in-waiting, then at Minglan, their expressions changing in different ways.
Minglan looked at Shao Shi, who was also looking at her, and their eyes met.
"Well, I'm going to go see Sister Rong...why not have my sister-in-law come along?"
Shao smiled gently, "Alright."
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