Old Mrs. Sheng was dressed in a brand-new sapphire blue jacket with a subtle pattern of six blessings welcoming at the door, her expression solemn as she watched Gu Tingye kowtow before her. She accepted the tea he respectfully offered, then silently handed him a red envelope. Her sharp, piercing eyes scrutinized him from head to toe. Fortunately, Gu Tingye had encountered countless living and dead souls in his life, and he maintained a steady smile throughout.
Seeing Gu Tingye again, Madam Wang felt a bitter taste in her mouth and mixed emotions. She sat gracefully in the upper seat and uttered a few dignified pleasantries. Finally, Sheng Hong stepped in to manage the scene. A true master of acting, he spoke a couple of refined phrases like "quite gratified" and even managed to glisten the corners of his eyes with unshed tears. His demeanor and actions were flawless, perfectly embodying a doting father.
After Gu Tingye performed the ceremonial tea offering and kowtow to Sheng Hong and his wife, the veiled bride in full splendor was led into the main hall by Old Madam. Gu Tingye kept his gaze straight ahead, bowing alongside Minglan as they kowtowed to Sheng Hong and his wife to bid farewell. Sheng Hong nearly shed old tears, repeatedly saying, "Good, good! From now on, you must respect and cherish each other, growing old together in mutual devotion; may your descendants flourish, and may you guide them with wisdom."
Madam Wang finally mustered some genuine emotion and said gently, "Henceforth, you must be reverent and prudent, heeding your husband and elders, and refrain from willful or reckless actions." She felt she had performed quite well, as she was never skilled at speaking in classical prose. When Rulan had married, she had wept uncontrollably and ended up saying nothing at all.
During the final farewell, Old Madam could no longer hold back. She clutched Minglan's hand tightly, tears shimmering in her eyes. Beneath the veil, Minglan could only see a small patch of ground and was unaware of Old Madam's expression. As she lowered her head, she saw a frail, aged hand gripping her plump paw, the knuckles turning pale. Suddenly, her nose stung with emotion, and a large teardrop fell heavily onto their clasped hands.
Old Madam flinched as if scalded and quickly let go, barely managing to whisper, "From now on... take good care of yourself..."
Minglan's chest swelled with an indescribable ache, rendering her speechless. She could only nod vigorously, nearly shaking off her veil in the process.
Minglan kept her head bowed low, allowing the tears in her eyes to fall straight to the ground to avoid ruining her makeup. Guided by someone unseen, she slowly made her way outside. At the main gate, her elder brother Changbai carried her into the bridal sedan. As the curtain fell and the sedan began to sway, Minglan knew they were setting off. She hastily pulled a fine cotton handkerchief from her sleeve, carefully dabbing the tears at the corners of her eyes.
The sedan, carried by eight bearers, was spacious and adorned with pearls, jade, and intricate gold-painted designs. It moved smoothly with little sway. Minglan's ears were filled with the deafening sounds of drums, music, and celebratory firecrackers, while the streets buzzed with the laughter and chatter of the crowd.
Only then did Minglan feel a faint stinging on her face. That Old Madam had seemed delicate, yet she had been so harsh during the threading. The more she thought about it, the more her skin throbbed. She hissed softly and couldn't help muttering, "Ouch!"
Xiaotao, attending outside the sedan, had sharp ears and couldn't resist leaning close to the curtain to ask quietly, "Miss, is your stomach hurting from hunger? I have some food here!"
Minglan couldn't hold back a chuckle—this foodie! She scolded lightly through the curtain, "I'm not hungry!"
Xiaotao persisted with concern, "Miss, don't hold back if you are!"
Minglan felt a wave of exasperation. "I'm not holding back!"Ancient feng shui principles were largely similar: in the outer city of the capital, the east was wealthy, the west noble, the south poor, and the north lowly. The inner city was densely populated with imperial relatives, powerful ministers, and distinguished nobles. Thanks to the foresight of the Sheng family’s elder patriarch in purchasing property, the Sheng residence was located quite centrally, not far from the Ningyuan Marquis Household. Minglan swayed in the sedan chair for about the time it took to eat two meals before it was finally set down.
With one hand resting on Danju’s wrist and the other clutching the large red silk ribbon that had been thrust into her hand once again, Minglan walked forward in a daze. As soon as she stepped into the Ningyuan Marquis Household, she was immediately struck by the clamor of firecrackers and celebratory cheers. A long red carpet stretched across the ground, leading all the way to the main hall where the wedding ceremony was to take place. Minglan walked slowly along the carpet until she saw the ornately carved and painted threshold, realizing she had arrived.
For a while afterward, Minglan felt like a puppet, rising, bowing, turning, bowing again, turning once more, and bowing yet again, all in response to the ceremonial official’s prompts. After a dizzying series of movements, she was led away like a little dog. Unexpectedly, the bridal chamber turned out to be even noisier than outside. Minglan was pressed down to sit on the wedding bed, listening to the laughter and chatter of the women in the room.
In contrast to Minglan’s awkwardness, Gu Tingye seemed quite at ease. He took a blackwood scale with silver corners wrapped in red silk from the wedding matron and carefully lifted the fiery red wedding veil—a second marriage certainly made a difference.
Minglan suddenly felt a burst of light, and a tall figure loomed over her. Looking up, she met Gu Tingye’s eyes—deep, calm, with long, narrow eyelines that seemed to slant meaningfully whenever he looked at someone. Minglan promptly blushed and lowered her head, her shyness perfectly timed. Gu Tingye couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with amusement.
He then sat down beside Minglan, muttering something under his breath. Minglan strained to hear and vaguely made out the words: “...Why is your face painted like that?” Minglan almost wanted to shout—I’ve been working hard all day, and you dare complain?!
“Oh! What a lovely bride!” a woman dressed in a pomegranate-red embroidered brocade jacket exclaimed. The women in the room burst into laughter, joining in the teasing.
Minglan glanced up and saw a room full of women adorned with pearls and jade, all dressed in luxurious silks and satins. Amid the fragrant scents and rustling garments, her face flushed red. Damn it, with my face painted like this, how can you even tell if I’m lovely or not?!
Next, Minglan and the groom were showered with peanuts, red dates, and other such items, covering their heads and faces. Minglan dared not move, enduring it obediently. Gu Tingye, reacting instinctively, couldn’t help but catch a few, which sparked another round of laughter and teasing.
“Oh dear! Brother Tingye, this is a bridal chamber, not a martial arts arena. Your skills aren’t needed here!” teased the same plump woman in pomegranate red, causing the room to erupt in laughter. Gu Tingye slowly lowered his hand, smiling faintly without saying a word.
The women, mindful of Gu Tingye’s status and temperament, refrained from excessive teasing. A woman stepped forward with a tray, holding a piece of what looked like pastry and offering it to Minglan’s lips. Minglan knew this custom and reluctantly took a small bite. As expected, the pastry was half-raw. The woman chuckled and asked, “Is it raw?”
Minglan cursed inwardly but lowered her head and whispered softly, “Raw.”The women in the room burst into laughter once more. The plump woman turned her head and chuckled, "All the ladies and madams have heard it—the bride says she wants children! Surely, the family will flourish with many descendants and abundant blessings!"
Minglan’s cheeks flushed crimson. She forced a few silly, cheerful laughs to join in the merriment, all the while reminding herself that this was an era without family planning—and that praying to the Goddess of Childbirth was less cost-effective than praying to a fertile sow.
Finally came the ceremonial nuptial wine. On a small, round, red-lacquered tea tray adorned with golden tracings of crabapple blossoms lay two small white porcelain cups patterned with iris motifs, tied together with a red cord. Minglan slightly turned her body, her face still flushed, and drank the cross-cupped wine with Gu Tingye. As they leaned in close, she lifted her eyelids slightly and caught a glimpse of the man’s clean, handsome jawline. Her heart skipped a beat.
—At least he’s a top-tier specimen. Once the lights are out and my eyes are closed, it shouldn’t be unbearable.
After the ceremony concluded, Gu Tingye was promptly ushered out to attend to the guests. As he reached the door, he couldn’t resist glancing back, as if wanting to say something, but upon seeing the room full of women, he closed his mouth and left. The plump woman had been suppressing her laughter all along. Only after he departed did she approach Minglan warmly and say, "Second sister-in-law, I am your Eldest Sister-in-law Xuan. Don’t be afraid—from now on, you’re one of us in this family!"
Seeing her amiable smile, Minglan responded with a gentle smile of her own, "Eldest Sister-in-law Xuan."
At that moment, a lady standing by the table suddenly laughed, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she teased, "Eldest Sister-in-law Xuan, you’re too eager! The official eldest sister-in-law hasn’t even spoken yet, and you’re already getting cozy!"
Another woman immediately chimed in playfully, "That’s not fair! They say haste makes waste when it comes to bearing sons, but Eldest Sister-in-law Xuan has raised two boys! Clearly, she knows when to be eager!"
The women erupted in laughter together. Eldest Sister-in-law Xuan feigned indignation, placing the back of her hand on her waist and pouting, "Alright, alright! I’m an old relic now—over the years, you’ve teased me so much my skin has grown thick as a wall!" She then turned and pointed to a woman sitting quietly beside the double-happiness lanterns, saying to Minglan with a smile, "Sister-in-law, there—that’s your official eldest sister-in-law!"
The woman appeared to be around thirty, dressed in a dark red jacket with auspicious patterns and a two-finger-wide black velvet trim. Her fair, oval face was strikingly plain, her features dignified and elegant. She wore a faint smile, though a shadow of melancholy seemed to linger between her brows. Without any noticeable adornments, she stood up quietly and walked slowly toward Minglan. As she did, the room gradually fell silent, and the playful banter ceased.
Minglan knew this was the wife of Gu Tingyu, the eldest daughter-in-law of the main branch of the Gu family—the current Marchioness of Ningyuan, Madam Shao. Not daring to leave the bed, Minglan immediately nodded respectfully toward the woman and said, "Eldest Sister-in-law!"
Madam Shao approached and gently took Minglan’s hand. Minglan felt her touch cool and refreshing. Then, she heard her speak slowly: "From now on, we are family. As you settle into daily life, you’ll gradually grow familiar. Don’t feel restrained at home." Her words were brief and serene, yet carried an indescribable sense of loneliness and detachment.
Madam Shao then turned to the others and said, "Let’s hurry to the front hall. With so many guests, it wouldn’t do for the host family to crowd around teasing the bride for fun." The women responded with smiles. Led by Eldest Sister-in-law Xuan, they filed out one by one.Madam Shao turned around and spoke softly to Minglan, "I know you have your own attendants, but Second Brother hasn't lived here before, so the people he brought may not be entirely suitable. I've left two maids at the door for you. If you need anything, just give them orders. You must be tired today—I've arranged for some light refreshments to be sent over later to help you fill your stomach."
After speaking, she smiled faintly, waited for Minglan to express her thanks, and then left as well.
Minglan gazed at the closed door, feeling rather surprised. Madam Shao gave a completely different impression from Grand Old Madam Qin—polite, amiable, and considerate, yet with a touch of aloofness that seemed to keep people at a distance. Others might find this uncomfortable, but Minglan thought it was just right. Such measured concern actually made her feel more at ease.
After everyone had left, only Danju, Xiaotao, and two other young maids remained in the room to attend to her.
Danju had long been distressed seeing Minglan sitting rigidly for so long. As soon as the others were gone, she hurried forward and asked in a low voice, "Miss, are you hungry? Would you like some tea?"
"No need," Minglan replied, rubbing her nearly stiff waist. She desperately wanted to stretch but hesitated because of the two maids present, not wanting them to see her in such an undignified state. She said to Danju, "I want to wash my face. Go fetch some hot water." The thick layer of powder on her face was almost unbearable. Danju acknowledged and left.
Seeing Minglan continuously massaging her lower back, Xiaotao went over and gently kneaded it for her. Xiaotao had a natural talent for massage, applying just the right amount of pressure. Minglan inwardly sighed in relief but, noticing the two maids still standing in the corner, maintained a dignified smile and beckoned them over. "What are your names?" she asked.
The two maids seemed quite flustered. The slightly older one stepped forward respectfully and said, "Madam, this servant is called Xiahe, and she is Xiazhu. The master instructed us to serve you."
Having lived a decadent life in the Sheng family for ten years, Minglan could tell at a glance from their speech and demeanor that although the two girls were respectful and cautious, they appeared somewhat stiff and nervous, lacking the natural poise and thoroughness of those who had undergone long-term, formal training as inner household maids. They were likely hastily trained and assigned to their positions in the past six months or so.
Generally, the senior personal maids in prominent, aristocratic families that have enjoyed generations of wealth and prestige are cultivated from a young age. They typically begin serving in the inner household around the age of ten, learning everything from speech and behavior to food, manners, tea service, grooming, hairstyling, tidying, accounting, and even social etiquette and interpersonal interactions—all according to established rules. Not to mention the knowledge and insight they gain through observation and experience.
There's a saying, "Better to marry a maid from a great household than a daughter from a minor family." In the past, Minglan would have scoffed at this, but after witnessing Mama Fang's strict and meticulous training, she could only admit that old sayings often hold truth. Mama Fang had even remarked with some regret that the Sheng family had already simplified many practices. If they were still in the former Yongyi Marquis residence, at least half of the maids around Minglan would have been dismissed!
This statement had frightened Xiaotao and the others so much that they couldn't sleep for several nights, terrified of being sent away.Therefore, the plot where a young master rescues a girl "selling herself to bury her father" by the roadside, and she tearfully begs to serve him as repayment—such scenarios are almost impossible in truly wealthy households. Even if someone were genuinely rescued, they would be handed over to the stewardess for gradual training in etiquette and rules, starting from peripheral tasks. Wanting to leap directly to personal service? No chance! Are you here to repay a kindness or to snag a rich bachelor? The ancients were clear-headed; it's modern soap operas that are brainless.
Currently, it seemed Gu Tingye did not trust the people from the Ningyuan Marquis Household, to the extent that he had to recruit servants himself. It was said that when the emperor bestowed farmlands and residences upon him, he also gifted many servants and tenant farmers. It was unclear where these two girls had come from.
Xiahe noticed Minglan had remained silent, and her delicate face showed a trace of anxiety. Seeing this, Minglan smiled slightly and said, "Your name is quite lovely. Who gave it to you?"
Xiahe breathed a soft sigh of relief and replied, "It was Mama Chang who named us; we were selected to enter the household in the summer."
Minglan silently noted the name. Finding both girls articulate and reasonably poised, she felt somewhat fond of them. Xiaotao couldn't resist chiming in: "Your names are quite—oh no, very nice."
Minglan shot her a look; Xiaotao had always resented her own name for being too plain and straightforward.
After chatting with them for a while, Danju entered carrying a washbasin, followed by two other maids holding a large water jug, scented soap, towels, and other items.
Xiaotao immediately stood up, took the towels, and draped a long one over Minglan's chest. She then retrieved a small, translucent tortoiseshell comb from her embroidered pouch, tidied Minglan's hair at the temples, and moistened another towel. Meanwhile, Danju carefully removed Minglan's rings, bracelets, and seven or eight dragon-and-phoenix gold bangles, storing them away.
Minglan bowed her head slightly, allowing them to wash her face and hands. It took three full basins of water to rinse off the layer of white powder on her face. Danju then opened a small traveling case, took out several delicate porcelain bottles, and gently dabbed floral lotions and fragrant creams onto Minglan's face, neck, and hands, massaging them in with light, even strokes.
Finally, Danju helped Minglan change into a set of fresh everyday clothes, while Xiaotao adjusted her hair and attire.
The series of movements was fluid and practiced, clearly a daily routine. Xiahe and Xiazhu watched with slightly agape mouths, while the two maids sent by Madam Shao exchanged glances, seeming somewhat surprised. They thought to themselves, "Who would have thought the illegitimate daughter of a fourth-rank capital official would have such grand manners and presence?" They dared not look down on her.
After the washing-up, the door opened once more, and several maids and older women brought in multiple dishes of food and pastries. Cui Mama followed them in, arranged the food on the table, dismissed the other maids, and kept only Danju and Xiaotao to serve.
She had been outside organizing Minglan's luggage and trunks and had just finished settling everything. Stepping into the room, she smiled at the sight of Minglan: "Young lady, you still have the same old habit—you can't stand leaving makeup on your face and insist on washing it off completely."
Minglan had just picked up her chopsticks and puffed out her cheeks, saying, "Mama, you have no idea—it took three whole basins of water to wash off that powder!"Cui Mama watched Minglan eat with affectionate eyes, also urging Danju and Xiaotao to have some snacks. Xiaotao’s cheeks bulged as she ate, asking, “Mama, is everything settled outside? Where will we sleep tonight?”
Cui Mama pinched Xiaotao’s nose and said, “What kind of maid are you? Not worrying about your mistress, but thinking of yourself first!... It’s all settled. We won’t be staying here for long anyway, so as long as the dowry chests are secure, it’s fine. Only a few travel chests were opened. We’ll sort things out slowly once we move to the Governor’s Mansion.”
“You’ve worked hard, Mama,” Minglan said, struggling to swallow a piece of lotus and mushroom pastry. “It’s all because of me that you’re tired. You should have been enjoying your retirement, but I dragged you back.”
Cui Mama held a handkerchief, wiping the crumbs from Minglan’s mouth as if she were still a child, and smiled. “What nonsense are you talking, miss? If it weren’t for this old woman’s failing health, even if you tried to drive me away, I wouldn’t leave.”
Minglan smiled faintly and continued eating heartily. Cui Mama glanced at her and couldn’t help but say, “I heard there’s quite a commotion with the drinking outside tonight... Miss, you must... be careful. If it really doesn’t work... you mustn’t let the young master have his way.”
Cui Mama struggled to choose her words, and Minglan’s face flushed bright red.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, Minglan waited with calm composure. Unfortunately, she had to restrain herself in the Gu household. Otherwise, playing a game of cards with Xiaotao and Danju would have made time fly. Lost in her thoughts, she watched as the thick, brightly painted dragon-and-phoenix candles on the table, as thick as a baby’s arm, gradually burned down by a third. Just as Minglan was dozing off with her head resting on the bedside, she suddenly heard a commotion outside, followed by someone shouting:
“The Second Master has returned to his room!”
Minglan jolted awake, springing up like a shrimp. After a moment’s thought, she quickly sat back down.
As the door was pushed open forcefully, the smell of alcohol wafted in. Two sturdy maids struggled to support Gu Tingye as they brought him in, gently placing him on the bed. Minglan resisted the urge to look at the drunkard beside her and smiled calmly. “You’ve worked hard, both of you. Danju, give them two red envelopes.”
Danju was already quite skilled at handing out red envelopes. The two maids wiped the sweat from their foreheads, weighed the envelopes in their hands, and found them heavy—at least five taels of silver each. Delighted, they respectfully took their leave.
As soon as the two maids left, Minglan swung her legs off the bed and stood up. Unexpectedly, the drunkard beside her suddenly woke up, looking quite sober, muttering something like, “Those ungrateful fellows!”
The strong smell of alcohol on Gu Tingye made Minglan frown. He shook his head slightly, trying to clear his mind, and leaned his tall frame against the bedpost. Narrowing his long eyes, he looked at Minglan with a half-smile, then suddenly frowned and said, “I’ll go bathe first. You should get ready too.”
Upon hearing this, Xiahe and Xiazhu, who were standing nearby, immediately scurried to the adjoining room to prepare the bathtub and hot water. Gu Tingye waved his hand, stood up, and walked away. His steps were unsteady at first but soon steadied.
Minglan stood there dumbfounded. Cui Mama immediately understood and directed Xiaotao and Danju to help Minglan remove her hairpins and jewelry, hang up the bright red wedding dress, and change into a soft cotton undergarment. Then, she dragged the still hesitant Danju and Xiaotao out of the room.Minglan bit her finger, finding the bed draped with bright red brocade quilts particularly glaring. Before long, Gu Tingye returned alone, clad in snow-white silk inner garments, his slightly damp hair clinging to his skin. He collapsed his tall frame onto the bed, leaning sideways against a large bolster pillow. His deep, tranquil eyes fixed wordlessly on Minglan.
Under the scorching intensity of his gaze, Minglan felt as if her whole body were smoldering, her throat parched. She cleared her throat twice: "I had some supper earlier, I... I... I'll go rinse my mouth again." With that, she darted like a wisp of smoke into the adjoining room.
Behind the partition screen, Minglan rinsed her mouth five times, mentally prepared herself eighteen times, and repeatedly recited the section on marital duties from the marriage law. Finally, with courage, resolve, and unwavering determination, she stepped out and returned to the bedchamber. Just as she was about to climb onto the bed, she saw Gu Tingye already leaning against the headboard, having dozed off slightly.
Minglan breathed a heavy sigh of relief, feeling a wave of relaxation wash over her. She padded barefoot to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and downed it in one gulp. Before she could even set the cup down, a voice came from behind: "Finished washing up?"
Minglan nearly choked to death on the spot. She quickly put down the teacup, coughing repeatedly as she turned to look. Gu Tingye had woken up at some point, his dark eyes fixed intently on her, sharp as shards of glass. The flames of the Dragon and Phoenix Red Candles still flickered brightly, casting a shimmering light in his eyes.
Minglan froze for a few seconds, then hurriedly poured another cup of tea and handed it to him, saying eagerly, "Have some water, have some water."
Gu Tingye watched her fair, jade-like wrist and felt his mouth go dry. He took the teacup and drained it in one go, then handed it back to Minglan. She placed the cup back on the table and stood there hesitantly. Gu Tingye let out a soft laugh, his gaze ambiguous. "Aren't we going to bed yet?"
Minglan took a deep breath and declared loudly, "Actually, I have something to say to you!"
Gu Tingye waved his hand dismissively. "Tell me tomorrow, let's rest first." With that, he got out of bed. Tall and long-legged, he reached Minglan in two strides and grabbed her hand.
"Actually, there's something important I need to tell you!" Minglan made one last attempt to resist.
"Tell me later."
With a sweep of his strong arm, Minglan felt her feet leave the ground as he lifted her up—or more accurately, slung her over his shoulder. Face down, she grew frightened at the sight of the floor and could only cling tightly to him. In the next moment, she was gently tossed onto the bed.
Gu Tingye pulled over a quilt and waved aside the two layers of Rose Red Embroidered Pomegranate Hundred Children sheer curtains and Thick Brocade Bed Curtains. When he turned back, he saw Minglan's small figure curled up in the corner of the bed, trembling uncontrollably.
"I, I-I, I..." she stammered completely.
"You've been busy all day, you must be tired. Let's rest quickly." Gu Tingye took the girl's small hand, gently stroking the delicate skin on the back of her hand. Her flesh was soft, and beneath his touch, he could clearly feel the slender bones of her fingers.
"I'm not tired!" Minglan's face flushed red, her chest heaving as she finally managed to gasp out the words.
"Not tired?" Gu Tingye's narrow eyes almost glowed with a green light. "That's even better."
...... (The night passed, as everyone understands.)
"Didn't you say you had something to tell me earlier?" Gu Tingye suddenly remembered.
"Too tired to talk now," Minglan replied, half-dead.
"Wasn't there something important you wanted to say?" The man's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I forgot..."
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