The passageway by the inner ceremonial gate was bustling with activity. The questioning was divided into three groups: teenage maids were handled by Cuixiu asking questions and Bisi recording, while the remaining people were questioned by the two teams of Danju with Ruomei and Qinsang with Lüzhi. The duration of questioning varied—younger ones with simpler experiences finished in just a few words, while the older ones had stacks of stories to tell.
Danju, being meticulous, brought out several screens to partition the space. This way, if the questions touched on personal privacy, others wouldn’t overhear. For instance, Hao Dacheng’s wife from the embroidery section had remarried; her previous husband had been beaten to death years ago during the confiscation of his master’s property. Meanwhile, the outer courtyard steward Hao Dacheng was a widowed servant of a disgraced official. Thus, the widower and widow came together and even raised children.
The Zhaohui Hall was too grand, always reminding Minglan of a museum exhibition hall, so she moved to the side hall adjacent to it to listen to Gongsun Xiansheng’s account reports. Gongsun Baishi appeared entirely at ease, stroking his long beard with an air even more dignified than Sheng Hong’s. Several stewards and accountants stood below. Minglan pointed at the account books and asked a few questions, to which they replied one by one, appearing very proper and respectful.
"You’ve worked hard, sir," Minglan expressed her gratitude. "A person of your stature having to manage such trivial matters must be quite trying for you!"
Gongsun Baishi glanced at the account book Minglan was pointing at and smiled wryly. "I am by nature unrestrained; these tasks are not my forte. Since the establishment of the governor's residence, this old man has truly suffered."
Minglan gestured for Xiaotao to bring tea and said with a smile, "There’s no need for such modesty, sir. Even if the governor were to handle these trivial matters himself, it would likely be the same. It’s like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken—often, it doesn’t work well."
Gongsun Baishi’s mouth twitched, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. "Well said!"
During their conversation, he noticed Minglan’s elegant speech and unusually lively thinking, finding her quite interesting. However, given the propriety between men and women and the fact that he was not an indentured servant of the Gu residence, they didn’t speak for long before he stood to take his leave. As he left, he assigned a young servant to escort Minglan to the inner study.
"I’m called Gu Quan, madam. You can just call me Little Quanzi." Gu Quan was about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a round face and narrow eyes, his smile radiating efficiency and cleverness. Walking slightly ahead to lead Minglan, he chatted cheerfully, "...The master is my savior. Back when I was begging on the streets, if not for him, I’d have been reduced to bones and ashes long ago."
Minglan felt like saying, not necessarily—you might have ended up as a gang leader.
Following an east-west passageway outside Zhaohui Hall and passing through a moon gate adorned with floral barriers, Minglan arrived at the inner study. It consisted of two large rooms connected as one, with side rooms on the left and right, and two small warm rooms and a veranda at the front and back, all for resting purposes. Minglan nodded inwardly: if she ever argued with Gu Tingye in the future, she could totally sulk and sleep here.Stepping inside, she saw that the study was fully equipped with a writing desk, painting table, qin stand, altar table, and various side tables. The six south-facing windows were spotlessly clean, clearly having just been cleaned. Two large iron-cornered beechwood chests sat on the floor. The four wall-mounted bookshelves stood completely empty. Minglan inspected them with a wry smile before instructing Gu Quan to open the chests. They pulled out stacks of books, and following Changbai's study as a rough model, Minglan directed Xiaotao and a sweating Gu Quan to categorize and arrange them on the shelves.
Her fingers traced the pristine covers of the books—The Analects, The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, Mencius, Huainanzi... It was a complete scholarly collection. Minglan was pleasantly surprised to find several rare editions, though the accumulated dust revealed their sole purpose: decoration. Thus, she saw no need to meticulously reorganize the shelves. The empty spaces looked unappealing, so she decided she'd venture out another day to acquire more entertaining unofficial histories and miscellaneous writings.
After arranging the bookshelves, Minglan turned to the desk. She personally arranged the Huzhou purple inkstone, Suzhou cloud-smoke inkstick, Qionglin jade brush washer, and a full set of purple rhinoceros-hair brushes from large to small. Beside them, she stacked three piles of snow-white, delicate swallow-design and gold-flecked stationery. As she worked, she sighed inwardly—Oh tender flower, why must you devote yourself to dung?
Having finished tidying the study, Minglan returned to her room to rest her sore back and legs. Just then, Gu Shun, another of Gu Tingye's personal attendants, galloped back to the estate. He reported to Minglan that Gu Tingye wouldn't be returning for lunch and that she should dine alone. Truthfully, Minglan didn't mind. Aside from bearing children, most things could be done independently, and eating lunch alone didn't affect her appetite.
But as a virtuous wife, she felt obliged to ask a few perfunctory questions: "Where will His Lordship be dining then?"
Gu Shun wiped his sweaty face with his sleeve, panting, "They say court was especially lively today—the debates lasted until nearly noon! Right after court, His Majesty summoned His Lordship and several other generals to the palace for discussions. They'll be dining there as well."
Minglan gave a soft "oh" without much expression. Noting how exhausted Gu Shun looked, she asked Xiaotao to bring him a cool, damp cloth to wipe his sweat. Xiaotao went above and beyond, also pouring him a bowl of tea.
Gu Shun gulped down the tea, catching his breath before thanking her with a smile. Seeing Minglan's somewhat downcast expression, he added, "Madam needn't worry. This happens often—sometimes by His Majesty's summons, other times because other generals or officials invite him."
Minglan was merely tired, not upset. She smiled and replied, "Look how worn out you are! If this keeps happening, won't you be constantly exhausted? You'll have to return to find His Lordship later, I suppose?"
"Madam, what are you saying?!" Gu Shun's voice boomed, his face fervent. "This humble servant owes his life to His Lordship! How could I speak of exhaustion? If either you or His Lordship but utter a word, I'd run my legs off without a complaint!"
Minglan chuckled. "Best keep those legs intact! Xiaotao, quickly fetch Brother Shun some fruit and give him some coins for snacks."Xiaotao quickly ran inside and came out with a whole celadon dish of golden-thread honey dates in one hand and a full handful of copper coins in the other, dumping them all into Gu Shun's pocket. Gu Shun left with a beaming smile, expressing his gratitude.
Danju, being quick-witted, knew to first summon the kitchen staff for questioning. After finishing early, she sent them off to stoke the stoves and prepare the meal, so lunch wasn't delayed. Facing a table full of dishes, Minglan asked softly, "Tell Ruomei and the others to eat first. Let them rest a bit—there's no hurry to continue questioning this afternoon."
Xiaotao neatly folded her sleeves three times and served Minglan rice, soup, and dishes while saying, "Don't worry, miss. That clever minx Lüzhi won't let herself go hungry."
Caihuan, standing nearby, also smiled and said, "Madam, rest assured. I just sent a young maid to check, and I heard the kitchen matrons personally carried food boxes to deliver the meals."
Only then did Minglan pick up her chopsticks and smile, "You're quite clever."
Caihuan looked somewhat embarrassed. "I've just arrived and am rather slow. I don't yet know the rules here, so I can only watch and learn as much as possible. I hope Madam won't find me disagreeable."
Minglan elegantly swallowed a bite of fish and smiled, "No rush, take your time. As the saying goes, 'A long road tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart.'"
Caihuan smiled respectfully and ingratiatingly, adding, "When I was with the Madame before, I always heard her praise you as the most outstanding among the young ladies—clear-minded and discerning, adept at recognizing talent. The sisters in your courtyard are the most orderly and trouble-free."
Minglan set down her chopsticks, picked up a spoon to sip some soup, glanced at Caihuan, and said with a faint smile, "Rules and skills can be learned with time and effort, as long as one isn't hopelessly inept and is willing to try. What matters more is rapport. Those few have been with me for nearly ten years, so naturally, we're closer. I know you mean well—take your time, and we'll get to know each other. Alright, you may go eat now. This afternoon, have Xiaotao mind the door, and you accompany me to the front."
Caihuan's face immediately brightened, and she left happily.
After she left, Minglan put down her spoon, pondered for a moment, and asked quietly, "...What do you think of her?"
"Talks too much, loves to pry," Xiaotao pouted. "But her needlework is quite good, and she's diligent—eager to do everything."
Minglan poked at her rice with her chopsticks. "Being curious is normal for a newcomer, but I'm afraid... never mind, we shouldn't be overly suspicious. Xiaotao, remember not to let her into my room. There's plenty of work outside to keep her busy."
Xiaotao solemnly agreed, "If she's smart, she won't take liberties. If she behaves, you won't treat her unfairly."
"I hope so..." Minglan lacked confidence, a common ailment of legal professionals.
After the meal, Minglan felt her pitifully thin frame and decided it was more reliable to take a nap to fatten up quickly—after all, it would make her more resilient in bed later. Yawning, she rolled into bed. In her drowsy state, her mind replayed the thoughts and observations of the past two days like a revolving lantern.In the capital where rice was as precious as pearls and firewood as expensive as cassia, since Hai Shi had joined the household, the Sheng residence housed ten masters, along with three concubines and four bedroom servants, totaling seventeen individuals. Including maids, elderly servants, attendants, and stewards, the household comprised fifty-eight people in total. As Hai Shi gradually took on management duties, Minglan often went to help look after Quange. Occasionally, she overheard snippets of conversation and learned that such a household, including ordinary social expenses, required roughly four thousand taels of silver annually.
Madam Wang was shrewd, and Hai Shi was frugal, so the household expenses were well-managed with ample surplus. Combined with the income from farmlands and shops, as well as the allowances from their ancestral home in Youyang, a considerable amount of silver was saved each year for the future marriages of their descendants.
As for her own new household? Gu Tingye, as a second-rank official, received an annual salary of 150 taels and a grain stipend of 61 dan. However, this aged grain was something even the servants of the Sheng residence refused to eat, so it was typically exchanged for silver at rice shops. As a military officer, he also received an additional military subsidy of 220 taels, bringing his total official income to about 500 taels. By convention, he should also receive "ice respect" and "charcoal respect" gifts.
From the land registry Minglan had obtained, Gu Tingye owned two estates near Yanmao River in the outskirts of the capital. One, called Heishan Estate, had over 80 qing of fertile farmland, while the other, Guyuan Estate, had over 100 qing. The emperor had also granted him half a mountain in the Western Hills of the capital, along with a hot spring estate. Altogether, these properties yielded an annual income of about 5,000 taels.
P.S.: It seemed there were no commercial enterprises yet.
When Minglan asked Gu Tingye about the household expenses, he couldn't provide a clear answer. He only said that aside from these fixed assets, which Minglan could manage as she saw fit, he had deposited 50,000 taels in the accounts office for her to use as needed. If it wasn't enough, she could ask him for more.
From being a concubine daughter with a monthly allowance of just one and a half taels to a wealthy woman who could manage such sums, Minglan suddenly felt as if she had married into immense wealth. She was tempted to order three bowls of bird's nest congee every day—one to eat, one to admire, and one to discard.
With so few people in the Gu household, how could they possibly need so much money? Minglan repeatedly reminded herself that she only had the right to use the money, not ownership of it, and must not spend it recklessly... But could she take a small amount as, say, a management fee?
Minglan despised herself for this thought—it seemed she had the makings of an embezzler.
Gu Tingye, Minglan, and Rong Jie'er were the three main masters of the household. There were also two concubines and one Fengxian girl. According to the standards of the Ningyuan Marquis Household, Minglan, as a lady, received a monthly allowance of 30 taels (a twenty-fold increase after marriage). If she were a young mistress (her future daughter-in-law), the allowance would be 20 taels. Rong Jie'er and the concubines each received 2 taels.
The tricky one was Miss Fengxian. If she were a bedroom servant, her monthly allowance would be 1 tael, but Gu Tingye showed no intention of dealing with her situation. When Minglan asked about it, he seemed momentarily confused and then turned grim after being reminded.
Later, Minglan secretly asked Xiahe and learned that Miss Fengxian was originally a family member of a disgraced official who had been consigned to the Orchestra and entertainment office (Qinsang's knuckles cracked audibly upon hearing this). As she was still a courtesan, about half a year ago, General Gan had arranged for her to be sent to the Gu household (reportedly through legal procedures).Initially, claiming to be well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she couldn't bear being forgotten by Gu Tingye for seven or eight days. One night, she played the tune "Clear Water Flowing Cup" until midnight. Unfortunately, her refined melody met with an uncultured scion. Gu Tingye had practiced martial arts since childhood, excelling in street brawls and battlefield combat, but his cultural refinement was lacking (Minglan privately thought that if she had sung something like "Eighteen Touches," Gu Tingye might have at least tapped along). Moreover, he was utterly exhausted at the time and grew even angrier upon being awakened from his sleep. He immediately kicked down two doors, his furious roar carrying half a mile away.
The next morning, Gu Tingye had her moved to the most remote western corner of the estate.
Another month passed, and Miss Fengxian finally realized that for men, visual appeal might be more direct and important than auditory pleasure. So one evening, she appeared in fluttering white robes and thin clothing to deliver a late-night snack. Unfortunately, she didn't encounter Gu Tingye working by candlelight but instead ran into Mama Chang, who happened to be tidying up the room.
What kind of upbringing could a wet nurse from a salt merchant's family have? Mama Chang was hot-tempered and sharp-tongued, with rumors that she had once wielded a butcher's knife in her early years. She immediately launched into a stream of sarcastic remarks, cursing Miss Fengxian's ancestors for eighteen generations and her descendants for another eighteen, vividly comparing her skills to those of brothel courtesans. This drew all the female servants of the estate to gather and laugh.
Even as she sprayed saliva while cursing, Mama Chang still felt unsatisfied and chased after her all the way to Jingfei Pavilion to continue her tirade. This finally broke Miss Fengxian, who wept in shame and humiliation, nearly hanging herself (though she ultimately didn't—having not taken her own life even in the Orchestra and entertainment office, she must have had strong nerves). Minglan guessed this was why she later renamed the pavilion "Lonely Pavilion."
Minglan strongly suspected that Mama Chang's behavior was directed by Gu Tingye. This man had mixed with all sorts of people from various walks of life and was far more cunning and malicious than other noble gentlemen. For a "gift" sent by a senior superior, he couldn't hit her or drive her away, so he fought poison with poison—finding an elderly, senior-ranking mama to humiliate her until she lost face and stopped going out.
After that, Miss Fengxian indeed rarely went out. Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Just how much monthly allowance should she be given? The more Minglan thought about it, the dizzier her head felt. Soon, she fell into a deep sleep. The sun gradually shifted, warm and comforting. Minglan didn't know how long she had slept before Xiaotao shook her awake.
"What's wrong?" Minglan's eyes were still squinting, and through the slits, she saw it was past noon.
Xiaotao, however, was excited. She leaned close to Minglan's ear and whispered, "Fifth Old Madam is here!"
"So soon?" Minglan's eyes widened instantly, fully awake. "Is she alone?"
"Along with her two daughters-in-law, Madame Yang and Madame Di." Xiaotao whispered with a giggle, "You predicted it perfectly, miss! I had a few gatekeepers keep watch, and someone did go out—it was that cunning family!"
Minglan sat dazedly on the bed and sighed softly, "Living so close, how could they not drop by for a visit?"—She had figured it out: working this hard, she ought to collect some management fees no matter what!
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