In preparation for the banquet, Minglan had been so busy these days that she could barely catch her breath. The foremost issue was money.
Shortly after their wedding, about four or five days in, a distant relative of the Gu family was celebrating a joyous occasion. Since this relative was only loosely connected, Minglan and her husband didn’t need to attend in person. However, as the family was currently doing quite well and had some influence at court, it wouldn’t do to neglect the relationship. So Minglan sent a congratulatory gift.
This custom was known as "sui li" (following the gift). Anyone with even a slight connection or some degree of interaction, upon receiving an invitation to a celebratory banquet, was expected to send a gift—regardless of whether they attended the feast. The value of the gift varied.
The Ningyuan Marquis Household, established since the founding of the dynasty, was not particularly large in terms of descendants but was a deeply rooted and influential clan with countless in-laws and distant relatives both inside and outside the capital. Add to that Gu Tingye’s colleagues, friends, and brothers—both overt and covert connections—and the number of gifts to be sent, even excluding those outside the capital, was substantial.
Within just a month of their marriage, though Minglan had yet to make a public appearance at any banquet, she had already sent out eleven and a half congratulatory gifts. These included four for elders’ birthdays, three for weddings, two for the full-month celebrations of legitimate sons, one for a promotion feast, and one and a half for funerals—the half being a joint contribution with the Ningyuan Marquis Household.
Minglan finally understood why ancient large families preferred communal living. In those multi-generational households, they could receive gifts from the old master’s birthday all the way to the great-grandson taking a second wife, with celebrations and condolences continuing without end. Of course, with the principle of reciprocity, the gift expenses of wealthy families rarely resulted in severe financial imbalance.
By this calculation, the Gu household was clearly at a significant disadvantage:
Hosting a grand birthday? The old folks of the Gu family were next door.
Holding a wedding? Gu Tingye had just married, and Minglan wasn’t going to die anytime soon.
Marrying off a daughter? Rong Jie'er had just reached elementary school age—even in ancient times, they wouldn’t push it that far.
A full-month banquet? Even if the couple worked overtime day and night, it would be too late now!
With no gift income at all, yet having to send separate gifts as an independent household, Minglan stared at the account books and gasped, her heart aching with pangs of pain. She finally understood what "heart-wrenching" meant! She almost felt like advising Gu Tingye to move back to the Ningyuan Marquis Household.
Seeing Minglan inexplicably melancholy for no apparent reason, Gu Tingye couldn’t help but ask curiously. Minglan sighed gloomily, "Husband, when you traveled far from home, did you ever worry about money?"
Gu Tingye’s handsome eyes twinkled with amusement as he rested his left arm on the rosewood chair’s armrest and sipped his tea slowly. "Of course. There was a time when I even ate three-wen bowls of plain noodles."
Minglan nodded, gazing at him sorrowfully, and sighed, "Husband, do you know that in these past days, we’ve given away the equivalent of over 653,400 bowls of plain noodles in gifts? Sigh... We really should have attended the banquets—at least we could have eaten some of it back."
Gu Tingye nearly snorted tea out of his nose. Quickly setting down his teacup, he chuckled, "It’s fine. We’ll get it all back eventually."
Minglan scoffed dismissively, playfully tapping the man’s tall, handsome nose, and teased with a laugh, "I’m afraid the Grand Commandant has been out of touch with household affairs for too long. In this residence, we have no elders above and no children below. Unless the Grand Commandant plans to take a concubine, what occasion would we have to receive gifts?"Gu Tingye cast a pitying glance at Minglan, earnestly enlightening her ignorance: "Allow your husband to teach you something—if a stove is hot, even in the scorching heat of June, people will rush to tend it."
Though the words carried profound wisdom upon reflection, they couldn't conceal his self-satisfaction. Minglan immediately viewed her husband in a new light and exclaimed with genuine admiration, "How insightful you are, husband!" Her eyes brimmed with reverence and awe, which instantly made Gu Tingye feel more imposing and wise. A surge of delight lifted the corners of his mouth.
"But..." Minglan couldn't resist adding the next moment, "If the fire burns too fiercely, won't it collapse the stove?"
Gu Tingye nodded with a faint smile. "Precisely. That's why one must guard the stove door carefully, not allowing just anyone to add firewood."
Reassured, Minglan waved her small hand. "Well, as long as you're cautious, husband."
Gu Tingye grinned and lifted Minglan by the nape of her neck from behind, as if holding a mewling kitten. "My virtuous wife, let me remind you—we're sharing this stove now."
Minglan tucked in her neck, studied Gu Tingye for a moment, and promptly acquiesced. "Then let's both be careful together."
...
Gu Tingye's foresight proved accurate. Indeed, starting five or six days prior, gifts had been arriving steadily at the gatehouse—some from within the capital, others from beyond. Distant ones came from generals guarding the frontiers, closer ones from officials in the capital region, and even relatives so remotely connected it took "seven or eight poles to reach them." Their messages generally conveyed: "Congratulations on your joyous occasion. Regrettably, duties prevent us from attending in person, so we humbly offer these modest gifts."
After reviewing the name cards, Minglan grew puzzled—many senders were people she hadn't even invited. What kind of congratulations were these? She then brought the Gift List to Gu Tingye.
Gu Tingye skimmed through the names one by one. Some made him raise an eyebrow without comment, others he pondered briefly with a hint of doubt, while a few elicited a disdainful glance and a cold snort. However, as long as the gifts weren't excessively lavish, he instructed Minglan to accept them all.
"If we don't even accept these 'modest gifts,' some people might start panicking," Gu Tingye remarked with a stern expression before heading to his outer study.
Minglan didn't press for details but hurried back to her room to record all the names, annotating each with the subtle implications Gu Tingye had revealed, for future reference. The Gift List would be archived by the affairs office, sparing her further concern.
Turning back to the large and small boxes of "modest gifts," Minglan suddenly found the wealth unsettling, wishing she could return it immediately for peace of mind. At this thought, she sighed deeply—only today did she feel she was embodying the trope of a time-traveling woman. Was she actually starting to view money as worthless?!
Two days later, the imperial palace also bestowed rewards: a large box of pearls tribute from the South Sea, each plump, large, round, and lustrous; a coral tree over a foot tall, uniformly vermilion, glossy, and vividly vibrant—both exceptionally rare treasures. Additionally, there was a bag of three hundred taels of silver wrapped in bright yellow satin.
The rewards were symbolic, conveying the emperor's message: "See here, folks? This Gu fellow is under my protection."
Minglan cradled the bag of silver, which weighed about as much as a sack of rice, yet she felt no strain at all. Instead, she mused poetically, "After all, it's far more reassuring to earn one's keep through state service."This delicate body, unaccustomed to labor, proved rather tender. Having spent too long holding silver ingots, by evening Minglan’s fair, slender arms had swollen. Gu Tingye stormed in with ointment, his expression fierce, and with one menacing glare sent Danju—who had moved to take the ointment—scurrying away. He then personally massaged Minglan’s arms, his large, sinewy hands working up and down as he rubbed vigorously and scolded in frustration, “…Have you never seen silver before?”
“Heh, never silver bestowed by the emperor,” Minglan hissed through gritted teeth, her arms sore and aching, yet not daring to cry out in pain. She glanced sideways and saw Gu Tingye’s darkened expression, prompting her to ask, “What’s wrong? Is there something amiss with His Majesty’s reward?”
Gu Tingye said gravely, “The Emperor is in a difficult position now; there was truly no need for such a reward. How could we not understand his hardships?”
“But I heard the national treasury is overflowing,” Minglan said curiously, for leaving behind a full treasury was considered one of the Late Emperor’s major achievements.
“On paper, of course it’s full,” Gu Tingye sneered. “The northern frontiers, the southern borders of Yunnan and Myanmar, the Miao chieftains, and the restoration of the Huai River regions after the military unrest—everywhere requires funds, yet the Ministry of Revenue can’t provide them. A bunch of scoundrels, only capable of cooking the books!”
“Why doesn’t the Emperor issue a reprimand? The whole country still believes the treasury is full,” Minglan’s expression grew serious.
Gu Tingye snorted coldly, “First, if the Emperor exposed this immediately upon ascending the throne, it would make the Late Emperor appear incompetent. Fortunately, the three-year mourning period is nearly over. Second…” He hesitated, unsure whether to tell Minglan.
“Second, the first few years of a new emperor’s reign must prioritize stability, especially since His Majesty was long stationed in his fiefdom and has no foundation in the capital. It’s not the right time for immediate reforms,” Minglan continued slowly. “Moreover, compared to corrupt officials, dealing with rebellious princes like King Jing and King Tan was more urgent.”
Gu Tingye felt a sudden clarity in his heart. As his hands kneaded Minglan’s smooth, porcelain-white arms, his movements gradually softened. He said quietly, “The Emperor has it hard too… So for this banquet, let’s keep it simple.”
Minglan nodded solemnly.
Though described as simple, the guest list remained extensive—these were people who simply had to be invited. Two days before the banquet, a stack of papers was distributed, each featuring a large circle with numerous names arranged around it, clearly simulating seating arrangements for the tables. Though Liao Yong Xifu found it childish, she secretly admired the cleverness of the idea.
“All personnel have been assigned: fifteen tables for male guests in the outer courtyard, eight for ladies in the inner courtyard, with five additional tables on standby. Does Madam see any issues?” Liao Yong Xifu reported respectfully, head bowed. “We haven’t set up a stage in the mansion, only invited a few female storytellers and a troupe of musicians to be ready in the outer courtyard. If guests wish to listen, they can be summoned immediately. As for carriage parking, resting and dining areas for the servants accompanying guests, ushers for the outer courtyard, and announcers for the banquet—all have been arranged in detail…”
Minglan sat upright before the desk, meticulously checking menus, account books, expenditures, and personnel assignments. She issued soft instructions and highlighted key points while a row of matrons and wives stood below. Hearing Minglan’s clear and logical directives, they quickly shed their casual attitudes and responded earnestly.As the day drew nearer, Minglan grew increasingly solemn, her face stern all day long. Gu Tingye, who used to enjoy teasing and joking with her after court when he had nothing to do, now found himself ignored. After observing her closely for several days, he asked in puzzlement, "Are you perhaps feeling unsure of yourself?"
Minglan released her tightly clenched jaw, let out a long sigh, and smiled bitterly. "Your discerning eye is spot on."
The current situation was rather unique. Most legitimate wives wouldn't take a concubine-born daughter like Minglan under their wing from childhood to personally teach her how to manage households, host banquets, and handle social interactions. Concubine-born daughters typically grew up secluded in the inner quarters, learning some needlework and basic literacy before being married off obediently. Thus, truly prominent families generally wouldn't take a concubine-born daughter as their legitimate daughter-in-law.
Compared to legitimate daughters, the difference in knowledge, skills, abilities, and character wasn't even in the same league. Of course, there were occasional exceptions who managed to cultivate themselves without formal training (let's give a round of applause to the outstanding representative of concubine-born daughters, Lady Jia Tanchun).
Minglan lowered her head, secretly shedding tears. She feared... she wasn't one of those exceptional cases.
Regarding household management, Old Mrs. Sheng had indeed instructed Minglan for a while. However, she herself was a carefree and unrestrained person. Moreover, over the past decade, the grandmother and granddaughter had both envisioned Minglan's life path as that of a young wife in a moderately wealthy official's family.
In their anticipated married life, the largest event Minglan would need to independently handle would likely be inviting a few sisters, sisters-in-law, and young female relatives for a simple meal of seven dishes and one soup. They'd gossip in their small courtyard, snack on melon seeds, and chat about trivial matters like how many new teeth someone's child had grown or how someone's husband had taken in a new seductress.
Then, through the long tug-of-war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the concubine-born bride would follow her mother-in-law's side, learning everything naturally amidst scoldings and grievances—unfortunately, this path wasn't available to Minglan either.
Originally only expecting to be a workshop supervisor in a township enterprise, she had suddenly become the CEO of a Fortune-ranked conglomerate. The career expectations and reality were severely mismatched, and the chairman was a hands-off manager who didn't even provide pre-job training!
Though it was called a simple meal, most of the guests visiting tomorrow were either wealthy or noble, with some waiting to pick faults. Minglan had no choice but to double her efforts in careful preparation. She wrote plan after plan, listed contingency after contingency, constantly pondering the guests' statuses and how to receive them appropriately. Someone needed to check the tables, chairs, tablecloths, and dining utensils; snacks, tea, and service during the banquet couldn't be neglected; the kitchen fire required careful supervision, and so on. Minglan repeatedly discussed with several stewards whether there were any oversights, only managing to settle her mind somewhat in the final two days.
"What if I mess it up?" Minglan asked anxiously.
"Then so be it," Gu Tingye replied amusedly, trying to kiss her frowning forehead, but Minglan pushed him away with her palm, puffing her cheeks and exclaiming, "It's easy for you to say since it's not you who'd be messing up."
Gu Tingye caught her small hand and nibbled on her tender fingers one by one. Minglan felt like performing an empty-handed disarming move and knocking out two of his front teeth, but seeing his gleaming white teeth, she hesitated. Gu Tingye laughed, wrapping his arms around Minglan's slender waist while steadying her small face with one hand. He said seriously, "Don't be afraid. Let me ask you this: if you mess up this meal, would I divorce you?""This... surely not to that extent." Minglan tilted her head, recalling how passionately he had clung to her last night, leaving her waist and legs feeling as though they'd suffered third-degree muscle strain.
Gu Tingye was dissatisfied with her hesitant response. He gave her a firm squeeze with his large hand, making Minglan yelp and twist to escape, but he held her tight. With a faint smile, he asked, "Would the Emperor punish you for it?"
Minglan shook her head quickly. "No, he wouldn't." Even if the Emperor had nothing better to do, he wouldn't bother with such trivial matters.
"Then what are you afraid of?"
"People might laugh at me," Minglan bit her lip and murmured softly. "They'll gossip about me."—saying she came from a humble background and was indeed an incapable concubine-born daughter, and so on.
"If you handled everything perfectly, would no one speak ill of you?" Gu Tingye raised an eyebrow and asked calmly.
Minglan was taken aback. Gu Tingye held her as they leaned against the head of the bed, a hint of mockery at the corner of his handsome lips. He chuckled lightly and said, "Those who wish you well will forgive minor oversights. Those intent on picking faults would find flaws even if the celestial maiden descended from the heavens—they’d complain about how you could eat half a pork knuckle in one bite, saying you eat too much. Tsk, tsk, if the Seventh Fairy were like you, Dong Yong would have to sell everything he owned just to feed you..."
"You... you...!" At first, Minglan nodded in agreement, but by the end, her face flushed crimson with anger and shame. She turned away, ignoring him—this was the most humiliating stain in Sheng Minglan’s meticulously cautious life, one she wished to forget forever, yet this wretched man kept bringing it up.
Gu Tingye laughed heartily, watching her cheeks burn like fiery clouds. On the windowsill sat several pots of rare Western flowers, tributes from the imperial court. In the April-May weather, their rich fragrance grew even more intense, carried by the spring breeze and lingering in the afternoon room, soothing the spirit. With the beauty in his arms, he couldn’t help but hold her tighter, resting his head against hers and whispering softly, "If there’s anything else you don’t understand, just ask me."
Lying in his embrace, Minglan thought for a moment, then pulled a guest list from her sleeve. Pointing to a row of names marked in cinnabar, she said, "I haven’t heard of these few. They must be your friends and colleagues from outside. Tell me about them."
Gu Tingye took the paper and began casually, "...This Fu Qinran is the eldest son of a branch family of the Changxing Earl. We studied together in the family school back then. Though he’s a bit rigid and old-fashioned, he’s a decent man."
"Mmm, shared a classroom," Minglan nodded.
Gu Tingye smiled and pointed to a few other names. "Cheng Yong is Old Duan’s youngest brother. He, him, and these others have been with me in the Five Military Camps from the start."
"Mmm, shouldered arms together," Minglan continued summarizing.
Gu Tingye paused, thinking it made sense, and went on, "These few were originally captains and commanders from the Emperor’s former residence. Later, they were transferred to Xuanfu and the northern border for garrison duty. Now they’re back in the capital to report. I remember back at the Eighth Prince’s residence, we often went out drinking and having fun together..."
Mmm, and visited brothels together—before he could finish, Minglan silently completed the thought in her mind."...Actually, this was all just to fool outsiders." Gu Tingye suddenly changed his tone. "The Shu border region was unstable, with bandits causing trouble. They were constrained by the Prince of Shu and afraid of troubling the Emperor, so they often felt frustrated. Under the pretense of going out with me for leisure, they would change clothes and sneak out to kill a few bandits to vent their anger. Once, Lao Geng nearly lost an arm, and his wife came at us with a kitchen knife ready to fight."
Gu Tingye finished leisurely, smiling nostalgically as if recalling those passionate bygone days. Minglan listened with her jaw slack, her face flushing red. She silently lowered her head, shamefully reflecting on her own petty suspicions.
Noticing Minglan's changing expressions, Gu Tingye gently pinched the girl's soft pink ear, a dangerous smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "Little girl, were you thinking something inappropriate again just now?"
Minglan gave a sudden shudder, immediately raising her head with righteous indignation: "Absolutely not! This humble wife has always believed her husband possesses chivalrous courage and noble character!"
Releasing her ear, though knowing this girl's words were generally unreliable, Gu Tingye still felt pleased inwardly. He couldn't help but glare and laughingly scold: "What a waste that you didn't become a sycophantic advisor."
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