Until the end of the Weishi period (around 3 PM), the female guests gradually took their leave. Rubbing her cheeks that ached from excessive smiling, Minglan climbed onto the soft couch, closed her eyes, and immediately fell into a deep sleep. She didn't know how long she had been sleeping when, in her drowsy state, she felt a very familiar pressure on her abdomen and chest.
Minglan calmly opened her eyes to see the sun already setting outside the window. The man's heavy body was half-sprawled beside her, his thigh resting on her stomach and his arm draped across her chest. His head was nestled against her neck, breathing warm, damp air toward her.
With difficulty, Minglan exhaled, first twisting her waist before managing to extend both arms from under the thin blanket. Like lifting weights, she raised the man's arm two or three inches, then wriggled and crawled her way off the soft couch. This series of movements was executed smoothly and with extreme familiarity.
After smelling the scent on her clothes, Minglan hurried into the washroom. Danju helped her loosen her hair and clothing while Xiaotao busied herself fetching hot water and preparing towels. Noticing Minglan's displeased expression, they exchanged glances. Danju couldn't help saying, "Xiazhu and Xiahe made the bed for the master as you instructed, but who would have thought..." Xiaotao, being straightforward, added with some indignation: "But who would have thought the master would ask 'Where is the madam?' as soon as he entered the room, then drunkenly head toward the eastern chamber."
Minglan sighed softly: "No need to explain, I already know."
After washing up, Minglan changed into clean undergarments and put on a thin, goose-yellow cotton jacket embroidered with plum blossoms. She looked at herself in the mirror before saying to Xiaotao: "Call Xiao Quanzi and Xiao Shunzi. Have them report on today's situation in the outer courtyard."
Xiaotao acknowledged and left. Soon, two boys arrived.
Gu Quan was articulate while Gu Shun was steady and thorough. The younger was about ten years old while the older had just entered his teens. Minglan handed them some fruits and asked gently. Gu Quan, revealing two cheerful little canine teeth, recounted events one by one. Though young, he had good memory - which officials were carried away drunk, which ones lost all decorum after touching alcohol, and naturally those with good drinking manners - the boy remembered everything clearly.
The Duan brothers were particularly heavy drinkers. Half of those carried out had been drunk under their persuasion, including the elderly Lord Gan who claimed to be old but vigorous and refused to retire. It was said he had been talking with Gu Tingye when they persuaded him heavily until he collapsed among the wine jars.
Old General Bo stroked his beard and smilingly remarked: At our age, we should drink in moderation.
"How old is Lord Gan exactly?" Minglan asked curiously, remembering there was no standard retirement age in ancient times.
"Looks about fifty or sixty," Gu Quan wasn't quite sure. Gu Shun quietly supplemented: "I heard Lord Gan just celebrated his sixtieth birthday the year before last."
Minglan nodded with satisfaction: Lady Gan appeared to be only around forty. Unless she was a fellow disciple of Gong Xuehua, she must be a second wife.
The banquet was generally successful. Not only were the food and drinks abundant, but all drinking game equipment like tally sticks, arrow pots, drinking tubes, and drinking tokens were prepared. Sobering tea and sobering pills were even provided. What surprised Minglan were her father and brother. She had thought they would be quite bored among mostly military generals or noble family scions, but the situation turned out to be quite the opposite.Not long after the banquet began, the solemn-faced Changbai encountered the even more stern Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, Fu Qinran. They were then joined by Qiu Shu, who was still enduring his days at the Imperial College. The three sat together, conversing with such dignified solemnity that anyone unaware might have mistaken their gathering for a memorial service.
Meanwhile, Sheng Hong and Fifth Old Master became "fast friends" at first sight. They spoke of their youthful struggles with studies, the hardships of the imperial examinations, and the challenges of official life, finding themselves increasingly kindred spirits. Fifth Old Master had always admired learned scholars, but most civil officials who had passed the imperial examinations looked down on descendants of noble families. Sheng Hong, however, was exceptionally skilled in social graces—elegant in speech and refined in demeanor. Regardless of his true feelings, he always managed to present himself in a most agreeable manner.
When Fifth Old Master lamented having lived over a decade longer yet repeatedly failing the imperial exams, calling it shameful, Old Master Sheng promptly and sincerely objected. He argued that there is no definitive first place in literature nor second in martial arts—how could success or failure alone define a hero? Perhaps the examiner simply disliked his writing style, Sheng Hong suggested, immediately citing numerous literary giants throughout history who had also struggled with the exams.
Fifth Old Master’s eyes grew moist with emotion, and he instantly regarded Old Master Sheng as a soulmate.
Minglan overheard this and couldn’t help but inwardly scoff: Nonsense! Without some tricks up his sleeve, could he have smoothly climbed the official ranks all the way to today? Country seasoned bureaucrats had been charmed by Old Master Sheng.
Their conversation then shifted to the topic of education. When it came to ancestry, Sheng Hong was no match for Fifth Old Master, but in terms of descendants, Fifth Old Master couldn’t catch up even if he drove a Lamborghini. As they spoke, Fifth Old Master gradually grew insecure, much like parents of underperforming students feeling inferior before those with top-achieving children during a school parent-teacher conference.
Minglan found this utterly amusing, clutching her teacup while her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
Even after Gu Tingye woke up, Minglan was still chuckling. As she arranged their meal, she cheerfully recounted the story. It was already late in the You hour (around 7 PM), and since they had drunk heavily at lunch, both had upset stomachs. Minglan had the kitchen prepare mung bean and almond congee, paired with soy-braised beef and sesame flatbread, along with several light and refreshing vegetable dishes. She also included Granny Ge’s specialty pickles, tossed with sesame oil and a dash of vinegar—perfect for whetting the appetite.
Gu Tingye hadn’t eaten much solid food at lunch either. Initially listless, he found his appetite returning after a few bites, devouring three large bowls of congee and five tender beef-stuffed flatbreads. Feeling much better, he couldn’t help but smile at Minglan’s amusing tale.
"This time, my cousins are in for some trouble!" Gu Tingye’s deep eyes sparkled with schadenfreude, though his tone then turned cold. "But no need to worry—my Fifth Aunt has plenty of tricks to get them out of it."
Minglan detected the sarcasm in his words. Over the past days, she had gathered plenty of information about the Ningyuan Marquis Household from the various grannies. The sons of the fifth branch were the most useless, especially the eldest, Gu Tingyang, who had fathered a son and a daughter with a bedroom servant before marriage, kept mistresses outside, and competed for actresses—no scandal was beyond him. Yet whenever Fifth Old Master lost his temper, Fifth Aunt always intervened to protect him.
Ah! A mother’s child is like a treasure. Minglan secretly glanced at Gu Tingye."Hmm..." Minglan changed the subject, "I plan to go pay respects to the Grand Old Madam first thing tomorrow morning and bring Rong Jie'er and the others back while I'm at it. What do you think?"
Gu Tingye frowned, putting down his bowl and chopsticks. "So soon?"
"Sooner or later, it's all the same. Why give people more to gossip about?" Minglan called for a washbasin and tea, smiling as she said, "Also, starting tomorrow, I intend to visit the Marquis residence to pay respects to the Grand Old Madam every five or six days." That would be once a week, four times a month.
Gu Tingye's frown deepened, his brows knitting together. With clear displeasure, he said, "What's the need for that? It just adds unnecessary trouble. Keeping a polite distance is fine as it is."
Minglan knew this wasn't ideal, so she gently persuaded him, "If others make mistakes and we follow suit by making our own, it's like discarding pearls and jade for worthless straw. It would only leave us without the moral standing to criticize others."
"Who said that?" Gu Tingye chewed over the words twice, asking with interest, "Was it your Old Madam?"
Minglan smiled. "No, it was my father." She thought to herself, how did you know it wasn't my own words?
Gu Tingye was surprised and chuckled lightly. "My father-in-law is quite insightful." Sheng Hong's way of persuasion was rather practical—he didn't resort to empty talk about propriety and integrity but analyzed the consequences instead.
Xiaozhu and Xiaotao entered carrying a tea tray, a copper basin, and hot water. Minglan had them set the things down and leave. Then, smiling, she wrung out a towel and handed it to him, saying, "When I was little, once when we all gathered to listen to Zhuang Xiansheng tell stories and anecdotes, Fourth Sister deliberately stained my new clothes with ink. I was so angry that while changing, I sneaked two pieces of lard from the kitchen and thickly smeared them under the cushion of Fourth Sister's seat..."
Before she could finish, Gu Tingye buried his face in the hot towel, snickering. Seeing Minglan glaring at him with her clear, bright eyes, he quickly gave her a thumbs-up and praised loudly, "Well done!" Then he pulled Minglan onto his lap, pinched her nose, and laughed, "What happened next?"
Minglan blushed but couldn't hide her pride, mumbling, "Fourth Sister wasn't expecting it. As soon as she sat down, she slipped off the chair with a squeak and landed flat on her back."
—The key point was, Qi Heng was present! Mo Lan, who always prided herself on being refined, ended up sprawled like a toppled frog. Young Master Qi's jaw-dropped expression of shock was unforgettable. Mo Lan was so mortified she wished she could vanish into the ground and didn't dare show her face in front of Qi Heng for a long time!
Gu Tingye chuckled heartily. Seeing Minglan trying to suppress her smug expression, he couldn't resist nibbling on her plump, delicate earlobe, gritting his teeth as he laughed, "You little schemer!" Then he reached out to rub her ear. "What happened after that? Did you get punished?"
Minglan nodded honestly. "Luckily, Fifth Sister testified for me. Both Fourth Sister and I were punished to copy texts three hundred times. That saying was what Father scolded me with back then."
She omitted some details. In truth, how would Sheng Hong fully believe Rulan's words? Minglan had originally planned to ask Changbai to testify, but unexpectedly, Qi Heng rushed to find Sheng Hong right after class. He tactfully yet clearly explained the situation, stating that Mo Lan had deliberately bullied her younger sister first. Only then did Sheng Hong punish both of them fairly. Thinking of this, her heart ached faintly.Minglan had long noticed that Qi Heng had seen through Molan's behavior from very early on (Princess Pingning's education had been quite effective), but his upbringing since childhood had taught him to conceal all sarcasm and dislike with an elegant and gentle smile.
The most ridiculous thing was that Molan never realized this and continued putting on acts in front of the Qi family.
Minglan's smile carried a trace of inexplicable pity as she wrapped her arms around Gu Tingye's neck and said softly, "We live so close to the Ningyuan Marquis Household, yet we don't pay our respects. Wouldn't that be our fault? So I must go."
Gu Tingye still wore a dark expression but reluctantly nodded. Minglan smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I've actually calculated this carefully. Take the Lu family - after Old Master Lu moved into the imperial-bestowed residence, the eldest Lu couple remained in the old mansion to watch over it. Because of the distance, they pay respects to his parents once every five days. Then there's the Han family - although the parents are still alive, they've already divided the family property for the second and third sons. Those two daughters-in-law pay respects once every half month... After thinking it over, since we've established our own residence separately but live so close by, yet aren't direct relatives, we might as well follow the Lu family's rules."
Seeing her calculating expression, Gu Tingye couldn't help but laugh softly: "I originally didn't want you to wade into that muddy water. I didn't think this through when we were granted this residence..." His tone carried a faint apology.
"Don't say that! I'm not made of fragile porcelain." Minglan teased, putting on a very reasonable appearance. "As they say, where there are people, there are conflicts. And where there are conflicts, how can there not be muddy waters?"
Warmth flooded Gu Tingye's heart as he stroked Minglan's cheek gently: "This saying couldn't be from your respected father again, could it?... You admire your father-in-law greatly?" But he had heard that Minglan wasn't Sheng Hong's most favored daughter.
Minglan couldn't exactly deny it either. After thinking, she said frankly: "Grandmother always thinks Father is biased, but I feel Father is a good father. When I was little and my jade pendant was snatched away by my sisters halfway, Father would at least compensate me with a large gold locket; no matter how busy he was, he would definitely come check on me every month..."
Especially after Minglan moved into Twilight Cang Study, whenever Sheng Hong saw Minglan, he would always ask if she was doing well, if she lacked any clothing or items, if the service was adequate - all in front of Madam Wang, as a warning.
Being born from a concubine himself, Sheng Hong was well aware of the tricks like cunning servants bullying their masters and deceiving superiors while hiding things from subordinates. He would never simply believe Madam Wang's "the children are all fine" and do nothing. Whenever any of his children complained about maids or matrons being neglectful, they would be replaced. Even before Yao Yiyi transmigrated, Madam Wang and Consort Lin had already schemed against each other for several rounds. Because of this, Consort Lin managed to remove all the people Madam Wang had placed around Changfeng and Molan, replacing them with her own.
Of course, only Consort Lin had such audacity - Concubine Xiang wouldn't dare.
Under Sheng Hong's supervision, all the children born from concubines in the Sheng family could grow up safely and healthily, receiving relatively decent treatment. Although he often showed favoritism, compared to those muddled, selfish men who only sired children without raising them properly, he was already much better.
In this era, he was indeed not a bad father.Gu Tingye observed Minglan's nostalgic expression, the playful curve of her smiling lips, and hesitated briefly before speaking: "My father... he was extremely strict with me. I was mischievous since childhood and suffered many beatings under the family law."
Minglan was startled, as this was the first time she had heard him mention the deceased Old Marquis. She asked softly, "Was your father good to you?"
"...Good? It's hard to say." Gu Tingye paused for a long while before replying calmly, "The old master took particular delight in punishing me. During the coldest winter days, while my elder brother and third brother could stay warm indoors, I had to rise early daily to practice martial arts. Yet... I was the only one among the brothers whom he personally taught - guiding me through every stance and movement hand by hand. But if I made the slightest mistake, he would beat me severely, refusing to listen to anyone who tried to intervene."
"What about your elder brother and third brother?" Minglan asked quietly.
"Elder brother had a weak constitution, so that goes without saying. Third brother was taught by guards from the outer courtyard."
Feeling she couldn't betray her conscience, Minglan murmured, "Your father meant well for you. Um... was the Grand Old Madam good to you?" Actually, Gu Tingye understood this perfectly well himself, but couldn't overcome the emotional barrier.
"Extremely good." Gu Tingye answered rapidly, his lips curling into a sarcastic smile. "Whenever I quarreled with third brother over something, she would always take my side. However much spending money I wanted, she never objected. The maids in my courtyard were not only the most numerous, but also the most beautiful. When I made mistakes, she was always the first to defend me. Everyone in the Marquis household praised her for being gentle, kind, and benevolent."
Minglan snorted inwardly: Old tricks! Nothing original.
Gu Tingye chuckled mockingly: "This isn't anything novel either - most people could figure it out. As I grew older, I began to notice something was wrong, but by then the old master no longer trusted me. We couldn't speak more than a few words without arguing. Later, Mama Chang came to find me and told me about my birth mother..." His breath suddenly grew ragged, a faint trace of resentment appearing on his face. "That was when I truly began to hate! All those years, the old master knew everything, yet said nothing - allowing those wretched servants to mock my mother's humble origins behind my back! Letting Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle always bring up my maternal family when scolding me!"
"...Your anger is justified." Minglan sighed.
Once the words started flowing, it became easier to continue. Gu Tingye said self-mockingly: "When I caused trouble outside and the old master found out and came to reprimand me, I laughed coldly and said, 'Without my mother's money, your noble title might not even be secure. This entire household has been living in splendor thanks to my mother - what right do you have to put on airs?' The old master collapsed in anger, and the whole family called me unfilial. Though, this wasn't the only time I angered the old master."
Minglan stroked his thick, coarse hair without speaking.
"I didn't even get to see his final face." Gu Tingye stated quietly, resting his head against Minglan's chest, feeling its warmth and softness. "For three days and three nights I didn't dare sleep, exhausting six fine horses, yet still didn't make it in time."
His tone was light, but Minglan felt a faint, lingering pain.Human emotions are perhaps the most troublesome things in this world. Because they lack logic, even the most precise instruments struggle to measure them. Old Marquis Gu might not have loved Baishi, but he felt guilty toward this second son. However, with the lingering affection for Da Qin Shi from the past and the family's dignity and reputation at stake, he couldn't offer any overt compensation.
Minglan wasn't a psychology expert and didn't know what to say, so she could only gently console him: "It's been years since your father passed away, and I never had the chance to offer him a cup of tea. Why don't you tell me some stories about him?"
Gu Tingye's gaze turned vacant for a moment. After a long pause, he finally said, "...It was a snowy morning with goose-feather flakes. I was about seven or eight years old, shivering from the cold and desperately wanting to crawl back into my warm bed. But the old man wouldn't let up. As I swung the white wax spear, I cursed under my breath. The snow fell heavily, rustling as it piled on his head, eyebrows, and shoulders. Half his body was covered in white, yet he remained motionless, intently watching my movements. He said, 'You're different from your brothers. You have to rely on yourself.'"
Under the dim candlelight, his handsome face took on a peculiar shade of melancholy.
Minglan could only sigh again. They sat together for a while, and Minglan began to feel drowsy. Just as she was considering whether to leave him alone to his thoughts, Gu Tingye suddenly let out a soft laugh. In the quiet room, the sound was eerily unsettling.
A fierce expression crossed his face, and his light chuckle turned into a cold sneer: "Hmph, on what basis?"!"He turned to Minglan, his tone dripping with sarcasm and coldness: 'Why should I have to lick blood from blades to earn my living!" Are they more precious than me, able to comfortably nestle in their hereditary titles and wait for ancestral blessings? The entire Gu family has maintained their dignity to this day thanks to the Bai family's money—why should I be the one who has to tuck my tail between my legs and live like a stray dog, wandering outside!"
Gu Tingye abruptly stood up. His thick, disheveled black hair cascaded over his indigo satin robe, casting a startlingly bleak sheen. His handsome features were obscured in the shadows of the candlelight as he stood rigidly in the center of the room, exuding a dangerous aura of bitter hatred, like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey.
He continued to sneer, his voice sharp as metal, and declared fiercely: "Every grievance has its source, every debt its debtor! If I had lived as they wished, silently and unnoticed for a lifetime, this account would naturally have been settled. But now, I have risen to prominence—this is Heaven's way of telling me to settle this score!"
Minglan shrank into the armchair, completely enveloped in the shadow of his tall frame, her heart trembling with fear. She wanted to say, "Perhaps Heaven has other intentions, and you've misunderstood," but she didn't dare speak. She knew that it wasn't about coveting the title or wealth—it was his inherently proud and stubborn nature that made it impossible for him to swallow this injustice. Alas, how many people could calmly face such unfair treatment?
At that moment, a thought suddenly occurred to Minglan. She looked up abruptly and tentatively asked, "What do you plan to do?"
Gu Tingye turned his head, his gaze now clear and composed. With an elegant flick of his robe, he leaned back against the soft couch, once again exuding an air of noble composure. He even smiled gently: "Don't be afraid, my dear. I won't do anything."Minglan sat still, gazing at the man with confusion before suddenly feeling relieved—people are complex; she didn’t yet understand him well, just as he didn’t fully understand her either.
OpenNovel