The Story of Ming Lan

Human beings are reflective creatures, often haunted by things they failed to accomplish or perfect in the past.

If given a chance to travel through time, Mama Fang would undoubtedly choose to go back to the period around Old Mrs. Sheng’s wedding—either to ruin the marriage outright or to eliminate those little vixens. Whenever these thoughts crossed her mind, she wished Old Master Sheng could crawl out of his grave and take in a few unruly concubines, just so she could practice her skills on them now. The result of this pent-up frustration, however, was...

"...Then Qiu Niang hurriedly left." After dinner, while Gu Tingye was in his study, Xiaotao took the opportunity to report in detail about Qiu Niang’s visit to Jiaxi Residence that afternoon.

Minglan was still somewhat drowsy. She blinked hard and asked, "So what?"

It was merely restlessness—a desire to reconnect with her long-lost master and the man in her life. But times had changed. Though Qiu Niang remained the same, Gu Tingye was never the sentimental type like Baoyu.

"This is no small matter!" Danju exclaimed in a low, exasperated voice, startling Minglan.

"How did she know when the master would return to the estate? How did she arrive so promptly, right on his heels? Clearly, she had a maid watching the crossroads, ready to report back as soon as there was news!" Danju’s eyes gleamed with sharp insight as she pieced together the flawless reasoning. "Hmph! And this is only the first day! Where did she get the manpower? How did she know which route the master would take?"

"So..." Minglan prompted her to continue.

Danju gritted her teeth discreetly. "As soon as my sister Cuiwei mentioned it, she went to investigate. After those few moved into Kouxiang Garden, Concubine Gong and Rong Jie'er settled down, but Qiu Niang secretly went to speak with Granny Lai! Hmph! These troublemakers just won’t quit!" Her usually gentle face was now filled with indignation.

"But what can we do about it?" Minglan chuckled helplessly. "Granny Lai and Qiu Niang originally came from the Grand Old Madam’s household. There’s nothing wrong with them talking. As for gathering information, unless we confine everyone in Kouxiang Garden, we can’t control where they go in the gardens or which crossroads they frequent. The real priority is to secure the gatekeepers in our own courtyard."

If they were going to collude, they had likely already done so. Still, she wasn’t afraid of their schemes.

Xiaotao stared blankly, troubled. "Is there really no way to deal with them?"

"Merely watching the crossroads or speaking with a maid isn’t a punishable offense," Minglan shook her head. "Fighting over trivial matters is not only pointless but also makes us a laughingstock, giving others the impression that I’m intolerant. Now that the household and courtyard rules are in place, as long as we catch them in a mistake, dealing with them will be easy."

"What if they don’t make mistakes and just keep annoying us?" Danju responded quickly.

Minglan gave a dry laugh and uttered, "Then... we’ll just have to endure their annoyance." In this era, how many principal wives hadn’t been irritated by concubines? Some, with more sensitive or intense temperaments, might even be driven to frustration.

The annoyance arrived soon enough.

Early the next morning, while Minglan was still lingering in bed, Gong Hongxiao and Qiu Niang brought Rong Jie'er to pay their respects. Danju and Xiaotao scrambled to get Minglan presentable enough to receive them."Greetings, Madam." Hongxiao curtsied gracefully, her peach-colored gown embroidered with pomegranate blossoms appearing quite vibrant. Lifting her head, she noticed Minglan wearing a lake-blue brocade waistcoat that accentuated her jade-like complexion—simple yet dignified—and her slender figure. Unable to resist, she praised, "Back at the marquis' estate, I often heard others praise Madam's exceptional character and beauty. Now that we've moved to Clear Garden, I'm truly fortunate to learn from you and refine my rustic demeanor." As she spoke, she tugged at her own garments.

Minglan touched her loosely tied hair, realizing she hadn't even adorned it with hairpins in her haste. Glancing at Hongxiao's earnest expression, she felt somewhat speechless and replied mildly, "I think your attire is quite lovely. Besides... I sometimes wear such colors too."

Hongxiao looked slightly abashed and retreated to sit on a small stool.

Nearby, Qiu Niang saw Danju enter with a cup of light tea and promptly stood up. Taking the teacup from the tray, she respectfully offered it to Minglan: "Madam, please have some tea." Minglan nodded, accepted the cup, and took a small sip. Danju lowered her head, pouted slightly, then turned to join Xiaotao in tidying the inner room.

Minglan's gaze shifted to Rong Jie'er, who sat hunched in a corner with her head bowed. Unable to hold back, Minglan asked, "Rong Jie'er, you just moved rooms—did you sleep well last night?"

Rong Jie'er woodenly raised her head, her eyes wavering uncertainly as she looked at Minglan, then lowered her head again without speaking. Qiu Niang grew anxious and hurriedly interjected, "Madam arranged everything perfectly. The bedding and mattresses are of the highest quality, and the maids attended to us diligently. I slept in the same room as Rong Jie'er last night, and she didn't wake once."

Minglan smiled faintly at her. "No wonder the master always says you're reliable."

Qiu Niang abruptly looked up, her eyes glistening, and choked out, "I only fear I might fail the master's trust."

Hongxiao seemed somewhat awkward but maintained composure, though her fingers fidgeted restlessly with the sash at her waist.

Minglan took another large sip of tea, struggling to suppress her morning discomfort, and said casually, "There's no need to come for morning greetings so early from now on. Our household is small, and we needn't adhere to strict formalities. Starting tomorrow, come after 7:30 AM." Let's stick to an 8 AM start, she thought wryly.

Qiu Niang looked earnest and quickly responded, "How could that be? We know Madam is considerate, but we mustn't disregard propriety. Moreover, the master leaves for court before dawn, and Madam must attend to him, leaving no time for rest. How could we overstep?"

Minglan felt deeply embarrassed—when had she ever sacrificed her sleep to assist Gu Tingye for his morning court duties? Though few knew the truth.

From the inner room, Xiaotao nearly burst out, "You're the one breaking rules—your whole family breaks rules!" but Danju firmly held her back. Then they heard Minglan's gentle voice: "It's not that you won't be paying respects, just a bit later. This is a decision I can make! Besides, it's for Rong Jie'er's sake. She's still growing and looks so frail—she needs proper care."All eyes turned to Rong Jie'er, whose head sank even lower, nearly burying itself in her knees in an awkward and ungraceful posture. Minglan frowned slightly and cast an unintentional glance at Hongxiao, who smiled gently and said in a soft tone, "She's already eight years old—surely she shouldn't lag behind Xianjie, who is only five. If relatives or guests see Rong Jie'er like this in the future, what will they think?"

Rong Jie'er's shoulders trembled, but she did not lift her head.

Both Hongxiao and Qiu Niang flushed crimson, rising together to apologize. Qiu Niang stammered nervously, repeatedly saying, "It was all my negligence." Hongxiao choked back a sob and whispered, "You are right, Madam. In the past... well, no need to dwell on it. Now that she is with her own parents, she can surely be properly nurtured."

"Children need their sleep. With proper care, some nourishing warm foods, a lighthearted mood, and more activity, she will naturally improve over time," Minglan said leisurely, stirring the lid of her teacup. "Let her sleep in a bit longer in the mornings. After breakfast, when everyone is more alert, it will be fine for her to come and pay her respects. I will have nourishing soups sent over daily, and you must ensure Rong Jie'er eats them. Qiu Niang, I’ll trouble you with this matter."

Qiu Niang hurriedly agreed, repeatedly assuring her compliance.

Minglan then turned to Hongxiao, her expression gentle. "This child has been with you since she was five. Can she read and write now? How many characters does she recognize? Has she finished learning the Three Character Classic?"

Hongxiao trembled immediately, glancing at Minglan and then at Rong Jie'er. She opened her mouth but hesitated before stammering, "Well... this... Rong Jie'er’s health has been poor, so I didn’t dare push her too hard. It seems... she recognizes about a dozen characters or so."

Minglan’s face showed displeasure. Hongxiao stood frozen in fear, not daring to speak. Minglan softened her tone and said, "In a family like ours, even if she can’t match her aunt Tingcan’s literary accomplishments, Rong Jie'er shouldn’t grow up illiterate. Before you arrived, I heard that Concubine Gong came from a scholarly family and was well-educated and principled. I thought then how fortunate our Rong Jie'er was to have such a concubine to guide her—that her manners, conduct, reading, and writing would be well taken care of. But now..."

She sighed deeply, her reproachful gaze sweeping over Hongxiao until the latter could no longer lift her head. After a pause, Minglan continued, "Let bygones be bygones. From today onward, you must take better care of her! How can Rong Jie'er carry on like this when relatives and friends visit? She can’t stay secluded in the inner courtyard forever."

Hongxiao was so chastised she couldn’t raise her head, especially after having invoked "the Grand Old Madam’s trust" just the day before. Qiu Niang didn’t even dare to breathe loudly. Minglan’s tone grew more solemn and authoritative as she declared, "It’s natural for Rong Jie'er to be reserved with me, but she has lived under the same roof with you two for years. Since you’ve been entrusted with her care, you must take responsibility!"

Hongxiao and Qiu Niang trembled as they acknowledged her words. After giving a few more instructions, Minglan had the three of them escorted back to Kouxiang Garden. Only then did Xiaotao and Danju inside the room heave long sighs of relief.Danju emerged with a cheerful smile, holding several pearl hairpins in her hand. As she slowly adorned Minglan's hair, she remarked, "Even Consort Lin back in the day never dared to lecture the mistress about rules and propriety. They've certainly grown bold! Madam ought to put them in their place, or they'll keep taking advantage of your kindness."

Minglan sighed helplessly. She truly disliked throwing her weight around, but some people seemed to respond only to such tactics. Being gentle and polite with them only made them more presumptuous. "From now on, I can only sleep until seven at the latest..." she lamented with regret.

Danju immediately straightened her face and began scolding, "If you'll pardon my frankness! Ever since you married, you've been living far too indulgently. Even in your maiden home, you weren't this comfortable. From now on, you must pull yourself together! Many are watching for you to make a mistake!"

Seeing Danju's determined expression, Minglan couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed.

As noon approached, Gu Tingye returned from his official duties. After Minglan helped him remove his court dress and crown, changing him into casual attire, she had a meal set on the kang table by the window. The kang was already spread with a mat woven from cattail, cotton, hemp, and silk. Enjoying the cool breeze carrying the scent of flowers and plants, the couple began their meal. Gu Tingye took a sip of light wine and asked with a smile, "How was your morning?"

"Quite well," Minglan blinked. "For the first time in my life, someone came to pay their respects to me."

Noticing the charming blush on her cheeks, Gu Tingye chuckled, "What's so difficult about that? Later, we'll have ten or eight sons. When they marry, their wives will have to line up to pay respects to you. Wouldn't that be lively?"

Minglan glared at him. "Easy for you to say! You're not the one carrying them for ten months. You just flap your lips and it's done?" She wasn't opposed to having children, but she wanted to ensure her physical condition was optimal for childbirth. After all, this era lacked modern obstetrics, and she had no intention of risking her life to bear a child.

Gu Tingye lowered his voice, his eyes hinting at mischief. "I've done more than just flap my lips."

"We're eating!" Minglan's face flushed instantly.

"Food and desire are human nature, my dear. Well said," Gu Tingye replied leisurely.

Minglan glared at him for a long moment before breaking into a laugh. "You! You... ah, if only your daughter had half your thick skin!"

Gu Tingye's expression gradually darkened. "Rong Jie'er... is she still the same?"

"She doesn't speak or interact with anyone. At her age, she neither reads nor learns needlework. Her social skills go without saying—it's as if no one has been caring for her." Minglan pondered. "You said she had a fiery temper as a child. For her to become so listless now must be because of what happened back then... well... these past few years... Now that she's with us, she should gradually recover."

"...Man Niang has always been a woman of ruthless determination," Gu Tingye remarked with a trace of irony at the corner of his mouth. "So what do you plan to do?"

"Wait," Minglan said decisively. "Wait for her to grow up, wait for her to understand on her own. No one can withstand the passage of time—a month, a year, several years. She'll slowly improve. Today, I gave instructions for Qiu Niang to continue looking after her daily needs and for Concubine Gong to oversee her education and manners. First, we'll help her build up her health. When she's older, we can hire better tutors." As a modern person who had adapted to this ancient boudoir life over a decade, she understood the power of time.Gu Tingye furrowed his brow, though he himself had no solution; when he was young and disobedient or threw tantrums, Old Marquis Gu would directly resort to canes and bamboo sticks, but such methods couldn't be used on girls.

Minglan wore a somewhat helpless expression: "Since ancient times, most wealthy young ladies and noble maidens are cultivated—provided with fine clothes and sumptuous food, draped in silks and satins, and respectfully attended by servants. As one's environment shapes temperament and nurture refines the body, they gradually become dignified, gaining authority and respect, all through subtle influence."

Gu Tingye slowly nodded, showing approval. Though Minglan's words were plain, they were extremely reasonable and full of genuine goodwill. He smiled slightly: "I'm just afraid she has a stubborn nature and won't show you filial respect."

"I don't need her filial piety," Minglan said dismissively.

Gu Tingye was astonished. After a moment, he said gravely: "Don't be disheartened. Filial piety toward the legal mother is a fundamental principle of propriety. If she doesn't respect you, I will severely punish her!"

"What are you thinking! That's not what I meant," Minglan laughed. "I don't know how to raise children either, it's just..." She gradually grew serious and said sincerely, "I only hope she understands that people live not to be resentful, not to be despondent, and not to hold grudges, but to live well. She still has a whole life ahead of her, and in the future, she'll have children of her own. The past wasn't her fault, and she shouldn't cling to it forever. The world is vast, the seas are wide—only by broadening her heart and expanding her horizons can she live a long and fulfilling life."

Gu Tingye felt as if his heart had melted. His eyes brightened, and he couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth from curling up. He pulled Minglan onto his lap, wrapped his arms around her waist, and gently stroked it. His rich voice full of laughter, he murmured: "Although you've coaxed me, scared me, and often tricked me, I've always known that your heart is truly upright."

Minglan glanced sideways at him, pretending to be displeased: "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

After she spoke, Gu Tingye remained silent for a long while. Instead of responding, he seemed somewhat dazed, staring blankly at Minglan's collar, his usual sharpness gone. Minglan patted his cheek: "What's wrong?"

Gu Tingye snapped out of his reverie, pressed his palm against Minglan's chest a couple of times, then rubbed it three times, sighing: "I don't know when, but you've grown quite a bit here." His hand lingered over her soft bosom.

Minglan was extremely embarrassed and furious, flushing red like a shrimp. Covering her chest, she tried to twist away and escape, but Gu Tingye caught her and pulled her back. Minglan reached out to tickle the man's waist, and the two of them tumbled onto the kang, laughing and playing. In the end, the valiant heroine Minglan was no match for General Gu, who pinned her down and kissed her for a long time.

When Xiaotao entered later, she noticed Minglan's lips were slightly swollen and couldn't help wondering: Was the food too hot?

After the meal, the couple played a game of chess and prepared for their afternoon nap. As Xiaotao and two young maids cleared the table and carried the bowls, dishes, and cups into the courtyard, they saw Danju stopping someone to talk not far away.

Danju smiled formally: "Miss Qiu..."

"Just call me Qiu Niang. If you don't mind, sister, I'll call you Sister Danju too," Qiu Niang quickly replied.Danju's forehead twitched violently, but she maintained her smile: "Sister Qiu Niang, the master is likely taking his afternoon nap now. If you have urgent business to see him, I'll go announce you."

"Afternoon nap?" Qiu Niang looked bewildered. "He never rests at noon."

Danju's aching cheeks stubbornly kept smiling: "I wouldn't know about that. But since our mistress married into the household, the master takes a short nap whenever he has free time."

Qiu Niang looked despondent, clutching a small bundle tightly in her hands. Danju snorted inwardly twice before turning to enter the inner room to announce the visitor. Minglan had just helped Gu Tingye remove his outer robe when they heard the news. Gu Tingye's brows unconsciously furrowed, but he still said: "Let her in."

When Qiu Niang entered, she saw Gu Tingye sitting on the edge of the bed in snow-white silk undergarments, barely concealing his impatience: "What is it?"

"This... master... it's been years since I last saw you; I... I..." Qiu Niang knew from his tone that things weren't going well. Glancing at Minglan folding court dress at the bedside, she hesitated and stammered without explaining her purpose clearly. Gu Tingye grew impatient and asked directly: "What exactly do you want? Make it quick."

Qiu Niang had to be brief: "I've made some clothes and socks for you over the years, but since we haven't seen each other for so long, I'm afraid the measurements might not be quite right. I wanted you to try them on to see if they fit well."

Minglan struggled to suppress a faint sneer at the corner of her mouth, continuing to focus on organizing the clothes while occasionally offering Qiu Niang a gentle smile.

Gu Tingye let out a light scoff and scolded: "All this fuss over such a trivial matter! After all these years, you've become less straightforward than before?! Just compare them with some of my existing clothes and shoes later - isn't that enough? I don't have time to try everything on one by one."

Minglan smiled and said: "Qiu Niang's concern is reasonable. Xiaotao, did you hear that?" Xiaotao, standing guard at the inner room door, replied with a simple smile: "Alright! Miss Qiu, if you need to compare clothing measurements in the future, just come to me. I'll get them for you."

Qiu Niang felt bitter and sour inside, unable to respond, could only repeatedly acknowledge.

Gu Tingye said to Minglan: "I need to go out at the beginning of the Hour of the Goat. Wake me up no later than the end of the Hour of the Horse."

Minglan turned to check the water clock and replied softly: "Alright. You should rest quickly to refresh yourself, so you'll be clearer-headed when handling official business."

A hint of affectionate smile played on Gu Tingye's lips as he gazed tenderly at Minglan: "Don't oversleep yourself."

Minglan smiled shamelessly: "Even if I sleep too deeply, there are still Danju and Xiaotao to wake us."

Their back-and-forth conversation resembled that of an ordinary married couple - plain and peaceful, yet profoundly beautiful.

Qiu Niang felt a pang of heartache and couldn't help interrupting: "I'll keep watch for the master and mistress. I'll wake the master."

Gu Tingye glanced at her and frowned: "Didn't I tell you to look after Rong Jie'er? Why are you...!" He was about to scold her more harshly, but thinking of maintaining Qiu Niang's dignity in front of Minglan, he stopped himself.

Coming from a servant background, Qiu Niang was accustomed to reading expressions. Knowing Gu Tingye was currently displeased, she didn't dare stay longer. After saying a few final words, she quickly retreated, looking back three times with every step as she left the main room.

...

In the side room to the left, Lüzhi was staring wide-eyed: "You actually announced her?! Have you lost your mind?"Danju bit the thread end fiercely: "I'm not confused at all! Isn't she always thinking about the master? I deliberately made her go in at that moment—do you think the master would be pleased with her? Hah! In her dreams!"

Lüzhi's expression finally softened: "That woman puts on such an honest, simple-minded act, I thought you'd been fooled by her."

"How could that be?!" Danju glanced toward the opposite room, where Caihuan stood in the courtyard smiling as she saw Qiu Niang off. Lowering her voice, she said bitterly: "Lüzhi, do you still remember what Mama Fang told us?"

"Of course I remember!" Lüzhi's gaze followed, landing on Caihuan and Qiu Niang. Her eyes instantly turned fierce. "Not long ago, she was putting on airs with us, saying she 'wanted to share Madam's burdens.' Pah! Share what burdens? Seeing how well the Master treats Madam, she grew envious and started having improper thoughts. Does she think no one can see through her little schemes? Mama Fang has always said: those who hover around the masters without reason all harbor wicked intentions; those who eagerly throw themselves at becoming bedroom servants or concubines are all cheap sluts!"