The Story of Ming Lan

After a bustling and busy journey of nearly half a day, they arrived at Xiaoyu Manor shortly after exiting the city gates.

This estate, nestled near the capital's outskirts with a river in front and hills behind, occupied an excellent location. It was originally part of the dowry prepared by the prosperous Marquis of Yongyi's household for their only legitimate daughter during their heyday. Later, when Old Mrs. Sheng needed funds for Sheng Hong's official career, she had to mortgage and sell off more than half of it.

As the Sheng family's circumstances gradually improved, reclaiming this land proved difficult. Consequently, Sheng Hong purchased another manor for the old lady elsewhere. Yet, she always held this place in her heart and kept an ear out for any families in urgent need of money. Over the years, she gradually bought back parcels of land, totaling five hundred and eighty mu.

Old Cui, originally selected with great care to accompany the dowry, was not only honest and diligent but also highly skilled in farming. Cui Mama was his childhood sweetheart from whom he had been separated in youth. Their reunion years later came to Old Madam's attention, who went through considerable effort and expense to secure Cui Mama's release from another household. The couple, finally united, married and had children, remaining eternally grateful and fiercely loyal to Old Madam.

Thanks to the devoted efforts of this elderly couple, Xiaoyu Manor always appeared more prosperous and well-maintained than other estates.

Minglan, veiled under a hat, toured the manor and its tenant farmers in a sedan chair. She gazed upon endless fields dotted with yellow oxen and white dogs, vegetables and grains hanging heavy and ripe. Most tenants recognized her and, upon seeing her sedan approach, set down their hoes and farmwork, smiling as they bowed or knelt in greeting—a scene of idyllic prosperity.

Minglan felt quite satisfied.

"How are the crops this year?" she inquired in detail after returning to the residence and taking her seat at the head of the hall. Old Cui smiled, eyes crinkling, and bowed respectfully: "All is well, all is well. With favorable weather this year, we expect slightly more manor tax than last year. During the severe drought a few years back, compounded by military unrest in the Jianghuai region, grain prices in the capital soared. Yet Old Madam and the sixth... ah, and Madam never pressed for higher rents or taxes. Instead, they showed compassion for the tenants' hardships and offered comfort. Everyone says there are no masters as generous and kind as ours elsewhere!"

Minglan flipped through the land register on the table, looked up, and chuckled: "Manager Cui, your eloquence has improved! Such silver-tongued flattery—I must have Old Madam see this; it would surely amuse her."

Old Cui's rough, dark face flushed instantly. Knowing Minglan's shrewdness, he dropped the pretense and spoke his mind. Minglan was startled and exclaimed softly: "Buy land?"

Old Cui nodded vigorously, excitement spreading across his face: "Lately, for some reason, several large estates along the Baitong River are up for sale. I've investigated carefully—the land is good. Since the manor has accumulated savings over the years, why not expand a bit?"

Minglan pondered briefly before replying succinctly: "Follow the usual procedure. Write down all the details—how much land you wish to buy, the landowners, prices, and other relevant matters—and have someone deliver it to me at Heishan Manor across the mountain. I'll review it and discuss further if it seems appropriate."

Old Cui promptly acknowledged with deference.

Seeing his overwhelming delight, Minglan inwardly laughed—it seemed the greatest hobby of ancient people was buying land.

"...Madam may not know, but Old Madam's original estate spanned twenty or thirty qing! Even the entire forest behind it belonged to us!" Old Cui reminisced with moistened eyes. "If we can restore this place to its former glory, it would be a worthy repayment of Old Madam's kindness."Minglan fell silent for a moment before speaking softly in persuasion, "I know you mean well, but everything must follow reason. If there's good land available, buy some, but do not use force, lest it brings trouble."

Old Cui repeatedly bowed with a smile, patting his chest in assurance, "Even if you gave this old man two extra guts, I wouldn't dare! Old Madam's rules have always been clearly written in the deeds all these years. Rest assured, Madam, there will be no mistakes!"

Around two or three quarters past Shen hour, Minglan and her party left Xiaoyu Village and headed straight for Heishan Village. They took a few extra people with them. Although the distance wasn't great, the road was rougher than in the city. They jolted along until it grew too dark to see the path clearly before arriving.

Xiaotao leaned against the carriage rail, gazing into the distance. The dark, imposing gate of the manor was faintly visible, dotted with scattered torchlights. As they drew closer, she saw Danju and the Wife of Quan Zhu standing at the front with a short, dark-skinned man, followed by a large crowd.

When the carriage reached the gate, the short, dark-skinned man immediately stepped forward and knelt, announcing loudly, "This humble servant, Ba Laofu, pays respects to Madam. You must be weary from the journey. All the rooms inside are prepared and awaiting your arrival."

Xiaotao and Lüzhi jumped down from the carriage, standing with hands clasped, exchanging a meaningful glance with Danju across the way. Danju gave a slight nod.

An elegant voice came from inside the carriage, "Manager Ba, please rise. You've worked hard, waiting at the gate in the dark. I've come at an inconvenient time."

"Not at all!" Ba Laofu's face, illuminated by the torches, was full of flattery. "Madam is a noble person. Taking the time to visit the manor is our good fortune—something we could only hope for!"

Minglan said little, only asking, "Has the Master arrived?"

Ba Laofu stood up and replied, "The Master sent word this afternoon that he would arrive later."

"Very well. Leave a few people at the gate to wait for the Master. We'll go in first." Minglan felt slightly relieved.

Ba Laofu responded loudly and immediately ordered the front gate opened wide. The carriage slowly entered the manor, followed by all the maids and serving women.

The main house in the manor was already brightly lit. Inside, the tables, chairs, and shelves were all wiped clean, and the items were neatly arranged in the large room. Minglan nodded slightly and turned to enter the inner chamber, finding it already fully tidied. Her usual Ram horn palace lantern was placed on the small bedside table. On the pearwood round table sat a Celadon jade mallow petal warming porcelain tea set, with a faint aroma of tea wafting from the spout. Minglan took a quiet sniff—it was the Golden Osmanthus Jasmine Tea she usually loved.

Exhausted, Minglan sat by the kang and smiled, "Our Miss Danju is becoming more and more capable! To have everything so well arranged in just half a day—well learned, and ready to marry!"

Danju showed no shyness, instead stepping forward with a stern expression to undo Minglan's sash. "Save your breath. You're exhausted from the day—I can hear it in your changed voice! And your face is covered in dust, your hair bun is messy. Good thing you didn't get out of the carriage for others to see! Hurry and wash up first. If you have instructions, send the Wife of Quan Zhu to relay them."

Qinsang entered from the inner room, smiling gently, "The hot water is ready, Madam. Please go bathe. Fortunately, I brought two full cases of bath essences, or I fear it wouldn't have been enough."Minglan was utterly exhausted. She soaked fiercely in the large wooden tub for nearly two hours, with Danju continuously adding hot water until her muscles and bones were completely relaxed. Emerging from the tub, she collapsed onto the bed, murmuring, "I’ve truly grown delicate—I can’t even endure a little hardship like this."

In the final year of her previous life, there was no running water in the remote mountain village. Yao Yiyi had to fetch water from the well herself. The rough well rope chafed her writing-calloused palms, leaving them scarred. As the scars faded, they hardened into calluses. She walked five or six hours a day, and by evening, when she removed her shoes, her feet were covered in blisters. Soaking them in cold water sent a piercing pain straight to her heart. Whereas high heels once made her soles ache, now walking in sneakers made her heels throb. Her calves trembled like plucked strings, and when she lay in bed, her legs felt as if they no longer belonged to her.

The city girl, exhausted, would fall asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow, yet her heart was deeply content. She felt she had helped others, and even in her dreams, she imagined showing off at the next class reunion in front of those clueless girls who couldn’t even tell chives from leeks.

Yao Yiyi could even build fences now!

But these days, despite being surrounded by attendants and servants, she no longer felt that satisfying weariness. Even when utterly fatigued, her mind was filled with worries and unease. The current court was far from stable.

Official careers in ancient times were paved with bloodshed. She had seen officials shackled and escorted to the capital, witnessed aristocratic families ruined and confiscated. She recalled young women from boudoirs, with whom she had once shared tea and laughter, who in the blink of an eye were punished—sent to the Orchestra and entertainment office or even reduced to Official prostitutes—because their fathers or brothers had committed crimes.

Whenever Minglan thought of these things, she felt immensely grateful to Old Master Sheng. He never sought undue credit, never engaged in opportunism or speculation, and never squandered the family fortune. As an official, he was relatively upright; as a person, he was quite tactful. No matter his other flaws or mistakes, he had fulfilled the duty of an ancient man: providing a safe and prosperous life for his wife, children, and elders.

Speaking of the Sheng family, a few days ago, as the Dragon Boat Festival approached, Minglan sent festival gifts ahead of time to her natal home. Xiaotao brought back news that Sheng Hong and Madam Wang were at odds again, this time over arranging a marriage for Changfeng.

Although Changfeng was a son of a concubine, he had the advantage of good looks—handsome, elegant, and articulate (much like Sheng Hong in his youth, who had once captivated the Old Madam of the Wang family at first glance). He was quite likable, and though young, he was already a provincial graduate. With capable father and brother, and most of his sisters married into good families, it seemed only a matter of time before he achieved success in the imperial examinations. Thus, when Sheng Hong began spreading the word, quite a few families expressed interest.

However, Sheng Hong was clear-headed enough to know his son’s true nature. He proposed that the family background need only be passable, but the girl’s character must be the top priority. They must seek a dignified, knowledgeable, virtuous, and capable daughter-in-law, preferably with a somewhat strong temperament.

"With Feng Ge’er’s disposition, he needs someone to keep a tight rein on him!" Sheng Hong said euphemistically. "She must both hold her ground (withstand a sharp-tongued mother-in-law’s bullying) and be able to curb his recklessness (prevent him from indulging in romantic distractions and neglecting his duties)!"

Madam Wang was dumbfounded; the requirements were far too specific. She couldn’t resist a sarcastic jest: "Why doesn’t the master find Feng Ge’er a mother instead!"

"I never counted on you in the first place," Sheng Hong retorted irritably. Even if he dared trust Madam Wang’s intentions, he couldn’t trust her judgment.

—Minglan buried her face in the bedding, chuckling muffledly. She could almost picture the scene.But Sheng Hong couldn't very well go personally to evaluate potential daughters-in-law, so he had no choice but to beg Old Madam to take charge. However, Old Madam had recently been enjoying a harmonious life nurturing her great-grandsons and amusing her great-granddaughters, utterly unwilling to wade into troubled waters again. She was currently stalling Sheng Hong.

Truth be told, were it not for Consort Lin sabotaging her own position, Sheng Hong truly doted immensely on Molan and Changfeng. Indeed, in this life, one must not be overly greedy... When Danju brought in the evening meal, she found Minglan already fast asleep, clutching a booklet to her chest. She tucked the blanket securely around her and quietly withdrew.

By the end of the Xu hour, Gu Tingye and his retinue of personal guards finally arrived at a gallop. Seeing a row of over ten armored men who had just descended from the military review grounds—all mounted on swift steeds, tall and burly, with the battle-hardened aura of military campaigns still lingering on their faces—Ba Laofu became even more obsequious, his smile stiffening as he bowed and scraped while ushering Gu Tingye into the manor toward the main residence.

The manor servants busied themselves leading the entire team of guards' horses to the stables. The remaining cavalry guards went to rest in the previously prepared side rooms. As they walked, they saw Gongsun Meng and the Tu brothers striding quickly to meet them.

"Brother Xie!" Gongsun Meng called out brightly, going up to sling an arm over the shoulders of a young man in his twenties wearing riding attire. "You've finally arrived!" Xie Ang turned with a laugh, clapping Gongsun Meng heartily on the back. "A'Meng!" Spotting the two behind, he boomed, "Brother Tu Long, Brother Tu Hu!"

Tu Long was a brawny man in his thirties, a knife scar slanting from his forehead down to the bridge of his nose, making his grin rather fearsome. He laughed loudly, "Don't get too happy! Little A'Meng here wasn't missing you—he was pining for the excitement at today's review grounds."

Hearing this, A'Meng indeed grew sullen: "My uncle just wouldn't let me go. I thought guarding Madam was important enough, but then she had me escort some little maids with the luggage instead!"

"Don't you know when you're well off, kid!" Tu Hu grinned roguishly. "Your uncle's thinking of your future! Study hard and train properly, then take the Military examination for real! Unlike us brothers who can't recognize a basketful of characters—we've got no hopes there!"

Though Gongsun Meng was quite tall for his age, he was actually only fourteen. With a boy's temperament, he soon cheered up, pestering Xie Ang with endless questions.

"By the way, Brother Xie, why did you have to rush back so late?"

Xie Ang chuckled as they walked, "The Commander isn't at ease here. We don't know the full situation of this manor."

"Come on, no need to cover up! With so many brothers guarding, what's there to worry about?" Tu Hu lowered his voice, grinning cheekily. "I'll bet the Master just couldn't bear to be apart from Madam!"

"How dare you gossip about the Master's affairs!" Tu Long immediately glared at his brother and scolded, "Isn't it obvious? Madam probably needs to manage the manor affairs, and the Master's come to lend her authority, fearing she might be too young to command enough respect."

"Where does she lack authority?!" Gongsun Meng exclaimed strangely. "When Madam drills me on studies, she's even stricter than my uncle! I can't get a word in edgewise."

He recalled one day when Minglan said to him with a smile: Pang Juan and Sun Bin both studied under Master Guiguzi. Pang Juan disliked studying and left early to become an official and lead troops. Sun Bin studied diligently every day, mastering his craft. After completing his studies, he went out into the world and defeated Pang Juan in just a few moves. A'Meng, which do you want to be—Pang Juan or Sun Bin?Ah Meng was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help asking: "Was it because Pang Juan didn't study hard that he couldn't defeat Sun Bin?"

His old uncle nearby stroked his beard and chuckled, "Yes, yes."

And just yesterday, he had muttered about wanting to escort Gu Tingye or Minglan instead of being assigned to guard the luggage. Minglan had still smiled gently and persuaded him: "Ah Meng, which do you think is more important - objects or people?"

"Of course people are more important."

"Then do you think your martial arts are better or the Tu family brothers' martial arts are better?"

"Of course the two Tu brothers are more skilled."

Then Minglan stopped speaking, just looked at him with the expression one would use for a five-year-old child, and even shook her head pityingly.

His old uncle continued stroking his beard and still chuckled, "Yes, yes."

Every time this happened, Gongsun Meng suddenly felt as if he had become ten years younger for no reason, inexplicably discouraged. He would shrink to the corner of the wall to space out, needing to mourn for a long time before recovering.

"It's still better to have a wife!" Tu Hu sighed. "I remember when the mansion was in chaos, we followed our master running around everywhere. When we returned to our rooms in the outer courtyard, there was no one to arrange food and clothing. Our master would only give us silver, causing us brothers to eat and live in brothels for ten to fifteen days at a time..."

"Go to hell!" Tu Long interrupted displeased. "So you're saying visiting brothels is our master's fault for not having married? You're getting more and more unruly. When we return, I'll find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for you! Find you a strict wife to keep you in line!"

Tu Hu was quite in awe of his elder brother and didn't dare talk back, only muttering softly, "We're two eggs from the same mother."

......

"What's going on?!"

Minglan was helping Gu Tingye undress when she noticed a shocking bloodstain on the shoulder and arm of his brocade robe. She was immediately alarmed.

Gu Tingye looked down and only then remembered, saying indifferently: "Today was the first day, nothing important was happening. Everyone got excited and we had a few rounds of spear art competitions... Don't worry, the spearheads were removed." Seeing Minglan's frightened expression, he added the latter part.

"You!" Minglan scolded angrily. She softened her movements and quickly helped him remove his outer robe. "Who said you can't stab someone to death without a spearhead?!" How do you think the Deadly Scholar died?

"Eh...?"

The outer robe came off, but the snow-white silk undergarment showed no bloodstains. Minglan then opened his collar and pulled the clothing down over half his shoulder. On his bare light brown skin, well-developed muscles bulged on his shoulders and arms, but there was no injury - only a faint bruise on his shoulder.

She was puzzled.

"That's right." Gu Tingye sighed softly. "We should still wrap cloth around the spear shafts in the future. I got carried away and couldn't control my strength, nearly piercing right through that young brother's arm."

Minglan was stunned for a moment, secretly laughing at herself - it was someone else's blood after all. She made an understanding sound, handed the changed robe to Xiaotao, then asked: "Is the injury serious?"

"I shifted my strength at the last moment. Fortunately, it was only a flesh wound. I specially invited a good doctor from outside to examine him."

"That's good." Minglan nodded, smiling as she came over to loosen his hair crown. "To force you to use your full strength, that young brother's skills must be quite impressive."

"Yes, young and promising, with an open-minded temperament too. He's promising material."Gu Tingye was tall and broad-shouldered; even sitting on the edge of the bed, he was only half a head shorter than the standing Minglan. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pressed his cheek against the girl’s soft chest, and quietly listened to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Minglan smiled. In truth, he was only twenty-six this year, yet he spoke with the weariness of an old man. Just as she was about to tease him, a glint of silver caught her eye amidst his thick, dark hair. Upon closer inspection, she realized a few strands of white had appeared at his temples, usually hidden when his hair was tied up.

Somehow, Minglan’s heart softened at the sight. She leaned down and gently kissed his temple.

Gu Tingye took the opportunity to pull her onto his lap, pressing her cheek against his chest as he spoke slowly, “Don’t be overly cautious about buying land. The nobles in the capital have countless ways to make money. If I didn’t even dare to purchase a few acres of land, all these years of struggle would have been for nothing. When we return, ask Gongsun Xiansheng to send someone to find Lu Tongpan of Shuntian Prefecture. Have him act as the official agent to ensure the deed and funds are properly handled. As long as the procedures are complete, we have nothing to fear.”

“Mm,” Minglan replied obediently. “Have some more supper. I’ll go set the table for you.”

She rose to leave, but a large hand gently caught her ear, pulling her back onto his lap.

“I have a question for you,” Gu Tingye said, a hint of amusement curling at his lips. “Earlier, did you think I was the one who got hurt?”

Minglan chuckled awkwardly and nodded in embarrassment.

“There was indeed blood on the robe,” Gu Tingye raised his dark brows, a barely perceptible smile in his eyes, “but the fabric was intact, without any tears. Didn’t you notice?”

Minglan froze. How large would the tear in the fabric have been if a blunt wooden pole had struck it? She had personally helped him change his clothes, yet she hadn’t noticed anything amiss throughout the process. It wasn’t until she saw his unblemished skin that she finally relaxed.

“Why… didn’t you notice?” The man’s deep, mellow voice seemed to coax a particular answer from her. He knew her well—bold yet meticulous, not one to panic easily.

“Yes, why?” Minglan blinked her large eyes, equally puzzled. “I don’t know either.”

Gu Tingye fell silent, his gaze fixed intently on her. Minglan tried her best to maintain an innocent expression, but under his scorching, sun-like stare, a blush inevitably crept across her cheeks, and she gradually lost control of her composure.

Seeing her cheeks flushed like ripe red apples, the man couldn’t suppress the laughter rumbling from his chest. He wrapped his arms around the girl’s petite frame and leaned back, sending them tumbling onto the bed together.

The girl covered her burning face in frustration, pinned firmly beneath the man’s weight. As she looked up, she met his deep, dark eyes. He held back a laugh and glared at her with mock severity.

“Liar.”

That was what he said.

His dark hair tousled, he laughed heartily, as delighted as a child who had just uncovered a magic trick.