The Story of Ming Lan

"Why didn't you report such an important matter to me?!" Minglan turned her head and questioned in a low voice.

"It was reported," Qinsang replied anxiously, whispering, "When the master went out, he entrusted the outer courtyard affairs to Gongsun Xiansheng. The gentleman said this matter was important, so he sent Gu Quan to report to the master at the camp first, then to you. But unexpectedly, Gu Quan returned in the evening, saying the master had instructed that you were busy and shouldn't be troubled with these matters. He was only to reply to the Marquis's residence people—that the Emperor's review is a major event, the master is occupied with military affairs and cannot leave, and though you are anxious, there's nothing to be done."

Minglan felt a wave of relief. This man had a conscience, keeping her out of it—not in vain had she exhausted herself these past few days, both in and out of bed.

Once dressed, Minglan had no time to question Qinsang further and hurriedly followed Gu Tingye out. Just after passing through two hanging flower gates, on a white stone path flanked by lush greenery and vibrant blooms, they saw Rong Jie'er standing at the other end, head bowed as if lost in thought, her small feet shuffling on the ground. Beside her stood a young maid urging her to return.

As soon as she noticed Gu Tingye and Minglan approaching, Rong Jie'er shrank back into the shade of the trees. Gu Tingye paused briefly, frowning at her still frail and timid appearance. He looked up and said sternly, "Why are you here? You should spend more time studying characters instead of running around outside."

Seeing Rong Jie'er shrink further, her face gloomy and dejected, Minglan quickly interjected softly, "The sun is at its fiercest now; your father is worried you'll get sunburned. We have matters to attend to—go back to your room for now, and come to my chamber tonight to talk."

Rong Jie'er kept her head deeply bowed, silent.

Gu Tingye's brow furrowed deeper, unsure what else to say. He grunted in acknowledgment and strode forward. Minglan turned to give Danju a meaningful glance before quickly following Gu Tingye.

Danju, understanding Minglan's signal, immediately stepped forward to take Rong Jie'er's small hand, smiling. "After this trip to the mountains, the master and mistress have been thinking of you, Rong Jie'er. They brought back many things for you—two palm-sized white rabbits, a singing lark, and lots of delicious fruits..."

Just as Minglan and Gu Tingye were about to disappear around the corner, Rong Jie'er suddenly lifted her head sharply, staring intently in their direction.

Danju sighed softly and crouched before Rong Jie'er, speaking even more kindly, "Jie'er, the master and mistress were away on important business these past two weeks; they wouldn't have left you otherwise. Later, show the master the characters you've been practicing—he'll be so pleased to see your progress..."

Before she could finish, Rong Jie'er abruptly pushed Danju away and dashed off like the wind. Danju slowly stood up, sighing, "After all, it's her own father she misses. I wonder if she remembers the mistress's kindness these days."

Lüzhi came up beside Danju, pursing her lips. "She's provided with good food and clothing, her daily needs checked on regularly. Any maid or matron who neglects her even slightly is dismissed at once. The mistress has done her part with sincerity. All this time, she barely utters 'mistress' without reluctance. When you think about it, she's just a..." Remembering Minglan's temperament and rules, she quickly bit her lip.As they spoke, the couple traveled one after the other in sedan chairs toward the Ningyuan Marquis Household. Before they even alighted at the entrance, Minglan sensed the desolation of the estate. Gu Tingye stepped out first and, through the sedan door, murmured, "Later, say nothing. Just follow my lead." Minglan, already uneasy, found this suggestion perfectly suited and promptly agreed.

By the time they reached the inner ceremonial gate, only two plainly dressed maidservants were waiting. Mama Xiang stood there, craning her neck anxiously. Spotting Gu Tingye and his wife, she hurriedly ushered them inside.

"Second Master, Second Madam, everyone is waiting in Xuānning Hall. Please follow me."

Minglan faltered for a moment at the address, then continued walking behind the "Second" Master.

As they proceeded inward, silence prevailed, and the place felt sparsely populated. Withered leaves and branches littered the pathways, and the pond was covered with greenish-yellow duckweed. Minglan grew increasingly aware of a profound sense of desolation. Over several generations of the Gu family, servants with connections or savings had either fled or begged their masters to redeem their freedom. Those who remained were anxious, fearing they might be implicated and face sale or exile. With such worries, who had the heart to tend to the estate?

Minglan’s heart fluttered with unease. She stole a glance at Gu Tingye’s handsome profile, but he appeared composed, striding forward calmly.

Upon arriving at Xuānning Hall, they found it already filled with people. Apart from the frail Gu Tingyu, who was unable to rise, nearly all the "Ting" generation of the household were present. Seated at the head was the Grand Old Madam, followed by the Fourth Old Master and Fifth Old Master with their respective wives. The male members of each branch sat in order of seniority, while several women were seated behind a carved rosewood partition at the inner side of the hall.

As soon as Gu Tingye entered, they rose to greet him eagerly.

"Second Brother is here! Now things will be alright."

"Brother Tingye has finally arrived. Everyone, stop worrying—all will be well now!"

"Second Brother, you must help us this time. We’re counting on you!"

...

Surprisingly, Gu Tingye showed no impatience. He responded courteously, clasping his hands and returning greetings to each of his brothers. Minglan moved toward the inner side, where five sisters-in-law were already seated. Including herself, there were six in total, two from each branch. They seemed uneasy, not daring to chatter, communicating only with their eyes. Madam Zhu seemed about to say something to Minglan, her lips twitching, but she remained silent.

The First Wife of Gu Tingxuan was the calmest among them. Smiling, she pulled Minglan to sit beside her. "I heard you’ve been managing the manors in the outskirts of the capital lately. How is everything? All well?"

"Yes, they say Brother Tingye’s manors are astonishingly large. It must be quite a task to manage them. If you ever need assistance, sister-in-law, I have a few capable people here—all well-known and reliable for years," Madam Di added with a laugh.

"Thank you for your concern, sisters. I’ll keep Second Sister-in-law’s offer in mind and may just ask for help someday," Minglan replied with a slight bow and a smile. Madam Di nodded, satisfied.

After the late Old Master Gu divided the family assets, each branch was supposed to manage its own properties. However, the Fifth Old Master was overly fond of appearing scholarly, and the Fifth Old Madam prided herself on refinement; neither was adept at handling practical affairs. Their eldest son, Gu Tingyang, was all show and no substance, and his wife was even less capable, like a mute saw. With these three "mountains" weighing them down, Madam Di, who actually managed affairs, found it difficult to maneuver effectively.Therefore, whether it was the farmlands or the shops, they were not managed as well as those under the Eldest Branch and the Fourth Branch. Over time, the household stewards inevitably had fewer tasks to handle. With more monks than porridge, the staff became redundant, and the benefits grew thin. Even if the stewards themselves did not complain, their wives and children could not help but feel dissatisfied, and gradually, some grumbling and resentment began to surface.

Minglan, who was currently in need of capable people, had long been paying attention to the situation of the Gu family’s servants. She often sent people to inquire about them discreetly. If there were truly useful ones, Minglan did not mind recruiting a few. Loyalty in this world was never unchanging. Finding a few with clean backgrounds who were willing and capable of working was better than buying servants from outside. After all, she would at least know their family histories for three generations.

However, Minglan did not respond directly. Instead, she shifted the topic and said self-deprecatingly, "Back when I was in my maiden family, Old Madam and Madam often made me study the land registers and listen to the reports from the estate stewards every year. At that time, I found it terribly bothersome. I thought it would be much better to learn embroidery or poetry—quieter and more elegant. Now that it’s my turn to manage things, I finally understand the elders’ thoughtful intentions."

First Wife of Gu Tingxuan lightly patted her own thigh and chimed in, "Isn’t that the truth! When we were young ladies, how could we have known there were so many intricacies to being a wife? We thought a copy of Admonitions for Women and an embroidery needle would be enough to handle everything."

Second Wife of Gu Tingbing, who had been listening to their conversation for a while, could no longer contain her anxiety and interjected, "Sister-in-law, you truly are a busy person! We’ve sent so many people to look for you, and even if we couldn’t find you, that’s one thing. But tell me, have you spoken to Second Brother Ye or not? We’re in a crisis here, yet you act as if you’re completely unaware. As if it has nothing to do with you!"

Minglan very much wanted to say, "She really knew nothing about it," but First Wife of Gu Tingxuan immediately cut in, "Sister-in-law is also a woman—how could she know about matters outside? These past few days, one of them has been busy in the military camp, and the other has been occupied with the estate. They probably haven’t even had a chance to speak much. How could Sister-in-law have the time to inquire? Let’s just listen to what the men have to say."

The women thought this made sense and quickly pricked up their ears to listen.

"Ye-ge’er, what do you think should be done about this matter?" Grand Old Madam’s voice remained gentle and refined, though it carried a hint of anxiety.

Gu Tingye turned slightly and said nonchalantly, "I suppose they just want to ask a few questions. Once everything is clarified, it should be fine."

Fourth Old Master, who was the most anxious, grew irritated upon hearing this lukewarm response and said angrily, "What kind of talk is that! The other day, Liu Zhengjie led a team of imperial guards who barged in like wolves and tigers. Without distinguishing right from wrong, they first ransacked Eldest Brother’s study and then detained a few of us in a small courtyard for interrogation. The whole house was thrown into chaos, and they showed no regard for our dignity. Do they think the Gu family is some shabby village inn?!"

Minglan pondered briefly: If they truly had no regard for their dignity, they would have been taken to the Dali Temple for questioning, just like Mo-lan’s father-in-law and several brothers-in-law, instead of being interrogated in their own home.

"Exactly!" Fifth Old Master slammed the table angrily and said, "They’re just relying on the Emperor’s favor to act so arrogantly! That Liu fellow is nothing but a petty official from a humble background. Now that he’s risen to prominence, he thinks he can come and go as he pleases in families with hereditary titles and meritorious service. It’s absolutely infuriating!"Then everyone began speaking all at once, opening the floodgates of conversation. They cursed the officials from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice handling the case as incompetent and foolish, accusing them of conducting chaotic trials and handing down arbitrary verdicts. They also condemned the arrogant and overbearing behavior of the Imperial Guard’s Upper Three Divisions, who were responsible for arrests and imprisonment, claiming they showed no respect for the dignity of noble families. Following this, they lamented the misfortune that had befallen the Gu family, with the main goal of stirring Gu Tingye’s sense of shared grievance.

Unfortunately, Gu Tingye remained as steady as a mountain, calm and composed. Only after everyone had spoken their fill did he say, “Liu Zhengjie is a close confidant of the Emperor. When he came to ask questions, he was naturally acting on imperial orders. As for the officials presiding over the case, they were either personally appointed by the Emperor or are renowned veteran officials. For us to slander the Emperor’s trusted aides here would be disrespectful.”

His words silenced the room. Gu Tingye slowly flexed his wrist resting on the armrest and said nonchalantly, “The previous cases, such as that of the Duke of Ling’s residence and over a dozen other families, were backed by solid evidence confirming their involvement in the ‘Late Emperor’s Fourth Prince’s rebellion case.’ They were convicted long ago. The investigation is still ongoing, and those found to have even slight connections are being summoned for questioning. The Marquis of Yongchang’s residence, the Earl of Yongping’s residence, and several others were investigated and cleared of suspicion—once released, they faced no further issues. If others can be questioned, why should our family be exempt?”

His reasoning was sound, leaving the two Old Masters momentarily unable to refute him. However, Gu Tingbing, seated nearby, abruptly stood up and exclaimed loudly, “What do you mean by ‘slight connections’? It’s just that they’re incompetent at handling the case and are taking their frustrations out on others to make themselves look capable! Our Gu family has served the throne loyally for generations—we are nothing if not honest! Second Brother, you now hold a respected position in the Emperor’s presence. Our Gu family is being bullied right before our eyes, yet you refuse to exert your influence. Are we just going to let others mock our family?”

“Since I learned of this matter, I’ve also taken the opportunity to inquire,” Gu Tingye replied with a faint smile. “I’ve heard that the Ministry of Justice has obtained both witnesses and material evidence. After repeated verification, there are indeed points of suspicion, which is why the Emperor ordered the questioning. Do you think this is a laughing matter, Cousin?”

Gu Tingbing was left speechless.

Listening from the inner room, Minglan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: These uncles and brothers truly refuse to admit defeat until they’re faced with the reality of their situation. Even now, they’re still spouting lofty rhetoric—do they even understand where the real problem lies?

From the moment Gu Tingye left home in anger, the Gu family and Gu Tingye became two separate entities. This was especially true after the Old Marquis passed away, severing Gu Tingye’s last remaining ties to the family. During those years when the struggle for the throne in the capital reached its peak, Gu Tingye was surviving on three-cent bowls of plain noodles, living a precarious life on the edge of society, exposed to the elements and constantly risking his life. Their misfortune stemming from involvement in the succession struggle had nothing to do with Gu Tingye.

Just then, a commotion arose beside her. The Second Wife of Gu Tingbing suddenly stood up and walked straight to the main hall, stopping in front of Gu Tingye. With a sorrowful plea, she said, “Second Brother Tingye, I am just a woman who knows little of important matters, but we all share the same family name, Gu. Now that your uncles and brothers are in trouble, surely you cannot stand by and do nothing!” As she spoke, tears welled in her eyes, as if she were about to cry.

Minglan inwardly applauded. It seemed a woman’s intuition was indeed reliable. There was no need for grand arguments—pleading earnestly and appealing to emotions was the most effective approach. Sure enough, Gu Tingye furrowed his brow, stood up to avoid her bow, and turned to the Fourth Old Master, saying, “Perhaps it would be best to ask the ladies to return first. This is not in accordance with propriety.”Fourth Old Master, however, paid it no mind: "We're all flesh and blood, no need to stand on ceremony. Your sister-in-law's anxiety is understandable."

Second Wife of Gu Tingbing wiped her tears and respectfully stepped aside.

In truth, aside from major events like property division, women of ancient inner households could not appear casually. Even meeting their husband's uncles and brothers was generally avoided for the sake of propriety and decorum.

Minglan narrowed her eyes. What did this mean? A combination of soft and hard tactics?

Gu Tingye raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Very well. Since that's the case, I'll speak plainly." He then sat down imposingly and declared clearly: "The Late Emperor's Fourth Prince was long ago convicted of treason. The principal conspirators who followed him in rebellion have all been sentenced. What's being investigated now are those who assisted the rebellion as accomplices, those who were particularly close to the Rebellious Prince, and those involved in the treasonous affairs."

Emperor Renzong had been soft-hearted his entire life, but finally understood before his death. To give the unfortunate Third Prince and Consort De an explanation, and to smooth the path for the subsequently enthroned Eighth Prince, he personally confirmed the Fourth Prince's grave treason charges.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was startled. Fifth Old Master, having at least some experience in official circles, said gravely, "Back then, the Fourth... Rebellious Prince held sway over half the capital. Countless people had dealings with his residence. Even if some interactions were closer, does that necessarily make them accomplices to rebellion?"

"Certainly not." Gu Tingye picked up the teacup from the small table and took a sip. "His Majesty is a virtuous and enlightened ruler, specifically ordering the joint trial by the Ministry of Justice, Dali Temple, and the Censorate. How could the verdict be rash? When the Rebellious Prince committed his treason, he had the support of the Five-City Battalions externally, several imperial guards and inner guards internally, and people in the court helping draft false edicts. First they forced Third Prince to death, then compelled the Late Emperor to abdicate. Multiple forces acted simultaneously, colluding inside and out, thus creating the great turmoil."

"Father spent twenty years in the military, over ten years guarding the borders. Although he later stepped back from affairs, many of those he promoted or supported eventually achieved success. Over the years, they've been dispersed across various armies and battalions, most holding minor to mid-level military positions. The crucial question now is: were any of these people involved in the rebellion? Did our family help the Rebellious Prince recruit them? If so, that would constitute the crime of colluding and abetting rebellion."

Gu Tingye's gaze was exceptionally clear and sharp as it slowly swept over those present. Their hearts felt as if chilled by ice water—aiding in rebel recruitment could be interpreted broadly or narrowly. At its mildest, it might mean merely introducing someone to the Fourth Prince. At its most severe, perhaps some people became entangled in the succession struggle precisely because of the Gu family's connections.

"This... this..." Grand Old Madam finally understood the gravity, trembling as she said, "You know your father's character! He would never do such things!"

Gu Tingye didn't respond, continuing to scan the others with his gaze. His words grew slower, as if each syllable was inflicting lingering torture: "I cannot easily leave the suburban military camp, but I wrote to Liu Zhengjie. While he couldn't reveal much else, he did share one piece of information—that someone had previously helped the Rebellious Prince procure several batches of women from Jiangnan."

"This... is that a crime too?" Gu Tingyang, who had been distracted all along, asked in surprise.

Gu Tingye set down his teacup and said calmly, "Later, most of these women were sent to the homes of court officials and military commanders, to curry favor and buy influence."

Fifth Old Master glanced at Fourth Old Master, bowing his head in silent contemplation. Gu Tingwei looked unsettled, turning to Gu Tingbing beside him, only to see him pale as a ghost, with bean-sized sweat droplets trickling down his forehead.Minglan was listening intently when she felt a pinch on her hand. Turning her head, she saw the First Wife of Gu Tingxuan wearing a mocking expression. The woman lowered her voice to a near-whisper, sneering faintly: "Profitable ventures never come our way, and illicit dealings naturally don't involve us either."

Minglan responded with a vacant smile, finding no words to reply. The situation was now clear: the Old Marquis was cautious and wouldn't engage in such connections; Gu Tingyu was frail and ill, likely lacking the physical strength for such affairs; Gu Tingwei was kept in check by his mother and probably wouldn't go too far astray. As for the others, it was hard to say.

Having studied ancient penal codes for several years and absorbed knowledge from her father and brothers through daily exposure, she understood some of the intricacies. Based on what Gu Tingye had just explained, even if the charges of illicit connections were proven, the Gu family were founding nobles after all. Combined with Gu Tingye's influence, the punishment likely wouldn't be as severe as execution or military exile. So what was the worst possible outcome?

Minglan glanced around the room. Apart from Gu Tingye, who sat calmly drinking tea, everyone else displayed varying degrees of panic, fear, or anxiety.

The main branch was most concerned about being reprimanded for poor household management, having their properties (especially the imperial-bestowed manors) confiscated, or even losing their noble title. The fourth and fifth branches feared that if charges fell on individuals, they might face punishment—be it forced labor, imprisonment, or exile—none of which were pleasant. So what did Gu Tingye actually want?

Minglan couldn't help but look up at the composed man. Was he merely seeking to see those who had bullied him in the past suffer?

"After all this elaborate explanation, are you deliberately evading responsibility, Second Nephew?" The Fifth Old Master gritted his teeth, staring straight at Gu Tingye. "Will you just stand by and watch your uncles and cousins face punishment? Give us a clear answer—will you help or not?"

"Fifth Uncle should also give a clear answer," Gu Tingye replied leisurely. "Regarding what I mentioned earlier, were there indeed illicit connections?"

The Fifth Old Master was stumped. He couldn't deny it, but neither could he bring himself to admit it openly, lest he invite a lecture from Gu Tingye about "loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country." As a scholar, he still cared about saving face.

The Fourth Old Madam had initially intended to stay silent, but if the Fourth Old Master got into trouble, her daughter's marriage prospects would be ruined. Thus, she spoke softly: "Ye-ge'er, to err is human. Even if your uncles and cousins made mistakes, you should still lend them a hand. Aren't we all family after all?"

Gu Tingye glanced at her and said, "I naturally cannot stand idly by."

Minglan pondered this ambiguous statement silently. Well, the conversation had circled back to where it started.

The Fourth Old Master took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked up at Gu Tingye: "Ye-ge'er, truth be told, you're the only capable one in our family now. Your elder brother is in poor health and can't handle responsibilities. The title and the family's burdens must be borne by you as the pillar..."

The Grand Old Madam suddenly looked up and glared at the Fourth Old Master, her eyes burning with concealed resentment.

"Fourth Uncle, mind your words!" Gu Tingye immediately set down his cup, his expression turning stern. "There is an order to age and seniority—how can you speak so recklessly! Disrupting ancestral family law and damaging fraternal bonds—this is highly inappropriate of you, Fourth Uncle!"

The Fourth Old Master sat back down in embarrassment.Minglan frowned. Fourth Old Master was being far too blatant, utterly shameless. Moreover, they still hadn't grasped Gu Tingye's true intentions. He didn't want the title for the title's sake—he wanted it because he couldn't swallow the injustice, for his mother who died too young, and for all the grievances he had endured over the years. From this perspective, the fourth and fifth branches were actually more detestable than others.

"Ye-ge'er, won't you say something?" Grand Old Madam, sensing the tension, pressed urgently, "How should this matter be resolved?"

Gu Tingye looked at her anxious expression and replied slowly, "If the investigation reveals no wrongdoing, that would be best. But if..." He gave a helpless smile and left the sentence unfinished.

Fifth Old Master stared coldly at Gu Tingye and said grimly, "I only want the Gu family to be safe and sound, with every member emerging unscathed!"

—Hah! 'Only' that? Your demands are truly modest. Minglan thought to herself.

Gu Tingye also gazed at him calmly, his voice cold as a mountain spring: "If you seek peace now, why act as you did back then? Fifth Uncle need not be angry. Had I remained abroad all this time, what would you have done then?"

Everyone in the hall felt a jolt in their hearts. They recalled how when Gu Tingye left home years ago, while the ailing Old Marquis lay surrounded by people at his bedside, Fourth Old Master and Fifth Old Master had offered this consolation: "Just consider the Gu family never had such a descendant!"

For a moment, no one spoke. Grand Old Madam wept with hanging tears: "Ye-ge'er, it was all my fault for letting you suffer grievances back then. I know you hold resentment in your heart! If you bear any anger, direct it all at me. It was I who failed to care for you properly, letting you leave in anger..."

After all, she was the stepmother. Seeing her weep like this was rather unseemly. Minglan considered whether she ought to step forward and offer some consolation.

But Gu Tingye had already turned and approached, supporting Grand Old Madam as he spoke gently: "Should any trouble arise, I will naturally make efforts to resolve it."

"Can it be avoided entirely?" Grand Old Madam pressed unwillingly.

Gu Tingye replied briefly: "At present, everything remains unclear. It's difficult to say."

This ended the discussion. He had already promised to help—what more could they say? The people in the hall exchanged glances, all feeling helpless. Today's Gu Tingye proved impervious to both soft and hard approaches, skillfully employing evasive tactics.

"However," Gu Tingye smiled faintly, sweeping his gaze across those present, "I dare not promise anything else, but at the very least, I shall ensure his life remains secure."

His words carried a hidden meaning that startled many in the room.