The Story of Ming Lan

Human relationships are like flowing water, worldly affairs like shifting clouds.

Fourth Old Master and Fifth Old Master could never have dreamed that clansmen who yesterday still had to follow their lead would dare speak to them like this today.

The invited clan elders, though toothless and balding, still insisted on using flowery language, speaking with great assurance as they smoothly traced from Shang Yang's issuance of the "Separation Edict" all the way through generations of ritual laws. They spouted endless parallel prose and ornate phrases, all boiling down to one sentence: since the family has divided, each branch should live separately.

What about Old Marquis? After parents pass away, it's understandable if brothers with good relations wish to live together. However, we've heard of people depending on parents, uncles, or elder brothers - but never of uncles depending on nephews.

Oh? You say Grand Old Madam is still alive? But this twice-married elder sister-in-law is much younger than you two brothers-in-law. Surely you wouldn't claim your refusal to leave the Marquis residence is because you "can't bear to part" with your sister-in-law?

As for Gu Tingyu - his frail health makes it difficult for him to uphold the Marquis household, so it's reasonable he needs elder support. But Gu Tingye is perfectly healthy and energetic.

The Marquis household's current "achievements" owe much to your active participation. Over these years, thank you for your support, thank you for your assistance, thank you for your meticulous care. Now it's time for you to retire with honors. Your glorious image and noble character will remain forever in our hearts.

Goodbye, take care, no need to see you out.

Fifth Old Master trembled with rage, collapsing in his armchair unable to rise. Fourth Old Master slapped the table and stood up: "Whether I stay or leave is my decision! Since when do outsiders get to tell me what to do!"

Being a brute by nature, he resorted to shamelessness, pointing at those cowering in the back and cursing loudly: "You shameless lot! You used to cling to me like plaster, living off my scraps! Now that you see my influence waning, you come to kick me when I'm down! Let me tell you - I'm not leaving! If that Tingye brat has the guts, let him come evict me himself!"

His bluster was impressive, but while he had his strategies, others had their countermeasures.

Soon after, Gu Tingxuan entered from outside, forehead beaded with cold sweat, and whispered a few words in his father's ear. Fourth Old Master's face immediately changed dramatically. After gritting his teeth and stamping his feet for a while, he slumped defeated into his chair, offering no further resistance.

This dramatic turnaround actually had a simple explanation. Minglan didn't even need to investigate - the fourth branch leaked the information themselves.

It turned out that while Gu Tingbing had been sentenced to exile, there was a vast difference between being exiled three thousand li north versus west. Three thousand li north of the capital meant beyond the Great Wall - not only frozen wastelands and desolate conditions, but also frequent raids by Jie Barbarians. One would be lucky to return home intact, let alone live comfortably.

Exile three thousand li west was entirely different. Since Emperor Wu pacified the Nurgan Regional Military Commission, the central Shanxi and Fenyuan regions had become largely peaceful. Decades of imperial management had borne fruit, with cultivated fields, garrisoned troops, and established villages and towns even further west. Aside from poorer entertainment options (the average age of courtesans being over thirty-five), everything else was tolerable.With the exception of a very few individuals whose places of exile were explicitly designated by Imperial Edict (such as the unfortunate Lin Chong), there was still room for negotiation regarding the punishment of those who received lighter sentences. It was precisely for this reason that every year when the court sentenced criminals to exile, the Ministry of Justice and other relevant government offices would see a surge in business, with crowds nearly breaking down their doorsteps (what excellent institutions indeed).

Gu Tingxuan was a kind-hearted elder brother. During these days, he had been carrying silver everywhere, running around and trying every means to ensure Gu Tingbing’s journey would be as comfortable as possible. He managed to arrange for the removal of his shackles, the use of a carriage, and the accompaniment of two servants. Moreover, the destination was a relatively peaceful small town in the northwest, sparing him from exposure to the elements and a primitive lifestyle. Just as the arrangements were nearly settled, an unexpected complication arose.

Back then, the Rebellious Prince’s case had implicated many, with numerous aristocratic families involved to varying degrees. Among them were cases similar to the Gu family’s offense—neither too severe nor too trivial, involving flattery but not full-fledged conspiracy, and certainly not amounting to rebellion. These families still possessed some influence and connections, and in the course of their efforts to seek leniency, the Gu family was dragged into the spotlight.

What was the most severe crime in ancient times? Treason (betraying the state) and rebellion (plotting to overthrow the government).

Generally speaking, in the rigidly stratified society of ancient times, if you were at the pinnacle of the power pyramid, with a solid background and confidence, minor offenses such as forcibly seizing a commoner’s daughter, trampling on farmland while riding a horse, or even a bit of corruption were all manageable. At worst, the punishment might be execution, with confiscation of property and enslavement of family members being the harshest outcome (unless one was related to the imperial family, in which case this penalty was exempt).

Only the two crimes mentioned above, once committed, would inevitably lead to clan extermination without question. As for whether it would be the extermination of three clans, nine clans, or even ten clans, that depended on the emperor’s mood and character at the time.

And it just so happened that the Rebellious Prince’s crime was rebellion.

From this perspective, the Gu family’s sentence was somewhat lenient, after all, they had genuinely performed tasks and acted as intermediaries for the Rebellious Prince.

Only Gu Tingbing was implicated in the Gu family, while other families had several members—fathers, sons, uncles, and nephews—involved. A mere three-year exile? Others were facing sentences of ten years or more. Naturally, these families were dissatisfied.

What? The Gu family only procured a few beauties? Our family only helped arrange a few troupes of actors and performers! Could it be that the social harm caused by entertainers is so much greater than that of prostitutes?! Is there no conscience or justice left? Families who had purchased handsome young boys also voiced strong dissatisfaction! This was blatant discrimination against the "chrysanthemum" (a metaphor for male prostitution)—weren’t the legal implications the same?!

—Alright. The above was Minglan’s mental elaboration. After hearing the sensational rumors Xiaotao had gathered, she collapsed onto the couch and shamelessly pounded the bed in silent, hysterical laughter.

Once the matter was laid bare, the Ministry of Justice also found it troublesome.

Although the Gu family’s case had been decided by the emperor himself, the specific sentencing had been carried out by the Ministry of Justice. At the time of receiving the Imperial Edict, they had interpreted the emperor’s intentions and handed down a light sentence to Gu Tingbing. But now... if the matter escalated and attracted the attention of meddlesome censors (who might accuse the Ministry of Justice of favoritism), it could become a real headache. Those exempted by the Imperial Edict were untouchable, but those already convicted could be subjected to harsher penalties.

Within a few days, rumors began to circulate from the Ministry of Justice. It was said that Gu Tingbing’s sentence was to be reconsidered: either his exile would be extended by two thousand li (to a high-risk border region), or his term would be lengthened by seven years, rounding it up to a neat ten years—no discounts. Additionally, Fourth Old Master would need to pay a large sum of "redemption" silver.

This time, Fourth Old Master was truly frightened.Wanting to use silver, they had already poured in quite a bit, but the situation before them was a bottomless pit, and it was uncertain whether it would be effective; wanting to pull strings, ever since his nominal fifth-rank hereditary position was revoked, he was left with nothing, not even able to enter the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.

Upon receiving the news, Consort Liu and Second Wife of Gu Tingbing were immediately overwhelmed—one fainted, the other went numb. After regaining their senses, they both went to beg Fourth Old Master to save them, tugging at his sleeves, clinging to his legs, weeping and wailing, causing a commotion day and night. Fourth Old Master was at a loss, unable to swallow his pride, so he sent his eldest son to seek Gu Tingye's help.

No one knew what Gu Tingye said in the study, but Gu Tingxuan came out dejected; after returning and reporting the matter, he was scolded furiously by the enraged Fourth Old Master.

Two more days passed like this. On this day, Rong Jie'er and Xianjie were standing in the room, reciting "The Peach Blossom Spring" clearly and fluently. Minglan sat smiling in the seat of honor, listening. "The Peach Blossom Spring" is elegantly written, serene and refined, and Minglan had always admired its style. Coupled with the girls' clear voices and adorable faces, the room was filled with harmony and joy. Even Xianjie's wet nurse, watching from the side, was delighted.

After they finished reciting, Minglan nodded repeatedly in appreciation. Xianjie obediently came over, hugged Minglan's sleeve, and swayed it, cooing, "Second Aunt, we recited it! You have to keep your word!"

Minglan smiled radiantly, stroking Xianjie's little face. "Of course, I'll keep my word. Later, I'll have Danju bring the cage over, and I'll ask Hao Guanshi to build a little house for the white rabbits, alright?"

Rong Jie'er, who was fidgeting shyly beside Xianjie, also brightened up and whispered softly, "Can it... be two stories, with grass and flowers on top?" Minglan chuckled and deliberately said, "Sure. But you'll have to learn something else first."

"Deal, deal, deal! Just pick a passage, and I'll make sure Rong Jie'er memorizes it!" Xianjie eagerly agreed first. Rong Jie'er was also excited, her little face flushed, beaming with a bright, innocent smile.

Minglan felt a sense of relief in her heart.

If they were her own children, she would have long since grabbed them by the neck and roared, "Are you going to study or not, you little brat?" or "If you don't study properly, I'll skin you!"—no need for all this exhausting effort! Rong Jie'er had never been interested in books and was stubborn, making her difficult to guide. Sigh... at least now there seemed to be a way.

Just after sending the two girls off and before she could catch her breath, there was a commotion outside.

"Second Wife of Gu Tingbing doesn't look well, Madam. You... be careful." Lüzhi rushed in quickly and reported in a low voice.

It turned out the women of the fourth branch had come in a group. Minglan's heart tightened, and she immediately straightened up, gathering her energy to face the battle.

She welcomed the guests inside and seated them, exchanging glances.

In fact, Lüzhi had been too conservative. Not only did Second Wife of Gu Tingbing look unwell, but all the women of the fourth branch appeared haggard and grim.

After serving tea and exchanging pleasantries, Second Wife of Gu Tingbing, ignoring the maids still present, hurriedly recounted the matter of Gu Tingbing and begged Minglan for help. Minglan listened but did not respond, merely waving her hand to dismiss the servants. She only kept Lüzhi and Xiaotao in the inner room, just in case—if a fight broke out, she would have bodyguards."Second Sister-in-law." Minglan lowered her head to blow gently on her tea, the pea-green powdered enamel lidded bowl stirring amber ripples in the cup. She spoke mildly, "As I said last time, I don’t interfere with the men’s affairs outside. If the Marquis intervenes, that’s well and good; if he doesn’t, he must have his reasons. Telling me all this is useless."

As if her last string had snapped, Second Wife of Gu Tingbing sprang to her feet, bloodshot eyes glaring at Minglan. "How can you say such things! Do you wish our branch wiped out before you’re satisfied?! Fine, fine! I’ll go die right now!"

Minglan glanced at her, entirely unmoved, still smiling. "Second Sister-in-law jokes again. Second Cousin is perfectly fine, yet you speak of seeking death—what would become of your children then?" Such threats held no sway over her.

Old Madam sat silently, her face weary. First Wife of Gu Tingxuan seemed fuming. Witnessing the scene, she raised her voice at Second Wife, "Sit down! Why vent at our sister-in-law? As they say, a married woman follows her husband. Second Brother Ye has always been strong-willed since childhood—what does it have to do with our sister-in-law?! Talking of life and death all the time—how unlucky!"

Second Wife never truly intended to die and seized the chance to step down, collapsing onto a chair in tears. "Then what should we do?!" She wept while addressing Minglan, "I know my husband offended the Marquis, but if not for his sake, then for the ancestors’! How can you watch his own brother suffer?! The Marquis is too heartless, refusing to save him..."

With a sharp clatter, Minglan slammed her teacup onto the small winged table, her face turning frosty. "Second Sister-in-law, speak with a clear conscience! What do you mean by ‘refusing to save him’?!" She straightened her back and rose abruptly, her gaze sweeping over the three women before settling on Second Wife. She sneered, "Go ask around—what punishments have befallen those involved in similar cases as ours! Some had their families seized, some exiled, others beheaded! Even those sentenced to penal servitude dragged down countless others for years!"

Her voice rose sharply, laced with anger. Minglan stepped closer, fixing Second Wife with an intense stare. "In our family now, Fourth Uncle is safe, Fifth Uncle is safe, all the brothers are safe. Only one has been implicated, and we’re pulling strings to lighten his sentence! Hmph... Who’s been running about, exerting effort? And you, Second Sister-in-law, dismiss it all with one remark!"

Her charming, large eyes narrowed with sarcasm. "I once thought the Marquis somewhat unfeeling, but now I see—doing good doesn’t earn gratitude, only blame!"

Having spoken, she turned away resentfully and sat down, refusing to say another word.

Normally, First Wife would have stepped in to smooth things over, but today she seemed equally cross, deliberately staying silent. Seeing this, Second Wife twisted around and flung herself at First Wife, tugging and weeping, "Eldest Sister-in-law, say something! You’ve always been close to our sister-in-law—speak up! Are you just going to watch your brother suffer?!"

First Wife’s sleeve creaked from the pulling. Annoyed, she pushed her sister-in-law away and said coolly, "What can I say? I’m merely a sister-in-law from another branch, not the God of Tai Sui!"Second Wife of Gu Tingbing, who had been seething with pent-up anger, immediately pointed at First Wife of Gu Tingxuan and shouted, "I know exactly what you're scheming! You think that by getting rid of my husband, you and your black-hearted spouse can monopolize the family fortune!"

First Wife of Gu Tingxuan also flew into a rage. She sprang to her feet, pulled a few slips of paper from her sleeve, and slammed them heavily onto the table. "Take a look at these!" she roared. Everyone's eyes followed, and they saw several brightly colored pawn tickets.

Her face flushed crimson with fury, and her neck thickened with rage. "These past few days, we've been running around trying to arrange things for Second Brother, and everywhere we turn, we need silver. But for years, everything has been tightly held in Second Brother's hands—we haven't laid a finger on a single coin! Now that we need silver, Father-in-law keeps crying poor all day long, and my blockhead of a husband had no choice but to pawn household items!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Finally, she spat out bitterly, "Second Sister-in-law, all these years, have I ever taken so much as a needle or thread from you? Fine, fine! As your elder sister-in-law, I've treated you fairly enough. Watch your tongue! Push me too far, and none of us will have a peaceful life!"

Second Wife of Gu Tingbing was left speechless. She had been unwilling to spend her own silver, wanting to save some capital for her children and herself, and had hoped to rely on the family funds. Who knew Fourth Old Master would be so stingy? Tears streaming down her face, she found herself at a loss for words.

Watching the Fourth Branch tear itself apart from within, Old Madam could no longer sit still. She straightened up, her face full of entreaty. "Minglan, though you haven't been married into the family long, I can see you have a kind heart. Now that your Second Brother Bing is in such a state, and his children are still young, can you really feel no pity at all?"

Minglan raised her head and looked at Old Madam with a strange expression. "May I ask, Fourth Aunt, when the Marquis left home back then, did any of you know how much silver he had on him? Did he have anyone to turn to outside? The martial world is full of violence and strife—was he safe? All those years, where was he? What was he doing? Did anyone in this vast Marquis' residence know? Did anyone even ask?"

She paused after each question, each word sharp as a blade or piercing as a sword. To put it bluntly, if Gu Tingye had died out there in those years, there might not even have been anyone to collect his body. Minglan felt profound contempt inwardly but spoke with calm detachment. "Now, Second Master Bing has parents worrying over him, an elder brother and sister-in-law running about for him—he's far better off than the Marquis was back then."

Old Madam had no answer to any of these questions. After a long silence, she looked ashamed and murmured, "I also know... that child suffered grievances back then."

The corners of Minglan's lips curved slightly, tinged with mockery. "This niece-in-law believes it's better for me to care for my own husband first before caring for someone else's." Her capacity for sympathy was exceedingly limited, reserved only for a select few.

Seeing that even Old Madam had fallen silent, Second Wife of Gu Tingbing grew anxious and was about to speak when Minglan turned to her and preempted her. "Second Sister-in-law, let's speak plainly. Given the 'affection' between the Marquis and Second Master Bing, he has already gone above and beyond."

She deliberately emphasized the word "affection." Second Wife of Gu Tingbing stared blankly. Observing her expression, Minglan smiled faintly and added, "At this point, Second Sister-in-law, instead of begging the Marquis, you'd be better off going to beg Fourth Uncle."

"Beg? Beg for what?" Second Wife of Gu Tingbing's eyes darted nervously.

Minglan felt scornful but replied evenly, "Second Sister-in-law, playing the fool when you know perfectly well isn't a cure-all."The fifth branch was much more straightforward; they had already begun packing up their belongings and organizing their personnel, and they would likely be ready to move in about ten days to half a month.

With things having reached this point, unless one was deliberately obtuse, Minglan's meaning was clear to all.

Second Wife of Gu Tingbing slumped into her seat, disheartened. She didn’t want the family to split up either—it was always easier to enjoy the shade under a large tree, especially now that even Fourth Old Master’s nominal hereditary position was gone. First Wife of Gu Tingxuan pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent.

Fourth Old Madam glanced at her two daughters-in-law and sighed. Taking Minglan’s hand, she pleaded earnestly, her voice trembling with emotion, "I know my nephew holds a grudge. Over the years... his Fourth Uncle and Brother Bing have indeed been in the wrong. But, Minglan..."

Her voice choked with sobs, she continued, "We will definitely move out. But, for the sake of your sister Tingying, could you possibly delay it for another two years? She’s at the age where we’re looking for a match for her. If she could marry from the Marquis’s residence, then..."

Minglan composed herself, turned to face her, and softened her tone. "Fourth Aunt, I understand your difficulties. But even two months, let alone two years, is something the Marquis is unwilling to grant. Don’t blame him for being harsh. Just think back to those two incidents involving money."

Fourth Old Madam looked up abruptly, stammering, "What incidents...?"

Minglan fixed her gaze on her and said calmly, "One was the matter of the Red Sleeve Pavilion, and the other was the Wan Sheng Bank affair."

Second Wife of Gu Tingbing suddenly lifted her head and shrilled, "That’s right! Those two incidents were exposed by my husband, and he even implicated Brother Tingye. Is it possible that he’s held a grudge all this time? He..."

She couldn’t continue, for Minglan’s icy gaze cut through her like a blade.

Minglan stared intently at Second Wife of Gu Tingbing and said, word by word, "I won’t discuss right and wrong in these matters today. But the truth of what happened is known to heaven and earth, to Second Master Bing, and to others. If you are truly blameless, Sister-in-law, you may go before the Bodhisattva and swear an oath to expose those cowardly, black-hearted individuals!"

Second Wife of Gu Tingbing felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t yet married into the family during the first incident, but she was well aware of the second. At the time, she had secretly rejoiced that there was someone to take the blame, allowing her family to keep the money and avoid punishment.

First Wife of Gu Tingxuan widened her eyes. She had been somewhat unclear about the details before, but after turning the matter over in her mind repeatedly, her understanding gradually dawned, and she looked at Second Wife of Gu Tingbing with increasing contempt.

Fourth Old Madam sighed inwardly. She had witnessed both incidents, and even if she hadn’t understood the full story at the time, she had slowly pieced it together later. The behavior of the father and son from the fourth branch had indeed been despicable, and it was no wonder Gu Tingye held a grudge. At the time, she had prioritized her own safety and hadn’t spoken up for Gu Tingye. How could she expect him to accommodate her now?

"So, has this enmity been set in stone?" Fourth Old Madam asked, her voice trembling.

Minglan let out a long sigh and said gently, with a touch of melancholy, "It’s precisely because we don’t want this enmity to fester that we must live separately. Right now, the Marquis is burning with anger—he must vent his frustrations first. In time, when the nephews and nieces have grown up and the family is filled with children and grandchildren... after all, we all share the same family name, Gu. The Marquis is kind-hearted by nature; how could he hold a grudge against the younger generation?"

She had never intended to make things difficult for the innocent. Although Gu Tingying was Fourth Old Master’s daughter, Minglan still hoped she would have a harmonious and peaceful marriage.Upon hearing the words "younger generation," First Wife of Gu Tingxuan's heart gave a violent leap. Her lifelong concern had always been her three sons. In fact, Minglan had already hinted to her recently: Gu Tingye had secured a position in the Thousand Guards Battalion for her eldest son, Gu Shiju.

With his uncle's support in the future, and if he worked hard himself, he would at least have some security later on. However, this matter absolutely could not be revealed now, or she would immediately be condemned by the entire fourth branch as "biting the hand that feeds." It would be better to announce it only after the household division; precisely because of this, Gu Tingxuan felt guilty toward his father and younger brother and was desperately helping to make arrangements.

First Wife of Gu Tingxuan had long observed that the resentment between Gu Tingye and her father-in-law ran deep. If they lived together and quarreled all day, which side should Gu Tingxuan support? Supporting his father would offend Gu Tingye; supporting Gu Tingye would brand him with the heavy label of unfilial.

It would be better to live separately. Gu Tingye and Fourth Old Master would likely rarely see each other again. By then, Gu Tingye would remember Gu Tingxuan's past kindness, and she and Minglan could frequently visit each other, thereby gaining more support.

So from the very beginning, she had been in favor of dividing the estate and living apart.

After this conversation, even if Fourth Old Master were foolish, he knew he couldn't muddle through any longer. After dragging it out for another three or four days, seeing that Grand Old Madam was still "bedridden" and hadn't spoken up for the fourth and fifth branches, he gave up. He then informed the clan elders that he would move out.

Thus, the fourth branch also began busily packing their belongings.

After decades of entanglement, finances had to be clearly divided, and household servants had to be sorted out—some taken along, some left behind. The commotion was chaotic, and for a time, the Gu residence was quite lively.

The autumn scenery was lovely, the air crisp and fresh. With the window wide open, Minglan reclined against a soft lavender cloud-patterned pillow, holding a warm bowl of snow pear, bird's nest, and rock sugar soup. She slowly scooped it spoonful by spoonful, a faint, mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips.

Although she had met the late Old Marquis, she imagined he must have been a benevolent and caring patriarch, which was why he had sheltered his two younger brothers under his wing, leaving them so naive and ignorant to this day.

These two uncles—one was unruly and shameless, only bullying within the family, while the other was self-righteous and looked down on everyone.

If either of them had been more sophisticated, the moment Gu Tingye rose to prominence, they should have thought about how to reconcile, how to carefully apologize, and how to smooth over past grievances. Instead, they stubbornly flaunted their authority as elders, wanting to use him while maintaining their pride. In the end... what use was all their bluster? Gu Tingye didn't even need to lift a finger before they couldn't hold on.

In the face of overwhelming power, their posturing seemed utterly feeble.

Moreover, in this matter of demanding the division of the estate, Gu Tingye was in the right.

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the Celestial Empire, founded on Confucian doctrine, has emphasized the "singularity of ultimate authority."

At the national level, this principle is expressed as "There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers in a country." In matters of inheritance, it is the primogeniture system. In marriage, it is the system of one husband, one wife, and multiple concubines.

Through countless bloody lessons, the ancients clearly recognized that once ultimate authority is dispersed, endless disputes and troubles follow. This is why Emperor Jing of Han and Emperor Wu of Han had no choice but to weaken the feudal lords, repeatedly subduing their uncles, cousins, and nephews until they were completely subdued. Similarly, promiscuous men of ancient times actively established rules for wives and concubines, using rituals and norms to restrain themselves and placing the inner household under the management of the principal wife, so they could focus on external affairs without worrying about internal strife.

The same applies to dividing a family. While parents are alive, sons may not divide the family because the father, as the head of the household, has sufficient authority to resolve internal conflicts. While the elder brother is alive, younger brothers do not divide the family because of the saying "the elder brother is like a father." But what happens when even the elder brother passes away?

When a nephew becomes the head of the household, if his uncles remain in the family, disagreements may arise. According to clan rites, the nephew has the authority to make decisions, but according to the custom of respecting elders, the nephew should defer to his uncles' opinions.Thus, the power structure would be disrupted, which is extremely harmful to a family.

Therefore, Fourth Old Master’s insistence on staying had no support from propriety or law. Coupled with Gu Tingye’s current authority, it could be said that Fourth Old Master was bound to lose. Gu Tingye didn’t even need to do anything; he could simply stand by and watch.

The real trouble was Grand Old Madam.

She had always enjoyed a good reputation. Even if some suspected her motives, if she were to appear in her capacity as the elder sister-in-law, weeping pitifully and feigning fear that her stepson would mistreat or bully her, pleading desperately with the clan elders to let the two uncles stay, that would be truly difficult to handle.

“For this deal, we must first settle matters with that one; the rest won’t be a problem.”

Gu Tingye’s handsome face was inscrutable, his deep eyes like tranquil lakes, exuding boundless indifference.

Day by day, he waited and watched step by step. When Grand Old Madam finally withdrew and stopped interfering, it was a sign of her tacit consent. Only then did Gu Tingye propose dividing the residence and living separately. Without harming himself, he managed to inflict damage on his opponents.

He was born with a fiery and unyielding temperament, but the world, like sand, is both soft and resilient. Through countless hardships and trials, the blazing fire and icy river within him were gradually tempered into a deep, unyielding patience.

“You are too upright by nature, and I fear you may struggle to guard against underhanded schemes,” he murmured in her ear, his gaze as calm as the sea, filled with both pity and reluctance. “Where there are many people, there will be many troubles. Once these miscellaneous matters are cleared away, you can take your time to sort things out.”

Minglan understood what he was worried about. He was afraid he couldn’t protect her.

Her heart softened, and she reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek tightly against his slightly stubbled face, feeling warmth seep into her very soul.

On the path of domestic strife, she, who lacked natural talent, still had much to learn.

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[Author’s Note]

Let’s not talk about left and right chancellors or the like—they are not the ultimate seat of power. The court requires checks and balances, but authority must ultimately reside in one place. For this reason, the imperial clan, the empress dowager, regents, court officials, and even imperial in-laws have engaged in constant struggles, one after another.

But within a family, such a system cannot be implemented. Having two principal wives and attempting to create balance would immediately throw the household into chaos.

Let’s not even mention the various strange anecdotes from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, such as Duke Wen of Jin’s virtuous wives deferring to one another for the position of principal wife, or Duke Wen’s daughter yielding to the principal wife.

In reality, during that era, due to the lack of a clear succession system, bloody conflicts were rampant, and fratricide was almost commonplace.

Focusing on China after the Qin and Han dynasties, the system of one husband and one wife was largely established.

However, in ancient times, there was still the concept of the “equal wife,” though aside from exceptional circumstances, it mostly occurred among merchant families.

Due to the inconvenience of transportation in ancient times, merchants needed to travel back and forth, setting up shops in various places. Thus, they required multiple wives to manage their affairs. This practice was relatively popular during the Song Dynasty.

The last person in China to elevate the system of equal wives to prominence was Comrade Hu Xueyan.

As his business grew too large to entrust to professional managers, he placed his trust in his concubines, marrying many heroic women who helped manage his various enterprises. They coexisted peacefully, with no distinction in rank.

However, as it turned out, the wisdom of the ancestors was correct. After Hu Xueyan’s downfall, the remaining family assets were thrown into chaos due to disputes among his wives and concubines, extinguishing even the last hope of revival.In comparison, the Jin merchants who flourished for centuries seem to have more authority on the matter. They firmly rejected the concept of an equal wife, with some clans even forbidding concubinage altogether.

Looking back now, the saying "marry for virtue" reveals that from the very beginning, ancient societies positioned wives as co-managers of the household rather than merely companions who assist husbands and raise children.