The morning passed amidst palpable tension. Minglan picked up her chopsticks, facing a table full of delicacies, yet for the first time understood what it meant to have food taste like sawdust. Thinking it better to eat less than suffer indigestion, she set down her chopsticks and paced restlessly around the room. Her heavily pregnant belly made her movements clumsy and sluggish, and her agitation resembled a plump kitten with a nail stuck in its paw.
Cui Mama found the sight unbearable and finally pressed Minglan onto the couch, admonishing sternly, "Nothing in this world is more important than childbirth. Madam should rest properly. If it truly becomes unbearable, we can retreat to the estate—let’s see who can find us then."
Minglan was taken aback, but after a moment’s reflection, she found the idea brilliant. She could quietly slip away to the hot spring villa with the midwife and necessary attendants, and by the time that old witch and the Yu family tracked her down, she would have already given birth. Delighted by this plan, Minglan felt a wave of relief and obediently followed Cui Mama’s advice to sleep. Having slept poorly the previous night, her nap was exceptionally deep and refreshing. Even more wonderful was waking to find Mama Chang seated at the table in the outer room, conversing softly with Cui Mama through the beaded curtain.
"Mama Chang, what brings you here? How is Nian Ge’er?" Minglan felt a pang of guilt remembering the young boy still nursing his injured arm. As she raised her hand for Cui Mama to help her dress, Mama Chang’s expression turned grave, though her words held a dark humor. "What nonsense is Madam saying? This old woman isn’t some miracle cure—Nian’er can’t devour me as medicine, nor can he be without me for even a moment." Cui Mama stifled a laugh.
After changing into fresh summer clothes, Minglan dismissed the servants and instructed Xiaotao and Danju to guard the door. With only herself, Cui Mama, and Mama Chang remaining in the room, she lowered her voice. "Danju has already conveyed Madam’s intentions to this old woman."
Suppressing her urgency, Minglan felt compelled to explain herself first: "It’s not that I’m nosive or indiscreet, but now that they’ve come knocking at our door, and given my past ties to the Yu family, I fear breaking the vase while swatting the mouse. I had no choice but to ask…"
Mama Chang’s wrinkled, aged hands firmly covered Minglan’s smaller ones as she whispered, "What kind of person Madam is, how could this old woman not know? All these days, you’ve never once inquired about the Marquis’s past."
In truth, she had been conflicted—if Minglan asked about Man Niang, should she speak or not? Without Gu Tingye’s consent, revealing anything would be presumptuous, yet withholding might displease Minglan. Fortunately, Minglan had never probed, earning both her relief and respect.
"As for the matter of the former Lady Yu…" Mama Chang hesitated. Minglan clenched her palms, feeling her heart tremble. "This old woman truly doesn’t know. How Lady Yu passed away—the Marquis never breathed a word of it."
A weight lifted from Minglan’s chest, though her large eyes couldn’t conceal her disappointment. "The Marquis didn’t even tell you, Mama?"
Mama Chang slowly raised her head, her expression solemn. "...Back then, Ye-ge’er had a fierce quarrel with the Old Marquis. Swallowing his pride, he left in a rage—I couldn’t dissuade him. But barely a month later, he rushed back from the south in a panic. When I asked what happened, he refused to say. Not long after, the funeral gong sounded from the Marquis’s residence, announcing that Lady Yu had died of illness.""So soon?" Minglan felt a wave of doubt and asked softly, "What was the Marquis's condition at that time?" Mama Chang shook her head slowly. "Hard to say. Something didn't seem right." Minglan encouraged her earnestly, "Whatever you're thinking, Mama, please speak freely."
Mama Chang nodded and began to recall carefully: "At first, I thought Ye-ge'er had returned in such a hurry because he'd received word from the Marquis's household about Yu Shi's critical illness. But later, it didn't seem to match. Worried that Ye-ge'er might be mistreated inside, I often paid people to gather news outside the Marquis's residence. Despite Yu Shi being so gravely ill, the Marquis's household never summoned a single imperial physician. That made this old woman suspicious at the time."
Minglan greatly admired Mama Chang and held her hand, encouraging her with her eyes to continue.
"There's another thing," Mama Chang spoke even more slowly. "I remember the day after Ye-ge'er returned, he got heavily drunk and refused to go home, so he came to my place. I helped him to bed, but he kept his jaw clenched tight and didn't utter a single word. At that time, I found it strange—how could a man drink like that when his wife was on her deathbed? Though our young master has his temper, he's not a heartless scoundrel. No matter how flawed Yu Shi was, they were still husband and wife. Our young master wouldn't act like that..."
"Perhaps the Marquis felt guilty, which is why he drank so heavily," Minglan speculated, a hint of bitterness in her tone.
Mama Chang's aged eyes narrowed further into inverted triangles as she continued shaking her head. "It didn't seem that way. I know the young master's nature—he's not one to pay lip service. If he truly felt he'd wronged someone, he'd make amends with sincere actions. His demeanor seemed more like he was bursting with grievances and anger he couldn't voice, so frustrated that he turned to drink to drown his sorrows."
This assessment resonated deeply with Minglan. Gu Tingye was a man of action, preferring to express his views on gratitude and grudges through deeds. Because Duan Chengqian had shown him kindness, he abandoned his pregnant wife to rescue Duan's brother (that utter scoundrel—Minglan couldn't help cursing him inwardly a couple of times). And because he felt he'd wronged Yu Yanran, causing her to marry far away in Yunnan, he quietly secured double tea permits for the Duan family for three years straight. When Minglan discovered this, he ordered her not to reveal the secret. It wasn't until Minglan repeatedly showed him letters from Yanran stating how truly, genuinely well she was doing that he considered reducing his interference in the southwestern tea market.
Thus, if he had truly felt profound guilt toward Yu Yanhong, following his behavioral pattern, he would have stayed by her bedside day and night to comfort her, or perhaps taken up arms to kidnap a couple of top imperial physicians, or even raided the palace for millennium ginseng and mythical tortoises—any of those would have been more in character.
"Later, when Yu Shi passed away, Ye-ge'er didn't even wait for the funeral before leaving again. This time, he was gone for many years." Recalling the past, Mama Chang sighed heavily. "In just over ten days, he only spoke a few words after Yu Shi's death, saying he'd been blind and misjudged Man Niang. After that, not another word."
Logically, losing a wife is a serious matter, especially a newlywed wife who died so suddenly. Any normal widower would want to talk about it—even Changbai would likely compose a few extra five-character poems lamenting the fate of a married couple torn apart too soon.
"So, according to you, Mama..." Minglan's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Mama Chang lowered her head, pondering deeply.Initially, she hadn't been without suspicions. She had probed indirectly twice, remarking, "So young, how could she fall ill and pass away so suddenly?" Yet Gu Tingye had consistently evaded the topic. Still, she managed to detect something unusual. Though his expression revealed nothing, from his demeanor and words, she could sense Gu Tingye's avoidance tinged with annoyance—unwilling to even mention it, as if wishing the matter had never occurred. And Gu Tingye was not one to evade things by nature.
"That Yu Shi's death has nothing to do with Ye-ge'er," Mama Chang articulated slowly, her expression grave. "Not only is he uninvolved, but that Yu Shi must have committed a grave fault." As for whether it related to the Gu family, she dared not draw conclusions.
Minglan exhaled deeply, feeling somewhat relieved. In hindsight, she had sensed this too.
If so, then the Yu family's reaction made sense. Consciously guilty, they had not pursued Yanhong's death, nor dared to suggest Gu Tingye remarry a Yu daughter as a replacement wife, much less presume to act as in-laws with frequent visits. Before this morning, both families' behavior aligned with this deduction. But what had given Yu's First Wife the audacity to come and provoke?!
Minglan was deeply puzzled, pondering intensely. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck her. She recalled Yu's First Wife's unnatural, evasive gaze when mentioning Gu Tingye during this morning's dispute.
"...Before and after Yu Shi's passing, did the Marquis have any dealings with the Yu family?" Minglan asked abruptly.
Mama Chang was taken aback, then hurriedly replied, "He shouldn't have. The young master was so vexed, he left again in haste without even attending the funeral."
Like a crack tearing through long-chaotic darkness, all her doubts finally found a reasonable explanation. Minglan exhaled a heavy breath forcefully yet relieved, slowly stood up, supported her lower back as she walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back with a smile.
"Let's not dwell on how Sister Yu passed; regardless, it must have been her own fault, leaving the Yu family ashamed. This is something absolutely unspeakable, so very few know the truth. In the Gu family, likely only the Old Marquis, Grand Old Madam, and the Marquis know. In the Yu family, only Lord Yu and Yu's First Wife know; the rest were in Dengzhou at the time and probably unaware."
"Then why did Yu's First Wife still dare..." Mama Chang was bewildered—since when did those who did wrong have such nerve?
"Because someone intervened behind the scenes."
Standing in the center, Minglan smiled faintly. "All along, the Yu family's main branch acknowledged their guilt, swallowing their bitterness without daring to make a fuss or cause trouble. But recently, someone suddenly sought them out and told Yu's First Wife that the Marquis had been unaware of what happened back then."
Mama Chang's narrowed eyes snapped open, her expression shocked.
"The Marquis knows he was aware, we know he was aware, Grand Old Madam knows he was aware—but the Yu family doesn't. When the incident occurred, both families were caught off guard. The funeral and aftermath must have been handled by Grand Old Madam." Minglan carefully deduced the situation at the time, finding it increasingly plausible. "When it happened, the Yu family, ashamed and remorseful, surely didn't dare to inquire in detail."Mama Chang gradually grasped the key points and followed Minglan's train of thought, slowly continuing: "However, someone recently told the Yu family that Young Master Ye was actually unaware of this matter. If properly concealed, it might be glossed over."
As for who that person was, they both knew in their hearts.
Minglan slowly sat down opposite Mama Chang and said with a faint smile, "Not only that, but that person also promised various benefits. Lord Yu's career has been stagnant, and Lord Yu the elder doesn't have much time left. If a son could be adopted under Yu Shi's name, that child would have to recognize the Yu family as maternal relatives, and there might be opportunities for future support." None of the other members of the Yu family were aware of these arrangements.
"...This is nothing but fraud!" It took Mama Chang a while to recover from her shock. "You can deceive for a while, but not forever. When the young master returns, won't everything be exposed?"
"The Yu family was merely a pawn from the beginning," Minglan's smile turned cold. "Once I relent and let them make noise outside, claiming they've received the Gu family's consent—saying the ceremony will be held later while prioritizing the celebration for Lord Yu the elder's health—if the Yu family hosts a few banquets and has Chang Ge'er pay respects publicly, they'll create a fait accompli. The ones who'll suffer are only the Yu family and His Lordship."
When the time came, Gu Tingye's humiliation would be unimaginable. Not only would his youthful indiscretions be dredged up to shame him (possibly even attracting censorial officials to join the fray), but there would also be the issue of inheritance. Unless he hardened his heart and eliminated the child, the consequences would be endless.
As for Lord Yu and his wife, like Kang Yima, once they were used up, why would that person care about their fate?
Mama Chang drew a sharp breath and exclaimed in disbelief, "What a vicious scheme!"
She remained stunned for a long moment, about to ask Minglan how to counter this, when she noticed her lost in thought, staring blankly upward, and couldn't help but inquire.
"This matter... Concubine Gong probably knows about it too," Minglan murmured, lifting her head in contemplation.
The staff who had accompanied Yu Shi as part of her dowry had long been dismissed, sold, or returned to the Yu family—all except Hongxiao, who remained. Having grown up by Yu Shi's side, she must have known everything clearly. Only now did Minglan finally understand why Gu Tingye always looked at this seemingly pitiable woman with such disgust. Having someone who knew his hidden secrets nearby was always unpleasant.
"She must have been planning this for a long time. Empty words alone probably wouldn't have convinced Yanran's father so easily—she needed a witness," Minglan's thoughts drifted further, and she muttered to herself, "Back when we were dividing the household with the fourth and fifth branches, Concubine Gong always liked to go over there. I was too busy at the time to bother with her. Now that I think about it, that person must have taken the opportunity to bring Concubine Gong out back then, using her as proof that His Lordship was truly unaware. That's how Lord Yu dared to act so boldly!"
No wonder that old witch chose to strike at this particular time. No wonder Gong Hongxiao had been unusually well-behaved ever since. Minglan had thought her own imposing presence had intimidated her into submission.
Mama Chang listened, grinding her teeth in anger. "That wretched woman! That wretched woman!" She was cursing two different people. "Madam, we can't control the others, but let's first tie up that Gong woman!"
Minglan smiled bitterly. "What she needed to do is already done. What's the point of tying her up now? Ah, well, it's never too late to mend the fold after the sheep is lost." She then called for Cui Mama in a raised voice and quietly instructed her to have Hongxiao placed under watch. Cui Mama acknowledged and left."Madam, what should we do now?" This time Mama Chang was truly flustered.
Minglan, however, grew calmer. The greatest fear in the world was the fear of the unknown. Now that she had some understanding of the situation, she was no longer afraid. She smiled and said, "What else can we do? An eye for an eye. We'll use some deception too."
Mama Chang understood her meaning but asked in alarm, "What if the Yu family doesn't take the bait? Or what if we've misjudged the situation?"
Minglan tilted her head in thought, then spread her hands. "I've already gathered the guards. If all else fails, I'll take the valuables, you take Nian Ge'er, and we'll take refuge in the mountain hot spring estate. That place is easy to defend but hard to attack. Let's see who can fight their way up there!"
Mama Chang was speechless, staring blankly while breathing heavily.
Minglan sighed. Unless absolutely necessary, it would be safer to give birth here in the residence. After all, they had been preparing for months, with all necessary items and personnel ready. If they went to the mountains, they would lack this and that, and even if they urgently summoned the imperial physician, it might be too late.
...
After a good night's sleep, she stretched lazily upon waking and devoured two bowls of rice in a row. Wiping her mouth, Minglan waited with fighting spirit all morning. But by lunchtime, no one had come to challenge them, so she went to take an afternoon nap. When she opened her eyes again, she wasn't surprised to hear Lüzhi's report, mixed with gnashing of teeth: "The Yu family is here again, waiting in the small parlor!""
Minglan felt the excitement of 'longing for battle' and waved her hand with great authority. "Help me change clothes, I'll receive the guests." What she really wanted to shout was 'Close the gates and release the hounds.'
When she saw Yu's First Wife again, Minglan took her time examining her from head to toe. What kind of courage and thick skin did it take to come and make trouble like this (assuming her speculation was correct)? Yu's First Wife felt uncomfortable under her gaze but still managed to shoot her a fierce sidelong glance before saying with dignity, "Well? What's your answer? Will you agree or not?"
It had all the makings of a gangster negotiation. Minglan looked around and smiled, "I thought I would have the honor of meeting Old Madame Yu today."
Fourth Madam Yu looked rather weary. "Mother intended to come, but she's not well. We managed to persuade her not to."
"Fourth Aunt is most filial. You've gone to great trouble." Minglan smiled very gently, then turned to the Grand Old Madam who was watching the show with amusement and Yu's First Wife who was as aggressive as a fighting cock. "If Old Madame Yu heard our conversation, she might end up lying down too."
Yu's First Wife stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing much. I'm just saying, what would you do if I firmly refuse?" Minglan said slowly.
Yu's First Wife, filled with anger, sneered and raised her voice. "My poor child married into your Gu family and died in less than a year! You should at least give us an explanation! If you think I'm not important enough, I'll invite my mother-in-law and other elders!"
Seeing the tension, Fourth Madam Yu quickly said, "Minglan, don't be upset. This is for my father-in-law's sake. It's just a formality, to bring some joy and make the old man happy."
"Ah, my poor daughter! How pitiful that you died so young in the Gu family, without even someone to hold the funeral urn..." Getting into the mood, Yu's First Wife even began to wail, though unfortunately without any tears."Auntie, please don't cry yet. Hear me out first." Minglan quickly waved her hand. "After you left yesterday, someone happened to visit me—an elderly maid whom the Marquis has trusted since childhood. Even during those years away, it was she who cared for him."
Minglan spoke cheerfully, satisfied to see Yu's First Wife stop her feigned crying and listen with confusion. She continued, "Seeing my troubled expression, the maid asked me what was wrong. I told her about the adoption matter. She was greatly shocked, slapping the table and exclaiming, 'How outrageous! Such audacity!' Auntie Yu, do you know why she said that?"
Yu's First Wife's face gradually changed color. Instinctively, she looked toward Grand Old Madam, who smiled back and signaled with her eyes. Yu's First Wife turned back, glaring stubbornly at Minglan. "I truly don't know!"
How stubborn—refusing to yield until faced with reality! Minglan sneered inwardly but bet on her next move, her smile growing even warmer. "Hearing the maid's words, I still couldn't believe it. Sister Yanran is so gentle and virtuous—how could Sister Yanhong be like that?!"
Yu's First Wife's face began to turn pale, biting her lip hard to hold on.
"So, I brought Concubine Gong here for questioning. Speaking of which, she's also from the Yu family. Have you seen her recently, Auntie?" Minglan tossed out this sentence lightly, carefully observing Yu's First Wife's expression. She noticed her breath clearly hitched. Minglan smiled and continued, "She told me many things, and only then did I understand why the Marquis has never been willing to mention Sister Yanhong."
Yu's First Wife could no longer hold on, her body beginning to sway. Fourth Madam Yu, confused by the conversation, stared blankly at her sister-in-law. At that moment, Grand Old Madam, seated at the other end, suddenly chuckled lightly and said leisurely, "Hongxiao isn't one to talk much. Could it be that someone threatened or beat her?"
Without even turning her head, Minglan smiled and fixed her gaze on Yu's First Wife. "I heard Concubine Gong grew up under your care. You know her temperament best. She's a clever person, aware that her position in the manor is limited. What remains for her is nothing but her future. Whatever someone else promised her, I doubled it. What do you think she would do?"
Yu's First Wife's breathing grew heavy, and she looked helplessly toward Grand Old Madam again. This time, even Grand Old Madam's expression changed. She only knew that Gong Hongxiao had been detained since last night, making it difficult to send messages outside, but she wasn't clear on the details.
"Is Concubine Gong's mother still around? I promised her a reunion with her mother, enough silver for a lifetime, commoner status, a manor, and later, finding her a husband to bear a son. Isn't that better than anything else? Auntie, what do you think?"
Minglan deliberately lowered her voice, her tone gentle and unhurried, leaning close to Yu's First Wife. Yu's First Wife swallowed hard, looking at Minglan with a face full of shock and uncertainty, unaware that her own voice was trembling. "...You... you mean, the Marquis... he already..."
"Sister-in-law!" Grand Old Madam interrupted sharply, standing up.
Yu's First Wife abruptly fell silent.Minglan snorted disdainfully through her nose: "These past days, I initially thought it rather improper of the Marquis to ignore the Yu family's affairs. But now that I've learned the truth, let me say this..." Her expression suddenly turned cold, filled with biting sarcasm. "Hmph! Allowing Sister Yanhong to remain resting in the Gu family burial grounds, still receiving offerings from Gu descendants, is already the utmost benevolence that preserves both families' dignity! How lamentable that human greed remains insatiable—daring to come here and humiliate us, as if the Gu family were easy to bully?!"
Yu's First Wife seemed to turn pale to her fingertips, sitting there as if about to collapse. Fourth Madam Yu gradually began to grasp the situation; judging by today's events, it appeared her niece had committed grave errors in the Gu household—likely even scandalous deeds. To think her family had dared come here making trouble—hadn't they thoroughly offended Marquis Gu?! She broke into a cold sweat of terror, gazing at Minglan in panicked helplessness.
Minglan turned and sat facing her, speaking gently: "Fourth Aunt, I presume you were unaware as well."
Fourth Madam Yu nodded repeatedly, her voice bitter. "Your father-in-law's illness has been worsening, so your Fourth Uncle and I only rushed here from Dengzhou two months ago. How could we have known?"
Minglan slightly shifted her gaze, implying meaningfully, "Fourth Aunt, you're a sensible person. Don't foolishly follow in Eldest Aunt's footsteps, being used as a pawn and bringing great disaster upon the Yu family."
Following Minglan's gaze, Fourth Madam Yu glanced at the Grand Old Madam, then looked at her dispirited eldest sister-in-law. After a moment's contemplation, her mind gradually cleared, understanding about half of the situation.
Minglan looked sideways at Yu's First Wife, enunciating clearly: "The matter of adoption is absolutely impossible. If Aunt Yu still refuses to let it go, then go ahead and use whatever means you have. I'm currently with child, but after the Marquis returns, I'll personally visit the Yu residence. We can thoroughly discuss what happened with Sister Yanhong back then with Lord Yu and the rest of the Yu family, and get to the bottom of it!"
Yu's First Wife groaned and half-fainted, whether genuinely or not was unclear.
Fourth Madam Yu took a deep breath, now fully aware that this matter was a complete farce. The sooner it ended today, the better. She immediately helped her sister-in-law up and said, "Minglan, our family has been presumptuous and rude these past couple of days. We'll take our leave now. If the Marquis is angry..." She found it difficult to continue, but looked deeply at Minglan, "I sincerely hope you'll remember our past affection and make some allowances."
Minglan sighed and said kindly, "Fourth Aunt, not to mention that Sister Yanran and I are as close as sisters, even the affection you've shown me, and the relationship between the Old Madam and my grandmother, still exists."
Fourth Madam Yu breathed a sigh of relief, quickly called maids to help support Yu's First Wife, and without another word to the Grand Old Madam, bowed her head and hurriedly took her leave.
"If the Grand Old Madam has no further instructions, I'll take my rest now." Watching them leave, Minglan slowly stood up.
"Wait."
The Grand Old Madam had witnessed the entire exchange, secretly sighing that she had finally met her match. The strategy originally planned to drag on for many days had been exposed prematurely. Fortunately, she had prepared in advance.
Minglan slowly turned around, raising an eyebrow. "What further instruction does the Grand Old Madam have?"
Without speaking, the Grand Old Madam merely waved her hand toward a maid nearby.
The three-panel purple bamboo curtain at the side was gently lifted as a mother and son entered with bowed heads, standing respectfully in the center. They curtsied to Minglan and the Grand Old Madam, the woman's crisp voice ringing out like theatrical dialogue.
"Man Niang pays respects to the Grand Old Madam and Madam."
Minglan slowly sat down again, calmly waiting, though Danju and Lüzhi beside her were nearly fuming with anger.
The Grand Old Madam smiled confidently, still using her unhurried tone: "Since the Yu family is no longer contesting the adoption matter, I won't say more about it. However," she pointed at Chang Ge'er, "this child is after all the Marquis's flesh and blood. It's not proper for him to remain outside, so..."
"So, as the legal wife, I should be magnanimous and bring this child into the residence to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the family, isn't that right?" Minglan grew impatient. Her abdomen was faintly aching, and the feeling of heaviness below suddenly became more pronounced. She directly cut off the old witch's words and finished for her, "But wasn't it the Marquis who refused to let Chang Ge'er enter the residence? Oh, the Marquis must have been momentarily confused, unable to save face. As the mistress, I should prioritize virtue and kindness, and properly persuade the Marquis, isn't that right?"Listening to this series of sarcastic remarks, the Grand Old Madam's face seemed to twitch several times. Minglan found it amusing and continued without pause, "Moreover, if Chang Ge'er enters the mansion, Man Niang naturally cannot be left behind. Keeping the child while sending away the mother goes against heavenly principles and human decency—how could we separate a mother and child who depend on each other? So, Man Niang should also enter the mansion, isn't that right?"
Seeing her mistress being repeatedly interrupted, Mama Xiang sternly rebuked, "Please watch your words! Where has Madam's respect for elders gone?" Minglan grinned cheekily, "It's precisely out of respect, fearing the elder might tire, that I'm saying all this on her behalf." Mama Xiang was left speechless with anger, while the Grand Old Madam kept a stern face. At her age, it would be undignified to bicker with a young daughter-in-law.
"There's just one thing I truly don't understand," Minglan said with a playful smile. "Back then, the Old Marquis firmly refused to let Man Niang enter the household. We can't just disregard his words because he has passed away, can we?"
The Grand Old Madam remained expressionless, though she seemed angered: "The Old Marquis meant that Man Niang shouldn't enter the mansion before the principal wife was married, to avoid offending the in-laws' dignity. It was also because Yanhong was young and impatient, unwilling to tolerate others—otherwise, she would have been allowed in long ago."
Minglan was greatly impressed and didn't hold back her sharp tongue, laughing, "Yesterday, in front of the Yu family, you praised Sister Yanhong as if she were a blooming flower, and now she's 'unwilling to tolerate others'? You've said it all—I've truly witnessed it now."
The Grand Old Madam flew into a rage, slapping the table as if to curse, but Minglan quickly raised her hand with a playful grin to stop her, "My fault, I was wrong! I spoke without restraint. You're famously good-tempered and surely won't stoop to quarreling with a junior, right?" The Grand Old Madam's chest heaved for a few moments before she forcibly suppressed her anger, suddenly realizing that Minglan had stolen all her lines—what should she say next?
Noticing the change in her expression, Minglan found it amusing and said, "Since you want them to enter the household, at least let me ask a couple of questions."
The Grand Old Madam nodded, suppressing her anger.
Minglan turned to look at Man Niang below and saw that Man Niang was also watching her. Her face showed some surprise, as if stunned by Minglan's earlier performance. With her condescending expression, she seemed to be wondering how such an ill-mannered girl had managed to win over Gu Tingye. Minglan felt like defending herself—in truth, she was usually a perfectly well-behaved and virtuous young woman.
"Madam," Man Niang had already lowered her head, her voice as mournful as an orchid in an empty valley, echoing through the room, "Man Niang comes from a humble background and dares not hope for much. It's just that my young son is pitiful, without ability or a father. Please have mercy, Madam, and grant us mother and son a way to survive!" As she spoke, she knelt and kowtowed repeatedly, pulling Chang Ge'er down to kneel as well.
After all these years of wandering, her appearance was no longer fresh, but her voice remained captivating.
Minglan glanced around, deeply feeling that there were too few spectators present—such a pity for such a star performer. Man Niang's efforts were like casting flirtatious glances at a blind man; Minglan wasn't moved in the slightest. Instead, a faint, rhythmic pain began to stir in her abdomen.
"That year in Dengzhou when I saw you, Madam, I failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended you. Please do not hold it against me!" She kowtowed even more vigorously. "That day, I heard you standing up for the Yu family's eldest young lady—who would have thought you would later join the Gu family..." Her implication subtly pointed to Minglan's improper behavior and inconsistency in words and actions.Minglan wasn't the least bit angry, speaking calmly, "I'm not as clever as you. In matters of marriage, I only know to listen to my elders. When they told me to marry, I married. How would I know all these calculations? You overestimate me."
Man Niang choked, momentarily ceasing her tearful pleas.
"You have a lovely voice when you speak," Minglan suddenly remarked. The seemingly random comment caught Man Niang off guard. After a brief pause, she quickly responded with a sob, "This humble woman has had a bitter life, wandering since childhood to make ends meet."
"Your vocal skills and stage presence are both excellent," Minglan continued, ignoring her performance with a slight smile. "It's just a pity you were born a woman and cannot perform on stage. I heard your favorite piece to sing is 'The Tale of Liuyun Qiao'? Even after following the Marquis and living comfortably, you still often sing this tune at home? Breaking it down section by section, especially that part 'The Scholar Chases His Beauty in Snowy Night, The Glass Maiden Sheds Tears to Prove Her Heart' - you repeat it word by word when alone."
Man Niang was completely stunned, her palms growing slightly cold. This touched upon her deepest secret.
"We're both women - tell me honestly," Minglan said with a full smile, adopting a familiar tone. "Do you admire the Glass Maiden?" Man Niang opened her mouth but couldn't find words.
Minglan answered for her, turning to the Grand Old Madam with a laugh, "How silly of me to ask - of course she does. Otherwise, why would she keep singing that song day and night even after leaving her lowly status, as if afraid people wouldn't remember her original profession?"
Man Niang's face turned deathly pale, her teeth sinking hard into her lower lip.
As Mao's Art of War states: Fight your own battle, don't let the enemy lead you by the nose. If the enemy wants to fight on plains, force them into mountain warfare. If the enemy wants direct confrontation, use guerrilla tactics. So when Man Niang wanted to talk about her pitiful circumstances, Minglan discussed artistic pursuits. When Man Niang tried to bring up her son, she skillfully avoided the topic.
"Scholar Gao abandoned his luxurious life, cast aside his mentor and parents' expectations, became estranged from everyone just to marry the Glass Maiden - how we ordinary women envy such devotion!" Minglan watched Man Niang with amusement. "Judging by your actions, you don't seem like someone who seeks comfort either. Traveling thousands of miles with your son to follow the Marquis shows great ambition. Unless..." she chuckled, "unless you want to emulate the Glass Maiden, making the Marquis defy worldly opinions to properly marry you?"
"No!" Even if this was her daily fantasy, Man Niang instinctively denied it. She was about to say "How would a lowly woman like me dare have such thoughts?" when Minglan interrupted again, joking, "You should be careful - say something too often and the Bodhisattva might take it seriously."
Biting her lip, Man Niang found herself truly unable to speak. The Grand Old Madam watched wide-eyed, wanting to help but unsure where to intervene.
"This isn't necessarily bad," Minglan said, enduring the soreness in her lower abdomen while half-teasing. "Having ambition is good. You don't want to enter the Marquis' household, don't want a comfortable life - you only want the Marquis himself. This shows your discernment in recognizing the Marquis as a talent who will surely break through his constraints someday, far surpassing those who judge by appearances!"
As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at the Grand Old Madam, nearly making the old woman faint with anger.
Man Niang stopped speaking, withdrawing her pitiful demeanor, her eyes dark and fixed intently on Minglan."But in the end, you still failed to become the second Glazed Lady." Minglan showed no fear of her gaze—the angrier she became, the better—and continued calmly, "Despite all your scheming, you still have no status. Not only can you not enter the household, but even your son cannot be recognized by the family!"
"You—!" A sound full of rage and grievance escaped Man Niang's throat.
"Do you know why?" Minglan cut in sharply.
Man Niang glared at Minglan with furious eyes, like a crouching female beast ready to pounce at any moment.
"Let me tell you." Minglan's smile vanished, her expression turning serious. "Your greatest mistake was failing to understand that truly loving someone means considering their well-being."
"The Marquis deeply admires his father. No matter how harsh his words, he still desires a harmonious father-son relationship. If you were the Glazed Lady, she would have long left the Marquis, never allowing their relationship to be strained because of her. The Marquis wishes to marry a virtuous lady from a good family. If you were the Glazed Lady, she would have turned away without hesitation, never hindering the Marquis' future, unlike you who went to Dengzhou to disrupt his marriage arrangements. The Marquis wants his children to grow up safe and healthy. If you were the Glazed Lady, she would have properly raised the children, helping them become independent and resilient adults, rather than abandoning a young daughter and dragging a three- or four-year-old son across the land. Let me ask you—how many characters does Chang Ge'er recognize now? How many books has he read?"
Minglan's tone remained even, yet each word pierced like needles.
Man Niang breathed heavily. All her lifelong schemes had come to nothing—how could she not resent it? Yet she couldn't force a single word through her clenched teeth. Since childhood, she had admired the Glazed Lady and tried to emulate her in every way. She could claim Minglan spoke from privilege, but the Glazed Lady's circumstances had been even more difficult than her own.
"From beginning to end, you only thought of yourself. Regardless of the Marquis' wishes or your children's welfare, you acted solely according to your own whims. How dare you compare yourself to the Glazed Lady?!" Minglan deliberately showed contempt. "With all the energy you spent clinging stubbornly, she could have helped countless weak and impoverished people and built her own legacy!"
That remarkable woman—her various talents need not be detailed here. Whenever Minglan read accounts of the Glazed Lady, it felt like reading Arabian Nights, making her seriously suspect later generations had embellished the myth. Truthfully, having lived life as the Glazed Lady did, whether the tall Academician desperately loved her mattered little. To borrow a phrase from political lessons—she had found her own value in life and lived joyfully.
Man Niang's eyes turned crimson, her fingers nearly digging holes in the carpet as she glared at Minglan with pure venom.
"Of course," Minglan added finally, her tone gentle again, even carrying a note of pity, "most crucially, the Marquis never loved you the way Academician Gao loved the Glazed Lady. And that settles everything..."
This became the final straw that broke Man Niang. In that moment, unaware of what she was doing, Man Niang lunged forward like a madwoman, only to be firmly restrained by the maids Danju had brought. The little boy nearby was terrified, trembling and shrinking back, while Man Niang continued cursing under her breath, "You vile woman..."Minglan turned to look at Grand Old Madam and said coolly, "Do you still want her to enter this household?" Grand Old Madam, who had been observing with extreme shock, moved her lips several times but remained silent. Minglan turned back to see that Man Niang had gradually caught her breath. "Release her," Minglan said.
Man Niang lifted her head indifferently, her face streaked with tears. This time, Minglan believed she wasn't pretending.
Looking at the frail little boy, Minglan couldn't help but feel sorrowful. She suddenly softened her voice: "If you still have a heart, you should make proper plans for this child. Don't let him suffer along with the adults. I've heard his health has always been poor. Search your conscience - when men take wives, they expect them to assist their husbands and raise children properly. If you can't even raise a child well, what man would respect and admire you?"
Man Niang hung her head, panting heavily, her breaths coming in waves like a female beast roaring.
When the third wave of soreness struck, Minglan knew something was wrong. She shakily stood up, her face showing signs of pain. Danju panicked and kept asking what was wrong. Minglan whispered in her ear: "This pain isn't right. I'm probably going into labor."
Suppressing her panic, Danju called out loudly: "Someone, bring the soft sedan chair!" The maids nearby immediately went out to summon people while Danju carefully supported Minglan. Minglan endured the pain and said: "It's fine, I can walk." Her physical constitution was good - she wouldn't be so fragile. Even in modern times, when going into labor, one would first take a car to the hospital.
Seeing Minglan like this, Grand Old Madam grew slightly suspicious, wondering whether this was another case of "crying wolf" like yesterday or if she had truly reached her due date. She exchanged glances with Mama Xiang, still hesitating.
On the floor, Man Niang gritted her teeth and suddenly became filled with fierce determination. She grabbed her son beside her, stood up holding him, and appeared to rush toward the pillar near Minglan as if to smash their heads, shouting: "If you won't let us mother and son live, then let's all die together!"
Everyone in the room panicked. Danju and Lüzhi both moved to shield Minglan, but it was Xiaotao who proved clever - with agile movements, she mustered all her strength and rushed diagonally, crashing into Man Niang and knocking her to the ground.
"Guards! Take this scheming woman away!" Mama Xiang said preemptively.
Minglan glanced at her. With her labor pains beginning, she had no time to deal with this now and could only return first. Still, today had been basically a great victory, which was quite satisfying. As for Man Niang and Chang Ge'er, they shouldn't be for her to handle - she would wait for Gu Tingye.
...
Upon returning to her room, Cui Mama had already prepared everything. Two midwives were waiting nervously. But Minglan's consciousness began to blur, as if she were lying on clouds, enduring wave after wave of labor pains. To be honest, this feeling was strange - it didn't seem particularly painful, just extremely sore and swollen. The area below her waist and abdomen was so sore it nearly made her want to cry. Damn it, why was it so sore? So sore it became painful!
She didn't know how many hours had passed. Sweat had soaked through her clothes, even her eyelashes seemed damp. Outside, the sky had darkened. The voices around her continued shouting energetically, with Cui Mama leading the matrons like cheerleaders, repeating phrases like 'breathe in', 'endure the pain', 'save your strength and don't shout', 'push', and 'it'll be over soon' over and over, like a broken old tape recorder stuck on repeat.The room was lit with lamps, their twinkling lights resembling stars in the night sky, amusingly complementing the golden spots already dancing before her eyes. When the accumulated soreness reached its breaking point and Minglan felt certain she was dying, a sudden frenzy of shouts erupted outside—wait, that didn’t sound like her cheer squad.
Summoning her last ounce of strength, she cracked open an eye to look and saw the sky outside eerily glowing crimson.
"Fire! Fi—re!" The chaotic cries of the crowd outside echoed.
Minglan abruptly snapped to alertness. After cursing every scoundrel, big and small, she nearly screamed: So that old witch had this trick up her sleeve all along! If rage couldn’t finish her off, then summon the fire god to do the job! Tingcan, Kang Yima, the Yu family, Man Niang—they were all just decoys. The real deadly move had been prepared all along! How infuriating that despite guarding against every possible threat, she had still been outmaneuvered.
She was just a minor court clerk, not some expert in domestic scheming. All these years, she had studied diligently and worked conscientiously, yet it still wasn’t enough?! Ah, now she could only hope that the guards led by Tu Er would hold their ground.
Perhaps fueled by sheer fury, an unexpected surge of strength welled up from somewhere. Minglan gritted her teeth, held her breath, and pushed with all her might. Suddenly, a rush of warmth and dampness spread across the bedding, and the near-maddening pain seemed to find an outlet, surging forth with ferocious intensity. Yet, in that very moment, all of life’s miracles arrived, fiercely announcing the advent of new life.
The deafening sounds of gongs, drums, footsteps, and chaos outside could not drown out the midwife’s shrill, almost distorted cry.
"—He’s out! He’s out! It’s a boy, a chubby little boy!"
Amid the artificially crimson sky of the malicious fire, the little rascal who had tormented her for most of the year finally decided to make his appearance.
Minglan’s last thought before losing consciousness was—Quick, check his hands and feet! Does he have ten toes and ten fingers?!
OpenNovel