A bitter yet pungent tang seeped between her teeth, rousing Minglan slowly to consciousness. Cui Mama’s worried face swam into view as she held a fine-spouted enameled copper pot to Minglan’s lips, feeding her ginseng soup. “Are you all right, madam?” she asked.
Minglan waved a hand weakly. Earlier, her mind had been so crowded with thoughts that she grew dizzy, and then she had labored for nearly seven or eight hours like an old ox dragging a cart—as if she had prepared nonstop for the finals of a math Olympiad and then immediately run a full marathon. Physically and mentally exhausted to the extreme, she had fallen into a deep sleep. Now, struggling to sit up, her body felt limp, her voice hoarse. “Let me see the child.”
The midwife hurried over with a tightly wrapped bundle, beaming. “It’s a fair, handsome, plump little boy! Congratulations, madam! Congratulations!”
Minglan’s arms lacked strength, so she leaned on Cui Mama’s arm to look. She couldn’t help a wry smile—where was this “fair and handsome” in this red, wrinkled little lump? But he was indeed sturdy, with a round head and chubby cheeks, a well-defined nose bridge, and beneath swollen eyelids, a long, delicate curved line where his eyes would be. His features were still unclear, but he made soft, animal-like sounds.
“He cried so vigorously earlier, his voice nearly shook the roof! He’s a strong little fellow,” Cui Mama said, tears of joy brimming in her eyes. “He’s probably tired from crying now.”
Minglan nodded weakly, forcing calm into her voice. “Rewards! Everyone has worked hard—reward them all generously!”
The maids and elderly women in the room bowed their thanks.
Breathing heavily, Minglan leaned against soft cushions and painstakingly drew the little one into her arms. She loosened her collar to let him try nursing. The women on either side looked startled—noble ladies seldom nursed their own children—but Cui Mama supported the baby, having been persuaded after numerous debates. A wet nurse had still been hired, but Minglan wanted to try feeding him first. Colostrum was said to be incredibly beneficial, boosting health and immunity. In an era with high infant mortality and no antibiotics or vaccines, Minglan couldn’t let this chance pass. Besides, with no in-laws to restrict her or sisters-in-law to hinder her, if she didn’t exercise her authority now, when would she?
The baby was unbelievably soft. The moment his wriggling mouth touched his mother’s skin, he instinctively nuzzled and began to suck. Though his suction was weak, he tried with all his might. After repeated attempts on both sides, the little one persisted relentlessly. He paused twice to let out a few cries of protest at his fruitless labor, then went back to earnestly sucking air, his tender, toothless gums clamping determinedly on the source of nourishment. His round little head pressed stubbornly against her chest. Minglan felt both amused and deeply moved. She kissed his soft, bald head—this was a strong, tenacious little life.
After Cui Mama and the two elderly women had urged her to “give up” eleven times, the little rascal’s efforts finally paid off. He drew out the precious colostrum. Watching him swallow earnestly with closed eyes, scalding tears suddenly welled up in Minglan’s eyes. For this tiny bundle of flesh, she suddenly felt that all the hardship had been worth it. Cui Mama also turned away to stealthily wipe her tears.Minglan was utterly exhausted, examining the child over and over—from his tiny translucent pink fingers and toes to his wrinkled little ears. Newborns don’t eat much, so after handing the baby to Cui Mama, Minglan fell asleep again. From start to finish, she never noticed that the raging flames outside had long since vanished, replaced by a serene and brightly lit scene. Even if she had noticed, she likely would have only remarked, "Master Tu the Second did well—he’ll be generously rewarded later."
Minglan seemed to have been born with remarkably poor vigilance. She slept deeply and for a long time, only waking again when the sky was already bright. The lingering smell of blood and filth in the room had dissipated, and she felt much cleaner and refreshed. Cui Mama had probably taken the opportunity while she slept to gently wipe away the sweat and grime from her body. Sitting by the bed was a tall, bearded man, staring intently at a large bundle beside her pillow. His hand hovered, as if he wanted to touch the bundle but didn’t know how.
Minglan steadied herself and focused her gaze, only to feel a surge of anger. All the hardships and struggles of recent days flooded back, and she instinctively blamed this unreliable man. Ignoring her parched throat, she inexplicably grew excited: "You faithless man, you’ve finally decided to return! What did you promise before you left? Now that the world is peaceful, you show up! You… you…"
Several maids and elderly servants were still in the room. Cui Mama, feeling awkward, quickly signaled Danju to usher everyone out. Gu Tingye, however, remained unperturbed, his thick skin unfazed. With a smile, he gently pressed Minglan back onto the bed: "You’re exhausted—don’t get up. You can scold me just fine lying down."
Minglan wished she could leap up and bite him, but she noticed him gazing tenderly at the large bundle. Turning her head, she saw the newborn lying beside her pillow, its moist little mouth twitching as it blew two tiny bubbles, sound asleep.
"He’s so handsome, with strong, sturdy limbs and a clever look about him."
Gu Tingye’s eyes were so tender they seemed to drip with affection. He couldn’t help but imagine this plump, rosy little bundle as a prodigy—gifted in both civil and martial arts, with exceptional physique—and even chided Minglan considerately, "Let’s speak softly so we don’t disturb him." Minglan nearly laughed, her breath catching in her throat.
Still mesmerized by the child, Gu Tingye said to Minglan, "You have no idea how strong this little one is. His cries were so loud I could hear them from outside the courtyard gate. When he grows up, he’ll surely be someone who can hold his own."
Minglan instinctively wanted to retort, "A loud cry at most makes him a potential singing artist—it has little to do with holding his own." But then a sudden surprise struck her, and she asked, "When did you return?"
Gu Tingye finally looked up, the smile vanishing from his face: "When the mansion caught fire."
Minglan’s expression turned serious as she scrutinized Gu Tingye. She noticed he was wearing a slightly worn dark robe, his face weathered, and his riding boots battered and torn. Only then did she remember their current predicament and struggled to sit up again: "That’s right, there was a fire outside… and Grand Old Madam… and the Yu family…" She started several tangled threads of conversation, unsure where to begin.Gu Tingye felt a surge of pity, helping Minglan sit up and tucking a thick cushion behind her back. He comforted her in a low voice, "Don’t worry, I’m back now. I’ll handle everything. It’s my fault you’ve suffered." Minglan’s nose tingled, her eyes welling up as she lowered her head and turned away, letting the soft cushion absorb her tears. Seeing this, Gu Tingye’s heart ached. Unaccustomed to speaking tenderly to women, he could only lean in, hold Minglan tightly, and gently pat her back.
To say she wasn’t wronged would be a lie. Yao Yiyi vividly remembered her two best friends’ experiences during pregnancy. One friend’s husband, a police officer, once rushed out in his uniform late at night to bang on the neighborhood grocery store’s door just because his wife craved canned sweet soup, terrifying the elderly couple running the shop. The other friend’s case was even more absurd: at noon, she desperately wanted fried dough sticks, and her tax bureau husband had to don his uniform, wave a red banknote, and persuade the lunch vendor to restart the oil fryer. But what about her?
Minglan buried her face in Gu Tingye’s shoulder and began to sob quietly. Her husband had vanished without a trace, his fate unknown, while at home, a hypocritical old viper lurked. Day after day, she battled wits and strength, exhausted and fearful. If not for her mental fortitude, could anyone else have endured it?
Cui Mama noticed the situation and hurried over to advise, "Madam, you mustn’t cry during the postpartum month. Hold back, hold back! Falling ill later is no joke!" Gu Tingye grew anxious, turning Minglan’s face to wipe her tears hastily while urging her to stop crying. Never skilled at sweet talk, he pondered briefly and opted for a roundabout approach: "What good does crying do? Retaliation is the answer. Once you’ve fully recovered, I’ll let you vent by punching me a few times. I won’t fight back!"
Minglan’s face stung from his rough wiping, yet she found it amusing and chided, "Are you kneading dough? Let go!" She knew well enough that he faced his own struggles outside—earning merit was no easy feat.
"Is your assignment in the south finished?" Minglan wiped her tears with the warm towel Cui Mama handed her, hoping he hadn’t abandoned his duties to return. She didn’t want their son’s father to face the emperor’s wrath right after his birth.
Gu Tingye bent down and kissed their sleeping son’s cheek. The little one mumbled indistinctly, kept his eyes shut, wriggled his plump body uncomfortably, and blew two bubbles in protest. His father stroked his own stubbled chin and chuckled unkindly. Then he signaled Cui Mama to take the child away before turning to Minglan. "I finished my official duties, but if not for the one in Xuanzhi Garden, I wouldn’t have returned this early."
Minglan breathed a slight sigh of relief. Though flooded with questions, she started with the most immediate: "What do you mean? Oh, and is General Duan’s case resolved? Has he returned?"
Gu Tingye smiled. "Brother Chengyong’s case was trivial."
"You didn’t extract a confession under torture, did you?" Minglan teased, though a life had been lost—and an innocent woman’s at that. She expected at least a glare from Gu Tingye, but instead, he sighed deeply. "The incident was suspicious and urgent at the time. I actually considered it. Fortunately, I dragged Gongsun Xiansheng along."Though Gu Tingye came from a good family, the setbacks of his youth had given him a self-awareness rarely found among the privileged. He excelled in military strategy but was less adept at solving legal cases, which was why he insisted on bringing Gongsun along. Gongsun Baishi was reputed to have studied criminal law for over twenty years, and in his view, there were two key points of suspicion.
First, whether the wrongfully killed woman had been coerced. Second, whether the tavern had consistently sourced fish from that particular family.
Minglan carefully pondered these points and found them remarkably incisive, unable to resist clapping in admiration. Gu Tingye deliberately narrated the events with dramatic flair, making Minglan laugh and distracting her from her sorrows.
Upon arrival, they first met the distressed Duan Chengyong to hear his account, then immediately began their investigation. They split into two teams: Gongsun Xiansheng, escorted by guards, conducted discreet inquiries, while Gu Tingye met with local military officers of all ranks. Since drinking was unavoidable, he decided to host the banquet on his own turf. For some reason, from the commander-in-chief down to the guerrilla generals, all the officers displayed unusually restrained drinking manners, politely declining excess alcohol. Even when pretty maidservants circulated during the feast, none cast extra glances.
"Perhaps they're afraid His Lordship might handle them the same way as Young General Duan's case," Minglan commented with an amused, muffled laugh. Gu Tingye also found it amusing, remarking, "Truly, the suspicions of petty minds." His only intention was to keep them occupied so the investigation could proceed unimpeded.
Through undercover investigations and court interrogations, Gongsun Baishi quickly uncovered clues and solved the case within a few days.
First, although the woman was indeed from a respectable family, the tavern usually sourced its goods from a specific fish merchant in the city and had only recently placed additional orders with this fishing family. Second, why would a woman be sent to collect payment at a place like a tavern when all the male members of her household—her father-in-law, husband, and brothers-in-law—were perfectly capable?
Starting from these suspicions, they found inconsistencies in the testimonies. Following the trail and conducting detailed inquiries, the feudal official's investigation inevitably involved threats, inducements, and intimidation tactics. Eventually, the truth emerged.
It turned out that someone had taken the woman's two children hostage, offering a large sum of money to force her to sacrifice her life in a false accusation. Once the deed was done, the children were returned along with the money. Knowing that falsely accusing an official was a capital offense, the fishing family dared not reveal the truth and stubbornly stuck to their story.
"In the end, only one garrison commander took the blame," Gu Tingye said with implicit sarcasm. "He claimed he was displeased with Brother Chengyong's disrespect toward local officers and only meant to teach him a lesson, never expecting the woman would take her own life and cause such a disaster. Hmph, unfortunately, we couldn't prove they intentionally drove the woman to her death, so we had to settle for dismissing and punishing that one man." Minglan felt a pang of sorrow. "How tragic for that fishing family—to suffer such an unforeseen calamity, losing their home and lives for no reason."
Gu Tingye also shook his head and sighed. "Gongsun Xiansheng advised them to take the money and start anew elsewhere." Noticing Minglan's expression, he reached out to draw her close, sitting together by the bedside, and asked softly, "Are you still angry with me?"Minglan lay in his embrace, her nostrils filled with the scent of dust and sweat, and whispered softly, "I know it hasn't been easy for you either. Are... are you injured?" She straightened up to feel his arms and chest. "I just thought... if only you could have returned sooner." Gu Tingye remained silent for a long moment before replying, "Only after arriving did I realize how deeply corrupt the official circles in Lianghuai have become."
After nearly two decades of Emperor Renzong's peaceful reign, local officials were not only colluding with merchants but also forming alliances between civil and military factions. From minor street gangs to influential nobles in the capital, all were interconnected! No matter which case was investigated, it would inevitably lead to a tangled web of connections. Even the imperial commissioner, carefully selected by the emperor for his resilience, found it overwhelmingly troublesome. Originally, after rescuing Duan ChengYong, Gu Tingye had intended to return to the capital to be with his wife, but the commissioner repeatedly pleaded with him to stay longer to help stabilize the situation.
"The Marquis's dedication to the nation and its people is truly admirable. So why did you return after all?" Minglan's tone carried a hint of sarcasm. Gu Tingye replied matter-of-factly, "I had to come see my son." Enraged, Minglan pushed against the man's chest with her arms: "Your son is in the next room! Go see him then! Why are you still here with me?" Gu Tingye laughed heartily, holding Minglan tightly and covering her cheeks with kisses.
Cui Mama was gently patting the infant to sleep when she heard the laughter and commotion from the adjacent room. A relieved smile spread across her face as she shook her head in amusement. While the newly hired wet nurse appeared somewhat surprised, the maids and elderly servants in the room were quite accustomed to such scenes.
"The situation in Lianghuai is truly unacceptable and requires severe rectification. I originally intended to stay longer and send someone back to the capital with a message, but then..." Gu Tingye encircled Minglan in his arms as he slowly explained, "The person from Xuanzhi Garden gave me a warning."
In fact, few people knew that since first assuming military command, Gu Tingye had developed the habit of screening for spies. Back when the new emperor had just ascended the throne, his position was unstable, and there were countless schemers both inside and outside the court. While open attacks were easy to avoid, hidden arrows were hard to guard against—often it was those closest who caused the most damage. This time in Lianghuai, three or four groups of informants were successively uncovered within the army. The masterminds were nothing but those overt and covert forces, which came as no surprise. However, when they recently captured one operative, he confessed under interrogation that he had been dispatched by the Ningyuan Marquis Household.
When questioned further, the spy couldn't identify who had personally given the orders. Actually, Gu Tingye didn't need to ask to know who it was. If that person had already schemed to place someone near him, then Minglan... The thought alone made him break out in a cold sweat. The moment this occurred to him, he became determined to return to the capital. After all, he had already completed the tasks assigned by the emperor, and in several secret memorials reporting on the salt administration investigation, the emperor had repeatedly praised him.
The imperial commissioner was understanding, reasoning that since the situation was under control, there was no need to insist on Gu Tingye staying. He only asked Duan ChengYong to remain, stating that "rather than bringing in someone unfamiliar with the circumstances, it's better to keep General Duan who has already learned his lesson." Duan ChengYong was quite willing, thinking that having finally been assigned a mission, he had achieved no merit but instead suffered a hidden setback, and was eager to redeem himself.
With no alternative, Gu Tingye could only carefully advise Duan ChengYong, then leave Gongsun Baishi to travel slowly behind while he led a team of guards and hurried back at full speed.The situation had been perilous. After days of hurried travel, just as they reached the entrance of Ningyuan Street, they saw thick black smoke billowing above their mansion. The streets and alleys were crowded with people running and shouting, "The marquis's residence is on fire!" Gu Tingye was frantic with worry. Without a second thought, he spurred his horse straight into Clear Garden, only to discover that Minglan was inside giving birth. Fortunately, guards like Tu Er and the other household servants proved capable, firmly protecting the perimeter of Jiaxi Residence, preventing the flames from spreading there. He finally breathed a sigh of relief, but when he noticed that Xuanzhi Garden remained tranquil while Clear Garden lay in chaos, fury surged within him. In a fit of rage, he... set another fire.
"You... you actually went and set a fire?!" Minglan was aghast. While his wife was in labor, the husband ran off to start a blaze—such ingenious creativity was beyond ordinary imagination. Gu Tingye chuckled, pressing Minglan back down and wrapping her snugly in the brocade quilt. He rose, poured a cup of warm water from the small purple clay stove on the table, and handed it to her. "Thirsty?"
Minglan drank half the cup in one gulp, then numbly handed it back. Gu Tingye took it and finished the rest in a single swallow.
"Steward Hao has briefly filled me in on recent events," Gu Tingye said, setting down the cup and sitting beside her, gently stroking her back. "One wave after another—that vile woman is determined to torment you. Who’s to say she’ll stop after this fire? What if she has more tricks up her sleeve? That’s why I had to make her scramble too."
"She’s cunning! How could you possibly burn her?" Minglan shuddered with lingering fear. Her estimation of the Grand Old Madam had now reached a new level. Gu Tingye laughed dismissively, "Who said I was trying to burn her? I set the fire in Third Brother’s courtyard."
It wasn’t yet late at night when the flames erupted, and everyone in the compound managed to escape safely, though much property was damaged. Seeing her own flesh and blood in danger, the Grand Old Madam was thrown into disarray. She could no longer focus on anything else, frantically organizing firefighting efforts while checking if her son was unharmed, then cradling her grandchildren to soothe them.
Minglan sighed softly. She knew that offense was the best defense, but she always felt constrained—after all, arson was a criminal offense! If lives were lost, the maximum penalty could be life imprisonment or even death!
"As long as no one was hurt," Minglan murmured.
Gu Tingye sneered coldly, "You’re worried about them?!"
While Clear Garden was ablaze and Minglan struggled through a life-threatening childbirth, Tingwei and Madam Zhu were leisurely amusing themselves with their children! The memory ignited a savage rage in Gu Tingye, making him wish to stain his blade with blood. Minglan bowed her head, able only to sigh in response.
"At least the girl Xian shows some conscience," Gu Tingye finally allowed a slight smile to touch his lips. "So young, yet she dared to argue with Eldest Sister-in-law. She reproached her own mother for not visiting you, and when the fire broke out here, she defiantly opposed her elder sister-in-law, dispatching most of the household staff to help extinguish the flames. Rong Jie’er is with her now." He marveled that his sinister, scheming eldest brother—a man brimming with rotten plots—could have produced such an upright and honorable offspring.
Minglan finally let out a long breath of relief. The world wasn’t entirely hopeless after all! She said cheerfully, "I never expected much from Eldest Sister-in-law anyway. As a widow, she has many constraints. I’ve always said—I simply adore that child."Gu Tingye smiled and gently stroked her long hair, saying, "Isn't this a case of like attracting like?"
After talking for a long while, Minglan felt tired again. With her mind completely at ease, her eyelids grew heavier. Gu Tingye patted her softly until she fell into a deep sleep, then slowly rose and left.
Outside the door, someone had been waiting. Hao Guanshi smiled and said, "Reporting to the Marquis, the person has been settled. Would you like to go see..." Gu Tingye gave him a calm glance, and Hao Dacheng immediately broke into a cold sweat, quickly suppressing his smile and lowering his head. "Yes, Marquis, please come this way."
Parting the flowers and brushing past the willows, there stood a row of neat, sturdy houses at the rear hill of Clear Garden. Since the Gu family had few members, these houses were mostly vacant, occasionally used to store miscellaneous items. Hao Dacheng led the way while Gu Tingye followed slowly. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at a room on the eastern corner of the row. Four or five sturdy matrons were guarding the door. Seeing Gu Tingye approach, they quickly bowed in reverence.
Hao Dacheng asked in a low voice, "Is everything alright inside?" The matron at the front replied, "Reporting to the Marquis, we've already called a physician. It's nothing serious. Miss Man suffered some minor superficial injuries, and the young master was a bit frightened."
Hao Dacheng glanced at Gu Tingye again, waved the matrons away, stepped forward to open the door, and invited Gu Tingye inside. He then remained outside, standing five paces away.
The room was simply furnished with just one table and four stools, a bed, a dressing table with a washbasin stand, and complete washing utensils. There were tea and snacks on the table, and an ice basin was placed in the corner. Man Niang was sitting on the bed holding her son. Hearing the door open, she immediately looked up. Upon seeing Gu Tingye, her face lit up with joy. She smoothed the hair at her temples while standing up, sobbing, "Erlang!"
Gu Tingye stood there, quietly watching her for a moment, then pulled over a stool and sat down.
Man Niang quickly pushed her son forward, urging repeatedly, "Chang Ge'er, call him Father, hurry up and call him." The little boy timidly shuffled his feet, cautiously eyeing the man before him but hesitating to speak. Man Niang smiled at Gu Tingye and said, "This child is shy. He always misses his father at home, but now he doesn't know how to call you."
Gu Tingye studied the boy intently and softened his voice, "Have you been coughing lately?"
Chang Ge'er uneasily lifted his head, glancing at his father and then at his mother, stammering, "...Sometimes I cough, sometimes I don't... Mother makes me take medicine... The medicine is very bitter..."
Hearing his disjointed reply, Gu Tingye couldn't help but frown. The boy was already seven or eight years old and still couldn't speak clearly. He turned to Man Niang and said, "Didn't we hire a tutor for him? What is he studying now?"
Man Niang felt a pang of panic, but she reacted swiftly, immediately shedding tears as she said, "It's my incompetence. I barely know any characters, how could I raise him properly? That's why I've swallowed my pride and come to beg the Madam to take the child in."
"Nonsense!" Gu Tingye rebuked her immediately. "How many illiterate mothers have still raised scholarly sons? Do you think every top scholar in the imperial examinations had a literate mother?"
Having long held a high position and commanded troops, he had accumulated authority both inside and outside. His stern reprimand immediately frightened Chang Ge'er, who hid behind Man Niang, shrinking in fear. Gu Tingye frowned even more deeply. "I specifically chose a warm and scenic estate for you so that Chang Ge'er could run and play outside more often. Why is he still so afraid of people?"
Man Niang wiped her tears with a handkerchief, sobbing uncontrollably, "A child without a father will only be bullied outside. He's been timid since he was young, why should he go out and make a spectacle of himself?"
Gu Tingye didn't speak, only fixed his gaze on Man Niang. She cried until her eyes were red and she was gasping for breath, each sob seeming to plead her case. Even the sharpest eyes would find it hard to distinguish truth from falsehood. But he knew the reality was different. He had carefully selected that estate. Not to mention there were many widows and orphans of soldiers who had died in battle living nearby, but the property was under Chang Ge'er's name—who would dare bully the mother and son?
Yet Man Niang had this talent: if one wasn't careful, her tears and excuses would ensnare them.
"Someone," he suddenly raised his voice. Hao Dacheng opened the door and entered, bowing his head to await instructions.Gu Tingye said, "Take the child out first and have the nursemaid take good care of him." Hao Dacheng, knowing his master wanted to speak with Man Niang alone, quickly instructed the nursemaid to carry Chang Ge'er out. The child was initially unwilling but was coaxed by Man Niang with a few words before reluctantly leaving.
The door closed again, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Man Niang stood in the center, her face filled with fear. Gu Tingye pointed to a stool. "Sit," he said.
She slowly sat down.
"Back then..." Gu Tingye wore a weary expression. "Did I ever force you to give yourself to me?"
Man Niang was startled, almost rising to her feet again. After a moment, her eyes reddened as she said, "How can Erlang say such a thing! If it weren't for your compassion for my loneliness and suffering back then, I would have long died somewhere unknown. It was... it was my own choice to follow you..."
"And yet, it turned out to be a farce. Your brother never abandoned you. It was you who gave him money to establish himself elsewhere." A bitter smile rose in Gu Tingye's heart. In his youthful arrogance, he had thought himself a hero, rescuing a helpless maiden from the flames.
"No, no..." Man Niang hurriedly defended herself. "Who is slandering me like this? It was clearly my brother who took the silver you gave him and ran off, leaving me behind. He only returned years later. Erlang, you..."
Gu Tingye raised a hand to stop her, his tone indifferent. "Three people said so. Your brother, Nanny Shan, and the maid who used to serve you. During the two years you claimed your brother had vanished without a trace, you frequently exchanged gifts."
Man Niang's face turned pale. She hadn't expected even this to be uncovered. Gu Tingye looked at her, his heart surprisingly calm. "When Yanhong died, I told you then—I don't convict people based on empty words. Especially not you."
How could he have wanted to believe he had misjudged someone, that he had lived for years in a web of lies, that he had been played for a fool all along? When his father accused Man Niang, when everyone said she had ulterior motives, he had repeatedly defended her, vouching for her character. In the end, it was he who had been completely wrong. What humiliation!
"Did I ever promise you anything?" Gu Tingye pressed on, his gaze sharp as needles, pinning Man Niang to her seat and nailing her lies to the truth. "Did I ever say I would marry you as my wife? Did I deceive you?"
Sweat trickled down Man Niang's forehead, smudging the makeup she had carefully applied earlier.
"From the beginning, I told you I couldn't give you a proper status. You said you were willing to stay by my side, even without a name or position." Recalling those days, every word now seemed absurd. How laughable that he had believed it all, truly thinking he had found a sincere and devoted confidante. "Later, when Rong'er and Chang'er were born, you said it wasn't for yourself but for the children, begging to enter the mansion as a concubine. To ensure you wouldn't be mistreated, I sought out the Eldest Miss of the Yu family, known for her virtue, and asked my father to arrange the marriage. Who would have thought..."
Gu Tingye laughed mockingly and said to Man Niang, "You still looked down on it."
"Erlang!" Man Niang cried out mournfully, throwing herself at his feet and clutching his legs tightly. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "Going to the Yu family—that was a moment of foolishness on my part! I was afraid, afraid that the Eldest Miss Yu wouldn't tolerate me. That's why I lost my senses!"
"You were never foolish."Gu Tingye didn't even lift a finger, merely looking down coldly. "Step by step, move by move, you calculated everything so clearly. I ultimately fulfilled your wish by turning against my father and leaving home. Had I not grown suspicious of you, had it not been for the Yanhong incident, I would have followed your plan—taking you far from here to wander the world. Then I would have made you my wife, isn't that right?" Each word pierced like a sword, rendering Man Niang speechless.
"...What would be so bad about that?"
A strange light glimmered in Man Niang's eyes as she gently rubbed her cheek against Gu Tingye's knee, her voice soft and melodious like a chant: "Back then, everyone in the Marquis manor bullied you. Only I treated Erlang with genuine sincerity. I don't care for the Marquis manor's wealth and status—I only want Erlang. Let's leave this place far behind and establish our own household. Erlang has abundant capabilities. When the time comes, our family of four can live harmoniously together, becoming carefree partners like celestial beings—what would be so bad about that?"
"Well said." Gu Tingye watched as Man Niang rested her head on his leg, then reached out to slowly lift her chin. "Your scheme is brilliant. But have you ever asked me—whether I would be willing to live such a life?"
Man Niang's breathing suddenly quickened, her eyes darting nervously. Gu Tingye turned her face toward him, gazing intently as he enunciated each word clearly: "Let me make this perfectly clear to you today—not for a single day have I ever considered taking you as my wife."
Even during their most harmonious times together, his greatest wish had merely been to treat this pitiful woman well, ensuring she could live in comfort and wealth without suffering further mistreatment.
Man Niang's pupils dilated violently, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly, nostrils flaring. Suddenly, she let out a sharp scream: "You don't want to marry me? Then who do you want to marry? Those ordinary women who only gossip about domestic trivialities, put on airs of nobility, yet remain trivial and ignorant?!"
Hearing this, Gu Tingye actually smiled. "You're right. I do want to marry such ordinary women. Women who can support their husbands and raise children, manage households properly, care for clan members, handle social engagements—kind, ordinary women. Not extraordinary talents like you!"
Detecting the sarcasm in his words, Man Niang choked up, nearly suffocating, her heart filled with such hatred she felt like tearing out blood. With difficulty, she swallowed a mouthful of air, catching her breath before collapsing to the floor, lamenting mournfully: "You're just seeing that I've aged and lost my beauty. Now your new wife is young and beautiful—if you've changed your heart, just say so. Why all these words? Most men in this world are faithless. I'm just to be pitied, having given you my whole heart, only to end up like this."
Gu Tingye couldn't help but laugh again. He often thought that if Man Niang were a man, she would surely be a formidable opponent. Whenever he resolved to speak decisively and conclusively, she always managed to divert the conversation, preventing it from continuing.
"Your whole heart? Heh, for the sake of this 'whole heart' of yours, I've always felt guilty toward you, constantly considering your interests everywhere." Gu Tingye stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he faced the window. "But over these past few years, I've carefully reflected—if I hadn't intervened back then, what would have become of you?"
Man Niang covered her face with a handkerchief, though her heart raced with anxiety. Had Gu Tingye not helped her back then, how wretched would her and her brother's circumstances have been?"For your sake, I made numerous plans to secure a good life for you and our child; I repeatedly defied my elders, even missing the chance to see my father one last time." Gu Tingye paced slowly in the room before stopping before Man Niang. "I have been worthy of you. I have always been worthy of you."
In those early days when he first ventured into the world, no matter how tight his finances were, he would rather endure coarse food and simple clothing himself, just to save money to send to the capital for Man Niang and their child. Now, at last, he could say these words with righteous conviction.
Hearing Gu Tingye's voice grow increasingly cold, Man Niang knew the situation was dire today and she had to find a way to salvage it. She pleaded mournfully, "What happened back then was my fault. I only beg Erlang, for the child's sake, to have pity on him... Oh, Rong Jie'er... she hasn't seen Chang Ge'er for so long. They've been close since childhood, how can we separate them!"
"They've been separated for many years already, and it hasn't killed them," Gu Tingye said indifferently. "Besides, Rong Jie'er has another brother now." Man Niang suddenly looked up: "The new wife... gave birth to a... son."
A fierce glint appeared in Gu Tingye's eyes: "Contrary to your wishes, both mother and child are safe and well."
As if all strength had drained from her, Man Niang suddenly straightened up and clung desperately to Gu Tingye's legs, crying shrilly, "Now that Erlang has a legitimate son, are you going to abandon poor Chang Ge'er?! Have you forgotten how you used to hold him and kiss him when he was little!"
Gu Tingye's expression remained impassive, his voice cold and hard: "I did want him, have you forgotten? Before marrying Sheng Shi, I discussed it calmly with you - I would bring Chang'er here. Minglan would treat him well, and I would teach him properly. It was you who stubbornly refused to the death. Have you forgotten that too?"
"Erlang is so cruel! Even if the new favorite replaces the old, you can't tear mother and child apart like this!" Man Niang cried hysterically. "If Madam Sheng is so kind-hearted, why can't she accept me!"
"It's because I don't trust you," Gu Tingye said coldly. "You've already made me a widower once, do you want to make me one again? Why did you come to the residence this time? You even dared to carry the child and charge at my wife - do you think I don't know your intentions!"
Man Niang had no response, could only weep: "It was truly Madam Sheng who wanted to burn me to death!"
"It was Grand Old Madam Qin who wanted to burn you to death!" Gu Tingye snapped. If he hadn't set fire in Tingwei's courtyard, keeping the Grand Old Madam occupied, they likely would have been burned to death. "You clearly saw Mama Xiang bringing people to pile up firewood, and even now you still try to frame others. Truly a venomous heart!"
"Erlang! Erlang!" Man Niang tugged at the hem of Gu Tingye's robe, pleading desperately. "I may be at fault, but Chang Ge'er is still your own flesh and blood. Can you bear to see him wander homeless? I don't need to enter the residence, just let Chang Ge'er be recognized by his ancestors. I only ask to see him monthly, no, yearly... no, I don't need to see him at all!"
"No." Gu Tingye turned his back, refusing resolutely. "After all this commotion you've caused, how could Minglan possibly educate Chang Ge'er now?" Moreover, he didn't trust Chang Ge'er either. A seven or eight-year-old boy could easily make trouble - he himself had known how to throw cockleburs into Tingwei's bed when he was seven. Besides, the boy's character was already half-formed by now. If he harbored resentment, it was likely already buried within him. As he grew older day by day, he would be like a hidden danger sleeping beside them. To speak coldly, he wouldn't risk his legitimate son for this.Man Niang stopped crying, wiping her tears away with a sharp motion as she sneered coldly, "Minglan this, Minglan that! She must be the apple of your eye now. How do you know you haven't misjudged her this time? She might be just another skilled actress!"
Gu Tingye turned around with a smile. "Do you still think I'm the same fool I used to be? I investigated her exactly the same way I investigated you. I trust her not because of her sweet words, but because of her actions. In terms of intelligence, she's no less capable than you. Just look at how she's handled things recently - she had plenty of ways to deal with those wretched people."
Thinking of Minglan, warmth spread through his heart. He took a deep breath and said, "It's not that she can't, but that she won't. She's different from you - she has principles that hold her back, knowing what she can and cannot do! Unlike you who would commit such heinous acts? Hmph."
Long before their marriage, he had thoroughly investigated the Sheng family's inner household. For Minglan, the most imaginative scheme she could conceive was probably pretending to cry in front of her father, or secretly placing a piece of lard on her sister's seat when no one was looking. Such character might seem somewhat rigid and constrained, but it was honest and respectable, inspiring complete trust.
Hearing the deep affection in the man's words, Man Niang burned with jealousy and hatred. Just as she was about to utter some harsh words, Gu Tingye suddenly crouched down and said to her, "Back then, you made the decision for Chang Ge'er. You know me well - once I say something, I never take it back. In this lifetime, Chang Ge'er will never be entered into the Gu family register. Let him establish his own household separately."
"What... what will you do with us?" Man Niang asked woodenly.
Gu Tingye stood up, pondered for a moment, and said, "You can no longer stay in the capital. I'll have someone escort you back to your hometown in Mianzhou. There, you can purchase land and start a new life. I'll inform the local officials - no one will trouble you and your son. As for Chang Ge'er... let him consider me as no longer his father."
"What about... me?" Man Niang's eyes welled with tears. "Is my life... just over like this?"
Gu Tingye looked at her mockingly. "Back then, I asked you to give me Chang Ge'er and go marry properly. But you said at your age, you couldn't marry well, and without your son, you'd have no support. It was because of those words that I let Chang Ge'er stay with you. What, have you changed your mind now?"
Man Niang looked up, staring blankly at the man. "Do you despise me so much? You don't even want to see me anymore."
"To be honest," Gu Tingye looked at her for a while before saying quietly, "I'm afraid of you."
Cunning, patience, endurance - Man Niang was like the spider spirit from Mama Chang's stories, weaving sticky, dense webs. Once she locked onto her target, she would trap them alive, making it impossible to break free. If he let her continue to entangle him, he even felt that killing her might be the only way out. Leaving her felt like escaping certain death.
"I'll leave you with this final word today." Gu Tingye walked to the door, then suddenly turned back to look at Man Niang who was still sitting on the floor. "If you encounter any urgent difficulties, you can send someone to inform me. After all, Chang Ge'er is my flesh and blood - I won't stand by and do nothing. But if..."
His face turned cold as frost, his eyes filled with menace as he slowly said, "If you dare set foot in the capital again, or find some excuse to come looking for me, no matter the reason - just once, if it happens even once, I'll make sure you never see Chang Ge'er again for all eternity!"He left the last sentence unspoken, but Man Niang knew him well enough to understand that if it truly came to that, after taking Chang Ge'er away, it would be her own turn to face his judgment.
After saying this, Gu Tingye forcefully pushed the door open and stepped out. The dazzling sun overhead and the refreshing breeze from the woods behind the mountain cleared his mind. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "There's an early court session tomorrow. Have the carriage ready."
Hao Dacheng respectfully replied, "At your command."
Gu Tingye turned his head slightly, gazing coldly in the direction of Xuanzhi Garden, and sneered, "It's time to deal with them."
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[Author's Note]
Actually, Man Niang represents another interesting archetype from ancient times.
As someone from the lowest social stratum, she was remarkably strong-willed and never considered her humble origins as a mark of inferiority. She approached her relationship with Gu Tingye as an equal—her delicate and pitiable demeanor was merely a tactic.
It's difficult to label her as purely good or evil. In a positive light, one might say she embodied a modern spirit, breaking through feudal decay. In a harsher view, it could be seen as delusional ambition.
As Comrade Lao Cao aptly summarized: "Though born lowly, her heart soared higher than the sky."
...
...
Let me add a few words here.
Perhaps in the previous chapters, my portrayal of Minglan made everything seem too smooth, causing everyone to forget a very important fact.
Minglan's marriage was purely a case of marrying above her station. What was her original status? Merely the illegitimate daughter of a fourth-rank civil official. Even with her excellent personal qualities—beauty, intelligence, and likability—she was still just the illegitimate daughter of a fourth-rank official.
In the capital, fourth-rank officials were a dime a dozen. According to the Ming and Qing civil service systems, the fourth rank was at the top of the middle tier, with only the first, second, and third ranks above it constituting the upper tier. True, Changbai was very promising, but that was all it was—potential. That potential hadn't yet borne fruit. How many promising young officials never managed to climb higher?!
Thus, even if Qi Heng were to suffer humiliation, Princess Pingning would still look down on Minglan as a daughter-in-law. From a practical standpoint, marrying Minglan offered little substantial benefit.
Furthermore, while Gu Tingye's marriage to Minglan was, on an emotional level, something he schemed tirelessly to obtain, from a practical perspective, Minglan's marriage was purely a case of climbing the social ladder—though she herself had no desire to do so.
On one side, you have fourth-rank civil officials who are a dime a dozen; on the other, a noble scion who is also a trusted confidant of the emperor and holds substantial power. Given such a disparity, the Sheng family, as Minglan's maternal home, had little leverage. If Rulan had conflicts with her in-laws, Madam Wang could rush over and scold them. But if Minglan quarreled with Gu Tingye, who would stand up for her? Who would dare? Changbai? Sheng Hong? Or Brother-in-law Yuan?
They relied on Gu Tingye far too much!
If Minglan argued with Gu Tingye, aside from Old Mrs. Sheng, all her relatives would likely advise her to be more tolerant and not anger such an esteemed son-in-law.
This is precisely why Old Mrs. Sheng always hoped Minglan could marry into the He family.
And this is the tragedy of it all.
From beginning to end, Minglan, despite being intensely curious about Yanhong and Man Niang, never asked a single question, let alone took matters into her own hands to deal with Man Niang.
That woman had once held a significant place in Gu Tingye's heart. No matter how Minglan handled Man Niang, it would leave a negative impression on Gu Tingye, so she simply chose to stay out of it.With the He family, even before the marriage was formally discussed, Old Mrs. Sheng could visit and show her displeasure openly. But with the Gu family? Once you enter the marquis’s household, it’s as deep as the sea. Even if Gu Tingye had already sent Man Niang far away and given Minglan ample face in both reason and sentiment, what could the Sheng family do if Gu Tingye broke his promise and brought Man Niang into the mansion as a concubine?
Divorce? An amicable separation? Or a letter of repudiation? If things turned sour, the only one who would suffer would be Minglan.
Perhaps the writing style of a certain author is lighthearted, but attentive readers can still discern from the text that Minglan has always lived diligently. She carefully and prudently managed her household and relationships, never daring to show the slightest arrogance from being favored.
Circumstances are more powerful than individuals; that is the reality.
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