Upon hearing that Man Niang had been sent away, Minglan silently kissed her son’s little cheek. Mama Chang, sitting nearby, joyfully took the child into her arms, cooing and playing with him, her days of worry and distress swept away as her face beamed with delight. Beside her stood Rong Jie’er, silent and expressionless, neither crying nor smiling, her brow furrowed with sorrow—she had been like this for the past two days.
That day, when Man Niang realized there was no turning back, she desperately insisted on seeing her daughter one last time. Gu Tingye agreed with a cold laugh, and Mama Chang hurriedly brought Rong Jie’er over. The reunion between mother and daughter after years of separation could only be described as bizarre: on one side, Man Niang exerted all her energy, weeping and sniffling to express the depth of her maternal love and the circumstances that had forced her hand; on the other, Rong Jie’er remained wooden and uncomprehending.
As Mama Chang had anticipated, after a dramatic performance of weeping and pleading, Man Niang tearfully urged her daughter to beg her father for mercy and pulled out her son to meet his sister. Had the siblings embraced and wept together, with a heartbroken mother added to the scene, it would have been even more emotionally charged.
Unfortunately, Rong Jie’er had been sent to the marquis’s estate when she was only four or five years old, and Chang Ge’er was even younger. The sister found her brother unfamiliar and did not know what to say, while the brother did not recognize his sister at all. The scene was awkwardly cold, failing to stir any emotion.
“Come, take a look at your brother,” Mama Chang said cheerfully, holding the baby closer. Rong Jie’er leaned in to look. The infant babbled softly, his round eyes bright and clear. The young girl smiled faintly, a trace of sorrow in her expression. Minglan, feeling a pang of pity, said gently, “You must be tired today. Go back and rest. Xianjie came by earlier and mentioned that the tutor will check your lessons tomorrow. Go and review your studies.”
Rong Jie’er responded softly and stepped lightly out of the room. As she turned, not even the hem of her skirt stirred—only the emerald silk tassel tied at her waist swayed gracefully in a beautiful arc. She was no longer the stubborn, unruly, and ill-mannered wild child she had once been.
Minglan sighed softly as she watched Rong Jie’er leave. Noticing this, Mama Chang reassured her, “Don’t worry, madam. These past two years of studying have not been in vain for Rong Jie’er. She understands right from wrong.”
Throughout the reunion with her mother, Rong Jie’er had kept her head bowed and remained silent. Man Niang’s demeanor shifted from pitiful weeping to anger, and she even tugged forcefully at her daughter. Mama Chang suspected that, had no one been present, Man Niang might have resorted to pinching her. Seeing her plans fail, Man Niang could only despairingly question Gu Tingye, asking how he could bear to separate the three of them, flesh and blood.
At that moment, Rong Jie’er suddenly spoke. She said that if her mother wished, she would leave the marquis’s estate and follow her mother and brother to the remote village—these words struck right at the heart of the matter. Even with her silver tongue, Man Niang was momentarily speechless.
After a long pause, Man Niang tearfully explained that she had left Rong Jie’er in the marquis’s estate for the sake of her future and repeatedly urged her never to forget herself and Chang Ge’er. To this, Rong Jie’er stared blankly and retorted, “Then what about my brother’s future? Why didn’t you agree to it for him back then?” Man Niang had no answer. Rong Jie’er’s expression remained wooden as she asked, “Did you leave me here to cause trouble for the madam?” These were the only words she spoke to her birth mother.
Man Niang lunged at her to strike her, but Mama Chang swiftly pulled Rong Jie’er out of harm’s way. The maids on both sides quickly restrained Man Niang and dragged her out, all while she raged and cursed, screaming about “ingratitude” and “betrayal.”Minglan could hardly believe it: "She actually said that?"
Mama Chang gently hummed while soothing the child, then turned to Minglan with a smile: "That spider demon only has so much ability! I told her when I brought the young lady over. When her heartless mother looks for her, it's only for two things—either to ask her to plead on her behalf, or to have her... how do they say it..." She frowned in thought, "Ah, to have Rong Jie'er be in Cao's camp but her heart is with Han."
That is to say, she wanted Rong Jie'er to enjoy all of Minglan's care and concern while always remembering her pitiful mother, to frequently mention their mother and son in front of Gu Tingye, and if she could cause some trouble for Minglan, that would be even better.
Mama Chang had rich experience in child-rearing and her techniques were skilled. After just a few moments of rocking and soothing, the previously lively infant was already swaying drowsily. Mama Chang carefully handed the child over to Cui Mama, who carried it to the adjacent room.
She watched the maids and older women leave before turning back to Minglan with a smile: "I haven't congratulated you yet, Madam. The young master is truly handsome, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he's strong and vigorous. Look at how he nursed earlier, swallowing and gulping! Being able to eat and sleep well is what matters!"
Minglan smiled bitterly and shook her head. Her own milk supply was insufficient, and the little one would exhaust it after just a few mouthfuls, forcing her to seek outside help.
"Madam." Mama Chang looked at Minglan's troubled expression and said cautiously, "Please don't think about that wretched woman anymore. Her hometown is in a remote area of Mianzhou, with high mountains and distant waters, inaccessible by water routes. Now that she's gone back, she probably won't return."
Minglan was momentarily stunned, then smiled: "Mama, you've misunderstood. I wasn't thinking about that. It's just..." She sighed slightly, "How exactly did the Marquis meet her back then?" At this point, if she didn't ask at all, it would seem hypocritical and false.
Mentioning this woman filled Mama Chang with emotion. Now that things had come to this, there was nothing left unsaid. She smoothed her hair and thought for a moment before speaking: "That was the second year after our family came to the capital. After learning the reasons why the Gu and Bai families had arranged the marriage, Ye-ge'er and the Old Marquis became increasingly at odds."
If Gu Tingye had previously been sulking with half-inferiority and half-self-abandonment, then after learning the truth, he must have been filled with grief and indignation. It was clearly the Gu family who had eagerly sought this marriage alliance, yet everyone looked at him with disdain. It was clearly the Bai family who had saved the Gu family from crisis, yet those self-proclaimed noble Gu family members spoke of his deceased mother in contemptuous tones.
Mama Chang was quite sorrowful: "Ye-ge'er had no outlet for his grievances and could only continue fighting and causing trouble as before. That year, he had a conflict with a young ruffian, which implicated a handsome opera performer. Seeing that the opera siblings were about to face disaster, Ye-ge'er couldn't stand by and intervened to save them."
Minglan asked softly: "Was that opera performer Man Niang's brother?"
Mama Chang nodded helplessly: "At that time, our family lived in the countryside outside the capital. By the time the young master came to tell me, he had already taken in that brother and sister. I told the young master that opera performers are after all from the lowest class, and he shouldn't get too involved to avoid gossip. He should quickly give them some silver and send them away. Although Ye-ge'er had an impulsive temper, he wasn't foolish and immediately agreed. But who would have thought..."Her tone was filled with disgust as she gritted her teeth and said, "That actor actually abandoned his sister and ran off with the money!"
"Really?" Minglan was astonished. How could there be such a heartless brother in the world!
"False!" Mama Chang rolled her sagging eyelids toward the sky. "Later, Ye-ge'er found out it was all an act put on by that wretched woman. She had her brother take the money to start a business elsewhere so she could stay behind and cling to Ye-ge'er."
Minglan was momentarily stunned. This woman truly dared to think and act boldly.
"Under such circumstances, a helpless young woman with no relatives, no support, and nowhere to turn—no one knew what to do, so she was temporarily settled in a residence. Ye-ge'er even suggested that this old woman take her in as a goddaughter, but I was unwilling. For some reason, I just didn't like this woman." Mama Chang pondered as she recalled, "This old woman always felt her eyes looked dishonest and restless."
For an elderly woman of ambition who refused to sell herself into servitude even during the hardest times, her ideal was to steadily walk the path of a respectable commoner and then stride toward higher goals. How could she be willing to take a performer's sister as her goddaughter?
Minglan smiled faintly. "The elderly truly have a discerning eye."
Mama Chang merely shook her head with a bitter smile. "Had I known what would happen later, I should have taken her in to spare Ye-ge'er the suffering." She seemed full of regret. "That wretched woman was cunning, constantly stirring up trouble—feigning illness one moment, claiming some ruffian was after her the next—luring Ye-ge'er to visit her frequently. Ah, Ye-ge'er was only in his teens back then, a young man full of vigor, and that wretched woman was skilled in seduction and flattery. Over time..." She glanced awkwardly at Minglan, finding the rest too difficult to say.
To her surprise, Minglan looked utterly understanding and even reassured her, "Mama, feel free to speak. It happened so many years ago—I won’t take it to heart." What was so unusual about it? It was likely just a variation of the tale where a singing girl ensnares some nobleman. A troubled young lord of the marquis household, with no one to confide in about his grievances, meets a sympathetic and fairly attractive girl. With a bit of wine, a lute in hand, and a soft melody, as the wine warms them and the atmosphere thickens—the curtain is drawn, the oil lamp extinguished... (Omitted here are several inappropriate words.) And so, it was done.
Mama Chang’s face turned as if she had been forced to drink a whole jar of soy sauce. "I advised Ye-ge'er that this couldn’t go on. Not only was he not yet married, but given Man Niang’s background, it would be difficult for her to enter the marquis household. It would be better to give her some silver and have her marry someone else. Ye-ge'er wasn’t particularly fond of that wretched woman to begin with and had no strong attachments, so he agreed at once. This time, I went along to persuade that wretched woman. Who would have thought she’d threaten to kill herself! She made a huge scene—throwing herself into a well, banging her head, and finally pressing a hairpin to her throat, kneeling on the ground and begging. She said, she said..." The elderly woman’s memory faltered, and she couldn’t recall for a moment.
Minglan kindly picked up the thread. "She must have said first, 'What kind of person does Mama take me for? Do you think I’m a woman who can be bought with silver and gold?' After all the theatrics, she poured out her feelings, saying she sought no status, no wealth, nothing at all—only hoping for the young master’s pity, that he might remember her from time to time..." After a moment’s thought, Minglan added with a touch of mischief, "'Just treat me like a little cat or dog, leave me aside and pay me no mind, only come to talk when you feel like it.' Was that it?"Mama Chang looked embarrassed: "The mistress has hit the nail on the head." She couldn't recall the exact words, but the general meaning was indeed as described.
Minglan nearly rolled her eyes; how could even the lines be the same?!
"After this commotion, this old servant didn't dare to push too hard, fearing it might lead to loss of life. I thought it over repeatedly but couldn't find a proper solution, so the matter dragged on day by day." Mama Chang's voice grew lower as she spoke, "Moreover, I thought it would be better for the young master to talk with that wretched woman than to cause trouble outside—at least it could help relieve some of his pent-up frustration. I also thought that once the young master married a virtuous and tolerant lady, she might be able to accept her. Looking back now, this old servant was terribly mistaken!" Her graying head hung low; the more she recounted the past, the more she felt ashamed to face Minglan. What respectable young lady would be willing to be so 'virtuous and tolerant'?
"Before I could change my mind, a major incident occurred. That wretched woman became pregnant."
Mama Chang gnashed her teeth and said bitterly, "This time, this old servant finally realized the gravity of the situation! The young master was still young and inexperienced in such matters, and for a moment, he panicked." Unconsciously raising her voice, she continued, "That wretched woman stubbornly refused to abort the child, and I had no choice. After several months of anxiety, she gave birth to a daughter. To be honest, this old servant was truly relieved!"
So Rong Jie'er was born under such circumstances. Minglan sighed softly.
"Not long after, the matter came to the attention of the Marquis's household, and for a time, there was another uproar. Keeping a mistress outside, having a child, coupled with those black-hearted individuals fanning the flames—the Old Marquis had Ye-ge'er tied up and beaten with the family law." Mama Chang couldn't hold back a sob. "The young master's temperament, as the mistress knows, is truly stubborn. He was in a standoff with the Old Marquis; the more his father urged him to dispose of Man Niang quickly, the more he refused and insisted on properly settling that wretched woman. The Old Marquis was so furious he nearly sent the young master to the Imperial Clan Court!"
The two most troublesome groups in the world are men and women going through menopause, and rebellious teenagers. Minglan could imagine the Old Marquis's feelings at the time and felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Mama Chang wiped the corner of her eye and said helplessly, "The young master was very stubborn then; no one could persuade him, and that wretched woman acted so pitiful. The matter ended up at a stalemate. I told the young master that holding a grudge was one thing, but he couldn't ignore the future. This time, we were lucky it was a daughter—we could provide a dowry and send her off when the time came. But if it had been a son... what good marriage prospects would Ye-ge'er have had then? The young master also felt it was inappropriate. But he was just a young man, and that wretched woman knew how to charm him; what if he couldn't control himself... So I personally sought out a medicine woman and stationed her in the residence as a precaution."
Recalling this, she gritted her teeth even harder. "Who would have thought that as soon as the turmoil with the Imperial Clan Court subsided and Ye-ge'er had only visited that wretched woman two or three times, she became pregnant again!"
The matter was serious and grave, yet Minglan felt an urge to laugh. Man Niang was formidable—her efficiency was truly impressive.
"I rushed over to confront her, but Man Niang only wept, claiming she had taken the medicine faithfully, and the medicine woman also insisted she had followed the rules." With such a major blunder, Mama Chang had nearly fainted from anger at the time. "After some investigation, we found that the medicine woman often indulged in drinking. Everyone could only assume that she had likely been drunk while purchasing the herbs or had cut corners while preparing the medicine.""The matter was once again left unresolved. Yet I remained suspicious; though that old woman loved her drink, she had never been careless in her duties." But at that time, Gu Tingye trusted Man Niang completely, and she had no evidence.
Mama Chang rose and closed both side doors, leaving a crack about an inch wide in the window for ventilation. She gritted her teeth, "Right then, I knelt before the young master and shamelessly begged through tears. I said perhaps Man Niang's constitution was too robust, ordinary medicinal decoctions had no effect on her, and could only beg the young master to stop being foolish—we simply couldn't afford another child!"
Minglan nearly burst out laughing. Mama Chang was quite a character, actually resorting to such methods to undermine Man Niang.
"The eldest lady left only him as her flesh and blood. If he remained unaccomplished his whole life, wouldn't it give those black-hearted villains reason to mock? This old woman wouldn't dare face the eldest lady even in the afterlife! If the young master refused to agree, this old woman would have to seek death herself!"
This was Mama Chang's proud achievement, and she recounted it with great satisfaction, "The young master truly took it to heart. In the following years, though Ye-ge'er still visited her frequently, he would only speak with her and check on the children, rarely being intimate with her. That wretched woman was accustomed to playing the obedient role and couldn't openly object. She merely blamed the medicinal granny's negligence, but I said—what if it wasn't the old woman's carelessness?"
Minglan was greatly amused—this move was truly wicked. If Man Niang always maintained her image of being magnanimous and understanding, using her support for Gu Tingye as her selling point, then she couldn't very well let him take risks in this matter, could she? Regardless of whether Gu Tingye maintained a purely platonic relationship with Man Niang during those years, his visits certainly decreased significantly, and Man Niang never produced a third child.
Mama Chang's scheme could be considered successful.
"Truth be told, that wretched woman wasn't some unparalleled beauty. There were several maids in Ye-ge'er's former quarters who were far more attractive than her! Did she truly think herself a celestial being that men would be rooted to the spot at the sight of her? With her meager looks, she didn't even possess the capital to play the seductress! She merely relied on a silver tongue, taking advantage of the young master's melancholy to flatter and please him incessantly, while putting on a pitiful act to make him reluctant to abandon her!" Mama Chang's hatred for Man Niang ran deep, and her words grew increasingly caustic.
Minglan smiled. In truth, she could discern that Mama Chang wanted to justify Gu Tingye's past actions, hence her deliberate efforts to downplay the affection between Gu Tingye and Man Niang. But she needn't worry—Minglan wasn't one to dwell on trivial matters. Back then, her intense disputes with He Hongwen regarding his cousin Miss Cao were because this cousin wasn't just part of the present but threatened to become part of the future, which was truly vexing.
But what about Man Niang? Regardless of her past relationship with Gu Tingye, or even whether Gu Tingye had genuine feelings for her—what did it matter? The important thing was, she belonged to the past. Real life was what mattered most—why forsake good days to pursue meaningless speculations? This was the most important lesson she had learned in this lifetime.
To put it bluntly: as long as so-called true love didn't cause actual changes in reality, whether it was genuine or not wasn't particularly important. If Gu Tingye were to divide half the family assets today, or intended to pass the title to Chang Ge'er or similar actions, then Minglan would naturally be quite displeased. But now, Gu Tingye had placed all family assets in her hands, was determined to have her son inherit the title, slept in her bed every night, and stuck by her side whenever he had free time. So who exactly was his true love? Was there any need to investigate that?To be more realistic. Like in the operas, for some reason—whether for the sake of the nation or for ambition and power—if a man had to marry another and leave her, what use would it be even if she were his true love?
Fine, she was a selfish modern woman. Ten years of professional training had only given her a superficial shell of gentleness and virtue; deep down, she lacked any of the traditional virtues of ancient women.
"Look at what you're saying, Mama Chang. I thought Man Niang’s two children were something the Marquis intentionally wanted?" Minglan joked half-heartedly.
Mama Chang’s heart tightened, and she sighed. "Oh, Madam... what can I even say? Just think about it—the Marquis isn’t foolish. What sensible young man from a noble family would be in such a hurry to have children before he’s even married?"
This argument was quite persuasive, and Minglan nodded in agreement.
"After Chang Ge’er was born, another two or three years passed without much happening. Ye-ge’er finally made up his mind to marry into the Yu family, but who would have thought that halfway through, the bride was switched?" Mama Chang said angrily. "It’s not that I like to speak ill of the dead, but Madam Yanhong was really too..." She clicked her tongue, took a sip of tea, and continued, "It would have been better not to marry her at all! Before marrying her, Ye-ge’er could at least muddle through, but after marrying her, there was nothing but chaos—daily quarrels, fights, and scoldings without a single day of peace. Not long after, the young master had a fierce argument with the Old Marquis and went out to make his way in the world alone."
At this point, Mama Chang’s eyes welled up again, and she sobbed, "My poor Ye-ge’er, raised in luxury since childhood, even needing someone to serve him a cup of tea—yet he endured wind and dew outside, suffering who knows how many hardships!"
Minglan sat up from the bed and gently patted Mama Chang, soothing her softly, "Don’t cry, Mama. As the saying goes, 'Jade must be carved to become a vessel.' Thankfully, heaven has eyes, and the Marquis has made something of himself, hasn’t he?" Mama Chang lifted her head, clasped her hands together, and murmured a prayer: "The young lady in heaven has not let our young master suffer a lifetime of misfortune."
After the two spoke a few more words, someone outside suddenly called out loudly, "The Marquis has returned."
Mama Chang wiped the corners of her eyes and stood up. Just then, the side curtain was lifted, and Gu Tingye entered carrying a swaddled baby, followed by a frowning Cui Mama. He laughed and said, "I just watched him sleeping so soundly and lingered a moment longer, and this little fellow woke up."
"Don’t make excuses—you must have woken him," Minglan teased with a smile.
Gu Tingye was still wearing his bright red court dress. He had rushed to see his son right after returning from court without even changing his clothes and refused to put the baby down once he had him in his arms. Thanks to Cui Mama’s guidance, his posture was quite proper. Gazing at the infant, he chuckled to himself, "In just a few days, he’s become much better-looking. When he was first born, he was all red and wrinkled, like a little red-skinned creature."
Minglan frowned. "And yet you kept praising how good-looking he was back then!"
Gu Tingye retorted with a laugh, "Even red and wrinkled, he was better-looking than other red and wrinkled babies!"
This made everyone laugh. Mama Chang leaned in to look and saw that the baby was already awake, neither crying nor fussing. His facial features were becoming more distinct, though his eyes were still half-drowsy as he looked around, seemingly still a bit sleepy.
"The redder they are at birth, the fairer and plumper they’ll be when they grow up! Has he been given a name yet?"Gu Tingye smiled bitterly, "I've been truly swamped lately. When Gongsun Xiansheng returns, I'll ask him to take a look." He had little confidence in his own literacy and cared too deeply for his child to casually choose a name.
Mama Chang said, "The formal name can be chosen slowly. Let's first give him a pleasant and auspicious childhood name." Gu Tingye found this quite reasonable and turned to ask Minglan, "What should we call him?"
Minglan joked, "I heard from Xiaotao that the most common names in her hometown are things like Dog Leftover, Dog Egg, or Little Dog."
Gu Tingye chuckled and glared at Minglan, "What nonsense! There are also names like Dog Leg and Dog Whelp—would you really call our son such things?"
Mama Chang laughed, "My lord, you don’t understand. The humbler the name, the healthier the child. Even in wealthy families, if a child is unwell, they write the name down and post it everywhere for people to call out."
"Is that so?" Gu Tingye looked skeptical.
Minglan glanced at the chubby little one and thought he looked fair, plump, and adorable, soft and round like a sticky rice ball. "How about calling him Tuan Ge'er?"
Gu Tingye was delighted upon hearing this. "Tuan as in reunion? That character is excellent!"
Everyone in the room agreed it was a good choice—auspicious, unique, and easy to say. And so, it was settled.
After chatting a while longer, Mama Chang stood to take her leave. Gu Tingye handed Tuan Ge'er over to Cui Mama, then went to wash up and change into casual clothes before returning to the room. Likely exhausted from court affairs, he slumped onto the edge of the bed, massaging the bridge of his nose wearily as he said to Minglan, "Move over a bit. I need to rest before dinner."
Minglan, who had been sitting with Mama Chang for a long time and felt an ache in her back, had been wanting to lie down and rest. She replied discontentedly, "Didn’t we set up another room for you? There’s even a soft couch outside—why squeeze in here with me?"
Gu Tingye couldn’t be bothered to argue. He simply picked Minglan up, along with her thin blanket, and moved her steadily to the inner side of the bed. Then he lay down beside her, letting out a long sigh. "Finally finished reporting the matters of the two Huai regions to the Emperor. His Majesty is too impatient—problems that have festered for years can’t be solved overnight. We must take it slowly."
Hearing the exhaustion in his voice, Minglan reached out to massage his temples. Gu Tingye caught her hand and pressed it against his cheek, turning his head to look directly at her. "I’m sorry I couldn’t come back sooner."
Minglan thought for a moment and teased, "Cui Mama said my delivery was actually quite smooth. If it hadn’t been for the earlier commotion and the later fire, it wouldn’t have mattered if you weren’t here." Gu Tingye turned to bury his head in Minglan’s embrace and murmured, "It won’t happen again." Minglan stroked his thick, coarse hair. "Mama Chang said the same thing."
"What did you all talk about?" Gu Tingye asked, his eyes closed and his breathing steady.
"About Man Niang," Minglan replied, waiting for his reaction.
Sure enough, Gu Tingye’s eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes, speaking calmly, "How far did you get?"
"To when you left the manor alone."
Gu Tingye slowly turned over, lying side by side with Minglan, their heads close. "Then I’ll continue."
Minglan lay flat as well, ready to listen attentively.
"Actually, I was somewhat displeased about Man Niang going to the Yu residence. But, as always, she managed to weave a convincing story, and I still believed her." Gu Tingye clasped his hands over his abdomen, his voice utterly calm.At that time, the Ningyuan Marquis Household was a living nightmare - an uncomprehending father, a Grand Old Madam with honeyed words but a heart of gall, uncles and cousins who enjoyed the Bai family's wealth yet looked down on him. Even returning to his own chambers brought no relief, filled as they were with maids harboring ulterior motives. Everywhere he faced frustration, constantly stifled and aggrieved. Only at Man Niang's place could he receive some gentle consolation. For a period, he had truly trusted Man Niang deeply.
Humans are creatures of habit. Once you trust someone, many of their actions automatically seem justified.
"Until that day at Guangji Temple, your words made perfect sense."
It might be hard to believe, but Minglan was the only woman besides Man Niang with whom he had ever had a proper conversation. That young girl, frowning and slanting her eyes, her face full of dissatisfaction, yet she didn't resort to empty, meaningless scolding. Instead, she seriously presented logic and facts. After returning, he pondered repeatedly, and no matter how he thought about it, Minglan's words were correct.
If Man Niang truly only wanted to be a concubine, there was no reason for her to cause trouble at the Yu residence.
People fall for deception mainly because they don't think in that direction. If one truly investigates, many people and matters cannot withstand scrutiny.
"Man Niang had a maid who served her for many years. Later, Man Niang provided her dowry and married her off to a distant place. I went through great efforts to find her, using intimidation, threats, and inducements until she finally spoke." Most women with husbands and children rarely remain loyal to the end.
"What that maid said was utterly unbelievable. First, Man Niang's brother didn't actually abandon his sister and flee. Instead, Man Niang persistently persuaded her brother to leave. It wasn't until after Man Niang gave birth to two children that her brother returned, pretending to be remorseful. Man Niang's earnest pleas and their well-acted sibling performance made me pardon her brother, while I still thought she was inherently kind-hearted."
Minglan didn't speak, only stared blankly at the bed canopy.
"Then regarding the children, Mama Chang's prediction was correct. Man Niang had someone lure the medicine woman to drink and tampered with the herbs." Gu Tingye's tone was bitter, as if narrating an absurd play. "But I still couldn't quite believe it. After returning to the capital, I detained people from Man Niang's residence for interrogation. This questioning revealed even more matters."
"What else did she do?" Minglan began to feel disgusted as well.
Gu Tingye reached for her hand, holding it firmly before continuing: "She found out which tavern Yanhong's accompanying servants frequented, had someone leak her own residence information there, and spread some excessively provocative words. When Yanhong heard these reports, she naturally stormed over in furious haste. Man Niang had arranged everything, waiting for me to 'arrive just in time to rescue' her and the children, then turn against Yanhong."
Minglan sighed deeply, moved closer, and embraced the man's arm, pressing her face against it.
"Learning all this, I was momentarily stunned." Gu Tingye turned and held Minglan, his palms cold. "When I confronted her, she had no defense left and finally told the truth. She had always wanted to be the legitimate wife. All her previous pretense was just to deceive me."That day, in front of the two children, he grabbed Man Niang by the hair and dragged her out, subjecting her to intense questioning and scolding. Seeing no way to evade, Man Niang spoke bluntly. Furious, he slapped her hard several times. Her cheeks swelled purple and bruised, yet she continued to weep and laugh. He clearly remembered how, under the dim yellow twilight, Man Niang crawled on the ground, clutching his legs, looking pitiful as she lifted her head to plead. She even declared her feelings as if performing a play, claiming she was sincere and hoping for his pity and care.
Little did she know, his heart had already turned cold. Everyone deceived and betrayed him—even this person he had trusted so deeply was no exception. Who else could be trusted? Was there anyone in this world worthy of trust?
"That night, I returned to the estate and quarreled with the Old Marquis again. My words grew increasingly unreasonable, until I made him so angry he spat blood. He cursed me as 'self-degrading, beyond redemption, truly a lowborn wretch.' I couldn't bear to stay any longer and left that very night. It wasn't until I reached the south that I sent a letter to Mama Chang to reassure her of my safety."
Minglan felt sorrowful, pressing against his chest as she let out a soft sigh.
"After I left, the Old Marquis searched for me relentlessly. When he finally found me, the first letter he sent urged me to return immediately, saying Yanhong was pregnant," Gu Tingye said.
"What?!" Minglan was shocked. "How come no one ever mentioned this?"
Gu Tingye showed a peculiar smile, as if mocking. "Because it was a great scandal—unfit to be spoken of to heaven and earth, and unfit to be disclosed to even the closest kin."
Minglan had guessed some of it but dared not speak carelessly.
"The Old Marquis was overjoyed. He took my hand and told me that I would soon be a father, that I needed to be sensible, behave properly, and avoid causing trouble. But I told him that the child in Yanhong's womb probably bore the surname Gu, but it wasn't mine."
The Old Marquis was both shocked and enraged, repeatedly blaming himself for wrongly accusing others. Gu Tingye had been away for over a month, while Yanhong was more than two months pregnant—the timing seemed to align perfectly. But Gu Tingye replied indifferently that since their fallout over Man Niang, he and Yanhong had not shared a bed.
The expression on his father's face at that moment was something Gu Tingye would never forget—the fury, the panic, the deep-seated guilt and remorse were beyond description. At the time, however, he was consumed by his own emotions and mercilessly mocked the entire Gu family, calling it a filthy, muddy pit where few were clean.
As for who had cuckolded him, he had no interest in finding out and couldn't be bothered to ask. In his eyes, no one in the Marquis' household was decent.
"Then, how did Yanran's sister die?" Minglan asked gloomily.
Gu Tingye's expression darkened. "She died from hemorrhaging after a failed abortion. The news came while the Old Marquis was arguing with Lord Yu. Although Yanhong was at fault, I too was not blameless. I never intended for her to pay with her life. But by the time we rushed to the villa, she had already stopped breathing."
A chill ran through Minglan's heart—such a death was indeed a fitting retribution.
"Everyone believed Yanhong died from a rushed abortion. To cover up the scandal, the Gu family announced publicly that she had died of illness. Lord Yu didn't dare speak out, and the matter was settled." Gu Tingye suddenly frowned. "Only I sensed something was off." After all, they had been married. Yu Yanhong was no fool. If she knew she would be exposed, why didn't she abort earlier? Why wait until the Gu family summoned him back?"What happened then?" Minglan asked curiously.
"I had a manservant named Pinggui whom Man Niang had been particularly ingratiating herself with. He often spoke well of her, but I didn't pay it much mind at the time. After I left the capital, I hadn't seen him for a long time." Gu Tingye's smile was full of malice. "But when I was leaving, the gatekeeper of the suburban residence said that Pinggui had come just half a day earlier, claiming to deliver a message from me. Yet I had never sent any message!"
Minglan asked in shock, "Could it be Man Niang again?"
The most astonishing thing about Man Niang was that whenever Gu Tingye intended to investigate something minor, he would inevitably uncover something major. Gu Tingye said grimly, "I captured Pinggui and interrogated him under torture, and he spilled everything."
After Gu Tingye left the capital without any news, Man Niang grew as restless as an ant on a hot pan. Mama Chang refused to talk, so she had people keep a constant watch on the Ningyuan Marquis Household, especially Yanhong's accompanying servants. Soon, she made a discovery. One day, Yanhong used the excuse of visiting her parents' home, but her carriage changed route midway. Wearing a veil, Yanhong secretly went to see a physician.
Man Niang later sought out that physician. Unaware of the client's identity and tempted by silver, the physician unhesitatingly revealed that the veiled lady was two months pregnant. Overjoyed, Man Niang immediately began scheming: she needed to ensure Gu Tingye returned quickly while preventing Yanhong from concealing the matter and secretly resolving the problem.
Pinggui's younger sister served as a maid in the inner quarters of the Gu residence. Everyone in the household knew that the Second Madam of the Ye branch was allergic to lotus root. Seizing the opportunity, the maid slipped a small amount of lotus root powder into Yanhong's food—just enough to cause a minor rash. However, the virtuous Grand Old Madam, unwilling to let the Old Marquis think she had neglected his daughter-in-law after Gu Tingye's departure, insisted on calling a physician to examine her. Thus, the matter could no longer be concealed.
After the incident, Yanhong, terrified and fearful, hid in the suburban residence, awaiting her punishment. It was then that Pinggui arrived, claiming that Gu Tingye did not wish to publicize the scandal. He demanded that she abort the illegitimate child and promised a peaceful divorce once the matter had blown over.
The bait was too tempting to resist. Gu Tingye already had a notorious reputation, and now he had abandoned his family. If they divorced, everyone in the capital would assume Gu Tingye was at fault, allowing Yanhong to escape unscathed. After a few years, her doting parents could arrange another marriage for her. Pinggui emphasized the urgency, warning that delays might lead to complications.
Yanhong complied without hesitation, immediately sending someone to fetch a potent abortifacient. Fearing the medicine might not be strong enough, she consumed two doses at once. The fetus was aborted, but she lost her life as well.
Minglan listened, her entire body turning cold, and she stammered, "...Why would Man Niang go that far, even then?"
"Man Niang claimed she only wanted Yanhong to suffer and vent her anger," Gu Tingye said with a cold laugh. "But it made me see the truth. That very night, I confronted her and made it clear we were cutting ties forever."
After this incident, the Old Marquis, besieged internally and externally, fell ill from rage and soon passed away. Gu Tingye did not make it in time to see his father one last time.
Minglan now understood the whole story but found herself speechless. The two remained silent for a long while. After some time, Gu Tingye suddenly turned and leaned close to Minglan, his eyes filled with remorse. "Do you blame me? I didn't punish Man Niang."Minglan was taken aback, then chuckled wryly. "How should we deal with her?"
"Take her life?" She slowly sat up. Gu Tingye also rose, sitting opposite her. "To be honest, if you were to end her life, I wouldn’t dare keep Rong Jie’er by my side any longer—I’d have to send her far away. No matter how sensible Rong’er is, the bond between mother and daughter runs deep. I wouldn’t dare gamble on that chance."
"Yet killing her would be excessive punishment." Minglan had already turned this over in her mind several times. Yanhong’s death could only be attributed to Man Niang’s intimidation and deceit, while the attempt to charge at her was merely an unsuccessful assault—neither crime warranted the death penalty.
"Then she must be punished, but how?" Minglan smiled bitterly. "Truthfully, given Man Niang’s nature, even beating, scolding, or torturing her might not bring repentance." Unlike Kang Yima, who at least loved her children and had vulnerabilities to exploit, even the safety of her own children seemed unable to deter Man Niang. For such a dangerously unstable individual, lifelong imprisonment was the most fitting punishment, but she couldn’t voice this aloud.
Minglan spread her hands and smiled. "Sending her far away, as you did, is also a solution."
Gu Tingye was stunned. He hadn’t expected Minglan to analyze the situation so rationally and coherently at such a moment, without a trace of emotion. A tumult of feelings surged within him.
"And then there’s the court and matters beyond the estate. The sooner this is resolved, the better," he couldn’t help but add in his own defense.
"This was never something to be made public," Minglan agreed immediately. "Man Niang is neither your concubine nor a servant of the household. She’s a lawful commoner—what right do we have to punish or execute her? If a commoner commits a crime, it shouldn’t be handled privately but through official trial and sentencing. If this were brought to court, our reputation would be ruined. Delays breed complications; if this drags on and your opponents get wind of it, there’ll be no end to the trouble."
If she were Gu Tingye’s political rival, she would certainly seize this opportunity to escalate the situation. If he were impeached for moral failings, he might end up like Uncle Shen, confined to his home in reflection. With two key officials simultaneously sidelined, the emperor would be in a frenzy.
Gu Tingye gazed intently at Minglan, his expression complex. After a long silence, he finally said, "In Mianzhou, I secured a hundred acres of land for Chang Ge’er and arranged for supervision, hoping she would think of her son and cease her actions." Suddenly, his expression hardened. "If she dares cause trouble again, I won’t hesitate—I’ll take her life immediately."
Minglan nodded, then waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, but that’s not the main issue now! The real concern is that other one. Have you figured out a solution or not?" Her face was full of fear. "I don’t dare live under the same roof with her anymore."
As a nominal elder, she couldn’t be struck or scolded—every move was constrained.
Seeing her shift from composure to trembling like a frightened little rabbit, Gu Tingye couldn’t help but smile. "Don’t worry. Even if you dared live with her, I wouldn’t allow it. I’ve already made arrangements—we’re dividing the household!"
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