No matter how prominent the Gu family was, having a death occur during the first lunar month was considered an ill omen. Thus, everyone advised Fifth Old Master to postpone the funeral until after the month ended, especially since the bitter cold and freezing temperatures would prevent the corpse from decaying. However, Fifth Old Master insisted on resolving the matter quickly, ordering his second son, Tingdi, to handle the arrangements with simplicity. The burial was set for just ten days later.
The mourning hall was desolate and quiet. Only members of the Gu clan and a couple of close families came to pay their respects briefly before taking their leave. Aside from Fourth Old Master, who was unwell and unable to attend, and Fourth Old Madam, who stayed behind to care for him, the remaining three branches of the family sat together in attendance.
Fifth Old Madam wept until she nearly fainted, then sprang up and launched into a furious tirade against Tingdi and his wife. She accused them of being unfilial and disrespectful, claiming they had made things difficult for Tingyang while he was alive and were now failing to give him a proper send-off, leaving him to depart uneasily.
Tingdi and his wife flushed crimson under the scolding. While Second Madam Di was accustomed to her mother-in-law’s unreasonable outbursts and bore it silently, Second Master Di was indignant. Unable to endure the harsh accusations, he suddenly knelt before Fifth Old Madam with a thud, his neck bulging with anger.
"...Mother, you don’t manage the household, so you don’t know the cost of firewood and rice. Eldest Brother alone spent as much as Father, you, all the concubines, and our entire branch combined! Was he studying for the imperial exams or running a business to earn money?! Our family has over a dozen members—medical expenses, meals, clothing... The income from our shops and estates is all here. Tingling Sister and our eldest nephew (Gu Tingyang’s illegitimate eldest son) are already discussing marriages. Where will the dowry and bride price come from? And the younger ones are growing up one after another—each of these matters requires money!"
The more Tingdi spoke, the angrier he became. Fifth Old Madam had always favored her eldest son excessively. When they all lived together in the marquis’s residence, the main branch covered everything, and he had let it slide. But now that they had separate households, even a single thread had to be paid for from their own pockets—how could he not resent it?
"Eldest Brother spent his days patronizing actors and visiting brothels, squandering vast sums outside. To this day, the debts he racked up remain unpaid. Should the whole family starve just so Eldest Brother could have his fun?!" Tingdi kowtowed several times, his forehead thudding loudly against the gray bricks. "If Mother still thinks I’m at fault, then invoke the family law and have me beaten to death!"
His words came out in a rapid, heated torrent, stunning Fifth Old Madam into silence. Trembling, she stared at her second son, unable to speak for a long while. Grand Old Madam sat at the head of the room, calmly stirring her tea with the lid of her cup, showing no emotion. The others exchanged uneasy glances—some unwilling to intervene, others unable to—until the amiable Gu Tingxuan stepped forward to help Tingdi up and smooth things over with a few conciliatory words.
Still seething with anger, Fifth Old Madam thought of her beloved eldest son’s tragic death and tears streamed down her face. Not daring to blame her husband nor continuing to berate her second son, she turned her fury on someone else. She rushed toward her eldest daughter-in-law, weeping and cursing: "It’s all your fault, you jinx! My son was fine until he married you! You’re useless, unable to keep your man satisfied, so he had to fool around outside! We never should have brought you into this family..."
Draped entirely in mourning white, Yang’s wife had grown increasingly sallow and gaunt recently, her cheeks sunken and withered like dried wood. No matter how her mother-in-law insulted her, she remained woodenly silent, head bowed, enduring without a word. Kneeling in the center of the mourning hall was her only son, Gu Shixun—a teenage boy clad in hemp mourning clothes, eyes downcast, silent and still.First Wife of Gu Tingxuan leaned close to Minglan's ear and whispered softly, "If you ask me, Xun'er would be better off without such a father! If he ever achieves scholarly honors someday, having a father who spends his days carousing outside, disgracing himself—tsk tsk... Don't you think that's right?"
Minglan, who already despised Tingyang's character, deeply agreed upon hearing this. Without thinking, she nodded, then remembered this was someone's funeral and quickly shook her head. First Wife of Gu Tingxuan couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth as she lowered her head. "Oh, you silly girl."
Fifth Old Madam wept and cursed until she was hoarse, continuously pushing, pinching, and hitting Yang's wife. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, the women present grew restless and considered intervening. At that moment, Fifth Old Master, who had been sitting as still as a wooden statue, seemed to jolt awake from a dream. He suddenly stood up, walked over, grabbed Fifth Old Madam, and slapped her across the face.
The sound of the slap echoed like a muffled thunderclap in the mourning hall, stunning everyone present.
"You raised such a beastly, immoral son, and you still have the face to cry?!" Fifth Old Master seemed like a different person, devoid of his usual refined demeanor. His eyes were bloodshot, his body hunched, as he spat out words through gritted teeth, "I'm divorcing you!"
Fifth Old Madam staggered from the blow, saved from falling only by the daughter-in-law beside her. She was so frightened she forgot to cry, standing frozen in place. Grand Old Madam was the first to react, sharply exclaiming, "Di'er's wife, help your mother-in-law back to rest!"
Only then did Second Wife Di snap out of it, quickly half-dragging and half-supporting Fifth Old Madam out of the hall. Second Master Di also hurriedly helped his father sit down. Grand Old Madam began to speak, "Fifth Uncle, it's not your sister-in-law's place to criticize, but our family doesn't condone beating wives. Now that your children are grown, where do you expect your wife to save face..."
Fifth Old Master solemnly interrupted, "I will handle my family matters myself. Since we've already separated households, sister-in-law need not concern yourself with so much."
Grand Old Madam's expression instantly changed. She sneered, "It seems I've overstepped. If not for fear of upsetting your elder brother, I wouldn't bother covering for everyone like this." Her words carried a double meaning. A flicker of pain crossed Fifth Old Master's face as he hoarsely replied, "Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law."
Everyone could tell his words weren't meant literally.
First Wife of Gu Tingxuan, seemingly reminded of something unpleasant, pulled Minglan aside to whisper in a corner: "...No wonder Fifth Uncle is angry. It's like a festering wound—if the pus had been cleaned out properly, it might have healed. But covering it up only let it rot to the bone, until it became incurable. Ah, that second uncle of mine never changes his ways either. He's caused trouble again."
Minglan quickly asked what happened. First Wife of Gu Tingxuan explained, "We just received word a few days ago. Even exiled far away with servants attending him, he still can't behave. Seeing the border trade flourishing, he actually tried going into business. Somehow a dispute arose, and he killed someone."
"How come I didn't know anything about this?" Minglan was startled.
First Wife of Gu Tingxuan hurriedly said, "Brother Xuan hesitated for two days before telling the Marquis. It's so far away—actually, he's already been sentenced there. Out of respect for the Marquis' household, other punishments were waived, but his exile has been extended by several years."
Minglan was silent for a moment before saying, "Poor Second Sister-in-law Bing. Her family reunion will likely be delayed again.""Who says it isn't? These past few days she's been crying and making endless fuss, even making Father fall ill." First Wife of Gu Tingxuan sighed. Deep down, she actually hoped Tingbing would return later, and secretly harbored the unfilial thought that it would be best if he only came back after Fourth Old Master passed away. An elder brother could discipline his younger brother, but he couldn't stop a muddle-headed old father from being egged on by his second son—though this was something she could never voice aloud.
First Wife of Gu Tingxuan glanced at Grand Old Madam in the hall and lowered her voice: "If someone hadn't been 'kind-hearted' enough to cover for him all these years, Second Brother might not have become so presumptuous. Even as a convict he remains unruly. Well, never mind—serving a few more years of his sentence is already a good outcome."
Minglan comforted her with a few words, thinking to herself that these two cases were quite different. When Tingyang caused trouble, he had kept it hidden from Fifth Old Master; but when Tingbing caused trouble, it was likely Fourth Old Master who had actively asked Grand Old Madam to help cover it up.
This incident ended unhappily, with Grand Old Madam leading her sons and daughters-in-law away early. In the following days, she excused herself by claiming illness and refused to come again. Tingwei remained completely unembarrassed, still smiling cheerfully and pulling Tingdi and his wife aside to say, 'If you ever need help, be sure to ask.' Tingxuan, however, was restless, running between both sides trying to mediate, hoping only for family harmony.
Gu Tingye watched coldly from the sidelines without uttering a word, yet he made sure to come every day, staying only briefly before taking Minglan away.
A few days after the funeral, the first month passed. After celebrating the New Year with their family, Lord Yu immediately sent his two pairs of sons and daughters-in-law (along with Hongxiao) back to their hometown in Dengzhou, while he and his wife followed their eldest son to his new official post elsewhere. Before departing, Fourth Madam Yu visited Minglan once more, chattering about various trivial matters. In just a few months, relying on his old connections and favors, Lord Yu had quickly secured an external appointment for his eldest son, swiftly resolved the entanglements with the family of the former Yu's First Wife, and with even greater speed found a candidate for the next Yu's First Wife.
Minglan greatly admired how Lord Yu remained as agile and capable as ever.
"She's the niece of Chief Clerk Hong from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau." Fourth Madam reported quite calmly. "...She was widowed right after marrying, and her husband's family wouldn't keep her, so she had to return to her parents. She's quite devoted—she insisted on observing mourning for seven or eight years and refused to remarry. Only when she saw her father's health deteriorating did she finally relent. Father says that when taking a wife, virtue is what matters most, and good character is paramount."
To still only hold an eighth-rank position at this age suggested his official career hadn't been very smooth, but the Hong family of Qunzhou was after all an established name, making the match quite suitable. The Yu family's divorce and remarriage wasn't exactly honorable, hence they planned to hold the wedding elsewhere. Moreover, that Miss Hong had resisted her family's pressure to remarry for seven or eight years—she must be quite strong-willed, perfect for keeping the wayward Lord Yu in line.
Minglan couldn't help but secretly envy: where does one find such a man—capable of discussing state affairs at court and handling household matters at home, omnipotent yet deeply devoted? How many lifetimes of virtue had Old Madam Yu accumulated to deserve this?
As the ice and snow melted and spring light gradually improved, moist branches sprouted early spring buds. Minglan suddenly found herself inundated with invitations arriving like snowflakes. There were invitations to view spring plum blossoms, birthday celebrations with opera performances, full-month and first-year birthday banquets—all scattered about, and even some from poetry clubs—these she naturally declined with respect. Minglan calculated with her brush: if she attended every event, even the busiest top-tier courtesan wouldn't be as occupied as she would be.Socializing among women in the inner household is also a field of study—knowing whom to decline, which events to attend, and how to conduct oneself all require guidance.
Gu Tingye affectionately stroked Minglan’s cheek and said, "If you like them, go to all of them." This was the thoughtless remark of a man unfamiliar with the intricacies of the inner household.
Old Mrs. Sheng frowned with a stern expression and said, "If you don’t like them, don’t go to any!" This was the heartfelt advice of a widow who had lived in solitude for half a lifetime and held a disdain for the fickleness of human relationships.
Madam Shao’s expertise lay in caring for long-term bedridden patients, but she knew nothing about anything else.
Madam Wang was not someone Minglan could ask for advice, and Hualan moved in different social circles. Minglan sighed and had to seek help elsewhere. So, carrying bundles of gifts and her chubby little son, she went to visit Little Shen and her sister-in-law—the latter being the main point of her visit.
Little Shen, who had been bored out of her mind, was overjoyed to see Minglan and her son. Noticing Minglan’s confusion about why she had suddenly become several times more popular, Little Shen spoke bluntly: "You silly thing! Back then, what was your family’s situation? Those who wanted to invite you didn’t dare leave out your Grand Old Madam; those who invited your Grand Old Madam, you didn’t want to go. On the rare occasions when you both attended, it was either your Grand Old Madam putting on a one-woman show or you looking as stiff as a wooden board, bristling with defensiveness as if you were about to step into a trap. Which host would enjoy that?"
Minglan suddenly understood. To thank Little Shen for clearing things up, she placed her plump son on the heated kang to roll around and generously said, "Play with him as you like," before hurrying off to seek advice from Zheng da furen. Although Zheng da furen was usually not very talkative, she had spent over a decade in aristocratic circles and spoke with clarity and precision, far surpassing Little Shen’s gossipy approach.
She explained which families had upright reputations and were worth befriending; which families had promising descendants and should not be slighted; which families were all show but no substance, troublesome and best dealt with perfunctorily; and which families had internal discord, requiring caution and avoidance... and so on. Minglan wished she had four ears and felt too embarrassed to take out a notebook to write it all down.
After careful consideration, Minglan only chose a few families to visit. For the rest, she meticulously arranged for gifts to be sent and instructed the stewards to politely convey that the household was currently busy—one cousin had passed away, another cousin’s prison sentence had been extended, and two cousins’ wives were either weeping or ill, leaving everything in chaos. It was a rather good excuse.
The eighteen-year-old Marquess of Gu’s wife appeared before the aristocratic ladies unhurriedly, catching everyone’s eye. She was as delicate and radiant as a magnolia blossom, an exceptionally rare beauty. Recalling the rumors about the Marquess of Gu and his wife, everyone felt it made perfect sense.
Sometimes, Gu Tingye accompanied her to banquets. Even if it was a women’s gathering, he would come to pick her up whenever he had time. The moment Minglan stepped into the carriage, his first question was often, "Did anyone bully you?"
Minglan would laugh and say, "My husband’s fearsome reputation precedes him. Who would dare?"
It is worth mentioning the Duchess of Ying. No matter the occasion or the household, whenever she was present, she would always take Minglan along to chat and laugh, warmly introducing her to everyone and looking after her meticulously. Under the Duchess’s meaningful gaze, Minglan dared not feign ignorance. She delayed no further and went the very next day to visit the pregnant Lady Zhang, the Marquis of Guojiu’s wife, who was recuperating at home.
But this visit gave her a tremendous shock.Zhang Shi, supporting her enormous belly, struggled to rise and greet her guest. Minglan watched with trepidation as Zhang Shi trembled slightly—a woman nearing childbirth, yet so emaciated she was practically skin and bones! Minglan wished to offer some advice but didn't know where to begin. She had barely uttered two sentences about "taking more care for the child's sake" when Zhang Shi deftly changed the subject.
"These two plum trees are stubborn. Despite being lavished with water and fertilizer, they refused to bloom. Earlier this year, the gardener grew frustrated and neglected them, yet now they've blossomed on their own. Look how vibrant they are—like the clouds at sunset over Changchun Cliff in the Western Hills, veiled in a mist so beautiful it aches the heart, as if they might vanish if you blink."
Zhang Shi tilted her head slightly, her neck curving as she gazed out the window. Her complexion was sallow and spotted, her fragile skin stretched taut over prominent cheekbones. Two unnatural flushes of red bloomed on her cheeks, like one drunk with wine.
Hearing these elusive, dreamlike words, Minglan couldn't help but wish she could drag her sister-in-law Tingcan here to show her what true noble pride and literary refinement looked like. Zhang Shi seemed completely indifferent to everything, lost in her own illness and frailty.
Minglan fell silent for a long moment. The two were never particularly close to begin with, and with the other party intentionally avoiding the subject, it became even harder to find an opening.
"People are ultimately neither flowers nor mist. We have parents and elders, and innocent children. How can we vanish like morning dew or dawn fog, leaving no attachments? Sister, you're an intelligent person. If nothing else, remember your parents' loving care and upbringing." Minglan grasped Zhang Shi's hand, speaking every word from the heart. Zhang Shi seemed slightly moved and whispered, "It's precisely because I remember my parents' nurturing kindness that I..."
Before she could finish, a shrill, piercing cry rang out from outside the room.
—"You servants! The Marquess of Gu's wife is here—why wasn't I informed?!"
Hearing this voice, Zhang Shi's expression gradually cooled again. She withdrew her hand from Minglan's grasp and leaned back against the pillows.
The woman who entered was petite and delicate, with overly heavy makeup and a cloyingly sweet smile. Minglan had met Young Madam Zou a few times before, and each time she was dazzled by her glittering gold and jade adornments. Dressed like a mature, glamorous woman, she was in fact only seventeen or eighteen years old.
Zhang Shi said indifferently, "I've told you before to stay away from my courtyard."
Young Madam Zou immediately began to weep. "I truly don't know what I've done wrong to earn your dislike, sister. It's only right that I attend to you—how could I not come?" After dabbing at the corners of her eyes, she turned to Minglan with a pitiful, tearful smile. "I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself in front of Sister Sheng."
Faced with this scene, Minglan didn't know how others might react, but having witnessed Consort Lin's masterful performances, Young Madam Zou's act fell rather short. Minglan smiled slightly and said, "I was just about to take my leave."
Young Madam Zou quickly interjected, "Sister is heavily pregnant and easily fatigued. Why not come to my place for a visit instead, Sister Sheng?"
Minglan clearly saw the mockery in Zhang Shi's eyes—the properly ranked Marquess of Gu's wife, going to a concubine's quarters for tea and conversation? If this got out, Minglan wouldn't be able to show her face in public again.
"I was just passing by and have matters to attend to at home," Minglan politely declined. Young Madam Zou had no choice but to insist on seeing Minglan out. As they walked, she chattered incessantly, alternating between boasting about how well Uncle Shen treated her and hinting at whether Minglan looked down on her for refusing to visit her rooms.Minglan suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring intently at Little Shen: "When I was studying as a child, my teacher once told me a story. I wonder if you'd care to hear it, sister?" Little Shen was momentarily taken aback: "...Please go ahead, sister."
"Long, long ago, there were two virtuous princesses who were married to scions of noble families. Unfortunately, both husbands disliked their princess wives and favored their concubines instead. Because the princesses were kind-hearted, they concealed their husbands' neglect for years. During this time, one concubine grew increasingly arrogant with the favor she received, monopolizing the husband and refusing to let him take a single step away. Whenever the princess wished to summon her husband, this concubine would create various scenes, threatening to die or cause trouble. Emboldened by the husband's indulgence, the concubine became utterly insolent, while the princess grew lonely and ill. The other concubine was the complete opposite - no matter how much the husband doted on her, she never overstepped her bounds, serving the princess respectfully and often persuading the husband to visit the princess. When the two concubines occasionally met, the former, surrounded by attendants and basking in glory, would mock the latter for being foolish and incompetent."
Little Shen listened in stunned silence. Minglan paused to catch her breath before continuing: "Later, the first princess could no longer bear her sorrow and died of melancholy. The princess's wet nurse seized an opportunity during a palace audience to reveal the entire story. After investigating, the emperor was furious. He stripped the husband's family of their noble title, exiled the husband three thousand li away with no chance of return, and as for that concubine..."
Minglan glanced at Little Shen's pale face, "...she was executed by slow slicing, a thousand cuts. The children she bore were all demoted to palace slaves, subjected to humiliation and abuse."
"What about the other one?" Minglan's storytelling had captivated Little Shen, who couldn't help but ask.
"The other was fortunate. The princess, touched by her gentle and amiable nature, treated her like a sister despite her strained relationship with the husband, and cared for her son as her own. Later, when her son showed academic promise, the princess personally sought imperial favor from the emperor. Eventually, after both the princess and husband passed away, all the children treated their birth mother with utmost filial piety. That concubine enjoyed all the blessings life could offer and lived to over eighty before passing away peacefully."
After the story ended, Little Shen bit her lip hard: "Though the Zhang family is prominent, they're no princess. Besides, there's still the Empress and Sister Qingping (Little Shen). I'm not afraid..."
Minglan sighed: "Whenever Qingping speaks of your sister to me, her eyes always fill with tears, choking too much to speak. That's why I've said so much today. Now, we can only hope Sister Zhang gives birth smoothly. Otherwise, if the Zhang family demands accountability, who do you think will bear the brunt?... It certainly won't be His Excellency the Imperial Brother-in-Law." And definitely not the Empress or Little Shen.
Little Shen's expression shifted several times before she let out a cold laugh: "It seems sister is taking the Zhang family's side. Well, the British Duke's residence is powerful - who wouldn't be wary? But I'm not some lowly concubine to be pushed around. I bear an Imperial Mandate!"
Minglan watched her quietly for a long moment before saying: "Qingping told me you haven't fully recovered your health. You should focus on recuperating soon, otherwise it might become a chronic condition that's hard to treat. Also, don't use so much powder - it's not good for your health."
Little Shen stood frozen, her lips moving several times without uttering a word.
After leaving the Imperial Brother-in-Law's residence, Minglan encountered Gu Tingye halfway, who had come to fetch her. Sitting in the carriage together, Minglan spoke first: "No one bullied me, you needn't worry, Marquis."
Seeing her somber expression, Gu Tingye frowned slightly: "What's wrong?"Those two concubines, though their fates were vastly different, could also be said to reflect their true intentions. The former concubine genuinely cared for the imperial son-in-law, unwilling to share even a sliver of his affection, while the latter feigned her devotion, prioritizing her own safety by urging her beloved to draw closer to the princess.
Foolishness and wisdom, sincerity and pretense—sometimes, they are truly difficult to distinguish.
Minglan remained silent for a moment before saying, "It's nothing."
After a pause, she fabricated another excuse: "The Imperial Uncle's wife is unwell, and I'm somewhat concerned."
Gu Tingye gazed at her, deeply and for a long while, as if trying to peer into the depths of her heart to uncover the truth.
They were happy and harmonious, sharing everything with each other and resonating in spirit—all of this was undeniably true. Yet between them remained a layer of silence, a small, hidden sanctuary tucked away in the heart of the woman he loved.
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