As the autumn breeze rose and crab-eating season arrived, in previous years Minglan would have long been holding her vinegar dish waiting for the chrysanthemum-scented crabs to steam. But now, being pregnant, she was naturally forbidden from eating them again. Cui Mama said sternly, "Crabs have a cold nature, Madam shouldn't eat them."
Minglan lamented sorrowfully, "...In this world, all delicious foods are either cold-natured or sweet-heated, if not drying or dampening. The foods that Mama finds reassuring are all like chewing wax. It seems Heaven's creation is truly meant to trouble people."
Cui Mama patiently coaxed her, "Such a glutton! Be careful the little master in your belly hears and blames you later!" Unlike Gu Tingye, she had been convinced from the start that Minglan was carrying another boy.
How could it be that easy! — Thinking of those golden, fragrant, plump crab roe, Minglan felt as if a cat were scratching inside her belly. When she was pregnant with chubby Tuan Ge'er, with Old White Flower watching closely, she didn't dare eat anything casually, living in constant fear day and night, yet she hadn't felt this miserable.
Seeing her distress, Gu Tingye simply ordered the entire household not to eat crabs, even saying that if Madam caught even a whiff and got cravings, they should be careful lest the Marquis tie them up and steam them in the basket.
Minglan laughed so hard she rolled on the kang. Seeing his mother rolling about amusingly, Tuan Ge'er opened his chubby little hands and twisted over to pounce, but halfway there his father lifted him onto his back and let go, leaving the chubby bun to huff and puff as he practiced climbing.
Just as Gu Tingye started to say, "How about we eat a little crab claw meat—" Cui Mama happened to enter carrying a stew pot. He quickly cleared his throat and said, "Of course, it's best not to eat any."
Seeing her husband's act, Minglan was utterly delighted, finding it adorable. When no one was around, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him two hard kisses. The chubby bun followed suit, pouncing into his father's arms and slobbering half his face with drooly kisses.
Gu Tingye wiped his face and scolded, "Silly boy, you can't even do this properly!"
He pulled his son over and kissed his little face twice as demonstration. Unfortunately, the chubby bun didn't grasp the essence, only using more foolish strength, diligently gnawing several pitted tooth marks on his father's face with his rice-grain small teeth, then clapped his hands and laughed while watching his parents.
Minglan couldn't hold back, leaning against the kang edge laughing hysterically.
Gu Tingye was both annoyed and amused, lightly patting his son's bottom a few times, glaring and saying, "All you do is laugh! You're his mother too, can't you say something?" Minglan trembled with laughter, "This child, how can he be so silly?" Gu Tingye wasn't pleased, "Can't you say something nicer?"
Minglan immediately said, "Your son has good teeth." To be able to gnaw through such a thick-skinned, rough father.
...
As the coolness gradually set in, though she couldn't eat crabs, Minglan's days eventually became more comfortable. The clear autumn weather was perfect for outings. In early October, the Tingye couple first saw off Fifth Uncle's family—
Fifth Old Master was in high spirits, composing a poem in ancient style and pouring half a jar of farewell wine onto the ground. He was determined to make his mark at the academy. Fifth Old Madam, however, was dispirited, with red, swollen eyes.
Afterwards, First Wife of Gu Tingxuan told Minglan that her youngest daughter's wet nurse heard from her third son, who heard from his wife's younger sister working in the fifth household, that Fifth Old Madam had initially refused to leave the capital at all costs, but Fifth Uncle was adamant. When Fifth Old Madam threw a tantrum saying she didn't want to live, it only provoked Fifth Uncle's fury—"Even if we have to carry your coffin, you will set out!"
Since Gu Tingyang's death, Tingdi and his wife had been severely dissatisfied with Fifth Old Madam. Minglan suspected they were secretly spreading this news.The farewell scene was filled with cheerful atmosphere, with Fourth Old Madam being particularly radiant. She treated Minglan with great kindness and attentiveness, even pulling her aside to invite her home for tea. Unable to decline and considering it on her way home, Minglan reluctantly followed.
In Minglan's presence, Fourth Old Madam ordered Consort Liu to serve tea, fetch water, fan her, and hand her sweat towels, thoroughly enjoying her authority. First Wife of Gu Tingxuan stood by with a bitter smile but made no move to intervene.
Consort Liu had long lost her former charm as a middle-aged beauty, now showing full signs of aging. When she muttered a couple of complaints, Fourth Old Madam immediately retorted, "If you're unwilling to serve here, you might as well go to the northwest. Tingbing is all alone there and could use some care."
Consort Liu thought that no matter how difficult her mistress was, it was still better than suffering the harsh northwest climate. Valuing her old life, she had no desire to endure such hardship there. She didn't dare talk back to Fourth Old Madam, but repeatedly begged Minglan to ask Gu Tingye to take better care of her son.
Minglan twitched the corner of her mouth, feeling tempted to suggest a three-day tour to Yu Yanhong's grave—a reminder not to casually cuckold others.
By mid-month, the Ministry of Personnel had issued all performance evaluations and personnel appointments. As expected, Wang Uncle was assigned to a post in Jiangnan, and his family was the first to leave the capital. Sheng Hong and Changbai went to see them off. Hualan initially wanted to bring Rulan along for the farewell, but surprisingly found herself persuaded by Rulan instead.
"Remember what mother said? Grandmother would rather have aunt stand trial than protect her! Hmph! It was clearly aunt who was vicious—she harmed Old Madam and framed mother, yet grandmother still wants to cover it up? Father and brother going is just courtesy, but we're married women, why should we go?! Grandmother can't distinguish right from wrong and doesn't care about the Sheng family's reputation at all. If we go smiling to comfort grandmother, wouldn't that be too unfair to mother! It would make people think we have no backbone at all!"
Thinking about how her once well-ordered maternal family had now scattered, Hualan also grew angry. Although grandmother was an elder, Madam Wang was her own mother, who was now serving her sentence—thus, in the end, neither sister attended.
However, the most surprising thing that day was that Molan went.
Old Madam's sudden illness and Madam Wang returning to her hometown to pray for her mother-in-law's longevity—this story might fool outsiders, but Molan knew Madam Wang's character well and immediately sensed something unusual. When she heard that Changbai would be taking Old Madam to his new post, she immediately knew something had happened in her maternal home.
Yet she couldn't get any concrete information anywhere. Changfeng knew nothing when asked (he truly was unaware of the details), Liu Shi was evasive, and there was no point asking her other sisters at all.
Frustrated, Molan could only have her people use money to lure Sheng family servants into revealing some information. After nearly a month of back and forth, all she learned was that on the day of Old Madam's sudden illness, Minglan had surrounded the Sheng residence with soldiers and arrested and interrogated some people (Changfeng had heard screams but didn't know who was involved). Eventually, it was said that Madam Wang's attendant Mama Qian had colluded with outsiders, attempting to seize the family's property, which shocked Old Madam into illness and enraged both Sheng Hong and Minglan, leading to the sealed investigation.
Additionally, Kang Family aunt had recently fallen seriously ill and was sent to a manor to recuperate, though no one knew which specific manor. Most of her close confidants were also sent to serve her, and both masters and servants had quietly disappeared without a trace.
Considering all this, Molan knew there was something fishy but could only get this far in her investigation, unable to uncover anything more.
That day, after seeing off the Wang family, Molan still couldn't get even a shred of information from Wang Aunt. Left with no choice, she could only obediently and filially accompany her father back home, staying with him all the way to his study, where she cautiously tried to probe for information through indirect questions."...Father, I heard from the servants that on the day Grandmother fell ill, Sixth Sister suddenly ordered the Marquis' guards to surround our entire residence. What exactly happened?"
Sheng Hong sighed, automatically reciting the standard explanation: "There was a traitor in our household who colluded with outside thieves to commit theft, which greatly frightened Old Madam. To prevent the thieves from destroying evidence and escaping, we had no choice but to seal off the residence."
Molan felt like vomiting blood—it was the same prepared answer. Biting her lip, she continued: "I also heard that Sixth Sister's people were conducting interrogations and torture within our home. This..."
"Ah, though it may cause some discord, we had to do whatever necessary to investigate the thieves and reassure Old Madam."
After several failed attempts to probe further, Molan said urgently: "Father, for catching a household thief, why would we need to mobilize the Marquis' guards? Our own servants would have been sufficient. Sixth Sister's actions are truly... and then there's Kang Yima..."
Sheng Hong suddenly grew alert, his gaze sharp as lightning: "What exactly are you asking? There were thieves in our home who frightened Old Madam. Your sister and I were so panicked we had to identify the traitor at all costs—even if our methods were somewhat improper. What exactly do you want to know?"
Molan shrank under her father's gaze but mustered her courage, tears welling in her eyes: "Father, there's clearly more to this story. While outsiders may not know, how could I not be aware? Now all my sisters know except me. No one in the family is willing to tell me. Am I not surnamed Sheng? Am I not your own flesh and blood? Why must you guard against me and keep me in the dark like this..."
She broke down sobbing, tears streaming down her face. "I know my marriage displeased you, Father, but we're still connected by blood. I worry about Grandmother too, and I worry about you. Since this incident occurred at home, I've been constantly anxious, unable to eat or sleep. Why can my siblings know when I cannot? Am I really so unworthy..."
Seeing her cry so bitterly and hearing her reasonable pleas, Sheng Hong's heart softened. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly remembered his eldest son's words—'The more people know about this matter, the greater the risk. Human hearts are hard to predict, especially women in the inner quarters who often lack perspective and judgment. Hualan and Rulan, to protect their birth mother's reputation, and Sixth Sister, who acted improperly in this matter—none of them will breathe a word. But others are harder to control...'
Although Changbai hadn't named anyone, Sheng Hong understood clearly that besides the core few with vested interests, even close relatives shouldn't be told the truth—especially those born of Lady Lin. If petty concerns ended up damaging the Sheng family's reputation, they would regret it too late.
—"There's nothing more to this matter. You're overthinking it," Sheng Hong said coldly. "You keep talking about your sisters, but have you considered that among all my daughters, you're the only one who hasn't borne children yet?"
Molan, fully immersed in her crying, was caught off guard by this painful jab. She stared with wide, tear-filled eyes: "Father... how could you..."
"I have three sons and four daughters. Apart from the youngest Changdong, all have started families. Whether it's your brothers and their wives or your sisters and their husbands, all enjoy harmonious marriages. Only you—your household is in constant turmoil. You've been married for years without conceiving. No matter how many concubines your husband takes, no matter how resentful you feel, what can anyone say?!"
Tears covering her face, Molan let out a sharp cry: "Father...!""Your eldest sister is virtuous and gentle, and her husband respects and cherishes her greatly. The fifth sister and her husband live in perfect harmony, not to mention how Marquis Gu dotes on the sixth sister, granting her every wish. Born of the same father, why don't you learn from your sisters in serving your husband and raising children? What kind of propriety is it to spend your days gossiping and prying into others' affairs?!"
Having navigated official circles for years, Sheng Hong could indeed wield words like swords and daggers when he put his mind to it, leaving no room for defense. "Your own household is in such disarray, yet you still find time to meddle in your natal family's affairs? Neglecting the fundamental while pursuing the trivial—how utterly senseless!"
Molan had never expected that a few casual inquiries would provoke such a severe reprimand from her father. She was shamed beyond words, her chest burning with suppressed fury. Covering her face, she wept and rushed out the door. After a few steps, realizing how humiliating it would be if the servants saw her, she forced herself to stop, dried her tears, and walked away with her head bowed.
Because of this incident, when Changbai departed three days later, she did not come to see him off.
Changfeng offered an awkward, foolish smile and apologized, "My sister said... there are matters at the Liang residence that require her attention, so she cannot leave..."
Old Mrs. Sheng looked displeased, while Sheng Hong slapped his thigh and sighed, not daring to meet his mother's eyes. Changbai, however, remained as composed as ever.
"Well, it's alright. If the fourth sister has difficulties, who in the family wouldn't understand?" Hualan then turned and said, "But the fifth sister gave me quite a start—I thought you wouldn't be able to come today! I heard your husband is taking up a post far away. Why haven't you left yet?"
Rulan had been waiting for this question. Immediately, she coquettishly held onto the Old Madam's arm and said, "Isn't that so? We were supposed to leave a few days ago, but my husband said, 'The Old Madam is departing today. As juniors, we should rather rush a bit on the road and delay our departure by a few days to see Grandmother off—that is the way of filial piety.'"
Sheng Hong felt immensely gratified and laughed heartily, "Your husband speaks wisely."
The Old Madam also chuckled and pinched Rulan's nose, "Your husband is a good man, but you, you little minx, are something else! So if your husband hadn't said anything, you would have left already?"
Rulan cried out in feigned pain, twisting playfully, "Oh, Grandmother, you're twisting my good intentions!"
Everyone laughed.
As the departure drew near, the Old Madam saw Minglan standing there with a naive, silly smile and grew increasingly uneasy. Seizing a moment, she pulled her youngest granddaughter by the ear to a secluded spot and admonished her, "Silly girl, Grandmother is leaving now. You must listen more, observe more, remain humble, and reflect on yourself. Don't be so careless—you might be deceived and not even know it!"
Minglan chuckled cheerfully, "I know, I know." Let's see who deceives whom when it comes to Kang Yima.
"Know what!" the Old Madam scolded, tugging her ear. "I heard that recently, because you can't eat crab, your husband has forbidden the entire household from eating crab? What about your widowed sister-in-law and her daughter? She is devoted to chastity now and never steps out. We must not neglect her meals. If word of this gets out, people will accuse you and your husband of mistreating a widow!"
Minglan covered her ear, silently cursing Cui Mama for being a tattletale again, and whined pitifully, "How could your granddaughter be so unreasonable? I already sent over several baskets of green-shelled crabs, each one as big as your sandalwood wooden fish!"
"Sinful, sinful! You little wretch who deserves a slap on the mouth! How dare you compare a Buddhist instrument to something unclean? Aren't you afraid Buddha will strike you down!"Minglan had originally wanted to say, 'Thunder Gods and Lightning Mothers handle the striking of mortals—each deity has their own duties, and Buddha doesn't oversee that department.' But the pain from her earlobe being pulled forced her to repeatedly chant Buddha's name in apology.
Old Mrs. Sheng released her grip and let out a long sigh. "Gossip is a fearful thing. You must be cautious in every matter, lest others find grounds for criticism." She then went on with numerous daily admonitions until Minglan nearly nodded herself into a woodpecker.
As the group parted, the chatter continued unabated. It took three urgings from Changbai before the women and children gradually boarded the carriages, followed by luggage and attendants—over a dozen carts in total. Watching Old Madam's smiling face before she boarded, Minglan knew her grandmother was joyful. Having been confined under the eaves her whole life, stifled and constrained, now with vast skies and open seas before her, free and unbound, how could she not be delighted?
Seeing his mother and eldest son depart, the Sheng residence suddenly felt half-empty. Sheng Hong couldn't help but sigh again with loneliness (last time it was over Madam Wang). Noticing his father's melancholy, Changfeng suggested the siblings dine together. Hualan immediately agreed, clapping her hands with laughter: "Our husbands are on duty. If Father doesn't mind us being mere daughters, we'll keep you company with a few cups of wine!"
Minglan smiled. "That sounds wonderful. Though I cannot drink, I'd gladly join. Fifth Brother-in-law will depart in a few days, and Fifth Sister will be busy preparing his luggage and attendants. Who knows when we'll gather like this again? Why not take advantage of today?"
Rulan quickly waved her hands. "Drinking is fine—even if I get dead drunk and have to be carried back! Just no poetry or literary games!"
Sheng Hong couldn't suppress a chuckle, stroking his beard as he laughed heartily. "Excellent, excellent."
Seeing this, Madam Liu smilingly went to make arrangements.
She first had servants set up a high table with phoenix-head carvings at the head of the side hall, flanked by four smaller square tables. Then she ordered food boxes, soup tureens, and rice containers, each table arranged with different floral patterns, the head table having the largest utensils and the others progressively smaller.
A stewardess observed this and remarked with a smile, "The young mistress is setting up a divided banquet—the Lily-of-the-Valley table arrangement."
Madam Liu merely smiled. Unlike Changfeng, who cared only for casual enjoyment, she considered that although they were father and siblings, blood relatives all, with wine involved at the feast, it was better to avoid clinking cups and passing dishes. Indeed, when Sheng Hong took his seat and saw the spacious hall with his children neatly arranged on both sides below—both imposing and lively—he was thoroughly pleased. He praised Changfeng: "Your wife is virtuous and capable. You mustn't cause trouble or act recklessly."
This compliment was relayed through attending maids. When Madam Liu heard it in her room, she simply smiled and had a maid give the messenger a handful of copper coins. Her wet nurse beamed with delight: "It was worth all your efforts, young mistress, working until now without even a bite to eat."
Madam Liu leaned wearily against the kang. "What choice do I have? If my husband had Eldest Brother's capability, arranging everything perfectly, I'd gladly learn from Eldest Sister-in-law's calm composure. Why bother with all these worries?"
The wet nurse sighed. "The young master is good-hearted, but still rather childish, unaware of household hardships."
Picking up her rice bowl from the kang table, Madam Liu listlessly stirred the grains. "Look at this current affair—Eldest Brother's ability and authority are such that even elders, from Old Madam Wang to our master, were brought to heel. Just watch—in the future, Grandmother's silver, antiques, shops, and farmlands will all belong to Eldest Brother's branch for generations to come."
The wet nurse hesitated as she ladled soup. "...Surely Old Madam wouldn't be so partial?""If I were her, I'd also show favoritism." Madam Liu smiled bitterly. "After all, he's not her biological son. Eldest Brother was raised by her for some time, holds the position of eldest legitimate grandson, and has now demonstrated utmost filial piety—why shouldn't he inherit everything? Plus there's Madame's private savings, Eldest Sister-in-law's dowry, and Eldest Brother's branch of the family... No matter how much Mother and Father give us, how could we ever compare?"
"Madam, please have some soup first. This is stewed with premium angelica and pigeon." The wet nurse handed the bowl to Madam Liu and couldn't help adding, "Ah, but being born of a concubine after all, one can't compare with the Eldest Young Master. However, the Master does seem to prefer your husband."
Madam Liu took a few sips before setting down the bowl. "What else can we do? Even heroes can be defeated by lack of money. I only hope that seeing Eldest Brother's prosperity and our difficulties, Father will allocate more to us in the future... But, there's still Dong-ge."
The wet nurse had no words of comfort. After a long pause, she said, "I observe that the Eldest Young Master and his wife are both generous people. They likely won't treat their younger brother from a concubine harshly in the future."
Madam Liu chuckled lightly, her chopsticks pausing in the bowl. "Speaking truthfully, none of the young ladies in this family are mean-spirited... except for my own legitimate younger sister-in-law!" She sighed again. "I'm not greedy. I don't covet what isn't rightfully mine. May heaven pity me, recognizing how hard-won this marriage was, and let my husband study diligently so we can build our own fortune someday."
The wet nurse also smiled. "Yes, yes, that's the right attitude. Didn't our Master say back then that those seemingly glorious noble families are mostly corrupt and complicated inside? Had you married into one, you'd suffer without means to complain. The Sheng family has clean traditions and simple rules, with most descendants being respectful and promising—actually making life easier for daughters-in-law. But..."
Her expression suddenly turned serious as she lowered her voice. "Though your husband lacks cunning, you must still be cautious. Recently I've noticed that maid Wan'er seems to be... with child. You only have one daughter now, Madam. Should we...?"
Madam Liu remained composed and said calmly, "I'm already aware. We need not intervene... This time, let those restless sluts see whether carrying an extra piece of flesh in their belly makes them supreme!"
Reassured that Madam Liu had plans, the wet nurse was about to urge her to eat more when suddenly a maid rushed in from outside, kneeling to report: "Madam... the gatekeeper just sent word—someone from the Sixth Young Lady's residence came saying... that Sixth Young Master sent someone to urgently inform Sixth Young Lady and the Master that Fourth Young Lady's father-in-law, he, he... has passed away..."
Despite Madam Liu's quick wit, she grew momentarily dizzy from the tangled references to various "young masters" and "young ladies." After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Do you mean the in-law of Yongchang Marquis' residence, the Liang family?"
The young maid looked somewhat bewildered, shaking her head blankly before quickly nodding.
Madam Liu was stunned, murmuring: "So Fourth Sister truly has 'family matters' to attend to now..."
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[Author's Note]
Note 1: The divided-seating banquet—you've probably seen something similar to when Granny Liu visited the Grand View Garden in Dream of the Red Chamber. The matriarch sits at the highest position, with rows of girls seated on both sides, each with their own small square table set with food boxes and other delicate miniature utensils. Viewed from above, the arrangement resembles lily of the valley flowers, hence also called "Lily of the Valley Tables."
Note 2: There were numerous seating arrangements for ancient feasts. Interestingly, there was also a "Pear Blossom Banquet" that was quite spectacular, though I haven't found detailed descriptions.
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