With this dual arrangement, Shi Qiang attended the Tu family brothers' physical training sessions in the outer courtyard daily, while Xiaotao continued to enjoy lavish meals in the inner courtyard. The girls of Jiaxi Residence, having received numerous gifts and recognizing Xiaotao's usual kindness—along with her potential for future success—gradually set aside their earlier teasing and began speaking more favorably of Shi Xiaodi.
After enjoying honey-glazed ham twice, Xiaotao's slow-witted heart was finally moved by her stomach. Determined to express gratitude, and being unskilled in literary matters, she crafted two sturdy, neatly embroidered pouches and sent them over.
One continued giving gifts, the other continued expressing thanks, until the trend shifted to purely verbal gratitude. Back and forth, their conversations evolved from barely five words per meeting to discussions about life aspirations, stars, the moon, and those years they had spent gutting fish together.
Without needing gossipmongers to report, Xiaotao honestly recounted every meeting to Minglan. Having traveled extensively with his elder brother and sister-in-law since childhood, Shi Qiang possessed considerable experience. Though his descriptions of local customs and amusing anecdotes were clumsily phrased, their substance earned Xiaotao's deep admiration. And when Xiaotao admired someone, she expressed it in only one way: unleashing effusive praise.
Thus, while Minglan felt relieved that they maintained propriety and self-restraint without overstepping boundaries, she couldn't help feeling a sour twinge—after all, for over a decade, Xiaotao had exclusively praised her with exclamations of "So clever! So knowledgeable! So amazing!"
Minglan suddenly felt a strong urge to pick a fight with Shi Xiaodi.
That morning, she reviewed the inventory ledger with Cuiwei. Throughout the winter, the household had acquired numerous fur pelts. With so few people in the family—even the two growing girls had each received two purple lamb fur coats and a heavy fur hood—and after gifting many to relatives during New Year, plenty remained.
As spring approached, Minglan worried about deterioration and proposed proper storage. They commissioned ten half-height camphorwood chests to air the furs in dry, mild sunlight before cataloguing them according to the ledger.
They worked busily until lunchtime. Seeing the thick camphorwood chests that required two people to carry, Minglan gasped slightly, thinking how elderly noblewomen accumulated astonishing private collections and frequently bestowed gifts upon younger generations. At this rate, she too might amass many treasured heirlooms by old age.
Misinterpreting Minglan's faint frown, Cuiwei cheerfully reassured: "Madam needn't worry about these going to waste. Our household is small now, but once you bear more young masters and ladies, the courtyard will fill with children growing up—soon these may not even be enough for clothing."
Minglan smiled without correcting her, dismissing Cuiwei to other tasks. She napped on the warm heated kang, and after waking and freshening up, had the wet nurse bring the chubby toddler for speech lessons.
Tuan Ge'er wore a bright red short jacket lined with white weasel fur, embroidered with gold-thread longevity patterns, and round-toed tiger-head shoes. Led by his wet nurse into the room, his plump cheeks still bearing sleep marks, he immediately released the nurse's hand upon seeing Minglan. Toddling unsteadily over, he clambered onto the kang without waiting to be carried, huffing and puffing with effort.
The wet nurse beamed: "The eldest young master walks increasingly steadily. Except when just waking up, he usually refuses assistance while walking." Since Minglan's new pregnancy, she had prudently begun addressing Tuan Ge'er as "eldest young master."Minglan said, "With my current condition, I must trouble you to take extra care. When Tuan Ge'er grows up, he will surely not forget to honor you."
The wet nurse knelt with a thud and repeatedly said, "It is a blessing from several lifetimes to serve you and the young master. With such a large household, there are countless people eager to serve the young master—how could I dare claim any credit?" Since Tuan Ge'er was weaned, one of the two wet nurses sent by Old Mrs. Sheng had been dismissed. She had been cautious day and night, patiently caring for the child, and finally earned the approval of the Marquess of Gu's wife, allowing her to remain in the marquess's household.
Minglan smiled and told her to go rest and have some snacks, while she herself taught Tuan Ge'er to speak and play.
Tuan Ge'er had been robust since infancy, eating and sleeping well, and walking with sturdy steps, but his speech was a jumbled mess.
Minglan pointed to Madam Shao and told him to call her "Aunt," but the little chubby boy called her "Lame Sheep." She pointed to Hualan and told him to say "Aunt," but he said "Clothes." Rong and Xian spent a long time teaching him to say "Sister," but he only managed "Borrow Money."
—You're the one borrowing money! Your whole family borrows money!
After fuming for a while, she realized she had trapped herself in the insult. Today, Minglan was determined to correct the little chubby boy's pronunciation. After playing with him on the heated kang for a while, she had Xiaotao bring a low stool and made Tuan Ge'er sit properly with his hands and feet in order, ready to begin the lesson.
She pointed to the round table nearby and enunciated clearly, "Table."
The little chubby boy said in a milky voice, "...Piggy."
Minglan suppressed the vein throbbing on her forehead and drew out her tone to teach, "Say—Home."
The little chubby boy, obedient and innocent, said, "...Blind—"
Minglan flared up, "Idiot!"
The little chubby boy giggled and pronounced it perfectly, "Dung—idiot."
Minglan was so exasperated she could hardly speak. One moment she suspected the little rascal was teasing her, the next she blamed Gu Tingye's brawny genes for the poor linguistic inheritance. Just then, Cui Mama entered carrying a stew pot, and seeing mother and son glaring at each other, she laughed and said, "Why rush, Madam? Since he can speak, there's no need to worry. Besides, according to the elders, children who speak later will be more eloquent when they grow up."
Though skeptical, Minglan obediently picked up a spoon and began to eat. Cui Mama affectionately picked up the little chubby boy and fed him spoonfuls of egg custard. Seeing his mother eating happily, the boy obediently opened his mouth without fuss.
Just as mother and son finished eating, wiped their mouths, and rinsed, word came from outside that Little Shen was visiting.
Minglan hurriedly got off the kang, put on her shoes, fixed the pearl hairpin that was tilting precariously in her bun, and had Xiahe adjust her clothes. After checking her appearance in the mirror, she went to the outer room to greet her guest. Shortly after, Little Shen entered with a smile, accompanied by a young maid and an older woman.
Minglan exclaimed "Rare guest!" while cradling her bulging belly with one hand and pulling Little Shen to sit in the side room with the other. "I thought you'd never show your face again! People outside say that since becoming a mother, you've suddenly turned virtuous, never stepping beyond your doors." As she spoke, she observed her friend, noting that though Little Shen looked thinner and paler, her complexion was still decent. She didn't have the plumpness typical of new mothers; instead, she had lost weight compared to before.
Little Shen looked embarrassed and sighed, "I used to be fearless, but now I realize how useless I am. These past few months, on one hand, I've been caring for my daughter, and on the other... well, to be honest, I'm afraid of people asking too many questions. My sister-in-law often advises me to be more open-minded. I thought, it's fine to avoid others, but you and I have always gotten along well—I shouldn't cut ties with you too."Due to complications from childbirth, she had suffered greatly and had to observe a full two-month postpartum confinement. In the following months, she only ventured out once—to a temple to burn incense and fulfill a vow—completely losing her former lively spirit of wandering about and indulging in gossip and laughter.
Minglan sighed inwardly but smiled as she looked at the swaddled baby in the nursemaid’s arms. The infant girl was petite and delicate, with delicate brows and large eyes, looking exactly like a miniature version of Little Shen. However, her constitution was weak, and her cries were as faint as a kitten’s mew. By then, Lüzhi had already brought over a tray, on which lay a set of pure gold lock-shaped ornaments for children, pressed down with red silk.
"I prepared this for your daughter long ago. I thought if you were determined to hide away like a turtle, I’d come knocking at your door after I gave birth," Minglan said with a laugh, instructing Lüzhi to hand the gift to the nursemaid.
"Pah! You’re the turtle," Little Shen retorted playfully, picking up the small gold bracelets and anklets to examine. She noticed the gold lock pendant was exquisitely crafted, shaped like a half-open hibiscus bud, so lifelike it seemed real. The front was engraved with a large, rounded character for "blessing," while the back bore the inscription "peace and longevity." Below the lock dangled several tiny lotus seed pendants.
"What a novel design! I’ve never seen anything like it," Little Shen murmured, stroking it fondly.
Minglan smiled. "I figured your family has many elders, so you must already have plenty of cloud-patterned lock pendants. I sketched this design myself and had the goldsmith make it. It’s not meant for formal wear—just for fun."
Little Shen knew Minglan had originally prepared a different gift. Realizing Minglan had crafted this beautiful piece to cheer her up, knowing she might struggle to have more children, she felt deeply touched. Choking up, she said, "Dear sister, you’re so thoughtful. I, I…"
Fearing she might burst into tears, Minglan quickly called for Cui Mama to bring Tuan Ge’er out from the inner room. Pointing at Little Shen, she prompted the boy to call her "auntie." The chubby toddler loudly exclaimed, "Untie!" Fortunately, the mispronunciation was close enough that no one noticed.
Little Shen was delighted to see Tuan Ge’er, with his robust, round face and plump, fair complexion. She hugged him tightly, refusing to let go, and planted several kisses on his cheeks. "It’s been over half a year, and I can’t believe how much he’s grown!" Remembering his birthday, she added, "I didn’t bring anything special today, but for your second birthday, Auntie will definitely prepare something wonderful for you."
After some affectionate banter, Little Shen dismissed the maids and nursemaids, while Minglan had Cui Mama take Tuan Ge’er away but left the infant girl sleeping on the warm kang. Little Shen, unwilling to let her daughter out of her sight, took off her shoes and joined Minglan on the kang, gently patting her daughter as she chatted and laughed. "I heard my sister-in-law recently earned a pair of matchmaker’s shoes from your Sheng family."
Minglan was momentarily puzzled before realizing Little Shen was referring not to Zheng da furen but to Zhang Shi. Though surprised, she maintained her smile. "Last month, my grandmother replied, saying it was a well-made match and she had no objections. Recently, my Third Sister-in-law from my maiden family went to propose the marriage. They’ve agreed to an engagement first, with the wedding to take place in a couple of years."
Little Shen clicked her tongue in admiration and laughed. "Your grandmother is a straightforward and generous person. I heard she sent back a pair of jade bracelets as the betrothal gift. My sister-in-law said even she rarely sees jade of such quality—so translucent, with such vibrant color and clarity. Tsk, tsk, it doesn’t even look like it’s from the Central Plains. Truly a rare treasure."Minglan knew her grandmother was worried that Changdong's betrothal gifts would appear meager. As a concubine-born son, he lacked the advantages of Changbai—who had the Wang family's dowry—or Changfeng—backed by the Lin family's wealth. The old lady feared the absence of prestigious items in the gift list might cause his in-laws to look down on him.
She explained with a smile, "That was Grandmother's personal dowry. I heard it originally came from the royal collection of the Xiaowan Kingdom, seized by Old Master Xu during the southern campaign against Diannan. Later, Emperor Wu bestowed it upon the Yongyi Marquis estate. Ah, with the Diannan border now closed, where would one find such exquisite pieces on the market nowadays?"
"So that's the provenance behind it," Little Shen murmured, captivated. She slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "You wouldn't believe it—my uncle and aunt were speechless when they saw it! My sister-in-law says the old couple are now discussing adding more to the dowry."
The Shen family, newly prominent, lacked neither silver nor land, but precisely such historically significant treasures with profound heritage.
"Please don't! My grandmother hasn't been able to return to the capital these years and merely gave some meeting gifts to her young granddaughter-in-law. It shouldn't appear as if my natal family is pressing for more dowry. When you return, please convey that a moderate dowry is perfectly sufficient." Minglan waved her hands hastily, concerned about potential future discord.
Little Shen had originally come to sound out the situation. Hearing Minglan's words, she relaxed and began cheerfully sharing amusing anecdotes about the Shen family's dowry preparations.
After listening for a while and repeatedly hearing "my sister-in-law said this" and "my sister-in-law said that," Minglan finally ventured cautiously, "You... and your sister-in-law... have you... reconciled?"
Little Shen smiled bitterly and shook her head. "Thinking back, we never really had any enmity between us. What was all the fuss about? Ah, she hasn't had it easy either." She sighed and added quietly, "Now that I've suffered myself, I've come to understand what truly matters."
Minglan stroked her prominent belly, feeling sympathetic. "...What does your eldest sister-in-law say about it all?"
Little Shen gazed tenderly at her sleeping daughter, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Eldest Sister-in-law advised me not to fear—ours is a proper household. Even if a concubine bears a son, he could never surpass my position." As she spoke, a tear traced down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, forcing a smile. "How ridiculous I must seem. I've never been the jealous type—when have I ever prevented my husband from taking concubines?"
She sniffed and straightened her posture. "My sister is the current Empress, my brother commands the military as a great general—what seductress would dare disrespect me?! I just fear..." Her nose reddened as she choked up, "...when I'm gone, who will support my daughter without maternal brothers? Though my sister-in-law's nephews are good boys, they're still cousins from a different branch."
A mother's heart always worries thus. Once the Empress and her brother pass away, those cousins will have their own families and careers—how many would truly look after her daughter? Minglan empathized deeply, sighing as she struggled to find comforting words, ultimately choosing to sit quietly with her companion.
After a moment, Little Shen dried her tears, looking somewhat abashed. "Forgive my foolishness. These days I'm constantly plagued by wild fancies, though there's really no urgency. My husband is currently far away in Longxi supervising grain transport, and besides... ah, my father-in-law's health has seriously declined, and my mother-in-law has fallen ill as well. Eldest Sister-in-law is overwhelmed—caring for our in-laws while managing the entire household. How can I dwell on my own concerns? I ought to help shoulder some responsibilities." During official mourning for a parent, military officers might be exempted from full observance, but taking concubines or conceiving children would be unthinkable.Minglan had long known of General Zheng’s critical condition and was not surprised. She earnestly advised, “If that’s the case, you should take even better care of yourself. The cart will find its way around the hill when it gets there. Perhaps that boy will grow up with a conscience—honoring his rightful mother and cherishing his legitimate elder sister. Or perhaps your daughter will be blessed with great fortune, just like you, stumbling into a sweet, honey-like household where her husband dotes on her, and her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law are all kind. Children and grandchildren will have their own destinies—why torment yourself with endless worries so early on?”
Little Shen wiped her tears and laughed, “If it really turns out that way, I’d gladly kowtow all the way up to Fahua Temple every day.” After laughing for a while, she suddenly remembered something and, glancing at Minglan’s expression, hesitated, “There’s something… I’m not sure if I should tell you.”
Minglan rolled her eyes and chided playfully, “Nonsense! You’ve always said whatever comes to mind, whether you should or not.”
Little Shen pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, “As you know, our Zheng family’s main branch, the House of Loyal Respect, is related to the Han family. A few days ago, the Old Marquis and his wife came to visit my father-in-law, and several of my sisters-in-law joined them. The Heir Apparent’s wife whispered with my sister-in-law for quite some time. Afterward, my sister-in-law told me…” She hesitated, “She said that Princess Qingchang is recently seeking a second wife for her third son.”
Minglan was taken aback, “A second wife? Not just taking a concubine?” If it were merely about taking a minor consort for her son, would the princess need to intervene personally?
“It’s not an ordinary concubine—there will be formal documents and arrangements,” Little Shen shook her head. “I heard the girl is the daughter of an education official. Somehow, she caught the princess’s eye and is being brought in as a secondary wife.”
Minglan was too stunned to speak. For a mother-in-law to openly arrange a second wife for her son was nothing short of a public humiliation. She couldn’t help but wonder, “…Does Tingcan not earn her husband’s favor?”
Little Shen shook her head and lowered her voice, “I’ve heard that your sister-in-law has a terrible temper. At the slightest provocation, she gives her husband the cold shoulder. If he so much as exchanges a few words with a bedroom servant, she falls ill for days, weeping like a delicate beauty, and even drives him out of their room. At first, your brother-in-law tried to placate her, but he’s a scholar with ambitions—how could he spend all his time reciting poetry with his wife or lowering himself to appease her?”
Minglan listened with an inward sigh—You may wish to emulate Da Qin Shi, but you’d need a fool like Gu Yankai to indulge you.
Princess Qingchang had tolerated this for two years but could endure it no longer. Unwilling to let a lowly maid bear her grandson, she sought a daughter from a scholarly family to serve as a second wife.
“As for you and your Grand Old Madam…” Little Shen struggled to find the right words, “Well… you don’t get along. My sister-in-law asked me to inform you so you’d be aware.”
Since the fire on the day Minglan gave birth to Tuan Ge’er, vague rumors had circulated endlessly in the capital. Observers noted that after the family division, the two households hardly interacted, leading to much speculation among relatives and friends.
After seeing Little Shen off, Minglan frowned in thought for a moment but soon reached a conclusion, feeling reassured. Leaning on Xiahe, she slowly walked to the inner chamber, where Tuan Ge’er was already sprawled out like a starfish, fast asleep.
Seeing Minglan enter, Cui Mama rose to help her sit down, then overheard her murmuring, “Sister Shen is truly thoughtful… I’m grateful she came to warn me…”Cui Mama instructed Xiahe to fetch hot tea, then knelt to help Minglan remove her shoes and outer garments. She settled the mother and child side by side with their heads touching, her usually stern face breaking into a rare teasing smile. "The two Madams Zheng have been so kind to you, Madam. Can you truly not discern their intentions?" She had been in the adjacent room earlier and had overheard most of their conversation.
Minglan turned her head in surprise. "Intentions? What intentions could they possibly have?"
Sitting by Minglan's bedside, Cui Mama affectionately brushed stray hairs from her face. "My dear girl, you're usually so clever. How could you miss it? Mrs. Zheng went on and on about how she dotes on her daughter and fears the child might have no one to rely on in the future... Well, the solution is simple enough - find an honest, dependable family they know well. I suspect Zheng da furen is aware of this too."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted meaningfully from Minglan to Tuan Ge'er sleeping on the heated kang, her expression hovering between amusement and implication.
Minglan's mouth fell open. She looked down at the chubby sleeping child, then raised her head. "...Surely not...?" Despite her words, the more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Tuan Ge'er will inherit the title someday. His future wife... should be quite capable." It wasn't that she looked down on Little Shen's daughter, but... she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Had it been Zheng da furen's daughter, she would have agreed immediately.
Wait? Why was her thinking becoming more and more like Bao Yu's mother?
Seeing Minglan's troubled expression, Cui Mama secretly found it amusing. "It might not necessarily be Tuan Ge'er. I doubt Mrs. Zheng would want her daughter to marry the eldest son and heir. Didn't she just ask about your pregnancy and due date?"
Minglan instinctively covered her stomach, looking uncertain. "...Even if this child is another boy, he'd be younger than her daughter."
Cui Mama chuckled. "A difference of half a year or so doesn't matter much. Besides, being the younger daughter-in-law is easier than being the elder one."
Minglan was dumbfounded.
She never dreamed that with her eldest son not yet two and her second child yet to be born, she would already need to consider potential wives for them.
Cui Mama burst out laughing, patting Minglan's shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry, Madam. I don't think Mrs. Zheng is necessarily set on forming a marriage alliance with you. Who knows how the boys will turn out when they grow up - their character, whether they'll achieve anything? Any mother would want to observe carefully first."
Minglan seemed lost in a fog, taking a long moment to collect her thoughts. "...So her sudden reconciliation with the Marchioness of Northern Might wasn't just about having an epiphany. She probably had this in mind too."
Zhang Shi's son was half a year older than Little Shen's daughter, not only more suitable in age but also related as maternal cousins. With Zhang Shi's upright character, she wouldn't make things difficult for a daughter-in-law.
Cui Mama laughed heartily. "How clever of you, Madam!"
Hearing these words, Minglan suddenly felt a wave of sadness.
Come to think of it, ever since Xiaotao started courting, she hadn't heard such praise in a long time - had that made her dull-witted?
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