The Story of Ming Lan

Disturbed by this incident, not only was breakfast missed, but Minglan had no appetite for lunch either. She was forcibly made by Cui Mama to eat half a bowl of glutinous green rice soaked in winter bamboo shoot and mushroom chicken broth, yet it tasted like chewing wax.

Over on the other side, Madam Shao had already learned that someone from the palace had come. She initially thought Minglan would receive the decree and enter the palace, but after waiting for half a day without any movement, she instead heard that there had been a big commotion upfront. The two imperial envoys had left in great anger, threatening to interrogate and confiscate the family property. She was so frightened that her soul almost left her body. Since being forced to step forward last time to dismiss the Grand Old Madam, she had begun to fear Minglan and only sent her trusted matron to inquire.

Cuiwei patiently explained for a long time that 'it was just a misunderstanding' and so on, but the messenger still hemmed and hawed, saying something like 'to avoid offending the noble in the palace, please endure some grievances, Second Madam, and make a trip to the palace.' Cuiwei’s face immediately turned cold, and she said displeasedly, "What should be done and what shouldn’t be done, our Madam has her own ideas. The First Madam doesn’t know the situation outside, so she should just enjoy her peace."

Seeing the matron’s affected manner, both afraid of offending Minglan and hoping to avoid disaster herself, Cuiwei felt contempt in her heart, secretly thinking that Madam Shao was truly cowardly, lacking in righteousness and responsibility.

After hastily sending the person away, Cuiwei turned back. Passing through the courtyard, she saw Lüzhi under the corridor outside the main room, guarding a small red clay stove with gritted teeth. A sweet fragrance rose from the slightly glowing charcoal embers. She laughed and said, "You girl, what are you roasting? It hasn’t been long since lunch, aren’t you afraid of indigestion?"

Lüzhi, using a small purple-gold copper fire tongs to poke the charcoal, said resentfully, "That wretched Xiaotao, who knows where she slipped off to! She treats a few chestnuts like treasures, saying these are the last we’ll see this year, and insists I watch the fire. She doesn’t even consider the weather—drizzling off and on—how can anything good be roasted in this!"

Cuiwei couldn’t help but smile and asked, "Is Madam still resting?"

Lüzhi shook her head: "Cui Mama told me to watch at the door and not let there be any noise in the courtyard, hoping to let Madam take a nap. But I heard talking nonstop inside."

Cuiwei nodded, tiptoed into the inner room, and as she lifted the curtain corner, she heard Cui Mama’s low, gentle voice saying, "...Nothing is certain yet, Madam, don’t think unnecessarily, lest you worry yourself sick." After a moment, when she heard no more sound inside, she stepped in, curtsied, and reported, "The person sent by the First Madam has returned."

Minglan, draped in a slightly worn moon-white cloud-patterned brocade warm cloak, her black hair loosely spread over her shoulders, reclined against the head of the bed. Noticing Cuiwei’s displeased expression when mentioning Madam Shao, she said, "Did the messenger say something foolish?"

Cuiwei said angrily, "I tried every which way and finally sent her off; I’m just angry that at a critical time, she didn’t ask half a word about Madam’s health, only worried about being implicated, and even advised Madam to go to the palace! Hmph, even a stubborn stone would have warmed up after being held for two years!"

Usually, Minglan would pay little heed to such words, but now, full of worries, she frowned and said, "Tell Liao Yong’s wife to send more maids to keep an eye on the comings and goings over there, so no trouble arises." The trouble with fence-sitters!

This suggestion hit the mark for Cuiwei, who smiled in agreement and left.Minglan's mind was in turmoil, and unable to rest easy about her son, she instructed Cui Mama to watch over Tuan Ge'er. Lying flat on her back with her eyes open against the bedding, her thoughts ran wild uncontrollably. Part of her hoped she was overthinking after a full meal, yet another part faintly believed she wasn't mistaken—only resenting how backward ancient communication was. What could be resolved with a single group text in modern times had become so troublesome here...

Exhausted from thinking, she drifted into a fitful sleep and had a series of chaotic dreams. First, Man Niang led the Gold Saints to her door, threatening her to hand over the Dragon Balls. She stared wide-eyed and asked, "Don't you want Athena?" Then, the Jie Barbarians stormed the capital, capturing her to perform the "Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute" on the grasslands. Discovering she was tone-deaf, they immediately sent her to wash horses and scrub sheep. While she was washing, suddenly, the Phantom Troupe descended from the sky, slaughtering the entire tribe just for the scarlet eyes of the Kurta clan horse she was cleaning. Before the shepherd working alongside her breathed his last, he grabbed her shoulder and trembled, saying, "...So... you... truly... bring storms of blood..."

Huh? How could a dying man shake her shoulder so vigorously?

—Minglan was jostled awake, her blurred vision revealing Lüzhi's enlarged face. Urgently, Lüzhi said, "...Madam, Madam, wake up. The men sent out by Hao Guanshi have returned. Didn't you tell me to inform you as soon as anyone came back?"

Minglan jolted fully awake, steadied herself, and quickly asked Lüzhi to help her dress.

Outside, the rain had stopped. The sky was dusky, tinged with a reluctant gray-blue and faint streaks of dull orange in the distance, casting a decadent hue over the courtyard leaves. A few late chrysanthemums planted in autumn by the pond swayed gently in the wind, evoking the poetic imagery of "twilight moon shadows on fading chrysanthemums, evening breeze over tranquil autumn waters."

Leaning steadily on Cuiwei, Minglan walked over. The cool evening air invigorated her spirits. The side hall wasn't far, and she reached it in a few steps. There, Hao Guanshi stood bowing under the eaves, followed by several panting servants. Once seated, Minglan promptly asked for updates.

Hao Dacheng had dispatched over a dozen servants in total, and several groups had returned by then. Minglan knew the matter was of great consequence—if nothing happened later, she might be accused of inciting defiance against an imperial decree. Thus, she hadn't provided any written tokens but instructed the servants to relay the message: "If palace messengers come to proclaim an edict, please exercise extra caution. My lady senses something amiss."

After the servants knelt in salute, Minglan allowed them to stand while reporting.

The earliest to return were those sent to the Zhong and Duan families—not because these residences were closer, but because upon arrival, the messengers found that Madam Duan and Madam Zhong had already taken their mothers-in-law and children into the palace. As soon as the servants learned their hosts had left, they rushed back.

—Minglan's heart sank. Even these two families were involved? Had she truly predicted correctly?

Next was the Geng family. Due to the distance of their residence, the fast-riding servant arrived just in time, breathlessly conveying the mistress's message moments before the decree-proclaiming procession appeared. Though Madam Geng was illiterate, she was sharp-witted. She neither fully trusted nor entirely dismissed Minglan's warning. Fearing that defying the decree would implicate her husband, she gritted her teeth and sent her children out the back door, telling the imperial envoy they had "gone to visit relatives out of town," then entered the palace herself.

—Minglan shook her head and sighed but found no grounds for blame.Finally, the servant boy added, "Madam Geng also said, she begs you to bear witness to the friendship you've shared. Should anything happen to her, she wants Lord Geng to marry the second daughter of the third maternal uncle from her maternal family as his remarried wife, and not to take in any other vixens."

Minglan: ...

In contrast, the news from the Zhang and Shen families was much more encouraging.

During the 'Shenchen Rebellion', Lady Zhang had been one of the unfortunate hostages detained in the palace. Once bitten, twice shy; now that the capital's situation seemed unusual, how could she not be vigilant? Upon hearing the edict, Lady Zhang immediately grew suspicious. Instead of pressing aggressively, she leveraged her noble status to skillfully interrogate the two messengers with roundabout questions.

Having been born and married into top-tier aristocratic families, she had been visiting the palace since childhood as if it were her own home. She was far more familiar with the rules and routines of the imperial city than Minglan. After just a few rounds of questioning, the two edict-deliverers revealed flaws. Having overseen the British Duke's residence for decades with absolute authority, Lady Zhang immediately took action and detained the entire group who had come to deliver the edict.

By the time the servant boy arrived, Lady Zhang was arranging to send the "impostors falsely delivering edicts" to the relevant authorities for punishment. After asking the servant boy to convey her gratitude to Minglan, she also sent four skilled archers along with him.

"Lady Zhang only said 'in case of unforeseen events' and wouldn't say anything else." The servant boy was puzzled, secretly wondering if war was about to break out.

Minglan grew increasingly anxious. It seemed Lady Zhang had also detected something, but without evidence, it was difficult to say anything definite. She continued asking, "What about the Shen family?"

Another servant boy stepped forward and replied, "Lady Zhang had already sent word to the Imperial Brother-in-Law's residence. Originally, the Imperial Brother-in-Law's wife wanted to take her children to seek refuge with her maternal family, but according to her maid, Concubine Zou and the eldest son and daughter refused to leave, forcing Lady Shen to stay as well. When I arrived, Lady Shen had already feigned illness to drive away the edict-deliverers and was securing the residence under strict lockdown."

Minglan nodded and turned to ask, "Steward Hao, are these the only families that have reported back?"

Hao Dacheng looked troubled and clasped his hands, "Reporting to you, madam, these are the only ones." After a pause, he added, "I originally intended to send someone to gather more information, but around noon today, there was a armed clash near the Chongyang Gate. Lord Liu has now ordered a lockdown of the capital."

Minglan's heart sank. Seeing this, Hao Dacheng quickly added, "Please don't worry, madam. I took the liberty of sending someone to check on your parental home. Your third aunt said everything is fine there and mentioned that if convenient, she'd ask your honored father to come check on you after his duties... alas, I'm afraid he won't be able to come now. I also intended to send word to the Loyal and Diligent Count's residence for your eldest aunt, but we encountered the lockdown as soon as we stepped out and couldn't proceed."

Civil officials are fine, but military officers' families are...? How is this situation so different from last time?

Minglan's brows furrowed deeply. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't make sense of it. She could only repeatedly instruct Steward Hao to double the guards and vigilance, emphasizing that they must not be negligent. Hao Dacheng, fully aware of the grave situation and the critical importance of security, repeatedly acknowledged the orders and immediately went to carry them out.

Just as she was about to return to Jiaxi Residence, a commotion erupted outside, mixed with girls' startled cries. Before Minglan could say anything, a plump, simple-looking girl came tumbling in and threw herself at Minglan's feet.

Minglan couldn't help but laugh, "Silly girl, where have you been all afternoon? You made Lüzhi tend the stove for you all this time—be careful or she'll pinch you when you get back!"

Xiaotao looked up, flustered, and said, "Madam, it's terrible! Second Brother Shi just came back from outside, and he said... he said...""What did he say?" Minglan's expression turned grave.

Xiaotao stammered urgently, "L-Lord L-Liu... he... he was attacked..."

"What?!" Minglan's heart pounded violently in her chest.

"But they missed him," Xiaotao swallowed before finishing.

Minglan nearly screamed, "Say everything at once!"

She'd almost been scared to death!—"What exactly happened? Where did you hear this?"

Xiaotao quickly took a deep breath and began: "At noon today, Brother Shi called me to the outer courtyard to eat pigeon. I said it's a pity we don't have sweet-and-sour mulberries to go with it. He said he knew a shop that sells excellent southern and northern fruits. I said it seems like there's a curfew outside. He said it doesn't matter—during the Jianghuai rebellion back then, he even carried his little niece running through the streets..."

Looking at the foolish maid's flushed round face, Minglan closed her eyes and sighed, "Speak properly. Catch your breath first."

Xiaotao gasped for air, then continued weakly: "So Brother Shi changed into servant's short clothes and went out. I waited for a long time before he returned. He said when he rushed there, that shop had already closed. But he remembered there was another shop nearby that sells quite good dried fruits, though the shopkeeper likes to shortchange customers..."

"Never mind your fruits!" Minglan felt her blood pressure rising rapidly. "Get to the important part!"

Xiaotao felt wronged—when telling a story, you should include all the details. "...Just as Brother Shi exited Fanzi Alley, he heard people shouting 'Assassins!' on the street! Brother Shi quickly ran toward the street, but unexpectedly ran right into Little Brother Chen from Lord Liu's guard team. Little Brother Chen said there was trouble at Chongyang Gate at noon. Lord Liu couldn't find General Zheng Jun anywhere and was about to personally go question the Five City Military Command. But as he rode his horse around the corner ahead, a large group of masked people suddenly emerged from the rooftops and all sides to assassinate him. Lord Liu was injured, but fortunately his life was saved."

Minglan let out a long sigh, then said sharply, "You fool! With such chaos outside, you actually dared to send Brother Shi out! If anything had happened to him, how would we face his elder brother and sister-in-law! Where is he? Tell him to get over here immediately, that wretched boy—I'll teach him a lesson!"

Xiaotao stammered, "H-he... he suffered some minor injuries and is currently being treated by Master Tu the Second."

Minglan's voice suddenly rose sharply, "Didn't you say he didn't encounter the assassination?"

Xiaotao lowered her head guiltily, "The shopkeeper saw Brother Shi was dressed shabbily and tried to cheat him by passing off old stock as fresh. Brother Shi tasted it and found out, then argued for a refund or exchange. But unexpectedly the shopkeeper suddenly turned fierce and called out several clerks with clubs to intimidate him. Brother Shi couldn't swallow his anger, so he fought with them..."

All Minglan's anger drained away. She sighed, "Very good, very good. So did you actually buy the fruits in the end?"

Xiaotao raised her head proudly, "Brother Shi beat them all to the ground! The shopkeeper gave us several jin of the highest quality preserved fruits for free!" Noticing the other maids behind Minglan were secretly laughing, she added sheepishly, "I'll share them with all the sisters later."

Minglan looked up and sighed deeply—with the capital in complete chaos, rebels running rampant outside, and countless noble families trembling with fear, these two treasures actually got into a fight over the quality of snacks? What extraordinarily thick nerves they must have!Seeing Cuiwei beside her nearly bursting with suppressed laughter, and the few young maids standing behind them all twisting their mouths and pulling faces, Minglan waved her hand weakly. "Enough. Help me back to my room, then change your clothes and go see Young Master Shi. If the Shi couple find out about this, I wonder if they’ll still want you as their daughter-in-law..."

Even the silly girl knew how to blush now. She shuffled over awkwardly and, together with Cuiwei, supported Minglan on either side, slowly making their way outside. Along the way, Cuiwei kept teasing Xiaotao, and Minglan listened with amusement, slightly easing the gloom in her heart.

Suddenly, a young maid exclaimed, "Look! There’s a fire over there!"

Everyone turned to look in the direction she pointed. In the distance, thick smoke billowed high, and the glow of flames spread far and wide.

The early night sky, like a pale cloth stained with soot, was painted in shades of dark ink, thick and thin, set against the last lingering glow of the setting sun. The distant flames blazed with a startling intensity.

"Ma’am, isn’t that direction...?" Cuiwei stammered, her voice uncertain.

Minglan nodded silently. "Flames that high must be from a building at a great elevation... It must be the imperial palace."

—It has finally begun.

The surroundings fell into silence. The girls exchanged glances, their eyes filled with fear and alarm.

Minglan gazed quietly into the distance. Half of her face was shrouded in the dim, ambiguous twilight, while the other half flickered with the reflected glow of the towering flames, obscure and elusive. Yet, she had never felt so clear-headed.

At noon, when Cui Mama had urged her to rest, she had said, "Madam, you’re overthinking it. During the ‘Shenchen Rebellion,’ only certain nobles were summoned to the palace. We’re not imperial relatives—what use would capturing you serve?"

At the time, Minglan hadn’t understood. Now, she did.

Times had changed. During the Fourth Prince’s rebellion, the Late Emperor was still alive, with political and military authority firmly in his hands. What the Fourth Prince lacked was legitimacy and recognition from the noble clans, which was why he had lured all the imperial relatives and noblewomen in the capital into the palace as hostages, forcing the cabinet ministers and grand scholars to draft an edict. But now... ah, Prince Rui, Prince Rui!

Minglan had once seen the boy from afar—a child of about ten, fair and delicate as if carved from jade, intelligent and studious, gentle and courteous. He was highly praised among the literati and, compared to the iron-fisted current emperor, was more favored by the noble families. Even Empress Dowager Sheng’an and the Empress adored him—so they were indeed planning to use this child as a pawn!

Prince Rui had been designated by the Late Emperor’s Imperial Edict to inherit the Fourth Prince’s lineage. The Third Prince had also been named heir apparent by the Late Emperor, with precedence over the current emperor. The current emperor had only been on the throne for a few years, his position not yet secure. If he were to "die suddenly in the palace," and if several princes were to "meet with misfortune" or disappear, so much the better. If not... then it would come down to whoever had the stronger backing.

The situation in the capital was unclear, with most of the army away on the western campaign.

Setting aside Zhang Gu’s fate, which was unknown, Old Commander Bo was severely injured and bedridden. General Fu might not be able to outmaneuver the cunning Old General Gan. Moreover, Shengde Taihou’s family had entrenched themselves in the northwest for years, with deep-rooted influence and formidable operations. As for Shen Congxing’s forces, the actual control of the army now lay with Duan Chengqian and others.

If the palace coup succeeded, and Prince Rui ascended the throne first, the rebels could then use the families and children of these generals as leverage. Even if the army returned to the capital to protect the emperor, the deed would be done, and they would have no choice but to accept it.

What a cunning plan indeed!

"Madam! Madam!"The usually unflappable Steward Hao came running in a panic, thudding to his knees on the bluestone pavement. "It's chaos outside! The Five-City Garrison has mutinied—not only are they ignoring Lord Liu's orders and sealing the city gates to prevent anyone from entering or leaving, but they're also fighting Lord Liu's imperial guards!"

He wiped cold sweat from his brow, cautiously glancing at Minglan. "...And... and I've heard that Zheng Da Jiangjun has also rebelled. The servant who reported said he saw the imperial guards nearly breaking into the palace..."

Gasps and soft sobs arose from the maids surrounding them.

Minglan said calmly, "No wonder they dare to cause such a stir—they came prepared."

Hao Dacheng urged anxiously, "Madam, should we seek refuge? We can escort you out of the residence."

Minglan gave a cold laugh. "Refuge? Where would we go?"

Smoothing the strands of hair ruffled by the evening breeze, she declared steadily, "Even if we leave the residence, with the city gates sealed, where could we hide? What is fated cannot be avoided, and misfortune cannot be outrun. His Majesty is wise and will surely quell the rebellion in one stroke."

Outside, chaos reigned like a boiling pot of porridge. Venturing out might not be safe. She could only hope that Gu Tingye's judgment in choosing superiors was better than his taste in women—otherwise, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken!

Ignoring the varied expressions around her, Minglan turned and continued toward Jiaciju. Cui Mama had laid out the meal in the side room, holding Tuan Ge'er while waiting. On the small, delicate octagonal table adorned with painted water chestnut flowers were a steamed egg custard with minced pork and diced shrimp, a plate of salted osmanthus duck garnished with thin, crisp purple-red radish flowers, a dish of soy-braised beef fillet with scallions, and a bowl of tender bok choy with shiitake mushrooms.

Minglan, now composed, picked up her chopsticks and began to eat, playfully teasing her son as she did. The chubby little boy, who hadn't played with his mother in a while, giggled joyfully, squirming so much he nearly rolled under the table. The nursemaid managed to feed him a bowl of egg and milk paste with great effort. As Cui Mama served the dishes, she stole glances at Minglan, her lips parting several times as if she wanted to ask something but didn't dare.

After eating and drinking her fill, Minglan rinsed her mouth and washed her hands. "Keep a close watch on the main lady's courtyard. The two young misses are not to run around—they must stay together in one place. Move Ruomei and her child to the main lady's courtyard as well."

Keeping them farther from her and her son might actually keep them safer.

"As for Tuan Ge'er..."

Minglan leaned close to Cui Mama and whispered a few instructions. Cui Mama's eyes widened in sudden understanding. "Rest assured, Madam, I understand."

By the time all arrangements were made, it was time to light the lamps. Minglan sat upright at the desk in the main room, the doors wide open, quietly reading a scroll. As she reached the passage in The Peach Blossom Spring describing "fragrant grasses, fresh and beautiful, and fallen blossoms in colorful profusion," Liao Yong's wife rushed in directly from outside, her face as pale as a ghost. Forgetting all decorum, she knelt and urgently reported, "Outside... outside, there are troops surrounding our marquis' residence..."

Minglan slowly set down the scroll. "What did the visitors say?"

Liao Yong's wife swallowed hard. "They said... they said you defy the imperial decree and must be arrested and charged! Uncle Tu is blocking the front, refusing to open the gate."

"I suspected as much." Minglan smiled faintly. "I will go to the front."

A sedan chair was already prepared outside. Minglan swayed gently with the bearers' steps. The early spring capital was unexpectedly cold, as if winter had returned in an instant. The north wind whistled swiftly through the bare branches, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, hissing softly.

Minglan looked up at the sky—the night was ink-black, the moon dim, the stars sparse. Boundless darkness enveloped the heavens. Though surrounded by maids and servants, the silence was so profound one could hear a pin drop. Silence, she thought, was as terrifying as the dark.——But in my heart, it was as bright as the full moon hanging in the sky.

Like the beginning of every life, like every bud stirred by the urge to bloom—all phenomena are empty in nature, neither ceasing nor arising.

As I walked to the front hall of the outer courtyard, the grounds were packed with robust guards, each holding a torch, turning the night as bright as day. The nearly three-person-high vermilion lacquered gate was being pounded with loud bangs, while chaotic shouts clamored from outside—

"Madam Sheng of the Gu family, surrender at once!"

"Traitors of the Gu family, open the door immediately!"

"We are ordered to arrest the rebels! Those who open the door will be pardoned and promoted in rank!"...

Tu Long stood blocking the straight path ahead. Minglan, supported by Xiaotao, walked over to a palm-sized peephole opened beside the side door. Leaning close to examine it, she saw a large crowd gathered outside. Only the few in front wore the official uniforms of the Capital Police Command, while the dozens behind were dressed in various outfits, appearing thuggish with fierce expressions and mouths full of curses.

Minglan turned away from the main gate and stood atop the high steps of the main hall, declaring clearly, "Please listen to what I have to say!"

Chaos erupted both inside and outside the gate. Tu Long took a deep breath and roared, "You outside, listen up! Our lady is here, so behave and pay attention!"

The roar of a trained fighter was no small matter, vibrating through Minglan's eardrums. Outside, silence indeed fell.

A boastful male voice rang out from beyond the gate: "Lady of the Marquis of Gu, hear this! Last time you refused to obey the order to enter the palace, angering His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. We are here to arrest you! Surrender quickly, and your entire household will be spared!"

Minglan raised her willow-leaf eyebrows sharply and retorted crisply, "In your dreams! I'm not going anywhere!" Her high-pitched voice cut clearly through the night air. The guards in the courtyard couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The man outside roared, "You wretched woman, how dare you?!"

"For no other reason than that you look like a weasel with shifty eyes—the very picture of a perpetual loser!" Minglan deliberately spoke in a thin, mocking tone.

The surroundings erupted in laughter, and even some chuckles could be heard from outside.

The man exploded in rage, spewing vulgarities as he tried to drown out the surrounding noise. Minglan abruptly cut in, "I know exactly what you lot are! Don't pretend to be respectable—rebels and troublemakers daring to show your faces!"

The phrase "rebels and troublemakers" carried immense weight, and outside, silence gradually fell again.

Minglan raised her voice, coldly stating, "Everyone knows that traitors and rebels deserve death. Yet there are always fools who think they're lucky, testing their necks against the blade, gambling with their lives! Remember the 'Shenchen Rebellion' a few years ago? The Rebellious Prince had the support of many nobles and powerful ministers. Hmph, and what happened? In just seven days, the Late Emperor quelled the rebellion. You should weigh your own worth—how do you compare to the Rebellious Prince back then? I wonder if you'll even last seven hours!"

She let out a cold laugh and declared loudly, "Enough nonsense. If you have the guts, break in. Stop trying to deceive people and dogs. I advise the brave men outside: while you're still anonymous, slip away while you can. There are plenty of ways to make a fortune—don't wade into this muddy water. Rebellion isn't like robbing a wealthy household where losing your head is the end of it. Think more about your wives, children, and elders!"

Outside, it suddenly fell so silent it seemed deserted. After a long pause, the boastful voice shouted, "Don't be fooled by this woman! The Marquis's residence is filled with gold, silver, and jewels—wealth awaits us tonight!"

Tu Long also roared, "The Marquis has a record of all our names! If we fail to protect the lady, we'll face severe punishment! The lady promises: one hundred taels for an arm, one hundred fifty for a leg! If you lose your life, your family will be cared for by the Marquis's household! Brothers, charge! Endure this ordeal, and everyone will be richly rewarded—feast and drink well from now on!"

With these two shouts, the night's battle officially began.

The sixteen vermilion lattice doors of the main hall were thrown wide open. Lüzhi moved a tall official's armchair to the center of the hall, and Minglan sat upright in it, watching the fierce fighting ahead as if overseeing the battle.According to regulations, aside from the imperial palace, the walls of a marquis' residence in the capital were second only to those of a prince's mansion—far taller and thicker than ordinary households. The vermilion-lacquered main gate stood two to three men high, with bolts nearly half a foot thick, impervious to anything but heavy battering rams. Despite the frenzied pounding outside, the gate remained unshaken, and blades hacking or stabbing at it proved useless.

The bandits had clearly not expected Minglan to be so resolute. Assuming a woman would be easily intimidated, they now found themselves without proper siege equipment. They hastily ordered men to chop down sturdy trees for ramming while urging others to climb the walls by boosting each other up.

Unexpectedly, Tu Long had prepared sharp wooden poles over two meters long. Inside, pairs of men held them ready, thrusting viciously at any head that appeared over the wall. Screams and dull thuds followed immediately as several bandits were pierced through the jaw or chest, tumbling down. Some fierce bandits attempted to scale the walls waving broadswords, but the poles had been tarred and resisted ordinary blades. For those agile enough to dodge the poles, two archers stood guard inside, swiftly shooting them down.

After a brief pause, the bandits began shooting arrows inward to cover their comrades' climbing. Arrows rained down, and within moments, several pole-wielding laborers were hit. Minglan quickly ordered the wounded carried into the main hall.

The guards, glancing back, saw their mistress—pregnant and composed—sitting calmly in the rear hall. None dared slacken, thinking, "If even a delicate woman shows such courage, how can we men do less?!"

Tu Long brandished his ghost-head saber, directing men to climb ladders placed against the wall. They tossed small bags of quicklime through the arrow barrage, spreading a chalky cloud outside. Cries of pain blended with curses and shouts:

"Close your eyes! They're throwing lime!"

"Shameless bastards, using such vile tricks!"...

Old Tu couldn't help muttering ruefully, "If my martial brethren heard of this... I'd never live it down. What are you gawking at, you brats? Keep throwing!"

For nearly an hour, relative quiet prevailed. Then footsteps signaled the arrival of more bandits. Tu Long listened intently, his face darkening. "Stay sharp, brothers! The scoundrels are returning!"

Sure enough, bandits with thin cloth blindfolds surged forward, swarming the walls. This time, their numbers overwhelmed the defenders—arrows and poles couldn't keep up.

Cauldrons of oil, already set up in the courtyard, now emitted an ominous bluish smoke. Tu Long bellowed orders to pass buckets of boiling oil up the ladders. With a sizzling roar, the scalding liquid cascaded down. Agonized wails erupted outside, accompanied by the nauseating stench of scorched flesh, horrifying in the deep night.

Lüzhi turned deathly pale, her teeth chattering uncontrollably as she stared at the bloodstains pooling on the ground. Xiaotao proved sturdier, occasionally helping move moaning casualties.

It was spring. The servants pouring oil wore padded coats and leather gloves for protection, but the bandits outside were clad in thin spring attire. Those drenched directly lost half their lives on the spot; even those splashed slightly leaped and shrieked in agony.

Scalding oil had a wider reach than other weapons. The bandits suffered heavy casualties, and the assault temporarily ceased.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Tu Long rushed into the main hall and clasped his fists. "Madam, we should have peace for a while."Minglan’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the armrest. "They won’t give up easily."

"Rest assured, madam! My brother and his men are guarding the back entrance. We’ve plenty of hot oil and sharp stakes!"

Minglan nodded stiffly, wiping cold sweat from her forehead. One hand pressed against her belly, she felt it quivering violently—perhaps the fetus sensed this terror too. A wave of tenderness washed over her as she fought back tears, gently soothing her child.

Less than an hour of calm passed before a blood-soaked servant came running from afar, shouting: "Brother Tu! The bandits have moved to the back gate! Master Tu the Second requests reinforcements!"

Tu Long glanced at Minglan with a questioning look. She replied with brisk cheer, "Women know nothing of attack and defense. All manpower and weapons in this mansion are at your disposal!"

Tu Long inwardly cheered her pragmatism. With a respectful cupped-hand salute, he dispatched a team of strong men to reinforce the rear while remaining with the rest to guard the front gate. Since the bandits had to circle the entire street to attack the back entrance while defenders could cut straight through the estate, holding them off briefly would allow flexible troop deployment.

The back gate was actually easier to defend—the narrow alley barely accommodated four or five people abreast, making it impossible to ram the gate with heavy logs. The cramped space left invaders clustered together, perfect for pouring boiling oil or scattering lime.

About half an hour later, shouts and climbing noises erupted again at the front wall—the remaining bandits had indeed stayed, attempting a diversion. They likely expected the defenders to lower their guard once fighting broke out at the rear.

But Tu Long had anticipated this. He’d posted young servants along the wall as lookouts, ordering them not to blink. The moment a head appeared over the wall, they’d thrust it down with poles, sending intruders toppling without even a grunt.

Witnessing this, Minglan couldn’t help praising: "Master Tu’s reputation is well-earned! No wonder the marquis always sings your praises."

Tu Long turned with a broad grin. "These are just crude tricks, hardly worth mentioning. You should see the marquis on the battlefield—unstoppable, a match for ten thousand!"

As Minglan prepared more compliments, blazing flames suddenly shot up from the side courtyard. Everyone turned to see the eastern ancestral compound engulfed in fire, distant screams piercing the air. Unlike the panic around them, Minglan and Tu Long remained utterly calm.

Gazing at the eastern inferno, Tu Long gritted his teeth. "Those bastards really tried to sneak in through there! Pity about the old estate—it’s stood for generations!"

Minglan replied impassively, "No need for regret. We moved all valuables out long ago. The ancestral hall sits in a corner untouched by the flames. Lives matter more—buildings can be rebuilt."

By the beginning of the Yin hour (3-5 AM), Granny Ge arrived with servants bringing midnight snacks. Minglan hastily finished half a bowl of rice porridge. As she set down her bowl, firelight bloomed from the western woods.

Minglan paused her movements. Lüzhi gazed afar and sighed, "Ah, what a shame for the cranes, deer, and the young misses’ newly kept rabbits in those hills."

Soon, reports came from both east and west: the bandits had been repelled. Five or six seemed burned to death in the eastern blaze, while four or five likely fell in the western woods—too dark to confirm.

Minglan softly patted her chest, silently counting her blessings.Centered around Clear Garden, the Ningyuan Marquis Household was a massive square estate when viewed from above, with gates at both the front and rear. To the east and west lay the old residence of the marquis and a small wooded hill respectively. To prevent intruders from sneaking in through the sides, Minglan hardened her heart and ordered the deployment of flammable oil—the spring woods were dense, and the Gu family’s old residence was thick with wooden beams, capable of burning through the night without issue. A wide firebreak was created between the area and Clear Garden, with fuses laid out. At the first sign of intruders, the fire would be ignited.

Watching the woods and old residence engulfed in a sea of flames, Minglan couldn’t deny feeling a pang of regret, but she prayed it would truly deter the bandits.

Just then, Tu Long approached with heavy steps and whispered to Minglan, "Madam, something is amiss."

With his extensive experience, he knew well that during times of turmoil, petty thieves often seized the chance to loot and plunder. Thus, he had believed his preparations would easily handle ordinary bandits. Yet, after half a night of fighting, he and his brother were barely holding their ground, struggling to defend.

"Over thirty of the bandits are already dead or injured, yet they remain so tenacious... It seems someone is inciting them from behind." After such prolonged combat, he estimated the enemy had initially numbered over a hundred. After the first two fierce clashes, many hangers-on had fled, leaving a core of about fifty or sixty. Now, with more than half their forces dead or wounded, their refusal to retreat was truly peculiar.

But Minglan probed deeper.

In this upheaval, only two types of people would attack the marquis’s household: opportunistic bandits seeking plunder—Tu Long’s primary focus—and rebellious traitors.

The former sought wealth. With so many wealthy families in the capital, why insist on targeting the Gu family, a tough nut to crack, instead of moving on to easier prey?

The latter sought power, aiming to capture Minglan as a hostage. If the Gu family were wiped out, what leverage would remain? Gu Tingye would surely seek deadly revenge. Yet, these bandits were vicious and ruthless, clearly intent on taking lives.

"You say..." Minglan began gravely, but was cut off by familiar cries from outside. Cuixiu rushed in, disheveled and weeping, "Madam, it’s terrible! Bandits have broken inside!"

Minglan felt as if struck by lightning, exclaiming in disbelief, "How is that possible?!"

Cuixiu sobbed, "They came through the woods—a few bandits braved the flames and slipped in through a small path! Brother Shi is leading the defense now. Please send reinforcements quickly!"

Minglan swayed unsteadily but forced herself to stay calm.

Tu Long said firmly, "Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll lead men there at once!" He then grabbed a burly man beside him, "Brother, hold the line here!" The man assented, and Tu Long immediately charged inward with a team of guards.

Lüzhi bit her lip hard, while Xiaotao steadied Minglan, murmuring repeatedly, "Don’t be afraid, Madam. Few know where Tuan Ge’er and Cui Mama are hidden! With so many rooms in the estate, it would take ages to search them all."

Minglan calmed slightly, but a mother’s heart urged her to check the situation. Lüzhi had no choice but to summon a sedan chair. However, the carriers moved slowly in the dark night, frustrating Minglan to the brink of tears before they finally arrived.

The inner courtyard was in chaos: maids and elderly women either screamed for help or scrambled for hiding spots. Minglan dared not remain in the sedan, leaning on Lüzhi as she pressed forward. Xiaotao, sharp-eyed, grabbed a figure rushing past and cried out, "Brother Shi!"The one approaching was none other than the simple-minded Shi Xiaodi, covered in bloodstains. Recognizing Minglan and the others, he exclaimed joyfully, "Madam, I was just looking for you! Those seven or eight bandits are scurrying around like headless flies. Two of them had just reached the entrance of the First Madam's courtyard when the guards stationed outside killed them. Now, Master Tu is hunting down the remaining bandits everywhere!"

Minglan breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that everyone is safe..."

"Madam..." Shi Xiaodi said urgently, "When Master Tu and I arrived at the First Madam's courtyard, we only saw Qiu Yiniang, Mei Yiniang and her son, and a few other mamas inside."

"Ah! What happened?" Minglan was stunned.

"Master Tu asked the same," Shi Xiaodi said awkwardly. "One of the mamas privately told us that the First Madam discovered Cui Mama had hidden Tuan Ge'er elsewhere, thinking that place was safer. She forced the location out of Miss Bi Si and took her two daughters there to hide as well..."

Minglan bit her lower lip—after all her careful planning, she had overlooked this! What a Bi Si! What a Madam Shao!

"Master Tu sent me to ask you, Madam, where exactly Tuan Ge'er is hidden. We can't let the bandits stumble upon him by sheer luck... Ah!" Realizing his metaphor was inappropriate, Shi Xiaodi quickly shut his mouth.

Minglan said urgently, "He's in one of the side rooms in Kouxiang Garden! Go quickly, find Master Tu immediately!" As she spoke, she stamped her feet repeatedly. The whole point of a secret hiding place was that the fewer people who knew about it, the better. What was happening now?!

Watching Shi Xiaodi run off, Minglan hurried in that direction as well. However, Xiaotao, remembering Cui Mama's instructions, firmly held her by the arm while other maidservants trailing behind urged her not to walk too quickly.

It took the group nearly a quarter of an hour to reach their destination, though to Minglan it felt like two hours. On the way, she grabbed a panicked young maid and asked, "Is everything alright at Kouxiang Garden?"

The young maid, who had just come from the direction of Kouxiang Garden, stammered upon suddenly seeing her mistress, "Everything's fine... ah, no—Mama Lu said Miss Rong went to the First Madam's place and told us we didn't need to stand guard anymore..."

Minglan felt slightly relieved and was about to tell her to hide in Madam Shao's courtyard when the young maid suddenly added, "But... but... just now I saw Ren Yiniang leading two or three shadowy figures toward Kouxiang Garden... How strange, isn't that place empty now?"

"Ren Yiniang?!" Lüzhi shouted, gripping the young maid's wrist tightly. "The one by the First Madam's side...?" Ren Yiniang was originally Madam Shao's personal maid, later given to Gu Tingyu as a bedroom servant, and was elevated to Concubine before Gu Tingyu passed away.

The young maid, in pain, quickly nodded.

Minglan was too horrified to speak, barely managing to choke out, "Let's go quickly!" No one dared to delay any longer and they hurried forward.

As soon as they stepped into Kouxiang Garden, they were met with the thick smell of blood. Lowering their lanterns, they saw the ground stained with blood and the bodies of two maidservants lying at the entrance—the strong women who had been protecting Cui Mama.

Minglan felt dizzy, nearly fainting, but just then Tu Long and others approached. Bowing, he reported, "Madam, we've killed two and captured a traitor."The guards behind him roughly threw two black-clad corpses to the ground and pushed forward a disheveled woman—Ren Shi, who often accompanied Madam Shao. Furious, Minglan immediately slapped the woman twice across the face. Just as she was about to ask Tu Long if he had found the room where her son was, sudden cries of women and children erupted from the western wing, followed by Shi Xiaodi’s shout—"You dare, villain...!"

Tu Long and the others rushed over with torches. One room in the dark row of side chambers lit up. Minglan, supported by Xiaotao, hurried over. A candle burned on the table inside. Madam Shao huddled in a corner, clutching Xianjie. Cui Mama seemed to have been knocked unconscious, slumped weakly against the bedside. Shi Xiaodi emerged from the inner room, clutching his bleeding arm. "Madam, inside..."

Minglan pushed Xiaotao aside and rushed recklessly inward, tearing down the half-loosened curtain. A black-clad corpse lay sprawled on the floor. Tu Long and two guards stood at the doorway, holding blades, smiling sidelong as they watched.

Minglan followed their gaze—Rong Jie’er sat half-upright on the edge of the bed, holding a sobbing, chubby Tuan Ge’er in her arms.

The girl’s face was streaked with dried tears, her hair disheveled. A lock had been torn from her temple, blood smeared near her sunken temples. Her right hand clutched a gold hairpin, while her left hand was drenched in blood, the flesh torn to the bone. Her face was deathly pale, but her eyes blazed like raging flames. Blood stained the corners of her mouth, and her cheeks were slightly swollen from clenched teeth.

Tu Long smiled inwardly. Seeing this, he could roughly guess what had happened. Confident that the situation here was under control, he left two guards and Shi Xiaodi behind and went out to capture the remaining villains and secure the area.

Minglan, cradling her belly, walked over slowly. She gently embraced Rong Jie’er and asked softly, "Good child, what happened? Tell me."

Rong Jie’er looked up dazedly, her lips parting, but no words came out.

Hearing this from outside, Xianjie broke free from Madam Shao’s grasp, rushed into the inner room, and began speaking loudly and fluently. Moments later, the hastily bandaged Shi Xiaodi entered and chattered on, adding many details.

As the two recounted the events, the way her stepmother looked at her grew increasingly tender and approving, yet Rong Jie’er felt utterly bewildered.

—The fleeting moments that had just passed felt like a dream.

The women had been hiding in the pitch-dark room. The bandit kicked open doors one by one, a torch in hand. Hearing his brutal, cruel shouts, everyone trembled in fear. As the bandit approached their room, even Cui Mama was at a loss.

Then, somehow, courage surged within her. She snatched Tuan Ge’er and carried him into the inner room, shoved her little brother under the bed, placed a stool by the door, pulled out her gold hairpin, and stood on the stool.

The bandit kicked the door open. Her aunt screamed especially shrilly, like a hen being strangled. Xianjie merely whimpered softly. Then came a dull thud—Cui Mama fell silent.

Listening to the bandit’s footsteps approaching the inner room, she gripped the hairpin so tightly its tip nearly pierced her palm. Clenching her teeth, she made no sound. The moment the bandit stepped inside, she leaped at him.

Caught off guard, he was knocked to the ground. She clung to his back, stabbing wildly—some strikes hit his shoulders and neck, others his back. Howling in pain, the bandit dropped his long blade, drew a dagger from his boot, and slashed at her. Without a second thought, she grabbed the blade. The sharp edge sliced deep into her palm, sending agony searing through her.She never knew she could be so tough. Without uttering a sound, she burned with rage, igniting the fierceness in her bones. She bared her teeth and bit the bandit’s face and head. The pain drove the bandit wild, and he grabbed her hair in retaliation—but her stubborn nature took over. Even as her scalp and palms were torn and bleeding, she gritted her teeth and refused to let go, gripping the golden hairpin tightly and driving it deeper.

In the end, the bandit tore away a lock of her hair along with a piece of her scalp, while she bit off half of his ear. Just as the bandit finally flung her off his back and she was about to be stabbed to death, Young Shi arrived in the nick of time.

Tuan Ge'er crawled out from under the bed, wobbling unsteadily as he looked around, then stretched out his arms and tearfully toddled toward her. Rong Jie'er could no longer hold back, rushing forward to tightly embrace her younger brother's plump little body. The siblings wept loudly together.

...

Minglan's eyes brimmed with tears as she gently stroked the girl's mangled wound, feeling so grateful she could have prostrated herself and kowtowed right there. Choking up, she said, "Good child, for Tuan Ge'er to have a sister like you is truly the greatest blessing!"

Held in her stepmother's embrace, Rong Jie'er was overwhelmed with mixed emotions and inexplicable sorrow, and began crying again. The chubby little boy didn't understand what was happening and couldn't form complete sentences yet, so he just tugged at his sister's clothes, sobbing and repeatedly calling "Jiejie" through his tears.

Madam Shao hovered hesitantly at the doorway, wanting to enter but not daring to. Minglan noticed her but deliberately ignored her, instead wiping Rong Jie'er's tears as she asked with a smile, "Rong girl, be honest with me - were you afraid?" She pointed at the corpses on the floor.

Rong Jie'er looked at the floor, thought seriously for a moment, then said sheepishly, "...To tell the truth, not very..." Though she had been furious.

Minglan shook her head and clicked her tongue, then clapped her hands and laughed, "Indeed your father's daughter! Naturally fierce and courageous, bold enough to dare anything!"

By now the sky was beginning to lighten. The bandits who had entered the inner residence had been cleared out. Minglan brought the two children back to Jiaxi Residence, where Cuiwei found Gu Tingye's trauma medicine. Minglan personally cleaned Rong Jie'er's wound, applied the medicine, and bandaged it.

Xiaotao deftly scooped out about half the jar and slipped away to dress Shi Xiaodi's wounds.

After all, she was still a child. Having stayed up all night through fright, injury, and bitter crying, Rong Jie'er was utterly exhausted. She collapsed on Minglan's bed and fell into a deep sleep, next to the little fatty who was sleeping like a log.

Minglan stood by the bed, holding a candle as she quietly watched them, a smile playing on her lips. Even the way the siblings slept with limbs splayed out was exactly the same.

Come to think of it, Rulan also loved sleeping in a starfish position. She wondered how Wen Jiefu had managed all these years - whether he'd ever been awakened in his sleep by his wife's leg pressing on him. Thinking this, she suddenly hoped this girl would also find a good match like Rulan had.

The commotion outside gradually subsided. Minglan knew they had survived this crisis.

Not long after, the Tu family brothers sent word that the bandits had planned one last desperate attempt, but when they saw Lord Liu had dispatched troops for protection, the thieves immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

Minglan wearily rubbed her temples. "Everyone has worked hard. Let other matters wait for now - first go invite several physicians. The whole estate needs treatment for illnesses and injuries. Later we'll take stock of damaged property and furnishings, and distribute rewards according to merit. We'll handle everything step by step, no rush." Cui Mama had regained consciousness, but it was unclear whether the lump on her head was serious. And Rong Jie'er's palm needed proper medical treatment too.

Hao Dacheng couldn't help saying, "Madam, aren't you going to ask about the situation outside?"

Minglan put her hand down and smiled faintly. "Although Lord Liu would consider our residence, his loyalty to the Emperor comes far first. If the palace hadn't been pacified, could Lord Liu have spared men to rescue us?"

Hao Dacheng gave a bitter smile and sighed in admiration. "Madam's insight is truly beyond my comparison."

"Enough, never mind if the whole world is in chaos. Right now I just want to guard my children and get some proper rest first!" Minglan lightly massaged her sore neck. "Steward Hao, don't push yourself too hard. Just handle the essential cleanup, then go rest too."

Just as Hao Dacheng was about to leave, he suddenly stopped and turned back. "Madam, last night..." He hesitated. "Among the bandits, there was someone... many people thought... looked very much like Third Master..."Minglan's hands, which were massaging his shoulders, halted mid-air as she looked over in shock and uncertainty.

——Gu Tingwei?!