The Story of Ming Lan

After lunch, Minglan toured the entire marquis' residence in a soft sedan chair.

Spring was originally a season of abundant growth, yet the courtyard's once splendid flower beds now lay desolate overnight, mostly trampled into mud by frantic footsteps in the darkness. Though the smooth bluestone paving had been washed repeatedly, faint traces of dark crimson stubbornly lingered in several spots—especially at Kouxiang Garden, where deaths had occurred both inside and out. Several timid maids wept, refusing to enter, and Minglan didn't force them. She contemplated relocating Rong Jie'er elsewhere, as the original spot was somewhat remote anyway, and considered renovating it for other purposes.

The most gruesome scene lay elsewhere.

The vermilion-lacquered gate, nearly half a foot thick, creaked open with an eerie metallic groan. Following the extending bluestone steps downward, the ground outside was mottled with bloodstains. Boiling oil that had clung to hair and skin had cooled into charred, congealed lumps. Though the corpses and dismembered limbs had been cleared away, the thick purple stains reeked nauseatingly.

Several tree trunks as thick as teacups lay scattered about—who knew where the bandits had chopped them down? Over half of the gate's large brass nails had been knocked loose, strewn haphazardly everywhere. Steward Liu of the gatehouse muttered nearby, "Lucky they weren't gilded back then... we can melt and reuse them after collecting them all."

Minglan wanted to laugh but couldn't.

Returning to Jiaxi Residence, she slumped listlessly against the kang mattress, gazing blankly at the gradually golden-tinged horizon.

Before dinner, Tu Hu returned from outside and knelt before Minglan beneath the corridor eaves, separated by a curtain. His face was grim, as if he'd just been cuckolded—stifled yet speechless. "...That Han San is indeed corrupt! I failed to discipline him properly. Please punish me, Madam."

He had led guards to ransack Han's home and shockingly uncovered two newly transferred land deeds and a hundred taels of gold—infuriating Tu Hu so much he wanted to chop the man into mincemeat.

Minglan started slightly: "Did Lord Tiger take action?" Though Han San had pledged service, his family members were commoners.

"Not yet!" Tu Hu said bitterly. "We've just detained him for now. This isn't the time for punishment—we'll settle accounts later."

Minglan nodded wearily: "Good. Whether to beat or execute him, we'll decide after the Marquis returns."

As someone who advocated a peaceful, leisurely lifestyle, being forced to constantly handle such matters wearied her immensely. She comforted Tu Hu further—since this mole had clearly failed, there was no need for excessive remorse. They just needed better prevention in future.

By the third day, though the lockdown remained, the atmosphere had noticeably eased. Many impatient households had secretly sent servants to exchange messages. The first correspondence came from the British Duke's residence, reiterating concern for their safety and offering Minglan any resources needed—whether guards, physicians, or medical supplies. Lady Zhang even joked that their household had stood guard all night for nothing, with all prepared items going unused.

Minglan felt deeply moved. No wonder Lady Zhang had remained a leading figure among noblewomen for decades—her actions truly demonstrated courage. Soon after, this courageous woman's daughter also sent a letter—a brief note scrawled in furious strokes.

The Imperial Brother-in-Law's residence had also been unsettled that night, though purely by robbery—"This foolish sister wasted nearly twenty years, arrogantly relying on the Zhang family's reputation and slight authority, never imagining anyone would dare challenge us! I truly didn't anticipate such a robbery that night!"Zhang Shi had truly broadened her horizons, never imagining there would come a day when petty thieves would dare to target her household! After fuming for a long while, she remembered this residence was currently surnamed Shen, not Zhang. Truth be told, even with her father’s alleged military defeat spreading like wildfire, within a three-mile radius of the Duke of Ying’s estate, no pickpocket dared operate.

The letter explained: without an inside informant, external thieves wouldn’t have come. Tracing the root, it was the Zou family’s ostentatious flaunting of wealth that invited trouble.

"What did the Zou family do outside?" Minglan asked.

The reporting servant spoke with equal frustration: "...Those black-hearted Zous claimed the Imperial Uncle was severely injured outside the capital. If anything happened to him, the Heir Apparent would immediately inherit the title. With the maternal uncle as solid as a boulder, wouldn’t everything require his counsel? ‘A widow follows her son’—who’d still respect the Zhangs then?" After the interrogation, our lady was furious..."

Drunken tavern ramblings caught the attention of opportunistic ruffians. After deliberately plying them with drink and befriending them, they extracted details about the Shen family’s inner quarters. Seizing the opportunity during the capital’s chaos, they used the Zou family’s name to trick open the Shen residence’s back gate under cover of darkness, then broke in to kill, loot, and plunder.

Fortunately, Zhang Shi had been prepared. Upon hearing the news, she immediately led guards to confront the thieves. Common burglars were no match for the Duke of Ying’s trained warriors—within moments, some were slain, others captured.

Zhang Shi had bottled up immense frustration—after all, those preparations were meant for more serious, large-scale political persecution!

She personally shot several thieves with her soft bow. Two particularly bold captives, seeing the room full of women and children, grew arrogant and hurled obscene threats. Enraged, Zhang Shi wordlessly swung her sword—swish, swish—slicing off both men’s ears and tossing them to feed the black mastiffs. The hall fell into solemn silence; no one in the Shen residence dared make a sound.

The servant recounted this with pride, while Minglan inwardly marveled.

From then on, everyone in the Shen household gave Zhang Shi a wide berth. Her subsequent decades were lived with immense authority: concubines never talked back, stepchildren never nagged. Perhaps this misfortune proved a blessing in disguise—but that’s another story.

Elsewhere, the women of the Duan, Zhong, and Geng families still hadn’t returned from the palace, their circumstances unknown. Messengers sent to the Bo and Fu families finally returned, reporting they’d been ambushed en route and trapped in civilian homes until the curfew eased. Both families were confirmed safe—especially the Bos, whose women had long accompanied Old Lady Bo to the countryside.

The Sheng family’s letter was the thickest, penned by Changfeng across a dozen florid pages. Minglan patiently read it all, then couldn’t resist muttering, "Third Brother, impressive." The actual events were simple: that day, Old Master Sheng followed his usual routine, ate a bowl of rice and half a roast chicken, then began reviewing Changfeng’s studies. He’d just reached, "If you fail the Autumn Examination this time..." when chaos erupted outside before he could finish the threat.

With the capital under curfew, Old Master Sheng was forced into a two-day involuntary break—still unable to resume work. Most civil officials faced similar situations. Compared to the last Rebellious Prince’s uprising, the epicenter of disruption had shifted.

The lengthy letter contained no major incidents—nor even minor ones—but was steeped in ornate phrasing and meticulous rhymes. Lamenting the unstable times alone consumed three classical allusions. Even the cook’s inability to buy fresh groceries inspired a doggerel verse: "Chaos ascends to heaven, the Kitchen God sighs."Tuan Ge'er had been wide-eyed and refusing to sleep despite all coaxing, but when Minglan began reading the letter aloud to her son, the little chubby boy had drooped his head and grown drowsy after just a page and a half.

"Fine, I won't count on you for scholarly pursuits. You'd better follow your father in chest-crushing stone performances," Minglan resignedly stroked her son's plump limbs as his little belly rose and fell rhythmically—he was already fast asleep.

News from the Zheng family arrived belatedly, not until lantern-lighting time—and it was even worse than the report of the burglary at the State Uncle's residence.

The young servant choked up: "...My family's Old Master passed away the day before yesterday, and this morning, the Old Mistress... she's gone too."

Both elders deceased within three days?!

Minglan was utterly shocked: "How could this be? They were perfectly fine, how could they just vanish like this...?" She wanted to inquire further, but under Zheng da furen's strict household management, the servant merely shook his head, unwilling to utter another word.

"...Over the years, the Old Master and Old Mistress never fully recovered from their illnesses... The Great Madam instructed me to convey that she and the Second Madam are currently overwhelmed, but will explain in detail to Lady Marquis Gu when they have time."

Observing how the servant, despite being drenched in sweat and panting heavily, still maintained proper decorum in his speech, Minglan admired Zheng da furen's management skills. She instructed Lüzhi to give him a handful of coins as reward before having him escorted out.

Cui Mama watched the figure disappear beyond the doorway before saying: "Madam, this doesn't seem right. Just days ago when we delivered the winter-brewed fruit wine to the Zheng family, Old Master Zheng and his wife were still quite well. As the saying goes, a slender carrying pole bends gradually under weight, this... this..." She repeated "this" several times without completing her thought.

Minglan understood her meaning—the longer elderly people have been bedridden with chronic illness, the less likely they are to die suddenly. Typically, from critical condition to final breath would take several days. For both elders to pass away so abruptly when they showed no signs of trouble days before was truly strange.

After pondering for hours without reaching any conclusion, Minglan cursed her own lack of imagination. Hugging her pillow in confusion all night, she found someone arriving the next morning to solve the mystery for her.

Madam Liu wore a somewhat worn russet-colored gown with dark gold threaded patterns and embroidered flowers, a finger-width dark red velvet headband adorned with a large pearl at the center, powdered face, and a small red flower pinned at her temple—vividly resembling Liu Granny's prosperous new society incarnation.

Minglan happened to be having breakfast and casually invited her to join, never expecting Madam Liu would immediately agree and pick up chopsticks to eat.

Seeming quite cheerful, she praised while eating: "Younger sister's household cuisine is so refined, tsk tsk, this rice congee is wonderfully fragrant... what all did you put in it? Oh my, younger sister is beautiful, and even the fried dough sticks in your home are handsome..."

Despairing at this comparison, Minglan forced a dry smile: "Not at all, not at all, these are just recipes passed down through generations." In aristocratic households, even the cooks' skills were hereditary—every family had their signature dishes to maintain appearances. "If elder sister likes them, I'll have someone copy a few recipes to send over tomorrow.""Don't mention it, don't mention it." Madam Liu quickly waved her hand, grinning broadly. "To be honest, none of my family members are used to the food in the capital. Before the New Year, we specially hired a chef from Sichuan. I was just making conversation—sister, don’t take it to heart... Since I was little, the elders have always said that when visiting someone’s home, you must offer plenty of compliments." She rambled on for a while longer.

Minglan opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Madam Liu wasn’t merely long-winded. After the meal, she wiped her mouth and washed her hands. Before Minglan could ask, she took the initiative to explain her purpose: "Last night, my husband came home—oh dear, covered in blood... Well, I won’t go into that, afraid of scaring you, sister... He gave me a lot of instructions. Told me to come today and explain everything clearly, so you can rest easy and not worry yourself sick... Hmm, where should I start? Tell me, sister, what do you want to ask first?"

Of course, is Gu Tingwei dead? Is the Marquis estate safe? Has that old witch, the Grand Old Madam, been dealt with? Ahhh!—But no! This was ancient times, and she was a first-rank Imperial Mandate Lady, officially appointed by the court!

Minglan forcibly swallowed the words in her throat, forcing out a dry laugh. "Naturally, I’m most concerned about whether the Emperor and Empress are safe now. As subjects, that is our foremost worry."

Madam Liu seemed deeply moved. "Sister, your loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country are truly admirable."

After expressing her admiration, and to demonstrate that her own political awareness was no less impressive, she began singing the Emperor’s praises.

"...Those petty troublemakers, always sneaking around and scheming in the shadows, thinking themselves so clever. Little did they know our Emperor is an unparalleled... well... rare wise ruler, blessed with celestial insight, who saw right through their tricks all along. But out of respect for the Late Emperor, he wanted to spare Shengde Taihou and Prince Rui some dignity. Who would have thought..."

Minglan, suppressing the urge to grit her teeth at the sycophantic tone, interjected, "So it really was connected to Shengde Taihou and Prince Rui?"

"Exactly! Who else would have the audacity to forge an imperial decree and trick officials' families into entering the palace?" Madam Liu wiped her dry eyes, like the lead mourner in a rural funeral procession. "Oh dear, our Emperor is such a benevolent sovereign. That Shengde Taihou—she’s neither the Emperor’s birth mother nor was she ever elevated to Empress. Yet, because of a single word from the Late Emperor, our Emperor attended to her morning and evening, obeyed her every whim, practiced the utmost filial piety, and cared for her with meticulous devotion..."

Minglan deeply felt that the last three idioms were hardly appropriate, but seeing how emotional Madam Liu was, she refrained from pointing it out.

"...He treated her with the highest honor, yet she remained unsatisfied, refusing to rest until she schemed to seize the throne! And that Consort Rong, truly a pack of ungrateful wolves... Thankfully, Zheng Da Jiangjun was fiercely loyal, or our Emperor might have fallen victim to their plot..."

For the next hour or so, Madam Liu spoke nonstop—half of it devoted to extolling the Emperor’s virtues. Xiaotao refilled the teapot twice, and Lüzhi replenished the snacks three times before she finally managed to outline the general course of the rebellion.

In Minglan’s estimation, while Shengde Taihou and her faction were undoubtedly treacherous, the deeply beloved, impeccably loyal, filial, and compassionate Emperor was hardly as innocent as a lamb.

Over the past few years, as the imperial faction (including the Zhang, Shen, Gu, Zheng, Duan, and Liu families) grew stronger, the Emperor had become increasingly assertive, relentlessly weakening Shengde Taihou’s influence. Among the high-ranking civil officials, they were either staunch loyalists like Grand Secretary Yao, leading the Emperor’s faction, or fence-sitters like the retired Grand Secretary Zou, who feigned ignorance and avoided taking sides.Among the veteran ministers who had received the late emperor's final edict years ago, those who had vehemently advocated for the emperor's filial devotion to Shengde Taihou had gradually been sidelined or "persuaded to retire" over the years, almost imperceptibly.

As for officials of the third or fourth rank and below... the Prince of Rui was, after all, still young, and it was hardly convincing to claim his legitimacy was absolute. Among the vigorous mid-ranking court officials, few were willing to wade into the murky waters of the succession dispute.

As the current emperor's throne grew increasingly secure and his sons gradually came of age, Shengde Taihou's faction grew as restless as a cat scratching at their hearts. On the other hand, whenever the emperor saw the clever and elegant Prince of Rui, he felt as uncomfortable as having a fishbone stuck in his throat.

Shengde Taihou's faction wanted to take action but lacked a good opportunity, not daring to move recklessly. The emperor, fully aware of their treacherous intentions, could not strike first for fear of earning the reputation of being unfilial to his consort-mother and neglectful of his nephews.

Thus, the two factions reached a stalemate—much like in civilized societies where two nations both desire war but neither wishes to bear the infamy of starting it, so they continuously provoke each other, praying to the gods that the other side fires the first shot.

By last year, the emperor felt he had gained an overwhelming advantage and grew impatient.

So, he laid a trap to kill multiple birds with one stone.

It was still remembered that years ago, when the new emperor had just ascended the throne, the Jie Barbarians took advantage of the situation to raid southward extensively. Although they were eventually repelled, they still seized several northwestern border towns. The emperor spent years strengthening his military and finally assembled a grand army to launch a punitive expedition, seeking to reclaim his dignity—this was the first bird.

With the main army marching west, the capital was left vulnerable—a perfect "opportunity" for rebellion. Those with treacherous intentions would grow restless, allowing the emperor to lure the snake out of its hole—this was the second bird.

Shengde Taihou hailed from a prominent northwestern clan. For decades, her family had deeply entrenched itself in the region, with marriage alliances everywhere, often controlling northwestern military and political affairs (it was this group that actively spread news of Zhang Gu's army's defeat). The emperor secretly ordered General Bo to prioritize suppressing local forces over attacking the enemy. If Shengde Taihou's faction could not restrain themselves, it would be ideal; if they remained patient, he would seize the chance to eliminate this major northwestern threat—this was the third bird.

It was said there were a few other minor objectives, but as Madam Liu could not elaborate, Minglan naturally could not guess them either.

"The emperor is taking such a risk! If the entire army is dispatched and something goes wrong... what then...?" High stakes bring great rewards, but if the gods of fortune do not smile upon you, it's easy to lose everything, down to your last thread.

"What kind of man is our emperor? He is the true dragon, a son of heaven descended to earth..." Madam Liu once again enthusiastically sang praises of the emperor's brilliance and might before revealing the truth—the emperor had secretly ordered Zheng Da Jiangjun to act as a double agent, coordinating with Liu Zhengjie from within and without to secure the overall situation.

Military authority in the capital was divided three ways: first, Liu Zhengjie's Imperial Guards; second, the Imperial Patrols jointly commanded by Zheng Da Jiangjun and another general; and third, the Five-City Garrison Command. To stage a rebellion, one would need to sway at least one of these three forces.

Among the three commanders, apart from Zheng Da Jiangjun, the others were all humble-born generals personally promoted by the emperor. When the Prince of Rui's confidants, who were also scions of noble families, came to persuade them, Zheng Da Jiangjun pretended to agree, planning to capture them red-handed when the time came.

It must be said that Zheng Da Jiangjun carried out his task excellently—usually, steady and experienced individuals are more convincing when feigning allegiance. Up to this point, everything had proceeded smoothly.

However, it was unexpected that not only did the emperor know to plant spies in the enemy camp, but the other side also knew—and had planted two at once.On the morning of the rebellion, after the emperor had concluded his usual court session, he suddenly collapsed headfirst and fell unconscious. Empress Dowager Sheng'an and the Empress were thrown into panic, reduced to helpless weeping. As chaos engulfed the palace, Empress Dowager Shengde seized the opportunity to strike.

"It was Consort Rong who did it?!" Minglan's eyes widened like copper bells. "The emperor doted on her so much!" The emperor and empress had originally shared a harmonious marital bond, yet for Consort Rong's sake, the Empress had repeatedly clashed with him.

Lady Liu spat bitterly, "That seductive fox!" In her view, no concubine in the world was virtuous.

"My husband said Empress Dowager Shengde deceived Consort Rong, claiming that aside from the First and Second Princes, her son was the eldest. Once the emperor passed away—ptui ptui, it wasn't me who said the emperor would die, it was my husband... ahem, no, it was Empress Dowager Shengde who said it—they could pin the crime of harming the emperor on the Empress and her son, allowing the Third Prince to ascend the throne!"

"Consort Rong actually believed such nonsense?!" Minglan found it unbelievable. During past palace visits, she had thought Consort Rong quite intelligent. "Empress Dowager Shengde has her own grandson—why would she want Consort Rong's son as emperor?"

Lady Liu scoffed loudly, "What brains does that kind of seductress—who relies on her looks to serve men—have? Empress Dowager Shengde coaxed and deceived her, saying Prince Rui wasn't her biological grandson anyway—she only saw him a few times a year during festivals, so their bond was shallow. Meanwhile, the Third Prince often paid his respects to her and was deeply cherished... Besides, isn't Consort Rong at odds with the Empress? If the First Prince were to succeed, would she and her son have any future?"

Minglan fell silent. Though the Empress was benevolent, she was not one to feign virtue. Consort Rong, proud by nature and of high birth, had enjoyed the emperor's favor for years. With the Third Prince showing promise, their influence rivaled that of the two elder princes. Conflicts between the consorts often flared, sometimes requiring the Empress Dowager's mediation.

Fear and greed were the simplest, yet most effective, bait.

"What about now? Is the emperor's health restored?" Minglan knew the emperor must be safe now but couldn't suppress her lingering fear.

Lady Liu clasped her hands and bowed repeatedly toward the heavens, "Oh, merciful Buddha... Thankfully, our emperor is blessed with immense fortune. He had been working through memorials all night and felt unwell that morning—he only took two sips of his favorite butter tea... Heaven truly has eyes..."

She had already silently cursed eighteen generations of Consort Rong's ancestors, along with their illicit partners. If the emperor had fallen, military officials like Gu Tingye might have survived, but her husband, who rose from being an imperial guard and spy, would likely have faced grave danger.

Minglan also bowed silently toward the void—if anything had happened to the emperor, even if Gu Tingye had captured the Jie Barbarian chieftain's seventh uncle, his fate would have been uncertain.

Beyond the inner palace, Empress Dowager Shengde's faction had also exerted influence elsewhere, even managing to turn Teng Anguo, the deputy commander of the Five-City Garrison.

Minglan blinked, recalling a man nearing fifty with a sinister gaze. She wondered aloud, "I remember this Commander Teng... wasn't he from the emperor's former residence?"Lady Liu spat in disdain, "That's the man! Speaking of which, he's known the Emperor longer than most others. Though he lacks real capability, he loves flaunting his seniority. That year at the Emperor's thirtieth birthday banquet, when His Majesty jokingly referred to his father and the imperial uncle's faction as the 'Five Tigers', this fellow actually threw a drunken fit! After entering the capital, he even complained that the Emperor didn't value him enough! It's only because our Emperor is magnanimous that anyone tolerates him at all!"

Minglan sighed silently to herself.

With Shen, Gu, and Duan - all young and vigorous - continuously achieving military merits, Teng Anguo, who already harbored resentment, saw his chances for advancement diminishing further. It was inevitable he would develop the notion of "staking everything on one throw".

After colluding with the rebels, Teng Anguo exploited his official position to gradually allow many rebels disguised as martial artists to enter the city. Before long, Liu Zhengjie detected something amiss and went to confront Dou Laoxi, the Commander of the Five City Military and Horse Command.

Just as Old Dou Xi uncovered the truth, he was assassinated on his way home. To prevent Liu Zhengjie from discovering the plot, the rebels had to act immediately, and in a ruthless move, they decided to eliminate Liu Zhengjie as well.

Thus, with Consort Rong inside the palace and Teng Anguo outside, the newly "defected" Zheng Da Jiangjun was left dumbfounded.

—Darling, wasn’t it supposed to be a coordinated inside-outside operation to catch them all?

Fortunately, the emperor had made thorough preparations in advance. With Zheng Jun’s alertness, strategic mind, and decisive actions, he turned the tables at the critical moment, capturing Shengde Taihou and Prince Rui and his son first. Then, joining forces with Liu Zhengjie, they crushed the rebels, who had lost their leadership.

"Heavens be praised, it’s finally peaceful outside! My husband lifted the curfew early this morning." Lady Liu did not forget to boast about her husband’s achievements and added, "Sister, you can set your mind at ease. My husband said that an urgent message arrived last night—the Duke of Ying’s army is completely unharmed and even crushed the enemy’s golden tent! They are now rushing back to the capital to quell the rebellion. My husband said it’s called… what enemy…"

"Luring the enemy," Minglan said calmly. For some reason, she seemed to have known all along.

Lady Liu slapped her thigh and laughed, "Yes! That’s it—luring the enemy."

Earlier, to make the deception convincing, when news spread of Zhang Gu’s army suffering a crushing defeat due to reckless advance, the emperor, though aware it was part of the planned ruse, had to suppress his knowledge. He put on a stern, "imperially enraged" face.

His acting was superb—the entire court was deceived. Because of this, Shengde Taihou grew even more confident in her actions.

Seeing Minglan’s calm expression, Lady Liu grew somewhat concerned. She clearly remembered the first time she saw Minglan—fresh and lovely as ripe fruit, carefree like a child. But now? The pregnant woman before her was nearing her due date, pale and thin, with a faint, unspoken weariness etched between her brows.

"Sister, don’t hold it against your brother-in-law. Even my husband didn’t know about this beforehand—it shows how tightly the emperor kept it under wraps. My husband said it was those wretched officials in the northwest rushing to report the false defeat. Otherwise, as per usual, news from such a distance wouldn’t have spread so quickly through the city. Perhaps before you even heard the false report, the joyous news of the great victory would have arrived."

Minglan gently spread her palm inside her sleeve—it was damp and cool. Without shifting her posture, she smiled and said, "There’s nothing to resent. How could we expect our men to disclose the details of military and state affairs just to ease their wives’ minds? Sister, why don’t you tell me more about the night our marquis’ estate was attacked?"

"Oh, look at my memory!" Lady Liu laughed, patting her own forehead, then lowered her voice. "Sister, you guessed right. The ones who attacked your estate that night were indeed your Third Master!"

Minglan’s pupils dilated sharply before settling back into calmness. She feigned concern, "Sister, are you certain? Third Master is, after all, of the Gu family bloodline. How can we accuse him so gravely based solely on a few servants claiming they saw him?"

Understanding her concern, Lady Liu assured her, "You can trust my husband’s work. Before dawn the day before yesterday, didn’t he send people over? After catching up with that gang of bandits, they fought fiercely—some escaped the city, others were captured…"

"Was Third Master captured on the spot?!" Minglan gasped, covering her chest.

Lady Liu hesitated, "Well, no."

Minglan felt a flicker of disappointment but still comforted, "Then Lord Liu must have made other significant gains."Lady Liu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "After my husband conducted several interrogations, they confessed everything. The bandits said they were originally mountain bandits from outside the city and took on this job two months ago. The one who made contact with them was an old man, but the person who led them here that night was a young man. They heard their leader call him 'Third Master.' After giving a detailed description, wasn't that young man exactly your third brother? My husband immediately led men to surround your Grand Old Madam's residence. Sure enough, your third brother wasn't home, but they captured a steward surnamed Lu from the cellar. When they brought him out for identification, ha! It was exactly the old man who made contact!"

Minglan pondered for a moment before saying, "So our Third Master was only involved in robbery, not in rebellion?"

"That might not be the case," Lady Liu smiled meaningfully. "My husband said that in ordinary robbery cases, how could the timing be so precise? Just as trouble broke out at the palace, your third brother came to kill his sister-in-law and nephew."

Minglan quietly watched Lady Liu for a while, understanding everything clearly. She whispered, "Thank you, sister. I understand everything. The Marquis and Lord Liu are as close as brothers, and indeed we didn't misplace our trust."

Lady Liu thought to herself that this favor wasn't given in vain, and smiled as she picked up her teacup to drink.

Actually, according to Liu Zhengjie's estimation, Gu Tingwei had extensive connections and probably only knew some superficial information about the rebellion without actually joining the conspiracy. He had planned to wait until he confirmed the exact date before taking action. However, when the rebellion led by Shengde Taihou suddenly erupted that day, Gu Tingwei didn't have time to make proper arrangements. He had to personally bring the mountain bandits into the city and lead them to attack the Marquis residence at night.

Strictly speaking, Gu Tingwei could only be charged with murder, arson, and attempting to harm his sister-in-law and nephew - not with rebellion, which wouldn't implicate his parents and descendants. But why make such fine distinctions? Liu Zhengjie was the head of secret police, not a magistrate seeking justice.

Moreover, given Liu Zhengjie's responsibilities, he had failed to detect the unusual activities of Consort Rong's family beforehand and hadn't discovered Teng Anguo's betrayal. Although he contributed to suppressing the rebellion afterward, he was still somewhat negligent. His achievements couldn't compare to Gu Tingye's future merits.

Thinking this, Lady Liu became even more attentive to Minglan, answering every question thoroughly.

"Third Brother... has he escaped outside the city by now...?" Minglan asked hesitantly.

Lady Liu nodded, "Many rebels escaped with him. My husband says none of them will get far. Besides, his residence is now under surveillance. Ah, it's pitiful for his wife and children..." As women, their lives and fortunes weren't in their own hands.

Minglan sneered inwardly - that old witch didn't deserve pity. She was probably the mastermind behind this whole affair, with Gu Tingwei merely being her errand boy. But Madam Zhu... she had been so hopeful about the future...

The two women sat facing each other, sighing together for different reasons.

After a long while, Minglan vaguely remembered there was still something unclear. "...Oh, that's right. Yesterday the Zheng family reported that both their old master and old mistress had passed away. This... sister, do you know why...?"She had merely asked casually, not expecting an answer, but Madam Liu let out a long sigh and said with a bitter smile, "This truly is an undeserved calamity. On the day of the turmoil, rumors were flying outside that Zheng Da Jiangjun was plotting a rebellion, and the stories were so vivid that even our household couldn’t keep them hidden. Old Master Zheng, who had always been loyal and upright, was so enraged that he choked on his phlegm and passed away on the spot! The old lady was heartbroken for two days, fainting from weeping several times. Then, yesterday morning, after Zheng Da Jiangjun rushed home to explain the truth, the old lady was so overjoyed she went mad, and before she could catch her breath... she followed him..."

Minglan’s mouth hung half-open, stunned beyond words.

Her father had died of sheer anger, her mother of sheer joy—such abrupt shifts from grief to elation were too much for the elderly to bear. In this ordeal, Zheng Da Jiangjun had lost both his parents, yet he had seamlessly transitioned from being the emperor’s trusted in-law to becoming his top confidant.

—Well, well, what a bloody path to officialdom! It’s a gamble with one’s life!

Madam Liu’s visit was like a timely rain, both clearing up doubts and easing her heart.

Perhaps due to excessive worry lately, Minglan felt unwell all over. Her feet were swollen like steamed buns, her face puffy as if she had been slapped twice, and faint blue veins bulged on her neck, as though someone were choking her.

Feeling her protruding bones, Cui Mama sighed mournfully—all those years of painstaking feeding, gone overnight, as if they had returned to square one.

Minglan guiltily stroked her belly. She remembered when she was pregnant with Tuan Ge’er, even when she could barely walk, she had been radiant and full of energy. This time, however, she had ended up like this... Pressing her palm against her abdomen, she felt the steady, powerful movements of the fetus—slow but rhythmic, like an eighty-year-old grandfather pacing. She smiled, "This child will surely be a slowpoke."

Cui Mama didn’t reply. She stared at Minglan’s belly, counting the days on her fingers.

In fact, Minglan had already reached her due date, but experienced midwives said the bulge hadn’t descended, and the fetus hadn’t dropped into the pelvis. After Doctor Zhang examined her, he said it would likely take another seven or eight days, at most ten, or even eleven or twelve—nearly earning him a beating from Cui Mama—though he was only speaking the truth.

(Doctor Lin once said: From the day physicians are born into this world, every pore of theirs oozes medical skill and eloquence.)

A slight delay in the due date was normal, and Minglan wasn’t anxious. She simply rested peacefully to nurture the fetus, obediently following Cui Mama’s instructions and striving to return to a routine of eating and sleeping.

After the curfew outside was lifted, relatives and friends came to visit Minglan one after another, taking the opportunity to gaze at the door and stone steps still stained with dark red blood. The first to arrive was actually Father Sheng!

Minglan was startled, and Sheng Hong was equally taken aback. Ever since his youngest daughter had entered the Longevity and Peace Hall, she had been plump and fair-skinned for years. Seeing her suddenly sallow and emaciated, he couldn’t help but say, "I always said that marrying a military official would bring inconveniences—it’s not as good as marrying a scholar. But your mother was so overjoyed she forgot herself and agreed without a second thought!"

Minglan stared blankly, "When did you say that, Father?" She had never heard of it.

Sheng Hong seemed to realize his slip of the tongue. He cleared his throat and stammered, "...Back then... when they came to propose to Rulan... ahem..."

Minglan suddenly understood—it was when Gu Tingye had come to the Sheng family to deceive them... no, to propose.

Thinking this, she glanced sideways at Sheng Hong, musing to herself, Cut the act. You were actually quite pleased back then too, but you’re just more reserved than Madam Wang, with greater self-control.Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, Tuan Ge'er was old enough to run errands. Father Sheng's temples had turned gray, and Minglan suddenly found herself holding no more grudges. She flashed two rows of pearly white teeth, waving a small handkerchief as she bid farewell to Father Sheng, who was putting on a stern facade.

Well, this extraordinary father of hers might have been unreliable in many ways—having forgotten his lawful mother for his new family, his first wife for a mistress, and later his "true love" for his career prospects... but she had put up with him for over a decade now, so she might as well make do.

After seeing her father off in the morning, her elder sister arrived in the afternoon.

Brother-in-law Yuan personally escorted her. Hualan, not yet showing her pregnancy, walked gracefully into the room. The moment she saw Minglan, her eyes reddened. Leaning against the doorframe, she lamented, "You little troublemaker, why do you look like this? If Old Madam were to see you, she would be heartbroken!"

Minglan swayed, nearly toppling over on the kang. Such coquettish weeping and wailing was something even her elder sister had never displayed in her youth; Minglan found it hard to adjust to.

Since becoming pregnant with this child, Hualan had grown increasingly sentimental. She would choke up at the sight of withering flowers, tear up at fledglings leaving their nest, and even feel sorrowful when the wind blew a few fallen leaves. To make matters worse, Brother-in-law Yuan now indulged her whims, and the couple seemed to revel in their own nauseatingly sweet antics.

"Isn't Elder Brother-in-law busy with work outside?" Minglan asked, puzzled.

Hualan pouted. "I wanted to come see you, and he was worried, so he asked for half a day off."

"At a time like this! Every corner of the capital is short-handed, and you... you..." Minglan was exasperated. "You two are just asking for trouble!"

As it turned out, while everyone else suffered misfortunes during the recent turmoil, Brother-in-law Yuan's luck had taken a turn for the better.

Though he held a mid-level position in the Five-City Garrison Command, he had not been bribed. Teng Anguo had been considering whether to eliminate him in advance when, coincidentally, Brother-in-law Yuan requested leave to travel beyond the pass, citing his horse farm business. Teng Anguo was overjoyed and immediately approved the leave.

Upon returning home, Brother-in-law Yuan learned that Hualan was pregnant. Overjoyed and refusing to leave her side, he stayed home to accompany his wife. As a result, he happened to be in the capital during the upheaval—leading a group of young men, he suddenly charged out and managed to achieve no small feat of merit.

Equally fortunate was Mo Lan's husband. As an official in mourning for his father's passing, he was completely unaffected by the turmoil. He even led his household guards to help neighbors fend off looters—the neighbors of Yongchang Marquis Estate were all wealthy or noble, and Liang Han received widespread praise for his actions.

"After this, the Five-City Garrison Command will surely undergo a thorough reorganization. Your brother-in-law says Fourth Sister's husband might have a chance to rise," Hualan said leisurely as she peeled a candied fruit wrapped in bamboo leaves. "Ah, if only Mo Lan were sensible and lived properly, her future might not be so bleak."

After chatting, Hualan urged Minglan to take good care of herself during her pregnancy. Having fulfilled her role as the elder sister, Hualan returned home satisfied.

Over the next two days, the First Wife of Gu Tingxuan, Second Wife Di, and even Kang Yun'er came to visit. None of them mentioned the Grand Old Madam. The wives of the Duan, Zhong, and Geng families arrived together, each carrying large bundles of abalone and ginseng. Their gratitude was palpable as they repeatedly praised Minglan for not forgetting them during the chaos, proof of her kindness.

Among them, Mrs. Geng was particularly emotional. Clutching Minglan's hand, she exclaimed, "Younger Sister, you are trustworthy! Next time, I will believe every word you say. Otherwise, I wouldn't have suffered so much!"

Mrs. Zhong feigned a cough and nudged her lightly. "What next time? From now on, the world will be at peace."

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Mrs. Geng refused to back down. "You're overthinking it. I was talking about other matters, like renovating the residence or dealing with people. From now on, I'll trust Younger Sister in everything."Seeing the two of them like this, Madam Duan shook her head and laughed: "You two! Having endured such hardships together and shared adversity, yet you still bicker endlessly. I wonder if you'll still be quarreling when you become grandmothers and great-grandmothers!"

Minglan found this amusing, and all four burst into laughter together—though none of the three would speak of what hardships they had endured in the palace these past few days.

By the ninth day after the upheaval, Liu Zhengjie had finally purged the entire capital, even clearing out the dregs hidden in the remote corners—some were executed, some captured, and most were driven out of the city, where Zheng Jun, lying in ambush outside the city gates, herded them eastward.

The rebels thought that, after all, the Capital Garrison shouldn't be away for too long, so they gathered with the scattered bandits also labeled as traitors—over a thousand in total—at Luoshan Slope thirty li east of the city, intending to rest briefly. Unexpectedly, a fierce cavalry suddenly charged out, blocking the valley entrance. In an instant, the sky filled with flaming arrows, and the ground became a sea of blood.

As dusk fell, Minglan sat at the dining table, leisurely sipping chicken soup.

Across half the capital, thirty li away in the suburban slopes, the earth-shaking cries of battle from Luoshan Slope seemed audible. Thick smoke billowed in the distance, with golden-red flames proudly flickering within. The darker the sky grew, the brighter the flames burned, like celestial beings from legends, clad in battle armor, descending upon clouds of smoke and thunder to vanquish demons.

The watchman's clappers sounded at the hour of Hai. Having slept too much during the day, Minglan felt no drowsiness now. Swinging a large palm-leaf fan, she sat beneath the corridor gazing up at the vast starry sky. The leaves carried an ancient fragrance that subtly drifted to her nostrils. Flickering fireflies trembled and fluttered under the eaves, while moths gently beat their wings against crystal lamp shades, making a sound like pages turning.

Drowsiness gradually washed over her. Just as she thought to rise and return to her room, Minglan suddenly heard a commotion in the garden—seemingly joyful exclamations. Before she could react, she saw a tall, dark figure standing at the far end of the courtyard.

The figure paused, then stepped forward. A dark red cloak stretched across broad shoulders, revealing golden, ferocious beasts on both sides—two tiger heads with gaping mouths and sharp, predatory fangs.

Through the lush foliage, sparse moonlight fell upon the man's face and body. Thick crimson stains congealed on his dark golden armor. A dense, full beard covered most of his face, leaving only a pair of dark eyes that remained as bright and intense as ever.

Minglan felt her throat go dry, her heart racing. Her palm gripping the fan handle grew clammy. Having missed him for so long, she had forgotten her original feelings. She couldn't hear what Xiaotao and Lüzhi were saying beside her, standing motionless and staring fixedly at him.

The bearded man slowly approached, his voice hoarse as the first word cracked: "...I... I'm back..."

Like distant war drums, low and resonant, carrying thrilling news from afar. In the cool, fragrant courtyard, the fluttering of moth wings and the dripping of dew from leaf tips went unheard by Minglan. Suddenly, she couldn't tell whether she was dreaming or awake.

Had she fallen asleep under the corridor earlier, and this was all just a dream...

The bearded man strode forward and embraced her tightly. The overwhelming scent of blood and dust, the painful grip on her shoulders and arms, finally made her realize this was real. Dazedly, she reached to touch his face: "Oh, you're back." Her throat felt blocked—a thousand words swelled within her, yet she could say nothing.

After holding her for a long time, he cupped her face and asked, "What did you want to say?"Minglan stood dazed: "Was the battle won? No punishment fell upon us, right?"

The bearded man grinned widely: "All won. I led a cavalry unit back overnight, Old Duke Zhang is still bringing up the rear with the main forces. We've got captives, heads, and even the Jie Barbarian Chanyu's golden tiger-head tent!"

Minglan wanted to laugh, yet also to cry, standing frozen in place like a schoolchild suddenly called upon by the teacher, wearing a completely dumbstruck expression.

The bearded man embraced her and sat with her under the corridor, stroking her dry, yellowish and cracked hair, saying pityingly: "...You've become ugly."

Minglan immediately snapped out of it, pounding his shoulder hard, retorting fiercely: "You don't look any better - just like a demon yourself!"

After more than half a year of rough living, endless campaigns and slaughter, several days and nights of frantic riding, followed by a fierce battle, the bearded man had also become extremely thin and haggard. His cheekbones stood high, his eyes were sunken deep, and combined with his dark complexion, he truly bore some resemblance to a ferocious demon - quite well-matched with the withered, sallow Minglan.

Husband and wife sat facing each other, with so much to say that for a moment they couldn't think what to speak of first.

The bearded man's eyes roamed over Minglan repeatedly, from her face, her body, to her huge belly. "...I was so afraid..." Afraid something might happen to her, afraid she might fall ill, afraid she'd worry too much... "About the news of military defeat, I should have told you earlier, to spare you anxiety."

Saying she didn't mind would be false, but what could be done? "You were right not to tell me." After a pause, she continued, "You've heard about Zheng Da Jiangjun's affair, haven't you? Old Master Zheng and his wife both passed away within three days."

The bearded man sighed: "What a pity. Brother Zheng was always so filial... He led troops out of the city for an ambush wearing mourning clothes."

Minglan was silent for a while before saying: "If the ruler is not discreet, he loses the state; if the minister is not discreet, he loses his life. I understand this principle."

In terms of closeness, the Zheng father and son were flesh and blood, decades of paternal kindness and filial devotion; in terms of loyalty, Old General Zheng was utterly devoted and iron-willed; not to mention Lady Zheng, who had lived her entire life avoiding conflict. Even so, what couldn't be said, simply couldn't be said.

This was a rule written in blood.

As family, all they could do was trust and remain strong.

"Besides, Old Lady Bo once said: for military families, if the man really dies in battle, there's no need to seek death or make a fuss - just raise the children to adulthood." Minglan's tone was heavy.

The bearded man nodded without hesitation: "That's true enough. But..." he couldn't help adding, "don't learn everything from Old Lady Bo."

"Why not?" She deeply felt that Old Lady Bo was a remarkable woman of her generation, miraculously avoiding disaster every time.

"When Marshal Bo was young, he had no family or support. A scholarly family happened to receive great kindness from him; so when Marshal Bo sought to marry their daughter, they couldn't well refuse. But the girl wasn't willing, waiting every day to become a widow and remarry. The Marshal said that, just for this reason, he had to outlive his wife!"

Minglan laughed at this: "Nonsense! I heard Marshal Bo was also from a distinguished family, just that his family had fallen on hard times."

The bearded man wore an expression of 'successful people always have various wonderful speculations about their backgrounds', smiling as he said: "Don't believe that nonsense! Marshal Bo's hometown was in some unknown mountain valley, and he didn't even have a proper name since childhood. When he was promoted to junior officer, he hastily found a blind fortune-teller to give him a new name overnight."

"Then, what was Marshal Bo's original name?"

The bearded man said: "I heard from the old master when I was young - it seemed to contain the character 'dog'. Not sure whether it was Second Dog, or Dog Leftover, or maybe Dog Egg or something..."Minglan laughed so hard she doubled over. Hu Zi held her close against his chest, one hand firmly enveloping hers while the other gently stroked her hair. The vast, quiet courtyard suddenly felt warm and delightful.

The tranquility lasted only a moment before a child’s cry came from the side chamber. The couple snapped back to reality. Minglan touched the golden tiger head emblem on Hu Zi’s shoulder and said with a smile, “Tuan Ge’er knows his father is back. Change your clothes first, then go see him.”

“No need to change. Military commanders are forbidden to enter the capital without an imperial decree—I sneaked into the city. Let me hold my son first, then I must hurry back…”

Minglan didn't catch the rest of his words, her ears ringing. After a long pause, she finally shrieked, "You entered the city without permission! Are you out of your mind? If you were worried about your wife and child, you could've just sent a message! Why come yourself? Do you realize the penalty for entering the capital without an imperial decree? Do you think those censors are just for decoration? Your father-in-law no longer serves in the Censorate - there's no one to protect you now! You big fool! And you're still staring - what are you looking at?!"

The bearded man laughed heartily. Just then, Cui Mama emerged carrying Tuan Ge'er. The bearded man scooped up the chubby toddler, planted several loud kisses on his cheeks, then handed him back to Cui Mama before turning to leave with long strides. Before going, he casually pinched his wife's cheek.

Furious, Minglan threw her fan at him, stamping her feet as she shouted, "You utter idiot! Go back and properly write your petition for forgiveness! Make sure the Emperor pardons you! I've no interest in delivering prison meals!"

His response came as a series of hearty laughs echoing from outside the courtyard, so bright and cheerful it seemed to transform the quiet night into a spring day full of blooming flowers.

After fuming for what felt like ages, Minglan suddenly realized she was standing with hands on hips and belly thrust forward, scolding like a classic 'teapot' pose. The sleepy-eyed toddler stared blankly at his mother, as if astonished - Minglan couldn't help covering her mouth with a light laugh.

...

News of the bearded man's nighttime visit spread throughout the entire marquis estate before dawn. Maids, matrons, servants, and stewards all seemed to regain their backbone, everyone bustling with energy as they rose early to sweep courtyards and tend gardens, filling the estate with diligent activity.

Minglan, however, felt somewhat lethargic, her body heavy and spirit low.

By noon, the Grand Secretary of the Wuying Palace personally went beyond the city walls to deliver the imperial decree, allowing the five hundred light cavalry who had suppressed the rebellion to enter the city in orderly fashion.

Because the bearded man hadn't shaved, despite riding at the front of the procession, none of the young maidens or married women along the streets paid him any attention, instead showering the handsome young officers behind him with embroidered pouches and flowers.

Even Lao Geng received several, and was quite pleased until he accidentally spotted his own steward in the crowd staring intently. Breaking into a cold sweat, he hastily handed all his pouches and treats to his deputy the moment they dismounted at the palace gates.

In the golden hall followed the customary awards and encouragement, along with tedious formalities, then state affairs discussion... By the time the bearded man returned home, darkness had fallen.

As he dismounted, Steward Liu came running up, craning his neck anxiously, "Marquis, please hurry inside! The Lady is going into labor!"

The bearded man's heart clenched. Pulling the reins, he remounted immediately, making his horse rear up before kicking open the main gate. To everyone's astonishment, he galloped straight through, dismounting only when he reached Jiaxi Residence. Throwing the reins aside, he took the steps two at a time rushing inside.

He found the main residence surrounded by people, all craning their necks awaiting news. Inside, Cuiwei had cleared out unnecessary personnel, with only a few matrons and maids moving back and forth in orderly fashion, carrying hot water and white cloths.

The bearded man wanted to charge straight into the room, but was stopped in the courtyard by a group of elderly women citing various rules and taboos. Being someone who valued propriety and etiquette, he didn't force his way through. But restless and anxious, he paced in circles, frustrated at his helplessness. Just as his temper was rising, he spotted a simple-minded youth peeking from behind some bushes. He strode over and grabbed him, demanding, "You brat, what are you doing here? Hmm... what's that in your hand?"Shi Xiaodi hugged a long stool, trying to hide it, and stammered in a daze: "Hehe... hehe, this... oh, I was afraid the Marquis might be tired, so I brought you a stool to sit on!" In truth, that wasn't the case; but he greatly admired his own quick wit.

Unexpectedly, Gu Quan, who was standing nearby, laughed: "Brother Stone, stop fooling around. This is for Sister Xiaotao, isn't it!"

Shi Qiang's face burned, but fortunately, he was dark-skinned, so it wasn't noticeable. He had braced himself for a scolding, but instead, Huzi looked him up and down, suddenly patted his shoulder, and smiled: "You've learned to care for your wife, hmm? You'll go far in the future!"

Before he could rejoice, Huzi suddenly added: "Starting from now, if the lady gives birth within one hour, your wedding will be held this year. If it takes two hours, then next year. Three hours, the year after. Kid, you can figure out the rest!"

Shi Xiaodi was dumbfounded. He remembered when his sister-in-law gave birth to his little niece—it took a full day and night. Only two hours had passed so far, and this... wuwu, he didn't want to wait seven or eight years to get married!

Seeing the young man terrified and pale-faced, Huzi smugly withdrew his hand—hmm, he felt much better inside.

Intermittent, low groans of pain came from the room. Huzi paced around the courtyard with his hands behind his back, circling until Shi Xiaodi felt dizzy and the world seemed to spin. After about two or three hundred laps, cheers finally erupted from the room, followed by the faint cry of a baby. Cui Mama emerged, wiping her hands, beaming: "She's given birth! The lady has given birth! It's another boy!"

Shi Qiang clutched the stool tightly, nearly weeping with joy. Cui Mama gave him a strange look, thinking to herself that this boy seemed more excited than the actual family members.

The baby was pink and delicate, and though held by his bandit-like father, he showed no fear. He calmly glanced at Huzi a few times, then calmly tilted his head and fell asleep. Since he was born just as the family was reunited, he was given the nickname 'A-Yuan,' making a perfect pair with his older brother.

Huzi was overjoyed, praising his son's slender fingers one moment—saying he was sure to be scholarly—and the next, remarking how much he resembled his mother, predicting he would grow up to be elegant and handsome, someday claiming the title of the capital's most handsome man! Haha, haha...

Minglan, exhausted and drenched in sweat, lay resting. Hearing this, she rolled her eyes in annoyance and threw a pillow at him with all her might—P.S., the title of the capital's most handsome man was still held by a certain married man surnamed Qi.

Huzi deftly caught the pillow, chuckled, and sat by the bedside, kissing his wife and then his son, his heart full of contentment and joy. He suddenly sighed: "If the Emperor asked me to retire now, I'd agree without hesitation."

In the following days, Huzi was so busy he hardly saw his wife and son while they were awake.

The expeditionary army was still out there, not to mention the recent suppression of the rebellion. There were countless collaborators and fugitives lurking in the shadows, along with the matter of how to deal with Shengde Taihou and the Prince of Rui and his mother... Discussions on capturing the remaining rebels, confiscating properties, arrests, joint trials by the three judicial departments, determining charges, and deploying defenses in the capital—all these messy tasks piled up. Huzi left at the crow of the rooster and returned at the meow of the cat, without even time to shave.

After three or four days of this, on the fifth day, the Emperor finally had a conscience and allowed Zheng Da Jiangjun to return home for mourning. Several other high-ranking officials were also given half a day off—though in shifts.After the Zheng family had set up the mourning hall, it was pitiful that neither son could keep vigil before their deceased parents. Fortunately, the eldest son had many children who managed to uphold the formalities—though truth be told, even without children keeping watch, the endless stream of daily mourners made the scene as bustling as a marketplace. Coupled with the imperial decree for a grand funeral, it was clear the Zheng family was thriving.

After First Wife of Gu Tingxuan visited, she vividly described the situation to Minglan to alleviate the boredom of her postpartum confinement. At the end, she hesitantly mentioned something—after the fierce battle on the hillside that day, when counting heads for merits, Gu Tingwei’s body was pulled from the pile of corpses. It was said he had died in the first volley of arrows. When his body was returned to the residence, Grand Old Madam fainted on the spot and, upon waking, found half her body paralyzed.

Minglan had no desire to dwell on it and said indifferently, "Young General Bo Xi comes from a family of military tradition. The arrow formation he led was naturally peerless in its ferocity." For someone who had openly tried to harm her and her child, she couldn’t care less about his fate.

First Wife of Gu Tingxuan smiled and said no more. In her view, the noble ladies visiting Minglan and her child were no fewer than those paying respects at the Zheng family’s mourning, proving Gu Tingye was currently highly favored by the emperor. As for Gu Tingwei, daring to gather bandits to kill and burn at the marquis’s estate was not just audacious—it was madness. Only a fool would speak up for his family!

The next day, it was finally Hu Zi’s day off. At noon, he ate with Minglan on the heated kang. The kang table was set with a plate of stir-fried Chinese broccoli, a dish of honey-glazed rosy goose breast, a fresh steamed perch, and a large bowl of lotus leaf and mushroom chicken soup.

Hu Zi ate voraciously, only putting down his chopsticks when eighty percent full. He sighed softly, "You know, this is actually the first meal we’ve shared since I returned." He was melancholic and sentimental.

Minglan stared at his face. "When are you going to shave that beard off?"

"All this time, you’ve been eating alone, haven’t you?" he continued wistfully.

"Is there soup dripping from your beard? Do you need a napkin?"

Hu Zi grew displeased and glared. "Can’t you just talk properly?"

"Fine, fine, I’ll talk... But what is there to say?" Minglan bit her chopsticks, thinking for a long moment. "With this big belly of mine, I can’t go out for spring outings, drink wine, or watch operas. I’m even afraid to visit temples for fear of crowds... Every day it’s just eating, sleeping, managing accounts, and looking after the children. Day in, day out, what’s there to talk about? You’ve been gone for half a year—wouldn’t stories of marching and battles be far more exciting than the trivialities at home? Why don’t you tell me, and I’ll listen?"

Somehow, these words acted like a sluice gate, abruptly shutting down Hu Zi’s enthusiasm for conversation. He fell silent for a long time before speaking flatly, "There’s something I should have told you earlier, but I never found the time... Man Niang and her son..."

He paused, and Minglan’s heart tightened. "They found their way to my troops."

Minglan swallowed a mouthful of rice with difficulty. "Well, what happened then?" This guy was truly infuriating, telling half the story and leaving the rest—utterly lacking the basic skills of storytelling.

Just as Hu Zi was about to speak, Gu Quan’s respectful voice came from outside: "Reporting to the Marquis, Lord Geng has arrived and is waiting at the gatehouse. Will you go now, or shall we ask Lord Geng to wait a while?"The emperor's leave wasn't granted without purpose, as one important itinerary was to pay respects at the Zheng family's memorial ceremony. Thus, Gu Tingye and Lao Geng, who had the same day off, agreed to go together. After a brief contemplation, Gu Tingye looked at Minglan and said, "We shouldn't keep Lao Geng waiting. His family has a lot to deal with too. Let's go early and return soon. In the evening, we'll call Rong girl over and have a family meal together."

"Oh, alright then..." Minglan drooped her ears, pouting reluctantly. Having her curiosity piqued only to be left hanging was unbearably frustrating.

Gu Tingye rolled off the kang, straightened his clothes, and turned to see her dejected expression. Amused, he gently touched her ear. "It's nothing major, not really connected to our daily life. If you can't wait to know, I'll have Xie Ang come and tell you about it."

Minglan hesitated briefly before nodding firmly. Who knew when he would return? Was she supposed to be kept in suspense all afternoon? Since he dared to let an outsider speak of it, she dared to listen!

After Gu Tingye left, Xiahe and Xiaotao worked together to clear the dining table, replacing it with a slightly worn small kang table with ruyi and diamond-shaped edges. Xiahe brought in several sun-warmed cushions from outside, tucking them behind Minglan, instantly bringing warm comfort to her lower back. She then directed two older women to move a two-paneled "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" gauze screen to the center of the room.

Just as the girls finished tidying up, Lüzhi led in Xie Ang, the Marquis Gu's personal guard and squad leader.

Xie Ang had followed Gu Tingye for many years and had seen life-and-death battles, yet now he blushed, wringing his hands, looking like a newlywed bride. He bowed to Minglan through the screen, and Lüzhi brought him a stool to sit on. The tall, sturdy young man only dared to perch on half of it, his posture remarkably delicate and reserved.

"Young Xie, don't be restrained. You've been with the Marquis for so long, you're like family," Minglan said, softening her voice in an attempt to put him at ease.

"N-no, I wouldn't dare... how could I... presume to be family?" Xie Ang didn't even dare to lift his head. Though the screen blocked his view entirely, he stubbornly kept his eyes fixed on his own toes.

Minglan continued, "The Marquis told me he'll arrange a better position for you in a couple of years. Once you start a family and establish yourself, things will be fine."

"No, no, that's not necessary... My mother said I should stay with the Marquis a few more years... It's fine as it is, really," Xie Ang declined while inwardly lamenting why the Marquis had assigned him such an awkward task—discussing the mistress and the Marquis's former mistress. What a delicate topic!

After a few more gentle attempts to ease the tension, Minglan finally gave up when Xie Ang remained shy and hesitant. "The Marquis is very busy and asked you to tell me about it. Please go ahead."

Xie Ang looked bewildered. "Tell? Ah! Oh... that matter..." His mind was in a whirl. "Well... where should I start..."

A calm voice came from behind the screen. "Start from when you saw Man Niang. The Marquis said you were the first to discover her and her son."

Xie Ang sighed. "It wasn't really a discovery, more like..." He paused, as if searching for the right words."That was shortly after we recaptured West Liao City. We'd spent the previous period crouching in the marshlands, playing the coward for over half a month, finally luring out the Chanyu's main force just before our provisions ran out. After a bloody battle, we achieved a great victory, but suffered significant casualties, so we went to West Liao City to recuperate. One day, Young General Bo from the Divine Arrow Battalion suddenly came to find me, saying that while helping distribute food to famine victims at the northern city's earthen kilns, he encountered a woman with a seriously ill child who claimed to be our Marquis' family member, describing everything in vivid detail..."

Xie Ang swallowed hard, wanting to gauge the mistress's expression, but only saw Lü Dongbin on the screen smugly stroking his beard, while He Xiangu's gaze remained provocatively seductive. He had no choice but to continue: "I was startled and rushed over to see, only to discover it was Sister Man Niang... uh, I'd known her since our Jianghuai days..."

Back then, Man Niang had everywhere presented herself as Madam Gu, deliberately befriending Che San Niang and her husband among others, and had very proactively inquired after all the young brothers' wellbeing with excessive concern. He too had joined others in jokingly calling her 'sister-in-law' - recalling these past events made Xie Ang even more uneasy, and he again tried to read the mistress's expression.

Yet Lü Dongbin remained stroking his beard, and He Xiangu continued her seductive gaze.

"I didn't dare make decisions on my own, so I hurried back to report to the Marquis. When the Marquis went to see, he didn't say anything, just brought the mother and child back with him. Poor Chang Ge'er was already critically ill and unconscious." He sighed softly, remembering how he'd once lifted the boy overhead. "The military camp being a restricted area, it wasn't suitable to bring people in casually, so the Marquis took them to a small courtyard and first found a physician to examine Chang Ge'er."

Actually, it wasn't that simple - he omitted some details that made him uncomfortable.

After arriving at the courtyard, Gu Tingye looked extremely grim and immediately demanded: "What are you doing here?!"

Man Niang, tears welling in her eyes, replied: "Erlang, I've come to follow you in life and death! Even if we die, we should die together!" along with other similarly nauseating declarations. Unaware of the recent great victory and only relying on hearsay, she had mistakenly believed Zhang Gu's army was trapped inside West Liao City.

Fortunately, Young General Bo had already dismissed the others by then, leaving only Xie Ang and a few trusted aides in the courtyard. Later, when the brothers gathered in camp chatting—

One said: "Follow in life and death?! This is like opera! How disgusting!" Brother, you guessed right.

Another commented: "Die what die! We brothers have risked our necks, about to return to wealth and honor, and this jinx spouts such nonsense! If not for... I'd strangle her! Women should properly serve the elders and care for children at home when men go off to war, why come here to cause trouble?!"

One with some knowledge added: "I heard our deputy commander mixed in Jianghu in his youth. Young men will be romantic - probably got entangled with a woman he can't shake off!"

Another chimed in: "Look at that woman - no beauty, no figure, old enough to be my mother! Our deputy commander is so handsome, what does he see in her?!"

"Must be good in bed!? Old goods are the real fire-quenchers!"

—With risqué jokes entering the conversation, the room erupted in laughter.

With only laundresses and camp prostitutes as women in the army, and those not frequently visited, the men passed idle time gossiping about their superiors. Besides, no respectable woman would behave with Man Niang's flirtatious manner and disrespectful speech. Though the brothers meant no harm, their tone naturally carried contempt and scorn. Xie Ang found it painful to hear, secretly feeling embarrassed for Gu Tingye.He shook his head and quickly continued, "...Who would have thought Chang Ge'er was already critically ill and beyond saving. Both the army physicians and the renowned doctors in the city examined him and declared there was no hope. Gongsun Xiansheng said that in a prosperous city, there might have been a chance, but in that remote, impoverished place like Xiliao, plagued by waves of refugees, there was a severe shortage of medicine and even food was scarce... Ah..."

A soft gasp came from behind the screen, followed by the crisp clinking of a porcelain lid. A voice from within asked, "Don't tell me... Chang Ge'er... died...?"

Xie Ang replied in a low voice, "Yes. His remains have been cremated, and Gongsun Xiansheng from the rear guard will bring back the ashes for burial."

"What about Man Niang?" Minglan asked urgently.

Chang Ge'er was the only tie between Gu and Man Niang. Now that he was dead, would Man Niang let it go?

Xie Ang fell silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty, "From the moment Man Niang was brought back, the Marquis separated her from her son... He refused to let her see Chang Ge'er again, even until his death..."

Though he had been mischievous in his youth, overall, his life had been straightforward and upright. Those few days felt like a nightmare to him, and he wished he could forget them forever, yet now he had to recount every detail to his mistress.

At first, Man Niang clung desperately to the man, but the Marquis paid her no mind. He simply had her locked in a room, providing her with food, drink, and clothing. A few days later, a letter from Liu Zhengjie arrived from the capital after some delays. After reading it, the Marquis ordered the door unlocked. As soon as Man Niang emerged, she eagerly began to pour out her deep feelings and hardships. The Marquis listened in silence as she rambled on, talking until her mouth was dry and her tears flowed freely. Finally, she fell silent.

Only then did the Marquis speak, his tone calm: "Finished? Then it's my turn. I told you before that if you dared to return to the capital or harass Minglan again, I would make sure you never laid eyes on Chang Ge'er for the rest of your life. Do you remember my words?"

Man Niang, unwilling to give up, cried and pleaded, "You're still talking about her?! She's living in luxury in the capital, not caring a whit about Erlang's fate! Only I, only I have endured so much suffering and hardship to see you..."

Ignoring her, the Marquis coldly stated, "I keep my word. From this moment on, you will never see Chang Ge'er again." Then he turned and left.

Man Niang was locked back in her room and began wailing, demanding to see her son. The physician, under orders, informed her that Chang Ge'er was being kept alive with ginseng slices and had only days left. Man Niang refused to believe it, accusing the Marquis of trying to steal her son away. She cursed and raged for days without rest; when exhaustion set in, she switched to pitiful weeping and pleading. She cried incessantly, day after day, her voice growing so hoarse it seemed to bleed, driving everyone in the courtyard nearly mad...

Finally, the Marquis found time to return and ordered Man Niang released to see him.

Xie Ang could no longer recall what Man Niang had said at first, but he vividly remembered the end: her eyes bloodshot, her hair disheveled, her appearance deranged as she shrieked, "Erlang, have you really not a shred of affection left for me?"

Her voice had long been ruined by crying, yet she forced it into a shrill, theatrical tone, as if performing on stage, her words twisting with feigned grace. Paired with her gravelly, rough voice, it sounded eerily ghostly—though the weather in Xiliao was sweltering at the time, hearing those words sent an involuntary shiver down Xie Ang's spine.The Marquis showed an expression towards Man Niang for the first time—so full of aversion, weariness, and even a touch of disbelief: "How many times must I say it? From long, long ago, I have loathed you."

He sighed, "Truly, I lost all affection for you long ago. Why is it that no matter how many times I say it, you refuse to believe?"

Xie Ang, who had been rough and impulsive for half his life, for the first time detected a deep sense of helplessness beneath these words.

Man Niang stood there as if drained of all spirit, leaving only an empty shell, and she no longer wept or made a scene. A few days later, when Chang Ge'er passed away, before the cremation, the Marquis allowed Man Niang to see him one last time.

Gongsun Xiansheng had also known Man Niang for a long time. Unlike others, he had despised her from their first meeting. So he sneered on the spot: "This child was never very robust to begin with, and you dragged him on a long, arduous journey, enduring hunger and hardship. When he fell ill, he didn't receive timely treatment, and you dragged out his life until it was wasted—all thanks to you, his wonderful mother!"

Facing her son's corpse, Man Niang giggled foolishly, suddenly spouting nonsense. Half-speaking, half-singing, she alternated between weeping and laughter. Others couldn't make out her words clearly, only knowing she clung to her son's body, insisting she wanted to go home.

Minglan's fingertips trembled slightly. The warm afternoon sunlight suddenly felt icy cold, like when she'd listened to Tales of the Strange as a child - those eerie, mysterious ghosts and monsters emerging from the damp soil underground, brewing terrifying chills.

Her voice quivered: "Man Niang, she... has she gone mad...?"

Xie Ang nodded, then remembering the mistress couldn't see through the screen, quickly added: "Indeed. Gongsun Xiansheng and several physicians all say the same."

At this point, he too sighed heavily.

He came from a respectable family with modest property. After his father's early death, his widowed mother spoiled him excessively, allowing him to run wild in the streets daily, becoming utterly unruly. At fifteen, he committed a grave mistake that nearly cost him his life. After Gu Tingye saved him, he began living properly - practicing horse stances daily, hanging bricks, training with various weapons, and studying reading and writing. Gu Tingye never went easy on him; during that period he received many beatings, eventually growing into the Xie Ang who now made his widowed mother proud and relieved.

To him, Gu Tingye was half-teacher, half-master - someone he both feared and respected.

Initially, he had secretly envied Gu Tingye, thinking this elder brother was fortunate to have a beautiful companion even while wandering the martial world. But as time passed, he grew increasingly terrified - this was no beautiful companion, but rather a debt collector coming for his life!

There was one thing he had never told anyone.

Back then, there was a shy neighbor girl who wore bright red hair ribbons. With delicate features, she secretly admired Gu Tingye and often brought him clothing and shoes. Che San Niang thought her character was good, and since Gu Tingye stubbornly disliked Man Niang, planned to propose making this girl his concubine upon returning from that business trip, so she could serve him daily.

When Man Niang learned of this, she showed no displeasure. Instead, she treated the girl exceptionally well, blaming herself for failing to win Gu Tingye's affection. She moved the girl so deeply that the girl came to regard Man Niang as her own sister. One late night, for unknown reasons, the girl went to a secluded alley where she was assaulted by three or five ruffians.

The girl drowned herself in the lake the very next day, her red hair ribbons floating on the water's surface for a long time before finally sinking.

When Gu Tingye returned, no one mentioned the incident.

Only much later did Xie Ang accidentally learn the truth - it was Man Niang who had tricked the girl into going out that night.

Although Gu Tingye also moved in martial circles, eating and sleeping alongside his brothers without any airs, his solitary pride, his self-mocking sarcasm, and even certain inadvertent refined habits constantly revealed his extraordinary noble origins.

The brothers never dared to joke casually with him or act presumptuously.

Xie Ang dared even less.

He thought, since Gu Tingye had already decided to reject Man Niang anyway, he shouldn't say anything unnecessary and needlessly upset the marquis. He didn't know if others were aware of the truth, but after that incident, Che San Niang refused to have anything more to do with Man Niang.

Sighing, just as he was about to continue, he suddenly heard familiar steady footsteps behind him. He quickly stood up and bowed: "The marquis has returned."

Gu Tingye strode in smiling, waving aside the screen. "Why keep this nuisance here?" Then he sat beside Minglan, resting his chin on her shoulder intimately. "Did you nap this afternoon? Don't tell me you've been talking since I left."

Minglan forced a smile: "Younger Brother Xie tells stories quite well. I was completely captivated."

"Oh, really?" Gu Tingye appeared completely indifferent.Xie Ang felt cold sweat dripping from his forehead, as if he had returned to his teenage years, about to get beaten again.

Unexpectedly, Hu Zi actually smiled at Xie Ang: "Alright, go back and rest. We still have work to do tomorrow."

Xie Ang felt as if granted a pardon, fleeing as if his life depended on it.

The weather was gradually getting hotter. After running around outside, Hu Zi was already drenched in sweat. He hurriedly washed with two ladles of warm water in the bathing room, then changed into a clean white silk inner garment.

He embraced Minglan and sat back down. "Lao Geng's fear of his wife has gotten worse. After leaving the Zheng residence, I invited him home for tea, but he absolutely refused. He whipped his horse home as if ghosts were chasing him."

Minglan rubbed his damp hair. "How are the two Zheng sisters? They must be exhausted."

Hu Zi pinched her and glared. "How would I know about women's matters?!" Then he sighed. "But Brother Zheng... ah... has lost a full circle of weight. I heard he even vomited blood."

At this, the couple sighed together over the Zheng family's bizarre circumstances.

Hu Zi looked around. "Where are the two boys?"

"Tuan Ge'er refused to sleep and wanted to play with his sister, so Cui Mama took him. A Yuan was hungry, so the wet nurse took him."

Hu Zi frowned. "Since he was hungry, why didn't you feed him?" He still remembered when their eldest was born, Minglan had mostly breastfed him for the first two months.

Minglan twisted her handkerchief, annoyed. "This time, I don't have milk for A Yuan."

Hu Zi stroked her slightly yellowish hair ends, feeling guilty. "It's all my fault for not letting you rest properly."

Minglan sighed. "Indeed! Every family has troublesome relatives, but none have someone as formidable as our third brother. He's no less troublesome than Rong Jie'er's mother." Her husband wasn't bad, but it was a pity he came packaged with two mortal enemies.

Hu Zi's expression turned cold, then he said softly, "Earlier, what were you talking about?"

Minglan hesitated before saying, "We were talking about Chang Ge'er's death and Man Niang's madness." Then she watched his expression.

Hu Zi showed no trace of gloom or embarrassment, calmly sitting opposite Minglan. He picked up the teapot, poured tea, drank a cup himself, then said, "Actually, at that point, there wasn't much left to say. But..."

He pursed his lips. "I'll still talk about it."

Minglan straightened up, indicating she was all ears.

"This trip lasted a long time, which actually gave me peace to think things over. Old Duke Zhang always teases me, saying I used to think too little and now I think too much. But I can't help thinking. In the past, everything I did was wrong, no one believed what I said; the only one willing to believe me and listen to me properly was Man Niang... Who would have thought it was all an act." Hu Zi laughed self-mockingly and set down the teacup he had been playing with.

"Man Niang was an excellent actress. It's a shame she never performed on stage, otherwise she definitely would have become a star." Hu Zi spoke as if about a stranger, not a woman who had been entangled with him for nearly ten years.

"When I first met her, I thought she was like a clear spring - simple-minded and gentle. When I discovered her deep schemes - her pitiful background, her brother fleeing, even the Yu family... I thought she was muddy water, full of spiderwebs, filthy. Later, after Yanhong passed away, I suddenly realized she was actually poison that kills upon contact!"

Minglan secretly complained: If I hadn't exposed her, wouldn't you have happily drunk whatever water she was - clear, muddy, or poisonous?"To be honest, when I first learned her true nature, I didn't blame her much. Whether it was deceiving me for years, ruining the Yu family marriage arrangement, or inciting Yanhong to cause trouble... I felt it was all because of her deep affection for me. Frankly, though I was angry at Man Niang for deceiving me back then, there was still a faint sense of joy in my heart. After all, she wasn't after the Marquis estate—she wanted me for who I was, to become my legitimate wife."

Minglan wanted to curl her lip but restrained herself—what she liked might not be you, but rather a man who could fulfill her dreams. It could have been any capable and responsible young man from a noble family.

Unexpectedly, he continued: "Later I realized. What she was deeply attached to wasn't me at all, but her own stubbornness, her delusions."

Minglan fell silent.

"Though I didn't blame her much at the time, one thing was crystal clear in my mind. That Man Niang could deceive me for years without revealing any flaws showed how formidable she was. I understood then that she would never be content to remain subordinate. Unless I married her as my wife, if she became a concubine, she would never spare the principal wife... But I never once considered making her my wife."

In his childhood, among his father's many praises was the expectation that he would marry a good wife. But what exactly made a good wife? His old father couldn't explain clearly, often lecturing in four-character phrases—family background should be clean, character upright, gentle and virtuous, dignified and proper—and it would be even better if her family could offer some support.

The little boy didn't understand the deeper meaning, but vaguely remembered these words in his young heart.

He gazed at Minglan, smiling slightly. "You once said of me, 'You appear unrestrained, but at your core you're the most rule-abiding.' At the time I was so angry I wanted to throw you back into the river. But after returning home, turning it over in my mind, I realized there was some truth to it."

Minglan reflexively shrank her neck, chuckling foolishly.

"Though timid and fragile expressions may be quite pitiable, what noble family's principal wife carries herself that way? Coming from humble origins isn't wrong, but lacking proper upbringing means one cannot interact with others in a dignified and appropriate manner. Man Niang excelled at needlework, could sing and dance, and understood some economic matters, yet her perspective was shallow. After she finished complaining, there was nothing left to say."

Even when he regarded Man Niang as a clear spring, he never considered her suitable to be his wife.

Phrases like 'If a minister is not discreet, he loses his life'—not only could Man Niang not utter them, even if she memorized them by force, she likely couldn't grasp their deeper meaning. When he shared court observations and social interactions with Minglan, not only could she understand, she could critique them insightfully.

...He had only pitied her background, admired her integrity, liked her gentle comfort, wanted to care for her and give her a worry-free life—that was all. In the end, her background, integrity, gentleness—all turned out to be fake.

"You're different." He looked at Minglan, his gaze gentle and warm. "We always have endless things to talk about."

Minglan met his eyes, smiling quietly. "...Yes, we always have endless things to talk about." Sister Bao is wonderful, perfect in every way, yet Bao Yu prefers Sister Lin. At its core, it's simply because their temperaments align, and they have endless conversations."But when all is said and done, it's simply Gu the Second Son from a noble household looking down on Man Niang, who came from an opera background. She probably saw through this long ago, which is why she repeatedly urged and provoked me to abandon my family and stand on my own." The bearded man mocked himself lightly.

"In those early days after leaving home, I was both frustrated and disheartened. In my weakest moments, I even thought: since I've already become a low-class wanderer in the jianghu, what right do I have to look down on others? I might as well settle down with Man Niang, especially since we already had two children. But... who would have thought..." He gently rubbed his temples, dark veins bulging on the back of his hand.

"Who would have thought Yanhong would die," Minglan calmly finished for him.

The bearded man lowered his hand, his gaze resolute. "...Yes. Yanhong died. That also ended any lingering thoughts I had about Man Niang."

"I wasn't the man Yanhong wanted to marry, and she wasn't the woman I wanted to marry. During those few short months, her behavior certainly didn't make her a good wife, but I wasn't a good husband either. Yet after leaving home, I still felt I had wronged her."

He reached over to adjust Minglan's thin blanket. "I had thought that if she didn't want to continue our marriage, I would agree to a divorce and let her remarry properly. I would bear all the blame and criticism - my reputation was already ruined anyway. But in the end, I lost all desire to avenge her."

"Even if she had made mistakes due to loneliness after I'd been away for three to five years, I could have understood to some extent. But who would have thought that in just over three months, she would not only be unfaithful but also become pregnant with another man's child. She went too far in deceiving me..."

His eyebrows shot up, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "And the man who cuckolded me was actually trash like Gu Tingbing. If Lady Qin hadn't deliberately made the matter public, Yanhong would have even tried to bribe the physician to pass off that bastard child as mine."

Of course, the Grand Old Madam didn't want Yanhong to have the child, even if it was illegitimate. With the eldest son likely to die without an heir and the second son having voluntarily left home, if the second son were to leave behind a legitimate son, it would create additional complications.

As if still deeply shamed, the bearded man couldn't help adding: "To put it bluntly, among the principled men of the jianghu, if they knew their brother had suffered such humiliation, many would applaud killing both adulterers."

Minglan's lips moved slightly. She very much wanted to comment on how ancient societies handled unfaithful couples, but remembering longstanding traditions like drowning in ponds, she closed her mouth.

"After all, we were husband and wife who worshipped heaven and earth together. If there was no affection, there should at least have been righteousness. At this point, there was neither affection nor righteousness between me and Yu Yanhong. Whether she lived or died, I didn't care at all." The bearded man sighed. "But it shouldn't have been... shouldn't have been Man Niang..."

In this matter, the venom, evil, meticulousness, and ruthlessness that Man Niang displayed far exceeded his expectations of ordinary women. Just because he had shown some leniency toward his attendant while drunk, Man Niang had decided Yanhong must die.

If he could previously explain away her actions as stemming from obsessive love, this time, it finally made him completely lose heart.

When he was young, his father had taken "Records of Famous Ministers" and "Annals of Divine Martiality," explaining to him one by one the conduct and deeds of remarkable civil and military officials throughout history. "Civil officials have their principles, military officers their virtue. Only with resolute will and upright character can one resist the evil influences between heaven and earth." His earnest teachings still echoed in his ears - he absolutely would not keep a woman with such corrupted morals."Even so, I never wished for her death or any other ill fate. After all, she accompanied me through those days. Though I never want to see her again, I still hope she and her son can live well on their own, with warmth and fullness for the rest of their lives. Saying this out loud, the old duke would probably scold me for being overly sentimental again... Minglan, you...?" His gaze was urgent.

Minglan looked calmly into his eyes: "I understand, I know."

Contrary to many people's assumptions, he was actually a man who valued loyalty deeply. Because he lacked it, he cherished it all the more—even the illusion of goodness had once comforted his helpless and turbulent youth.

"What I don't understand about Man Niang is that no matter how decisively I cut ties, no matter how much I humiliated her, or how sincerely I rejected her time and again, she seemed to live in her own world, stubbornly clinging to her beliefs, insisting that I still had feelings for her."

Hu Zi was somewhat perplexed, "Does she only believe it if I break her limbs or cut off a few of her fingers?"

Sending Man Niang and her son to Mianzhou was the only chance he gave her. In truth, he had already found several suitable families. If Man Niang continued to cause trouble, he would take Chang Ge'er away completely and raise him elsewhere—having suffered the pain of growing up without a mother himself, he thought that no matter how flawed Man Niang was, she still loved her child.

Unexpectedly, before he went off to battle, Shi Keng and his wife told him about a past incident. Right then, he resolved to take Chang Ge'er away from Man Niang as soon as he returned. Yet, in the end, he was still a step too late.

"Man Niang is like a bottomless pit, impossible to fathom. I knew she could deceive, but who would have thought she dared to kill? I knew she dared to kill, but who would have imagined she could harm her own kin? Her only brother—used and discarded once he'd served her purpose. To achieve her goals, there was nothing she wouldn't do, no matter how vile or cruel."

Peeling away layer after layer of her facade revealed nothing but foulness and ugliness beneath. He was utterly bewildered, unable to believe that this woman was the same Man Niang he had once loved.

He remembered seeing Man Niang in Xiliao City, wielding a wooden stick, striking left and right among the starving refugees—fierce and precise, so that no one dared approach her and her son. Having known her for so many years, he had always thought her frail and sickly, at most capable of some flashy but useless moves. Only then did he realize her martial skills were far from mediocre.

A cold sweat broke out on him as he recalled the year Man Niang charged at his pregnant wife. At the time, he had thought it was the desperate act of a woman seeking mutual destruction. Now, it occurred to him that even if Man Niang had been holding Chang Ge'er, she could have harmed Minglan while keeping herself safe. His heart suddenly turned cold and hard.

"Meeting her was my misfortune; meeting me was even worse for her."

With the passage of time, he could now calmly offer this simple conclusion about himself and Man Niang.

Minglan straightened her stiffened back, her mind feeling numb, unsure of what to say or do. Lifting her head to look at Hu Zi's somber, tranquil face, she felt a pang of pity for him.

"That year, when I sent Man Niang and her son to Mianzhou, you blamed me..." He spoke with great difficulty, "You were right to blame me."

Minglan opened her mouth to speak, but Hu Zi raised a hand to cover it. "Let me finish first." Minglan had no choice but to remain silent and listen patiently."I don't wish to make excuses. You said I never treated you with sincerity—that's absolutely true. But I wasn't born cold-hearted. I once gave my genuine feelings to others, but what was the outcome? Deceived, bullied, wronged, with nowhere to plead my case, no one to trust... I had to break free, move forward, strip off the clothes, ornaments, and name of the Marquis Gu's second son—everything. I dug out my heart, bowed my head, and started anew, learning from scratch."

The man's voice was low and hoarse, like two rough stones grinding against each other.

"In the end, I learned. To think thrice before acting—weighing advantages and disadvantages, good and bad, right and wrong... I learned to guard against schemes and to scheme against others." He smiled bitterly. "I had to kill the former Gu Tingye to survive."

Minglan's eyes slowly welled up with warmth, her heart aching with a sour ache. A noble son of a marquis household probably didn't even know how much a bowl of noodles cost. To go out into the world with nothing—how difficult that must have been. She knew, she understood it all.

"Back then, the times were turbulent. Many were watching us closely, waiting for us to make a mistake. Lao Geng was impeached, Brother Shen was impeached, even someone as loyal and honest as Brother Duan had faults picked out of nothing. I couldn't compare to their closeness with the Emperor, so I couldn't afford to make a single mistake."

He enveloped Minglan's hand in his palm, his voice pained. "After learning that you and the child were safe, my first thought wasn't to worry about your fear or to avenge you—it was how to smoothly suppress the matter of Man Niang. You later blamed me, resented me—you were right! Someone like me actually dared to complain that you didn't treat me sincerely—I was utterly despicable!"

He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning pale and creaking.

"When something happened to grandmother, you knelt by the sickbed, crying so heartbrokenly, so openly. To seek justice for Old Madam, you threw caution to the wind—life, death, wealth, you refused to turn back even at the cost of ten thousand deaths! It was then I woke as if from a dream—I had walked so far, learned so much about gains and losses, advances and retreats, but I forgot the most important thing... I forgot how to treat people with sincerity..."

His voice was nearly torn, like old sheepskin parchment being ripped apart. As his words fell, a tear dropped. A crack appeared in the sky, light suddenly breaking through. Fate had never been a smooth road for him; crossing obstacles, trekking through dangers, looking back, he realized he had lost something precious from the past.

Minglan choked back a sob, pressing her hand over his fist. "No, it's not like that. It's my pettiness. You faced such difficulties outside, and the comfortable life I have now isn't because I'm clever, or because I have good connections, nor because I'm smooth and adept at handling people and matters. It's only because you have prestige at court that everyone flatters and praises me everywhere..."

Tears fell onto their clasped hands, scalding and intense.

"You protected me in public and private, never letting me suffer the slightest grievance—who in the capital doesn't envy me! It's my insatiability, it's me..." Minglan bit her lip, leaving deep tooth marks, tears falling in large drops. "It's my fear! I was afraid that one day you might not like me anymore—what would I do then? So I always nitpicked, calculating every gain and loss, refusing to yield an inch! I was terrified that such a dreadful day would come, and I'd be heartbroken to death!"She finally burst into sobbing, the long-suppressed secrets in her heart suddenly exposed under the sun. The reasons turned out to be so weak, so selfish, and so shameful to herself.

"I've long known your true feelings. You treat me well not merely because you want a wife who can manage the household and bear children. You genuinely love me, respect me, cheer me up, and want me to live without worries... But I pretended not to understand! Because I was afraid, I was afraid..."

Huzi clumsily wiped her tears with his sleeve: "You... don't cry, you shouldn't cry during the postpartum month..." As he spoke, a large teardrop fell from his own eyes.

Minglan cried even harder.

They held each other close, heads pressed together, bodies intertwined, tears inexplicably streaming down, soaking their collars and sleeves. Like two wronged children, they comforted and warmed one another.

Reality had long stripped them of innocence and passion, teaching them various disguises in life. Toward people and matters, they were full of vigilance and caution, treading carefully, unwilling to trust easily.

Only after crossing mountains and valleys—through suspicion, heartache, and hesitation, taking a long detour—did they finally realize that what they truly wanted had been right within reach.

—This was the last time Man Niang appeared in their conversations, in their lives.