Minglan leaned over the carriage edge and spat out the last mouthful of yellowish bile before collapsing weakly onto the soft cushions. Old Madam tenderly stroked her pale little face. Within just a few days, the perpetual baby fat that had always graced Minglan's cheeks had melted away dramatically. While Old Mrs. Sheng had never doubted her plump little granddaughter would eventually slim down, she had anticipated the outcome but not the agonizing process.
Little Minglan suffered such violent motion sickness that her vision swam with double images. She mistook Mama Fang for her grandmother and asked the carriage driver Old Zhang why Cui Mama had grown a beard. Heart aching, the old lady held Minglan throughout the journey, letting the child sleep on her lap.
After the dramatic scene at the Yu residence that day, Minglan had been immediately placed under house arrest upon returning home, supplemented with additional confinement and assigned to copy Buddhist scriptures as punishment. When Old Mrs. Sheng asked if she understood her wrongdoing, Minglan nodded honestly: "Yes, I was too conspicuous."
This copying continued until their departure. Minglan never got another chance to see Yanran. The Yu residence became tightly guarded, allowing no information to leak out. The outside world only knew Yanran had contracted a "serious illness," and the marriage arrangement with the Gu family was temporarily postponed.
Seeing her grandmother's face dark as a pot bottom, Minglan didn't dare defend herself initially. Only after they embarked on their journey, witnessing the old lady's softened attitude toward her motion sickness, did she stammer between bouts of vomiting: "...Grandmother, do you really think your granddaughter could be that foolish?"
Her former superior, the elderly judge, had once summarized years of experience sentencing people to labor camps with profound insight: Some things appear safe but are dangerous, while others seem perilous yet are actually secure.
First, she had done the deed without leaving her name. Unless the Yu servants gossiped, Man Niang wouldn't know who had chastised her after being berated for so long. Moreover, the incident brought no honor to the Yu family, who would surely suppress the matter thoroughly. Not only Minglan's performance but even Man Niang's theatrics wouldn't be leaked by the servants. Additionally, the Sheng family was preparing to relocate entirely, while Lord Yu's household intended to retire in Dengzhou. By the time they reached the capital or followed Sheng Hong to another post, it would matter even less.
Old Mrs. Sheng maintained her stern expression: "Why did you need to take the lead? Ultimately, that was the Yu family's own affair!"
This remark struck true. Minglan's thin, childish face suddenly turned pensive. After a long pause, she sighed with uncharacteristic maturity: "Born as women, we must remain cautious and proper our entire lives, leaving no room for criticism. But... what meaning is there in living like this? Every step follows rules, every word follows etiquette. From opening our eyes in the morning to lying down at night, we must constantly weigh consequences. I truly dislike living this way—it's merely enduring days like wooden puppets. I just wanted... just once in a while... to do what I wish and say what I want... Grandmother, Minglan knows she was wrong."Minglan nestled in her grandmother's embrace, her spirits exceedingly low. Rather than acting out of momentary sharpness of tongue, it was more a case of shared sorrow among kindred spirits. If even Yanran, whose grandfather was still alive and well, had a father who would sacrifice his daughter's happiness for wealth and status, what about herself? If one day her own father needed to trade his daughter's marriage for gain, would Old Mrs. Sheng stand up for her? In this world, a young woman's fate truly seemed as rootless as duckweed. Yet, for the sake of a dignified life free from want, must one sacrifice all character and principles to endure flattery and even become deceitful and cruel?
Old Mrs. Sheng also fell silent, stroking Minglan's soft, raven-feather-like loose hair. In truth, Lady Yu had later personally visited to express gratitude, praising Minglan for her urgency in helping others, calling her a person of true temperament with a chivalrous spirit. She even said that having such a sister in this lifetime was a blessing for Yanran. Old Mrs. Sheng knew the matter hadn't caused any real harm; she merely wanted to temper Minglan's nature, lest she become too sharp and wound herself in the future.
Since Minglan had admitted her fault, accepted punishment, and shown good attitude toward reform, Old Mrs. Sheng lifted the information embargo:
Yanran's marriage had taken many twists and turns. Lord Yu had long suffered from phlegm-related ailments. After the big scene that day, he coughed up a clot of blood mixed with thick phlegm, which unexpectedly proved a blessing in disguise by clearing his meridians. Upon recovery, Lord Yu swiftly returned to work and with lightning speed arranged a new marriage for Yanran with an old friend's family. The match wasn't particularly good (compared to Hualan's) nor particularly bad (compared to marrying Gu the Second).
The in-laws lived far away in Dali, Yunnan - the prominent Duan family's umpteenth legitimate grandson. He was considerably older than Yanran, said to be of excellent character. The reason he hadn't found a suitable match was due to a leg disability (from a childhood fall), which prevented him from entering government service.
This time Lord Yu was absolutely determined. Acting swiftly and decisively, he directly ordered his son to provide funds for the dowry, threatening to open the ancestral temple and disown him if he uttered one more word of complaint. On the day Minglan departed, the Yu family had just exchanged betrothal gifts with the Duan family.
"...Not bad," Minglan tried to focus on the positive. "Even if he can't serve in office, he can still practice medicine, engage in business, or manage properties. There are many things he can do! What matters most is that it's good for Sister Yanran." Thinking how Yanran had finally escaped the trap, Minglan cheered up again, clapping her hands: "Now the Marquis of Ningyuan will have to search for another marriage prospect. The matchmakers in the capital must be doing good business!"
"No need to search," Old Mrs. Sheng said heavily. "Lord Yu has promised Yanran's younger sister instead. She'll cross the threshold once she comes of age."
Minglan froze, instinctively feeling immense indignation. She wished she could run outside for a couple of laps clutching her fists, or curse heaven bitterly. After a long moment, she felt dizzy and nauseous, so she turned aside and hugged an empty basin to continue vomiting.
As they traveled southward with rumbling carriage wheels, the northern air in late August remained warm and pleasant under a vast blue sky. Minglan's motion sickness proved stubborn, persistently accompanying her throughout the journey. To distract Minglan, or perhaps because everyone felt more relaxed after leaving home, Mama Fang began telling old stories: "Young lady, don't blame the Old Madam for punishing you. She did it for your own good. For a woman to live well in this lifetime requires great skill."
While the Old Madam rested in another carriage, Mama Fang sat in the coach caring for Minglan, smoothing her blankets and fluffing her pillows while chattering incessantly.Mama Fang may have lacked theoretical prowess, but she made up for it with decades of firsthand exposure to real-life cases. In her experience, a woman's fortune in life boiled down to three factors: fate, luck, and ability. If she possessed any two of these, she could live a smooth-sailing life.
Take Old Madam Yu, for example. Born into a prominent scholarly family in Shandong, she had gentle parents and strict family rules—her fate was excellent. Later, she was betrothed to Lord Yu, her father's prized disciple. When Lord Yu was still impoverished, his mentor not only recognized his talent but also gave him his daughter's hand in marriage. Deeply grateful, he remained devoted to Old Madam Yu throughout their lives. Even after his official career soared, his marital loyalty never wavered, and the couple stayed united until old age. Thus, Old Madam Yu's luck was also exceptional.
With such fortune, it didn't matter that she had zero combat skills. One could say Old Madam Yu never faced major storms in her life, never needed to scheme or manipulate—a lucky hothouse flower. Ah, but precisely because of this, she couldn't control Yanran's stepmother, sometimes requiring Lord Yu himself to step in and discipline his daughter-in-law.
"Ah—so what if she lacks ability? She was born well and married even better!" Mama Fang sighed with mixed emotions.
Minglan listened intently, finding this more captivating than storytelling.
"It seems rebirth is crucial! If your parents are good, half the battle is won!" Minglan exclaimed sincerely, impressed by Old Madam Yu's parents' skill in choosing a son-in-law. But Mama Fang didn't quite agree: "Not necessarily. Young Lady Yanran lost her mother shortly after birth, and her father is heartless. Yet she has Lord Yu and Old Madam protecting her. If she cultivates some ability herself, she can still establish a family legacy in the future. The worry is... she takes after Old Madam Yu!"
"Really?" Minglan rejected pale, feeble theories and demanded concrete examples.
Mama Fang readily offered herself as an example, speaking with no small pride.
She was born into a destitute farming family, her father gravely ill. Before age seven, she never had a full meal. In desperation, her mother sold her to a human trafficker, who then sold her into the Yongyi Marquis Estate. Her fate was truly wretched.
But after entering the marquis estate, she worked diligently and honestly, quickly selected to serve the young mistress. Through relentless self-improvement, she mastered writing, accounting, embroidery, and household management. Wholeheartedly devoted to her mistress without a trace of disloyalty, she eventually rose to become First Class Maid to Miss Xu. Later, accompanying her mistress as part of the dowry to the Sheng family, Old Madam arranged her marriage to a steward. The couple obtained their freedom and ventured out independently, eventually raising a house full of children and grandchildren with substantial family assets. One son passed the imperial exams and started a private school, another opened multiple shops, and a third purchased farmland to become a minor landowner.
"Mama, your luck turned out well! Truly, virtue has its reward." Minglan grew more alert with each detail.Mama Fang smiled and waved her hand. "Being a good person alone isn't enough. Back when I knew I was bound to be sold, I worked day and night to save up some coins and gave them to the slave trader, begging him tearfully to sell me to a decent family. Fortunately, I encountered an honest trader, which gave me the chance to meet the Old Madam. It was because I was willing to endure hardships and work extra in the Marquis' household that I caught the eye of the Old Marquis' wife. Finally, it was I who urged my husband to venture out and seek his fortune, which led to our children and grandchildren living a good life. Now, serving the Old Madam, I take it one day at a time, keeping her company with conversation and amusement. When this old woman can no longer work, I'll return to the countryside and hold my grandchildren!"
After being widowed in middle age, seeing that her children had already started families, she couldn't bear to leave Old Mrs. Sheng alone and returned to the Sheng residence to work, saying she wanted to fulfill the bond between master and servant. Her children and grandchildren were quite filial, coming every holiday to beg her to return and enjoy a life of leisure, but Mama Fang refused.
Minglan was astonished—this was a living, breathing example of successful struggle! Her gaze toward Mama Fang couldn't help but carry a touch of admiration. Though she was born into misfortune, luck + ability = a successful life, too.
Mama Fang wasn't actually long-winded; she usually spoke with great discretion. That she had been chattering for several days in a row this time made Minglan realize it was meant for her ears. She was just born unlucky—her father didn't cherish her, her birth mother died early, and she was still a concubine's daughter. But she was fortunate enough to receive her grandmother's affection. However, that wasn't enough; she still needed to strive on her own.
The enthusiastic response from her audience gave Mama Fang immense encouragement. She shared a little every day, treating the old stories and anecdotes she knew like serialized tales for Minglan. While telling these stories, she had Danju guard the carriage door outside to keep idlers away. Some parts she recounted in detail, occasionally interjecting her own comments, while other parts were veiled, leaving Minglan to grasp the meaning herself.
Under Minglan's repeated questioning, Mama Fang finally sighed and said, "...Everyone says our Old Madam is formidable, forbidding her husband from taking concubines and making a scene all day with threats and fights, but... ai, isn't the young lady's father perfectly fine? The Old Madam's disadvantage lies here—she bears the reputation of being fierce for nothing, but in truth, her heart is kinder than most! She is open and upright, only knowing how to argue with the Old Master, but she didn't guard against the vile tricks of petty servants and lowly maids... causing her own son to die young... That's what truly broke her heart."
Speaking of the past, Mama Fang grew emotional, tears welling up. She tugged at Minglan and said, "The Old Madam was angry that you stood out at the Yu family's, but it was out of deep concern. You must understand, a young lady's fierceness should be kept in her heart. If it shows on her face, she'll suffer for it—not only will she be slandered, but it might not even be effective! The more formidable someone is, the less it shows on their face!"
"I truly know I was wrong," Minglan said softly. This time, she genuinely admitted her mistake.
Seeing that Minglan understood the Old Madam's heartfelt intentions, Mama Fang cheered up again and enthusiastically told Minglan the story of a model example: "That young lady—ai... she's an old madam now too—her family background and looks weren't outstanding, and she didn't marry someone as talented as your grandfather. Her husband was rather fond of women, but she, over all these years, managed to keep a tight rein on her man—not a single illegitimate son! I've heard that now that her old man is advanced in years, several of his old concubines have long disappeared, and instead, the old couple are quite happy together."Minglan was filled with anticipation. Whether it was due to gossiping behind someone’s back or not, within a few days, she finally met the paragon Mama Fang had so fervently praised.
When their carriage reached the ferry at Tianjin, they had to disembark and switch to a boat to continue south. By chance, they encountered the He family, who were also heading south to Jinling by boat. Old Mrs. He, peering out from behind her carriage curtain, spotted the Sheng family’s insignia and sent a servant to inquire. Without needing any formal verification, the two elderly ladies, who hadn’t seen each other for nearly half their lives, embraced tearfully and began catching up.
Old Mrs. He had jet-black hair, a plump figure, and a rosy complexion. Her face was etched with wrinkles, most of them laugh lines, and she greeted everyone with a cheerful, hearty laugh. Her personality was warm and exuberant. When she saw how delicate and adorable Minglan was, she insisted on hugging and kissing her several times, then pressed a heavy embroidered pouch into her hands as a greeting gift. Inside were a handful of gold ingots and a pair of mutton-fat white jade peace buckles.
Minglan was stunned. She had expected this elderly lady to resemble Bao Yu’s mother in demeanor, but instead, she was like a joyful, carefree country grandmother. Rumor had it she was only two years younger than Old Mrs. Sheng, but she looked a good ten years younger.
"Mama, are you sure you didn’t get it wrong? She doesn’t seem like the type," Minglan whispered to Mama Fang when no one was around, clutching the pouch and immediately wavering in her judgment. Mama Fang smiled warmly and replied softly, "If someone only puts on a pleasant facade but is cruel and vile at heart, not only will they suffer retribution, but they’ll also exhaust themselves living a lie. Take a good look at this lady—she’s the real deal! She lives joyfully, never letting anger fester inside her. No one can outlast her in vitality!"
Old Mrs. He was witty and engaging, and Old Mrs. Sheng laughed incessantly in her company. They decided to share a boat for the journey south.
"Elder Sister, I’ve been waiting for you to say that! I set off in such a hurry this time that I didn’t book a boat in advance," Old Mrs. He said, patting her chest in relief before turning to give orders. "Quick, go fetch Young Master Hong and tell him we’ve secured a boat! Let him know his grandmother still has the knack—she caught an ‘elder sister’ with a boat in no time!"
Everyone in the room burst into laughter. Old Mrs. Sheng swatted her playfully twice and scolded, "You’re a grandmother yourself, yet you’re still so irreverent! Don’t let my little granddaughter pick up your mischievous ways!"
Minglan, who had just recovered from her last bout of seasickness and was gradually regaining her energy, nestled obediently beside her grandmother. Seeing how unusually happy her grandmother was, she chimed in teasingly, "When Grandmother takes charge, she usually accomplishes twice as much as anyone else."
Old Mrs. He laughed so hard she nearly tipped backward. She pulled Minglan into another hug and kissed her twice, then chided Old Mrs. Sheng, "This child of yours is wonderful—she feels like my own granddaughter! Meanwhile, my own rascal boy is the spitting image of your prim and proper act!"
Just as they were chatting, a maidservant from the He family entered and respectfully announced, "The Seventh Young Master has returned." Old Mrs. He promptly said, "Bring him in to pay his respects!" The curtain lifted, and a tall, graceful young man stepped inside. He knelt to bow as soon as he saw the guests. Old Mrs. Sheng hurriedly asked someone to help him up. When he raised his head, Minglan finally got a clear look at his face.A young man of fourteen or fifteen, with a fair complexion, refined brows and handsome eyes—though not as exquisite as Qi Heng—exuded a strong scholarly air. His demeanor was dignified and steady. Despite the He family's aura of wealth, he wore only a simple, unadorned silk robe, with no accessories except for a green jade pendant tied at his waist with a ruyi tassel. After the customary exchange of greetings between elders and juniors, everyone sat down.
"This is your cousin from the Sheng family, Little Mingya," Old Mrs. He warmly introduced, casually using the nickname Minglan's grandmother often called her. "This is my grandson Hong'er, three years your senior."
He Hongwen noticed a delicate, doll-like little girl sitting beside Old Mrs. Sheng, her brows curved and eyes smiling, adorable and charming, yet appearing frail and sickly. He blurted out, "Little Ming sister, you shouldn't eat too many of these plums—they're very hard on the stomach and spleen."
Caught off guard by the address, Minglan was momentarily stunned. She glanced at the box of plums she was holding, then turned to look at her grandmother, and finally at the young man. Suddenly catching a faint whiff of herbal fragrance, she said blankly, "These were for you, to refresh you... Um, in that case, then you'd better not eat them."
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