For a long time after that, Minglan lived quite peacefully. Sheng Hong was affectionate, Madam Wang was caring, and Rulan was warm and friendly. Old Mrs. Sheng pinched her ear, laughing and scolding, "You little rascal, playing tricks!"
Minglan blushed, twisting her fingers, and said sheepishly, "Grandmother, you don't blame me for scheming like that?"
The old lady turned her gaze to the window, where fresh green hues covered the treetops, and said slowly, "Our family is relatively peaceful. You haven't seen real 'scheming'—even the filth of a mud pit is cleaner than that."
Minglan's mood sank a little. "Isn't there a permanent solution? Must we guard against it time and again?"
A faint smile appeared at the wrinkled corners of the old lady's mouth. "Of course there is. It just depends on whether one can be ruthless enough."
Minglan looked up, puzzled. The old lady said, "Your father has such simple demands. Since that one is already of a certain age, buy him a woman who understands charm and can write poetry. Just make sure she doesn't bear children, and that's it."
Minglan was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "Madam would never agree. That would be like cutting her own heart with a knife."
The old lady smiled with a hint of sarcasm. "Then she can only endure. Endure for a while to gain a lifetime; endure through a lifetime to live in peace."
"What if one can't endure?"
The old lady glanced at Minglan's despondent expression and said calmly, "Neither I nor your great-grandmother schemed. I was too proud to stoop to it, and she was too soft-hearted to bear it. Later, I couldn't endure, but she did."
Minglan fell silent. Old Mrs. Sheng had traded momentary satisfaction for a life of loneliness—not a single person in the entire Sheng household was of her own blood. In contrast, Da Lao Taitai had endured decades of blood and tears until she finally emerged triumphant, now surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying her twilight years in peace.
Minglan let out a small sigh. Better others die than oneself suffer; men should be harsh on themselves, while women should be harsh on others.
In the warm days of early spring, magpies chirped noisily from the branches. These past few days, Madam Wang had been brimming with joy.
First, Hualan had announced joyful news: her pregnancy pulse was strong and steady. He Laofuren declared with certainty that it was a boy. Madam Wang wept with happiness while preparing generous gifts, asking Old Mrs. Sheng to thank He Laofuren on Hualan's behalf. She then repeatedly donated silver to Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries. When the abbot of Guangji Temple found out, he was highly displeased. He believed that faith should be exclusive—worshipping both Buddha and Taoist deities was like a woman serving two husbands, deserving of drowning in a pig cage! Madam Wang was deeply troubled. She still couldn't determine which deity had contributed more in her life's journey. If she chose one, what if the other became angry?
While Madam Wang fretted over matters of faith, Consort Lin's luck took a sharp downturn. Due to her strict confinement, her external business ventures encountered problems. Business in the capital was tough, and without backing, it was hard to maintain appearances. So, she used her silver to lend money at high interest, which eventually led to someone's death and implicated her. The truth came to light.
In ancient times, usury was actually a legitimate trade, though it reflected poorly on one's official reputation. When Sheng Hong found out, he was furious. In a fit of anger, he confiscated all the fields and manors he had previously given to Consort Lin and handed them over to the old lady for unified management.It is said that when Sheng Hong stormed in furiously, Madam Wang was striking her wooden fish. After Sheng Hong finished slamming the table and cursing Consort Lin out, Madam Wang immediately decided to place her faith in Buddha—after all, imported goods were superior, weren’t they?
Minglan privately believed that Sheng Hong had still left a way out for Molan and Changfeng. Old Mrs. Sheng was famously virtuous and would never covet that property. This was merely to curb Consort Lin’s arrogance, and in the end, he hadn’t confiscated the silver Consort Lin had privately accumulated over the years.
Afterward, Consort Lin pounded her chest and stomped her feet outside the door, making a scene for half the day as if she were courting death. Sheng Hong paid her no mind, resolved to give her the cold shoulder for at least a year or so.
Madam Wang visited the Zhongqin Earl’s residence every few days to see the pregnant Hualan. Each time she went, she brought a cartload of tonics and returned with a bellyful of gossip from the aristocratic circles, greatly enriching the spiritual lives of the newly arrived women of the Sheng household in the capital. It could hardly be considered a loss.
In chronological order, the first event was that Gu Tingye had finally fallen out with his family. He abandoned his father, mother, and wife, leaving home alone. It was said he didn’t even take his mistress with him. The Old Marquis of Ningyuan was so enraged he collapsed ill in bed. But to preserve the family’s dignity, the Ningyuan Marquis Household announced publicly that Gu Tingye had left to experience the hardships of common life and gain practical experience.
Minglan felt a pang of guilt: Surely… this had nothing to do with her.
Then came a scandal that horrified all who heard of it. The daughter of the Marquis of Fuchang household had gone out one day and was abducted by a gang of bandits. Only one maid escaped and, fortunately, encountered the wives of Grand Secretary Zhao of the Zhongji Hall and Vice Minister Qian of the Secretariat, who were on their way to offer incense together. They dispatched their servants to rescue her. The Rong girl was saved, but alas…
“The daughter of the Marquis of Fuchang? Could it be Sister Feiyan?” Minglan belatedly realized.
“Obviously!” Rulan rolled her eyes at Minglan, then asked cautiously, “Did she…?” Her pause was artfully ambiguous.
Hai Shi sighed. “Even if nothing happened, a young lady’s reputation is ruined. What a pity—the Rong family only had this one daughter. The Marquis of Fuchang was so enraged he suffered a stroke, and Consort Rong wept until she fainted.”
Minglan felt uneasy too and asked softly, “Were the bandits caught?”
Hai Shi shook her head mysteriously and said evasively, “The Shuntian Prefecture magistrate searched the entire city overnight but found no trace.”
Rulan wondered, “Could they have flown into the sky or vanished into the earth? Or are the officers just useless?” Hai Shi smiled ambiguously and said, “When Consort Rong’s family is involved, the officers are certainly effective.”
Minglan lowered her head and said nothing.
With the capital’s strict household registration system, even a figure like Ximen Chuixue would have been detected by the Shuntian Prefecture and the Five City Military Commissions, let alone a gang of ordinary bandits. If even they couldn’t find any traces, then those so-called bandits were not real criminals!
A few days later, news spread that Rong Feiyan, unable to bear the humiliation, had hanged herself.
A month later, the Marquis of Qi Manor and the Sixth Prince formed a marriage alliance. The daughter-in-law of the Grand Princess served as the female matchmaker, and the heir apparent of the Marquis of Liang acted as the male matchmaker. Qi Heng married County Princess Jiacheng in a grand ceremony. The bridal procession stretched for ten li, and half the city celebrated. The festivities lasted three days and three nights, with banquet tables outside the city extending for miles.That day, the confined Molan was listless and only ate two bowls of porridge, while Rulan channeled her grief into appetite, devouring three bowls of rice and even adding a late-night snack. Minglan closed the gates of Twilight Cang Study, dismissed the servants, and alone took out the items Qi Heng had given her over the years, wiped them clean one by one, wrapped them neatly, stored them in a chest, and secured it with a heavy lock.
In the cool early summer, as He Hongwen's mother's condition improved, He Laofuren sent an invitation for the women of the Sheng family to visit. Hai Shi was pregnant and suffering from severe morning sickness, Rulan had caught a cold, and Madam Wang was busy caring for them and couldn't leave. Molan was confined, so only Old Mrs. Sheng took Minglan along.
Minglan, meeting her future mother-in-law for the first time, was initially apprehensive. However, He Mu, though pale and frail from illness, had a gentle temperament, and her smile particularly resembled He Hongwen's, like the soft flow of warm spring water.
He Mu had initially worried that Minglan, being a concubine's daughter, might be somewhat petty and unworthy of her son. But upon seeing Minglan's gentle and amiable demeanor, her graceful and poised bearing, and the charming little dimples that appeared at the corners of her mouth when she smiled, she thought that this girl, raised under Old Mrs. Sheng's care, must be trustworthy in character. She grew fond of Minglan, holding her hand and chatting cheerfully. When she coughed slightly, she kept her distance, fearing to pass even a hint of illness to Minglan. Learning that there was a pregnant woman in the Sheng household, she carefully instructed Minglan to bathe with a herbal decoction made from crushed honeysuckle and mugwort before visiting anyone upon her return.
As for the herbs, they were naturally provided by He Hongwen as a friendly gesture.
"Brother Hongwen's mother is quite amiable, isn't she? Actually, her illness isn't contagious, so why be so cautious?" Minglan finally breathed a sigh of relief on the way back.
Old Mrs. Sheng affectionately held her granddaughter and said with a smile, "Don't relax too soon. Even if she doesn't ask her daughter-in-law to serve her in the future, can the daughter-in-law really rest easy?"
Minglan thought for a moment, looked up, blushed slightly, and whispered, "I'm willing to be filial to her. She must be lonely all alone; I can talk with her to keep her company."
Old Mrs. Sheng smiled with heartfelt relief, gently stroking Minglan's hair. "My Minglan is a good child."
Buried in the old madam's embrace, Minglan murmured softly, "I'll be filial to her, and when she grows fond of me, I can bring you over... for short stays. Then, the two He ladies, along with us two, can often play cards together. No one will feel lonely anymore."
Old Mrs. Sheng feigned sternness and scolded, "Nonsense! What married daughter invites her grandmother to live with her in-laws?"
"There is, there is!" Minglan lifted her head anxiously. "I've already inquired—Liu Daren's mother-in-law lives with his family and is cared for like his own mother. The two mothers-in-law get along wonderfully!"
Old Mrs. Sheng chuckled. "That's because she had no sons and was lonely in her old age, so she moved in with her daughter. But I have children and grandchildren filling my home."
Minglan lowered her head again and murmured in a tiny voice, "That's why it's just 'short stays'—frequent 'short stays.'"
The old madam was momentarily stunned, her heart warmed, her eyes slightly moist. She fell silent, simply holding Minglan and gently rocking her, as if cradling a little infant who didn't understand the world.As Hualan's belly grew day by day, Minglan busied herself making little clothes and belly bands for the baby. Rulan, forced by Madam Wang, also spent two days in Minglan's room with scissors and needlework, so that at least her name could be added when the gifts were sent out.
Minglan lived quite contentedly during this period. In the evenings, she would chat with Old Madam and play a few rounds of cards. During the day, she did needlework, copied scriptures, and accompanied Rulan kicking shuttlecocks in the garden. Rulan used Minglan as practice, winning every match, which naturally put her in excellent spirits.
Occasionally, He Hongwen would find excuses to deliver seasonal herbs and tonics, secretly seizing the chance to see Minglan. If fortunate, they might exchange a few words; if not, he could only glimpse her through the curtains. Even so, He Hongwen's heart swelled with joy, his fair and delicate face flushing crimson as he skipped home, turning back every few steps.
Molan had quite the ear for gossip. The day after her confinement ended, Madam Wang brought fresh rumors from Hualan—the spicy and explosive kind. It was said that Qi Heng and County Princess Jiacheng were living in great discord. The arrogant County Princess not only frequently beat and sold off servants (female ones) but also suppressed the main branch of Marquis of Qi Manor so thoroughly they couldn't hold their heads high. On one occasion, it seemed Qi Heng had intended to take a young maid as a concubine. The very next day, County Princess Jiacheng found an excuse to have the maid beaten to death with clubs.
Furious, Qi Heng packed his belongings and moved into his study. No matter how much the County Princess cried, made scenes, or threw tantrums, he stubbornly refused to share a room with her. This stalemate lasted two months until Princess Pingning fell ill and pleaded with him from her sickbed, after which Qi Heng finally returned to his chamber.
"Hmph, so this is the fine daughter-in-law the Princess chose!" Rulan concluded triumphantly, adding her own commentary.
Molan was more poetic, frowning delicately and sighing softly, "Poor Brother Yuanruo! The Marquis of Qi Manor has it hard too." She came to apologize to Minglan and expressed hope to restore their once intimate sisterly relationship. Minglan, of course, 'sincerely' agreed.
Minglan remarked calmly, "They'll recoup their losses eventually." It was merely a political investment where each party got what they needed—no one here deserved pity.
The day of recouping losses arrived swiftly.
The gravely ill old emperor finally made up his mind. In his feeble state, he issued an edict ordering the Imperial Clan Court to revise the imperial genealogy, having the Third Prince adopt the youngest son of the Sixth Prince as his heir. Simultaneously, he opened the granaries to distribute food, signaling universal celebration. These actions essentially declared the succession settled.
"Amitabha! His Majesty is truly sagacious!" Hai Shi, who had begun following Madam Wang in Buddhist devotions, exclaimed, "This matter is finally resolved. Dragging on like this was unsettling everyone's minds."
Minglan thought to herself: Of course His Majesty is sagacious—would he be called 'His Majesty' otherwise?
That evening, Madam Wang hosted a family banquet at home, gathering everyone for a meal. Sheng Hong beamed with joy, downing several cups in succession and slurring praises for the great emperor repeatedly. Even Changbai, stern-faced, couldn't resist reciting a passage from the "Ancestral Instructions of the Founding Emperor." Changfeng composed a poem on the spot, highly praising the old emperor's wise decision and its profound impact.
"Is this really so joyous?" Rulan, politically oblivious, wondered aloud.
"Of course, of course," Minglan replied, her cheeks flushed from drinking, grinning cheerfully. "The common people have a master to bow to, officials have a direction for their loyalty, and the nation has a goal to strive for. Everyone's happy, aren't they?"Indeed, it was a joyous occasion for all. The Marquis of Qi Manor alone set off over ten thousand taels worth of firecrackers, and the entire capital was adorned with lanterns and decorations, brimming with jubilation—except for the unfortunate Fourth Prince's household. However, being family after all, and with the skillful mediation of Consort De and Consort Shu, the two brothers tearfully reconciled before the old emperor, restoring their former harmony.
Only the unfortunate Right Chief Steward of the Fourth Prince's residence and two of his scholarly tutors, who had offended the Third Prince too severely, were sacrificed as scapegoats. They were dismissed from their posts and investigated, with their past misdeeds brought to light.
Such is the way of the royal family: when young princes perform poorly in their studies, their study companions are the ones punished; as they grow older, palace maids and eunuchs are beaten to death for the princes' mistakes; and in adulthood, when princes engage in power struggles and rivalries, their lackeys are the first to be sacrificed.
Minglan deeply admired those time-traveling predecessors who had navigated the perilous waters among the high-risk princes and emerged unscathed. But times had changed, and each generation seemed worse than the last. Just look at the mess she was in now!
OpenNovel