By November, the biting wind was like a knife, and every exhaled breath turned white. Minglan began to feel lazy again, clinging to the warm kang and unwilling to move. Unexpectedly, Cuiping came to summon her to the Longevity and Peace Hall. Minglan groaned in agony, but Danju coaxed her off the kang and helped her into a thick fur-lined coat, which finally stopped her shivering. When she arrived at the Longevity and Peace Hall, she saw Old Madam sitting upright on the kang, a thick python-thread and gold-coin patterned woolen blanket draped over her knees. In her hand, she held a piece of paper, her expression somewhat dazed.
Minglan immediately shook off her lethargy and approached, taking a warm cup of ginseng tea from Cuimei, who stood nearby. She gently placed it on the kang table and asked softly, "Grandmother, what's the matter?"
Old Madam seemed to snap out of her reverie, a look of confusion in her eyes, and handed over the paper in her hand. "The He family sent this early this morning. Read it for yourself."
Minglan positioned herself as close to the warm kang as possible, unfolded the letter, and read it carefully—
The letter was written by He Laofuren, seemingly in haste. It first mentioned that the Cao family could no longer stay in the capital and would soon return to their hometown. Then it revealed that Cao Jinxiu had attempted suicide. After being rescued, she confessed the truth: while she was a concubine in Liangzhou, the principal wife of the household had forced her to drink safflower soup, rendering her infertile. Fearing her family’s grief, she had kept this from everyone.
Now, He Laofuren was rushing to investigate the matter and would come to explain in person that afternoon.
Minglan slowly set down the letter, her mind racing. Old Mrs. Sheng leaned back against the kang pillow, holding a celadon-glazed peach-and-double-phoenix hand warmer. "Minglan, what do you think... about this matter?"
Minglan sat beside Old Madam, carefully choosing her words. "Nothing else matters much, except for two points: first, the Cao family is leaving the capital, and second, Cousin Jinxiu likely cannot bear children."
Old Madam closed her eyes and nodded slowly. "Exactly. With this, the situation has changed again."
Cao Jinxiu’s infertility meant she would struggle to find a suitable match—only widowers with children might consider her. In wealthy families, childless widows returning to their parents' home could sometimes remarry, but given the Cao family’s current circumstances, where could they find a respectable widower? This left only the He family to care for her.
Yet, if she were an infertile concubine, what threat could she pose to the principal wife? Moreover, with the Cao family returning to their hometown, such a concubine would be little more than a decoration.
Both grandmother and granddaughter thought of this and felt a stir in their hearts.
Old Madam set down the hand warmer, gently picked up the ginseng tea, and slowly stirred the ginseng slices with the lid. "This time... we must not agree too easily. No matter what the He family says, we should delay our response." Minglan nodded slowly.
After lunch, the grandmother and granddaughter rested briefly. Early in the second quarter of the weishi hour (around 1:45 PM), He Laofuren hurried over, seemingly in a rush, sipping warm tea repeatedly. Though anxious inside, Old Mrs. Sheng maintained a calm demeanor. Minglan, as usual, retreated to the inner room, listening carefully from behind the curtain.
After a few polite exchanges, Old Mrs. Sheng finally said, "Catch your breath first. Who’s chasing you from behind?!"He Laofuren glared and exclaimed, "Who else? It's that little troublemaker of mine! This time, for the sake of your precious little girl, he's offended his own mother, aunt, relatives—everyone! He went all out!"
"Don't beat around the bush, hurry up and tell me." Though she had just said she wouldn't rush, she was already urging her on.
He Laofuren set down her teacup, took a moment to compose herself, and faced Old Mrs. Sheng squarely as she spoke slowly, "I've always pitied my daughter-in-law for being widowed so young. She's frail and sickly, so over the years, I've rarely been harsh with her. Even when the Cao family made such a disgraceful scene, I didn't pressure her much, thinking we could gradually dissuade her. But who would have thought my filial grandson would go to such lengths! After he returned from your place that day, he secretly went to his grandfather's study. My old man only cares for poetry and calligraphy and never bothers with household matters. But this time, Hong-ge laid out the whole story and begged his grandfather to submit a petition to the authorities to have the Cao family expelled from the capital!"
Even Old Mrs. Sheng, who had seen her share of surprises, was taken aback. She stared blankly for a long moment before collecting herself. "How could... Hong-ge is such a filial child! How could he keep this from his mother..."
He Laofuren, her throat dry from talking, took another large sip of tea before continuing, "That's not all! A few days ago, after the authorities investigated, they issued an official notice ordering the Cao family to return to their hometown by next month or face harsher penalties! The Cao aunt came crying and begging, but the official documents had already been issued—what could our family do? My daughter-in-law barely ate or drank for days and finally went to beg the old man. He had tolerated it until now only out of consideration for me and Hongwen. But when he saw her still unrepentant, he pointed at her nose and scolded her harshly, saying directly, 'You are a member of the He family, not a Cao! The Cao family embezzled and broke the law—they got what they deserved. We helped them out of familial duty, but they grew arrogant and caused constant turmoil in the He household. Such ungrateful wretches should have been driven out long ago! If you're so attached to the Cao family, I'll write you a letter of divorce, and you can go live with them!' My daughter-in-law fainted on the spot. When she woke up, she didn't dare say another word!"
Minglan, in the inner room, lowered her head to look at her own hands. Well, she ought to be concerned about He Mu's health, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of satisfaction. Every time she saw He Mu's tearful, indecisive, saintly face, it irritated her.
Old Mrs. Sheng actually felt quite pleased too, but she couldn't openly cheer. Instead, she softly offered a few words of comfort and expressed concern for He Mu's well-being.
He Laofuren set down her teacup and sighed, "Fortunately, my daughter-in-law doesn't know the truth. If she found out that Hong-ge was the one behind the Cao family's expulsion, she might really fall seriously ill. In the following days, the Cao family scrambled to pack up and kept coming to cry poverty. Thinking it was worth it to get rid of these troublemakers, I gave them some silver to buy land. But who knew another problem would arise yesterday!"The mere recollection of this matter made He Laofuren's scalp tingle with vexation, yet her heart ached for her grandson. She decided to lay it all out: "The Cao family, before their departure, pleaded desperately day and night to have their daughter brought into the household. Hongwen refused. Seeing my daughter-in-law critically ill, I suggested they mother and son retreat to the estate outside the city for a few days' rest. The Cao family, unable to find them, had no choice but to relent... Yesterday, the Caos suddenly came knocking, claiming their daughter had attempted suicide. After being rescued from the beam, she confessed the truth—she can no longer bear children. If Hongwen shows no mercy, she said, death is her only path. Startled, I sent word to Hongwen and went to the Cao residence myself to examine the girl."
"What happened?" Old Madam Sheng asked, her throat tight with tension.
He Laofuren shook her head, her expression tinged with pity but her tone firm: "After a thorough examination, I confirmed she indeed cannot conceive. It seems during her year as a concubine, the mistress forced her to drink safflower soup repeatedly—a potent and cruel remedy. She also suffered a miscarriage during that time. Her body was utterly ruined."
Minglan trusted He Laofuren's medical skill and character. As relief washed over her, a bittersweet ache welled up—a mix of sorrow and sighing. Only now did Minglan understand the profound despair in Cao Jinxiu's eyes.
Old Madam Sheng fell into a long silence. He Laofuren sighed and continued: "Only then did Mrs. Cao learn the full extent of her daughter's plight and fainted from weeping. When Hongwen arrived and heard this, he stood by me in a daze, pondering for a long while before agreeing to let Miss Cao enter the household."
This time, Old Madam Sheng showed no anger, her tone soft and resigned like damp gunpowder: "...There was no other way. Poor Hongwen." But He Laofuren cut in sharply: "It's not over yet!"
Old Madam Sheng looked puzzled.
He Laofuren reached for the cooled tea, but Old Madam Sheng snatched it away and had a maid bring warm tea instead. After moistening her lips, He Laofuren explained: "Hongwen said he's willing to care for his cousin, ensuring she wants for nothing in his lifetime, but on one condition... henceforth, the Caos would only be helped in emergencies, not treated as proper relatives. Mrs. Cao was so enraged she slapped Hongwen right then!"
Old Madam Sheng's eyes lit up. She straightened her back, her brow smoothing: "How bold of Hongwen!"
He Hongwen likely meant only to spare his future wife the trouble of a meddlesome aunt-in-law, avoiding complications in marital and household management. But He Laofuren interpreted it differently.
She said gravely: "His words may seem heartless, but I find them wise. A childless concubine would inevitably side with her natal family. If the Caos kept acting like kin, constantly begging for money, would our household ever know peace? Regardless of whom Hongwen marries, this must be clarified—we can't plant a future disaster out of momentary pity. I immediately had Hongwen draft a written account of the events. The Cao girl enters our household only after the Caos sign and seal it."After a lengthy speech was finished, the grandmother and granddaughter inside and outside the room both fell into deep thought. Once this written agreement was established, there would be basically no more worries. Troubles like the Cao family were actually not difficult to resolve.
Seeing that Old Mrs. Sheng was clearly softening her stance, He Laofuren did not rush for an answer. After chatting a while longer, she stood up to take her leave. Minglan lifted the curtain and slowly emerged from the inner room, moving to her grandmother's heated kang. For a moment, the grandmother and granddaughter sat in silence. After a long while, the Old Madam sighed and said, "Hongwen..." but couldn't continue. Then she turned to Minglan and asked, "Ming'er, what do you think?"
"...I don't know, Grandmother. What do you say?" Minglan hugged the Old Madam's arm.
Looking at Minglan's radiant face, the Old Madam felt that no young man was worthy of her girl. After careful consideration, she cautiously said, "This is already the best possible situation."
In an instant, numerous scenes flashed through Minglan's mind: the hidden sorrow at the corners of Hualan's eyes, Molan's forced cheerful facade, Hai Shi's relieved expression every time Goat Hair drank the medicinal soup after serving the husband, Madam Wang's years of struggles that led to the overt and covert conflicts among their siblings... Then, she slowly nodded.
The advantage of the He family did not lie in extraordinary prominence or wealth, but in their well-balanced and harmonious overall conditions. No matter how prominent or wealthy a family might be, if there were a critical mother-in-law, troublesome sisters-in-law on all sides, and a husband who might not staunchly support her, even the Jade Emperor's heavenly palace would not be a good place to live. But the He family...
From what she had observed over the years, He Mu had a gentle and easy-going temperament, and she was so ill and weak that she was practically incapacitated. A new daughter-in-law could take charge immediately upon marriage. The He family's eldest and second branches were better off and would not cause trouble. He Hongwen had substantial family assets and could earn large sums of money through his own efforts. He was not fickle, had a sense of responsibility, knew how to care for others, and was clearly inclined toward Minglan. Once He Laotaiye retired and left the capital, they would practically be living independently. Then, with the courtyard gate closed, they could live their own small life, and the new daughter-in-law could make her own decisions.
Not having to endure a mother-in-law's displeasure, not having to deal with complicated relatives from all directions, being financially independent, and having autonomy in life—where could one find such good fortune! Moreover, by accepting this infertile Cao Jinxiu, He Mu would probably feel too embarrassed to say anything to Minglan in the future. To put it bluntly, He Mu did not have many days left to live.
Amid all these 'advantages,' the existence of Cao Jinxiu seemed insignificant. Perhaps... when He Hongwen went out to earn money, she could invite that gloomy-faced Cao Jinxiu to play leaf cards together? Maybe winning a few rounds could help her forget her past misfortunes. Amen!
...
Several times, Minglan suspected that she and Rulan had opposite fortunes—whenever she was happy, Rulan was bound to have bad luck.
On this day, thinking that in a few days the weather would turn even colder and the water surface would freeze thickly, Minglan, after paying her respects to the Old Madam and Madam Wang, took a fishing rod and basket, and brought the strong and sturdy Xiaotao to the small pond to fish. Perhaps because of the cold weather, the fish in the water were sluggish. Minglan easily caught seven or eight plump fish. Before leaving the pondside, she smiled at the water and said, "Have a good winter break. I'll come find you to play again when spring arrives."After handing the fish over to the kitchen, Minglan specified that three particularly large ones be made into claypot broad bean fish, two especially lively ones into tomato sauce fish slices, and the remaining ones all sliced and roasted into scallion-scented salted fish jerky, while the fish heads would be simmered into ginger fish soup. Xiaotao cheerfully slipped thirty coins to Auntie An, repeatedly saying she’d worked hard. Auntie An smiled broadly and declined for a long while before patting her chest to guarantee the cooking quality.
Just then, Little Magpie from Rulan’s room came running in. Despite the bitter cold, she was sweating profusely. As soon as she saw Minglan, she urgently requested Minglan to go to Taoran Residence.
Auntie An was about to start cleaning the fish, and Minglan wanted to watch to see if these fish had fish fat or roe inside. Frowning, she said, "Why did you come running here? Does Fifth Sister want to do embroidery again? Go back and tell her I’m stewing fish soup for her. Fish is good for the eyes—it’s even better to embroider after eating fish!"
Little Magpie nearly burst into tears from anxiety, repeatedly saying it wasn’t that, but she couldn’t explain clearly. Sensing something amiss, Minglan followed her out. Even so, Minglan first returned to her own room, washed off the fishy smell with scented soap, changed into clean clothes, and only then went to Taoran Pavilion.
Lifting the thick brocade cotton curtain, she saw there wasn’t a single maid in the room—only Rulan lying over the table crying. She had already mostly stopped sobbing, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, but as soon as she saw Minglan, she rushed over, grabbed Minglan, and burst into loud tears. Startled, Minglan first sat Rulan down by the kang table, then hurriedly asked, "Fifth Sister, what’s wrong? What could be so terrible to make you cry like this? Tell me slowly... Little Magpie, quickly fetch a basin of warm water for your young lady to wash her face!"
Little Magpie, somewhat relieved, acknowledged and went out. Rulan wiped her reddened nose and began to sob out the story. It turned out Hualan had suddenly come to the Sheng residence, spoken with Old Madam and Madam Wang, and called Rulan in as well. She had outright proposed marrying Rulan off to Gu Tingye!
That cousin-uncle determined to marry a legitimate daughter might become her own brother-in-law?! Minglan’s jaw dropped. If she hadn’t seen it herself, she wouldn’t have believed it—the ancient world was truly marvelous. No matter how vivid her imagination, it couldn’t keep up with this world’s twists and turns.
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