The Story of Ming Lan

"This... how did this come about?" It took a full three seconds for Minglan to regain her composure.

Rulan threw her handkerchief fiercely onto the kang, biting her lip as she said, "They say it was Gu... who proposed to our eldest brother-in-law."

Minglan was amused by Rulan's phrasing: "He proposed to our eldest brother-in-law? But Zhuang Jie'er is still young. Then let our brother-in-law marry him himself! Haha, haha... Ow!" Her laughter cut off abruptly as she blew on her stinging hand, shaking it repeatedly. "Alright, I'll stop joking. Fifth Sister, please continue."

Unexpectedly, Rulan had nothing more to say. With reddened eyes and tears welling up, she choked out, "You know about me and Brother Jing... What am I supposed to do now?! When Eldest Sister mentioned this matter, I immediately said I didn't want it. Mother scolded me harshly, so I ran out crying!"

Minglan felt great pity. When it came to one's lifelong matter, how could one be so impulsive? It would have been better to understand the whole story before crying. But seeing Rulan's aggrieved expression, she comforted, "Fifth Sister, don't be too upset. Would Eldest Sister and Mother ever harm you? No matter how good Jing... ahem, Young Master Wen is, he can't compare to that Gu Tingye. This might actually be an excellent match."

This only made Rulan more furious. She stamped her feet and slapped the kang table in a fit of temper. Just then, Xiaoxique entered carrying a steaming copper basin. Seeing the situation, she wisely remained silent. Minglan rolled up her sleeves and personally wrung out a handkerchief for Rulan, handing it to her: "Fifth Sister, since things have come to this, what use is calling me here? I can't do anything about it either."

"Who's asking you to find a solution?" Rulan took the warm handkerchief and pressed it against her eyes before looking up at Minglan. "...You should hurry to Longevity and Peace Hall and listen to what they're saying? About Gu..." Rulan blushed slightly and refused to continue.

Minglan widened her eyes, waving her hands repeatedly: "No, no, no! What business do I have listening to discussions about your marriage? If you want to know something, just go ask directly!"

Rulan's lips were bitten pale as she stared fixedly at Minglan. Xiaoxique couldn't stand it anymore and approached Minglan to gently persuade: "Miss, please make the trip. Earlier our young lady was so angry she exchanged some harsh words with Eldest Young Madam, thoroughly upsetting both Madam and Eldest Young Madam. How could she possibly go back now? Normally asking Madam would be fine, but how would Madam know our young lady's true feelings? She might not address the real concerns. Besides, our young lady is too anxious to wait! Sixth Young Lady, all these years our young lady has considered you her closest confidante!"

Minglan wanted to shout 'Since when?!', but Rulan was already advancing with a ferocious expression, her knuckles white as her fingers nearly dug into Minglan's arm. Unable to escape the harassment, and somewhat curious herself, Minglan finally agreed to go.

Fortunately, the girls' courtyard wasn't far from Longevity and Peace Hall. Minglan hurried along, with Xiaotao occasionally pulling her forward. When they reached Longevity and Peace Hall, they saw Cuiping and Cuimei both standing at the entrance. Minglan took a moment to catch her breath and straighten her clothes before slowly entering. Finding the main hall empty, she bypassed the screen and went directly into the side chamber, where she saw Old Madam, Madam Wang, and Hualan - three women of different generations - sitting around the kang talking. The moment they saw Minglan enter, they immediately stopped and looked at her.After Minglan had paid her respects to everyone, she steeled herself to face their gazes, letting out a few awkward chuckles: "I didn't know. Fifth Sister asked me to come listen. I know I shouldn't have come. Maybe... I should just go back."

Seeing her fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, speaking incoherently with an embarrassed expression, Hualan couldn't help but laugh. She turned to look at Old Madam for her opinion. Old Madam shot Minglan a stern glance, but it was Madam Wang who spoke up: "Alright, let Sixth Girl stay and listen too. Ruyu has always been close to you and would listen to your advice... Old Madam, what do you think?"

Old Madam naturally didn't care, but she still pretended to ponder for a moment before nodding. Minglan carefully fetched a small stool and sat at the side, keeping her mouth shut and pricking up her ears to be a proper listener.

Hualan turned back and smiled: "Where was I just now? Ah, right... They talked for a full hour. Speaking of which, that Gu Erlang and Shige's father can be considered half childhood friends. Gu Erlang said it's easy to add flowers to the brocade, but hard to send charcoal in snowy weather. When he was down and out and left home, your grandson-in-law never treated him differently. He looks down on those who come to curry favor but trusts Wenshao's character, so he entrusted him to find a marriage match. I only have one sister-in-law who's already engaged, so Wenshao thought of our family. Last night, he mentioned our younger sister to Gu Erlang, and he was willing too."

Madam Wang's expression was peculiar—seemingly ecstatic yet worried, as if she had been hit on the head by a piece of pork falling from the sky. She very much wanted to eat this fatty meat but feared there might be a mousetrap with a tightened spring hidden beneath it.

Old Madam noticed Madam Wang's hesitation and, after weighing her words, asked: "While this marriage would be us marrying above our station, General Gu's reputation... Not to mention anything else, I heard earlier that he keeps a mistress outside with children, who must be quite favored. Wouldn't your sister suffer if she married him? Also, since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents. How come he proposed it himself? Shouldn't the Grand Old Madam of the Ningyuan Marquis Household make an appearance?"

Old Madam had been worrying about Minglan's marriage every day recently, so her thoughts on marriage matters were particularly clear. Madam Wang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this—that was exactly what she meant. Old Madam glanced at Madam Wang, who couldn't hide her excitement, with a complex expression. Actually, there were many more unsavory rumors that she was too embarrassed to mention.

Hualan looked at Old Madam, hesitated for a moment, pressed her fingers tightly against the hand warmer, hunched over, and whispered: "This matter has to be explained from the beginning. It's a long story. I only found out last night when your grandson-in-law told me... Actually, the Grand Old Madam of the Ningyuan Marquis Household isn't Gu Erlang's birth mother!"

Everyone was shocked. Old Madam quickly asked: "Is General Gu born of a concubine?" This question was crucial as it directly determined Gu Erlang's social status. Though the content was the same, the versions could be either deluxe or paperback editions."That's not the case, he is indeed legitimate." Hualan quickly added, "I couldn't believe it either—the Ningyuan Marquis Household kept this too well hidden. It turns out the Old Marquis married three times. His first wife was a daughter of the Qin family from the Eastern Prosperity Marquis Household. After marriage, the Old Marquis took his family to guard the Sichuan-Yunnan border. Within a few years, Lady Qin passed away after giving birth. The Old Marquis then remarried a Miss Bai, who gave birth to Gu Erlang, but this lady also died not long after. Subsequently, the Old Marquis remarried again, this time to the younger sister of the first Lady Qin, who is now the current Grand Old Madam Gu. Many years later, the Old Marquis was recalled to the capital by imperial decree. Over time, no one mentioned this matter. Since both were surnamed Qin, outsiders assumed the Old Marquis had only ever had one Lady Qin. The Eastern Prosperity Marquis Household never clarified, and only a few close families knew the details. It wasn't until recently, when many began considering marriage alliances with the Gu family and conducted thorough inquiries, that this matter gradually came to light."

Minglan slightly parted her lips, feeling puzzled about what Gu Tingye meant by this.

Half of Hualan's efforts were wasted. Madam Wang wanted to know whether Gu Tingye was reliable, but Hualan had rambled on about these old stories. However, Old Madam grasped the underlying meaning and sat up straight from the kang, asking with interest, "So the rumors about General Gu being at odds with the Ningyuan Marquis Household are true? But not because of past conflicts between father and son, but because General Gu is at odds with his stepmother?!"

Hualan's eyes lit up, feeling that her grandmother truly understood. She turned sideways toward Old Madam and smiled, "Almost certainly. Just think, Grandmother—if the relationship between mother and son were harmonious, why would Gu Erlang have left home for years without returning? Why has he only visited the Ningyuan Marquis Household once since establishing his general's residence? In any family, when a father disciplines a son, isn't the mother supposed to mediate? Look at the fifth son of the House of the Duke of Han—truly incorrigible, involved with prostitutes and gambling, far more outrageous than Gu Erlang ever was. With the Duchess protecting and covering for him, he's still fine, isn't he?! Now I understand—she's not his birth mother after all! She magnifies his faults tenfold and whispers in the Old Marquis's ear, so of course the Old Marquis disciplines him harshly!"

Madam Wang's thought process was straightforward, and she remained most concerned about the mistress issue. She immediately asked, "Then... are those rumors false? What about the woman outside? And the children?"

Hualan's expression stiffened slightly, and she said awkwardly, "He does have a woman outside, and children—he and Wenshao both admitted it. But..." Seeing Madam Wang's face darken with anger, Hualan quickly added, "Gu Erlang said that woman has ill intentions and he sent her to a manor long ago to be kept under watch. He no longer sees her. As for the illegitimate son, whether he'll be entered into the family registry is still undecided."

Madam Wang's expression cleared again.Old Madam continued to frown, speaking slowly: "Even so, there remains a knot in one's heart - after all, he is a legitimate son born of a concubine." She turned to Madam Wang, "You must consider this marriage carefully. The Ningyuan Marquis Household's status was already high, and now with General Gu's current prominence, they appear exceptionally illustrious and wealthy. However, Ru Yatou is your own flesh and blood. In married life, one cannot focus solely on external appearances - the substance matters more. If handled poorly, our family might earn the reputation of 'caring not for our daughter but coveting wealth and status.' When choosing a son-in-law, character is paramount."

Minglan remained silent with bowed head. In her previous life, she had heard a saying: 'There's no such thing as loyalty, only insufficient temptation.' Old Madam seemed to be a firm believer in this adage. She didn't consider He Hongwen to be peerless, but rather that a physician buried in medical texts and herbology was more reliable than a high-ranking official constantly engaged in lavish banquets and social drinking.

Madam Wang's expression was conflicted, twisting a handkerchief tightly in her hands, clearly becoming hesitant again.

Seeing Old Madam's apparent reluctance and Madam Wang's wavering, Hualan grew somewhat anxious. She quickly interjected with a playful laugh: "Oh, even if you don't trust others, surely you trust your own son-in-law? When my mother-in-law heard this news, she beat her chest in regret again. Though my sister-in-law's situation cannot be changed, she actually suggested that Wenshao offer Cousin Xiumei to Gu Erlang! When my father-in-law found out, he gave her a thorough scolding. Hah! How could she even think of such a thing! Never mind that Uncle Zhang has passed away - even when he was alive, he only held a fifth-rank position. Wenshao considered this carefully and said that although Gu Erlang was wild in his youth, he has truly reformed. His character is quite suitable for marriage. If you don't believe it, Mother can see for yourself when the time comes - his sincerity is genuine and his words are resolute. Besides, if he were completely flawless, would such an opportunity even come to our family? Those noble families who value reputation won't take the risk, while those eagerly seeking the match are merely social climbers. Gu Erlang doesn't want the matches proposed by the Grand Old Madam of the Gu family, which is why he approached your son-in-law."

Hualan was quite eloquent, her speech rising and falling with emotion, each point made reasonably. Just as she was speaking animatedly, she happened to notice Minglan's puzzled expression and casually asked what was wrong.

Minglan glanced at Old Madam's expression and said quietly: "I thought widowers had to settle when remarrying? Why is General Gu... so sought after? Being a stepmother isn't easy. Also, don't secondary wives perform concubine rituals before the first wife's memorial tablet?" Think of Madam You, Jia Zhen's second wife, and Madam Xing, Jia She's second wife - neither lived comfortably, and even senior servants seemed to look down on them.

Just when Hualan had managed to sway Madam Wang, seeing Minglan causing trouble again, she shot her an annoyed look and said: "What does a little girl like you know?! Widowers come in different grades. Those old widowers with legitimate sons from previous marriages naturally can't marry well. But someone like Gu Erlang - young, heroic, and without legitimate sons - if Ru sister bears him a son after marriage, she'll be no different from the first wife! Who would dare say otherwise?!" As she spoke, Hualan reached out to poke Minglan's forehead. Minglan ducked her head and fell silent - she had at least tried to advocate for Rulan.Hualan continued to persuade for quite some time, and as the conversation progressed, Madam Wang grew increasingly inclined to agree to this marriage alliance. She only mentioned needing to discuss it with Sheng Hong. After more conversation, Hualan prepared to take her leave. Madam Wang stood up to see her daughter out, and the mother and daughter walked shoulder to shoulder, chatting as they went. Minglan was left at the entrance of Longevity and Peace Hall, watching until Madam Wang and Hualan's figures disappeared from view before turning back to rejoin Old Madam.

After such a long conversation, Old Madam was already exhausted. She leaned against the kang, resting with her eyes slightly closed. Minglan tiptoed over, fetched a soft fleece blanket, and gently covered Old Madam with it. Unexpectedly, Old Madam suddenly opened her eyes, startling Minglan.

"You... you should try to persuade Rulan more," Old Madam said slowly.

Minglan was slightly surprised. She tilted her head and sat down beside Old Madam. "Has the marriage been settled already? I thought we were waiting for the spring examination results to select a talented young scholar for Sister Ru from among the candidates?"

Old Madam handed the warming pot in her hands to Minglan and wrapped her own hands around Minglan's small ones. A trace of mockery seemed to linger at the corner of her lips. "Marrying into a prestigious family has been her lifelong ambition. If it weren't for that business with Mo, it might have been different. But now, with a son-in-law of even higher status and brighter prospects falling from the sky, how could your mother let such an opportunity slip!"

Minglan pondered carefully and realized it was indeed true. Madam Wang and Consort Lin had been rivals their entire lives, and in the end, a concubine-born daughter was marrying into a family with a higher noble rank than her own legitimate daughter's husband. How could she swallow such resentment? If there were no opportunity, it would be one thing, but now that Gu Tingye had come to propose himself, Madam Wang would likely grow more and more pleased with the idea. Poor Brother Jing, you're truly unlucky—it seems you'll be disappointed again.

"...I wonder what Father will say?" Minglan gazed at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Old Madam let out a cold laugh through her nose, her face etched with helplessness. "Then there's even less to discuss. Men see things differently from women, and besides, your father..." Thinking it improper to speak ill of him in front of a junior, she fell silent.

In truth, Minglan could fill in the rest even without Old Madam's words. To Sheng Hong, Gu Tingye hadn't committed any major faults—he had merely been somewhat wild in his youth. Although his self-cultivation and family management were lacking, his starting point was high enough to skip those steps and directly engage in serving the state and bringing peace to the world!

In the face of the entire family's interests, Rulan's objections would likely carry little weight. Moreover, she couldn't provide any compelling reasons against the match. In the eyes of most men, Gu Tingye's past was just that—the past. A widower having a concubine-born eldest son was normal, and as for the issue of concubines, which noble lady or madam of high officialdom hadn't endured such circumstances? Old Madam and Minglan, with their desire for "a devoted partner until old age," were likely the rare exceptions.

Old Madam's eyes grew heavy with exhaustion. She turned on her side, seemingly ready to sleep. Minglan smoothed her pillow and tucked the fleece blanket securely around her to make her more comfortable. Just as Old Madam was drifting off, she murmured indistinctly, "...It's their own daughter, why should others worry... Those who've never seen the world... That reckless youth, having only recently made his fortune, and they treat him like a treasure... I simply can't approve..."Minglan stood by the kang for a long while, feeling she really ought to speak a few fair words for her savior. Truth be told, Gu Tingye wasn’t all that terrible—at the very least, he was righteous and quick to lend a hand. His archery was precise, his punches were powerful, and even with that full beard, he carried himself with undeniable style.

Alright, if it were her, she might not be keen either. Men of such high rank and influence were far too challenging. Even if their chambers weren’t filled with a dozen stunning beauties, they likely had a constant rotation of fresh flowers. Take Qi Heng’s maternal grandfather, the Marquis of Xiangyang—that old man’s crow’s feet were deep enough to trap flies, yet he still kept a house full of lovely concubines and maids, with rumors of frequent replacements circulating now and then.

Ah, when parents are overly ambitious, their children bear a heavy burden—this holds true across all ages.