The Story of Ming Lan

As it turned out, the greatest beneficiary after the turmoil was Sheng Hong.

Ancient scholars valued integrity and moral character. As a civil official who had risen through the imperial examinations, Sheng Hong had three daughters married into titled families. Even if the Zhongqin Earl's household had long been neglected, and even if Liang Han was merely the youngest son, the newly prominent Gu Tingye was undeniably real. In the eyes of the self-proclaimed pure and noble civil official circles, this inevitably earned him a reputation for "climbing the social ladder by currying favor with the powerful."

However, Old Master Sheng was quite fortunate—before he even reached the bridge, the boat straightened itself out.

"You intend to marry your third daughter to that provincial scholar?" Sheng Hong's former superior, now the Deputy Chief of the Grand Secretariat, Old Master Lu, was rather surprised. He had gotten along well with Sheng Hong during their time in the Ministry of Works and knew that the third daughter of the Sheng family was the legitimate one.

Sheng Hong nodded emphatically, then cupped his hands and said, "I lost my father in my youth, and none of the elders from my clan are in the capital. I humbly request that you, Old Master, serve as the matchmaker for my two daughters."

Old Master Lu was naturally willing, but he couldn't help asking, "I originally thought..." It was a characteristic of scholars to leave half of what they meant unsaid.

Sheng Hong wore an apologetic and pained expression: "Shameful, shameful. I broke my promise first and have long felt deeply remorseful toward the Wen family. I have long intended to renew the marriage alliance, if only to uphold the teachings of the sages."

Old Master Lu was deeply moved and readily agreed to act as the matchmaker for the Sheng daughters. When this news spread, everyone in the capital was astonished. After a moment of stunned silence, they unanimously praised Sheng Hong's integrity.

Long before Molan was betrothed to the Wen family, Madam Wang, thinking the matter was settled, had inadvertently revealed some hints in public. Many people knew that the Sheng family intended to marry Molan to a provincial scholar. Unexpectedly, a storm arose later, and Molan married into the Liang household. While people secretly admired Molan's good fortune, they also felt sorry for the unlucky scholar who had been cut off. Even more unexpectedly, Sheng Hong insisted on betrothing his legitimate daughter to this unfortunate scholar. Wasn't the Sheng family afraid of angering Gu Tingye?

Yet, after waiting for a long time, there was no sign of any reaction from the Gu family. Instead, they busily prepared for the wedding, leaving those who had been waiting to watch the drama utterly disappointed. The most frustrated were the Peng family—both families had substituted a legitimate daughter with a concubine's daughter, so why was the Sheng family unscathed while theirs suffered? Gu Tingye, you're playing favorites!

From renowned scholars to officials in the Six Ministries, everyone was delighted and lavished praise on Comrade Sheng Hong's "integrity." Old Master Sheng gained both fame and fortune, securing both face and substance.

Generally speaking, husband and wife are often opposites in fortune. Just as Sheng Hong was being praised by his superiors and admired by his subordinates, Madam Wang encountered nothing but setbacks. In early December, Old Madam Wen finally gathered sufficient betrothal gifts and came to the Sheng family to formalize the engagement. When the Wen family had been proposed for Molan, Madam Wang had found Old Madam Wen quite acceptable in every way. But when it came to Rulan, she found everything about her distressing.

At one moment, she felt the betrothal gifts were too meager; at another, she thought Old Madam Wen was stingy and harsh. Her thoughts were transparent to all the women in the household. Hai Shi wisely claimed that her morning sickness had not yet subsided and stayed holed up in her room. Madam Wang dared not speak her mind in front of Old Mrs. Sheng, so she spent her days sullen and unhappy, her temper growing ten times more volatile.

Old Mrs. Sheng, who was already angry with Madam Wang over the matter of Minglan, felt a secret sense of satisfaction seeing her in such a state. However, Rulan was also her granddaughter, and after a few days, she could no longer stand to watch and had to speak up."How could you handle such an important matter without consulting the family? You just went ahead and did it?!" Old Madam sat on the kang, her voice and expression severe.

Madam Wang stood below, her face showing signs of defiance as she defended herself: "Wen's family background is ordinary, and seeing Rulan suffer such grievances, I couldn't bear it, so I provided more support."

Old Madam looked at Madam Wang's face, her anger rising. She slapped the edge of the kang and scolded: "You foolish woman! Do you think I'm nagging you because I care about that bit of money? In all these years since you married into this family, have I or the master ever coveted even a fraction of your dowry?! Who are you showing this petty-mindedness to?!"

Seeing that Old Madam was truly angry, Madam Wang quickly knelt down, repeatedly saying: "Please don't be angry, Old Madam, it's all my fault. I should have discussed it with you first, but Rulan was just too wronged..." As she spoke, Madam Wang couldn't help but tear up, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "Old Madam, you haven't met Wen's mother, she's truly a coarse village woman. I was just feeling sorry for Rulan, so..."

Seeing Madam Wang's maternal concern, Old Madam's tone softened slightly: "Wen's father was also a scholar, just unlucky. He passed the imperial examination but died of typhoid fever before he could take office. If his widow weren't tough, how could she have supported the family! I know you're afraid Rulan will suffer after marriage, which is why you bought them a house in the city. But your actions are having the opposite effect!"

Madam Wang stopped crying and looked up blankly, completely confused.

Faced with Madam Wang's stupidity, Old Madam felt helpless. She lowered her head and smoothed the dark blue squirrel fur trim on her sleeve, taking a moment to compose herself before speaking calmly: "Although I haven't met Wen's mother, considering she raised two sons as a widow, and looking at Wen's usual clothing and expenses, I can imagine she must be very calculating with money. You noticed this too, which is why you're worried about Rulan, right?"

Madam Wang nodded vigorously and quickly interjected: "You're right, mother. I heard Wen's mother always favors her younger son, giving him large sums of money. When they came for the betrothal ceremony, I tested the waters, and she actually claimed lack of funds, saying Rulan and her husband would have to rent their own place after marriage! That's why I..."

Madam Wang awkwardly closed her mouth under Old Madam's glare. Old Madam turned her head and sighed before continuing: "Although buying a house for your son-in-law is somewhat presumptuous, it's not entirely wrong - it's common for official families to support poor but promising sons-in-law in their studies. But your mistake was buying them a large two-courtyard, three-bay house. Do the young couple need such a big place?!... When the eldest son has a large house in the city, how could his mother not come to enjoy it? Just wait - soon your in-law will move her entire family from the countryside outside the capital. When that happens, Rulan will have brought this suffering upon herself!"

Thinking it through, Madam Wang realized this was indeed true. Gradually, her lips trembled and her face turned pale.Old Mrs. Sheng shook her head in frustration, lamenting, "You've always been this way—obsessed with control and making decisions alone. There's nothing wrong with that; what matriarch doesn't want to have the final say? But you must act in a way that reassures others! Yet at critical moments, you always lose your clarity! Had you consulted me beforehand, things wouldn't have come to this. Rulan may be unaccomplished, but I watched her grow up—do you think I'd harm her? If you truly want to support Rulan, convert the assets into silver or land, then buy them a modest home. When her mother-in-law sees how small it is, she'll be too embarrassed to crowd in, and Rulan will finally have some peace!"

Madam Wang grew flustered, stammering for a long moment before saying, "What should we do now? ... I've already had people prepare the new residence, even bought maids and servants, and the Wen family knows about it!"

Fuming, Old Mrs. Sheng retorted sharply, "She's your daughter—you decide."

Only then did Madam Wang grasp the severity of the situation. She knelt and pleaded with the old madam for what felt like ages, repeatedly admitting her faults and clutching at her sleeves in tears. Though still resentful, the old madam couldn't entirely abandon her. Finally, she relented, "There's no need to worry too much. No matter how formidable your mother-in-law is, she wouldn't dare bully Rulan to death while living off her dowry. Besides, given Rulan's temperament, she's unlikely to suffer much. Keep quiet—your words tend to make things worse. Have Brother Bo speak with his brother-in-law and advise him to be wise. If conflicts arise between his mother and wife, he must judge fairly without favoring either side, handling matters as they should be... Hmph, let me remind you, our Sheng family has had daughters who divorced before!"

Madam Wang sat on the floor, tears streaming down her face.

As a seasoned eavesdropper, Minglan, who had been dozing in the inner room, was wide awake by now. She listened, shaking her head in dismay.

Madam Wang was like a clumsy director staging a play: when she aimed for comedy, the audience wept; when she aimed for tragedy, they burst into laughter. Though her productions somehow turned a profit, they always left everyone bewildered. Fortunately, the investors and producers—representing sound judgment—kept the overall direction stable, ensuring things never went completely awry.

After a few more sobbed complaints, Madam Wang left in despair. Only then did Minglan dare emerge. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "Grandmother, is Old Madam Wen really that troublesome?"

Still irritated, Old Madam sipped her tea slowly and replied with a faint smile, "Is there any mother-in-law in this world who isn't troublesome? But in such matters, it all depends on the husband. Your eldest sister's husband wasn't as perceptive as Brother Bo, which caused Hualan much suffering. Thankfully, it was Hualan—she endured year after year, wearing him down drop by drop until he gradually came around. Now he supports his wife in everything and even sees his mother's faults."

Minglan applauded in admiration, "Eldest Sister is truly remarkable. And her husband is quite filial—to think she managed to sway him over time." In her previous life, she'd never had to face a mother-in-law, so she deeply respected Hualan's skill. If modern women all possessed Hualan's abilities, Yao Yiyi's workload would probably be cut in half.Old Madam sighed softly, "The most difficult thing is the word 'endurance.' No matter how filial and brotherly your elder brother-in-law is, he cannot bear to see his mother favor the eldest branch to such an extent, wishing to give all the best and most valuable things to them. After all, your brother-in-law is an ambitious man who values face and needs to manage social engagements. When he faces difficulties, his own mother stands by indifferently, forcing him to lower his head and seek help from his wife. Yet when the eldest branch encounters trouble, his mother pressures him to assist wholeheartedly. Everyone in this world has selfish motives; your brother-in-law has his own wife and children. Year after year, month after month like this, even a biological son would grow distant."

Minglan promptly flattered, "Grandmother speaks wisely. Just this word 'endurance' is truly remarkable. Eldest sister is such a strong-willed person—to be able to restrain her heart and endure like this is all due to your excellent upbringing in the past!"

Old Madam glanced sideways at Minglan’s ingratiating expression, her flattering smile revealing two adorable dimples. Ever since she had confessed everything about Gu Tingye, Minglan had felt guilty toward her grandmother, maintaining a sincere, apologetic demeanor day in and day out, striving to make amends. Old Madam found this secretly amusing and deliberately remarked, "Speaking of which, your luck isn’t bad. Your mother-in-law is a stepmother—that should save you much worry in the future."

After saying this, Old Madam watched Minglan with interest, only to find her not blushing in the slightest. Instead, Minglan calmly shook her head and said, "Not so, not so. Without personal witness and evidence, one should not draw conclusions lightly."

Old Madam took a long moment before uttering an "Oh."

As a legal professional, Minglan had always advocated letting evidence speak.

Currently, the Ningyuan Marquis Household was in decline. Not only had its plaque been removed, but censors and officials continuously submitted memorials accusing the household of "forming cliques and acting recklessly, with longstanding misconduct," presenting their claims as firm facts. Among the noble families already detained for interrogation, some had confessed involvement with the Ningyuan Marquis Household. The Dali Temple, responsible for investigating the rebellion, proposed that even if the title were not immediately revoked and the family arrested, they should at least be summoned for questioning.

However, the current Marquis of Ningyuan, Gu Tingyu, was critically ill, often unconscious. Out of consideration for Gu Tingye, the emperor withheld all memorials impeaching the Ningyuan Marquis Household. Thus, amidst the turmoil, the marquis household alone remained unscathed among the implicated noble families.

Now, Gu Tingye was at the peak of his influence. Not only had he been residing in the governor’s mansion bestowed by the emperor since returning to the capital, but he had even enlisted the old couple, General Bo and his wife, to propose marriage to the Sheng family. Without a word spoken, outsiders couldn’t help but speculate. Those with ulterior motives gradually unearthed past events of the Ningyuan Marquis Household, and rumors began to circulate, vaguely hinting at the bullying Gu Tingye had endured back then.

In truth, Madam Qin, the Grand Old Madam of the Gu family, had always enjoyed a good reputation among noblewomen in the capital—gentle, respectful, virtuous, and kind, often caring for orphans and the vulnerable. Even now, no one directly accused this stepmother of malicious intent. Aside from those trying to flatter Gu Tingye, most people secretly sympathized with Madam Qin.

But outcomes often lead to retrospection about causes. Madam Qin’s own sons were well—married with children. Even Gu Tingyu, despite his illness, had managed to survive all these years. Only Gu Tingye had left home, wandering for years without returning. Such talk, when spread, sounded unpleasant. Yet, what were the actual facts? Minglan looked up at the ceiling. This... probably... was quite complicated.It seemed the heavens had heard Minglan’s silent plea. Within a few days, Gu Tingye sent an invitation, announcing that Lady Qin would be paying a formal visit. Upon hearing the news, Minglan was momentarily stunned. Old Madam remained silent for a long while before sighing, “This is for the best. Regardless of past grievances, we must ensure propriety during the wedding preparations.” After a pause, she added softly, “Gu… he is thoughtful after all.”

Minglan said nothing, understanding Old Madam’s meaning.

According to conventional marriage customs, matchmaking and betrothal rites should be handled by parents and elders. Any deviation from this norm would appear improper. Although Lady Qin had once attempted to interfere in Gu Tingye’s marriage plans, she had fallen silent after he thwarted her in a rather embarrassing manner. Now that Gu Tingye was willing to yield, Lady Qin could gracefully step down from her stance.

But Lady Qin did not descend on a donkey—she arrived swiftly in a four-horse carriage draped in dark green brocade with a crimson canopy.

The next day, Minglan lay sprawled on the heated kang, her belly full, lazily embroidering a pair of mandarin duck pillowcases on crimson satin. She had just finished two clusters of water weeds when Cuiping hurried in to announce that the Grand Old Madam of the Ningyuan Marquis Household had arrived and was already conversing in the Longevity and Peace Hall.

“Old Madam said the young lady must dress smartly!” Cuiping urged Danju upon seeing Xiaotao blankly holding a plain everyday coat. The maids immediately dove into the wardrobe, rummaging through clothes.

Minglan changed into a pink Japanese satin jacket embroidered with intertwining apricot and pomegranate blossoms, paired with a rose-pink pleated skirt trimmed with deep-colored borders. Her hair was neatly styled into a crescent bun, adorned only with a pair of kingfisher-feather hairpins engraved with double happiness and double ruìyi motifs—elegant and radiant.

The group hurried toward the Longevity and Peace Hall. At the entrance, Minglan paused to catch her breath and adjust her hair. As the maid at the door announced her, Minglan stepped inside, walking slowly with her head lowered. From the corner of her eye, she saw Old Madam seated in the place of honor, with a richly dressed woman sitting beside her at the adjacent table. Madam Wang sat in a lower seat and, upon seeing Minglan, pointed at her with a smile. “This is my sixth daughter.” Then, gesturing to the well-dressed woman, she introduced, “This is the Grand Old Madam of the Ningyuan Marquis Household. Minglan, pay your respects.”

Minglan bowed gracefully, her skirt undisturbed and posture poised, exuding refinement and dignity.

At first glance, Lady Qin’s eyes lit up with astonishment. She promptly asked Minglan to rise, then drew her closer for a careful inspection. The girl’s snow-white skin and flower-like beauty seemed almost indescribable, and Lady Qin could not help but praise, “What a lovely child! How is it that she’s so exquisitely beautiful?”

Minglan kept her head bowed shyly but stole a sidelong glance at Lady Qin. After a quick assessment, she could not help feeling inwardly surprised.

Lady Qin wore a dark rust-colored jacket embroidered with chrysanthemum vines and a honey-colored cotton gauze skirt. Her hair was simply coiled into a round bun, secured with a translucent white jade hairpin carved with blessings and longevity. Her skin was fair and lustrous, and her lips carried a dignified yet gentle smile. She appeared amiable, warm, and kind—a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman, with only the fine lines at the corners of her eyes hinting at her age.

In terms of years, she was older than Madam Wang by several years, but in terms of appearance, Madam Wang would hardly dare address her as “elder sister.”Grand Old Madam Qin held Minglan's hand and asked her amiably about her favorite foods, what books she read, and her daily activities. Minglan answered each question according to etiquette, which seemed to please Grand Old Madam Qin greatly. She then took off a pair of jade bracelets from her wrist and slipped them onto Minglan's, exclaiming with a smile, "What a lovely child! It's as if she stepped right out of a painting!"

Minglan's cheeks flushed slightly as she stood with her head bowed, feigning shyness. Old Madam cast her a faint glance before turning to reply modestly, "She truly is still just a child and quite inexperienced."

Grand Old Madam Qin chuckled lightly and said, "Old Madam, you are too humble. This child's refined demeanor is no pretense—she is clever, perceptive, and bright. The young ladies of your household are truly well-raised."

Madam Wang, feeling rather proud, couldn't resist adding, "I don't mean to boast, but we put more effort into raising our girls than our boys. They are carefully taught in reading, needlework, and household management."

Grand Old Madam Qin's eyes flickered briefly as she smiled and agreed. Madam Wang was thoroughly pleased by her words.

Madam Qin's voice was soft and gentle, her murmurs as delicate as whispers, yet she had a way of persuading others without them realizing it. Her laughter carried an air of noble grace. If Madam Liang of Yongchang's nobility was marked by a detached calmness, Madam Qin's elegance was quietly gentle and unassuming.

She knew exactly how to speak to different people. With Old Madam, her tone was refined and cultured, every word carrying the elegance of a noble household's young lady. With Madam Wang, she was cheerful and unrestrained, speaking freely and amiably. After a while, Old Madam remained composed, merely adding a touch of affectionate courtesy, while Madam Wang gradually let down her initial guard and found their conversation increasingly agreeable.

After the women had chatted and laughed for some time, Grand Old Madam Qin suddenly hesitated, glanced at Minglan, and seemed to hold back her words. Surprisingly, the usually slow-witted Madam Wang caught on quickly and urged, "Please speak freely, Grand Old Madam. There's no need for hesitation."

Grand Old Madam Qin smiled cheerfully and no longer held back. "In that case, I shall not stand on ceremony. The reason for my visit today is to present my family's Erlang's horoscope." As she spoke, she drew a large, gold-sprinkled red paper from her sleeve and handed it respectfully with both hands to Old Madam. Then she continued, "If you do not find our humble Gu residence unworthy, I would boldly ask for Miss Ming's horoscope in return."

Minglan lowered her head further, feeling greatly troubled. She knew she ought to be blushing deeply and appearing utterly bashful, but... her cheeks refused to redden! She couldn't very well slap herself hard a few times, could she?

Old Madam took the horoscope, glanced over it briefly, and a look of satisfaction appeared on her face. She glanced at Madam Wang, who understood immediately and turned with a smile to say, "What talk of unworthiness! The Ningyuan Marquis Household has rendered meritorious service since the founding of the dynasty and commands respect on the frontiers. Who in the world does not admire them? I only fear our Minglan may not be worthy enough!"

In truth, Madam Wang's words were merely polite—an extended version of "you flatter me." Yet, to her surprise, Grand Old Madam Qin's eyes suddenly welled up, and her expression grew somewhat sorrowful.

Noticing this, Madam Wang quickly pressed for an explanation. Grand Old Madam Qin dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and forced a smile, saying, "It's nothing, only... I must mention one more thing today. I hope Old Madam and Sister Wang will not think me presumptuous."

"Please speak, Madam," Old Madam said calmly, her eyes brightening.Lady Qin set down her handkerchief, her smile still gentle though tinged with sorrow. "Erlang has always been strong-willed ever since he was a child. After that falling-out with the Old Marquis and all these years away from home, he's grown distant from the family. His elder brother and I have been deeply troubled by this. After all, the Gu family is his home. Now that he's to be married, I thought... the wedding ought to be held at the Ningyuan Marquis Household."

Madam Wang hesitated slightly. As the unofficial mother-in-law caught between a stepson and stepmother's complicated history, she wasn't in a position to comment prematurely. After a brief contemplation, the Old Madam said, "Not to mention the marriage hasn't been finalized yet, even if Ming Yatou were to join their family, we shouldn't casually interfere with the Gu family's affairs."

Lady Qin sighed softly and looked directly at the Old Madam, her gaze frank and sincere. She lowered her voice, "Ye-ge'er's elder brother is seriously ill now, lying in bed all day thinking of Erlang. He says this heavy responsibility must be shared with his own brother, as the younger ones below are all hopeless. If Ye-ge'er could return to the household, in the future..." Her words trailed off into another soft sigh.

Madam Wang's eyes lit up. It was no secret that Gu Tingyu was critically ill without an heir. Being married into a marquis' household and becoming the marquis' wife were two entirely different concepts. The status difference between being the mother-in-law of a marquis' relative and being the mother-in-law of the marquis himself was vast as the sea. Moreover, the Marquis of Ningyuan indeed needed Gu Tingye to maintain the family's prestige now. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but say: "Naturally, returning home would be better..." The rest of her words were cut off by Old Madam's gaze, and Madam Wang slowly withdrew her statement.

Old Madam shifted her gaze from Madam Wang and smiled instead: "Commander Gu is a sensible man who will surely understand the Marquis' difficulties and Madam's thoughtful intentions."

Grand Old Madam Qin didn't seem displeased at all. She turned to glance at Minglan standing nearby, then looked back at Old Madam, staring directly at her as she spoke slowly, word by word: "Stepmothers have always had difficult positions since ancient times. Everyone knows about my Erlang - mischievous and reckless in his youth, then wandering the world, his temperament has become somewhat stubborn. He once declared 'I will only marry a legitimate daughter'... Now... I find Minglan to be excellent. With me here, I cannot promise much else, but I will never let anyone bully her!"

By the end, her voice was almost choked with emotion. Madam Wang was quite moved, feeling these words made sense, and nodded with a soft sigh.

However, Old Madam frowned as if puzzled, then turned to look at Minglan. She saw Minglan slightly raise her head, her face still calm but her large eyes sparkling brightly. Minglan immediately lowered her head, not daring to let others notice the subtle changes in her expression. She knew where the problem lay!

—Gu Tingye had expressed his intention to marry into the Sheng family, and this matter had reached the Emperor's ears. Everyone thought the one marrying him would be a legitimate daughter of the Sheng family. Who would have expected such a twist - Rulan was matched with someone else, and then Gu Tingye silently accepted a concubine-born daughter of the Sheng family. Why were the civil officials so pleased? Because they believed this represented the new nobility's compromise and respect toward them, hence all the praise outside.

Minglan's mind was clear - most people would probably think Gu Tingye had conceded, but in reality, only she and Old Madam knew the situation was exactly the opposite. She was the one who had been outmaneuvered.

According to conventional thinking, given Gu Tingye and the Qin family's usual reputation, Grand Old Madam Qin's words just now were actually quite persuasive. But... a barely noticeable smile appeared on Minglan's face. She finally understood where her greatest advantage lay—she knew a Gu Tingye that others didn't. Very few people, especially those in the Gu family, would know this.

Minglan slowly raised her head, her gaze meeting Old Madam's. Old Madam seemed to gradually understand too, a subtle delight appearing at the corner of her mouth as she turned to answer Grand Old Madam Qin: "Madam must be mistaken. Our Sixth Miss has always been legitimate-born."