The room fell into deadly silence. Old Madam Sheng glanced at Sheng Hong and Wang shi while saying in a meaningful tone, “Changfeng’s engagement sounds good to me, so I’ll try my best to make the proposal for him. However, the Gu’s family is too big and complicated. I never wanted Minglan to marry into that family.”
Hearing that, Wang shi broke into a cold sweat and Sheng Hong only felt bitterness in his mouth.
Old Madam Sheng took a look at Minglan who was still standing there with her head lowered. As Old Madam Sheng saw Minglan’s pointed chin, she got angrier and raised her voice, “Minglan loves easy life and freedom. We should find her a man from an ordinary family to marry. Gu Family never lacks troubles. Minglan is still a young girl who just got married. She doesn’t have a reliable elder to take care of her, neither does she know the details in that family. Every day she is on tenterhooks and afraid that she would make mistakes. This child couldn’t even take care of herself now. She hasn’t gained a foothold yet, someone already wanted to share her wealthy life?”
Wang shi felt her face burning. Sheng Hong glared at her fiercely while thinking, ‘Minglan is not your daughter, so you don’t care for her at all. Luckily I am the one who arranged for Changfeng’s engagement. Otherwise, who knows what kind of woman will you find for him?’
Minglan tried hard not to let the tears in her eyes drop. She knew Old Madam Sheng was setting rules for her, in case Wang shi would make all kinds of requests for everyone. Minglan blinked her eyes hard to squeeze out her tears. Then she raised her head and walked toward Old Madam Sheng, saying smilingly, “Old Madam Sheng loves me so much that she is scared that I will be kicked out from Gu’s family if I empty my husband’s house and give everything to my parents’ family!”
Old Madam Sheng couldn’t help but smile. Minglan held Old Madam Sheng’s arm and coaxed the latter in a sweet tone, “It’s just a few ponds of hot spring. Let’s put others aside first, our own families have to come! By then I’ll give massage to Old Madam and Madam. Old Madam, you know better than anyone about my skills. I’m afraid that you’ll feel so comfortable at that time and be unwilling to leave the pool.”
Old Madam Sheng’s body kept wobbling because Minglan was shaking her arms. Then Old Madam Sheng pinched Minglan fiercely and glowered at the latter with a smile. Minglan turned to Sheng Hong and said in a stern tone with a serious look, “Although I am willing to fulfill my filial duty, I am a girl after all. Father, you still have to rely on my brothers and your sons-in-law. I still have to remind you of one thing, your Sixth Son-In-Law has used a heavy crossbow which weighs three hundred dans before. Both of his arms are able to use the bows, please be careful.”
As the worried look on Sheng Hong’s face disappeared right away, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Then he pointed at Minglan while shaking his head, saying, “What a girl!”
Old Madam Sheng finally laughed. She held her little granddaughter in her arms and patted on the latter’s body, saying, “Still being garrulous all the time!”
After they chatted and laughed for a while, Sheng Hong and Wang shi both left and there were only Old Madam Sheng and Minglan in the hall. Then, Old Madam Sheng, with the smile on her face fading away, got off the Ocean bed and dragged Minglan toward the inner room.
“Tell me, what happened in the Gu’s family?” Old Madam Sheng stared at Minglan with a stern look, “You are brought up by me, I know you so well. Cut the crap and say it now!”
Minglan, knowing that she couldn’t hide it from Old Madam Sheng, spoke frankly from the beginning. It took her a long while to finish telling the whole story.
“So you want to stay in our mansion for a few days to avoid them?” Old Madam Sheng said in a loud voice with a meaningful look in her eyes as if she was staring at a blockhead.
Minglan got a bit bashful and faltered, “... It’s just a thought. I knew it was not appropriate to do so.”
“Not too stupid after all!” Old Madam Sheng rolled her eyes to Minglan angrily.
Minglan touched her head which had been lowered coyly.
Old Madam Sheng dragged Minglan over to her and said slowly, “Tell me the truth, you think your husband has gone too far on this, right? You didn’t want to stay there because you disagreed about his decision.”
Minglan’s expression showed a sense of firmness and she looked right into Old Madam Sheng’s eyes. After a long while, she shook her head and said in a low voice, “No, actually, I think he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Hearing that, Old Madam Sheng was stunned for a moment. Minglan put her head on Old Madam Sheng’s shoulder and said slowly and clearly, “Although those people cried about how pathetic they were, I know that they haven’t been driven into a corner yet. They are well aware that Tingye only wants justice. But none of them has mentioned it.”
“Tingye doesn’t want to force them to die, they just couldn’t bear losing their wealthy and prosperous life. They want to take advantage of Tingye to enjoy the glory and splendor, but they are not willing to repent of what they have done to Madam Bai and Tingye. They cried, howled and acted shamelessly because they wished that Tingye could get softhearted and let go of them.”
Minglan said in a daze, “The reason why I wanted to get away was, was...” It was so annoying. She was not willing to fight those people head-on.
Old Madam Sheng stroked Minglan’s hair fondly and said in an old and tender voice, “You are a clever girl. I don’t need to tell you what to do. When you go back, live well.”
Minglan raised her beaming face and put her arms around Old Madam Sheng’s neck, saying firmly, “Yes.”
...
On that day, after she had stuffed herself in the Sheng’s mansion, she slept for the whole afternoon. Then, she went back to the Cheng Garden in high spirits.
After Minglan had adopted a new attitude, she got more joyful. When she helped Gu Tingye get changed and wash himself, she acted even more considerately than before. Their dinner was placed in the cool yard as usual. After all the maids were dismissed, the couple had a drink with each other.
“I thought you would stay there.” He said that with a smile, seeming a bit drunk.
Minglan shook her head, saying, “My grandmother said that you and I are in the same boat. If you want to murder someone, I’ll help you burn the corpse.
Gu Tingye, with his eyebrows raised, proposed a toast to Minglan and laughed loudly, “Grandma is so wise!”
After that, he drank off the wine in the cup. As he put the cup on the table, he felt totally carefree and then said, “Also, your Third Brother’s engagement truly is awesome. Liu Ming might seem stubborn and insensible but is actually a very sophisticated man. The capital has been in a turmoil over these years and too many officials were sentenced to death by the Dali Temple. However, he can still remain safe until now. That is very impressive.”
Minglan wasn’t surprised to hear that. As the saying went, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The reason why Sheng Hong was able to hit it off with Official Lu, the Minister of Ministry of Works, soon after he had started to work in the Ministry was that they were of the same kind.
Official Lu had planned to retire as Minister of Ministry of Works. However, the mutiny gave him a chance to enter the Cabinet. Sheng Hong already planned to regard Official Lu as his model if nothing unexpected happened.
Since Liu Ming had been friends with Sheng Hong for so many years, Minglan doubted if the former truly was an obstinate man.
“Why are you behaving like this since this is a good engagement?” Seeing Minglan being a bit sentimental, Gu Tingye asked, “Your Third Brother is unwilling to marry that girl?”
Minglan said, “Why wouldn’t he? Third Lady of the Liu Family is just like his father in appearance and temperament.”
Gu Tingye got what Minglan meant right away. After he stared at her for a while, he said, “Both appearance and temperament?” Then the image of a not very good-looking face appeared in his mind.
“Very alike.”
It was not that this Third Lady Liu was an extremely ugly woman, however... Ah-hem, every time Minglan saw that girl, she would recall the stern director of discipline in her high school who always wore a wig and pearl hairpin.
Gu Tingye, his eyes sparkling, asked, “Did your Third Brother know about that?”
“Of course.”
The girls of the two families always hung out with each other. Perhaps Changfeng didn’t remember what Lady Liu looked like as a child. However, every time Rulan came back from Liu’s mansion, she would give great publicity to Third Lady Liu’s appearance since it was very rare for Rulan to find a lady who was way uglier than her.
Minglan said with a sad look, “My Third Brother is so ‘happy’ that he can’t even eat anything.”
The room fell into deadly silence. Old Madam Sheng glanced at Sheng Hong and Wang shi while saying in a meaningful tone, “Changfeng’s engagement sounds good to me, so I’ll try my best to make the proposal for him. However, the Gu’s family is too big and complicated. I never wanted Minglan to marry into that family.”
Hearing that, Wang shi broke into a cold sweat and Sheng Hong only felt bitterness in his mouth.
Old Madam Sheng took a look at Minglan who was still standing there with her head lowered. As Old Madam Sheng saw Minglan’s pointed chin, she got angrier and raised her voice, “Minglan loves easy life and freedom. We should find her a man from an ordinary family to marry. Gu Family never lacks troubles. Minglan is still a young girl who just got married. She doesn’t have a reliable elder to take care of her, neither does she know the details in that family. Every day she is on tenterhooks and afraid that she would make mistakes. This child couldn’t even take care of herself now. She hasn’t gained a foothold yet, someone already wanted to share her wealthy life?”
Wang shi felt her face burning. Sheng Hong glared at her fiercely while thinking, ‘Minglan is not your daughter, so you don’t care for her at all. Luckily I am the one who arranged for Changfeng’s engagement. Otherwise, who knows what kind of woman will you find for him?’
Minglan tried hard not to let the tears in her eyes drop. She knew Old Madam Sheng was setting rules for her, in case Wang shi would make all kinds of requests for everyone. Minglan blinked her eyes hard to squeeze out her tears. Then she raised her head and walked toward Old Madam Sheng, saying smilingly, “Old Madam Sheng loves me so much that she is scared that I will be kicked out from Gu’s family if I empty my husband’s house and give everything to my parents’ family!”
Old Madam Sheng couldn’t help but smile. Minglan held Old Madam Sheng’s arm and coaxed the latter in a sweet tone, “It’s just a few ponds of hot spring. Let’s put others aside first, our own families have to come! By then I’ll give massage to Old Madam and Madam. Old Madam, you know better than anyone about my skills. I’m afraid that you’ll feel so comfortable at that time and be unwilling to leave the pool.”
Old Madam Sheng’s body kept wobbling because Minglan was shaking her arms. Then Old Madam Sheng pinched Minglan fiercely and glowered at the latter with a smile. Minglan turned to Sheng Hong and said in a stern tone with a serious look, “Although I am willing to fulfill my filial duty, I am a girl after all. Father, you still have to rely on my brothers and your sons-in-law. I still have to remind you of one thing, your Sixth Son-In-Law has used a heavy crossbow which weighs three hundred dans before. Both of his arms are able to use the bows, please be careful.”
As the worried look on Sheng Hong’s face disappeared right away, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Then he pointed at Minglan while shaking his head, saying, “What a girl!”
Old Madam Sheng finally laughed. She held her little granddaughter in her arms and patted on the latter’s body, saying, “Still being garrulous all the time!”
After they chatted and laughed for a while, Sheng Hong and Wang shi both left and there were only Old Madam Sheng and Minglan in the hall. Then, Old Madam Sheng, with the smile on her face fading away, got off the Ocean bed and dragged Minglan toward the inner room.
“Tell me, what happened in the Gu’s family?” Old Madam Sheng stared at Minglan with a stern look, “You are brought up by me, I know you so well. Cut the crap and say it now!”
Minglan, knowing that she couldn’t hide it from Old Madam Sheng, spoke frankly from the beginning. It took her a long while to finish telling the whole story.
“So you want to stay in our mansion for a few days to avoid them?” Old Madam Sheng said in a loud voice with a meaningful look in her eyes as if she was staring at a blockhead.
Minglan got a bit bashful and faltered, “... It’s just a thought. I knew it was not appropriate to do so.”
“Not too stupid after all!” Old Madam Sheng rolled her eyes to Minglan angrily.
Minglan touched her head which had been lowered coyly.
Old Madam Sheng dragged Minglan over to her and said slowly, “Tell me the truth, you think your husband has gone too far on this, right? You didn’t want to stay there because you disagreed about his decision.”
Minglan’s expression showed a sense of firmness and she looked right into Old Madam Sheng’s eyes. After a long while, she shook her head and said in a low voice, “No, actually, I think he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Hearing that, Old Madam Sheng was stunned for a moment. Minglan put her head on Old Madam Sheng’s shoulder and said slowly and clearly, “Although those people cried about how pathetic they were, I know that they haven’t been driven into a corner yet. They are well aware that Tingye only wants justice. But none of them has mentioned it.”
“Tingye doesn’t want to force them to die, they just couldn’t bear losing their wealthy and prosperous life. They want to take advantage of Tingye to enjoy the glory and splendor, but they are not willing to repent of what they have done to Madam Bai and Tingye. They cried, howled and acted shamelessly because they wished that Tingye could get softhearted and let go of them.”
Minglan said in a daze, “The reason why I wanted to get away was, was...” It was so annoying. She was not willing to fight those people head-on.
Old Madam Sheng stroked Minglan’s hair fondly and said in an old and tender voice, “You are a clever girl. I don’t need to tell you what to do. When you go back, live well.”
Minglan raised her beaming face and put her arms around Old Madam Sheng’s neck, saying firmly, “Yes.”
...
On that day, after she had stuffed herself in the Sheng’s mansion, she slept for the whole afternoon. Then, she went back to the Cheng Garden in high spirits.
After Minglan had adopted a new attitude, she got more joyful. When she helped Gu Tingye get changed and wash himself, she acted even more considerately than before. Their dinner was placed in the cool yard as usual. After all the maids were dismissed, the couple had a drink with each other.
“I thought you would stay there.” He said that with a smile, seeming a bit drunk.
Minglan shook her head, saying, “My grandmother said that you and I are in the same boat. If you want to murder someone, I’ll help you burn the corpse.
Gu Tingye, with his eyebrows raised, proposed a toast to Minglan and laughed loudly, “Grandma is so wise!”
After that, he drank off the wine in the cup. As he put the cup on the table, he felt totally carefree and then said, “Also, your Third Brother’s engagement truly is awesome. Liu Ming might seem stubborn and insensible but is actually a very sophisticated man. The capital has been in a turmoil over these years and too many officials were sentenced to death by the Dali Temple. However, he can still remain safe until now. That is very impressive.”
Minglan wasn’t surprised to hear that. As the saying went, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The reason why Sheng Hong was able to hit it off with Official Lu, the Minister of Ministry of Works, soon after he had started to work in the Ministry was that they were of the same kind.
Official Lu had planned to retire as Minister of Ministry of Works. However, the mutiny gave him a chance to enter the Cabinet. Sheng Hong already planned to regard Official Lu as his model if nothing unexpected happened.
Since Liu Ming had been friends with Sheng Hong for so many years, Minglan doubted if the former truly was an obstinate man.
“Why are you behaving like this since this is a good engagement?” Seeing Minglan being a bit sentimental, Gu Tingye asked, “Your Third Brother is unwilling to marry that girl?”
Minglan said, “Why wouldn’t he? Third Lady of the Liu Family is just like his father in appearance and temperament.”
Gu Tingye got what Minglan meant right away. After he stared at her for a while, he said, “Both appearance and temperament?” Then the image of a not very good-looking face appeared in his mind.
“Very alike.”
It was not that this Third Lady Liu was an extremely ugly woman, however... Ah-hem, every time Minglan saw that girl, she would recall the stern director of discipline in her high school who always wore a wig and pearl hairpin.
Gu Tingye, his eyes sparkling, asked, “Did your Third Brother know about that?”
“Of course.”
The girls of the two families always hung out with each other. Perhaps Changfeng didn’t remember what Lady Liu looked like as a child. However, every time Rulan came back from Liu’s mansion, she would give great publicity to Third Lady Liu’s appearance since it was very rare for Rulan to find a lady who was way uglier than her.
Minglan said with a sad look, “My Third Brother is so ‘happy’ that he can’t even eat anything.”
