Chapter 175: The Wind Subsides, the Drums Break: Arson, Manniang, and Chang Ge'er (Part 1)
A bittersweet taste permeated Minglan's mouth as she slowly regained consciousness. Before her stood Aunt Cui with a concerned expression, holding a small enamel pot of ginseng soup. She said, "Madam, it's nothing serious."
Minglan waved her hand. Her mind had been filled with worries and she felt dizzy from overthinking. She had exerted herself for nearly seven to eight hours straight, as if she had been preparing tirelessly for a math competition and then running a full marathon without rest. Her body and mind were exhausted to the extreme, causing her to fall into a deep slumber. Now, as she struggled to sit up, she felt weak all over, her voice hoarse. "Let me see the child."
The midwife beside her quickly brought over the tightly wrapped swaddling clothes. Her face was all smiles as she handed it to Minglan, saying repeatedly, "It's a chubby little boy, fair and handsome! Congratulations, Madam!"
Minglan's arms lacked strength, so she had to rely on Aunt Cui's arm to get a glimpse. She couldn't help but smile bitterly. Where did this chubby, fair, and handsome little bundle of flesh come from? However, he was indeed plump and chubby, with a round head and chubby cheeks. His facial features were not very distinct, but beneath his swollen eyelids was a long and curved eyelash line. It was difficult to make out his features clearly, but he kept making small animal-like noises.
"He cried a lot just now, his voice was so loud it almost shook the roof off! He's a strong little boy!" Aunt Cui laughed until tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. "Now he's probably tired from all the crying."
Minglan weakly nodded and tried to remain calm. "Reward! Everyone worked hard, so there will be generous rewards for all!"
The maids and servants in the room all bowed to express their gratitude.
Minglan, still catching her breath, leaned against the soft cushion, laboriously cradling the little one in her arms. She then loosened her clothing to let him try suckling. The maids on both sides were a bit stunned; it wasn't common for a lady to breastfeed on her own. However, Aunt Cui assisted in supporting the child. After numerous debates and persuasions, Minglan had already been convinced. The wet nurse was still standing by, but for now, Minglan wanted to try feeding him herself. The benefits of the initial breast milk were said to be extraordinary, promoting the baby's health and enhancing resistance. In an era with a high infant mortality rate and no access to antibiotics, Minglan couldn't afford to miss this opportunity. Plus, with no interference from in-laws or constraints from sisters-in-law, when else could she exercise her authority?
The little one felt incredibly soft and his tiny mouth squirmed as it touched his mother's skin. Surprisingly, he automatically produced a sucking motion. Though the suction wasn't strong, it was evident that he was making a determined effort. After alternating sides for quite some time, the little one persisted, showing relentless dedication. Aside from two interruptions where he stopped and cried a few times, as a protest for what seemed like futile efforts, he continued diligently attempting to suckle. With his bald and tender gums biting down on the source of nourishment, his round little head remained resolute, nestled against his mother's chest. Minglan found it both amusing and touching, kissing his bald little forehead – this was indeed a strong and resilient little life.
After Aunt Cui and the two midwives had repeated "let it go" eleven times, the little rascal's efforts finally paid off, and he suckled the precious colostrum. Watching the little one earnestly swallowing with closed eyes, hot tears welled up in Minglan's eyes. For this little bundle of joy, Minglan suddenly felt that all the hardships were worth it. Aunt Cui turned away to discreetly wipe her tears as well.
Minglan was almost exhausted, but she couldn't help but admire every inch of her child, from his translucent pink fingers and toes to his crumpled little ears. Newborns didn't consume much, so after handing the baby back to Aunt Cui, Minglan fell asleep again. Throughout, she hadn't noticed that the towering flames outside had long been extinguished, replaced by the serene glow of lamps. Even if she had noticed, she would probably only have said, "Well done, Tuer, there will be a big reward for you later."
Minglan, this person, is probably naturally lacking in alertness. She slept particularly soundly this time, and when she woke up again, it was already broad daylight. The original bloody and murky smell in the room was gone, and she felt much fresher and cleaner. It seemed that Aunt Cui had taken the opportunity while she was asleep to clean up the sweat stains on her body a little. Sitting by the bed was a tall man with a full stubble on his face, staring fixedly at a large bundle on the pillow next to her. His hand was reaching out but seemed unsure how to touch the bundle.
Minglan collected herself and, with a sharp glance, instantly erupted in anger. All the hardships and difficulties of these days came to mind, and she blamed them all on this useless man. Ignoring her dry throat, she inexplicably became excited: "You unfaithful person, daring to come back! What did you say when you left? Now that everything is peaceful, you come back! You, you..."
There were still several maids and old women standing in the room. Aunt Cui felt embarrassed and quickly asked Danju to take everyone out. Gu Tingye, on the other hand, was quite thick-skinned and didn't feel offended at all. He even smiled and pressed Minglan back onto the bed: "You're very tired, don't get up. You can scold me lying down."
Minglan could only wish she could pounce on him and take a bite, but seeing him gazing affectionately at the large bundle, Minglan turned her head to the side and saw a baby lying next to her pillow. The moist little mouth moved slightly, puffing out two little bubbles, sleeping peacefully with closed eyes.
"He's really handsome, with strong and robust arms and legs, and quite clever," Minglan remarked.
Gu Tingye's gaze was so gentle that it could almost drip water. He couldn't help but imagine this chubby little bundle as a genius, both intellectually and physically gifted. He even teased Minglan affectionately, "Let's keep our voices down, we shouldn't disturb him." Minglan almost burst out laughing, but managed to control herself in time.
Gu Tingye continued to gaze at the child with fascination, then said to Minglan, "You don't know, this little guy has a lot of strength. His crying is so loud that even I could hear it outside the courtyard. When he grows up, he will definitely be someone remarkable."
Minglan had an instinctive urge to retort, thinking, 'A loud cry at most qualifies him to be a singer, it doesn't necessarily mean he'll be remarkable.' But then, she was suddenly surprised and asked, "When did you come back?"
Gu Tingye finally lifted his gaze, and the smile disappeared from his face. "At the time when the mansion caught fire."
Minglan's expression changed, and she carefully examined Gu Tingye. She noticed he was wearing a somewhat worn-out dark robe, with signs of weathering on his face. His riding boots were also worn and torn. It was then that she remembered the current situation and struggled to sit up again. "Right, there's a fire outside... and also, Lady Dowager... and the Yu family..." Her words trailed off into a tangled mess as Minglan didn't know where to begin.
Gu Tingye felt pity in his heart and helped Minglan sit up, placing a thick cushion behind her back. He comforted her in a low voice, "Don't worry, I'm back now, and I'm here for everything. I'm sorry you've been through this, it's all my fault." Minglan's nose tingled, her eyes moistened, and she lowered her head and turned her face aside, letting the soft cushion absorb her tears. Seeing this, Gu Tingye also felt deeply moved. He was not used to speaking softly to women, so he simply leaned over, tightly embracing Minglan, and gently patting her back.
To say she wasn't wronged would be a lie. Yao Yiyi vividly remembered the situations of her two best friends when they were pregnant. The husband of her first friend, a criminal investigator, once wore his police uniform in the middle of the night to knock wildly on the door of the neighborhood convenience store, scaring the elderly couple who ran the shop half to death just because his wife was craving canned sweet soup. As for the second friend, things were even more outrageous. In broad daylight, she was craving deep-fried dough sticks, and her husband, who worked at the tax bureau, had to use his authority and money to convince the lunch vendor to set up the frying pan again. And what about her?
Minglan nestled against Gu Tingye's shoulder, quietly sobbing. Her husband had disappeared, his whereabouts unknown, and the situation was uncertain. At home, there was also a manipulative old witch to contend with. She had been engaging in mental battles day in and day out, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed with fear and worry. If it weren't for her strong mental resilience, she wouldn't have made it through. She couldn't help but think how others would fare in her shoes.
Aunt Cui noticed something was amiss and hurried over to advise, "Madam, it's not good to cry during confinement. Pull yourself together quickly. Falling ill afterwards won't be easy to deal with!" Gu Tingye felt anxious and quickly turned Minglan's face to wipe away her tears, coaxing her not to cry. He wasn't used to speaking softly to women, so after some thought, he came up with a roundabout way to comfort her, "What's the use of crying? An eye for an eye is the way to go. Once you're feeling better, I'll let you beat me up to vent your anger. I won't fight back!"
Minglan winced as he wiped her face, but also found it amusing. She scolded, "You're kneading dough or something? Let go already!" She knew he was also facing difficulties outside, struggling to achieve success and fame.
"Have you finished your tasks in the south?" Minglan wiped away her tears and took the warm towel that Aunt Cui handed her to wipe her face. She didn't want anyone to say that he had abandoned his work and rushed back. She didn't want her son to be born only for his father to be severely punished by the emperor.
Gu Tingye leaned down and kissed his son's sleeping face. The little one murmured vaguely a couple of times, still keeping his eyes tightly shut. He squirmed uncomfortably in his round little body, and even blew out two bubbles to express his discontent. His father touched the stubble on his own face and chuckled mischievously. Then he gestured for Aunt Cui to take the child away and turned to Minglan, saying, "Of course, I finished my official business. But if it weren't for the person at Xuanzhi Garden, I wouldn't have been able to come back so soon."
Minglan breathed a sigh of relief. She had a lot of questions swirling in her mind but couldn't sort them out at the moment, so she could only ask about something more immediate, "What do you mean by that? Oh, right, has General Duan's case been resolved? Has he returned?"
Gu Tingye chuckled, "Cheng Yong's case is just a small matter."
"You wouldn't resort to torture, would you?" Minglan joked, mindful of the fact that a life had been lost, and she was a respectable woman. She had thought Gu Tingye would at least give her a glance, but to her surprise, he let out a long sigh. "Initially, things were suspicious and urgent. I did consider that plan. Fortunately, I took Mr. Gongsun with me."
Although Gu Tingye came from a good background, the setbacks he faced in his youth gave him a degree of self-awareness that ordinary wealthy young men didn't have. While he was skilled in military matters, he wasn't adept at solving cases, so he had to bring Gongsun along. Gongsun Baishi was known for his expertise in studying criminal cases for more than twenty years. Gu Tingye saw two points of doubt in the case.
The first doubt was whether the innocent woman who died was coerced by someone. The second was whether the tavern had been constantly demanding fish from that household.
Minglan pondered these points carefully and realized they struck at the heart of the matter. She couldn't help but applaud. Gu Tingye deliberately narrated the twists and turns of the process, amusing Minglan and distracting her from sadness and worry.
Upon arrival, they first went to see the trapped beast-like Duan Chengyong, inquired about the incident, and then ordered an investigation. They split into two groups: Mr. Gongsun was escorted by guards to conduct discreet inquiries, while Gu Tingye went to meet with various local ruffians and soldiers. Since drinking was inevitable, they hosted a feast in their own territory. For some reason, from the general to the commanders of the guard posts, and even to the guerrilla generals, these military leaders unexpectedly had a refined taste in alcohol and were unwilling to drink too much. Despite the presence of pretty maidservants serving the food and drinks, they didn't spare them a second glance.
"Perhaps they're afraid that Marquis Hou will handle General Duan's case in the same way and give them a taste of their own medicine," Minglan remarked with amusement, covering her mouth with a light smile. Gu Tingye found it amusing as well. "Truly the heart of a villain," he said. He simply wanted to keep them entangled so that the investigation wouldn't be hindered.
With undercover investigations and interrogation of witnesses, in just a few days, Gongsun Baishi was able to discern the clues and quickly solve the case.
Firstly, although the woman was indeed a respectable woman from a good family, the tavern had been constantly demanding goods from a certain fishmonger in the city, and it just so happened that during those few days, they had asked for extra goods from that particular fisherman's household. Secondly, although all the men in the woman's family, including her father, husband, and younger brother, were perfectly fine, why would they send a woman to collect payment, especially in a place like a tavern?
Starting from these two points of doubt, they were able to open up gaps in the testimonies. They proceeded with a thorough investigation, employing the usual tactics of feudal lords: coercion, bribery, and intimidation. Eventually, the truth surfaced.
It turned out that someone had kidnapped the woman's two children and promised her a large sum of money in exchange for her life. Once the deed was done, the children were returned, and she was given some silver coins. The fisherman's family knew that falsely accusing government officials was a capital offense and dared not speak the truth. They could only stick to their fabricated story.
"In the end, only one guard came forward to take the blame," Gu Tingye remarked sarcastically. "They claimed Cheng Yong disrespected the local military officials, intending to teach him a lesson, but they never expected the woman to be so determined to seek death, resulting in a catastrophe. Unfortunately, we couldn't find enough evidence to prove their intention to force the woman to her death, so in the end, they could only remove him from his position and punish him."
Minglan felt a pang of sadness. "It's a pity for the fisherman's family, suffering such a calamity for no reason, losing their home and their lives."
Gu Tingye shook his head and sighed, "Mr. Gongsun advised them to take the silver and start a new life elsewhere." He looked at Minglan's expression and reached out to pull her to sit beside him on the bed, whispering, "Are you still angry with me?"
Minglan lay in his arms, the scent of dust and sweat on his body. She spoke softly, "I know it hasn't been easy for you either. Have... have you been injured?" She sat up, reaching out to touch his arms and chest. "I just wish you could have come back earlier." Gu Tingye fell silent for a moment before saying, "I only realized after going there. The officialdom in Liang-Huai is incredibly corrupt."
After nearly twenty years of peaceful rule during the Renzong era, not only were the local officials colluding with merchants, but there were also connections between civil and military officials, from the smallest street gangs to the influential families in the capital. No matter which case they investigated, they always ended up uncovering a web of connections. Even for Gu Tingye, who was carefully selected by the emperor, it was a constant source of trouble. Originally, after capturing Duan Chengyong, Gu Tingye wanted to return to the capital to accompany his wife, but the commissioner repeatedly pleaded with him to stay a little longer to help unravel the situation.
"Marquis Hou's dedication to the country and the people is truly admirable. But why did you come back?" Minglan's tone was sour. Gu Tingye replied matter-of-factly, "I came to see my son, of course." Minglan was furious. She pushed the man away with all her strength, saying, "Your son is in the other room. Go see him quickly! What are you doing standing here?" Gu Tingye laughed heartily, holding Minglan close and kissing her cheeks incessantly.
Aunt Cui was gently patting the baby to lull him to sleep. Upon hearing the laughter and commotion from the next room, she smiled with relief and shook her head with amusement. Except for the new nanny, who seemed a bit surprised, the maidservants in the room were unfazed by the noise.
"Liang-Huai is indeed a mess. It needs a thorough overhaul. I originally intended to stay longer, send a message back to the capital first, but..." Gu Tingye held Minglan in his arms, slowly recounting, "...that person at Xuanzhi Garden reminded me."
In fact, since the day he took command of the military, Gu Tingye had a habit of investigating spies. At that time, with the new emperor ascending the throne, the stability of the imperial power was uncertain. Both inside and outside the court, there were countless hidden agendas. While it's easy to evade open attacks, it's difficult to guard against covert ones, and often, the troublemakers are those close by. During his recent trip to Liang-Huai, he gradually uncovered three or four groups of informants within the army. The masterminds behind them were none other than those various factions, both overt and covert. This was not surprising. However, what was unexpected was that they recently caught someone who confessed to being instructed by the Marquis of Ningyuan's residence.
When questioned further, the spies couldn't reveal who exactly had instructed them. In truth, even without asking, Gu Tingye knew who it was. If that person had plotted against him, then Minglan... the thought made him break out in a cold sweat. Realizing this, he decided to return to the capital regardless. After all, he had completed the tasks required by the emperor, and his reports on the salt administration had been praised by the emperor multiple times.
The commissioner was understanding and, seeing that the situation was under control, didn't insist on keeping Gu Tingye. Instead, he left Duan Chengyong behind, saying, "It's better to have General Duan, who has suffered losses, stay than to have someone unfamiliar with the situation." Duan Chengyong was more than willing. After experiencing setbacks despite his efforts, he was eager to make a comeback.
Gu Tingye, feeling helpless, could only give Duan Chengyong some earnest advice before leaving him behind. He also left Gong Sunbaishi behind to proceed at a slower pace, while he himself led a team of guards and hurriedly set off.
The journey was perilous. After days of traveling, as soon as they reached the intersection of Ningyuan Street, they saw thick black smoke billowing over their own mansion. The streets were crowded with people, clamoring and running, shouting, "The Marquis's mansion is on fire!" Gu Tingye was filled with anxiety. Without hesitation, he spurred his horse straight into Chengyuan. There, he learned that Minglan was in labor inside. Fortunately, the second-grade guards and household servants were competent and managed to firmly protect Jiaxi's residence, preventing the fire from spreading. Gu Tingye breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Xuanzhi Garden was calm and peaceful, while Chengyuan was in chaos, his anger surged. In a fit of rage, he... started another fire.
"You... you... you... actually started a fire?!" Minglan was shocked and pale. While his wife was giving birth, her husband went off to start a fire. This kind of genius idea wasn't something an ordinary person could come up with. Gu Tingye chuckled as he gently wrapped Minglan in a brocade quilt, then got up to pour a cup of warm water from the purple sand stove on the table and handed it to Minglan, saying, "Are you thirsty?"
Minglan gulped down half a cup of tea in one go, then numbly handed the teacup back to Gu Tingye, who took it and drank the rest in one gulp.
"Hao Steward has briefed me on the recent events," Gu Tingye said as he put down the teacup and sat beside her, gently stroking her back. "One trouble after another. That vile woman is determined to harass you. Who knows, after this big fire, she might calm down? Or perhaps she has more tricks up her sleeve. That's why I need to keep her on her toes."
"But she's cunning, isn't she? How could she let you catch her off guard?" Minglan shivered with fear, her evaluation of Madam Kang reaching a new level. Gu Tingye chuckled, "Who said I went to burn her? I set fire to Third Brother's courtyard."
At that time, it was not yet late at night. As the fire broke out, everyone in the courtyard managed to escape safely, but unfortunately, there was considerable financial loss. Seeing her own flesh and blood in danger, Madam Kang was in a state of panic. She was too preoccupied with saving her son and checking if he was unharmed, while also comforting her grandchildren.
Minglan sighed softly. She knew that attacking was the best defense, but she always felt constrained. Arson was a criminal offense! If there were casualties, the maximum penalty could be life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
"As long as no one is hurt, it's good," Minglan said softly.
Gu Tingye sneered and said:"Are you also worrying about them?!"
As the fire raged in Chengyuan, while Minglan struggled in the throes of childbirth, the couple of Tingwei and Zhu, however, were leisurely playing with their child! Thinking of these, a wave of fierce resentment surged in Gu Tingye's heart, longing to spill some blood on the blade. Minglan lowered her head, unable to say anything besides sighing.
"But Xian Yaotou's child still has some conscience," Gu Tingye finally showed a hint of a smile on his face, "At such a young age, she dared to argue with her elder sister-in-law. Not only did she blame her own mother for not coming to see you, but when she saw the fire here, she even contradicted her elder sister-in-law, and sent almost half of the people in the house to help fight the fire. At the moment, Rong jiejie is also with her." His own dark and sinister sworn brother, with his belly full of rotten schemes, actually produced such upright and honest offspring, which surprised him.
Gu Tingye finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that the world wasn't as hopeless as it seemed. She joyfully exclaimed, "I never expected much from Sister-in-law to begin with. As a widow, she has many concerns. I've always said that I simply love that child."
Gu Tingye smiled as he stroked her long hair, thinking that birds of a feather flock together.
After talking for a while, Minglan began to feel tired, and with her mood completely relaxed, her eyelids grew heavier. Gu Tingye gently patted her until she fell into a deep sleep before slowly getting up to leave.
There were already people waiting outside the door. Hao, the steward, smiled and said, "Reporting to Lord Marquis, everything has been arranged. Would you like to go and see..."
Gu Tingye glanced at him indifferently, causing Hao Dacheng to break out in a cold sweat, hastily suppressing his smile and bowing his head. "Yes, Lord Marquis, this way, please."
In the secluded back of Cheng Garden, there was a row of neatly arranged houses. Due to the small number of people in the Gu family, these houses were mostly vacant, occasionally used for storing miscellaneous items. Hao Dacheng led the way, with Gu Tingye following slowly behind. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at the front of a room at the east corner of the row of houses. There were four or five sturdy women standing at the door, who quickly bowed down when they saw Gu Tingye approaching.
Hao Dacheng whispered, "Is everything alright inside?" The leading woman replied, "Reporting to Lord Marquis, the doctor has already been called to check. There's nothing serious. Miss Man suffered some minor cuts and bruises, while the little master was just a bit frightened."
Hao Dacheng glanced at Gu Tingye again, waved his hand to dismiss the women, then approached the door to open it for Gu Tingye to enter. He stayed outside, standing five steps away from the door.