Upon hearing that Man Niang had been sent away, Ming Lan quietly kissed her son's little face. Chang Mo sat beside her, joyfully taking the child into her arms, coaxing and entertaining him. Days of worry and distress were swept away in an instant, replaced by a radiant smile that reflected the joy of spring. Standing next to her was Rong Jie'er, silent and expressionless, neither crying nor laughing, her brow furrowed with worry. She had been like this for the past few days.
On that day, Man Niang, seeing that there was no turning back, insisted on seeing her daughter one last time. With a cold smile, Gu Tingye agreed, and Chang Mo hurriedly brought Rong Jie'er to her. The reunion of mother and daughter after years of separation was marked by an eerie atmosphere: on one side, there was the overwhelming display of maternal love, accompanied by tears and snot, driven by the depths of affection and the circumstances that had forced their parting; on the other side, there was a blank expression, a sense of detachment.
As expected by Chang Mo, after some pleading and emotional manipulation, Man Niang began crying and asked her daughter to plead with her father. She then brought out her son, hoping for a tearful reunion between the siblings and a heartbroken mother to add to the drama.
Unfortunately, Rong Jie'er was only four or five years old when she was sent to the Marquis's mansion, and Chang Mo was even younger. Seeing her brother, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity and didn't know what to say. Likewise, her brother didn't recognize her at all. The scene was so cold and ridiculous that it failed to evoke any emotion.
"Come and see your brother."
Chang Mo smiled and handed the child over. Rong Jie'er stretched her neck to take a look, and the baby made cooing sounds, with big round eyes sharply contrasting black and white. The little girl smiled, with a hint of sadness on her face. Feeling pity, Ming Lan gently said, "You're tired today. Go rest. Mr. Er has to check his homework. You go study."
Rong Jie'er softly acknowledged, stepping out with barely a movement of her skirt. Even the tassel tied around her waist, swaying gracefully with her movement, showed her elegance. She was no longer the unruly wild girl from years ago.
Ming Lan sighed softly as she watched Rong Jie'er's departing figure. Chang Mo noticed and reassured her, saying, "Madam, rest assured. Rong Jie'er hasn't wasted her time studying these past two years. She knows right from wrong."
During the mother-daughter reunion, Rong Jie'er remained silent with her head bowed the entire time. From her mother's pitiful pleas to her anger and even forcibly pulling her daughter, Chang Mo thought that if there weren't others around, she might have pinched her a few times. Seeing her plans fail, Man Niang could only despairingly question Gu Ting Ye, asking if he had the heart to separate them, a mother and her two children.
At this moment, Rong Jie'er suddenly spoke up. She said that if her mother wished, she would leave the Hou Mansion immediately and accompany her mother and brother to the mountain village. This statement hit the mark precisely, leaving Man Niang momentarily speechless despite her usual eloquence.
After a long pause, Man Niang explained with a sorrowful tone that she had originally thought of Rong Jie'er's future when she asked her to stay at the Hou Mansion, and she had repeatedly reminded Rong Jie'er not to forget herself and Chang Ge'er. However, to her surprise, upon hearing this, Rong Jie'er stared blankly and countered, "What about my brother's future? Why didn't you consider it back then?" Man Niang couldn't come up with an answer. Rong Jie'er's expression turned wooden as she continued, "Did you leave me here to make trouble for Madam?" This was the only sentence she spoke after meeting her birth mother.
Man Niang immediately tried to rush forward to strike her, but Mama Chang managed to hold Rong Jie'er tightly and evade. The maidservants on both sides quickly restrained Man Niang and dragged her outside. Despite being dragged away, she continued to curse fiercely, calling Rong Jie'er "heartless" and accusing her of "ingratitude."
Minglan couldn't believe it. "Did she really say that?"
Mama Chang gently coaxed her child and smiled at Minglan. "That spider demon doesn't have much skill after all! I warned her when I brought Jie'er over. Whenever her heartless mother comes looking for her, it's either to ask for her help in pleading for mercy or... how did they say it... oh, to have Rong'er's body in the Han camp while her heart is with the Wei camp."
[The phrase "to have Rong'er's body in the Han camp while her heart is with the Wei camp" is a metaphorical expression. It suggests that while physically present in one place or situation (the Han camp), Rong'er's true allegiance or emotional attachment lies elsewhere (the Wei camp). In other words, it implies that Rong'er may outwardly comply or be present in a certain situation, but her true feelings, intentions, or loyalties are directed elsewhere.]
It means that Rong'er should simultaneously accept Minglan's care and attention while also remembering her unfortunate mother. She should frequently mention her mother and herself in front of Gu Tingye, and if possible, create some obstacles for Minglan.
With rich experience in childcare and skilled techniques, Nanny Chang coaxed the baby into a drowsy state within moments. The lively infant had already become sleepy and lethargic. Nanny Chang gently handed the child over to Mrs. Cui, who then took him to the adjacent room.
Watching the maids and servants leave, Nanny Chang turned to Minglan with a smile and said, "I haven't congratulated Madam yet. The little boy looks really handsome, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He's also robust and energetic. Did you see how eagerly he was sucking milk just now? Being able to eat and sleep well is a good sign!"
Minglan smiled bitterly and shook her head. With her own limited supply, the little guy would empty her reserves after just a few sips, so she had to seek external assistance.
"Madam," Nanny Chang looked at Minglan's distracted expression and cautiously said, "You mustn't think about that despicable woman anymore. Her hometown is in a remote area of Mianzhou, with high mountains and long distances, and the waterways are inaccessible. Now that she's gone back, she probably won't come back."
Minglan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Nanny, you've misunderstood. I'm not thinking about that. It's just..." She sighed lightly, "I'm wondering, how did Lord Hou meet her in the first place?" At this point, if she didn't ask, she would seem hypocritical.
Bringing up that woman, Nanny Chang couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. Now, there was nothing left unsaid. She ran her hand through her hair, pondered for a moment, and then began: "It was the second year after our family moved to the capital. After learning about the reasons behind the marriage alliance between the Gu and Bai families, Young Master Yecheng and the old Marquis grew even more estranged."
If before, Gu Tingye was only half-self-deprecating and half-indulging in self-pity, then after learning the truth, he must have been deeply saddened and angry. It was clear that the Gu family had eagerly sought this marriage alliance, yet everyone treated him with disdain. Although it was the Bai family that saved the Gu family from danger, those self-proclaimed noble members of the Gu family spoke disdainfully about his deceased mother.
Nanny Chang sighed deeply. "Ye Ge'er had nowhere to voice his grievances, so he continued to face life's challenges as usual. That year, he got into a skirmish with a delinquent, which involved a handsome-looking actor and his sister. Seeing that the siblings were about to face trouble, Ye Ge'er couldn't bear to watch and intervened to save them."
Minglan asked softly, "So the actor was Man Niang's brother?"
Nanny Chang nodded helplessly. "At that time, our family lived in the outskirts of the capital. By the time Ye Ge'er came to inform me, he had already taken in the siblings. I told Yecheng that actors were of low social status, and it would be best to give them some money to leave to avoid gossip. Ye Ge'er, although hot-headed, was not foolish and agreed immediately. But who would have thought..."
Her tone was full of disgust as she gritted her teeth and said, "That actor actually abandoned his sister and ran off with the money himself!"
"Really?" Minglan exclaimed in surprise. Could there really be such a heartless brother in the world!
"False!" Old Madam Chang rolled her eyes heavenward with a slack expression. "Later, Ye Ge'er found out that it was all an act orchestrated by that despicable woman. She told her brother to take the money and do business outside, while she stayed behind to cling to Ye Ge'er."
Minglan was somewhat stunned. This woman really dares to think and do anything.
"In such a situation, a lonely and helpless young woman, without family or support, didn't know what to do, so she had to be placed in a house first. Ye Ge'er even suggested having the old maid take her in as a maid, but I was reluctant. Yet, for some reason, I just didn't like that woman," Old Madam Chang reminisced. "The old maid always felt that her eyes looked dishonest and out of line."
For an elderly woman of ambition who refused to sell herself as a servant even in the most difficult times at home, her ideal was to walk steadily on the path of a decent citizen and then march forward with big strides toward higher goals. How could she agree to take in an actress's sister as a maid?
Minglan smiled and said, "The old lady indeed has sharp eyes."
Old Madam Chang could only smile bitterly and shake her head, "If only I had known what would happen later, I would have just taken her in to spare Ge'er from suffering." She regretted, "That woman was quite cunning, always stirring up trouble. Sometimes she pretended to be ill, sometimes she claimed the villain was looking for someone again, which led Ge'er to visit her often. Ah, Ge'er was only ten or so at that time, full of youthful vigor, and that woman was skilled at using her charms to manipulate people. This back and forth..."
She glanced at Minglan with difficulty, finding it hard to continue.
Unexpectedly, Minglan wore a very understanding expression and even advised, "Don't worry, Madam, that was many years ago. I won't be petty." There was nothing unusual about this; it was probably just a variation of the scenario where a singing girl seduced a prince. The troubled young master of the Hou Mansion, with no one to confide his grievances about his origins, meets a sympathetic and decent-looking girl. After a few drinks, holding a pipa, singing a tune, and then with the curtains drawn and the lamp extinguished... Let's skip the inappropriate words here. The deed was done.
Old Madam Chang's expression turned extremely unpleasant, as if she had been forced to swallow a jar of soy sauce. "I advised Ge'er that this matter couldn't proceed. Not to mention he hasn't married yet, considering Man Niang's background alone, it would be difficult for her to enter the Hou Mansion. It's better to give her some money and let her marry someone else. Ge'er probably didn't like that woman very much anyway, there was nothing he couldn't bear to part with. He agreed immediately. This time, I went with him to persuade that woman. Who would have thought that she would want to commit suicide! She threw herself into a well, banged her head against things, made a big fuss. Finally, she held a hairpin to her throat, knelt on the ground and begged. She said... She said..." The old woman's memory was failing her, and she couldn't recall.
Minglan kindly continued, "She must have started by saying, 'How could Mama Chang see me in such a light? Do you see me as a woman who can be bought with gold and silver?'" After the suicide attempt and all the drama, she made another plea, saying she didn't seek status, didn't want money, didn't want anything, just hoped that Master Hou would take pity on her and remember her from time to time..." After a moment's thought, Minglan added with a touch of dark humor, "Just treat her like a little cat or dog, toss her aside and ignore her, talk to her when you want to see her. Is that how it went?"
Mama Chang's expression became awkward. "Madam guessed it right." She couldn't remember the exact words, but the general idea was indeed like that.
Minglan almost rolled her eyes. How could the lines be the same?!
"After such a commotion, even the old servant didn't dare to push too hard, afraid that someone would lose their life. After thinking it over, there was no proper solution, so it dragged on day by day." Mama Chang's voice lowered as she spoke. "Besides, I thought, rather than letting Ge'er cause trouble outside, it might be better to talk to that woman and vent some frustration. I also thought that when Ge'er marries a virtuous and tolerant wife, perhaps she could tolerate her as well. Now, thinking back, it was really a big mistake!" With her head hanging low, the old woman felt more and more ashamed as she recalled the past. Which decent young lady from a respectable family would be willing to be so 'virtuous and tolerant'?
"But before I could even think it over, a big issue arose. That woman, she got pregnant."
Mama Chang gritted her teeth, filled with hatred. "This time, the old servant realized it was a big problem! Ge'er was young, how could he handle such things? He was panicked." She raised her voice unconsciously. "That woman refused to abort the child no matter what. I couldn't do anything about it. After several anxious months, she gave birth to a girl. Honestly, the old servant was relieved!"
So Rong'er was born under such circumstances. Minglan sighed softly.
"Not long after that, the whole matter became known to the Marquis's household, and it caused quite a stir. Having a concubine, having a child, plus the malicious instigations from those wicked hearts, the Marquis hung Ge'er up and punished him with family law." Mama Chang couldn't help but choke up. "Madam knows Ge'er's temperament. He's truly stubborn. He was at odds with the Marquis, and the more the Marquis urged him to deal with Man Niang, the more he refused and insisted on taking care of that wretched woman. The Marquis was so angry that he almost sent Ge'er to the ancestral house!"
The two most troublesome groups in the world are men and women going through menopause and rebellious teenagers. Minglan could imagine the Marquis's feelings at that time and couldn't help but sympathize a little.
Mama Chang wiped the corners of her eyes, helpless as she said, "At that time, Ge'er was very stubborn, and no one could persuade him. That wretched woman also put on a pitiful act, so the situation could only drag on like that. I told Ge'er that holding a grudge was one thing, but he couldn't disregard the future. This time, luck was on our side since she gave birth to a girl. It would pass as part of the dowry when she got married in the future. If it were a son... Ge'er wouldn't have had any good prospects for marriage! Ge'er also felt it was inappropriate. But he was a young man, and that wretched woman knew how to flatter. In case he couldn't control himself... So I personally found a midwife to stay in that house, just in case."
Recalling this matter, she particularly gritted her teeth. "Who would have thought, just as the storm in the ancestral house subsided, Ge'er went to see that wretched woman two or three times, and she became pregnant again!"
The situation was serious and grave, but Minglan couldn't help but feel like laughing. Man Niang was formidable, and her efficiency was truly remarkable.
"I rushed over to confront her, and Man Niang just cried, saying she took her medicine honestly, and the midwife also claimed she delivered the medicine according to the rules." With such a huge oversight, Mama Chang almost fainted in anger at the time. "After a thorough investigation, it was found that the midwife often enjoyed drinking alcohol, so everyone could only assume that she might have been drunk when she bought the medicine or was negligent when preparing it."
"So the matter was swept under the rug. But I still had my doubts. Although the midwife enjoyed drinking, she was never sloppy in her work." However, at that time, Gu Tingye trusted Man Niang completely, and she had no evidence.
Mama Chang got up and closed both side doors, leaving a narrow gap in the window for ventilation. She bit her cheek and said, "At that time, I knelt down in front of my son and shed tears, sacrificing my dignity. I told him that Man Niang's body was too strong, ordinary medicine wouldn't work for her, and he couldn't afford to be foolish anymore. He couldn't have any more children!"
Minglan couldn't help but chuckle. Madam Chang was indeed clever, managing to put obstacles in Man Niang's way like this.
"He's your only flesh and blood. If he remains unsuccessful all his life, won't it be a joke to that malicious woman? Even if I end up in the underworld, I won't have the face to see you, Miss. If my son doesn't agree, I'll seek death myself!"
This was Madam Chang's proud achievement, and she spoke with great satisfaction, "Sure enough, my son listened to me. In the following years, although he often visited her, he only exchanged a few words and looked at the children, but he didn't get close to her. That vile woman was used to pretending to be obedient and didn't dare to argue back. She only blamed the fault on the medicine woman. I countered, 'But what if it wasn't the medicine woman's negligence?'"
Minglan laughed heartily. This tactic was truly cunning. If Man Niang always presented herself as understanding and supportive of Gu Tingye, wouldn't she have to take risks in this matter? Regardless of whether Gu Tingye maintained a pure relationship with Man Niang during those years, at the very least, there were likely far fewer encounters, and Man Niang never bore a third child again.
Mama Chang's tactic proved successful.
"In fact, that vile woman isn't all that charming. There were several maids in the house originally who were more attractive than her! She really thinks she's a celestial being, as if men can't resist her just by seeing her? With her meager looks, she doesn't even have the capital to be coquettish! She just relies on her glib tongue, takes advantage of my son's distress, and tries to please him with all her might, pretending to be pitiful, so my son can't bear to abandon her!" Mama Chang expressed her deep hatred towards Man Niang, her words becoming more cutting as she spoke.
Minglan chuckled. She could tell that Madam Chang was trying to console Gu Tingye about the past, hence her efforts to downplay the relationship between Gu Tingye and Man Niang. However, she didn't need to worry because she wasn't someone who loved to nitpick. Initially, her insistence on contending with He Hongwen over Cao's cousin was because this cousin represented not only the present but also the future, which was quite detestable.
But what about Manniang? Regardless of her past relationship with Gu Tingye, or even if Gu Tingye had genuine feelings for her, what does it matter? The important thing is that she is now a thing of the past. Real-life matters are the most important. Why waste good days chasing after irrelevant things? This is the most important lesson she has learned in her life.
Let's be realistic. As long as so-called true love doesn't bring about any practical changes, whether it's genuine or not isn't very important. If Gu Tingye were to decide to divide his estate in half today or give the title to Changge'er, then Minglan would certainly be dissatisfied. But now, Gu Tingye has entrusted all his property to her, decided to let her son inherit the title, sleeps beside her every night, and sticks to her side whenever he has free time. In that case, what's the point of delving into who he truly loves?
To be even more realistic, in scenarios like those depicted in dramas, for whatever reason—whether it's for the sake of the country, ambition, or power—men may have to take another wife and leave her. In that case, even if he truly loves her, what's the use?
Alright, she's a selfish modern woman, with ten years of career training only resulting in an outward appearance of gentleness and virtue, while lacking the traditional virtues of ancient women deep down.
"Look at what Nanny said. I used to think that the two children of Manniang were intentionally wanted by Lord Hou?" Minglan joked half-seriously.
Nanny's heart tightened, sighing, "Madam really... sigh, what can I say? Madam, think about it, Lord Hou isn't foolish. Which clear-headed young man from a respectable family would eagerly think about having children before getting married?"
This argument was quite persuasive, and Minglan nodded in agreement.
"After Chang was born, three or four years passed without much excitement. Finally, Tingye made up his mind to marry into the Yu family. But halfway through, there was a sudden change of heart," Nanny said with frustration. "I don't mean to speak ill of the dead, but Lady Yihong was just too..." She pursed her lips, took a sip from her teacup, and continued, "It would have been better not to marry her! Before marrying her, Tingye could at least manage. But after marrying her, it was constant quarrels and fights, never a day of peace. Not long after, Tingye had a big fight with the old Lord, and left to make his own way."
At this point, Nanny's eyes became moist again, and she sobbed, "Poor Tingye, raised in luxury since childhood, accustomed to being waited on even for a cup of tea, but now he's out there enduring hardships, sleeping rough. Who knows how much suffering he's endured!"
Minglan sat up on the bed and reached out to gently pat Nanny's hand, softly comforting her, "Nanny, don't cry. They say that jade needs to be polished to reveal its true brilliance. Thankfully, heaven has blessed Lord Hou with a way out." Nanny lifted her head, clasping her hands together in a gesture of prayer, and said, "Miss Minglan, may you rest in peace in heaven, and may Tingye's life improve from now on."
The two exchanged a few more words before suddenly hearing someone outside shouting loudly, "Lord Hou is back!"
Nanny wiped her eyes, stood up, and saw Tingye entering with a swaddled baby in his arms, followed by the grim-faced Cuimama. Tingye smiled and said, "Look how peacefully he's sleeping. Just a few more glances and he'll wake up."
"Don't make excuses; you must have woken him up," Minglan teased with a smile.
Tingye was still dressed in his formal crimson court attire, having just returned from court and not yet changed his clothes. Despite this, he was eager to see his son, holding him in his arms and refusing to let go. Under Cuimama's guidance, his posture was quite proper. As he looked at the baby, he chuckled to himself, "In just a few days, he's already looking much better. When he was born, he was all red and wrinkled, like a little red-skinned monkey."
Minglan frowned and said, "But back then, you were still praising him for being good-looking!"
Tingye playfully retorted with a smile, "Even if he was red and wrinkled, he still looked better than other babies!"
This remark elicited laughter from everyone. Nanny leaned over to take a look and saw that the baby was awake, calm, and not crying. His facial features were becoming clearer, but he still seemed a bit sleepy, half-opening his eyes and looking around.
"The redder they are when they're born, the plumper and fairer they'll become as they grow older! Have you decided on a name for him?"
Tingye chuckled bitterly, "I've been extremely busy lately. Once Mr. Gong Sun returns, I'll ask him to help us choose a name." He lacked confidence in his own cultural knowledge and cared deeply for his child, so he was hesitant to choose a name arbitrarily.
Nanny suggested, "You can take your time to decide on a formal name. For now, let's give him a catchy and auspicious nickname." Tingye found this reasonable and turned to Minglan, asking, "What do you think we should call him?"
Minglan joked, "I've heard from Xiaotao that in her hometown, they often use names like 'Dog Leftover,' 'Dog Egg,' and 'Little Puppy.'" [gǒu shèng, gǒu dàn, xiǎo gǒu zi zhè lèi de.]
Tingye laughed and gave Minglan a playful glare, "Nonsense! There's also 'Dog Leg' and 'Dog Cub.' Do you really want to call our son that?"
Chang Momo smiled and said, "Lord Hou, you might not know, but the cheaper the name, the healthier the child. Even in wealthy families, if a child is not well, they still write a name and post it everywhere for people to call out."
"Is that so?" Gu Tingye looked skeptical.
Ming Lan looked up and glanced at the chubby bundle, feeling him cute and soft, just like a sticky rice dumpling. "Then let's call him Tuan Ge'er."
Gu Tingye, upon hearing this, exclaimed joyfully, "Tuan as in reunion? That's a great name!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room felt pleased. It was not only an auspicious sign but also avoided common names, making it easy to pronounce. Thus, it was decided.